WestLicht Photographica is to auction off one of the first commercially produced cameras, a Giroux Daguerréotype, which is expected to fetch at least half a million euros. The Giroux Daguerréotype was made in Paris from 1839 in limited numbers from original plans drawn up by its inventor, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, by his brother-in-law, Alphones Giroux. The camera being auctioned on 29 May by WestLicht Auctions in Vienna was completely unknown and has never before been documented. It has been in private ownership in northern Germany for generations. The outstanding original condition of the 170 year-old apparatus is remarkable. Every detail including the lens, the plaque signed by Daguerre himself, the black velvet interior and the ground-glass screen are in their original state. WestLicht Photographica estimates that it will be sold for 500,000 to 700,000 euros at the 17th WestLicht Photographica Auction held in Vienna on 29 May 2009.

Sanyo has announced a new Dual Camera, the Xacti DMX-CG110, which is a Full HD camcorder and a 14-megapixel digital still camera in one. The video format used for this model is “MPEG-4 AVC / H.264”, which is fully supported by Windows 7. Consequently, video files are displayed in the same thumbnail format as still picture files, and they can also be played back directly with Windows Media Player, are editable with Windows Live Movie Maker, and are Device Stage compatible. The DMX-GG110 has a newly developed 12x “Double-Range Zoom” function that can be used when capturing video. This feature enables a wider range of video capture by allowing users to switch between different zoom ranges with the touch of a button, just like alternating between two lenses with different zoom ratios. When converted to a 35-mm film basis, this equals a capture range from wide-angle 40 mm up to a 12x zoom of 480 mm. Compatible with SDXC and Eye-Fi cards, the Sanyo Xacti DMX-CG110 will be available from the end of February. Pricing is to be determined, and there is no word on international availability at the moment.

Nikon has just announced the winners of its Nikon Festival, launched in November to celebrate, inspire and harness the current popularity of D-SLR video creation and social media. The Nikon Festival Judges’ Award Winner is Marko Slavnic, a 2006 graduate of the University of Texas Austin, and he will receive $100,000 and Nikon equipment to further his film career. “So many people see filmmaking as this elite thing and that you need a big crew to produce a quality film,” said Marko Slavnic. “I was excited when a friend told me about the Festival, and Nikon has shown people that you don’t have to be a professional to create a film and be seen by a huge audience.” Drawing from his own experiences as a shy teenager, Marko Slavnic’s video submission entitled “Chicken vs. Penguin” is a unique short film that shows a funny, physical story of unexpected love brought to life through a fast food mascot rivalry between a boy and girl. It was shot over two days on Congress Street in Austin, Texas.

Uzair Kharawala has announced the release of Foto SF Lite, as well as that of a new version of Foto SF Pro. The new version comes with a brand new sleek interface and with new features such as SMS messaging, improved mail merge, email management, better workflow module, sales lead generation tracking and conversion reports. As far as Foto SF Lite is concerned, it is aimed at the single-user business without any need of hosting over a network. This stand-alone software has all the features of the Pro version and is priced at £125 + VAT. For a free trial and full features list, visti the website below.

Website: Foto SF

PhotographyBB announced today the release of the 24th edition of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine. The January 2010 edition examines the merits of keeping a strong and tidy photo portfolio, be it physical or an online gallery. Additionally, this issue explores composition techniques, and how negative space can strengthen a photo while drawing the viewer deeper into the image. This month also looks at the Lightroom 3 Beta release in-depth, featuring the new Publish Services and Watermarking tools. In their Photography Around the World feature, they take you to India for a colorful look at Pushkar’s annual fair. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB website

Website: PhotographyBB

DxO Labs today released DxO Optics Pro v6.1.2 for Windows that adds raw support for the Pentax K-7 and the Sony A500 & A550 DSLRs as well as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and GH1 cameras. This release also improves stability and removes a colour cast at very high ISO for Nikon and Pentax cameras. Furthermore, 81 new DxO Optics Modules are now available to DxO Optics Pro users, covering the Canon 7D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, REBEL XTi/400D, DIGITAL REBEL XSi/450D and REBEL T1i/500D; Fuji S5; Nikon D200, D300, D300s, D50, D3000, D5000 and D80; Panasonic LX3 and GH1; Pentax K-7; and Sony A230, A330, A500 and A550. DxO Optics Pro v6.1.2 for Windows, both Standard ($169/€149/£99) and Elite ($299/€299/£199) editions, is immediately available from both DxO Labs’ e-store and selected resellers. DxO Optics Pro 6 for Mac is scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2010 and will be available as a free upgrade to customers who have purchased version 5 or higher after June 1, 2009.

