So long, and thanks for all the FLOPs. Image: Apple

Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro, removing the desktop computer from its website and telling 9to5Mac that there aren't any plans to replace it. This marks an end of an era, as the company is no longer selling a large computer with internal PCI-e slots that could be used to expand its capabilities, after decades of offering that kind of halo-tier product.

This leaves the Mac Studio as the top-end desktop that Apple sells, though anyone paying attention to the Mac lineup knows that it kind of was already. The now-discontinued Mac Pro was announced in 2019, outfitted with an Intel processor. Just under a year later, Apple started transitioning to using its own chips for the Mac lineup, eventually updating the Pro to use its top-end M2 Ultra chip in 2023.

Announced alongside it, though, was the Studio, a much smaller computer with that same chip. And while the Mac Pro's modularity had provided it some distinct advantages in the pre-Apple Silicon era – the ability to add in third-party GPUs for extra horsepower, or to upgrade the RAM or storage with third-party options – those disappeared with the M2.

The M2 Mac Pro looks almost empty; there are PCIe slots, sure, but no massive banks to slot RAM into, nowhere to put hard drives, no big graphics card taking up a few slots. Image: Apple

Essentially, the Studio and the Pro were the same computer, except one was a lot bigger and more expensive, and its PCI-e slots were only useful in very niche situations. People wondered what the point of the Pro was in the era of the studio, and predicted that Apple would give up on the larger desktop eventually. Those fears were essentially confirmed in 2025, when Apple updated the Mac Studio to add its latest chips, leaving the Pro to languish.

Was it complete overkill for any photographer, and most videographers? Almost certainly.

As someone who grew up as a computer enthusiast, it's a little sad to see the world's largest computer company give up on this concept and form factor. Was it the most powerful computer out there? Absolutely not. Was it complete overkill for any photographer, and most videographers? Almost certainly. But it was aspirational; a modular, upgradable computer that showed that Apple still cared about the niche of enthusiasts willing to pay for something they could tinker with.

That is, of course, remembering the Mac Pro of the past, because the M2 Ultra-equipped model didn't fill that role either. This week's discontinuation essentially feels like a formality; Apple is finally admitting that there hasn't really been a reason to buy a Mac Pro in a while.

PS: When the Mac Pro was launched in 2019, it was launched alongside the Pro Display XDR, a monitor that was recently replaced by the Studio Display XDR. The Studio's dethroning of the Pro continues.

After a fascinating 2025, this year has started off really slowly. We're now three months into 2026 and only two cameras have so far appeared: the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome and the Panasonic ZS300.

The Panasonic is a slightly downgraded version of an eight-year-old camera and, while the Ricoh has shown itself to be rather lovely, it's a mono version of an existing model. And it was first announced last year. So we've got nearly a quarter of the way into the year without a major new model announcement.

For reference, the average number of cameras launched in the first quarter of the year over the last half decade has been 5.6 new models.

Admittedly, the mainstream models from all the biggest full-frame makers have all just been updated, but there are plenty of other models that might benefit from an update, and whole segments that feel like there should be enough pent-up demand to be worth refreshing, whether that's compact Micro Four Thirds models as a concept or enthusiast compacts as a segment.

So what should you do, if the replacement for your camera or the camera you think should exist, hasn't arrived yet?

Brace yourself for the possibility that "the next version" of your camera isn't coming

We're hoping OM System or Panasonic might re-introduce a small Micro Four Thirds camera, or that anyone will commit to the idea of an enthusiast photographers' compact but, even if they do, development typically takes a couple of years, so we're not holding our collective breath. Photo: Carey Rose

The first thing we'd suggest is tempering your expectations. The camera market has shrunk significantly, and most of the major camera makers are exploring what sorts of cameras might appeal to a wider audience, rather than simply modernising their existing lineups.

Whether it's Sony's expansion into the vlogging-focused ZV series, Canon teasing a waist-level camera that takes photos of an image projected on a screen or the increasing interregnum suggesting we may never see a like-for-like replacement of the Nikon Z7, the signs are that camera makers are looking to do things differently. There'll still be plenty of photographer-focused models such as the Nikon Z6III, Panasonic S1II, Canon EOS R6 III and Sony a7 V, but some of the less mainstream models may not be replaced.

