The Olympus PEN E-PL7 is a Wi-Fi enabled 16-megapixel compact system camera with a 180-degree downward flipping touchscreen, 8fps continuous shooting and a body-integral 3-axis image stabiliser. Other highlights include 14 Art Filters, a Live Guide for real-time adjustment of manual settings, and remote operation via the Olympus Image Share smartphone app. The Olympus PEN E-PL7 will be available in white, vintage-style silver or classic black from early October 2014 for £499.00/$699.99 including a slim-line, interchangeable 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 EZ lens. The body-only price is $599.99.

Ricoh have posted half a dozen high-resolution sample images captured with the new Pentax K-S1 digital SLR camera. Shot with a variety of lenses including the smc PENTAX-DA 50-135mmF2.8ED [IF]SDM, the smc PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mmF3.5-4.5ED[IF], the smc PENTAX-DA★50-135mmF2.8ED [IF]SDM and HD PENTAX-DA 35mmF2.8 Macro Limited, these Pentax K-S1 sample photos were taken at sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 100/21° to ISO 400/27°.

Website: Official Pentax K-S1 Sample Photos

The Pentax K-S1 is a new, 20.12-megapixel camera that bucks the trend of conventional digital SLR camera design. Available in 12 different colour variations, this camera also boasts an innovative illumination interface system that intuitively reacts to changes in camera operation from stills to video. Other highlights include Full HD movie recording with stereo audio, a top shutter speed of 1/6000s, a high-speed continuous shooting function with a top speed of 5.4 images per second, an optical viewfinder offering 100% field of view, a 3.0-inch, high-resolution LCD monitor with a newly designed, easy-to-use graphical user interface, 21 digital filters and a dust removal mechanism for effective elimination of dust on the image sensor. The suggested retail price is £549.99 (body only), £599.99 with the DA L 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens and £679.99 with the SMC DA L 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL + SMC DA L f4-5.6 AL 50-200mm AL zoom lenses.

Corel PaintShop Pro X7 features new editing tools, faster brushes and modern UI updates. Giving photo pros and enthusiasts an image editing application that’s affordable and easy to use, Corel PaintShop Pro X7 delivers the impressive feature set and power expected from a professional caliber software package. “With the new PaintShop Pro X7, we’re continuing our commitment to give photographers and creative users the tools they need to create their best-ever work. X7 offers more creativity, speed and productivity to help you achieve amazing results, faster,” said Greg Wood, Senior Product Director for Photo Products at Corel.

Suggested retail pricing for PaintShop Pro X7 is $79.99 (USD/CAN)/ EUR 69.99/ £59.99 (inclusive of VAT, where applicable)/ $99.95 (AUD).

Suggested retail pricing for PaintShop Pro X7 Ultimate is $99.99 (USD/CAN) / EUR 89.99/ £79.99 (inclusive of VAT, where applicable)/ $129.95 (AUD).

Hama has introduced a duo of photo backpacks. The smaller model, the Hama Lismore 130, is actually a casual shoulder bag that can be quickly turned into a practical backpack. The bigger Lismore 170 can only be used as a backpack - however, it offers more than enough room for a larger SLR camera and accessories. The Lismore 130 will be available for €69.99, whilst the Lismore 170 will cost €119.00.

The Canon Digital Learning Center has posted several new educational resources for videographers. These include, among other videos, an entire series of tutorials explaining how to use the top features of the XF200 and XF205 HD camcorders. The series discusses several key benefits of the cameras, including the optics and zoom range, how to quickly access features, and understanding all the tools that help control image quality, such as Wide DR gamma, waveform monitor and dynamic range. Another new video walks viewers through the new RC-V100 Remote Control Unit, which enables users to remotely control the manufacturer's XF Series professional HD camcorders and Cinema EOS C500, Cinema EOS C300 and Cinema EOS C100 cameras.

Toshiba has announced “T4KA7”, a 1/2.4"-type, 20-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, which enables 6mm z-height camera modules for smartphones and tablets. With a 1.12 micrometer pixel size contributing to a smaller chip size, the. new imager offers a much improved frame rate of 22fps, 1.8 times faster than that of Toshiba’s previous 20-megapixel sensor. Mass production is scheduled to start in February 2015.

Hama has announced a new camera bag range. The Citytour line includes three shoulder bags and a waist bag, designed for compact digital cameras. Even the smallest bag in the series has a soft fleece lining to prevent scratches and features two adjustable and removable interior dividers, guaranteeing that everything has its place in the bag. The shoulder bags additionally feature a padded compartment for tablet computers. One of them, the Hama Citytour 140 (pictured), doubles as a photo backpack and features a removable inner compartment for additional flexibility. The bags are priced from €29,99 to €69.99.

Zeiss are set to launch a new family of lenses at Photokina, dubbed Loxia. Rumoured to be for Sony FE full-frame mirrorless cameras (A7S, A7R, A7), the new range will be joined at the show by another Otus full-frame DSLR lens as well as new rangefinder products. Zeiss are currently running a special interactive puzzle on their blog which will eventually reveal the new Photokina 2014 products.

Samyang have officially announced the 50mm f1.4 and T1.5 lenses, due later in 2014. The much rumoured 50mm lenses will be available in the Samyang 50 mm f1.4 AS UMC photographic version and the Samyang 50 mm T1.5 AS UMC VDSLR cine lens version with decoupled aperture and follow focus gearing. Both lenses will be vailable in Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Sony A, Fujifilm X mount, Pentax and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) fit, retailing for £449 for the f1.4 lens and £479 for the T1.5 version.

