ProShow Producer 3.5 adds Blu-ray output to this professional slide show software. ProShow Producer 3.5 provides photographers with a complete solution for outputting high definition Blu-ray slide shows from start to finish. No special conversions or formatting is required - photographers simply create a slide show and output directly to Blu-ray. ProShow Producer 3.5 also has built-in features that archive show files directly to Blu-ray providing a safe and secure method of storing important files. ProShow Producer 3.5 is available now for $249.95.

The 21.1 megapixel EOS 5D Mark II is Canon’s first DSLR camera to offer High Definition video capability. The new Canon 5D Mark II has a newly designed Canon CMOS sensor with ISO sensitivity up to 25600, new DIGIC 4 processor, 3.0” Clear View LCD with VGA resolution, and 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting. With a body-only price tag of $2,699 / €2,499 / £2,299, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is available from the end of November. It will also be available in kit form with the EF 24-105mm f4.0L IS USM lens for £3049.99 / €3999.99.

Update: We now have some exclusive shots of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II from the UK press launch, including a side-by-comparison with the original 5D model that it replaces.

The Canon EF 24mm f1.4L II USM lens is a new fast aperture prime lens. Completely redesigned, the EF 24mm f1.4L II USM replaces the original Mark I model. Featuring a 13-element, 10-group lens, the EF 24mm f1.4L II USM is designed to achieve the highest standards of image quality. Pricing and availability are still to be announced.

The Canon PowerShot G10 features a 14.7 megapixel sensor and 5x, 28-140mm zoom. Successor to the G9, the Canon G10 also offers a large 3.0” PureColor LCD screen with 461k dots, DIGIC 4 image processor, Canon’s new i-Contrast system which increases the dynamic range, and Servo AF mode to continually adjust focus on a moving subject. The Canon PowerShot G10 will be available from October priced at £499.99 / €649.99 / $500.

Update: We now have some exclusive shots of the Canon G10 from the UK press launch, including a side-by-comparison with the G9 model that it replaces.

Canon have unveiled two new super-zoom cameras, the PowerShot SX1 IS and PowerShot SX10 IS. Jointly replacing the PowerShot S5 IS, both the SX1 and SX10 feature a 20x wide-angle zoom lens, with USM and VCM for fast, silent, zooming, and an optical Image Stabilizer. The Canon SX1 IS excitingly features a CMOS sensor which allows it to shoot full-resolution JPEGs at speeds of up to 4fps and full HD movie capture. Both models also have Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor and full manual control over both aperture and shutter speed. The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS will be available from December priced at £519.99 / €679.99, and the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS is priced at £359.99 / €469.99. In the US the Canon SX1 IS will be available in April for $599.99.

Update: We now have some exclusive shots of the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS from the UK press launch.

The Digital IXUS 980 IS and Digital IXUS 870 IS are two new additions to Canon’s style-led IXUS camera range (called the PowerShot SD990 IS and SD880 IS Digital ELPH in the USA). Replacing the Digital IXUS 960 IS and Digital IXUS 860 IS respectively, the new 14.7 megapixel Canon 980 IS and 10 megapixel 870 IS models both use Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor. The Digital IXUS 980 IS offers manual Mode that allows control of shutter speed and aperture, together with the new QuickShot mode that uses the optical viewfinder for framing and focusing, virtually eliminating shutter lag. The Digital IXUS 870 IS features a wide-angle (28mm) 4x optical zoom lens. The Canon IXUS 980 IS is available from late September priced at £349.99 / €459.99, and the Canon IXUS 870 IS is priced at £269.99 / €349.99.

Update: We now have some exclusive shots of the Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS and 870 IS from the UK press launch

Kodak have introduced the world’s first wireless photo frame featuring Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. OLED technology generates greater colour depth and saturation than other displays, viewed on panels that are substantially thinner, resulting in a sleek, low-profile design. The new 7.6-inch Kodak OLED Wireless Frame also features built-in Wi-Fi, Perfect Touch technology and a 180° viewing angle. The Kodak OLED Wireless Frame will retail for £599.99 / $999.99.

The GE E1050TW is a new feature-rich 10 megapixel camera. In addition to a 3.0’’ touch screen LCD and 28 mm wide-angle, 5x zoom lens, the E1050TW also offers 1280 x 720 pixel HD movie recording, plus Face, Blink and Smile detection functions. Available in silver, black and red, the GE E1050TW will be available at the end of September for £149.99.

Carl Zeiss have launched a new 21mm super wide angle lens for SLR cameras. The Distagon T* 2.8/21 lens will be available for SLR cameras with EF (ZE), F (ZF) and a K (ZK) bayonets. Delivery of the Distagon T* 2.8/21 is scheduled to begin by the end of this year with the ZF and ZK version. Its selling price is estimated at 1,399 euros.

