Western Digital today unveiled its SanDisk 1TB SDXC memory card prototype at Photokina 2016. “Showcasing the most advanced imaging technologies is truly exciting for us,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product management, Content Solutions Business Unit, Western Digital. “Sixteen years ago we introduced the first SanDisk 64MB SD card and today we are enabling capacities of 1TB. Over the years our goal has remained the same; continue to innovate and set the pace for the imaging industry. The SanDisk 1TB SD card prototype represents another significant achievement as growth of high-resolution content and capacity-intensive applications such as virtual reality, video surveillance and 360 video, are progressing at astounding rates.”

The Phottix Indra500LC is the first studio light compatible with Canon’s radio flash system. The 500Ws Phottix Indra500LC TTL has the power and control of the Canon RT and Phottix Laso triggering systems built-in. Users can switch between TTL and Manual modes, adjust EV and manual power levels and use high-speed sync, all from the Canon ST-E3, compatible Canon RT Speedlites and the Phottix Laso Transmitter - no extra hardware is needed. In Manual mode the Indra500LC offers 8 stops of power adjustments - from full power to 1/128 in 1/3rd stop increments. With Stroboscopic Mode, the Phottix Indra can be used for special effect and creative shooting with flash frequencies of 1-100HZ and flash counts of 1-100 times. The Indra500LC comes with a Li-Ion battery, cables, charger, carrying bag and a new, smaller 5” reflector, with a suggested retail price of $1,299. Availability is slated for October.

Olympus has announced a new professional-grade flash for the Micro FourThirds system. The new Olympus FL-900 R features protection against dust, splashes and sub-zero temperatures, and can be used both on- and off-camera thanks to its wireless TTL metering/triggering capabilities. The flash has a zoomable tilt-swivel head that covers the angle of view for a focal length of 12mm-100mm lenses and 7mm-10mm lenses when using the built-in wide panel. The guide number is 58 (in metres at ISO 100/21°, in the 100mm position). The Olympus FL-900 R flash will become available in December 2016 at a recommended retail price of £549.99/€599.00.

GoPro has announced the Karma, a foldable quadcopter with a removable 3-axis gimbal stabiliser and a touchscreen-based remote control unit. Easily fitting in a small backpack, the GoPro Karma will become available on 23 October 2016, priced at $799 ($999 with a GoPro HERO5 Session camera, $1099 with a HERO5 Black).

Sekonic today introduced the new Sekonic SpeedMaster L-858D exposure meter. Equipped with a 2.7" touchscreen, the new model offers flash duration measurement and has the capability to measure the brief flash bursts of High Speed Sync (HSS) for precision flash exposure control. Filmmakers and landscape photographers will appreciate the L-858D’s increased sensitivity for both incident and reflected-spot measurements giving them the ability to obtain extreme low light level readings. The L-858D also offers optional wireless triggering modules for Elinchrom, Phottix and PocketWizard radio triggering devices. The Sekonic SpeedMaster L-858D light meter will be on display at the Photokina show in Hall 4.1, Booth E-010.

Sony is demonstrating its full range of digital imaging offerings at Photokina 2016. Located in Hall 5.2, the Sony booth will be open from 10:00 on Tuesday 20th September until 18:00 on Sunday 25th September. In addition to showcasing the full product line-up including the newly announced A99 II camera, Sony is offering a full programme of live talks and demonstrations. At these free talks, world-renowned photographers and filmmakers will be sharing their insights as well as their own personal and professional experiences of using Sony cameras and lenses. As part of the programme, there will also be a series of live action shows which attendees are invited to photograph including a celebration of Samurai sword artistry, professional break dancers and acrobats.

