The Sony NXCAM HXR-NX100 is a new professional video camera featuring a 1"-type 20-megapixel sensor, which is approximately the same size as a Super 16mm film frame. Other highlights include a fixed Sony G lens, offering 12x optical zoom and a built-in 4-step ND filter; manual focus, zoom and aperture rings; a 0.24"-type 1550K-dot EVF and 3.5"-type 1550K-dot LCD; and a wide variety of connectivity options including HDMI, Multi/Micro USB, XLR terminals, REMOTE, Composite (BNC) and a Multi Interface (MI) Shoe. The camcorder offers multiple recording formats including AVCHD and DV which are suitable for conventional workflow, and newly implemented XAVC S 50Mbps which delivers better image quality especially for professional needs. The Sony HXR-NX100 will available in October 2015.

A major international photography contest called Proify is now accepting entries from around the globe. Organised by Destin Sparks, the Proify competition is all about putting the spotlight on up and coming non-professional/student photographers. There are eight separate categories people can enter including landscape; street photography; portraiture; after dark photography; wedding, panoramic, retro and HDR. The overall winner receives $3,000, second prize $1,000, third prize $500. All winners and high-scoring entrants will be featured on the Proify website for a minimum of 12 months. As always we recommend that you read the rules before entering your work. Do note that entry fees apply.

At Computex 2015, SanDisk unveiled a family of high-performance drives, including the SanDisk Extreme 900, the world’s fastest line of Type C-based portable SSDs; and the SanDisk Extreme 500, the company’s new pocket-sized, rugged drives. Available in up to 1.92TB, the SanDisk Extreme 900 features transfer speeds of up to 850MB/s giving users a significant advantage when they are working with 4K video or detailed high-res photos. These new drives come with both USB Type-C and Type-A cables. The SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD is less than half the size of your smartphone and allows users to transfer videos and photo libraries at up to 415MB/s. Available in up to 480GB capacity, the SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSDs feature a sleek black finish with unique rubber bumpers, and a metal ring that easily clips into a bag. The SanDisk Extreme 900 SSDs will be available in capacities of 480GB, 960GB and 1.92TB at MSRPs of $399.99, $599.99 and $999.99, respectively. The SanDisk Extreme 500 will be available in capacities of 120GB, 240GB and 480GB, at MSRPs of $99.99, $149.99 and $239.99.

SanDisk today launched two new USB 3.0 flash drives – the ultra-small 128GB SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.0 (pictured); and the 256GB SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive, SanDisk’s highest capacity USB flash drive to date. Featuring a low-profile, plug-and-stay design, the new 128GB SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.0 stick (£61.99) provides read speeds of up to 130MB/s. This speed allows users to move content up to 10 times faster than with standard USB 2.0 drives1, such as transferring a full-length movie in less 40 seconds. The 256GB SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 pendrive offers transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s and costs £115.99.

The photography competition broncolor Gen NEXT has found another five young talents, who will be supported by the Swiss lighting manufacturer for the next three years. They are Gonzaga Manso (ESP), Lauri Laukkanen (FIN), Anita Anti (UKR), Cristina Otero (ESP) und Yulia Gorbachenko (UKR), who beat out first-rate competitors from all over the world with their exceptional work. As Gen NEXT ambassadors, they each receive broncolor equipment to the value of $24,000.

GoPro today launched their its new HERO+ LCD camera. Capble of recording Full HD 60p movies and 8-megapixel photos, the GoPro HERO+ LCD features a convenient touch display for easy shot framing, settings control and access to an all-new in-camera video trimming feature. Rugged and waterproof to 40m, the new GoPro HERO+ LCD also includes advanced features like HiLight Tagging and in-camera video trimming to make it easier to identify and share your favorite moments. HiLight Tagging lets you mark key moments while recording and during playback so you can easily find them later, and the all-new video trimming feature allows you to create short clips in-camera for easier sharing without a computer. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connect the GoPro HERO+ LCD to your smartphone or tablet for easy camera control and shot preview when your camera is mounted or out of reach. The GoPro App also allows for easy content sharing to Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The HERO+ LCD will be available for purchase in the United States from 7 June 2015. International availability will begin five days later.

The 2016 Sony World Photography Awards are open for entries. Free to enter, the Awards feature five competitions: Professional; Open; Youth; National Awards and Student Focus. The awards’ prizes include the latest Sony digital imaging equipment; inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House, London; inclusion in the 2016 awards’ book and $30,000 for the overall winners. New for 2016, the 14 Professional categories are now divided into two distinct genres - Art and Documentary. The change is to provide a clearer structure in which photographers can be recognised. Both genres also include new category additions, with Art presenting the new Staged and Candid categories and Documentary now including Daily Life and Environment. Also new this year, the British Journal of Photography will partner with the World Photography Organisation and its Student Focus competition. As part of this partnership, the winning Student Focus photographer will receive an online feature showcasing a body of work on the jounral's website.

