Photo-filter app Instagram may have nailed the look of retro photography for Android and iPhone users, but what if you still yearn for a tangible ink-and-paper picture to keep a hold of?

Firebox have the answer. They launched the Instagram Prints service, turning sets of 12 or 24 of your favourite Instagram snaps into actual real-world photos. Just like ye olden times!

Printed on high-quality 260GSM semigloss paper at 11cm(H) x 9cm(W) to look like Polaroids (but are not actually Polaroids), they're the perfect gift for someone looking to make a physical scrapbook to go along with their digital online ones.

Priced at £9.99 or 12 or £14.99 for 24 prints, Firebox throw in a free mini Sharpie pen so you can tag your snaps with a witty remark.

Click here for more info.

It's been a long time coming, but we're finally getting word in of the release of the Canon EOS 650D. Though expected to have hit this Spring (based on the back of Canon's yearly product cycle) it now looks like we can expect to see the mid-level DSLR touch down in June.

And with that news also comes some leaked specs! The successor to the Canon EOS 600D (pictured above) that was released last year, expect to find an 18-megapixel CMOS in the 650D, as well as a 9-point AF system, with continuous auto focus in live and and video recording modes. All these features were included with the 600D, so we're expecting to see improved variants on the systems.

An all-new touchscreen LCD however looks to be the key differentiator based on the leaked specs.

We'll have a full run-down on the camera once it's officially revealed this summer.

Via: Canonrumors

Fans of stylish, retro-tinged compact cameras take note! Lecia have revealed a new premium compact, the Lecia X2, heading your way soon!

Designed to look like part of the M system cameras and fitted with an APS-C sensor, the X2 will snap 16.5 megapixel images with a fixed-length Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH lens (36mm in the 35mm film format), also boasting full manual controls.

An improved auto-focusing system should deliver faster, quieter and more accurate auto focussing, with the sensor itself benefiting from improved low image noise, high dynamic range and colour accuracy.

On the back sits a 2.7 inch LCD screen, while accessories including a 90-degree swivelling viewfinder and optical viewfinder will also be available. To cap things off, each Lecia X2 will come with a copy of Photoshop Lightroom for post-processing of your shots too.

Expect to pay around £1,575 ($2540) for the Lecia X2, with a vague "coming soon" the closest we have to a release date at present.

After briefly breaking cover thanks to an over-zealous Amazon listing, Olympus have officially revealed their TG-1 tough cameras.

As tough as a concrete-covered photo-snapping toughman, the TG-1 is waterproof to 12 metres, shock and drop-proof to 2 metres, freezeproof to -10 degrees Fahrenheit, and crushproof to 100kg.

In terms of camera specs, you're getting a 12MP sensor, with an F20 aperture for sharp, low light image capture. There's also a 4x optical zoom, GPS, 1080p HD recording and a 10 fps burst mode.

A new conversion ring mechanism is onboard for filters and telephoto shots, while the sae image processor as found in the OMD is also squeezed in.

Due in mid-July, it's yours for about £360.

Olympus are already preparing to follow up on their recent Tough camera line it would appear, after a Best Buy listing for the Olympus TG-1 iHS Tough appeared briefly online before being hastily pulled down.

Adding a a 3-inch, 610,000-pixel OLED display to the ruggedised mix, it packs the same 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and 1080p movie capture of the TG-820 iHS, extending the waterproof depth to 40 feet.

Another notable change is that the optical zoom is now stripped back to 4x, while the wider f/2.0 aperture is now set.

No word yet on UK availability, but US readers can expect to pay around $400 when the camera eventually ships.

Via: Engadget

Samsung have launched their new SMART camera range at a glitzy press event at the Westfield shopping centre in East London. Front and centre was ex-The Only Way Is Essex's Amy Childs, whose implied idiocy was we imagine designed to make the SMART cameras look particularly clever.

Which, in fairness, they already did. Samsung's NX Series snappers each come packing Wi-Fi functionality that sees pictures automatically uploaded to your PC once in range of a recognised WI-Fi network, and also have built-in Facebook and YouTube uploaders among others, getting your pictures onto your proffered social networks in double-quick time, cable and hassle free.

