Camera

Rumour has it that Panasonic is just about ready to replace its flagship Lumix G9 Micro Four Thirds camera, with the updated compact camera allegedly inheriting some of the most impressive features of the full-frame Lumix S5 II. An exact release date is still unknown, but the new M4/3 camera is likely to launch before the end of 2023.

A steady stream of reports about loose Canon EOS R5 and R6 hot shoe mounts has hit the internet over the last two years, and it appears to be stirring up a bit of a fuss among the photography community. More concerning than loose and detaching hardware is that Canon isn't offering any service or recall support outside of warranty repair, leaving many owners to DIY a solution.

Hong Kong-based ArtraLab has revealed that it will soon be expanding its handsome, retro-themed NONIKKOR lens line-up with a 24 mm f/1.7 pancake lens for both Micro Four Thirds and Nikon Z-mount cameras. The YouTube video that makes mention of the lenses suggests that the Z-mount version will be particularly suited for Nikon's APS-C cameras, like the Zfc.

The arrival of the Osmo Action 4 is around the corner, with DJI having teased a July 25 release. With specifications leaking earlier this week, leaker @Quadro_News has now provided US pricing for the action camera's Adventure and Standard Combo packages.

Alleged specifications for the next update to DJI's GoPro-killer OSMO Action camera have leaked on Twitter, and the spec sheet indicates an incremental, but not insignificant, update to the affordable action camera's hardware. 4K 120 FPS video makes a return, but a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor promises to let in substantially more light than its predecessor.

Sony's US$1,399 A6700 and Fujifilm's US$1,299 X-S20 represent both manufacturers' latest stab at the midrange interchangeable lens APS-C hybrid camera. While they're similarly capable cameras, there are a few features and specifications that set them apart and make them appeal to different people.

Several Nikon Z8 users have reported failing or loose camera strap lugs. This is the second issue the Z8 has had since its inception — one of which was also an issue with the Z9 previously and resulted in a recall in both cases. Nikon has yet to issue a recall regarding the loose strap lugs on the Z8, but repeated build quality issues may tarnish Nikon's reputation as a hardware manufacturer.

Shopping for a first camera can be a daunting experience, especially for someone coming from a smartphone camera with little experience. While it's easy to drop US$3,000 on a premium camera, it's worth the effort to take a measured approach to know you're getting gear that you can use without wasting money.

Full specifications for the DJI Air 3 have now surfaced online, as have US pricing details. The DJI Air 3 will feature two 1/1.3-inch CMOS cameras and will be DJI's first drone to support its O4 video transmission system.

After months of rumours, leaks, and barefaced speculation, Sony has finally unveiled the Alpha 6700 APS-C mirrorless camera as the follow-up to the nearly-four-year-old Alpha 6600. The A6700 stacks up to be an impressively capable successor to the A6600, thanks to an updated BSI sensor, enhanced AI image processing, and class-leading video features. The A6700 should put up stiff competition for the likes of the recently-released Fujifilm X-S20, especially given the Sony's competitive US$1,399 price tag.

Sony's excellent Alpha 6600 hybrid photography camera is on sale on Amazon for under US$1,000. The A6600 makes for a dependable compact camera for any photographer or videographer looking for something with dependable performance and a full feature set. Some of its standout specs include five-axis in-body image stabilisation, a 180° flip-up display, and 4K 30 FPS and 1080p 120 FPS video recording.

The DJI Air 3 has appeared again online, this time as an engineering prototype. The bottom of the forthcoming drone has now been pictured, confirming more details about the Air 3 ahead of its release.

More details about the DJI Air 3 have appeared online. Not only has the FCC published initial documentation for the drone and its two launch remote controllers, but leakers have found pictures of the drone's camera and retail packaging.

We've seen rumours about an upcoming Sony Alpha a6700 compact APS-C mirrorless camera for a while now, with a limited spec sheet even being revealed earlier this year. A new rumour now hints that the a6700 will ship with 6K video chops, setting it up as a competent vlogging camera. If the price of the current a6600 is any indication, the Fujifilm X-S20 should be stiff competition for the a6700.

A tentative rumour suggests that a new Sony camera other than the A6700 will be launched in the start of 2024. While the name of the camera is not yet known, it appears that it will have a 26.1-MP APS-C sensor and a compact, vlogging-friendly body. The rest of the spec sheet also appears to be perfect for content creators, with five-axis IBIS rearing its head once more. The camera is supposed to launch in early 2024.

Renowned leaker Roland Quandt has published numerous official images of the Air 3, DJI's next compact drone. Pictured with a new RC-N2 remote controller, the DJI Air 3 is rumoured to start at £962 with the RC-N2 and £1,199 as part of a Fly More Combo.

Sony has finally announced the much-awaited software update that enables 4K 120 FPS video recording for its Alpha ZV-E1 full-frame mirrorless vlogging camera that it released earlier in 2023. Not only does the update enable 4K 120 FPS recording, but it also unlocks 1080p 240 FPS recording, greatly expanding the slow-motion capabilities of Sony's diminutive creator camera.

