Transcend today launched its “Ultimate” series 1000x CompactFlash cards. Fully compliant with CompactFlash revision 6.0, these memory cards operate in Ultra DMA (UDMA) transfer mode 7 and implement the Video Performance Guarantee (VPG-20), which enables professional-quality video capture at sustained write speeds of at least 20MB/s without dropping frames. Available in up to 128GB capacity, these cards are also capable of delivering read speeds of up to 160MB/s. Transcend’s 1000x CompactFlash cards are now available in 16GB (US$109.99), 32GB (US$229.99), 64GB (US$459.99) and 128GB (US$749.99) capacities.

The Apple iPad Mini is a new 7.9-inch tablet. 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad, the iPad Mini has Multi-Touch display, FaceTime HD and iSight cameras, ultrafast wireless performance and 10 hours of battery life. iPad mini comes in a new aluminium and glass design that is just 7.2 mm thin and weighs only 0.68 pounds.

The iPad 4 features a 9.7-inch Retina display, new Apple-designed A6X chip that delivers up to twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of the A5X chip, 10 hours of battery life, FaceTime HD camera and ultrafast wireless performance.

Both iPad mini and fourth generation iPad come with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features.

The Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro features a stunning Retina display and all flash storage in a new compact design. At a mere 0.75 inches and 3.57 pounds, the portable 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is 20 percent thinner and almost a pound lighter than the current 13-inch MacBook Pro. Prices start at £1,449 inc VAT for a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display with a 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz, 8GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage.

Manfrotto has just launched a new family of carbon fibre camera supports called 290 Carbon. Designed for enthusiasts, the Manfrotto 290 Carbon range aims to fill the gap between cheap and non-upgradeable “first tripods” and expensive fully-featured professional mounting equipment. Highly portable yet durable and built for heavy-duty use, the 290 Carbon Fibre Series comprises three tripod&head kits, a monopod and a standalone 3-section tripod sold without a head. For more information, visit the website below.

Switronix has just introduced its brand new JetPack power distribution accessory for videographers. The all-aluminium, compact design houses a power regulation board connecting to three LEMO outputs (5v, 7v, 12v), a USB power connection, and 2 unregulated power taps on either V or 3-Stud mount plates. The JetPack is currently available for RED Epic and Scarlet, as well as the Black Magic Camera and F3 configurations, in either V-Mount and 3-Stud.

Fotodiox today announced the immediate availability of its WonderPana 145 and WonderPana 66 Filter Systems. Claimed to be ideal for panorama, nature, architectural, fashion and event photographers as well as analogue and digital filmmakers, Fotodiox’s WonderPana lens hood systems are designed for Super Wide Angle (SWA) and Ultra Wide Angle (UWA) lenses. “By introducing the WonderPana Systems, we are offering photographers and cinematographers the ability to capture images with the right lighting balance and skip the HDR software post production process,” said Drew Strickland, vice president of Fotodiox. “With the new Wonder line, we are bringing more innovative, quality products to the market and giving photographers the tools they need to capture amazing shots.” The WonderPana Systems are available for order now on the Fotodiox website. The WonderPana 66 System starts at $350 and the WonderPana 145 System starts at $200.

Acme Made has released a brand new collection of bags for cameras, called ‘Montgomery Street’. The collection includes a range of four bags – from pouch to backpack – designed to carry an array of gadgets, cameras and accessories.  Three models within the range Montgomery Street Kit Bag, Courier and Backpack) also incorporate a brand new design feature: The FlexFold System. This unique feature gives total flexibility to change the layout of the bag from a fully protected camera bag, to a stylish work or travel bag for everyday use. Prices range from £25 for the Montgomery Street Case to £85 for the Montgomery Street Backpack. The range of products can be purchased via Harrods, Dixons Travel, John Lewis online and Acme Made themselves.

Vanguard USA has announced mail-in rebates on three series of tripods, heads, and camera bags. Photographers who purchase any Alta Pro tripod between now and 31st December will receive up to a $50 mail-in rebate—-  $50 for carbon fibre models, $25 for aluminium. Those who buy any BBH ball head will receive $25. Finally, those who purchase any UP-Rise series backpack, sling or messenger camera bag are entitled to a $15 mail-in rebate. This excludes zoom bags (14z, 15z, 16Z) and shoulder bags (15,18, 22). Rebates can be claimed by completing the official rebate form.

The UK team for Joby Gorillapod tripods has issued a warning to beware of fake Joby products which are circulating, reminding consumers that cheap imitations will not be of the same quality and may not meet UK safety standards. Loraine Morgan, Senior Marketing Manager for Joby in the UK said: ‘The quality of these products is poor and ultimately it is the consumer who suffers when they buy a product that does not deliver the function and reliability of a genuine JOBY product.’

Manfrotto UK has announced three Christmas promotions on its acclaimed range of tripods and monopods. The Manfrotto MK293A4-A3RC1, the most compact 3-way kit in the 290 family, now retails for £99.95 (a saving of £30.00). The Manfrotto 055XB tripod complete with the 804RC2 head is now available for £149.95 (£75.00 off the regular price). The compact and lightweight Manfrotto 190XDB tripod can be yours for £89.95 (saving you £15.00). Each promotion runs until 31 January 2013.

