The Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm / F1.7 ASPH is a new interchangeable pancake lens. Featuring a bright maximum aperture of f/1.7, the Pansonic 20mm lens is very compact and lightweight. Seven blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. Comprised of seven lenses in 5 groups, the versatile 20mm focal distance is equivalent to 40mm on a 35mm film camera. The Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm / F1.7 ASPH will be available in October as one of the DMC-GF1 kit lenses, pricing to be announced.

The Panasonic LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S is a new macro lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. Offering a 35mm camera equivalent focal length of 90mm, the Panasonic 45mm lens uses both an aspherical lens and an ED lens in its fourteen lenses in ten groups to realize outstanding compactness. It incorporates an inner focus direct-drive linear motor with three groups of floating structure for focusing, and the inclusion of stepping motor makes the focusing action smooth and silent for use in both photo and movie recording. The closest focusing distance can be instantly changed to 15cm or 50 cm(0.5 ft to 1.64 ft) with the switch on the lens barrel. Availability and pricing of the Panasonic 45mm macro lens are still to be announced.

In addition to the DMC-GF1 camera and two new lenses announced today, Panasonic have also announced their Micro Four Thirds lens roadmap for 2010. Three new lenses will be launched - the 100-300mm f/4-5.6 OIS, 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, and 14mm f2.8 prime lens.

The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 is a new high specification professional A2+ photo printer. Now using Epson’s advanced, fourth generation UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta pigment inks, the Epson 3880 incorporates a special driver mode that allows users to create bespoke black tones and clear whites. All-new AccuPhoto HD2 image technology provides smoother color transitions and better highlight and shadow detail. Replacing the 3800 model, the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 will be available from October 2009 for £995. In the US the Epson 3880 will be offered in Standard and Graphic Arts Editiond (includes ColorBurst RIP) for $1,295 and $1,495 respectively.

Nikon have reduced the price of the D5000 DSLR camera by up to £110 in the UK. Antonio Guillen, Nikon’s Consumer Digital SLR Product Manager, comments: “The introduction of the new D3000 and D300S cameras has allowed us to reposition the D5000 to offer an even stronger consumer line up - there’s something for everyone, whether you are looking to get into DSLR photography for the first time or want to develop your passion or hobby.” The D5000 body only now costs £619.99 / €750.00, and the 18-55mm VR lens kit is £689.99 / €830.00.

The Canon WUX10 Mark II and SX80 Mark II are two new digital projectors aimed at photographers. Both include a dedicated ‘Photo’ mode that offers exceptionally clear, accurate colour still images in any lighting environment. The WUX10 Mark II projects in an industry-leading native WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels) resolution, with the SX80 Mark II displaying images in crystal clear SXGA+ (1400 x 1050 pixels) resolution. “The WUX10 Mark II and SX80 Mark II projectors have been designed to display images with unrivalled clarity, making them perfect for photographers wishing to display their work to the highest possible standard” said Rainer Fuehres, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. The WUX10 Mark II and SX80 Mark II are available from October 2009.

The Canon WFT-E5A is a new wireless file transmitter (WFT) for the EOS 7D DSLR camera. Connectivity options includie IEEE802.11a/b/g and Ethernet, geotagging is possible via Bluetooth, and it can also transfer and display images on DLNA televisions and photo frames. Photographers can fire up to 10 cameras simultaneously from across the room or across the country while maintaining control over camera settings and remote live view on a laptop or smart phone. The Canon WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter is scheduled to be available in early November and sell at an estimated retail price of $699.99.

Viewbook.com now allows photographers to create complete custom portfolio websites. The new Viewbook.com website creator includes branding elements, smooth scalable slideshows, full screen views and video - all with a user’s unique web address. “We’ve built a modular system that enables people to use their creativity and create solutions their own way and not force too many conventions on them. We keep our tools and formats clean and uncluttered, so people can really implement their ideas.” commented Rien Swagerman, founder and lead developer of Viewbook.com. The new Viewbook website features are available exclusively with the Viewbook Pro account, which is available at $19 per month or $190 for an annual subscription. For first-time users, Viewbook offers a 30 day free trial with no setup fees.

The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm is a new standard zoom lens for Nikon-mount digital SLR cameras with smaller sensors. Featuring Tamron’s proprietary tri-axial Vibration Compensation (VC) mechanism, the Tamron 17-50mm provides a focal range equivalent to equivalent to 26-78mm in the full-frame 35mm format. Tamron plans to introduce the lens in a Canon mount version shortly after the new Nikon mount version with built-in motor hits the market. The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm will be available in Japan from September 17th 2009. In the UK it will cost £529.99.

