Image: Westend61 / Westend61 via Getty Images

Welcome back to our Question of the Week series! This reader-focused series aims to get our photographic community to share thoughts on all sorts of photography-related topics in our forums. We pose questions about gear, favorite camera stores, advice, problem-solving and more, and you share your thoughts and opinions.

This week, we’re leaning into the holiday spirit! The season of giving (and occasionally re-gifting) is upon us, and that means it’s time to unwrap some memories – both heartwarming and hilarious.

What are the best (and worst) photography-related gifts you've received?

What’s the best photography-related gift you’ve ever received? Maybe it was a dream lens that caused you to take on an adventure deep in the mountains, or a handmade camera strap that’s now an essential part of your kit. And what about the worst? Perhaps someone thought you needed yet another "World’s Best Photographer" mug, or that odd lens filter set that turned every photo a shade of green.

In this edition of our Question of the Week series, we want to hear your gift stories: the memorable, the useful and the truly baffling. Share your favorites (and flops) in the forum link below. Photos of the gifts (or what you created with them) are also more than welcome! We'll highlight some of your most entertaining and heartfelt responses in next week's roundup.

Click here to answer the Question of the week

SG-Image will release a new AF 25mm f/1.8 lens for MFT on June 15th. This lens already exists for other mounts. Here are the details:

• 7-element in 5-group optical design (including 3 high-refractive-index elements)
• 9-blade aperture
• Aperture range: f/1.8 – f/16
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.3 meters
• 52mm filter size
• Weight 145 grams
• Dimensions: Φ67mm × 31mm
• Available in black and silver

SG-Image lenses are also sold at eBay, AliExpress, and Amazon Japan.

SG-image AF 25mm f/1.8 lens officially released (E/X)

New: SG-Image 25mm f/1.8 lens

The post New SG-Image AF 25mm f/1.8 lens for MFT to be announced next week appeared first on Photo Rumors.

Fresh rumors circulating in Chinese‑language photography communities suggest that Viltrox may be preparing to enter the camera market with its own mirrorless model, and one of the strongest claims is that it could use the Nikon Z mount.

Viltrox recently joined the L-Mount Alliance, so if they come up with a new camera, L-mount will make much more sense.

Other speculations refer to a recent Viltrox patent filed in China that involves the Nikon Z-mount – could it be that Viltrox designed a mount similar to the Nikon Z-mount but different enough, so they do not get into legal trouble? Some Chinese commenters speculate that:

“If Nikon restricts Viltrox lenses, Viltrox may build its own camera body to avoid dependency.”

Nikon already has an ongoing lawsuit against Viltrox about licensing/royalties for Nikon’s underlying Z-mount technology (additional information). Viltrox has continued releasing Z-mount lenses even during the legal situation. If Nikon is currently litigating against Viltrox over Z-mount-related intellectual property, launching a Viltrox-branded Nikon Z camera would dramatically increase legal exposure.

Rumors about a Viltrox mirrorless camera are not new and have been debunked so far:

No, Viltrox is not working on a digital camera

Why a Nikon Z-mount camera from Viltrox is unlikely:

• Legal barriers: Nikon is actively litigating Z-mount IP against Viltrox for lenses. A full camera body would require even deeper integration and licensing.
• Technical/financial scale: Viltrox excels at lenses (strong in AF primes across mounts). Building a competitive mirrorless body (sensor, processor, IBIS, EVF, firmware, etc.) is a completely different and capital-intensive endeavor. No Chinese lens maker has successfully done this at scale recently without major partnerships or rebadging.
• Business focus: Viltrox continues to aggressively expand its lens lineup (including Z-mount models) rather than pivoting to bodies.

My current estimate is that the “Viltrox Nikon Z camera” story is likely a rumor chain that started from the newly discovered Z-mount patent and then evolved into speculation on Chinese forums. These rumors remain unconfirmed, fragmentary, and not supported by any of my sources.

More Viltrox camera mockups:

The post More strange rumors from China: Viltrox to release a mirrorless camera with Nikon Z-mount appeared first on Photo Rumors.