Image: Fujifilm

Earlier this month, Fujifilm announced that it would be raising its US prices on its products across the board, citing "volatile market conditions," but it didn't mention by how much. Now that retailers have started updating their listings, though, it's clear what the impact is. Here's what you need to know.

Several of its cameras have been affected. At retailers like B&H and Adorama, the X-T5 has gone from $1899 to $1999, while the GFX100RF has gone from $5399 to $5599. The GFX 100S II has seen a similar jump, going from $5499 to $5699.

This is Fujifilm's second price increase within the last month; at the beginning of August, the company raised the prices on some of its cameras and lenses by up to 15%.

At time of writing, the X-M5, X-T50 and X100VI all appear to have stayed at the prices they rose to at the beginning of the month. However, two cameras have been unaffected by both of the price changes: the X half and X-E5.

Unlike the rest of Fujifilm's lineup, they were released after the tariffs were announced. It seems like Fujifilm built plenty of room into their prices to avoid having to raise them again before people had even received their pre-orders. The company did say, however, that its goal was to maintain its overall pricing structure.

The X half and X-E5 were released after the tariffs were announced

Of course, some of Fujifilm's lenses have also been affected by both waves of price adjustments. The venerable 16-55mm F2.8 II has gone from $1349 to $1399, and the company's more affordable standard zoom, the 16-50mm F2.8-4.8, is also now $50 more. Some of its premium primes, like the 23mm F1.4, 56mm F1.2 and 90mm F2 have gone up by $100, and while the 35mm F2 has gone up by $50, several of the company's more entry-level primes appear to be unaffected.

Obviously, having to do a second price increase in a row isn't ideal for anyone. It's now more expensive for Americans to get the company's cameras, which could lead to decreased demand, though Fujifilm is far from the only camera company having to raise its prices in the US.

This week, Hasselblad announced the X2D II, its latest medium format camera. While its "end-to-end" HDR capabilities are perhaps the most eye-catching feature, there are other upgrades that make it a more versitile camera than its predecessor.

In this week's roundtable discussion, editors Abby Ferguson, Dale Baskin and Mitchell Clark sat down to discuss the camera and what it means for the industry. Of course, there are some bits about the moon in there, too (we couldn't resist).

If you're looking for more info on the X2D II, check out our first look video, presented in HDR, or read our initial review.

These cards may physically look the same, but they'e all very different.

At first, choosing an SD card to go in your camera may seem like an easy task. After all, they all look more or less the same, so picking one should be as simple as going to the store, finding the highest-capacity one that fits in your budget, and putting it in your camera, right?

Unfortunately, that's not quite the case. While that strategy will probably work for most modern cameras, there are some considerations you'll want to take into account if you're using older cameras or if you're shooting video or bursts of photos.

The need for speed

SD card labels have a lot of information, but not all of it is relevant.

Looking at the label of a typical SD card can be an assault on the senses. They're often covered with numbers and letters, and while the meaning of some (such as the size) may be obvious, others are less so.

Many cards advertise a write and/or read speed, usually denoted in MBps. You can pretty much ignore this; often the card only shows the read speed, which isn't particularly important for cameras, as you'll mainly be writing to it, and even when it does include a write speed, it's almost always showing the best-case scenario rating, which won't be particularly applicable to real-world shooting.

You can ignore the listed read/write speeds

If that number isn't useful, what should you look at instead? It depends on your use case. If you just plan on taking single photos and maybe a few short video clips, most modern SD cards will work just fine; you don't need to pay extra for a super-fast model, which will often come with labels like V60 or V90.

If you have a high-resolution camera, plan on doing a lot of burst shooting with both Raws and JPEGs, or shooting long 4K60p clips or even 8K video, you'll want to spend the extra money to get one of the high-end cards. If you get a card with a low speed rating like V30 or even no V-rating at all, it could hinder your camera's performance.

What about the other ratings?

UHS-I cards (top) have fewer pins than UHS-II ones (bottom).

The SD standard has had several speed ratings over the years, enough that it could be its own separate article. If you're using an older camera, it may be worth checking if it recommends a certian C or U-rating, but nowadays the most important spec will be the card's UHS rating. Most cards you're likely to run into are UHS-I or UHS-II. It's easy to tell the difference between the two, as UHS-II cards have a second row of pins on the back.

If you have an older or lower-end camera, it'll likely have a UHS-I slot, and you won't get any benefit from a UHS-II card. It'll likely still work with your camera, but it'll only be able to run at the slower UHS-I speeds. Likewise, UHS-I cards will work in cameras with UHS-II slots, but as we noted in the speed section, they may bottleneck your camera's performance if your usage is particularly demanding.

Can an SD card have too much storage?

Some cameras won't be able to accept larger cards.

While high-capacity SD cards are always getting less expensive, there are situations where you may need to avoid getting the one with the most storage. For example, if you're using an older camera, it may not work with larger cards.

If you look closely at your card, you may notice that it has a few letters after "SD," such as "SDHC" or "SDXC." These actually denote different generations of cards, and while most newer cameras will be able to use any of them, older cameras may not be compatible with newer generations of cards.

Some cameras have a printed or engraved indicator that shows which version of SD they support; if not, that information should be available in the manual, or online. If your camera says "SDHC," for example, you'll probably only be able to use it with cards that are 32GB or smaller. Cameras that just support "SD," meanwhile, are limited to cards that are just 2GB or less, which can be difficult to find new.

SD eXtended Capacity, or SDXC, was introduced in 2009 and supports cards up to 2TB, so this will mainly be a concern for cameras released around that year or before, though some lower-end cameras from the 2010s may also lack SDXC support.

microSD vs SD

While it's not particularly common, a few cameras use microSD cards instead of full-size ones. The name makes the difference obvious: microSD cards are SD cards, but much smaller. The speed ratings and classes will all be the same, so the advice for buying a microSD card is much the same as it is for full-size ones; figure out how big and fast a card you need, and go from there.

If your computer only has a full-size SD card reader or you want to be able to use your card in a variety of cameras, fear not: microSD to SD adapters are widely available, and may even be included when you buy a microSD card. This only goes one way, though; you can't gracefully fit a full-size SD card into a microSD slot.

What is SD Express?

It's not particularly likely, but you may come across cards labeled as "SD Express." If you do, we don't recommend buying it, as there are currently no cameras on the market that support the standard. While SD Express cards are backwards compatible with standard SD slots, they'll only run at UHS-I speeds, so you'll be paying for a high-speed card without any benefit at all.

Wait, this isn't SD at all!

Higher-end cameras may have a CFexpress slot alongside an SD one... or even two CFexpress slots!

While SD cards have been the industry standard for years, if you buy a vintage point-and-shoot, you may wind up with something that doesn't take them. Unfortunately, there may not be much you can do about that, as finding obsolete cards such as xD or the original Memory Stick is increasingly difficult. In some cases, you may be able to find an adapter that will let you use SD or microSD cards in other slots, and some older formats like Compact Flash are still around, but generally it's best to stick to cameras with SD card slots.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are high-end modern cameras, which may use standards like CFexpress Type B. While most people won't have ended up with one of these cameras by accident, if you see a port that's far too big for an standard SD card, that may be what it's meant for.

