Photo: Richard Butler

Sony has released a firmware update that brings its Content Authenticity Solution to the a7 IV. The company announced a similar update for the a1 II, a1 and a9 III in January. However, this is the first time the tool to authenticate images will be available on something other than high-end, professional-grade cameras.

Software Ver. 5.00 for the Sony a7 IV adds support for the "Write Digital Signature" function for still images. This function allows photographers to add an electronic signature to their images to prove that they were taken with that camera. Authenticity tools such as this are becoming increasingly important with the growing prevalence of generative AI-created imagery and, as a result, the spread of fake images.

Of course, as with the update for the three pro-grade cameras in January, there are some caveats involved. The Digital Signature function requires a paid license and is only available for certain media outlets, not the general public. Unfortunately, Sony still hasn't provided any additional information on if or when it will be available for general consumers. On the firmware update page, Sony simply says that the "timing for the provision of paid licenses to customers other than certain media outlets is yet to be determined."

Even though the current usability is limited, Sony rolling this out to consumer models is a step in the right direction. The Content Authenticity information page also says that "more camera models will be supported in due course," so it sounds like we should see additional cameras with the tool at some point. If Sony makes the feature more widely available beyond media outlets, the Digital Signature feature will already be on cameras and ready for use.

If you want to be prepared, or happen to work for one of the select media outlets, the Sony a7 IV firmware update Ver. 5.00 is now available for download.

Fujifilm took to some of its social media channels to announce that its next X Summit will take place in just two weeks. The March 20 event will be hosted in Prague, supposedly at 10 am GMT (5am ET), according to some posts. "The wait is almost over. Mark your calendars for March 20 and get ready to witness something extraordinary. Stay tuned for more updates," teased the Fujifilm X India YouTube channel.

A screenshot from the YouTube video announcing the X Summit and teasing a new camera. Image: Fujifilm

Fujifilm is clearly aiming to build excitement, and the announcement video included a very brief flash of a camera at the end. The camera is shrouded in shadow, so it doesn't reveal much. A closer examination of a screenshot reveals a compact-looking lens with text that says "Fujinon Aspherical Lens" on the front. That's really all that's visible, though it does seem like the camera may be larger than standard compacts like the X100VI.

The company's post certainly leaves more questions than answers about the upcoming camera announcement. Luckily, though, two weeks isn't terribly long to wait.

Rendering: Nubia

We live in a time when camera brands (well, at least one) are stripping down controls while smartphone brands are ramping up physical camera controls. Indeed, the quest to bring a camera-like shooting experience to smartphones is going strong, as we've seen on full display at MWC 2025 in Barcelona. Brands like Xiaomi and RealMe have even gone so far as adding lens mounts to prototype smartphones.

On the less dramatic side are features like Apple's iPhone Camera Control button, which provides quick access to the camera and various settings like zoom. You can also find grips from the likes of Belkin, ShiftCam and even Leica that add shutter buttons and a more camera-like form factor. Now, a lesser-known smartphone brand is getting into the mix with an innovation on the camera itself.

Nubia, which also sells phones under the name Redmagic, opted for a simple control ring on its new Focus 2 Ultra smartphone. According to Notebook Check, the distinctive rotating ring allows users to control zoom or select filters. Such a feature should feel more natural and familiar for zooming in or out, especially for those who use dedicated cameras. Plus, you don't have to remember if you double press, long press, or tap your head three times to get to certain settings. A control ring also means there's no fiddling with getting your finger placed just right to zoom in or out, as is necessary on Apple's Camera Control Button.

Adding to the camera-like experience, the Focus 2 Ultra has a dedicated button that acts as a shutter release when you have the camera app open.

The camera system itself on the Nubia Focus 2 Ultra doesn't seem like anything to write home about; the company says the main shooter uses a Type 1/1.55 (8.3 x 6.2mm) sensor with 2μm pixels and an F1.47 lens, but doesn't provide further details about it or the phone's other cameras. However, it's exciting to see how phone makers are experimenting with physical camera controls on their devices. Especially as phone camera technology improves, it certainly would be nice to have more tactile controls when I leave my dedicated cameras behind.

The company hasn't announced exactly when the Focus 2 Ultra will be available, but Notebook Check reports it'll cost around 300 Euros.

Images: Apple

Apple has updated its ultra-portable laptop, the MacBook Air, as well as its ultra-powerful desktop, the Mac Studio. The former gets the company's latest chip, a price cut and comes in a fun new color, while the latter is being billed as "the most powerful Mac ever."

The M4 MacBook Air

Image: Apple

On the outside, the MacBook Air is much the same as its predecessor, though it's now available with a "sky blue" finish. On the inside, it features the company's latest M4 chip, which has been available for a while now in computers like the Mac Mini, iMac and entry-level MacBook Pro. Based on those machines, the M4 Air should be a bit more powerful and efficient than its predecessor.

The biggest upgrade, though, is to external display support. The M3 MacBook Air could only run one display alongside its built-in screen. You'd have to close the laptop's lid if you wanted to use a second external display. With the new model, that limitation is gone: it can drive two 6K external monitors and its internal display.

Multi-monitor support has historically been the Apple Silicon MacBook Air's biggest weakness, but that's clearly no longer the case. Image: Apple

Apple has also upgraded the webcam and says the new model has "improved video quality." In a rare move, it's done all this while lowering the computer's base price. The M4 Air's predecessor started at $1,099 for a model with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage – now, you can get those same specs for $999. The 15" model now starts at $1199 instead of $1299, with the same RAM and storage capacity.

The M4 MacBook Air is available to pre-order now and will be available starting March 12th.

Buy at Apple

The new Mac Studio

Apple says the M4 Max Mac Studio is "1.6x faster image processing in Adobe Photoshop" than the M1 Max version. Image: Apple

Apple has also updated the Mac Studio, its desktop aimed at creative professionals with its powerful internals and integrated UHS-II SD card reader. It's been a moment since the computer has been updated – the previous version came out in the summer of 2023 and was powered by Apple's M2 chips.

The base-spec Studio now comes with the M4 Max, which has 14 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores. That chip is the same found in the top-tier MacBook Pros released last year. However, the computer also introduces the M3 Ultra. As its name implies, it's built around Apple's last-gen architecture, but it makes up for that by essentially being two Max-class chips fused together. The entry-level M3 Max has a 28-core CPU and a 60-core GPU but can be optioned to add 4 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores.

The Mac Studio offers more I/O than any of Apple's laptops. Image: Apple

The M3 Ultra also supports ThunderBolt 5, a spec previously only available on M4-powered machines, which allows for data transfers at up to 120 Gbps. The Ultra-equipped studio has a whopping six ThunderBolt ports, two more than the Max model, which has four ThunderBolt ports and two USB-C ones.

Beyond the new silicon, the new Studio has a few improvements over the previous generation. It can now drive eight 6K displays or four 8K displays; the M2-powered Studio topped out at six and three, respectively. The M3 Ultra version is also available with much more storage and RAM; you can get it with a 16TB SSD and up to 512GB of memory, which Apple says is "the most unified memory ever in a personal computer." The maxed-out M2 Ultra only supported an 8TB SSD and 192GB of memory.

Given that this is more or less Apple's flagship desktop – sorry, Mac Pro – it's not surprising that it costs a pretty penny. The M4 Max version starts at $1999 and comes with 36GB of memory and a 512GB SSD. The M3 Ultra Studio starts at $3999 and has 96GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. Like with all Apple machines, costs start to add up if you want to upgrade – the 512GB memory option costs an additional $4000, and bumping up to that 16TB SSD will run you a cool $4600. Both models are available to pre-order now, and will be available starting March 12th.

Buy at Apple

Phone manufacturers are continuously trying to find ways to make the cameras in their devices bigger and better, allowing them to serve as a true replacement for dedicated cameras. To this end, Xiaomi recently announced the "Modular Optical System" concept phone, which features a lens module with a built-in Four Thirds sensor that attaches magnetically to the phone's back. RealMe, a fellow Chinese smartphone brand, said, "Hold my lens," and upped the ante, releasing a concept phone with an M-mount.

While Xiaomi's approach uses a sensor built into a lens that attaches magnetically, RealMe opted for a bare sensor built into the back of the phone and an existing lens mount. RealMe says the concept features a customized Type 1 (13.2 x 8.8 mm) Sony sensor, which is covered by glass to protect it. Granted, no matter how tough that glass is, it is vulnerable to scratches and cracks, which would then impact image quality.

The phone's M-mount allows users to take advantage of existing full-frame lenses rather than buying a proprietary lens system. The prototype is on display at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. RealMe is reportedly providing lenses to try out the system, though the current concept isn't able to power autofocus motors and lacks electrical contacts to provide EXIF data. Given those limitations, it makes sense that the company chose the manual focus-only M-mount.

