Redrock Micro today announced the new retroFlex-S, a unique retro-inspired handheld video rig for Sony Alpha A-5x000 cameras. The precision machined aluminium camera cage wraps the camera with protection while adding convenient attachment points for on-camera accessories including microphones, LED light panels, and recorders. The magnetically attached loupe features high-grade optics, while the handgrip’s integrated camera start/stop easily connects to the camera for convenient shooting. Pricing for the complete rig is $545 and is available immediately from the Redrock Micro store.

Photography Blog has teamed up with X-Rite to offer 3 entrants the chance to win a new i1Display Pro – professional calibrator (worth £207 incl. VAT) and Colour Management Pro eBook (worth £18 incl. VAT) by Ashley Karyl.

The 3 lucky winners are Mary O'Reilly, Dimitris Alexopoulos and Panos Str. Congratulations!

The X-Rite i1Display Pro is the ultimate solution for creative perfectionists that demand speed, options and flexibility to achieve colour accuracy.

Colour perfectionists know that a calibrated and profiled display is a critical element in an efficient digital workflow. Nobody wants to spend hours at their screen perfecting images or video only to find that their display wasn’t accurately representing their digital files. What you see on your monitor, mobile device or projector has to match your digital file or you will never be happy with the result, no matter how much time you devote to perfecting it.

The 600+ page Colour Management Pro eBook gives a great insight into just how easy colour management can be and covers a wide range of topics with useful tutorials, demo videos and expert insight that will also help you save time and money.

Ashley Karyl is a professional photographer who has worked internationally with some of the world’s most renowned brands such as Microsoft, Adidas, Colgate, and Marie Claire to name but a few.

How to enter the competition

To be in with a chance of winning one of the three X-Rite i1Display Pro’s with eBook, all you have to do is sign up to the Photography Blog newsletter by Monday 8th February 2016 using the form below.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Peter Marlow’s photographs depicting all 42 of the cathedrals of the Church of England are to be exhibited inside The Chapel of Christ the Servant at Coventry Cathedral. This is the first time that the Magnum photographer's work has been displayed in one of the spaces featured in the series, and the first time the project has been exhibited outside of London. Marlow developed the strategy of shooting a majority of the cathedrals from the same position: looking east towards the altar as the natural light of dawn broke through the main window. This viewpoint and lighting adds depth to the visual experience of the building, and the discipline of this strict approach allowed the power of the spaces to unfold in the dark. Each cathedral was shot on large format film, bringing into sharp relief the splendour of the architecture, regardless of the style. The exhibition opens on 29 April and runs through 5 September 2016.

Nikon UK today announced their speaker line-up at The Photography Show, an exhibition dedicated to photography and open to all, from 19th to 22nd March 2016 at the NEC in Birmingham. Central to the Nikon stand will be the Nikon School stage, where a host of prominent photographers will be giving talks, including Nikon UK Ambassadors, Kate Hopewell-Smith, David Yarrow, Bob Martin and Leon Neal. The stand will also play host to speakers including Game of Thrones stills photographer, Helen Sloan and wildlife photographer Richard Peters. Visitors to the Nikon booth will be able to get their hands on the recently launched D5 and D500 dSLRs, as well as a range of Nikkor lenses and Coolpix cameras.

Nikon Japan have announced that the launch of the Nikon D500 DX-format digital SLR camera has been postponed. Originally scheduled to be available in March, the camera and an assortment of accessories - including the WT-7 wireless transmitter, the MB-D17 Multi-Power Battery Pack, the CF-DC8 semi soft case and more - are now expected to hit the shelves in "late April."

Adobe has announced the addition of 100,000 native 4K video assets to Adobe Stock. Available for licensing on stock.adobe.com, these videos can also be searched and purchased directly from the Creative Cloud Libraries panel in Premiere Pro CC and After Effects CC and from there dragged directly into an open project. These new 4K assets are available today for $199.99. HD versions of the 4K clips are available for $79.99.

Samyang have announced two new full-frame video lenses including the Samyang Xeen 14mm T3.1 and Xeen 35mm T1.5. The lenses are available in five different mounts - PL, EF, F, E, and MFT - and with two different focus scales (metric and imperial). The Xeen 14mm and 35mm lenses will be globally available in early March. The recommended retail price of each lens is £1599.

Leica today released a firmware update for the Leica T compact system camera. Version 1.5 adds a new feature called Wi-Fi DIRECT, which enables users to set up their own mobile hotspot and transfer pictures via a wireless link between the camera and the Leica T iOS app. The connection speed to known networks has also been improved.

Case Logic will unveil the brand new Case Logic Compact DSLR Backpack as well as the latest additions to the Reflexion Collection at The Photography Show 2016. Designed with unique fold-out camera storage and protective flap, the Case Logic Compact DSLR Backpack allows quick access to camera gear as well as a separate upper compartment for personal items. Also on show will be two new shoulder bags from the Case Logic Reflexion collection, designed with an innovative wide mouth opening design that allows easy accessibility and visibility. Thule and Case Logic will be exhibiting their full camera bag ranges at the Swains stand (G61).

