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Shooting with the Sigma BF in London
Photo: Al Power
Editor Richard Butler took the Sigma BF as a travel companion on his recent vacation to the UK. He wrote about the experience of using the camera, but we also wanted to highlight the sample images he shot.
The gallery includes a mixture of out-of-camera JPEGs, shot primarily in the Mono and Rich color modes, along with a handful of images reprocessed from Raw in the camera, with adjustments made to highlight or shadow response.
One photo per day with the Sigma BF
Sample gallery
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In addition to his attempts to shoot one 'good' photo per day, Richard also spent a day on a photo walk around London with a friend from his earliest days of digital photography. These shots include more extensive use of the camera's black-and-white mode, again with some examples re-processed in-camera.
A photo walk in London
Sample gallery
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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.
Welcome to the accessory roundup! This week, we have a lot to go over, including a graphic novel about a famous photographer, a phone case that'll survive whatever conditions you find yourself in and a stylish on-camera flash. First, though, let's look at the deals
Deals of the week
Photo: Canon
The Canon EOS R6 II is one of our favorite cameras at its price point, and this week it's on sale for $200 off its MSRP putting it right at $2000.
Viltrox's latest on-camera flash, the Vintage Z1, is designed to fit in with retro-style cameras like the Nikon Zf or Fujifilm X-T series. It has a silver and leatherete finish and its power knob offers a pop of brass-color. Its manual control knob, which gives you access to its seven power levles, also has a bit of retro flaire. It has a single-contact hotshoe interface, giving it wide compatability.
The light comes with a defuser, has a recycle time of 0.2 to 3.5 seconds and can get "up to 10,000 flashes on a full charge," though that number is based on its minimum power output. However, recharging it shouldn't take long: plug in a USB-C lead, and it'll be fully powered within an hour.
Even if you don't know the name Eadweard Muybridge, you're almost certainly familiar with his work. He spent the 1800s photographing some of the grandest places in the American West, before casually helping invent the motion picture with his work The Horse In Motion. Now, his story is enshrined in a graphic novel by Guy Delisle called Muybridge, which the publisher says "brings this historical figure and those around him to life through an uncompromising lens."
According to an article in The Guardian about Muybridge, the book doesn't try to turn a complicated, real-life person into a comic book hero. We don't want to spoil too much if you're not familiar with his life – or his criminal trial – but this book probably isn't one to share with younger kids. But if you're interested in the history of photography, it seems like it'll be well worth a read.
I've long been a fan of Peak Design's Mobile cases, because the SlimLink system lets you securely mount your phone to various camera mounts and tripods, as well as onto bike handles and car dashboards. However, I'm also really tough on phone cases, and the (frankly, beautiful) textile-backed cases haven't lasted long under my "care."
Peak Design's new GNAR case promises an alternative. The company says it has "all the protection, ruggedness, and connect-ability that you could ever want," and it features a TPU bumper and a bezel to keep your cameras safe. The edge is also knurled to make it easier to grip your phone in less than ideal conditions. Despite its extra thickness and the SlimLink connector, the company says it should still work with Apple's MagSafe wireless chargers.
The one downside is its limited compatability: it's currently only available for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, which is a bummer if you're not rocking the latest from Apple. However, if you are, the case is already on sale – you can snag it for $35.97, instead of its eventual $59.95 MSRP.
While common wisdom says that 800 ISO film and below can safely go through X-ray machines at the airport, it seems like the new CT scanners that have been popping up may be – to borrow a phrase – unsafe for any speed. Photographer and TikToker Sissi Lu is putting out a new bag that you can put your film in that warns security personel not to send it through the machine in seven different languages. It also comes with a card with a message about the sensitive contents of the bag in 21 additional languages, as well as some cute film-themed stickers.
The bag won't keep your film safe if a security guard puts it through the machine anyways, either because they refused to do a hand-check or if you forgot to dig it out of your luggage, but it should at least help a bit with language barriers that pop up – assuming you're lucky enough to get an agent that still knows what film.
External monitors that can mount to your camera have always been a great tool for filmmakers and videographers, and over the past few years they've been becoming more and more affordable. The Portkeys PT5 III, though, takes it to a new level – it's only $169, but still includes a 5.4" screen that with an 800 nit max brightness as well as assistance tools like waveforms, a histogram, focus peaking and False Color. You can also use it to preview what your Log footage will look like once it has a LUT applied.
