CP+ 2013: Canon has announced three long-zoom compacts, the PowerShot Elph 330 HS, the Elph 115 IS and the A2500. The Elph 330 HS, called the Ixus 225 HS in Europe, is a Wi-Fi capable 12MP CMOS camera featuring a 10x, 24-240mm equivalent lens. The Elph 115 IS, known as the Ixus 132 in Europe, has a 16MP CCD sensor and an 8x, 28-224mm equiv stabilized zoom. A Wi-Fi variant, called the Ixus 135 is available in Europe. Finally, the A2500 is an inexpensive model using the same 16MP CCD chip placed behind a 28-140mm equiv zoom. It has a slightly smaller screen than the A2600 launched at CES.

CP+ 2013: Panasonic has announced the Lumix G Vario 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II Asph. Mega O.I.S - its latest affordable kit lens for Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. The 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II is the company's fourth variable aperture standard zoom (following the 14-45mm, original 14-42mm and 14-42mm power zoom), and gains two aspherical elements to help make the lens smaller than the existing version. The 14-42mm II will be available as a kit option with both the DMC-GF5 and DMC-G5 in most markets.

The latest Apple tablet rumors rang true this morning with the official announcement of a 128GB version of the fourth generation iPad, twice the capacity of the previous maximum capacity model. The new tablet will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 5 for US$799 with wi-fi and US$929 with cellular and wi-fi. We look at the advantages of a large-capacity tablet for photographers on connect.dpreview.com.

Google has rolled out an updated version of its Image Search feature with faster browsing speeds and a redesigned UI. Users can now view larger versions of images in a preview window with an option to flip through images using arrow keys, and limited metadata, including the pixel dimensions of the original file, is displayed alongside the thumbnail. Click through for more information and a link to Google's blog post.

Pentax has released three multi-colored variants of its Q10 small-sensor mirrorless camera for the Japanese market. The color scheme is based on characters from the country's popular science-fiction franchise Neon Genesis Evangelion. Apart from the cosmetic changes, there are no spec differences in these editions compared to the original camera. Click through for a link to the press release and (shudder) some pictures...

Greek artist Panos Papanagiotou takes a reflective approach to his photography, using his iPhone and apps that create a mirrored effect. Everyday items are transformed into symmetrical studies that challenge the viewer to look at otherwise mundane details in a fresh way. Click through for more information and images from Papanagiotou's Mirrors series in our article on connect.dpreview.com.

San Francisco-based startup Always Innovating has announced that it is working a tiny flying camera designed to follow you around and capture your every move on video which can be streamed directly to an Android smartphone. You'll be able to control the MeCam via voice commands and share the video via social media. The MeCam is still in development, but the company claims that it is 'available for licensing' and is expected to retail for $49. Click through to learn more on connect.dpreview.com.

Chinese software company LZeal has announced ezShare - a Wi-Fi SDHC card with an on/off switch to reduce power consumption in cameras without menu options to control such cards. When the wireless function is turned on, images can be accessed via a web browser, suggesting it offers an HTTP server, like Toshiba's FlashAir cards. There are also dedicated apps for smartphones and tablets. The Class 10 SD cards are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities. Prices and availability information to be confirmed.

Think Tank Photo has announced the Sub Urban Disguise series of camera shoulder bags, to be available in February. These bags feature flip-top lids that open away from your body, front organizer pockets, stretchable side pockets and will be available in four sizes. The company has also announced an updated version of its Change-Up multi-function camera bag scheduled to be available around the same time. Prices and availability information to be confirmed.

X-Rite has released i1Profiler v1.4, an update of its color management software for Mac and Windows, to include scanner profiling. The update also extends support to Mac 10.8x and Windows 8 and includes other improvements as well. Version 1.4 is available for immediate download from the company's website.

We're delighted to be able to announce the introduction of mobile-optimized access to our forums. The mobile forums are one of the benefits that have been made possible by the new forums code we introduced in October 2012. This first release of the mobile forums supports the majority of full forum features, including both flat and threaded views - with the last-used format persisting when you next visit. We'll be building on the feature set in the coming months.