The LaCie 4big Quadra supports seven RAID modes and offers capacities of up to 6TB. The 4big offers burst transfer rates reaching up to 200-230MB/s through eSATA 3Gbits. “The LaCie 4big Quadra definitely sets a new standard in RAID Technology for creative professionals and small sever backups,” said Arnaud Prézelin, LaCie Product manager for Creative Pro solutions. “For instance, the 4big Quadra enables digital content creators to work on multiple HD video streams or to manage RAW photos libraries with live effects.” The LaCie 4big Quadra will be available in 2TB, 4TB or 6TB in October starting at £659.00 for the 2TB.

The world’s fastest aspherical lens has been announced by Leica. The new Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH offers extremely shallow depth of field at full aperture. This new lens is the successor of the famous NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/1 marketed by Leica for over 30 years, beginning in 1975. The Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH will be available from February 2009 for £6290.

Lexar have released 16GB versions of its Platinum II 60x SDHC and 80x CompactFlash memory cards. The Platinum II SDHC memory card is speed-rated at 60x, capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 9MB per second, while the Platinum II CF memory card is speed-rated at 80x, which represents a minimum sustained write speed of 12MB per second. Available later this month, the new Lexar Platinum II SDHC and CF cards include a limited lifetime warranty and image-related software - the full version of Lexar Image Rescue 3 and a six-month trial of Corel Painter Essentials 4.

Sony has released a new firmware update, version 4, for the 12 megapixel Sony A700 DSLR camera. Version 4 provides the following benefits:

- The choice to select auto exposure bracketing (single & continuous) with 3 shots in 2 EV steps has been added.
- The choice to turn [Off] the High ISO NR feature has been added.
- Improvement of the image quality in high ISO setting.
- Improvement of the auto white balance and D-Range Optimizer performance.
- Improvement of reliability for communication between camera body and vertical grip.

Website: Sony A700 Firmware Update v4 (Europe)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 is a new 10 megapixel super-zoom digital camera with an 18x optical zoom lens. Successor to the popular FZ18 model, the Panasonic FZ28 now offers a 10 megapixel sensor, 2.7-inch LCD screen, Venus Engine IV processing engine, updated iA (intelligent auto) mode with newly added AF Tracking function, and high-definition 1280 x 720p video. With a suggested retail price of £329.99 / $399.95, Mark Goldstein found out if the Lumix DMC-FZ28 is a worthy successor to the FZ18 or just a modest upgrade…

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 Review

The catchily named Leica M8.2 is an upgraded version of the company’s M-series digital rangefinder camera. New additions to the Leica M8.2 include a extra-quiet, low vibration metal blade focal plane shutter, an ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal cover glass for the LCD screen, snapshot mode, “vulcanite” finish to the camera body, viewfinder bright-lines and a more compact, faster charger. The Leica M8.2 is available now for £3990 in the UK.

In a surprise move, Carl Zeiss is expanding its manual focus SLR lenses to to include the Canon EF mount with the new ZE range. The first lenses to be available will be the Planar T* 1.4/50 ZE and the Planar T* 1.4/85 ZE in the last quarter of this year. The Planar T* 1.4/50 ZE will cost 579 euros, and the Planar T* 1.4/85 ZE 999 euros. Further focal lengths will be added to the line within the next few months.

Bibble 5 will be officially launched at Photokina next week. The latest version of this RAW conversion software includes improved performance (up to twice as fast as Bibble 4), complete non-destructive selective editing including multiple layers, and an advanced and fast Digital Asset Management system. Bibble 5 Pro will be available in Q4 of 2008 at an initial price of $199.95, and will continue to be offered for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux. Customers who purchase Bibble 4 now will receive a free upgrade to Bibble 5 when it is available.

X-Rite has been chosen as the calibration partner for the new HP DreamColor LCD screen. “X-Rite is once again pleased to work with HP in a shared vision of making accurate, predictable, and easy color reproduction. This is an ideal springboard to launch a new standard in color excellence everywhere that DreamColor technologies can be applied,” states Tom Vacchiano, X-Rite’s chief executive officer. The HP DreamColor LP2480zx display provides broad color support, rich visual quality, and consistent color presentation results on a 24-inch, wide-aspect, studio-computer screen.  The panel technology supports over 1 billion colors, with X-Rite-developed color control and factory-calibrated color-space breakthroughs, making it the industry’s first LCD to exceed CRT color performance standards.

Seagate has introduced the Fall 2008 lineup of its FreeAgent external hard drives. Seagate’s flagship offering, the FreeAgent Go portable storage solution, is the slimmest external drive available today. The new FreeAgent Go is the first external hard drive to offer a docking option. The FreeAgent Desk drive and FreeAgent XTreme drive are the family’s two 3.5-inch high-capacity desktop offerings. The FreeAgent Go for Mac and FreeAgent Desk for Mac are both formatted for use with Mac OS X out of the box and are Time Machine ready with FireWire800/400 or USB 2.0 connectivity.

The eighth edition of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine has just been released. Issue 8 includes tips and techniques for using camera flash, conclusion of the four-part series on HDR photography, workflow techniques for Lightroom 2, and a tour of St. Petersburg. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download in either PDF or ZIP formats.