Fujifilm M Mount Adapter enables the X-Pro1 compact system camera to be used with Leica M mount lenses. The M Mount adapter comprises three parts; an aluminium mount for the body, a stainless steel mount for the lens plus an aluminium central tube, which accurately maintains a 27.8mm distance from lens mount to sensor. A new firmware version, 1.10, will be made available to support the new adapter. The Fujifilm M Mount Adapter will be available in June and will cost approx. £179 in the UK.

DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro v7.5, which functions as a native 64-bit application under both MacOS and Windows. Thanks to this, DxO Optics Pro 7.5 can handle much larger files, among them those of the Nikon D800. Additionally, the interface of the Windows version has been enhanced with numerous new features-

Omnivision has annonced two new, 1/2.3” type16-megapixel sensors that are capable of recording 4K video at 60fps. Built on OmniVision’s 1.34-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel architecture, the OV16820 and OV16825 sensors are capable of operating in full resolution (4608 x 3456) at 30 fps, 4K2K (3840 x 2160) video at 60 fps, and 1080p HD video at 60 fps with extra pixels for electronic image stabilisation.

Via Engadget via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Apple has posted a new Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update to Apple Aperture 3 and iPhoto 11. Version 3.13 adds support for raw image files generated by the new Canon EOS-1D X, Nikon D800E, Nikon D3200, Olympus OM-D E-M5, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 and Sony Alpha SLT-A57 cameras. You can download the upgrade from the website below.

Website: Apple

Last Sunday marked the 35th anniversary of Kodak’s filing its first patent for a digital camera. It was on 20 May 1977 that the company submitted a patent application for an “electronic still camera,” 1.5 years after a group of employees had put together a working prototype at its Elmgrove Plant in Rochester. Research scientist Steve Sasson who, as the project leader, is credited with inventing the device, described the prototype as “a rather odd-looking collection of digital circuits that we desperately tried to convince ourselves was a portable camera.” Consisting of a Super 8 movie camera lens, a “highly temperamental” new area-array CCD imager, an A/D converter, dozens of circuits and circuit boards, with a cassette recorder thrown in for storage, the world’s first digital camera used no less than 16 NiCd batteries and captured images that could only be viewed on a TV set with the help of a dedicated playback device. The patent (US4131919) was granted on 26 December 1978. Sasson was voted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame in 2007 and received an Innovation Award from The Economist in 2009.

Website: Kodak - Plugged In

Casio Japan has just announced the Exilim EX-ZR300, a compact travelzoom camera with a 24-300mm equivalent lens, 16-megapixel sensor and fast auto focus. Successor to the Casio EX-ZR200, which was announced a few months ago, the EX-ZR300 boasts the same headline specifications and adds support for Toshiba’s new FlashAir range of Wi-Fi enabled memory cards. The exact price has yet to be communicated (the EX-ZR200 cost 45,000 yen at launch).

Source: Casio Japan via 1001 Noisy Cameras

The 2012 AOP Student Photographer of the Year has been announced at the Awards presentation and launch of this year’s AOP Students Awards. Jordi Ruiz Cirera, from London College of Communication, was voted as Student Photographer of the Year, by the panel of five judges, comprising of Julia Fullerton-Batten, Harry Hardie, Perry Curties, Nick Meek and Michael Regnier. “Winning Student Photographer of the Year is an amazing accolade, because the AOP is the most prestigious UK organisation for professional photographers,” Cirera says.  “This is going to be a really useful foot in the door to the industry.”

Nikon has issued a firmware update for the Nikon D700 full-frame digital SLR camera. Version 1.03 fixes a bug which, on rare occasions has caused pictures to be severely underexposed. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Nikon Europe

ION Worldwide, a global consumer electronics company, today announced immediate worldwide availability of a new waterproof, Wi-Fi enabled wearable sports-action camera called the ION Air Pro. In addition to allowing users to shoot and share their videos instantly via Wi-Fi using the free ION Camera app for iOS, the ION Air Pro comes with 8GB of free cloud-based storage powered by MiMedia. Furthermore, the ION Air Pro also features Dual File recording, capturing both an HD and a lower-resolution WQVGA file simultaneously to allow for easier sharing to social networking sites and faster upload times. The ION Air Pro is available in a number of configurations starting at $299.99 through the website below.

