Today DxO released a new Nik Collection version 7 (free trial available):

"New Nik Collection 7 plugin suite for Photoshop and Lightroom is the biggest upgrade ever The 7 plugins receive major improvements to its exclusive U Point masking technology, updates to Nik Color Efex, speed boosts, workflow improvements, and much more"

Here is the full list of new features:

• Brand new Local Adjustments tools and functionality:
  – U Point Elliptical Control Points: Control Points can now be stretched or squeezed into elliptical shapes for powerful selective editing — perfect for applying effects or corrections to oval areas without affecting the rest of your image.
  – U Point Control Polygons: Create custom shapes with straight lines to fit the exact contours of any object in your photo, from intricate landscapes to complex architectural details — a significant upgrade for those who demand the utmost control over their edits.
  – Luminosity Masks: Automatically select areas of your image based on brightness, allowing for seamless adjustments to highlights, mid-tones, and shadows, allowing you to apply corrections to these specific areas.
  – Flexible color reference for U Point Control Points and Control Polygons: This increases flexibility, extending the functionality that is already available with Control Lines.
  – U Point Control Polygon feathering: Adjust the strength of the effect on the edges and style of adjustments made using U Point.
• Effortless organization of Filters and Presets: With the new workspace management system, organizing and categorizing Filters and Presets has never been easier. Create personalized categories that match your editing process, and switch between them with a single click, ensuring that your favorite adjustments are always at your fingertips.
• Nik Collection launches 30% faster: Dive into creative process without delay and make the most of your editing sessions.
• ‘Switch to’ button lets you jump seamlessly between plugins: Transition effortlessly between plugins without ever leaving your creative zone. This feature is designed to remove interruptions to your workflow, enhancing efficiency, and offering a smoother editing experience.
• Quick Export from Nik Collection: Export results in TIFF or JPEG format directly without leaving the plugin. This feature unlocks the potential to create and compare multiple versions of corrections for a single image when refining details, experimenting with color, or exploring different creative visions — or simply to share quickly online.
• Global Search for Filters and Presets: This practical tool simplifies access to Filters, Filter Looks, and Presets. Type the name of the Filter or Preset in the search field and a list appears instantly for quick access.
• Flexible HSL, ClearView and Grain features in Nik Color Efex: Apply HSL, ClearView and Grain Filters as local adjustments. This functionality allows the fine-tuning of specific parts of the images, providing unparalleled precision and creative freedom.
  – Multiple instances: Apply several instances of each Filter for varied effects, allowing for complex and layered enhancements.
  – Blend and mix: Seamlessly mix these Filters with other Nik Color Efex Filters for a truly customized editing experience. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to achieve the perfect balance in every photo.
• Access Nik Viveza corrections as Filters within Nik Color Efex:
  – Globally or as local adjustments: Take full control over the changes offered by Nik Viveza.
  – Multiple instances: Apply several instances of each Filter to different workflows for varied effects, allowing for a complex and layered enhancements. Internal
  – Blend and mix: As with all Nik Color Efex Filters, you can stack them in any order you wish, giving you greater flexibility.
• Enhanced HSL feature in Nik Color Efex, allowing you to correct colors across specific ranges:
  – Select colors using a Color Picker.
  – Adjust colors manually using a flexible tool.
  – The Global channel now has a Vibrancy slider for even greater control.
• Set the default Look of a Filter in Nik Color Efex: Change the default Look of a Filter that is selected automatically when the Filter is first applied. In addition, mark your preferred Filter Looks as Favorites for easy access.

The post DxO Nik Collection 7 released appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Last month I reported that Hasselblad will announce a new XCD 24mm f/2.5 lens:

New Hasselblad XCD 24mm f/2.5 lens to be announced soon

Camerainsider confirmed today that a new Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 lens will be announced this week. The question now is what is the correct focal length: 24mm or 25mm?

There is another new Hasselblad XCD lens rumored to be announced later this year (135mm f/2.5):

Just a reminder that the latest Hasselblad XCD 90mm f/2.5 V lens was officially released in August last year (2023) and it is still not available (check availability at Adorama and B&H Photo).

What’s next?

The post Also coming this week: Hasselblad XCD 24mm (or 25mm) f/2.5 lens appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The author looking pensive, perhaps pondering whether he's condemned to over-think every aspect of cameras.

It's unusual for us to publish both a review and then follow up with an opinion piece. So why am I doing it here? Our reviews do their best to act as a guide for the 'typical' user of a product, and to provide enough information for you to make your own mind up.

