Think Tank Photo’s new outdoor photography camera bag company, MindShift Gear, has released its multi-purpose Contact Sheet. Designed for photographers who work in wet or dirty environments and who need a clean, dry work area, this 3.5’ x 5’ waterproof ground tarp provides a barrier from the elements. The 3.5’x5’ Contact Sheet stuffs into a mesh pouch for easy transportation and storage. MindShift Gear's Contact Sheet is available for $39.99.

Tether Tools and Phase One have announced a special Pro Tether Kit with Capture One Pro 7 for professional tethered capture. The kit includes a Capture One Pro 7 licence, Tether Table & Aero Accessories, TetherPro Cable & Case and Tether Tools' JerkStopper Cable Management System. For a limited time, the Tether Tools + Phase One Capture Pro7 Kit is available at 15% off regular price -- $583.55 to $593.75 -- a saving of more than $100 off the complete kit. This promotion will run from August 10 - 23, 2013 at the website below.

The Nikon SB-300 is a compact and simple flash unit with a tilting head. Offering a guide number of 18 (in metres at ISO 100/21°), the Nikon SB-300 is compatible with the manufacturer's i-TTL flash exposure control system, and boasts an FV lock function with which flash volume is determined based on monitor flashes and saved so that composition may be changed while maintaining the flash value (this function works with certain cameras only). It also has a thermal cutout function, which prevents damage to the flash due to overheating during high-intensity firing. The Speedlight SB-300 will be available later this month for $149.95/£139.99 / €169.00.

X-Rite has unveiled its schedule of free August 2013 webinars. The first session, entitled Photography That Makes a Difference, will commence at 1pm EDT on 13th August. The second one, Colour Management for the Rest of Us, starts on 19th August, at 1pm EDT; while the third online seminar, Cataloging in Lightroom: Organising Your Images for Travel, is scheduled for 27th August, 1pm EDT. Click through / read on for the details.

ColorRight has just announced the LightRight, a dual-purpose lighting solution for pro photographers and videographers. Billed as "the first Pro video light & flash diffuser combo," LightRight is the thinnest and lightest pro LED light currently available to order. “Until now, photographers and videographers had to choose whether to shoot with their external flash, or with an LED light panel. Carrying and using two separate units in the field was cumbersome at best,” said Drew Strickland, President of ColorRight. “LightRight LED products give people the ability to use their flash and a video light simultaneously." The ColorRight LightRight video light and flash diffuser also features a one-touch dimmer and on / off switch, 1800mah rechargeable li-ion battery, protective battery case, and AC power cord. The LightRight will sell for $99, along with a PRO Kit that includes an optional tripod mounting plate and mini tripod plus a more robust 2800mah battery for $149. ColorRight has launched an Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds for commercialisation. If you would like to make a contribution, visit the website below.

AOC has introduced a new generation of AH-IPS and IPS 3D monitors. Ranging from 21.5″ to 23″ and 27″, there are six models in the line-up, boasting an ultra-slim borderless design, outstanding colour reproduction and wide viewing angles. All of them are Full HD monitors that utilise mercury-free WLED backlights. Depending on the individual model, users can connect multiple signal sources simultaneously via D-Sub,DVI-D, HDCP-compatible HDMI, an integrated DisplayPort or even MHL. The new AOC monitors are available now at RRPs ranging from £ 129 to £ 249.

Billed as the first external flash for mobile devices that is fully synched to smartphones and tablets, iblazr is a tiny device that uses four powerful CREE LED lights to provide much more light than any smartphone’s built-in flash. Additional features include a continuous light mode, adjustable brightness, and a built-in rechargeable battery. This 200mAh battery lasts up to 1,000 flashes or up to 40 minutes in full power constant light mode. iblazr is scheduled to launch in December at at $39 for the black and white models. A premium anodised aluminium iblazr, which is more powerful than the regular model in constant light mode, will be available starting at $59. The commercialisation of the device is funded via a Kickstarter project. Those who pledge $300 or more will receive a personalised aluminium model.

