Image: Insta360

Insta360 released a teaser video on its YouTube channel this morning for an upcoming product launch on April 22nd. Titled "All Day. All Night. All Angles," the fast-paced 51-second clip showcases a variety of high-energy activities and stunts, suggesting a new 360-degree camera designed for versatile day-to-night shooting.

While the company hasn't officially named the product, speculation in the video clip's comments section suggests it's an Insta360 X5, a successor to last year's X4 360-degree action camera. If true, it would be slightly over a year since the X4's April 16, 2024 announcement.

The X4 supports 8K 360° video recording at 30p for 2.7k reframed 16:9 footage, a vast improvement from its predecessor X3's 5.7K/30p with 1080p output. The teaser trailer's emphasis on nighttime shots and low-light performance hints at further enhancements if it does, in fact, turn out to be an X5.

Whatever it is, Insta360 plans to unveil its new product at a pop-up event located in Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, New York City at 9:00 AM, EST, this coming Tuesday.

The new Peak Design Roller Pro carry-on luggage raised over 12 million dollars on Kickstarter and is ending tomorrow.

The post This Roller Pro carry-on luggage by Peak Design raised over $12 million on Kickstarter and ends tomorrow appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Viltrox

Viltrox gave us a preview of its AF 35mm F1.2 Lab FE lens back at CP+, but today, it's making the lens available to purchase and releasing full details about it. As the name implies, it's a full-frame lens for Sony's E-mount, and the company says it combines "cutting-edge optical performance" with "professional-grade handling."

The lens is made up of 15 elements in 10 groups, with five ED elements, three high-refractive-index elements and two aspherical lenses. The company also says it features nano multi-layer coatings to reduce flare and ghosting, as well as a moisture-resistant coating on the front element.

Image: Viltrox

Viltrox says the lens has an "advanced dust and moisture-resistant design." It features two programmable buttons, a multi-function ring that can be set to have clicks or no clicks, and a display that you can customize via Viltrox's app to show information such as your aperture setting or focusing distance. The lens also has a USB-C port for firmware upgrades, weighs 920g (32oz) and is 122mm (4.8") long.

Autofocus is handled by a pair of "HyperVCM" linear motor, which the company says should silently provide fast, accurate tracking for both stills and video. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.34m (13.4").

It's exciting to see a new Lab lens from Viltrox, as the 135mm F1.8 lens with the badge was quite well-received, especially given its price. The AF 35mm F1.2 Lab is available to order today and costs $999.

Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 Lab Specifications

Viltrox officially announced the previously reported AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB full-frame lens for Sony E-mount. Orders are open at:

• Pergear
• Viltrox

Aditional informtion:

Key Features

1. HyperVCM Motor: Speed Meets Precision

Powered by Viltrox’s proprietary HyperVCM motor, the lens achieves 150% faster focus than traditional STM systems, with micron-level accuracy and lightning-fast 100ms near-far focus transitions. Ideal for capturing fleeting moments in portraits, events, or dynamic video work.

2. Flagship Optical UA Lens Design

With Ultra-Large & Precision Aspherical Elements, the lens delivers edge-to-edge clarity even at its blazing-fast F1.2 aperture. Designed for ultra-high-pixel sensors, it resolves intricate textures—skin pores, hair strands, fabric weaves—with stunning fidelity, whether shooting close-ups or infinity landscapes.

3. F1.2 Ultra-Large Aperture: Master of Bokeh

Create cinematic depth with lush, dreamy backgrounds and pristine highlight rendering. The F1.2 aperture isolates subjects effortlessly, transforming chaotic scenes into gallery-worthy compositions—perfect for portraits, astrophotography, or low-light storytelling.

4. Macro to Infinity: Seamless Sharpness

A 0.34m minimum focus distance and 0.17x magnification unlock macro capabilities, while the dual floating internal focus system ensures real-time aberration correction. Edge-to-edge sharpness remains consistent from intimate close-ups to sweeping vistas.

5. Advanced Optical Construction

14 elements in 9 groups—including 2 UA lenses, 5 low-dispersion elements, and 3 high-refractive-index elements—combat chromatic aberration and flare. Even in harsh lighting, the lens maintains premium color accuracy, dynamic contrast, and near-zero purple/green fringing.

6. Pro-Grade Customization

• 2 customizable Fn buttons for instant access to frequently used settings.
• Multi-function control ring with click/clickless switch for silent video adjustments.
• AF/MF switch for tactile control.

Technical Specifications

• Mount: Sony E-mount (FE)
• Aperture: f/1.2 – f/16 | Blades: 11 rounded
• Filter Thread: 77mm | Weight: 920g
• Angle of View: 64.2° | Focus System: Dual floating internal focus
• Build: Dust- and moisture-resistant

The new Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens is coming next week with a color LCD screen

The post Announced: Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB full-frame lens for Sony E-mount appeared first on Photo Rumors.