Fuji has posted six high-resolution sample photographs taken with the new Fujifilm X30 digital compact camera. Captured at low sensitivity settings (ISO100/21°, ISO125/22° and ISO200/24°), these Fujifilm X30 samples demonstrate the effects of some of the film simulation modes available on this camera including Astia, Provia, Velvia and "Classic Chrom." You can download the official Fujifilm X30 sample images from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm X30 Samples

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm X30 camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 64 photos of the Fujifilm X30.

The Fujifilm X30 is a premium compact camera with a 12 megapixel X-Trans CMOS II sensor, newly-developed Real Time Viewfinder, EXR Processor II, 4x optical zoom lens, phase detection auto-focusing as fast as 0.06 seconds, and a tilting LCD screen.

The Fujifilm X30 is a premium compact camera featuring an innovative Real Time Viewfinder. Other new features offered by the Fujifilm X30 include a ‘Classic Chrome’ film simulation mode, new control ring along with extra dials and function buttons, and a tilting 3.0-inch 920K-dot LCD monitor. The Fujifilm X30 will cost £479 in the UK, available from September 2014.

The Fujifilm X-E2: Beyond the Manual by Rico Pfirstinger is a new title from Rocky Nook. Providing experience-based information for owners of the Fujifilm X-E2 compact system camera, this new book focuses on insights that you won’t find in the manual, skipping tedious explanations of basic camera functions and operations. Instead, Rico cuts to the chase and provides readers with a plethora of tips and practical instructions that will enable them to fully explore the capabilities of the X-E2. The 130-page ebook is available from the website below, priced at $16.95.

Manfrotto today launched Befree Carbon, a new product in the Befree range of tripods. The carbon fibre version, devoted to hobbyists who love to travel, is now lighter but still fast to set up and intuitive to use, the company says. Its weight is only 1.1kg and its foldable legs, packed tightly, reach a folded length of just 40cm, thanks to an exclusive mechanism and to the ballhead's compact Quick Release Adapter. It can be comfortably carried everywhere thanks to its extra cushioned carry bag that protects it from any unintentional damage. The Manfrotto Befree Carbon tripod is available now for £279.95.

Toshiba today announced the Canvio Alu portable hard drive, which features a shock sensor as well as USB 3.0 and ramp loading technologies. Available in black or silver, the Canvio Alu boasts a compact design, encased in a stylish aluminium chassis for high durability. It comes in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities. and features intuitive NTI software to automatically back up and restore up to 2TB of your files and folders. The new Canvio Alu will be available for purchase from September, with a price starting at £43.00.

Color Confidence has announced dates for two Active Colour Training events designed to teach photographers about colour management. The next event will take place in Manchester on 25 September, followed by a training session in Birmingham on 19 November 2014. Each event will feature 8 exhibitors including X-Rite, NEC, DxO, EIZO, Macphun Software, Epson, TECCO and Manfrotto; a keynote speech from Richard Curtis, Principal Solutions Consultant at Adobe; and the opportunity to enter into a competition to win an all-expenses-paid photo week in Iceland. There will also be special offers and discounts on the day. The events are each priced at £25. This is refundable on purchase of a product on the day. The price also includes lunch and refreshments. To register for either event, visit the website below.

HDRlog has released the first update to hte standalone version of its HDRinstant software. Version 1 brings new features such as a tool to help you choose the sharpest image, user tone-mapping presets, image sharpening and adjustment tools. The innovative technology behind the program allows the user to create an HDR image from video footage, and its anti-ghosting capability removes motion blur when creating HDR images from several frames. After importing your video clip, you can extract as many images as possible, then select your favorite frame. HDRinstant will stack the frames and apply a special morphing algorithm to build the final HDR photograph.  The Mac and Windows versions can be downloaded from the website below.

Sony Asia Pacific has introduced a new digital camera that looks like a perfume bottle. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-KW11 has a 1/2.3"-type, 19.2-megapixel Exmor RS CMOS imager, a 21mm (eq.) f/2 lens mounted on a 180-degree swivel to facilitate the capture of self-portraits, and a large high-definition, high-contrast, 3.3 Type OLED screen with approximately 1,299k dots. Key highlights include a Beauty Effect mode, Flick Touch Shutter, NFC, Wi-Fi and remote shooting via a compatible smartphone or tablet computer. The Cyber-shot DSC-KW11 comes in four colours (White, Pink, Green and Violet) and will be available in Asia Pacific from October 2014 onwards. Currently, there is no word on US/EU availability and pricing.

Pickture, a photographic contest app for Android and iOS, has now reached over 100,000 Instagrammers through a series of collaborations. Initially released to a key group of high-volume Instagram users, the intuitive app activates the capabilities of Instagram to provide users with a platform to share their images, be immersed inphotography and have the chance to win a range of prizes. Pickture adopts a multi-platform approach by putting winners in the spotlight both within the app and on its own Instagram account. This provides users a chance to not only be rewarded for their images through prizes, but also with a chance to build their network of followers as they are exposed to a wide audience. Through celebrating the winners, Pickture also enables users to connect with and discover others who hold the same creative interests. You can download the app from the website below.