The Nikon Z50II is the company's latest entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera, built around a 21MP CMOS sensor. As with the original Z50, it's expressly aimed at stills and video creators looking for a small camera that makes it easy to upload.

It brings updated burst modes and AF functions to its predecessor, but most of the advancements are on the video side of the camera.

Key specifications

• 20.9MP APS-C sensor
• Twin control dials
• Full-width 4K video up to 30p (60p with crop)
• 3D-tracking autofocus and subject recognition for nine subject types
• Up to 11fps mechanical, with up to 1 second pre-release capture
• Fully articulated 3.2" touchscreen
• Single UHS-II SD card slot in battery compartment
• 2.36M dot EVF with brightness up to 1000nits

The Z50II will retail for $909 body-only and $1,049 as a kit with Nikon's DX 16-50 F3.5-6.3 lens. The company says it'll be available in "late November."

Index:

• What's new?
• How it compares
• Body and handling
• How it compares
• Initial impressions
• Sample Gallery
• Specifications
• Press release

What's new

The Z50II is, as the name suggests, an updated version of the company's original APS-C Z-mount camera. Much of what it gains comes from the use of a newer, more powerful Expeed 7 processor, but there are some subtle yet potentially significant additions beyond that.

Flexible Color Picture Control and Picture Control Button

The new Picture Control button is right above the rear control dial.

It's a change unrelated to processing power that helps signpost what the Z50II is and who it's intended for: the addition of a dedicated 'Picture Control' button to let you select the camera's color mode.

The changes go deeper than the labeling of a button, though. The Z50II becomes the first model to offer 'flexible' Picture Control profiles that let you adjust or download additional profiles. The camera comes with 31 but you can add more, and limit which ones appear when you hit the Picture Control button, so that it doesn't become overwhelming.

Nikon has, at least as far back as 2008, been one of the few brands to offer software to let you edit its in-camera profiles. The company's NX Studio software lets you adjust the existing Picture Controls, applying your own custom tone curve or changing the sharpening and saturation of the profile. However, you only get limited control over the color response, with a global hue adjustment, rather than the ability to re-map colors that a LUT would give.

It's the ability to download Creator Recipe profiles from Nikon's Imaging Cloud that we suspect most users will experiment with.

Brighter viewfinder

The Z50II also gains a brighter viewfinder, now capable of displaying up to 1000 nits, double the maximum brightness of the one in the existing model. The display isn't bright enough to fully preview HLG high dynamic range capture though, and is still the same 2.36M dot resolution.

Subject recognition / 3D Tracking

One of the most significant improvements that does come from the new processor is the Z50II's autofocus system. It gains the subject recognition modes from other recent Nikon cameras, boosting the number of recognized subjects from three to nine.

It also adds the 3D Tracking AF mode, that makes it quicker to track subjects, regardless of whether the camera has been specifically trained to recognize them.

C30 and pre-burst

Another Expeed 7 feature to arrive on the Z50II is its ability to shoot at high speeds in e-shutter mode, with the option to start buffering images when the shutter is half-pressed and saving images captured up to one second before the shutter button is fully depressed.

The Z50II's C30 and C15 modes can shoot with autofocus at up to 30fps or 15fps, respectively, though it only records JPEGs.

Nikon Imaging Cloud

The Z50II is also compatible with Nikon's Imaging Cloud service, which debuted with the Z6III. That means that, when connected to a Wi-Fi network, it can automatically upload your photos to Nikon's servers, which shuffle them off to your choice of third-party cloud storage services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Lightroom. You can also have your camera automatically download firmware updates, and have it sync Picture Control presets that you've selected on your computer or phone. While many cameras have similar features, they have to be paired with a smartphone or camera to use them – the Z50II can do it on its own connected to your router.

What's new for video:

Despite using the same sensor as the Z50, Nikon has managed to squeeze significantly better video out of it. The Z50II can now encode video in 10-bit precision, allowing internal N-Log capture to maximize color and tone grading potential, or HLG high dynamic range capture for playback on HDR displays and TVs.

The Z50II also gains the ability to capture 4K/60 footage from a cropped region of the sensor.

On top of this, Nikon says the electronic image stabilization (eVR) in video mode is improved. The Z50II also gets a "product review" autofocus mode, that knows to override its face detection AF if an object is held up in front of the camera: a feature that can be useful for vloggers discussing a specific product they want to show.

How it compares

The Z50II arrives into what was previously a competitive point in the market but one that fewer and fewer manufactuers seem to be catering to. Fujifilm offers the similarly beginner-friendly X-M5 for around $200 less, but with no viewfinder, or the high-resolution, image stabilized X-T50 for a whopping $400 more. Meanwhile, Sony offers the now rather elderly a6400 at a comparable price. It makes fewer accommodations to people new to ILCs and its age means its video spec lags way behind.

It's only really Canon, with its EOS R10 that offers an approximately like-for-like competitor to the Z50II. The other camera we feel it makes sense to compare is Nikon's own Zfc. It has near identical spec to the original Z50, other than it has a fully articulated rear screen. By including another Nikon entry-level camera, we can see what's changed over the past five years.

