A huge silverback mountain gorilla weighing over 200kg (441lbs). Looking at it eye-to-eye, you simply can't deny we're related. Mgahinga National Park, Uganda. Canon EOS 5D IV + Canon 16–35mm F2.8 | F2.8 | 1/200 sec. | ISO 6400 Photo: Erez Marom

I've been passionate about primates ever since I started shooting wildlife. I think it's mainly because of how similar they are to us humans – and so different at the same time. If you've ever looked a gorilla in the eye, I'm sure you'd agree.

Primates are very diverse: from the pygmy mouse lemur weighing 30g (1oz) to gorillas weighing over 200kg (441lbs). From solitary male orangutans patrolling their jungle territories to 800-strong Gelada baboon troops. And from the millions of extremely adaptable Rhesus macaques to some extremely rare, critically endangered primates, which are the subject of this article.

A tiny mouse lemur, one of the smallest primates on Earth. Kirindy, Madagascar. Canon EOS R7 + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 | F7.1 | 1/500 sec. | ISO 1600

The Gelada baboons have the largest groups among all primates (excluding humans) – up to 800 strong. Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Canon EOS 5D IV + Canon 70–300mm F4–5.6 | F5.6 | 1/2000 sec. | ISO 400 Photos: Erez Marom

Vietnam is home to some of the rarest primate species in the world. Primates whose habitats have been quietly destroyed by human expansion and whose numbers have been ravaged by hunting have, in recent decades, finally gotten formal government protection programs, and are slowly making a comeback from the brink of extinction.

Some species, such as the Cat Ba langur, had fewer than 50 individuals in the year 2000, which makes scientists doubtful whether they could ever form a viable population again. Cat Ba langurs currently number around 91 (mid-2025 estimate), which is an improvement but still not even close to anything resembling a healthy population.

Cat Ba langurs have astounding parkour abilities, which they use to traverse their near-vertical rocky home in Cat Ba Island. Seeing them jump is a fantastic experience. Note how I put an emphasis on showing the animal in its natural environment, partly because this environment is so unique and challenging. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F6.3 | 1/640 sec. | ISO 3200

Great care is needed to avoid falling. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F6.3 | 1/250 sec. | ISO 800

Like all langur species, Cat Ba langurs are highly social. They hug each other when meeting and keep in tight-knit family groups. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F6.3 | 1/1600 sec. | ISO 1600 Photos: Erez Marom

My love for primates, together with Vietnam's amazing biodiversity, has made me visit the country several times in the last decade for primate photography. My first love was perhaps the most easily-loved primate in Vietnam: the red-shanked douc, a species many would crown the most beautiful primate in the world. With its seven-colored body and sometimes comical behavior, one can easily understand why it's considered a national treasure.

Yes, this is a real animal, not a muppet. Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F8 | 1/400 sec. | ISO 640

The doucs often hang out close to their favorite foods, such as this fig tree. Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F5.6 | 1/400 sec. | ISO 1600

Doucs are a type of langur and are thus arboreal. They possess the ability to jump very long distances between tree branches. Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. Canon EOS R5 II + Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 | F8 | 1/1600 sec. | ISO 3200

Chomp chomp! Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F8 | 1/400 sec. | ISO 640 Photos: Erez Marom

Then came other species. I especially enjoyed shooting the yellow-cheeked gibbons in the south of Vietnam, and the Delacour's langur and aforementioned Cat Ba langurs, close to Hanoi in the north. After shooting the species on my own, I guided a primate photography workshop earlier this year, which is where the real story begins.

The workshop was fun and productive. With wildlife, it's very common that you get better results with some species and worse with others, and luckily, I got better results with the species I didn't have great shots of, and lesser results with the species I already have good shots of in my portfolio.

The yellow-cheeked gibbons really played along this time. Gibbons are notoriously hard to shoot since they dwell high up in the trees, but this time we were fortunate to have them enveloped in beautiful foliage and huddled together in larger groups, which naturally made for nicer images. I intentionally overexposed some of the images to create a high-key look. Something about the very bright foliage encompasses the beauty of Asia in my eyes.

Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F10 | 1/250 sec. | ISO 3200

Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 | F7.1 | 1/320 sec. | ISO 800

Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 | F7.1 | 1/320 sec. | ISO 800

Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 | F7.1 | 1/320 sec. | ISO 800 Photos: Erez Marom

We then flew all the way up to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, and drove to Van Long National Park to shoot the elusive Delacour's langur. With only several hundred individuals left in the entire species, this langur is extremely endangered and thus highly monitored and protected. It's also notoriously shy and skittish, making it tough to photograph. But miraculously, we got some (relatively) close-up action, and got to photograph the langur parkouring in its sharp, rocky habitat.

By the way, this langur has the longest tail of any langur species, pretty amazing. Oh, and how about those fancy pants?

A beautiful Delacour's langur perched high up on he cliffs of Van Long. Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F9 | 1/400 sec. | ISO 3200

Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F9 | 1/320 sec. | ISO 3200

Delacour's langur babies are surprisingly colored bright orange. As they grow, they gradually lose this coloration in favor of the monochrome-fancypants characterizing adults. Canon EOS 5D IV + Sigma 150–600mm F5–6.3 | F6.3 | 1/500 sec. | ISO 800 Photos: Erez Marom

Upon finishing the workshop, I said goodbye to the group and welcomed a friend who came for the experience that was about to follow. Ever since I shot my first Vietnamese primates, I was drawn to one very special species that eluded me again and again due to random constraints and problems. This time, I finally got the opportunity and did a week's trek to Khau Ca, a national park hidden deep in the forests of northern Vietnam, to shoot the ultra-rare Tonkin snub-nosed monkey.

One of only five snub-nosed monkey species in the world, the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is the rarest and most definitely the hardest to see and photograph. It has black and white fur, a pink nose and lips, and blue patches around the eyes. It is found at elevations from 200 to 1,200 meters (700 to 3,900 feet) on fragmentary patches of forest on craggy limestone areas, which is one of the reasons it's so hard to find.

"The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is the rarest and most definitely the hardest to see and photograph."

First described in 1912, the monkey was rediscovered in 1989. In 2008, fewer than 250 individuals were thought to exist. The species is the subject of very intense conservation efforts by Vietnamese authorities and international groups such as Fauna & Flora International, which has been focused on making an impact on the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey population, and has been working with local communities to spread awareness about the species and monitor its habitat.

Tucked away deep in the jungle and as shy as they come, this species requires a special photography permit and a very uncomfortable trek to be able to shoot it. Getting to base camp was a 2.5-hour climb, and from there it was the beginning of a week-long routine. Every day we hiked in a very challenging forest environment to a starting point from which we'd wait for word from the trackers, and if they got sight of the monkey, the real hiking would begin.