Fotospeed is launching a selection of square-format inkjet papers. Available from October, the papers come in three sizes, 8"x8", 10"x10" and 12"x12"; and three finishes, Fotospeed PF Lustre 275, Fotospeed Platinum Etching and Fotospeed Platinum Baryta. “We are committed to encouraging photographers to print their images,” says Toby Herlinger, Sales & Marketing Director at Fotospeed. “Fotospeed truly believe in the power and difference that a printed image makes. Getting images out of social media and giving strangely shaped images a way of getting printed easily, makes sense to us. We’ve done the same with panoramas in the past, and we’re excited to give photographers an easy and cost effective way to print high quality, square images.” The square paper format will provide medium format users with a cost effective solution to having to cut from larger sheets of paper, will give Instagram users the chance to print their images easily, and will enable anyone whose photo would be better suited to a square an easy way to create that print without any wastage. Pricing for the new papers has yet to be confirmed.

Fotospeed, the UK’s premier photographic paper brand, is launching a new fine art paper. Offering a wide tonal range and deep blacks, the water-resistant. instant-dry Platinum Gloss Art Fibre 300 will be added to Fotospeed’s existing Fine Art range, and will be available in Octobere in A4, A3, A3+, and A2 sizes and in 24”, 36”, and 44” wide 15-metre rolls. Made from 100% alpha-cellulose pulp, Platinum Gloss Fibre 300 is a heavyweight exhibition quality paper, and lends itself particularly well to black-and-white shots or shots with very vibrant colours. Fotospeed will be attending Photokina from 20-25th September 2016. A first look at the Platinum Gloss Art Fibre 300 paper will be available at their stand A035 in Hall 3.1.

Profoto and Sony today announced their collaboration to expand markets for professional photographers and serious amateurs. This cooperation promises enhanced compatibility across Profoto flashes and light-shaping tools and Sony's interchangeable-lens cameras. “Profoto is very pleased to enter into this partnership with Sony, a front runner of groundbreaking digital imaging. This collaboration between two industry leaders in photography and light shaping provides a unique platform that will enable future innovations for the world’s best and most ambitious photographers. We are happy to announce the first step, the highly sought-after Profoto AirTTL for Sony α users,” says Anders Hedebark, CEO of Profoto. The Profoto Air Remote TTL-S (pictured) is a small, wireless radio transmitter that can be attached to your Sony camera’s hotshoe. The remote offers full TTL and HSS capability with Profoto’s Pro-10, D2, B1, and B2 flashes. The Air Remote TTL-S will be available in early 2017.

Within the next 18 months, Leica SL photographers can look forward to the expansion of the SL lens portfolio with the addition of an ultra-wide zoom and four prime lenses. The Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is scheduled to be available in January 2017 at a suggested retail price of £3,850 including VAT. This will be followed by the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH. in Summer 2017. The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH. and the Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH. are scheduled for Autumn and Winter 2017 respectively, followed by the Leica Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH. in Spring 2018. Pricing will be announced nearer to each launch date. The Leica SL Handgrip is available now in the UK at a suggested retail price of £600 including VAT.

The PocketWizard FlexTT5 TTL Radio System is the first TTL radio system specifically for Panasonic ‘s mirrorless cameras. Panasonic photographers can now benefit from PocketWizard’s wireless transceiver radio technology for remote TTL flash and camera triggering. With the FlexTT5 for Panasonic, GH4 photographers can now trigger any number of remote flashes without line of site limitations. PocketWizard is also currently developing a remote camera cable which will allow Panasonic photographers to trigger a remote camera with their FlexTT5 or any other PocketWizard radio.  

The PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver for Panasonic will be available at the end of October, 2016.  Photographers will have the option of purchasing individual radios or a set of two. The US MAP price of a single FlexTT5 for Panasonic radio will be $186.00 and a set of two radios which includes a PocketWizard G-Wiz Trunk bag will come in at $299.00 US MAP.

The new BlackRapid Breathe range of camera straps that have been designed to deliver a higher level of comfort and performance. A new shoulder pad design allows for a better weight distribution and strap position across the body, and also features a removable underarm stabilising strap. The new shoulder pad also features an ‘airmesh’ grip layer, that fixes the strap’s position on the shoulder more firmly, and increased ventilation that means you can wear the strap for extended periods without compromising on comfort. BlackRapid Breathe camera straps are available from £40.