As well as advances in technology, another change since we reviewed the Z50 is that both Nikon and Canon have allowed some third-party lenses into their respective APS-C systems. In the case of Nikon, that includes three of Sigma's DC DN prime lenses, which add relatively affordable ways to boost the camera's capabilities. Canon, meanwhile, has allowed Sigma to offer its two DC DN zooms, with four prime lenses to follow.

This still leaves both systems well short of the variety of APS-C focused lenses offered for Fujifilm's X mount, or of the selection available for Sony, but means you're not solely dependent on the camera maker's development priorities for either camera anymore.

Body and handling

The body of the Z50II is very much like that of its predecessor, which is to say it's like a slightly shrunk-down version of Nikon's original Z-series full-frame models. Despite the size reduction, the Z50II retains a fairly substantial hand grip.

The body is primarily made from fiber-reinforced plastic, which gives it a fairly solid feel without becoming overly heavy. There's a textured coating around the handgrip and the back corner of the camera that gives a comfortable and reassuring amount of grip on the camera. The front and rear command dials are well positioned for forefinger and thumb operation without any need to shift your hand position on the camera.

It gains four extra buttons along the back of the camera, compared with its predecessor, which means its controls much more closely mimic those of the full-frame Z models, with dedicated +/– zoom buttons, a drive mode button and a 'DISP' button being added. There's an additional button on the top of the camera, too: just behind the existing [REC], ISO and Exposure Comp buttons is a dedicated 'Picture Control' button.

It doesn't gain the joystick that the full-frame models have, though, and the Stills/Movie switch they feature around their DISP buttons is instead on the Z50II's top plate. The Play and Drive Mode buttons are transposed relative to the full-frame models, but we doubt enough people will be trying to shoot both side-by-side for this difference to matter).

The Z50II also moves from a tilt up/down screen to a fully articulated one, as featured on the Zfc and Z30. Nikon has described all four of its APS-C Z-mount models as being for 'creators,' so this change is no real surprise.

Viewfinder & screen

The Z50II's viewfinder can now go as bright as 1000 nits: twice as bright as the one in the older model, which should mean there's less need for your eye to adapt when you're using the camera in bright sunshine. It's not bright enough to fully preview HLG images, though.

It remains a relatively low resolution 2.36M dot display, in keeping with the Z50II's lowly position in the lineup. It offers 0.68x magnification, in equivalent terms, which is pretty large for a camera at this price.

Ports & slots

The Z50II's specs tell the story of how far we've come in the five years since the launch of the original model. Its SD card slot can now make full use of the faster UHS-II cards, while its USB socket has been upgraded to the Type C standard and 5Gbit/s transfer rates. It's also been made compatible with the UVC/UAC USB video and audio standards, so it can be used as a webcam without the need for any specialist drivers or software.

The camera also gains a headphone socket to allow audio monitoring, something that really boosts its usefulness as a video camera.

Battery

The Z50II uses a new EN-EL25a battery, which sees the capacity increase from 8.5Wh to 9.4Wh. Despite this 10% increase, the CIPA battery ratings for the Z50II are 250 shots per charge using the rear screen and 230 using the viewfinder. These are around 20% lower than on its predecessor, presumably as a consequence of the more powerful processor.

CIPA figures tend to assume extensive use of flash and rather more looking at image review than most people actually do, so we wouldn't be at all surprised to get twice as many shots as this in our own usage, more if we were shooting bursts. You can also gain around 9 percent more shots if you engage power-saving mode, but these aren't great figures for a camera you might want to use a lot.

As you'd expect, the camera can be charged over its USB-C socket, so there are ways to top the battery up fairly easily. However, it does not come with a battery charger in the box.

Initial impressions

By Mitchell Clark

From a certain angle, the Z50II is a minor update to its predecessor. It has the same sensor housed in a similar body and doesn't add anything revolutionary – there are no features that are unheard of for its category or that make us rethink what's possible with photography.

That's not a bad thing. The Z50II's main audience is first-time camera buyers, and when I think back to when I was getting into photography, the Z50II would've been exactly what I was looking for – something that gets the basics right without costing an arm and a leg.

I only got to spend a day shooting with the Z50II, but during that time nothing about it felt budget. The ergonomics and build quality felt just right for its size, and its performance was snappy; I never felt like I was waiting around for the camera or that it couldn't shoot fast enough to capture whatever I pointed it at.

The autofocus, in particular, was a standout. We've praised Nikon's 3D Tracking system and subject recognition before, and it's just as capable in the Z50II. In the past, the autofocus situation on beginner-focused cameras has been awkward: people who aren't experienced need the most help, but the most capable systems are also the most expensive ones, so they don't make it into lower-end cameras. That's not the case with the Z50II.

The Z50II's autofocus system was confidence-inspiring, even in automatic subject detect mode. ISO 100 | 1/400 sec | F4 | Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S w/ 1.4x teleconverter Photo: Mitchell Clark

It even features automatic subject detection, giving you one less thing to think about when you're scrambling to get the shot. That'd be great for parents looking to get great shots of their kids playing sports – or pet owners looking to show off their fast-moving dogs and cats – without breaking the bank.

The video features are also robust, to the point where it feels like Nikon's targeting not just content creators but first-year film students, too. Beginner photographers who also want to capture video will be happy with its standard 4K capabilities, but they won't have any use for features like N-Log and waveforms.