When in doubt...

If you bought a new camera and are unsure what card to use with it, check the manual. Most come with recommendations for specific SD cards that the manufacturer knows will let you get the most out of your camera. Cards not on the list will almost certainly work with it, but if you want to be sure you're not getting something that will slow your camera down, it's a good place to start.

Image: Rollei

Rollei Analog may have something new coming for analog shooters, according to its first Instagram post in four years. The company shared "We are back" on its account this week, with hints that something is coming.

The Instagram account rollei_analog hadn't posted since October 14, 2021. This week, though, it shared a post with a Zebra and text saying "We are back" and "be prepared and stay tuned!" The caption of the post said it has "big plans, new projects and analog inspiration." It isn't clear if it's simply an announcement that the Instagram account will be active again, or if there will be new products coming.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rollei Analog Official (@rollei_analog)

Hans O. Mahn GmbH & Co. KG manages the Rollei Analog brand, which specializes in film, photo chemicals and photographic papers. It last shared news on its website in 2020, so even that platform has been quiet for a while. You can still buy Rollei-branded film; however, it's not produced in-house by Rollei and is repackaged from other major manufacturers.

Over the past year, we've also seen the Rollei name pop up on other products, including a mirrorless lens and the Rollei 35AF film camera. However, those products are the result of licensing deals, with other companies obtaining the rights to use the Rollei branding on their products. The lens looked as though it was likely a re-branded 7Artisans offering. The revival of the iconic Rollei 35 in an autofocus format was a project by Mint Camera, which licensed the Rollei name from Rollei GmbH & Co. KG.

Rollei Analog's cryptic post leaves a lot to the imagination, and the comments are peppered with requests. We'll just have to wait and see what it means by "big plans," though.

One of the most critical parts of photography is getting the right exposure. Unfortunately, mastering that process isn't always straightforward. Tricky lighting conditions like backlighting or high-contrast scenes can complicate things, whether you're using automatic or manual exposure settings. The key is to master metering modes, settings that tell your camera how to measure light in a scene.

Metering modes can be confusing, though, especially since each brand uses slightly different names. In this article, we'll break down the most common modes and provide examples of when you should use each.

What are metering modes?

Before exploring the different settings, it's important to know what metering modes are. Digital cameras are able to measure light within a scene. The camera uses that information to suggest how bright or dark your photo should be, helping you get an accurate exposure.

We'll have more on how to use that light meter later, but for now, what's key to understand is that you can adjust how your light meter reads the scene, allowing you to tell the camera what's most important in terms of exposure. For example, you may want it to evaluate the entire scene for a balanced exposure, or the center of the frame could be what matters most.

Changing the metering mode will affect how your camera determines a proper exposure. This is vital in automatic or priority modes, but it's also helpful if you're using manual mode. After all, if the meter reads the wrong part of the scene, you may end up with an image that is far too dark (underexposed) or bright (overexposed).

Evaluative metering

This scene doesn't have any particularly challenging light, so evaluative metering mode handles the metering nicely. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Evaluative metering is the default setting for most cameras. Canon and Sigma call this mode Evaluative, and it's labeled as Matrix on Nikon, Multi on Sony and Fujifilm and Digital ESP on OM System.

While each brand might have its own nuance, it's typically more than just a basic average of the entire scene on modern cameras. Broadly speaking, this mode divides the scene into zones and assesses the brightness of every zone. The camera may also factor in color and the location of the focus point. That information is all processed using an algorithm that suggests a balanced exposure for the entire setting.

Evaluative metering is the default because it works well in most situations. It is useful for landscapes, portraits, wildlife and many other everyday scenarios.

Center-weighted metering

My subject was right in the middle of the frame, making center-weighted metering a useful choice. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Center-weighted metering (also called Center-weighted Avg. on Canon and Center on Sony), as the name suggests, prioritizes the center of the frame. It doesn't completely disregard the edges of the frame, but the camera will make sure the center is correctly exposed, even if that means the edges will be a little too dark or bright.

Center-weighted metering is useful for any situation where you know the subject will be centered. Portraiture is a great example, as it typically involves the subject in the center of the frame.

Spot metering

High contrast scenes, like a black dog on a snowy field, can benefit from spot metering. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Spot metering is the most precise metering option. This mode calculates exposure based on a small area of your selected focus point. Each system is different in the size of the area it references, with most using just 1-5% of the frame. In addition to Spot metering, Canon also offers what it calls 'Partial' metering, which is similar but uses a larger section that covers 6-10% of the frame.

This mode is ideal when your subject is on a very dark or bright background. Situations like backlit portraits, a dark subject against a snowy backdrop or the moon in the night sky are good candidates for Spot metering.

Highlight-weighted

Backlighting is a great example of when you might want a highlight-weighted metering mode, if you have it available. In this case, the highlights were more important to me than the rest of the scene. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Highlight-weighted metering is less common, but is available on some Nikon models. Sony also offers a similar mode called Highlight. As the name suggests, it prioritizes highlights in the image to ensure bright areas aren't overexposed. It uses the same information as evaluative metering, but instead of balancing the exposure, it calculates what's necessary to retain highlight detail.

Highlight metering mode is useful in bright or high contrast situations where you want to pay particular attention to highlights. In such situations, you may be willing to underexpose the image to retain highlight detail with the intention of lightening the shadows when editing. Capturing a sunset, photographing in the snow or documenting someone on a stage with spotlights are good examples of when you may want to use this setting.

Final thoughts on metering modes

Metering modes aren't something you need to change for every image. Most situations will call for one mode the entire time, and the default mode is a safe option that works for a wide range of scenarios. However, if you notice that your images are consistently darker or lighter than they should be (or than you want), it's worth assessing whether the lighting conditions may call for a different metering mode than what you have set, and adjusting accordingly.

Image: Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design has dramatically reduced prices for its Ursa Cine camera kits. The move is surprising, given that most products have seen increased prices in the past few years. It also follows a price increase of some Blackmagic cameras for US customers earlier this year.

In April, Blackmagic announced that it was increasing the prices of most products in the US because of tariffs. That included the Blackmagic Pyxis 12K and Ursa Cine 17K. In a statement to DPReview at the time, Blackmagic explained that "in general, it’s a bit in flux as developments are happening with the tariffs." However, the company also said it would be "moving production of some products to help lower costs for customers from what we had previously raised them to since the tariffs went into effect."

Blackmagic said that since it released the Ursa Cine line last year, it has been working to reduce the cost of production and pass the savings along to customers. It appears that some of Blackmagic's production adjustments are starting to have an impact, and the price cuts to the Ursa Cine line are substantial. The Ursa Cine 12K LF previously retailed for $14,995 and is now priced at $9,495. The Ursa Cine 12K LF with EVF dropped from $16,495 to $10,995. The higher-end 17K 65 with and without the EVF is $7,000 less than the previous price.

