Zoner has just released the latest edition of Zoner Photo Studio. Version 18 provides a simplified photo workflow — from image download off the camera, to RAW development and JPG editing, to sharing photos. The program’s three main sections now have a unified interface, with navigation tools always available in the left-hand Navigator. The Catalogue that powers ZPS 18 now provides increased speed for browsing your photo collection. The new Develop section offers non-destructive edits for images in nearly every format. Other novelties include the ability to create Full HD slideshows from your photos, a new Share button, full support for high-resolution displays and compatibility with Windows 10. Zoner Photo Studio 18 is available now for $99. Upgrades from older versions are priced at $49.

Photo Interactive Experience (PIX 2015) has announced its line-up of speakers at its upcoming two-day expo and conference being held on October 6th and 7th at the Seattle Center in Seattle, WA. re:FRAME Photography Talks, taking place in the lecture theatre at McCaw Hall on both days, will offer informative and inspiring discussions and presentations by a diverse line up of more than 30 professional photographers. Highlights from this year’s speakers during re:FRAME include Christina Mittermeier, Brian Ach, David Fitzsimmons, Tim Matsui, Brian Smith, Aaron Huey, Laura Winslow, Ibarionex Perello, Rick Sammon, Lynete Johnson, Devin Allen, Benjamin Von Wong and Max Lowe. Each discussion, including the keynote and closing speech, will be live-streamed via the website below.

The X-Steady-Electro is the first-ever electronic video stabiliser from premium audio-visual accessories brand XSories. Significantly reducing camera shake, the device employs HorizonDrive technology, which is claimed to ensure that "dynamic compositions remain on point and pixel perfect even when shooting in the highest resolutions and under the most challenging circumstances." Suitable for mounting most smartphones and action cameras, including GoPro, Sony and Contour, the X-Steady is simple to use and weighs just 220 grams. Available from the end of this month, the X-Steady Electro 1 Axis stabiliser carries an SRP of £189.99.

Japanese optics manuafacturer Kinoshita Kogaku Kenkyujyo has just announced the Kistar 55mm f/1.2 lens. Paying homage to a 1970s Tomioka lens, the Kistar 55mm f/1.2 large-aperture standard prime comes with a Yashica/Contax mount but can be used on most modern compact system cameras with an adapter. The optical construction features 7 elements in 6 groups and an 8-bladed iris diaphragm. Weighing in at 310 grams, the Kinoshita Kistar 55mm f/1.2 carries a recommended retail price of 134,100 yen (approximately £740/$1,115) but actually sells for $1,465 on eBay.

Via PR

The Polaroid Snap is a 10-megapixel instant digital camera now available to pre-order on Photojojo.com. A throwback to Polaroids of old, the new Snap prints out photos onto 2"x3" ZINK paper thanks to an integrated printer using Zero Ink Printing technology, while saving a digital copy unto a microSD card. Thanks to its quick print abilities, consumers can shoot new images even while the Polaroid Snap is printing. The camera also features a photo booth mode, which takes six quick pictures in 10 seconds. Available in white and black, the Polaroid Snap instant camera can be yours for $99.99.

The DxO ONE camera is now available in ten European countries. Billed as an "incredibly compact, yet surprisingly sophisticated" camera that connects directly to your iPhone and iPad to let you instantly share high-resolution images; the DxO ONE boasts a fast 32mm (eq.) f/1.8 prime lens and a relatively big, 1"-type sensor with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels. The camera is now available at a price of £449 (VAT included) in the United Kingdom, and at the price of €599 in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands and in Switzerland.

Fujifilm has announced the new Instax Mini 70 instant film camera featuring an updated design, a special selfie mode and an automatic flash. Weighing in at 281g, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 comes with a fixed-mount, retractable 2-element lens with a focal length of 60mm and a relative aprture of f/12.7. Other key highlights include an improved viewfinder for enhanced subject viewing; automatic exposure and flash functions, a special high-key shooting mode and a tripod mount. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 will be available in November 2015 in Canary Yellow, Moon White and Island Blue for $139.95. In the UK, the camera will go on sale in late October for £99.99 including 10 shots of instax mini film.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first digital version of the Ricoh GR camera, Ricoh is launching a special Ricoh GR II Premium Kit. Alongside the camera itself, the special package features a selection of exclusive items including an aluminium case, a GC-6 leather camera jacket with a matching GS-3 neck strap, GV-1 external viewfinder, GW-3 Wide-angle conversion lens and a commemorative pin badge. Limited to 1,200 units worldwide, the Ricoh GR II Premium Kit will be available for £999.99.

