Fujifilm USA is launching three new 16-megapixel bridge cameras into its spring 2013 range, the Fuji FinePix S6600, S6700 and S6800 (pictured). Outfitted with 26x, 28x and 30x zoom lenses, respectively, these cameras all offer a 24mm equivalent wide angle setting and are all armed with sensor-shift image stabilisation. Other standout points include full manual controls, tilting 3-inch LCD screens with 460,000 dots, an autofocus speed of 0.3 second, start-up times of 1.0 second, a 0.5-second interval between shots and a continuous shooting speed of 10fps.

Pentax Ricoh is developing a new clip-on flash and fixed-focal-length mount cap lens for its Q-mount system cameras. Tentatively named the Pentax AF360FGZ II, the new clip-on type P-TTL flash unit has a guide number of 36 (in metres at ISO 100/21°) and a tilt-swivel head. The “mount cap lens” appears to be the same product that first appeared on the Pentax Lens Roadmap back in February 2012. Both the flash and the mount cap lens will be on display at the CP+ show beginning tomorrow in Yokohama, Japan. Availability for both products is slated for summer 2013, with pricing to be communicated.

Pentax Ricoh have unveiled a compact and highly portable waterproof digital camera called the Pentax WG-10. Waterproof to depths of 33 feet, the WG-10 offers a 14-megapixel backlit CMOS image sensor and a 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens coupled with a ring of LED Macro lights that enable users to take shadow-free, evenly-lit close-up shots. The Pentax WG-10 will be available from March / April for £179.99 / $179.95.

Pentax Ricoh have just introduced the Pentax WG-3 “adventureproof” compact, which comes in two versions, one with GPS and one without. Key components include a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a newly designed 4x zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2 at the wide end, and a Shake Reduction mechanism of the sensor-shift variety. Waterproof down to a depth of 45 feet, shockproof from drops of up to 6.6 feet, coldproof to 14 °F and crushproof withstanding up to 220 foot pounds of force; the Pentax WG-3 also boasts six LED lights surrounding the lens barrel for bright, shadow-free macro images. The GPS model offers enhanced functionality for geotagging images that can be mapped back to your journey and a dedicated second display showing compass direction, elevation or depth below water. Priced at £329.99 / $349.95 the new WG-3 GPS will be available in a choice of purple or green. The WG-3 comes in black or orange for a price of £279.99 / $299.95. Both models are scheduled for a March 2013 launch.

In addition to the enthusiast-focused Stylus XZ-10, Olympus has announced two new models in the Stylus Smart range, the VG-180 and the slimline VR-370. The entry-level, 16-megapixel Olympus VG180 sports a 26-130mm equivalent lens and a 2.7-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of 230,000 dots. The Olympus VR-370 (pictured) also uses a 16-megapixel CCD but comes with a 24-30mm equivalent optic, sensor-shift image stabilisation and a higher-resolution 3-inch rear screen. Both cameras are compatible with Eye-Fi’s range of wireless memory cards.

The Fujifilm Finepix S4800 is a new bridge camera with a 16 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor and 30x optical zoom. Featuring a 24-720mm equivalent Fujinon lens and sensor-shift image stabilisation, the Fujifilm FinePix S4800 comes equipped with a PASM mode dial and a 3-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Features such as Instant Zoom, which shows your composition area as well as the area outside the frame, and Individual Shutter 3D, which creates 3D pictures by merging 2 images, provide an interesting twist for your photos. Powered by four AA type batteries, the Fuji FinePix S4800 will be available from April in black, white and red colours, priced at £149.99.

