Corel today introduced its VideoStudio Pro X8 and VideoStudio Ultimate X8 video editing packages. “VideoStudio is already known for delivering unmatched usability and power. With the new X8, we’re doing even more to help you bring your vision and stories to life. New effects provide opportunities to experiment and explore. Smarter features, a more intuitive UI, and enhanced performance make it easier to build your movies. VideoStudio X8 lets you work faster while focusing on the creative parts of your project,” said Michel Yavercovski, Director of Product Management for Corel video products. VideoStudio Ultimate X8 includes all the power of VideoStudio Pro X8, plus a collection of advanced special effects with plug-ins from proDAD, Boris Graffiti and NewBlue, providing over $500 in additional value. VideoStudio Pro X8 and VideoStudio Ultimate X8 are available now in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian and Traditional Chinese. Suggested retail pricing of VideoStudio Pro X8 is $79.99 / €69.99/ £59.99, VideoStudio Ultimate X8 is $99.99 / €89.99/ £79.99.

Hasselblad has announced a new aerial imaging camera equipment alliance with Australian importer C.R.Kennedy. The arrangement, described as 'a pioneering strategic partnership for all aerial imaging solutions' by Hasselblad, is expected to expand the market for the company's professional H5D aerial camera (pictured) and other high-end capture portfolio products.

The shortlists for the Professional, Open and Youth competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards have been announced. Those in the awards’ 13 Professional categories will now compete for a $25,000 prize and the coveted L’Iris d’Or/ Photographer of the Year title. The recipient, along with the winners of the Professional categories, overall Youth and Student winners plus the Open Photographer of the Year, who receives a $5,000 prize, will all be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony on Thursday 23 April. The winning and shortlisted images will go on show at Somerset House, London from 24 April – 10 May and published in the 2015 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book. Click through / scroll down for the shortlists.

Really Nice Images have released RNI All Films 3.0. This edition adds a new Analogue Softness feature, which is designed to eliminate any visual differences between high-resolution digital photos and genuine film images. Additionally, this major update brings more than 170 new film presets plus enhanced colour accuracy and improved skin tones. RNI All Films 3.0 is available for Lightroom 4 / 5 / CC and for ACR for Photoshop 6 / CC. The package is priced at $122 and contains 5 "sub-packages": Negative, Slide, Instant, BW and Vintage. Those sub-packages can also be purchased individually for $49 each. Existing RNI All Films customers are entitled to a 50% discount.

G-Technology are displaying their latest products at BVE Expo 2015. These include the new G-RAID with Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.0 and the also new G-RAID with USB 3.0 only (pictured). Featuring an internal RAID controller, solid all-aluminum enclosure, and quiet cooling fan technology, both solutions come with two removable, 7,200RPM enterprise-class hard drives for improved reliability. With transfer rates up to 440MB/s, the G-RAID with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 easily supports multi-stream HD, 2K and compressed 4K video workflows, the company says. Additionally, G-Technology are showcasing the new G-DRIVE ev ATC with Thunderbolt, G-DRIVE ev ATC with USB 3.0 and G-DRIVE ev RaW drives that boast features like watertight drive compartments and drop-resistance. BVE is currently ongoing at Excel London, and G-Technology's booth is located in Hall N18, stand M12.

The third FEP European Photo Book of the Year Award is now open for entry. Books can be entered in one of eight categories including Reportage, Portrait, Landscape, Nature photography, Nudes, Monographs, Commercial and self-published books. A single copy of each book must be sent by no later than 14 March 2015 to Adriano Scognamillo, via Bontempi,  2/a, 06122  Perugia-Italy. The entry fee for each book is 40,00 euros (60,00 € - for non-EU applicants). One winner will be chosen for each category and the winner will receive a diploma and a ceramic plate. One book from all the entries will be chosen as FEP Best Photographic Book 2015 and will receive the EUROPEAN BOOK PRIZE.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is looking for your camera trap images for an assignment on its Wild View Photo Blog. The Wild View editorial team will review and select submissions based on appeal, composition, originality, and technical quality. A group of chosen shots for this assignment will be posted on Wild View. You may enter up to two photographs in the competition. The winner of the assignment chosen by Wild View Photo Blog and WCS social media readers will receive a Patagonia Black Hole Backpack. The submission deadline is 23 March 2015.

