Manfrotto Distribution has announced the Lino Apparel Collection women’s line. Comprising a field jacket, a poncho, a soft shell jacket, a waistcoat and an Air Jacket, this is the first line designed specifically for women. “Each piece allows for active movement and flexibility under various working conditions in the field,” said Kayla Murata, Product Manager Manfrotto Bags and Apparel.  “The entire collection is made from high quality materials and is designed to last for years.” The items are priced from $149.99 to $349.

Lastolite has launched its new TriGrip Warm Tone Difflector. Billed as the world’s first dual purpose reflector panel which can be used both as a diffuser and as a soft bounce reflector, the Lastolite TriGrip Difflector features a unique fabric which allows light to pass through one side and bounce off the other side. Now, in addition to the existing cool soft silver, it is available in warm soft gold finish, in three sizes, 18”, 30” and 48” for £50, £65 and £80, respectively.

Fujifilm M Mount Adapter enables the X-Pro1 compact system camera to be used with Leica M mount lenses. The M Mount adapter comprises three parts; an aluminium mount for the body, a stainless steel mount for the lens plus an aluminium central tube, which accurately maintains a 27.8mm distance from lens mount to sensor. A new firmware version, 1.10, will be made available to support the new adapter. The Fujifilm M Mount Adapter will be available in June and will cost approx. £179 in the UK.

JP Distribution has announced the new V Bridge insert from M Billingham & Co. Manufactured from a sculpted piece of closed cell foam, the V Bridge helps users easily store their camera with lens attached inside their Billingham bag. There are two sizes available, depending on the camera bag they are to fit inside. Each version is available for £12.

GoPro has launched its new GoPro Dive Housing, which features a large, flat glass lens that allows for maximum photo and video sharpness underwater in all resolutions. Compatible with all HD HERO cameras, GoPro mounts and accessories, the new GoPro Housing comes bundled with a protective lens cap, tether string and assorted mounting hardware. It is now available for order at the Gopro Online Store, speciality retailers around the world, as well as Sport Chalet and Best Buy, for an MSRP of $49.99.

LPA Design has announced a firmware release plan for the PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios to address compatibility with several new Nikon and Canon cameras and flashes, as well as the new Sekonic RT-32CTL module. The new Nikon and Canon gear is currently being reverse engineered & tested, with LPA Design being keen to stress that they do not receive any inside information from either companies. “In order to expedite the process, we will be releasing “rolling betas” which will then be rolled into production releases based on feedback during the beta phase,” LPA Design said in a statement. The first MiniTT1/FlexTT5 beta firmware release will be for the Sekonic module, with beta releases for the Nikon SB-910 flash, the Nikon D4/D800/D800E digital SLR cameras and the Canon 600EX-RT (pictured) and ST-E3-RT following in due course.

Leica has launched the Leica S-Adapter H accesory, which allows all Hasselblad H-system lenses to be mounted on a Leica S2 camera body. The Hasselblad H-system features a total of 11 leaf shutter lenses with focal lengths from 28 to 300mm. As the S2 features a dual shutter system – users may toggle between the focal plane shutter (FPS) in the camera body or the central shutter (CS) in the lens using the main switch – photographers now have access to numerous additional lenses, increasing the photographic options offered by the Leica S-System. Users of the Hasselblad H-system also benefit from the new adapter. The versatility of Hasselblad H lenses is expanded considerably when they are used in combination with an S2. For instance, thanks to the dual shutter system of the Leica S2, H lenses can be now used with the focal plane shutter at speeds of up to 1/4000 of a second. The Leica S-Adapter H is available for £1,350.

Novoflex has unveiled thirteen new mount adapters for the Fuji X-Pro 1. The company is now offering adapters for the Canon FD, Contax/Yashica, Leica M and R, M42, Minolta MC/MD, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax K, Sony Alpha, T2, Novoflex A and 39mm screw-mount lenses. The adapters are scheduled to go on sale within the next two months, at prices ranging from €70 to €170.

Via Photoscala

LockCircle has announced the new LockPort 5M3 accessory for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR camera. Developed to help avoid damaging the 5D Mark III’s miniHDMI connection port, the LockPort 5M3 safely secures a 90° front/rear miniHDMI to full-size HDMI adapter so that you can use stronger standard HDMI cables. Available from June, the LockPort M53 can be pre-ordered now for for $119/€99.

The new Benro Traveler Flat 2 tripod offers a combination of robustness, high build quality and light weight. Utilising magnesium alloy castings that are up to 30% lighter than aluminium, the Traveler Flat 2 incorporates a dust- and water-resistant design and features a detachable leg that can be unscrewed and used in conjunction with the removable extending centre column to convert into a full sized monopod. Six models are available in the series, each supplied with a matched B Series ball head with quick release plate and fine controls for tensioning the ball movement. Interchangeable spiked and rubber feet and high quality carry case are also included. The price for a Traveler Flat 2 in Carbon Fibre goes from £492 to £552.

