PermaJet has announced that all users of the PermaJet range of papers are automatically entitled to use the company’s new free ICC Custom Profiling Service. The remote custom profiling service is simple - once you’ve downloaded the target files and instructions you just need to print out the patch target files onto the paper that you require the profile for (with all colour management switched off in both your image software and printer driver) and mail them to PermaJet. When received, they are scanned with a high quality Gretag spectrophotometer to create a totally accurate custom ICC profile tailored to your printing environment. The profile is then e-mailed to you, usually on the same day as being received in the post.

Canon has announced that its EOS 5D Mark II and 7D Digital SLR cameras have been used on the set of Marvel’s latest movie, “Marvel’s The Avengers.” Capturing POV action shots that can be seamlessly intercut with footage from the film’s principal 35mm and digital cinematography cameras, the digital SLR cameras have proven indispensable tools in “shooting additional angles that give film editors more options for creating powerfully immersive and kaleidoscopic views of action scenes,” explained the film’s cinematographer, Seamus McGarvey.

The 2012 U.S. Interchangeable Lens Camera Market is a new report by InfoTrends. According to this multi-client study, digital interchangeable lens cameras (DILCs, including DSLRs and CSCs) are expected to account for over 50% of total U.S. digital camera market revenue by 2016. The report explores what drives photo activity among owners of DILCs, and which services and products they use and anticipate using in the future. In addition, the study investigates their typical imaging workflows, use of cloud services and mobile devices, and adoption of connectivity solutions. For more information on The 2012 U.S. Interchangeable Lens Camera Market, end an e-mail to Matt O’Keefe at InfoTrends.

In the book, Up and Down Peachtree, Martin Parr presents a complete photographic collection of his work done in USA. The target of his American journey is Atlanta, Georgia, and the title of the book is taken from Atlanta’s main thoroughfare, Peachtree Street, around which the city was born and grew. The international edition of Up and Down Peachtree ($40/€30/£25), published by Contrasto, will accompany an exhibition of the same title running from 9 June until 2 September 2012 at the High Museum in Atlanta.

The compact Minox DC 1422 packs a 14-megapixel sonsor and a 25-125mm equivalent 5x wide zoom in a body that weighs just over 100 grams. Measuring just 94x57x18.4mm, the Minox DC 1422 features a 2.7” rear screen, proprietary Lithium-ion battery and HD video recording capability. The camera is available for €130.

EEF, the UK manufacturers’ organisation, is seeking images of modern manufacturing that capture British products, components or processes. Winners of the EEF Made in Britain Photography Awards will share a prize fund of £5000 worth of photographic equipment from headline sponsor Canon and gain national recognition at a Westminster awards reception in December 2012. Additionally, the government’s Make it in Great Britain campaign is also backing the awards. The closing date is 28 September 2012, with entries shortlisted by a national panel of photographic and industry experts in October and winners announced at a special ceremony in Westminster in December. As always, we recommend that you read the rules before entering your work.

Lensbaby has announced the availability of its Pro Effects Kit, which bundles the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic, the Edge 80 Optic, Macro Converters, Lens Cleaning Cloth and the Lensbaby System Bag.  “The Sweet 35 & Edge 80 will give you versatility and flair, ensuring whatever Lensbaby look you desire, it will be achieved,” said portrait photographer Holli True. The Pro Effects Kit is available now for $750.

Novoflex has unveiled thirteen new mount adapters for the Fuji X-Pro 1. The company is now offering adapters for the Canon FD, Contax/Yashica, Leica M and R, M42, Minolta MC/MD, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax K, Sony Alpha, T2, Novoflex A and 39mm screw-mount lenses. The adapters are scheduled to go on sale within the next two months, at prices ranging from €70 to €170.

Via Photoscala

Nikon has posted firmware updates for the Nikon 1 V1 and J1 compact system cameras. Version 1.12 addresses an issue that caused some frames to be duplicated in slow-motion movies recorded at a frame rate setting of 1200fps. You can download the firmware upgrades from the websites below.

Website: Nikon 1 J1 Firmware Update 1.12
Website: Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update 1.12

Adobe has posted ACR 7.1 and Adobe DNG Converter 7.1 as release candidates. Camera Raw 7.1 adds new Defringe controls to help address chromatic aberration. Defringe is available as part of the Lens Correction panel. Camera Raw can also now read 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit HDR files. Supported HDR formats are TIFF and DNG. It also adds support for 22 new cameras (including the Nikon D800 pictured above) and incorporates five new lens profiles. Note that ACR 7.1 is only compatible with Photoshop CS6.