The mount itself is rather large, even before attaching a lens. Image: RealMe

The concept phone features also two traditional phone cameras, both of which use Type 1 sensors. It's still not all that common to get one sensors that large in a phone, let alone three, so it's possible the phone could be a standout shooter even without an external lens attached.

The concept of a phone with an interchangeable lens mount isn't new – Xiaomi did something very similar a few years ago – and the end product can be quite unwieldy. That is especially true with larger lenses, which would get incredibly front-heavy when attached to a slim, lightweight phone. It's hard to imagine the ergonomics would be anything you'd want to experience for very long. After all, you would have to essentially only hold the lens, not the phone itself. Plus, the required lens mount is bulky before attaching a lens, so it isn't exactly a compact system. However, despite all its potential flaws, it is nice to see companies working to push the boundaries. Who knows where it could take us, after all.

Photo: Richard Butler

Last week, Panasonic announced the S1RII, the second-generation version of its high-resolution camera. While the original model was mainly focused on stills, the S1RII is being billed as a hybrid camera with the ability to shoot 8K video.

The video chops are possible because Panasonic is using a new 44MP sensor, which has a slightly lower resolution than the 47MP model found in the S1R. Thankfully, we got the chance to shoot some initial samples with while in Japan to cover CP+, and we've put together a sample gallery. It also includes a few examples of the camera's handheld multi-shot mode, which produces 177MP images.

We'll be shooting a lot more with the S1RII in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

See the 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.

Ricoh GR Photo Festival winning images

The 2024 Ricoh GR Photo Festival winners have been announced, with images celebrating ordinary life worldwide. The contest began in 2022 and is structured slightly differently from most contests. Instead of judges ranking images in order of excellence, the GR Photo Festival has professional photographers from around the world select three images that stand out to them. No prizes or award money are involved, and no titles are given out.

This year, the contest theme was daily life. "It is in your ordinary day-to-day life that you find precious moments," the festival explains. Any images that were taken with a GR series camera were eligible. You can learn more and see all of the selected images at the Ricoh GR Photo Festival website.

All the selected photos, along with some examples of each of the jurors' work, can be seen at Ricoh's GR Space Tokyo until March 24. The GR Space is a dedicated venue in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, where as well as seeing the exhibition, you can see examples of the GR series, browse a range of photo books, try some of the specially-commissioned GR Space house blend coffee, or put some money into a 'gashapon' vending machine to receive a miniature model of one of four Ricoh cameras. Some of the DPReview team visited on their recent trip to Japan and think it's worth dropping in if you're a photographer visiting the neighborhood.

Selected by judge Reggie Ballesteros

Photographer: 树·先生

Camera: GR III

Judge: Reggie Ballesteros

Judge's comment: This reminds me of a fleeting moment between a child and their parent. The composition and lighting make it a compelling frame with multiple frames within a frame, yet the identities of the subject are in shadow which makes it relatable and universal.

Selected by judge Reggie Ballesteros

Photographer: 刘旻尚

Camera: GR IIIx

Judge: Reggie Ballesteros

Judge's comment: Using a cell phone in public is such an everyday occurrence. This photo captures that and make it beautiful and abstract - a man on his phone amidst this minimal scene with a pop of color. The man is also so close yet so far from the person next to him who seems to be exhausted and napping.

Selected by judge Reggie Ballesteros

Photographer: 张裕烽

Camera: GR III

Judge: Reggie Ballesteros

Judge's comment: Walking is such a common occurrence and activity that we forget it's beauty and universality to the human experience. The lighting isolates the legs and obscures the identity of the walker. This image is bold and abstract turning this activity into an artful sight.

Selected by judge Jeremy Cheung

Photographer: 潘宇轩

Camera: GR IIIx

Judge: Jeremy Cheung

Judge's comment: This photo beautifully depicts the everyday life of workmen. The unified emerald colours of their uniforms match perfectly with the muted soil as well as the hazy background skyline. The whole scene portrays a routine hardship life under a collecive culture. The gestures and actions of the nine workmen are also very well timed to complete a poetic yet candid snapshot.

Selected by judge Jeremy Cheung

Photographer: Adam Taufiq Suharto

Camera: GR III

Judge: Jeremy Cheung

Judge's comment: This photo uses a elevation angle to tell an everyday story inside a school or community centre. Actions are packed within the well-spotted 'circle' frame, with each of the members focussing on their own tasks or living in their own world. The process of 'word making' gives the viewer a sense of fun guess, with the passing of 'M' is cleverly placed in the centre of the image. Complication is masterfully tackled with all elements balanced and structured. The colour tones are very truthful and aesthetically pleasing too.

Selected by judge Jeremy Cheung

Photographer: Cristobal A. Padilla Moreno

Camera: GR III

Judge: Jeremy Cheung

Judge's comment: The split lighitng temperature of the two sections in the photo gives an illusion of two different worlds. The phtoographer also brillantly chose to stand on a spot where the diverging perspectives of the two corridors were captured beautifully. The scenes shown on both sides are exceptionally detailed and inviting to more discovery. For me, it is like reading 2 different photos but in a single photo. It is a joy to feel how this night scene vividly delivers.

Selected by judge Oliver Jiang

Photographer: 快门师傅 徐威

Camera: GR III

Judge: Oliver Jiang

Judge's comment: The image is masterfully layered with different elements, I can see the state of the people in the sunset, from near to far. The big dog takes up an important part of the picture, and I think it will lick the camera at any time. Without its “intrusion”, this will be a very ordinary work.

There must be humid air, warm sunshine, and laughter at the scene. It’s a comfortable evening, especially in such a big busy city in China as shown in the picture, and I believe such a comfortable time is worth cherishing. I don’t know if the photographer was one of the participants of this waterside “leisure party”, but I am grateful to him and through his photo, I feel that I am involved in this wonderful afternoon.

Selected by judge Oliver Jiang

Photographer: 略商

Camera: GR III

Judge: Oliver Jiang

Judge's comment: This photo gave me a deep composition impression from the beginning. Many days after the first screening, I asked myself which photos I still remember, this photo appeared in my mind at first. I seldom simply summarize the principles of composition, but there is no doubt that this is a simple and clean black-and-white work, and I like this unique black-and-white expression of GR. I used to wonder what this thin young man was looking at and thinking, but it suddenly dawned on me that this is exactly what the photographer wanted me to do. Hehehe, well I fell for the trap. An unintentional yet interesting piece.

Selected by judge Rikard Landberg

Photographer: nicole sánchez

Camera: GR III

Judge: Rikard Landberg

Judge's comment: There are multiple layers in this image that make me pause and reflect, evoking a sense of mystery. The individual in the shadows seems to escape time, almost like a spirit from another dimension. The city in the background, bustling with motion and life, contrasts sharply with the calm solitude in the foreground. The corridor feels like a metaphor for the soul's journey, a path leading away from the familiar and into the unknown. The black-and-white tones enhance the drama, turning the image into more than just a moment, it becomes a story without words.

Selected by judge Rikard Landberg

Photographer: Eric Lopez

Camera: GR III

Judge: Rikard Landberg

Judge's comment: CHAOS! But chaos in a good way. There’s so much happening in this image that it almost makes your eyes wander in circles. I think the composition is excellent, with a touch of humor that I truly appreciate. It raises countless questions that let the imagination run wild. Bath time often means kids struggling with soap in their eyes, and they hate it. But what if this foam bomb is their way of turning the tables? With goggles on, the kid becomes a fearless shark in the water, while the adults are left squinting and wiping soap from their faces.The hand in the bottom right corner seems to be trying to stop it all. But is it too late? The white foam acts as a canvas that enhances the scene. Well done!

Selected by judge Rikard Landberg

Photographer: Shiho Ichimura

Camera: GR10

Judge: Rikard Landberg

Judge's comment: This is an image I find myself returning to again and again. It has something that truly makes me pause for a moment and brings a smile to my face, a metaphor for this year's theme. Just like everyday life can be quite predictable, you might think you know what's hiding under all those layers of newspaper. Or do you? Sure, the shapes and patterns look very familiar. But can we ever be completely certain? Perhaps this wrapped package holds a surprise, something unexpected that breaks the monotony of our all-too-familiar daily life. In the end, it’s a reminder that even in the most predictable moments, there’s always room for the unexpected to reshape our perspective. I really like this one.