Rescinding its previous blanket ban against all mobile photography, international stock photo agency Alamy has announced that it will now allow images taken on mobile devices in its Live News service. To be accepted into Live News, Alamy has stated that smartphone images must have news, sports or entertainment value. And in case you were wondering, 'Instagram-style filters' are not allowed. Click through for the full story on connect.dpreview.com. 

Would you be brave enough to let a wedding photographer immortalise your celebration with only an iPhone? One couple in Gujarat, western India did just that. When Rishita and Kintan Brahmbhatt hired professional photographer Sephi Bergerson to shoot their wedding, he used a DSLR for the main ceremony, but turned to his iPhone for the post-wedding 'couples shoot'. Click through to learn more about his experience and view some of the resulting images on connect.dpreview.com.

There's no shortage of quality raw conversion options on the market, but there's little consensus as to which solution is the best choice. We've put three of the most popular cross-platform applications through a comprehensive comparison of performance, features and of course, image quality. Whether you're new to raw processing or looking to make a switch from your current software, read our article to find out which one is right for you.

A Vietnamese site is sharing what it claims are sample images from Sony's new Xperia Z smartphone, compared with shots from both the Apple iPhone 5 and the Oppo Find 5, both of which will feature Sony's new 13-megapixel Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor. Although we can't vouch for the integrity of the sample shots, if they're genuine, the comparison provides an interesting look at what the Xperia and Oppo Find 5's cameras may be capable of. Click through for the full story, and images, on connect.dpreview.com.

DxO Labs has updated its FilmPack film simulation software to v3.2.3, adding Windows 8 support and Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 compatibility. Both Mac and PC versions are available, with a free 30-day trail downloadable from the company's website. The company has also announced v1.1.1 of its ViewPoint distortion correction software that fixes minor bugs.

Epson has said it is starting full production of its high-resolution SVGA LCD panel for use in electronic viewfinder cameras. The 1024 x 768 pixel screen sits alongside the company's existing 800 x 600 pixel display, as used in the Olympus OM-D and, we suspect, in Fujifilm's X100 and X-Pro1. The latest panel, unveiled at Photokina, offers the same 2.36m dot resolution as announced in the Fujifilm X100S. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to the Sony OLED display of the same resolution used in various Sony models and Fujifilm's X-E1.

Sony has announced the E 20mm F2.8 - a moderately wide-angle pancake prime lens for its NEX cameras. The moderately-fast E-mount pancake will offer a 30mm equivalent field of view and adds another compact lens option for NEX shooters. It will be available in April for around $350. Sony has also said it will offer its video-targeted 18-200mm OSS F3.5-6.3 power zoom lens as a standalone product. Previously only available bundled with the NEX-VG30 camcorder, it becomes the company's third E-mount 18-200mm superzoom and will cost around $1200.

What makes a GoPro go? That's the sort of question that the curious folks over at iFixit.com love to answer. To find out, they've torn apart the Wi-Fi-enabled, 4K-capable GoPro Hero3 Black Edition to reveal its inner workings and release its secrets. In the course of their tear-down they found that the Hero3 Black is impressively repairable, thanks to its minimal use of adhesives to hold everything together. For all the gory details, images and a link to the full tear-down, click through to our article on connect.dpreview.com.

Pentax Ricoh has announced a firmware update for its GR Digital IV compact camera. Version 2.21 adds an Auto option to the camera's Dynamic Range Compensation feature, promises to improve the Noise Reduction function at higher ISO settings and enhances zoom operation in playback mode. The update also fixes a number of bugs. The firmware is available for immediate download from the company's website

Nikon has relaunched its image sharing and storage service as 'Nikon Image Space'. Unlike 'myPicturetown', this service will be open to non-Nikon users as well. However, owners of Nikon cameras are eligible for 20GB of free storage space compared to 2GB for regular members.