The PT5 III can take a 4K30P signal via HDMI, though the display only runs at 1080p at 60fps. At that size, though, that'll be enough for most users. You can run it off a Sony NP-F-style battery, or USB-C, and while it doesn't include a battery, it does come with a sunshade, full-size HDMI cable, micro-to-full-size HDMI cable and a mount.
The F1.8 maximum aperture delivers striking shallow depth of field for dramatic foreground-background separation, while excelling in dimly lit environments. Ideal for astrophotography, environmental portraits, or capturing bustling cityscapes with minimal noise.
2. Full-Frame Autofocus: Fast and Reliable
7Artisans’ debut AF system prioritizes speed and accuracy, leveraging a stepping motor for near-silent, responsive focus transitions—perfect for hybrid shooters balancing stills and video.
3. Multi-Mount Versatility
Available in E, L and Z systems, the lens caters to a broad range of full-frame mirrorless users.
4. Optical Prowess
While full specs remain under wraps, 7Artisans promises edge-to-edge sharpness and minimized distortion—critical for architectural and landscape work—along with robust flare resistance for backlit scenes.
Auto Adjust – Effortless Image Enhancement
A new addition to the Develop / Develop RAW tool, Auto Adjust automatically enhances images by intelligently adjusting key sliders to achieve optimal exposure, light and shadow balance, and black & white levels. Available for Pro subscribers and Upgrade Pass owners.
Catalog Cache Cleaning – Optimized Performance
To improve app efficiency, Luminar Neo now includes a new Catalog Cache Cleaning feature within Preferences. We received countless requests from our users related to optimizing disk space when working with large catalogs, which is why this tool was developed. It helps users clear cache files, significantly enhancing speed and performance.
Depth Models Update – Even More Realistic Fog Effect
The Atmosphere AI tool receives a quality upgrade, delivering an even more natural and immersive Fog Creation effect for those moody landscape images. The refined model enhances photos with a cinematic atmosphere, providing photographers with an even greater level of control and realism.
Improved Export Menu – Enhanced Customization
The new export window offers advanced customization options for format, quality, size, resolution, and file name, as well as a new export format—DNG—helping users prepare files for print faster and more easily.
Luminar Neo Spring Sale (April 4 - 28, 2025) - up to 75% discount for new users:
Luminar Neo 1 year subscription + free 100 creative add-ons + free Neo video course worth $79 (75% off): $69
Canon Imaging Business Unit financial results recap:
In the Imaging Business Unit, sales of interchangeable-lens digital cameras increased substantially thanks to the healthy inventory levels and continued to experience strong sales of the EOS R5 Mark II, which was launched in the second half of the previous year. Sales of network cameras also increased as the market grew steadily. As a result, sales for the first quarter of the Imaging Business Unit increased by 20.8% compared with the same period of the previous year to ¥212.1 billion, while income before income taxes for the first quarter increased by 116.8% compared with the same period of the previous year to ¥32.3 billion.
Q: If you look at the impact of U.S. tariffs by segment, what is the order of magnitude?
A: The order of magnitude of tariff impact by segment is proportional to the sales volume in the United States. A rough breakdown of sales shows that Printing accounts for about 60%, Medical for about 10%, and Imaging for about 25%.
Q: Please talk about the status of the price increase. If additional tariffs are passed on to product prices, how much of a price increase will we see in the end market?
A: We have notified major dealers that we will raise prices and are in the process of estimating the timing and amount of the increase. Since tariffs are borne against the cost of goods, the higher the cost ratio is, the higher the price rate increases. We will conduct a detailed analysis, including the cost of each product and where it is produced, and will determine the rate of price increase for each product.
Here is the recap of the Canon Q1/2025 financial report:
Market Performance: The Imaging Business Unit, which includes cameras and lenses, accounted for approximately 25% of Canon's U.S. sales, making it a significant segment affected by U.S. tariffs.
Price Increases: The unit is implementing price increases due to rising production costs, inflation, supply chain challenges, and additional tariffs, with the exact rate varying by product based on cost ratios and production location.
Tariff Impact: Canon expects a competitive advantage in the camera market due to its higher production in Japan compared to competitors who rely more on China, where tariffs are higher (e.g., 145% on Chinese exports).