Selected by judge Annalaura Pretaroli

Photographer: Jay Melliza

Camera: GR III

Judge: Annalaura Pretaroli

Judge's comment: This picture captures a beautiful balance of light and shadow.
The left side of the image is darker, gradually revealing more light on the right: I find it pleasing to the eye. Some leaves might be burning in the background? Or is it just thick mist? The fog does the trick and beautifully enhances the warm sunlight filtering through the branches, adding depth and intrigue to the scene. The viewer wanders in search of details that could explain this beautiful, almost magical, rural scene. The two people in the image blend seamlessly into the composition, allowing the true star -light- to shine!

Selected by judge Hamish Ta-mé

Photographer: Cezar Niculescu

Camera: GR III

Judge: Hamish Ta-mé

Judge's comment: An intriguing moment in an ordinary day. Like a still from a moody art film, the image takes a mundane stage and populates it with actors, each with their own concerns and lives unfolding. We're presented with multiple leading frames, each with it's own focal point from near mid and distance. This is an exquisite masterclass in observation, anticipation, composition, technical capture, remarkable technology, mood and postproduction.

Selected by judge Michael Young

Photographer: Penphan Tarczaly

Camera: GR III

Judge: Michael Young

Judge's comment: This image captures the everyday life of commuting to or from work in an urban setting. The composition, with the vertical panels dividing the frame, creates a sense of order and routine. The figures lined up behind the panels, though blurred, suggest a sense of anonymity and the collective experience of daily routines.

I like the interplay of light and shadow it adds another layer of meaning. The bright light filtering through the panels creates a stark contrast with the darker areas. I like how each individual person stands partially hidden, and obscured, emphasizing anonymity.

The frames within frames, with each panel act as a visual barrier and offer a glimpse into a private moment within a public space. The use of perspective, with the figures seemingly receding into the distance, creates a sense of depth.

Through its careful composition, use of light and shadow, and framing, the photograph invites viewers to contemplate the themes of anonymity, routine, and the juxtaposition of public and private life in the urban landscape. It's a poignant reminder of the ordinary moments that make up the fabric of our daily existence.

Selected by judge Qianqian Zhang

Photographer: 马可风

Camera: GR IIIx

Judge: Qianqian Zhang

Judge's comment: The classical beauty of simplicity requires a longer gaze, keep staring a little longer. A good creator can send everything he feels in the present to the future through visual language. Photos speak of the past, but how do people travel between the past and the future?

The fishing net, the boy, and the sea in front of you are surprisingly quiet. Where are they taking you to? Please keep watching, as if you are staring at your deceased self. Time will surrender to the moment when you bend down. The boy is still a boy, but he will say "Forever like the sea will dry and the rocks will fall apart."

People have been salvaging all their lives, salvaging gold, salvaging fish and shrimp, salvaging themselves. What are you salvaging at the moment? Condense "restraint" and "as you wish" with the simplest simple composition, so the viewer can stop for long. There are still many secrets hidden in the picture, waiting for you to discover.

Selected by judge Qianqian Zhang

Photographer: Nicholas Sansone

Camera: GR III

Judge: Qianqian Zhang

Judge's comment: How to praise this moment? Flowers, hugs, and kisses can’t explain the power of life, especially the pain and joy of life. In ancient times people celebrated the birth of a child with fire shouting ceremonies. At this moment, the camera is transmitting and framing all emotions.

How to portray the appearance of loved ones? Printing technologies with ink or oil paint have already reproduced countless faces. The photographer is “portraying” it truly without any interference. The wife waves towards the role of a mother, and the child is at ease. Can you portray such a scene every other year? Because this is painting "home", you will reap the fruit of "love" in 10 years.

How do we "portray" our family in the long and complicated days? Please be brave enough to pick up the camera to record the pain and joy of life in those moments of life and death, just like the warrior in the photo, who loves his family in front of you.

Image: Polaroid

Polaroid has announced new versions of its instant cameras, the Now and Now+. The third-generation models bring only incremental changes to the table, though Polaroid promises an improvement to overall image quality and performance in bright light.

The most significant update on the Now and Now+ Gen 3 instant cameras is an updated ranging sensor. The ranging sensor drives the camera's two-lens autofocus system, which is effectively two fixed focus zones that the camera can swap between. To do this, the camera sends out infrared lights, measuring how long they take to come back to judge the distance. The camera can then determine which lens is appropriate given that distance. Polaroid says it updated the ranging sensor, allowing the cameras to pick the correct lens more often.

Photo: Polaroid

Polaroid also updated the placement of the light meter on its latest cameras. The light meter used to be under the viewfinder, but on the Gen 3 models, it has moved to under the lens. Polaroid says this will provide more accurate readings and, thus, more accurate exposures since it's measuring closer to where light is actually entering the camera. The new placement also sits under anything placed over the lens, making the camera filter compatible.

Beyond the slightly improved functionality, Polaroid has completely refreshed the colors of both the Now and Now+, doing away with the existing colors. The Now is now available in Coral, Arctic Blue, Purple, Yellow, Pebble White, and Black, while the Now+ comes in solid Arctic Blue, Coral, Black, and White.

Image: Polaroid

As with previous models, the Now+ remains the connected model, offering app connectivity for more creative control. As Polaroid says, the plus is in the name "because it “adds” to the experience." The Now Gen 3, meanwhile, is a more traditional instant camera with no extra controls beyond the point-and-shoot nature of the camera. Both cameras are rechargeable via USB-C and use full-sized Polaroid i-Type film.

The new cameras are available for purchase starting today on the Polaroid website and select retailers. The more basic Now Gen 3 is $120, while the connected Now+ Gen 3 is $140.

Polaroid Now+ Gen 3 at Polaroid

Polaroid Now Gen 3 at Polaroid

The current-gen 35mm F1.2 Art. Photo: Barney Britton

Apparently, announcing two new lenses, an entirely new camera, and a refresh of an entire lens lineup wasn't enough for Sigma – the company has reportedly said it's working on an update to its full-frame 35mm F1.2 Art lens, which was initially released in 2019.

According to a translated Mynavi article, the production update was announced by Sigma president Kazuto Yamaki at the CP+ trade show held in Japan last week. The article says the update will make the lens more compact, lighter and sharper. At the moment, the company has not announced the news through traditional channels such as its news or Instagram pages.

It wouldn't be the first time Sigma had made such an update to one of its lenses: last year, it released the 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art, which was 10% lighter than its predecessor. At 1090g (2.40lb), the current 35mm F1.2 isn't particularly lightweight, but it also isn't notably heavier than similar lenses from other brands, such as the 1060g (2.34lb) Nikkor Z 35mm F1.2 S from Nikon.

Mynavi reports that there's currently no information on the lens' release date, pricing or what mounts it will be available for. However, it is exciting to hear that Sigma is working on improving one of its already good primes.

Image: Peak Design

After weeks of teasing, Peak Design has fully announced a long-awaited addition to its lineup: a roller bag. It has everything the company's fans have come to expect: a meticulous design, carbon fiber and room for a ton of camera gear.

While it's called the Roller Pro, the 60mm custom-designed wheels are perhaps the least interesting thing about it. There are four of them, making it easy to maneuver the bag in a crowded airport, and the company says they're replaceable in case they break.

The real star of the show, though, is the handle. It's made of two solid pieces of carbon fiber, which Peak Design says allows it to be stiffer than traditional telescoping handles while only taking up a third of the space in the case. It also promises that the design won't get jammed when you're trying to put it back into the bag. You can set the handle to extend to either 90cm (35") or 100cm (39"), and the part that you actually touch is characteristically premium, made out of machined aluminum.

That low-profile design, combined with the bag's expandable capacity, means it can hold up to 39L while still qualifying as a carry-on, even for international flights. Empty, it weighs around 4kg (8.8lb).

On the outside, the bag is a hybrid between a soft shell and a hard shell. The back half is rigid polycarbonate, but the front half is softer, with a built-in padded laptop slot and pockets for items like glasses, keys and notebooks. It comes in three colors: black, "eclipse" red and "sage" green.

Image: Peak Design

The company says the entire bag is weatherproof, and there are gear loops on the outside to let you easily attach items like a tripod or rolled up blanket.

Unlike some of Peak Design's backpacks, the Roller Pro doesn't come with built-in camera storage by default. However, the company's existing camera cubes are compatible with it, and it's also releasing a new "X-Large" cube that perfectly fits the roller bag and can contain a 400mm prime lens. Like the rest of the Peak Design cubes, it has handles on every side, so if you suddenly have to check your roller, you can grab your camera gear out of it and carry it onto the plane with you.

