Olympus have released two new rugged cameras, the Olympus mju Tough-6020 and the Olympus mju-Tough-8010. Waterproof down to a depth of 10m, shockproof up to 2m and freezeproof down to -10°C, the Olympus mju Tough-8010 features 2GB of built-in memory and a manometer. The Olympus mju Tough-8010 is shockproof to 1.5m, waterproof to 5m and also freezeproof to -10°C, but lacks a manometer and comes with 1GB of internal storage instead of 2GB. Apart from these differences the mju Tough.6020 and the mju Tough-8010 share a lot in common: both feature 14-megapixel sensors, 5x zoom lenses spanning a focal range of 28-140mm, mechanical image stabilisation, HD movie recording, Advanced Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Magic Filters, intelligent Auto mode and AF tracking. The Olympus mju Tough-8010 and mju Tough-6020 are available to buy from March 2010 for a retail price of £399.99 / $399.99 and £319.99 / $299.99 respectively.

Fujifilm has launched a 3D printer in the UK. The “3D Print System” will hit the UK in early summer 2010, allowing 3D prints can be created on the spot, using a PC to process the MPO file via Fujifilm’s newly developed image processing software. Prints will be available in four sizes, from 4x6 inches to larger 6x9 prints. Pricing for the 3D Print System will be announced in April 2010.

The Fujifilm FinePix HS10 is a DSLR-style camera with a massive 30x optical zoom lens and 10 megapixel CMOS sensor. Offering a focal range of 24-720mm, the Fujifilm HS10’s 30x lens has a twist-barrel manual zoom control and triple image stabilization to help reduce camera shake. The FinePix HS10’s Back Side Illuminated CMOS sensor offers a 200% increase in sensitivity over a conventional CMOS sensor. The HS10 also offers 10 frames-per-second high speed continuous shooting at maximum resolution, full HD movie mode (1080i) with stereo sound, a Super High Speed Movie function to freeze the action, 3” tilting up or down LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder. The Fujifilm FinePix HS10 will be available in March 2010 at a retail price of $499.95.

On a related note, Fujifilm have ruled out the possibility of any new DSLR cameras in the near future, although their medium-format system will be at this year’s PMA show in just over 2 weeks time.

The Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD and S1800 cameras offer 18x zoom lenses and HD movie recording. Both the Fujifilm S2550HD (also known as the S2500HD) and S1800 offer a 12 megapixel 1/2.3” CCD, 28-504mm lens, 3 inch LCD and electronic viewfinder. The S2550HD also has a mini HDMI Port for quick and easy connection to a home theater system. The FinePix S1800 is available in late January 2010 at a retail price of $229.95, and the FinePix S2550HD will be available in February 2010 at a retail price of $249.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix S1600 is a 12 megapixel camera with a 15x zoom lens. The Fujifilm S1600 offers a 12 megapixel 1/2.3” CCD, 28-420mm lens, 3 inch LCD and electronic viewfinder. The Fujifilm FinePix S1600 is available in black, price and launch date to be confirmed.

The Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR is a new compact camera offering a 10x zoom lens in a compact body. Replacing the F70EXR model, the Fujifilm F80EXR features a 27-270mm 10x zoom, 12 megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor, 3.0 inch LCD screen, Pet Detection and HD movie capture at 720p. The Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR will be available in March 2010 at a retail price of $299.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z700EXR combines beautiful styling, Fujifilm’s award-winning EXR sensor technology and a 3.5 inch touch-screen LCD. Available in a choice of black, red or silver, the Fujifilm Z700EXR features a 12 megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor, 5x Periscopic optical zoom lens (36-180mm equivalent) and ISO levels of up to 1600 at full resolution in a body measuring just 16.9 mm thick. The Fujifilm FinePix Z700EXR will be available in March 2010 at a retail price of $279.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z70 is the latest addition to the fun and fashionable range of Z-series compact cameras. The Fujifilm Z70’s features include one-touch movie capture HD, LED illuminated operation keys, tagging with automatic upload functions to YouTube and Facebook, a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, 2.7 inch LCD and a 5x periscopic optical zoom lens (36mm-180mm equivalent). The Fujifilm FinePix Z70 will be available in February 2010 at a retail price of $149.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP10 is Fujifilm’s first waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof camera. The Fujifilm XP10 has a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, a 2.7 inch LCD screen, a 5x periscopic optical zoom lens with a reinforced protective lens barrier, and is only 21.7 mm thin. Available in a choice of three different colors - silver, black and green - the Fujifilm FinePix XP10 will be available in late February 2010 at a price of $199.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix JX200 and JV150 are two new ultra-compact digital cameras. The Fujifilm JX200 is a 12 megapixel model with a 5x, 28mm wide-angle zoom lens. The Fujifilm JV150 offers 14 megapixels and a 3x zoom. Available in Black, Silver and Pink, pricing and availability of the Fujifilm FinePix JX200 and JV150 is still to be announced.

The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500, JZ300, JX250 and JV100 are four new ultra-compact digital cameras. The Fujifilm JV100 has a 12 megapixel CCD, a 2.7 inch LCD and a 3x optical zoom lens. The Fujifilm JX250 has a 14 megapixel CCD, a 2.7 inch LCD and a 5x wide angle (28mm-140mm) optical zoom lens. The Fujifilm JZ300 has a 12 megapixel CCD, a 2.7 inch LCD and a 10x optical zoom lens (28mm-280mm equivalent). Finally the Fujifilm JZ500 rounds out the series with a 14 megapixel CCD, a 2.7 inch LCD and a 10x optical zoom Lens (28mm-280mm equivalent). The Fujifilm FinePix JV100 and JZ300 will be available in February 2010 and the JX250 and JZ500 will all be available in March 2010 at a retail price of $129.95, $159.95, $199.95 and $249.95 respectively.