Then there's the Picture Control button. I'm not entirely convinced color profiles are the thing to draw new people into photography, but camera manufacturers seem to disagree – this year we saw Panasonic debut its LUT button, and Fujifilm release two cameras with film simulation dials.

Even if the crowds are craving color control, the indirectness of Nikon's system could make it a little tricky for beginners. You don't beam them directly from your phone to your camera; you select which ones you want in Nikon's app, and then your camera downloads them via Wi-Fi. My years in tech support tell me there will be some confusion based on the camera needing to be connected to the internet on its own.

The real elephant in the room is lenses. The company makes five 'DX' lenses for its APS-C systems: a single prime and four zooms with maximum apertures of 3.5 or higher. There are several third-party autofocus primes, including some of the very good Sigma DC DN Contemporaries, but if you want a zoom with a consistent or fast aperture, you'll have to use a heavier, more expensive full-frame option from Nikon.

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.

Here is the first leaked picture of the upcoming Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 full-frame autofocus lens:

Viltrox 35mm 1.2 FE spotted at my local camera shop
byu/jaredsilloph inSonyAlpha

The lens has been rumored for a while - I think it will be part of the new LAB series from Viltrox (just like the new Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens):

2024 Viltrox lens roadmap updated

All Viltrox lenses are now 15% off:

• Amazon
• B&H Photo

International readers can get 8% off at the Viltrox online store with coupon code NIKONRUMORS:

The post Here is the first leaked picture of the rumored Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 lens appeared first on Photo Rumors.

A new Nikon Z50II camera announcement is rumored for tonight. Here is what to expect:

• Updated body design
• Expeed 7
• Flippy screen like the Z6 III
• USB-C
• Will use the same Nikon EN-EL25 battery
• Same 20.9MP DX-format CMOS sensor as the Z50 (not confirmed yet, hopefully my info is wrong and they will introduce a new sensor – Fuji for example, is already using a 40MP sensor in their latest X100VI camera)
• No battery grip will be available for the Z50 II
• Compatible with the new Nikon Imaging Cloud

Getting closer to a new Nikon camera announcement

Nikon Italy has scheduled a “Nikon Digital Event – Discover the News” for tonight

Getting close to a new Nikon product announcement

Via NikonRumors

The post New Nikon Z50II camera announcement expected/rumored for tonight appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Laowa

Laowa is making its APS-C wide-angle 'zoom shift' lens available outside of China, a few months after it launched it in the country. The 12-24mm F5.6 lens is unusual – the company says it's the "first wide-angle zoom shift lens," giving you control over perspective without being locked into a single focal length.

That versatility does come with a cost. For one, the lens' F5.6 maximum aperture is relatively slow for APS-C cameras. You also only get plus or minus 7mm of shift, while some of Laowa's shift primes can reach up to 11mm of shift in either direction. It also doesn't have any tilting abilities.

Image: Laowa

The lens is mainly marketed at landscape and architectural photographers looking to take images with minimal distortion. However, it does have some features for those who are interested in it for creative purposes; its minimum focusing distance is a relatively close 15 cm (5.9").

It has a 77mm filter thread, weighs 575g, and retails for $699. It's available for APS-C cameras with a wide range of mounts: Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, L-Mount, Fujifilm X mount, and even Canon EF-M.

New Nikon USA rebates now include the Zf and Z50 cameras

Viltrox lenses for Nikon Z-mount are now 15% off

Nikon Italy has scheduled a “Nikon Digital Event – Discover the News” for tonight

Ricoh Japan: partial resumption of orders for some GR models

The 2024 Tamarkin Rare Camera Auction will take place this Saturday

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

Is the compact camera dead?

BCN Retail published the article "Is the compact camera dead?" Here is the recap from digicame-info:

• Casio has left the compact camera market, Nikon has stopped development, and Sony and Fujifilm have significantly scaled back their lineups. Some may fear that the category itself will disappear as it is pushed aside by smartphones. The bottom line is that it is not dead at all. Compact cameras still account for more than 60% of camera sales. Although their sales value composition ratio is small, ranging from the upper 20% to lower 30%, a certain level of sales continues.
• The average price is also rising, just like with interchangeable lens cameras. In particular, the increase in the proportion of relatively high-priced models over 50,000 yen stands out. As of September 2021, this was only 6.8% of the total number of units sold, but this September it had risen to 33.2%. This is thought to be largely due to the impact of inflation, but at the same time, it is also highly likely that there are an increasing number of users who want better products even if they are a little more expensive.
• Year-on-year sales of interchangeable lens cameras fell significantly in both unit volume and value. Although the decline narrowed in October, sales remain below the previous year's level. Compact cameras are also showing a slowdown, with unit sales declining slightly in September and October. However, sales value remained above the previous year, with October sales value increasing by double digits to 115.3%. With prices of mirrorless cameras rising, it could be said that even relatively high-priced compact cameras are now looking cheap.
• The compact camera market structure has changed significantly in the past few years. Canon is by far the top five in terms of sales volume in September, with a large share of 31.1%, backed by the PowerShot and IXY series. Meanwhile, Fujifilm, in second place, took a 13.4% share, largely due to the huge sales of its instax mini Evo. Kodak and Kenko Tokina, in third and fourth place, moved into the "vacant lot" left by major manufacturers. They are the main players who have expanded their market share by leveraging their good cost performance, and have greatly changed the market. And Ricoh Imaging, with its GR series, has made it into the top five with a modest single-digit share. The GR brand, which has been around since the film era, still has many die-hard fans.