This week, Polaroid announced its Flip point-and-shoot instant camera. In a world overrun by smartphones, digital addiction, and instant gratification in the form of endless online oversharing, the company is attempting to make a case for slowing down, being intentional, and enjoying something more tangible in photography. At its core, the Flip gives you a red button, eight exposures per film pack, and a flippable lid.

The Flip combines several of Polaroid's legacy technologies with a few modern updates. Its camera is built around a four-lens system that automatically adjusts to one of four preset focus points, depending on the subject's distance. It measures that distance using sonar, which should provide accurate results – even in low light. This lessens the likelihood of blurry shots and eliminates the need to fiddle with manual settings.

The last few sentences in the above paragraph are what Polaroid's press release claims. However, we'd be remiss at DPReview not to attempt to explain how this system works. The Flip uses a sonar sensor to estimate how far away your subject is and then selects one of four fixed lenses preset to specific distances: 0.65m, 0.85m, 1.2m, or 2.5m.

It's a simplified take on autofocus – rather than continuously adjusting focus for a single lens like most autofocus systems, the camera switches between all the lenses. It works, but it doesn't mean focus is infinitely flexible. You'll get clarity across shooting distances, but not the same nuance you'd find in a manual-focus system or smartphone camera.

Precision isn't necessarily a top priority for casual use, which this camera is geared toward. Its target audience is likely to use it for in-the-moment experiences. That said, the Flip comes with some cool technical perks. An LED inside the viewfinder acts as a 'scene analysis' and lights up when a photo is under or overexposed. The built-in flash adapts based on subject distance and can illuminate a scene up to 4.5 meters away, making it handy in low-light settings.

The Polaroid Flip will be available on April 29th on the company's main website. It is priced at $199.99. Members get early access starting April 15th. Other retailers will begin selling the camera on May 13th. The Flip is compatible with Polaroid's i-Type and 600 film. It connects to the Polaroid app via Bluetooth and offers additional manual settings along with remote control of the camera. Bonus features users may appreciate include a Self-Timer mode and the ability to create double exposures.

Adobe is diving deeper into artificial intelligence with a new investment in Synthesia, a British AI startup that lets users create videos with lifelike avatars and voiceovers in 140+ languages. CNBC officially confirmed that Adobe's venture capital arm gave Synthesia an undisclosed amount of capital as part of a "strategic partnership."

While neither company shared detailed terms of the deal, the move signals Adobe's growing interest in AI tools that can enhance and disrupt traditional video workflows. Synthesia's platform enables users to create videos using text prompts and AI-generated avatars — including customized versions of real people. Users can choose from over 230 pre-made avatars on Synthesia's site. They can also create their own in a Synthesia studio or remotely on personal devices.

Synthesia aims to make video production quicker and easier using text prompts and AI-generated avatars.

The company claims that over 70% of Fortune 100 companies use its tools. "We're building the world's leading AI video platform for enterprise, and Adobe's investment validates that direction," said Victor Riparbelli, Synthesia's CEO. "We share a vision: democratizing high-quality content creation and making enterprise communication faster and more effective."

Adobe, with an estimated market cap of $150 billion, is best known for its creative tools like Photoshop and Premiere Pro – the latter widely used in professional video production. This partnership could expand Adobe's presence in AI-native video generation. It isn't Adobe's first foray into related startup investments, either. The company attempted to acquire Figma for $20 billion before backing out due to regulatory changes in the EU and U.K. Previous stakes in companies like VidMob and Captions were successful.

Alongside Adobe's investment news, Synthesia announced it has surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Riparbelli said the company has grown 100% year over year, and the ARR puts it in "a very small group of AI-native companies with real commercial traction."

Despite its rapid growth, the venture remains unprofitable. In 2023, Synthesia posted a pre-tax loss of £25.2 million on revenues of £25.7 million, according to filings with the U.K. Companies House. However, profitability is not a near-term priority.

One of Synthesia's competitors is OpenAI's Sora tool.

"We've never chased growth at any cost," Riparbelli said, pointing out that the company still has leftover capital from a previous funding round in 2023. It was last valued at $2.1 billion in January. Synthesia faces competition from rivals, including Colossyan, Filmora, and Veed.io. Open AI's Sora also offers a text-to-video model.

This partnership with Adobe, the world's leading producer of creative software, signals a broader trend. AI video is being viewed as a tool for enterprise communication. It's becoming less about cameras and crews and more about text and creativity.

Photo: Richard Butler

Last week, Nikon announced a firmware update to its Zf camera that added its bird-specific subject detection mode, promising it'd be quicker and more accurate at detecting and tracking birds than the Auto or Animal modes. Our comments section resounded with a single question: when is it coming to the Z6III?

Nikon now has an answer: sometime this year. Nikon Rumors spotted a reply from the Nikon USA account on X, formerly known as Twitter, that reads: "We plan to add Bird detect AF to the Z6III by the end of the year. Stay tuned!"

