Dell today introduced the mini-sized InspironTM Zino HD desktop computer, which is versatile enough to handle tasks from basic computing chores to driving a big-screen, high-definition video media centre, the company claims. Starting at £299 including VAT and delivery, the Inspiron Zino HD includes standard HD-capable integrated graphics, HDMI output and built-in networking. The economical Inspiron Zino HD, with optional additional memory (up to 8GB RAM), hard drive storage (up to 1TB), combo Blu-ray Disc player, wireless remote control and Microsoft Windows 7 Media Player, can be configured into a powerful home media centre computer. In that capacity, the Inspiron Zino HD displays high-definition content from the Internet, and stores and delivers music, video and photos. The Inspiron Zino HD is available today directly from Dell with a choice of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional operating systems.

Website: Dell

Sony has announced the launch of the new Microvault line of ‘keyring’ USB flash drives. The Sony Microvault will hit the shelves in January 2010 offering storage capacities ranging from 4GB to 32GB. Created to combine value with functionality, this Microvault features a retractable connector so there will be no more lost caps. Ease of use is also built in, with drag & drop operation for any type of data format and full compatibility with Windows 7, the company claims. The high-capacity 16GB and 32GB versions are particularly suitable for anyone dealing with large quantities of high-resolution images or large video clips. Pricing to be confirmed.

Lomography has announced a special contest that gives you the chance to turn the Lomo LC-A+, billed as a “classic, iconic snapshot wonder”, into your very own masterpiece The Lomo LC-A is a simple, plastic 35mm film camera that has been around for 25 years. The LC-A+ is an improved version of the original LC-A, and Lomography is now asking you to download the Lomo LC-A+ template from its website, cut it out like a paper camera, customise the paper camera according to your tastes, and either upload your customised templates or send them by post to the Lomography headquarters in Vienna. Submissions must be received by 10 January 2010. The winning design will go to actual production as a limited edition model, and the winner will be awarded with an opportunity to travel to the Lomography HQ in Vienna, with flight and accommodation paid. He/she will also receive five of the limited-edition Lomo LC-A+ cameras they had designed.

Website: The Lomography Blog

Tamrac has launched the ZipShot, a photographic tripod that springs into action in a matter of seconds. The ZipShot quickly attaches to the handles of camera bags, and at 312 grams and just 38 centimetres long when collapsed, it can be taken practically anywhere. Featuring a 360-degree pivoting ball head, the Tamrac ZipShot has a maximum payload of 1.35kg, and can be extended to a height of 112 centimetres. Simply release the two red shock cords, and the legs spring open in seconds. The Tamrac ZipShot tripod is available now via Adorama for $49.95.

Webiste: Tamrac

Ceiva Photo Frames announced the release of its newest service enhancements. These include a new photo uploader with advanced scheduled send functionality, frame connection wizard and GPS photo mapping. Ceiva’s line of digital photo frames includes the CEIVA Pro 80 and CEIVAshare models, featuring PicturePlan Photo Delivery Service. They automatically display photos sent from computers or camera phones. Customers can send photos with ease using the photo uploader, and multiple photos can be scheduled to send any day. CEIVA Pro 80 is priced at $147.99, and CEIVAshare is $127.99, both including one year of PicturePlan photo delivery service. Free software includes the CEIVA Snap iPhone application, CEIVA Sender for Picasa and Facebook, and Adobe Photoshop Album and Elements.

Website: Ceiva

Epson has developed a new 0.52-inch high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT colour panel for electronic viewfinders, offering QHD (960x540-pixel) resolution in red, green and blue for a total of 1.56 megapixels. The new panel is currently targeted for use as a widescreen electronic viewfinder in broadcast and industrial camcorders for professionals, though we may eventually see it in digital cameras as well. Epson’s new panel allegedly offers the resolution and fidelity needed to focus the image while providing a number of other benefits such as the ability to recreate smooth gradations and a natural softness. Like the previously announced 0.47-inch SVGA panel, the new 0.52-inch QHD offering is marketed under the Ultimicron brand. Samples are shipping now to camcorder manufacturers worldwide.

