Pentax has updated its roadmaps for Q-mount, K-mount and 645 format lenses. Published on Pentax’s Facebook fan page, the updated roadmaps indicate three new Q-mount lenses, four new K-mount optics (plus a teleconverter) and three new zooms for the Pentax 645 system. The Q-mount lens range shall be expanded with a wide-angle optic, a telephoto macro and a body cap lens. The four new K-mount lenses planned for 2013 and later include a DA wide zoom, a DA telezoom, a DA Limited zoom and a DA* standard zoom (possibly a 16-80mm). For its medium-format system, Pentax is planning to release new wide, telephoto and standard zoom lenses that will more or less complement each other.

Pentax Ricoh have posted a firmware update for its Pentax K-5 II and Pentax K-5 IIs digital SLR cameras. Version 1.01 enables users to adjust the contrast of the cameras’ rear displays, and improves overall operational stability. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Pentax Japan

The new Pentax Efina is a 14-megapixel digital compact camera with 5x optical zoom. The name harks back to the days of film photography when Pentax had two APS cameras with a similar designation (the Pentax Efina and the Pentax Efina T). The digital version comes with a 26-130mm equivalent zoom lens sporting 6 elements in 5 groups including 3 aspherical elements; a 1/2.3-type CCD sensor, a “self-portrait mirror” and 720p HD movie recording capabilities. According to Pentax Japan, the floral design on the front panel “appeals to young women photographers.” The digital Pentax Efina will be available in selected markets only.

Our eight and final award is for Camera of the Year 2012, which goes to the Olympus OM-D E-M5.

“Image quality is where Micro Four Thirds cameras have traditionally lagged behind their APS-C sensor rivals, but the OM-D E-M5 is the first MFT model to equal the results from leading cameras like the Sony NEX-7. Noise doesn’t rear its ugly head until ISO 3200 for JPEGs and even the faster settings prove eminently usable, although the E-M5 does apply some pretty aggressive noise reduction to keep the files clean as shown by the much noisier raw images. We never longed for a camera with a bigger sensor, and you’d have to step up to a full-frame DSLR to see an appreciable leap in image quality.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Olympus and the OM-D E-M5!

Canon USA has rolled out a “consumer-safety initiative” that will promote awareness of the risks of using counterfeit accessories - especially batteries and chargers - for digital cameras and camcorders. “Counterfeit products are fake replicas of the real products, designed to take advantage of the superior value of the real product,” the company said in a statement. “Purchase of these products can lead to potentially dangerous results. Unlike genuine Canon products, counterfeit accessories may not meet government and industry safety standards and may overheat, smoke, melt, ignite and may cause bodily injury and property damage.” In support of this initiative a digital campaign, with the tagline, “Play it safe. Power your Canon with Canon Power” was launched on 8th January, advising consumers to avoid counterfeits by purchasing products through established retail channels. In addition, the Canon USA Website has been enlisted to educate consumers on the Canon batteries and chargers most frequently counterfeited and to provide helpful tips to spot them.

Velbon has just announced a range of tripods aimed at the budget-conscious photographer. Comprising three models, the Velbon DF range is claimed to offer “outstanding quality at a very affordable price.” Each of the three models features a 3-way pan-tilt head with quick release plate and 3 section, braced, aluminium legs with quick release leg locks and non-slip rubber feet. The £29.99 Velbon DF-41 is a lightweight (1.15kg), compact tripod, ideal for travelling. The £39.99 Velbon DF-51 (pictured) is a fully featured standard tripod weighing 1.38kg and the top of the range, £49.99 Velbon DF-61 is a “deluxe” heavy-duty tripod with a weight of 1.75kg.

DxO Labs have announced the the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v8.1.2 for Mac and Windows. This update allows DxO Optics Pro 8 to support the Canon EOS 6D and the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX1 full-format cameras (Elite Edition only), as well as the Nikon 1 V2. Furthermore, more than a hundred new camera/lens combinations have been added to the library, supporting additional Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony, Tamron and Tokina lenses for Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 8, as well as for photographers who purchased a DxO Optics Pro 7 licence on or after 1 September 2012.

Digital Capture After Dark by Amanda Quintenz-Fiedler and Philipp Scholz Rittermann is a new title from Rocky Nook. This guide goes beyond the “how to” of capturing digital images at night and addresses the “why to” of long-exposure photography, including the importance of understanding how we think and see at night compared with during the day. Detailed descriptions cover colour balancing, expanding dynamic range, controlling flare, dealing with noise, converting to black-and-white, toning, and much more. The 192-page volume sells for $39.95, with an e-book version available at $16.95.

