LockCircle has announced the new PrimeCircle XT 15mm f2.8 Custom ZF.2 Series professional lens for Canon and Nikon. Built around the world-class optics of the Carl Zeiss T* 15mm f/2.8 Distagon ZF.2 lens, the PrimeCircle XT 15mm f/2.8 features a specially engineered double front mount (95mm and 114mm) offers the choice to use film-style standard accessories, matte-boxes and filters. The exclusive X-Circle EF Mount shows the focus and aperture scales on the side (Side Index View)  for comfortable focus-puller work. The PrimeCircle XT 15mm 2,8 can be ordered now with a 4 weeks delivery schedule.

Corel today launched Paint Shop Pro X5, the latest version of its photo editing application for Windows. This release includes updates and refinements to features like layer styles, brushes and HDR imaging tools. PaintShop Pro X5 also boasts new creative tools including Retro Lab, an Instant Effects palette and a Graduated Filter effect. Also new to X5 are the social media integration and organisational tools like face recognition and Share My Trip, which gives users the ability to share map-based interactive slideshows. PaintShop Pro X5 is available now in English, French, Italian, German and Dutch for £59.99. Users of PaintShop Pro X3 or higher are eligible for upgrade pricing of £44.99.

Ilford has announced a diverse range of activity during the 2012 Photokina World of Imaging trade show. The company’s stand D.011 – E.010 in Hall 6.1 will host a gallery of works by renowned photographers and amateurs alike, with exhibition-quality prints made with Galerie Prestige inkjet media. The stand also features the work of Timothy Allen, the photographer for the BBC’s Human Planet series. The culmination of the ILFORD activity at photokina will be a major expansion of the five star Ilford Galerie Prestige range, comprising a total of five new inkjet photo papers.

The new Mac version of iStopMotion allows users to create high-definition stop-motion and time lapse videos using their iPhone as a camera via the free iStopMotion Remote Camera iOS app. Fully optimised for the MacBook Pro’s new Retina display. iStopMotion 3 also has enhanced app security by being sandboxed and signed with DeveloperID. It is localised in English, German, French, Japanese and Russian. Offering all this plus every feature from the previous iStopMotion 2 Pro (formerly priced at $499.99), iStopMotion 3 is available through the Mac App Store in the Video category for $49.99.

The new MagFilter circular polariser from CarrySpeed presents a simple, clean, and effective solution to mounting filters on high-end compact cameras. A very thin metal ring is first adhered to the front of the camera lens and still allows the lens to expand and retract back into the camera body. The Carry Speed MagFilters quickly connect to the metal ring with strong magnets embedded in the MagFilter body. A grooved bevel design prevents slippage and ensures a secure bond to lock the MagFilter in place. There are two filters to choose from; a 36mm Polariser MagFilter ($24.99), designed for small compact cameras like the Canon Powershot S95/S100, and a 42mm Polariser MagFilter ($26.99) that fits on cameras like the Sony HX9V, Sony HX20V, Sony HX30V, and Sony RX100. For more information, visit the website below.

Website: CarrySpeed

PermaJet will arrive at Photokina 2012 with their biggest range of products to date. New additions to their line-up include the Mercury Ultra White Matt 405gsm inkjet canvas, 5-metre-length inkjet trial rolls of the PermaJet Oyster 271gsm and Ultra Pearl 295gsm media, an all-new Image Block Print Display System, a range of fast drying canvas protective varnishes in 2.5-litre cans, an anti-curl roller device and more. PermaJet’se full product range will be available to view at Photokina 2012, Hall 06.1 Stand D-020.

German software developer Jürgen Habenstein has unveiled his AppCam OS-II, a new graphical user interface for DSLR cameras. Aimed at making cameras more intuitive and easy to use without the need to delve into complicated and long-winded menu systems, the AppCam OS-II doesn’t require camera manufacturers to add any extra buttons or setting wheels to established control layouts, and works without a touchscreen. Whether the major camera companies are ready to adopt the new OS remains to be seen but we believe Jürgen definitely deserves kudos for his creative efforts. For more information on the AppCam OS-II, visit the website below.

Website: AppCam OS-II

Nik Software has just launched the ‘Nik Focused’ online photo contest. Linked to the homonymous online event that runs parallel with the Photokina trade-show, the ‘Nik Focused’ photo contest invites photographers to submit up to five vintage-styled or -themed images to win one of 20 prizes. The submission deadline is 24 September 2012. You can enter your photos via the website below.

