Camera images: Ricoh, Sony and Nikon

Whether you're looking to capture daily life, start a new hobby or hoping to build a professional career, choosing the right camera is an important first step. Cameras come in various sizes and formats, but compacts, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are three of the most common options. Those choices can feel confusing if you're relatively new to the photography world, though.

Each type of camera provides a different balance between convenience, image quality and creative control. Understanding those differences will help you narrow down which device might best match your needs.

Compact cameras

Compact cameras are very small. Photo: Richard Butler

As the name suggests, compact cameras (or compacts) are small, easy-to-carry devices. They feature integrated lenses that can't be changed out, saving you from spending additional money on lenses. Some compacts offer a zoom lens, whereas others use a fixed focal length with no zoom capabilities.

Compact cameras are often called point-and-shoots, too. This is because many are designed to be very simple to use with fully automated settings. However, there are also more premium, advanced compact models that still offer some creative control, so not all are meant for casual users.

Unfortunately, compact cameras aren't as prevalent as they used to be, as smartphones have largely replaced them. As a result, there are limited new models available. There have been some releases in the past year, but they are typically quite pricey for casual users. Many of the newer models are designed for vlogging with more video-centric features that aren't great for pure photographers. Alternatively, you can still find older compacts second-hand, though there are some risks with buying aging cameras.

Who are compact cameras best for?

Because of their simple operation and limited need for additional accessories, compact cameras are great for casual photographers who want something other than their phone to make photographs. The small size also makes them ideal for travel use, since you can easily fit them in a jacket pocket or small purse.

However, compact cameras aren’t just for beginners. A basic point-and-shoot can be a fun outlet for those who already have advanced, technical gear. Plus, there are premium compact models, including a medium-format camera with a larger sensor. Experienced photographers who simply like the idea of a convenient camera with an integrated lens may also enjoy these compact devices.

DSLRs

Image: Nikon

Digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) are probably the most widely recognized digital interchangeable lens cameras (ILC). Unlike compact cameras, DSLRs don't use an integrated lens, so you'll need to buy one separately (or as a kit with the camera). This adds cost, but also adds flexibility and creative control, as you can choose the lens(es) that allow you to achieve the look you're after.

The other key component of DSLRs is a mirror that directs light from the lens into an optical viewfinder. That style of viewfinder gives you a real-time, direct through-the-lens view. It also results in longer battery life since the viewfinder isn't a display that uses up power. The mirror mechanism adds bulk, however.

While DSLRs are still widely used, they are past their heyday. For the last five years, major brands have been entirely focused on mirrorless technology for both cameras and lenses. Canon and Nikon last released DSLRs in 2020. Additionally, Sigma hasn't released a new lens for DSLRs since 2018 and recently changed its lens naming strategy to ditch the label that was used to identify its mirrorless lenses. Only Pentax remains committed to the DSLR format at this time.

Who are DSLR cameras best for?

Because DSLRs represent older technology, they are available at relatively affordable prices. The same is true for DSLR lenses. As a result, they are a popular choice for beginners looking to buy their first dedicated camera. Some professionals also opt for DSLRs because you can get a lot of image quality for the price at this point.

Investing in a DSLR today will leave you with outdated technology right out of the gate.

However, it would be wise to consider carefully if you want to invest in a DSLR system right now because they are end-of-life systems. They are well supported for now, but investing in a DSLR today will leave you with outdated technology right out of the gate. After all, even entry-level mirrorless cameras offer much more reliable autofocus and advanced features. New features, firmware updates and compatible accessories will also be increasingly rare for DSLRs.

Additionally, it's important to remember that you're also investing in lenses. While there are adapters that allow you to use DSLR lenses on mirrorless bodies, this adds additional bulk and can reduce the functionality of some lenses. Plus, mirrorless lenses are significantly improved over DSLR lenses, so you'll also be missing out on the latest advancements in lens technology as well.

Mirrorless cameras

Photo: Richard Butler

Mirrorless cameras are the more modern take on the interchangeable lens format. They ditch the bulky mirror mechanism found in DSLRs, allowing for a more compact, lighter body. The sacrifice, for some, is that they use an electronic viewfinder (EVF), instead of an optical one. EVFs consume more power, and there may also be a subtle lag in low light conditions (though it's rare for that to be noticeable for most users).