Balancing on sharp rocks and on fallen tree trunks, this hike was no picnic, especially if you're not too quick or agile, like me. Add to that the fact that the camp offered absolutely zero comfort (I'm talking no chairs, no tables, sleep on the floor type of camp), and we end up with the hardest trekking I've done in decades.

Sleeping arrangements at camp were so-so, but what a view!

The cabin in which we ate our meals. While uncomfortable for Westerners, the crew made us feel welcome and at home. A home without chairs, but still.

The A-Team of Tonkin snub-nosed monkey tracking. They are mostly local hunters who used to hunt the tonkin monkey, but were convinced to turn to conservation instead. They were good people, dedicated to their work and to preserving this beautiful, delicate species. Photos: Erez Marom

But then, while hiking for the fourth time, I noticed an increasing sense of excitement from our team. My guide triumphantly declared that they had sight of the monkeys. We started hiking again, climbing on steep rocks while trying to ignore the dangers, as our team jumped on the rocks like they were trampolines in an amusement park. With their kind help, I finally got to a viewpoint from where the group of monkeys could be seen.

A small group of 20-30 individuals, including adults, juveniles and tiny babies, emerged and began interacting and jumping between the trees. They were far away, and getting any closer to them would be far beyond my climbing and balancing abilities. I had to use the farthest telephoto setting I had: the Canon 100-500mm plus a 1.4x teleconverter.

Over about half an hour or so, I managed to get several family shots, a few nice action shots, some with multiple monkeys, mothers carrying babies and even an alpha male threatening us by exposing his teeth.

The shooting was extremely hard as I had to balance myself on sharp rocks throughout its duration. If I fell, the best result would be a broken leg, but the team took incredible care of me and kept me safe when jumping between the steep ledges. This was an adventure I will not be repeating anytime soon!

Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F10 | 1/640 sec. | ISO 800

Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys have incredible eyesight. While I found it hard even to spot them without my telephoto, they were fully aware of our presence and made sure we knew that they knew. Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F10 | 1/1250 sec. | ISO 1600

Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys have very furry tails in the colder season, which can be seen in this shot. Unfortunately, the background was not as good as I'd hoped, and going higher to get a better background was impossible due to the rough terrain. Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F10 | 1/1250 sec. | ISO 1600

One of the very last shots I took, when the group was racing to its next destination. Much better background here. Canon EOS R5 II + Canon 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 + 1.4× TC | F10 | 1/640 sec. | ISO 1600 Photos: Erez Marom

If you're very adventurous and have a good sense of balance, I recommend this experience. Shooting the Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys makes you part of a very exclusive club, as very few people venture there. That said, I must admit that there are trips that offer far better result/effort ratios: all of the other species mentioned above are far easier to get to and to shoot, and I highly recommend visiting Vietnam and witnessing their beauty for yourself.

---

Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, guide and traveller. You can follow Erez's work on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates.

Erez has recently published his first e-book, "Solving the Puzzle", thoroughly explaining his views about composition in landscape photography and beyond.

If you'd like to experience and shoot some of the world's most fascinating landscapes and wildlife with Erez as your guide, take a look at his unique photography workshops in Zambia, Greenland, Ethiopia, Colombia, Vietnam, Madagascar and more.

Selected Articles by Erez Marom:

• Lava Frenzy: Shooting Fagradalsfjall Volcano
• Behind the Shot: Tambora Sandwich
• Parallelism in Landscape Photography
• Black Hole Sun: Shooting the Total Solar Eclipse in Argentina
• Winds of Change: Shooting Changing landscapes
• Demon of the Deep: Shooting Kawah Ijen Volcano
• Shooting Kīlauea Volcano, Part 1: How to Melt a Drone
• Whatever It Doesn't Take

The 2024-2025 Nikon Film and Photo Contest winners have been announced, marking the 40th edition of the competition. This year's contest was based around the theme "Inspire" and drew submissions from 180 countries and regions around the world.

The contest features just four categories: Super-short Film, 5-Minute Film, Single Photo and Photo Story. There are Grand Prizes, Excellence Awards and Special Encouragement Awards for each category. Sarah Leen, Founder/Editor Visual Thinking Collective and Director of Photography Emerita of National Geographic Partners, was the lead judge this year, with separate judging panels for the photo and video sections of the contest.

The winning images and videos will be presented at various exhibitions and screenings at Nikon facilities in Kyobashi, Tokyo, and in several other cities worldwide. That includes an October 12-27 exhibition as part of the T3 Photo Festival Tokyo 2025 at Tokyo Square Garden, which feature a space inspired by the contest theme, "Inspire."

While this wasn't the first time the contest accepted video entries, the competition was rebranded this year to include a reference to video in the name. Nikon said the name change was "in response to the changing times, such as the diversification of media and the rise of personal video streaming devices." You can learn more about the contest and see more of the award winners at the Nikon Film and Photo Contest website. You can also see videos highlighting the judging process on the contest's YouTube channel.

Grand Prize: Single Photo Category

Title: Jonas

Photographer: Tiina Itkonen

Story: I photographed Jonas, an Inughuit boy, in Savissivik in North West Greenland. Savissivik is one of the most remote settlements in Greenland, over thousand kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. This far north the polar night lasts four months and midnight sun shines for four months as well.

Inughuit of northwestern Greenland are the northernmost indigenous people. Melting sea ice is challenging Inughuit's traditional way of life. In North West Greenland where farming is not possible, the hunting of seal, walrus and other Arctic animals has been a vital part of life and a main source of food for many households. In recent years hunting out on the sea ice has become more dangerous as ice is getting thinner and thinner. It’s possible this way of life will be lost forever.

Comment: I am honoured to receive Nikon award with the image I photographed in North West Greenland. Exactly thirty years ago I travelled to Greenland for the first time and since then I have travelled regularly there to photograph the polar landscape and its people. When visiting Savissivik I wanted to take time to get to know people. I spent 95 percent of my time socialising with the people and only 5 percent taking photographs. I am grateful for the hospitality of these people. I have been allowed to take part in their everyday life and always feel very much at home in this place.

Grand Prize: Photo Story Category

Title: Farewell-able

Photographer: Lei Yang

Story: We sometimes say "leave" or "farewell" when moving, reflecting our ties to people and places. Before leaving China, I photographed my hometown to understand what, for me, is farewell-able.

Comment: This series was made before I came to Japan. At that time, I parted with people, places, and versions of myself. I realized that some separations are simple, while others are filled with sorrow — those are "farewells." Farewell-able explores the emotional scale of goodbye through what I found hardest to release.
I’m deeply grateful to Nikon for selecting this work. It has allowed a personal farewell to be seen by more people.

Photo Competition: General Public Award

Title: I am Unstoppable!

Photographer: Liew Hong Hooi

Story: This spirit medium jumped through the blazing fire hoops as a demonstration of faith to inspire fellow devotees to follow suit as a form of ritual cleansing during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.