Tiffen has introduced two brand new tripods from the Davis & Sanford brand. “As their names suggest, the Davis & Sanford CrossWise and Traverse are adventure-engineered tripods designed to give DSLR, mirrorless and compact camera shooters the flexibility as well as the freedom to achieve that perfect shot,” states Steve Tiffen, President and CEO, The Tiffen Company. In addition to the new CrossWise and Traverse tripods, Tiffen has released a brand new Davis & Sanford PowerBall product for cameras weighing up to 18 pounds. Prices for the new products are as follows: CrossWise Tripod at $124.99, Traverse Tripod at $109.99, and PowerBall Dual Control ball head at $59.99.

Kenro has been appointed the UK and Ireland distributor for Braun Photo Technik. Paul Kench, managing director of Kenro, said: "Braun Photo Technik is renowned for their rich history in creating products that meet the needs of their customers so we are delighted to be working with them. With Braun Photo Technik products, retailers will be able to tap into a new range of customers who are looking to purchase products which have multiple uses, and we are looking forward to bringing these products to the UK and Irish public."

PhotoFast's i-FlashDrive HD, a two-way storage device between iOS and Mac/PC, is now available in the United Kingdom. The drive’s free corresponding application delivers the ability to upload, organise, edit and manage files across multiple devices, including PC, iPad, iPhone and more. The 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models of the compact and portable i-FlashDrive are offered as a combo kit, which include both the Lightning adapter and 30-pin connector for increased compatibility with Apple mobile devices as well as USB devices. Additionally, i-FlashDrive offers backwards compatibility, working seamlessly when plugged in on the standard USB side with multiple operating systems including iOS 6, Windows XP/7/8, OSX and Linux. PhotoFast's i-FlashDrive HD is available online in 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB capacities, ranging in price from £60 to £210.

Sony and Panasonic have signed an agreement with the objective of jointly developing a next-generation standard for professional-use optical discs. Intended for long-term digital data storage, these archival discs should offer a recording capacity of at least 300GB and be available by the end of 2015. Optical discs have excellent properties to protect them against the environment, such as dust-resistance and water-resistance, and can also withstand changes in temperature and humidity when stored. They also allow inter-generational compatibility between different formats, ensuring that data can continue to be read even as formats evolve.

Following the success of its iOS, MacOS and Android compatible versions, CamRanger has now added support for Windows 7 and 8 Pro. CamRanger is a stand-alone device that connects to select Canon or Nikon DLSR cameras with a provided USB cable to create an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network that your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch can then log on to. Together with the associated apps, CamRanger allows users to control their cameras and remotely see the live view feed when their camera is placed in remote locations. Currently in beta, the Windows app can be downloaded from the CamRanger website.

Olympus has introduced three premium leather accessories designed for the new Olympus PEN E-P5 compact system camera. The CBG-9 PR Premium Leather Camera Bag (£349.99) fits an Olympus E-P5 with a Micro Four Thirds lens attached. The removable inner pocket holds the camera and accessories in place and movable spacers allow the inner pockets to be arranged to suit individual needs. Additional inner and outer pockets allow backup batteries and personal belongings to be carried. The CS-41B PR Premium Leather Body Jacket (£129.99, pictured) is made from the same high quality leather as the camera bag and protects the camera without sacrificing shooting comfort and usability - card and battery can easily be replaced with the jacket still attached to the camera. The body jacket can be complemented with the separately sold CSS-S117L PR Premium Leather Strap (£89.99).

XSories have announced the Weye Feye, a new Wifi pack for DSLR cameras. Compatible with a number of Canon and Nikon models, the Weye Feye was designed with professional photographers, birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and amateur photographers in mind. Allowing you to control your device from up to 120 metres, the Weye Feye enables you to retrieve photos, even in raw format, from the camera and transfer them to your smartphone/tablet using bespoke Android and iOS apps. And with up to 7 hours of live broadcasting thanks to its powerful, rechargeable, built-in battery, it doesn't even consume your camera power! The Weye Feye will be available for £199 at UK retailers nationwide from October.

