JP Distribution has announced the UK availability of the Gepe Card Safe Extreme “All In One” memory card protector. Developed for the transport, safekeeping and optimal protection of your memory cards, the Card Safe Extreme accommodates four CompactFlash, four SD, eight microSD cards and two Memory Sticks. Like all other Card Safes it protects memory cards against dust, humidity, shock and electrostatic charge. In addition, it is water- and “climate proof” and comes with a stainless steel pin and a connector to fix it at the belt or camera bag. The Gepe Card Safe Extreme “All In One” memory card protector is available for £18.99

Samsung UK today announced the availability of its new, Android-powered Galaxy Camera. Hitting the shops on Thursday, 8th November, the Samsung Galaxy Camera is a sixteen-megapixel superzoom camera with a 4.8” high-definition capacitive touchscreen, 21x optical zoom, optical image stabilisation, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system with Wi-Fi and 3G/4G connectivity. The 4.1-86.1mm f/2.8-5.9 lens offers an angle-of-view range equivalent to that of an imaginary 23-483mm lens on a 35mm camera body. The Samsung Galaxy Camera can be yours for £399.99.

Athentech has released Version 3.0 of its Perfectly Clear app for Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices. This update introduces a completely redesigned interface, integrated noise removal, new Beautify filer and a one-click fix for the “purple haze issue” - essentially a particularly bad case of lens flare - that occurs when the iPhone camera is pointed toward the sun or some other bright source of light. Perfectly Clear 3.0 for iPhone and iPad is available on iTunes for $2.99.

Delkin has added a lightweight and affordable monopod and a full-size tripod to the Fat Gecko product line. Both made of carbon fibre material, the Fat Gecko Monopod and Tripod are billed as the lightest, most durable, and inexpensive carbon fibre products currently on the market. Featuring a folded height of 16” and maximum height of 57”, the monopod is able to hold up to 30lbs without bending. Its unique 5-section design also allows the monopod to set up and break down in a matter of seconds. the company says. The Fat Gecko Tripod (pictured), which folds down to 22” and reaches 67” when fully extended, can also hold up to 30lbs and weighs only one pound. Retail price for the Fat Gecko Tripod is $119.99, while the Fat Gecko Monopod is priced at $69.99.

Panasonic has announced upcoming firmware updates for its Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 Power O.I.S. and 35-100mm f/2.8 Power O.I.S. Micro Four Thirds lenses. The firmware upgrade will enhance auto focus performance on the Panasonic GH3, with the camera set to 240fps recording. You will be able to download the updates in the middle of December, 2012.

Somerset-based start-up Phlib have launched a new 3D magnetic frame. Like their other frames, you get the option of 27 single photos or the ‘photo explosion’, which is 1 image split into 27 pieces and spread over the entire frame. Photos are held to a sleek, metal, skeleton frame by tiny but powerful magnets. The novelty of the 3D Phlib frame is that it fits into the corner of the room (two walls and the ceiling).

Website: Phlib

Witness, a four-part documentary series from award-winning filmmaker Michael Mann, debuts this Monday, 5th November at 9:00p.m.ET/PT on HBO with Witness: Juarez. The film follows combat photographer Eros Hoagland as he explores Juarez, Mexico, the “murder capital of the world” where drug violence has left over 10,000 dead. Presented in four parts – Juarez, Libya, South Sudan and Rio – Witness focuses on three determined photojournalists: Eros Hoagland, who explores the gang- and drug-related violence in both Juarez, Mexico and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Michael Christopher Brown, who chronicles escalating ethnic tensions in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster last year in Libya; and Véronique de Viguerie, who follows the “Arrow Boys” and their struggle against General Kony in South Sudan. Between these three, their photos have appeared in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Paris Match, The Guardian and many other publications.

ChromaLuxe has launched customisable ChromaLuxe Flex Frame for the iPhone 4/4S, recently released iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy SIII. This new camera phone cover allows users to print personalized images on high definition interchangeable inserts crafted from ChromaLuxe’s HD Metal Prints. The Flex Frame’s two-piece cover features a hard-shell design that snaps together for a secure fit that can protect a phone from daily bumps and bruises. A raised bezel keeps the screen elevated from surfaces. Additionally, the antimicrobial additive in each HD photo print insert and select covers helps reduce up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria levels. the company says. ChromaLuxe Flex Frames are available through various retail photo labs, including Walgreens.com and GiftsForYouNow.com.

