Kata has unveiled two brand new telephoto lens backpacks – the Kata TLB 300 & 600 - designed specifically for photographers using and carrying long lenses. Both bags feature fully adjustable, “expedition quality” harnesses, designed to ease the strain of carrying heavy camera equipment, and both can accommodate a professional DSLR camera body with a 300mm or up to 600mm lens. When smaller lenses are in use a horizontal divider can be set at the required height and any spare space below the lens can be used for additional storage. SRP for the TLB 300 is £179.95 and the TLB 600 (pictured) £219.95.

Energizer is launching a new AA/AAA battery charger on 19 April that will display a digital countdown informing users how many hours are left until the batteries are fully charged. The Energizer Recharge Smart Charger also includes a digital fuel gauge to inform users how full the batteries are. This could be very useful, the company claims, because photographers may not need completely full batteries every time they go out on a shoot and monitoring the fuel gauge can inform them if they have enough power to get the job done. The Energy Star certified battery charger is offered at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $19.99.

Struggling to meet higher-than-expected demand in the US, Apple has decided to postpone the international launch of the Apple iPad. “Although we have delivered more than 500,000 iPads during its first week, demand is far higher than we predicted and will likely continue to exceed our supply over the next several weeks,” the company said in a statement. “Faced with this surprisingly strong US demand, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the international launch of iPad by one month, until the end of May. We will announce international pricing and begin taking online pre-orders on Monday, May 10.”

SmallHD has introduced a 5.6” field monitor with a resolution of 270ppi, for use with video-enabled DSLR cameras. Specifically designed for on-camera field use, this 1280x800-pixel video monitor weighs in at 284g, and features the industry’s three most popular high definition video inputs: HDMI, Component, and an optional 3G HD-SDI In/Out port. “You have to see this thing; you won’t believe your eyes,” says SmallHD’s lead product developer Dale Backus. “Not only does DP-SLR mesh perfectly with HDSLR filmmaking, but it opens the doors to high-end broadcast needs via 3G HD-SDI capability.” The DP-SLR field monitor is estimated to hit the shelves in July, priced at $899 for the standard version and $1199 when adding 3G HD-SDI.

Website: SmallHD

Apple today updated the MacBook Pro line with faster processors, next-generation NVIDIA graphics and longer battery life. The 13-inch MacBook Pro now features the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor for up to 80 percent faster graphics and a 10-hour built-in battery. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Apple’s new automatic graphics switching technology that toggles seamlessly between powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and energy efficient Intel HD Graphics processors. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 250GB hard drive priced at £999; and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 320GB hard drive priced at £1,249. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in three models: one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 320GB hard drive at £1,499; one with a 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive at £1,649; and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive at £1,799. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive for £1,899. Unfortunately, only the built-to-order versions can be ordered with an antiglare display; the regular configurations all appear to come with glossy monitors.

The B-Grip from CPtech is a solution for carrying a camera fastened to your belt. Made with highly selected materials B-Grip guarantees comfort, safety and fast access to your camera. Supporting up to 8kg / 17.5lbs, the B-Grip is supplied in a retail box for €59 RSP ( €49.90 excluding VAT).

Panasonic has announced a new line of Blu-ray Disc media designed for secure digital data archiving in professional applications. Available in two grades - Archival Grade and Century Archival Grade -, the new Panasonic Archival Grade Blu-ray Discs have an expected archival life of more than 50 years at a room temperature of 77°F and a relative humidity of 80%, the company claims. Featuring a new recording layer structure that ensures longer shelf life, the Century Archival Grade Disc has an estimated life of 100 years. The Archival Grade discs will hit the shelves in the 2nd quarter of this year, while the Century Archival Grade discs will start shipping in the 3rd quarter. Detailed information will be announced at a future date.

Transcend offers a range of splash- and shockproof storage devices, including a USB flash drive and two portable hard drives. Offered in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities, the Transcend JetFlash V70 flash drive is constructed of durable eco-friendly silicone rubber that provides a pleasant tactile feel and makes the drive highly resistant to excessive shock, splashes and dust. The anti-slip and shock resistant Transcend StoreJet 18M and 25M portable hard drives feature a sophisticated dual-stage shock-dampening system that incorporates internal suspension technology and a vibration-absorbing silicone outer shell. Transcend’s 1.8-inch StoreJet 18M mini portable hard drive sports a 120GB storage capacity, while the StoreJet 25M-R (Red) is available in 250GB, 320GB and 500GB, and the StoreJet 25M (Black) is offered in capacities of 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB and 640GB.

Website: Transcend

Transcend’s new 4GB JetFlash 620 is a USB falsh drive featuring read speeds of up to 32MB/sec and write speeds of up to 10 MB/sec. Offering a password-protected “Private Zone”, the Transcend JetFlash 620 comes bundled with Transcend’s exclusive JetFlash SecureDrive software. Other features include a compact, streamlined design, plug-and-play installation, full compatibility with the USB 2.0 specification, and dual-channel technology. Apart from the newly released 4GB variant, the Transcend JetFlash 620 USB flash drive is also available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities.

