Ilford Photo have published the findings of a recent survey designed to help them better understand film users. Thousands of film photographers from over 70 countries completed the questionnaire, and 30% of them turned out to be under 35, with three-fifths of them using film for less than 5 years. "For many of those the interest began after receiving a film camera as a gift from family or a friend," the company says. "Thanks to the film users who took part in this survey, we have confirmed what we thought, which is that the recent growth in film sales can be attributed to the new users coming through." Of those who responded, 98% used black and white film with 31% shooting it exclusively. Just 2% use only colour film. Interestingly 86% of respondents used roll film, and the Lomo and Holga cameras proved popular in this category.

Now open for entries, the Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase for the very best in environmental photography. Free to enter, the competition provides an opportunity for amateur and professional photographers of all ages to share images of environmental and social issues with international audiences, and to enhance our understanding of the causes, consequences and solutions to climate change and social inequality. The main prize is the prestigious Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year title, along with a cash prize of £5000. The deadline for entries is 7 April 2015 and photographers may submit up to 10 works.

BenQ have just launched a new 24” colour critical monitor designed for photographers. The BenQ PG2401PT comes complete with Palette Master Software, which has been co-developed with X-Rite and features an adjustable 14-bit 3D Look-Up-Table (LUT) and comes with a hood as standard. The 10-bit display panel has a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels and reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB colour space. Each monitor has been rigorously factory tested for brightness uniformity, Delta-E (<2)) and Gamma curve. Input terminals include D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort, Mini Display Port, USB 3.0 together with a convenient SD card reader. The BenQ PG2401PT is available now from Colour Confidence. priced at £810 including value added tax.

Fujifilm UK has launched a new, app-based photobook printing service. POP Books are small, pocket or handbag sized photobooks made up of your own images from your phone, Facebook or Instagram feeds  and printed on Fujifilm's silver halide photographic paper. They come in two sizes, 10x10cm and 13x13cm, and two surfaces, gloss and lustre/matt. The accompanying free iOS app  (Android version launching in April) allows you to either order a printed POP Book or share a version online via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, email and so on. Fujifilm POP Books start at £4.99 including S&H.

Today at Imaging USA 2015, DNP Imagingcomm America introduced its new DS80DX dye-sublimation duplex printer for professional photographers and photo retailers. At 16.4 inches tall by 12.7 inches wide by 19.7 inches deep, the printer has dual paper supplies that allow for easy duplex and simplex printing. The duplex printing function is sheet-fed with a dedicated media tray for double-sided prints, such as photobooks and calendars. The simplex printing function yields 4”x8”, 5”x8”, 6”x8”, 8”x10” and 8”x12” photo prints. The DNP DS80DX Duplex Printer also comes bundled with DNP’s proprietary Mini Photobook software for instantly creating compact-sized 4”x4”, 4”x8”, and 6”x8” photobooks. The software can also create a Super Panorama 4”x16” photobook, printed across two 4”x8” spreads. Once the software is installed on a compatible operating system (Windows XP, 7 and 8), images can be quickly loaded into the program from a media card, USB drive or other storage device.

Fashion photographer Chris Pollard will be exhibiting his Petzval photographs at the Lomography Gallery Store Soho from February 5th - March 5th. Pollard took the Petzval lens along to the catwalks and presentations of the London Collections: Men show. He managed to capture some amazing shots on the night and will be exhibiting his work at the Lomography Soho Store, 3 Newburgh St, London, W1F 7RE.

.

The Photography Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham from 21 -24 March, has annoounced its lineup of speakers for the show's Super Stage theatre. Over four days, the Super Stage will host a diverse group of photographers including Tom Stoddart, Martin Parr, Mary Ellen Mark, Tim Flach, Simon Norfolk, Susan Meiselas, Michael Kenna, Lynsey Addario and Don McCullin. Click through / read on for more information.

