Sigma has issued a firmware update to the Sigma DP2 digital compact camera, which uses a large Foveon X3 sensor. Version 1.02 of the camera firmware brings about the following improvements:

  *  The accuracy of the Auto Focus has been improved.
  * The magnification display function can be selected by just pressing the OK button when in Manual Focus mode.

With respect to the latter enhancement, Sigma has also issued a Notice of Function Change

Website:.Sigma DP2 Firmware Download Page

Sony announced today its plans to stage a world first event, called Twilight Football, designed to highlight Sony’s digital imaging technology. As the hour of twilight moves across the world, a series of seven matches will begin. All seven games will take place on 22nd September 2009, the Autumnal Equinox (northern hemisphere) and Vernal Equinox (southern hemisphere). The matches will be taking place at stunning, specially chosen locations in: Italy, France, the UK, Spain, Argentina and Australia, with the Twilight Football grand final happening at Soccer City, Johannesburg, the venue for the final of 2010 FIFA World Cup. A specially selected pool of photographers and video makers are attending each event to record these momentous games. Photographers will be able to try out Sony’s new range of products featuring its Exmor CMOS sensor.

AKVIS Software Inc has just announced the update of AKVIS ArtSuite to version v.5.0. The program can be used as an independent application (standalone) and as a plug-in to a photo editor. The standalone version offers new Hand Painted Photo Frames. These frames have been designed by artists specially for ArtSuite. Also new to version 5.0: new interface design; improved compatibility of the plugin with Photoshop CS3, CS4 on Macintosh computers; improved texture generation options in the Texture effect; new interface language added - Italian. The AKVIS ArtSuite Plugin sells for $49 USD; AKVIS ArtSuite Standalone for $69. Upgrade to version v5.0 is free for registered users of older versions.

Daniel Beltrá, this year’s winner of The Prince’s Rainforests Project Award at the Sony World Photography Awards has released some initial photographs taken on the first leg of his prize. The Spanish photographer, now based in Seattle, beat off stiff competition from some of the world’s finest environmental photographers to win the assignment on behalf of The Prince’s Rainforests Project and Sony Europe. The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP), founded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, recognises that every year, destruction of the Earth’s rainforests releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all the world’s cars, planes and ships put together and aims to achieve consensus about how the rate of deforestation might be slowed. Sony and the PRP are delivering an interactive exhibition that will combine Daniel’s new photographs with Sony technology to allow people to experience the glory of the rainforests and understand their plight. The exhibition will open at Kew Gardens, London on October 3rd 2009.

Website: Daniel Beltrá

Kenro has announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 124 PRO DX II, the new version of the AT-X 124 PRO DX. This is a 12-24mm ultrawide-to-wide zoom lens designed for DSLRs with an APS-C sized sensor and has a fixed f/4 maximum aperture throughout its zoom range. The Nikon mount AT-X 124 PRO DX II features a built-in AF motor drive that operates smoothly and quietly due to a DC motor that uses a new AF control gear assembly. With the built-in motor, the lens can be used in AF mode with the Nikon D40, D40x, D60 and D5000 bodies, which lack a body-integral focus motor.

Stock photography agency Blend Images has announced the launch of Flex Packs, a new way of licensing rights-managed imagery on their Web site. The Flex Packs are billed as a simple and flexible way to license rights-managed imagery for broad commercial use. There are 7 Flex Pack options to choose from: All Marketing Pack, Collateral Pack, Advertising Print/Product Pack, Advertising Indoor Display Pack, Advertising Outdoor Display Pack, Digital Pack (Mobile, Interactive, Web), and All Internal Use Pack. Each option provides unlimited usage within the specified territory, industry, and time period selected.

Kodak has announced the European launch of the Kodak EasyShare S730, a new, battery-operated digital picture frame. The Kodak EasyShare S730 has a built-in rechargeable battery and boasts a new Picture Finder feature, enabling users to “easily and quickly bring to life images and videos from special moments in time”, Kodak says. Other highlights include 1 Gigabyte of internal memory, a mercury-free LCD panel, an updated Quick Touch Border, with touch-sensitive controls that enable easy access to controls on the front of the frame, and featuring a motion sensor that illuminates controls as your hand approaches the frame. The Kodak EasyShare S730 will be available in the UK for £139.99 from July, 2009.

Eastman Kodak Company announced today that it will retire its Kodachrome colour film this year, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon. While Kodachrome, which was born in 1935, was not the world’s first colour film using a subtractive method - brands like Gasparcolor had been around for a couple of years by then -, it was unquestionably the first commercially viable one, which put an end to the rule of additive processes like Autochrome or Dufaycolor that had dominated the colour film/plate market for the first couple of decades of the twentieth century. Kodachrome went on to become an iconic film used by many great photographers working for National Geographic and other publications. However, sales have declined dramatically in recent years, as people went digital or turned to newer films. Kodak claims that today it represents “just a fraction of one percent” of their total sales of still-picture films. Steve McCurry, the photojournalist who captured the legendary portrait of the Afghan girl on Kodachrome a quarter of a century ago, will have the privilege of shooting one of the last rolls.