Since mirrorless cameras are newer than DSLRs, they offer more recent technology. That includes faster and more advanced autofocus with subject detection and tracking, faster burst shooting rates and real-time exposure simulation. They also provide better video capabilities.

Who are mirrorless cameras best for?

Mirrorless cameras are available for just about every need and preference. There are entry-level beginner models, video-centric options and high-end, professional-grade mirrorless cameras. In short, mirrorless cameras are best for anyone who wants an interchangeable lens camera for the flexibility and creative control. They are also ideal for those who need relatively compact camera bodies, advanced autofocus or greater video capabilities.

The best camera is the one that fits your needs

When shopping for a new camera, you'll hear a lot about what the best cameras are. At the end of the day, though, the best camera for you is entirely dependent on your particular needs and how you plan to use it. Each of the formats above has pros and cons and is suitable for different situations. Be sure to consider what you want to get out of the camera and what the most important features are before narrowing in on one particular device.

Canon released another teaser for the rumored EOS C50 full-frame cinema camera that will be announced on September 9th (see specs):

 

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Canon EOS C50 full-frame cinema camera coming on September 9th?

The post Another Canon EOS C50 cinema camera teaser appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Here is some additional information on the upcoming Venus Optics Laowa AF FF 200mm f/2 C-Dreamer lens (check the Laowa website for future updates):

AF Speed

The video clip is from Laowa. It demonstrates switching between distant and nearby objects; considering practical usage scenarios, this should be faster. According to Laowa, among the AF200 prototypes they are currently manufacturing, the EF version boasts the fastest autofocus speed, followed by the Z mount, while the E-mount version is the slowest. However, they did not disclose the camera bodies used in their testing, so this statement should be treated as indicative only.

Mount Versions

The confirmed versions at present are: EF, E, Z. The GFX version is likely also on the roadmap, though it will follow somewhat later. When asked whether the GFX version would feature autofocus, Laowa did not give a direct answer, but it may well be included. No F-mount. A user inquired whether an L-mount version would be produced. Laowa responded that they ‘have the capability to do so,’ but noted they had enquired about L-mount licensing, with the licensing fees appearing to be quite substantial. However, the EF-mount version can be used on L-mount bodies via an adapter. They are considering releasing a manual focus PL-mount version in the future. The aperture ring on this lens can be switched between stepped and stepless operation. This should be welcome news for users who shoot both stills and moving images.

Filters and Extenders

The E and Z versions retain space for rear filters. The EF does not, presumably due to insufficient space. Laowa has not designed dedicated extenders for it, but they indicate that using genuine Canon extenders may be worth trying.

Colors

There are currently no plans for a white lens barrel, though (third-party manufacturers) may offer protective films or “skins”.

MTF Chart

Additional Information

• Full-frame autofocus lens
• Image quality is as good as the new Sigma 200mm f/2 lens
• Cheaper than the Sigma 200mm f/2 lens
• 43mm drop-in filters, allowing VND/PL/CPL
• TC support without drop-in filters
• Planned release date: October 2025
• Weight: around 1,6 kg
• Smaller than the Nikon 200mm f/2 lens
• For Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon EF first, and later Fuji X + GFX mount
• Weather sealed
• AF/MF switch
• Programmable Fn button
• Focus limiter
• Declicked aperture

Sample Photos

Additional Pictures

Related Videos

Hands-on videos by Matt Granger:

Laowa 200mm f/2 Aura vs. Nikon 200mm f/2 VR2 vs. Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS: Which 200mm f/2 Lens Reigns Supreme?