As camera makers look to engage with wider audiences we're likely to see more things like Canon's "Analog" concept, in which a small sensor takes a photo of an image projected on a screen. Cameras that are about fun, more than image quality, rather than just like-for-like replacements of existing models. Photo: Mitchell Clark

So, while within our circles, it may seem obvious that there's demand for an enthusiast compact or replacement for the Panasonic GM5 or Olympus PEN-F, the camera manufacturers may not interpret their tea leaves the same way. Don't hold your breath.

Also, bear in mind that cameras typically take two to three years to develop: camera makers aren't going to be able to react to the latest trends unless they spotted them quite some time ago.

Focus on other things

Another way to pass the time is to stop focusing so much on cameras. In many instances, a new lens for your existing camera will have a more profound impact on your photography than a new body that shoots slightly faster, captures better video or recognizes a few additional subject types.

If you're still using DSLR lenses, you might be surprised by how good the latest designs are. Or how competitive some of the emerging manufacturers from China are becoming. Photo: Richard Butler

Alternatively, consider signing up for some photography courses, to help improve your technique or provide some inspiration. Though the prevalence of people very confidently and incorrectly explaining concepts such as ISO on photo course videos on Instagram would make us suggest you choose those courses carefully.

Or, of course, you could spend your money on some sort of trip that provides new photo opportunities. This could be an explicitly photo-focused trip to somewhere you've never been or it could just be a trip for travel's sake, with the camera along for the ride. Either way, it might do more for you and your photography than a new camera.

Wait it out

Historically, we've seen that a lot of people skip a generation when it comes to upgrading cameras, and that's generally quite a sensible approach: it's pretty unusual for a camera's replacement to be so dramatically better as to be worth the costs associated with upgrading, but your camera's replacement's replacement will typically be appreciably better. So if you have a recent model, there's probably no harm in waiting.

That said, we know there are a lot of people hanging onto their DSLRs and their DSLR lenses, who may be unaware of how dramatically autofocus has improved in the past few years, in terms of accuracy and consistency, as well as easy-of-use, or how much better many modern lenses are than DSLR optics.

Ultimately, if you have a camera you like already, there's no pressing urge to upgrade, so there's no real downside to just biding your time to see what arrives. The only thing we wouldn't recommend is holding off in the hope that prices will drop. Sadly, the significant inflation of the past few years is likely to mean that the price you paid for your last camera isn't much of a guide to what your next one will cost. If nothing else, the camera drought might let you save up a little longer.

Photo: Abby Ferguson

Last month, Viltrox announced its first L-mount lens since joining the L-mount alliance in September 2025. The 16mm F1.8 L wasn't a new design, as it had previously been available for E and Z mounts. Still, since it was the company's first L-mount offering, we took the opportunity to shoot with it a bit to see what it's like.

I happened to have the lens while in Japan for CP+, so I had the opportunity to put it through the paces in Tokyo and Yokohama, along with back home while spending time with family. Some of that time included very rainy conditions, and I wasn't exactly careful about protecting the lens. Thankfully, Viltrox says the lens has some weather sealing, and indeed, I didn't experience any issues even after a full day in the rain. It feels really solid in general, so I wouldn't feel the need to baby it.

"I didn't experience any issues even after a full day in the rain."

What I did have issues with, though, was the aperture ring. The dedicated aperture ring can be clicked or declicked, but I found the clicks to be very subtle. It was very easy to turn the aperture ring unknowingly, which left me frequently confused about why I couldn't change my aperture with the camera's front dial, not realizing the lens's control had been knocked out of 'A' mode. If you prefer to use the aperture ring instead of camera controls, it won't be an issue, but it did take some getting used to and meant I had to pay extra close attention to where I was touching the lens.

The front element is subtly protruding, but it doesn't go beyond the filter thread. Photo: Abby Ferguson

In addition to the aperture ring, the lens offers an AF/MF switch and two customizable function buttons. It also features a front element that doesn't protrude past the lens housing, unlike some 16mm lenses, which kept me from worrying as much when walking around with the lens sans lens cap. I didn't use any filters during testing, but the less bulbous element also means it's compatible with traditional screw-in filters (77mm), which is helpful.

16mm isn't a focal length everyone needs or loves, but it is a fun tool to play around with, especially when traveling, provided you don't mind the size and limited versatility. It can provide some distinctive and dramatic perspectives, though, which is always nice with the right subjects.

Sample gallery

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All images were processed using our standard lens workflow in Capture One, with the manufacturer's distortion correction applied but no vignetting correction. The profile only corrects a small amount of distortion around the edges, so we wouldn't consider it to be an essential part of the lens design if you prefer not to use it, or your preferred software does not support lens corrections.