The XL cube is designed to nestle perfectly into the Roller Pro. Image: Peak Design

Peak Design says that pairing the two products together will give you a bag that it's easy to work directly out of. Instead of opening like a traditional bag, which folds out like a book to take up roughly double the space, the Roller Pro has what Peak Design calls a "drawbridge" design. That lets you open the top, and have it stay open, giving the bag an "L" shape. That means you can flip it open and get immediate access to your camera gear, and you can leave it open if you'll need to be in and out frequently.

As with many of Peak Design's products, the Roller Pro distinguishes itself with the details. There's an organization panel on the top lid for smaller items, which can be rolled up and stowed if you don't need it, and a cord system to keep everything in place after it's packed. There are handles on each side of the bag, so you can grab it no matter what orientation it is on the luggage belt, and there are secretive pockets for an AirTag and your passport. The interior is made out of an "auto-inspired" felt, and all the zippers can be secured with a single lock.

Bonus feature: the back has rubber feet that keep it from sliding around when its open, and that can help dampen shocks. Image: Peak Design

As you can probably guess, none of this comes cheap. Peak Design will start selling the bag at retail in August at an MSRP of $599. The XL camera cube will cost $139. As with many of its other products, though, Peak Design will be running a Kickstarter campaign for the Roller Pro from March 4th through April 17th, where you'll be able to get it for $425. There's also a limited number of "Get it ASAP!" bags available that the company says will ship in May. Choosing that option, if there are any left, will run you $525.

Pledge on KickStarter

The company says it'll ship bags to Kickstarter backers in June, though now is a good time to mention that pledging to a crowdfunding campaign isn't the same thing as ordering a product via an online store. Peak Design has established a solid record of using such campaigns to launch new products, with 13 successful campaigns, but there is always some level of risk involved with Kickstarter.

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Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

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Image: Nothing

Mobile World Congress 2025 is in full swing, running through March 6. As a result, phone announcements are coming out right and left. Xiaomi already announced its new 15 and 15 Pro phones. Now, there are new options for those who enjoy something a bit different thanks to British tech company Nothing. The Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro keep Nothing's unique styling with upgrades to the cameras across the board. Nothing says it is the company's "most advanced camera system to date."

Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro camera details

Naturally, the more expensive (3a) Pro promises the most complete camera system. The 50MP main camera on the (3a) Pro features "advanced sensor technologies" that Nothing says result in 43% faster autofocus and "double the pixel full well capacity" compared to the standard 3(a). That means the maximum amount of charge a single pixel can hold before reaching saturation has increased, which should translate to improved performance in bright and otherwise challenging lighting situations – though how much of that translates to improved image quality in real-world situations remains to be seen.

Also on the Phone(3a) Pro is a periscope telephoto camera. It relies on a 50MP Type 1/1.95 (6.5 x 4.9mm) sensor with a 70mm equiv. focal length and F2.55 aperture. The telephoto camera offers optical image stabilization and a mode that crops in to the central portion of the sensor to provide a "6x" field of view. A 60x field of view is also possible with "AI clarity-enhancing algorithms." AI-based upscaling programs can produce some impressive results, but 60x is quite a significant level of magnification to make up in software. The telephoto camera on the Phone (3a) Pro is also capable of focusing as close as 15cm for macro captures.

Image: Nothing

The Nothing Phone (3a), meanwhile, features a 50MP telephoto camera that is not a periscope design. It offers a 50mm equivalent focal length and F2.0 aperture with 2x optical zoom and 4x in-sensor zoom. Like the Phone (3a) Pro, it provides AI-powered ultra zoom for up to 30x.

Image: Nothing

Finally, the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro feature the same ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, though Nothing didn't provide any details beyond that.

All of the cameras on both of the Nothing Phone models are reliant on AI processing. They are powered by TrueLens Engine 3.0, which Nothing says is a combination of "advanced computational algorithms, AI processing, and multi-frame technology." Taking things even further, the sensor in both of the main cameras, which was co-engineered with Samsung, integrates "on-sensor deep learning processing software algorithms" to "enhance image clarity, reduce noise, and provide true-to-life accuracy." In short, expect lots of heavily processed imagery, though that is very much the norm these days on smartphones.

On the selfie side of things, the Phone (3a) features a 32MP front camera. The Phone (3a) Pro uses a 50MP front camera that's capable of 4K video with "adaptive AI stabilization and night video enhancement." Nothing says that these AI-powered features will improve brightness by 74.4% and reduce noise by 33.7%.

Image: Nothing

Additional Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro details

Outside of the cameras, the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro feature the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 system on a chip. Nothing says that the Phone (3a) Series will be 92% better at processing AI tasks than the previous model, which could provide some headroom to support AI features down the road. Aiding this is the fact that Nothing says the phone will get updates for six years from the launch date, which includes three years of Android updates and six years of security updates on top of corrective and functionality updates.

The 6.77-inch displays offer Full HD+ resolution with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. They both offer 1300 nits of brightness on auto or peak brightness up to 3000 nits, which Nothing says is a 131% increase over the Phone (2a). Both phones use 5000mAh batteries that Nothing promises will provide up to two days of life on a full charge. They also provide fast charging at 50W, so you can get a full day of power (50% battery) in under 20 minutes.

Finally, Nothing has introduced a button that it calls the "Essential Key" on the side of the phones, which acts as a shortcut to the company's new Essential Space, an "AI-powered hub for notes, ideas, and inspirations." This early access feature makes it easier to log and recall content and will be available to all who purchase the Phone (3a) or Phone (3a) Pro.

Image: Nothing

Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro pricing and availability

The Phone (3a) is available in black, white and blue in three storage configurations, starting at 8GB of RAM and 128GB for €329. The Phone (3a) Pro is available in gray and black and in three storage configurations. Nothing only has a price in Indian Rupees for the lowest tier, which is 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and costs ₹29,999. The company says the version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage will be available for €459.

While US customers can buy the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro, it is only available through the Nothing US Beta Program. It's important to note that the phone, within that program, is primarily for testing purposes and does not support most networks. You can find more details on the Nothing US Beta Program website.

The phone is available for pre-order today for most global customers at Nothing's website.

Xiaomi just updated its flagship smartphone, filling it with even more Leica camera tech, but apparently, that's not enough. The company has also announced a concept called the "Modular Optical System," which asks: "what if you could magnetically attach a Four Thirds sensor and lens to the back of your phone?"

A video posted to Xiaomi's YouTube channel shows the module, which includes a sensor with a "Light Fusion X sensor" that "delivers true 100MP clarity," paired with a 35mm equiv. F1.4 lens in a relatively small package. The company says it produces "strikingly sharp images" despite its size. The module magnetically attaches to the back of your phone, with no mechanical latching system or pairing process required.

Image: Xiaomi

While an increasing number of phones include magnetic rings on the back thanks to the Qi 2 charging standard, the system will still require a specially-designed phone. That's because it uses lasers to get data from the camera module to the phone. While that sounds exotic, consumer devices have long used lasers to transmit data, such as in the case of Toslink in audio equipment, or fiber internet connections. Of course, that means your phone has to have a window for the laser to travel through, as well as hardware to receive the signal.

Xiaomi says this allows it to achieve mere nanoseconds of latency, which is important when you're trying to preview your image. The company also promises Raw files with 16EV of dynamic range, though the video implies that it's doing that by combining multiple exposures – that's standard fare for phone photography, but it does mean that the resulting image won't be Raw in the purest sense of the word.

Xiaomi is one step closer to achieving the dream of smartphone photography

There are no details on when this system will make it into a commercial product that you can actually buy, if that's even in the cards at all. However, it does make it seem like Xiaomi is one step closer to achieving the dream of smartphone photography: dedicated camera quality from a device that you already own and always have with you.

It's a goal that many other smartphone makers have pursued through similar means: Sony was mounting camera modules to phones in 2013 with its QX series, and companies like Samsung and Zeiss have experimented with devices that were hybrid Android phones and compact cameras. We've also seen cameras that achieve much smaller lenses by pairing them to the sensor, such as the Ricoh GXR, Sony RX1 and Fujifilm X100 series. But while the concept may not be new, Xiaomi's concept is one of the slickest we've seen in the smartphone space.

That doesn't mean that it's absolutely seamless. Of course, it still requires a separate component that you must carry around. However, it's still substantially smaller than a whole separate camera, and it doesn't require its own batteries or storage. It also gives you all the upsides that come with phone photography, such as the immense image processing power and the ability to share your photos instantly. If Xiaomi can pull this off, it could be a big step in the evolution of smartphone photography, especially if it expands on the system, adding additional lenses or even giving you just a bare sensor and a lens mount, letting you use traditional glass with your phone, though the latter would be a big ask for a purely magnetic mount.