Comment: I am very grateful and greatly honored that this photo has been chosen for this award. This photo is very meaningful to me as it inspired me to believe in myself and be bold to make the move forward as a photographer. Seeing that even surging fire is not an obstacle to some as long as one is willing to try, was the inspiration and reason I decided to take part in this prestigious award. Again, I want to thank Nikon for recognizing my photo and awarding it.

Grand Prize: Super-Short Film Category

Title: The small red, big blue

Artist: Hamed Nobari

Story: This work addresses environmental issues and marine life from a global perspective. Children love fish and the sea. I want to cherish those feelings and always remember to respect nature.

Comment: This award is definitely one of the most important awards for my filmmaking in my twenty years of artistic career. I am grateful to the Nikon Film and Photo Contest for this award and the opportunity it gave me.

"The Small Red, Big Blue" is one of my most important films, which addresses the issue of the environment and marine life with a global concept. I am very happy that my film has won an award at the Nikon Film and Photo Contest, and this is a great honor for me. I hope this film has a positive impact, among different cultures, to respect the environment.

Grand Prize: 5-Minute Film Category

Title: Finding Serenity

Artist: Ademola Falomo

Story: Finding Serenity was born during COVID lockdown when Yimika’s poem (Yimika is a producer and music artist from Lagos, Nigeria) moved me deeply. Inspired, I teamed up with friends to bring it to life, exploring peace in chaos and beauty in uncertainty.

Comment: I am deeply grateful for the acknowledgment of this small dream that has grown into something seen around the world. Created in Lagos, Nigeria, during troubling and uncertain times, this film is a celebration for me, a testament to turning a poem into a visual artifact. What once lived only in my mind now lives on screen, and that is a gift I will always cherish.

Excellence Award: Super-Short Film Category

Title: A trace in the wind

Artist: Soheil Masoumi

Story: The lonely old woman weaves her songs and lullabies layer by layer and turns them into a beautiful carpet.

Comment: Women in eastern Khorasan are vital keepers of ancient Iranian culture. Many old songs and lullabies are created while weaving carpets. Preserving and sharing this timeless heritage — belonging to all humanity — has always been my passion. Khāseh Borna is one such woman who, through her voice and the carpets she weaves, has kept this tradition alive for many years.

Excellence Award: Super-Short Film Category

Title: Shiuli - the one who still knows

Artist: Anindya Sundar Basu

Story:

Dawn climber, the Shiuli ascends.
His hands speak what ancestors knew.
While the village sleeps, sap flows.
From tree to sweet gold, dignity rises with each climb.

Comment: We’re honoured that "Shiuli" resonated with the jury. This story of a Shiuli’s quiet labour in rural Bengal is our tribute to unseen hands that rise before the sun, carrying the wisdom of the land. If it inspires even one person to see everyday lives with deeper respect, we’ve done justice to the theme.

This film is the result of long travel, early mornings, and the shared vision of a passionate team. Grateful to all who helped bring it to life.

Special Encouragement Award: Super-Short Film Category

Title: Beautiful struggle

Artist: Yutaka Maeomichi

Story: This film overlays the dynamic movements of tricking with the ephemeral beauty of flowers blooming amidst the cycle of nature. The fleeting brilliance shared by the momentary beauty in the execution of tricking techniques and the fragile life of flowers that endure harsh winters, take root, and bloom only briefly in spring before fading away is expressed through the medium of film.

Comment: Thank you very much for selecting my film for this prestigious award.

Based on the theme of the contest, "Inspire," I discovered a common brilliance between two distinct presences: the dynamic "tricking" born from the physical capabilities of human beings, and the "flowers" that live their lives to the fullest in the midst of silence.

The ephemeral beauty of techniques that are executed after rigorous training, and the fleeting lives of flowers that bloom only briefly after enduring a long winter — the creation of this film was inspired by the concentrated, momentary brilliance shared by both of these things.

I hope that through this work, viewers will notice the fleeting yet powerful moments hidden within daily life and find the inspiration to take a new step forward in their lives.

Special Encouragement Award: Super-Short Film Category

Title: 奔腾不息 (Keep on going)

Artist: Deshan Zhang

Story: In the bitter winter of minus 40 degrees, the herdsman mounts his Mongolian horse. They sweep across the land like the wind. When spring returns to the earth, the horses leap into icy rivers, sending sprays of water into the sky. They gallop on, never stopping - Inspiring every soul that dares to dream, driving ever forward. On this ancient land, they carve a legend into time.

Comment: I'm deeply grateful for the recognition from the competition organizers. This honor belongs to the vast grasslands, to the relentlessly galloping Mongolian horses, and to the tenacious horse herders. What I sought to capture with my camera was the unwavering vitality that endures amidst the wind and sand and the clatter of horse hooves, the spiritual backbone forged by humans and horses across the world. Photography is a record, but it's also a tribute. Thank you for allowing this touching moment to be seen by the world. In the future, I will continue to strive to live up to expectations and meet new challenges with even greater achievements, just as the competition theme, "Inspiration," inspires me to move forward.

Special Encouragement Award: Super-Short Film Category

Title: Desert Hours

Artist: Tracey Taylor

Overview: The Empty Quarter’s endless sands defy time. Wind carves its flow, light marks its stillness. This film unveils a desert vast and ancient, where time shifts with each gust across a boundless expanse.

Comment: The Empty Quarter offered an incredible backdrop to explore the relationship between time, space, and light. It’s a place that asks you to listen and I tried to translate that to film. I’m incredibly grateful to Nikon for recognizing a story told not through dialogue, but through presence. I’m so grateful it resonated.

Excellence Award: 5-Minute Film Category

Title: Sweet Little Girl

Artist: Lorenzo Morandi

Overview: During a piano practice session, Kazuyo Kotaka talks about her relationship with the audience, not only during concerts but also in everyday life.

Comment: I'm truly honored to receive this award for a project born from a profound harmony with its protagonist. Kazuyo opened up with sincerity and grace. My intention was to remove anything superfluous, so that her authentic, unfiltered emotions could quietly take center stage.

Excellence Award: 5-Minute Film Category

Title: Awaiting the Lightning Bolt

Artist: Marco Russo

Story: Renato, an eccentric Renaissance inventor, dares the impossible: capturing a lightning bolt in a jar! Amid storms and ambition, he chases the power of nature and love.

Comment: I made this film because I was chasing my personal lightning bolt, a journey that evolved into a reflection on loss and the lengths one would go to save a loved one. From that Renato was born: a stubborn inventor fighting nature and ignorance to protect those he loves. "Awaiting the Lightning Bolt" is a deeply personal story, yet one I hope will touch hearts universally.

Special Encouragement Award: 5-Minute Film Category

Title: Fluffy Ball

Artist: Ning Qian

Story: Little blue pieces of fluff fall off from a fuzzy sweater. A girl cannot get rid of them, they’re spreading across her body like an epidemic. Metaphorical story from the age of Covid.