Sales Volume Strategy: Despite potential sales volume declines due to price increases, Canon believes it can redirect backordered products like cameras to other regions if U.S. shipments are impacted, minimizing overall sales loss.
Inventory Management: The U.S. sales subsidiary holds 1-2 months of inventory, which was factored into tariff cost projections, with the main tariff impact expected in the latter half of 2025 as inventory depletes.
Competitive Landscape: Canon faces intense competition from Sony and Nikon in the mirrorless market but aims to maintain its edge through strengths in autofocus technology and its lens ecosystem.
Remembering Wildlife, a book series focused on conservation, has revealed the 20 winning photos that will be featured in its forthcoming 10th anniversary edition, 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife. The new book, set for release on October 6th, will be the series' most ambitious project yet. It'll bring together images spanning a decade of photographers' work to raise awareness for endangered species.
For the first time, the project will spotlight multiple species rather than focusing on one. This book will showcase not only the winning competition entries but also standout images from the previous nine titles. It will also feature a dedicated section highlighting the plight of the world's most trafficked mammal, the pangolin. The cover image of a pangolin was captured by Tristan Dicks.
All profits from the sale of the book will fund pangolin conservation efforts. Since launching in 2016 with Remembering Elephants, the entire series has sold over 55,000 copies and donated over $1.5 million to 79 conservation projects across 34 countries. This competition drew over 4,500 entries from photographers worldwide, with winners representing Australia, Brazil, the United States, Kenya and Namibia, to name a few.
Founded by British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett MBE, Remembering Wildlife was founded in response to a personal encounter with a poached elephant in North Kenya. For more information and to browse books and prints, check out the organization's website.
"Clash of the Titans" by Alessandro Marena (Italy)
Subject: Rhino, Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia, Kenya
About the image: Illegal poaching of rhinos for their horns means they remain under huge threat. Remembering Wildlife has donated funds to several rhino protection units and conservation projects, helping to provide smartphones fitted with cameras and GPS systems, fuel for patrol vehicles and clothing for rangers.
About the image: “Baffin Island is one of the most majestic and pristine environments in the world to see polar bears, especially in March and April when the sea ice has frozen. However, with temperatures between -30 to -40 it is also one of the most challenging to ensure you keep your hands warm to press the shutter. We had spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon with this mother and her COYS (Cubs of the year) which were likely a week or so out of their den.
However, just as they were settled the mother got spooked and she and the cubs ran off towards a nearby iceberg. We set off to see if we could spot them and when we got to this iceberg I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mother and cubs were huddled together on top of the iceberg. To witness such intimate moments, such as this one, between the cubs whilst their mother sleeps is something that is a once in a lifetime sighting.”
About the Image: “High in the canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, two young mountain gorillas dangle from the branches, locked in a playful game of chase. Their world is one of curiosity and mischief—tugging, teasing, and tumbling through the treetops as they learn the skills they'll need to navigate life in the wild. But this lighthearted moment is also a testament to a serious conservation success.
Once critically endangered, mountain gorillas are now the only great ape species whose population is increasing, thanks to anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and responsible eco-tourism in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a world where every life counts, these two remind us that the future of their species isn’t just about survival—it’s about thriving, playing, and living wild and free.”
About the image: Weighing up to 260kg and measuring up to 3 metres in length, the tiger is the largest of the big cats. It is found in Asia, from India – where two-thirds of all wild tigers live – through to the Russian Far East and into China.
"African Black Bellied Pangolin" by Alessandra Sikand (USA)
Subject: Black bellied pangolin, Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha
About the image: National Park, Central African Republic. The landmark book 10 Years ofRemembering Wildlife has a special focus on pangolins – also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet.
About the image: “A lioness carries one of her two little ones to a new hiding spot in early morning. Taken in 2021 when vehicle traffic was light and we were able to follow without impacting her movements.”
"Leopard enjoying morning sun break" by Ifham Raji (Sri Lanka)
Subject: African Wild Dog puppies, Tswalu Kalahari Nature Reserve, South Africa
About the image: Projects that Remembering Wildlife supports include vaccinating domestic dogs to help prevent the spread of rabies to African wild dogs; GPS collars to track their movements and even helped facilitate the translocation of 14 African wild dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, in a historic project to reintroduce this endangered species to Malawi. Since the successful translocation, pups have been born.