The HydRemote Remote Cable System allows the waterproof connection of hundreds of remote controllers to GoPro HD Hero and Hero2 cameras. According to HydRemote’s creator, Ethan Janson, “this new system leaves the GoPro powered off until triggered, thus extending battery life by many hours or even days.  Now you are only restricted by the battery life in your remote or receiver.” The HydRemote Cable System is available on Amazon at an introductory price of $45.99

Canon Canada has announced the opening of Image Square, the Canon Experience Centre - a unique destination where visitors can interact with the latest Canon technology. Located at Eighth Avenue Place in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canon Image Square is a “technologically-advanced space specifically designed to encourage exploration and discovery,” the company says. Occupying approximately 6,600 square feet, Canon Image Square is accessible off 8th Avenue as well as through the building’s main concourse.

Our seventh award is for DSLR Camera of the Year 2012, which goes to the Nikon D800.

“On the resolution front, the Nikon D800 delivers images with a truly stunning amount of detail, comparable to what you can achieve with a number of medium-format digital cameras and backs. The 7360×4912-pixel photographs print to 24”x16” (60×40cm) size at industry-standard 300ppi with no interpolation required, which also means they are ideal for double-page spreads in a large-format 12”x12” photo book.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Nikon and the D800!

Next Tuesday, 22 January, at 7pm the World Photography Organisation (WPO) is hosting the next in its series of PhotoTALKs at the Frontline Club, London. The topic will be ‘How to gain commercial success’ and the panel will include four members of the Honorary Jury for the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards - Magnum photographer Chien-Chi Chang, Panos Profile director Francesca Sears, photographic consultant Monica Suder and Balcony Jump director Tim Paton.  The talk will be led by Stuart Smith of SMITH Design. Tickets can be purchased online through the website below, priced at £12.50.

Website: Frontline Club | Photo: Chien-Chi Chang

G-Technology has announced that it is now shipping its G-Technology G-DRIVE mini and G-RAID mini external storage solutions with new high-quality, 1TB, 2.5-inch 7,200RPM hard disk drives from HGST. Delivering up to 136MB/s performance, the G-Technology G-DRIVE mini features a sleek compact and durable all-aluminium enclosure and both USB 3.0 and FireWire® 800 connectivity. Preformatted for Mac users, the drive works with Apple computer systems right out of the box and is Time Machine ready. The new G-DRIVE mini is now available for a suggested retail price of £149.99 for 1TB. Out of the box, the G-RAID mini solution is set up in RAID 0 (performance mode), with its two 7,200rpm drives working together for the performance needed to edit the most popular compressed HD formats. The G-RAID mini is FireWire bus powered — even when using USB 3.0 for data transfer. Shipping in early Q1, the 2TB G-RAID mini solution will have a MSRP of £339.99.

Panobook 2012 is a new title from Rocky Nook. Presenting 150 winning pictures from Kolor’s 2012 Panoramic Photography Competition, Panobook 2012 offers breathtaking landscapes, cityscapes, beaches, buildings, people, and street scenery, taken by day and by night. “This collection of images provides an introduction to the best of today’s panoramic photography and serves as inspiration for the interested photographer,” the publisher says. Distributed by O’Reilly, the 240-page volume sells for $39.99 / £30.99 / €32.00.

Website: O’Reilly

As the exclusive distributor for Phottix products in the United States, OmegaBrandess has launched a portrait / battery grip for the Nikon D600 digital SLR camera. Accommodating one EN-EL15 or six AA size batteries to offer double-length shooting time, the Phottix BG-D600 Premium Series Vertical Grip/Battery Holder is equipped with a vertical-grip shutter button, dual control dials, multi-function controller and an AE-L/AF-L button for convenient shooting with the camera in portrait orientation. The Phottix BG-D600 carries an MSRP of $139.99.

As the exclusive distributor for Phottix products in the United States, OmegaBrandess has launched the magnesium-alloy Phottix BG-800M multi-funcion battery grip for the Nikon D800 digital SLR camera. Capable of holding one EN-EL15 or eight AA size batteries to offer double-length shooting time, the Phottix BG-800M is equipped with a vertical-grip shutter button, dual control dials, multi-function controller and an AF-ON button. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the BG-D800M Multi Function Battery Grip is $199.99.

X-Rite has updated its i1Profiler colour management software to include scanner profiling. Additionally, version 1.4 adds compatibility with MacOS X 10.8x (with the latest updates installed) and Windows 8 32 or 64 bit (with the latest service pack installed), and several other improvements. i1Profiler 1.4 is available for immediate download from the xrite.com and xritephoto.com websites. Current i1Profiler users will receive this software update for free. Those who have the auto-update option activated will automatically receive the update next time they launch the software.

Olympus has scooped up tow iF product design awards - one for the Olympus Stylus XZ-2 premium compact (pictured) and one for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 compact system camera. Established in 1953, and sponsored throughout by the International Forum Design GmbH of Hanover Germany, the iF product design award is recognised all over the world as a symbol of outstanding design and innovation. This year, the jury picked the winners from 3011 products in 16 categories.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Olympus Stylus XZ-2
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5