Triggertrap have released their  newest app, Triggertrap Selfie. Putting a twist on the ubiquitous self-portrait, Triggertrap Selfie uses the subject's voice to trigger the iPhone's camera. "Shout, clap, honk like a goose - from the creative to the amusing, Triggertrap Selfie opens up a whole new world of snapping self-portraits," the company says. As soon as the shout hits the required number of decibels, the pixelated screen will clear and the camera snaps a selfie. Your screaming work of art is saved to your camera roll, and you can share it straight to Twitter from inside the Triggertrap Selfie app.

Version 3.0 of Camera MX is now available in the Google Play Store. This update adds a new Shoot the Past mode, which grants users the ability to go back in time up to three seconds before the shutter release was pressed to select and save missed shots. The new version additionally features a completely redesigned user interface and a wide range of photo editing options. The app is available for free.

Nest has just announced the new Odyssey photo bag range. These products combine a rolling bag with a removeable backpack, and feature a generous main section as well as several pockets for small accessory storage. The Odyssey 10 will take two pro camera bodies plus 5 to 6 lenses and a flashgun and the Odyssey 20 provides enough space for two pro camera bodies pus 6 to 8 lenses and a flash. Available in August, the Odyssey collection has SRPs of £179.99 (Odyssey 10) and £209.99 (Odyssey 20).

The iKlip Grip is a new multi-functional video stand with Bluetooth shutter for smartphones and compact video cameras. It can be used as a desktop tripod, grip handle, monopod or tripod adapter. In all configurations it can securely hold any smartphone with a screen size from 3.5" to 6" — even when the device is in a protective carrying case. iKlip Grip also features a standard mounting system for connecting small action cams and compact digital cameras. Additionally, the iKlip Grip comes with a 17.5” / 45 cm detachable telescopic extension arm. This gives users an easy way to position their device from 10” to 22” (25 to 55 cm) away — high above the crowd for optimal video and audio recording.  The iKlip Grip is available for an introductory price of $/€59.99.

Google have introduced Google Photos — a new service that promises to give you "a home for all your photos and videos." The free service incorporates a standalone app for both Android and iOS, a web-based interface, unlimited photo-video hosting, automated syncing and backups. The original resolution is maintained for up to 16 megapixels for photos and 1080p for movies, and your works are automatically organised by people, places and other parameters. The new Google Photos Assistant creates animations, collages and videos from your still images. Pictures, movies and entire photo sets can be shared easily via social networks.

Website: Google Photos

The international Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) are now open for entries. The 2015 awards have three portfolio categories, three single-image awards, a New Talent category for aspiring professional photographers, an HD video category, Young Travel Photographer of the Year (for photographers aged 18 and under) and the new Smart Shot category (for images shot on a mobile phone or tablet). The overall winner of Travel Photographer of the Year will be chosen from the photographers who submit two or more portfolio category entries. The winner will receive £2,500, the Travel Photographer of the Year trophy and a personalised Plastic Sandwich portfolio case or iFolio. Entry fees start at £7.50 and entry for Young TPOTY is free. The submission deadline is 1st October. Images can be submitted online or as prints.

Schatz Images: 25 Years is a magnificent and luxurious two-book boxed set by Howard Schatz. Published by Glitterati, the two volumes contain a total of 832 pages and 1083 original photographs. Beautifully bound in a custom slip case, and limited to 500 signed and numbered copies, it is a true collector's item. The set will be available next month, priced at $500.

111 shortlisted works submitted to this year's Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY) contest will go on show at the Royal Geographical Society in London from 22 June to 10 July 2015. Launched in 2007 by CIWEM, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, and sponsored by Atkins, the Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year competition honours amateurs and professionals of all ages. The selected photographs and films examine issues such as innovation, sustainable development, biodiversity, poverty, climate change, human rights, culture, natural disasters and population growth. Nigel Hendley, CIWEM Interim Chief Executive said: “The EPOTY competition provides a platform to raise awareness of environmental issues fundamental to our organisation; climate change, environmental pollution, water resource management, wastewater and flood risk management."

To mark the beginning of a three-year partnership with Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios (NNOS), Wex Photographic is holding its inaugural Photography Symposium which will take place on 7th June at The Forum. NNOS, which takes place between 23rd May and 7th June, celebrates the county’s artists and their achievements by offering them the opportunity to open their doors to the public to exhibit, sell and talk about their work. This year the festival will see over 450 artists exhibiting across 248 venues throughout Norfolk. The Wex Photographic Photography Symposium promises to be a day of enlightening talks from regional photographers and videographers. Featuring a mixture of established and up-and-coming talent, there will be a range of topics covered which include, ‘Capturing the Action’, ‘From Acrobat to Photographer’, ‘Small Town Inertia – Community, Context, Conduit’, ‘The Personal Landscape’, ‘Exhibition Cartographie Luminaire’, and ‘The Constant Photographer’. Tickets are £8 per talk or £40 for an all-day pass.