DP Review

Canon has launched the PowerShot S95 premium compact as successor to the S90. The latest model includes an upgraded sensor capable of 720p HD video recording and the company's 'Hybrid IS' system that compensates for more types of movement. It also adds multi-aspect ratio shooting and SDXC card compatibility. Other than these features it inherits a lightly tweaked version of the S90's basic body design including the control ring, 28-105mm F2.0-4.9 stabilized lens and 3.0" LCD.

Nikon has released a fast aperture medium telephoto lens in the shape of the AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G. Featuring a completely new optical design and a built-in Silent Wave focus motor, it also includes Nikon's top-end goodies including a 9-bladed diaphragm, Nano Crystal coating for the reduction of flare, a magnesium alloy body shell and weathersealing. Availability will be from 2nd September 2010, at a recommended price of £1499.99 / €1549.

Nikon has announced the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR, a general-purpose zoom for full frame cameras. This lens covers a useful wideangle to telephoto range with a fixed F4 maximum aperture and features Nikon's latest VR II stabilisation system. This promises shake-free hand-held shooting at shutter speeds four stops slower than would usually possible, with both 'Normal' and 'Active' modes. Also on the menu are Nano Crystal coating, a 9-bladed diaphragm, and a degree of environmental sealing. The lens will be available from 22nd September 2010 at a price of £1049.99 / €1099.

Nikon has launched an extended-range telephoto zoom for DX users: the AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. Offering an 85-450mm-equivalent range and VR II image stabilisation technology, it's designed as an accompaniment to the 18-55mm kit lens. It includes a Silent Wave motor for quiet focusing, and will be available from 2nd September 2010 at a price of £369.99 / €379.

Nikon's salvo of lens releases is rounded off by the AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. Designed to provide FX format users with an equivalent of the company's popular 18-200mm for DX, this superzoom includes two-mode image stabilisation to the latest VR II specification, a close focus distance of 50cm and a zoom lock switch. It will be available from 2nd September for £869.99 / €899.

Canon has released what it calls the world's slimmest super zoom camera - the PowerShot SD4500 IS (IXUS 1000 HS in Europe). Measuring 22mm at the thinnest side, it features the company's 'HS' system first featured in the SD4000 IS, promising better low-light performance and high-speed photography. It shares the same 10MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor and 2.7 inch LCD as the SD4000 IS, but offers a longer 10x zoom range starting at a rather over-long 36mm equivalent. The image-stabilized camera can record full HD movies as well as Super Slow Motion movies at 240fps, and (in Europe, at least) represents ten years since the IXUS range first went digital.

Canon has also launched the PowerShot SX130 IS superzoom, replacing the SX120 IS. It sees a resolution increase to 12MP, a longer 12x zoom range starting at 28mm, gains SDXC support, offers HD movie recording and additional scene modes including a Miniature mode. The rest of the features remain the same including a 3.0" LCD, P/A/S/M shooting, image stabilization and AA battery power.

In addition to its camera announcements, Canon has introduced the Selphy CP800 compact dye-sublimation photo printer with built-in voice guidance. Replacing the CP780, its features a more compact design and offers ID-style print layout along with other options. It features a the same 2.5" LCD with image preview as its predecessor and maintains print speed of approx 47 seconds per print. It takes a selection of memory card formats including the latest SDXC format.

Olympus has announced the latest additions to its range of compact cameras. The mju-7050 comes with a 14Mp sensor, 7x (28-196mm equiv.) zoom lens, 3.0" LCD and features HD recording and image stabilization. The 14Mp FE-5050 and 12Mp FE-4050 incorporate 2.7 inch LCDs and wide angle zoom lenses starting at 26mm and 27mm respectively. While all cameras include 'Magic Filters,' the 7050 also offers 'Magic Movies' where users can apply filter effects to videos.