Image: Xiaomi / Leica

Xiaomi has announced its 15 Series smartphones, promising exceptional image-making abilities thanks to a partnership with Leica, and the Ultra's inclusion of a Type 1 (13.1 x 9.8mm) sensor. The two companies originally partnered in 2022, bringing Leica camera technology to the Chinese smartphones. That collaboration continues, with the brand promising these latest models will be "the ultimate professional imagery flagship."

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra sits at the top of the company's lineup, combining "supreme build quality with a sense of refined sophistication," according to Xiaomi. It features a WQHD+ 6.73" AMOLED display with a 3200 x 1440 resolution and 522 ppi. The display offers 3200 nits of peak brightness. The 5410mAh battery is slightly improved over the 14 Ultra, though the China-only model gets an even better 6000mAh.

The device runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and is available with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of memory.

For durability, it features the Xiaomi Guardian Structure, which uses Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, an upgrade from the previous model. The company says this results in 16 times better drop resistance. Meanwhile, the entire camera module is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 7i to protect it from scratches and features a dual anti-reflection (AR) coating to improve optical performance.

The phone comes in black, white, and silver chrome, with the latter being the most distinctive of the bunch. With aerospace-grade glass fiber and PU leather, it is more reminiscent of classic Leica cameras when held in landscape orientation than typical smartphones. Each color variation features Leica prominently on the camera module.

Image: Xiaomi

Camera details

The 15 Ultra's camera array is the main feature that makes it stand out from the Xiaomi 15 since it uses four different sensors for each lens. Starting with the main camera, the latest flagship keeps the same 50MP Type 1 (13.1 x 9.8mm) LYT-900 sensor with the Leica Summilux 23mm equiv. F1.63 lens that was used on the 14 Ultra. That same camera supports 28mm and 35mm focal lengths, albeit with a crop, as they rely on digital zoom. Xiaomi says this camera provides a 14EV dynamic range, which should help with photographing in low-light conditions.

Next up on the 15 Ultra is a 50MP, 70mm equiv. F1.8 Leica floating telephoto camera with a Sony Type 1/2.51 (5.7 x 4.3mm) sensor. The 14 Ultra featured a 75mm equiv. telephoto camera. It keeps the close focusing distance of 10cm, though, making it suitable for macro photography as well as portraiture.

For even more reach, the 15 Ultra features a 200MP, 100mm equiv. F2.6 Leica-branded periscope telephoto camera using the Samsung Isocell HP9 Type 1/1.4 (9.1 x 6.9mm) sensor. This is the most significant change from the 14 Ultra, which featured a 50MP, 120mm F2.5 equivalent periscope camera. That big jump in resolution may seem impressive, but it doesn't necessarily mean there will be a massive increase in image quality. It's also worth noting that Xiaomi claims the ultra-telephoto camera "captures 136% more light than Xiaomi 14 Ultra." That's about the difference we'd expect, given that the 14 Ultra used a much smaller Type 1/2.51 sensor paired with a slightly faster lens. The ultra-telephoto camera is also capable of shooting at 200mm (equiv.) with digital zoom.

Image: Xiaomi

The wide-angle lens, a 50MP 14mm equiv. F2.2 lens with a Type 1/2.76 (5.2 x 3.9mm) sensor, rounds out the camera array. It provides a slightly tighter field of view than the 14 Ultra (115 degrees compared to 122 degrees).

Both telephoto cameras and the main camera offer optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) to smooth out shake. The phone is capable of recording at 4K 120fps or 8K at 24 and 30fps. It supports Dolby Vision recording at 4K 60fps and 10-bit Log across all focal lengths, providing smartphone videographers with plenty of options and control.

Alongside the Leica lenses, the phone features "Leica color technology and the Leica brand’s authentic visual language."

Pushing the focus on photography even more, Xiaomi also launched a Xiaomi 15 Ultra Photography Kit Legend Edition. It includes a "signature red decorative ring" so everyone knows it's a Leica collaboration, plus a "custom-designed UI under camera's Fastshot mode, detachable thumb support and shutter buttons, a multifunctional 67mm filter adapter ring, and an integrated 2000mAh battery for extended usability."

Image: Xiaomi

Xiaomi 15

The Xiaomi 15 is smaller and cheaper than the 15 Ultra, featuring a 6.3-inch AMOLED (2670 x 1200) display. Still, it offers many features similar to the more premium model. That includes the Summilux lenses with anti-reflective coating. It also offers Dolby Vision, 8K 30fps and 4K 60fps recording, plus 10-bit Log recording at 4K 60fps across all focal lengths.

The Xiaomi 15, though, only features three cameras. The main camera is a 50MP 23mm equiv. F1.6 camera with a smaller Type 1/1.31 (9.80 x 7.35mm) Light Fusion 900 sensor. The telephoto camera offers slightly less reach, coming in at 60mm equiv. F2.0. Finally, the wide-angle is the same as the one found on the 15 Ultra.

Image: Xiaomi

Beyond the camera hardware, there are some useful software features on the Xiaomi 15. That includes a Fastshot mode, which it says enables a capture speed of 0.6 seconds at all focal lengths. Additionally, Leica explained that it developed software optimization that allows users to choose between the "classic 'Leica Authentic Look', characterized by warm colors and fine contrasts, and the 'Leica Vibrant Look', providing a dazzling depth of color."

Pricing & availability

The Xiaomi 15 is available in two storage variants at a starting price of EUR 999 ($1030). The Xiaomi 15 Ultra also comes in two storage variants and starts at EUR 1499 ($1550). Unfortunately, both of the Xiaomi Series 15 phones are not available for purchase through retailers in the US or Canada.

Image: Atomos

Atomos, maker of on-camera monitors and recorders, has announced a new entry in its lineup: the Shinobi Go. The Go is a 5-inch display that can show video previews at 1500nits and supports exposure aids like false color, waveform displays, and vector scopes.

The monitor can be powered using a Sony NP-F battery or via USB-C and has a full-size HDMI port for receiving video from your camera. It also has a headphone jack and an SD card slot for loading LUT files. It comes with a locking cable adapter, which can help make sure the monitor doesn't get disconnected from your camera during a shoot.

The Go is, essentially, a version of the Shinobi II with some features removed. Perhaps the most notable is the lack of touch-to-focus support, which lets you control your camera's focus point using the monitor. If you want that feature or support for EL Zone exposure mapping, you'll have to pay the extra $100 for the Shinobi II. However, if you just need a bigger display when you're shooting video, the Go could be a decent option.

The Shinobi Go is available now for $250.

Logo: CP+

This week was the CP+ show, where camera and lens manufacturers showed off their latest products and made some major announcements. The action actually started well before the show; in the days leading up to it, we saw two new cameras announced from Sigma and Panasonic, as well as a handful of lenses from Sigma, Zeiss and Sony.

It's been a lot to keep track of, but don't worry. We've rounded up all our coverage in this one article so you can get caught up.

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Monday

Photo: Dale Baskin

Monday belonged to Sigma, with the company holding a major event to announce several new products, plus a new look for its branding.

The biggest announcement was its new BF camera, a full-frame camera with a Bayer sensor and a "radically simple" design. It does away with almost all the buttons and controls we expect from modern digital cameras. It doesn't even include a card slot in service of cutting out "everything that distracts from your interaction with the image." You can see some sample images we've shot with the BF in our sample gallery.

Read our Sigma BF coverage

Sigma also shared a ton of lens news:

• It announced a 300-600mm F4 full-frame lens for sports and wildlife shooters
• There's also a do-it-all 18-300mm F3.5-6.7 lens for APS-C shooters
• It updated all nine of its I-series primes with a new look

Alongside those announcements came an acknowledgment that it was done developing lenses for DSLRs. That's not necessarily a surprise, but if you're feeling nostalgic for the HSM days, be sure to check out our mini tour of the museum at Sigma's factory.

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Tuesday

Photo: Mitchell Clark

We also got a new camera on Tuesday: the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1RII, a high-resolution hybrid camera with a 44MP sensor capable of shooting at up to 40fps. It supports up to 8K video capture and 32-bit float audio, and Panasonic says it's improved the autofocus system's ability to recognize and track humans. We'll be testing it out much more in the coming weeks.

Read the S1RII Initial Review

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Image: Zeiss

Zeiss also had news on Tuesday, announcing its first new stills lenses since 2019. The Otus ML line is the company's first foray into making mirrorless glass and is being introduced with two F1.4 primes, 50mm and 85mm for E-mount, RF-mount, and Z-mount. We were able to shoot a sample gallery with the 50mm model and interviewed Tony Wisniewski, Senior Manager, Creative Arts, Zeiss Cinema and Photography, about what the company's been up to and what it has planned for the future.

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Also on Tuesday: a new version of Photoshop mobile and a meter from DataColor that promises to measure both light and color temperature.

