Pre-PMA 2009: Epson has announced a new version of the R-D1 rangefinder on its Japanese website. The new R-D1x model maintains most of the features of the previous camera including a 6Mp APS-C sensor, but adds a larger 2.5" LCD screen, support for the higher-capacity SD-HC card format and a removable handgrip. Epson will start shipping the new rangefinder from April 2009, at a price to be confirmed.

Pre-PMA2009: Corel has announced a new version of Painter, its painting and illustration software aimed at artists, photographers and illustrators. According to Corel, Painter 11 has been optimized for professional users, rather than Paint Shop Pro, which is primarily aimed at enthusiasts. It incorporates more than 40 new and enhanced features including an expandable Color Palette, new Selection Tools, enhanced Brushes Palette and improved Colour Management. The brushes palette also includes new pressure-sensitive brushes and promises to work 30% faster than the previous versions. Priced at £263.35, it is available for download through the company's website.

Ritz Camera, the largest dedicated camera retailer in the US has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, which owns over 800 stores across the country, under a series of names, including Wolf Camera, has proposed a restructuring plan that will aim to see the chain continue in some form. As part of this, the company has applied to the bankruptcy court for permission to continue to honor its customer loyalty and rebate schemes.

Pre-PMA 2009: Olympus has announced the E-620 upper entry-level DSLR. The 12.3MP camera is packed with features from the recently introduced E-30 in a body nearer the size of the the E-420. It incorporates image stabilization, a 2.7" tilt and swivel LCD and features such as Shadow Adjustment Technology. From the E-30 come a selection of Art Filters, a Multiple Exposure mode, a choice of 4 aspect ratios. A range of optional accessories will be available, including a vertical grip and an underwater housing. We've borrowed a near-production version of the camera and have prepared a detailed hand-on preview to show you what to expect.

We've just posted a quick gallery of samples taken with a pre-production Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR (there are also a few shots from a production camera that arrived yesterday). The FinePix F200EXR is the first digital camera to feature Fuji's innovative new switchable Super CCD EXR sensor, and we've included examples (including some direct comparisons) of the HR (high resolution), DR (dynamic range) and S/N (signal to noise) priority modes.