Following a similar programme announced last month, Pentax is now offering instant rebates on select cameras in the USA. This time around, two models are involved, the Pentax X70 super-zoom camera and the Pentax K2000 digital SLR; the latter in a bundle with the DA L 18-55mm lens. The rebate is $30 on the X70 and $50 on the K2000 kit. The offer is valid until Saturday, 9 May.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Pentax K2000

Interfit, a manufacturer of photographic lighting, has announced the new Monstar 3 continuous studio light, available as a single softbox kit complete with a carry case. The Monstar 3 has a uniform light source of 3 lamps, with each lamp delivering 150 watts of light, which is equivalent to 600 watts of Tungsten lighting. Therefore the three lamps deliver the equivalent of 1800 watts, Interfit says. The Monstar 3 is claimed to be ideal for group shots and product photography, and is marketed as “an affordable solution to modern studio lighting”. The kit, comprising the head, the three lamps, the carry bag, a softbox and the necessary power cables will be available from July, starting at £379.99.

Website: Interfit

Nik Software has announced that Sharpener Pro 3.0 is now available for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 and higher. Once installed, the plugin is accessible via the Lightroom Photo—> Edit In… menu. Edits made using the plug-in within Lightroom are non-destructive in nature, with edits applied automatically to a newly generated TIFF file and not the original. The update is available now as a free download to current owners at www.niksoftware.com/lightroom. A full version of Sharpener Pro 3.0 costs €199.95 including German VAT. A fully functional trial version can be downloaded from www.niksoftware.com/sharpenerpro.

This summer, Fujifilm will release a new instant film camera, the Fujifilm Instax 210. According to photoscala.de the Instax 210 will have the same basic specifications as the existing Instax 200, but will come in black colour. Availability is slated for June in Japan, August in Europe. The price is to be confrimed.

Via photoscala.de

Ricoh has issued a new firmware upgrade for the Ricoh CX1 digital compact camera. Version 1.19 addresses the following issue: when the battery is low, camera may power down without retracting the lens.

Website: Ricoh CX1 Firmware Update

Olympus has released a firmware update for the Olympus mju 7000 digital compact camera. Version 1.1 improves the reliability of camera operation while viewing images taken in a vertical position and pressing the DISP button.

Website: Olympus Firmware Updates

Kodak has reported a net loss of $353 million for the first quarter of 2009. Sales are down by 29% versus the same period of last year, to $1.477 billion. This includes approximately 6% of unfavourable foreign exchange impact, the company says. The Consumer Digital Imaging Group’s first-quarter sales were $369 million, a 33% decline from the prior-year quarter, including approximately 5% of unfavourable foreign exchange impact. First-quarter loss from operations for the segment was $157 million, compared with a loss of $111 million a year ago. It’s not all doom and gloom though: for example, sales of consumer inkjet printer hardware and ink grew by more than 100% in a market that declined with the overall economy. In various other market segments. the company is either gaining or maintaining market share.

Tom Mackie Images has announced a four-day landscape photography event event that will take place in the Lake District from 18th October - 22nd October 2009. Visiting places such as Grasmere, Derwentwater and The Langdales the group of just five photographers will explore the magnificient mountainous landscape, stunning autumnal woodland colours and the water that spectacularly shapes the region. Contact +44 (0)1603 465 292 / www.tommackie.com to book your place.

Buffalo Technology has launched a new DVD Reader/Writer for netbook users and those who travel frequently. Available in both black and white, the Buffalo Portable DVD MultiDrive comes with a Buffer Under-run Prevention feature that allows users to work on simultaneous applications whilst reliable writing takes place. The DVD drive also features CyberLink Software that allows users to write content to CD-Rs and DVDs. The Portable DVD MultiDrive is available from May 2009 from Amazon, Dabs, Insight, Misco and other leading resellers. The suggested retail price is £59.99 Inc VAT.

In a new departure for Fujifilm Professional, its Distinctions Awards will now be open to photographers right across the world. As in previous years the Awards has an open brief and is open to any photographer - professional, enthusiast or student. The only stipulation is that submissions must have been originated on film from Fujifilm’s range of professional or consumer films. Images are scanned and then submitted via the Distinctions website, www.fujifilmdistinctions.co.uk - the closing date for entries is 1 September 2009. Entry is free and photographers can submit as many images as they like.

The winners of the April 2009 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for April was “Paradise” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Norwegian dream by Igor

Prize: CanvasRus 40 x 30” Canvas Print
Kindly donated by CanvasRus
http://www.canvasrus.co.uk

The winners of the April 2009 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for April was “Paradise” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Norwegian dream by Igor

Prize: CanvasRus 40 x 30” Canvas Print
Kindly donated by CanvasRus
http://www.canvasrus.co.uk

We’re giving away a HP StorageWorks RDX Removable Disk Backup System worth £235! On Monday 1st June 2009, one lucky winner will be randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers. To have a chance of winning this great prize, simply subscribe to the completely free PhotographyBLOG Newsletter.

The 5 lucky winners of our fantastic April 2009 Newsletter contest have been randomly selected from the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscriber list.

Flavio Bosi, Miça Quartey, Katherin Morris, Lorne Neil and Geoff Wilkins have all won a copy of David Noton’s “Chasing the Light” DVD, worth £19.98.

The 5 lucky winners of our fantastic April 2009 Newsletter contest have been randomly selected from the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscriber list.

Flavio Bosi, Miça Quartey, Katherin Morris, Lorne Neil and Geoff Wilkins have all won a copy of David Noton’s “Chasing the Light” DVD, worth £19.98.

Capture One 4.8 supports the new Phase One P 40+ announced today and the Olympus E-620. This latest version of Capture One also includes enhancements for the Phase One P 65+, the Leica D-LUX 4, Olympus E-30 and generally improved colors for editing JPEG and TIFF files. Capture One 4.8 is a free service release to existing Capture One 4.x owners

The first Elton John AIDS Foundation photography portfolio has just been published. “The Portfolio is a way for us to connect with the visual arts world, which has always been at the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and it is proof that artists continue to care,” said Scott Campbell, Executive Director of the Foundation. Comprised of ten prints in an edition of 40 and published by Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta, the limited edition boxed Portfolio will sell for $25,000.

You could win a National Geographic Expedition for two to the Galapagos Islands and be featured in an advert in the 2009 Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest. Beginning today until Tuesday, June 30th, there are six thematic categories to enter: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people and cultures, weather and inspiration/Keep Going. Photos must be submitted online. No print or film submissions will be accepted. Acclaimed National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson will be judging the contest. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on or about October 15th.

Nikon UK is running an extensive range of training courses during the next few months. There’s something for everyone, from an introduction to DSLR photography, to a guide to Speedlight photography, to the more specialized equestrian event photography course. More Nikon training courses will be added shortly.