The market price of old compact digital cameras has increased 20-fold in one year

The Japanese website Dime published the article "The market price has increased by about 20 times in one year! The noisy charm of old compact digital cameras that Gen Z is addicted to". Here is the recap from digicame-info:

• Among young people in their teens and twenties who belong to Generation Z, old models from the heyday of compact digital cameras in the 2000s and 2010s (= old compact digital cameras) are suddenly gaining popularity. What is the reason for this attraction to Generation Z? Yuta Mimura, manager of the used camera specialty store "2nd BASE", analyzes as follows.
• "Many people perceive the characteristics of the image, such as the tendency for it to have blown out highlights and noise, as being film-like, and the lo-fi feel is probably what makes it so popular."
• "The vast majority of compact digital camera users want to try film, but the running costs of film and developing are a hurdle. Old compact digital cameras make it easy to take low-fi photos at low cost. What's more, their Y2K designs from the 2000s are also boosting their popularity."
• "Sales (of old compact digital cameras) were not that high at first, but from around spring of last year sales started to pick up, and by summer our inventory couldn't keep up."
• It is unclear how long the boom will last, but its momentum does not seem to be slowing down, with cameras that were selling for 1,000 or 2,000 yen two or three years ago now selling for around 20,000 yen.

Related posts:

Kodak dominates the best-selling compact digital cameras in Japan

The compact camera conundrum

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 dominates the Japanese small camera market

2023 global camera market share for mirrorless, DSLR, and compact cameras

The future of compact cameras

The post Is the compact camera dead? The market price of old compact digital cameras has increased 20-fold in one year. appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The Sony Airpeak S1 drone and all related products/services are now discontinued. Sony has not announced any replacements or plans to continue the product line, which is precisely what GoPro did with their Karma drones a few years ago. I think it is safe to assume that Sony killed their drone program.

Sony announces a $9,000 Airpeak S1 drone

A quick reminder that the latest DJI Air 3S drone is currently blocked by US customs:

Many DJI Air 3S drone orders are stuck in US customs

Confirmed: the new DJI Air 3S drone is currently blocked by US customs

Here is the full text of the press release from Sony Japan:

The post Sony Airpeak S1 drone and all related products/services are now discontinued appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Venus Optics officially announced the previously reported Laowa APS-C 12-24mm f/5.6 - the world’s first zoom + shift lens (for E/L/R/X/Z/EF-M). The price of the lens is $699 and you can order it here.

Additional informiton:

12-24mm Zoom Range with Constant Aperture

The Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift lens offers a versatile zoom range of 12mm to 24mm, providing an expansive angle of view from 102.5° to 63.9°. This allows photographers to capture a wide variety of scenes. With a constant aperture of f/5.6, the lens ensures consistent exposure throughout the entire zoom range, offering great flexibility while maintaining high image quality.

Precise  ±7mm Shift Amount

The remarkable ±7mm shift capability set this lens apart. All shift lenses currently available in the market are primes, which makes this lens the WORLD’s first wide-angle zoom shift lens. This feature enables photographers to achieve precise perspective control and effortlessly minimize distortion.

Exceptional Distortion Control

The lens showcases excellent distortion control, allowing users to capture accurate and true-to-life images. This makes it an excellent choice for architectural and interior photography, where precise image quality is crucial.

15cm closest focusing distance

The Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift lens also has an exceptionally short focusing distance. Capable of focusing as close as 5.9 inches (15 cm) from the sensor. This lens offers photographers plenty of opportunities for creative experimentation.

77mm filter thread

The Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift lens offers the convenience of a 77mm filter thread, which can be used when the lens hood is attached.

Specifications

Venus Optics Laowa CF 12-24mm f/5.6 announced in China: the world’s first zoom + shift lens

The post Venus Optics announced the Laowa APS-C 12-24mm f/5.6 – the world’s first zoom + shift lens appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Photo: Denis Baskin

With experience comes wisdom. And for photographers, few things are as satisfying as sharing that wisdom with those just starting their photographic journey. It's a chance to mentor, guide, and give back to the community that helped us grow.

Recently, a discussion in our forums caught our eye. The question posed was simple: "What have you learned that you would tell beginners?" The responses were insightful, offering a trove of knowledge perfect for sharing. In this article, we've gathered some advice from experienced DPReview forum users and some thoughts from our own editors.

The advice broadly falls into three categories: gear, technique, and the photographic process itself. Read on to discover what your fellow DPReview users said, and make sure to share your own hard-earned wisdom in the comments!

Gear: Don't get distracted by shiny objects

It's easy to get caught up in the allure of new cameras and lenses, but gear is only one piece of the puzzle. As sirhawkeye64, who started the forum thread, wisely points out, "I would have focused more on skill...and less on gear or having the latest gear or buying gear that I really never used, and perhaps instead learning to really use the gear I had."