The Samsung WB5000 is a new compact camera with a 26mm wide angle lens and 24x optical zoom. The WB5000 (also known as the HZ25W) offers RAW shooting, aperture priority, shutter priority and two User defined Modes as well as full manual shooting modes. The 12.5 mega pixel WB5000 records HD video in 1280x720p resolution at 30 frames per second using the latest H.264 format. The Samsung WB5000 will be available in the UK from September 2009, pricing to be announced. In the US the Samsung HZ25W will be available in October for $399.99.

The Canon EOS 7D is a new 18 megapixel digital SLR camera. Incorporating a new APS-C CMOS sensor, the Canon 7D features dual DIGIC 4 processors, an ISO range expandable to 12,800, and a 19-point cross-type AF sensor. There’s also continuous shooting at 8 frames per second, 3 inch LCD screen with 920k dots, viewfinder with 100% magnification, and Focus Colour Luminance metering system (iFCL) which measures focus, colour and luminance across 63 zones. The Canon EOS 7D will be available from early October 2009 priced at £1699.99 / €1999.99 inc. VAT. The Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers at the end of September, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $1,699.00. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $1,899.00.

Canon has unveiled two new kit lenses for everyday use, the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. The high-quality EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is equivalent to a 24-136mm focal length lens. It offers a 4-stop Image Stabilizer as well as a close focusing distance of just 0.35m throughout the zoom range. The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a powerful all-in-one lens with a 4-stop Image Stabilizer and a 7.5x super zoom range. The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is available from early October 2009 priced at £529.99 / €619.99 inc. VAT. The EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is available from mid October 2009 priced at £849.99 / €989.99 inc. VAT. In the US the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is scheduled to be available at the end of September and sell at an estimated retail price of $499.99. The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM is scheduled to be available in late October and sell at an estimated retail price of $799.99.

The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is the first Canon lens to feature Hybrid image stabilisation. The new Hybrid IS system features up to 4-stop correction, compensating for the effects of camera shake during normal shooting and shift movement which is problematic when shooting up close. The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM will be available from early October 2009 priced at £999.99 / €1199.99 inc. VAT. In the US the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is scheduled to be available at the end of September and sell at an estimated retail price of $1,049.00.

The Olympus E-600 is a new entry-level DSLR camera. The 12.3 megapixel E600 is heavily based upon the E-620 model, dropping the backlit buttons, 3 art filters (Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, and Grainy Film), multi exposure mode and aspect mask control of the $100 more expensive E-620. “With the E-600, Olympus has answered the call for a more affordable and creative camera that has everything you could need to get great results,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. The Olympus E600 DSLR will be available in early November 2009 for $599.99 with the 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko lens.

New Leica cameras will be unveiled in a live webcast on Wednesday September 9th.

Announced in a Youtube / Vimeo video, Leica’s CEO Rudi Spiller commented “On September 9th Leica will introduce a collection of ground-breaking new products designed and manufactured for all photographers, novice and professional alike.”

You can signup for the live webcast here - the global times are:

9am New York City
2pm London
3pm Berlin
5pm Moskow
9pm Beijing
10pm Tokyo

Bogen Imaging is holding a free webinar called “Capturing the Brilliance of Fall: Roundtable with Adam Barker.” Professional photographer and special guest, Adam Barker, and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging’s webinar host, will discuss how to take amazing photos of the beautiful Autumn foliage. Part of the company’s Bogen Café series of free instructional webinars, the seminar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, September 18th.

A big Gigapan photo shoot is taking place tomorrow on London’s Southbank. Timed to coincide with the launch of a new campaign called 10:10 (http://www.1010uk.org/), the Gigapan shoot will be outside Tate Modern on Tuesday evening. Gigapan ss the same technology that created incredible images from President Obama’s inauguration (http://gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=15374). Everybody is welcome to come and join in.

World-class photographers will gather in Merida, Mexico, during the 9th World Wilderness Congress (WILD9) to present and discuss their work and its contribution to conservation efforts. They will join writers, filmmakers and conservation experts at the inaugural WiLD SPEAK, a Conservation Communications Symposium Nov. 9-12 organised by the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). WiLD SPEAK provides a forum for media professionals to discuss environmental issues and themes, share strategies and technologies, and explore how their work can raise awareness and realize conservation objectives. WiLD SPEAK will include plenary sessions and discussions on strategies and issues relevant to conservation communications including trends in photojournalism, building partnerships with non-governmental organizations and leveraging new social media platforms. You can register at the website below.

Website: WiLD SPEAK