Ricoh and Samsung have announced firmware updates for the GXR system and TL500/EX1 enthusiast compact respectively. Ricoh's update, covering the A12 50mm equiv. macro, S10 24-72mm equiv. and P10 28-300 equiv. zoom lens units, fixes bugs and brings in a few improvements. Meanwhile, firmware version 006291 for the Samsung EX1 and v.006254 for the TL500 are bug-fixes - correcting an error when the camera is turned on with the playback button and contributing towards system stability.

Sigma Corporation of America has announced that the Sigma 17-50 F2.8 EX DC OS HSM is now available. The lens, originally announced at the PMA exhibition in February 2010, offers a faster, image stabilized alternative for APS-C users wanting to upgrade from their kit lens. It is now available in Canon mount with Pentax, Sony, Nikon and Sigma-mount versions expected 'in the coming weeks.' The lens will sell with a recommended price of $980/£649.99.

Two months after announcing its development, Sony has launched the NEX-VG10E - an E-mount camcorder that becomes the worlds' first consumer-grade HD camcorder with interchangeable lenses. Although appearing under Sony's Handycam brand, rather than Alpha, it retains a lot in common with the Alpha NEX series. It features the same 14.6MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor but is capable of recording 1080i video at a higher, 24mbps, bitrate. The NEX-VG10E also features an electronic viewfinder and 'Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone' that uses four microphone elements to provide better channel separation and cancel unwanted noise. In every other respect it is essentially a NEX 5, featuring the same user interface (though with more external controls) and both SD and MemoryStick storage. It will sold as kit with image-stabilised E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS lens and will be available a suggested retail price of €2000 / $2000.

Paris-based software maker Oloneo has launched a beta version of its image processing suite called PhotoEngine for Windows that includes raw processing, HDR merging and a method for combining images shot under different lighting conditions to give control over the individual light sources. The software is based around a 32-bit per channel wide color gamut that allows users to edit tonal range and color with minimum data loss. PhotoEngine Beta 1 is available immediately as a free download from the company's website.

Just Posted: Our review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 mirrorless system camera. The successor to the G1 (the first Micro Four Thirds camera) adds movies, a touch screen and a smattering of feature enhancements, but retains the familiar 'SLR-lite' styling and the G1's venerable 12MP CMOS sensor. We liked the G1 a lot when we reviewed it back in January 2009 (and the new model answers several of our most pressing concerns), but 18 months is a long time in this market. So can the G2 still compete against the latest generation of entry-level DSLRs and the increasingly active mirrorless system camera sector? Check out our review and sample gallery to find out...

Just Posted: Our review of the Samsung TL500 (EX1 in Europe). The future of the enthusiast compact camera is under threat from the small mirrorless cameras that are starting to encroach on their territory. However, the Samsung TL500's smaller sensor (compared to the mirrorless models) means the company has been able to include a lens that not only offers a useful 24-72mm equivalent range but also a phenomenally bright F1.8-2.4 maximum aperture range. This lens flexibility is combined with a tilt/swivel OLED screen in a package smaller than any mirrorless camera with zoom lens. So does the camera live up to the promise of its specifications?

Leica has posted a firmware update for its M8 and M8.2 digital rangefinders. Version 2.005 for the both cameras fixes the 'Shutter Fault' error that can occur when shooting multiple images. The firmware is available for immediate download from the company's website.

Sigma has set the suggested retail price of its latest 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens at £1500. Announced in PMA 2010, the lens will be available from July 23 in Canon EF mount. The lens features a new optical design that uses two elements made of the company's recently developed 'FLD' glass plus three SLD glass elements to reduce aberrations, a 9-blade circular aperture, and features full-time manual focus override. The lens is designed for full frame cameras but comes with a lens hood adapter to provide better shading for APS-C cameras.

Lexar has announced a Facebook based sweepstake with a chance to win either a Canon 7D or Nikon D300S DSLR kit with Lexar memory cards and reader. To enter the 'Take the Next Shot' sweepstake participants need to submit a 'favourite' photograph along with a 15 word caption and click on the 'Like' button in the company's Facebook page. Entries need to be submitted before July 31, 2010.

Sony has unveiled the Cyber-shot DSC-WX5, DSC-TX9 and DSC-T99 digital compacts. The WX5 and TX9 incorporate the company's latest 12.2MP, 1/2.3" Exmor R back illuminated CMOS sensor. Both feature a 'Superior Auto' mode that shoots bursts of between 2 and 6 shots then combines them either to reduced noise or boost dynamic range, depending on the scene you're shooting. The WX5 includes a wide angle 5x optical zoom lens starting at 24mm equivalent and a 2.8" LCD, while the TX9 comes with a 3.5" touchscreen LCD and a 25-100mm equivalent lens. Other features include a Background Defocus mode, 3D Sweep Panorama mode and 1080i Full AVCHD video recording. The DSC-T99 features the same lens and body design as the TX9, a smaller LCD and a 14MP CCD sensor that cannot achieve the fast multi-shot shooting required for Superior Auto mode. All three cameras offer a Soft Skin mode that tries to smooth out wrinkles and other blemishes from the subject's skin.

Canon has released firmware updates for its EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS Rebel T2i/550D digital SLRs. Firmware v1.0.8 for both cameras fixes a bug in the movie mode. The update for the EOS 1D Mark IV also corrects misspellings in the French and Spanish language menus. The latest versions are available for immediate download from Canon's website.

A few days before the release of Unified Color Technology's HDR Expose software, we got a chance to speak to the company's marketing director John Omvik. He told us how different it is from the previous HDR PhotoStudio software, what's in store for high dynamic range users and how will they can benefit from the new features.

HDR software maker, Unified Color Technologies has unveiled the HDR Expose 32-bit HDR merge and editing software. It replaces the company's flagship HDR PhotoStudio software, but inherits its core features and technology. Headline features include the addition of de-ghosting algorithms and a Brightness Histogram to help maintain highlight and shadow details at lower bit-depths. It also includes new plug-ins allowing direct export from third party Raw conversion software. The software will be available from July 12, 2010 as a free upgrade to existing users of HDR PhotoStudio or for an introductory price of $99.00 for new users.

Just Posted: Our group test of the latest 'super zoom' cameras. Despite entry-level DSLRs getting cheaper and cheaper the super zoom models are as popular as ever. This latest generation comes with up to 30x zoom lenses, HD video recording and, in some cases, high speed stills and video capture. We've taken 9 super zoom cameras from the leading manufacturers and put them through the usual dpreview test procedures. Read our group test to find out which one is the best superzoom to take to the soccer pitch or on safari this summer.

Tokina has announced that its 16-28mm F2.8 ultra wide angle zoom lens will be available in Nikon and Canon full-frame mounts. Announced at PMA 2010, the AT-X 16-28 F2.8 PRO FX lens features the company's newly developed AF system that features a quieter Silent Drive-Module (SD-M) autofocus motor and promises more precise focusing. The weather-sealed lens comes with a fixed lens hood and does not incorporate a filter thread. Priced at ¥123, 900 (~ US $1400) the Nikon mount will start shipping From August 6, 2010 while the Canon version will ship from mid-September.