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.

The AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR is a versatile 5x zoom lens designed for use on both FX and DX digital SLR bodies. Featuring two ED and three aspherical lens elements, Nano Crystal Coat and a fixed maximum aperture throughout its zoom range, the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR promises to be an improvement over the existing AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED (at nearly twice the price). Constructed of 17 lens elements arranged in 13 groups, the new 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR from Nikon also features an iris diaphragm with 9 blades for improved bokeh, and the manufacturer’s VR II image stabilisation system for shake-free hand-held shooting. Through extensive use of magnesium and Super Engineering Plastic components the lens is built to handle the knocks of everyday use, and rubber sealing around switches and lens mount mean moist or dusty conditions are not a problem. The AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR will be available from mid-September at an estimated selling price of $1049.95 in the US. The recommended UK/EU prices are £1049.99/€1243.00.

The new AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is Nikon’s first FX lens with a 10.7X zoom range. Its optical formula includes two ED glass elements that effectively minimise chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings, and three Aspherical Lens Elements that virtually eliminate coma and other aberrations at wide aperture settings as well. Being an AF-S lens, the Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR provides fast and quiet autofocus, and also incorporates an M/A Focus Mode Switch that enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation. A Zoom Lock Switch secures the lens barrel at its minimum focal length preventing the lens from extending during transport. Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating (SIC) enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior colour consistency and reduced flare, while the 9 rounded diaphragm blades promise a nice natural look to the out-of-focus highlights. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR ultrazoom lens will become available in mid-September, at an estimated selling price of $1299.95 in the US. In the UK and the euro zone, the recommended retail prices are £869.99/€1030.00 respectively.

Canon marks 10 years of its IXUS digital camera series with the launch of the Canon IXUS 1000 HS, a 10-megapixel, 10x zoom model that has the distinction of being the first superzoom in the IXUS range. Its compact but powerful 10x optical zoom lens makes it the slimmest super zoom camera of its kind anywhere in the world, Canon claims. It’s also the second IXUS to feature the HS System, combining a high-sensitivity, 10.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor with Canon’s DIGIC 4 image processing engine. Other highlights include Full HD video capture with stereo sound, optical image stabilisation and a Handheld Night Scene that combines several images taken in rapid succession into one sharp and optimally-exposed picture. Additionally, the Canon IXUS 1000 HS can capture up to 3.7 frames per second at full resolution, or up to 8.8 frames per second at a reduced resolution of 2.5 megapixels. The Canon IXUS 1000 HS (also called the Canon SD4500 IS) is available from September priced at £349/€419/$350.