Manfrotto has just launched its new Top Lock Quick Release System. Compatible with Arca-style quick release plates and systems, Top Lock is made from light aluminium and stainless steel offering weight savings without any performance sacrifices, the company says. The innovative design of the Top Lock System means that the ball head, the quick release adapter and the quick release plate work together to allow for fast and reliable changeovers in any environment. Manfrotto’s new Top Lock Quick Release System is available as an adaptor or in complete pro ball heads for professional photographers with Arca-style QR plates and systems Prices start at £84.95.

Gigapan and Promote Systems have united to help photographers simplify their workflow process when creating HDR and focus stacked gigapixel imagery. The Promote Control, an all-in-one, advanced remote control for digital SLR cameras, enhances the Gigapan EPIC Pro robotic camera mount (pictured) by increasing the flexibility in exposure bracketing needed to create high-quality images. “Combining the Promote Control with the EPIC Pro takes shooting HDR and focus stacked imagery to a higher level,” said Josh Friedman, CEO of Gigapan. “It makes it immensely easier for photographers to capture stunning and highly technical shots with more control and options when shooting high-resolution panoramic images.”

SanDisk Connect is a new line of wireless flash memory storage devices including the SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive and SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive. Billed as the smallest wireless USB storage device available to date, the SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive provides users with up to 32GB of extra storage for their devices without the need for an Internet connection or cables. It is available in 16GB or 32GB capacities at an MSRP of £41.90 and £49.90 respectively. The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive allows users to take content such as HD movies, videos, music and photos with them wherever they go. Available in the fourth quarter of 2013 in capacities of up to 64GB (pricing to be confirmed), the pocket-sized device offers up to eight continuous streaming hours on a single charge.

3 Legged Thing has launched its One Legged Thing Monopod Range. The lineup includes a three-section carbon-fibre monopod called Pete (£145; pictured), a three-section magnesium-alloy monopod named Sid (£99) and a five-section carbon-fibre monopod dubbed Bob (£139). Each monopod has a load capacity of 18kg. Pete weighs in at 450g, Sid at 532g and Bob at 456g. The first two monopods fold down to 635mm and extend to 1660mm. Bob has a folded height of 455mm, and extends to 1690mm.

Researchers at Germany's Saarland University have devised a new accessory that enables a standard DSLR to function as a "Lytro-like" refocusable light field camera; and opens up new avenues for high-dynamic range imaging, multi-spectral photography as well as polarisation imaging. The scientists - including Alkhazur Manakov, Ramon Hegedűs, John F. Restrepo, Hans-Peter Seidel, Elmar Eisemann, Oliver Klehm and Ivo Ihrke - have announced that they would be demonstrating the prototype of the invention at this week's Siggraph conference and exhibition in Anaheim, California. Their device, called KaleidoCamera, is essentially an accessory that goes in between the camera body and lens, with a beam splitter that allows the camera to record several differently filtered images of the same subject for further processing. The picture above, taken from the researchers' demo video, suggests that the KaleidoCamera would look similar to an extension tube; but Mr Manakov says the actual device would have to be about "the size of an SLR tele[photo] lens." Click through / scroll down to watch the video created by the scientists.

Source: Max Planck Institut via MLZphoto

XSories have just introduced their latest product, the X Project Micro portable projector, which plays footage and photos wherever you are directly from any mobile device with no additional software required. The device, which provides a brightness of 35 lumens and a resolution of 640x480 pixels, is compatible with a range of Android-powered smartphones from Samsung and HTC. For Apple iOS devices, you will need the Apple Lightning Digital AV adapter or the 30-pin Apple Digital AV adapter and an HDMI cable. The X-Project Micro will be available for £239 at UK retailers nationwide.