ExpoImaging has launched the Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro Lighting System. “The idea behind the original FlashBender XL Pro Kit was to create a larger light source with studio-style control while retaining the portability and easy setup fundamental to all the FlashBenders,” said Erik Sowder, CEO of ExpoImaging. “With the FlashBender 2 XL Pro, we worked hard to decrease the weight of the original XL Pro as well as to further refine its attachment design. The new FlashBender 2 XL Pro Reflector is 20% lighter. We know that every bit of weight reduction is welcome for location shooters. We also know that photographers will be excited by the inclusion of the new XL Pro Strip Grid attachment in the XL Pro System. Combining diffusion fabric with a black fabric grid, the XL Pro Strip Grid provides precise rim and edge lighting control. It attaches quickly to the front of the XL Pro Reflector and is compatible with the original XL Pro Reflector design.” The FlashBender XL Pro Lighting System is sized to fit a 15" laptop compartment or lay flat to allow more room for lenses and other essential equipment in the gear bag. The Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro Lighting System retails for $99.95.

Canon has posted a firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR camera. Version 1.3.3 incorporates the following improvements and fixes:

• Improves the AF controllability when shooting in Live View using a wide-angle (single focal length or zoom) lens.
• Fixes the incorrect indications on the English and Russian menu screens (Note: the Russian menu is not available for Japanese models).

Website: Canon

Canon has released firmware updates for its EOS-1D X (pictured) and EOS-1D C dSLR cameras. The new version (for both models) improves the AF controllability when shooting in Live View using a wide-angle lens, and fixes various bugs. Note that the firmware upgrade for the EOS-1D C can only be obtained by sending the camera to a Canon Regional Competence Centre (RCC) or taken to an authorised Canon Repair Centre.

Website: Canon

NEC Display Solutions Europe has launched the NEC SpectraView Reference 322UHD monitor, a professional 31.5-inch Ultra HD display with 3840x2160 pixels. This new reference monitor has a 14-bit adjustable LUT, a 10-bit panel, wide colour gamut capability covering 99% of AdobeRGB, Digital Uniformity Control and a 3D LUT to emulate print colour spaces. “The NEC 31.5-inch SpectraView® Reference display sets a new industry benchmark and users that rely on colour-critical displays will benefit from the continuous improvement in this benchmark. This latest display incorporates many exacting requirements to provide complete colour confidence as well as crucial productivity gains,” said Christopher Parker, Product Line Manager Desktop Displays at NEC Display Solutions Europe. The NEC SpectraView Reference 322UHD display is available from February 2015.

To bring to light the efforts of workers who keep the British economy going 24 hours a day, news photographer David Hedges used the Sony A7S to capture a series of low-light documentary-style images showcasing this ‘hidden’ UK workforce. The images depict a range of night workers spanning the length and breadth of the country; including railway engineers in Bristol, guards at Hampton Court Palace and a fruit-and-vegetable seller at Borough Market. “Being a news photographer, you have to be able to capture scenes and moments quickly – and generally the set up and lighting is completely beyond your control," Hedges said. “Having a camera which can perform well in low light such as the Sony A7S opens up so many more creative options for the photographer."

Canon has added new updates to its cloud-based image management service, irista. The new features include one-touch photo book creation, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom integration and full access to irista's functionality on tablet devices. The irista updates are accompanied by a pricing refresh for the subscription tiers, which increases the storage options at all levels. The updated free tier now offers 15GB of cloud storage space, with full functionality. Thoses with larger image libraries can now get 200GB and 500GB tiers available for a monthly or annual cost.

Organised by the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) with support from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Light Works is a new exhibition celebrating the International Year of Light. Curated by RPS Fellow Gary Evans, Light Works is a virtual journey through the electromagnetic spectrum from gamma rays to radio waves.  It uses 50 images to explore ways of looking into our own bodies and the world around us. The exhibition is on public display until 6 February in the Burlington House Courtyard of the Royal Academy, before starting its tour to Belfast, Edinburgh and other UK cities.

Calumet has just completed works on its flagship store on Drummond Street in London. The refurbishment includes a new store layout with displays to demonstrate various photographic products from all the leading brands. There is a digital workflow zone, a studio lighting showcase and a dedicated used equipment area, as well as two brand new touch-and-try zones from Manfrotto and Wacom. In addition to this, Calumet now offers a price match promise.  Customers have seven days to claim the difference, should they find the same product cheaper in another UK retailer. Online, Calumet customers can now enjoy reading the all new blog. Led by professional portrait photographer, Rory Lewis, the blog delivers the latest on equipment and techniques from his shoots as well as purpose testing of Calumet’s comprehensive collection of professional equipment, tuition tips and hands-on experiences of the latest kit.