About the image: “Two sub-adult tiger brothers enjoying the early morning sunrise” Margot Raggett MBE, founder and producer of Remembering Wildlife, said: “It’s an oft-quoted fact that there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than there are left in the world, a stark reminder of how the future of tigers might end if conservationists do not continue their focus and their fight. Tigers are a bellwether for the health of an ecosystem. For every tiger protected in the forest, there are plants, trees, insects, birds and other mammals who thrive.”
"In the arms of eternity" by Kim Paffen (Netherlands)
Subject: Mountain Gorilla and her baby, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
About the image: “A mountain gorilla mother cradles her infant – a portrait of tenderness etched in shadows and light. Here, where Dian Fossey’s legacy still whispers through the bamboo, every touch is a lesson, every gaze a vow. Her quiet strength shields not just her child, but the fragile future of species reborn from the brink.”
There's always an epic amount of work that goes on behind the scenes with any movie, far beyond just the filming portion. In a recent video shared on Kodak's YouTube, director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) provides unique insight into some of that process, breaking down the different film formats and aspect ratios in conjunction with the release of his new movie, Sinners.
It's been an incredibly popular video on social media, with people saying it's like "a masterclass" in filmmaking and even making them want to go to film school. One Instagram user, redbikebluebike, even said, "Straight up film school for the public. Free tuition." On YouTube, TheUltimateKawai1 said, "I love this. This didn't feel like a throwaway thing where he was forced to do anything he wasn't comfortable with, this is a guy nerding out over film, educating people about the different formats and then explaining how they apply to his movie."
Indeed, Coogler covers a lot of ground in the video, offering information that goes well beyond this movie in particular. He shows off film strips representing each of the different film formats, from the tiny Super8 film used for home movies all the way up to large format (65mm) film. He even touches on the importance of perforations, explaining that they filmed with two different camera systems for the movie and that this is the first time a movie combines 2.76:1 "Ultra Panavision 70" and 1.43:1 "IMAX" aspect ratios.
Impressively, he also details the different ways the movie will be exhibited, with some theaters showing it in different aspect ratios, different projection methods, and even with different experiences, like 4DX. You can tell that Coogler is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about what he's talking about, and it's both fascinating and inspirational to watch him explain all of this information.
It's firmware Friday. Once again, Sony and Nikon lead the charge with firmware updates. Nikon even surprised us with an update to a discontinued model. The Coolpix P1000, which has become a meme in photography circles for its insane zooming capabilities, may have been discontinued in March 2024, but that doesn't mean it's been forgotten.
We've rounded up the latest firmware changes for Sony's a7CR, a7S III anda7C II, along with updates for Nikon's Z50 and Zfc cameras. Lenses from Chinese manufacturers TTArtisan and 7Artisans also received improvements. Here's what came out this week.
You can download the software update using the Creators' App, which is available for iOS and Google Play.
Benefits and improvements
Shooting & Playback functions:
Allows you to set Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals.
Introduces support for the Framing Stabilizer feature, which automatically adjusts the composition to keep the tracked subject in the same frame position during movie recording mode.
Adds Dynamic Active mode to SteadyShot for movie recording.
Allows you to add OK/NG/KEEP flags to clips during or after movie recording.
Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings.
You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
Improves image quality when applying user LUTs.
Allows the use of Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF while using the Bright Monitoring feature.
Adds a function that allows you to narrow down played-back images using multiple filters (e.g. Rating).
Adds the Golden Ratio Grid option to the Grid Line Type setting menu.
Adds support for the Custom Grid Line feature.
The Custom Grid Line feature is available as a paid license. Availability depends on country and region.
Increases the maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder to 9,999.
Adds support for importing/switching multiple IPTC Presets.
FTP Transfer & Network functions:
Allows scheduling of FTP transfers while writing data to the camera's storage media.
You can now automatically schedule FTP transfer of protected movies and still images.
Movies/still images transferred via FTP transfer can now be automatically protected.
You can now continue shooting while transferring captured photos and videos to a smartphone or tablet.
Transfer to smartphones and tablets can now be resumed even if interrupted in the middle of a transfer.
You can now transfer only the differences that have not yet been transferred to your smartphone or tablet, or add videos to be transferred during the transfer process.
Adds support for the Network Streaming function.
Allows you to upload camera images directly to the Creators' Cloud.
Displays the Wi-Fi signal strength when the Wi-Fi function is On.