OmegaBrandess has announced the new EVO b-grip line of camera accessories. “The b-grip line makes all your camera accessories fully compatible with each other with additional comfort and safety,” the company says. The b-grip HS+ Handstrap (pictured) features a built-in tripod plate that can be mounted on every tripod through the b-grip TA universal tripod adapter. The also new b-grip travel kit allows you to attach your camera directly to your backpack shoulder strap. The included waterproof cover provides useful protection for the camera against rain and dust. A list of dealers carrying the new b-grip EVO line of accessories can be found at the website below.

LockCircle has announced the LockPort 800 accessory, a new product developed to help avoid damaging the miniHDMI port on the Nikon D800 digital SLR camera. The LockPort 800 safely secures a 90° front/rear miniHDMI to full-size HDMI adapter, which has gold plated contacts and a full-size female output that allows you to use the stronger standard HDMI cables. Available from the first week of June, the LockPort 800 can be pre-ordered now for $119/€99 from the website below.

Vanguard USA has announced mail-in rebates on two of its series of tripods and camera bags. Consumers who purchase any Alta Pro tripod between May 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012, will receive up to a $50 mail-in rebate—$50 for carbon-fibre models, $25 for aluminium—and those who purchase any The Heralder series messenger style camera bag will receive a rebate of $25. Rebates can be claimed by completing the official rebate form.

Redrock Micro has ultraCage DSLR and ultraBase hand-held support rigs for video-enabled digital SLR cameras. The ultraCage secures the camera body at three points: screws into the camera base, fastens to the top hot shoe and locks the camera in place with the anti-rotation pin. The cage surrounds the camera with 22 mounting holes and adds industry-standard 15mm bottom rails for accessories such as a mattebox, follow focus or lens support. The ultraCage DSLR and ultraBase are shipping starting mid-May, and are available from Redrock itdelf and from authorised Redrock Micro resellers worldwide. ultraBase starts at $299, ultraCage DSLR starts at $595.

Verbatim has just launched its new Store ‘n’ Go V3 USB 3.0 Drive. Compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, the sleek USB drive works with all USB ports (including USB 2.0/1.1) and comes in storage capacities ranging from 8GB-64GB. Featuring a retractable USB connector, the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go V3 USB 3.0 drive is fully backed by Verbatim’s Limited Lifetime Warranty and is now available from $19.99 in seven different colours.

Later this month, Think Tank Photo will be releasing the Airport series, a new line of travel-specific, high-capacity camera backpacks. The three backpacks – the Airport Accelerator, Airport Commuter, and Airport Essentials— integrate quick access pockets for a laptop and tablet, a top pocket for boarding passes, and three robust handles to ensure easy placement and retrieval from overhead bins. The three sizes allow photographers to select the best fit for their needs. The largest of the three, the Airport Accelerator accommodates two pro-size SLRs, 6 to 8 standard zooms, a 500 f/4.0, a tablet, and up to a 17” laptop. The smaller Airport Commuter fits one pro-size SLR, 4-6 zooms, a tablet and a 15” notebook, while the even smaller Airport Essentials accommodates a standard DSLR, 4 to 6 standard zooms, a tablet, and up to a 13” laptop.

OmegaBrandess Distribution has announced 4 new Lens Guards to fit lenses and hoods from 3 7/8 inches (10 cm) in diameter all the way to 8 1/8 inches (20.5 cm). The four new Lens Guards - the XL, 2XL, Jumbo and Giant - offer the same quality and protection as DeluxGear’s current Lens Guard line. Each is a padded cover that fits snugly over the end of the lens for protection. The shock-resistant inner core is made of 0.25” (6mm) thick closed-cell neoprene and is encased in a tough 0.08” (2mm) Santoprene outer cover.  Suggested list prices are $34.99 for the XL, $54.99 for the 2XL, $69.99 for the Jumbo, and $74.99 for the Giant.

Benro has just announced its A100EXU Compact Digital Travel Tripod Kit. Slightly shorter than the existing Benro A150EX Aluminum Digital Tripod, this new kit conveniently fits in virtually all 16” wide bags. It only weighs 1.9 lbs, but extends to 40,7” and can easily support cameras up to 4.4 lbs. Its reversible centre column also splits to permit shooting at 7.5”. Outfitted with a precision matched ball head, the Benro A100EXU is available for $66.

Redrock Micro has launched a new family of Redrock-designed follow focus units. The new microFollowFocus family is the third generation offering from Redrock Micro that delivers new levels of performance, a unique “back-to-new performance” adjustable gearbox, and a range of products that can match any budget or feature needs. “It’s great to see Redrock pushing the envelope to create new products that makes my job easier,” says award-winning director, cinematographer and photographer Vincent Laforet. “The quality of the microFollowFocus is top notch, and the new hard stops and illuminated marking disk gets me the shots I need with ease and saves me much-needed time.” All microFollowFocus products are available immediately from Redrock themselves and from authorized Redrock Micro resellers worldwide. The microFollowFocus introductory price is $595.

The Rollei CT-5A is a new versatile aluminium tripod. Offering a maximum working height of 1.57m and weighing 1.7 kg including the tripod head, the CT-5A folds down to just 43cm and can be converted into a monopod. The Rollei Fotopro CT-5A has a 2 year guarantee and is now available for an RRP of EUR 249.95.