The World Press Photo Foundation has announced its 6th annual multimedia contest. There are 4 categories including Short Form, Long Form, Innovative Storytelling and Immersive Storytelling. Entries open today, 16 December 2015, and close on 20 January 2016, 12.00 (noon) CET.. Entrants must first register online at the 2016 World Press Photo Multimedia Contest entry website and then submit their entries. The shortlist of three nominees will be announced on 16 March 2016, 14.00 CET. The overall winner for each category will then be decided by a general jury comprising the four jury chairs and announced during the Awards Ceremony on 23 April 2016.

Sigma have announced the new Sigma Water Repellent (WR) Ceramic Protector, a lens filter that features new Clear Glass Ceramic material and provides enhanced protective qualities. With many applications in aerospace and other industries, glass ceramic is an extremely tough type of crystallised glass that serves as the foundation for Clear Glass Ceramic. While featuring the high transmittance required of optical devices, this advanced new material combines greater hardness than chemically strengthened glass and greater flexibility than sapphire crystal glass. These qualities make Clear Glass Ceramic the ideal material for protective lens filters. The Sigma Water Repellent Ceramic Protector filter is offered in the most popular filter thread sizes, and is compatible with all lenses that accept front filter threads that are 67mm-105mm diameters.

The Lomo’Instant Wide is now available for regular purchase around the world. Featuring a moderate wide-angle 90mm lens, the Lomo’Instant Wide uses Fujifilm Instax Wide film, which has an exposure area of 64mm x 99mm. The lens cap of the Lomo’Instant Wide doubles as a remote control that allows easy and convenient self-portraits, group photos and long exposures. The camera has three different shooting modes including Auto, Bulb and a Fixed Shutter Speed mode for studio settings. The Lomo'Instant Wide comes with a built-in flash as well as a standard Prontor-Compur sync terminal, allowing users to attach an external flash unit to the camera.

Samsung today unveiled the PRO Plus 128GB microSD memory card. Built with Samsung’s advanced MLC NAND flash chip, this product is the newest addition to Samsung’s PRO Plus line-up, which was first introduced in 32GB and 64GB versions in May 2015. The 128GB microSD features UHS-I 3 (U3) and Speed Class 10 support, offering read and write speeds of up to 95MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively. It comes with a 10 year limited warranty and is guaranteed to survive operating temperatures from -25°C to 85°C (-13°F to 185°F) and non-operating temperatures from -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F). Data stored on the card will not be affected by X-rays and will resist up to 15,000 gauss magnetic force.

Panasonic has issued  a firmware upgrade for five of its Micro Four Thirds lenses. Version 1.1 for the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 Macro ASPH Mega OIS, Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS, Lumix G Vario HD 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 Mega OIS and Lumix G Vario 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS, as well as version 1.2 for the Lumix G Vario 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS add compatibility with the new Dual I.S technology introduced in the Panasonic Lumix GX8 compact system camera.

Triggertrap have completely rewritten their iOS app, Triggertrap Mobile. This update introduces the single most requested feature: Night Mode, which changes the colours of the user interface to a darkness-friendly colour scheme, making Triggertrap Mobile ideal for high-speed photography in the studio, light painting in the garden, and for astrophotography in the field. These colours are designed to work with screen brightness turned right down, minimising the amount of light coming from the phone - with the added benefit of maximising battery life.

Transcend has released a duo of industrial-grade wide-temperature SDHC memory cards featuring SLC NAND Flash technology for superior reliability. The Transcend 8GB and 16GB SDHC100I cards provide transfer speeds of up to 20MB/s and operate effectively from -40°C to 85°C. Compliant with SD Specification Version 3.0, these new memory cards carry a Class 10 speed rating and guarantee higher stability in data retention and longer endurance than cards equipped with MLC flash chips to meet the demanding standards of industrial-grade applications. Additionally, Transcend SDHC100I memory cards feature multiple built-in technologies for optimum protection, including Error Correction Code (ECC) that helps detect and correct potential transfer errors, S.M.A.R.T. function to efficiently monitor the health conditions of the cards, power failure protection to timely protect cards from damage in the event of abrupt power failure, and wear-leveling algorithm to select the block with the lowest erase count for the next write.

Leica today issued a new firmware update for the Leica SL compact system camera. Version 1.2 optimises image quality at sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 50/18° to ISO 400/27°, provides a greater degree of flexibility when entering WLAN passwords, and improves the quality of the live view feed when using the EVF. Additionally, the firmware update enables users to activate a loupe (magnifying) function with a press of the AE lock button when using Leica M and R lenses to facilitate manual focusing.Finally, the firmware update offers an improvement in the Leica Log Gamma curve (L-Log) for video, enabling its use for in-camera 8-bit recording. The use of L-Log enables greater leeway for post-production color grading of videos recorded on the Leica SL, the company says. To access the firmware update, registered camera users can log into the Leica owner’s area of the Leica website.