It appears that DJI is moving closer to announcing the Air 3, a successor to the Air 2 and Air 2S. While DJI has not officially commented on the drone's release yet, more photos of the upcoming drone have emerged online, as has launch pricing for two Fly More Combo packages.

Insta360 has launched the GO 3, a tiny action camera that measures 54.4 x 25.6 x 23.2 mm. Shipping with an improved Action Pod accessory that provides more battery life, works as a remote control and has a flip-up touchscreen display, the Insta360 GO 3 can also shoot 2.7K videos at 30 FPS.

Released two years ago and capable of read/write speeds of up to 160/120 MB/s, the Samsung PRO Plus full-size SDXC card is now heavily discounted on Amazon. The 256 GB version is 57% off and its 128 GB sibling is 58% down, so they can be acquired for US$26.99/US$14.99 (each bundled with a USB reader).

Rumours have surfaced that Canon will launch the PowerShot V100 in an effort to take the fight to the likes of Sony and Fujifilm by early 2024. Like the Sony ZV-E10, the PowerShot V100 is rumoured to have an APS-C sensor and an interchangeable lens mount, and it will supposedly be equipped with the DIGIC X image processor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, and IBIS, putting it in spitting distance of the Sony A6600 and Fujifilm X-S20.

Nikon has launched a global technical service advisory for certain Nikon Z8 mirrorless cameras to repair a defect with the lens mount. The recall comes almost a month after the camera's May 25 retail availability. The company says that it has identified the affected serial numbers, and it has launched a webpage for users to check if their units need repair.

After a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride over the last few months, it's been revealed that DPReview and its editorial team has been acquired by Gear Patrol. This move serves as the salvation of a vast knowledge base for the photography community that has been built up over the last 25 years.

Insta360 hints that its next new product will not be any run-of-the-mill action camera, but something much, much...smaller. Nevertheless, it also apparently packs the ability to capture memories with family, friends or pets, from the point of view of any of them. It is backed to start a "tiny revolution" later in June 2023.

While Nikon previously revealed that its nifty Auto Capture feature would make its way to the Nikon Z8 in a future firmware update, the verbiage stating such has mysteriously vanished from Nikon's marketing of the feature, leaving fans scratching their heads. Auto Capture, which has already made an appearance on the Nikon Z9, is a feature that automatically locks focus on and snaps an image of anything that enters the frame.

Samsung has released its anticipated camera update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Available as AWF1, the 2.2 GB download contains various camera improvements and system stability improvements.

Camera maker Nikon has thrown its weight into the fight against controversial AI image generation tools, like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion, in an ad campaign centric around the beauty of the natural world and the creativity of photographers. The advertising campaign features stunning imagery taken by Nikon users, with AI image generation prompts superimposed over the images to drive the point home.

When Panasonic released the Lumix GH5, it almost instantly became a hit among online content creators, despite some shortcomings. The combination of image quality, performance, and price point makes it an attractive option for small video production teams. The Lumix GH5 II is a later iteration of the Micro Four Thirds camera with added live-streaming and video features.

If recent rumours about Sony's roadmap are anything to go by, the next iteration to its A7C compact hybrid camera line-up will arrive sooner rather than later, with a Q3 2023 release seeming somewhat likely. Rumours put the release date of the A7C Mark II between the upcoming A6700 and A9 III, and the proposed spec sheet reveals some compelling upgrades over its predecessor.

The Fujifilm X100V has been one of Fujifilm's most successful fixed-lens endeavours to date, with many reviewers praising it highly for its image quality and great handling. It seems that Fujifilm has become a victim of its own success, as it appears to be unable to keep up with demand for the camera. B&H Photo is only the most recent retailer to suspend orders for the X100V, calling into question Fujifilm's supply chain and the ability to ship enough units of a potential successor.

Canon EOS R1 rumours abound, with the upcoming flagship mirrorless camera potentially coming with an industry-leading global shutter as well as a larger body and an improved autofocus system. While Canon is just about overdue for an update to its flagship line-up, there's not a peep about a possible release date or confirmation of the specifications.

Kamila Wojciechowska has revealed full camera details for the Pixel 8, as well as its Pixel 8 Pro sibling. The same leaker has hinted at some of the features headed to this autumn's Tensor G3-based smartphones too.

Sharge touts its latest product as the best way to turn up to 2TB of M.2 NVMe SSD storage into a "tiny, lightweight" everyday-carry accessory. It consists of an aluminum enclosure for such a card with a volume touted as equivalent to that of a couple of bottlecaps, designed to fit into a custom silicone bumper with a lanyard that also doubles as a data cable. The Disk also features a male USB type-C to plug into a compatible laptop, smartphone, camera or console by itself for transfer speeds of up to 1GB per second (Gb/s).

Zeiss has finally responded to rumours that it has abandoned the photography lens market for good. While the brand will remain active in the dedicated camera market for the foreseeable future, it also noted that there has been an irreversible shift in the market thanks to smartphones and the pandemic.