As for the launch event itself, we'll call it a "questionable" marketing angle to say the least. Childs posed coquettishly in front of a promotional poster that read "TOO SMART FOR AMY". Childs may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but branding her a bimbo isn't incredibly inventive, nor an incredibly positive stance for Samsung to be taking. We'd cry "EXPLOITATION" were we not near-certain she got paid shed loads to play up to the stereotype in front of the cameras.

IMAGES: Press Association

Samsung have today introduced three new models to their NX camera range, the NX20, NX210 and NX1000 models.

Each features Samsung's "Wi-Fi Smart" tech, meaning they can share photos via Facebook or email without connecting them up to a computer first, as easily as you would on a smartphone. Images can also be wirelessly displayed on a Samsung TV using TV Link, or on a Samsung mobile or tablet using Mobile Link. All offer Instagram-like filters too.

All three cameras use a 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor, with a wide range ISO (100-12800) that should allow for detailed snaps even in low light conditions.

The top-end model, the NX20 also boasts a boasts a shutter speed of 1/8000 sec, 1080p Full HD Stereo Movie Recording (H.264) and both an SVGA EVF and a 3.0" Clear AMOLED swivel display.

Moving slightly down the specs list, the NX210 offers a 3.0" VGA AMOLED display for viewing images, but still captures full HD movies.

Lastly, the NX1000 (available in available in white, black and pink) rounds things off with a TFT-LCD VGA( 640X480 ) 921k dots screen.

The Samsung NX20 will set you back £899 and come with the new 18-55mm OIS III lens. The NX210 will be a bit cheaper at £749 with the same lens. The NX1000 will cost just £599 with a 20-50mm OIS II lens.

Panasonic have just revealed the Lumix GF5, the next Micro Four Thirds camera to follow on from their impressive 2011 GF3 offering and the most compact kit to bear the G-Series branding.

Top of the feature list is a brand new 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor, which uses new silicone to reduce noise. In other words, you're going to get the same sort of performance as from the Lumix G3, despite it carrying a different frame and 16MP sensor.

A new image processing engine is also on board, the Venus Engine VII HD2, which brings with it shooting at an extended ISO 12800.

In terms of design, it's very similar to the GF3 before it, with a hump packing in the lens mount, but with a new aluminium finish and rubberised handgrips. There are also metal buttons and a customisable Fn button for quick flicking through settings.

There's also 0.09 second autofocus, instant full HD video capture in either AVCHD or MPEG4 formats, RAW shooting options and a ton of arty filters to touch up your shots with.

Measuring 107.7 x 66.6 x 36.8mm and weighing 267g (without the lens), the camera also features a 920k-dot touchscreen display and new interface so that both novices and enthusiasts alike can get the most from it.

Avaialble in June, the camera will come in two lens configurations. The Lumix GF5 with the Lumix G X 14-42 power zoom will cost around £580, while the body and Lumix G Vario 14-42 standard zoom will set you back £450-odd.

After a long wait for a port from iOS to Android, photography fans have come out in their droves to support Instagram for Android, downloading the free app over 1 million times in just 24 hours.

That's around 2,000 sign-ups every minute, making it one of the most popular app launches on the Google Play market.

Our early tests suggest that it's a great little bit of software too, sprucing up shots just as nicely as it did on Android phones, despite the massively varied quality of Android camera systems. Now Android owners can pretend to be photography pros just like iPhone owners too!

On iOS, Instagram has already racked up 30 million downloads. We expect the combined total with Android users included to quickly eclipse even that massive figure.

Canon have released a modified version of their EOS 60D DSLR camera aimed specifically at stargazers and astrophotographers. Named the EOS 60Da, it packs in a tweaked low pass filter allowing the camera to be more sensitive to hydrogen-alpha light wavelengths, perfect for taking shots of the night sky.

The 60Da achieves this by giving hydrogen-alpha light three times more transparency when it hits the sensor than the standard 60D DSLR.

In terms of more regular DSLR specs, the 60Da is pretty much a match for the original 60D. Therefore you're getting an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS, 14-bit DIGIC 4 processing, and ISO of up to 6400, which can push up to 12800. On the rear you'll find a 3-inch Vari-angle wide LCD screen with a 1,040k-dot resolution, while there's also support for LiveView and Time-Lapse video recording.

Hitting stores in June, expect to pay around £1,175.

Nikon have confirmed that they will honour pre-orders taken on their D4 and D800 camera systems placed before March 24th, despite a pricing error that made the orders significantly cheaper than the recommended price.

