The ICON line of compact LED flashlights for photographers is now available. The new line comprises two models, both of which have two lumen settings, bright enough to paint and low enough to search your bag without ruining the frame. Ergonomically designed, the ICON lights have an open-architecture structure, allegedly never before seen in the consumer flashlight market. This design provides a solid grip, leaving hands cool and dry. The aerospace-aluminium body means it can be dropped, thrown and rattled around without any damage. The Rogue 1 design is smaller (4.5 inches), requiring only one AA battery, while Rogue 2 is longer (6.5 inches), and requires two AA batteries. The ICON line is available at www.opticsplanet.com and at Fry’s Electronics.

Kenro has announced the release of a new 300 watt portable studio flash kit. This new addition to Kenro’s wide range of photographic equipment comprises two flash heads two 180cm air cushioned stands and two 70x50cm soft boxes. Each kit is also supplied with mains and synch cables plus 50 watt modelling lamps. The flash heads each have 300 watt output and feature stepless power adjustment from 1/16th to full power and have a recycling time of 0.8 -2.2 seconds. They also include an infra red sensor for auto synch with other flash heads. The 300 watt portable studio flash kit is available to buy now with an RRP of £369.85.

Enlight Photo has announced the upcoming launch of a mounting bracket for the Orbis ring flash - the Orbis Arm. The Orbis is a photo lighting device that turns the harsh light of a regular photographer’s flash into beautiful, shadowless light especially useful in portrait photography. The Orbis Arm provides a solid mount for photographers who want to use their Orbis in its primary ‘ring flash’ position for extended shoots. The Orbis Arm will retail for £39.95 at www.orbisflash.com and all good camera stores.

SanDisk today introduced a new line of SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash memory cards, which feature a new SanDisk Power Core Controller, an advanced memory controller that enables read and write speeds of up to 90MB/s. This represents a doubling of from previous SanDisk high-end camera memory cards.  SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards feature RTV Silicone coating for added protection against moisture and humidity. The cards can withstand accidental drops of up to nine feet, and carry a lifetime limited warranty. SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards will be available in capacities of 16GB to 64GB and MSRP ranging from about $300 to $800 in the U.S. market.

JVC Visual Systems Division has introduced its new DLA-RS4000 Reference Series projector, which is capable of delivering a 10 megapixel image with a native resolution of 4,096x2,400 pixels. This is nearly five times more than the so-called Full HD resolution of 1,920x1080 pixels, and approximates the pixel count of most current digital still cameras. So in theory, you can now enjoy huge projections of your digital photographs at - or close to - their native resolution. In practice, it will depend very much on your budget - at $175,000 the JVC DLA-RS4000 projector (which, to be fair, is targeted at well-heeled home cinema owners rather than photographers) makes the Leica S2 camera look cheap in comparison.

InvenSense has announced the new IDG-2000 dual-axis pitch and roll gyroscope, which provides the imaging market with a smaller and thinner gyroscope ideal for improving optical image stabilisation in digital still cameras and high-resolution, eight megapixel and above camera phones. “Optical image stabilisation is quickly becoming a standard key feature consumers look for in new cameras,” said Chris Chute, IDC Research Manager in the Worldwide Digital Imaging Practice. “Even with millions of digital cameras still being sold worldwide, competition for product differentiation, coupled with lower price points are forcing camera vendors to manage costs more closely than ever. New technologies like the IDG-2000 can help camera vendors remain competitive in the market.” The IDG-2000 family of digital dual-axis gyroscopes begins sampling in October 2009 to selected OEM partners.

Electrophysics, a Sofradir Group company, has introduced a high-performance night vision module for use with Nikon’s full-frame (FX) digital SLR cameras. These digital cameras deliver bright high resolution green images of night-time scenes having a full image format and edge-to-edge sharpness when used with the new AstroScope 9350NIK. Because the night vision module fits between the camera body and SLR lens, all the lens electrical connections are maintained and important lens features such as vibration reduction (VR) remain fully functional even in night vision mode. The introduction of the AstroScope 9350NIK follows hot on the heels of the announcement of the AstroScope 9350EOS-FF for Canon EOS digital SLR cameras.

