The Ricoh G700 is a new 12-megapixel dust- and waterproof digital compact camera. Announced today in Japan, the Ricoh G700 has a 28-140mm equivalent 5x zoom lens and is waterproof down to a depth of 5m for up to 2 hours, shockproof up to a height of 2m (even when powered on), and offers grade 6 dust protection according to the JIS/IEC standard. In addition to that, Ricoh says the G700 is protected against certain chemicals including ethanol and hypochlorous acid. Other highlights include a 3-inch LCD screen with automatic brightness adjustment and a resolution of 920K dots, an electronic level gauge, and a wide array of security functions including password protection and support for Sandisk’s WORM (Write Once, Read Many) cards. The DW-5 wide-angle attachment as well as the new AC-5c mains adapter and SC-700 soft case are available as optional extras. Available from 10th September, the ruggedised Ricoh G700 camera will cost 99,000 yen in Japan. There is no word on international pricing.

Website: Ricoh G700 Product Announcement (in Japanese)

Jessops, the only UK retailer to offer the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD in September, is now taking pre-orders for the lens. The VC abbreviation in the product name stands for “Vibration Compensation” - so it is an optically stabilised lens -, whilst the USD designation indicates that the lens has an Ultrasonic Silent Drive auto-focus motor, which also enables full-time manual focus override. The the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD utilises an advanced optical design that features an LD (Low Dispersion) and an XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) lens element made from specialised materials that prevent chromatic aberration. The Tamron SP 70-300mm lens is available to pre-order now at jessops.com for £429.99.

This is your last chance to become a Red Bull Reporter at the Red Bull Illume event in Dublin. All your travel and accommodation expenses will be paid for, and it’s a great chance to see a different city, attend a high-profile photography exhibition and awards ceremony, and gain exposure through getting your work showcased here on Photography Blog.

Kodak today unveiled a 10-inch version of its Wi-Fi enabled, touch-sensitive digital photo frame, Kodak Pulse. With all the features of Kodak’s current 7-inch Pulse digital frame, including Wi-Fi connectivity and a customisable email address, the 10-inch Pulse frame allows pictures to be e-mailed to it from mobile phones, computers and any device with e-mail capability.It also connects to Facebook and Kodak Gallery photo albums, offers easy set-up with no software to install, and has an intuitive touchscreen interface. Available this autumn, 10-inch Kodak Pulse digital frame will retail for £169.99.

Kodak today introduced the Kodak Playtouch pocket sized digital video camera. Featuring a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen, digital image stabilisation and on-camera editing functionality, the Kodak Playtouch can record 1080p Full HD videos and 5-megapixel stills, and save them on SD and SDHC memory cards. A Share Button allows users to easily upload photos and videos to Facebook and YouTube, while a built-in USB arm provides for easy file transfer and battery charging. The Kodak Playtouch digital video camerawill be available this autumn in Smoke Gaze (Black), Chrome, Cabana (Orange) and Spa Blue (Teal) for £199.99 including an HDMI cqable and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.

The Kodak Easyshare M590 is claimed to be the world’s thinnest digital camera with 5x optical zoom. Equipped with a 14-megapixel imager and a 35-175mm equivalent internally stacked zoom lens, the Kodak easyshare M590 measures just 15mm on its thinnest side. Other highlights include optical image stabilisation, HD video capture, face recognition, a 2.7-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230,000 dots and a share button for easy upload to sharing sites like Kodak Gallery, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. Compatible with microSD and microSDHC memory cards, the Kodak Easyshare M590 digital compact camera will be available this autumn for £169.99.

Nikon has posted a number of sample images taken with the new 24-120mm, 28-300mm, 55-300mm and 85mm lenses. There are 5 sample photos captured with the AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR, 5 shots taken with the AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, 2 images photographed with the AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR and 5 photos shot with the AF-S 85mm f/1.4G.

Website: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Samples
Website: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Samples
Website: Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Samples
Website: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G Samples

Redrock Nano is a new range of accessories and rigs for video DSLR cameras. Designed for low-cost entry level, photojournalism/documentary, and discreet shooting applications, Redrock Nano are manufactured to precision professional standards, and can be easily upgraded to more advanced rigs as needed. The Redrock Nano line of products consists of 7 new rigs and 5 new accessories, with prices generally under $495.