Comment: Although the pandemic has gradually passed, some traces still remain on our bodies — like insects clinging to the skin. This short film captures a certain state of mind from that time. Looking at it now, it feels organic — an emotional state that can no longer be revisited.

Thank you to Nikon for recognizing this work. I look forward to creating more vibrant, life-filled films with Nikon in the future.

Special Encouragement Award: 5-Minute Film Category

Title: Whisper

Artist: John Donica

Story: A short conceptual/experimental film about a mother who lost her son. The red light is the only guide for her in her journey.

Comment: I'm delighted to be a winner of the Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025. I want to thank Eiji Mitsuta, an amazing composer who invited me to collaborate on this project.

And of course, heartfelt thanks to Shuna Iijima, the main character and a truly talented actress.

Special Encouragement Award: 5-Minute Film Category

Title: I Know Who I Am

Artist: Tyler Hicks

Story: This story follows a man’s attempt to reconnect upon finding himself lost – seeking guidance from nature and his human instincts.

Comment: Thank you so much for recognizing "I Know Who I Am." Creating this story was a testament to the power of self expression. Through this process we learned that sharing your story invites other people to connect, relate to it and, see themselves in it.

Squarehood offers several different lens hood solutions for Fuji, Leica, Nikon, and Ricoh cameras and lenses. Visit their website for more information and a list of products. Here are some of the Fuji lens hoods:

Next are a few examples of the Leica and Ricoh lens hoods:

New: Nikon Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 lens hoods by Squarehood

Leica camera and lens hoods by Squarehood

Ricoh GR lens hoods by Squarehood

The post Squarehood lens hood solutions for Fuji, Leica, Ricoh, and Nikon cameras and lenses appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Several of the previously reported Chinese lenses are now officially announced:

• Venus Optics Laowa AF 200mm f/2 AF FF
• Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro
• 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8
• TTartisan AF 75mm f/2 (silver)
• Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95

Here is an updated list of the latest/upcoming/rumored Chinese lenses:

Viltrox AF 85mm f/2 EVO (part of the new EVO series of full-frame lenses) is coming on October 20th. Viltrox also has a new adapter with AI autofocus support called Nexus Focus (no release date yet).

Light Lens Lab will soon release a new LLL 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical “11873” lens for M-mount.

Light Lens Lab is working on a new 300mm f/1.9 lens with an APO design.

New Yongnuo 18mm f/2.8 full-frame autofocus lens.

New Yongnuo YN 33mm f/1.4 R DA DSM lens with a lock button.

New Yongnuo YN 56mm f/1.4 R DA DSM lens.

New Lee Works 28mm/2.8 lens for Leica M mount is coming (minimum focusing distance less than 0.4m).

ZY Optics is expected to announce a new autofocus full-frame lens in the second half of the year.

New Dulens lens coming soon.

The post Updated list of latest/upcoming/rumored Chinese lenses appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Blackmagic Design is rumored to announce a new URSA Cine 6K LF camera, featuring a 16-stop dynamic range RGBW sensor. The new model will utilize the same body as the URSA Cine 12K LF, simply replacing the RGBW sensor resolution with 6K and marketing it as a high frame rate variant. It will achieve 320fps in 6K Open Gate mode, 576fps in 4K Open Gate mode, and 896fps in 4K full-width 2.4:1 mode. The launch of the new Blackmagic Design URSA Cine 6K LF camera is rumored for April 2026. The upcoming URSA Cine 6K LF will not be a budget version of the current URSA Cine 12K LF.

The post Blackmagic Design is rumored to announce a new URSA Cine 6K LF camera appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Honor

Chinese technology startup Honor has unveiled a CGI video teaser showcasing a concept smartphone with a gimbal-mounted camera. Honor has dubbed it the "Robot Phone" and says it will share additional details at Mobile World Congress in 2026.

Honor says the Robot Phone combines the mobility of a smartphone with the intelligence of an AI-driven robotic camera. As of now, the company has only revealed the CGI video, with no information on real hardware. It could simply represent conceptual exploration; however, it shows that Honor is thinking about novel solutions for smartphone photography and videography.

It's not the first phone to feature a pop-up camera, but it certainly is taking a different approach. Existing renditions of the idea, such as the OnePlus 7 Pro and Oppo Reno 2Z, feature a tiny pop-up selfie camera to do away with the notch on the display. The Robot Phone, however, is a much larger-looking camera mounted to a gimbal. It is drawing comparisons to the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, though integrated into a smartphone instead of functioning as a standalone device. Indeed, it looks remarkably similar to the popular vlogging camera and could be an interesting option for vloggers.

The teaser video also brings to mind characters like Wall-E. The video features Disney-like music and brings the camera to life, with the device poking out of a person's pocket while they walk around. The Robot Phone also screams while skydiving, nods when helping someone pick out an outfit and plays peekaboo to cheer up a baby.

Image: Honor

Although the phone doesn't exist yet, the concept video created by Honor illustrates its potential if engineering challenges don't crash into reality. The real challenge lies in fitting a 360-degree multi-axis rotating gimbal within the limited space of a camera bulge in the back of a compact mobile phone while still accommodating everything else.

Fitting this technology into a smartphone remains a tight squeeze considering motherboards, circuitry, and a battery large enough to last the day, as people have come to expect. However, if Honor succeeds, it could prove a useful device for content creators.

While the phone may not possess the Wall-E-like personality depicted in the video, it hints at exciting possibilities. We should know more soon since Honor aims to showcase something at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next spring.

Until then, interested users can sign up for progress updates and even participate in early testing and evaluation on the Honor website.

Here is what else is new:

Additional information on the Realme and Ricoh GR partnership

The Ricoh GR IV camera wins the 2025 Good Design Award

The Yongnuo YN433 Micro Four Thirds video camera is now only $329

Leica Camera USA offers a change of leather service for Leica M, SL, Q, or CL cameras

New: weather-sealed Leica M-mount metal body caps available in 3 colors (*UPDATED*)

Fujifilm vs Nikon: Fujifilm Manager Interview – Fujifilm Wants To Usurp Nikon

“instax WIDE Evo” named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025

Fujifilm Announces the Next Generation of its instax mini LiPlay Hybrid Instant Camera Series

FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55 Video Production Camera Selected for Good Design Best 100

Sony Viewfinder Eye-Gaze AF Patent

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

The ability to add a grain effect burnishes the Zf's retro credentials Photo: Richard Butler

When Nikon showed us its two new DX lenses, it also let us try the Grain Effect processing that's about to arrive on the Nikon Zf.

The option should arrive in a forthcoming firmware update for the camera. It allows you to add grain to stills or video, with a choice of grain size and intensity. The grain differs with each photo, and changes frame-to-frame in video mode to give a realistic temporal effect.

