Sony has issued firmware updates for its range of “SLT” - Single Lens Translucent - cameras, including the SLT-A37, A57, A65 and A99. The updates add automatic distortion compensation for a number of lenses. Version 1.01 for the SLT-A99 additionally incorporates support for a range of Dual AF function compliant lenses. You can download the firmware updates from the website below (after specifying your camera model and operating system).

Website: Sony Support

Canon has issued a firmware update for the Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR camera. Version 1.2.1 incorporates the following bug fixes and improvements:

1. The function to disable the Image size selection button has been added.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which Err 70 and Err 80 may occur during certain shooting conditions.

Website: Canon U.S.A.

The 4th annual Photocrati Fund competition is now open for entries. The Photocrati Fund offers a $5,000 grant to one photographer each year to undertake an environmental or humanitarian photography project. At the completion of the project, the grant winner’s images will be displayed as a photo essay on Photocrati.com. Applications for the 2013 Photocrati Fund competition will be accepted through 30th April (11:59pm Mountain Time). To apply, submit a one-page project statement (including a rough budget) and biography, along with a link to an online portfolio of 20-30 themed images to: [email protected].  For complete Photocrati Fund rules and guidelines, visit the website below.

Hahnemühle FineArt has introduced a new line of resin-coated papers for inkjet photo printing. The Hahnemühle Photo Luster offering features a: bright white, smooth, lustre surface with a pearlescent finish, while the Photo Glossy paper boasts a super smooth, high-gloss bright white surface for vivid results. Both papers feature an “extremely large” colour gamut and a weight of 290gsm. Photographers will get a chance to see these new products at the SPE Conference in Chicago, March 7-10 at the WPPI Expo in Las Vegas, March 11-13. Availability is slated for March with pricing to be communicated.

LPA Design today announced the new G-Wiz Vault bag. Designed for use with the PocketWizard MultiMAX, Plus II or FlexTT5 Transceivers and accessories, this padded gear bag is also the perfect size to protect a “full-sized” SLR camera, the company says. The new PocketWizard G-Wiz Vault bag holds up to six MultiMAX or Plus II radios with connector cables, ten FlexTT5’s, or one SLR camera body. Available in three colours, the G-Wiz Vault opens from the top, and features three movable or removable hook-n-loop padded dividers. The PocketWizard G-Wiz Vault bag is priced around $28.

Leica has posted seven full-resolution sample photos captured with the new Leica M full-frame digital rangefinder camera. Shot with various Leica lenses, these Leica M samples demonstrate the camera’s image quality at various sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 200/24° to ISO 6400/39° (pushed). Four out of the seven sample images are available in JPEG format, while the remaining three are raw DNG files. You can download the official Leica M sample photos from the website below.

Website: Leica

Canon has introduced four new all-in-one devices, the Canon Pixma MX395 (£59, pictured),  MX455 (£79),  MX525 (£99) and MX925 (£179). Replacing the existing Pixma MX375, MX435, MX515 and MX715/MX895, respectively,the new printers feature enhanced hardware, optional high yield XL cartridges and Canon’s My Image Garden software. The Canon Pixma MX455, MX525 and MX925 come with a range of connectivity features including support for printing from smartphones and tablets through Canon’s Easy-PhotoPrint app for Android, iOS and Windows RT. Built-in Wi-Fi allows the printers to be easily shared between multiple PCs around the home or small office. The MX525 and MX925 both support Pixma Cloud Link, which includes Google Cloud Print support. Furthermore, the Canon Pixma MX925 comes with new double front paper cassettes that hold up to 250 sheets of plain paper and up to 20 sheets of photo paper, and boasts improved printing speeds. Availability is slated for March.

The twelfth issue of Adore Noir Magazine is now available for purchase. Adore Noir is a fine art photography magazine available exclusively in digital format. Featuring street photography by London-based photographer Anthony Jones, female nudes by Timothy B. Anderson, Holga images by Lucia Fisher, botanical abstracts by Byong-Ho Kim, a portfolio of images by Chris Ruiz and ethereal landscapes by Carmen Spitznagel; this edition reinforces the magazine’s commitment to high-quality black-and-white imagery.. The latest issue of Adore Noir is available for $2.95 from the website below.