Website: DxO Labs

Portrait photographer and Flickr megastar Natalie Dybisz (read interview) - the brain and body behind the Miss Aniela brand - has just launched a new liveBooks-powered website. “I was in search of a new platform and I liked the simplistic, slick and lightweight feel of liveBooks’ sites,” said Dybisz. “They satisfied my identity graphically and, probably most importantly, their editSuite allows me to easily update my site whenever I want. I also like how the company is so tapped into the photo community – I really get the sense that they know what photographers need and want.” To view her new website, visit www.missaniela.com.

Corel has launched a new and enhanced version of its consumer video editing software, Corel VideoStudio Pro X3. Priced at £79, Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 combines video editing, media authoring, real-time effects and DVD and Blu-ray burning, enabling video enthusiasts to create professional-looking productions in a simplified and streamlined environment. Optimised for new, high-powered chipsets including the Intel Core i7, the new version performs many common tasks more than twice as fast as its forebear, and also offers multi-core and GPU parallel processing with support for new technology including NVIDIA CUDA. “Today, video is everywhere. The NVIDIA CUDA architecture is a critical technology in helping vendors like Corel unlock video for the masses,” said Michael Steele, General Manager of Visual Consumer Solutions at NVIDIA, “The dramatic speed increases in Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 show how CUDA helps developers give their users record-setting performance, even during the most processor-intensive activities like video editing.” Corel VideoStudio Pro X3, which includes Corel DVD Factory Pro, is now available at a suggested retail price of just £79 for the full version or £59 for the upgrade.

Website: Corel Videostudio Pro X3

Corel has just announced Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3, which brings advanced photo management, editing and creative tools together to deliver everything the photo enthusiast needs in one package. Highlights of the new version include an all-new Organiser, batch photo editing, Smart Carver technology for seamlessly and realistically removing objects and scaling without distorting the image, new additions to the Express Lab, an Object Extractor tool to quickly, easily and precisely mask fine image details that are otherwise difficult to preserve, and a Project Creator that lets users produce photo books, collages, cards, calendars and photo slideshows including HD video in a few clicks. In addition to these new and enhanced features, Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 continues to offer the advanced photo editing power of favourite features including HDR Photo Merge, Local Tone Mapping, Curves and Levels adjustments and Perspective Correction. Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 also includes Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 to get started with digital art. Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 is now available at a suggested retail price of £79 for the full version or £59 for the upgrade. The product can be purchased as an electronic software download today. Boxed software will be shipping across Europe, Middle East and African retailers in February.

Website: Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3

Nikon UK is preparing for its annual appearance at the Focus On Imaging photography show which will be held at the NEC, Birmingham from 7th-10th March. Visitors to the show will have the chance to check out Nikon’s complete range of products on the Nikon stand (D40, Hall 9 and 10), including their new professional camera, the D3s (pictured). This newest addition to Nikon’s FX family will be on display along with the D3000, D5000 and D300s models. Nikon’s expert team will also be on hand throughout the event to answer any questions. Along with the chance to handle Nikon’s products, an exciting seminar schedule has been lined up to include well known names such as; wildlife photographer Andy Rouse, aerial photographer Jason Hawkes and Mike McCartney who will be talking about his photography career; covering high profile celebrity events to his more recent book of the north highlands. Finally, visitors to the stand will also have the chance to win a Nikon D90 camera kit.

Website: Nikon UK

The existing Lastolite RayD8 c5600 continuous lighting kit now features a new reflector dish assembly. Thanks to a new extension tube that allows the use of a more compact reflector, this kit is now shipped in a single box. The Lastolite RayD8 c5600 lighting kit with the new reflector is available now from JP Distribution, at a suggested retail price of £287 including value added tax.

The Ilford Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is a photographic paper that is billed as “the ideal product to for creating the all important wedding album or holiday album”. Printing on the new Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is simple and straightforward. Detailed printing instructions are included in the package. Thanks to the resin-coated properties, the media remains robust throughout the entire double-sided printing process. The Ilford Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is compatible with both dye and pigment printers. You can see the entire Galerie range of papers at the Ilford stand at Focus On Imaging (Stand B1).

Tamron USA announced the first in its series of four photo contests for 2010: Dusk till Dawn asks entrants to submit sunrise, sunset and nighttime images by 31 March 31. The “Dusk till Dawn” photo contest entries will be evaluated and selected by a guest judge, Ken Hubbard, who specializes in landscape and travel photography. Hubbard, Field Services Manager for Tamron, is a pro photographer who has had nationwide gallery showings of his landscape photography. He regularly teaches enthusiasts how to take better photos at dynamic seminars around the country. You can see his work at Ken Hubbard Photography. Email your lo-res images to [email protected], Subject line of email must read Tamron Dusk till Dawn Photo Contest. Winner & Finalists will be contacted for hi-res photos. The Grand Prize Winner will receive his/her choice of one of these Tamron lenses: SP AF60mm F2 Di-II 1:1 Macro; SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II; SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II VC (pictured); or AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC. As always, we suggest that you read the rules at the website below before entering your work.

