Leica have launched a special Safari Edition of the M8.2 digital camera. Limited to 500 units worldwide, the M8.2 Safari Edition includes an olive green painted M8.2 camera, silver LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.lens, a Billingham camera case, and a carrying strap. The price for such exclusivity? The Leica M8.2 Safari Edition can be yours for just $10,000…

Phase One is giving away up to 5 free lenses with the P 30+ / P 45+ camera systems. Buy a P 30+ and get 45mm, 80mm and 120mm Macro lenses free, or purchase a P 45+ and choose 5 lenses from the 28mm, 45mm, 75-150mm, 80mm, 120mm Macro and 150mm. This special offer is available until March 31st 2009.

Nikon UK has announced price increased across its range of photographic products. The increases have been made as a direct result of the “volatile exchange rate conditions”, with pricing continuing to be reviewed on a regular basis. The Nikon D300 now costs £1279.99, the D700 is £2099.99, D3 is £3599.99 and D3x (pictured) a whopping £5999.99.

Website: Download the Full Nikon UK Price List - January 2009

The new Pretec CFast Storage Card combines the speed of the SATA interface with the small size of CompactFlash. Capable of transfer speeds up to 160MB/s, about 300% faster than the fastest CF card available today, the Pretec CFast Storage Card is the smallest SATA interfaced SSD in the world. The Pretec CFast Storage Card is available now in 32GB, with 64GB capacity to be released soon. The only catch for digital camera owners is that no digital camera currently accepts the CFast standard…

The Sony Memory Stick format for Extended High Capacity is the tentative name for a brand new memory card format. Offering a a maximum storage capacity of 2-terabytes, Memory Stick format for Extended High Capacity expands the existing Memory Stick PRO format. In addition, SanDisk and Sony have announced the joint development of “Memory Stick HG Micro”, a format expanded from “Memory Stick Micro” (M2). Format licensing corresponding to the “Memory Stick format for Extended High Capacity” and the “Memory Stick HG Micro” is scheduled to start in 2009.

The new range of Sony S-Frame digital photo frames boast HD picture quality plus a wide range of fun, easy-to-use viewing features. Available in three different series (X, V and D), Sony S-Frames’ offer a choice of screen sizes from 7 to 10 inches, BIONZ imaging processor , auto-orientation sensor and Auto Touch-Up feature. The range-topping X-Series models feature a Super Photo LCD panel for deeper, richer colours and opulent shadow tones. The Sony S-Frame digital photo frames will be available from April 2009.

Memorex LifeShow is a new range of digital photo frames with an advanced user interface design and added functionality. The specially designed user interface utilizes a combination of proprietary software and a custom “scrolling” selector button that allows the user to command all of the frames’ functions right on screen, from a single control. Memorex LifeShow digital photo frames are offered in two models to complement both traditional and modern home décors, both available in March 2009 for $129.99.

SDXC is a next-generation memory card format, with up to 2 terabytes storage capacity and read/write speeds of 300 megabytes per second. SDXC (eXtended Capacity) will provide maximum speeds even when it achieves its maximum 2TB storage capacity. “SDXC is a large-capacity card that can store more than 4,000 RAW images, which is the uncompressed mode professionals use, and 17,000 of the fine-mode most consumers use.” said Shigeto Kanda, general manager at Canon. Developed by the SD Association, specifications for the new SDXC standard will be released in the first quarter of 2009.

Eye-Fi is is developing a way for users to wirelessly upload full-resolution HD videos from their digital camera to YouTube. “We’re aiming to do for video what we’ve already done for photos: provide the easiest, simplest way to save and share your digital memories,” said Jef Holove, CEO for Eye-Fi.  “Our wireless technology makes it effortless to upload videos to YouTube using the digital camera you already have, without the fuss of special software.” Eye-Fi will preview the technology at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

SanDisk’s new Ultra Backup USB Flash Drives allow you to backup critical files with the simple touch of a button. Critical work files are protected with a dual layer of both password protection and AES hardware encryption. The SanDisk Ultra Backup drive will be available in capacities of 8GB-64GB with prices between $39.99 and $199.99. Also the SanDisk Cruzer range has been redesigned with a more contemporary look, available in capacities of 4GB-32GB with prices ranging between $24.99 and $99.99.

