Booq has unveiled the latest addition to their Boa collection, Boa flow graphite. The bag's weatherproof ballistic nylon exterior is equipped with water-repellent coating to endure even the most hazardous weather conditions. To keep you fully covered, a rain cover with reflective elements makes you visible in low light conditions. A malleable interior compartment allows you to enhance or collapse the main and bottom compartment, making room for a DSLR, large headphones and other necessities. A back laptop compartment has been densely padded to fit up to a 17” MacBook or PC, meanwhile a plethora of exterior pockets keep all other fundamentals safely tucked away and easily accessible. Boa flow is available now for $225.

Manfrotto has launched a new Pro Light Collection; the lightest bag collection available in the Manfrotto range. The new bags feature Manfrotto’s CPS (Camera Protection System) which has been specifically engineered to provide maximum protection at the core of the bag by using 3D shock absorbing foam to give the highest level of safety and resistance. The collection also features Advanced Harness System and gecko EVA foam harness straps which allow the Pro Light bags to be extremely comfortable to wear. Furthermore, the anatomic shape is designed to perfectly fit the body of the camera, while the removable waist strap ensures stability. The Manfrotto Pro Light range includes a total of 33 items.

The fourth annual IdeasTap and Magnum Photographic Award is now open to all photographers aged 16+ worldwide. Aimed at identifying, showcasing and celebrating documentary photographers, the competition offers prizes including £5,000 cash, £1,500 project funding, mentoring from Magnum photographers and the chance to work at Magnum’s offices. The winners of the 2013 award will be announced on Thursday 22 May 2014. The deadline for entries is 17 July 2014.

Apple has released a Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update for iPhoto '11 and Aperture 3. Version 5.05 adds support for raw image files generated by the Nikon D4S, the Canon EOS 1200D and PowerShot G1 X Mark II (pictured), and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. You can download the update from the website below.

Website: Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 5.05

SWPP & WPPI have entered into a partnership to offer members joint membership of both photographic organisations. SWPP members are now able to access previously exclusive WPPI competitions, be enrolled as a WPPI member and gain discounted rates to WPPI’s annual Las Vegas Convention. Phil Jones, CEO of The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers said, “This is a terrific opportunity for our members to share in the benefits of another world leading organisation and have the opportunity to attend a Las Vegas Convention’.

During the months of May and June, X-Rite will be attending nine open days and roadshows across the United Kingdom. At these events, they will be demonstrating the full range of X-Rite colour management solutions for photographers, including the new ColorTRUE App, designed for achieving accurate colour on your mobile devices. Click through / scroll down for the details.

AKVIS has announced a new additional frame pack for its ArtSuite software. The brand new Beauty Pack includes 50 hand painted frames which can be used to decorate your blog or photo album. With the release of the new product, 15 themed packs are now available for use in ArtSuite: Travel Pack, Fantasy Pack, Wedding Pack, Baby Pack, Spring Pack, Summer Pack, Autumn Pack, Winter Pack, Halloween Pack, Christmas Pack, Saint Valentine Pack, Chinese Horoscope, Sports Pack,Pirates World, and the new Beauty Pack. Do note that the frame packs can only be used in the AKVIS ArtSuite Standalone program, which sells for $69. The new Beauty Frame Pack is $15.

The NEC MultiSync EA244UHD is a 24-inch Ultra HD monitor featuring a wide-colour-gamut panel with 14-bit gamma processing. Offering the latest DisplayPort connectivity, as well as a range of DVI and HDMI inputs, this monitor has a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. Those using a multiscreen configuration will also benefit from the ControlSync harmonisation feature that matches brightness, white point temperature, energy saving and other settings, as well as the ability to turn up to six synchronised displays on and off with one button. The new NEC MultiSync EA244UHD display will become available in June

EyeEm has announced its inaugural Global Photography Festival & Awards. Held in Berlin on 12-13 September 2014, the EyeEm Global Photography Festival & Awards include a global photo competition open for all photographers, from novice to professional. Judges include renowned photography director Anna G. Dickson from The Huffington Post, New York Times photographer Daniel Krieger, Olivier Laurent from TIME magazine, and Stephen Mayes, member of the founding management team at Getty Images. Participants will have the opportunity to win cash and non-cash prizes, as well as have their work exhibited at the Berlin Holzmarkt and published in a book. Categories include The Portraitist, The Explorer, The Illusionist, The Architect, The Street Photographer, The Illuminator, The Speedster, The Naturalist, The Storyteller and The Stylist. For more information, visit the website below.