The Fujifilm FinePix F900EXR is a new slimline travelzoom camera with a 16-megapixel 1/2”-type EXR CMOS II sensor, 25-500mm equivalent lens and new “Intelligent Hybrid AF system” that focuses in as little as 0.05sec when employing the on-chip phase-detect AF sensors. The ultra-responsive compact boasts a start-up time of 1.1sec, shot-to-shot times of 0.5sec and continuous shooting at up to 11fps (albeit only for a maximum of 5 frames). The Finepix F900EXR also offers wireless connectivity, allowing you to back up your photos on your home PC or transfer them to your smartphone or tablet. Other highlights include Full HD movie capture at a smooth 60fps - with Intelligent Hybrid AF and optical zoom also available for videos -, Multiple Exposure, EXR-Auto, a 360° Motion Panorama mode, Film Simulation, Advanced Filters and Scene Recognition. Full manual controls, raw image capture and a 3-inch, wide-viewing-angle LCD screen round off the features list. The Fujifilm FinePix F900EXR will become available in April, at an RRP of £279.99.

The Olympus Stylus XZ-10 is a 12-megapixel compact camera with a 1/2.7-type backlit CMOS sensor and a 26-130mm (eq.) f/1.8-2.7 lens. Although equipped with a much smaller sensor than the Olympus XZ-1 and Stylus XZ-2, the new Olympus XZ-10 may still be of interest to serious photographers owing to its bright lens, full set of manual controls, 120fps high-speed HD video recording capabilities and 40% smaller size. Just like the flagship XZ-2, the Olympus Stylus XZ-10 has a customisable control ring around the lens for adjusting key parameters manually, without taking your eye off your subject. The 3-inch rear display offers a range of touch-based functions such as Touch AF and Touch Shutter. Priced at £349. the XZ-10 is FlashAir-compatible so you can connect to the cloud or a social network using your familiar smartphone interface and an optional FlashAir card. Availability is slated for March.

Olympus has unveiled a redesigned and more affordable edition of its M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 Micro Four Thirds lens. Equivalent to a 150-600mm optic in 35mm terms, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II is now styled to match the distinctive OM-D E-M5, as seen in the photo above. Benefiting from “new and advanced” ZERO lens coating, the new version retains the MSC (Movie and Stills Compatible) auto focus mechanism, extra-low-dispersion and high-refractive-index lens elements and circular iris diaphragm of its predecessor. Weighing 5 grams less than the older model, the new edition carries a much more budget-friendly MSRP of £499.99 (the first version cost £799.99 at launch).

Apple has introduced a 128GB version of the fourth-generation iPad.  The 128GB iPad with Wi-Fi and iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular models provide twice the storage capacity of the 64GB variants to hold even more content including photos, movies, apps and so forth. Like the existing lower-capacity models, the 128GB edition of the fourth-generation Apple iPad features a 9.7-inch “Retina” display with a resolution of 264 pixels per inch, and will be available starting Tuesday, 5th February for a suggested retail price of £639 for the Wi-Fi model and.£739 for the iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular (prices include VAT).

Tamron has just announced the development of its first superzoom lens for Micro Four Thirds. The Tamron 14-150mm F/3.5-5.8 Di III VC has a 35mm equivalent focal range of 28-300mm, and features 17 lens elements in 13 groups and an aperture diaphragm with 7 rounded blades. Supplied with a flower-shaped lens hood, the new Tamron 14-150mm lens boasts the manufacturer’s Vibration Compensation technology, a minimum focus distance of 50cm and a filter attachment size of 52mm. Pricing and availability to be announced.

At CP+, Kenko Tokina is showcasing the prototype of a new ultrawide-to-wide zoom lens designed for digital cameras with APS-C sized sensors. Intended to replace the critically acclaimed but somewhat shorter AT-X 12-24mm f4 PRO DX, the brand new Tokina AT-X 12-28mm f4 PRO DX offers users a 35mm equivalent focal range of 18-42mm on Nikon and ~19-45mm on Canon dSLRs. Weighing in at 600 grams, the Tokina AT-X 12-28mm f4 PRO DX features 14 elements in 12 groups and boasts a minimum focus distance of only 25mm from the sensor plane. Furthermore, the lens sports Tokina’s exclusive one-tocuh focus clutch mechanism that allows the photographer to switch between AF and MF simply by snapping the focus ring forward for AF and back toward the camera to focus manually. Pricing and availability to be announced.

