Shenyang Zhongyi Optics have released three new Lens turbo adapters for Micro Four Thirds cameras.. The new adapters allow full-frame lenses with an M42 screw mount, Canon FD mount or a Minolta MD mount to be used on Micro Four Thirds cameras with a wider angle of view and faster aperture than with a regular adapter. Just like the previous Zhongyi Lens Turbo (ver II), the new MFT turbo adapter features an optical formula comprising 4 lens elements in 4 groups, including 1 extra-low dispersion element which helps reduce chromatic aberrations. The adapter modifies the FourThirds focal length multiplier of 2 by a factor of 0.726 and improves the maximum aperture of the lens by 1 stop. Available directly from Shenyang Zhongyi Optics, the adapter carries an SRP of $149.

We're revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2015.

The DSLR Camera of the Year 2015 award goes to the Pentax K-3 II.

“the K-3 II is another keenly-priced DSLR camera from Pentax/Ricoh that once again delivers a feature-set, handling and image quality that far out-performs its price-tag...”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Pentax and the K-3 II!

Hasselblad has announced the ten winners of its 2016 Masters Awards. Selected by a combination of a public vote and a professional Masters Jury, the winners include Swee Oh, David Peskens, Roy Rossovich, John Paul Evans, Katerina Belkina, Lars Van De Goor, Natalia Evelyn Bencicova, Georgio Cravero, Jake Reeder and Jake Reeder. The ten winners will be tasked to create a new and unique set of images embracing the theme 'Inspire' (coinciding with Hasselblad's 75th anniversary) for the latest edition of the Hasselblad Masters Commemorative Book.

Communication Arts magazine has issued the call for entries for its 57th annual photography competition. With an acceptance rate of less than 5%, the Communication Arts Photography Competition is the most exclusive major photography competition in the world. Selected by a nationally representative jury of distinguished designers, art directors, photo editors and photographers, the winning entries will be featured in the Communication Arts Photography Annual, in print and on the iPad. As a service to art buyers, a comprehensive index will carry contact information of the photographers represented. The deadline for submissions is 11 March 2016.

WIN a fantastic new Ikigai Rival Backpack with its unique pro Camera Cell system worth £229.99!

Andres Rozo and Alistair Smith are the lucky winners - congratulations!

IKIGAI Bags is giving away TWO of its fantastic new medium Rival Backpacks, featuring its amazing Camera Cell system each worth £229.99.

IKIGAI BAGS – STRENGTH FROM WITHIN

Ikigai's (medium) Rival Backpack and Camera Cell delivers a fresh look and premium performance to the photo bag market. It offers both simplicity and configurability, allowing you to quickly and easily pack exactly what you need for each shoot’s requirements. Designed for photographers, by photographers, the Rival series ensures a great fit and all day comfort while making it easy to access your essentials and providing unrivaled protection as well. But the feature photographers will appreciate the most is what we call our “Strength from Within” - the removable, configurable camera cell with its own carrying handle and adjustable, Velcro® liners that securely protect your most prized possessions. The medium camera cell fits right into the medium Ikigai backpack. For shoots that are more gear intensive, the large size may be the right choice for you. The medium Backpack and Inner Cell kit can hold your DSLR, up to 7 Lenses and Accessories.

For more information or to view or buy Ikigai products online visit: www.ikigaibags.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leica has announced a partnership with Pro Centre in the UK, providing a rental and sales service for its professional product portfolio. Renny Lee, managing director, Pro Centre, said, “We’re thrilled that Leica has chosen Pro Centre as its rental partner for its premium S-System, SL and M ranges. Having served the pro community for 28 years, customers know that they can count on our reliability and efficiency. The addition of the Leica portfolio gives our customers the opportunity to rent the highest-performance camera and lens technology available on the market, while benefitting from the ultimate service and support from our expert team.” Pro Centre is located at 14 Union Walk, London, E2 8HP.

Until February 28th 2016, the X-Rite i1Display Pro (£207.60) comes with a free Colour Management Pro eBook written by colour management specialist Ashley Karyl. Usually priced at £18, the eBook helps photographers - whether a frustrated amateur battling with a photo lab, or a professional who requires a fully developed colour workflow across multiple forms of visual media - cut through the confusion with practical advice and solutions that can be adapted to their needs. To claim a free copy of Colour Management Pro, customers can visit the X-Rite website and follow the instructions.

Intro2020 today announced the immediate UK availability of the Metz mecablitz 44 AF-2 flash. Featuring a guide number of 44 (in metres at ISO 100/21° and 105 mm), the mecablitz 44 AF-2 has a bounce-and-swivel head with a motorised 24-105mm zoom function, plus an integrated (12mm) wide angle diffuser and flip-out bounce reflector card. A built-in LED light - with an output of 100 Lux at a distance of 1m - creates additional lighting opportunities for moving images. The Metz mecablitz 44 AF-2 flash can be synchronised to the first or second shutter curtain and supports High Speed Synchronisation (HSS). The unit's firmware can be updated via the integrated USB socket. Available for Canon, Four Thirds, Fujifilm, Nikon, Samsung and Sony cameras, the mecablitz 44 AF-2 carries a suggested retail price of £179.99.

