Kingston today announced the release of a Kingston 16GB microSDHC Class 10 card. “Host devices such as high-definition cameras and the latest smartphones are being designed to optimize their write performance which will take advantage of performance of the Class 10 card,” said Steve Hall, Product Development Manager of Flash, Kingston Technology. “Users will benefit from swifter copying and transferring of photos, music, videos and e-books when using a multi-format card reader such as the Kingston Media Reader or Kingston MobileLiteG2 with a PC.” Backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support, the Kingston 16GB micro SD Class 10 memory card is available for £74.86, or £74.99 with an SD adapter.

LaCie has announced the Rugged eSATA, claimed to be the first mobile external hard drive on the market that features a Power eSATA interface. The USB-eSATA combo interface, also known as Power eSATA, features a slightly different connector than eSATA and is frequently found on late-model laptops. The LaCieRugged eSATA drive is also compatible with standard eSATA ports when the included USB power-sharing cable is connected. Housed in the award-winning Rugged casing designed by Neil Poulton, the LaCie Rugged eSATA drive features a unique scratch-resistant aluminium shell, internal anti-shock absorbers, and a shock-resistant rubber bumper to better protect files against everyday blunders. The LaCie Rugged eSATA will be available in 500GB capacity through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+ and LaCie Storage Partner starting at the suggested retail price of $159.99 / £129 incl VAT.

To compliment its existing range of canvas products, Fujifilm is marketing PremierArt Eco Print Shield, a new water based protective coating designed specifically for water resistant inkjet media. Easily applied by brush, roller or spray gun, Eco Print Shield protects canvas prints from moisture, light, abrasions and even fingerprints. Eco Print Shield is available in Gloss, Satin or Matt and comes in either quart or gallon containers.

Olympus has announced an underwater housing for the Olympus E-PL1 digital camera. The Olympus PT-EP01 underwater case is claimed to be the world’s first waterproof housing for a Micro Four Thirds system camera; significantly lighter and more compact than conventional SLR camera waterproof housings. Usable down to a depth of 40m and featuring a fixed lens port, the Olympus PT-EP01 can accommodate an Olympus PEN E-PL1 camera fitted with an M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14–42mm f/3.5–5.6L or M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9–18mm f/4–5.6 lens. Shots can be composed on the LCD monitor with the same ease as with a waterproof compact camera, but the protector can also accommodate the optional VF-2 Live Viewfinder. In addition, the Olympus PT-EP01 supports the Olympus Wireless Remote Control Flash System using the UFL-2 dedicated underwater flash unit. Available from 5 March, priced at 71,000 yen.

Lowepro has announced the Passport Sling, an inventive bag that includes protected space for a DSLR and a flexible compartment that unzips to reveal approximately 30% more space for extra accessories and personal items. The Passport Sling is designed to conform to the body and easily move with the wearer. It may be worn across the chest, high and close or low and loose, depending on the activity. The shoulder strap features a cam lock buckle that easily adjusts for an ideal fit, plus a removable, sliding shoulder pad with a non-slip patch that offers cushioned comfort when needed. The Passport Sling is available in Black, Sky Blue and Mica.

Olympus has announced a range of official accessories for the new Olympus PEN E-PL1 digital camera. These include black and wine-red front & body cases made of genuine leather that are large enough to accommodate an Olympus PEN E-PL1 with attached M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9–18mm f4.0–5.6 or M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14–42mm f3.5–5.6 lens; white, black or brown body jackets that protect the body without hiding its attractive design; a casual camera bag targeted at women; and a wrapping cloth that allows the camera and lens to be carried inside the user’s everyday bag or briefcase. These accessories are scheduled to go on sale in March, at prices ranging from 2,400 yen for the wrapping cloth to 9,000 yen for the front & body case.