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Wednesday

Photo: Sony

On Wednesday morning, Sony announced two new lenses: a 16mm F1.8 prime that aims to be portable and relatively affordable and a 400-800mm F6.3-8 super-telephoto that offers the furthest reach of any Sony lens. Nikon also quietly released updates for the Z6III and Z8, adding some pro video features previously only available on the flagship Z9.

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Thursday

Thursday marked the official start of the CP+ conference, and our editors Dale Baskin and Richard Butler all but kicked down the doors in order to be the first to get hands-on time with Canon's new video-focused compact, the Powershot V1, which was announced last week.

Watch the video

DxO also announced a new version of its PureRaw Raw processing software, and TTArtisan announced its first camera: a folding instant camera with fully manual controls, which takes Fujifilm Instax film.

The bulk of the CP+ news came later in the day, though, as we started to hear about all the new offerings from third-party lens makers. Here are all the lenses we heard about, some of which we were able to go hands-on with.

Photo: Richard Butler

Viltrox

• AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE - a flagship full-frame prime lens for E-mount
• AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE - a full-frame portrait lens for E-mount
• AF 50mm F2.0 Air - a budget full-frame prime that the company says will have the "best IQ of the AIR series," available for E-mount, Z-mount and X-mount.

Viltrox also announced that it'll bring its AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens to Z-mount.

Photo: Richard Butler

Laowa

• 8-15mm F2.8 Fisheye Zoom - a full-frame manual focus zoom for E, Z, RF and L-mounts
• 15mm F4.5 - a wide-angle macro lens
• 35mm F2.8 - a tilt-shift lens for Fujifilm's medium format GFX mount

Photo: Richard Butler

7Artisans

• 24mm F1.8 - a full-frame prime for E, Z and L-mount
• 35mm F2.8 - a full-frame prime for the same mounts
• A series of autofocus APS-C F1.8 primes for E, X and Z-mount: 25mm, 35mm, 50mm
• 35mm F1.4 - an autofocus prime for E, X and Z-mount

The company also announced L-mount versions of its 50mm F1.8 and 85mm F1.8 lenses.

Photo: Richard Butler

Samyang

Samyang announced an autofocus 14-24mm F2.8 wide-angle full-frame zoom for E-mount in collaboration with Schneider Kreuznach. It also promises more lenses later in the year: a standard zoom, telephoto prime and wide-angle prime.

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Friday

Image: Viltrox

By Friday, the news was winding down, but Viltrox couldn't help but sneak one more announcement in: the release of its 25mm F1.7 Air, an APS-C lens for E, X and Z-mount. Unlike many of the things available at the show, it's actually available for purchase right now, which could be good news if you're looking for an affordable, lightweight, wide-angle prime.

Female in Focus 2024 winners

Image credits: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Florence Bass, Camilla Greenwell, Victoria Ruiz, Alice Poyzer, Margarita Galandina, Rebecca Dorothy, Asma Elbadawi, Eloise Genoud and Dale Rio

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Editor's note: Image #5 (6th in the gallery) features nudity and may be considered NSFW, so proceed with caution accordingly.

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The winners of the Female in Focus 2024 contest have been announced. It was hosted in partnership with Nikon, which allowed photographers to enter one portrait for free. This year's judges included photographer and Nikon Ambassador Heather Agyepong; curator, critic and journalist Charlotte Jansen; co-founder and director at DECK Photography Art Centre Gwen Lee and more.

Now in its fifth edition, the contest aims to "discover, promote and reward the remarkable work of women photographers." In August 2024, the British Journal of Photography surveyed 1,000 respondents from its audience to examine gender inequality in the photography industry. This survey revealed that "women in photography earn 30% less than their male counterparts, and, 55% of the women had experienced gender discrimination in the workplace." It also found that only 34% of major photography award winners over the past five years have been women.

Entries to Female in Focus are centered on a specific theme each year. This year, the theme was Renewal. The contest website explains it is about "delving into the transformative process of rejuvenation and rebirth. This theme captures the essence of starting anew, whether through personal growth, environmental restoration, or societal change. Through evocative imagery, it explores the beauty and strength found in moments of revival and regeneration, highlighting the hope and possibility inherent in beginning again."

Twenty individual images and two winning series were chosen as winners. These works will be exhibited in the UK. You can see all of the images included in the series and additional winners on the Female in Focus website.

Series winner: Margarita Galandina - Ovoo

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Margarita Galandina

Series title: Ovoo

Image: Coffin Bearers, 2022

Grounded in Mongolian shamanistic tradition, the title refers to the ritual Ovoo (or Obo in
Buryat) – a sacred totem pole marking spiritually significant land. These structures, serving as conduits to the spiritual realm, embody the Buryat people’s post-nomadic worldview in Siberia. Through this project, I seek to explore how the presence of Ovoos in today’s landscape marks Indigenous presence, especially within a post-colonial context. The project combines photography, archival research and personal history to challenge conventional historical narratives and reassert Indigenous identity.

The project began as a personal investigation into my maternal Buryat heritage, where I
sought to integrate familial and state archives with photographic reenactment and self-portraiture. By mimicking ethnographic research, I aim to recontextualise Indigenous Siberians’ complex and often hidden history. Focusing on the early 1930s – a period during Soviet collectivisation that devastated Indigenous identities in North and Central Asia – the work examines how historical narratives are shaped, contested and often erased within the post-colonial framework.

My research began with the discovery of a demolished Buddhist monastery, where one of my ancestors – a Buddhist lama – served before being repressed and sent to a Soviet work camp. His survival and eventual return to Buryatia sparked an effort to salvage the region’s Buddhist cultural heritage. This personal discovery in the local archive in Buryatia in 2023 made me question the fragile positioning of Indigenous history, prompting me to use photography to intervene in such a process. To engage with this erasure, I began creating self-portraits that mimic ethnographic photos from family records and institutional archives, such as those in the Kunstkamera Museum. By juxtaposing these images with historical photographs, I aim to open a conversation about the contested nature of history and reverse the alienating gaze of otherness.

You can see the full series on the Female in Focus website.

Series winner: Alice Poyzer - Other Joys

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Alice Poyzer

Series title: Other Joys

Image title: Kernow Cat Club

Image caption: This photograph depicts one of the winning cats at a local
Championship Cat Show in 2024.

Other Joys is a body of work that explores the intensity of my special interests as an autistic woman, through a careful balance of self-portraits, documentary shots and constructed imagery. The feeling that surrounds special interest is almost indescribable. This heavy sensation of warmth, euphoria and excitement is something many in the autistic community can relate to. Consequently, I wanted to make this body of work as a way to communicate that feeling.

While Other Joys was made to shed light on the concept of special interests, the making of it additionally acts as a way for me to understand my autism better. Throughout, the project comments on my own autistic traits, such as my need for rigid routine and my innate ability to constantly mask my autism. Simultaneously, the work nods to the idea that there is still a desperate need for further autistic representation, especially in relation to autistic women.

The process of making these photographs provides me with a safe space to be my true self, allowing me to unmask and experience my autistic joy to the fullest. What was once a fear of being deemed different and unusual has now become a celebration of self-acceptance and understanding.

You can see the full series on the Female in Focus website.

Single image winner: Asma Elbadawi

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Asma Elbadawi

Image title: Renewed Vows

A woman stands in a vintage white wedding dress, ironing bright green tracksuit bottoms. This striking contrast symbolises the blending of marital expectations with contemporary life, representing a woman who honours the significance of marriage while embracing her
modern identity.

The image reflects the evolving roles of married women, where traditional marriage ideals coexist with new forms of self-expression. The wedding dress signifies grace and heritage, while the tracksuit represents renewal and personal ambition. Together, they illustrate a
complex identity where marital tradition and individual progress intertwine. This quiet domestic scene captures the nuanced journey of redefining women’s roles within marriage, emphasising that tradition and modernity can coexist harmoniously.

Through this quiet domestic scene, the image captures the journey of redefining one’s place in the world. A blend of strength and softness, reverence and reinvention, capturing the power in balancing marital roles with a sense of self that transcends eras. It is a reminder that marriage and modernity can coexist beautifully, adding depth and richness to the tapestry of identity.

Single image winner: Camilla Greenwell

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Camilla Greenwell

Image title: Gertraud Platschek

This summer, I travelled to Germany to create a series of images and a short film with Gertraud Platschek, an artist whose work I’ve admired for years. She transforms everyday materials, such as cardboard, into sculptures and wearable art, often drawing inspiration
from her surroundings in the Bavarian Forest. Her pieces often become part of performances that blend humour with the absurd, and I was particularly interested in creating something with her which felt part documentary but also part performative in itself.