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Pixelmator have announced a major update to their Pixelmator app for iPhone and iPad. Version 2.2 fully supports the iPad Pro and the new Apple Pencil and allows you to open and edit 16K images. The update also adds 3D Touch support on iPhone 6s, a collection of artist-designed Basic brushes, a new Auto-straighten feature, and more. Pixelmator for iOS 2.2 is available today as a free update from the iTunes App Store.

Jessops has just opened the doors of its newest shop in Cambridge. Located at 15 Fitzroy Street, the new store offers try-before-you buy product displays, one-to-one photography tuition, an on-site lab for photo products made in-store within the hour, and the latest cameras and photographic accessories. New services on offer at the the Cambridge store include the Jessops Rental Service, a Trade-In offering and sensor cleaning.

Manfrotto has launched a new compact and foldable Lastolite by Manfrotto EzyBounce bounce card. Featuring a secure fixing system, the Lastolite by Manfrotto EzyBounce is made from impact resistant ABS (glass re-enforced plastic) and fits all standard flashguns available on the market. With a wide white surface for maximum reflection when opened (18x19cm), the card collapses to a third of its original size when closed (11x7cm). The Lastolite by Manfrotto EzyBounce bounce card has a RRP of £24.95.

Hoya have anounced a new filter line. The new Fusion Antistatic filters feature a new antistatic coating that acts like a force field around the filter to repel dust. Perfect for environments where dust is common, these filters require less frequent cleaning and maintenance than traditional filters. Additionally, the hardened, antistatic top-layer is water repellent, stain and scratch resistant and cleans easily when smudges or fingerprints are introduced to the surface. Made in Japan, the filters feature a lightweight, low-profile aluminium frame to house the glass. The low-profile frame eliminates vignetting when used on wide-angle lenses. Fusion filters are available in UV, Circular Polariser and Protector versions and in sizes from 37mm through to 82mm. Prices start from £26.99 for the 37mm protector filter.

Canon USA has issued a product advisory to owners of the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT flash and ST-E3-RT wireless transmitter. The company has discovered that with certain units, wireless flash shooting with radio transmission will not work in some setting modes when 7 or more units are linked. Photographers owning one or more of the affected flashes and/or transmitters are encouraged to contact Canon to have their unit(s) inspected and serviced for this phenomenon at no cost.

SeaLife announced the expansion of its permanently sealed waterproof camera line with the introduction of the new Micro 2.0. Durable and compact, measuring in at 4 inches wide with a 2.4" colour LCD screen, the new Micro 2.0 features a Sony CMOS image sensor capable of recording 16-megapixel stills as well as Full HD movies at 60fps or HD videos at 30fps. Offering a built-in 130° fisheye lens, the SeaLife Micro 2.0 can also be fitted with an optional 10x Macro converter for close-up shooting. Like its predecessor, the Micro HD, the new Micro 2.0 can be used above or below the surface down to 200 feet, while its on-board wireless module connects the camera to any iOS / Android smartphone or tablet using the free SeaLife Micro Cam app. The 32GB model retails for $499.95, and the 64GB version can be had for $549.95.

Nevercenter has released Version 2.8 of  CameraBag, a Mac/Windows program which allows you to edit your raw images, add a variety of user-configurable filters to your photos and simulate the look of classic film stocks. New features in this update include five types of histogram, the ability to zoom and see your image at full resolution and an all-new Photos extension for OSX El Capitan users.

Ricoh have released the highly anticipated Pentax Tethered Capture Plug-In for use with Adobe Lightroom. Enhancing the tethered capture capabilities of thePentax 645Z medium-format dSLR camera (pictured), the new plug-in enables files to easily be uploaded into Adobe Lightroom during a studio session, where they can readily be viewed, shared and edited. “Since Lightroom is already the de-facto standard for many photographers to edit and develop their images, this new plug-in is especially welcome,” said Chris Knight, a New York-based portrait photographer. “Using Lightroom, I am able to quickly share photos with my clients, who are even able to view and comment from remote locations.”

Alien Skin Software has introduced Exposure X for OS X and Windows. Designed to streamline routine editing tasks, Exposure X is a digital imaging app that helps photographers quickly organise, edit, and enhance their photos. It can be used as a plug-in to Photoshop and Lightroom, or as a complete standalone photo editor. The program offers non-destructive editing, so a photographer’s original photo is never touched and changes can always be undone. Additionally, using proprietary algorithms Exposure X handles raw image files from a wide range of cameras. Exposure X is available now from Alien Skin Software for $149. Owners of any version of Exposure may upgrade for $99.