Website: Tamron Photo Contest

The <0.4” thick Jobo Nano 8 Pro and 10 Pro digital photo frames are now available. The new Nano 8 Pro and Nano 10 Pro feature an 8” and 10” (respectively) high-resolution TFT-Colour-LCD screens with LED backlighting. This eco-friendly technology provides low power consumption and enables the frame’s extremely slim design. And the LED backlight technology provides consistent illumination of the display screen as well as lifelike and contrast-rich image presentation. Both the Jobo Nano 8 (pictured) and 10 Pro versions feature touch-activated buttons on the front of the frame for intuitive operation of all important functions. Buttons become visible by simply touching the bottom front of the digital picture frames. Both frames come with SVGA resolution screens of the 4:3 aspect ratio, and both offer Dual-Mini-USB 2.0 high speed capability for connecting a card reader or USB jump drive and support SD, MMC,  SDHC and MS memory cards. The Jobo Nano 8 Pro and and Nano 10 Pro are now available in the US. They come with an AC adapter, remote control, and manual for $159 and $189 MSRP, respectively.

Think Tank Photo has released two water-resistant, seam-sealed rain covers for 70-200 and smaller lenses: the Hydrophobia 70-200 and the Hydrophobia Flash 70-200 with built-in flash protector. Featuring side arm holes for focusing and accessing switches, they allow DSLRs to be turned vertically. And now, without exposing their expensive bodies and lenses to the elements, photographers can change memory cards and batteries without taking off the rain covers. A key feature is that the camera can be carried two ways. It can be carried by the strap attached to the camera as it does not have to be removed. And, there is a camera strap attached to the Hydrophobia 70-200 that, combined with a strap that buckles under the lens, allows the camera to be carried by the rain cover. The fabric used on the Hydrophobia is ten times as water resistant as normal fabric. The Hydrophobia 70-200 rain cover is available for $139, whilst the Hydrophobia Flash 70-200 retails for $145.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 (ZS7 in the USA) is a compact ultra-zoom camera featuring an optically stabilised 25-300mm equivalent Leica lens, manual exposure control and built-in GPS. The TZ10 and its brother the TZ8 - also announced today - are the first cameras in the Panasonic TZ series to offer full manual exposure control. The TZ10 is also the first Panasonic ultra-zoom to feature a built-in GPS unit. The location data where the photo was taken is automatically embedded with its latitude and longitude in the EXIF data. These geo-tagged images can be pinpointed on the maps of social media internet maps to be shared with the world. Plus, the TZ10 also shows the name of the town, area and landmarks using an internal database to give users real-time information of the place when taking photos. The Panasonic TZ10 has a 14.5-megapixel CCD and shoots at up to 12.1-megapixel resolution. This enables multi-aspect shooting in any of three aspect ratios - 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 - while maintaining the diagonal angle of view. In addition to taking stills, the camera can also record 720p HD movies in Motion JPEG or AVCHD Lite format, and you can fully utilise the powerful 12x optical zoom in while filming. The TZ10 also features Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high-quality audio. SDXC card support and a 3”, 460000-dot Intelligent LCD with anti-reflex coating round off the features list. The Panasonic TZ10 will be available from mid March in a choice of silver, black, red or blue.

Panasonic’s new DMC-TZ8 (also known as the ZS5) with an optically stabilised 25-300mm lens in a compact body offers 12.1 megapixels of resolution and manual exposure control. Comprising 10 elements in 8 groups, including 2 ED lenses and 2 aspherical lenses with 3 aspherical surfaces, and utilising new lens material in its design, the DMC-TZ8’s advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly slim and compact body while passing Leica’s stringent standards to deliver exceptional optical performance, the company claims. The DMC-TZ8 has a 14.5-megapixel CCD and shoots with up to 12.1-megapixel resolution. This is because the CCD on the TZ8 is multi-aspect and can reproduce images shot with the lens set from 25mm to 300mm in any of three aspect ratios - 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 - while maintaining the same diagonal angle of view. And finally, the TZ8 features A, S and M exposure modes for creative photographers. 720p HD movie recording and SDXC support round off the features list. Availability is slated for mid March.

Successor to the highly regarded DMC-ZX1, Panasonic’s new, 14.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-ZX3 (called ZR3 in North America) offers style and compactness whilst also boasting a powerful 8x optical zoom starting at 25mm (eq.), and newly added AVCHD Lite movie recording function. The 25-200mm lens comprises 9 elements in 7 groups, including 4 super thin aspherical lenses with 6 spherical surfaces. Thanks to the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, the new Intelligent Zoom is available with the ZX3 which extends the zoom ratio by approx.1.3x maintaining the picture quality even when using a digital zoom. This means the 8x optical can virtually extend to 10x equivalent. With the Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas – are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clarity while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording. The shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.005 seconds and the camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities together with the Sonic Speed AF that lets you lock on the subject minimum in approx. 0.26 (wide-end) / 0.31 (tele-end) second when using single-area AF.