Please note that Ver. 2.9.0 or later of the Creators’ App is necessary for some of the above FTP Transfer & Network functions. The Creators’ App may not be available in some countries or regions. For more information, visit the Creators’ Cloud support website.
Others:
Allows notifications to be displayed when the latest software is available for your camera.
WPA and WEP functionalities are no longer supported.
You will no longer be able to select WPA or WEP when connecting to Wi-Fi.
Please use the more secure WPA2 or WPA3 moving forward.
Fixes an issue where the camera operation may become unstable when Pixel Mapping is performed.
Improves the operational stability of the camera.
The a7C II also got a Ver 2.00 update, with a difference in the benefits and improvements.
Shooting & Playback functions:
Allows you to set Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals.
Introduces support for the Framing Stabilizer feature, which automatically adjusts the composition to keep the tracked subject in the same frame position during movie recording mode.
Adds Dynamic Active mode to SteadyShot for movie recording.
Allows you to add OK/NG/KEEP flags to clips during or after movie recording.
Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings.
You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
Improves image quality when applying user LUTs.
Allows the use of Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF while using the Bright Monitoring feature.
Adds a function that allows you to narrow down played-back images using multiple filters (e.g. Rating).
Adds the Golden Ratio Grid option to the Grid Line Type setting menu.
Adds support for the Custom Grid Line feature.
The Custom Grid Line feature is available as a paid license. Availability depends on country and region.
Increases the maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder to 9,999.
Adds support for importing/switching multiple IPTC Presets.
Fixed an issue where browsing other pictures would not function as expected after using a stretch gesture to zoom in on a picture taken in portrait orientation.
The values on the control panel would remain on even after the camera was turned off and the lens was removed if [On] was selected for [Connect to smart device] > [Upload while off] in the [SETUP MENU] while the camera was connected to SnapBridge via Wi-Fi.
The viewfinder display would sometimes be disrupted if the shutter-release button was pressed halfway right before entering playback mode by pressing the playback button while looking through the viewfinder with the monitor closed.
The viewfinder display would sometimes be disrupted when Picture Control settings were displayed in the i menu.
Coolpix P1000 updates for Version 1.8 (Mac) and (Windows)
Fixed an issue where the camera would in rare circumstances stop responding after burst shooting.
Lens firmware updates
TTArtisan FUJI-X AF 35mm F1.8 Mark II V1.0.2 update
Image: TTArtisan
Improved corner vignetting performance.
Fixed firmware version display errors and focus reset issues on some cameras.
Improved slow or abnormal autofocus performance on some cameras.
Must be upgraded with Windows system.
Do not update this firmware on the AF 35mm F1.8 Mark I.
It's not a secret that many people are frustrated with the direction of Instagram. Its list of infractions is long: its default algorithmic feed isn't chronological and pushes content from people you don't follow, the content is over-commercialized, it can't accommodate certain crops, there are too many ads, too many videos and so on. But for so long, Instagram has been the primary platform for photographers and creatives to share their work and build a community. So, where does that leave us?
For those interested in staying involved with social media, Instagram's shifted focus has resulted in anything but a vacuum of options for photographers. Plenty of apps have popped up, and there's even been something of a resurgence of some old-school platforms.
Foto app
Images: Foto
The Foto app is one of the newest kids on the block that has popped up as an alternative to Instagram. It doesn't crop your photos or support videos, it's completely ad-free and the feed is chronological. Photos have the option for captions, and you can add and respond to comments on each post. Unlike other alternatives, you can publicly see the like count on each image, though some may consider that a negative. There are no public-facing follower counts, however.
Foto partly stands out from other Instagram alternatives because you can use it for free. In fact, at the time of writing, it is entirely free. There will be a paid "Pro" subscriber plan in the future with features like a portfolio, shop and more. However, the website says that there will always be "a high-quality free tier so anyone can freely use Foto." The app is available on Android and iOS devices, but there is no web-based version at the time of writing.
I've been using Foto a little bit, and I have been impressed by the clean user interface. There isn't a long list of things to check when posting, so it's much simpler and straightforward compared to Instagram. You're also limited to three preset tags on posts, which helps reduce the noise when looking for certain types of content. It's a simple, easy-to-navigate platform that feels refreshing compared to Instagram.
Of course, Foto is quite new, so there will be growing pains as they continue developing the app. That also means lots of opportunities for exciting new features as it improves; you just need to be patient for those. Additionally, while Foto makes it clear that the app is for everyone, even non-photographers, it is inherently going to attract those interested in photography, thereby limiting your audience.
