SanDisk has recognised the new LG V10 as the first smartphone to meet SanDisk’s guidelines for ‘Extreme Photo-Imaging Capabilities’ (EPIC). SanDisk EPIC is a SanDisk led marketing initiative which strives to foster and proliferate the incorporation of high-quality imaging capabilities in mobile devices. In meeting the SanDisk EPIC guidelines for smartphones, the LG V10 offers a variety of advanced video and photography capabilities, including, among others, multi-shot image capture in raw format and 4K Ultra HD video recording and playback. “An increasing number of our customers rely on their smartphone as their primary device to capture their memories in both photos and video. So, it was critically important to us to give the LG V10 truly exceptional imaging capabilities. We are thrilled for our LG V10 to be the first smartphone to meet SanDisk’s EPIC guidelines,” said Dr. Ramchan Woo, vice president of LG mobile communications.

Aerial Photography and Videography Using Drones by Eric Cheng is a new field guide that includes everything a new pilot needs to know to safely and proficiently capture still images and video from the air. Cheng is known for his thought leadership in the drone industry and spent nearly two years as Director of Aerial Imaging at DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer and creators of the Phantom quadcopter. “I am asked many times every day what drone to buy, and how to get started in aerial imagery. There’s a lot of confusion out there.” Cheng said. “I wrote this book to address that confusion. The content took me many years in the field to learn - it’s full of useful and pragmatic advice about storytelling using drones in the air.”

SkyPixel has announced the world’s premier drone photography competition. The 2015 SkyPixel Photo Contest invites both budding and professional aerial photographers to enter a selection of their best work. The competition is split into two groups, Professional and Enthusiast, each with their own awards for the following categories: Beauty, Unique Dronies, and Drones in Use, aimed at showcasing drones in the air, in addition to an overall Grand Prize. Judging the competition is a jury comprised of esteemed photographers and drone users including Sudhir Shivaram, Manish Mamtani, Greg Girard, Matt Waite and Wang Jianjun. The winners will be announced on 7 January 2016.

AEE Technology has announced the newest edition of its action camera: the S40 Pro. Featuring a bright red casing, the AEE S40 Pro is one of the lightest on the market and comes with a 16-megapixel sensor, 130-degree lens and a built-in 1250 mAh lithium-ion battery. Capable of recording Full HD movies at 30 frames per second, the camera can also capture time-lapse videos, shooting at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 30 second intervals. The camera is available for purchase directly through AEE and Amazon for $150.

The winners of the sixth Epson International Pano Awards have been announced. The overall winner of the 2015 Open competition is Max Rive from the Netherlands and his six-shot stitched panorama, 'The Ice Prison' (above). The Epson Digital Art Prize went to Darren Moore from the United Kingdom. This award is new to the competition and aims to reward excellence in modern digital post-processing. The overall winner of the 2015 Amateur competition is Mateusz Piesiak, whilst the new Jeff Mitchum Fine Art Prize has been awarded to Carlos F. Turienzo for his image, 'Lighting the Way.' The winner of the VR/360 competition this year is Russian photographer Dmitry Moiseenko, who created a breathtaking interactive aerial image of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano.

Want to see exactly what the new Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 lens.

Want to see exactly what the new Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 lens look like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 lens.

Wex Photographic will be hosting a celebration of staff talent at its third Wexhibition, taking place at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre from Saturday 7th to Saturday 21st November 2015 from 9am to 6pm. “We are very proud to demonstrate the photographic talent and passion of our staff to the public,” said Louis Wahl, Chief Customer Officer at Wex Photographic. “With the range of images on display covering such diverse subjects as portraiture, cityscapes, landscapes, animals, astro, sport, macro and abstract, there should be something for everyone.” Visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favourite image and be in with the chance of winning £50 of Wex vouchers. Entry to the exhibition is free to all.

At Photo Plus Expo, Ricoh Imaging Americas announced US pricing for the Ricoh GR II Premium Kit. Alongside the camera itself, the special package features a selection of exclusive items including an aluminium case, a GC-6 leather camera jacket with a matching GS-3 neck strap, GV-1 external viewfinder, GW-3 Wide-angle conversion lens and a commemorative pin badge. Limited to 1,200 units worldwide, the Ricoh GR II Premium Kit will be available for $1,299.99.

Ricoh Imaging Americas has announced the Medium Format by PENTAX Advantage Programme for the Pentax 645Z medium-format digital camera system. Designed to provide professional photographers with continuous access to gear in the event of a camera system failure, the programme provides three years of extended service and support from date of purchase plus loaner camera bodies and lenses, and a dedicated toll-free support number. The Medium Format by Pentax Advantage Programme packages can be purchased now at authorised Pentax dealers for $849.95 (Pentax Advantage Gold Service) and (Pentax Advantage Platinum Service).

Ricoh Imaging Americas has appointed Linnea Wolken as its new director of marketing for the U.S. and Canada. In this role, Wolken will manage all marketing activities for Ricoh and Pentax cameras and accessories, including the Pentax 645Z medium-format camera system; the newly available Ricoh Theta S and the complete line of digital SLR and compact cameras. “This is such an opportune time to join Ricoh Imaging, as it has just launched some ground-breaking cameras. Positioning the company to grow in multiple directions is such an exciting endeavour,” said Wolken. “I am inspired by the opportunities ahead, and am looking forward to working with everyone on the talented Ricoh team as well as its extended family of dealers, partners and photographers, including our Pentax Image Makers brand ambassadors.”

X-Rite is launching two new products in its ColorChecker series of calibration targets. The new ColorChecker Video and ColorChecker Passport Video reduce video editing time, improve colour balance control, make it easier to match multiple cameras and simplify editing for mixed lighting conditions. The pocket-sized X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Video ((£126)) comes in a rugged hard case, and includes four different targets - a colour reference card, a white balance tool, a three-step greyscale target and a focus calibratio tool. The X-Rite ColorChecker Video (£110) offers a larger form factor and includes 2 series of greyscale patches, a range of skin tone patches, a series of saturated and desaturated chromatic colours, and a full-size white balance target on the reverse side.

Epson has launched a new Legacy Paper line. Designed in collaboration with many of the world’s greatest artists, the Epson Legacy Paper line produces outstanding black density and colour fidelity, along with exceptional archival properties required for collectible works of fine art. “Collaborating with a team of the industry’s leading photographers and fine artists, Epson handpicked the finest papermakers to develop and produce this new line of paper,” said Jeffrey Smith, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America. “Crafted in revered European paper mills, the Legacy Papers bring together all the treasured experience of old world handcraftsmanship with the latest technology, to produce the world’s finest, most beautiful papers.” The first four products in the new range include the Epson Legacy Platine, Legacy Fibre, Legacy Baryta and Legacy Etching papers, which are currently being shown in a gallery at Epson’s booth (#707) at PhotoPlus Expo at the Javits Center in NYC.

Shenyang Zhongyi Optics have launched version II of their Lens Turbo Adapters for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras. Boasting a redesigned optical construction and improved lens coatings, the new adapter allows Canon's and Nikon's full-frame lenses to be mounted onto Micro Four Thirds cameras with a wider angle of view and faster aperture. With the adapter attached, the 2x "crop factor" of MFT cameras is modified by a factor of 0.762x for a combined figure of 1.524, causing these cameras to behave a lot like APS-C models. The new Nikon version of the adapter features a silver aperture ring, enabling users to control the iris of Nikon G lenses, which lack an aperture collar of their own. Priced at $149, the new Zhongyi Turbo Lens Adapter II will become available in November 2015.