But we all have different needs and expectations, myself included. I don't believe my own personal perspective represents the 'typical' user, so didn't want to weight the review too heavily towards it. Instead this is just my opinion, based on my experiences with the X100VI and how it worked for me.

So don't you like the camera?

I really like the Fujifilm X100VI. It's the best version yet of the kind of camera that we always hoped someone would make. Photographers who looked back longingly at the likes of the Contax T series or Olympus RC rangefinders were overjoyed when the X100 was launched, and the cameras have just got better. Hence the Gold award.

I understand that there are people who'd like a camera that's smaller, or one with a lens that's wider, or who don't see the appeal when interchangable lens cameras exist. But, just as with the Ricoh GR cameras: the X100 is what it is and it isn't (and isn't supposed to be) anything that it isn't.

And armed with this perspective, I don't feel there's any contradiction between giving the X100VI a positive review for what it is, and then saying what I wish were different about it. Because I'm not asking for it to be something it's not, but instead that I wish it were even more what it's trying to be.

In short, I feel that the X100 borrowing so much from Fujifilm's other models risks detracting from its X100-ness.

Loss of focus

As the X100 series has continued, it's gained the dual clickable dials from the other cameras in Fujifilm's range, along with a using the focus ring as a control ring. This means there are more possible ways of controlling it but risks it taking longer for you to settle on your preferred way of doing so.

Noticeably, when you first switch the camera on, there are three settings assigned to the front dial, none of which actually does anything unless you hand-off control from the dedicated dial for each of those settings.

Given the number of direct controls on the camera, it seems odd to have four exposure parameters also assigned to the front and rear dials. And while I appreciate being able to use a press of the rear dial to punch in on the camera's live view, I feel that one or both dials being non-clickable dials would still allow for most people's preferred way of controlling exposure while also giving a higher-quality feel and less chance of accidentally pressing a dial and changing the function.

A control point that does do something out-of-the-box is the manual focus ring when you're not in MF mode. It's a free-rotating ring, ill-suited to the stepped variables that can be assigned to it, and it's all too easy to knock and only later wonder why you've spent the last two hours shooting in an unexpected Film Simulation mode or Small image size.

The X100's manual focus ring now acts as a far-too-easy to nudge control ring. I'm not sure who thought it would be a good idea to make it so easy to accidentally change film simulation or switch to Small image size, but I doubt we'd get along.

Of course, it's quite possible that this only stands out to me because, as a camera reviewer a) it's my job to explore the ways in which the camera could be used, rather than just picking one and getting on with it and b) because I've used all the other cameras its UI resembles, such that I recognize that the X100VI feels like the do-everything X-T5 but can't do as much. Upon tapping the front dial, I found myself having to think about how to configure and use the camera before I could start to fall in love with it.

Inappropriate features

The hybrid X-H2 models, which are designed to cover a wider range of photo and video pursuits than the X100VI, have fewer dedicated dials, yet don't have clickable command dials. So why does the X100VI need them?

From a development (and cost) perspective, it makes sense for Fujifilm to offer as much commonality across its cameras as possible. And there's no-doubt some added concern about appearing to be withholding features if you omit something that the hardware is capable of offering. But does the X100VI need all the X-T5's features?

The X100VI has the same machine-learning-trained subject recognition system as the X-H2S and X-T5, but its much slower-moving lens means it can't focus on moving subjects with anything like the hit rate they offer. Likewise, do enough people capture pictures of birds with a 35mm equivalent lens to make the presence of bird detection AF worthwhile? Maybe other people are better at quietly approaching birds without disturbing them, but even with a 40MP sensor, I think I'd need to crop extensively to get anything useful.

And, even as someone who's written about why virtually all cameras include video, I'm not sure the X100VI would be any worse for not being able to capture cropped, rather rolling-shutter prone 6K video. Though I accept it may be more expensive, if it meant establishing parallel development streams for its firmware.

Overlooked quirks

Finally, I worry that carrying over so much code from other models means that the unique properties of Fujifilm's rangefinder-style cameras aren't as fully developed as they could be.

Take, for example, the behavior of the pop-up tab in the optical viewfinder, onto which an electronic preview can be projected. This retracts every time you nudge the AF joystick, then pops back up when you try to focus. But it only does this with the joystick's default behavior. If you set the joystick to simply position the AF point, rather than moving and letting you change its size, then the pop-up tab remains engaged.

