In a surprise announcement, FujiFilm have indicated in a Press Release that they are aiming to relaunch Velvia 50 in the UK in Spring 2007.

Original RVP50 ceased production early in 2005 owing to the unavailability of vital raw materials. Hoever, due to demand, Fuji's R&D have managed to find substitute materials and developed new manufacturing technology enabling the new Velvia to mirror the characteristics of the original RVP50. I wonder if they'll tweak the name slightly too to reflect this.

Pricing, formats and availability schedule to follow in due course. Thank you Fujifilm - we LOVE our Velvia 50.

Well, I thought this day was a long way off, but it seems that Swiss company Seitz has different ideas.

Introducing the first 6x17 format digital camera, yes I did say digital, and yes, I did also say 6x17. At this camera's heart is the Seitz D3 scanning digital back, capable of capturing a frame 7,500 pixels high by 21,250 pixels wide - 160 million pixels with 48 bit colour depth in one second. This is truely remarkable as current scanning backs can take minutes to produce high resolution images. We're talking nearly 1GB of raw data per frame here - this is serious hardware!

Able to take large format lenses from the likes of Schneider, Rodenstock, Nikon and Fuji flexibility is assured as is backward compatibility with your existing kit - Seitz suggest that the scanning back should be able to work in the future with large and medium format camera systems.

The only downside is that at nearly €30,000 it's way beyond the reach of mere mortals. Still, that's what people said about digital SLRs ten years ago. Does anyone want to buy one of my kidneys? ;)

Read more on the Seitz website.

Following on from the success of Scotland: The Wild Places, Colin's new book The World's Wild Places will be available later this year on 5 October.

No sooner than the last Hasselblad XPans disappear from stock, those clever chaps at Robert White have managed to import a batch of Fuji TX2's directly from Japan.

Those in the know will already be aware that the much-loved XPan is simply a Fuji TX re-badged for the non-Japanese market. The TX2 is the same specification as the Xpan II, but has a black body instead.

Although a Japanese manual comes with the camera, an English one is available to download. The TX2 is sold with a 12 month warranty, although any claims would obviously have to go back to Japan via Robert White. Given the reliability of this little workhorse I don't see that being a major downside.

The boxed kit comprising TX2 body (in black) and 45mm lens is available for £1325. Robert White also have stocks of the 90mm lens available for £350, and the centre filter for the 45mm lens at £145. All prices plus VAT.

Although listed on their Second Hand page, these TX2's are actually brand new. If you wanted an XPan II and thought that you were too late then now may be your last chance, short of arranging a holiday in Japan and bringing one back yourself of course.

At the time of writing this, only around ten body with 45mm lens kits remain - you had better be quick as Robert White have indicated it's highly unlikely that they will have any more.

Following on from Horseman's launch of their SW617 system, WidePan have also stepped into the 617 arena with their WP617-A. This competitively priced model offers a fixed 90mm Super Angulon XL lens on a body that accepts 120 and 220 film. An optional focusing screen is also available.

Also it appears that Fotoman have launched their Mk II range with improved 612 and 617 bodies that will accept a range of large format lenses. Expect to see the Fotoman 624 soon as well once pricing has been confirmed.

Just as Hasselblad announces the demise of the XPan, and following on from the sad loss of Fuji's GX617, Horseman are bucking the trend with the launch of a new 617 system.

Following on from their SW612, they are launching the SW617 with unique 17mm of rise and fall allowing perspective control and accepting Schneider lenses from 72mm to 250mm. Also unique are the interchangeable backs, 617 initially, but a 612 back will be available shortly.

It makes a refreshing change to see some committment to the more unusual formats, well done Horseman!

Yet another great camera bites the dust. Robert White are reporting that Hasselblad have stopped making the XPan II, and when current stocks have sold that's the end.

One reason I've read is that the EU has banned lead solder and that's it's not worth re-designing/changing the fabrication process to suit.

As I write this, there's no mention on Hasselblad's UK website on the XPan II Product Pages.

This really is a sad day as this lovely little camera is capable of producing some unique shots and is extremely travel friendly due to its fairly compact size. I guess if you want small format panoramic you're now looking at something like Canon's 5D and cropping to suit. Not quite the same in my eyes as you have to mentally visualise the cropping and that doesn't always fall hand in hand with spontaneity. My advice, if you're serious about shooting in the panoramic format - snap up one of these little gems now!

Support The John Muir Trust in helping to safeguard Suilven and 44,500 acres of surrounding landscape.

The area forms the significant core of the Assynt and Coigach National Scenic Area and has four Sites of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation, and a Special Protection Area for breeding birds. In recognition of its outstanding geology and landscape, the area was awarded European Geopark status, and it is currently being considered as a World Heritage Site.

The JMT has been invited by the Lochinver community (Assynt Foundation) to assist them in purchasing the outstanding 44,500 acres of Drumrunie and Glencanisp Estates. Together they will safeguard the land as a national treasure, creating lasting benefit for generations to come.

Having visited this special place I fully support JMT's efforts in maintaining the diverse beauty for all to enjoy. Please consider supporting this appeal in any way that you can. I will be making a donation myself, and will have a smile on my face when I next visit - whatever the weather does.

Those of you in the Edinburgh area might want to check out Craig McMaster's Elements: The Landscape of Scotland Exhibition featuring some stunning black and white prints from Craig's similarly titled book.

Running from now until 4 September 2005 at Edinburgh Ski Club Rooms, 2 Howe Street, Edinburgh.

Whilst I love my LEE filter system to death, one of the things that has always bugged me is that if you leave an adaptor ring permanently attached to each lens (to save time setting up) you cannot fit the lens cap.

One improvised way has been to used the lid from an empty ice cream container (Haagen Dazs 500ml type), but this doesn't quite fit and I've been told that dropping it into boiling water helps to soften it enough. I always thought it would be great if LEE (or some enterprising photographer) could actually produced lens caps that actually fit the LEE system.

Well my prayers have been answered in the form of LEE Lens Caps. These white polypropylene caps can be written on to identify the lens whilst in your camera bag. An additional benefit is that while attached, the lens caps can be used to white balance a digital SLR, or as a makeshift incident light meter on any camera. They are supplied in packs of 3. Price £3* plus VAT and postage from Robert White. I shall be ordering several packs, and probably some additional adaptor rings as well - a true bargain!.