The post Additional information on the upcoming Venus Optics Laowa AF 200mm f/2 lens (+ comparison with the Sigma and Nikon 200mm f/2) appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Here is what else is new:

This GRPS iPhone app offers seamless geotagging for Ricoh GR III cameras

Nikon temporarily suspended the Nikon Authenticity Service

The next Wetzlar Camera Auctions #7 will take place on October 11 in Wetzlar

Build your essential Leica accessory kit at Owlkrown

RedDotCameras offers 3D printed accessories for Leica cameras and lenses

Newly developed 4K-compatible broadcast zoom lens “FUJINON UA22x4.8BERD”

Fujifilm releases new 4K-compatible broadcast zoom lens, “FUJINON LA30x7.8BRM”

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

The new Hasselblad X2DII medium format camera still does not have video recording capabilities. Here is why:

Hasselblad explains why there are no video features in the X2D 100c camera

Additional Hasselblad X2DII coverage:

The new Hasselblad X2DII 100MP medium format camera is cheaper than all Leica interchangeable lens cameras

Matt Granger’s Hasselblad Expert Setup Guide now updated for the latest X2DII camera & 35-100mm lens

The post The new Hasselblad X2DII medium format camera still does not have video recording capabilities, here is why appeared first on Photo Rumors.

A German YouTube channel recently published a video featuring a blurred, apperently new camera that is supposed to be announed next week:

Both Nikon and Canon are expected to announce new video-oriented camera models next week:

Next Nikon announcement is rumored for September 10th (Nikon Zr video-oriented camera?)

Canon EOS C50 full-frame cinema camera coming on September 9th?

There is also the possibility of a new DJI mirrorless camera, but those rumors have been circulating for over 6 years now without any substantial leak or proof:

The DJI camera rumors are nothing new really, TTartisan is also working on a new camera

The DJI medium format camera rumors are back

Rumors: DJI coming with a mirrorless camera that looks like the Hasselblad X1D

Screenshots from this YouTube video

The post What camera is that? appeared first on Photo Rumors.

TTAr­ti­san released a new 35mm optical viewfinder priced at $49. 

Additional information is available here:

• 35mm Framelines
• High Light Transmission
• Weighs only 25g
• Soft Rubber Eyecup
• Aircraft Aluminum with Anodized Finish
• Universal Cold-Shoe Mount

TTAr­ti­san released a new 35mm optical viewfinder ($49)

The post New TTAr­ti­san 35mm optical viewfinder ($49) appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Nikon

Nikon has temporarily suspended its Nikon Authenticity Service program, which provided Z6III owners with the ability to sign their images with C2PA Content Credentials. In a notification, the company says it "confirmed that an issue has been identified in the Nikon Authenticity Service," and that "the service has been temporarily suspended while we work diligently to resolve the issue."

While the company didn't specify what the issue was, it seems likely it's related to a discovery made by DPReview forum member Horshack, who got the camera to sign an image it hadn't exactly taken by using the Multiple Exposure function. Yesterday, Nikon told DPReview it was investigating that issue.

The Z6III's ability to create these Content Credentials, which theoretically help prove that a photo was authentically taken with a camera and keep a record of edits made to it, was a headline feature of the Z6III's v2.0 firmware update. However, the company did tell users that it was being released as a beta, so it's not necessarily surprising that there have been a few bugs.

In its news post, Nikon promises to provide an update "as soon as the corrective measures are complete," and apologizes for any inconvenience.

Special thanks to Horshack for alerting us to Nikon's news post.

It takes a lot these days to make a music video or visualizer stand out, but that's exactly what Deftones and UK-based artist and researcher Edd Carr were able to do. The video for Cut Hands, seen above, was created with more than 2100 hand-printed cyanotypes, an analog process that required a massive undertaking by Carr. We were curious how Carr tackled this project and what led him to use an analog process for the video, and he was gracious enough to chat with us about his work.

Carr began by photographing landscapes with a DSLR and editing them extensively in Lightroom, but eventually realized something was missing. "I would go out, focus on the live view screen to get a perfect composition, then come back, and focus on the digital edit in Lightroom," he explained. That process left him feeling completely disconnected from the natural world he was trying to document.

Around the same time, Carr started reading about radical ecology and was drawn to the idea of using analog processes to feel more connected to the physical world. Since then, Carr has been deeply involved in analog photography, including alternative processes like cyanotypes, because of the feeling of connection that he gets from the tactile.

