The 30mm equivalent Olympus 15mm f/8 Body Cap Lens is a funky fixed-focus, fixed-aperture lens the size of a body cap. With a depth of only 9mm, the Olympus 15mm f/8 Body Cap Lens slips easily into a jacket pocket. When mounted to a camera like the PEN lite or PEN mini, it enables quick, spur-of-the moment snaps that require no effort to set focus or aperture. Featuring a built-in lever that enables shooting in the macro range, the Olympus 15mm f/8 Body Cap Lens will go on sale in October for £70.

Olympus is launching an all-black limited edition of its M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 Micro Four Thirds lens. Equivalent to a 24mm ultra-wideanlge optic in a 35mm system, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 (read review) is a high-grade, all-metal, fast lens that features built-in depth of field and distance indicators, making it ideal for zone focusing. Available from October, the special-edition M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 will retail for £849, which includes the matching metal lens hood and cap.

Olympus has announced pricing and availability for its M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro MFT lens. Originally announced in February, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 is a telemacro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1. Housed in a dust- and splashproof body, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro is designed to complement the similarly rugged Olympus OM-D camera (but can, of course, also be mounted to any other Micro Four Thirds body). Available from October, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm 1:2.8 Macro lens carries a recommended retail price of £429.

Successor to the critically acclaimed XZ-1, the new Olympus XZ-2 features a 12.3-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, a 28-112mm (eq.) f/1.8-2.5 Zuiko Digital lens and customisable controls that make it easier and faster for photographers to get exactly the shot they want. That’s in addition to a new touch-sensitive tilt screen, the same TruePic VI image processor used in the OM-D E-M5 compact system camera, Full HD movie recording and Eye-Fi/FlashAir compatibility for sharing images directly on your social network.. Another bonus for seasoned photographers is the fast-response autofocus that you activate with a simple tap on the 920,000-dot, 3-inch hypercrystal LCD. The Olympus XZ-2 will be available from late October 2012 for £479.99

Billed as the manufacturer’s “smallest and lightest full-frame digital SLR camera for serious photographers,” the Canon EOS 6D features a newly designed 20.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, a built-in wireless transmitter and an integrated GPS module. The camera also includes an 11-point AF array and 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering sensor together with 1080p Full HD video capabilities. Other highlights include 14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion and a maximum continuous shooting speed of 4.5 frames per second. The Canon EOS 6D will be sold in a body-only configuration for $2,099/£1,799 and it will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $2,899.00/£2,519.99. Both configurations are expected to be available in December 2012. The separately sold BG-E13 battery grip retails for £249.99.

Canon has announced three new Wi-Fi enabled, 12-megapixel PowerShot models, including the Canon G15 with a 28-140mm (eq.) f/1.8-2.8 zoom, the PowerShot S110 with a 24-120mm (eq.) f/2-5.9 lens and the PowerShot SX50 HS with 50x optical zoom. Successor to the critically acclaimed G12, the Canon PowerShot G15 comes with a considerably faster lens, higher-resolution (albeit non-articulated) rear screen, faster AF system and continuous capture of up to 10fps at full resolution. Like the G15, the Canon S110 also features a fairly big (for a compact) 1/1.7-type sensor, improved focusing speeds and 10fps burst shooting, complemented by a Touch Shutter feature courtesy of its 3-inch capacitive touchscreen. The Canon SX50 HS comes with a much smaller, 1/2.33-type sensor but offers an incredible 50x zoom lens (24-1200mm equivalent). Like the other two models, the PowerShot SX50 HS benefits from improved focusing times and offers high-speed continuous shooting at up to 10fps. The Canon PowerShot G15, PowerShot S110 and PowerShot SX50 HS are expected to be available in October for estimated retail prices of $499.99, $449.99 and $479.99, respectively.

Canon has added two new models to its Pixma Pro series of 13-inch inkjet printers. Built with the same quality of output and design as the flagship Pixma Pro-1 professional inkjet printer, these two models are claimed to produce excellent black-and-white and colour prints. The Canon Pixma Pro-10 printer (pictured) utilises a 10-ink tank system with LUCIA pigment-based inks to produce a wide colour gamut and exceptional print longevity on fine art and glossy paper. The printer employs three monochrome inks, including Matte Black, to generate deep, dark blacks when using fine art paper. The eight-colour, Canon PIXMA PRO-100 printer utilises the ChromaLife 100+ dye-based ink system to produce vibrant, saturated colours on fine-art and glossy papers. Three monochrome inks are included to help enhance black density and produce accurate prints with smooth tonal gradations. The estimated selling price of the Pixma Pro-10 and Pixma Pro-100 Professional Inkjet Printers are $699 and $499.

Canon has announced the upcoming launch of three new additions to its Pixma range of printers. Joining Canon’s All-in-One Photo printer range are the Wi-Fi enabled MG5450 and MG6350, which feature fast print speeds, the option of cost-saving high capacity XL inks, and enhanced connectivity for printing around the home. The Pixma MG6350 additionally. features an 8.8cm colour touchscreen and a 6-ink printing system (versus the more traditional 7.5cm display and 5-ink system of the MG5450) that combines with Canon’s Intelligent Touch System for easy and intuitive, light-guided touch operation. The similarly Wi-Fi capable Pixma iP7250 single-function printer has a 5-ink system, and features direct printing from tablet and smartphone devices. The Canon Pixma iP7250, MG5450 & MG6350.will be available from November for £79/€99, £129/€159 and £169/€219, respectively.

