Canon's long-awaited entry to the mirrorless market has arrived, and DigitalCameraHQ isn't entirely sure it was worth the wait (if you were waiting at all).

Essentially a slimmed-down version of the new T4i, the M's claim to fame is the multi-touch screen from which most of the camera's settings are controlled. The camera is thus aimed squarely at the low end of the market, sure to please the audience with its slim size and impressive autofocus, but not bogged down with the external controls or viewfinder an enthusiast might crave.

The most interesting thing about the new system isn't the camera itself but the lens it comes packaged with, a 22mm f2 pancake lens.

Read more about the M on DigitalCameraHQ.

Here's a pretty interesting video by the Associated Press in which photographers and editors show off some of the underwater and remote-controlled cameras and equipment they will use to cover the Olympics in London, starting this week.

Kerry Garrison of cameradojo.com talks about gear, looks at common holiday presents, and talks about what accessories you may need to get next.

In the Comments section below, tell us what photography gear you got, and whether you need help with anything. We'll ask some experts from local camera shops to help you out.

ePHOTOzine says that if your camera already has a built-in flash, you won't get much benefit from this array of LED lights that attaches to the hot shoe on the top of your camera.

But if you don't, or if you're shooting macro or video, it could be a valuable accessory.

Manfrotto ML120 Pocket LED Light Review

The Japanese camera site Digital Camera Info (warning: the link is a Google translation of the Japanese language site, and the translation is not perfect) has released what it says are specs for the new Nikon D800, and the camera looks to be a behemoth.

Photography Bay reports that one of Amazon's Gold Box deals is a discount on the Kingston 16GB Kingston UltimateX 100x SDHC card.

Read more here, then check out your Amazon account.

From pixiq.com: Cameras nowadays use mostly proprietary batteries so there’s not much to worry about in that area. Still, if your camera uses AA batteries you have to decide which are best for you … and the short answer is nickel-metal hydride or NiMh, if your camera can take it.

Read the full report here.

(NOTE: This is a press release from Epson, and as such, is rather breathless in its descriptions of the products. Always comparison shop and check with other photographers before making a major purchase.)

Epson America, a provider of desktop printing solutions, has introduced the Epson Artisan 837 and Artisan 730 wireless all-in-one printers for photo and technology enthusiasts who demand fast, reliable and better than lab-quality prints at home. The new Artisan line combines power and convenience in a sleek, compact design, featuring new midnight blue accents and a three-times-brighter emerald green smart touch panel display for easy PC-free navigation.

The Digital Journal of Photography chats with one of HP's ink gurus, and announces HP's new Premium Plus Photo Paper with porous coating technology for inkjet printers.

Read the complete post here.

If you're interested in printing your own photos rather than sending them to a lab or taking them to your local camera shop, you may be interested in Epson's announcement that it will release a new printer in March.

Pixiq says that recently published tests suggest that even the cheap Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, which costs $100, can be better than a Carl Zeiss Planar T50 f/1.4 that costs $725.

DxO, the company that tests lenses and cameras, published tests that, looking at the numbers, "places most of the Carl Zeiss line of lenses behind, sometimes far behind, its Canon and Nikon siblings," according to Pixiq.

Read the entire entry and judge for yourself.

I've always been jealous of anyone with a Zeiss lens. Anybody here own one? Do you like it?

Nikon, Canon, Adorama, Photojojo, Fotodiox, and others are selling cups and insulated mugs that look like lenses -- they're pretty cool!

Canon has cups and mugs that look like its 70-200mm lens, its EF 24-105, and more.

I know about Nikon's AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8; there may be more.

Prices appear to be in the $25 to $35 range. Here's a Google shopping results page for Nikon mugs or Canon mugs.