User yardcoyote echoed this sentiment, advising beginners to trust their instincts and avoid getting swept up in trends: "Almost all my mistakes happened because I didn't trust myself and my photographic instincts. Now I know and trust that I don't want zoom lenses, I don't want wide angle, I don't want burst... I don't want to shoot Raw and do extensive work in post."

It's easy to get caught up in the allure of new cameras and lenses, but gear is only a piece of the puzzle. Learn to use the gear you have, and don't hesitate to buy used or refurbished gear. Photo: Richard Butler

"It used to bother me a lot that I wasn't in the mainstream and that many people think I am not a 'real' photographer, at least partly because of these things. Now, I don't care as much. I'm just gonna go over here and take pictures."

Finding the right lenses can be a journey in itself. Editor Richard Butler suggests careful consideration: "Take some time to work out which other lenses you might need. A lot of people buy wide-angle or telephoto zooms, but you may find something like a portrait lens, a macro, or a bright 35mm prime if you like to capture the world as you see it."

"The key thing is that you don’t need all of these; you may not need many lenses at all. But you need to work out what you enjoy and what you want to photograph before you make an informed decision about what lens to buy next."

"I would have focused more on skill...and less on gear..."

For some, considerations of comfort and practicality are key. User mmartel wishes they had prioritized ergonomics: "I've found that grams and millimeters don't matter to me at all, and big EVFs are great... Just because a camera is larger or heavier doesn't mean it's less comfortable to carry and use."

User Leo_Yai emphasizes the importance of a manageable kit: "Keep the body size reasonable. Too small is too fiddly, too big stays in the garage too often, not taking images. Same for lenses... If you ever think, 'Should I change the lens?' then your carrying system is too cumbersome." Ultimately, the best gear is the gear you actually use.

Many experienced photographers suggest buying used gear. If you don't want to buy from a private party, you can often buy reliable used gear from shops like MPB.com (above). Some manufacturers sell refurbished products through their own websites.

Finally, Editor Dale Baskin offers this reassuring advice: "Don’t obsess about having fancy gear or the newest camera. Buy something used in good condition... Don't hesitate to buy refurbished or used gear."

Technique: Master the fundamentals

While gear is essential, mastering photographic techniques is crucial for creating compelling images. User GreenEyesGTA advocates for learning manual focus: "My biggest leap in photography was when I stopped [using] AF/burst so much and took my time with MF [manual focus]."

User Claus H keeps it concise, suggesting a focus on the basics: f-stop, focal length, shutter speed, ISO, composition, and color vs. black and white, along with skills like focusing on composition and leveling your camera.

Focus on learning the fundamentals – both the fundamentals of photography and of your camera. Photo: Dale Baskin

"React emotionally to your pictures," Claus says. "Make them as good as you can, don't become a technophobe about them. If an image has soul, it has soul, regardless of what it was shot with. Learn the technical, but educate your eyes. Once you have the basics down, carry a camera as often as you can, and shoot, shoot, shoot."

Shooting a lot will help you get to know your camera, but Editor Mitchell Clark highlights the importance of exploring your camera's features. "My photography journey started well into the digital age when even basic cameras had capable auto modes and a litany of complex features. In a lot of ways this was a blessing, but it also let me build some bad habits that took years to undo."

"Once you have the basics down, carry a camera as often as you can, and shoot, shoot, shoot."

"I shot in manual but pretty much ignored everything else. This helped give me a solid understanding of exposure, but it also left huge gaps in my knowledge about how cameras worked and what they were capable of."

"Don't make that mistake," he implores. "While you probably shouldn't read your camera's manual cover to cover, I recommend taking a day to dive through the menus and make sure you have an understanding of what most of the options do. Today's cameras have so many features and capabilities, and it'd be a shame if you didn't use all the ones that fit your shooting style and needs."

The photographic process: Find your voice

Beyond gear and technique, photography is about capturing moments, expressing creativity, sharing your vision with the world, and being true to yourself and your vision.

"Make the images [you] want to make, don't be afraid to experiment, and don't assume that what 'everyone thinks' and 'everyone does' are the right things for you, says yardcoyote.

SeeingSomeThingsMissingMany emphasizes the importance of finding your passion: "[Choose] a subject matter you really like that makes you want to photograph it a lot; [Find] an easy-to-use camera you enjoy that makes you want to use this camera again and again."

Choose a subject matter you really like and photograph it a lot. Finding your own niche in photography allows you to build expertise and shoot something you really enjoy. Photo: Dale Baskin

Finding your voice and vision is about more than just taking great photos, though. Dale Baskin offers this helpful hint: "Find a niche. When you're in learning mode, it's tempting to take pictures of lots of subjects without much creative focus, which is natural because you're learning your craft. As you get better, find one or two things you really love to shoot and get really good at shooting them. It allows you to become an expert and take your experience to the next level."

While feedback is valuable, staying true to your vision is essential. As Mitchell Clark notes, "If the images you're taking make you happy, it doesn't really matter what other people think of them." He also encourages sharing your work freely, reminding us that perfection shouldn't be an obstacle to sharing our creativity.

"Make the images [you] want to make, don't be afraid to experiment..."

With that in mind, user teejaywhy offers a simple but powerful reminder: "When sharing photos to friends or family (or random internet people, for that matter), remember: LESS IS MORE."