While the decreased prices are certainly a welcome change, Blackmagic specifies they exclude duties. As a result, prices in the US will be higher because of tariffs, though they will still be lower than the original prices of the Ursa Cine lineup.

Image taken with the Google Pixel 10. Photo: Dale Baskin

When Google unveiled the Pixel 10 last week, it touted the 48MP main camera, and yet, it can only produce 12MP photos. The story is the same with last year's Pixel 9 and its 50MP main camera. This has led some users to complain that Google's spec sheets are misleading; why would Google advertise a resolution that Pixel owners can't actually use? However, there's likely more going on than meets the eye.

Spec differences

On paper, the specs of the Pixel lineup seem pretty straightforward. The Pixel 9 features a 50MP main camera, and the new Pixel 10 uses a 48MP one. Yet in reality, neither phone produces images near that size, with every shot capped at 12MP.

The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL also, by default, take 12MP images with their 50MP sensors. However, the Pro models give users the option to change the resolution and turn on a Hi-Res setting. With that turned on, the phone will output 50MP files, which is the promised resolution. Unfortunately, the standard Pixel doesn't offer such a setting, so there is no opportunity to change to the full resolution.

Technology at play

The Quad Bayer design (right) uses an oversized version of the conventional Bayer pattern (left). Each color patch extends over four photodiodes; each has its own microlens in front of it. Image: adapted from Sony Semiconductor illustration

So why put a higher-resolution sensor in the phone only to output a quarter of the resolution? There may be a few factors. First, the phone uses a Quad Bayer sensor, which differs from a traditional Bayer sensor by having each color patch extend over four photodiodes instead of one.

While each photodiode has a microlens that allows it to be used as an individual pixel (with a heavy helping of interpolation), there are other ways to use the data from a quad Bayer sensor. One is to bin the four photosites behind each color patch, which will reduce read noise and give you a resulting image that's 1/4 of the sensor's full resolution. This method comes at the cost of some detail, but gives you a cleaner image, especially in low-light situations.

Image taken with the Google Pixel 10. Photo: Dale Baskin

Another readout mode lets you retain more information in the highlights, again at the cost of outputting a file that's only a 1/4 of the resolution compared to if you used each photosite as a single pixel. In high contrast scenes, this allows for better HDR results.

Essentially, you can choose between having the maximum amount of detail captured, the minimum amount of noise or the maximum dynamic range. Or, rather, the phone manufacturer can; while the Pro models let you choose resolution over low-light performance, the standard model simply doesn't offer that option.

"There are other ways the phone may be using the extra pixels, even if they don't show up in the final output in the form of higher resolution."

It's also important to note that there are other ways the phone may be using the extra pixels, even if they don't show up in the final output in the form of higher resolution. Smartphones rely heavily on computational enhancements to produce better image quality than their tiny sensors would otherwise allow. It's possible that, somewhere in Google's imaging pipeline, it may be using a 48MP readout from the sensor in addition to the other modes, even though the end result is a lower-resolution file.

The Pixel 9 and 10's spec sheets aren't incorrect; they use 50MP and 48MP sensors, respectively. But it's also understandable why some users feel misled when they can't actually get files that match those resolutions. The phones may be taking full advantage of the sensors in the background, just in a way most don't necessarily expect.

A photo taken in 50MP mode on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Of course, it likely doesn't help that Google only gives people who buy the Pro models the option to capture as much detail as possible with a full-res photo. That's especially true since other manufacturers, like Apple, don't divide their regular and Pro models along the same lines (though Apple's 48MP option is buried in the settings app).

It's an interesting situation because the spec sheets seem designed for people who assume that the more megapixels a sensor has, the better. But the same people will likely feel betrayed by the fact that they can't actually get that full resolution, even if their images will be better in most situations without it.

"At this time, the user cannot create a 48MP image from Pixel 10."

We reached out to Google for clarification on this difference between hardware specs and output. A representative for Google shared the following: "The Pixel 10 main/wide camera is a 48MP sensor. We include a clarifying footnote about resolution because even though the hardware is a 48MP sensor, Pixel Camera app configures the sensor in binning mode. At this time, the user cannot create a 48MP image from Pixel 10."

The footnote that Google is referring to states, "Reflects megapixels for camera sensor. Camera image resolution output may be less when using default settings." The use of "may" in that footnote is where Google is putting itself in a bind, since on the Pixel 10, it is always less, no matter what.

Ricoh GR IV | F16 | 1/500 sec | ISO 200 Photo: Mitchell Clark

Last week, Ricoh fully announced the GR IV, the latest iteration of its photographers' compact camera. Compared to its predecessor, it has a new sensor, new processing engine and a new lens, so there's plenty to consider when it comes to its performance.

We've gotten the chance to shoot with it in a variety of conditions to see how it performs. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below, and keep an eye out for more photos as we continue our review process.

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.

Image: DJI

DJI has announced its latest wireless lavalier microphone, the DJI Mic 3. The new device combines the compactness of the Mic Mini, which was released less than a year ago, with the functionality and higher-end features of the Mic 2.

Like the Mic Mini, the Mic 3 is a discrete option. The transmitter portion weighs 16g (0.56oz), which is only slightly heavier than the Mic Mini and 12g (0.42oz) lighter than the Mic 2. It can be attached to subjects with the detachable, rotating clip or with an included magnet. It also shares the Mic Mini's transmission range in ideal conditions, promising to connect at distances of up to 400m (just under 1/4 mile). That's a substantial bump from the Mic 2's 250m (820') range.

The Mic 3 is small and discreet. Image: DJI

The Mic 3 gains some firsts from DJI, including the first DJI mic to offer voice tone presets. Users can select between Regular, Rich and Bright, which will professionally tune voices by boosting low frequencies or enhancing high frequencies. DJI says it will be helpful for interviews with multiple people who have different vocal characteristics.

The new mic is also the first DJI mic with two Adaptive Gain Control modes: Automatic and Dynamic. Automatic mode can suppress sudden volume spikes and prevent clipping. This mode promises to be helpful for outdoor environments with dramatic volume, such as sporting events. Dynamic mode automatically adjusts gain in response to volume changes to maintain consistent loudness, which DJI says is ideal for studio settings.

The windscreen helps cut down wind noise even more. It's also available (separately) in five different colors. Image: DJI

Mic 3 provides Lossless Audio to deliver uncompressed 48kHz 24-bit audio directly to the receiver. It also offers two-level active noise canceling. DJI didn't specify if it carried over the Mic 2's 'Intelligent' noise cancellation, which doesn't require manual selection of a level.

It keeps the 32-bit float internal recording found on the Mic 2. However, it adds dual-file internal recording: one with the original track, and another with the algorithm-enhanced version. Unfortunately for some, the transmitter packs lack a 3.5mm jack, just as the original Mic Mini did. As a result, users won't be able to use traditional lav mics.

Image: DJI

The system can work with up to four transmitters and eight receivers at once (though those have to be purchased separately), making it a worthwhile option for large group recordings. Additionally, the Mic 3 Receiver offers Quadraphonic mode, which supports independent output of four audio tracks, though only when paired with select Sony cameras or computer software.