Olympus has issued a press release confirming JK Imaging and four other companies have formally signed-up to the Micro Four Thirds standard. JK Imaging announced last week that it would be offering MFT cameras under the Kodak brand. Australian company Blackmagic Design, which already offers a movie camera with a passive Micro Four Thirds mount and is rumored to be working on a fully compliant version, also joins. The other three signatories are less consumer-facing.

The National Geographic Society is celebrating its 125th anniversary this month. These days, the society's magazine has a reputation for promoting great photography, but when it was first published in October 1888, National Geographic was a scientific journal containing no photographs at all. From a small readership in the early days to some 8 million subscribers around the globe each month, the magazine has come a long way. Click through for more information and a look at some of the most iconic photographs to grace the pages of 'Nat Geo'. 

Do we value cameras for their form, or their function? An exhibition in Philadelphia which features hundreds of camera sculptures made from a range of different materials aims to examine this question. 'Reach Ruin', which is showing at The Fabric Workshop in Philadelphia includes several sculptures of cameras created from carved stone, glass, chalk and sand. According to the artist, Daniel Arsham, as well as being a photographic tool, 'many of us that use photography have a relationship with the object. If you want, call it a fetish'. Click through for more information and images from the exhibition. (via Wired)

Just a week after announcing it was licensing the Kodak brand name, JK Imaging has been showing a Micro Four Thirds camera at a press conference in China. Details are vague but the camera, reported to be called the S1, does appear to be sporting the official Micro Four Thirds logo. The camera, which will offer Wi-Fi for communication with smartphones, is said to be based around a Sony CMOS sensor. (via PetaPixel)

Giottos has announced a range of tripods that use a unique 'Y'-shaped centre column profile to offer a more compact folded package. The 'Silk Road YTL series' replaces the existing MTL range in its entirety, and according to Giottos offers a 30% space saving without any sacifice in stability or weight capacity. The range includes 12 models offering 3- or 4-section legs, conventional 2-way or tilting centre columns, and weight capacities from 5 to 10 kg. They'll be on sale from mid-January, with at prices starting from £100 for aluminium, or £220 for carbon fibre models. 

We've just posted an extra six pages to our Canon EOS 6D coverage including data and analysis from all our key tests. We're working towards completing our review and wanted to publish this information as we know a lot of readers are interested in this camera. We've had the camera in the office for a couple of weeks and have used this time to expand our impressions of the camera. This will be the last update before the full review is published very soon.

The Commons, Flickr's collection of public domain images, is five years old. To celebrate, Flickr has created galleries of the most viewed, 'favorited' and commented-upon images. The Commons was launched in 2008 with 1500 photos, in partnership with the US Library of Congress. Five years later, the collection boasts more than 250,000 images. Click through for more information, and links to the galleries of most popular images in the growing collection. 

Pentax has released the first firmware updates to its K-5 II and K-5 IIs digital SLRs, which were released in September of last year. Firmware version 1.01 offers contrast adjustment option for the cameras' LCD displays as well as 'stability improvements'. The updates are available for immediate download from the company's website - click through for download links. 

The Lumia 920 is Nokia’s current flagship smartphone and the second phone graced with the Finnish manufacturer's PureView branding. Unfortunately this is not the same, large-sensor 'PureView' concept as the 808 but a fast F2.0 lens, optical image stabilization and true multi-aspect-ratio support still make the Lumia 920, at least on paper, look like a very promising connected imaging device. Peter Ferenczi has tested the phone for Connect, click through to see how he got on.

DxO Labs has released the latest version of its DxO Optics Pro software, with more than 10,000 camera and lens correction combinations now supported. The latest version, v8.1.2 or the more expensive Elite edition adds support for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 full-frame, fixed-lens camera as well as Canon's EOS 6D. Meanwhile both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Nikon 1 V2. With this release DxO has achieved its stated target of offering 10,000 optics modules. Both editions are available with a 33% discount until the end of January 2013.

Just Posted: Our review of the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. Canon's latest superzoom, the SX50, features a 24-1200mm (equivalent) lens and a feature set that compares well to its competition, in what is now one of the most competitive segments of the compact camera market. Specifications include a 12MP CMOS sensor, 2.8" fully-articulated LCD screen, Raw capture and full manual control. Is this the travel camera enthusiasts have been waiting for? Read our review - created in collaboration with Jeff Keller of The Digital Camera Resource Page - to find out. 

