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The Samsung PL70 is a new 12 megapixel compact camera with a 5x, 28mm wide-angle optical zoom lens. The PL70 (also known as the Samsung SL720) features HD movie capture with ‘Pause and Re-record’ functionality, 3 inch LCD screen, optical image stabilisation and Samsung’s Perfect Portrait System. The Samsung PL70 is available in a range of colours including red, pink and silver and has a recommended retail price of £199 from August 2009. The SL720 will cost $229.99.

The Samsung PL55 is a new 12 megapixel family-friendly compact camera. The PL55 (also known as the Samsung SL502) features Samsung’s Smart Auto (Scene Recognition) technology, Perfect Portrait System, and Digital Image Stabilisation. Available from August 2009, the PL55 has a recommended retail price of £149 and comes in a variety of colours. The SL502 will cost $149.99.

The Samsung ES17 is a new 12 megapixel compact camera with 3x zoom lens. The ES17 also features Face Detection technology, Beauty Shot mode, and a Digital Image Stabilization system. Available in Pink, Silver, White and Black, the Samsung ES17 has a recommended retail price of £89 and will be available from August 2009.

The Samsung SMX-K40 and SMX-K44 are two new standard-definition camcorders whose output can be upscaled to “near full-HD” resolution when viewing through an HDMI output. The videos are recorded at a resolution of 720x480 pixels. The SMX-K44 offers an internal 16GB Solid State Drive (SSD), which provides up to 10h20 hours of recording, depending on the chosen mode.  The SMX-K40 does not have internal storage and requires the use of a SD/SDHC card. Samsung’s new Intelli-Zoom, which is claimed to be “significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom”, allows users to go beyond the camcorder’s 52x optical zoom. The K-Series also features Samsung’s advanced Optical Image Stabiliser. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K44 Camcorders will be available from leading high street and online retailers from August 2009.

Samsung have announced the HMX-U10 ultra compact camcorder that records in full-HD and also allows users to take 10 mega-pixel still photos. A one-touch “upload” button provides a direct connection to YouTube for fast and easy video sharing. At 56mm x 103mm x 15.5mm, and weighing just 95g including the battery, the HMX-U10 is ultra-compact with an ergonomic design that breaks free of the traditional look and feel of pocket-sized camcorders. Its sleek frame is accentuated by a wave-design that angles the body of the camcorder at seven degrees, allowing users to grip the camcorder more comfortably, reducing stress on the wrist or arm. The HMX-U10 Camcorder will be available from leading high street and online retailers from September 2009.

Nik Software announced today its Summer 2009 Webinar schedule. The Nik Software webinars have been developed to address specific types of photographic styles and are designed to appeal to everyone. Both current Nik Software customers and those who have not yet purchased a Nik Software product will learn more about how these software plug-ins can simplify their digital photography workflow and create extraordinary images. Participants only need to log in from their computer to access these free educational webinars. To register for any of these webinars, please visit: http://www.niksoftware.com/webinar. Click through / read on for the details.

Attendee and media registration is now open for PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2009.  The annual trade show will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center from October 22-24. In addition, PPE09 has refreshed its Facebook page and will post updates and news regarding the trade show—and other events surrounding the show—on a regular basis.

Go to http://www.facebook.com/pdnphotoplusexpo to become a fan and see what’s new about the show.

Website: PDN PhotoPlus Expo Attendee Registration

Charlie Waite and Amateur Photographer editor Damien Demolder are combining their expertise with that of five other UK photographers in a major landscape exhibition to be held in Southwell Minster, the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire. The exhibition opens on 1 August and runs throughout the month. The joint showing brings together established and emerging talents, as well as a wide range of photographic styles. Both Charlie Waite and Damien Demolder will be giving talks during the exhibition. Damien’s talk, ‘Seeing and Taking Great Pictures’, will be held on the evening of the first day of the exhibition, Saturday 1st August, at 7.30pm, and Charlie’s ‘Landscape Photography Seminar’ will be held on the evening of Thursday 13th August. Tickets for the talks cost £10 and can be booked at http://www.mastersofvision.co.uk/talks.html

Pacifico beer is asking its fans to upload photos of their adventures for the chance to live the Pacifico lifestyle and win an “Epic Adventure” of their own. The contest, which launched July 8 on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com, enables consumers to submit photos from July 8 to September 30, 2009, for the opportunity to win a surf trip for four with professional surfer Joel Tudor, along with other great prizes.  Photos will be judged on aesthetics as well as the degree of “epic-ness” of adventure, but Pacifico is leaving it up to consumers to decide what they consider an epic adventure. You must be over the age of 21 and a resident of the U.S.A. to enter the contest. Due to legal restrictions, residents of California and Utah are not eligible to participate.