Z6III users have been waiting for the feature even before it arrived on the Zf. It debuted with the Z9 and was later brought down to the Z8. With Nikon pitching the Z6III as a powerful, do-everything camera, the bird-specific autofocus mode seemed like a natural fit. The omission seemed even stranger when lower-end cameras, like the Z50II and Z5II, launched with the feature.

That pent-up demand may be why Nikon shared that it's coming on social media before it's actually ready – to give Z6III users some assurance that it hasn't forgotten that they want the feature. We'll be sure to let you know as soon as the firmware update enabling it becomes available.

Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki at the CP+ Expo in Yokohama, Japan. Photo: Richard Butler

“Yeah, of course," Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki replies when we ask if Sigma is still working on a full-frame Foveon sensor. "It takes a long time, so after we brought the project from the US to Japan, we had to start from scratch."

It's the kind of direct answer we've come to expect from Yamaki, who is famously forthcoming when speaking to the media.

In a conversation with Yamaki in Japan, he shared his candid insights on the state of the camera industry, what part of the Sigma BF's design he's most proud of, and the ongoing development of the highly anticipated full-frame Foveon sensor.

The camera industry landscape: Innovation required

With the camera market currently stable, Yamaki says he's concerned that seemingly positive sales figures could be hiding a longer-term problem.

“As you know, according to the statistics, the camera market has been growing the last couple of years in terms of the value."

"Compared to the market size in the 2012 or 2013 timeframe, the number of units is about one-third, but the value is about the same. So, the unit price, the average unit price, is three times higher than that time. But my concern," he continues, "is that the number of people who buy cameras and lenses is decreasing. That's my concern."

"With the camera market currently stable, Yamaki says he's concerned that seemingly positive sales figures could be hiding a longer-term problem."

He puts the onus on manufacturers, including Sigma, to create products that continue to engage consumers.

“I think it really depends on the innovation we create. Many people are interested in cameras, and although the camera market has shrunk by volume, many media influencers or YouTubers still talk about cameras. So I think that's proof that many people are still interested in cameras, but a lack of innovation from the manufacturers' side cannot support the growth of the market. So if there is innovation, I think people will come back and buy more cameras.”

Turning the focus to his own products, Yamaki describes the market's reception to Sigma's release of APS-C lenses for Canon RF-mount and Nikon Z-mount cameras.

“It's great. We've been receiving lots of orders, especially for the RF-mount. It's quite well received by customers.”

According to Yamaki, Sigma has received many orders for its APS-C lenses for RF and Z-mount cameras, including the 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN for RF-mount above. Image: Sigma

More broadly, he highlights the strategic importance of the APS-C format in today's market, which has tilted toward full-frame models – and higher prices – in recent years.

“As I said, the price point of cameras is quite concerning. So, the affordable price of APS-C cameras should have a future, and an APS-C camera has a great benefit because we can make the lens much smaller. That's a great benefit.”

Crafting the user interface for the Sigma BF

The Sigma BF has captured attention for its industrial design, so we were surprised to learn it's not what Yamaki is most proud of on the camera.

“The menu system is created from scratch, and it's really well done. I think it's well done by our UI designer, so I think the UI is quite good. Of course, I like the design of the camera, but it's customers who judge if it's a good design or not."

“[This is] a new interface we developed first for the BF, but I think we need to improve it further after we get a response from users. It can't be perfect from the beginning. So, the concept is there, and we implemented the user interface, and then it's time to improve.”

The Sigma BF has captured attention for its industrial design, but Yamaki is particularly proud of the camera's menu system and user interface. Photo: Richard Butler

He underscores the core challenge: making an enjoyable everyday camera in an era of smartphones.

“If we fail to succeed in making the BF the most enjoyable camera to use, it's our fault. We have to make the BF the most enjoyable camera to use. Then people take out the camera every day and take photos. It's a challenge. You always have a camera in your pocket, which is a smartphone. You can take an everyday photo with a smartphone, but having a camera means something different for everybody. But in this case, the camera must be simple, easy to use, and enjoyable. That's the concept of the BF.”

Foveon: The full-frame quest continues

Many Foveon enthusiasts hoped that Sigma's next camera would be a long-awaited full-frame Foveon model. That dream didn't materialize, but Yamaki confirmed Sigma's continued commitment to the project, revealing details about the development process.

“Yeah, of course," he reiterates regarding his interest, explaining that progress involved collaboration: “We have been working with a university. It's a joint project with a university in Japan. We worked with a researcher, a professor."

The SD Quattro H from 2016 was one of Sigma's last Foveon cameras, utilizing a Foveon X3 Quattro sensor.

The journey has required significant effort and resetting of expectations.“It takes a long time, so after we brought the project from the US to Japan, we had to start from scratch," he remarks.

"We have two stages for development, the technology development and the product design. It took longer than we expected for the technology development. We made several pixel prototypes. It's not a full-frame sensor, but we made prototype pixels, and we experienced some design errors."