The latest version of Capture One brings support for Fujifilm's X-Trans sensors - something we noted other software struggled with, when we reviewed the X-Pro 1. Beta versions of the software have caused a lot of excitement for X-Pro1 and X-E1 users finally looking to get the most from their photos. Do the results live up to the expectation? We had a look.

CameraMator is one of the more interesting photographic gadgets we saw at CES this year. It's a Kickstarter-funded Wi-Fi tethering accessory for Canon and Nikon DSLRs that gives remote live view, camera triggering and image download to Android and iOS devices. The device itself mounts on the hot shoe and can connect to a local Wi-Fi network or peer-to-peer with the mobile device. The standard USB lead that comes with the camera gives the unit access to the camera's key features. Find out more over on Connect.

Specialist accessory manufacturer Metabones and optics company Caldwell Photographics have jointly announced the 'Speed Booster', a lens adapter for mounting SLR lenses on APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras that reduces the focal length by a factor of 0.71x and increases the maximum aperture by 1 stop. The Speed Booster also promises sharper images compared to using the lens with a simple adapter. The first version will allow use of Canon EF lenses on Sony NEX bodies, and will be available this month from Metabones' web site for US$599. Support for additional lens mounts (including Nikon F) and camera systems (including Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds) is also planned.

Phase One has announced that it has updated its Capture One Pro raw conversion software to version 7.0.2. This includes support for several additional cameras, including the Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-E1 and XF1, Canon EOS 6D and EOS M, Sony SLT-A57 and NEX-5R, and Olympus XZ-2 iHS. The update is available immediately from the company's website, as a free download for users of Capture One 7.

This year's Consumer Electronic Show is packed with exhibitors, industry analysts and press, all eager to see, touch and talk about this years' hottest electronics. As well as countless televisions, tablet computers and portable electronics, a lot of cameras get announced at CES, too. Here's a quick rundown of some of the most interesting new models on show at this year's event.

Lenovo might not be the first name that springs to mind when you think of smartphones but the Chinese company is one of the biggest sellers in its home market. Its latest offering is the K900 - a 5.5" smartphone - slightly larger than the three we detailed yesterday but with the same 1920 x 1080 pixel count to give a resolution of 400ppi. It also features a 13MP Sony Exmor RS (stacked CMOS) sensor behind a 22.4mm equivalent F1.8 lens. Click here to find out more.

CES 2013: High-resolution screen advances were on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, with everyone from tablet makers to television manufacturers pushing pixel count further than ever before. Sharp stole the show, in terms of screen resolution technology by exhibiting a 85-inch 8K LCD screen prototype. Co-developed with Japanese broadcaster NHK, the UHDTV screen offers 16 times the resolution of a standard 1080 TV and would allow you to display a 33MP image without downscaling or cropping. 

CES provided a chance for us to get our hands on two of the latest smartphones. Interestingly, Sony's Xperia Z, ZTE's Grand S and the Huawei Ascend D2 are all built around 5", 1920 x 1080 pixel screens and feature 13MP cameras. All run Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and yet, despite the spec similarities, there are still differences - in the user experience as well as the processors used. We had the opportunity to use all these phones, to see how they behave - find out what we thought.

CES 2013: We got a chance to get our hands on a near-to-production example of Fujifilm's X100S, to fill-in the details we couldn't cover in our preview. The button layout of the camera is now finalized and the camera's focus and manual focus systems are fully working (and rather impressive), so read our hands-on article to find out how big a difference that little 'S' makes.

The Fujifilm X100S is the latest in a recent rush of cameras to include phase-detection elements on its imaging sensor, giving an AF system that is a hybrid of contrast and phase-detection methods. However, Fujifilm also uses this system to provide a unique and incredibly clever manual focus aid - which could finally allow digital cameras to offer the speed and convenience enjoyed by manual-focus SLR and rangefinder users. Fujifilm UK has posted a video showing 'Digital Split Image' focusing and Japanese camera site DCWatch has published details that allow us to show how it works.

