SanDisk have confirmed that they will not be producing XQD flash memory cards. Speaking to Photography Blog at Photokina today, Susan Park, Director of Product Marketing, Retail Imaging, said that the market-leading company have instead chosen the CFast 2.0 standard for their future high-end cards.

Co-invented by SanDisk and the Compact Flash Association, the recently announced CFast 2.0 specification will provide a performance capability of up to 600MB/sec, meeting the needs of 2K/4K video which requires much faster speeds than the current Compact Flash specification allows for. A 100Gb file takes only 5 minutes to transfer at 350Mb/s - 20 minutes is more the norm with current CF cards.

SanDisk are working closely with camera manufacturers including Canon and Phase One, and sampling of the new CFast 2.0 cards has already begun, although because the new standard has a SATA interface, there are no cameras currently on the market that are compatible with the still-theoretical SanDisk CFast card.

We’re awaiting Nikon’s response to this news, as their flagship D4 DSLR is the only camera that actually uses the XQD format. Sony are currently the sole manufacturer of XQD cards, although Lexar did announce plans to support the format earlier in the year and are working on finalising their product.

Aptina has unveiled a new 18-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor developed for digital compact cameras. The Aptina AR1820HS is a 1/2.3-type imager with a pixel pitch of 1.25 microns and fast read-out times. The native 18MP resolution can be read out at up to 24fps, enabling high-resolution, and high-speed burst still image capture capability. In video modes, the sensor can output a 16:9 aspect ratio, full field-of-view 14MP at 30fps and a binned 8MP at 60fps. Aptina’s AR1820HS image sensor is currently sampling in limited volumes and will be in mass production in Q3CY13.

The Lensmate RX100 Quick-Change Adapter Kit enables Sony RX100 users to attach filters to their camera without a bulky tripod mounted adapter. Available in 49mm and 52mm versions, the Lensmate RX100 Quick-Change Adapter Kit consists of two main parts plus a container, a lens cap, an installation guide tube and a safe removal device. Manufactured by Lensmate, the filter adapter kit is made in the United States and sells for $39.95 in the Lensmate Online Store. The filter holder part is also available separately for $14.95 so you can buy one for each filter you own - it makes changing filters on the camera really quick and easy.

With the new Olbia range, Hama is launching a new bag series designed for use with compact system cameras. A double zip closure on the main compartment, a front pocket, a belt loop and a fishnet pocket on each side on the larger models make these bags easy to carry and provide you with quick access your camera and accessories. A soft fleece lining on the inside of the bag protects your camera from scratches. Hama’s Olbia camera bags are available at prices ranging from €12.99 to €29.99.

Tenba has expanded its Roadie II video bag series with two new larger sizes. The new Roadie Video Backpack and Roadie Shoulder Bag will be about 20 percent larger than the bags that were launched earlier this year. Both bags are designed to fit the latest digital camera/video systems, including DSLRs from Canon (5D Mark III, EOS-1D X) and Nikon (D4, D800), and larger gear from RED (Epic, Scarlet), Canon (C100/C300/C500) and Sony (FS100/FS700), along with a laptop and a full assortment of accessories. The larger Roadie II Video Backpack and Shoulder Bag will be available in January 2013, with pricing to be announced.

Wacom has launched the Bamboo Stylus pocket - a new, compact stylus for use with smartphones, iPads and Android tablets on the go. Measuring a pocket size of just 9.3 cm, the ergonomic stylus is expandable to a more traditional size and features a smooth soft conductive rubber tip, The Bamboo Stylus pocket is available now priced at £29.

Think Tank Photo has announced that in November it will release the Airport Navigator, billed as the photography industry’s first rolling pilot’s case. Allowing photographers to access gear from the top and the front, the Airport Navigator holds two pro-size bodies, plus three to six extra lenses and most 15.4” laptops, tablets and documents.  The two external side pockets can also accommodate pro-size flashes or water bottles. The Airport Navigator is priced at $235.75.

You’re looking at the world’s highest capacity SDXC UHS-I card, which Lexar have just launched at Photokina. Their 256Gb, 400x speed card offers a minimum guaranteed sustained read transfer speed of 60MB per second.and will be available in late October, a snip at exactly £670.99 in the UK.