An "internal systems error" led to "incorrect" pricing being communicated to customers at launch, and irate photography fans were disappointed to find that prices for the two systems had risen approximately 10% over the weekend. That puts the D4 now to £5289, an increase of £500, and the Nikon D800 to £2599, a £200 increase.

"We would like to apologise sincerely to our customers for this unfortunate mistake, which has been corrected with immediate effect," reads a Nikon press statement.

"We know that there has been strong consumer interest in these products and a high level of pre-orders place with retailers.

"Nikon will be honouring the original prices to retailers on all customer pre-orders placed before March 24th, 2012."

It's a shame to see the sudden price hike, but at least Nikon have been fair to those who placed the early orders. In this case at least, it seems the early birds have indeed caught the worms.

Name: D-Link DCS-942L mydlink-enabled Enhanced Wireless N Day/Night Home Network Camera

Type: Wireless web-connected security camera

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: RRP £149.99

Whether you see it as step towards an Orwellian surveillance state or a necessary measure to ensure the protection of your home, there's no denying that DIY home security camera kits are big business these days. D-Link have recently launched a web-connected model, the The DCS-942L, which offers mobile monitoring, motion detection and night-vision recording at an attractive price. But with a series of bugs, can it be relied upon to help keep an eye on your home? Read on to find out.

The DCS-942L is fairly unassuming in design, with its white plastic casing and chrome-rimmed lens. It should fit in nicely with most décors, and considering you're likely going to be dotting a few of these units around your home, it's small 27.2 x 60 x 96mm size should mean it can fit in plenty of nooks, snugly out of sight. Weighing only 76.9 grams with the bracket and stand removed, it should be fairly easy to wall mount the DCS-942L should you require too.

It's not, however, the most practical of designs. Though a wireless camera, it of course requires power, and the AC adaptor that comes with it has a frustratingly short cable, roughly a metre and a half in length, which greatly restricts where you can place the DCS-942L.

Similar problems occur when using the supplied stand, which allows you to angle and lock the direction of the camera to ensure it's facing where you want it to. Again, though wireless, the camera offers the option of an Ethernet connection to your network should you have signal issues. But with the Ethernet port located at the top of the camera, the weight of the cable pulls the lightweight DCS-942L down, meaning you'll need a fair bit of blu-tac, and patience, to keep the camera and stand in place.

This would be less of an issue if the wireless functionality of the camera was more robust, but it too proved to have problems. For instance, the WPS functionality (letting your router wirelessly add the DCS-942L to your network) failed to connect, meaning we had to laboriously cable the camera up to our router before setting it up where we had planned to leave it.

To view the feeds from the camera, you'll have to create a myDLink account, which uses a web-based Java plug-in to present the video. Once set up, this works nicely, offering a simple interface with which to grab snapshots from the feed, complete with date stamp details. The camera also offers a local microSD card recording option with a 16GB card thrown in free, which is useful for making hard copies of your recordings.

However, this web interface again had its own share of problems. With few physical buttons on the camera itself, changing its many settings (for instance, swapping between H.264 and MPEG4 recording codecs at 640 x 480, 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 resolutions) is done through menus on the web. We could never change these settings though, as the link to the corresponding options pages only ever returned a "404 Not Found" error.

Though only maxing out at a 640 x 480 resolution (presumably to allow for long, continuous recordings; the 16GB card can hold as much as 7 days worth of continuous footage before overwriting its earliest entries) the image quality from the DCS-942L was acceptable, with strong colours and reasonably smooth motion at 30fps. The camera also works in pitch black darkness, though the light sensor could be triggered a little too easily (i.e just by casting a shadow by standing too closely to it), which hampered its usefulness somewhat. There's also a motion detector onboard if you only want the record function to be triggered when movement is caught by the camera.

If the DCS-942L has a saving grace, it's with its use of Android and iOS apps. Using a similar system to the web based monitoring options, these bespoke apps allow you to monitor the camera feed on-the-go over 3G. Those worried about the security of their property will find comfort in the ability to monitor the recordings wherever on the globe they may be.

Verdict

We really like the idea of affordable home security camera kits, and while on paper D-Link's DCS-942L fits the bill, in reality it is hard to recommend. While the mobile Android and iOS viewing options are commendable, little else here is. Cheaply constructed, difficult to set up and backed by buggy web software, you'll struggle to balance the importance of monitoring your home against the hassle of using the D-Link camera.