Canon has announced two additions to its range of Cinema EOS prime lenses, a 14mm T3.1 and 135mm T2.2. The CN-E14mm T3.1 L F and CN-E135mm T2.2 L F are both designed to be used on movie cameras with image sensors up to 35mm full frame in size, and include a range of features optimized for movie shooting. These include geared focus and aperture rings with markings designed to be read from the side of the camera, 11-bladed circular aperture diaphragms, and all-metal weather-resistant construction. The 14mm T3.1 will be available from April 2013 at an estimated retail price of $5,500, while the 135mm T2.2 will appear in May for $5,200.

CES 2013: As promised we've used the CES show as an opportunity to get our hands on the Samsung NX300. The latest model shares its looks with the NX210 but has been substantially re-worked under the skin. We had a chance to play with the NX300 and Samsung's innovative 3D variant of its 45mm F1.8 lens that has been developed alongside it. Click here to see what we found.

CES 2013: Panasonic has been demonstrating a prototype of a 20" tablet at the CES show in Las Vegas. The large 3:2 tablet is built around a 4k, 3840x2560 pixel IPS display, giving a resolution of 230ppi. The tablet runs Windows 8, meaning it can run full PC software such as Adobe Photoshop. The prototype included a 128Gb SSD to allow fast access to images stored on the device. It also includes a standard USB port for connecting a card reader but only has a port for microSD cards built in.

The UK's biggest high-street camera retailer, Jessops, has gone into administration, putting 192 stores and 2,000 jobs at risk. The company's website is not accepting orders and administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers has said vouchers and returns would not be honoured at present. The company, that has been slow to respond to competition from internet retailers, was rescued in 2009 by HSBC, which bought into the company in return for writing off some of its debts. However, increasingly stringent credit terms imposed by suppliers (a common move when there is doubt surrounding the future of a company), and predictions of further falls in camera sales led to the administrators being called.

Just posted: Our hands-on first look at the Fujifilm X100S. Fujifilm's update of its large sensor, fixed lens X100 adds significant upgrades, including a 16MP X-Trans CMOS sensor with on-chip phase detection AF, a higher resolution LCD display in its unique Hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, and the company's latest user interface. But there's a whole host of smaller improvements too, which promise to iron out many of the X100's particular quirks. In our first look preview, we take a detailed look through what's changed compared to its predecessor.

Just posted: Our hands-on preview of Fujifilm's updated enthusiast zoom compact, the X20. Using the same basic design as X10, including its fast 28-112mm equivalent F2-2.8 zoom lens, the X20 uses a completely new sensor, a 2/3"-type version of the X-Trans CMOS design used in the company's X-system cameras, but with added on-chip phase detection AF. It also gains an 'Advanced Optical Viewfinder' that's capable of displaying overlaid exposure information, and a couple of design tweaks to take better advantage of this. In our preview we take a closer look at what the X20 has to offer the enthusiast photographer.   

CES 2013: Sakar International has formally announced the distinctly Nikon-esque iM1836 - a modular camera system wearing Polaroid branding. Details are scarce - with the company able to give little information (and some of that being improbable), but the first model is said to be an Android-based, Wi-Fi-connected camera with Ricoh GXR-style interchangeable modules with the sensor built into the lens. Further adapter modules are promised to allow use of Pentax K, Nikon F and Micro Four Thirds lenses.

CES 2013: Sigma has announced the DP3 Merrill, the latest iteration of the company's enthusiast large sensor compact camera. Nearly identical to the earlier DP Merrill models, this camera features the familiar 15x3MP APS-C Foveon X3 sensor, but it is now mated with a 50mm (75mm equiv.) F2.8 lens. The lens lends itself to portraiture and, with a minimum focus distance of 22.6cm, offers respectable 1:3 magnification. Video recording is still limited to VGA resolution but the DP3M can shoot at up to 4 frames per second for 7 frames in Raw.