Now in its sixth year, the Take a View - Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards is open for entries. Photographers across the world have until 15th July to enter the contest by submitting their photographs of the British landscape for a chance to win £10,000. An exhibition of the winning and commended entries will premiere at the National Theatre in London in late November 2012. To enter, visit the website below.

FX Photo Studio for Mac celebrates its first birthday by launching a month-long giveaway of tech gear and iPhone accessories. Running until 16 June, the promotion requires customers to “like” FX Photo Studio on Facebook. Prizes include: iPik.cases, Olloclip lenses, Casetagrams, DiffCases, styluses, camera extenders, gift vouchers, magnets, iHelicopters, photo books, photo apps, and iPhone cases, and more.

Akvis has released updates to 5 of its Photoshop plug-ins to ensure compatibility with Photoshop CS6. The affected products include Akvis Retoucher, Coloriage, HDRFactory, MakeUp and NatureArt. All of these plug-ins will also be compatible with the upcoming Photoshop Elements 11.

The Pentax K-30 is a new weatherproof mid-range DSLR camera. The 16 megapixel K-30 features a weather-resistant, dustproof and cold-proof body, a glass prism finder with nearly 100% field of view, high-speed shooting of six images per second, a 1/6000 second high shutter speed, and a full HD movie function. The Pentax K-30 will available in June in three colours, white, blue and black, priced at $849.95 / £599.99 for the body only, and $899.95 / £649.99 for the kit including the DA L 18-55mm zoom lens.

The Pentax Optio LS465 is a new entry-level compact digital camera. The LS465 weights just 104g with dimensions of 10.2 x 4.6 x 1.8cm. The LS465’s appearance can be changed by simply attaching one of the 10 stylish acrylic inserts included with the camera. The Pentax Optio LS465 will be available in Sapphire black, Ruby pink and Amethyst purple from mid-June priced at £89.99.

The PENTAX-DA 50mm f/1.8 is a new medium-telephoto autofocus lens. Designed exclusively for use with the company’s K-mount bodies, the Pentax 50mm lens delivers a focal length 76.5mm in the 35mm format. The PENTAX-DA 50mm f/1.8 lens will be available July 2012 with a retail price of $249.95 / £249.99.

Olympus UK’s marketing department have obviously got a lot of spare time on their hands, as a mysterious scroll hints at a forthcoming portrait related product. Following last month’s nuts-inspired clue, we’ve received a sealed document declaring “A portrait! What could be more simple and more complex, more obvious and more profound. Charles Baudelaire, 1859. Olympus. Coming Soon”. Post your ideas about what the scroll is hinting at in our comments box…

Blue Crane Digital has released its newest training DVD, “Introduction to the Canon 5D Mark III”. This 103-minute training video walks users through topics like choosing a focus point,picking the right focus area mode, Live View shooting, video recording, and more. “The Canon 5D Mark III is a powerful camera,”said Bryan Poffenberger, President of Blue Crane Digital.  “Once you learn how its components work together, you will have the tools you need to capture the best images under all conditions.” Available today, with a street price of $29.99. “Introduction to the Canon 5D MarkIII” DVDs and all other Blue Crane Digital DVDs are distributed by OmegaBrandess.

National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) has launched its 2012 Photography Competition. Entries will be judged by a team of experts who will be looking for imagination, creativity and unusual perspectives. This year’s judging panel includes Jock Wishart, one of the UK’s leading maritime and polar adventurers; author Philip Hoare; Yachting Journalists Association Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year, Geoff Holt; Peter Mumford, professional photographer from Beken of Cowes; David Newberry, ex-Captain of HMS Warrior 1860; and editor of Classic Boat magazine, Dan Houston. The competition is made up of five categories and all entries must be received by midnight on 31 August 2011. Photographers can enter their maritime inspired photos, up to two per category, at the website below.