VSCO
Images: VSCO
VSCO is perhaps best known as an editing platform with its expansive list of presets and editing tools. However, it also functions as a social media platform that fosters creativity and expression over social metrics. It doesn't display likes, follows or repost metrics publicly, aiming to keep competition and comparison out of the experience. In fact, unless you manually count each like or repost, you can't even see a total on your own images.
There are no ads of any sort and no promoted posts getting pushed to your feed. Put simply, VSCO pared things down to keep the focus on the photos. There aren't even comments on VSCO, so the only text that exists is in the caption field. One of the platform's unique features is the ability to reshare work from others to your profile, allowing you to create your own curated gallery of sorts.
There is a completely free version of VSCO, which allows users to access basic editing tools and share on the platform. However, memberships, at either $30 per year or $60 per year, unlock more features and tools. It's available on Android and iOS devices and there's also a web version.
I've been a VSCO user for years, and one of the things I appreciate is the way the company works to foster creativity and community. Monthly photo prompts and various open calls get you to try new things or share your work. These prompts are an opportunity to gain visibility or even get paid for your work, with VSCO selecting some to promote and license for upcoming campaigns. There's also lots of educational and inspirational content available through the app, making it a place to learn and grow. Plus, the web version of VSCO serves as a platform for people to hire photographers, so it could be a way to connect with clients.
Glass
Images: Glass
Glass officially launched in August 2021, shortly after Instagram lead Adam Mosseri said the platform was "no longer just a square photo-sharing app". It initially launched exclusively for iPhones, but is now available for any iOS device, Android, Windows and web. Glass is unique because it is focused on features that appeal to serious photographers, including full EXIF data, camera and lens insights, minimal image compression and support for P3 wide color. Whereas Foto is meant as an app for anyone, Glass is geared toward dedicated photographers.
Like Foto, Glass is ad-free and algorithm-free. Instead, it shows your feed in chronological order. As with VSCO, there are no public likes, shares or follower counts, helping photographers keep comparison and competition out of the equation. It also highlights the work of its members and hosts monthly challenges based around categories.
The downside to Glass is that you can't use it without a subscription. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial, but will need to input credit card information right out of the gate, even if you just want to test it out. Then, the basic membership costs $40 per year. You can also opt for the Patron level, which provides additional support to the team in return for exclusive perks for $131 per year. The founders of Glass explain that because they charge for the platform, they can keep it free of ads and data tracking.
Flickr
Image: Flickr
Flickr is one of the original social media platforms for photographers. It was popular when I was just starting out in photography back in the early 2000s. Of course, at the time, it was exclusively a website (the only app I had on my phone was the Snake game). Times have changed, though, and a Flickr app is now available for just about any device.
The feed of work you follow on Flickr is chronological, with no algorithm dictating what you see. You can see stats on images, including views, favorites and comments, so Flickr won't be the place for you if you're trying to avoid those things.
When you favorite an image, it shows up in a gallery on your profile, much like VSCO's Republish feature. You can also create galleries of more specific categories from work you like. In terms of your photographs, they all show up on your Photostream, which is like your Instagram grid. You can break it into Albums as well to categorize things if you like. Flickr can also serve as a backup for storing your work, and it even offers a plugin for Lightroom.
You can use Flickr for free, but it will be somewhat limited. The free version also features ads. FlickrPro lets you see more stats on your work, removes the ads and gives you unlimited storage space. The Pro membership also gives you the option to change the privacy settings of your photos, unlocks 6K display options and unlocks discounts for various companies.
What made Flickr stand out in its heyday was the ability to build community and connections.
What made Flickr stand out in its heyday was the ability to build community and connections. I met two of my good friends through the site as a result of regularly interacting with their work. Those two friends also met through Flickr, coming together from different parts of the country and eventually getting married.
While today's Flickr isn't quite the same as it was back then (what is?), it has seen a resurgence lately, thanks to the frustration with Instagram. That community aspect is still there, and, thanks to the endless groups based on any photographic interest you may have, it is easy to find like-minded people. A quick glance at the groups I am still part of shows that they are very much still active in terms of photos being shared and comments being made.
What are you using social media for?