In terms of battery life, DJI says the Mic 3 transmitter can last up to eight hours, while the receiver lasts up to 10 hours. The optional charging case provides 2.4 full charges.

DJI says a five-minute charge will provide two hours of battery life. Image: DJI

The DJI Mic 3 will be on display at IFA in Berlin from September 5-9. It is available with two transmitters, one receiver and the charging case, or users can opt for a single transmitter and receiver with no charging case.

Unfortunately for US users, as has been the case with other DJI releases lately, the Mic 3 will not be available for sale in the US through DJI’s official channels. The base model retails for £169 / €199, while the kit with a charging case costs £259 / €309.

Google's newest smartphone, the Pixel 10, introduces a significant change to its camera configuration: unlike previous base model Pixels that featured a two-camera setup, including a main (wide) and an ultra-wide camera, the Pixel 10 adds a telephoto camera, matching the triple-camera setup of the more expensive Pixel 10 Pro models.

However, as we've reported previously, a higher number of cameras doesn't mean better cameras. There's a trade-off for that extra lens. To add the telephoto camera, Google downgraded the Pixel 10's main camera, giving it a smaller sensor than the one on the Pixel 9.

Similarly, the Pixel 10's ultra-wide camera has a smaller sensor, a slower aperture, and lower resolution than the one found on the Pixel 9. These changes result in a pair of cameras that are notably less capable than those found on its predecessor.

Are these trade-offs worth it? The answer might be yes for casual camera users who aren't concerned about critical image quality. More advanced photographers, however, will find more reason than ever to spend extra money on Google's Pixel Pro models to get the improved camera performance they desire.

What do you think of these trade-offs? Check out our sample gallery and let us know in the comments.

View our Google Pixel 10 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 (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

Photo: Abby Ferguson

Last week, Google announced its Pixel 10 phone lineup, which includes the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold. The standard Pixel 10 saw the most significant camera changes, while the three Pro models kept the same camera hardware as the previous generation. You can see more details of the four phones and how the Pixel 10 stacks up next to the Pixel 9 on paper in our detailed comparison.

While the hardware remains consistent in the Pro phones, Google said it made other improvements. Those promised upgrades take the form of largely AI-based software changes and a Tensor G5 chip. We've had the opportunity to take the Pixel 10 Pro XL around for a few days, testing the cameras to share a sample gallery with you all.

We shot the phone in Raw + JPG mode for most of the testing period so that you can check out the Raw files as well. However, for those looking forward to picking up a Pixel phone to use Raw files, be aware that accessing them on anything other than your phone isn't very straightforward.

One of the features that differentiates the Pro and Pro XL models from the other devices in the lineup is Pro Res Zoom up to 100x instead of 20x. Google says this feature uses a combination of cropping and generative AI. We made sure to test out the Pro Res Zoom feature, and included the processed and unprocessed versions so you can compare. The generative AI results are often very lackluster, but given how intense the crop is, it doesn't have much information to work with.

See the sample gallery

Google's latest flagship lineup is now available for preorder. The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL will be fully released on August 28, though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold won't be widely available until October 9.

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.

Image: Nothing

Nothing, a British tech brand, was caught trying to pass off stock images taken by professional photographers as samples taken by the Phone 3. The Verge reports that five sample images were licensed photos taken with different cameras.

The photographs were used on in-store demo units of the Nothing 3. One of the photographers anonymously confirmed to The Verge that they didn't use the company's latest smartphone to create the image. Instead, the photo was licensed by Nothing through the Stills stock photo marketplace. The Verge says it looked at the EXIF data for the image and confirmed it wasn't taken with the Phone 3 and was taken in 2023, two years before the release of the phone.

Nothing used this car image available through Stills on its live demo unit, even though it was taken with the Fujifilm XH2s in 2023. Screenshot: Abby Ferguson

Five other photographs were also licensed by Nothing through Stills. Roman Fox confirmed to Android Authority that they photographed one of the other images. That photograph was also taken in 2023 using a Fujifilm XH2s, a far different camera from the Nothing Phone 3.

Nothing's founder Akis Evangelidis responded to the incident on X. He claims that the stock photos on the live demo units (LDU) were meant to be placeholders that should have been updated and replaced. "An initial version of the LDU needs to be submitted with placeholders around 4 months before launch, to be implemented and tested as we ramp up towards mass production," Evangelidis said. "Once we enter mass production, those placeholder images are replaced with photo samples through a new version of the LDU."

Re the Phone (3) live demo units (LDU) in some stores using stock imagery - let me explain. An initial version of the LDU needs to be submitted with placeholders around 4 months before launch, to be implemented and tested as we ramp up towards mass production. Once we enter mass…

— Akis Evangelidis 🦞 (@AkisEvangelidis) August 27, 2025

Evangelidis went on to say that it was "an unfortunate oversight" and "that there was no ill intent." Nevertheless, paying for stock photos that were not intended for public use seems odd. It seems it would be much easier to simply use some of those cat photos that are likely on someone's phone. Evangelidis says that used to be the process, in fact. In the past, it used photos taken using the company's older phones on the live demo units. It's unclear why it changed to using licensed stock photos instead.

This isn't the first time a company has tried to pass off dedicated camera photographs as sample images. For example, Huawei has done the same thing a few times, and Nokia famously released a commercial supposedly featuring video from one of its phones in which you could see a reflection showing a professional video rig. Yet, companies don't seem to learn that consumers do catch on.

Image: C2PA

It's been a big week for Content Credentials, the tech made to provide more transparency around how images were created and edited, and whether AI was involved in the process. First, Google announced that its latest lineup of Pixel phones would include the metadata on every photo they took; a first for the smartphone world. Then, Nikon announced that Z6III owners will be able to attach credentials to images they take with the camera for free.

Both moves represent big steps forward for their respective industries. While the Pixel is a tiny player in terms of smartphone market share, other companies tend to follow Google when it introduces new features. The company adding Content Credentials to its phones could push larger players like Samsung and Apple to do the same, especially as they continue to walk the line between pleasing investors and annoying customers by adding AI-powered camera features.

The Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro Fold are the first phones to attach Content Credentials to their photos. Image: Google

Over in the dedicated camera world, Content Credentials have largely only been available to members of the press and those who can afford a Leica. While the Nikon Z6III certainly isn't an entry-level camera, it's much more affordable than most of Leica's offerings. It's also nice to see that Nikon currently isn't charging for access to this feature, though it's possible that'll change in the future.

These changes are important because they could represent a turning point for Content Credentials. While the standard is backed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), a veritable who's who of imaging tech, its future as an important part of imaging and trust on the internet hasn't necessarily been assured.

As it stands now, an image with Content Credentials may get a special badge on some sites, and you can inspect images to see if they have them with various tools. However, very few people on the web are liable to do that, because almost no images have them. They may be useful to newshounds consuming a lot of photojournalism as proof that an image is authentic (or, at least, not faked in a very specific way), but if you only trusted images with Content Credentials, you'd end up thinking every image you saw on the Internet was fake*.

