SmallHD has introduced a 5.6” field monitor with a resolution of 270ppi, for use with video-enabled DSLR cameras. Specifically designed for on-camera field use, this 1280x800-pixel video monitor weighs in at 284g, and features the industry’s three most popular high definition video inputs: HDMI, Component, and an optional 3G HD-SDI In/Out port. “You have to see this thing; you won’t believe your eyes,” says SmallHD’s lead product developer Dale Backus. “Not only does DP-SLR mesh perfectly with HDSLR filmmaking, but it opens the doors to high-end broadcast needs via 3G HD-SDI capability.” The DP-SLR field monitor is estimated to hit the shelves in July, priced at $899 for the standard version and $1199 when adding 3G HD-SDI.

Website: SmallHD

The second Maui Photo Festival and Workshops (MPF), set for August 25-29, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, will bring more than 20 of the top photo workshops trainers to one of the world’s most photogenic locations: Maui. Seminar content covers the spectrum — digital novice to pro — through classroom sessions, demo and hands-on opportunities and location shoots. Special focus on available and studio light, portraiture and the business of photography. The $595 fee includes opening reception, three full session days, and awards ceremony.

Website: Maui Photo Festival

Lynda.com has released 12 courses covering the products in Adobe Creative Suite 5. Course topics include Photoshop CS5, Dreamweaver CS5, Flash CS5, Illustrator CS5, InDesign CS5, After Effects CS5, Premiere Pro CS5, Flash Catalyst CS5, Fireworks CS5, Encore CS5, and Bridge CS5 tutorials. Lynda.com now has over 24 hours of Adobe CS5 training available, with more being released in the coming weeks.

Website: Lynda

A new e-learning site for photographers, called DSLRU, has just been launched. DSLRU is a new type of website whose premise is to provide high-quality content at a reasonable price. Ten courses starting at $0.99 are available for purchase.To celebrate its launch, DSLRU has teamed up with Nik Software for a raffle, offering a chance to win Viveza 2 or Silver Efex Pro. The rules are simple: purchase any non-free course before 14 May 2010, and you’ll be entered 20 times into the drawing for each course purchased. The winners will be contacted by 21 May 2010. Check out the website below for more information.

Website: DSLRU

Apple today updated the MacBook Pro line with faster processors, next-generation NVIDIA graphics and longer battery life. The 13-inch MacBook Pro now features the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor for up to 80 percent faster graphics and a 10-hour built-in battery. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Apple’s new automatic graphics switching technology that toggles seamlessly between powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and energy efficient Intel HD Graphics processors. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 250GB hard drive priced at £999; and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 320GB hard drive priced at £1,249. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in three models: one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 320GB hard drive at £1,499; one with a 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive at £1,649; and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive at £1,799. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive for £1,899. Unfortunately, only the built-to-order versions can be ordered with an antiglare display; the regular configurations all appear to come with glossy monitors.

The B-Grip from CPtech is a solution for carrying a camera fastened to your belt. Made with highly selected materials B-Grip guarantees comfort, safety and fast access to your camera. Supporting up to 8kg / 17.5lbs, the B-Grip is supplied in a retail box for €59 RSP ( €49.90 excluding VAT).

Olympus has announced the availablity of the GetOlympus app on the Apple App Store. The free app offers photo tips, galleries and access to Olympus promotions. “This app was designed to provide dynamic interaction with consumers,” Olympus says, “and it will be updated with new content and features over time.” Form more information, visit the website below.

Website: GetOlympus

Panasonic has announced a new line of Blu-ray Disc media designed for secure digital data archiving in professional applications. Available in two grades - Archival Grade and Century Archival Grade -, the new Panasonic Archival Grade Blu-ray Discs have an expected archival life of more than 50 years at a room temperature of 77°F and a relative humidity of 80%, the company claims. Featuring a new recording layer structure that ensures longer shelf life, the Century Archival Grade Disc has an estimated life of 100 years. The Archival Grade discs will hit the shelves in the 2nd quarter of this year, while the Century Archival Grade discs will start shipping in the 3rd quarter. Detailed information will be announced at a future date.

Carl Zeiss has just launched the first set of cine lenses designed especially for HDSLR cameras: the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses. The Compact Prime CP.2 lenses deliver great flexibility by introducing interchangeable mounts that allow the lenses to be used with a wide range of cameras, from traditional cine to HDSLR systems. Available with three different mounts – PL, Canon EF and Nikon F – this new family of ZEISS lenses enables cinematographers to be completely free in their choice of camera systems, the company says. The ergonomics have been improved compared to standard SLR lenses. The lenses’ cine-style housing dimensions, focus and iris gear positions, and front diameter are the same for the standard lens set. The longer focus rotation and the possibility for manual focus give users the flexibility they demand. The iris diaphragm consists of 14 high-precision blades, which stay consistently round and symmetrical over the entire T-stop range. This translates into natural and pleasing out-of-focus highlights and a smooth bokeh. Currently on display at the NAB in Las Vegas, these lenses cover a 24x36mm image format without vignetting. They will be available from June 2010.