Xiaomi is preparing to release the Xiaomi 13 Ultra globally, having now confirmed its €1,499 launch price. Despite partnering with Leica, DxOMark has revealed that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra's camera system has a few weaknesses, particularly when compared against other current flagships.

Fujifilm released the X-S20 APS-C camera as an update to its X-S hybrid camera line-up. While the spec sheet improvements made for a convincing package, the first batch of proper reviews reveal a camera that delivers on its promises.

Adobe Stock is one of the biggest repository of non-royalty images online. It is also the only one accepting output from generative AI as such at the time of writing. A new analysis of the sale of and revenue from images available on the platform suggests that the latter has outdone 'real' media from photographers in some respects since 2022.

Topaz Labs recently released version 1.3.7 of its Photo AI image sharpening software. Topaz Photo is a one-click solution for upscaling, noise removal, and blur reduction for photographers. Topaz Labs has released v1.3.7 at a 20% discount until June 16, and for a perpetual licence no less.

Sony touts its latest CFexpress Type-A cards as exceptionally high-capacity and frame-drop resistant, the better to deliver ultra-stable, reliable recording, even in 4K (even internally) or the RAW format. The CEA-M1920T and CEA-M960T are also backed for even the most rugged of shooting conditions thanks to their durable construction, with software support to guard against accidental deletions.

Nearly four years after the release of its predecessor, rumours have surfaced that an updated Sony Alpha a6700 high-end APS-C camera will be unveiled on July 12 with an updated sensor and processor, as well as a slightly redesigned body. The new a6700 is set to feature the same AI-enabled BIONZ XR image processor as found in the ZV-E1 full-frame vlogging camera, resulting in some serious video chops.

Nikon's latest announcement show that it does care about its DX format shooters, after all. The f/1.7 Nikkor Z DX is a compact, versatile prime lens that should pair well with the Nikon Z30, Zfc, and Z50 APS-C camera bodies for an all-rounder setup, thanks to its 36 mm full-frame equivalent focal length.

The successor to last year's GoPro Hero 11 Black has surfaced online. Debuting on the TDRA database, the Hero 12 Black is alleged to feature a new rear display, which GoPro will market as an 'Edge-to-Edge' touchscreen.

Despite their similar price tags and use cases, the US$3,899.99 Sony A7R V and the US$3,999.95 Nikon Z8 are more different than they might seem at first glance. Some of the most important differences put the Nikon ahead of the Sony in terms of videography, action photography, and low-light performance.

Early signs of the DJI Air 3 have surfaced online, tipped to be the company's next sub-500g drone. Not only have DJI Air 3 photos emerged, but so has a short video of a beta unit.

Leica has officially unveiled the Q3 camera as the latest iteration of its compact full-frame mirrorless line-up. The fixed-lens body offers the same Summilux 28 mm F/1.7 wide-angle lens, but updates the sensor to a 60-MP BSI CMOS sensor from the 50-MP unit in the Leica Q2. The third-generation Q camera also features significant improvements to the autofocus and video feature sets.

The Panasonic Lumix G85 hybrid Micro Four Thirds camera is available at a 22% discount on Amazon. The Lumix 85 is a formerly-premium Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera targeted at photography, but its rich feature set makes it a great option for video, especially for those looking to pack light. Compared to something like a full-frame camera system, the Lumix G85 and its compatible M4/3 lenses are far more compact.

ZeroZero touts its new Hover X1 as the smallest, most light-weight camera drone in the world - or on Indiegogo, at least. It has debuted on the crowdfunding platform today (May 25, 2023), and has accrued over eight times its original goal already. It is rated to "take your footage to the next level" with pre-programmed aerial shot modes for its up-to-2.7K video.

Canon's latest EOS camera announcement comes by way of the EOS R100 that aims to fill the gap in the low-end of the market. The EOS R100 is basically a value-engineered EOS R50. The resulting camera body is a simple affair, reminiscent of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel bodies of old. Gone is the flip-out touch screen, wealth of buttons on the back, and high-speed burst modes. On the positive side, the EOS R100 is quite affordable, coming in at US$200 less than the R50

Fujifilm has announced the X-S20 at the Bangkok X Summit as the follow-up to the popular X-S10 camera. Fujifilm is pitching the X-S20 as an ultimate travel camera — coming in at just 491 g (1.08 lbs) — that strikes a balance between power, compactness, and features. The sensor remains the same, while an updated X-Processor 5 adds a number of nifty new video and photography features and improves the autofocus capabilities significantly.

The mid-range OM Systems OM-5 is on sale on for US$999.99 at various retailers. The compact Micro Four Thirds camera is OM Systems's (formerly Olympus) most recent entry into the M4/3 system, and, despite the samey looks, the OM-5 brings a host of improvements over its predecessors and contemporaries. Among its top features are 7.5-stop IBIS, a versatile 20.4 MP sensor, and computational photography smarts.