In 2011 the Hasselblad HTS1.5/ Tilt/Shift adapter was removed from the US market pending litigation involving a patent infringement claim. The legal process has been concluded in favour of Hasselblad. As a result the HTS1.5 Tilt/Shift adapter is immediately available for purchase in the US. Hasselblad Bron President and CEO Michael Hejtmanek commented “Today was a good day for Hasselblad and for photographers across the United States.  The courts have decided that the patent infringement lawsuit preventing the sale of the Hasselblad Tilt Shift Adapter is without merit.” Designed for the HCD28mm, HC35mm, HC50mm, HC80mm and the HC100mm lenses the HTS 1.5 adds, in effect, five different “tilt and shift lenses” to the Hasselblad HC/HCD lens range.

The latest in a series of NAND Flash Deprivation Experiment videos from Toshiba, the company that invented the technology 25 years ago, takes a humorous look at how photography has changed since the invention of flash technology. Although the short clip/advert has evidently been produced with tongue firmly in cheek, we wouldn’t be surprised if some film aficionados took exception to it… Click through / scroll down to watch the video.

Gary Fong’s recently announced Lightsphere Collapsible Snoot and Coloured Dome Kit are now shipping. The Lightsphere Collapsible Snoot ($49.95 on its own or $59.95 with a PowerGrid) gives photographers maximum efficiency and directional control over strobe lighting when mounted off-camera, allowing one to create cutting edge, “fashion style” special effects, while the Coloured Dome Kit (pictured)includes a Red, Blue and Green Dome for creating special effects as well as a Gray Dome for white balancing. Compatible with the renowned Lightsphere Universal and Lightsphere Collapsible, the Coloured Dome Kit is available for $24.95.

Custom SLR has announced the upcoming availability of the M-Plate Mini, a universal quick-release tripod plate offering compatibility with most Arca-Swiss and ManfrottoTM RC2-style tripod and head systems. Designed and developed in the USA from aerospace-grade aluminium, the M-Plate Mini comes in a black anodised finish for a sleek profile when attached to the camera’s tripod socket.  The M-Plate Mini can serve as a cost-effective alternative to the mono-tasking tripod plates on the market, and its modular design will allow it to function along with planned Custom SLR attachments currently in development such as video rigs and flash brackets. The M-Plate Mini carries an MSRP of $49.95, and photographers can preorder the plate directly from Custom SLR at the website below.

JP Distribution has secured the rights to supply the Transcend range of memory cards into the UK photographic market. “We are excited that we have the opportunity to work with a brand that has its sights set to the future and is focused on providing high quality products with great sales opportunities to the photographic market,” commented Paul Roper, Sales and Marketing Director at at JP Distribution. “The brand perfectly complements our existing portfolio of high quality products for the discerning photographer and Transcend will be available to our customers through our established dealer network.”

Manfrotto has announced US pricing for its KLYP iPhone accessory. The KLYP case has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29.99, the KLYP case with compact ML120 LED light retails for $69.99, the case+ML120+Pocket-tripod combination sells for $89.99, the KLYP case with the larger ML240 LED light costs $99.99, and the kit comprising the KLYP case, the ML240 and the Manfrotto Pocket-tripod is priced at $199.99.

AP Camera Systems have announced the launch and opening of pre-orders of the indie i5 tripod mount / camera case for iPhone 5 owners. While held securely in a black anodised precision CNC machined compartment behind a red anodised cover, the indie i5 offers easy access to the relocated headphone jack, redesigned dock connector, and front and rear cameras of the new iPhone 5. Both the body and cover of the indie i5 are manufactured from aerospace-grade aluminium. Pre-orders placed via AP Camera Systems website before the close of business 12 October 2012 can save 25% off the MSRP ($134.97 plus shipping and any applicable tax).

The Double Access Cascade 5020 bag holds a small SLR or compact system camera with up to a five inch long lens attached, with room for an additional one or two lenses, a flash and a tablet. Measuring 9"x9½“x3.8”, the Cascade offers convenient double access; via the top when carrying it around, or via the front when on a table top. There is a comfortable carry handle, a belt loop, a luggage loop for sliding the bag over you luggage hande or M-Rock’s Modular Cart 7080 and 4 D-rings on the back of the Cascade. Shipping with a lens cloth and a rain jacket, the bag sells for $80.

Eye-Fi has announced a new Eye-Fi Pro X2 16GB, Class 10 card that increases both storage and speed capabilities while continuing to deliver convenient wireless upload of photos and videos from cameras. The new 16GB card provides twice the storage capacity of the prior Pro X2 card, while the Class 10 performance delivers faster read and write speeds for the same retail price of $99.99. The Eye-Fi Pro X2 16GB card is available for pre-orders that ship within the United States from Amazon. The card will also be available, within the coming weeks, for customers in Australia for AU$108 and Japan for ¥9980.

Benro has announced the availability of its new video camera support systems. The lightweight and compact customisable Benro Video Tripod Kits feature S-Series Video Heads available in three weight load capacities, matching Quick-Release Plate, Panning Handle, aluminium alloy or carbon fiber legs and a padded travel case for added protection. Each Benro Video Tripod Kit is based on an eighth-generation design of single leg tubes and flip-lever leg lock mechanisms for rapid access and tear-down. In addition, a sliding centre column with an integral 60mm bowl allows fine camera positioning on vertical and angular axis for properly located and level panning. These tripod kits are available now in prices ranging from $200 - $465.