Vanguard has introduced its first Abeo series tripods. With maximum loading capacities of 13.2 lbs to 22.0 lbs, the Vanguard Abeo tripods maintain a lighter overall weight (5.73-6.73 lbs) than many competitive tripods, the company claims. Available with a pan head or ball head, Abeo supports cameras with large zoom lenses and camcorders with attached gear. The tripods’ panning handles can easily be positioned on the left or right side for convenient, comfortable use by both left and right-handed people. Abeo is available in five models at street prices of $189-269.

Colour Confidence today announced the launch and availability of the new SpyderPRINT (£299.99) and SpyderSTUDIO (£449.99). The first product is a printer calibration solution that allows owners of advanced inkjet printers to create gallery quality prints in colour and black and white. SpyderSTUDIO is a product package that includes SpyderPRINT, Spyder4Elite and the SpyderCube.

The sixth issue of Adore Noir magazine is now out. Adore Noir is a fine art photography magazine available exclusively in digital format. Featuring exquisite musician portraits by Jim McGuire, world-class wedding photography by Jeff Ascough, a selection of pictures from the series “Transfigurations” by Norman Lerner, “neo-vintage” images by Adrian Davis, dramatic photographs of bullfighters by Michael Crouser, fine art landscapes by Rafal Maleszyk, an essay by Dominic Rouse and a richly illustrated behind-the-scenes story on the making of the documentary, The Silver Footprint; this issue reinforces the magazine’s commitment to high-quality black-and-white imagery. Adore Noir magazine is available for $2.95 from the website below.

Website: Adore Noir

The winners of the World Press Photo of the Year contest have been announced. The overall winner is Spanish photographer Samuel Aranda for his image of a woman holding a wounded relative in her arms, inside a mosque used as a field hospital by demonstrators against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during clashes in Sanaa, Yemen on 15 October 2011 (above). The jury gave prizes in nine themed categories to 57 photographers of 24 nationalities from: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA. The winning entries have been chosen from 101254 images submitted by 5,247 photographers from 124 countries.

Lensbaby is teasing its Facebook fans with the promise that it will announce a brand new product on Valentine’s day. Claiming that their new optic[?] “will make you fall in love with photography all over again,” the company is encouraging photographers to submit their ideas on what they think Lensbaby should develop next. And if you care to share their announcement post on 14th February, you may even win a copy of their brand new product - whatever it may be.

Source: Lensbaby | Facebook

Sony has updated its roadmap for E-mount lenses. Currently, the NEX system offers seven Sony and Zeiss branded lenses alongside a few recently announced Sigma, Tamron and Kenko/Tokina products. As this is a relatively narrow selection of optics. especially when compared to the dozens of lenses available for the system’s main rival, Micro Four Thirds, Sony has decided to introduce eight new lenses in the course of less than two years. On top of the wide zoom, high-performance standard zoom and medium telephoto lenses that were already on the roadmap, the company has now added a new standard zoom, a new superzoom, a large-aperture standard prime, a “mid-magnification zoom” and a pancake lens. This should bring the total number of E-mount Sony/Zeiss lenses to 15 by the end of 2013.

The specifications of the new lenses have not been released yet.

Source: Sony Blog

Artensoft has announced Tilt Shift Generator, a Windows program that allows users to simulate the tilt effect achievable with a tilt-shift lens. The application uses a special algorithm to blur specific areas of the image by the right amount, and provides a number of control options and settings to achieve the desired effect. Tilt Shift Generator licences are available from $49.95 through the website below.

Nikon has released a new version of its Capture Control Pro software. Camera Control Pro allows the user to remotely control a camera from a computer using either a wired connection or a wireless connection if using a Nikon Wireless Transmitter with the camera. Version 2.10.0 adds support for the Nikon D4 digital SLR camera and its special features, and adds ‘Movie’ as a separate camera control tab. Additionally, the Macintosh version gains MacOS X 10.4 and 10.7 support. You can download the software update from the website below.

Website: Nikon Europe

Fuji has released a firmware update for the Fujifilm X10 digital compact camera. Version 1.03 addresses the blooming (“white disc”) issue that can sometimes be observed in EXR AUTO mode, adds compatibility with MacOS X 10.7, and provides a number of functionality upgrades and bug fixes, as outlined below.