In many ways, her approach embodies the essence of renewal. The materials she uses – seemingly discarded or undervalued – are given new life and purpose in her hands. This process of transformation mirrors the renewal of the self that Gertraud has experienced
throughout her life. She shared stories of how her journey as an artist has evolved, shaped by motherhood, artistic influences and the passage of time. In a world often obsessed with youth and the rapid rise to artistic fame, meeting someone like Gertraud – who’s followed her own path and continuously evolved – was inspiring.

Her work also speaks to the renewal of the land itself. The Bavarian Forest, which serves as both her muse and backdrop, is a place of constant change – where nature’s cycles of growth, decay and rebirth are ever-present. There is a deep respect for the land within her work, alongside a knowledge of what it means to reuse and repurpose materials in a sustainable way. Through her eyes, I saw how art and life intertwine in an ongoing process of renewal, on a personal and creative level.

Single image winner: Hanna Wolf

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Hanna Wolf

Image title: Fiona

I met Fiona as part of an ongoing series exploring the stories of mothers who were unable to hold their children at birth. After the unexpectedly traumatic birth of her twins, Fiona faced the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. The lost moments of holding her newborns on her chest echoed in ways she could never have imagined as she underwent a double mastectomy. When we met, six months after her surgery, Fiona shared that she was ready to be photographed with her scars. What began as the absence of touch transformed into a profound journey of grief, resilience and triumph – reclaiming her body not just as a place of healing but as a space where motherhood and selfhood can be reimagined.

Single image winner: Alessia Rollo

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Alessia Rollo

Image title: Water Cures

This is a portrait of a possessed woman, at least how I imagined a ‘tarantolata’ could be before photography and before north Italian culture colonised south Italian culture, where I am from.

It represents the ritual of ‘cure’ that women affected by nostalgia or melancholy (often confused with possession and hysteria) were practising to take care of their bodies and minds.

The image is part of a more complex series about visual and cultural
colonisation in south Italy.

Single image winner: Victoria Ruiz

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Victoria Ruiz

Image title: El Bravo Pueblo (The Brave People)

‘El bravo pueblo’ holds deep significance in Venezuela as a symbol of the nation’s resilience, strength and spirit. The phrase translates to ‘the brave people’ and it is often used to honour the Venezuelan population’s unwavering courage and defiance in the face of hardship. Historically, it has been associated with Venezuela’s struggles for independence, beginning with the fight against Spanish colonialism and continuing through modern-day challenges, including political oppression, economic collapse and social instability.

‘El bravo pueblo’ represents more than just resistance; it embodies the pride and determination of Venezuelans to stand up for their rights, freedom and dignity, even in the most challenging circumstances. It is a rallying cry that reflects both the collective memory of the country’s past struggles and the ongoing battle for justice, democracy and survival in the present.

Single image winner: Fatimah Mujtaba

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Fatimah Mujtaba

Image title: The Lutadoras of London

As part of a series celebrating young women in martial arts, this image reflects on new beginnings through physical fitness. Not every activity is started in a joyous manner, and in this case the subject confided how boxing became a way to navigate anger and fears
through a difficult period of her life. The women-only boxing lessons at East London’s Fight for Peace offered a space for vulnerability and growth, allowing for personal development of character.

Weekly sessions are something to look forward to and with every session skills, speed and confidence continue to grow. The importance of buying the boxing kit contributed to this shoot, as we reflected on the excitement of finding wraps and shorts in matching colours to celebrate the beginning of this journey. While the male-dominated space of martial arts can often feel as if it pushes out expressions of femininity entirely, we found we were able to express it within the club and the photographic series was a way to commemorate this. In fact, this series manifested with my friend’s first boxing session, where I demonstrated how to wear the hand wraps and we noticed they matched the colour of her nails, after which we took some photos together to commemorate the moment.

Single image winner: Rebecca Dorothy

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Rebecca Dorothy

Image title: Manas

This series is called Manas (short for hermanas/sisters). It’s the beginning of an ongoing collection of pictures celebrating the importance of family. Sometimes, especially if we live abroad, we might forget how little expressions from our beloved ones can be so meaningful. In this case I wanted to capture some simple routine gestures between sisters, sharing their love and taking care of each other. Sisterhood is fundamental to make you learn how to share not only material things, or moments, but also the hardest and deepest feelings. Sisterhood means being partners for life.

Single image winner: Elizabeth Brown

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Elizabeth Brown

Image title: Baptism

Kataragama Temple complex, in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, is apilgrimage destination for Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists from across Sri Lanka and India. Outside the temple complex lies the Menik Ganga, a river which becomes crowded with weary pilgrims and their families. The various temples are what draw people to Kataragama, but in the intensely hot and humid climate it is the water that allows for the rebirth and renewing of spirits.

Single image winner: Basia Woźniczka

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Basia Woźniczka

Image title: princess and the pea

Bleeding away into the world. The beginnings of entering adulthoodwere nothing like I had imagined. From a rebellious teenager, I imperceptibly became a naive and confused young adult, torn between expectations and reality. This common story of coming of age, closing and reopening chapters, became the axis of the project, trying to visualise an awkward and difficult stage in life, filled with confrontation with dreams that do not always come true and imaginations that are created in our heads. The atmosphere of fairy tale, irony and grotesque adds to this slightly strange, slightly sad world, of which we all inevitably become a part.

Single image winner: Fikayo Adebajo

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Fikayo Adebajo

Image title: The Interlude

From A Brief History of Love in VII Acts; a defiant song of still beating hearts, an archive of love and rage, of sorrow and solidarity. A Brief History of Love in VII Acts is an exercise in ‘critical fabulation’ that queers the archive by using love as a vehicle to explore alternative histories. Through fabricated historical images, this project between photographer and curator Fikayo Adebajo, and costume designer and painter Poppy Whitehorn, reclaims the narrative imprinted on historical imagery. When the colonial gaze has been returned, we look inwards to form new points of convergence through which we imagine our new realities.

Single image winner: Eloise Genoud

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Eloise Genoud

Image title: River

My photographic work explores water as a vessel for memory and the sensation of touch. I see water as a fluid mirror of memory, holding traces of the past and impressions of contact. For me, it captures the intimate resonance of touch – moments that linger beyond the physical.

Through my image, I seek to make these fleeting impressions visible, to capture the dialogue between water and skin, body and the intangible. Water becomes a poetic medium, revealing the fragility and persistence of touch, like a veil that leaves unseen yet felt traces. My aim is to immerse the viewer in this sensory experience, inviting them into the floating memories and infinite sensations that water evokes.

Single image winner: Deirdre Brennan

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Deirdre Brennan

Image title: The Suitcase

This is from a series of portraits of men awaiting decisions regarding their applications for asylum in Ireland. The men told me about their hopes and dreams of starting a new life in Ireland, why they came to the country, and what they wish to contribute to Irish society.

The asylum seekers had been living in a makeshift campsite outside the International Protection Office for several months. The Irish State stopped offering accommodation to all male asylum seekers – in contravention of international commitments.

Having no toilet or showering facilities, the build-up of rubbish, exposure to the cold and lack of laundry facilities were contributing to the spread of infections, including respiratory illness and scabies.

I always like to include a physical symbol of the story in my images. For this I chose a vintage suitcase to signify the journey the men have been on. I titled this series The Suitcase.

“I am fleeing persecution. My uncle killed my father because of a land inheritance dispute. I came to Ireland because it is a safe place. I read a lot about Ireland, its people, its culture and government. I am a computer scientist. It is not easy living in a tent. But where there is life there is hope. I am happy to be here. The Irish people are very accommodating. In some countries they would see you as their ”enemy.

Single image winner: Florence Bass

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Florence Bass

Image title: The Rock Ceremony

This image is part of a series documenting the Lesbian community in Skala Eresou, Lesbos. It was taken during a ceremony on Sappho’s rock to celebrate Lesbian New Year. During the ceremony the women swim out to the rock with a bag of ashes containing the remains of love letters to old flames that they, for one reason or another, want to leave in the past. Each woman then takes a turn pouring the ashes into the sea with the idea that when they return to the mainland they have left their past behind them and are free to move forward in life and love.

Single image winner: Dale Rio

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Dale Rio

Image title: Madge, Western Massachusetts

From the series Look At Me, in which I collaborate with sexual assault survivors to create environmental portraits that depict them from a place of strength as self-defined.