Spider Camera Holster have launched their new Spider Monkey Rain Cover. Lightweight and compact, the unique Spider Monkey Rain Cover attaches to the Spider Monkey Accessory Clip, which clips to the user’s own belt as well as all of Spider Holster’s belts and Lens Pouches. With a push of a finger, the rain cover detaches from the belt and offers users immediate gear protection from the elements. The Spider Monkey rain cover slips easily over any professional camera with plenty of room for lenses up to 70-200/2.8. It also features an elastic band so users can fully enclose their camera, allowing for maximum protection from rain, snow or sleet. The Spider Monkey Rain Cover carries an MSRP of $25.

Olympus have issued a firware upgrade for its OM-D E-M1 compact system camera. Preannounced at the beginning of February, Firmware Version 3.0  increases the maximum continuous shooting speed from 6.5fps to 9fps with auto focus maintained. With this update, AF tracking performance is improved when using C-AF Sequential H mode. Additionally, the new firmware adds support for Version 2.5 of the OI Share smartphone app You can update your camera's firmware using the free Digital Camera Updater utility.

Sigma UK today revealed the recommended retail prices and availability of their 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art and 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C lenses. The Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A lens will have an RRP of £799.99 and be available in March in Canon and Sigma fit, with the Nikon version arriving in April. The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C lens will have an RRP of £1,199.99, becoming available in March in Sigma mount. The Canon variant will go on sale in April, with the Nikon version being launched in May.

PNY offers users a range of memory card readers including a wireless media reader (£49.99, pictured). This portable wireless storage device is compatible with Apple and Android devices, and allows users to easily share, stream and save their media content while on the move. Ssimply plug in your storage device (USB flash drive, SD card or microSD memory card) to access all your files on your mobile device via a secure Wi-Fi connection. The company also offers users a High Performance 3.0 Flash Card Reader (£14.99), a multi-slot digital hub that combines access to content from multiple USB flash drives, USB 2.0 devices and flash cards on one convenient device (£9.99), a portable All in One USB 2.0 Card reader with a retractable cable (£9.99) and a standard USB 2.0 Card Reader (£6.99) that supports several popular formats and features an LED indicator for safe card removal.

MMD, the brand license partner for Philips Monitors, today added a new AH-IPS LED monitor to its line-up of Philips UltraWide displays. The 34" Philips BDM3470UP monitor offers a resolution of 3440x1440, an ultra-wide aspect ratio of 21:9, SmartUniformity, HDMI and MHL support as well as USB3, DisplayPort, DVI and VGA connectivity. The new Philips 34-inch BDM3470UP display is available now for a price of £749.

X-Rite has teamed up with Macphun Software to offer a free copy of Macphun Intensify Pro, worth £45/€55, with special bundles of ColorMunki Display. “Using ColorMunki Display to create an accurate on screen image, enables photographers to edit with confidence, save time and money on repeated editing and printing and ensures consistency of results across a photographic workflow,” commented Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director, X-Rite Photo Europe. “With the accuracy in place, the addition of Macphun Intensify Pro gives Mac users a set of powerful controls to enhance the detail, structure, clarity and texture in an image.” Available across Europe, the offer runs from now until 21 March 2015.

Panasonic has unveiled two new Micro Four Thirds lenses. The Lumix G 42.5mm f/1.7 Power O.I.S. is an 85mm equivalent short telephoto lens with optical image stabilisation and 240fps Drive Auto Focus. The lens will become available in May in black and silver versions. The Panasonic Lumix G 30mm f/2.8 Macro Mega O.I.S. (pictured), whose development was announced back in 2014, is a stabilised macro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1. This lens will also go on sale in May. Pricing - for both lenses - has yet to be communicated.

Kenro has announced the immediate availability of a number of new sizes for Marumi's Lens Protect and UV filters. The company's Exus range of Lens Protect Filters has been expanded with another three sizes: 39mm, 86mm and 95mm, giving a total of 16 thread sizes. The Marumi DHG Super Lens Protect Filters also have another two sizes to extend the range: 105mm and 127mm. Other new Marumi filters include 82mm, 86mm and 95mm in the Standard DHG UV Range and 82mm, 86mm and 95mm in the 'Super' DHG UV Range.

Wacom have released a new version of Bamboo Paper. This iPad app, together with the new Wacom stylus firmware update, considerably improves the precision of the smart styli (Bamboo Stylus fineline and Intuos Creative Stylus 2) through better offset correction.. When setting up the app and configuring their stylus, users can now choose from six different wrist positions. These reflect the most common positions of the hand while writing and sketching. Bamboo Paper is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.