Fujifilm has launched the FinePix Real 3D W3, its second 3D compact camera, and the first to shoot movies in HD. It inherits the same techonology including dual 10MP CCD sensors and twin lenses from the W1, but comes with a larger 3.5" 3D LCD compared to the 2.8" screen of the previous model. It offers a new Auto 3D mode and records sound in stereo. Images and videos taken with the camera can be viewed on 3D televisions and the company's 3D photo frames.

A year after unveiling the world's first compact with a built-projector, Nikon has introduced its successor - the S1100pj. Built around the same stabilized 28-140mm equivalent lens as the S1000pj, it comes with a 14.1Mp sensor and larger, higher resolution 460K dot 3.0" LCD.The body design has also been slightly modified and the projector improved to offer great brightness, image size and throw distance. The company has also launched the image-stabilized 12.2 megapixel S5100, which offers a wide angle 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equiv.), 2.7 inch LCD and HD video recording.

Nikon has announced version 2 of its ViewNX image viewing and editing software. Along with image-editing features, the latest version now allows users to edit movies shot with the company's DSLRs. It also features an enhanced user interface and easier online sharing options.

Adobe has introduced Photoshop Express as an application for Apple's iPad and iPhone. Previously known as Photoshop.com Mobile, the app has now been optimized for use with the iPad. It enables users to view, edit and apply effects to images via gesture-based functions. Photoshop Express is available as a free download from Apple's App Store for new users and as an update including the new name for existing users. It is also available in the Android Marketplace.

Sony has announced its 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS E-mount telephoto lens will be available from September 10, 2010 at an estimated retail price of $800 in the US and £699 in the UK. The image-stabilized zoom lens with an equivalent zoom range of 27-300mm is designed for the company's NEX series of interchangeable lens cameras and camcorder. It will join the existing line-up of E-mount lenses - the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 zoom and 16mm F2.8 pancake wideangle.

Nik Software has announced an updated version of its Viveza 2 selective color and brightness control plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Apple Aperture. Version 2.003 fixes minor bugs and adds 64-bit compatibility for both Mac and Windows platforms.

Pentax has updated its RAW codec for Windows extending support to files of the company's recently released 645D medium format camera. The latest version is compatible only with 32-bit Windows Vista and 7 operating systems. It is available for immediate download from the company's website.

Five months after announcing its development, Tamron has said the SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD zoom lens will be available from the end of this month in Nikon F mount. Priced at $449 and working both on full-frame and APS-C digital SLRs, it is the company's first lens to feature an Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) autofocus motor, giving full-time manual focus override.

Adobe has released 'Release Candidates' of its Camera RAW 6.2 and Lightroom 3.2 raw processing software. The updates, available from the company's Adobe Labs site, bring support for 12 additional cameras ranging from the Casio FH-100 to the Pentax 645D and Leica S2. Sony's NEX models and Samsung's NX10 also make the list. Lightroom skips version 3.1 to bring its version numbering into sync with ACR, with 3.2 bringing a host of bug fixes along with the additional cameras. According to the company, the term 'Release Candidate' means the download is well tested but not yet final version.

German manufacturer Intuitfocus has released what it calls the first hands-free follow-focus system system for DSLRs. The Intuitfocus HF-IF1 is built a motorized belt-drive system that attaches around the lens and is remotely controlled by scroll wheel. Aimed at videographers who shoot movies with HD enabled DSLRs, this system is designed to offer smooth and shake-free focus or zooming. The system can be used to control focus, zoom or aperture. According to the US distributor HP Marketing, the HF-IF1 will be available from September 2010 at a retail of $3,900 for the complete kit.

Just Posted: Our review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10. Panasonic's first attempt to tap into the entry-level system camera market, the G10 faces stiff competition from the likes of the Canon EOS 1000D and Nikon D3000, as well as newcomers like the Olympus E-PL1. The G10 has a lot in common with its big brother the DMC-G2 - is this enough to make it stand out in this competitive market? Read our review to find out.