We're revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2015.

The Compact System Camera of the Year 2015 award goes to the Fujifilm X-T10.

“The Fujifilm X-T10 successfully repackages most of the core features of the flagship X-T1 camera into a smaller, lighter and cheaper body...”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Fujifilm and the X-T10!

We're revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2015.

The Compact Camera of the Year 2015 award goes to the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV.

“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV makes for a very appealing back-up camera for everybody who craves high quality images even when they don’t have the ability or inclination to carry around heavy and cumbersome kit.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Sony and the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV!

We're revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2015.

The Lens of the Year 2015 award goes to the Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD.

“...we can heartily recommend the Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD as an attractively priced, excellent quality ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for full-frame DSLR owners.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Tamron and the SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD!

Activeon has unveiled a solar powered action camera called the Solar X. Currently on display at the Consumer Electronics Show, Activeon's Solar X camera offers 4K video performance and includes a two-inch touchscreen, a built-in 1100mAh rechargeable battery, and Wi-Fi connectivity. With its 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and 7-element f/2.4 glass lens, the Solar X can also capture high-resolution stills at a continuous shooting speed of 6fps. The camera's unique solar-charging solution allows the battery to be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes and to 100% in 60 minutes. The camera can  be controlled from a smartphone or tablet using an Android/iOS app, or directly via the built-in 2" touchscreen. The Solar X has a micro HDMI output and is also compatible with nearly 40 additional accessories such as 8 different mounts; 7 grips, selfie sticks, and straps; diving glasses; and a Wi-Fi remote. Availability is slated for March, the estimated retail price is $430.

Samsung today announced the Samsung Portable SSD T3, a premium, palm-sized, external solid state drive that offers multi-terabyte storage capacity. Equipped with the company's proprietary Vertical NAND and SSD TurboWrite technology, the T3 drive is currently on display at Samsung’ booth (#11906) during CES 2016. Available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities, the Samsung Portable SSD T3 offers sequential read and write speeds of up to 450MB/s with a USB 3.1 interface. The new SSD will be first launched in February, 2016 in countries including the United States, China, Korea and select European countries.

ShooTools have launched their latest joined solution, the Slider ONE eXtension Track 240. Joining three 80 cm tracks through a junction plate, the Slider ONE eXtension Track 240 is a handy, portable soluion for time-lapse photographers and videographers. The ShooTools Slider ONE eXtension Track 240 is available now for € 1,390.00 + VAT.

We're revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2015.

The Printer of the Year 2015 award goes to the Epson SureColor SC-P600.

“The Epson SureColor SC-P600 has plenty to offer the photographer in quality terms and will no doubt satisfy the most demanding user.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Epson and the SureColor SC-P600!

Adorama is now taking pre-orders for the Flashpoint StreakLight TTL, a 360Ws TTL barebulb strobe designed for on- and off-camera use on Canon or Nikon models. Evolved from the original Flashpoint StreakLight, it produces all of the TTL functions of a proprietary flash, including exposure bracketing, high-speed synchronisation, ratios, remote manual control and more. The StreakLight TTL also features a built-in R2 radio system for manual or TTL control of other R2-enabled units or TTL flashes mounted on an R2 receiver. With more than 30 channels, it allows for interference-free shooting regardless of other photographers or equipment in the area. Its internal transmitter ranges 300+ feet for larger venues. The Flashpoint StreakLight 360 TTL retails for $489.95.

Following its European launch, the Kodak PixPro SP360-4K Action Cam is now available worldwide. Billed as the World's first and most complete 4K recording device to capture 360° immersive videos and still images without the need for multiple cameras, the 4K capable version of the PixPro SP360 camera captures 360-degree field of view in multiple directions via its dome shaped lens design and can be panned not only 360-degrees horizontally, but also up and down with a host of different vantage points and views for playback post capture. Newly added features include time-lapse video, 12-megapixel stills capture and a burst mode. Like its predecessor, the new Kodak PixPro SP360-4K comes with a wide range of attachments from a waterproof housing (up to 60m) to a flat adhesive suction mount and remote control. The Kodak PixPro SP360-4K is available for purchase online now starting at $499.

MindShift Gear today launched three UltraLight series photo daypacks. The UltraLight Sprint 16L ($116.99), UltraLight Dual 25L ($169.99), and UltraLight Dual 36L ($199.99) side-panel designs allow quick access to cameras, lenses, and accessories without first having to take off the bag. The backpacks also offer generous space for personal belongings, tablets/laptops and hydration reservoirs. Additional features include an integrated tripod mounting system and highly breathable shoulder straps. Click through / scroll down for the details.