Kodak have announced that they are to stop manufacturing cameras digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames in the first half of this year in order to cut costs following their bankruptcy protection filing.

Despite inventing the digital camera, Kodak have been forced into the move after noting that it will save them somewhere in the region of $100 million dollars. On top of their long list of patent sales, it's hoped the move will save the iconic brand.

"Today we announced that Kodak is phasing out digital cams [sic], video cams & digital frames in 2012," read updates from the Kodak UK Twitter feed.

"Kodak will continue to honour all warranties and provide support as we phase out dig & vid cams and frames.

"Kodak will focus consumer biz [sic] on inkjet, online and retail printing."

Kodak's new focus will be on their printer business. We had a look at their Hero 9.1 All-in-one (pictured above) at the back end of last year and came away impressed.

Thought we were done with Olympus cameras for one day? Think again! Next up on their long list of releases today is the SZ-31MR super-zoom compact camera.

The successor to the SZ-30MR, it offers the same 16 megapixel backlit sensor and 24x (25-600mm) optical zoom as its predecessor, but adds in a new image processor in the shape of the dual engine TruePic V.

Olympus's new iHS (Intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) tech is onboard, which the company claims leads to sharper, more vivid images. ISO range is 80 to 640. You'll also get a smart panorama mode, HDR backlight adjustments, an advanced i-Auto mode, Auto Focus tracking, and face and pet detection for your pooch.

Full HD video can be recorded too, while a 3-inch, 920k dot touchscreen LCD sits on the rear, offering touch auto-focus and shutter controls.

Hitting stores in late March, the SZ-31MR will set you back £299.99.

A pair of new rugged cameras are on the way from Olympus. The TG-820 and TG-620 will be available from the middle of this month, and are priced at £269.99 and £229.99 respectively.

So what do the dollars buy you?

Well, for starters, both cameras are (10m for the TG-820 and 5m for the TG-620), shockproof (2m, 1.5m), freezeproof (minus 10 degrees) and the TG-820 is even crushproof up to 100kg. Double lock mechanisms protect the battery and input ports, while a metal ring protects the lens.

Getting down to your more standard snapping specs, both cameras shoot at 12 megapixels, with a 5x wide optical zoom (28-140mm) lens powered by the Olympus TruePic VI image engine.

iHS tech, HDR backlight adjustment, 3D shooting modes and 1080p Full HD video recording are all featured too. Eye-Fi, are SDHC and SDXC memory cards are all compatible, while HDMI out is supported by both cameras too.

If you're looking for one big differentiator to help you decide between the two, the TG-820 sports the better screen with a 3-inch 1,030k dot Super Precision HyperCrystal III LCD. It's only a 460k dot one on the TG-620.

What with all the launches from Canon and Nikon over the last few days, the second week of February will have to be re-christened "Camera Week" we think. Olympus are the next to tout their latest wares, revealing this morning the Olympus OM-D Micro Four Thirds system.

With this snapper using the Micro Four Thirds compact/interchangeable set up, here the OM's heritage is really only shown through positioning and styling. You'l still be able to use OM lenses from the 35mm original SLR, but yo'll have to purchase an MF-2 OM Adapter ring to do so, priced itself at £160.

Elsewhere the camera is bang up to date though; using a 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor, the camera offers five-axis stabilisation and super-quick autofocus settings.Olympus's existing MFT range of lenses are compatible with this new kit, while the OM-D ships with a M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm lens (24-100mm in 35mm terms).

The OM-D also sports a 1440k-dot electronic viewfinder for traditionalists, as well asa 3-inch adjusable touchscreen OLED display. ISO goes up to 25600,and you'll get all the usual array of scene filters, as well as Full HD video recording, that you'd expect from a high-end compact.

Due in April, theOM-D will sell for £1149.99.

Got butter fingers? Like swimming up mountains? Then check out the new ruggedised camera from Canon, the PowerShot D20.

Built around a "a robust and sporty body", it's waterproof down to 10m, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof, with a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, backed by the DIGIC 4 processor.

Zoom is of the 5x optical variety, with 1080p video recording on board and the same Movie Digest feature seen in some of the A -Series cameras, making a mini movie from the four seconds prior to each photo taken.