"Every time we make a prototype, we find some kind of issues, and every time we find some issues, we fix the problem. And we are now almost at the last stage of the technology development. If everything is done, then we start the product development.”

While a final product may remain a ways off, Yamaki's vote of confidence gives the Foveon faithful good reason to keep the faith.

This article is based on an interview by Dale Baskin and Richard Butler. It has been edited for clarity and flow.

Photo: Abby Ferguson

British tech company Nothing released its Nothing Phone (3a) a little over a month ago, promising its "most advanced camera system to date." The Phone 3a lineup is the company's budget line, which includes the base 3a for $379 and the slightly more advanced 3a Pro for $459. Those prices are pretty impressive considering the features and specs of both.

The Phone 3a's 24mm equiv. main camera and 50mm equiv. telephoto camera both offer a resolution of 50MP. However, the camera app defaults to 12MP. If you want 50MP photos, you'll need to go into the settings and change it each time you open the camera app. There's also a 15mm equiv. ultra-wide camera, though its resolution is even lower at 8MP.

Beyond the basic camera specs, the Phone 3a offers the various camera modes you'd expect on a smartphone, including Portrait, Night and Pano. Nothing's default camera app also features a few presets, including one called Soft Focus for portraits, a B&W Film preset and the more unique Lenticular preset. You can create your own presets based on settings you typically use or import presets as well.

Nothing sent over the Phone 3a, which I've been shooting with for a few weeks. You can check out a selection of the images in the gallery below.

See the sample gallery

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

It seems that after Canon, Fujifilm, and Blackmagic, Leica will be the next company to introduce price increases in the US as a result of the new tariffs introduced by President Trump. The new prices are rumored to come as early as this week.

The post Leica also rumored to increase prices in the US appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Photo: Richard Butler

The Sigma BF caused quite a stir when it was announced, largely thanks to it's drastically different design. That buzz has apparently resulted in an overwhelming number of pre-orders ahead of its April 24th release. Sigma has even issued an apology because of the situation.

Sigma had hinted at possible delays on April 7th when it announced updates about the release of a handful of L-mount lenses and the BF. At the time, it said that the "Sigma BF Silver is made to order," suggesting that those ordering the silver should expect a bit of a wait. It also explained, "There is limited production capacity for Sigma BF (Black/Silver), so it may take some time for some customers to receive the product." Now, the company is taking things a step further with its apology.

In the most recent announcement, Sigma said it had received more orders than expected for the new camera. The news was only posted on the company's Japanese website, which we translated with Google Translate. "Despite our limited production capacity, we are unable to keep up with demand. As a result, it may take some time for some customers to receive their products," the post says.

Sigma didn't provide any additional details about just how delayed things will be, simply saying, "We ask that you please wait for a little longer." As of now, you can still pre-order the camera at B&H, so things aren't so bad that Sigma is shutting down pre-orders at least.

Image: OmniVision

OmniVision, one of the leading developers of digital imaging sensors, has announced a new smartphone sensor that promises the highest dynamic range of any option currently on the market, as Digital Camera World reports. OmniVision isn't new to innovation, previously releasing the world's smallest commercially available image sensor. The company says the OV50X CMOS sensor is made for "movie-grade video capture" for flagship smartphones.

The OV50X is a 50MP Type 1 (13.0 x 9.8mm) sensor. The pixels are larger than those found in its predecessor, the OV50H, with 1.6‑micron (µm) pixels compared to the OV50H's 1.2µm pixels. OmniVision says it provides close to 110-decibel (dB) single-exposure HDR thanks to its TheiaCel technology, a pixel design that attempts to retain charge that would otherwise overwhelm the sensor.

It also uses the company's PureCelPlus-S stacked-die technology, which promises better low-light performance thanks to greater sensor sensitivity and full-well capacity.

The sensor's primary focus is to boost video performance for flagship-level smartphones, so much of the information OmniVision supplied centers on that. "Smartphones are used in the majority of video and photo capture today, and cinematic-quality video recording has become a highly demanded feature among consumers for flagship mobile phones,” said Takuritsu Li, marketing manager, OmniVision.

The sensor supports four-cell binning to produce 12.5MP images at up to 180 frames per second (fps) or 60fps with the sensor's three-channel HDR on. The company says it offers "premium-quality" 8K video with dual analog gain (DAG) HDR. It is also capable of on-sensor crop zoom, which punches in to the central portion of the sensor. This process maintains native pixel quality, though it results in a lower resolution. OmniVision also says it will offer best-in-class autofocus performance with 100% coverage quad phase detection (QPD).

Image: OmniVision

Of course, at this point, we haven't seen images taken with the OV50X sensor other than the sample above provided by OmniVision. Additionally, while the actual sensor may capture an impressively wide dynamic range, most camera systems offer a more limited dynamic range because of factors like optical design, lens flare and processing algorithms, and the ability to convey that dynamic range in the final output. So, what this sensor is capable of regarding general image quality remains to be seen.