Website: Zeiss Cine Lenses

Carl Zeiss has introduced a new Lightweight Zoom lens for filmmakers, which comes with interchangeable mounts that allow it to be used with a wide range of cameras, from traditional cine to HDSLR systems. The Carl Zeiss Lightweight Zoom LWZ.2 features radically shaped spherical glass surfaces with a very strong curvature, which guarantee high optical performance, the manufacturer says. Large-diameter aspherical lens elements keep the lens light while at the same time reducing spherical aberrations and keeping the image free of distortions. Straight lines stay straight, from infinity to close-ups and over the entire zoom range. The new lens is currently being showcased at the NAB show in Las Vegas.

True Stories is the title of Korean photographer Koh Sang Woo’s upcoming solo exhibition at the Sesame Gallery in London. Koh’s art is part painting, part performance, documented in photography. Carefully choosing his subjects for their personal stories, he paints directly onto their bodies as he works, and then reverses the colours in the final exposure to give his photos an unmistakeable electric vibrancy. In True Stories, all his photographs probe the kind of subtle conventions that restrain and limit their subjects – be it corporate control, racial prejudice, or the pressure to “be the best”. True Stories opens on 6 May at the Sesame Gallery, 354 Upper St, Islington, London N1 0PD.

Lens, the New York Times’ photo blog, invites photographers around the world to join in their new project, “A Moment in Time”. Thousands of photographers of all experience levels will be capturing the same moment on Sunday, May 2nd at 15:00 U.T.C. While anyone is welcome to participate, the organisers are particularly hoping to see submissions from students and professors of photography. To help simulate ideas, Lens is suggesting the following categories for images: Religion, Play, Nature & the Environment, Family, Work, Arts & Entertainment, Money & the Economy, Community and Social Issues. After you take your photos, submit your best image as soon as possible to the website below (it will go live on Sunday, May 2nd at 15:00 U.T.C.).

Website: A Moment in Time

Sanyo has announced two Xacti branded Dual Cameras, the DMX-CG100 and DMX-GH1, both of which capture full HD video and 14-megapixel stills. The two cameras differ primarily in their form factor and colour scheme. Otherwise they are very similarly specified. Both have 5x zoom lenses with a 35mm equivalnet focal range of 38-190mm, built-in stereao microphones, 2.7” LCD screens and a sensitivity range of ISO 50 to ISO 1600. Both can capture 1920x1080-pixel Full HD video at 60fps with double-range zoom, and 4352x3264-pixel stills at up to 1fps. The video format is “MPEG-4 AVC / H.264”. The Sanyo Xacti DMX-GH1 features Sanyo’s unique “Double Sub Rec Button” for easier shooting. The price of the new models has not yet been disclosed.

Imagenomic has just released its award-winning Portraiture 2 Plug-in for Aperture 3. This new Portraiture 2 edition provides native 64-bit operation within Apple’s Snow Leopard operating system, and represents one of the first purpose-built, third-party image processing plug-ins to be optimised and released for Apple’s latest 64-bit systems and software applications, Imagenomic said in a statement. The Portraiture 2 plug-in for Aperture 3 is being made available as a free upgrade for registered users of the previous Aperture 2 Plug-in edition.  For new users, Portraiture 2 for Aperture 3 is available priced at $199.95 (SRP).

Website: Imagenomic

The new Sigma 50-500mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM has now arrived in the UK. Presently available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon fittings, the Sigma 50-500mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM has a suggested retail price of £1399.99. The Pentax and Sony versions will follow shortly, said Paul Reynolds of Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd. Incorporating Sigma’s original Optical Stabiliser function, the Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 allows sharp hand-held shots at shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. Four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of colour aberration, the company says.

Panasonic Solutions Company has announced the Panasonic AG-AF100 camcorder, which uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor and lens mount.  The camera offers superior video handling, native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, professional audio capabilities, dual card slots and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media. The AF100 incorporates a 4/3-inch, 16:9 MOS imager. The camcorder records 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) in AVCHD’s highest-quality PH mode (maximum 24Mbps). Ready for global production standards, the camcorder is 60Hz and 50Hz switchable. The Panasonic AG-AF100 will be available by the end of 2010. Price to be confirmed.

To illustrate the science of attraction, the Science Museum is looking for photos of couples to feature in its ‘Who Am I?’ gallery that reopens in June 2010. Contributions of couples together can be made by the couples themselves via the ‘Coupling Up’ Flickr Pool. 50 photos from the pool will be selected to appear in a computer display as well as featured in a limited edition book of which all 50 selected photographers will receive a copy. “Attraction is very hard to pin down with scientific explanation alone,” the organisers say, so, when submitting the photo, you’re welcome to accompany the picture with a comment and tell them what made you click. The submission deadline is 18 April 2010.

Website: Coupling Up

Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended have been announced today. For photographers, Photoshop CS5 now offers next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities. When combining multiple exposures into a single HDR image, Photoshop CS5 preserves the full tonal range of a scene with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The new HDR Pro offers exceptional ghost artefact removal and greater tone mapping and adjustment control. With HDR toning, users can emulate the striking look of an HDR image with any single-exposure image. Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended delivers everything in Photoshop CS5, as well as advanced tools for 3-D. Adobe Photoshop CS5 and CS5 Extended are scheduled to ship within 30 days for £548 (ex-VAT) and £794 (ex-VAT) for respectively.