WD has introduced its smaller, smarter and more secure My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac ultra-portable external hard drives featuring WD’s new WD SmartWare software and equipped with hardware-based encryption. The new My Passport drives are more than 20 percent smaller than the previous generation My Passport. The new portable drives with WD SmartWare software visually present consumers’ data in a control center, providing them peace of mind that their precious photos, videos and files are securely protected. Available now at select retailers and the WD online store (shopwd.com), the new My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac drives are offered in capacities ranging from 320 GB to 1 TB and come in a range of colours including Pacific Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver and Midnight Black.

Western Digital has announced its new, smaller, sleeker My Book Essential and My Book for Mac desktop external hard drives equipped with the new WD SmartWare software and hardware-based encryption. When the My Book Essential drive is plugged in for the first time, the simple and intuitive first backup process launches automatically. The real-time visual interface of WD SmartWare software gives users a reassuring view of their back up as it happens. After the first backup, users’ files are backed up automatically every time they change or add a file. WD SmartWare software works on Windows PCs and Mac computers. WD My Book Essential hard drives are designed for Windows-based PCs while WD My Book for Mac drives are preformatted for Mac computers and are compatible with Apple Time Machine, Apple’s integrated backup solution.Available now at select retailers and the WD online store (shopwd.com), the new My Book Essential and My Book for Mac drives are offered in capacities ranging from 500 GB to 2 TB.

As part of the global partnership signed between PNY Technologies and National Geographic back in 2007, PNY announced today an exclusive offer on its high speed Optima Flash cards that will give access to bonus content from National Geographic’s African catalogue. This limited edition offer gives customers an opportunity to discover the remarkable images, music and maps that National Geographic captures. Customers that purchase a PNY Optima Flash card will now be able to download content via a dedicated website using a printed code that can be found inside the product’s packaging. The PNY Optima Flash cards included in this offer are available in a selection of capacities (ranging up to 32 GB) and boast a write speed of 10 MB per second for both the SD and Compact Flash models. The PNY Optima Flash cards concerned have a 5 year guarantee and will be available from September 2009 onwards through PNY’s usual distribution network.

Buffalo Technology today announced the new Buffalo DriveStation with Hardware Encryption, an externalnal desktop hard drive with built-in encryption. Its Full Disk Encryption mode, with robust AES256bit encryption, secures all data as soon as it is written to the drive. With access only available via a pre determined password, users can be sure that all data is secure, safe and hidden. For convenience, the new Secure Lock Manager Easy feature automatically remembers passwords, eliminating the need to enter one each time the drive is accessed. The DriveStation with Hardware Encryption also has a Non-Encryption mode, allowing sharable files to be viewed by a PC or Mac via USB connection. Other features include Memeo AutoSync software, which automatically syncs the DriveStation with a PC or Mac, ensuring backed up files are always kept up to date. The Buffalo DriveStation with Hardware Encryption is available in capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB from Amazon, Dabs, Insight, Misco and other leading resellers, with pricing starting at £69.99 SRP.

Datacolor has just introduced the new easy-to-use Spyder3Express monitor calibration system. Datacolor’s Spyder3Express ensures accurate, reliable and consistent colors every time so photographs, including tonal ranges in black-and-white photos, will always look their best and brightest.  The Spyder3Express monitor calibration system provides an intuitive user interface for easy use in a few simple steps. The suggested retail price is $89.

Bogen Imaging has announced two new retro styled tripods made by Gitzo. The Gitzo GK1380VQR and the Gitzo GK2380VQR both have a classic look, but both are high-tech pieces of equipment. The legs are made up of four segments, while there is a two-segment telescopic centre column that allows seamless height adjustment. The new Ground Level Set feature lets you remove the centre column to get the camera closer to the ground. The G-Lock leg locking system provides fast operation and safe locking. A new Power Disc, made of machined solid aluminium, features two locking screws - one to lock the head, the other to safely lock the disc onto the column. The GK1380VQR and GK2380VQR tripods differ from each other chiefly in their weight (1.9kg and 2.5kg, respectively), payload (4kg and 6kg) and price (€770 and €889).

Via photoscala

The Eizo ColorEdge CG243W is a new LCD monitor for pre-press, digital photography, video editing and post-production. This 24.1-inch widescreen monitor features an in-plane switching LCD panel with a native resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, and an aspect ratio of 8:5. The Eizo ColorEdge CG243W has a maximum brightness of 270 cd/m² and a contrast ratio of 850:1. With a DisplayPort connection, the monitor accepts 10-bit PC video signals and can display 1.07 billion colours, 64 times more than the typical 16.7 million colours most screens are capable of displaying. The Eizo ColorEdge CG243W offers hardware calibration, so the monitor itself is calibrated rather than the computer’s graphics card. The monitor is now shipping and available for €2079.