Website: Adore Noir

The World Photography Organisation (WPO) today revealed the shortlists for the Professional, Open and Youth categories of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards. Photographers returning to the awards include: Javier Arcenillas (Spain); Robin Hammond (New Zealand) and Paolo Pellegrin (Italy).  Exciting up-and-coming photographers new to the awards include Ed Kashi (USA) and Andrea Gjestvang (Norway). Catherine Chermayeff, Director of Special Projects at Magnum Photos and chairwoman of the Honorary Jury, commented: “What an invigorating three days - which resulted in lively and passionate debates. I think we, the jurors, all began this process and felt overwhelmed. I am delighted to say that by day three, each group proudly presented and argued for our respective shortlists and found surprising strength in the shortlist submissions across all categories.” The work of all the shortlisted photographers will be exhibited at Somerset House, London, from 26 April – 12 May as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition.

Panasonic has developed a new kind of sensor that does away with the colour filrer array (CFA) found in most digital cameras manufactured today, relying instead on ‘micro colour splitters’ that separate the light that falls on image sensors by exploiting light’s wavelike properties. “Conventional colour image sensors use a Bayer array, in which a red, green, or blue light-transmitting filter is placed above each sensor,” the company says. “These filters block 50 - 70% of the incoming light before it even reaches the sensor.” The development of ‘micro colour splitters” not only makes CFAs unnecessary but also allows sensors to achieve approximately double the colour sensitivity in comparison with conventional imagers that use colour filters.

White Knight Press has released its newest camera guidebook, the Photographer’s Guide to the Panasonic Lumix LX7: Getting the Most from Panasonic’s Advanced Compact Camera. Using a patient, tutorial-like approach, the book provides guidance to beginning and intermediate photographers about how to accomplish things with the LX7, as well as when and why to use the camera’s numerous controls, menus options, and other features. The book contains approximately 400 photographs, almost all in full colour, illustrating the LX7’s controls, shooting screens, and menus. The images also provide examples of the various types of photographs that can be taken using the many creative settings of the camera. In addition, the book goes beyond the bounds of everyday photography, and introduces more advanced topics such as infrared photography, street photography, astrophotography, and High Dynamic Range photography. The Photographer’s Guide to the Panasonic Lumix LX7: Getting the Most from Panasonic’s Advanced Compact Camera, is available for $9.95 as a PDF.

X-Rite has announced its schedule of free webinars for February. Taking place from 1pm and 3pm EST on 5th February, the first online seminar is entitled “Creating Compelling Photographs with X-Rite Coloratti Chris Orwig.” Chris teaches the importance of ensuring that camera, monitor, projector, and printers are calibrated and profiled to ensure accurate color across the entire workflow using the latest X-Rite i1Display Pro, ColorMunki Photo, and ColorChecker Passport. The second session, “Professional Monitor Calibration for Still & Video,” starts at 11am and 1pm EST on 13th February and provides a brief overview of how to access and utilise the video presets in the i1Profiler software and looks at the use of ColorCheckers in the video footage as a visual reference. The third webinar, “Simply Amazing Color. Take control of your monitor, printer and camera!,” gives users the opportunity to ask questions and understand each solution in detail so they can make the right decision on what ColorMunki family solution is for them. The live webinar will commence at 11am and again at 1pm EST on 20 February 2013.

Fuji has released a firmware update for the Fujifilm X-E1 compact system camera. Version 1.04 adds full compatibility with the Fujinon XF14mm f/2.8R, improves AF performance in various shooting conditions, and enables the use of the shutter release when an external microphone or a remote release is connected via the camera’s USB port or MIC/REMOTE terminal. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm X-E1 Firmware Update Ver.1.04

Fuji has posted a firmware update for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 compact system camera. Version 2.03 adds full compatibility with the Fujinon XF14mm f/2.8R lens and improves the auto focus performance of the camera in various shooting conditions. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm X-Pro Firmware Update Ver.2.03

Nikon has posted a new firmware update for the Nikon D4 digital SLR camera. This release improves subject tracking performance in AF-C mode. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Nikon USA Support