The Sanyo VPC-PD2BK is a new Full HD pocket-size dual camera. Offering 1920x1080 30p video recording, 10 megapixel stills, and 3x optical zoom, the VPC-PD2BK also has two microphones on the sides of the camera that record stereo sound. The Sanyo VPC-PD2BK will be available for purchase in September for $169.99,

The Metz mecablitz 58 AF-2 Digital is a replacement for the mecablitz 58 AF-1, upgraded with a new stable metal base, an optimised lock system, a revised motor zoom mode and an improved high-performance flash tube. Additionally, the Metz mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital offers servo flash release functionality via the integrated camera flash which is also compatible with cameras without master function. The slave/servo sensor has been integrated into the front of the flash unit to increase the transmission quality of wireless flashes. The wide-angle diffuser has also been adapted for illumination of wide-angle focal widths from 12mm (in 135 format). The flash has an integrated flip-out reflector card and a USB interface for installing firmware upgrades. The suggested retail price of the Metz 58 AF-2 Digital is €399.00 / £369.99.

Successor to the Metz mecablitz 48 AF-1, the mecablitz 50 AF-1 Digital flash incorporates numerous enhancements. The guide number has been increased to 50 (in metres) at ISO 100/21° and 105mm focal length. Performance and reliability have been further optimised through improvements to the flash tube. Moreover, the Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 Digital has been equipped with a servo flash release via the camera’s internal flash which also works independently of the camera’s master function. Finally, the wide-angle diffuser has been adapted and is now even suitable for illumination of wide-angle focal lengths from 12mm (in 135 format). There are different versions of the Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 flash available for Canon, FourThirds, Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras. The suggested retail price is €249.00 / £229.99.

Ricoh has posted five official sample photos taken with the newly announced Ricoh CX4 digital compact camera. The pictures - which were all taken at a sensitivity of ISO 100/21° - include a landscape, a macro, a portrait, a still life and a night landscape. You can download the photographs from the website below.

Website: Ricoh CX4 Samples

Want to see exactly what the new Nikon D3100 DSLR camera looks like in the flesh?

Here are 20 hands-on product shots of the entry-level Nikon D3100, including the HD video mode in action - click through to view the gallery.

Want to see exactly what the new 85mm f/1.4, 24-120mm f/4, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 and 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Nikon lenses look like in the flesh?

Here are 16 hands-on product shots, including a side-by-side comparison of the 24-120mm f/4 with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 - click through to view the gallery.

Want to see exactly what the new Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 cameras look like in the flesh?

Here are some hands-on product shots of the Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 - click through to view the gallery.

The Nikon D3100 is a new, 14.2-megapixel digital SLR camera with 11 AF sensors, Full HD video and full-time AF in Live View and D-movie modes. Using contrast based AF, the D3100 automatically focuses on subjects when Live View is activated to aid shooting when using the LCD. Live View is activated at a single flick of a dedicated switch, and HD video recording is achieved by a simple press of a button. In comparison to the Nikon D3000, the new Nikon D3100 also gains a Quiet Shutter Release mode, which substantially reduces the sound of the mirror return, and an enhanced Guide Mode that now features sample assist images that change with camera settings to inspire consumers to achieve a desired look and feel to their images. Unusually for an entry-level camera, the Nikon D3100’s shutter is rated for 100,000 actuations. The Nikon D3100 DSLR camera will be available from mid-September, at an estimated selling price of £579.99/€687.00/$699.95 including a kit zoom. The body-only prices are £499.99/€593.00.

Timed to coincide with the announcement of the Nikon D3100 digital SLR camera, Nikon also unveiled today a new DX format telezoom called the AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. This lens has a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 82.5-450mm, and features a Silent Wave Motor for quiet auto-focus operation, 9 rounded diaphragm blades for pleasing bokeh, 2 extra-low dispersion lens elements for minimising chromatic aberrations, Super Integrated Coating for enhanced light transmission efficiency and superior colour consistency, plus Nikon’s VR II image stabilisation system with a Tripod Detection Mode. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens is scheduled to hit the shelves in mid-September at the recommended/estimated selling prices of £369.99/€438.00/$399.95.

Nikon today announced the much-anticipated AF-S version of its 85mm f/1.4 lens. Covering the full 24x36mm frame on 35mm film, the AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G ED is compatible with FX and DX digital SLR bodies as well as most modern Nikon film SLRs such as the Nikon F6 (though being a G series lens, it lacks an aperture ring, and is therefore not suitable for use on older Nikon film cameras). Being an AF-S lens means two things: ultra-quiet auto-focus and full-time manual focus override. Additional features include Internal Focus (IF) that allows the lens to focus without changing the barrel length, Nano Crystal Coat to reduce instances of ghosting and flare, and a rugged construction build to endure aggressive field use. The ultra-fast AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G has an estimated selling price of $1699.95 in the US. The recommended UK/EU prices are £1499.99/€1776.00.