The long-awaited Pentax 645D digital medium-format camera will be available in May 2010. The 645D features a 40 megapixel Kodak sensor, SAFOX IX+ autofocus system with 11 sensor points, weather-proof body, dual SD/SDHC card slots and a glass prism viewfinder. Expected to sell for ¥850,000 ($9,500 / £6,300), the Pentax 645D will initially only be available in Japan, with a decision about release in other countries still to be decided. In addition to the 645D body, Pentax will also launch the D-FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL [IF] SDM AW lens, which is equivalent to 43.5mm in the 35mm format and will cost around ¥100,000 ($1,100 / £750).

Focus on Imaging is Europe’s biggest annual photography show, and this year’s event is currently being held at the NEC in Birmingham, England. Open to both trade and the public, business seemed brisk as we made our way around the show floor, perhaps indicating that the worst of the global recession is behind the photography industry - or at the very least that photographers are window-shopping again. Read on for our Focus 2010 show report.

Canon had a fleet of branded Mini Coopers at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver - and our reader Jerry was there to take a few high-quality images of them. These cars, all decked out in Canon gear, roamed the streets of Vancouver, serving as private shuttles. “It was pretty awesome,” Jerry commented. Click through for a small gallery of his images. We thank Jerry for sending them to us.

London-based writer and photographer Steve Davey is launching a new bespoke travel photography tour to Ladakh, India. Impressions of Ladakh, organised in association with Intrepid Travel, takes participants to this unique region sandwiched between the Greater Himalayan and Karakoram Mountain ranges. Timed to correspond with the Tse Chu festival at the Thak Tok monastery, Impressions of Ladakh kicks off on 12 July 2010. Highlights of this travel photography tour include the two-day drive across the Leh-Manali Highway (one of the highest motorable roads in the world), the picturesque high-altitude city of Leh, the famous Hemis Gompa and Dharamsala the seat of the exiled Dalai Lama in India. Steve Davey uses a mix of nightly illustrated talks, group practical demonstrations and personal tuition and critique to teach you about travel photography. The cost of participation is £1495 excluding international flights.

Manfrotto has launched its new generation of joystick heads; the 324RC2 and 327RC2, designed for the amateur and professional photographer. The 324RC2 and 327RC2 are the latest versions of the Manfrotto joystick heads, making full use of new technologies and materials to improve both design and technical specs. The heads have been optimized to provide intuitive, fast operation, improved comfort and reduced weight. The 324RC2 (£109.95) is made of Adapto, an ultra-durable and lightweight technopolymer, optimised for compactness and transportability with a high load capacity and reduced weight. The 327RC2 (£164.95) has a magnesium body shell that provides superior performance and durability. Both Manfrotto tripod heads are available now.

Jobo AG, a German company founded in 1923 and today best known for its digital photo frames, card readers and storage devices, has been declared insolvent. Photoscala is reporting that insolvency proceedings have been initiated against both Jobo AG and Jobo Labortechnik GmbH & Co., and a lawyer, Hans-Gerd Jauch, has been appointed as provisional liquidator. (Pictured above is the Jobo Nano 8 Pro digital photo frame introduced barely more than a month ago.)

Via Photoscala

Leading East London photographic gallery theprintspace has announced details of a forthcoming exhibition to be compiled entirely of work by photographers on Flickr. theprintspace Gallery, located in the heart of Shoreditch, are looking to bring together the best of Flickr, whatever the subject, context or style of photography. World Press Photography Award-winning photojournalist Laura Pannack says: “The lack of restrictions on the competition opens up a world of diverse photography, from photographers of all ages, with no distinct theme or genre. We can look forward to discovering some hidden gems.” Photographers are invited to enter their photographs at the website below.

Website: theprintspace Gallery on Flickr

Canon is showcasing various imaging products, from input to output, at this year’s Wedding & Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) Convention at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. On display is the new REALiS SX7 Mark II Multimedia LCOS projector, three new imagePROGRAF large format printers, in addition to the company’s EOS Digital SLR camera line and PIXMA Pro Series Inkjet printers. The all-new Canon REALiS SX7 Mark II Multimedia LCOS projector (see picture above) offers a remarkable 4000 lumens of brightness and advanced LCOS technology, delivering film-like photos and video with fine details and exceptional colour reproduction, the company says. Canon’s WPPI 2010 booth is #401.

Kubota Image Tools have announced the new and improved Dashboard 3 Pro software, an intuitive way for photographers to enhance their digital images. Dashboard 3 Pro is a floating palette within Photoshop (CS2 or newer) that acts like a mini search engine for actions.“Our new DASHBOARD 3 Pro has been designed to work the way photographers think,” said Kevin Kubota, Idea Man of Kubota Image Tools. “The efficiencies gained from harnessing actions through this one-stop solution will help photographers create stunning images in just seconds. I guarantee it to be the fastest path from original image to finished art.” Priced at $79, Dashboard 3 Pro is available for purchase and download now on the Kubota Image Tools website.

