The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a new 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera with extremely fast contrast-detect autofocus and a multi-aspect LiveMOS sensor.. Featuring an intuitive touch control for setting the active focus point, the new Panasonic GH2 boasts focusing times as low as 0.1 second at the wide end of the 14-140mm lens. To match the multi-aspect sensor in the GH2, Panasonic has also developed a multi-aspect EVF with a resolution of 1.53 million dots, a magnification of 1.42x, and 100% frame coverage. In addition to capturing 16-megapixel stills, the GH2 also offers Full HD video recording at variable frame rates including cine standard 24fps with a bit rate of up to 24Mbps. Along with the Lumix GH2, Panasonic also unveiled three new lenses, including a wide 14mm f2.5 pancake, a 100-300mm super-telezoom and a 12.5mm 3D lens. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 will cost £899.99 with the 14-42mm lens and £1299.99 with the 14-140mm lens.

Panasonic has announced three new lenses - 14mm, 100-300mm, 12.5mm 3D - for the Micro Four Thirds system. The LUMIX G 14 mm / F2.5 ASPH, features a 14mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 28 mm) wide angle and F2.5 brightness. The LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. takes 300mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 600 mm) handheld ultra-telephoto zoom shots. The LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12 (H-FT012) is the world’s first interchangeable 3D lens.

The Panasonic Lumix G 12.5mm F12 is a 3D lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. The remarkably compact lens features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses, to be processed with a 3D image processing system. When mounted on the Panasonic GH2, the lens has an angle of view of 37°, provided the user has chosen the 16:9 aspect ratio on the camera. Constructed of 2x4 elements in 2x3 groups, the Panasonic Lumix G 12.5mm lens has a fixed aperture of f12 and comes with a standard Micro Four Thirds mount. Pricing to be confirmed.

The Epson Stylus Pro 4900 is a new 17-inch printer offering professional photographers a super-wide colour gamut with automated colour accuracy. Its high level of automation and robust mechanism make the Epson Stylus Pro 4900 a highly productive workhorse for the print studio environment. The Epson 4900 is priced at £2295 and will be available from November 2010.

The 24-inch Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and the 44-inch Epson Stylus Pro 9890 are new large format printers. They have been designed to help professional photographers and the fine art market create true-to-life prints at high speed. The 9890 and 7890 both use Epson’s 8-colour UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta inkset and offer an optional in-line SpectroProofer to ensure repeatable colour accuracy. The Epson Stylus Pro 7890 is priced at £2595 and the Epson Stylus Pro 9890 is priced at £5195. Both models will be available to purchase from 1st January 2011.

The interchangeable lens, medium-format Pentax 645D digital SLR camera will be launched in the UK in December 2010. The 645D produces extra-sharp, super-high-resolution images with approximately 40 effective megapixels, and is also surprisingly easy to use despite its large size, as we experienced yesterday. The Pentax 645D will be available from early December 2010 for £8999.99 (body only) or £9999.99 for the kit (inc. 55mm SDM 645 lens).

The Leaf Aptus-II 12 is the world’s highest resolution, one-shot medium format digital camera back. The Leaf Aptus-II 12 (and Leaf Aptus-II 12R with internal rotating sensor) features a full-frame 53.7 x 40.3mm 80 MP CCD sensor, Users can choose to shoot images either at full resolution or they can “dial down” to select an aspect ratio, such as the 1:1 with 60MP resolution. The Leaf Aptus-II 12 and Leaf Aptus-II 12R digital backs are priced at €23,995 / $31,995 and can be ordered now.

The Casio EX-Z16 is a stylish new entry-level 12 megapixel digicam. The Casio EX16 offers a 3x zoom, simplified menu, dedicated movie button, 2.7-inch LCD screen and YouTube capture feature. The EX-Z16 will be on store shelves in September and retail for $99.99.

At Photokina, Pentax is showing off its brand new K-5 digital SLR camera alongside the recently announced K-r and the company’s medium-format offering, the Pentax 645D. Also on display is the older Pentax K-x, which is available in a dozen different colours. The company is not neglecting its compact camera range either, the various Optio models are being showcased just as prominently as the manufacturer’s SLR cameras. The highly customisable Pentax Optio RS1000 has been given extra attention, with an eye-catching display of its own. Those of you who plan on attending the show in the coming days will find the Pentax stand in Hall 2.2, just behind Nikon’s exhibition area.