Earlier this year, a photographer I follow on Instagram shared some posts to their Stories about why they aren't moving to an app dedicated to photographers. They explained that they want their work to be seen by a broader audience and not only exist within a bubble of people who are highly invested in photography. Unfortunately, I can't recall who this was or what type of work they make, but it made me pause and reflect. Their posts raised a valuable question: Why do we share our work on social media?
Of course, the answer to that question will be different for everyone. But it's worth considering, no matter who you are. That's especially true if you're debating moving to a different social media platform since each may cater to a slightly different audience or provide unique tools. Reflecting on why you share your work and what you hope to get out of doing so can help you better understand which type of platform(s) may make the most sense for you.
If your goal is to join a community of (relatively speaking) like-minded photographers, then something like the Glass app, Flickr or VSCO may be the right answer. But if you, like the person on Instagram mentioned above, want to reach a broader audience of non-photographers, apps that cater specifically to photographers likely aren't the best place for you. After all, something like the Glass app could be intimidating for non-photographers, while the subscription adds an extra hurdle, so it likely isn't going to attract those without at least some interest in the medium.
Sharing on a platform designed for photographers is a bit like preaching to the choir or sharing your work only with close friends. There can certainly be benefits to getting validation and speaking the same language as others. After all, sometimes it's just nice to have your work appreciated by those who understand photography. But it will inevitably be a bit limiting in terms of broadening your audience.
Today, Skylum Software released version 1.24.0 of Luminar Neo, its AI-powered photo editing application. Dubbed its "Spring Upgrade," four new features have been added to streamline editing and improve photographers' workflows. This upgrade includes Auto Adjust tools, a Catalog Cache Cleaning option, an update to Atmosphere AI and a cleaner Export Menu that now supports DNG file formats.
Screenshot: Kara Murphy
Auto Adjust is a new addition to the Developer and Developer Raw tools. Powered by AI, it analyzes your image and automatically adjusts the Exposure, Highlights and Shadows sliders. It may also change the tone curve if necessary. These are minor tweaks, but they're meant to provide a stronger starting point for editing an image.
Catalog Cache Cleaning has been added to the Preferences menu. It offers a simple way to manually clear out cached data stored by the Luminar Neo catalog. Over time, cached files can build up and slow down an operating system's performance, especially if you're working with an extensive library of images. Clearing it should help speed things up.
Image: Skylum Software
The Atmosphere AI tool, designed to add fog, mist or haze to an image, has gotten a revamp to one of its components. Users were dissatisfied with the fog slider, so the company tweaked the depth map handling to give it a more realistic look when applied to images.
The Export Menu has been redesigned with a cleaner layout. Most importantly, it now includes support for exporting DNG files, making it possible to transfer Raw files edited in Neo to other editing software tools for further adjustments.
Screenshot: Kara Murphy
Luminar Neo is available on MacOS and Windows and as a plug-in for Adobe's Photoshop and Lightroom Classic software. Updates rolled out today and can be accessed by annual and lifetime subscribers.
Thypoch released new Simera 28mm f/1.4 and Simera 35mm f/1.4 lenses for Leica M-mount featuring a new Focus Tab Type II Version. These versions have the same optical design as the infinity lock version. The only differences are the focusing mechanism and pricing.
14-blade diaphragm for creamy bokeh and stunning starbursts.
0.4m / 0.45m minimum focus distance for.
Floating element design ensures same good definition from infinity to close focus distance.
1950s-inspired red-dot depth-of-field scale for vintage charm and functionality.
“Sun” & “Moon” aperture markings for quick switching between click and declick modes, perfect for photo and video use.
Tactile 0.7m resistance point to aid rangefinder-to-EVF transitions.
Additional information:
Thypoch Simera 28mm & 35mm f/1.4 Now Available with Type ii Focus Tab Version
Thypoch’s debut lenses, the Simera 28mm & 35mm f/1.4, first launched in 2023, made waves with their fusion of retro aesthetics and modern optical engineering. Now, Simera 28mm and 35mm ASPH type II are available with a crescent-shaped focus tab, offering an enhanced user experience.
Compatible with Leica M, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, and Canon RF mounts, these new versions replace the infinity-lock mechanism with an ergonomic focus tab, enabling smooth, single-finger focusing.
Simera series is one of the very few M-mount lenses that are designed with floating groups, which ensure identical performance from infinity to close focus. Now with a focus tab, the whole lens mirrors very well the latest Leica Summilux 28mm & 35mm lenses, ensuring precise control and optical quality.