Source: Kenko Tokina Japan

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM is a new standard prime for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors. With an optical formula comprising nine elements in eight groups and an iris diaphragm with nine rounded blades (and no “EX” designation in the name), this lens features a completely different design to the older Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, which was introduced back in 2005. It also has a shorter close-focusing distance of 30cm and a higher maximum reproduction ratio of 1:6.8. The filter attachment size is unchanged at 62mm, as is the 30mm focal length that translates into 45mm on Nikon and newer Sigma bodies, 48mm on Canon and 51mm on older Sigma digital SLRs. As part of the manufacturer’s ‘Art’ line, the new 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM is compatible with Sigma’s separately sold USB dock accessory and Sigma Optimisation Pro software.

The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN is a new mid-range telephoto lens for Micro Four Thirds and NEX system cameras. Offering a 35mm equivalent focal length of 90mm/120mm (NEX/MFT), the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN boasts a rounded aperture diaphragm and a minimum focus distance of 50cm. The lens benefits from a linear AF motor which moves the lens unit directly without the need for gears or other extra mechanical parts. This system ensures accurate and quiet focusing, the company says. The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN lens takes small 46mm filters and comes supplied with an LH520-03 lens hood (see picture).

Sigma has unveiled new and restyled versions of its 19mm f/2.8 EX DN and 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lenses. Optically unchanged, the new editions boast metal exteriors and come in black and silver versions.

Panasonic has announced a new standard zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras. The Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II has an optical formula comprising nine elements in eight groups, including two aspherical lenses plus Panasonic’s “Mega” Optical Image Stabiliser. Other highlights include an internal focus mechanism, a minimum focus distance of 20cm in the 14-20mm rangeand an iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades.

Nikon has introduced a redesigned, AF-S version of its 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. This ultrawide-to-wide zoom lens can be used on the company’s FX-format dSLRs as well as its more recent film SLRs. With up to a 100º angle of view, the AF-S Nikkor 18–35mm f/3.5–4.5G ED offers advanced and amateur photographers an affordable way to experiment with the unique perspectives that wide-angle zoom lenses can achieve, the company says. The newly designed optical formula comprises a dozen elements in eight groups, including two ED glass and three aspherical elements and Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating. The minimum focus distance is 28cm (measured from the film/sensor plane rather than the front lens element). The AF-S Nikkor 18–35mm f/3.5–4.5G ED lens weighs in at 385 grams, and takes standard 77mm filters. On a DX body - or an FX camera operating in DX crop mode -, the lens offers a 35mm equivalent focal range of 27-53mm. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED will be available in March 2013 for the SRP of £669.99/$749.95.

Nikon has launched its AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens, whose development was announced in the summer of 2012. Already tested by professional sports photographers at the London Olympics, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR is a super-telephoto lens featuring twenty elements in thirteen groups - including two ED and two fluorite elements -, an iris diaphragm with nine rounded blades and electromagnetic diaphragm control (hence the new “E” designation), and Nikon’s critically acclaimed Vibration Reduction system. Every Nikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens is supplied with the also-new TC-800-1.25E ED teleconverter - the first teleconverter to employ an ED glass element to correct chromatic aberration. The suggested retail price of the new 800mm Nikon lens is £15,599.99/$17,899.95.

Nikon has refreshed its Coolpix L and P ranges with the Nikon Coolpix L820 and P520 models. The Nikon Coolpix L820 ($279.95) is an easy-to-use, AA battery operated 16-megapixel digital superzoom camera with 30x optical zoom and Full HD video capture. Other highlights include Vibration Reduction, Eye-Fi memory card compatibility, a 3-inch rear screen and a “smart portrait system.” The 18-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P520 (£399.99 / €479.00 / $449.95, pictured) is a more serious proposition offering 42x optical zoom, a vari-angle, 3.2-inch, 921k-dot display and full manual control over the shooting settings. An optional Wi-Fi dongle can instantly transfer images and movies to virtually any smart device. Other key features include an auto HDR mode, a customisable function button, a 1cm macro mode, Easy Panorama and 3D shooting modes, 7fps continuous shooting at full resolution, and the ability to use the optical zoom while recording a full HD movie.