We may not have to wait long to see it in action, though. OmniVision said that the OV50X is sampling now and expects it to be in mass production in Q3 2025.

Photo: Richard Butler

Forget about technical specs. The most intriguing aspect of Sigma's newest camera, the BF, might be the philosophy baked into its name, which CEO Kazuto Yamaki says stands for "beautiful foolishness," reflecting a deliberate design philosophy rooted in Japanese culture and aesthetics.

Where did this concept originate? And how did a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume influence the camera's design? We explored these questions and more in a conversation with Mr. Yamaki in Japan shortly after the camera's launch.

On beautiful foolishness

"BF stands for beautiful foolishness," Yamaki explains. "This phrase was taken from the The Book of Tea, and the original phrase was ‘a beautiful foolishness of things.'"

He elaborates: "There are numerous things in the world, beautiful and ugly, useful and useless. In this context, the original implication of this book was to find beauty in seemingly worthless things, even though this world is judged good or bad based on a utilitarian value. That’s the spirit of the tea ceremony. The author wanted to explain that it’s a part of Japanese culture."

Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki celebrates in Yokohama harbor following the launch of the Sigma BF camera. Photo: Dale Baskin

The philosophy, he suggests, extends beyond appreciating the world to the very act of creating and using the camera. He sees the camera as embodying this principle in multiple ways.

"I took the phrase as having multiple meanings. First, I took it because I liked this phrase. Second, using the camera in daily life can be beautiful foolishness because everyone has phone cameras in their pocket. Third, this is somewhat self-mocking, but I thought that, in order to achieve the best feel, spending seven hours to machine an aluminum ingot to make a part is quite beautiful foolishness."

"Spending seven hours to machine an aluminum ingot to make a part is quite beautiful foolishness."

Essentially, the camera itself is slightly irrational. It's a product where meticulous, perhaps even excessive, craftsmanship contributes to its unique appeal. But that's not necessarily a bad approach when everyone else is off doing the sensible thing. After all, being different is what sometimes allows you to create something iconic.

Inspired by Coco Chanel

Hold the BF, and you immediately sense that the camera is something special, even if its design doesn't fit the way you personally use a camera. That's not an accident.

"When we started the project, there was an exhibition of Gabrielle Chanel in Tokyo," Yamaki explains. "In other words, Coco Chanel, she's the founder of Chanel. And, of course, the dresses from a long time ago were quite fascinating."

"But the most fascinating item for me was a bottle of the Chanel No. 5 perfume. It was from 1921. Very simple and minimal, but very elegant, although it's a hundred years old. At that time, I thought I really wanted to make a camera that has a timeless value like the Chanel No. 5 bottle."

A bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume inspired Mr. Yamaki to create a camera with a timeless design. Photo: arz

While in pursuit of this "timeless value," Mr. Yamaki didn't involve himself directly in the design process.

"I did not [suggest] any of my ideas into the design because I trusted the designer. So I did not say anything about the design. I like product design in general, but I don't believe it's good for the CEO of the company to say something about the design. Sometimes, it confuses the designer."

The resulting design is a camera that isn't just unique. It's memorable. Just as he envisioned.

The joy of photography

Mr. Yamaki acknowledges the Sigma BF isn't intended for every photographer. It's about embracing the joy of photography and capturing everyday life in a way that brings you happiness. Beautiful foolishness, if you will.

"It's about embracing the joy of photography and capturing everyday life in a way that brings you happiness. Beautiful foolishness, if you will."

"It doesn't have to be BF, but once you have the camera, you try to find some beautiful scenes in your daily life. Maybe if you see the sunlight coming in, you see some contrast, and you want to take a picture with some kind of subject," he says.

"So if you have the camera in your hand, try to take pictures, and it makes our life more meaningful. Right?" he posits. "So I think of the BF as a simple minimum camera, which you want to bring anytime. It's a nice camera to be on the table at a restaurant or bar, and then you can take pictures with a nice thing. That's the BF."

Beyond BF

Mr. Yamaki proudly notes that Sigma builds all of its products in its hometown of Aizu, Japan, a fact Sigma has started to incorporate into its marketing message. Between his philosophy of beautiful foolishness and simple but elegant design, we're curious if he sees the BF as a way of sharing Japanese culture with users.

"I hope so," he tells us. "I would be happy if we could make a product that users can feel a 'Japanese touch' through, not only the design of the camera but also the quality of all of our products. We paid careful attention to every detail, which I believe is very Japanese culture."

Sigma's new product packaging balances sustainability with aesthetics. Photo: Dale Baskin

That meticulous attention extends beyond camera bodies and lenses to details like packaging.

While many companies in the industry have moved to functional but rather pedestrian-looking recyclable cardboard, Sigma has infused its newest product boxes with subtle elegance and style, balancing sustainability with aesthetics. It's a nuance, but the type of detail that matters at Sigma.