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that results in striking blue-toned images. The technique involves coating paper with a light-sensitive solution of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate, which is yellowish green when initially brushed on. To make an image, you expose the coated paper to UV light (typically sunlight) and rinse it to reveal the final image. It's a very hands-on process that aligns closely with Carr’s desire for a physical connection to his art.

Image: Edd Carr

As an artist who focuses on nature, working in analog adds another layer of connection as well. "From an ecological perspective, analog processes allow me to incorporate natural elements into my work, and connect the living landscape to the themes of my pieces," Carr explained. To that end, sometimes he develops his film in plants or buries it in soil. "I try to give voice to the land through my work," he said.

While analog is central to Carr's work, digital is also a significant component. For the music video and his other animation work, the projects begin as digital cuts based on stock footage. They are then translated to analog to create the imagery, and back to digital for the final animation.

Carr explained that creating the imagery for the Deftones project was a painstaking process. Sourcing the stock footage was just step one. "Then [I] compile it in a way to create a narrative, and also for the visuals to flow through techniques such as match cutting (matching similar shapes, such as the snake’s eyes and the eclipse), or matching movements," he said. "It is sort of like making a sculpture from found objects."

Image: Edd Carr

Once Carr makes the digital video, he splits it into individual frames, usually at 12 frames per second. "This means I end up with a stream of digital still images, comprising the entire video – in this case over 2,100 images," he explained.

After establishing the narrative digitally, Carr begins the process of transforming each frame into a cyanotype. For some of Carr's work, he uses a DLP projector to expose the cyanotype. The bulb has a trace amount of UV, and it allows him to project the image onto the paper without first printing a digital negative. However, exposures take a lot longer, so it isn't feasible for animation projects with lots of prints.

For high-volume projects like the Deftones video, Carr first creates digital negatives for each frame. Since he was dealing with so many images, he opted to make contact sheets with between 9 and 16 images per A4 sheet. Each sheet then produces roughly one second of footage.

Image: Edd Carr

Once the negatives are ready and paper is coated, he uses an artificial UV LED light to expose the prints. The artificial light allows him to fully control exposure, which enables more consistent prints. "If they aren’t consistent, you get a lot of flashing, due to the variance in exposure," he explained. "Indeed, you can see some in this Deftones video, even with controlled UV."

The sheer number of prints in an animation project like the Deftones video makes the process daunting. "The volume of prints is always a challenge, especially in a commercial context, as you often have tight deadlines to meet," Carr explained. For the Deftones video, he was making 100 prints a day, which he says was incredibly intense. He explained that he would coat the cyanotypes in batches of eight, print two rounds, wash and dry and then print again. He said it resulted in printing for 12 hours a day, which was a very physical process.

After the cyanotypes are created, Carr scans each frame back in, does some editing and drops them back into the video editor. He said that, in theory, it should play smoothly, but there are often one or two frames missing or out of order. Finding those frames and getting them back into place is a time-consuming process. He says he spent more than 12 hours a day editing, and said it was "a bit brain melting."

Carr says he wanted to channel the rock music video aesthetic he grew up with in the '90s, both in subject matter and the visual effects. The look that results from the cyanotype animation leans into that grunge look, thanks to scratches, folds, paper texture and other imperfections coming through. Carr said the unpredictability is one of the things he enjoys most about analog processes. "It is one of the reasons I love analogue; a thumbprint of mine may make its way into the animation unexpectedly, or a certain scratch or fold in the paper may give an additional exciting texture to an otherwise typical image," he said. "I can’t imagine losing this in digital, or artificially adding it with AI."

You can see more of Carr's work at his website or on Instagram.

Brightin Star announced a new 50mm f/1.4 III APS-C manual focus lens for MFT/Canon RF+M/ Fuji X/Sony E cameras. Here are the details:

Brightin Star AF 35mm f/1.8 ASPH lens officially announced (E+Z mount)

The new Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 olive green limited edition lens comes with a free Z/RF/E/X/L/GFX lens mount adapter

The post New: Brightin Star 50mm f/1.4 III APS-C manual focus lens for MFT/Canon RF+M/ Fuji X/Sony E appeared first on Photo Rumors.