Richard Butler agrees: "One of the key skills of photography is to be able to critically assess your own work. This not only lets you focus your efforts on the photos most worthy of processing and editing, but also helps you learn which things work and which things don’t, helping you develop as a photographer."

Which brings us to the other thing he says he wished he’d known earlier: "Don’t judge your efforts too harshly at first: remember that everyone else is only sharing their best work."

The previously reported Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/5 FFⅡ Cookie ultra-wide angle pancake lens for M/E/RF/Z/L mount is now officially announced. Pre-orders will be open soon at B&H Photo and Laowa’s website.

Additional information on the new lens:

Coming soon: Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/5 FFII Cookie lens

Additional information on the Leica M-mount version of the lens:

New: Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/5 FFⅡ Cookie ultra-wide angle pancake lens for Leica M-mount

The post Officially announced: Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/5 FFⅡ Cookie ultra-wide angle lens (M/E/RF/Z/L) appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Retrospekt

Retrospekt, a company known for refurbishing and reselling classic consumer electronic devices, has announced a limited run of 24-karat gold-plated Rollei 35 film cameras called the Retrospekt 24K Gold Edition.

There's no denying the current fascination with film and digital vintage cameras, and the Rollei 35 is one of the most famous compact film cameras ever made. It was initially launched at Photokina in 1966, and at the time of its introduction, it was the smallest 35mm film camera available; over two million were eventually manufactured.

According to Retrospekt, its limited edition gold-plated cameras are fully-restored vintage Rollei 35 film cameras, with each camera being disassembled and its internal mechanicals refurbished to like-new condition. Each camera's exterior metal parts are electroplated with 24-karat gold.

Original Rollei 35 models usually had 40mm F2.8 or F3.5 Zeiss lenses. Retrospekt's gold-plated cameras include a Zeiss Tessar, Rollei Tessar or Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 40mm F3.5 lens.

Image: Retrospekt

Each camera comes in a presentation box, with a leather case and a wrist strap. The company says the case and strap are made of new materials modeled after the camera's original accessories.

Retrospekt did not disclose how many cameras the limited run would include.

The Rollei 35 is one of the most iconic film cameras in history. Earlier this year, a company called Mint Camera started taking orders on the Rollei 35AF, a modern version of the design that incorporates autofocus.

The Retrospekt 24K Gold Edition sells for $999, including case and accessories, and can be ordered from Retrospect beginning today.

Buy now:

Hasselblad will announce a new XCD 3,4/75P lens on November 7th (previously reported here - I am not sure if the rumored 150mm will be announed in addition to the 75mm).

Hasselblad currently has 13 XCD medium format lenses.

Hasselblad Expert Setup Guide now updated for the latest XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E lens

IDSworks announced new modular base plate and L-bracket for Hasselblad X2D cameras

The post New Hasselblad XCD 3,4/75P lens to be announced on 11/7 appeared first on Photo Rumors.

These are just a few of the 100,000 portraits Sami Aziz captured in a single year along Philadephia's iconic South Street. Images ©Sami Aziz

Can a creative project change your life? Photographer Sami Aziz (Instagram: @southstreetsam) discovered that it can. Armed with his camera and a lot of determination, he embarked on a project to shoot portraits every day for an entire year, capturing images of more than 100,000 people along a single iconic street in his hometown of Philadelphia.

It was a journey of exploration and discovery for Aziz. His presence on South Street became a source of positive energy for the city of Philadelphia, strengthened his own ties to the community, and helped him find a path to becoming a full-time photographer.

Shortly after reaching the one-year milestone, Aziz shared his motivations behind the project and its transformative impact on his life.

Forging a path

"I've been doing street photography for a while. I picked it up when I went to college in New York City. While I was living there, Brandon Stanton was doing the Humans of New York project, and it really inspired me."

After college, Aziz traveled across Morocco and the United States, exploring different regions and taking photos.

Image ©Sami Aziz

"Everywhere from Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tangier – to California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. I had a van and was driving around the country, just taking pictures of people. I like the model of focusing on just one place in a city. It's an effective way of honing your skills and building a sense of community."

Aziz eventually felt drawn back to his hometown of Philadelphia but was faced with the task of creating a sense of belonging. "Although I was born and raised in Philly, I didn't feel at home here for the longest time. I didn't have a sense of community yet," he explains. But he did have a dream he wanted to make real.

Image ©Sami Aziz

"Coming back to Philly at 26 was almost like a coming-of-age journey for me. I was like, 'Alright, I want to make something of my photography career now.'"

Becoming South Street Sam

"Leading up to this project, I spent about a year working as a delivery driver. One day, as I was picking up a lunch delivery on South Street, I thought to myself, 'What if I made an Instagram called South Street Sam?' My parents' first date was on South Street. My father had a store here, and my mom worked at a Greek restaurant, South Street Souvlaki, that's been around for 40 years," he explains.

Image ©Sami Aziz

"I planned to make it a side project and didn't expect it would ever become something big."

Aziz initially used his trusted Canon 5D Mark IV and Zeiss Otus 55mm F1.4 lens. However, he realized he needed more flexibility for his project. "There were limitations to using one focal length. I love 50mm – it's probably my favorite because it was my first ‘big boy’ lens – but sometimes, like in these Philly row homes or on a busy sidewalk, it's harder to take group photos with a 50mm."

