Nikon has received four TIPA 2014 awards. The Best Entry-Level DSLR award went to the Nikon D3300 (pictured). The Nikon D4S has been named this year's best professional DSLR camera, whilst the Nikon AW1 has received the TIPA Best Rugged Camera award. Last but not least the Nion Df was honoured with the title "Best Premium Camera."

The “Traveller 150 Premium Duo” is a new aluminium tripod from Hama. Weighing in at 1530 grams, the Hama Traveller 150 Premium Duo extends to a maximum height of 150 centimetres and folds down to a mere 38.5cm. The tripod comes with a ball head equipped with a spirit level, and a carrying bag. What's more, if you remove the weight hooks from the central column, you can completely remove the column, unscrew one of the tripod legs, and quickly turn the tripod into a fully-functional monopod. The Hama Traveller 150 Premium Duo will be available for €239.

According to their Facebook page, Samyang will release 5 new lenses tomorrow. The new products include three cine lenses - an 8mm T3.8 and a 12mm T2.2 lens for compact system cameras, and a 10mm T3.1 for VDSLRs - and two photographic lenses, a 35mm f/1.4 for Canon and a 300mm f/6.3 mirror lens.

Magix has released Xara Web Designer 10 Premium, a Web design tool designed for people wanting to launch a high-quality website without the need to know HTML coding - including photographers. "For the first time we have created a simple no-programming system where you can create alternative page arrangements for the same content", says Charles Moir, Xara's founder and Managing Director. "Web Designer 10 Premium does all the clever work to automatically show, and instantly switch (respond) to the changing browser size.” Xara Web Designer 10 Premium retails for £89.99.

Leica has released an iOS app that lets you wirelessly control the Leica T compact system camera. The program enables users to control captue settins; view the live view feed; trigger the camera; start and stop video recording; and view, delete, download and share images captured with the camera. The app is now available on iTunes.

The GoPlug bag system charges your camera, smartphone or tablet on the go. There are eight bags to match your needs, including the Go Plug Camera Case, Go Plug Camera Pack, Go Plug Roller Case, Go Plug Backpack, GoPlug Computer Bag, GoPlug Mobile Kit, Go Plug iPad Case and the Go Plug Swag Pack. The built-in battery has the capacity to charge your smart phone up to six times, and your tablet up to two times, and doubles the life on an average laptop on a single charge, the company says. GoPlug is currently on Kickstarter to raise finishing funds for its first production run.

The OnePlus One is a high-end, mid-priced smartphone with a 13-megapixel camera module and a 5.5-inch, 401ppi Full HD display. Key photographic features include a Sony Exmor IMX 214 sensor, a six-element lens with an aperture of f/2, dual LED flash, 4K video recording with stereo sound, and 720p/120fps movie capture for slow-motion playback. The 16GB variant will sell for $299, and the 64GB version will cost $349.

Website: OnePlus

Panasonic has released a firmware update for its Lumix DMC-GM1 compact system camera. Version 1.1 fixes a bug related to communicating with Apple iOS devices over Wi-Fi. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Panasonic Japan - Update Contents for DMC-GM1

Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH MFT lens (read review). Version 1.1 improves video quality when used on the Panasonic Lumix GH4, with a high sensitivity setting dialled in. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Panasonic Japan - Update Contents for H-NS043

Nikon have posted a firmware update for their FT1 mount adapter, which enables Nikon 1 system users to use any F-mount Nikkor SLR lens on their cameras. Version 1.20 adds support for autofocusing when mounted on the Nikon 1 J4 and the Nikon 1 V3 compact system cameras. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Nikon Mount Adapter FT1 L Firmware Update 1.20

The Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD lens (read review) has received the 'Best Expert DSLR Lens' award from the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA). The Tamron 150-600 mm lens incorporates VC (Vibration Compensation, Tamron’s image stabilisation technology), a fast USD (ultrasonic silent drive) motor and eBAND (extended bandwidth and angular dependency) coating, for flare and ghosting reduction. The lens employs 20 elements in 13 groups, with the front group containing 3 ED glass elements. The included Silkypix Developer Studio for Tamron uses optical data to correct any distortion, light falloff and chromatic aberrations.