Nikon has announced the return of the Nikon European Film Festival in association with Raindance and, this year, director Asif Kapadia (pictured) as Chair of the Jury. The contest challenges enthusiasts and film professionals alike to create a short film of up to 140 seconds in length around the theme ‘Everyday Moments’. Entries can be submitted online from 13th October until 15th January 2016.  Asif Kapadia commented: “With modern technology helping more people realise their filmmaking ambitions than ever before, this is an exciting initiative to be a part of... As Chair of the Jury, I’m particularly keen to see how entrants differentiate themselves and fully showcase their ambition and technical capabilities within the confines of 140 seconds.” The Grand Prix winner, as selected by the judges, will receive a Nikon D810 and an all-expenses-paid, one week networking trip to the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016 as the special guest of Raindance. Click through / read on for the details.

The Memento Smart Frame by Memento Electronics is a large wall-mountable digital photo frame with an Ultra HD panel. Available in 25" and 35" sizes with an aspect ratio of 3:2, the Memento Smart Frame features a proprietary optical sensor that dynamically adjusts the frame’s brightness to match the room’s ambient lighting; making it virtually impossible to tell it is an electronic display. Memento is accessed through Wi-Fi using a dedicated application on your smartphone, tablet or PC. You can pre-order the Memento Smart Frame right now at deep discounts through the company’s Kickstarter campaign.  With limited quantities available, Kickstarter prices start at $499 for the 25” frame and $649 for the 35” frame with delivery expected in February 2016.

Profoto have today released a new firmware upgrade for their B1 and B2 off-camera flashes, adding workflow improvements and enabling TTL metering with the Canon EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R cameras. When launched in November 2013, the Profoto B1 (pictured) was the world’s first off-camera flash to offer TTL functionality for both Canon and Nikon cameras. Earlier this year, the B1 was followed by the smaller and more portable Profoto B2, which offers the same TTL functionality as the B1. This latest firmware upgrade brings a series of improvements, including AirTTL compatiblity with the Canon EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R cameras, improved Canon integration for faster shooting in Manual mode, an option to deactivate Auto Power-off on all units, an improved display sleep function on air remotes, plus a number of minor bug fixes.

The Nexus 6P is a new Huawei-built phablet with a twelve-megapixel primary camera, f/2 lens, broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual flash and laser-assisted auto focus. Other highlights include a 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display with a resolution of 518 pixels per inch, USB Type-C connectivity, 4K video capture at 30fps, reduced-resolution movie recording at up to 240fps for slow-motion playback, and a front-facing camera with an 8-megapixel imager and an f/2.4 lens. Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the Nexus 6P will be available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB editions, with prices starting at £449/$499 for the 32GB model.

The LG Nexus 5X is a new smartphone featuring a 12.3-megapixel main camera with an f/2 lens, broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual flash, laser-assisted auto focus and 4K movie capture. The phone also boasts a 5.2" Full HD LCD screen with a resolution of 423ppi, a USB Type-C connector and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2 lens. Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the Nexus 5X is available to preorder for £339/$379.

Zeiss have unveiled their new online platform, Lenspire. The website's content is grouped into six categories; Photographic Genres, Spotlight, Ambassadors, Gear, Know-How and Live. "With Lenspire, we are pursuing an educational approach by emphasising professional dialogue and direct contact between Zeiss experts and the user as well as between the users themselves," says Nicole Balle, the Marketing Manager for the Americas at Zeiss. "It's important to us to not only explain different applications, but also to present our ambassadors as mentors and to help users take advantage of their expertise."

Ricoh has announced the Ricoh WG-40 and WG-40W waterproof compact cameras. Both models are designed to be waterproof to a depth of 14 meters, shockproof against falls from a height of 1.6 meters, and freeze-proof to temperatures as low as -10°C. They also provide a range of features to facilitate all types of still-image and movie shooting, including approximately 16.0 effective megapixels and Full HD movie recording capability. In addition to these features, the Ricoh WG-40W comes equipped with a host of Wi-Fi functions. A smartphone can be used to release the camera's shutter and set various functions from a distance, browse and download recorded images, and upload them to social networks and other websites. Do note that the Ricoh WG-40 and WG-40W will be marketed in Japan only.

Corel today released Pinnacle Studio 19 Ultimate (£99.95/$129.95), Pinnacle Studio 19 Plus (£79.95/$99.95) and Pinnacle Studio 19 (£49.95/$59.95). New features include a Multi-Camera Editor that enables you to edit footage from 2 cameras in Pinnacle Studio 19, 4 cameras in Pinnacle Studio 19 Plus, and 6 cameras in Pinnacle Studio 19 Ultimate; and align clips automatically with Audio Syncing. Other highlights inlcude support for 6th Generation Intel Core i7 processors, enhanced HD processing and improved 64-bit playback performance. The 'Plus' and 'Ultimate' versions additionally feature Audio Ducking to lower background sound and keep dialogue and narration clear.