"Many people don't realize that all the photos on my page are hand-focused."

He kept working as a delivery driver to fund his gear purchases. "I ended up buying the Zeiss Otus 28mm F1.4 and 100mm F1.4 lenses as well. They're all manual focus, cine-style lenses. But after I bought these great lenses, I realized my 5D Mark IV wasn't cutting it anymore because it didn't have certain focus assist tools, which make shooting with manual focus lenses a lot easier."

Image ©Sami Aziz

"Many people don't realize that all the photos on my page are hand-focused. I was basically eyeballing it the whole time with the Canon 5D IV because it didn’t have focus peaking."

Before I quit my delivery job, I decided to make one more investment in an updated camera body and ended up going with the Canon EOS R3. It was the best Canon had to offer with a vertical grip, articulating screen, and, most importantly, manual focus assist tools."

"It was a game-changer. After getting the Canon R3, I started shooting portraits daily and building a streak. When you start, there’s always talk about starting local, but I started hyper-local. I focused on just one street. I knew early on that I was going to be focusing on this street – no pun intended; I mean, it's in my Instagram handle. I'm South Street Sam."

A Turning Point

Aziz reached a crossroads where he realized he had to choose between his delivery job and his passion for photography. "There came a point where I quit the delivery job. I remember a distinct moment on a busy delivery day. I had my keys and was walking toward my car, but I had already started this new page and thought to myself, 'Am I going to go to work today, or am I going to shoot?'"

Image ©Sami Aziz

"I decided to shoot. I didn't care if I was down to my last dollar. I dreamed of being a working street photographer and of being able to pay my bills with photography. It was almost a Forrest Gump-type moment. I just decided to take pictures daily and see what would happen. I never could have imagined this was where my photography career would take off."

He started taking pictures of people along South Street, capturing the diverse faces of the neighborhood. "It picked up steam pretty quickly. My first 10,000 followers were people I photographed and asked, 'Hey, can you follow my Instagram page?' Then, the second I started posting reels, I think I went from 10,000 to 50,000 followers in about three weeks." He used a DJI Osmo Action 4 camera to provide a behind-the-scenes view into his process.

"I decided to shoot. I didn't care if I was down to my last dollar."

As his Instagram page grew, people started recognizing him on the street. "One night, I went out to shoot around 11 pm. I walked up to a girl and said, 'Hey, I'm a street photographer. Can I take a portrait of you?' She recognized me immediately and was like, 'Oh my God, Sam!'

While I'm doing that, another guy driving by backs up in full reverse, rolls down his window and asks if I'm South Street Sam. I'm thinking to myself, I'm out here at 11 pm on a weeknight, and people recognize me. This is crazy. It demonstrates how important this project became to people in my city."

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A post shared by Sami Aziz (@southstreetsam)

"I never could have predicted it would grow the way it did. I’m now approaching 300,000 followers and just surpassed 60 million video views. It's very humbling. At the same time, this is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. To do something every single day for a year, especially when it's raining or below freezing outside... there were times when I asked myself, ‘What on Earth am I doing?’"

"And for the record, I even picked up a fully weather-sealed Canon RF 85mm F1.2 for days when it was raining or snowing too heavily to use my Otus lenses."

After spending an entire year taking portraits on this iconic street, South Street had become home for Sam. He felt the sense of community he’d always longed for, and it was there to stay.

Living in the moment

"I go out, I shoot, I come home, I upload. The next morning, I edit, I post, and go out to shoot again," Aziz says of his daily routine.

He's so focused on his work that he once didn't recognize a famous actor while taking his photo. "I walked up to him and asked to take his portrait. 'You know I'm an actor, right?' he asked me. And I'm like, 'Great, let's take a photo.' While heading back towards my apartment, I Googled Michael Peña and realized that I'd watched one of his movies, and thought to myself, wow, I just walked up to a Hollywood actor completely clueless."

South Street Sam out during a weekend night taking portraits. Photo courtesy of Sami Aziz

Aziz emphasizes the importance of confidence and positive energy when approaching people for street portraits. "An important lesson I've learned is to approach people with the right energy."

"If you walk up to people expecting them to say no, more likely than not, they're going to say no. If you approach them in a confident way, with good energy, more often than not, they're going to say yes. It takes practice. You can't be discouraged if people say no. Just keep moving, keep rolling, and don't take it personally."

Image ©Sami Aziz

He also believes in giving back to the community by sharing his work. "Everyone gets a copy of their photo. Every night after shooting, I upload an album to Google Drive. All people have to do is follow a link in my story to find their photo in the album and download it. I've never charged anybody for the street portraits. I do, however, give them an option to tip if they’d like to support my creative mission."

Reflecting on the Journey

"I took 100,000 portraits of people, most of which were on five blocks in one city. I can't even wrap my head around the number 100,000. The amount of diversity and human interaction in just five blocks is crazy. That's what I love about portrait photography: just being able to connect with people of different backgrounds and walks of life, particularly in a city like Philadelphia."

Aziz hopes his experience will inspire others to pursue their passions. "If you have a dream, just keep at it. Be consistent. Practice. There are no secrets. It's like in any field; you need to put in the work and pay your dues, and you'll eventually see the result."

