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.

Inspired Photo Gear has launched the Faith Luvipod, a secure system to mount your smartphone or tablet to any tripod or light stand. Spring-loaded and fully adjustable for devices ranging from 120 mm to 220 mm, the Faith Luvipod will safely hold iPhones, iPad mini and even full sized iPads, android devices or field monitors. The stylish accessory can be attached to any light stand, tripod, magic arm, clamp etc. that employs a 1/4-20 inch standard tripod screw fitting, although for larger tablets and field monitors you’ll need to purchase the separately sold Faith stand. The Faith Luvipod is available for £19.99 ($33.68) with shipping available worldwide and will be premiering at The Photography Show next month on stand D131.

The Association of Photographers (AOP) has opened the doors on its 2015 Student Awards. This year the AOP has partnered with innovative London prolab and art printer theprintspace who will be hosting the Awards ceremony and exhibition this summer. Iconic London studio, Holborn Studios, will provide a day's free studio hire including a professional lighting set-up for the overall winner. Further prizes will be announced shortly. The Awards carry four briefs, each set by a leading professional photographer. THese include Social media: Animal conservation, Product shots: Sense, Brand Image: Charity and Sunday supplement cover. The Awards are open to all students who are studying a course that includes photography (this may not necessarily be a full-time photography course). The deadline for entries is 30th April.

has announced an updated version of its Braun Master Action Camera. Version II offers faster speed, better battery life, HD Slow Motion, Time Lapse and image stabilisation. Footage is captured via the Panasonic 16MP high sensitivity CMOS sensor and ultra-sharp glass f/2.8 lens. The camera is waterproof down to 60m with its special housing (included), and comes with built-in stereo microphones and a 2in LCD screen. The suggested retail price is £249.95 for the camera and a wide range of bundled accessories.

Joby has added a new Arca-Swiss compatible accessory to its Pro Series photographic tools. Designed to be portable, practical and versatile, the Joby UltraPlate 208 (£26), also available in a bundle with the Joby Hnad Grip (£43 kit price), is an extended quick-release plate that includes eight ¼-20" mounting holes. It works with the JOBY Ballhead X and other Arca-Swiss compatible tripods. Eight mounting holes can support a wide array of gear: a DLSR, action camera such as GoPro, JOBY GorillaPod Arm or Locking Arm, flash unit, microphone or even a smartphone when paired with a JOBY GripTight Mount. The UltraPlate 208 is crafted of high-quality, machined aluminium for long-lasting strength.

‘Beard’- a new free exhibition at London’s Somerset House features an 80 photo-strong series of men who sport extraordinary facial hair. Created by Warwickshire-based photographer Brock Elbank, the photographs are printed by Lumejet on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper and depict actor John Hurt, models Ricki Hall and Billy Huxley, tattooist Miles Better – and British woman Harnaam Kaur among others. “I was completely blown away with the quality of prints that Lumejet produced for this exhibition - all output on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper,” Elbank says. “They look phenomenal and the colour accuracy is superb." Taking place from 5-29 March 2015, the exhibition is free to attend.

The new Traveller Premium 144 Ball tripod from Hama is an aluminium tripod that comes complete with a 3D ball-head. Boasting a maximum load capacity of 3000 grams, the light-weight Hama Traveller Premium 144 features an adjustable-height, retractable centre column and ships with a carry case. Folding down to 345mm, the tripod extends to a maximum height of 1,440mm. The Traveller Premium 144 is available for €129.00.

The Fujifilm X-T1: 111 X-Pert Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Camera is a new title from Rocky Nook. In this book, popular Fuji Rumors "X-Pert Corner" columnist Rico Pfirstinger teaches about the little-known capabilities of the Fujifilm X-T1, which he has discovered through months of in-depth research and experimentation with the camera. Topics covered include custom settings, infrared imaging, film simulations, panoramas, movies and much more. The 192-page volume is priced at $24.95.

Por el Planeta, the first international conservation photography competition, is now open for submissions. There are 10 categories divided into three themes: Biodiversity (Animal Portraits, Animal Behavior, Animals in Their Environment, Wild Habitat, Underwater and Micro Nature); Conservation (Our Changing Planet and Conservation Photographer of the Year); and Storytelling (Six Frames for Change and Short Video). A prize fund of USD $300,000 will be divided across 22 prizes, including $100,000 for the best picture in the entire contest; $15,000 for the best image captured in Mexico; and $10,000 for the People’s Choice Award. The winner of the Conservation Photographer of the Year category will receive $15,000; the winner of Six Frames for Change category will receive $12,500, plus an additional $50,000 to finance a photography project in a Mexican biome; and the winner of the Short Video category will receive $10,000. The first-place winner in each of the other categories will be awarded $10,000, and the second-place category winners will receive $2,500. The best photograph from each of the Under 18 age groups will win a trip with paid expenses to Mexico City. The competition is open for entries to 27 March 2015.

London based pro-lab and fine art printing service theprintspace has inked a new partnership with the World Photography Organisation. For the first time visitors to the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London, will be able to purchase fine-art archival prints of the photographs on display courtesy of theprintspace’s new online print fulfilment service, thehub. In addition to being the official printer for the Sony World Photography Awards, theprintspace will be working with the WPO to publish weekly content covering a range of topics relating to contemporary photography, digital imaging and fine art printing.