Casio Japan has announced two new digital cameras equipped with a 10-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor and featuring a burst mode of up to 40 frames per second (fps) and movie recording at up to 1,000fps. The Casio EX-FC150 is a compact model with 5x optical zoom, while the Casio EX-FH25 (see picture above) is a superzoom camera with a 26-520mm equivalent lens. Casio claims that the back-illuminated CMOS sensor has twice the sensitivity of a traditional CMOS imager. Both cameras feature various high-speed continuous shooting modes and sensor-shift image stabilisation. The Casio EX-FH25 also offers raw image capture in industry-standard DNG format. The cameras are capable of high-speed video recording, with frame rates ranging from 120fps at a resolution of 640x480 pixels to 1,000fps at 224x64 pixels. There is no word yet on international availability or pricing.

Website: Casio EX-FC150 & EX-FH25 (computer translation)

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Carl Zeiss today announced its introduction of a new series of lenses for the semi-professional market: the ZF.2 with Nikon F bayonet for digital SLRs. The lenses have a built-in CPU to transmit EXIF data and to support a range of photographic functions. The CPU also supports manual exposure settings, including those for camera casings that are not AI-compatible. The ZF.2 lenses are available in seven focal lengths, five of which will be available from the end of November (this means a total of eight lenses, as there are two 50mm optics in the line-up): 3,5/18, 2,8/21, 2/35, 1,4/50, 2/50 and 1,4/85. The Distagon T* 2/28 ZF.2 and macro Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 will be introduced in Spring 2010. The prices for these new lenses will lie between €545 and €1,386+VAT.

Website: Zeiss

Sony World Photography Awards is looking to uncover the best amateur football photographs in the world for the 2010 Campaign Award, and offers the winner tickets, travel and accommodation to a FIFA World Cup game in South Africa. Combining the global love for football and sports photography, the Campaign Award seeks to find an image that captures the emotion and the passion of football from the fan’s point of view. All submitted images will be shown in a gallery the Sony World Photography Awards website and rated by the public.  The top 100 images will then be presented to a judging panel chaired by Delly Carr, one of the world’s leading and multi award winning sports photographers. The competition is free to enter and open to amateur photographers from across the globe.  The closing date is Friday 4 December 2009.

Website: World Photography Awards

Hahnemühle’s Gallerie Wrap Standard (1¼”-deep) stretcher bars can now be purchased in more convenient, more economical Pair Packs. Each pack contains two bars of a given length, two corner braces and two corner holding pins. This will allow a customer who wants to make one 16"x 20” canvas wrap, for example, to purchase only two Pair Packs, a 16” and a 20”, instead of having to purchase a full box of 20 bars each in both lengths, the company says.

Website: Hahnemühle Direct

Data Robotics has launched its online Drobo Store into Europe. Business and consumer customers from more than a dozen European countries can now visit www.drobostore.com/eu to purchase the company’s DroboPro, Drobo and DroboShare storage solutions. roboPro and Drobo, respectively eight- and four-drive storage arrays, provide small and medium businesses, creative professionals, and consumers with a hugely simplified storage experience, enhanced by advanced self-monitoring and self-healing features that ensure the highest levels of data protection. DroboShare turns the four-drive Drobo into a network attached storage appliance. All orders taken through the new online store will be fulfilled by Digital River, a leading European online reseller.

Website: Drobo Europe Onliine Store

Fujitsu has introduced the 12.2-megapixel docomo PRIME Series F-01B water and dust resistant camera phone. To make the most of its onboard camera, the new phone utilises Fujitsu’s Milbeaut Mobile image-processing engine, and incorporates face recognition, smile detection, tracking focus, a 3.4” touch-sensitive screen and a 28mm equivalent lens. In addition to these, Fujitsu claims a maximum sensitivity of ISO 6,400/39° for full-resolution stills and an incredible (for a camera phone anyway) ISO 25,600/45° for 1920x1080-pixel images. The Fujitsu F-01B will be available from NTT DOCOMO, INC. as of 20 November 2009. Pricing to be confirmed.

Website: Fujitsu

Pentax has announced a “Focus on Savings’ rebate that offers a $100 prepaid card on a choice of over 20 Pentax lenses. From now until January 15, 2010, K-7 buyers may select from more than 20 lenses and receive a $100 VISA prepaid card rebate for each and every qualifying lens purchased at the same time. Lenses must be purchased at the same time on the same receipt as the Pentax K-7 digital SLR. The offer is valid for US customers only. Click through / read on for the full list of qualifying lenses.