The UP-Rise series is Vanguard’s newest line of high-quality photo-video bags, which has an ability to expand in size to accommodate changing lens and gear needs. One easy zipper motion enables expansion; it shrinks back down when the extra room is no longer needed. Other features include removable rain coats and multiple pockets for extra memory cards and lens caps. Available in messenger, zoom, shoulder, sling and backpack styles, UP-Rise bags are available at street prices of $49-149. Vanguard has also announced its Sydney eries shoulder bags, which are light in weight but feature thick padding for reliable protection. Featuring a Rapid Access System and a customisable interior, Vanguard’s Sydney shoulder bags are available for $49-89. Finally, the manufacturer’s weatherproof and lightweight Pampas series shoulder bags have a roomy interior with thick padding and a protective wall that deters theft.  They are available at street prices of $29-69.

Vanguard has just announced the Espod Plus family of aluminium tripods. Photographers can get their cameras in position quickly with Espod Plus’ unique, ergonomic leg angle release button, enabling effortless adjustment to 25, 50 and 80-degree angles. With load capacities ranging from 2 to 3kg, Espod Plus tripods come equipped with reversible centre columns and three-way pan heads, priced from $79 to $109

Vanguard has announced a range of semi-elliptical, heavy-duty ball heads that automatically adjust and increase tension to handle off-centre load. Vanguard’s patented Combination-Friction Forces Control feature enables extreme tension and friction control via an ergonomic grooved dial located on the main adjustment knob. Both are independently adjustable but positioned side-by-side on the same axis for convenient fine-tuning. This combination of precise tension and friction forces control increases the strength to provide outstanding security. Compatible with numerous Arca quick release plates, the new ABH series ball heads offer maximum load capacities of 20-40kg, and are priced from $199 to $299.

Hama has released a range of colourful mini tripods. Complete with a ball head, these little accessories measure just 24x120mm when closed and weigh in at 110 grams. Extendible to a maximum height of 180mm, the Hama mini tripods come in a choice of white, orange, green and pink to match the colour of your digital compact camera or mini camcorder. Available now across Europe, these mini tripods cost €9.99 apiece.

Website: Hama

The Sun-Mover from California Sunbounce is a flat collapsible light reflector that transforms sunlight and studio light in a totally controlled way into spot-light and soft light. Billed as “a true revolution in the world of lighting reflectors”, the Sun-Mover has been designed by World Press Award winning professional photographer Wolfgang-Peter Geller. “Idea and lighting are still the essence of a good picture,” he says. “Sometimes it’s about adding, sometimes it’s about reducing light by having at the same time as many shades of colors as possible available. After extensive research, we came up a with a really brilliant idea:  a new design, consisting of an oval shapre, Perma-Tense reflective screen and two solid built-in handles. This innovative construction system provokes that spot, neutral or soft light effects can be made by only one collapsible reflector.” Made in Germany, the silver/white Sun-Mover is priced at €79, while the zebra/white variant costs €89.

Transcend have recently introduced the Transcend PF830, a new 8” digital photo frame with 2GB of internal memory and support for today’s most popular types of memory cards. Featuring an extra-bright LCD panel with a resolution of 800x600 pixels, the Transcend PF830 has a 4:3 aspect ratio that allows pictures taken with most digicams to fill the frame completely. The PF830 conveniently displays videos, photos and music from a variety of sources: USB flash drives, memory cards, or the photo frame’s own internal memory of 2 Gigabytes.  The PF830 accepts CF, SD, SDHC, MMC, microSD, M2, MS, MS PRO, MS Duo, MS PRO Duo and MS PRO-HG Duo cards, and with its advanced auto-play feature, users can instantly browse photos or videos right when they plug in their digital camera’s memory card. Available in black and white, the PF830 has a sleek design, intuitive graphical user interface, plus calendar, alarm and clock functions.

Fujifilm have announced a new range of their exclusive stretcher bars. The new Wunderbars ‘Red’ package is now available. The stretcher bars in these packages are constructed of high quality pine rather than the usual tulip hard wood. They still feature the same unique self tensioning corner blocks that ensure there’s no more sagging canvas, it always stays taught and will contract and expand to the room’s temperature and humidity. The Wunderbars Red range is available in packs of 12 and comes in the following sizes: 12”, 16”, 18”, 20”, 24” and 30”; and will list with a saving of 20% compared with the original Tulip wood bars. In addition to the Red range, a new sample pack of the original Wunderbars, including two of each 12”, 16”, 20” and 24” stretcher bars, is also now available.