What’s Different?
The only major difference between the two versions is the focusing mechanism and price:
Type i (Infinity-Lock Version): Enhances stability by preventing lens rotation during installation, ensuring secure handling. (699 USD)
Type ii (Focus-Tab Version): Ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip, enabling smooth, single-finger focusing for seamless operation. (769 USD for Simera 28mm f/1.4, and 749 USD for Simera 35mm f/1.4)
*The Simera 28mm ASPH has a minor appearance improvement on the rear part, which is slightly thinner than Type i, giving it a more streamlined, straight-line look.
Upgrading from Infinity Lock?
Thypoch does not recommend modifying an infinity-lock version to a focus-tab version. The process requires disassembling and recalibrating more than four internal components, which could compromise lens optical performance and mechanical stability. Therefore, Thypoch does not offer conversion services for this reason.
The Simera 28mm & 35mm f/1.4 Type ii (Focus-Tab) Version will be shipped immediately after placing the order. Learn more here.
Adobe Max London is underway, and with it comes announcements from Adobe for its editing platforms. Some of the changes were previously revealed in a blog post from the company. The rest are mostly subtle, but, as usual, aim to streamline and simplify the editing process.
First, a new Select Landscape feature is coming to Adobe Lightroom. This tool will automatically detect and create masks for common landscape elements like plants, sky, water and more. Such automatic masking tools in Lightroom (and Photoshop) were previously limited to obvious subjects like people, so selective edits on landscapes still required more time-consuming manual edits. This should speed up the editing process for landscape photographers.
The Select Details actions can save you some tedious manual work.
Image: Adobe
For Photoshop users, Select Details will make it easier to select finer details like hair, facial features and clothes. Masking out hair is a tedious task that can be difficult to get right. Portrait photographers will appreciate anything that eases that process, so if this works as well as Adobe promises, it will be a welcome update.
Adobe says the Select Background tool will provide even more precise results, even with complex images.
Image: Adobe
Adobe says it updated the Remove Background tool in Photoshop, promising much more precise results and sharing an impressive demo of it cutting out a fish in a net. It should allow for much more accurate selections when dealing with complex images or colors that blend into each other, like a subject wearing a black shirt against a dark background.
You can now control colors from the Contextual Taskbar.
Image: Adobe
Adobe also updated the Contextual Taskbar with an Adjust Colors option. When clicked, it automatically samples the colors for you and creates an adjustment layer. That way, you don't need to create multiple adjustment layers or manipulate individual color changes when adjusting colors in your images or designs.
Insta360 Unveils X5: The Smartest, Toughest 360° Camera Ever Made
Insta360, the world’s best-selling 360° camera brand, is thrilled to announce Insta360 X5, its latest flagship camera. Combining groundbreaking image quality, rugged durability, and AI-powered ease of use, X5 sets a new benchmark for what 360° cameras can achieve.
X5's larger 1/1.28" sensors and lightning-fast Triple AI Chip system deliver a dramatic leap in image quality across all resolutions, including stunning 8K30fps 360° video. With PureVideo, a new AI-powered low-light mode, X5 achieves crisp, cinematic footage in challenging lighting.
Built for adventure, this is the toughest 360° camera ever. Its lenses are crafted from a new ultra-durable glass, while a first-of-its-kind replaceable lens system sets a new standard for the industry, allowing you to swap out damaged lenses on the go. Further hardware upgrades like a built-in wind guard, extended 3-hour battery life, and waterproofing to 49ft, make X5 the ultimate companion for active creators.
From shooting to sharing, X5 makes 360° creation effortless. The all-new InstaFrame Mode simultaneously captures an auto-framed, ready-to-share flat video and a full 360° video to fine-tune later. The Insta360 app has undergone a transformation with more intuitive editing tools, and X5 pairs with the Insta360+ cloud service, where you can instantly share 360º clips, edit on the cloud, and more.
"X5 redefines 360° cameras by solving creators' real challenges," said JK Liu, Insta360's Founder. "From replaceable lenses to AI-powered low-light shooting, we've built our dream camera—rugged enough for adventure, capable enough to produce high quality footage, and intelligent enough to capture epic moments effortlessly."
Insta360 X5 is available to order from April 22, 2025, via the Insta360 Official Store, Amazon, and select retailers, priced at US$549.99.
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