Grain Effect gives you a choice of six intensity levels and three sizes of grain. It can be combined with any of the camera's Picture Style color modes but, at least in the camera we used, couldn't be added after the fact using the in-camera Raw converter. This means you can shoot with grain and then re-process if you decide you don't want it, but not the other way 'round.

Nikon was tight-lipped about when the feature will be available, but we'll bring you the news as soon as it is.

In the meantime, here are some examples we shot. They were shot using a camera running non-final firmware, so we've not been allowed to provide full-sized images. However, these samples have been cropped, rather than resized, so that the size, shape and character of the grain isn't changed.

Pre-production Grain Effect images from the Nikon Zf

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.

Note: All images are out-of-camera JPEGs cropped and re-saved.

Image: Nikon

While Nikon lens names may not be the most complicated out there (that award probably goes to Tamron), they still aren't short of letters and abbreviations. And while its mirrorless lenses feature more streamlined lens names than its DSLRs, the company still uses plenty of acronyms and proprietary terms in its lens descriptions. Trying to decipher what those mean and what matters can feel like quite the challenge. In this article, we'll be breaking down the most commonly used terminology on Nikon lenses (both in the name and the description) to help you cut through the mess.

Lens type and compatibility

Some of the most important terms to pay attention to relate to lens type and compatibility. After all, you don't want to accidentally buy a lens that doesn't work with your particular camera.

F mount, Z mount

First and foremost are Nikon's lens mounts. Nikon's F mount is its longest-running mount, used on the company's film SLR cameras, followed by its DSLRs. F mount is used on both full-frame and APS-C digital cameras. No one letter or acronym signifies F mount lenses, so you'll need to know some of the other terminology below, be familiar with the look of Nikon's F mount lineup or look carefully for the lens mount information on a product listing.

Nikon Z mount is the company's mirrorless mount, introduced in 2018. If you see a Z in a lens name, such as Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR, it is part of the mirrorless lens lineup and only compatible with the company's Z mount cameras.

DX

The Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm F1.7 is a macro (MC) lens for mirrorless (Z) APS-C cameras (DX). Image: Nikon

If "DX" is in a Nikon lens name, it is meant for its APS-C (crop sensor) cameras. Nikon uses DX on both its DSLR and mirrorless lenses to signify lenses meant for smaller sensors.

FX

The counterpart to DX, "FX' lenses are designed for Nikon's full-frame cameras, both DSLR and mirrorless. As with most systems, these lenses will work on crop sensor cameras, though the focal lengths may not make as much sense when effectively multiplied by 1.5x.

MC

Some Nikon lenses, such as the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, feature "MC" in the lens name. MC is Nikon's indicator that the lens is a macro offering, meaning it provides a 1:1 reproduction ratio. Nikon's older DSLR lenses may say "Micro" instead of MC, which also signifies it is a macro lens meant for capturing details.

S

Image: Nikon

Some Nikon mirrorless lenses feature an "S" in the name, which refers to the S-Line of Nikon lenses. The company says the lenses in this series are its top-tier ones for mirrorless in terms of build and optical quality. As such, they demand steeper prices than lenses without the badge.

Lens design and coatings

Perhaps Nikon's biggest category of special terminology is its lens design and coatings. Nikon has an extensive list of terms for special lens elements and coatings used to improve image quality, which often cause the most confusion when trying to assess its lenses. These elements and coatings can be used together, so you may see multiple terms mentioned below on a single lens.

ED

Nikon included ED in its DSLR lens names, though it dropped the abbreviation in its mirrorless lineup. However, you'll still see ED mentioned in the lens's description (and on other brands' lenses, too), as it's still something commonly used in optical design. ED stands for Extra-low Dispersion glass, a type of lens element. ED glass helps minimize chromatic aberration, resulting in clearer images with more accurate colors.

PF lens

The AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens features a Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element and ED element. Image: Nikon

A small number of Nikon lenses utilize a Phase Fresnel (PF) lens. This lens element allows Nikon to dramatically reduce the size and weight of a long telephoto lens by using fewer lens elements, while still managing chromatic aberration to maintain image quality. As with ED, Nikon used to include PF in DSLR lens names, but does not do so in its mirrorless lineup. Instead, you'll need to look into the lens description or specs to see if that element is present.

Meso Amorphous Coat

Nikon says the Meso Amorphous Coat is its newest and most advanced anti-reflective coating, meant to deliver high levels of ghosting and flare suppression. The company says it's an improvement on its previous Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat technologies, seen below. The coating suppresses incident light from any direction, including diagonally and vertically. At the time of writing, the coating is only used on Nikon's highest-end mirrorless lenses.

ARNEO Coat

The ARNEO Coat is also an anti-reflective coating. It's designed to suppress reflections from light entering a lens vertically and is ideal for producing clear, high-contrast images even in backlit environments.

Nano Crystal Coat

The gold "N" on the right side of the AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR means it uses Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat. Nikon no longer puts such badges on its mirrorless lenses, though. Image: Nikon

The Nano Crystal Coat is yet another anti-reflective coating developed by Nikon to reduce ghosting and flare. It minimizes reflections even from light entering the lens diagonally. The Nano Crystal Coat is older than the ARNEO and Meso Amorphous Coats, but still works to produce clearer, higher-contrast images in the company's professional-grade lenses.

Nikon Super Integrated Coating

Finally, we have Nikon's Super Integrated Coating (SIC), the oldest of the ones mentioned here. It was designed during the transition to digital photography and is meant to minimize ghosting and flare, especially in backlit conditions. SIC is used on nearly all Nikkor lenses.

Stabilization, focusing system and aperture

Last but not least, Nikon uses various acronyms to refer to stabilization, focusing systems and aperture features. As with lens design, you may see overlaps with multiple terms mentioned for the same lens.

E

The AF-S NIKKOR 28mm F1.4E ED has E in the name, which means it uses an electronic aperture diaphragm. Image: Nikon

Lenses with an E in the name, or with "E-type" mentioned in the specs, use an electronic aperture diaphragm. That means the lens aperture is controlled by electronic signals from the camera, rather than a mechanical lever as in older F mount lenses. The E-type aperture allows for precise and silent aperture changes, which is ideal for high-speed photography or video recording. All of Nikon's mirrorless lenses use the E-type mechanism, as do a selection of DSLR lenses.

VR

VR in Nikon lens names refers to the company's optical stabilization, which it calls Vibration Reduction. As with other optical stabilization systems, it aims to reduce blur from camera vibrations when using longer shutter speeds.

G

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm F1.8G lens has G at the end of the name, which means it lacks an aperture ring. Image: Nikon

Some Nikon F mount lenses feature a "G" in the name, which means that they lack aperture rings. In such cases, the aperture must be selected from the camera body, so the lens needs to be used on a camera that offers such control.