A 3-inch 460k dot PureColor II screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio sits on the back, while the actual lens itself is a 28mm wide angle. As well as a series of silly filter effects, the D20 also comes with GPS photo tagging.

Due in May, expect to pay about £349.

Today's camera onslaught continues with not one, not two, but six new entry-level compacts from Canon. Their PowerShot A Series range just expanded considerably, with the Canon PowerShot A810, the Canon PowerShot A1300, the Canon PowerShot A2300, the Canon PowerShot A2400 IS, the Canon PowerShot A3400 IS and the Canon PowerShot A4000 IS all soon up for grabs.

First, what they all have in common; each has the DIGIC 4 processing engine(rather than the slightly more impressive DIGIC 5), and each has a 16MP sensor. Video recording is of the 720p HD variety, and all have 28mm wide angle lenses with at least 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD preview screens.

Top of the pile is the A4000, which ramps up the optical zoom to 8x, and the preview screen to a full 3 inches.

Next, the A3400, which lacks the longer zoom of the A4000, but matches it in preview screen size, and throws in touch screen controls too. The A3400, A4000 and the A2400 have optical image stabilising with Intelligent IS technology too.

If you're after an optical viewfinder, you need to look at the A2300 and the A1300 models. The A2300 has a recahrgeable battery, while the lower end models run on pesky AA batteries however. The A810 also loses out on the smart auto modes too.

The Canon PowerShot A4000 lands in shops first, arriving this month for £169. In March, the A2300, A2400 and A3400 will touch down, priced £119, £129 and £149 respectively, with the £89 A810 and the £109 A1300 in stores by April.

Canon have launched a pair of new super-slim long zoom compacts. The PowerShot SX260 HS and PowerShot SX240, look to be the perfect companion for travellers not looking to get too close to the action.

Both share practically the same specs.Each has a 20x optical zoom, 25mm wide-angle lens, and each has a 12.1 MP CMOS sensor powered by the DIGIC 5 HS System. Again, each uses Canon's Intelligent IS (Image Stabilisation) tech.

As well as the 20x optical zoom, you can pop a digital zoom on top too, pushing that zoom range to 39x.

3-inch PureColor II G LCD screens sit on the rear of the cameras, with Face ID facial recognition. It's a smart system that can learn up to 12 individual faces, and details about each person, tagging their names and applying age-related set ups to their snaps. For instance, a recognised baby would see the camera turn off its flash so as not to startle the baby. Both amazing and creepy, no?

Both cameras have Full HD video recording, and an interesting feature called Movie Digest, which, while not only cribbing the mighty Tech Digest's name, also records the four seconds of action prior to your photo being taken, editing them altogether at the end of the day into a mini film.

So what's the difference between the two cameras? GPS; you'll only find geo-tagging in the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS.

In shops from from March, the SX260 will cost £329 and come in four colours (silver, black, red and green), while the SX240 will be £299 and come in three; silver, black and red.

Nikon have just revealed the full frame, 36-megapixel D800 DSLR.

Carrying over much of the styling of its predecessor the D700, it offers an unprecedented amount of detail and excellent low-lighting shooting modes thanks to its whopping 36MP CMOS sensor, reaching new megapixel highs for a consumer camera.

Processing power is more of less identical to the Nikon D4, using the Expeed 3 processor, while the auto-focus module also carries over.

Full HD video modes are now onboard, with full manual controls, as well as the ability to shoot slow motion 50/60fps options in 720p, meeting the rival EOS 5D Mk II head on. You'll also get the option to shoot in different crop modes, from the native FX to DX (APS-C equivalent), as well as 5:4 and 1.2x.

Normal ISO range hits the 100-6400 marks, with options to drop to ISO 50 or push to ISO 25600.

A sturdy bit of kit, it's weatherproofed for your trip to Niagra Falls. On the rear you'll find a
3.2-inch 921k-dot LCD display with an ambient light meter, helping you pick the best settings for your surroundings. There's also a 00 per cent field of view viewfinder, which will display 51 AF points.

Battery life is good, offering 900 shots per charge. Output to HDMI with uncompressed video is supported, while other connections include USB 3.0, headphone and mic sockets. Slots for CF and SD cards are on board, and can be used in combination.

Very much a bit of kit for the budding pro then, you're looking at an asking price of £2399.99 when this launches on March 22nd.