G-Technology has announced the winners of its Driven Creativity 2012 awards. Taking the top spot is “A Fox Tale,” by a group of four students headed up by Julien Legay. This animation team will receive a grand prize of €5,000 as well as a G-Technology 8TB G-RAID with Thunderbolt for their project that focuses on “the poetic and artistic side of Asia.” The winning piece, along with the category winners and runners-up, was showcased at a special exhibition last night at Shoreditch Studios, London.

FotoDC are gearing up for the 5th annual FotoWeek DC festival this month. Held across the Washington, DC region from 9-18 November, this year’s FotoWeekDC festival sees the addition of the new FotoWeekEDU programming and the launch of the FotoPage portfolio profile system. Other highlights include FotoWeekCentral, the focal hub of the Festival, FotoWeek By Night, a series of evening slideshow events, and the new and updated FotoPage and FotoPartner web modules which offer individual photographers and local partners exposure on the greatly expanded FotoDC.org website.

Profoto has announced a new line of softboxes. The company’s RFi softboxes are available in 12 sizes and four models: rectangular, square, octagonal and strip. The “RF” in RFi stands for “recessed front”. The recessed front minimizes stray light. It is also used for mounting the optional Softgrid. The Softgrid is a clever tool that creates an even more directed light, which in turn allows for even more precise light shaping. Other optional tools include the Flat Front Diffuser and the Stripmask. You will not need to worry about what strobes you are using either, as the new speedring adaptors make the RFi softboxes compatible with more than 20 different flash brands.

Olympus UK are really excited to announce the launch of our latest offer, the PEN 1-2-3 Offer.

It’s as simple as it sounds:

Step 1 - Buy any PEN E-PL5 or E-PM2 kit from an authorised Olympus dealer and get a FREE 8GB FlashAir Card, which will allow you to take advantage of the new smart phone app, Olympus Image Share.

Step 2 - Purchase a PEN Portrait Zoom Kit for just £99, saving £250 on the RRP of £349.99.

Step 3 - If you’ve completed steps 1 & 2 you can then claim a 15mm Body Cap lens (RRP £69.99) absolutely FREE!

Visit http://olympusuk.sales-promotions.com/ for more information.

100 Ideas that Changed Photography is a new book that chronicles the most influential ideas that have shaped photography. Arranged in a broadly chronological order to show the development of photography, the ideas that comprise 100 Ideas that Changed Photography include innovative concepts, cultural and social incidents, technologies and movements. Each idea is presented through lively text and arresting visuals, and explores when the idea first evolved and its subsequent impact on photography. 100 Ideas that Changed Photography costs £19.95.

The HiLO Lens redirects the iPhone and iPad camera 90 degrees so it becomes easy to get more creative angles in your photos. With the HiLO Lens the tablet can be held at waist level and the photo of the horizon framed while looking down at the iPad screen. The Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign has been launched to bring HiLO Lens into production. Anyone can back the HiLO Lens project on Kickstarter now and receive one of the first HiLO Lens to be produced.

Eyeist has created the first Web-based photography review service that connects world-class photography experts with photographers. Eyeist.com provides insight and advice to a global audience of amateur and professional photographers at affordable rates. Base prices range from $100.00 to $350.00.

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

1st Place
Rays of life by MKatz
Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

We’ve teamed up with Booq to give away one of its fantastic new Python camera backpacks, worth EUR 269,95!

The lucky winner is Fleur Moody. Congratulations!

Python pack is a camera laptop backpack designed for 1-2 DSLRs, up to 4 mid-size lenses, 1 large zoom lens, tripod, iPad, and a MacBook up to 15-inch. Its ergonomic shoulder strap design and side-loading camera compartment lets you access your gear while wearing the camera bag. Inside its rigid camera compartment, contoured padded walls cradle your DSLR camera for easy access, and densely padded dividers (not the flimsy stuff those cheaper camera bags use) can be configured to fit your gear of choice. A variety of pockets include concealed interior slots designed to be used to securely store accessories and flash cards, and its large laptop compartment, protected from the elements via a water-repellent zipper, is perfectly sized for a 15-inch MacBook Pro or magazines.

Pentax Ricoh Imaging UK has announced a cashback promotion on the Pentax K-30 digital SLR camera. The promotion entitles UK and Ireland residents to claim £50 cashback when buying either the body only or with any Pentax lens. The cashback campaign will run from 1 November 2012 to 15 January 2013. For details visit the website below.

This Christmas, Canon UK is offering photographers an opportunity to complement their new DSLR with a range of accessories for half price. Those who buy an EOS 7D, EOS 60D or EOS 60Da will be able to get 50% off the battery grip, AC adapter, remote switch, additional batteries and remote control from a number of retailers. The promotion covers all purchases from 1 November 2012 until 27 January 2013.