Website: Kubota Image Tools

AsukaBook USA showcases an award-winning new album choice, two new book lines and faster turnaround time on orders for professional photographers and designers. The two new book lines, including the Zen Lay-flat and the Neo Classic Book Line are currently being previewed at WPPI 2010, and will be available from 17 March. The Zen Lay-flat is a superior quality lay-flat style book with patent-pending, invisible binding, whilst the Neo Classic book line is a more traditional style with thicker, board type pages. In addition to new product offerings, AsukaBook has now shortened its turnaround time for finished orders from 4 weeks to 3 weeks guaranteed.

Website: AsukaBook

Zenfolio has added new offerings that provide users with a unique way to add music to their site, and select and share favorite photos. Zenfolio users can now enhance their photo presentations by adding soundtracks to be played along with their images. Photographers can easily upload legally licensed songs for use on their Zenfolio web site. Music files can be selected to play when a visitor enters a photographer’s portfolio home page, views customisable full-screen slideshows, or along with embedded slideshows on external web sites.

Website: Zenfolio

Tamron says it is developing a premium telezoom for full-frame DSLR cameras, called the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD. The VC abbreviation in the product name stands for “Vibration Compensation” - so it is an optically stabilised lens -, whilst the USD designation indicates that the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD will have an Ultrasonic Silent Drive auto-focus motor, which also enables full-time manual focus override, with no need to switch the lens to MF mode. In the pursuit to achieve the most outstanding image resolution in the 70-300mm class, this 60th Anniversary lens from Tamron utilises an advanced optical design that features an LD (Low Dispersion) and an XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) lens element made from specialised materials that prevent chromatic aberration. The Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD will be available for Nikon, Canon and Sony/Minolta AF mounts.

Digital Foci will introduce a new Pearl White version of its popular Photo Book, a portable digital photo album with an 8-inch 800x600-pixel colour screen and a 4GB of internal memory. Featuring a slim design encased in a soft leather-like case for a convenient, elegant photo display, Photo Book offers over 2.5 hours of battery life and an easy and portable way to enjoy and share digital photos in a comfortable setting. Built-in memory card slots provide native support for CF, SD/SDHC/MMC, xD, MS and MS PRO memory cards, and supports mini-SD, RS-MMC and MS Duo with adapters. Photo Book includes a leather-like case, AC power adapter, USB to computer, USB adapter to USB flash drive, and Quick Start Guide. Priced at $189 SRP, the Pearl White version of the Photo Book will be available June 2010.

Leica has announced a partnership with UK celebrity and fashion photographer, John Wright, for the Leica S-system. As part of the agreement between Wright and Leica, photographers will be able to experience the S-system first hand through a series of activities including interviews and photographic sessions, and workshops at the Leica Store Mayfair ‘Studio S’. John will also use the camera for a number of high profile shoots throughout the year. John Wright said, “Leica is one of the premier camera manufacturers in the world and I’m delighted to have this opportunity to be involved with the S-system. My initial experiences have been extremely positive. Ease of use, reliability and incredible image resolution are all essential in my work, and the S2 has delivered in every department.”

Nikon has launched a new advertising campaign throughout Europe, featuring commercials filmed with the Nikon D3S itself. The TV spots, which premiere in the UK over the Easter weekend from 2nd – 5th April 2010 on ITV, Channel Four and Channel Five, were shot on location in Egypt, Germany and Spain over nine days by Ralf Schmerberg. The print advertising campaign was shot by Sven Jacobsen on location in South Africa using Nikon D3X camera, with NIKKOR 35mm, 85mm and 28-70mm zoom lenses.

Website: I AM Nikon

Lowepro has introduced the feature-packed Lowepro Pro Runner AW Series backpacks and roller backpacks. The Lowepro Pro Runner AW Series incorporates the Pro Runner 300 AW which is an upgraded version of the Mini-Trekker AW, the x350 and x450 rolling models featuring spring-loaded trolley handles (see picture above), replaceable wheels and an inventive harness system which quickly converts the roller to a backpack with two easy attachments. Available in black later this month and Pine Green in the summer, the Pro Runner AW Series will store a DSLR with attached lens from a 70-200mm f/2.8 plus 3-4 lenses or flash and accessories to a pro DSLR with attached 300mm lens, three to four extra lenses or accessories.

The next Bing homepage photography contest is centred around the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Kicking off on 29 March, the Earth Day anniversary photo contest from Bing is asking students to submit Earth Day-related photos. The grand prize for the winning photo is getting displayed as the Bing homepage image on Earth Day. Prizes for other winning contestants include a trip to Seattle, in addition to photo equipment for the winners and their schools. For more info, head to the Bing blog via the link below.

Website: Bing Blog

ArcSoft has announced a partnership with Pentax to provide ArcSoft MediaImpression for Pentax’s compact cameras. MediaImpression provides users with intelligent ways to organise, view, and edit their photo, music and video. It also provides easy access to share the media to popular online sharing sites such as YouTube, Flickr and Facebook. Pentax has recently launched a range of digital compact cameras including the Pentax Optio E90, H90, I-10 and W90 models, and the Pentax X90 superzoom with a 26x optical zoom lens (pictured).