New OM System and Panasonic Lumix price increases are coming to the US as a result of the Trump’s tariffs:

• OM System price increase coming in early October
• Panasonic Lumix price increase coming on September 28th

If you are planning on purchasing new gear, now would be a good time to do so, since I expect more price increases to be coming in the coming weeks/months:

• OM System gear
• Panasonic Lumix gear

At the same time, new Sofortrabatt & Cashback programs are starting in Europe (no OM System and Panasonic Lumix rebates available in the US):

• DE: Foto Erhardt (up to €400 off)
• UK: WEX Photo (up to £400 off)

New OM SYSTEM Sofortrabatt & Cashback started in Europe

The post OM System and Panasonic Lumix price increases coming to the US, while new Sofortrabatt & Cashback programs started in Europe appeared first on Photo Rumors.

The new Sigma BF camera (both silver and black versions) is now in stock at B&H Photo and WEX Photo.

Additional information on the BF can be found here:

20 things you need to know about the new Sigma BF full-frame mirrorless camera with L-mount

Hands-on pictures of the new Sigma BF full-frame L-mount camera

Sigma BF camera hands-on pictures from NYC pop-up store

Sigma announces a new BF camera with L-mount, 300-600mm f/4, 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7, and I series lenses

The post The new Sigma BF camera is now in stock (both silver and black versions) appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Image: Adobe

Thanks to Adobe, content creators and video editors will soon have access to another editing app on their phones. The company has announced that it is bringing Premiere, its computer-based video editing software, to iPhones for free.

Premiere Pro is a widely used video editing platform that offers an extensive list of advanced features suitable for professionals. Adobe says it reimagined Premiere for mobile, promising pro-level control without pro-level complexity. It describes the app as "intuitive and uncluttered." As an added benefit, unlike many other popular mobile-based video editing apps, Premiere for iPhone won't add watermarks or feature ads.

Adobe says the app allows users to start an edit on their phone and finish on the desktop version of Premiere Pro. Alternatively, it supports export directly to TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram and more. It can even automatically resize videos for each specific platform, promising to keep the main content in the frame.

Despite the streamlined UI, Premiere on iPhone will still offer familiar features for those who use the desktop version. That includes a multi-track timeline and dynamic audio waveforms. It also supports automatic captions with stylized subtitles, unlimited layers, support for 4K HDR and more.

Additionally, the Premiere iPhone app offers Generative Sound Effects, which allows users to create sound effects using a text prompt and their own voice. The app also features an AI-powered tool to record voiceovers that Adobe promises will be clear even when recording in noisy environments.

Images: Adobe

Adobe Firefly is built into the app for AI-generated assets, and users will also have access to millions of free Adobe Stock assets. The app will also enable Adobe Fonts and Lightroom presets. Creatives will be able to easily find, create and add music, sound effects, photos, text, graphics and videos to their content.

Adobe stated that the Premiere iPhone app is free. Users will only need to pay if they want to use generative credits or cloud storage.

The Adobe Premiere iPhone app will be available at the end of September, but you can pre-order it now in the App Store. The Android version is in development, so hopefully Android users don't have long to wait for access.

We're working on the studio test scene of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C and will be working towards a full review in the coming weeks. But, in the meantime, thought we'd add a couple of high ISO and low-light images shot after the camera's launch to our sample gallery.

As before all the JPEGs include a brightness map that allows more convincing rendering of bright tones and highlights on HDR displays. The versions presented in our gallery system have had the brightness maps discarded, so you'll need to download the JPEG listed next to the word "Original" on the right of the page, and view on a compatible device.

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.

The previously rumored Nikon Zf silver edition is now officially announced and available for pre-order:

• US: B&H Photo (coming soon at Paul’s Photo & Service Photo)
• UK: WEX Photo
• DE: Foto Erhardt
• CA: Camera Canada

New Nikon Zf accessories:

SmallRig announced matching silver L-shape handles and other accessories for the new silver Nikon Zf camera

Additional information:

The rumored Nikon Zf silver edition camera is now officially announced

Nikon also announced a new “Film Grain” feature for the Nikon Zf camera:

Nikon also announced a new “Film Grain” feature for the Nikon Zf camera

The post New Nikon Zf silver models announced appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Here are the rumored specifications for the Canon Cinema EOS C50 (check B&H listings) that is rumored to be announced on September 9th:

• 32MP full frame sensor
• Design similar to Sony FX3
• Red shutter button and C logo (for cinema line)
• Fully articulating screen
• No EVF
• 6K Recording
• 4K 120P With a Crop
• Triple Base ISO
• Dual SD Card Slots
• Open Gate recording
• 15+ stops dynamic range
• C-Log 2, C-Log 3

Canon to announce a new entry level cinema camera on September 9th (Canon EOS RC?)