This is a little odd, but becomes even stranger when you remember that it's not actually possible to change the AF point size when you're looking through the OVF. So why doesn't the joystick simply switch to position-only mode, when your eye is up to the finder?

Similarly, the pop-up tab can show a magnified version of the chosen AF point, for confirming critical focus position and accuracy. But only in AF-S mode. If you set the camera to AF-C (though why would you?), the tab shows a tiny version of the entire scene: the thing you're already seeing through the viewfinder itself. Both of these are really, really minor oddities, but could they have been better if Fujifilm had time to focus solely on what the X100 can do, rather than sharing firmware more widely?

And yet?

For all of my nit-picking about the X100VI, I think it's a superb photographic tool.

To be clear, none of this stops the X100VI being an excellent camera. But part of me misses the simplicity and, perhaps, inflexibility of the early models. If you've decided to straightjacket yourself with a slow-to-focus camera with a fixed focal length, would it be so terrible to have to adapt to the way it's designed to be used, rather than even having to think about how to configure it and deal with its foibles? And would a few fewer features in any way diminish the appeal?

Perhaps Leica, whose SL cameras are full of functions but whose niche manual-focus rangefinders have had their video capabilities excised, is onto something.

Foto Erhardt (Germany) rebates for May (click on each banner for more details):

WEX Photo (UK) rebates for May:

The latest US rebates can be found here:

Here are the new camera and lens rebates for the month of May

Ending soon: TTartisan, LensRentals, and Canon Amazon Prime savings

The post Germany and UK rebates/savings for May appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Megadap released a new EFTZ21 lens adapter for using Canon EF lenses on Nikon Z cameras (previously reported here). The adapter works with full-frame and APS-C lenses, unlocking 150+ new EF lenses to the Nikon Z system.

The new adapter is already available for sale on eBay and should be listed soon at Amazon and B&H.

Additional information is available here:

New: Megadap EFTZ21 Canon EF to Nikon Z lens adapter

The post New Megadap EFTZ21 Canon EF to Nikon Z lens adapter announced appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Multiple new product announcements are expected in May - some will happen as early as next week. Here is a list of some of the rumored cameras and lenses:

Fujifilm

• Fujifilm X-50
• Fujifilm GFX 100S II

Sony

• Sony ZV-E10 II (see other rumored Sony cameras)
• Sony FE 24-70mm f/2 GM lens
• Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II

Canon

• Canon R5 Mark III and new lens(es)

Nikon

• Nikon Z6III
• Second Nikon camera
• Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.2 S lens

Panasonic

• Panasonic GH7
• Panasonic S1 II + S1 IIx

OM System

• OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8 PRO
• OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-250mm f/4

Leica

• Leica D-LUX 8 (see other rumored Leica cameras)
• Leica M11-D / black paint camera

Hasselblad

• Hasselblad XCD 24mm (or 25mm) f/2.5 lens

Sigma

• Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 II

Pentax

• Pentax film camera

Other

• Meike AF 33mm f/1.4
• Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 Z
• More upcoming Chinese lenses are listed here

The post What’s next? appeared first on Photo Rumors.

→ The TTartisan AF 56mm f/1.8 lens is now 18% off, other TTartisan products are 5% off.

→ You can get 15% off LensRentals with promo code RUMORS15.

→ Get an extra 10% cash back on select Canon gear with an Amazon Prime card and eligible Prime membership.

Here are the new camera and lens rebates for the month of May

The post Ending soon: TTartisan, LensRentals, and Canon Amazon Prime savings appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Canon is teasing a new product announcement for next week:

Exciting news on the horizon!

Stay tuned next week for the latest announcement from #TeamCanon. pic.twitter.com/UwnHasyzLl

— CanonUSA (@CanonUSA) May 3, 2024

Canonrumors expects new product announcements on May 15th:

May 15 is the day (give or take based on timezone).

— Canon Rumors (@canonrumorsguy) May 3, 2024

Here is what to expect from Canon:

The latest Canon rumors

The latest Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera rumored specifications

Canon registered another new camera: there are now a total of 5 registered but not yet announced cameras

The post Canon is teasing a new product announcement for next week appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The previously reported Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 lens for Nikon Z-mount will be officially announced on May 7th (check the official Viltrox website for details):

The new lens is already listed for sale in Germany:

• Foto Erhardt
• Foto Koch

The new Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 full-frame lens for Nikon Z-mount is already available for sale in Germany

Additional pictures:

Several new VIltrox lenses will be announced soon

Updated list of upcoming Viltrox lenses

Viltrox lenses are sold at Adorama, Amazon, B&H, and the Viltrox online store where you can get 8% off with coupon code NIKONRUMORS.

