This year’s Hasselblad booth at Photokina will be a hotspot for attendees to learn about and experience the world of Hasselblad. Renowned fashion photographer Tom Hagemeyer will re-create the excitement of the Paris cabaret by staging a burlesque show at the booth. Visitors will have the opportunity to photograph this event using the Hasselblad H4D. Interested readers are encouraged to pre-register online at the Hasselblad website for the Catwalk Experience. The show will run several times a day throughout the length of the fair. Hasselblad is also setting up a special stage with one of the world’s most extraordinary sports cars. Professional automobile photographers Guenther Raupp (Tuesday-Thursday) and Roberto Bigano (Friday-Sunday) will offer 30-minute Master Classes five times a day for attendees to get a first-hand look at their set-up and shooting techniques.

Datacolor will be offering free calibration services at Photokina 2010 using its complete line of Spyder3 monitor calibration products and the SpyderLensCal, a new DSLR lens calibration device. Offering calibration of lenses and autofocus functions on modern DSLR camera bodies, the SpyderLensCal will be officially unveiled on September 22 at 10am at Datacolor’s booth (Hall 4.1, Booth E010/F019). In addition, Datacolor will also be presenting the results of its ‘Real New York’ photo contest.

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG21 and VPC-GH3 are new dual cameras capable of shooting 1080i video and 10-megapixel photos. Also featuring 5x optical zoom for stills and 10x “dual-range” zoom for video, these digital cameras are almost identical inside but look very different on the outside. The Xacti VPC-CG21 is a pistol-shaped affair, while the GH3 is a more traditional, horizontal design. Both cameras feature 2.7-inch fold-out LCD screens with a resolution of 230,000 dots, HDMI ports and easy operation, and both will be available at a recommended price of €199.

Website: Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG21 Datasheet (in German)
Website: Sanyo Xacti VPC-GH3 Datasheet (in German)

The Wild Side of Photography by Cyrill Harnischmacher is now available in the UK. This book, which debuted in the US in August, is geared toward the adventurous photographer. From this book, you will learn build a shift/tilt lens for your DSLR from an old junkyard 120 film camera, try the camera toss, shoot images from a kite, use a peephole door viewer as a fisheye lens, or build your own pinhole camera. Each project is presented with easy to understand instructional text, background information about the author and the project, and beautiful colour images to illustrate what can be accomplished and how you can do it too. Written by Cyrill Harnischmacher, this 176-page book is available for £22.99.

At Photokina 2010, the Manfrotto School of Xcellence will be offering participants a unique opportunity to listen, learn and talk with five top professional photographers. The School’s showcase will take place at the Manfrotto School of Xcellence Theatre in Hall 5.1 of the fair in Cologne, and will feature hourly presentations by photographers Bill Frakes, Joe McNally. These presentations will take place at 1pm on each day of the fair and then at 4pm on Sunday. In addition to this, at the School Booth in Hall 5.1 Bill and Joe will be giving portfolio reviews in the mornings - so aspiring photographers have the opportunity for a professional one-to-one critique of their work with feedback and advice. More portfolio reviews will be held in the afternoon, lead by another three highly respected photographers: Roberto Bigano from Italy, Uwe Statz from Germany, and Drew Gardner from the UK.

Website: Manfrotto School of Xcellence

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE VIKINGS: An Aerial Vision of Arctic Lands is a new title from National Geographic Books. Showcasing more than 100 spectacular and “utterly unfamiliar” views of Arctic lands and waterways, this new book by celebrated aerial photographer Robert Haas promises to “shatter our preconceived notions about a barren Arctic landscape”. The 224-page hardcover will be released on Tuesday 21th September at a price of $50.

A company called Soviet Montage Productions has released a short HDR video captured using two Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR cameras and a beam splitter. The two cameras used different exposure settings but - thanks to the beam splitter - filmed the exact same scene, allowing the two pieces of footage to be blended and tone-mapped in software. The result is a more realistic and more “film-like” video, as you can see below.

The Sinar eShutter is an electronically controlled precision shutter for view cameras. The Sinar eShutter is completely integrated into the Sinar System and in addition, thanks to its open architecture, it can also be used with any other system. Integrated microprocessor controls guarantee the highest precision when working with a view camera and they provide fast shutter speeds of up to 1/250 second. Sinar says its eShutter has a compact and light construction and can be attached to different camera platforms. The Sinar eShutter will become available at the beginning of next year. The price will be announced at Photokina.

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

Here are 10 hands-on product shots of the mid-range Pentax K-r, giving you a good idea of just how small it is - click through to view the gallery.

Want to see exactly what the new Pentax Optio RZ10 compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Here are 7 hands-on product shots of the Pentax Optio RZ10, which is covered in a curiously tactile rubberised material - click through to view the gallery.

The Pentax K-r is a mid-range DSLR camera targeted at digital SLR novices and family users. Featuring a 12.4 megapixel sensor and 6fps continuous shooting, the Pentax Kr has a compact, lightweight body with a stainless-steel chassis, 11-point AF system, ISO 25600, 720p movies, high-resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitor, Shake Reduction mechanism and support for the supplied lithium-ion battery and AA-size batteries. The PENTAX K-r will be available from October 2010 in two kits - the K-r and the 18-55mm DAL lens for £599.99, and the K-r and the 18-55mm DAL and 50-200mm DAL lenses for £699.99.