Mr. Yamaki's enthusiasm for his philosophy is both contagious and thought-provoking. Next time you go out to shoot, consider just capturing the beautiful foolishness of the world and life. Sometimes, it's best to metaphorically sit back, enjoy your cup of tea, and embrace whatever comes your way to find beauty, even in seemingly worthless things.

Photo: Mitchell Clark

Submissions for our April editor's challenge have ended, which means it's time for voting to begin. This month's theme was RGB, and we tasked photographers to come up with pictures featuring a red, green, and blue color palette.

You can head to the challenge page to see the entries and vote for your favorites. User votes don't determine which photos end up getting selected to be displayed on our homepage – it is the Editor's challenge, after all – but they do help show support for community members who share their photography.

See the submissions

A reliable source confirmed to me today that Fujifilm has suspended orders for the GFX100RF, X100VI, and X-M5 cameras in the US. It looks like the company will very soon implement significant price increases (in the US only) due to the new tariffs introduced by President Trump, just like Canon and Blackmagic. It is unclear if the new price increase will impact all Fujifilm products or only the suspended models.

As I already mentioned, there will be more price increases to come. If you are planning on purchasing new gear, now would be a good time to do so since I expect more prices to be adjusted in the coming weeks. B&H and Adorama are currently closed for the next 10 days, but you can check our sponsors Amazon, Paul's Photo, and Service Photo for your photo equipment needs.

How will the new Trump tariffs impact the camera and lens imports to the US?

The post Coming next: Fujifilm price increase in the US appeared first on Photo Rumors.

One of the images already selected as part of the #YourShotOurHOME challenge. "An adorable Asiatic lion cub sleeps in the middle of the road. The cub was trying to warm itself during a winter afternoon, when the sand was warmer than the other parts of the forest." Photo: Hardik Shelat, @hardik_shelat_photography

National Geographic is asking photographers to submit photos or videos that "celebrate the beauty of the planet" for Earth Day. Its editors, along with filmmaker Bertie Gregory, will pick their favorites to share on the company's "Your Shot" Instagram page.

Entering is pretty simple: all you have to do is post a photo to Instagram using the hashtag "#NatGeoYourShotOurHOME" before April 22nd. The company says Gregory will pick his personal favorites from the photos submitted and share them in a gallery on the @NatGeoYourShot Instagram page on April 30th.

Another selected image. "Rising majestically above the California landscape, Mount Shasta is a potentially active volcano that stands as a silent guardian of the ancient legends that surround it. A sacred peak in Native American lore, it’s said to be the home of powerful spirits and a gateway to another world. Its snowcapped grandeur and timeless presence remind me of the mysteries that lie beyond the horizon. I took this aerial image while flying my single-engine plane." Photo: Jassen Todorov, @jassensf

National Geographic isn't pitching this as a formal contest but as a "fun and open way for people of all photography experience levels to engage with Nat Geo and share how they see the beauty of our planet." As such, there aren't many requirements, though the Your Shot FAQ page recommends posting a resolution of at least 1080px by 1080px, and says that images can't be digitally manipulated beyond "standard color correction and retouching to eliminate dust on camera sensors and film, or scratches on scanned negatives or prints."

You can submit as many photos as you like – if yours is selected, you'll be asked to share the full-size photo, along with a Raw, caption and signed release form.

Images: SmallRig, Stroppa, Mitchell Clark, CalDigit

This week was the National Association of Broadcasters' trade show in Las Vegas, where video companies flocked to show off their new tools and accessories. For this week's roundup we're going to go over some of the coolest things we saw, though if video isn't your thing, fear not – there's plenty here for you, too.

First, though, let's see what's on sale.

Sales of the week

Photo: Canon

Given that it's a big week for video, it only felt right to highlight that the EOS R5 C – which is essentially the EOS R5 but with more cooling and video features – is currently on sale for $700 off.

Photo: Richard Butler

For the more photo-focused, Sony's also running a sale on its a7 IV, knocking $500 off the retail price.

Straps on demand

Image: Stroppa

Stroppa is a company known for custom-making camera straps out of leather and rope, but the made-to-order nature of its products has always involved a bit of a wait between when you order your strap and when it arrives. The company is now selling a selection of its straps in what it calls "Drops," meaning that they're pre-made and will ship right after you place your order.

You'll only be able to get certain styles, lengths and colors, though the company does offer an approximately 20% discount for its pre-made straps compared to if you custom-ordered the same configuration.

Lightweight camera bags

Image: PolarPro

PolarPro has announced its RoadRunner lineup of camera bags, which aim to provide ample protection for your camera gear without being too heavy to carry.

