Charles Waugh, inventor of the SlingShot camera phone mount, has launched another Kickstarter campaign to launch his latest product, the PocketShot folding universal smartphone mount. The PocketShot has a cradle that holds the phone and a handle that provides advanced capabilities. Sporting a ¼-20 threaded insert in its base, the Cradle will mount onto any tripod, monopod, suction cup etc. Moreover, it also has pop-out legs that transform it into an instant table-top tripod. Interested readers are encouraged to visit the product's Kickstarter page.

Olympus has issued a firmware update for the OM-D E-M5 compact system camera. Version 2.0 introduces an ISO 100/21° equivalent "Low" sensitivity option and adds a small AF target to the AF target settings. You can update the firmware of your camera using the Digital Camera Updater utility from Olympus.

The Plugin Site has just announced Version 2 of ElementsXXL, which adds up to 230 features to Photoshop Elements for Windows that were previously only available in Photoshop. It lets you process 16-bit images with the help of smart filters and layers, use up to 29 additional tools with 16-bit images, supports 260 third party smart filters, offers five new tools (Pen, Puppet Warp, Mixer Brush, Ruler, Slice & Slice Select), includes a new Paths panel for creating and editing paths, allows slicing and saving an image as a web page, provides a improved Shadows/Highlights filter with seven new options, a new Colour Range feature for creating selections based on colours and tones, a Chromatic Aberration Removal filter, a Colour Match filter and a Save Recovery Information feature for restoring documents after a crash - among many other new features. ElementsXXL 2 requires Adobe Photoshop Elements for Windows and retails for $49.95. A version for MacOS X is under development.

Fujifilm has published 15 sample images captured with the new Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera. Shot using an array of Fujinon XF lenses including the XF14mmF2.8 R, XF35mmF1.4 R, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS and XF60mmF2.4 R Macro; these Fujifilm X-T1 samples were taken at a variety of sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 200/24°to ISO 6,400/39°.

Website: Official Fujifilm X-T1 Sample Images

See exactly what the new Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera looks like in the flesh, and read our first hands-on impressions of this exciting new camera.

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera with the XF 18-55mm and 56mm f/1.2 lenses, and including the new battery grip and flash accessories.

The Fujifilm X-T1 is a new interchangeable lens camera with SLR-style handling. The X-T1 features a 2.36m dot resolution OLED electronic viewfinder with the world’s highest magnification and a lag-time of just 0.005 sec, phase detection AF with a world-beating response of just 0.08sec, five mechanical dials, dust and water resistance, and the world’s first compatibility with Ultra High Speed UHS-II SDXC memory cards.

The X-T1 and dedicated accessories will be available from mid-end February 2014. In the UK, the Fujifilm X-T1 will cost £1099.99 body-only, or £1449.99 with the XF18-55mm lens. The optional Vertical Battery Grip costs £199.99, the all-Leather Half Case £99.99, and the Metal Hand Grip £129.99.

Fujifilm is also launching three weather-resistant zoom lenses to complement the X-T1 camera, all available during 2014, with the XF 18-135mm launching in June. The three lenses are the XF 18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R OIS WR, XF 16-55mmF2.8 R OIS WR and the XF 50-140mmF2.8 R OIS WR.

Sigma UK has announced the recommended retail price (RRP) of its new 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens. The Canon version of the lens will be available in February at an RRP of £349.99 including VAT. The Nikon variant will follow in March with the Sony and Pentax editions (both without an optical stabiliser) being available in May.

Inspired Photo Gear has unveiled a new product called the Faith SpeedLight Stand. "Let’s face it, light stands are a bit basic and strobists the world over are forced to purchase accessories to even mount their speedlight or umbrella," the company says. "The new Faith SpeedLight Stand raises the standards of the humble light stand with its quick-erect system, integrated umbrella holder, cold shoe, concealed spike for soft ground & all new water based stabilisation system and carry bag, all as standard." Weighing in at 540g, the Faith SpeedLight Stand has a maximum load capacity of 2,500g and a full height of 180cm, while folding down to 41.5cm. The Faith SpeedLight Stand retails for £49.99 and is available from Inspired Photo Gear.