Pandigital’s new PanTouch Clear line of digital photo frames creates the perception of “floating” digital images. The range of PanTouch Clear frames feature a 800x600 high-resolution display that appears to be floating in the surrounding glass. Users can select and view their photos and control the frame’s functions with icons that can be touched directly across the entire glass surface of the frame. The Pandigital PanTouch Clear frames come in two sizes - 8-inch and 7-inch - priced at $139.99 and $119.99 respectively.

The Transcend PF810 is an 8 inch digital photo frame featuring a touch-sensitive menu interface. The PF810 is equipped with 2GB of built-in flash memory, video, radio, MP3 player, clock and electrical calendar, and also allows users to plug-in a USB flash drive.

The LaCie Hard Disk MAX is a powerful dual-drive external hard disk with built-in RAID 0 and RAID 1 functionality. “Our Hard Disk Max is the ideal mass-storage product for users looking for high performance and data protection,” said Lise Manteau, LaCie’s Consumer Hard Disk Drive Product Manager. “Its elegant design and ease of use, combined with its competitive price, will appeal to users who have ever-growing data storage requirements.” The LaCie MAX can be set in either a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration with a simple flick of a switch on the back panel. The LaCie Hard Disk MAX is available worldwide starting at $269.99.

The Picture Porter 35 from Digital Foci is a new high-capacity portable photo manager. Featuring a 3.5 inch color screen, built-in hard drive with capacity starting at 160GB, and a multi-format memory card reader, the Picture Porter 35 can copy 1GB of data in about 2 minutes. Available in Summer 2009, Picture Porter 35 will be available in 160GB and higher capacity configurations (price tbc).

Leica have released a new firmware update, 2.002, for the M8 and M8.2 cameras. It adds detection of 6-bit coding for new M lenses and fixes a number of bugs.

Website: Leica M8 Firmware Update 2.002

Leica are offering a massive $1500 rebate on the M8 digital camera. Valid in the US and Canada until January 1st 2009, Leica are also offering $300 off a new M-Lens (excluding the 50mm/f0.95, 21mm/f1.4, 24mm/f1.4 and 24mm/f3.8). The rebates will be processed 6 to 8 weeks after the product has been registered.

Toshiba has launched a 16GB microSDHC card offering the largest capacity available in the market. Toshiba has also added ultra fast read/write 8GB and 16GB SDHC cards to its line-up. Mass production of the new SDHC cards will start in December, with production of the new microSDHC slated to start in January 2009.

Canon has warned that the $40 billion digital camera market could shrink in 2009, according to a report by Reuters. Sales of DSLR cameras have been affected by the global economic slump, although Canon has maintained its estimate for SLR sales to rise 38 percent to 4.4 million units in 2008. Canon’s Tsuneji Uchida commented “We hope we will see the same level of demand next year as this year. Whether or not that will become reality is up to economic conditions.”

Website: Reuters - Canon says digital camera market may shrink in 2009

HANNspree has introduced two digital picture frame products offering a host of multimedia features and specialty-themed designs. HANNspree’s 7-inch and 8-inch digital picture frames include features such as auto-rotation of images, multi-format memory card reader, USB 2.0 port, slideshow functionality, calendar, and built-in internal memory storage. The 8-inch model also includes an alarm clock and the ability to incorporate music and video. The 7-inch SD7021 model costs $49.99, and the 8-inch SD80M4MB is $99.99.

Kingston Technology have announced a 64Gb version of their DataTraveler 150 USB flash drive. “The new 64GB DataTraveler 150 takes transportable storage to the next level with big capacity in a small package,” said Jaja Lin, Flash business development manager, Kingston. Kingston’s DataTraveler 150 is fully compatible with Windows Vista, XP and Windows 2000 as well as Mac OS X 10.3 (and above) and Linux 2.6 (and above).