Earning over $6.5M from more than 26,000 supporters in the company’s latest crowdfunding effort, Peak Design officially became the overall second most crowdfunded brand. Over the course of six years and six consecutive campaigns, Peak Design has collectively raised more than $13.7M via crowdfunding efforts. In 2015 Peak Design broke into the top 12 Kickstarter campaigns of all time with the unprecedented success of the Everyday Messenger Bag: a successful redefinition of the classic messenger bag guided by the company’s roots in photography. This summer, the company was back with a full line of packs that included two backpacks, a sling and a tote, under the expanded Everyday Bag Line.

The new Profoto D2 monolight can freeze action at up to 1/63,000 of a second, shoot bursts of 20 images per second and sync with camera shutter speeds as fast as 1/8,000 of a second. The Profoto  D2 brings pin sharp clarity with a flash duration of up to 1/63,000 of a second, which makes it faster than most high-end studio packs on the market. Better still, it offers super short flash duration across the full energy range. In terms of output, the D2 is available in 500Ws and 1000Ws versions. The Profoto D2 is released Sept 15, 2016. Both the 500Ws and 1000Ws versions are available in different kit configurations.

The Tether Tools Case Air Wireless Tethering System is an innovative camera controller that connects and transfers images instantly from a camera to a smartphone, tablet or computer. Case Air offers remote control of advanced camera settings including focus adjustments, exposure settings, bracketing, time-lapse, HDR, and more. View images on a larger screen to check critical focus and composition or use live-view or movie mode for real-time capture to share and collaborate as images are created. The complete system and accessories will be globally available through Tether Tools’ authorized resellers and at http://www.TetherTools.com in late October.

Formatt-Hitech have announced the Firecrest 100mm filter holder. It features new top and bottom covers to almost completely eliminate light leakage when shooting long exposure, with interchangeable end caps for use with 100x100 filters or 100x125/150mm graduated filters.

Think Tank Photo has released the Airport Advantage rolling camera bag, designed for traveling on commuter or regional jets. The bag’s customized interior holds the maximum amount of gear that will fit in overhead bins or under seats. In addition, its ultralight design lets photographers pack more gear while staying under airlines’ increasingly vigilant weight restrictions.

Think Tank Photo’s newly released Airport International V3.0 and Airport Security V3.0 rolling camera bags feature improved handles, greater durability, and dedicated laptop and tablet compartments. The Airport International V3.0 holds two gripped DSLRs with lenses attached, plus two to four additional lenses, a 15” laptop, and a 10” tablet.  The roller fits up to a 500mm f/4 detached or 400mm f/2.8 attached (hood reversed).  The Airport Security V3.0 holds two gripped DSLRs with lenses attached plus four to six additional lenses, a 17” laptop, and a 10” tablet. The bag fits up to a 600mm f/4 detached or 500mm f/4 attached (hood reversed).

Pinout is a smart, versatile gadget which allows you to control your Nikon DSLR via a smartphone. It supports GPS, timer control, multi-camera control, time-lapse, HDR, bulb ramping, sensor-based functions and more. Three different kits are available ranging in price from $34.99 to $128.99.

Hasselblad has launched the Hasselblad ‘4116 Collection’ - a range of products and collaborations to celebrate the brand’s 75th anniversary. The company has teamed up with Motorola for the ‘Hasselblad True Zoom’ – a
10x optical zoom Moto Mod compatible with Moto Z smartphones. Offering a physical shutter, Xenon flash and zoom, the ‘Hasselblad True Zoom’ instantly snaps on to the Moto Z smartphone using magnets. The mod allows users to shoot raw images which can be edited using Hasselblad’s Phocus software. Furthermore, Hasselblad and Alpa have formed a collaboration allowing optimised integration of all ALPA technical cameras with both Hasselblad digital backs from H System and CFV as well as Hasselblad HC/HCD lenses in existing and future products. Last but not least, Hasselblad has fostered a relationship with Swedish accessories brand, Sandqvist, creating functional, stylish camera bags to accent the Hasselblad range of offerings. The Sandqvist x Hasselblad collection consists of three high quality bags, created by Hasselblad and Sandqvist, and will be launched at Photokina in September.