HDRlog today released the newest version of its Adobe Lightroom plug-in called HDRinstant. The innovative technology behind the plug-in allows the user to create an HDR image from video footage, and its anti-ghosting capability removes motion blur when creating HDR images from several frames. After importing your video clip into Adobe Lightroom, you can extract as many images as possible, then select your favorite frame. HDRinstant will stack the frames and apply a special morphing algorithm to build the final HDR photograph. Currently, the software is available at a special introductory price of $29.

Adorama has recently enhanced its Slinger collection with nine new BigBag camera bags. The BigBag range comprises lighting bags, video bags and tripod bags of various sizes available from $29.95 for lightweight, modest options, to $179.95 for more heavy duty and versatile offerings. Click through / read on for more information on each individual BigBag.

'Kesh Angels is a solo exhibition of work by the Moroccan-born, UK-based artist, Hassan Hajjaj. Hosted by Taymour Grahne Gallery, ‘Kesh Angels presents a unique take on the vibrant street culture of Morocco and pays tribute to the biker culture of the young women of Marrakesh in a series of photographs, limited edition objects, an installation, and a video. The exhibition is also accompanied by a book on the last decade of Hajjaj’s work, published jointly by Taymour Grahne Gallery and Rose Issa Projects. Hajjaj's images will be on display from tomorrow until 2nd March.

Nokia has released DNG colour profiles for the Nokia 1520 (pictured) and the Nokia 1020 camera phones. These camera profiles allow Lightroom users to simplify their raw image conversion workflow when working with images shot under fluorescent or halogen lights, daylight, or with the phones' built-in flash. These camera color profiles are only available for Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1020 and will only work in Adobe Lightroom, the company warns.

Source: Conversations - Nokia

Samsung and Getty Images have announced a new partnership. The partnership will bring together the unique capabilities and expertise of Samsung and Getty Images to drive forward connected photography. "Partnering with an iconic brand like Getty Images is an ideal endeavour for Samsung. Getty Images is the perfect partner to allow our customers to share their individual stories from across the world, faster and through better quality images than ever before," said Stephen Taylor, Vice President Brand and Retail, Samsung Electronics Europe. “Through this partnership, we hope to empower a generation of aspiring photographers to take their ambition to new heights.”  As part of this agenda, the agreement will see a commitment to the creation of bespoke content, starting with the launch of the “Samsung Collection” now available on gettyimages.com.

Phottix has launched a Nikon version of its Mitros+ TTL flash, which features built-in radio triggering and power control functions. Unlike optical or infrared flash syncing solutions, radio triggering does not require direct line of sight and tends to work well indoors and out, at night and in broad daylight, over relatively long distances. The Mitros+ offers all of these triggering modes plus a 3.5mm sync port. As to basic flash functionality, the Phottix Mitros+ has a guide number of 58 (in metres), high-speed and second-curtain synchronisation modes, a zoomable tilt-swivel flash head with 24-105mm coverage (14mm with a wide-angle diffuser), an AF assist light and a quick flash mode. Three sets of flash and function information can be saved in the Mitros+’s memory and be quickly recalled when needed. The Mitros+ TTL Transceiver Flash for has started shipping to international retailers and is available now for $449,99 at the website below.

Adobe and Samsung have joined the list of exhibitiors at The Photography Show, a new event dedicated to the imaging industry taking place at Birmingham’s NEC between Saturday 1 and Tuesday 4 March 2014. Jonny Sullens, Head of Events, says, “We’re delighted to have Adobe and Samsung on board. Both are world leaders in technology and their innovative nature has had a hugely positive impact on the modern photographer." Tickets are available now at the website below.

Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh GR digital compact camera. Version 3.00 adds [Aspect Ratio] to the parameters of [RAW Development], enables shutter speed adjustments in 1/3EV increments when [ISO Step Setting] is set to [1/3EV], adds a [Folder Name Setting] to the Setup menu and a new [AFL Focus Setting] to the Key Custom Options menu. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Ricoh Japan