The post Canon EOS C50 full-frame cinema camera coming on September 9th? appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Here is what else is new:

The rumored Nikon Zf silver edition camera is now officially announced

Nikon also announced a new “Film Grain” feature for the Nikon Zf camera

Major vulnerability in Nikon’s C2PA feature on the Z6 III detected by a reader?

Fringer P645-GFX adapter now available (for using Pentax 645 lenses on Fujifilm GFX cameras)

KIPON Announced The CINESPEED65 37-156mm Cinezoom For Medium Format Cameras

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

Not all of the Pro Res Zoom results are terrible. This image was taken at 52.7x zoom. Photo: Abby Ferguson

When Google announced the Google Pixel 10 series last month, it highlighted the 'Pro Res Zoom' feature. While the capabilities it offers certainly sound nice on paper, and Google has shown a few impressive results, we had to put it to the test to see what it's actually capable of.

What is Pro Res Zoom?

Traditionally, phones have used a process of cropping and enlarging an image when the user chooses to zoom in past its maximum optical setting. However, digital zoom typically results in images that are very low quality, with little in the way of detail. That's especially the case when trying to photograph something far away, as the more you crop in (and the less of the sensor you use), the worse the quality gets.

Google's latest Pro Res Zoom tool also uses cropping and enlarging, but combines it with generative AI; the first use of the tech in the company's camera app. Google says Pro Res Zoom will retain detail by generating information to fill in the gaps.

The standard Pixel 10 offers Pro Res Zoom up to 20x, while the 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL allow up to 100x. On the two Pro models, Pro Res Zoom doesn't kick in until 30x. Anything below that uses the more traditional method of digital zoom, while anything above 30x gets the AI treatment.

Real-world Pro Res Zoom tests

We've all seen botched AI image generation plenty at this point. So when Google said that the Pixel 10 models would be using generative AI for the Pro Res Zoom feature and that it enabled 100x zoom, I was a bit reluctant. I've spent some time testing the feature, and it can be a bit of a mixed bag.

When you take a photography using Pro Res Zoom, Google gives you the unprocessed file along with the AI processed image. You will see both versions in the examples below, illustrating what changes the AI is making.

This image was taken with 32x zoom, so the bird wasn't terribly far from me. On the left is the unprocessed image, and on the right is the Pro Res Zoom processed image. Photo: Abby Ferguson

I tried out Pro Res Zoom on quite a few birds, as that seems like a natural use case for the feature. It handled things okay at the lower zoom levels, such as in the example above. Details remained fairly natural-looking, and it indeed appeared to be higher quality than the version that wasn't processed with AI. However, as I zoomed in more, things started to fall apart.

The original, unprocessed image, 100x zoom.	The first attempt at Pro Res Zoom at 100x.
The second attempt at Pro Res Zoom at 100x.	You can see the bird in question as a tiny white spec in this image taken with the main camera.

In the examples above, I zoomed in to 100X. As you can see, the results leave quite a bit to be desired. The top right image is the result of my struggling to hold the phone steady while zoomed in so far, which could be the reason for the intense ghosting and three legs. The bottom left image was a second attempt at holding still, and it at least turned out better, though detail is still lacking on the bird's body.

At times, I found that Pro Res Zoom resulted in some classic generative AI results, including misshapen animals or missing parts. For example, in the duck photo below, the duck now has feathers on its beak. Pro Res Zoom handled the rest of the image fairly well, but struggled with that area.