AF-S, AF-P

Lenses in Nikon's DSLR lineup may feature AF-S or AF-P in the lens name. AF-S stands for Autofocus with Silent Wave Motor (SWM), which means that the lens uses Nikon's ultrasonic motor. AF-S lenses will work on all Nikon DSLRs, though there are no mirrorless Nikon lenses that use a SWM.

Lenses with AF-P in the name, on the other hand, use a stepping motor to power the autofocus. They are faster, quieter and smoother than SWM autofocus systems. As a result, they are better for video use or situations that demand responsive autofocus. AF-P lenses may not be compatible with older DSLRs, but they can be used on Z mount cameras with the FTZ adapter.

SSVCM

While Nikon did away with autofocus mentions in the lens name, it hasn't stopped developing new systems. Some higher-end Nikon lenses use its Silky Swift VCM (Voice Coil Motor), Nikon's most advanced autofocus drive technology at the time of writing. Nikon says it offers higher-speed, higher-accuracy and quieter AF operation with less vibration during operation.

The made-in-Japan Fujifilm X100VI camera is now in stock at B&H Photo (both black & white versions) – act fast, they will sell out pretty quickly:

• FUJIFILM X100VI (Silver)
• FUJIFILM X100VI (Black)

Update – all sold out again.

Check also the latest X100VI camera accessories, for example, the new Owlkrown soft release buttons “Shutter Toppers“:

 

New: IDSworks foldable thumb grip (thumb rest) for Fujifilm X100VI cameras

Just announced: IDSworks grip for the new Fuji X100VI camera

Freewell launched the “Real Lens Hood” designed for Leica Q3 43, Fujifilm X100VI/GFX100RF, and RicohGRIII/x cameras

New: Fujifilm X100VI “Slim Skin” case by Akaralabs

Screen covers, dial locks, and leatherette accessories for Fujifilm cameras

 

The post Act fast: Fujifilm X100VI camera is now in stock (both black & white versions) appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The new Ricoh GR IV camera is now in stock in Canada at Camera Canada:

They have only a few pieces in stock, so hurry up if you need one. Check also GR IV availability at:

• Amazon
• B&H Photo
• Foto Erhardt
• WEX Photo
• Camera Canada

Previous Ricoh GR IV coverage can be found here.

Ricoh GR IV camera accessories

Via PentaxRumors

The post Act fast: the new Ricoh GR IV camera is now in stock in Canada appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Today, Panasonic announced a new limited edition Lumix S9 camera in titanium gold for the US market, as well as new firmware and app updates (previously reported here). The Panasonic Lumix S9 Titanium Edition camera has been available for months in Japan (see all other available S9 colors):

Panasonic Lumix S9 camera now available also in “Titanium Gold” (in Japan only for now)

Update – new S9 color combinations were also introduced in Europe:

Here are the details on the new Panoiasnic releases:

Panasonic Introduces LUMIX S9 in Titanium Gold Limited Version

New Updates for LUMIX Lab and LUMIX Flow Apps, as well as Firmware Updates for a Range of LUMIX Cameras and S Series Lenses

Newark, N.J. (October 16, 2025) –Panasonic is proud to introduce the new LUMIX S9 in titanium gold. The LUMIX S9, the smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless camera in the LUMIX S Series, is the perfect companion for content creators on the go and easily elevates social media content.

Designed with the creative smartphone user in mind, the LUMIX S9 also offers users the popular REAL TIME LUT function via a new dedicated button on the camera body. Furthermore, with the new LUMIX Lab app, creators can develop their own unique LUT color files on their smartphone. Through these features, users can effortlessly generate original and shareable stills and videos without the need for post-production editing on a computer, expanding the scope of creative possibilities. The Titanium Gold joins six other colorways in the S9 lineup.

Price and availability

Available exclusively at shop.panasonic.com in limited quantities, the new S9 Titanium Gold comes bundled with a color matching S 18-40mm lens kit for $1899.99. Until 12/27/25, customers will receive an instant rebate of $300 plus a free S 26mm lens and a free Sandisk Creator SD card.

Updates for LUMIX Lab & LUMIX Flow Apps, as well as Firmware Updates

Panasonic is excited to announce a series of updates across its LUMIX ecosystem, including new features for the LUMIX Lab and LUMIX Flow apps, as well as firmware enhancements for selected LUMIX cameras and lenses. These updates enhance the shooting experience and improve functionality, empowering creators with intuitive tools and seamless workflows.

All updates will be available starting October 19th, 2025, at 9:00pm ET via the app stores and LUMIX Global Customer Support website.

LUMIX Lab App Ver. 2.0

• A new feature, Magic LUT (*1)(*2), allows users to experience the freedom of creating their own color. Select an image, and in an instant, AI will transform any photo to match the same colors, tones, and overall mood, creating your very own photo style as LUT.
• Magic LUT supports JPEG, HEIF and MP4 (*3) files taken not only LUMIX cameras, but also cameras and smartphones from other brands.
• Users can fine-tune the colors before saving it as a LUT for editing and shooting, and even adjust the intensity or opacity in camera.

LUMIX Flow App Ver 1.3

• LUMIX Flow is now available on LUMIX S5II, S5IIX, and GH7.
• New features and enhancements for all compatible models:
  • Mirroring feature improvements and support for multiple devices – up to 4 devices can be connected simultaneously
  • Vertical UI support for external monitors
  • Improved cut addition feature, allowing a blank shot to be added as a sub-shot of a selected take or at the very end of the storyboard
• Added Features for LUMIX S5II, S5IIX, GH7*:
• *These enhancements will also be available for LUMIX S1II, S1IIE, and S1RII in future updates.
  • Support for LUT view assist – LUT live view is available in the app and can be toggled ON or OFF
  • Support for multiple frame marker display – the same frame markers shown on the camera appear on the app as Live View
  • Improved AF frame display for various recognition in Automatic Detection

LUMIX S5II Firmware Version 3.4 / S5IIX Version 2.4 Updates

• Support for LUMIX Flow ver.1.3 or above
• Startup time improvements
• Bluetooth connection supported for DJI RS 4 Pro / RS 4 / RS 4 Mini
• Enhanced customization of the Focus Ring – The focus ring can be used as a control ring, enabling for assigning key functions and the focus rotation direction can be selected either clockwise or counterclockwise. (*4)

LUMIX S9 Version 1.6 Updates

• Enhanced customization of the Focus Ring – The focus ring can be used as a control ring, enabling for assigning key functions and the focus rotation direction can be selected either clockwise or counterclockwise. (*4)

LUMIX GH7 Version 1.5 and G9II Firmware Version 2.5 Updates

• Support for LUMIX Flow ver.1.3 or above (*5)
• Startup time improvements
• Bluetooth connection is supported for DJI RS 4 Pro / RS 4 / RS 4 Mini (*5)

LUMIX S 18mm F1.8 ver.2.0 / S 24mm F1.8 ver.2.0 / S 35mm F1.8 ver.2.0 / S 50mm F1.8 ver.2.0 / S 85mm F1.8 ver.2.0 / S 100mm F2.8 MACRO ver.2.0

• The focus ring can be used as a control ring (*6), enabling for assigning key functions, and the focus rotation direction can be selected in MF mode.