PocketWizard’s US Distributor, MAC Group, is now offering a 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee on the new MiniTT1 and FlexTT5. The MiniTT1 is a tiny transmitter that slides into the camera’s hot shoe. The FlexTT5 is also a low-profile, but slightly larger transceiver. US photographers can now purchase the system, try it out for 30-days and if not completely satisfied, simply return it to their dealer for a full refund. The 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee offer applies to purchases made within the USA, and runs from 1 February to 30 April 2010.

The Apple iPad is a new, multi-touch device marketed as “an extraordinary way to enjoy and share your photos”. Featuring a 9.7-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, the Apple iPad boasts 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132ppi, and comes with 16, 32 or 64GB of built-in storage capacity. The Photos app displays the photos in an album as though they were in a stack. Just tap the stack, and the whole album opens up. From there, you can flip through your pictures, zoom in or out, or watch a slideshow. You can even import photographs directly from your camera using the optional Apple Camera Connection Kit. Apart from displaying your photos, the Apple iPad can also be used to surf the Web, read and write e-mails, watch videos, access the AppStore, download and listen to music, buy and read books, and more. Measuring 9.56x7.47x0.50 inches, the Apple iPad is available from $499.

Website: Apple iPad

The new Lastolite sync block is ideal for photographers who want the benefits of using a radio trigger but do not have a sync connection socket on their flashgun. The Lastolite sync block costs £15.00 and is compatible with any radio trigger featuring a PC sync/X sync socket.

The existing Lastolite RayD8 c5600 continuous lighting kit now features a new reflector dish assembly. Thanks to a new extension tube that allows the use of a more compact reflector, this kit is now shipped in a single box. The Lastolite RayD8 c5600 lighting kit with the new reflector is available now from JP Distribution, at a suggested retail price of £287 including value added tax.

The Ilford Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is a photographic paper that is billed as “the ideal product to for creating the all important wedding album or holiday album”. Printing on the new Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is simple and straightforward. Detailed printing instructions are included in the package. Thanks to the resin-coated properties, the media remains robust throughout the entire double-sided printing process. The Ilford Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is compatible with both dye and pigment printers. You can see the entire Galerie range of papers at the Ilford stand at Focus On Imaging (Stand B1).

Think Tank Photo has released two water-resistant, seam-sealed rain covers for 70-200 and smaller lenses: the Hydrophobia 70-200 and the Hydrophobia Flash 70-200 with built-in flash protector. Featuring side arm holes for focusing and accessing switches, they allow DSLRs to be turned vertically. And now, without exposing their expensive bodies and lenses to the elements, photographers can change memory cards and batteries without taking off the rain covers. A key feature is that the camera can be carried two ways. It can be carried by the strap attached to the camera as it does not have to be removed. And, there is a camera strap attached to the Hydrophobia 70-200 that, combined with a strap that buckles under the lens, allows the camera to be carried by the rain cover. The fabric used on the Hydrophobia is ten times as water resistant as normal fabric. The Hydrophobia 70-200 rain cover is available for $139, whilst the Hydrophobia Flash 70-200 retails for $145.

The new f/stop range from Billingham has been designed for those occasions when you want to travel light, but without compromise. The f/stop bags provide you with the level of protection, style and craftsmanship you’d expect from a Billingham, but in compact form that allows you to adapt them – inside and out, to suit your specific needs. The f/stops come in two sizes; the f/2.8 and – in keeping with lens f/stop convention – the larger f/1.4. Both are available in Black FibreNyte with black leather trim and nickel plated brass fittings or their most recent combination; Khaki FibreNyte with chocolate leather trim (see picture above). The f/2.8 bag retails for £149.99, while the f/1.4 model can be had for £159.99. Both are available from JP Distribution in the UK.