The Fujifilm XF1 is a 12-megapixel premimum compact with a 2/3-type sensor and a 25-100mm (eq.) f/1.8-4.9 lens with Optical Image Stabilisation. The camera’s EXR-CMOS sensor features Fujifilm’s three switchable sensor modes (SN - high ISO and low noise, DR - dynamic-range priority, and HR - resolution priority) which can be selected according to the subject. The quick read time of the CMOS sensor, coupled with the high-speed EXR processor, accelerates all operations - start-up in 0.55 seconds, focus acquisition in as little as 0.16 seconds, and minimum shot-to-shot time of 0.8 seconds. The Fujifilm XF1’s slim-line lens is constructed of 7 lens elements in 6 groups (four aspherical and three extra low dispersion), the first with a highly variable profile and a high refractive index, and the second an aspherical element with an extremely high refractive index. The Fujifilm XF1 will cost £399.00 in the UK. The Black version is exclusive to Jessops for two weeks from October 18th. All the versions are then generally released from Oct 29th with the Black and Tan versions available through the Fujifilm retail network, while the Red version will be exclusive to Dixons.

The Worlds’ biggest photography show, Photokina, starts on Tuesday 18th September in Cologne, Germany.

Lots of exciting new cameras and photography products will be unveiled in the next few days as the manufacturers finalise their Autumn 2012 ranges. The Photography Blog team will be at Photokina to bring you all the breaking news, including tomorrow’s Press Day when several manufacturers are making announcements.

So make sure to regularly visit Photography Blog this week for all the very latest news from Photokina 2012.

You can view all of our Photokina news on this page: http://www.photographyblog.com/category/photokina_2012/

The Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS UMC CS is an ultra wide-angle prime lens designed for use with cameras that have APS-C / DX sensors. It will be manual focus only and gives an equivalent focal length of 15mm (or 16mm in the case of Canon EOS) in 35mm terms. A prototype of the Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS UMC CS lens will be showcased at Photokina and it will be available at the end of 2012.

iStabilizer, creator of universal lightweight and compact tripods, steady cams and mounts for mobile devices and digital cameras, announces the iStabilizer Monopod smart phone camera mount and extension. Using iStabilizer’s patented universal Mount, the Monopod works with most mobile devices or digital cameras measuring up to 2.75” (7cm) wide. Collapsed, the Monopod measures approximately 14” and weighs under a half pound. iStabilizer’s Monopod is available now for $34.95 at the website below..

The Syngenta Photography Award, a new international competition that aims to stimulate dialogue around key global challenges, is now open for submissions.  In its inaugural year, the theme is “rural-urban”, exploring the relationship and tensions between rural and urban environments. The Award has two categories. The Open Competition welcomes photographers of all levels, from professional to amateur. In addition, professional photographers are invited to compete for a Professional Commission by submitting an original proposal that is related to this year’s rural-urban theme. The closing date for entries is 15 January 2012.

The Royal Photographic Society has announced the recipients of its annual awards. Steve J Sasson, widely acknowledged as the inventor of the digital camera, which he developed while working for the Eastman Kodak Company in 1975, received the Progress Medal. New York photographer Joel Meyerowitz, who was an early exponent of colour photography from 1962 received the Centenary Medal. Kathy Ryan a New York photo editor, author, teacher, mentor and exhibition curator, received the award for Outstanding Service to Photography. The call for nominations for the 2013 Awards will be open from 30 September 2012.

Tether Tools have launched a new line of tablet and smartphone mounts for photographers, videographers and musicians. The Rock Solid line is a premier collection of arms, brackets and clamps for the photography, film, audio and music industries, priced from $8.ö5 to $58.95. In addition to individual Rock Solid products, the company will also be offering two kits priced at $86.89 and $240.85. Rock Solid products and kits are available at the website below.

The 5th Annual International Loupe Awards are now open for entries. Featuring Amateur, Open and Medium Format sections, with 3, 8 and 3 categories respectively, the International Loupe Awards are open to professionals, amateurs and students, and are judged by 25 leading photographers from around the world. The deadline for entries is 31 October 2012.. Late entries accepted until 15th November (late entry fees apply).

The current president of Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation, Ned Bunnell, will retire effective 30th September. From 1st October Noboru Akahane will be appointed President of the “Americas,” in addition to his current role as president of Pentax Ricoh Japan. “Given the market opportunity, North America is very important to our business,” Akahane explains. “There are a core group of Pentax and Ricoh fans here and we are confident to deliver high-quality products that will not only satisfy our current customers but also attract new customers through innovation and support of Ricoh’s global brand.”

The Guardian has announced a new photography masterclass entitled Photography with the iPhone. Hosted by Richard Gray - the UK’s first lecturer in mobile photography - and three other leading British iPhoneographers, the event will take place on 24th September will give participants key insights into the techniques and apps used by some of the most successful mobile phone photographers in the United Kingdom.. The tuition fee is £69 including VAT. For more information and to book your place visit the website below. (Illustration: Tube Readers by Richard Gray)

Website: Guardian Masterclasses

We have spent some quality time with the brand new Nikon D600 full-frame digital SLR camera to deliver you a hands-on preview. You can read our initial impressions below.

Update: Since publishing this hands-on report, we have completed our full review of the Nikon D600.

Nikon has released a spectacular sample movie shot on the new Nikon D600 full-frame digital SLR camera, accompanied by a “behind-the-scenes” video that was also recorded with the D600. Shot on location in various places across the globe, the sample movie demonstrates the capabilities of the camera very well; though you must remember that the average user - equipped with nothing but the camera itself, an assortment of lenses and a tripod, with no access to all the accessories (cranes, specialised mounting rigs etc.) and vehicles used by the creators of the sample movie - will hardly be able to shoot such professional videos on their vacations. Nevertheless, “Chasing the Light” is a truly enjoyable movie, available to watch at reduced resolution on the Nikon Imaging website.

Website: Nikon Imaging