StarTech.com has announced the release of two new Dual Slot SD Card Readers which enable users to read and write to any two SD cards simultaneously. The new SD card readers will benefit photographers and videographers who import photos and videos from their digital camera, video camera, or action cam to their laptop or desktop PC. By accessing two SD cards at once, users can overcome the challenges of dealing with multiple memory cards and save time and effort by transferring content from multiple cards instead of importing content from each card individually. “These dual-slot SD card readers provide creative professionals with ultra-fast access to SD cards and the ability to quickly import photos and videos from their devices,” said Scott Burton, Product Manager, StarTech.com. “With their small, portable form factors and integrated cables, these products are extremely compact, making them versatile enough to use in the studio or out in the field.”

G-Technology have announced the expansion of its G-DRIVE portfolio, with its first solid state portable drive, the G-DRIVE slim SSD USB-C. The new drive brings faster interface speeds with USB-C connectivity and expanded external storage for next-generation computers. Available in 1TB and 500GB capacities, the G-DRIVE slim SSD USB-C delivers solid state drive performance of up to 540MB/s and features the 10Gb/s USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface. The included Type-C to Type-C cable and Type-C to Type-A cable allow this drive to operate with any computer featuring Thunderbolt 3, USB-C or USB 3.0 ports. Requiring no external power source, the G-DRIVE slim SSD USB-C is available from £199.95.

Envision Peripherals have announced the new Philips Crystalclear Quad HD 2560 x 1440 32-inch display (BDM3270QP2), which features a 10-bit Philips AMVA LED panel with an ultra-high static contrast ratio. The new display also offers a decent range of connectivity options including DisplayPort, HDMI, Dual link DVI and USB 3.0. The CrystalClear Quad HD 2560 x 1440 32-inch display also features MultiView technology, which enables you to work with multiple devices like a PC and notebook side-by-side simultaneously. The 10-bit display boasts 1.074 billion colours, 178-degree viewing angles and a 12-bit internal look-up table. Finally, an integrated MHL port allows users to connect compatible phones and tablets directly to the monitor to mirror content to the widescreen display while charging the mobile device at the same time.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera can shoot 4K video whilst taking advantage of its in-body 5-Axis image stabilization, which compensates for all types of camera shake.

To test this out, I hand-held the E-M1 Mark II whilst sat in a moving car, and then recorded a pair of horses that were running alongside at roughly the same speed. Nothing else was used to support the camera, and this was the first and only take that I was able to record. Here's the resulting footage...

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of WestLicht, Leica will hold its 30th WestLicht camera auction, opening at 11 a.m. on 19 November 2016. Among the highlights of the anniversary auction are two versions of the RIFLE sets, manufactured by E. Leitz New York, which were first publicly presented in July 1938. The RITOO set, with a 20 cm Telyt lens and the original case, is expected to value $165,000 and $200,000. Bids for the second version, a RITEL with a 40 cm Telyt lens and also in its original case, are expected to be in the range of $190,000 to $225,000. Magnum photographer Herbert List’s black paint Leica M3 (No. 915252, pictured) from 1958 is also up for auction (estimated hammer price: $45,000 to $55,000). This early black paint version of the camera from an unofficial series is one of the rarest Leica items. Around 90 units were built, and very few of them have survived. In addition to Leica products, visitors to the anniversary auction will also have an opportunity to bid for numerous collectors’ pieces and rarities from other camera manufacturers.

The new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera has an innovative Pro Capture mode which should make it easier to capture that decisive moment. Simply set the shooting mode dial to the Pro Capture setting, then press and hold the shutter release button halfway. The E-M1 Mark II will then continuously buffer a series of full resolution 20 megapixel JPEG / RAW images until you fully press the shutter button, at which point it will capture the image plus the 14 previous frames. If you want to take full advantage of the E-M1 Mark II's amazing 60fps shooting rate, continue to keep the shutter release fully depressed to take up to an additional 99 frames.

Adobe showcased next-generation Creative Cloud innovation, including a new breed of applications in experience design, photography and 3D compositing, as well as new developments brewing in the company’s research labs, at Adobe MAX 2016. A new Mac release of Adobe Experience Design CC (XD), the first all-in-one tool for designing, prototyping and sharing user experiences for website and mobile apps, is now available with two highly anticipated features - Layers and Symbols support. First made popular in Adobe’s flagship design tools Photoshop CC and Illustrator CC, XD reimagines Layers and Symbols to address the specific needs of user experience designers. The next release of Adobe Premiere Pro CC includes auto-aware virtual reality that seamlessly detects and applies the correct setting to stereoscopic and monoscopic media. First introduced at IBC, updates to Premiere Pro, After Effects CC and Prelude CC will also include a Beta of Team Projects that allows teams and enterprise customers to co-edit and collaborate on Creative Cloud projects. Adobe is also releasing a new Cinema 4D renderer in After Effects that will speed up efficiency and quality of 3D content generation. Additionally, Adobe announced a partnership with Reuters, the world’s largest international multimedia news provider, to bring Reuters video and photography to Adobe Stock’s new editorial collection. Available through Adobe Creative Cloud, creatives will be able to access Reuters editorial content including Reuters photos covering news, sports and entertainment events, and Reuters video footage covering all major events across the globe.