Website: Pentax Special Offers

Photographer’s Guide to the Leica D-Lux 4: Getting the Most from Leica’s Compact Digital Camera is a new book by Alexander White. The book is a trade-sized paperback, 227 pages long, with more than 100 colour photographs or illustrations. It includes clearly written explanations of all of the camera’s features, controls, and menus. It also covers topics such as the use of flash (both built-in and external), infrared photography, macro photography, and accessories. The book also may be of interest to owners of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 camera, because the D-Lux 4 is very similar to the LX3, and the operations of the two cameras are almost identical. Published by White Knight Press, Photographer’s Guide to the Leica D-Lux 4 is available for $19.95 plus shipping.

Website White Knight Press

The ioSafe Solo, billed as the world’s first high-capacity fireproof and waterproof external hard drive, now offers up to two terabytes of storage space. “The 2 TB ioSafe Solo is a great product for anyone looking to buy a desktop external hard drive who needs the high capacity and single drive simplicity. When used as a backup device, the ioSafe can protect against data loss from primary hard drive failure, accidental deletions as well as fires, floods and other forms of physical disasters,” said ioSafe CEO, Robb Moore. The 2 TB ioSafe Solo is available now from resellers as well as HDDFireSafe.com, Newegg.com, Amazon.com, Buy.com and Provantage.com. Suggested retail pricing is $399.

Leica Camera AG today announced a very special limited edition of its classic 35mm rangefinder system camera: the LEICA M7 Edition ‘Hermès’. The strictly limited LEICA M7 Edition ‘Hermès’ comes in silver chrome with a choice of two striking calfskin leather finishes – orange and étoupe – supplied by Hermès, a Paris-based company renowned throughout the world for its exclusive products. To complement the design of the camera, the special LEICA M7 Edition ‘Hermès’ set includes a silver anodised LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. wide-angle lens, a matching classic round lens hood in silver anodised metal – manufactured specifically for these models – and a LEICAVIT M rapid winder in silver chrome.  A leather carrying strap, handcrafted by Atelier Hermès to match the colour of each camera, provides the finishing touch. Each set is delivered in a linen-covered, silk-lined box. The LEICA M7 Edition ‘Hermès’ will be available in the UK from December 2009 from authorised Leica dealers, at a suggested retail price of £8,550.

Transcend has introduced the new Transcend CompactFlash Card 400X Series, offering read/write speeds of 90MB/s and 60MB/s, respectively. The 400x series consists of the TS16GCF400, TS32GCF400, and TS64GCF400 cards, with capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. All of these new Transcend CompactFlash cards come with hardware ECC (error correction code), wear-levelling technology for consistent long-life operation, and a lifetime warranty. They conform to CF Type I standards and support UDMA. Their durable connectors are claimed to withstand over 10,000 insertions and removals. Pricing to be confirmaed.

Website: Transcend

The winners of the Hahnemühle’s Anniversary Collection awards competition have been selected from 7,100 entries. The competition, part of Hahnemühle’s 425th Anniversary celebration, featured entries from all over the world and was judged by a distinguished panel of international experts. Three winners were selected in each of the three open categories: People & Portrait; Landscape & Nature and Architecture & Still Life as well as three winners in the Student category. The winners were notified and asked to submit their original digital files, but were not told what place they had been awarded. These will be announced at a special Photokina preview presentation in November. The Hahnemühle Anniversary Collection will be touring major photo capitals of the world during 2010.  For exact dates and locations for the entire international tour, visit the website below.

Website: Hahnemühle

The PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) announced today that Michio Kariya, President, CEO and COO of Nikon Corporation, will receive the association’s 2010 Person of the Year Award. Michio Kanya has worked for Nikon since 1967 (when the company was still called Nippon Kogaku), and as an engineer, he was personally responsible for the successful development of Nikon’s first ED lens. He was promoted to Director, member of the board and President of the Nikon Imaging Company in 1999. His vision and leadership skills have led to his present position at the helm of Nikon Corporation. The award will be presented at the annual PMDA awards dinner on February 20, 2010 in Anaheim, California, prior to the opening of the 2010 PMA show.

Website: PMDA