RigWheels’ new assortment offers increased flexibility in allowing videographers to scale their camera movement and mounting solution from DIY to complete system. The new products and tools are designed for moving and mounting your camera in unique and versatile ways. One of the most interesting and original items in the line is the RigMount, a high-powered rare-earth magnet with surprising strength in mounting applications for video as well as still photography. For more information, visit the website below.

Benro today announced its new MeFOTO Transfunctional Travel Tripod Kits. This new tripod provides photographers with a reliable camera support for sharp photos while allowing them to express their individual style when choosing from a selection of red, green, blue, gold and titanium metallic colours. “These colourful, well-built and modern new Transfunctional Travel Tripods are the perfect addition to the MeFOTO product line,” said Jan Lederman, President of MAC Group. “While the Compact MeFOTO Travel Tripods are ideal for any general picture-takers using lightweight point-and-shoot digital cameras and compact interchangeable lens digital camera systems, this new Transfunctional model provides photographers with dependable support for larger camera bodies and lenses.” Utilising a reverse folding leg system based on the Benro Travel Angel kits, the new MeFOTO Transfunctional Tripods are only 15.4” when folded yet 61.6” extended. The MeFOTO Transfunctional Travel Tripod weighs 3.6 lbs. and can securely support up to 17.6 lbs, the manufacturer claims. Suggested retail price for the new Tripod Kit is $229.

Manfrotto has just launched KLYP, a special iPhone case equipped with two adaptor clips ready to host its pocket tripods and LED video lights. KLYP will be available in-store from 1st October in John Lewis, selected Selfridges, Calumet, Dixons Travel, Warehouse Express, Amazon and will come in five distinctive kits. including 1) the case with the two adaptor clips, 2) the case complete with ML240 LED light, 3) the case complete with ML240 LED light and Manfrotto POCKET tripod, 4) the case complete with compact ML120 LED light and 5) the case complete with ML120 LED light and Manfrotto POCKET tripod. Prices for KLYP start from £24.95.

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

JP Distribution has added two Phocus Accent iPhone bundles to its portfolio of photographic products. The Phocus body is ergonomically designed, features brass tripod and conversion lens mounting points, and can be held with one or two hands. It also comes with a cold shoe for accessories such as external lighting gear. There are two Phocus bundles available - the £89.99 Phocus Accent 2 Lens iPhone Bundle including the Phocus body plus a macro and a wide-angle converter; and the £124.9 Phocus Accent 3 Lens iPhone Bundle, which includes all of the above plus a telephoto conversion lens.

Transcend has announced that its high-speed USB flash drives – the USB 3.0 JetFlash 760 and Ultra Speed JetFlash 600 – are now available in new 128GB capacities. Besides offering a huge amount of storage, the JetFlash 760 and JetFlash 600 provide super-fast data transfers and compact mobile convenience. The JetFlash 760 utilises next-generation USB 3.0 technology to provide transfer speeds of up to 80MB/s, and features a handy, retractable USB connector. The JetFlash 600 provides USB 2.0 transfer speeds of up to 32MB/s and features a lightweight, streamlined design. The new 64GB and 128GB JetFlash 760 are available for a suggested price of US$89 and US$199 respectively, while the 128GB JetFlash 600 is available for US$179.

The Lowepro Photo Hatchback series has been designed to carry a selection of modern technology including a DSLR or CSC camera, tablet, phone and personal gear. Available in two sizes, the Lowepro Photo Hatchback series features Lowepro’s unique All Weather Cover, a stretchy mesh pocket on the outside of the pack – perfect for a compact tripod or water bottle, and multiple points to add Lowepro SlipLock pouches if you need to add extra/detachable storage space. The Lowepro Hatchback 16L is priced at £82 and the Lowepro Hatchback 22L is available for £98.

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.

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

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.