The winners of the August 2012 Photography Blog Competition have been announced. The theme for August was “Stars” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
My shot of the galaxy! by bloopiers
Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

MediaDevil has launched the Grafikcase customised case service. Grafikcase gives creative professionals the opportunity to have a mobile phone, MP3 player or tablet case, customised with a high-resolution image from their portfolio. It also provides photographers with a great way to publicise their studio or freelance services. The Grafikcase is available now for all models of the iPhone, iPod Touch 4G/5G, iPad 2, iPad 3, Blackberry Bold 9900, Samsung Galaxy Note and the Samsung Galaxy S2 and S3, with pricing at £19.97.

The new UV and IR Cut Filter from Hoya is a lens filter that, when attached to your lens, permits only the visible spectrum of light rays to enter the camera. “This is important to digital photographers as the CCD and CMOS sensors found in our cameras are extremely susceptible to catching UV and IR rays just outside the visible spectrum that have a very negative impact on image quality,” the company claims. Available in sizes from 49mm through to 82mm, the new filter can also reduce the effects of atmospheric haze to a greater degree than a standard UV filter. Suggested retail prices start from £84.99 for the 49mm size.

Kata has launched a new line-up of rucksacks for the on-the-go amateur photographer. The new D-Light range offers a series of super-compact yet high-capacity camera bags. The range’s design makes it easy to access gear when the bag is slung on one shoulder, and all bags in the range can be easily converted to a daypack when the user isn’t shooting. Kata’s D-Light series currently comprises the 465-DL (pictured), the 466-DL and the 467-DL “digital rucksacks.”

Issue 19 of Landscape Photography Magazine is now available to download. This edition includes a guide to: macro and close-up photography with Ross Hoddinott, Martin Henson’s thoughts about a hybrid film-digital workflow, a review of the book ‘Joe Cornish, a photographer at work,’ a showcase of photographs by Javier Acosta, Larry Zink and Francesco Gola, an interview with Ross Hoddinott, and more. Do note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only.

We sat down with SH Lim, Vice President, Samsung Digital Imaging, HQ, at the IFA show in Berlin to discuss the new Samsung Galaxy Camera and Samsung imaging products in general.

The new “Delta Pro” series from Hama comprises a photo tripod, a video tripod and two universal tripods. The two universal tripods “Delta Pro 180 3D” and “Delta Pro 160 3D” are each equipped with a three-way pan-tilt head, with the numbers 160 and 180 referring to the maximum height of the tripods in centimetres. The “Delta Pro 180 2D” video tripod comes with a smooth two-way pan-tilt head, while the “Delta Pro 180 Ball” photo tripod is equipped with a ball-head. The company hasn’t provided details on the tripods’ maximum load capacity and pricing. The new tripods will be on display at Photokina 2012, Hall 4.2, stand D 020 / E 029.

Samsung has announced its new ‘Pro’ series of microSD memory cards that provide UHS-I support and up to 64GB of data storage. The full line-up includes the premium series ‘Plus’ and commercial series ‘Standard,’ the company says. Water-, temperature-, magnet- and X-ray-proof, the new Samsung ‘Pro’ line-up of microSD cards deliver read speeds of up to 70 Megabytes per second. Pricing for the new cards has yet to be confirmed.

The Plustek OpticFilm 120, a brand new dedicated desktop film scanner that handles both 35mm and medium format, is now available to pre-order in the UK. Sold by WEX Photographic, the OpticFilm 120 from Plustek supports roll film frame sizes from 6x4.5 to 6x12cm and sells for £1999. Core features include a highly sensitive colour CCD and stepper motor delivering a maximum resolution of 10,660ppi, an 8-element glass lens for sharp scans, an infra-red channel for dust and scratch detection, motorised film transport for automated batch scanning, and an innovative folding rear cover that reduces the size of the scanner to save desktop space and prevent dust from entering the device. The scope of delivery includes holders for 35mm and medium-format film strips - including a patent-pending adjustable pitch 120/220mm film holder that holds the film flat -, as well as mounted slides. The Plustek OpticFilm 120 comes bundled with SilverFast Ai Studio 8.

Special thanks to our reader Mark Naftel for calling our attention to this piece of news.

The SlideFrame turns your tablet or other “smart device” into a digital photo frame while it’s charging. Described as “a cross between a high-end digital photo frame and a hand crafted picture frame,” the SlideFrame will be available in several styles to appeal to a broad range of consumers, from photographers to designers, new parents, techies, gadget gurus, and anyone with a tablet. It will also be available in several sizes to fit the most popular smart-devices today, including the iPad, the Kindle Fire, the iPhone and the iPod Touch. In addition to housing these devices, the SlideFrame can also be used to show off a traditional photographic print. Manufactured in the U.S.A., the SlideFrame is available for $59.99-$79.99 depending on size.