If you've seen a Content Credential badge before now, it's probably because you went looking for one.

If the tech makes its way into the cameras most people are actually using, though, that could start to change. The presence or absence of Content Credentials could become a meaningful contribution to an image's trustworthiness, rather than just being a curiosity. While it certainly wouldn't be a silver bullet against mis- and disinformation and the rise of generative AI, it could wind up being a more useful tool if it's something you can come to rely on most authentically-shot images having.

While that future seems more likely now after this week, it is still a long way off. One of the issues with Content Credentials is that every link in the chain from your camera to the device it's displayed on needs to support them. If you edit them with software or upload them to a service that strips out the metadata, it won't do you or your viewers any good.

Until now, there's arguably been a chicken and egg problem with Content Credentials

But while the ecosystem around them is still young, it's obviously growing. Recently, Fastly, a massive content delivery network, joined Cloudflare in announcing that a vital part of its image pipeline will now preserve Content Credentials, and Adobe is making strides in ensuring that most of its software works with them, too.

The weakest link may still be web browsers, as the major ones currently don't flag images that have credentials unless you install a third-party extension. Even just Chrome making it seamless to see and inspect Content Credentials could do a lot to boost consumer awareness of the tech.

That doesn't feel impossible, though. Until now, there's arguably been a chicken-and-egg problem with Content Credentials and the web; almost no one was using them, so it was hard to justify putting in the work to support them. But if Nikon and Google end up being just the tip of the iceberg, we could see a lot more demand for the tech coming soon.

* Admittedly, there are probably worse assumptions to make.

Image: MirageC / Moment via Getty Images

Two weeks ago, we started our new 'Question of the week' series in our forums. The series aims to get our vibrant community (that's you) thinking and talking about a range of photography-related topics. We'll be sharing a question every other Wednesday, and, at times, we'll also be sharing our favorite responses on the homepage. It's an opportunity to receive recognition for participating in these discussions and our way of highlighting our incredible community.

Without further ado, let's dive into our second 'Question of the week!"

This week's question: What five questions should you ask yourself when buying a new lens?

Last time, we asked, "What five questions should you ask yourself when buying a new camera?" You all had some great advice to share (and still do, as comments are still coming in). But we thought one common topic warranted further discussion: lenses. After all, there's a lot to think about when buying a new lens.

So, this week, we are sticking to a familiar format: What five questions should you ask yourself when buying a new lens? Whether you're adding to an extensive collection or just starting to build out your kit, we want to know the five most important things you should consider when shopping for a new lens.

For those of us in the US, it's a holiday weekend, so we'll share our favorite responses in a post on the homepage on Tuesday; be sure to get your responses in to the forum post before then!

Click here to answer the Question of the week

Image: Nikon

Nikon has announced firmware version 2.0 for the Z6III, adding a dedicated bird mode autofocus mode, in-camera focus limiter, focus shift shooting and more. As part of the firmware update, the camera will also open up the ability to sign photos with C2PA-compliant Content Creditals to everyone, not just pros.

V2.0 features

If you've read our coverage on the Nikon Z8's latest firmware, most of the features in this update will likely sound familiar. Perhaps the most exciting for Z6III owners, though, is the addition of bird mode autofocus.

While the Z6III could recognize birds as a subject, its algorithms weren't as advanced as the ones from the Z9 and Z8 when it came to picking them out against high-contrast backgrounds, or keeping up with them in flight. The updated bird detection should increase the Z6III's accuracy when it's tracking small, fast birds, or species that don't look all that similar to other birds.

The Z6III is finally getting the more advanced bird autofocus that's been available in not just the Z8 and Z9, but the Zf and Z50II as well. Image: Nikon

The absence of bird mode autofocus on the Z6III was especially odd since cheaper, lower-performance cameras like the Nikon Zf and Z50II had it, leading to Nikon pre-announcing that it would be coming to its capable all-rounder by the end of 2025. Now, it's finally here, a fair bit ahead of the deadline.

Another update to the autofocus system is the addition of in-camera focus limiter settings, which let you add precise distance limits on how close and/or far away you want the camera to search for a subject. While some lenses have a similar feature built in, being able to set limits in software lets you use the feature with any lens, which can help make the autofocus even more precise, as it can ignore anything outside of the window you've specified.

The camera also gains the ability to shift focus while taking high-resolution multi-shot images with its pixel shift function. That allows you to get a deeper depth-of-field in your images, though the feature unfortunately doesn't work in camera; like with regular pixel shift images, you'll have to process the focus stacking using Nikon's desktop NX Studio software.

The Z6III is also getting the 'Auto Capture' feature

The Z6III is also getting the 'Auto Capture' feature from the Z8 and Z9, which lets you set up the camera to automatically take a burst of pictures when certain conditions are met. For example, you could set it to release the shutter when the camera detects something moving in a specific direction, or when something enters the scene a certain distance away. It can also be combined with bird mode, taking a burst of photos when the autofocus system recognizes a bird in your selected area of the frame.

While we've covered the headline features, there are still many other things the update brings to the Z6III; Nikon told us there were over 70 features that have been added, enhanced or upgraded with V2.0. For example, you can now use the camera as a USB webcam without the need for extra drivers or software, thanks to UVC, and it's also compatible with Nikon's NX Field software, letting pro shooters control multiple cameras at once.

Nikon Authenticity Service

Image: Content Authenticity Initiative

While the V2.0 update brings the Z6III up-to-date with the rest of Nikon's lineup in terms of features, it also introduces something new: widespread support for C2PA Content Credentials. While Nikon has piloted support for the cryptographic metadata on the Z6III, it's only been available to pros, similar to Sony's implementation.

Now, though, even Z6III owners who don't work for press agencies will be able to use Content Credentials to verify that their photos were shot with a camera rather than generated by AI. You'll need to generate a certificate and install it to your camera via Nikon's Imaging Cloud, but the process is free (though Nikon did say that was "for now").

Nikon promised this update late last year, but it's exciting to see that it's finally here, and that it won't just be limited to a select group of users.

You can see a complete run-down of all the features included in the update on Nikon's website. You can download it for free now.

Image: Laowa

Earlier this year Laowa introduced the 8-15mm F2.8, a fisheye zoom lens for a variety of full-frame mounts. Now, it's bringing the lens to medium format mounts, introducing a version of it for Fujifilm's GFX mount and Hasselblad's XCD.

The lens is a unique offering for creative shots. When it was first announced, the company pitched it as an option that would allow users to select between a circular image with black edges at the wide end, and a diagonal fisheye image that fills the entire rectangle of the image when zoomed to 15mm. It also offers a fast F2.8 aperture for low-light use.

However, it's a bit of a different story with the new medium format versions. While the mounts may fit on cameras with larger sensors, the optics are still designed for full-frame. As a result, it will not fully cover the image circle of the medium-format cameras. even when at 15mm. At 8mm, there is a lot of space around the circular fisheye image. At 15mm, where the full-frame versions fill the frame, the medium format versions will still have black corners.