PNY has launched its new XLR8 Pro SSD series, designed for multimedia enthusiasts, and semi professional users. Offering a storage capacities up to 480GB, PNY SSDs allow faster data transfer and an optimised workflow when compared with a standard HDD, which makes a huge difference, especially for photographers working with thousands of raw image files. The PNY XLR8 Pro SSD series boasts a 2.5” SATA III, 6Gbps interface, supports 128-bit AES encryption and is powered by the SandForce 2281 controller, offering up to 550MB/s sequential read speeds, 520MB/s sequential write speeds and 85,000 random read/write IOPS. Pricing starts at £58.50 for the 120GB XLR8 model.

Aptina has announced the upcoming release of a new 1” sensor with 10 megapixels and a pixel pitch of 3.4 microns. Like the similarly sized, “CX-format” sensors used in the Nikon 1 J1, J2 and V1 compact system cameras, the Aptina AR1011HS imager is capable of reading full 10MP resolution at 60fps, and enables a variety of video modes, including broadcast quality quad HD, oversampled 1080p for True HD resolution, 1080p video at 120 frames per second, and additional high frame rate modes for slow-motion playback. “The AR1011HS image sensor is a great match for the performance-oriented bridge and mirrorless camera market,” said Sándor Barna, Vice President and General Manager of Aptina’s Consumer Camera business. “Image quality and speed are the two things this market cannot compromise on. Tier-1 OEMs competing in this market are looking for increasingly versatile solutions to meet the demand for speed and performance, and this sensor provides both.” Aptina’s AR1011HS image sensor is currently sampling in limited volumes and will be in mass production in Q1CY13.

Epson has developed a new high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT colour panel for electronic viewfinders. Measuring just 0.48” diagonally, the new panel offers XGA (1024x768) resolution in red, green and blue for a total of 2.36 million dots. It is the latest addition to Epson’s Ultimicron series, which already includes a 0.47” SVGA panel, used in the Olympus OM-D E-M5 compact system camera and a 0.52” QHD panel.

Ilford today unveiled the latest fine art inkjet papers to join its growing Galerie Prestige range. The Galerie Prestige Gold Mono Silk is a true black and white media for inkjet printers,  allowing photographers specialising in monochrome photography to achieve inkjet prints reminiscent of those they developed in the traditional darkroom era. Built on a 270gsm media, Gold Mono Silk is the latest product to carry the Galerie Gold designation. The new 100%  rag Galerie Prestige Gold Cotton Smooth 330gsm and Gold Cotton Textured 330gsm products feature a traditional mould-made base from a traditional fine art paper mill and achieve best results with pigment based printers. Finally, the Galerie Prestige Fine Art Smooth and Fine Art Textured 220gsm papers compliment their Prestige Gold Cotton counterparts by offering a bright white base alternative capable of delivering excellent contrast and sharpness along with enhanced colours. All of the new Galerie Fine Art products will be available on shelves in January 2013.

The ColorMunki Smile is an entry-level monitor calibration kit from X-Rite. Consisting of a colour measurement device and a simple program with a wizard-based interface, the X.Rite ColorMunki Smile is claimed to be ideal for users who do not know anything about colour science. ColorMunki Smile software automatically detects when multiple monitors are connected to a single Mac or PC computer and allows users to colour correct each one. The kit is available now from X-Rite (North America) and Pantone online stores and also from the company’s worldwide network of resellers for an MSRP $99/£84.

The BosStrap Generation 3 Sliding Sling Strap (BosStrap G3) is a two-part sling system which includes an upgraded sling strap and the new patent-pending Generation 3 BosTail (G3 Tail). Claimed to offer “the smoothest action of any sling strap on the market,” the BosStrap G3 Sliding Sling Strap uses a small, nickel plated sliding fitting for extraordinarily smooth movement.  The wide strap evenly distributes the weight of your gear, obviating the need for a shoulder pad while making the BosStrap G3 convenient to use, light weight, strong, and easily stowable. The patent-pending G3 Tail attaches to the left camera strap lug. The G3 Tail uses a cam buckle with a unique safety sleeve. The cam buckle and safety sleeve ensure that your camera can not be accidentally detached from the sling strap, but when you want, your camera can easily, intentionally be detached. The BosStrap Generation 3 Sliding Sling System including one G3 Tail is $47.95. Extra G3 Tails are available separately at $11.95.