Manfrotto is running a special giveaway for the festive period. Available on selected products across the Manfrotto and Lastolite by Manfrotto range, the offer is available from all qualifying Manfrotto dealers in the UK. Under the terms of the promotion, customers are eligible for a free gift when buying certain products. This offer is valid from 1st November 2016 – 24th December 2016.

Gary Fong has today introduced the new Bounce Panel pop-up flash diffuser for Sony’s smallest mirrorless camera line. This unique hot-shoe mounted diffuser elevates and disperses the pop-up flash, resulting in softer light on the subject, reducing the harsh side-shadows and hot-spots that pop-up flashes often create.The Bounce Panel boasts two different colour options (available as a set). The Half Cloud Panel is for more efficient use, and neutral tones ideally suited for event candids. The Amber Panel is designed to mimic the warmth of a setting sun or the colour temperature of tungsten lighting for proper balance. The Bounce Panel is available for $19.95.

Leica today announced that its Leica D-Lux (Typ 109) camera will be available in a set with added accessories at a special price starting mid-November. The new Leica D-Lux Explorer Kit includes the camera with the additional functionality of an auto lens cap – which allows photographers to power the camera on, shoot pictures, and then power off without the need to remove the cap – and an exclusive red carrying strap made from the finest quality cotton. Just in time for the season, the Leica D-Lux Explorer Kit comes in attractive packaging with a winter theme. The kit will become available later this month, at a recommended retail price of £920/$1,145.

Olympus has announced the recommended retail price of the new STF-8 Macro Flash. Billed as the World's first dust-, splash- and freezeproof macro twin flash, the Olympus STF-8 is designed for a perfect output to match macro shooting, with a guide number of 8.5 when both heads are fired, and 6 when firing one head. The output ratio of left and right flash head (A/B) can be set from 1:8 to 8:1 through two dials on the control panel. In addition to high-precision TTL flash exposure control, the output can be fine-tuned for manual flash firing within 1/1 to 1/128. Remote firing from the front of the control section is compatible with the Olympus wireless RC flash system that communicates via infrared light. The separately sold clip-on flash (FL-900R) and other large flashes for background light can be used for multi-unit lighting. The Olympus STF-8 Macro Flash is priced at £449.99 and available from December 2016.

Luminar, Macphun’s first all-in-one photo editor, is now available for pre-order. Introducing a brand new personal darkroom approach to photo editing, Luminar addresses the many varied needs of photographers of all levels through an innovative user experience which adapts to the capabilities and knowledge of the user. Personalised workspaces, a bevy of creative filters, image correction tools, layers & masking, and extensive file import/export capabilities make Luminar a compelling solution for anyone interested in editing photos on a Mac. The pre-ordering period runs from 2-17 November 2016.

Olympus have announced the recommended retail price of their flagship OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera. Equippedwith a 20.4-megapixel sensor, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIreaches sequential speeds of 18fps with continuous auto focus enabled, and 60fps in S-AF mode. A completely new on-chip, phase-detection AF system offers 121 all cross-type AF points and a high-speed algorithm powered by the new TruePic VIII AF processor. With an EVF that offers a response rate of barely 6ms and a smooth frame rate of 120 fps, it’s easy to keep up with fast-moving subjects. Additionally, the innovative Pro Capture shooting mode on the OM-D E-M1 Mark II exploits the virtual elimination of shutter lag by recording up to 14 sequential frames before the shutter release is fully pressed. The redesigned 5-axis image stabiliser now offers a6.5-stop advantage when paired with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm1:4.0 IS PRO lens. In addition to capturing 20-megapixel stills, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II can record 4K movies at 24fps and 30fps and a bit rate of 102Mbps/237Mbps. The camera body will be available from December, priced at £1849.99/$1,999.95. A kit including the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO lens will be available for £2399.99.

Iridient Digital has released version 3.1.2 of Iridient Developer, a raw file conversion and photo processing application for Mac OS X. This update brings support for the Hasselblad X1D-50c, H6D-50c, H6D-100c, True Zoom, Flextight X5 and Flextight X1; the Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, the Fujifilm X-A3, the Panasonic FZ2000 (DMC-FZ2500) and the Yi M1; and resolves an issue with potential overcorrection in the extreme corners with the automatic lens vignetting correction used for Fujifilm X models. This release also restores support for the the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 and the Mamiya ZD. The update is free for all users who have purchased a new or upgraded license after 20 September 2014.