Meet the LUMIX Adventure Kits:

For creators who live boldly — climbing higher, traveling farther, and capturing the world in its rawest beauty — the LUMIX Adventure Kits are your ultimate companion. These kits are built around the powerful S1II, S1RII, S5II and S5IIX bodies, paired with the S 24-60mm F2.8 lens, a professional-grade optic that transforms every shot into a story.

Why the Adventure Kit is the Smart Choice:

• Constant F2.8 aperture for superior low-light performance and depth of field control
• Exceptional sharpness and color rendering across the zoom range
• Durable, weather-resistant build for real-world adventures
• Versatility that covers everything from wide landscapes to intimate portraits

This isn’t just a kit — it’s a creative system designed for those who understand that the lens is the gateway to image quality.

The Adventure Kit is for the smart creator — someone who understands that investing in quality gear upfront saves time, money, and frustration later. Whether you’re shooting epic landscapes, destination weddings, documentary films or travel vlogs, this kit gives you the tools you need to create without compromise.

Price and availability

The new Adventure Kits are available with a S 24-60mm F2.8 lens and a Sandisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD Card until 12/27/25. The S1RII A Kit $4099.99; S1II A Kit $3999.99; S5IIX A Kit $2,999.99 and S5II A Kit $2,799.99. The delivery date for the Adventure Kits will be mid-November.

^{*1 Please use images that do not violate license terms, applicable laws and regulations, or legal rights such as copyright and portrait rights.
*2 Magic LUT cannot be used on some iPhone devices as they do not meet the system requirements. Please use it on iPhone 11 or later devices (excluding iPhone SE (2nd generation)), iPhone XS, and iPhone XS MAX
*3 Video files cannot be selected as a reference image.
*4 Compatible lens models as of October 2025: S-E2460, S-X50, S-R24105, S-R2060, S-S18, S-S24. S-S35, S-S50, S-S85, S-E100.
*5 LUMIX GH7 only.
*6 Compatible models as of October 2025: LUMIX S1II, S1RII, S1IIE, S5II, S5IIX, S9. Please update your camera to the latest firmware.}

The post Panasonic announced a new Lumix S9 camera in titanium gold, new firmware and app updates appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Panasonic

Panasonic has announced a slew of updates, including firmware updates for cameras, added app features and a 'Titanium Gold' version of its S9 mirrorless vlogging camera. The firmware will be available from October 19th.

The Titanium Gold variant of the Lumix S9 becomes the seventh color option for the company's 24MP vlogging-focused mirrorless camera. It will be available on December 27th, with a recommended price of $1900, bundled with the company 18-40mm 4.5-6.3 lens.

Updated apps

Meanwhile, the company is updating both its Lumix Lab and Lumix Flow apps. Lumix Lab will gain the ability to generate a LUT from a reference image (not necessarily from a Panasonic camera), to let you mimic a look in your subsequent shooting.

Meanwhile, the Lumix Flow video workflow app gains compatibility with the S5II, S5IIX and GH7 cameras, as well as gaining additional features and capabilities.

Enhanced firmware

Firmware updates for the S5II, S5IIX, GH7 and G9II add Lumix Flow compatibility, improve startup times and promise bluetooth connectivity with DJI's 4th-gen RS-series gimbals.

The S5II siblings, along with the S9, gain the ability to use the focus ring on Panasonic lenses as a custom dial and let you change the direction of focus ring operation. Firmware updates for the 18mm, 24mm 35mm, 50mm and 85mm F1.8s, along with the 100mm F2.8 Macro, enable these features on the lens side.

The company has also announced 'Adventure Kit' bundles for the S1II, S1RII, S5II and S5IIX bodies, pairing them with the 24-60mm F2.8 weather-sealed zoom lens. These kits, ranging from $2799 for the S5II A kit, to $4099 for the S1RII A kit. The pricing adds $800 to the original list prices of each model, compared with a list price of $1049 for the lens alone. However, discounts to some models can mean it's still cheaper to buy them separately. The kits will initially include a Sandisk Portable SSD.

Image: Viltrox

Sony mirrorless users now have another fast standard prime lens option thanks to Viltrox. The company has announced the AF 50mm F1.4 Pro lens, promising pro-level quality and features.

Viltrox designed the 50mm AF 50mm F1.4 Pro around 15 elements in 11 groups, including 8 high-refractive index, 3 extra-low dispersion and 1 ultra-precision aspherical lens. It also features Viltrox's "Advanced HD" nano coating. Viltrox says the lens design suppresses aberration, distortion, onion rings and ghosting, and promises flagship-level image quality with edge-to-edge sharpness that can meet the demands of high-resolution cameras.

Image: Viltrox

Viltrox is using linear motors to power the lens's autofocus; it should be able to keep up with high-speed shooting situations, such as sports and action, and it's compatible with face and eye detection. Viltrox says it has minimal focus breathing for better video performance as well. The lens can focus as close as 0.45m (1.48'), making it possible to shoot close-ups to emphasize the subject.

The lens's build quality also punches above its weight. Its metal construction provides better durability and a more premium feel, and Viltrox says it offers "high-grade" weather sealing. There's an aperture ring that can be clicked or de-clicked and an AF/MF switch. It also offers a customizable Fn button.

While it certainly has a lot going for it, the Viltrox 50mm F1.4 Pro is rather hefty for its class. It weighs 800g (1.76 lb) and measures 111mm (4.37") long, which is a fair amount heavier than the Sony 50mm F1.4 GM lens, which weighs 516g (1.4 lb).

Viltrox's latest fast standard prime may not win in size, but it does beat out most of the competition in terms of price. The lens is available for $549, which is substantially more affordable than both Sony's 50mm F1.4 GM and Sigma's 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art lens.

The Viltrox AF 50mm F1.4 Pro lens is available for purchase starting today.

---

Buy now:

Buy at Amazon

---

Viltrox AF 50mm F1.4 Pro specifications:

The previously reported (first mentioned back in June) two new Nikkor DX mirrorless lenses are now officially announced.

Pre-orders are now open at:

• US: B&H Photo | Paul’s Photo | Sevice Photo 
  
• DE: Foto Erhardt
• UK: WEX Photo
• CA: Camera Canada

Additional information on the new lenses can be found here:

Nikon announced two new Nikkor DX mirrorless lenses: 16-50mm f/2.8 & 35mm f/1.7

The post Nikon announced two new APS-C lenses: Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR and Nikkor Z DX 35mm f/1.7 appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm (24-75 equiv.) F2.8 VR, its first APS-C zoom lens with a fast, constant aperture for its mirrorless Z mount. It's an important addition to the company's lineup and will likely be very exciting for those who have cameras like the Z50II, which are very capable but have suffered from a lack of really great zooms.