Website: Kodachrome Tribute Gallery

Panasonic has announced firmware updates to its Lumix DMC-G1 and GH1 cameras and Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm / F4.0-5.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens. Firmware version 1.1 for the Panasonic GH1 camera allows faster burst shooting and improves control of shutter speed and the stability of AF in movie recording. Version 1.3 for the Panasonic G1 improves its compatibility with Micro Four Thirds lenses, whereas firmware version 1.1 for the Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm / F4.0-5.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens improves optical image stabilisation in movie recording mode.and compatibility with Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Website: Panasonic firmware downloads

International Garden Photographer of the Year is reminding interested photographers that the deadline of its Early Bird competition is less than a fortnight away. This year’s theme is “In Full Bloom”, and the deadline is 30 June 2009.

Website: Enter the competition

A major exhibition of the works of 20th century photojournalist / war photographer Robert Capa is to open its gates on 3 July. The exhibition is organised by the Ludwig Museum / Museum of Contemporary Arts, housed in the Palace of Arts in Budapest (pictured), and follows a recent, large-scale acquisition of over 1000 of Capa’s photographs by the Hungarian National Museum. A small selection of these photos were on show in the National Museum from 6-15 March this year, but this will be the first large-scale exhibition of the collection. Capa is noted for his extensive coverage and powerful images of the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War and the First Indochina War, and for his memorable portraits of Ingrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, Pablo Picasso and others. The exhibition will run from 3 July through 11 October. The Palace of Arts is located at Komor Marcell utca 1, District IX, Budapest, Hungary.

Website: Ludwig Museum

Buffalo Technology today announced the launch of the TeraStation Duo, the company’s first compact dual Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive aimed at small and medium businesses (SMBs). The TeraStation Duo is a feature filled NAS device that comes in 1TB or 2TB capacities. Other highlights include data transfer speeds of up to 65MB/s, real-time backup replication function and disk encryption. The 1TB version will cost £459.99, while the 2TB variant can be had for £569.99 from Insight, Misco and other leading UK resellers.

Buffalo Technology today announced the launch of the latest version of its LinkStation Pro, the company’s flagship home and small business Network Attached Storage drive. The LinkStation Pro is a high performance, shared network device that lets you store and share music, photos and movie files in your home as well as online. With a built-in DLNA media server and WebAccess, the LinkStation Pro lets you stream your favourite music and films directly to your PC, Mac, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, DLNA television or iPhone from anywhere. The LinkStation Pro comes in capacities of 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB and is available in the UK from June from Insight, Misco and other leading UK resellers.

A gaming console might not be the first “accessory” that comes to mind when talking about digital photography, but the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) has some interesting features for the photo enthusiast. Every PS3 allows consumers to store their digital photos by connecting their cameras or USB storage drives directly to the console via a USB cable, with images then transferred directly onto the PS3’s hard drive. Once done with this, you can easily create playlists by grouping together photos. The PS3 system also offers five slideshow styles to show off your photos on your big screen, and you can set the slideshow to any music stored on your PS3.You can even upload your photos directly to a photo sharing site. Finally, with the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, you can take your photos with you anywhere. Connect your PSP to any PC or laptop via a USB cable and upload your digital photos directly to the PSP’s storage card, the Memory Stick PRO Duo. You can also connect your PSP to your PS3 via a USB cable, and swap photos and photo playlists between the two systems.

FotoFest organisers are reminding interested photographers that the registration deadline for the FotoFest Meeting Place is Monday, July 13, 2009, meaning there is now less than a month left to register. The FotoFest Biennial is claimed to be the longest running and most acclaimed photography biennial in the United States, and the next one will take place from 12 March- 1 April 2010. The Meeting Place is allegedly the largest, most international programme of its kind in the world for artists, curators and editors. During the course of the 16-day event, over 150 professionals from the U.S. and 20 other countries review the work of 500 artists.

Website: FotoFest Meeting Place Registration Form

Sigma has announced the availability of the Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM in Pentax and Sony mounts. This superzoom lens has been on offer for some time in Canon, Nikon and Sigma fit, but now Pentax and Sony owners can buy it too (though Sony A900 users should take note that the imaging circle of this lens is not big enough to cover the full 24x36mm frame). The Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM incorporates a Hybrid Optical Stabilisation system which allows photographers to use the lens’ OS function even if the camera has a built in anti-shake system. If the photographer chooses to use the lens’ OS function, they must ensure that the camera’s built in stabiliser is switched off. The lens also boasts an inner focusing system that eliminates front-lens rotation.

The new Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM lens now has a suggested retail price in the UK. This new lens will run alongside the current Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM and is expected to be available in the UK in July for Sigma, Canon and Nikon fit, with Sony and Pentax fit arriving in August. This super wide-angle lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 throughout the entire zoon range and incorporates two exta low dispersion and four aspherical elements as well as a ‘hyper sonic’ motor that enables quiet and high-speed auto focus as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The suggested retail price will be £649.99 in the UK.

Jessops have announced that the new Olympus Pen E-P1 digital camera will be launched at Jessops New Oxford Street store on Thursday 25th June 2009. To celebrate 50 years since Olympus launched the first Pen camera, Jessops are holding an exclusive launch event at their London New Oxford Street store on the 25th June from 6.00pm onwards. The launch event is open to all customers and Jessops will be giving away a free Cross pen worth £300 to the first 50 pre-orders.