Laowa says that the new mount versions are still compact and lightweight. Both versions weigh roughly 650g (1.4 lbs). The FFX model is 101.2mm (3.98") long, while the XCD version is 96.36mm (3.79") long.

The Laowa 8-15mm F2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye lens for GFX and XCD mounts are available for purchase for $699.

Buy now:

The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is a medium format mirrorless camera, built around a 44mm x 33mm, 100MP BSI CMOS sensor. It's designed to deliver a high-dynamic range image workflow, and gains continuous autofocus supported by Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors and more effective image stabilization.

Key Specifications

• 100MP 44x33mm BSI CMOS sensor
• HDR output (HEIF or Ultra HDR JPEG) by default
• IBIS up to 10EV
• Continuous autofocus
• 3.6", 2.36M dot tilting rear OLED display w/ 1400 nit peak brightness
• 5.76M dot 0.79x EVF
• Human, animal and vehicle AF subject detection
• LiDAR for autofocus
• 1TB internal SSD + CFexpress Type B slot

Despite the significant upgrades, the X2D II 100C sees the body-only price fall to $7399 / €7200 / £6400, an $800 reduction, compared with the existing X2D 100C.

Index:

• What's new
• How it compares?
• Body and handling
• In use
• Initial impressions
• Sample gallery
• Specifications
• Press Release

What's New

"End-to-end" HDR

This image, captured as an Ultra HDR JPEG, makes the chrome of the car's wire wheels shine much more convincingly when viewed on an HDR display. Hasselblad X2D 35-100mm F2.8-4.0 @ 60mm | F3.5 | 1/500 sec | ISO 100 Photo: Mitchell Clark

Hasselblad claims to be the first company to make a medium format camera with "end-to-end" HDR and has equipped the X2D II with a high-brightness viewfinder and rear screen, so that you can see some of the wider brightness range as you shoot. Its default output is in the HEIF format but it can also create 'Ultra HDR JPEGs' which have an embedded brightness map to let them convey a wider tonal range on compatible devices, while still maintaining backward compatibility. The company says this gives images with up to three additional stops of dynamic range compared to standard sRGB JPEGs, using a technique adopted by Google in its Pixel phones, and by Sigma in its BF Mirrorless camera.

The camera supports the P3 color gamut throughout the shooting and editing experience, in addition to making fuller use of the wide color range, as well as the wider tonal range, of its large sensor. It says it doesn't use either the HLG or PQ response curves used by other brands, and instead uses gain maps with linear response and a roll-off in the highlights to give a natural look. The system appears to be utilizing the highlight data that's usually clipped in the JPEG output, rather than reducing exposure to capture any additional highlight information.

HDR images are only captured in P, S or A modes, where the camera has some control over exposure. The company says it assumes people setting exposure manually may be trying to capture a very specific look that may not lend itself to HDR, so disengages the feature, rather than producing a potentially unnatural-looking image that the photographer didn't want.

Embedded in the above image is this 1/4 resolution brightness map, which tells compatible devices which parts of the image to display with addtional brightness.

The X2D II's rear display has also been substantially upgraded to support HDR, going from a TFT LCD to an OLED panel that can display up to 1400 nit peak brightness. That lets it provide the HDR experience when you're reviewing your images, giving you a better idea of what you've captured.

Hasselblad has also updated its Phocus Mobile 2 app to allow for editing the X2D II's HDR files, and even reprocessing Raws from some of its other cameras, such as the original X2D and the CFV 100C, into HDR output files.

Continuous autofocus

While the original X2D was limited to single autofocus and manual focus, the II gains continuous autofocus, making it easier to capture moving subjects. Like many modern cameras, the system also includes AI-derived subject recognition for humans, animals and vehicles, and support for tracking arbitrary subjects.

At first seven of the company's more recent lenses will support continuous autofocus, and each will require a firmware update before they can access the feature.

The supported lenses are the XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4.0E zoom, launched alongside the camera, along with the 25mm, 38mm, 55mm and 90mm V-series lenses, and the 28mm and 75mm P lenses.

Even more AF improvements

To feed the autofocus system with information, Hasselblad has not only increased the number of phase detect autofocus points – 425 versus 294 on the original X2D – but added an entirely new type of sensor as well. The X2D II also uses Light Distance and Ranging (LiDAR) to judge how far away a subject is, with this input fully integrated into the AF system.

It's reasonable to assume this technology comes from DJI, which owns a majority stake in Hasselblad, as the company already uses the technology in several of its cinema tools. The camera also now has an AF illuminator lamp on the front, which doubles as a self-timer countdown indicator.

Improved IBIS

The camera's in-body stabilization allows the capture of images at slow shutter speeds, and boosts the frequency with which you'll get the full resolution out of the camera. Hasselblad XCD 35-100E @ 35mm | 0.3 sec | F8 | ISO 800 Photo: Richard Butler

The original X2D had an IBIS system rated for up to 7 stops of stabilization, but the X2D II takes it even further, with Hasselblad promising up to 10 stops. In real-world use, your results will depend on how still your subject is and how steady you can hold the camera, but in the right conditions, you can definitely use it to push your exposure times past where you'd be able to with an unstabilized system.

Updated controls

Hasselblad has updated the controls, adding a joystick that can be used for controlling the autofocus selection point or scrolling through menus and a customizable button on the back plate. Additionally, the front control dial can now be pressed in to access yet another custom function.

The camera also gains a vibration motor to provide haptic feedback for certain operations, such as confirming that the camera has acquired focus or that you have both your spirit levels centered.

How it compares

While medium format cameras are most often associated with high-end studio work (a task the X2D II is fully capable of), the X2D series has always clearly been designed to be taken outdoors and used in a wider variety of conditions. The company suggests that the addition of C-AF expands its audience to include subjects such as "landscapes, daily, portraits and street photography."

Fujifilm targets a very similar audience with the GFX 100S II, which uses a very similar sensor and also comes complete with IBIS and continuous autofocus. (The higher-end GFX 100 II is also comparable, but has faster burst rates, more video features and nicer ergonomics.) We've also included the Sony a7R V, since its full-frame sensor uses the same 3.8µm pixels, just fewer of them.

*Cannot shoot Raw and HLG HEIFs simultaneously

Fujifilm and Sony don't have the same focus on HDR that Hasselblad does; while the a7R V can shoot HDR HEIFs, doing so comes at the cost of your ability to save Raw files, which is a serious downside for high-end work. The Fujifilm can shoot HEIF images and HLG video, but can't combine the two to offer HDR stills.

Another big difference is that the GFX 100S II and a7R V both have focal plane shutters, while the X2D II uses leaf shutters built into each lens. This comes with the benefit of being able to sync flash at any speed, but means that Hasselblad lenses will be significantly more complex and expensive than similarly-speced counterparts from Fujifilm and Sony. Another side effect: if you want to use a third-party lens with the X2D II, you'll be stuck with the very slow electronic shutter.