B&H has started taking pre-orders for the Sony Alpha A7S full-frame compact system camera. Available from July, the 4K-capable Sony A7S sells for $2498 in a body-only configuration, which is only $200 dearer than the Sony A7R. The Sony A7S is a new 12.2-megapixel compact system camera with a 35mm full-frame sensor, 4K movie recording, a sensitivity range of ISO 50 to 102,400 (extendable to ISO 409,600)  and an improved auto focus system that remains operational down to light levels as low as -4EV. Using data read-out from every single pixel of the 35mm full-frame sensor, the Sony A7S records 4K movies (24p and 25p) that are free from aliasing and jaggies. The camera's professional video functions include XAVC S Full HD recording at 50Mbps, time code and optional XLR audio inputs.

Website: B&H

Tiffen have just introduced their new Steadicam Smoothee bonus pack. Based on the same technology as the big $60,000 rigs used in Hollywood, Smoothee allows the capturing of video and still images without the shakes normally associated with hand-held video shot on the go, right out of the box. When purchasing a Steadicam Smoothee, users can now enjoy two mounts for the price of one. The new bonus pack features a mount for iPhone 5/5S and a mount for GoPro HERO cameras - a $24.95 bonus value. Steadicam Smoothee, with its bonus pack retails for $149.

One of the latest projects of Luke Evans, a Kingston University photography student, was chosen for display in London’s prestigious Saatchi Gallery. The eye-catching series, named Forge, portrays grand landscapes deceptively created from small items in Luke's kitchen. The objects photographed for Luke’s collection were created using common household products such as self-raising flour, paint, fragments of brick and glycerine throat medication. They measured just a few inches across so to achieve the grand sense of scale, Luke used a popular photographic technique called tilt-shift. Luke' work will appear in the New Order: British Art Today III exhibition, expected to launch later in the year.

The Tokina AT-X 70-200mm F4 PRO FX VCM-S is a new, stabilised, full-frame telezoom lens for Nikon SLR cameras. First announced on 29 January 2013, the Tokina AT-X 70-200mm F4 PRO FX VCM-S has an optical formula comprising 19 elements in 14 groups, with a 9-bladed iris diaphragm and a 67mm filter thread. Promising three stops of advantage versus non-stabilised lenses, the Tokina AT-X 70-200mm F4 PRO FX VCM-S carries a suggested retail price of JPY 150,000, which is equivalent to about £880. Availability is slated for 30th May (in Japan). An optional tripod collar (Tokina TM-705) will also be on offer starting 30th June, priced at JPY 24,000. International availability and pricing to be confirmed.

Source: Tokina Japan

Sony has posted four full-resolution sample photos taken with the new Sony RX100 III digital compact camera. All four sample images were shot in aperture priority mode, at a sensitivity setting of ISO 125/22°.

Website: Sony

Want to see exactly what the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III premium compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the exciting new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III premium compact camera.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III is a new premium compact camera for professionals. The Sony RX100 III features a 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 lens, retractable OLED electronic viewfinder, 20.1 megapixel back-illuminated 1.0-type Exmor R CMOS sensor, 50 Mbps high bit-rate Full HD movies with XAVC S support, 180-degree tilting LCD screen, and a built-in 3-stop (1/8) Neutral Density filter. The price and availaibility of the new Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III have yet to be confirmed.

Canon China has posted half a dozen high-resolution sample photos taken with the new Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens. Offering a 35mm equivalent focal range of 16-29mm, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM features both a UD lens element and a range of optimised lens coatings, as well as a quiet STM focus motor, 4-stop image stabiliser and a circular iris diaphragm. The EF-S 10-18mm IS STM will be available from May 2014 with an SRP of £299.99 / €349.99 / $299.99.

Website: Canon China

Canon China has released six full-resolution sample photos captured with the new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM, Canon’s first ultra-wide L-series lens to feature image stabilisation. The lens’s optical formula includes two UD elements to minimise chromatic aberration. Super Spectra Coatings reduce ghosting and flare, while fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements prevent dust and water drops sticking to each element. The newly-designed IS system features a number of additional improvements, including gyro sensors for greater accuracy in traditional shooting or when capturing panning motion. The EF 16-35mm f4L IS USM will be available from June 2014 with an SRP of £1,199.99 / €1,399.99 / $1,199.00.

Website: Canon China

Eyefi is offering Best Buy customers an exclusive bundle of the Eyefi Mobi 16GB with a 1 year membership to Eyefi Cloud service. “Having a leading retailer like Best Buy put the Eyefi Cloud service ‘on its shelves’ is a thrilling opportunity,” says Matt DiMaria, chief executive officer of Eyefi. “This exclusive Eyefi bundle combines hardware, software and services and delivers real value for customers who want to connect their cameras to the cloud." The exclusive bundle, available online and at Best Buy stores, is priced at $99.99 and includes an Eyefi Mobi 16GB WiFi SD card, mobile apps, and a 1 year membership to Eyefi Cloud – a private, photo-centric cloud that makes newly captured photos instantly available on a smartphone, tablet, PC or smart TV - with unlimited photos.  For more information, visit the website below.