The post The new Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 lens for Nikon Z-mount will be officially announced on May 7th appeared first on Photo Rumors.

This is the VWFNDR Keirin camera concept:

"KEIRIN is a conceptual digital camera designed as a testing ground for exploring new design paradigms, seamlessly integrating hardware and software. It aims to provide an immersive shooting experience focusing on the photographic craft without distractions. Named after the Japanese word keirin 競輪 ー a bike race in a velodrome ー is the perfect name for a concept where hardware and software cycle together." (vwfndr.camera)

"The Keirin is designed around a 60-megapixel full-frame sensor with a 35mm lens. The plan is for the camera to include SSD storage and mobile connectivity so that photos can automatically be saved and backed up to the cloud. VWFNDR has also designed a proprietary magnetic expansion bay — called XPNSNBAY — that uses pogo pins to allow for peripherals like a panoramic optical viewfinder. Another clever accessory is REMOFLSH, a wireless flash unit that directly communicates with the camera’s built-in trigger. " (The Verge)

The post VWFNDR Keirin camera concept appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The Leica APO-TELYT-R 1600mm f/5.6 lens is all over the Internet again

Nikon’s stock surged 10%, the most since 2013 (and other Nikon corporate news)

The new Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 full-frame lens for Nikon Z-mount is already available for sale in Germany

Nikon registered a new battery charger N2301 in Korea?

The new Voigtlander NOKTON 75mm f/1.5 Aspherical lens for Nikon Z-mount will be released on May 15

Fujifilm X-T5 and X-T20 Shortages Persist

Tamron 17-50mm f/4 and Tamron 24-60mm f/4 Patents Found

SAB: Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G Review – An Excellent Lens

LT: Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports Review – Optically Outstanding

The post What else is new? appeared first on Photo Rumors.

We've been pretty busy testing cameras over the past few weeks, and these days, camera testing usually includes shooting video samples to evaluate video quality.

You can find these samples in our recent or upcoming camera reviews, but here's a quick roundup of video test reels we've shot recently for those who may have missed them.

Sony a9 III

Sony's a9 III is the first mirrorless camera to feature a global shutter, which is exciting to many videographers. But what about video quality? Check out this sample reel by former DPReview editor Carey Rose to see how it performs.

Fujifilm X100VI

Fujifilm announced the much-anticipated X100VI rangefinder-style camera at an event in February. DPReview editor Richard Butler was present at the camera's launch in Japan and shared this overview of the camera from the streets of Tokyo.

Panasonic S5II / S5IIX

The Panasonic S5II landed on our doorstep just as we learned of our parent company's intention to close DPReview in 2023, and we've been looking for an opportunity to shoehorn it back into our testing calendar ever since we joined Gear Patrol last summer. The good news: we finally managed to block out time to finish our review of the camera.

For this video test reel, shot with the S5IIX, editor Dale Baskin picked a maritime theme and took the camera to Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal, Fisherman's Terminal and Ballard Locks to capture samples in a variety of of settings.

Panasonic G9 II

The long-awaited Panasonic G9 II is an impressive camera for both stills and video. Former editor Jeff Keller, who still writes for DPReview and authored our Panasonic G9 II review, took the camera to the Bloedel Reserve, a forest garden near Seattle, to capture this video reel.

Nikon Zf

The Nikon Zf may look like a film camera from the 1980s, but it's a capable video tool. For this sample video, Richard Butler followed a friend on a ferry trip across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island to visit a favorite haunt for fish and chips.

 
Westcott released five new FJ80 II/SE M/S speedlight models that work with most camera systems for TTL and high-speed sync up to 20 fps. The FJ80 II M model has advanced wireless controls and can wirelessly control the FJ80-SE M. See the full details at Adorama and B&H Photo.