Zipix Lite is a new iPhone app that allows consumers to instantly and automatically enhance their photos. Available exclusively from the iPhone Application Store, the new edition of Zipix Lite provides a variety of features that make it easy to improve photo quality on-the-go. Some of these include the automatic correction of over- or underexposure, contrast adjustments, cropping and comparison of the enhanced photo with the original so that you can decide which one you would like to keep. Zipix Lite is available free for a limited time only. The program can be found under the Photography category in the Free Applications section of the iPhone App Store. Zipix Lite is compatible with the original iPhone 3G and the new iPhone 3GS.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies today unveiled the SimpleTOUGH portable USB drive, the stylish and colourful SimpleDRIVE Mini portable USB drive; and the SimpleNET network storage adapter. The SimpleTOUGH is billed as the “industry’s only water-resistant and shock-resistant external hard drive from a global hard drive manufacturer”. The MSRP is $99.99 for 250GB, $119.99 for 320GB, and $149.99 for 500GB. The SimpleDRIVE Mini comes in a choice of three colours and is priced at $89.99 for 250GB, $109.99 for 320GB and $139.99 for 500GB. The Hitachi SimpleNET is a small network adapter that allows you to share and access existing USB hard drive content over a home or small business network. The price of this adapter is $79.

The Royal Photographic Society and International Garden Photographer of the Year are joining forces to create a new award for the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) competition 2010. The award for the Best Portfolio will be known as the Royal Photographic Society award for Best Garden Portfolio. The winner will receive a Gold Medal. Runners up will receive silver and bronze medals. Winners will also receive £2,000 in cash and free RPS membership. The 2010 competition is now open at www.igpoty.com. There are seven categories, plus awards for single images as well as portfolios. The 2009 exhibition is currently on show at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew until September 13th 2009. After this date it will be at Kew’s country garden, Wakehurst Place, Sussex.

The submission deadline for the UK’s ‘Take-a-view’ landscape photography contest is 15 July. Unlike many other photographic competitions, ‘Take a view’ celebrates the United Kingdom only, offering photographers worldwide the opportunity to showcase their images of this richly diverse country. The idea of renowned landscape photographer, Charlie Waite, ‘Take a view’ offers a total prize fund of £20,000, including £10,000 for the overall winner. All entries must be uploaded via the competition website. Entry fees apply. You are advised to read the terms and conditions before entering.

Website: Take-A-View

Canon U.S.A. has announced a rebate programme on select Canon imagePROGRAF large format printers. By participating, you can receive up to $1,800 cash back by mail or up to a $2,000 value with a one-year CarePAK extended service plan. The offer is valid with the purchase or lease of one of the following Canon imagePROGRAF large format printers: iPF5100, iPF6100, iPF6200, iPF8000S, iPF8100, iPF9000S, iPF9100; and is valid through 30 September. Refurbished, rented, recycled, used, returned or reconditioned machines are not eligible.

Website: Download Coupon

Sony has launched the largest-ever capacity Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX, crowning the range with a massive 32GB model. Camcorder users can shoot in Full HD mode (1920 x 1080) for 225 minutes using a single 32GB Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX. Alternatively, anyone with a Sony digital camera who simply never wants to worry about filling up the memory now has the ideal solution, Sony claims. The Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX range also includes 4GB, 8GB and 16GB models, and all versions are supplied with a free USB adaptor. Pricing is to be announced.

Photographer Francois Nicaise travelled the world to capture all 340 breeds of dog in the world for a photographic study published by Eukanuba. The book consists of two volumes, Dogs A-G and Dogs H-Z. “These books celebrate each of the recognised breeds in all of their beauty, diversity, physical prowess and intelligence,” Eukanuba claims.

A shortlist of twelve outstanding international photographers, from which one will be selected later this year to receive the Prix Pictet, the world’s photography prize for environmental sustainability, was announced today. The Prix Pictet is “an annual search for photographs that communicate powerful messages of global environmental significance under a broad theme”.  This year the theme is ‘Earth’. A Mexican garbage dump where people forage to sustain a pitiful existence; the changing landscape and displaced communities of China’s Yangtze River; the devastating impact of oil production in the Niger Delta; and the annual pilgrimage to the desert fronts of the Iran-Iraq war are among the subjects that feature in the work of this year’s shortlisted artists. ‘Earth’, a book published by teNeues, cataloguing the work of the Prix Pictet nominees will accompany this year’s prize and launched on 6 October at Purdy Hicks Gallery, London. The winner will be announced by Kofi Annan, honorary president of the Prix Pictet and a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, on 22 October 2009 at the Passage de Retz gallery, Paris. Click through / read on for the names of the 12 shortlisted photographers.

Marketing Essentials International (MEI) is reminding interested professional photographers that Skip’s Summer School ‘09 is only five weeks away. Taking place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, August 16-19, 2009, the Summer School photography workshop features a series of programmes designed to help professional photographers realise the full potential of their business. Throughout the event, photographers will attend 13 workshops in a classroom style setting. The cost to attend Skip’s Summer School is $279 and it also includes free full registration to WPPI 2010 (March 4-11, 2010) for each attendee.