While high-resolution cameras have always been more suited to stills, the GFX100S II and a7R V both have relatively complete suites of video features as well, with Log profiles, 10 bit video and headphone and microphone jacks. By contrast, the X2D II doesn't shoot video at all; something to consider if your work ever requires motion pictures.

Body and Handling

The X2D II feels extremely sturdy and well-crafted in the hand, and the grip instills confidence, even when you're using a relatively large zoom lens. The controls are laid out well, with the essential buttons and dials within easy reach.

The camera has two top plate control dials and several customizable buttons. Two – one on the back and one on the front – are unlabeled, while another two can be accessed by pressing down on the joystick and the front dial. The top-plate M and WB/ISO buttons can also be reassigned if you choose, with a choice of 35 options.

The joystick is a four-direction control and can be used for moving your autofocus point (though we found it somewhat slow, and often significantly quicker to just tap on the screen) and to navigate through the menus. Both tasks can also be achieved directly using the touchscreen, which has its own selection of buttons for controlling playback and accessing the menu.

Viewfinder and Screens

The camera's rear screen tilts out, and there's a sensor to ensure the camera doesn't switch to using the viewfinder when the screen is extended.

The X2D II's viewfinder is large, bright and responsive, providing an excellent preview for composing and exposure. The low-profile rubber eyecup doesn't do the best job of sealing out light, but it'll be sufficient in most cases, and less likely to snag when you're taking it in and out of a bag than some other designs.

While the screen's 1400-nit peak brightness allows it to properly display HDR images, you won't get the full effect until after you've taken a photo and the camera has generated your HDR output file. It is, however, still very effective for composing your images and is easy to see, even in direct sunlight. Its hinge allows you to pull it out and position it at a 90° angle for waist-level shooting unobstructed by the viewfinder.

While shooting, the screen provides plenty of resolution for the camera's excellent punch-in manual focusing experience.

The X2D II also has a 1" color display on the top plate, which shows your battery life, exposure settings, and a light meter when the camera is on. It's typically blank while the camera is turned off, though a quick tap of the power button will get it to display your remaining charge.

Ports

The X2D II's minimal selection of ports is hidden behind magnetically latching doors, which feel great to open and close. It has a 10Gbps USB-C port for charging and offloading data, and a 3.5mm for use with Hasselblad's somewhat eccentric cable shutter release.

It also has an CFexpress Type B slot, which can be used for backup or as an overflow, should you fill the internal storage. It's worth noting that the internal storage has capacity for over 4000 16-bit Raw and JPEG/HEIF pairs.

Battery

The battery is rated as delivering 327 shots per charge, if tested to CIPA's standards. This can be increased, depending on the camera's configuration. These numbers tend to underestimate how many shots you'll actually get, with double the rated figure not being unusual, depending on how you shoot.

In practice, a rating of over 300 shots per charge will let you shoot for a good period of time, especially if you're shooting occasional, considered shots, rather than rattling off hundreds of snaps at a time. We suspect it's few enough to start to be of concern for professional wedding shooters, who'll definitely want to develop a system for ensuring they have spare batteries charged and ready to go. But with the option to charge over USB-C, the X2D II should be relatively comfortable, away from the studio.

In Use

The X2D II can seem a little daunting at first, with four buttons marked with potentially unfamiliar glyphs down the right-hand side of the screen, Playstation style. Their functions turn out to be pretty self-evident once you start using the camera: Play, Ok, Cancel/Delete and Menu.

Most other functions can be assigned to one of four customizable buttons (one on the front of the camera, one on the rear and the Mode and WB/ISO buttons on the top plate), or to a press of the front command dial, rear command dial or press of the AF joystick.

Press the Menu button once and you are presented with a settings panel. Some settings, including drive mode, AF mode and ISO can be set by tapping on the screen your using the joystick. Some exposure parameters can be changed from this screen, but not exposure comp, which tells you to use the dial instead.

The camera offers Auto ISO, including in manual exposure mode. You can set the threshold shutter speed that the system will try to maintain, either by selecting a specific shutter speed or by choosing a relationship to the current focal length, with the choice of: 4f, 3f, 2f, 1.5f, f or f/2, if you're very steady.

Press the Menu button a second time, or swipe your finger left across the screen and you reach the main menus. It's a simple and well-arranged system with eleven named icons arrayed around the screen. Within each category (exposure, focus, connection...) are a handful of settings, often with explanatory text if their function isn't obvious. Swipe upward from this menu page or the settings page and you'll find yourself back in live view, ready to shoot.

It's a quick and easy-to-learn system that lets you just get on and shoot.

Our experience of the autofocus has left us impressed. There are occasions where it would erroneously confirm focus, but most of the time it focused quickly and accurately, with eye detection in particular giving us a level of performance we'd associate with some of the better mass-market cameras. Combined with the up-rated image stabilization, the X2D II is one of the easiest-to-shoot medium format cameras we've encountered.

Initial impressions

By Richard Butler

The X2D II 100C in many ways still looks a lot like the original X1D launched back in 2016, but the reality of using the two cameras couldn't be more different. The original camera looked great, and was capable of delivering excellent images, but its short battery life and lack of responsiveness meant that it wasn't nearly as comfortable untethered from the studio as its small body would imply.

It's worth noting, though, that the original X1D was launched just a few months after DJI first took a stake in the company, so its development would have started long before. The X2D II can perhaps be seen as what happens when a well-established photography company and an ambitious, advanced tech company come together. The X2D may still resemble the original camera but it's worlds away in terms of performance and usability.

The introduction of LiDAR (already used in products such as the Ronin 4D gimbal camera) is the most overt sign of input from DJI, but it's hard to imagine Hasselblad's cameras would have developed so far, so fast, without DJI's contributions. Continuous autofocus with highly effective eye detection autofocus was not on the cards for the contrast-detect X1D, yet here, and in conjunction with in-body image stabilization it allows you to use medium format like it was a point-and-shoot.

The X2D II will shoot HDR unless you go out of your way to stop it

Then there's the decision to lean into HDR photography, something that's becoming increasingly common in modern cameras but poorly supported and even more poorly communicated or promoted to photographers. Most modern mirrorless cameras can capture HDR HEIFs that can make use of the wide dynamic range and wide color gamut of modern displays, but very few cameras give you a good preview of its impact or make much effort to encourage its use. The X2D II will shoot HDR unless you go out of your way to stop it.

The X2D II has an excellent screen that can give an impression of how much more vibrant and lifelike your images can look. And, in addition to HEIF files, which can still be awkward to share and view reliably, the Hasselblad can capture JPEGs with brightness map embedded in them: giving full backward compatibility with just about every viewing device imaginable, but giving HDR vibrancy on devices that support it.

In the right conditions, HDR can make it feel less like you're looking at a photo, and more like you're looking through a window to the world, with much more realistic representation of the way light reflects from objects. To get the effect, open the photo in a supported browser. Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E @ 100mm | F10 | 1/160 sec | ISO 50 Photo: Richard Butler

By letting you see the benefits of well-judged HDR as you shoot the images, the X2D II encourages you to make use of the capability and start thinking about how to ensure your customers and viewers are able to see those results. We regularly found ourselves as impressed by the way the camera uses its greater DR output as we were by the stunning amounts of detail it captures.

