Photographers around the world are invited to enter the Epson International Pano Awards to compete for approximately $40,000 in cash and prizes. Now in its fifth year, the competition showcases the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and is the largest competition for panoramic photography. The 2013 competition saw 4068 images submitted from 843 photographers in 57 countries. Early-bird entries to the 2014 contest are open now until Sunday 13th July. Prizes include an Epson Stylus Pro 7900 printer, an Epson Stylus Pro 4900 printer, and an Epson EB-1775 Ultra-Slim Projector.

Apple has updated its MacBook Air with faster processors. Now starting at £749, the new Apple MacBook Air models feature fourth-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, fast flash storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, up to 12 hours of battery life and Apple’s iLife and iWork apps.  The 11-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.4 GHz processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.7 GHz, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at £749, and 256GB of flash storage starting at £899. The 13-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.4 GHz processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.7 GHz, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at £849, and 256GB of flash storage starting at £999 inc VAT. Configure-to-order options include a 1.7 GHz Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.3 GHz, up to 8GB of memory and up to 512GB flash storage.

Canon today celebrates the achievement of a new lens manufacturing milestone, with the production of the company’s 100 millionth EF-series interchangeable lens. Over the past 27 years, since the launch of the company’s proprietary EF lenses and EOS SLR cameras in March 1987, Canon has developed a wide range of innovative technologies and world’s firsts, such as the lens-based Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabiliser (IS) technology, and a multi-layered diffractive optical (DO) element. Recent innovations have seen the EF range extend into new fields, with the launch of the company’s EF Cinema lenses for digital cinematography in January 2012, and EF-M lenses for its Compact System Camera, the EOS M, in September 2012.  More recently, Canon’s EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x (pictured) became the world’s first super telephoto zoom lens to feature a built in 1.4x extender; at least among interchangeable lenses designed for SLR cameras.

Profoto has issued the first firmware upgrade for its B1 off-camera flash and AirTTL system. The B1 was the world’s first cordless monolight with TTL metering, and Profoto vowed to continuously update the AirTTL system. One of the most frequently requested features is TTL metering with Canon’s flagship model: the Canon EOS-1D X. Today, this feature is made available free of charge through an easily installed firmware upgrade. The process is simple: 1) Go to the Profoto support website. 2) Sign in with an existing My Profoto account or create a new one. 3) Register your B1 and your Air Remote TTL-C. 4) Download the upgrade. 5) Open the software and follow the instructions.

Fuji has released a firmware update for its Fujifilm X-E2 compact system camera. Version 2.00 reduces the display lag of the electronic viewfinder to 5 milliseconds, which is less than 1/10 compared tothe current firmware.  Furthermore, the update adds new colour options to the focus peak highlight function, allows face detection and EVF/LCD toggling to be mapped onto the Fn button, adds a 'Suppressed Flash' option to the flash settings, and fixes a bug related to film simulation bracketing.

Website: Fujifilm X-E2 Firmware Update Ver.2.00

Alien Skin Software today announced the forthcoming launch of Exposure 6, the latest version of its flagship photography effects software. Alien Skin’s creative focus and lens simulation program, Bokeh, has now been rolled into Exposure, thus eliminating the need to jump between programs. As such, Exposure now provides simple tools for photographers to draw attention to their subject by manipulating focus, vignette and depth of field. Along with the inclusion of Bokeh, Exposure’s user interface has been refined and enhanced. A new basic control panel contains sliders for global adjustments to areas such as exposure, contrast, clarity and vibrance for faster editing. The image processing engine has also been rewritten and now offers full-sized instant previews. Additionally, Exposure 6 includes many new lighting effects such as realistic sun flare, and authentic vintage borders developed by world-renowned photographer Parker J Pfister. Exposure 6 will be available in June for $149 

PXS Distribution has announced that the new EXtreme action camera is now available in the UK. The camera comes with an f/2.4 lens and a 12-megapixel sensor, as well as a built-in LCD screen. The camera supports video recording quality 1080p at 60fps, 960p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, and WVGA at 240fps. The iSAW EXtreme can be mounted on a tripod or on the head, and can be fully controlled via a smartphone or a tablet through Wi-Fi. The iSAW EXtreme is available for $249.

DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro 9.1.5 for Mac and Windows. This upgrade enables DxO Optics Pro 9 to offer support for the Nokia Lumia 1020, the first smartphone capable of shooting raw (pictured). Version 9.1.5 also offers support for four additional cameras: the Canon EOS 1200D, the Olympus E-M10 and Stylus 1, and the Nikon Coolpix P340; and benefits from the addition of 472 new camera/lens combinations to the library of DxO Optics Modules. Photographers who acquired a DxO Optics Pro 8 license on or after 1 September 2014 are entitled to a free upgrade to version 9.

Crated is a new online marketplace for digital artists and photographers. Unlike other art selling sites, "Crated provides a turnkey solution for artists providing not only display and sales features, but also high-quality production, marketing and fulfillment functionality with the highest profit sharing available," the company says. "Crated’s artists receive support from start to finish and a generous revenue share of 80% of generated profits. Setting up a gallery is free, no credit card is needed and the site does not charge any transaction fees." In celebration of the launch, the first hundred artists to join by May 16 will have the opportunity to be featured in Crated’s first pop-up gallery in Soho ArtHouse, New York opening on 21 May 2014.

Kenro has announced the introduction of a new range of cost-effective Reflecta slide viewers to the UK and Irish markets. The £5.94 Reflecta B36 is a battery-operated, pocket-sizded 'light panel' with a convenient slot on the upper surface to drop a mounted 35mm slide onto and hold it firmly in place. For those who wish to view a number of slides in quick succession, the £42.84 Reflecta B220 is mains operated and uses a slot and tray changing system, allowing a 2.5x magnification on the built-in bright viewing screen. Completing the range is the £71.76 Reflecta B250 (pictured), which features a 5000 °K fluorescent lamp for daylight-balanced viewing. It comprises a light panel that accommodates either film strips or slides 24mm x 36mm or 120 roll films and has a 2x magnifier that can be moved along over the appropriate section for optimal viewing angle.

Want to see exactly what the new Samsung Galaxy K Zoom smartphone looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the new entry-level Samsung Galaxy K Zoom smartphone, which offers a 10z optical zoom lens and a 20 megapixel sensor.

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom is a new smartphone that blends advanced digital camera technology with Samsung’s industry-leading Galaxy experience. The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom provides a 10x optical zoom in a remarkably slim and chic body, with a 20.7 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), Full HD video, and a Xenon Flash. The price and availability of the Galaxy K Zoom will be announced in due course.

Serif has just launched PhotoPlus X7. This latest version comes without the need for monthly subscriptions and has a range of new features, such as Lab Colour Mode – a comprehensive colour engine that offers users a more intuitive editing mode allowing users to quickly and easily fix contrast or alter tones. A new Lens Correction feature also helps users to remove distortions, vignetting and fix chromatic aberrations. Photographers can also quickly straighten images and correct vertical and horizontal perspective problems with an on-screen alignment grid. For adjustments, corrections and effects, the PhotoFix Studio features a new smart brush to protect certain areas. PhotoPlus X7 is compatible with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP and retails at £79.99.

The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) has honoured the dust- and water-resistant Fujifilm X-T1(read review)  with its Best Expert Compact System Camera Award. The Fujinon XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS lens (read review) has been named 2014's Best Expert CSC Lens. This 15-36mm equivalent lens incorporates optical image stabilisation and has a newly designed optical system using 4 aspheric lenses and 3 extra low dispersion glass lenses.