The much-rumoured Panasonic GH2 probably won’t be much of a surprise when it’s announced tomorrow. Especially as Panasonic didn’t exactly keep their big Photokina secret by erecting giant-sized posters of their new video-superstar Micro Four Thirds camera all around the show grounds. Someone obviously made a major boo-boo, as crewmen were hurriedly draping the offending posters in even bigger black cloths to try and put the horse back in its stable…

Want to see exactly what the new Olympus Zuiko compact digital camera looks like?

Then check out our exclusive hands-on photo gallery of the prototype Olympus Zuiko ahead of its debut at tomorrow’s Photokina opening day.

Want to see exactly what the new Pentax K-5 DSLR camera looks like in the flesh?

Here are 13 hands-on product shots of the Pentax K-5, a new prosumer DSLR with a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, full HD movies and excellent build quality and weather-resistance - click through to view the gallery.

The Pentax K-5 is a new 16 megapixel DSLR camera. Based on the Pentax K-7, the K-5 offers 7fps burst shooting, ISO 80-51200, full 1080 HD movies, faster autofocusing, upgraded HDR, and a dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant construction. The Pentax K-5 will be available from mid-late October 2010 in three kits: K-5 +18-55mm WR - £1199.99, K-5 + 18-55mm WR + 50-200mm WR - £1299.99, and K-5 + 18-135mm WR - £1699.99.

Pentax have announced a new 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 high-zoom-ratio standard zoom lens. The smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL[IF] DC WR features a 7.5-times zoom ratio, simplified weather-resistant construction and extra-smooth autofocus operation. The smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm will be available from early November 2010 for £599.99.

The Casio EX-H20G is a 14-megapixel superzoom camera that combines GPS technology with motion-sensor driven positioning, making it possible to track the camera’s position even when there is no satellite signal, such as indoors or under the ground. Casio first demoed this technology back in January when it showed a working prototype of the camera. Thanks to its “hybrid GPS” solution, the Casio EX-H20G can save location information for photos taken indoors and other places with no satellite reception. In addition to this, the camera is pre-loaded with world atlas data and information on about 10,000 landmarks around the globe. The Casio EX-H20G can display the user’s location and the photos and movies taken on a map on the screen. Other, more conventional highlights include a 24-240mm equivalent zoom lens, a 3-inch high-resolution LCD screen with good outdoors visibility and a fully automatic Premium Auto function for beginners.

The Casio EX-ZR10 is a 12-megapixel digital compact camera capable of HDR imaging through multiple exposure blending. Utilising high-speed image capture and high-speed image processing, the Casio EX-ZR10 can create high-dynamic-range images from a series of bracketed exposures taken in rapid succession. These images are not really like traditional photographs or “conventional” HDR photos - they look more like paintings or drawings. Casio calls this function “HDR Art”, and claims it “offers the fun of creating and displaying digital art”. At the core of this feature is a new Exilim Engine HS processor and a12-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Other highlights include a 28-200mm equivalent 7x zoom lens, “dramatically reduced” shot-to-shot times, a continuous shooting mode featuring up to 40 frames per second (fps), movie capture at up to 480fps, and a Slide Panorama function for creating 360° panoramic images.

The Fujifilm X100 is a surprise range-finder style camera slated for release in early 2011. Based around a 12.3 megapixel APS-C sensor and 23mm F2 Fujinon lens, the Fuji X100 is just a development announcement at the moment, but one that isn’t too far away from reality. Other key features of the X100 include a Hybrid Viewfinder which toggles between optical and electronic viewfinders, 2.8-inch rear LCD, 5fps continuous shooting and a beautiful retro design and attention to detail. No word yet on availability in the UK, US or indeed anywhere - we’ll hopefully have some hands-on, or maybe behind-glass, shots of the Fujifilm X100 when it makes its public debut at Photokina.

The Olympus Zuiko digital camera is a new flagship compact featuring the critically acclaimed ZUIKO lens system. In addition to the premium lens, the Olympus Zuiko will also be compatible with accessories for Olympus’ PEN E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras. Other than a first quarter of 2011 sale date, no other details about the new Olympus compact have been released. A mock-up of the new flagship compact will be on show at Photokina, so expect some hands-on product shots very soon.

The Novoflex MagicBalance is a new compact leveling head. Ideal as a base for 3D cameras and panorama systems, the MagicBalance can be turned 15° in all directions and fixed with only one hand by means of a fixing screw. The Novoflex MagicBalance leveling head will be available from November 2010 for 149 Euros.

The Novoflex Ball NQ is a new low profile ball-and-socket head. The easy-to-move Novoflex Ball NQ permits a 360° rotation and can be locked in any desired position by means of a winged screw. The Ball NQ will be available in November 2010 for 189 Euros.