Website: Transcend

Digital Foci has announced a major new firmware update for the Picture Porter 35 high-capacity portable photo manager. New features in version 1.2.1 include incremental photo backup, full screen preview and selection for convenient viewing, USB mode selection for secondary backup to external USB storage devices, and new professional DSLR extended camera support for RAW, EXIF data, IPTC and histograms. Picture Porter 35 features a 3.5-inch color LCD screen for easy viewing; built-in hard drive with 250GB and 500GB capacities, priced at $399 and $499, respectively; fast copy speeds of 1GB of data under 90 seconds; and a multi-format memory card reader for CF, MMC, SD/HC Card, miniSD, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, and xD-Picture card.

Website: Picture Porter 35 Firmware 1.2.1 Release Notes

Richmond has announced a new line of glassless box frames. Enabling you to display your favourite photos in the increasingly popular frameless style, the new glassless frames from Richmond are covered with a face paper that is simply peeled back before the print is applied. Richmond box frames are available now from Fuji Digital Imaging Service retailers across the UK, and come in 8x10”, A4 and A3 sizes priced at £6.69, £7.89 and £11.99.

Kenro has announced the UK release of the Nissin PS 300 Power Pack for electronic flashes. By using the PS 300 together with the regular power source, the flash recycle time is reduced to a quarter of the standard time (approximately 0.7 seconds to recharge the Nissin Di866, Canon EX580EX II or the Nikon SB900). The PS 300 is powered by a NiMH battery – (7.2V/3,300mAh) that provides approximately 300 full flashes per charge (based on using the Di866 on full power).

Website: Kenro

Ilford UK has announced a special offer on its Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo paper. From now until 30 June, a pack of 25 A4 sheets costs only £10. Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo has a natural photographic white tint to produce prints with excellent colour gamut that is perfect for skin tones, according to Ilford. Compatible with both dye and pigment printers, Galerie Smooth Lustre Duo is suitable for creating tailor-made wedding albums, portfolios or even premium quality invitations.

JP Distribution has been appointed as the distributor for Black Rapid for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Black Rapid is a manufacturer of innovative and creative photography products, including the R-Strap (pictured). The R-Strap is worn diagonally across the torso from shoulder to hip and is adjustable to fit most photographers. The pad has a mesh underside for comfort and breathability. The locking FastenR connects the R-Strap to the tripod socket located on either the camera body or the lens. Once connected, the camera hangs upside down, resting securely at your side or in the small of your back, with the lens pointing behind you.

Website: JP Distribution

Kenro has been named as the official UK and Ireland distributor for the acclaimed range of Benro tripods. The range consists of four tripod models (Travel Angel, Quick Lock, FlexPod and EX Series) with aluminium and carbon fibre versions available. The Benro range also includes five models of ballheads and two HD Series 3-Way heads and accessories. To view Kenro’s full range, visit the website below.

Website: Kenro

Eye-Fi has launched new wireless memory cards including the Eye-Fi Connect X2 and the Eye-Fi Explore X2. The “X2” family of Eye-Fi cards are claimed to have faster-than-ever wireless photo and video uploads, improved performance, and virtually endless storage capacity with Endless Memory mode. This lets users choose to have Eye-Fi automatically make space available on their memory card after photos and videos are safely uploaded to the computer or Web.In the US, the new product line-up is available today starting at $49.99. In the UK, the new cards will hit the shelves at the end of April, starting at £49.99.

Delkin has announced four new SDHC cards ranging from 4GB to 32GB. Capable of up to 163x transfer speeds, these Class 10 rated cards all exceed the SD Association Specification data transfer rate requirement, the company says. Every card is manufactured with high grade NAND flash, advanced controller design, and quality control guidelines based on ISO 9001:2008 standards.  Additionally, a built-in write-protect switch prevents accidental data loss. Priced from $39.99 for the 4GB card to $219.99 for the 32GB variant, the new Class 10 SDHC memory cards all come with a lifetime warranty.

InVisage Technologies today announced QuantumFilm, the world’s first commercial quantum dot-based image sensor, for use in digital cameras and camera phones. Quantum dot technology, featuring semiconductors with unique light-capture properties, promises 4x higher performance and 2x higher dynamic range than what can be achieved with current sensors. The first application of QuantumFilm will enable high pixel count and high performance in tiny form factors, breaking silicon-based sensors’ inherent performance-resolution tradeoff, the company says. “Silicon has hit a wall,” says Jess Lee, InVisage President and C.E.O. “The fundamental problem is that silicon cannot capture light efficiently, but until now it has been the only option.” While silicon-based image sensors capture on average a mere 25 percent of light, QuantumFilm captures between 90-95 percent, enabling better pictures in even the most challenging lighting conditions.

Website: InVisage

Kata has introduced a range of “Bumblebee” photo backpacks. These include the D-Light Bumblebee D-210, the Pro-Light Bumblebee D-220 (see photo above) and the Bumblebee Ultra-Light D-222. Designed primarily for camera gear, the D-Light D-210 can also be used as daypack. The larger and more rugged Pro-Light Bumblebee features an aluminium skeleton and the manufacturer’s Gecko harness system made from EVA foam; whilst the flagship Bumblebee Ultra-Light D-222 has a Spine Guard and a suspended mesh back for great ventilation.

The Kata Pro-Light Beetle 282 is a lightweight yet capable photo backpack / roller bag. Able to accommodate up to 3 DSLR bodies with 4-6 lenses and other accessories as well as a 17” laptop, the Kata Pro-Light Beetle 282 has been designed to comply with the strictest regulations regarding carry-on baggage (though Kata still recommends checking with your airline, due to “constantly changing” regulations). Depending on configuration, the Kata Pro-Light Beetle 282 bag weighs 2-3kg when empty.