Lexar are introducing 32Gb and 64Gb Micro SDXC cards, which ship with a neat little thumb-sized SD reader and are priced at £49.99 and £104.99 respectively. They are also updating their regular dual-slot card reader to USB3, priced at £29.99. Lexar are currently also working on finalising their XQD product offering.

Lexar has launched a new 25-in-1 USB 3.0 memory card reader. The Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Readerprovides five slots compatible with popular card formats such as CompactFlash, Secure Digital, including newly added support for SDXC cards, Mobile, Memory Stick and xD-Picture cards. Compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, the Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader comes with a one-year limited warranty, and is available for purchase with an MSRP of £29.99.

Lexar has introduced its new Lexar High-Performance microSDHC UHS-I and microSDXC UHS-I memory cards. The UHS-I cards carry a Class 10 speed classification, and deliver read transfer speeds up to 300x (45MB per second).  The 32GB High-Performance microSDHC UHS-I and 64GB High-Performance microSDXC UHS-I memory cards come with a limited lifetime warranty, and the included USB 3.0 reader comes with a one-year limited warranty.

EIZO has launched its new lineup of ColorEdge monitors to appeal to both its traditional core of high-end graphics professionals as well as middle and entry level users. The new lineup consists of three series and five models. The CG series is carried over from the current ColorEdge lineup and will continue to be targeted at professionals - the new models in the series include the 27” ColorEdge CG276 (pictured) and 24.1” ColorEdge CG246. The new CX series is targeted at prosumers and trade schools in photography and design. Covering most of the Adobe RGB colour space, the two models in the series -  the ColorEdge CX270 (27”) and ColorEdge CX240 (24.1”)- come with a newly designed in-built SelfCorrection sensor that maintains the calibration results after the monitor has been calibrated by an external sensor. As of now, the also-new entry-level CS series comprises one model, the ColorEdge CS230 (23”). Like the CX series, it comes with an in-built SelfCorrection sensor, but a narrower colour space covering most of sRGB.

German accessories manufacturer Novoflex has introduced a newly designed tilt- and shift bellows system for compact system cameras. Comprising the Castbal-T/S bellows attachment (€299) and the Castel-Q macro focussing rack, the new system is claimed to offer “an easy and inexpensive way to dive even deeper into macro photography and perspectives control.” The bellows attachment is simply put into the quick release mount of the Castel-Q and is ready for use. For perspective control purposes the lens panel of the Castbal-T/S can be adjusted 25° to the left or right side. For focus control it can be shifted within the quick release mount of the focusing rack. (The amount of shift/rise/fall achievable with the system is unspecified.) The system is compatible with a wide variety of Novoflex adapters. Additionally, a Schneider Kreuznach UNI-APO-DIGI 90mm f/4.5 lens is offered as an optional accessory for €759.

At Photokina 2012, Schneider Kreuznach has presented its first filter designed specifically for lenses on mobile devices. The B+W Smart-Pro is a circular polarising filter that can be mounted on all current iPhones and iPads as well as other smartphones and tablet PCs with a maximum lens diameter of 8mm. The filter system is “clicked” onto a small magnetic ring that is first fitted around the lens on the smartphone or tablet. The filter can then be attached and aligned quickly and easily as required. The B+W Smart-Pro will be available from winter 2012, with pricing to be confirmed.

Click through / scroll down for a video demonstration.

Lexar has unveiled the industry’s first 256GB Secure Digital Extended Capacity UHS-I memory card. The Class 10 Lexar Professional 400x SDXC UHS-I card allows photographers to capture, store, and transfer a large number of high-quality photos and extended lengths of 1080p full-HD and 3D video with a minimum guaranteed sustained read transfer speed of 60MB per second..Additionally, the card includes a free copy of the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue 4 software to help with the recovery of lost or deleted photo and video files, even if they’ve been erased or the card has been corrupted (note that recovery is not 100% guaranteed). The Lexar Professional 400x 256GB SDXC UHS-I memory card will be available in October for £670.99 from leading retail and e-tail outlets worldwide.