Kodak has announced that it is ceasing production of digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames. Due to take place in the first half of 2012, Kodak will instead expand its current brand licensing program, and seek licensees for cameras. Kodak will continue to honor all related product warranties, and provide technical support and service for its cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames.

Fuji has posted a firmware update for the Fujifilm X100 large-sensor compact camera. Version 1.13 adds compatibility with MacOS X 10.7 and fixes the following bugs:

When VIEW MODE is set to EYE SENSOR activated mode, the camera may be frozen after changing OVF/EVF in certain shooting conditions.
After shooting images in A mode, if the mode dial rotated to another position and returned into A mode during data recording, the shutter of the camera may not work properly.

Website: FinePix X100 Firmware Update Ver.1.13

Ricoh has announced that Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, which was established last October, will assume control of the design, development and distribution of all consumer-oriented imaging products, including all digital cameras. Ricoh’s other business unit, Ricoh Personal Multimedia Product Company - which has hitherto been responsible for the development, manufacture and sales of Ricoh branded cameras -, will now focus on security systems and imaging solutions for the B2B market. The changes will take effect from 1st April.

Nikon has released a firmware update for the Nikon 1 J1 compact system camera. Version 1.11 resolves an issue that sometimes caused images captured using the built-in flash to be over-exposed. You can download the firmware update from the website below,

Website: Nikon 1 J1 Firmware Update A 1.11, B 1.10

Nikon has issued a firmware update for the Nikon 1 V1 compact system camera. Version 1.11 contains fixes for the following bugs:

Images captured using the Speedlight SB-N5 were sometimes over-exposed.
When switching from framing photos in the monitor to using the electronic viewfinder, or vice versa, with focus mode set to MF (manual focus) and the display zoomed in, the camera sometimes did not function properly.

Website: Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update A 1.11, B 1.10

Manfrotto will showcase a number of photographic products at the Broadcast Video Expo (BVE) 2012 trade show. Among these will be the latest professional video tripod heads - including the Manfrotto 519 Pro Fluid Video Head pictured above -, remotes, LED lighting solutions and a range of dedicated video bags from Kata. The Broadcast Video Expo is taking place from 14-16 February 2012 at Earls Court 2, London.

Swann has unveiled its latest digital video cameras – the HD PenCam and PenCam 4GB. Each device conceals a miniature video camera and DVR inside a real working pen. The HD PenCam ($99.99) is capable of recording high-definition AVI videos (1280x720 pixels) and high-resolution JPEG images on microSD memory cards, while the PenCam 4G ($69.99) shoots VGA movies and 1.2-megapixel stills and saves them in its built-in memory. Both versions switch between video and photo mode with a touch of a button, feature date and time stamping, and are compatible with PCs and Macs.

East London gallery and pro lab theprintspace is calling all photography enthusiasts to join its “World” competition on Facebook. As the official sponsor and print partner of the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards, theprintspace has teamed up with the World Photography Organisation (WPO) to offer the winners of the World Competition exclusive prizes. Interested photographers can upload one image which illustrates their perception of the world. Prizes range from tickets to the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, a Premium WPO 12 month membership, professional 20”x24” Dibond mounts and prints, a space in theprintspace’s annual SoShowMe Exhibition to features on theprintspace blog. The submission deadline is 20th February. You can read the rules and enter your work through the website below.

Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh CX6 digital compact camera. Version 1.23 fixes a bug that has caused photos to be out of focus with Pre-AF turned on and the ADJ/OK button depressed. The firmware upgrade can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Ricoh Global

The Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM (SAL500F40G) is a professional grade super-telephoto lens for A-mount SLR and SLT cameras. Billed as the longest fixed-focal-length G lens from Sony to date, the Sony G 500mm f/4 SSM includes 11 elements in 10 groups, including three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements. It’s also the first G lens from Sony to benefit from an advanced new coating process that ensures crisper, clearer images. Exclusive to Sony, the Nano AR Coating process is claimed to cut internal reflections “drastically”. The lens’ SSM (SuperSonic-wave Motor) features a new drive circuit that ensures rapid, responsive AF with significantly faster object tracking than conventional Sony lenses. Four focus hold buttons are spaced around the lens barrel for easy operation in any position. They’re complemented by a two-way DMF (Direct Manual Focus) mode button and focus range switch. Focusing ring and front/rear joints are protected by interlocking seals that ensure a high degree of protection from the elements. Built to order, the SAL500F40G super-telephoto lens from Sony is available in the UK from April 2012.