The lineup includes 8 and 16L backpacks and three sizes of shoulder bag: a 1L sling for compact cameras like the Fujifilm X100 series, a 6L for a camera and a lens or two and a 12L for larger camera and lens combos, plus an iPad. The bags are padded, and the larger ones include dividers for arranging your gear. The backpacks also include rain covers and side-access hatches.

We took a closer look at the 6L shoulder bag, comparing it to the 7L Peak Design Outdoor Sling – you can read our thoughts on it here.

Shoulder Bags:

Backpacks:

A new player in the CFexpress Type A game

Photo: SanDisk

SanDisk has been making CFexpress Type B cards for a while now, but it just announced that it's going to start making the smaller CFexpress Type A cards often used in Sony cameras, too. They'll be part of its Pro-Cinema line, boasting a VPG-200 rating and write speeds of up to 1650 MBps, which should be sufficient for even the highest-end video modes on cameras like the Sony a7S III, a1 II or a9 III.

Even softer light

Image: ProFoto

Profoto has launched a new 'White' line of softboxes, which it says will provide "softer, natural-looking illumination with reduced contrast and shadows" than more traditional softboxes. They do this by swapping the reflective silver interior for a white fabric one, which the company says will give your images a "smooth, flattering glow."

The line includes softboxes in various shapes and sizes, which include built-in speed rings that should make them relatively easy to mount onto your light. They're also compatible with some of the company's other modifiers, like grids, diffusers and masks.

External Electronic variable ND

Electronic variable ND filters have been around in higher-end video-focused cameras for a while now, letting you easily adjust your exposure without having to reach to the front of the camera to twist a filter ring. However, while we've seen several concepts and prototypes of an external version, they haven't been readily available to buy.

It seems like that's about to change, though. According to Newsshooter, Tilta has said it'll be launching its matte-box ready 4 x 5.65″ electronic variable ND filter this summer. The filter can cut your light by 1.5 to 5EV and can be remotely controlled by the company's Nucleus system or by using a wheel built into the frame. According to a Tilta representative who spoke to Newsshooter, the company estimates it'll cost between $400-500.

An ultra-rugged battery

Image: SmallRig

SmallRig has announced its X-Touch Smart Triple-Proof V-Mount Battery X99. That's a lot of information in one product name, but the main takeaway is that it's a 99Wh V-mount battery that's drop-resistant up to a height of 1.5m (4.9') and has an IP54 dust and water resistance rating. Essentially, it's designed to keep your devices powered even in rough conditions... oh, and it has a touchscreen to show various status indicators.

The battery has a variety of inputs and outputs; there are two USB C ports that you can use to recharge it or to charge other devices, a BP port, two D-Tap outputs, a USB A output and 8V and 12V outputs, just for kicks. The company says you can recharge the battery in as little as two hours via USB-C PD.

The ultimate dock

Accessory makers are starting to release products that support the latest ThunderBolt 5 standard, which offers speeds up to 120Gbps, triple what its predecessor was capable of. That list now includes CalDigit, one of the most well-known companies for docks and hubs.

This week, CalDigit announced the TS5 and TS5+ – versions of its flagship dock that now use ThunderBolt 5. Both can charge your laptop at up to 140W and drive three displays. The regular TS5, which costs $369, features three ThunderBolt 5 ports, plus one for connecting to your computer, as well as a host of other ports, including 2.5Gb Ethernet. It can support external drives with read speeds up to 6200MBps, double what the TS4 could do.

The TS5 Plus takes things even further with 10Gb Ethernet, DisplayPort 2.1 output and a grand total of 20 ports. None of that comes cheap, though, as the company plans to sell it for $499. It's also worth noting that all the extra USB ports come at the cost of one ThunderBolt 5 one.

An updated tube light

Image: Nanlite

Nanlite announced the PavoTube II 6XR this week, a 25cm (10") RGB light tube. It's very similar to the PavoTube II 6C in that it has an internal battery and built-in magnets for mounting, but it adds the ability to individually program the tube's 10 LEDs to create various effects. It also supports CRMX and DMX control, which could be useful if you're on a professional set.

Compared to the 6C, the 6XR is slightly dimmer – it maxes out at 457 lumens versus 520 – and it costs $50 more, but if you need finer-grained control, it could be the way to go.

A pro grading monitor

Image: Asus

Asus was at NAB this week showing off its recently-announced PA32UCDM ProArt QD-OLED display, which it says is "designed for professional content creators." Its 32" 4K panel can display 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while running at 240Hz for buttery-smooth responsiveness. It has a "true 10-bit" panel – not an 8-bit one with dithering – and a peak brightness of 1000 nits, which means it supports HDR standards like Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10.

You can connect to it via ThunderBolt 4 or 5, as well as HDMI 2.1, and it has a built-in USB hub. While its $1899 MSRP may seem like a lot, depending on how serious you are about monitors, for the specs it provides it actually seems like quite a good value.

Read last week's roundup

A reliable source just confirmed to me that Canon will soon increase prices in the US as a result of the new tariffs introduced by President Trump last week.