What's all the more impressive is that Hasselblad is launching the X2D II 100C at a lower price than the previous model. In fact, it's at a lower price in money terms than the original X1D 50c, despite the vast improvements that have been made in the intervening nine years. The XCD lenses, with their leaf-shutter designs, tend to be more expensive, and often slower, than the rival Fujifilm system, but the X2D II 100c brings a level of performance and usability that makes the system as a whole look more competitive than it's ever been.

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 (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

All out-of-camera JPEGs in this gallery are Ultra HDR JPEGs: please click "Original" link on the right of the preview to download the original file, if you're viewing on an HDR-capable device.

Image: Hasselblad

Hasselblad has announced the XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E, a medium format zoom lens with a range roughly equivalent to a full-frame 28-76mm. Its range and speed make it similar to the popular 24-70mm "standard zooms" on full-frame systems, making it a versatile option for the system.

The lens is made of 16 elements in 13 groups, with three aspherical lenses and five extra-low dispersion elements. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.4m (15.7") at the wide end, and 0.5m (19.7") at the long end.

Hasselblad says the 35-100mm F2.8-4 is the second entry to its 'E' series, which it says "perform exceptionally well across all focal lengths." It follows the wide-angle 20-35mm zoom the company released last year.

The lens supports the continuous autofocus mode of the X2D II 100C it's launching alongside

It has a stepper motor for autofocus, and supports the continuous autofocus capabilities of the X2D II 100C that it's launching alongside. Its built-in leaf shutter can shoot and sync with flash at up to 1/4000 sec. It has a control ring for changing your aperture setting, along with its zoom and focus rings.

At 894g (31.5oz), the 35-100mm isn't ultra-lightweight, especially if you compare it to the latest-generation full-frame 24-70mm F2.8s from the likes of Sony and Nikon. However, given that it covers a larger image circle and is equivalent to a faster lens at the short end (2.2 - 3.2), its weight is surprisingly similar to those companies' first-gen mirrorless standard zooms. It's a similar story when it comes to its physical size, too.

The XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E will retail for $4599 in the US. It will cost around €4800 in Europe, including tax, and £ 4100 in the UK.

* - The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S II features an internal zoom design, rather than the extending one used by the rest of the lenses in this comparison.

XCD 35-100 F2.8-4 E Specifications:

Photo: DPReview

Less than a week ago, Ricoh announced the GR IV, the next iteration of its highly popular compact line. Now, six years after its launch, Ricoh has discontinued the predecessor, the GR III.

The move shouldn't come as much of a surprise, since when Ricoh initially teased the GR IV earlier this spring, it also said that production of the GR III would end in July 2025. That's now official, as the Ricoh GR III is listed as discontinued on the Ricoh Japan website as well as at B&H. The Ricoh US site and other retailers still have the camera marked as backordered at the time of writing, however.

Even though Ricoh had announced its plans, it still may be a disappointment to those hoping to pick up the GR III at a discounted price. That is, after all, what happened with the last changing of the guard: when Ricoh launched the GR III in 2019, the GR II got a price cut. At that time, the company was likely selling through existing stock, though. The GR III, on the other hand, has been backordered since roughly the beginning of 2024, suggesting there is much less stock available.

The GR IIIx is still available, as there is currently no replacement for it. Ricoh also said in its May teaser that it will continue to produce and market the GR IIIx for now. Unfortunately, that device is also listed as out of stock, so while it isn't discontinued, getting your hands on one may not be straightforward. Likewise, Adorama has the GR III Street Edition listed, though also on backorder.

Image: Canon

Retro compact cameras are a hot ticket item at the moment. Some of these pocketable devices have gone viral on social media, driving up interest and demand, leading to steep prices. Many used to sell for $5 at garage sales, but now have seen prices of $500 or more on the secondhand market. While they have their appeal, most retro point-and-shoots are running on borrowed time.

Cameras have limited lifespans

Many things can break on older cameras, especially if they aren't stored or cared for properly. In this case, the battery compartment of this compact film camera is corroded. Image: delihayat / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Every electronic device has a limited lifespan, and cameras are no different. Electronic components do eventually fail. Capacitors, flexible flat cables and LCD screens are common points of failure on compact cameras. The LCD may go dim, lose segments or flat out stop working. Flex cables like those used for moving lens assemblies can crack and disconnect. Additionally, moving components like sliding lens covers, pop-up flashes, or even shutter buttons can all develop issues and break with repeated use.

Most compact cameras were designed to last between 3 and 7 years. Some are able to reach 10 years with gentle use. The issue here is that many of the popular models came out in the early 2000s or 2010s, meaning they are now well beyond their expected service life. Making matters worse, if you're buying a used camera on eBay, you have no clue how it was handled before you get your hands on it. It may not have had the careful treatment that would allow it to have a longer lifespan.

Many compacts aren't repairable

Photo: vavlt / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

You may think that a broken camera is just something that could be repaired. Unfortunately, it's rare for manufacturers to provide service or spare parts for devices that are more than 5 to 10 years old (and that's even assuming the company that made the camera is still around). That's even more true for consumer-level devices like point-and-shoot cameras. That means you can't send the camera to the brand for repairs, and repair businesses won't have spare parts.

Beyond being outside their service window, compact cameras are, as the name suggests, designed to be very small. To do that, companies created densely packed and non-modular builds. Replacing an LCD screen, then, isn't as simple as just popping the old one off and replacing it. It generally involves a complete disassembly. Such a repair job requires highly specialized skills, lots of time and parts that were not meant to be serviced by a consumer or general repair tech.

As an example, I was at a local camera repair shop recently and saw someone bring in two point-and-shoots that weren't working. One would turn on but the LCD didn't work, and the other wouldn't turn on despite the person replacing the AA batteries. The repair tech looked at both cameras, but pretty quickly said that they weren't repairable and were essentially paperweights. Once the customer left, they told me that people looking for compact camera repairs is a very common occurrence these days, but that most of the time, they can't be fixed.

Don't forget obsolete accessories

Older memory cards, like the MMC on the left, can be hard to find. Image: Multicherry, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Even if you picked up a camera in fantastic working order, you also need to consider that some accessories may be obsolete. For example, some older point-and-shoots may use obscure memory card formats that are difficult or impossible to find. Finding a card reader for them could be just as tough. Likewise, it may be challenging or impossible to source batteries or battery chargers.

Without those items, your camera won't be functional. As a result, it's important to look at what batteries, chargers, memory cards or other accessories are necessary to use the camera.

Keep in mind longevity when buying

Old compact cameras can be a nice change of pace from today's highly technical and precise cameras or the overly processed images from smartphones. However, they can also be a risky purchase for the above reasons. If you're picking one up for $5 to $20, that's a lot different than $500, of course. But you may not want to pay a significant bit of money for a device that is already long past its predicted lifespan and could be nothing more than an artifact in a short amount of time.