The Metz mecablitz 52 AF-1 digital is billed as the world’s first hotshoe-mounted flash with a touchscreen-based user interface. Available for Canon, Nikon, Olympus/Panasonic/Leica, Pentax and Sony, the Metz mecablitz 52 AF-1 digital has a tilt-swivel head with a motorised zoom to cover the angle-of-view range of a 24-105mm lens, offering a guide number of 52 (in metres at ISO 100/21°) at the 105mm position. The illuminated touchscreen display rotates by 90° to remain easily readable with the camera in portrait orientation. Other highlights include TTL and manual operation (the latter with no less than 22 partial lighting levels), servo flash mode, high-speed flash syncronisation, 1st and 2nd curtain sync, a maximum recycle time of 3.5 seconds, an integrated flip-out bounce card and wide-angle diffuser for 12mm coverage, a modelling light and a USB port for the easy installation of firmware updates. Availability and pricing have yet to be communicated.

Source: Metz via 1001 Noisy Cameras

We have collected the most interesting photography accessories - including innovative camera straps, filters, adapters, the world’s highest-capacity SDXC UHS-I card, and more - announced at this year’s Photokina.

We have collected the most interesting lenses announced at (or just before) Photokina 2012. They are not necessarily the “best” lenses out there—making comparisons across multiple platforms would be quite pointless anyway—but they are all intriguing in one way or another.

We have updated our Photokina News index page to include the latest product announcements, hands-on previews and sample galleries.

We have collected the most interesting digital cameras announced at (or just before) Photokina 2012. They are not necessarily the “best” cameras out there - some of them are indisputably ground-breaking, others rather controversial - but they are all intriguing in one way or another.

At Photokina 2012, Pentax Ricoh is showing off a prototype for a double spherical camera that captures 360° panoramic photos in one take, tentatively named Pentax One Shot. We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exxactly what the new Phase One 645DF+ medium-format digital SLR camera looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new Minox Action Cam Full HD action camera looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new Leaf Credo medium-format digital back looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new Canon EOS M compact system camera looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new 4K-ready Canon EOS-1D C looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new X-Rite ColorMunki Smile entry-level colorimeter looks like in the flesh?

Want to see exactly what the new Kenko 400mm f/8 and Tokina 300mm f/6.3 mirror lenses look like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony Action Cam HDR-AS10 and Action Cam HDR-AS15 look like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

Want to see exactly what the new Polaroid action cameras look like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

At Photokina 2012, NEC is showing off its line-up of SpectraView and SpectraView Reference monitors. We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

At Photokina 2012, Joby is showing off its new UltraFit Sling Strap and 3-Way Camera Strap. We have compiled a hands-on gallery of these products for your perusal.

Joby, the company best known for its flexible Gorillapod tripods, has launched a new line of camera straps. The straps are designed to accommodate both CSC and DSLR cameras and are available in a quick-draw, cross-body design for men and women, in addition to a versatile 3-way wearing option. The Joby team conducted extensive user studies with more than 500 photography professionals and enthusiasts and pinpointed how camera straps should fit and move on the body. This research resulted in the patent-pending UltraFit Sling Strap (pictured), built with Joby’s exclusive UltraFit Layered-Pad Technology for lightweight support without the bulk of thick padding. The 3-Way Camera Strap offers photographers a versatile and portable solution with three wearing modes: wrist, neck and shoulder. A convenient alternative to wrapping a neck/shoulder strap around the wrist, this compact strap allows shooters to minimize muscle fatigue with multiple ways to support the weight of the camera. The UltraFit Sling Strap is available now for $49.99. The 3-Way Camera Strap retails for $39.99.

At Photokina 2012, Eizo is showcasing its newest ColorEdge monitors, including the entry-level Eizo ColorEdge CS230.

At Photokina 2012, Delkin Devices are showing off their fastest - 500x, 700x and 1000x - Compact Flash memory cards, UHS-I compliant SDXC cards and a USB 3.0 universal memory card reader. We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.