The Fujifilm FinePix AX280 is a new 14 megapixel entry-level camera. A step-up model from the AX200, the Fujifilm AX280 shares the same core specifications of 720p HD movie recording, 5x, 28-140mm lens, 2.7 inch LCD screen, ISO 3200 and powered by AA batteries. The Fujifilm FinePix AX280 will be available in the UK in Black, Silver and Bright Pink, price to be announced.

The Fujifilm FinePix AX200 and AV100 are new entry-level cameras that offer 720p HD movie recording. The Fujifilm AX200 is a 12 megapixel camera with a 5x, 28-140mm lens, 2.7 inch LCD screen, ISO 3200 and powered by AA batteries. The cheaper Fujifilm AV100 offers the same core specification with a 3x zoom lens. Both the AX200 and AV100 offer HD Movie Capture, Automatic Scene Recognition, and Face Detection. The FinePix AV100 will be available in February at a price of $99.95 and the FinePix AX200 will also be available in February at a price of $109.95.

Canon today announced that Casey Berner, 19, of Illinois and Justin Tijerina, 15, of Texas have been named the winners of the Adult and Teen Divisions of the Canon U.S.A. and Pro Football Hall of Fame “Why Do You Love Football?” photo challenge. The judging panel for this year’s contest included former NFL quarterback Archie Manning along with some of the world’s top sports photographers and editors including Peter Read Miller from Sports Illustrated, freelance photographer Dave Drapkin,Pulitzer Prize-winning photo editor Stella Kramer, New York Times sports photo editor Brad Smith andTony Tomsic, a freelance sports photographer who has shot every Super Bowl to-date. Each of the two category winners has won a trip for four to attend Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida. Additionally, both have won a trip for four to the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival in August where their winning photos will be on display in the Hall of Fame.

Getty Images today launchesd Thinkstock, a new image subscription product developed for value-conscious creative professionals. “Thinkstock is the new industry-standard in the image subscription business,” said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images. “By delivering an affordable and simple offering with excellent legal protection, Thinkstock provides one of the most complete subscriptions available anywhere, with premium, professional and user-generated imagery all in one place.” The monthly or yearly subscription options, priced at $249 and $2499 respectively, grant customers access to the entire library of Thinkstock images with downloads of 25 images per day, up to 750 images per month. Additionally, Thinkstock will soon offer multiple-shot image packs, with prices ranging from $59 - $999, ideal for customers with smaller budgets or who require imagery for a specific project.

Website: Thinkstock

Tokina has announced the availability of its AT-X 116 Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8 DX zoom for Sony, which is the manufacturer’s first DX lens for the Sony Alpha mount. Years ago, Tokina used to manufacture lenses for the Minolta A mount, but this is their first-ever offering for cropped-sensor Sony DSLR cameras. Constructed of 13 elements in 11 groups, the Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX offers an angle-of-view range of 104°-82°, similar to that of a 16.5-24mm lens mounted on a 35mm camera. Weighing in at 560 grams, the lens goes on sale on 24 February in Japan, priced at 94,500 yen. There is no word on international pricing or availability.

Website: Google Translation of Tokina Press Release

Hasselblad has announced the launch of the new, 40-megapixel Hasselblad H4D-40, which will allegedly bring “ultimate image quality to an entirely new generation of photographers”. The Hasselblad H4D-40 features a 40-megapixel medium-format sensor and True Focus AF, and comes bundled with the company’s Phocus 2.0 software. Hassleblad will be launching the new H4D-40 at special “hands-on” events in over 50 cities throughout the world starting 10 February 2010. A kit consisting of the Hasselblad H4D-40 body, viewfinder and 80mm lens will set you back €13,995 / $19,995 / £12,995, and is available now.

Website: Hasselblad H4D-40 Launch Events Around the World

The winners of the January 2010 Photography Blog Competition have been announced. The theme for January was “The Future” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Electric Avenue by nrshapiro

Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) of the U.S.A. is now accepting entries to their 40th annual contest. Contestants have until 6 July 2010 to submit their photos. There are 7 categories, and each entrant may submit up to 25 images. Winners will be published on the NWF website and a selection will appear in their December 2010 issue. There are two $5,000 grand prizes to be won, and the total amount of cash prizes offered exceeds $30,000.

Website: NWF Photo Contest

PentaxForums today launched a new photography competition entitled ‘Panoramic View’. Each registered PentaxForums user can submit one image to the official “PF 2010 panoramic view image contest” gallery, from today until 15 March, 11:59pm GMT -7. The theme of the contest can be interpreted in any way the photographer sees it, even with non-panoramic images. However, each image submission must be captured with Pentax equipment, and be created by and the sole copyright property of the PentaxForums user who submitted it. The file size is limited to 1.5 megabytes. Prizes to be won include a a Nodal Ninja 3 MKII Full Spherical Multirow Panoramic QTVR Tripod Head, a copy of the upcoming photobook “Ghost Towns of the Southwest: Your Guide to the Historic Mining Camps and Ghost Towns of Arizona and New Mexico” by Kerrick James and Jim Hinckley and a copy of Autodesk Stitcher Unlimited 2009 panoramic stitching software.

Website: PentaxForums