Additional informtion:

Via FujiAddict

The post New Westcott FJ80 II/SE M/S speedlights released appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Topaz Labs has a new logo, redesigned website, and released several new software updates:

• Topaz Photo AI version 3.0.1
• Topaz Video AI version 5.0.3
• Topaz Gigapixel version 7.1.3

Luminar Neo Spring update version 1.19.0 is now officially released (see pricing) with new technologies like Water Enhancer AI, Twilight Enhancer AI, new masking tools for Luminosity and Object Selection, Batch processing in HDR Merge, and a brand new interface:

• Water EnhancerAI: Adjust and refine watercolors with a standalone feature that automates the process.
• Batch HDR: Speed up your workflow with batch processing for HDR Merge.
• Twilight EnhancerAI: Mimic the enchanting hues of the magic hour with precision and ease.
• Object Select & Luminosity Masking: Increase photo editing precision with advanced masking capabilities.
• Enhanced Waiting Statuses: See informative animations when loading and processing for real-time updates on actions in progress.
• Experience the new look and feel in the updated Luminar Neo: A fresh look and feel for both Luminar Neo and our website, with a brand-new logo, a distinctive color palette, and stylistic updates. Possibility to turn off Dynamic Background for the app (solid color for the background instead of blurred image for the full app) - On/Off switcher is located in Settings
• New Landscape category in Tools - now you can easily find all your favorite Landscape tools in the Landscape Category
• Improved results for GenErase and GenSwap.
• Support for new cameras, including: Sony A9 III, Hasselblad CFV 100C, Leica SL3, OM System OM-1 Mark II, and Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome.

The DxO PhotoLab 7.6, 20% off deal is ending in 3 days.

The post New releases: Topaz Photo AI 3.0.1, Video AI 5.0.3, Gigapixel 7.1.3, Luminar Neo 1.19.0 + DxO PhotoLab sale appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Venus Optics released several new Laowa lenses for XCD and DL mount:

• DL Mount (DJI drones mount): 11mm f/4.5 FF RL / 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D
• XCD Mount (Hasselblad): 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift / 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D / 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift

The new lenses should already be listed for sale at the official Laowa online store and at Adorama, Amazon, B&H, Erhardt, WEX.

Additional information:

New DL Mount for the Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL & 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D and XCD mount for 3 medium format lenses

Anhui China, May 5, 2024 – Venus Optics, a pioneer in producing unique photo and cine lenses, announced today the addition of the DL mount for their ultra-wide 11mm f/4.5 FF RL and 14mm f/4 FF RL Zero-D full frame lens. Both lenses are super compact and lightweight, but still being able to deliver sharp image quality and well-controlled distortion performance, making them the ideal options for extraordinary wide drone shots. 

The 11mm f/4.5 weighs only 206g with a Ø62mm filter thread and the 14mm weighs 186g with a Ø52mm filter thread. The lenses reduce the payload of the setup and thus improve the overall stability with advanced user experience. They are the ultimate professional full-frame prime lenses for FPV and drone pilots. 

Additional XCD mounts for other Laowa lenses are also announced for 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift, 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift and 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D. 

Both 11mm and 14mm lenses deliver an incredibly wide perspective, dynamic landscapes and enormous skyscrapers can be seen and captured with ease. Featuring a 126° angle of view, this new 11mm f/4.5 is the world’s widest rectilinear full-frame lens for DL users. The lens opens up a new dimension for creative landscape and cityscape drone shots.

Extremely Compact & Lightweight

The 11mm f/4.5 weighs 206g and the 14mm f/4 weighs 186g only. The lenses are tiny for mounting on drones, keeping a low-level flight shake when flying in the air and delivering stabilized footage at ease.

Built-in Filter Thread

Both lenses have a filter thread to provide user benefits to drone pilots. They can screw in the ND filters conveniently in different light conditions without extra filter holders, which also reduces the payloads of the drone.

Superb Image Quality

Despite the compact size of the lenses, the 11mm f/4.5 and 14mm f/4 produce excellent sharpness and contrast, ensuring high-quality aerial imagery for demanding shooting. Designed with optical excellence, purple fringing and chromatic aberration are well suppressed.

Pricing & Availability

The new DL and XCD mount lenses are available to purchase via Venus Optics official website and authorized resellers. 

The US price for Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL in DJI DL mount is USD549 and Laowa 14mm f/4 FF RL  in DJI DL mount is USD449. Pricing varies in different countries.

The US price for Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift is USD1,199, Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift is USD1,099 and Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D is USD999. Pricing varies in different countries.

Here are the new camera and lens rebates for the month of May

The post Venus Optics released several new Laowa lenses for XCD and DL mount appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Fujifilm

Fujifilm's X-H2 cameras both gain a series of improvements, including tap-to-track AF in movies, improved AF tracking performance in stills mode and direct Frame.io connectivity. Photo: Richard Butler

Fujifilm has issued a series of firmware updates for its GFX100 II, X-T5, X-H2, X-H2S and X100VI.

All five cameras gain some bug fixes and the ability to upload Raw files using the Xapp smartphone app, along with promises of more consistent Wi-Fi connections.