If you are planning to get some new gear, now would be a good time since the price increase could come as early as next week. B&H and Adorama are currently closed for the next 10 days, but you can check our sponsors Amazon, Paul's Photo, and Service Photo.

Blackmagic already increased its prices in the US a few days ago.

There will be more price increases to come.

How will the new Trump tariffs impact the camera and lens imports to the US?

The post Breaking: Canon to increase prices in the US as a result of the new Trump tariffs appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The full details of the upcoming Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens with a color LCD screen for Sony E and Nikon Z mount leaked online:

The Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB pursues ultra-high resolution that surpasses even flagship models, ushering in a new era of revolutionary leaps in image quality. It adopts an optical design that does not compromise on details to support high-pixel shooting. With unprecedented high-definition depiction power, it will satisfy the needs of all those who seek higher resolution.

What is the LAB series?

The LAB series is the highest-end line of the Viltrox brand, characterized by high image quality and high standards. Compared to other products on the market, the lens specifications of the LAB series are at a higher level than those of the PRO series. With the introduction of the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2, the Viltrox LAB series is attracting attention as a lens that further expands the creative possibilities of professional photographers and video creators.

Features

• The lens is made up of 15 elements in 10 groups, including five ED lenses, three high refractive index lenses, and two aspherical lenses, ensuring clarity from the center to the edges of the entire focal range and enabling the depiction of fine textures even at maximum aperture, allowing users to retain image quality down to the fine details even in cropped images, expanding the scope of their photography .
• Equipped with Viltrox's proprietary Hyper VCM motor, it provides 150% faster focus speed and more precise aperture accuracy compared to conventional STM motors, allowing you to capture the perfect photographic opportunity.
• The large aperture F1.2 and 11-blade diaphragm produce a softer, more beautiful circular bokeh, providing excellent quality even in low-light situations.
• With a minimum focusing distance of 0.34m and a maximum magnification of 0.17x, it provides clear, excellent images from infinity to close-ups.
• The side of the lens is equipped with three switching levers, two custom Fn buttons, two rings, and a display, allowing users to make fine adjustments to suit their shooting style.
• The lens body, including the front lens element, is dust-proof and weather-resistant, allowing it to be used in a wide range of shooting environments.
• By connecting to the app via Bluetooth, you can also configure the Fn button and the image and text to be displayed on the lens display when the camera starts up.

Specification

• Compatible mount: Sony E-mount
• Focal length: 35mm
• Focus mode: AF (autofocus)
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 10 groups (5 ED lenses, 3 high refractive index lenses, 2 aspherical lenses)
• Aperture blades: 11
• Supported image size: Full size
• Aperture range: F1.2-F16
• Minimum shooting distance: 0.34m
• Filter diameter: Φ77mm
• Size: Φ89.2mm x 121.8mm (excluding mount)
• Accessories: Lens cap, rear cap, hood, storage bag
• Weight: Approx. 920g

In the US, Viltrox lenses are sold at B&H and Amazon. International shipping is available at Pergear and at the official Viltrox website (you can get 8% off at the online store with code NIKONRUMORS):

Here is the upcoming Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB full-frame lens for Sony E and Nikon Z mount

Viltrox to announce three more LAB lenses this year

Via SonyAddict

The post The new Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens is coming next week with a color LCD screen appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Photo: Abby Ferguson

It's no secret that things in the United States are in flux right now due to the president's implementation of new tariffs. Companies across all categories are making adjustments, including plenty of photography-related businesses. Earlier this week, Blackmagic Design announced higher prices for some of its products, and now Harman Technology is doing the same.

Harman Technology is the UK-based parent company of the Ilford and Paterson brands; it's well-known for its products for analog photographers. PetaPixel reported that the company is raising prices of its film, paper and chemicals in the US in response to the tariffs. Shutter Junkies, a Texas-based photo lab, shared the information in a blog post, revealing that Ilford and Harman film and paper will increase by 11%. Liquid chemistry will go up by 12% and there will be an 11% increase on most Paterson products. It also says there will be larger increases on Paterson items manufactured in China.

"While we understand how frustrating price hikes can be, especially in a niche like film photography, these increases are a direct result of the newly imposed tariffs. HARMAN, like many manufacturers, is responding to increased costs on their end," Shutter Junkies wrote in its post. "HARMAN has expressed that they hope to reduce prices if and when trade agreements shift." It also added that Phoenix film prices and powder chemistry prices will remain unchanged.

President Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, but he didn't fully back off. The baseline 10% global tariff that President Trump announced on April 5 is still in place. Plus, he has increased tariffs on China to 125%. That's likely why we're still seeing rising prices even with the 90-day pause.

Shutter Junkies added that the price of disposable cameras would remain unchanged for the stock that they currently have. That's likely to be the case for many companies; pricing for things they already had on shelves or in store rooms will be without markups, but new stock may require a higher price. So, if you need film, you may want to stock up now.