Vanguard today announced the launch of its new Abeo Plus tripod and Quovio series photo-video bags at the Photokina 2012 Imaging Fair in Cologne, Germany. The latest in Vanguard’s Abeo family of tripods for photo, video and nature observation, the new Abeo Plus tripod is available in diamond-woven carbon fibre or heavy-gauge aluminium versions. The tripod comes in three sizes at street prices of $219.99 - $479.99, and is also available as a kit with BBH-200 professional ball head. Kit prices range from $369.99 - $699.99. The Quovio photo-video bag series comprises the Quovio 26 and Quovio 41 shoulder bags, the Quovio 44 photo backpack and the Quovio 49T trolley bag. Quovio series bags are available at street prices of $119.99 - $279.99.

PNY Technologies today unveiled its new CompactFlash Pro-Elite Plus line-up. The UDMA 7 compliant CompactFlash Pro-Elite Plus cards feature write speeds of 90MB/s and read speeds of 120 MB/s. Designed especially for semi-professional and professionnal photographers, the cards are available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, ideal for high resolution shooting and HD video content recording. The PNY Pro-Elite Plus is available from PNY’s network of distributors, with all photographers that buy one receiving a free water- and shock resistant Flash card case. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.

PNY Technologies have just launched the latest generation of its high speed imaging solutions at photokina 2012, including the PNY Pro-Elite Plus CompactFlash and PNY SSD Prevail Series. Thee PNY Pro-Elite Plus CompactFlash memory card allows read speeds of 120 MB/s and write speeds of 90 MB/s. The speed of the PNY product family is also displayed at Hall 5.1 Stand D21 through an Formula One car simulator, powered by PNY graphics solutions. Every day, the visitor who records the best lap on the virtual track will win either a 32GB CompactFlash Pro-Elite Plus, or a 32GB High Speed SDXC Flash Memory Card.

Leica has announced a range of accessories for the Leica M digital rangefinder camera, including an adapter for Leica R-mount lenses, an electronic viewfinder and a multifunctional handgrip that doubles as a GPS unit. The Leica R-Adapter M (£215) allows users to mount almost all Leica R-Lenses ever built on the new Leica M, while the live view enabled camera enables accurate framing and focusing without a need for a bulky Visoflex unit. This opens up new potential for Leica M photographers, including, for example, video recording with Leica R zoom lenses. The new Leica M also features an accessory port, which in turn enables users to attach an external electronic viewfinder - the Leica EVF2 (£360). Boasting a resolution of 1.4 megapixels and offering 90° rotation for capturing images from unusual angles, this EVF is also called, aptly but at the same time somewhat confusingly, an “Electronic Visoflex Viewfinder.” Ensuring high quality sound with the 1080p Full HD video capability of the Leica M, a Leica Microphone Adapter Set (£150), consisting of an adapter and stereo microphone, is also available. Finally, the Multifunctional Handgrip-M (£630) is a valuable aid to safe and steady handling of the camera, particularly when shooting with heavier R-lenses, and conceals an integrated GPS module that can be used to automatically geotag your photographs.

The Leica ELPRO-S 180 is a new close-up conversion lens for the Leica APO-Elmar-S 180 mm f/3.5. Reducing the close focusing distance to 1.1 metres, this accessory lens achieves a significant increase – around 30 percent – in the reproduction ratio to 1:4.5. In contrast to the majority of apochromatic accessory lenses, the Leica Elpro-S 180 is dedicated to one particular lens, thus avoiding lateral chromatic aberrations and ensuring that there are no detrimental effects on the imaging qualities of the lens. Autofocus, exposure metering and all other camera and lens handling functions are maintained when using the add-on lens. The Leica Elpro-S 180 will be available at selected Leica dealers from October 2012.

iStabilizer, creator of universal lightweight and compact tripods, steady cams and mounts for mobile devices and digital cameras, announces the iStabilizer Monopod smart phone camera mount and extension. Using iStabilizer’s patented universal Mount, the Monopod works with most mobile devices or digital cameras measuring up to 2.75” (7cm) wide. Collapsed, the Monopod measures approximately 14” and weighs under a half pound. iStabilizer’s Monopod is available now for $34.95 at the website below..