Via photoscala

Update: we have added Eizo’s official, English-language press release issued on 24 September 2009.

Hahnemühle’s new Fine Art paper, Baryta FB, is a bright white inkjet photo paper with an extra smooth surface and glossy coating. The Baryta FB paper has allegedly been created at the request of traditionalist photographers who wanted something reminiscent of the traditional fiber based Baryta paper. This new Hahnemühle paper will be officially introduced at Photo Plus Expo in New York in late October. Meanwhile, Photo Rag® 460 gsm will be replaced by a Photo Rag® product with a base weight of 500 gsm, which will be available soon in the following formats: 24 x 30” and 35 x 46.75”, both as 25 sheet packages.

The Nissin Di866 Professional Speedlite flashgun is now available in either a Canon or Nikon fitting. The Canon version is compatible with Canon Digital SLR and Powershot hotshoe cameras using ETTL and ETTL-2 systems, while the Nikon model fits Nikon Digital SLR and Coolpix hotshoe cameras using i-TTL. With a guide number of 60m (ISO 100 @ 105mm) the Di866 features Nissin’s original ‘My TTL’ user adjustable TTL light output level and is firmware upgradable thanks to an onboard USB port. The Nissin Di866 Professional Speedlite costs £369.95 in the UK including VAT.

The Canon WUX10 Mark II and SX80 Mark II are two new digital projectors aimed at photographers. Both include a dedicated ‘Photo’ mode that offers exceptionally clear, accurate colour still images in any lighting environment. The WUX10 Mark II projects in an industry-leading native WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels) resolution, with the SX80 Mark II displaying images in crystal clear SXGA+ (1400 x 1050 pixels) resolution. “The WUX10 Mark II and SX80 Mark II projectors have been designed to display images with unrivalled clarity, making them perfect for photographers wishing to display their work to the highest possible standard” said Rainer Fuehres, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. The WUX10 Mark II and SX80 Mark II are available from October 2009.

The Canon WFT-E5A is a new wireless file transmitter (WFT) for the EOS 7D DSLR camera. Connectivity options includie IEEE802.11a/b/g and Ethernet, geotagging is possible via Bluetooth, and it can also transfer and display images on DLNA televisions and photo frames. Photographers can fire up to 10 cameras simultaneously from across the room or across the country while maintaining control over camera settings and remote live view on a laptop or smart phone. The Canon WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter is scheduled to be available in early November and sell at an estimated retail price of $699.99.

Fantasea Line has announced the WP-DC34 underater housing and other accessories for the Canon Powershot G11 digital compact camera. The WP-DC34 housing weighs in at 13.1 ounces and measures 5.5x3.6x3.4 inches. Other Fantasea Line accessories include G series BigEye wide-angle conversion lenses, the SharpEye M67 close-up lens, the RedEye filter G10/G11, the Remora and Nano Single Pro and Nano Double Pro lighting sets. The WP-DC34 underwater housing for the Canon G11 is available for preorder on Amazon for $199.99.

Correction - 7 September 2009
The WP-DC34 housing is actually a Canon product. The Fantasea announcement concerns the availability of the above listed accessories (G series BigEye wide-angle conversion lenses, the SharpEye M67 close-up lens, the RedEye filter G10/G11, the Remora and Nano Single Pro and Nano Double Pro lighting sets) for the Canon G11 and the WP-DC34 housing. We apologise for the confusion.

Bogen Imaging has announced the launch of eight compact, lightweight yet reliable Manfrotto ball heads. With a payload range that goes from 2kg to 8kg, The Manfrotto 492, 494, 496 and 498 all feature a simple plate and the Manfrotto 494 RC2, 496 RC2, 498 RC2 and 498 RC4 all feature a quick release plate. The new aluminium family of ball heads from Manfrotto incorporate a new innovative design with elliptic holes for reducing weight. In addition to the existing series, the new ball head family (except the small 492 head) features a completely new friction control which allows a safer and precise movement of the camera without totally releasing the camera. The professional heads of the family which include the Manfrotto 498, Manfrotto 498RC2 and Manfrotto 498RC4 have a panoramic independent movement with reference ring. The new Manfrotto ball heads will become available in September/October 2009, at RRPs ranging from £32.95 to £59.95, depending on model.