"It's so cool to look back at all these years of photography and say I've found my niche."

→ New Profoto D30 monolight announced.

→ New KEKS KM02 Light-meter 2024 released.

     
→ SanDisk announced new 2TB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I memory cards.

→ SmallRig announced a new carbon fiber tripod kit FT-S303 4643.

→ New: Seagull M 35mm f/1.7 lens for Leica M-mount (buy here).

→ Venus Optics to release a new Laowa “cookie”/pancake lens for Leica M-mount next week.

Matt Irwin visits the new Nikon Museum in Tokyo (video)

Nikon released new ARCREST II protection filters

New: Gura Gear Kiboko City Insert for Leica cameras

New KEKS products: rapid-winder for Leica M2/M3 cameras, new light meter and flash

Fujifilm X-M5 Owners Manual Now Available

Instax Lomo’ Instant Wide Glass

Sony ZV-1 II and ZV-1F Firmware 2.00 Updates Released

Canon 50-250mm f/4.5-5.6 APS-C Patent

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

Here are some new pictures of the upcoming Meike 85mm f/1.8 Pro lens:

The new version will have an improved optical design and improved color balance.

The lens is expected to be announced later in November.

Meike lenses are sold at Adorama, Amazon, B&H Photo, and Meike's website.

The next Meike Pro series autofocus full-frame lens will be released in November: 85mm f/1.8

The post New picture of the upcoming Meike 85mm f/1.8 Pro series lens appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The new Brightin Star 50mm f/0.95 APS-C manual focus lens for E/Z/RF/XF/EF-M/MFT has glow-in-the-dark focusing and aperture scales (the lens will soon be listed for sale on Amazon and Brightin Star website):

Update - please note that this is a different lens than the already existing Brightin Star 50mm f/1.4 (f/0.95 vs. f/1.4). The old Brightin Star 50mm f/1.4 doesn't have fluorescent markings:

Brightin Star AF 50mm f/1.4 APS-C autofocus lens officially announced (E/Z/X)

The post The new Brightin Star 50mm f/0.95 lens has glow-in-the-dark focusing and aperture scales appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Early morning flog clings to the autumn landscape in the UK. Photo: Richard Butler

The November edition of the Editors' Photo Challenge is open for submissions! Our theme this month is 'Fog'.

Fog provides endless creative possibilities for photography, from soft, diffused landscapes to ghostly cityscapes. It can add an ethereal quality to a scene, transforming the familiar into something magical. Show us the magic and mystery of mist with your favorite fog photos.

This challenge is open to photos taken at any time, and you may submit up to three photos. Photos must be submitted by Saturday, November 9 (GMT).

Visit the challenge page to read the full rules and to submit your photos for consideration.

Enter your photos here

SC-Image has several new lenses (SG-Image lenses are sold on Ali Express and Amazon JP):

SG-Image 18mm f/6.3 lens cap  (AliExpress):

• Ultra-compact and lightweight body lens cap with a built-in lens cap.
• For Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, and MFT

SG-Image AF 55mm f/1.8 STM full-frame lens (Ali Express and Amazon JP):
 

• Price: 39,000 yen
• Focus mode: AF
• Lens construction: 10 elements in 8 groups (including 5 high-refractive lenses)
• Aperture blades: 9
• Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/16
• Minimum shooting distance: 0.5m
• Filter size: 58mm
• Dimensions: 69×78mm
• Weight: 365g

SG-Image 50mm f/1.8 "Phantom" lens with interchangeable bokeh patterns/aperture plates (Amazon JP):

• Focal length: 50mm (35mm format equivalent)
• Focus mode: MF (Manual focus)
• Lens construction: 7 elements in 5 groups (including 3 high-refractive lenses)
• Aperture plates: 4 (variable shape aperture)
• Supported image size: Full size
• Aperture range: F1.8
• Minimum shooting distance: 0.5m
• Filter diameter: 58mm
• Size: Φ69mm x 48mm (excluding mount)
• Accessories: Lens cap, rear cap
• Weight: Approx. 310g

Update on the upcoming SG-Image lenses

The post New SG-Image lenses: 18mm f/6.3, 55mm f/1.8, and 50mm f/1.8 with with interchangeable bokeh patterns/aperture plates appeared first on Photo Rumors.

FujiAddict spotted a new Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 XF lens (Fujifilm X-mount) that will be officially announced soon. Here are the details (check also the official Viltrox website):

The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens will also be available in white (see previous coverage of that lens):

The post New Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 XF lens coming soon (also new Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 “white edition”) appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Here are some rumors on the two upcoming Fujifilm cameras for 2025 that were teased during the last X Summit:

• The larger one on the left under the white cloth (white like the GFX boxes) should be a GFX camera, possibly the fixed-lens GFX camera rumored to be coming in the first half of 2025.
• The smaller one on the right under the black cloth (black like the X-series boxes) should be an X camera, possibly the so-called "half-frame" camera with a 1-inch portrait-oriented sensor (thanks Mistral75)

“But wait, there’s one more thing”: Fujifilm is teasing two new cameras for next year

The post About the two upcoming Fuji cameras teased for 2025 appeared first on Photo Rumors.