The unprocessed image on the left, and Pro Res Zoom image on the right. Photo: Abby Ferguson

When Google presented Pro Res Zoom it clarified that it is meant for landscapes and landmarks. However, Google said that special tuning is applied when people are in the frame to prevent odd images. Naturally, I tried it on a person at 100x to see what would happen, and at least the result was rather entertaining.

The unprocessed image on the left, and Pro Res Zoom processed image on the right. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Accurately creating text in images has historically been a difficult task for generative AI, so I set out to take some images of signs during my testing as well. On text that was relatively readable when zoomed in without processing, Pro Res Zoom did a decent job of keeping things that way. However, if the text was challenging to read beforehand, the AI processing didn't improve things at all.

The unprocessed image on the left, and Pro Res Zoom processed image on the right. Photo: Abby Ferguson

Final thoughts

When an image is created with Pro Res Zoom, the Content Credentials will specify that AI tools were used.

Overall, the lower the level of zoom, the better the Pro Res Zoom results. That's not surprising, given that the same is true of basic digital zoom; the greater the crop, the less actual image data there is to work with. But regardless of quality, there are some additional factors to consider here. First, it's challenging to take a photo when zoomed to 20x, and remarkably difficult at 100x. Framing a shot successfully at such magnification is no easy task, and likely isn't practical for most situations.

Perhaps more importantly, in many of the images above, it's very clear that generative AI was used. Google added Content Credentials to the Pixel 10 phones, so images processed with Pro Res Zoom are tagged as using AI tools, but it still feels like less of a photograph and more of a graphic because of just how much of the detail in the image is generated, rather than captured. Of course, everyone will have their own thoughts on that front, but it is worth considering.

The Nikon Zf is now available in even more colors. Photo: Nikon

The Nikon Zf is known for its retro design, but now there's even more ways to get one that looks like a camera of yore. Nikon has announced a silver edition, which features – no points for guessing – a silver top and bottom plate instead of a black one.

Nikon designed the Zf silver edition to resemble the chrome plating on cameras like the Nikon F. The true retro-nod comes in the silver and black model, which offers the same textured black leatherette found on the existing all-black version.

If you prefer something a little flashier, you can get the silver finish version wrapped in some of the existing colors from the black version, including Moss Green, Stone Gray and Sepia Brown. The silver also ushers in three new "premium" color options, which will also be available for the black-bodied version of the Zf as well. The Cognac Brown is a lighter brown than the existing Sepia option. Similarly, the Teal Blue is a brighter, more colorful blue than the existing Indigo. Finally, Mauve Pink is a lighter red.

The colored leatherette extends to the top of the cameras as well. Photo: Nikon

The total number of Zf color variations will vary by region. For example, the black Zf has been available in four colors in the US, but seven in the UK.

Taking the retro-viber further, Nikon also announced an upcoming firmware update for the Zf that will add a Film Grain feature. As the name implies, the feature will allow users to add grain to photos and videos. It's a customizable option, with three grain size options and six grain strength levels. The feature can be combined with presets created by Nikon and creators and Picture Control color modes. Nikon didn't provide a specific date for the firmware update, but said it will be out sometime in 2025.

The Nikon Zf Silver Edition will be available in late September for $2200. The three premium colors – Cognac Brown, Teal Blue and Muave Pink – will cost $2300.

The previously reported 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8 full frame lens for Sony E-mount is now officially announced and available for pre-order:

7artisans | AliExpress | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon CA | Amazon FR | Amazon ES | Amazon IT

Additional information on the new lens:

• Cinematic Video & Tracking – Fast, silent, and precise autofocus for smooth subject tracking
• Golden Humanist Perspective – 35mm focal length for natural, lifelike compositions
• F1.8 Bokeh – Soft, creamy background blur elevates portraits, food, and stills, sharp even in low light
• Perfect for Tight Spaces – Compact design for balanced compositions in confined environments
• Versatile Across Scenes – Ideal for portraits, street, video, food, and night photography
• Elevate your photography and videography with the AF 35mm F1.8 E-Mount — fast, silent, and precise autofocus that keeps every creative story in focus
• Frame: Full Frame
• Mounts: E mount
• Focus Range: 0.4m – ∞
• Filter Size: φ62mm
• Weight: ≈426g(E)
• Price: $299

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