The lens has 12 elements in 11 groups, with one ED element and two aspherical lenses. It's also Nikon's first APS-C lens for Z mount to have nine aperture blades rather than seven, which should provide slightly rounder bokeh. Wide open, it has a minimum focusing distance of 0.15m (5.9"), which goes up to 0.25m (9.8") at the long end. It uses a stepper motor autofocus system.

The 16-50mm F2.8 lives up to APS-C's promise of smaller, lighter lenses; at 330g (11.6oz) it's around a third lighter than the full-frame Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S to which it's most directly comparable. It's also welcome that it includes optical stabilization, as none of Nikon's current APS-C mirrorless cameras have stabilized sensors. The lens is 88mm (3.5") long and accepts 67mm filters.

Image: Nikon

The lens has Nikon's multifunction control ring, which you can program to change settings such as aperture, ISO and more, and comes with a petal-shaped hood.

The release of this lens is a big moment for Nikon's APS-C lineup. Before now, if you wanted a standard zoom for your APS-C Z-mount camera, you were pretty much stuck with the 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR, which was very compact but decidedly slow on the long end. The company hasn't allowed third-party manufacturers like Sigma or Tamron to produce APS-C zooms for its mirrorless systems, so anyone looking up upgrade their kit lens was pretty much forced to go with the larger, heavier and more expensive full-frame options.

While we're very happy to see that this lens is now available, it'll be interesting to see if Nikon continues to release this kind of product for its APS-C cameras. A 70-200 equiv. F2.8 lens, for example, could be a great option for those hoping to shoot portraits or events with a Z50II. It or another lens like it would also be another sign that Nikon was really starting to take its crop sensor lineup seriously, rather than just treating it as the cheap option or a stepping stone to a full-frame system.

Coming back to the present and the 16-50mm F2.8, though, the lens will be available to order starting October 16, and will retail for $899.

Pre-production samples

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.

Note: At Nikon's insistence, these samples are re-sized out-of-camera JPEGs, and therefore include corrections and processing that we wouldn't usually include. This is not our standard way of presenting images, so they should be considered as illustrative and not used to assess the lens's performance.

Nikon Z DX 16-50mm F2.8 VR specifications:

Photo: Nikon

Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z DX Micro 35mm F1.7, an APS-C macro lens with a roughly 53mm equiv. focal length and the ability to focus on subjects as close as 0.16m (6.3") away.

The lens's formula uses eight elements in seven groups, with one ED lens. And while in most scenarios it'll have a relatively bright F1.7 aperture, it'll effectively be knocked down to F3.2 in extremely close-focus scenarios. Nikon claims the lens can achieve 0.67x magnification, which it says is "life-size equivalent" in full-frame terms.

It's lightweight at 220g (7.8 oz), and is 72mm (2.8") long, which means you can take pictures of subjects that are 0.09m (3.5") away from the front element. Autofocus is handled by a stepper motor, and the company says it has minimal focus breathing.

The lens's design is minimal; it has a single control ring, which can be customized to adjust focus, ISO, aperture, etc.

The lens is available to order today, and retails for $449.

Pre-production samples

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.

Note: At Nikon's insistence, these samples are re-sized out-of-camera JPEGs, and therefore include corrections and processing that we wouldn't usually include. This is not our standard way of presenting images, so they should be considered as illustrative and not used to assess the lens's performance.

Nikon Nikkor Z DX Micro 35mm F1.7 specifications:

The rumors of a new Zeiss lens release, which I reported last week, were for the announcement of the already released and later delayed Zeiss Otus ML 1.4/85 full-frame mirrorless lens for Sony E, Canon RF, and Nikon Z-mount cameras. Check availability and pricing at:

• B&H Photo
• Foto Erhardt
• WEX Photo

From Zeiss:

Additional information on the Zeiss Otus ML 1.4/85 lens:

The release of the new Zeiss Otus ML 1.4/85 lens is delayed until October

The Zeiss Otus ML 85mm f/1.4 lens (E/Z/RF) is now officially released and available for pre-order

Zeiss Otus ML mirrorless lenses for Z/E/RF mount officially announced

The post Now available: Zeiss Otus ML 1.4/85 full-frame mirrorless lens for E/RF/Z mount appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Apple

Apple has announced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro, with the most substantial upgrade coming from the newly unveiled M5 chip. Though it's using a baseline chip, not a Pro or Max model, Apple promises a host of improvements to performance that are likely more than enough for most users. The tech giant also says the new MacBook Pro offers better battery life, faster storage and more.

The latest MacBook Pro is powered by the M5 chip, which has the same mix of 10 CPU cores (four performance, six efficiency) and 10 GPU cores as the M4 found in the previous-generation 14" MacBook Pro. Unsurprisingly, Apple is touting improved AI performance thanks to special "Neural Accelerator" silicon in each GPU core and performance improvements to its CPU, GPU and dedicated Neural Engine AI accelerator.

Image: Apple

It's not all AI, though. Apple says the GPU will provide "30 percent faster performance" than the one on the M4, and 15 percent faster multithreaded performance than the M4. It also sees a boost to 150GB/s memory bandwidth, up from the M4's 120GB/s (though that's still a step down from the memory bandwidth found on the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips). Plus, Apple says the new model's SSD is up to twice as fast, which could help with importing Raw files, exporting large video files or running a local LLM. There's now a 4TB SSD option available, where the M4 model maxed out at 2TB.

Despite the performance upgrades, Apple says the computer will still be capable of 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, like its predecessor.

Design-wise, the M5 MacBook Pro keeps the status quo: it offers three Thunderbolt 4 ports – you have to upgrade to a model with a Pro or Max chip for Thunderbolt 5 – an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The 14.2-inch display remains the same, with up to 1600 nits peak brightness for HDR content or 1000 nits sustained brightness in SDR. It also supports the full P3 color gamut, making it a worthy option for those requiring precise color.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 is available for pre-order today, starting at $1599. It will be widely available on October 22.

---

Pre-order now:

Pre-order at Apple

---

The early bird discount for the new 2025 5DayDeal photography bundle will end in 24 hours (the pre-sale window includes a $5 discount on each of the Main, Pro, and Complete packages – totaling $15 off for the Complete Bundle):

As with previous years, with the new 5DayDeal Photography Bundle 2025, you will get a package of different photography tools drastically reduced ($1,000+ worth of pro-level courses, tools, and creative assets for as little as $98):

Several different bundles are available, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to charities. This deal will end on October 21.

Via NikonRumors

The post 24 hours left for the early bird discount for the 5DayDeal Photography Bundle 2025 appeared first on Photo Rumors.