The X-H2S, X-H2 and X-T5 gain more, though, with the addition of AF tracking and the ability to tap-to-track in movie mode. The company also promises improved stills AF performance, with AF tracking less likely to lose focus.

They also gain the ability to upload files directly to the Frame.io platform (the X-H cameras previously required the File Transmitter FT-XH accessory grip.

Firmware can be downloaded from your local Fujifilm website or via Xapp.

Sony

The Sony a9 III gains some features promised at launch, including the ability to use its full shutter speed range when shooting 120 fps bursts. Photo: Richard Butler

Sony has released the promised firmware v2.0 for the a9 III, adding a series of features including the ability to use the camera's full shutter speed range when shooting at 120fps.

It's also re-released an updated version of the firmware for the a1, which it announced in March and then withdrew. Firmware v2.01 fixes a networking bug that was present in firmware v2.00.

Firmware for both cameras can be downloaded from your local Sony support website.

The company has also started selling the paid-for licenses that allow users of the a7 IV, a1, a9 III and a7S III to install custom grid-line displays on their cameras. The feature is aimed at professional photographers who produce large volumes of photos and need a high level of consistency between shots to speed-up their workflow. The $150 license fee can be paid at Sony's professional products website.

Nikon

Nikon has released a series of firmware updates this month, including ones for the Z5, Z8, D7500 and D850. These primarily resolve a minor bug relating to the handling of Wi-Fi passwords when the cameras are reset.

Zf owners gain a more extensive series of bug fixes, with firmware v1.20 ensuring details such as consistent white balance in images shot in pixel shift mode.

These updates can be downloaded from the Nikon website for your region, or via the Snapbridge app.

OM System

OM System has issued firmware updates for its OM-5, OM-1 and OM-1 II models. The firmware for all three offers bug fixes, with the OM-1 models also gaining the ability to choose which security protocol is used to communicate with smartphones. This lets you force the camera to use WPA2 if the WPA3/WPA2 option isn't working.

Updates can be downloaded from OM System's website.

Panasonic

Panasonic's Lumix DC-S5II and S5IIX received updates adding camera-to-cloud connectivity, some additional subject recognition modes and pre-burst shooting.

Coincidentally, Panasonic North American has also released a paid-for firmware option for professionals generating high volumes of images. This can integrate with several workflow tools and Panasonic's own barcode/QR code scanner and also offers framing masks to aid consistent composition. This $199 upgrade is available now.

Any we've missed?

We've searched around for firmware updates but if there are any significant ones we've missed, please let us know in the comments.

We want to see your best bird photos in honor of World Migratory Bird Day. It's going to get stork raving mad, but moving with no egrets to present your im-peck-able best would be eggcellent. Image credit: Shaminder Dulai

May 11 is World Migratory Bird Day, and we want to see your best bird images! Take part in the official DPReview Editor's Challenges for your chance to have your work featured on our homepage, in articles and galleries. We may even reach out to interview you about your work!

You don't need to take your pictures on May 11. Anytime starting today is okay. Just be sure to submit your best work by May 16.

DPReview editors will review every photo you upload to an Editors' Challenge. We'll publish our favorites in a gallery and celebrate your work with our peers.

If you miss participating in this one, please look out for our next editors' challenge. We have many DPReview Editor's Challenges planned for our 25th anniversary; you can even leave a comment to suggest our next theme.

How to submit your photos

Enter your photos and read all the rules

Processing rules:

Here are the new camera and lens rebates for the month of May:

New Nikon rebates now live in the US (Nikon Z8 now $500 off)

Also new for May: get a $500 trade-in bonus towards the purchase of a new Nikon Z9 camera

The post Here are the new camera and lens rebates for the month of May appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Viltrox is expected to announce 7 new lenses for Sony E-mount:

• Viltrox 35mm f/1.2
• Viltrox 50mm f/1.2
• Viltrox 85mm f/1.2
• Viltrox 35mm f/1.4
• Viltrox 50mm f/1.4
• Viltrox 85mm f/1.4
• Viltrox 135mm f/1.2

Additional information on the upcoming Viltrox lenses can be found here:

Several new VIltrox lenses will be announced soon

2024 Viltrox lens roadmap updated

Viltrox lenses are sold at Adorama, Amazon, B&H, and the Viltrox online store where you can get 8% off with coupon code NIKONRUMORS.

Via SonyAddict

The post Viltrox to announce 7 new lenses for Sony E-mount appeared first on Photo Rumors.