Website: Adobe Labs

On 17th May, Manfrotto School of Xcellence (MSoX) will be hosting the renowned photographer Drew Gardner for a webinar devoted to celebrity portraiture. During the hour long webinar Drew will share some insider tips based on working on a large number of high profile shoots, which can be applied to all portraiture photography. Free and open to all, the webinar will take place from 7pm to 8pm BST. For more details and to register, head to the website below.

Getty Images has released its newly redesigned The Curve: Technology and Telecommunications, a multimedia research report on visual trends shaped by the “democratisation” of technology and the rise of social media. No longer a static landing page, this updated presentation of The Curve features a dynamic, changing interface of industry findings that permits commentary and collaboration from readers as well. The first issue of The Curve centred on social photography is now live, and the second issue - slated to go live later this month - will examine connectivity, identity and creativity providing insight on the cloud, content management, the personal information economy and more. To read the first issue, visit the website below.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 is the toughest Olympus camera ever released. The 12 megapixel TG-1 is waterproof (12m), shockproof (2m), freezeproof (-10°C) and crushproof (100kg), and has an f2.0 aperture high-speed lens that can capture excellent quality images even 12 metres underwater. You can also attach waterproof fisheye and telephoto converters to the TG-1 using an optional adapter.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 comes in silver and costs £359.99. The fisheye converter retails at £129.99 and the tele converter at £129.99. The converter adapter is available for £19.99. An additional housing will be available soon that will enable the TG-1 to be taken to a depth of 45m together with a powerful flash attachment to boost onboard illumination at depth.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP170 is the latest addition to the tough XP series of cameras. The14 megapixel XP170 is waterproof to 10m, shockproof to 2m, freezeproof to -10°C and dust and sandproof. It also features a 5x optical zoom (28-140mm) with sensor shift image stabilization, wireless image transfer to both Android and Apple devices, full HD movie capture, and an ISO range of 100-3200.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP170 will be available in June 2012 for $279.95 in blue and orange. An accessory kit for the new XP170 containing an adjustable float strap, protective silicone skin and a neoprene sports case will also be available at launch.

Canon has created a new partnership with two-time Academy Award winner Ron Howard for year two of the brand campaign, “Long Live Imagination.”  The partnership comes on the heels of Ron Howard and Canon U.S.A.’s “Project Imagin8ion” photo contest designed to ultimately inspire a Hollywood short film. For year two of “Long Live Imagination,” a new television commercial will debut on 14 May 2012 and will showcase the eight winning photographs of “Project Imagin8ion,” teasing “Ron’s Next Project.” “The success of the ‘Project Imagin8ion’ campaign was unprecedented and we are thrilled to align once again with Ron Howard for the next iteration of this journey,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

LockCircle has announced the new LockPort 5M3 accessory for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR camera. Developed to help avoid damaging the 5D Mark III’s miniHDMI connection port, the LockPort 5M3 safely secures a 90° front/rear miniHDMI to full-size HDMI adapter so that you can use stronger standard HDMI cables. Available from June, the LockPort M53 can be pre-ordered now for for $119/€99.

Winning entries from the 2011 Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) are going on display at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London from June 22nd to August 19th 2012. The free-to-view exhibition -  open daily (including bank holidays) - offers a visual journey around the globe, through the eyes of the hugely talented amateur and professional photographers who beat entrants from over 90 countries to take the top places in the awards. Visitors will also be the first to have the opportunity to buy the beautiful new Travel Photographer of the Year portfolio book (£25), Journey Four. This will contain not just the TPOTY-winning images on show at this year’s exhibition, but also the 2010-winning images.

Canon U.S.A: has announced two major additions to the Canon Digital Learning Center (CDLC). Firstly, the company has recently launched a new dedicated mobile site to help make the CDLC’s educational content and resources easily available from any smartphone or tablet. Viewers can even register for Canon Live Learning workshops right from their phones. Secondly, they have added a library of Wireless Files Transmitter setup guides. These easy-to-follow step-by-step PDFs are fully illustrated and include instructions for all WFT modes, network configurations, and popular operating systems.