Casio has issued a firmware update for its Exilim EX-100 and EX-10 digital compact cameras. Version 1.01 (for both models) improves the results of the exposure bracketing function. You can download the firmware upgrade from the websites below.

Website: Casio EX-10 Firmware Version 1.01

Website: Casio EX-100 Firmware Version 1.01

Nikon has released a firmware update for its Coolpix L820 superzoom camera. Version 1.1 fixes a bug that resulted in deviation in the timing of movie video and sound. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Nikon COOLPIX L820 Firmware Update 1.1

Lynx has teamed up with award-winning photographer Matthew Lloyd to launch an Instagram-based photo contest entitled 'Make Moments Not War.' As part of Lynx's Make Love Not War campaign, the Make Moments Not War project encourages budding photographers and Instagram users to take their own images of peace using the hashtag #LynxPeace and tagging @lynxeffectuk. "Whatever Peace means to you, get out there and capture it. If your shot makes our #lynxpeace gallery, you'll be in with a chance of winning an iPhone 5S," the organisers say. The winning images will  be displayed alongside Matthew Lloyd’s collection of peace photography at an exhibition in London later this summer.

Website: LynxPeace

Want to see exactly what the new Leica T compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our massive hands-on gallery of photos of the new Leica T compact system camera, including the 18-56mm and 23mm lenses.

The Leica T is a new mirrorless compact system camera. The Leica T–System combines pure design, handcrafted excellence, with an entirely new operating system. The Leica T features a large, APS-C-format, CMOS image sensor with over 16.5 megapixels (effective 16.2 MP). At the heart of the concept of the Leica T is the clear design of the touchscreen display. The Leica T is also the first system camera from Leica to feature an integrated Wi-Fi module.

Two lenses will initially be available for the market launch of the Leica T-System - the Leica Vario-Elmar-T 18–56 mm f/3.5–5.6 ASPH. and the Leica Summicron-T 23mm f/2 ASPH. The Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11–23 mm f/3.5–4.5 ASPH. wide-angle zoom and the Vario-Elmar-T 55–135 mm f/3.5–4.5 ASPH. telephoto zoom are scheduled to appear in time for presentation at Photokina 2014 in September.

The Leica T is available May 26th, 2014, priced as follows:

Leica T-System £1350.00 RRP
Leica Vario Elmar-T 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASP £1250.00 RRP
Leica Summicron-T 23mm f/2 ASPH £1350.00 RRP

The Thule Perspektiv Collection has been awarded the title Best Photo Bag by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA). “We are particularly pleased with TIPAs recognition of the Thule Perspektiv Camera Bag collection as this award acknowledges our entrance with the Thule brand to the professional photo and imaging industry,” says Magnus Welander, CEO and President of the Thule Group. “The award is one of the most coveted in this realm, and this reinforces our underlying focus on quality, easy usage, safe protections and design when we developed the bags, and our long-term plans to become a leading brand in the camera bag segment.”

Seim Studios have just released their new photo workshop series focused on the history and art of photography. The miniseries follows in the footsteps of the acclaimed EXposed series produced in 2012. PhotoGraphics uses a historical perspective to guide viewers through many of the artistic and mechanical decisions that are needed to separate good pictures from great photographs, despite the challenges presented by variables like light, weather, color and composition. At approximately 3.5 hours, the series is now available at discounted pricing through 30 April 2014 as an immediate download for $59 and as a Blu-Ray / DVD combo for $79.

Tiffen has announced two new additions to the Lowel family of LED lights. The new Lowel Prime Location LED features an 1x1 panel, a very rugged housing and a high IP-65 rating, which means Prime Location LEDs can be used in rain, sand or dust storms. The lights are available in hi-CRI Daylight, Tungsten or Bi-Color models, and are dimmable without colour shifts. The Lowel PRO Power LED is a compact, focusing light available in hi-CRI Tungsten or Daylight colour with impressive output and a wide fresnel 8:1 focus range. Where other LEDs are lower power and therefore need to be used closer to the subject, the PRO Power LED can light from a greater distance, allowing the shooter to get more of the location into the wide shot.