Mastering Photoshop Layers: A Photographer’s Guide by Jürgen Gulbins is a new title from Rocky Nook. The book teaches readers about building and working with multiple layers, creating and using layer masks, using layers to retouch your images, blending modes, Smart Objects/Filters, timesaving shortcuts, and much more. The 300-page volume is available for $44.95. 

Tamron has announced the launch date of the new Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD ultra-telephoto zoom lens. This all-new ultra-telephoto zoom lens features Vibration Compensation, an Ultrasonic Silent Drive focus motor, eBAND coating and a 4x zoom ratio. Mounted on APS-C DSLR cameras, it has a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 233mm to 930mm. The optical formula incorporates 20 elements arranged in 13 groups and an iris diaphragm with nine rounded aperture blades. The Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD lens will be available in the USA on 17 January 2014.

Leef has announced its new PRO line of memory cards. Featuring a processing speed of 300X, Leef PRO microSD and SD memory cards comply with the UHS-I specification, and come with a 5-year limited warranty. Each Leef PRO microSD memory card includes an adapter for compatibility with SD slots. Leef PRO SD and microSD cards are available for pre-order now.

The Photographer’s Guide to the Fujifilm X100S is a new title from White Knight Press. Written by Alexander S. White, this book is a complete guide to the operations, features, menus, and controls of the camera. Covering topics such as autofocus, manual focus, depth of field, aperture priority, shutter priority, HDR (high-dynamic-range) and macro photography; the Photographer’s Guide to the Fujifilm X100S also includes discussions of the camera’s special features, including its hybrid opto-electronic viewfinder system. The 399-page volume is available in a paperback edition for $24.95 and as an ebook priced at $9.99.

SLR Magic has announced the latest addition to its portfolio of Cine lenses, the SLR Magic 17mm T1.6 prime lens. Designed exclusively for the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount, it offers a 35mm equivalent focal length of 34mm. The optical formula includes twelve elements in ten groups, and an iris diaphragm with ten aperture blades. Other highlights include a minimum focus distance of 17cm and a 52mm filter thread that does not rotate on focus. The SLR Magic 17mm T1.6 Cine lens will be available from  the end of December 2013. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.

An entry for the upcoming Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has appeared on the Fujifilm UK website. This super-fast portrait lens will offer a focal length of 84mm in 35mm terms. Details are still scarce, but apparently the exciting new Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 prime lens will be available sometime in Spring 2014.

Source: Fujifilm UK

Eye-Fi has just announced a beta Windows desktop receiver for the Mobi card. With pricing yet to be announced, Eye-Fi’s new desktop receiver for Windows will be free to all customers during beta and gives Mobi users more choice in where their high-quality photos can be transferred, stored and shared. Mobi users will now have the option to transfer to mobile for on-the-go sharing or to the desktop for greater archiving and editing ability – all without the hassle of wires. The beta Eye-Fi desktop receiver for Windows is available for Mobi users to download now, with a Mac version coming soon.

Currently, compact system cameras and SLRs are divided into two segments but InfoTrends believes that they "will converge back into a single category." Until this happens, the research firm recommends that vendors and retailers continue to educate future camera buyers about the advantages and disadvantages of each "to create smart shoppers." InfoTrends’ new Consumer Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera study provides demographic information on different types of camera owners, examines owners’ and future owners’ attitudes, behaviours, and brand preferences, provides insight into photo activities, feature use, and future requirements, and analyses current and future market opportunities. This study also provides a market forecast from 2013 to 2018.

Macphun Software have announced their 12 Days of Giveaways celebration. The event is a progressive giveaway, which means that the winner for any day wins the specific prize for that day, plus a prize from each of the previous days. The grand prize is a Nikon Df camera (pictured), plus prizes from each of the previous days. Click through / read on for the Macphun giveaways prize list.

LightRocket and Getty Images have today announced a partnership that sees Getty Images become a key distribution partner for LightRocket. The represented content spans a wide variety of global subject matter, from Tibetan Festivals through to everyday life in London. LightRocket also brings the latest images from regional news events, such as the plight of Rohingya Refugees in Burma and the recent Anti-government Protests in Thailand to build on Getty Images' extensive portfolio of editorial assets, which is currently growing by 10,000 to 15,000 images each day. The partnership provides LightRocket's premium annual members with a unique opportunity to apply to become Getty Images contributors direct from LightRocket's dedicated Getty Images page. Utilising a feed from LightRocket's online portal, members can upload and distribute images worldwide via Getty Images' global platform.

Adobe has released the final versions of ACR 8.3 and Lightroom 5.3. Previously available as Release Candidates, these updates add support for twenty new cameras and digital backs and nineteen lens profiles. For the full list of additions, improvements and fixes, head to the website below.

Website: Adobe Lightroom Journal

Nikon Japan has issued a product advisory concerning the CF-DC6 Semi Soft Case, an optional accessory for the Nikon Df digital SLR camera. The company says the case does not fit the camera properly and will therefore be redesigned. If you have already purchased a CF-DC6, Nikon will replace it with the improved one free of charge (at least if you live in Japan, that is).

Source: Nikon Japan

The Sinar p MF-L enables photographers to avail themselves of the unique quality characteristics of a Sinar view camera while using their Leica S high-end medium format camera body. In combination with the Sinar p system, Leica S owners gain access to perspective control, selective focus and the benefit of using high-resolution Sinaron lenses designed specifically for digital imaging. The Leica-specific mounting bracket ensures that the camera can be freely positioned along the optical axis. The Leica S functions are fully integrated into the Sinar CaptureFlow Leica software and therefore can be conveniently controlled from the computer.

Photo Cruises are a new company specialising in educational photographic holidays. There will be expert tuition from a variety of onboard workshops, lectures and seminars, as well as hands-on tuition on location, and photography excursions. Their 2014 cruises will include two 7-night Mediterranean voyages, a week-long Norway cruise, a 7-night Baltic voyage and a 3-night taster cruise to Bruges and Paris from Southampton. These photo cruises are available to book now and if you book a place by the end of January you will get £50 off.

Celebrity Cruises have announced the winner of their Smartsnaps photo contest. The winner of the best travel photo taken on a smartphone has been awarded to Zoe King, for her photo taken in Colombo (Sri Lanka), at the Gangaramaya Viharaya Temple (above). Winner Zoe now holds the title of Celebrity Cruises ‘Photo Ambassador for 2014’ and will embark on a 14-night Scandinavia & Russia cruise in May 2014.

Kenro, the official UK and Ireland distributor of the Benro range of tripods has announced the availability of two larger sizes in its Classic Series. The two new versions - the 3570F and 4570F - are available in both aluminium and carbon-fibre versions; the latter having a maximum height of 1955mm.  The greater extended heights of the new tripods make photographing at full height considerably more comfortable for taller people and allow more flexibility and a wider choice of positioning to all users. Adjustable leg straps can be independently locked at 3 different angles for shooting in cramped conditions or on uneven surfaces, and ultra-low level shots are allowed by opening the tripod legs, making it possible to work at virtually ground level. The Benro Classic Tripod series has an SRP of £95.94 to £430.80 including VAT.

Canon has issued a firmware update for the Canon EOS 7D digital SLR camera. Version 2.0.5 fixes 
a phenomenon in which the image files cannot be transferred using the FTP protocol via USB cable after the EOS 7D camera has established a wireless connection to the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E5 A, B, C or D. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Canon EOS 7D Support and Downloads