Plustek have announced the UK launch of their new OpticFilm 135 film scanner. Offering a motorised film transport system and a maximum input resolution of 3,600ppi; the Plustek OpticFilm 135 comes with Plustek’s new QuickScan Plus utility which allows users to apply a variety of automatic image enhancement tools as well as preset filters and effects. Users can also upload images directly to Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and Picasa. With a special, separately sold film holder, the scanner is also capable of digitising panoramic images – up to 120mm across - shot on 35mm film. Available now, the Plustek OpticFilm 135 is priced at £245.00 plus VAT.

The Sony A6300 is a new mirrorless camera featuring the world’s fastest AF speed and highest number of AF points, plus a newly developed 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor and 4K video recording. The A6300 boasts 425 phase detection AF points that are densely positioned over the entire image area, and can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking.

The A6300 will be available in Europe from March 2016 priced at approximately €1,250 body only and €1,400 with SELP1650 lens. The A6300 will also be available as a kit with the SEL1670Z lens in April 2016, priced at approximately €2,250.

In the UK, the Sony A6300 will retail for around £1,000 body only, £1,100 with the SELP1650 lens, and £1,750 with the SEL1670Z lens.

Sony today introduced their flagship G Master brand of interchangeable lenses. The new brand includes three new E-mount full frame lenses including a 24-70mm constant F2.8 standard zoom, an 85mm F1.4 prime and a 70-200mm constant F2.8 telephoto zoom.

The new FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Standard Zoom and 85mm F1.4 GM Telephoto prime lenses will be available in Europe in March 2016 priced at approximately €2,400 (SEL2470GM) and €2,000 (SEL85F14GM).

In the UK the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens will retail for around £1,800 and the 85mm F1.4 GM for around £1,500.

The 70-200mm F2.8 GM Telephoto Zoom Lens and its compatible 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters will be available in Europe and the UK in May 2016 with pricing still to be confirmed.

Phase One today introduced the A-series IQ3 100MP medium format camera system. Developed in collaboration with ALPA, the A-series IQ3 100MP joins existing Phase One A-series models offering both precision integration with the ALPA platform and complete compatibility with the Phase One XF camera system. Based on the ALPA 12TC camera body, each model comes with the 35mm Rodenstock Alpar lens. Two optional lenses are available, including the ultra-wide 23mm, and the all-round 70mm, ALPA HR Alpagon. Shipping immediately, the A-series IQ3 100MP Camera System is available for $56,000.

Issue 49 of David Noton’s Chasing the Light Online Magazine is now available. In this month’s Behind the Lens article and accompanying video blog, David kicks off with the first instalment of his two-part travelogue to Western Australia. Next in the Low Down, he continues his mini series on new inspirations by considering his lifelong passion for photographing food around the world. In Hoddinott’s Hangout, Ross Hoddinott explores artistic interpretation as he answers the question: when is bad exposure good? Meanwhile, in the Art of Landscapes Bas Meelker provides his readers with a welcome introduction to his approach to his stunning black and white photography. Do note that the full contents of Chasing the Light Online Magazine is available to full f11 subscribers only. Non-members can purchase individual issues of the magazine at a price of £4.20.

The Dual Shot (DS1) is a camera mount that houses both a GoPro and practically any DSLR camera. Currently seeking funding on IndieGoGo, the DS1 features a detachable three-axis stabilizer with a rechargeable battery that can be mounted to bike helmets or any other mount, a DSLR camera style mounting bracket which is adjustable to move forward and backwards, and a tilt control button for GoPro. The GoPro stabilizer charges the camera while attached. “Editing and shooting action sports in particular becomes a lot easier when combining cuts from a close up to a wide shot in the middle of action” explains Anthony Panayotaros, Dual Shot creator. “Filming weddings, sports, personal home videos becomes cinematic when combining wide shots and close ups as it’s actually happening... Creating your own movies is so much easier and fun to edit with the DS1.” Interested readers are encouraged to visit the project's IndieGoGo page.

Canon have posted nine full-resolution sample images and a reduced-size sample video recorded with the new Canon EOS-1D X Mark II digital SLR camera. Taken with a variety of lenses including the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM; the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II sample photos were captured at sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 100 - ISO 25,600.

Website: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II Sample Images & Movies

Just in time for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR camera is a brand new flagship DSLR camera. Outwardly the EOS-1D X Mark II looks very similar to its 4-year-old predecessor, but inside it boasts a lot of cutting-edge features. These include a brand new 20.2 megapixel full-frame sensor with an on-chip analog to digital convertor, 14fps continuous shooting with full auto-focus and metering and up to 170 RAW file buffer (16 fps in Live View mode) and an ISO range of 100-51,200, expandable to 50-409,600.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is a new flagship DSLR camera that's capable of shooting 14 frames per second with full AF/AE tracking and 16 fps in Live View mode. With the new CFast 2.0 card capability, the camera can deliver a burst of unlimited JPEGs or 170 RAW images in continuous high speed shooting. The EOS 1D X Mark II features a new 20.2 MP full frame CMOS sensor and new Al Servo AF III+, improved 61-point AF system with 41 cross-type AF points, new 360k RGB+IR metering sensor, Dual “DIGIC 6+” processors, 4K video capture up to 60p and an ISO range of 100 to 51200 (expandable from 50 up to 409600).

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II will be available in the UK in May for £5199.99 body-only.

In the USA, the estimated retail price for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is $5999 (MSRP) for the body or $6299 for the Premium Kit which includes a 64 GB CFast memory card and card reader. The new camera is scheduled to begin shipping to authorized Canon USA dealers in April 2016