The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL is a new standard prime lens. Offering a natural perspective similar to that of the naked eye, the Pentax 35mm f/2.4 lens can be used with all Pentax digital SLR cameras, offering an angle of view equivalent to a 53.5mm lens in the 35mm format. The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL will be available from mid October 2010 for £179.99.

The Pentax Optio RZ10 is a digital compact camera with a 10x zoom lens and 14 megapixel sensor. Offering a focal range of 28-280mm, the Pentax RZ10 also features a 1cm macro mode, 720p video, 2.7-inch colour LCD monitor, Auto Picture Mode, and Dual Shake Reduction system. Available in a range of five colours, the Pentax Optio RZ10 will be available in October 2010 for £179.99.

The Pentax Optio RS1000 is a unique customisable compact camera. The RS1000 can be personalised with photographs or illustrations, printed on a template that lies between the body and a transparent front panel. There will also be a RS1000 website to visit where visitors can choose, download and print ready-made templates, create their own ‘skins’ and play fun games. In addition the Pentax RS1000 offers 14 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen, Auto Picture Mode, 720p video, and a range of digital filters. Available in a black or white base colour, the Pentax Optio RS1000 will be available in October 2010 for £119.99.

Carl Zeiss has expanded its Compact Prime CP.2 lens series with two new focal lengths: the 50mm with macro and 100mm with close focus function. The CP.2 100 mm/T2.1 CF is based on the Planar design and is the longest focal length in the Compact Prime CP.2 lens series so far. It extends the series by adding a very fast telephoto lens with a close-up focusing range of 0.7 metres. The CP.2 50mm/T2.1 Makro is based on the Makro-Planar design and allows close-up shots to be taken with the object at a distance of just 24 centimetres. These lenses have been specially developed for filming with DSLR cameras and will be presented for the first time at the IBC in Amsterdam. Product delivery is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2010. Retail price starts at €3,700 excluding VAT.

The Sling-O-Matic is a new sling bag from Think Tank Photo. Similarly to the recently announced Hama Katoomba 170RL and 190RL bags, the Sling-O-Matic has one adjustable shoulder strap that can be easily switched back and forth to either shoulder. The Sling-O-Matic series offers three unique bags to choose from, depending on the amount of photo gear a photographer needs to carry. The Sling-O-Matic 10 can carry a pro-size DSLR and three to four lenses, including a 70-200 f2.8. The Sling-O-Matic 20 and Sling-O-Matic 30 can each carry a pro-size DSLR and four to six lenses. The Sling-O-Matic 30 also features a separate laptop compartment for carrying a 15.4” laptop. All of these bags will be released in October, with pricing to be determined.

Getty Images has just launched a new online Artist Digital Toolbox for its contributors. The toolbox was created exclusively for Getty Images’ contributors following their requests for tools, apps, logos and web banners they could use to help steer traffic to their images from their websites, Flickr accounts, blogs and social media channels. Getty Images is also launching the Contributor Affiliate Programme, offering contributors the opportunity to earn commission as a result of directing traffic from their personal websites and social media channels to GettyImages.com which then results in purchases. Contributors can sign up to the programme quickly online and can then earn 15% commission for new users or 7% for existing Getty Images customers on all sales.

FotoWeek DC, the premier photography festival in Washington, DC, is reminding interested photographers that the submission deadline of the FotoWeek DC 2010 International Awards Competition is 20 September. Images are judged in 12 different categories, with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each category. There is also the Spirit of Washington Award, which honours the photograph that best captures the essence of the US capital and includes a top prize of $5,000. The competition is open to all photographers, both amateurs and professionals. Entry fees apply.

Website: FotoWeek DC

The sixth annual Cowboys & Indians photography contest is now open for entries. There are five categories, including portrait, landscape, wildlife, action and equine. The subject of each photo - irrespective of which category it falls into - has to have something in common with cowboys, indians or the areas lying west of the Mississippi river. Five category winners will be selected, one for each category. The winning entry and runners-up will be published in the Cowboys & Indians 2011 Photo Essay issue. The 2011 Photo Contest winner will receive $1,000. The winners of each of the five categories will receive $500. The submission deadline is 14 October 2010. As always, we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.

The LaCie Minimus (pictured) and LaCie Rikiki USB 3.0 are new USB 3.0 hard drives for your desktop or pocket that are claimed to be the world’s smallest in their class. The Minimus is a 1TB/2TB desktop hard drive that measures 110.7x29.4x172.8mm and weighs in at 850 grams. The LaCie Rikiki USB 3.0 is a mobile hard drive with a tough aluminium casing and a light weight of just 176 grams, available in 500GB and 1TB capacities. Both new devices are theoretically capable of delivering industry-leading 5Gb/s transfer speeds, and both are backwards compatible with the USB 2.0 standard. Pricing for the LaCie Rikiki USB 3.0 starts at £89 for the 500GB model, while the LaCie Minimus is available in 1TB/2TB capacities starting at £109.