Single image winner: Wendy Catling

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Wendy Catling

Image title: The handover

From the Nightshade series, which is a photo media project that delves into themes of family violence and intergenerational trauma by exploring my mother’s experiences during her relationship with my father. Over 20 tumultuous years, she endured profound hardship, frequently moving home to escape my father’s stalking, violence and coercive control. The pattern of domestic violence – marked by my father’s charming public facade and private cruelty – is symbolised by the black nightshade, an attractive but toxic plant. The project parallels my mother’s battle against weeds with her resistance to
domestic abuse and coercive control. In creating this work, I mimicked my father’s obsessive stalking by tracking environmental weeds in our area and scrutinising neglected family photographs. My conflicted role as a traumatised witness and confidante to both parents is conveyed through the resonances between contemporary and archival images
and documents. Through these images and texts, I aim to reveal complexity and ambiguity, and to repair a traumatic history.

Despite the relentless pressure of family care and domestic instability, my mother found sanctuary and personal power in her passion for gardening and environmental regeneration. Since their separation in the 1980s, and my father’s death in a car accident, she has dedicated herself to volunteering in suburban natural bush reserves, tirelessly
removing environmental weeds to promote native plant growth. Now in her nineties, she maintains a beautiful, meticulously weed-free garden.

Single image winner: Constanze Han

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Constanze Han

Image title: Titti

Titti in her bedroom in Napoli in front of a photograph of her younger
self.

Single image winner: Kasia Ślesińska

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Kasia Ślesińska

Image title: Basia

Carers, who are often elderly themselves, often suffer from arthritis or diabetes. The reasons why women in Poland choose to work abroad as caretakers are varied. While some seek to improve their appearance through cosmetic treatments such as Botox, or purchase luxury items like new televisions, most migrate because they are unable to achieve a dignified standard of living or receive adequate pay or pensions in their home country. This issue of economic migration is prevalent in Poland, where young people migrate to countries such as England and Germany to earn higher salaries for manual labour than they would upon graduating from Poland.

In my hometown, it is common for a family member to migrate to Germany and work as a construction worker or caretaker. I have had the opportunity to meet many retired women who belong to the caretaker group and travel across the western border, primarily to Germany, to provide care for elderly people in their eighties and nineties.

These caretakers are required to be available 24/7 and remain vigilant to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their clients. They are responsible for a wide range of duties, including washing and changing the clothes of their clients, cooking, administering medication, and even providing IV therapy when necessary. Although these women may not have formal training in nursing or caretaking, they are seeking a better quality of life for themselves and their families back home. The challenges and experiences of these caretakers are worth exploring to understand the broader social and economic issues surrounding migration in Poland.

In this image, Basia takes a bath in the tub for the first time in a month. While caring for the elderly person in Germany, Basia had no time for herself; she had to constantly watch over her, never able to take her eyes off her.

Single image winner: Najla Said

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Najla Said

Image title: Never Too Many

Never Too Many represents a common visual in my hometown, Cairo, of a family, or multiple people, riding on one motorcycle. It summarises the Egyptian mentality of ‘we’ll work it out, everything is possible’. However, what I never saw on the street, is a row of women, or even a woman driving the motorcycle. This image ignites that conversation by reappropriating this element of Egyptian street culture, and recontextualising it in a way empowering womanhood. It attempts to give hope for a new beginning for women to provide themselves the representation they deserve, and the agency to question the norms that limit us.

Single image winner: Bea Dero

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Bea Dero

Image title: Azadi – Freedom

This self-portrait was taken in Iran in the aftermath of the murder of Mahsa Amini by Iranian morality police in September 2022. This image is in solidarity with the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. While mourning the death of innocent Iranian activists, this portrait shows an Iranian woman centre frame, in the spotlight, on a white horse at sunset serving as a symbol of hope. Hope for revolution and hope for a future where women are free to stand in their power publicly, with dignity and choice.

Single image winner: Matilde Piazzi and Nadia Del Frate

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Matilde Piazzi and Nadia Del Frate

Image title: Portrait of Pierangela Cernera, known as Piera

Taken from the series Sorelle d’Italia: The Luxury of Resistance, which tells the story of the female workers of La Perla, a luxury lingerie brand founded in Bologna in 1954 by a pioneer of female entrepreneurship, which was declared insolvent in January 2023. After several acquisitions, the last by Tennor Holding in 2018, the company went into judicial administration, leaving 218 employees on furlough. Among these workers, a group launched a feminist and artistic protest in September 2023 to defend their jobs and autonomy. Photographers Matilde Piazzi and Nadia Del Frate collaborated with 19 of them to create Sorelle d’Italia, transforming their struggle into art to keep media attention alive. Sorelle d’Italia reflects the transformative power these women discovered in each other during a moment of crisis. Faced with hardship, they united and found strength together, realising the profound solidarity and resilience that arose from their shared struggle. The aesthetic of the images is designed to highlight the beauty of this collective renewal, moving away from
traditional photo reportage.

The project includes a photo series inspired by Guido Reni’s Aurora, a portrait series reinterpreting archetypes such as Venus and female saints, and a video portrait. Sorelle d’Italia is a monument to contemporary heroic resistance: a triumph of women “in spite of everything”.

Pierangela Cernera is one of the workers leading the fight. She has been working at La Perla for 24 years in the cutting department. She is still waiting to discover what future lies ahead.

Images: SmallRig, Angelbird, Billingham

Welcome to the weekend, everyone! This week was CP+, which means a ton of news about cameras, lenses, and – you guessed it – accessories. There's a ton to get through, so let's get right to it.

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The sales

Photo: Dale Baskin

We recently wrapped up our review of Panasonic's video-focused GH7, apparently just in time for it to go on sale. It's currently available for $200 off MSRP.

Photo: Richard Butler

If you're looking for a camera that still has capable video specs but focuses more on stills, the Nikon Z6III is also on sale for $300 off.

Camera tracking

Image: Elevation Lab

If you've ever worried about losing your camera or having it stolen, this next product may be for you. The Elevation Lab TagVault Camera Plate is a carbon fiber Arca Swiss tripod plate that has a secret compartment for an AirTag, Apple's small accessory that will track an item's location. The plate attaches to your camera using a security Torx screw.

The theory is that if someone were to make off with your camera, they may not think to take the tripod plate off, which means you would be able to see its location and potentially recover it. The plates are $20 each but are also available in a two-pack for $30.

Buy at Amazon

The Cape

Image: DxO

Many photographers will be familiar with DxO's software, but apparently, the company is also interested in soft goods. As part of its announcement of a "Photographers Club," the company said it was working on what it calls a "photo storm cape." It's essentially what it says on the tin: a piece of clothing designed to keep you and your camera dry, even in heavy rain.

The company hasn't released that many details on it yet – apparently it plans to launch a Kickstarter "soon" – but it has said it uses "premium high-tech materials" and offers "exceptional comfort and style." It also appears to offer a window in the front flap that lets you see your camera's monitor without exposing it to the elements.

The compact camera holster

Image: Billingham

Famed camera bag maker Billingham has released what it's calling its "first ever camera bag designed for compact cameras" like the Fujifilm X100V, Leica D-LUX or Ricoh GR 3. The bag, called the Ten-16, is available in a variety of colors, such as red, yellow or green and comes with a removable leather shoulder strap. If you're lucky enough to have gotten one of the compact cameras the bag is designed for, it could be a fashionable way to keep it at hand.

Buy at Billingham

SSD To Go

Image: Angelbird

Storage company Angelbird has released a new portable SSD, which uses a USB 4.0 interface to sustain write speeds of up to 1600 MBps. It includes a USB 4 cable, which plugs into a recessed port on the drive's aluminium enclosure.

The SSD2GO PKT also has a write protection switch, which you can flip to keep yourself from accidentally making any changes to the data on it. The 2TB model costs $380, while the 4TB one will run $650. You can also get text engraved onto the drive's enclosure for no extra cost.

Buy at B&H

Buy at Angelbird

Cages for a new hybrid

Image:SmallRig

Panasonic just announced its latest high-resolution hybrid camera, the S1RII, but SmallRig already has accessories ready for it. There's a standard cage, a kit that includes both a cage and a top handle, and a substantially taller version of the cage that's compatible with the S1RII's battery grip. Given the S1RII's video specs, it's not surprising to see accessories being made that will make it even easier to use it for shooting video.

Buy at B&H

Buy at SmallRig

New Manfrotto tripods

The Q90 column makes the 055XPro AS very versatile. Image: Manfrotto

Manfrotto has released two new ball-head tripods, the 055XPro AS and the 190X AS aluminium. Both are compatible with Arca-style accessories, meaning you can attach your camera directly to them if it's in a cage with an Arca bottom plate.

As the name implies, the 055XPro is geared towards professional photographers and can hold up to 15kg (33lb) of gear, while the enthusiast-class 190X is rated for 10kg (22lb). The 055XPro also lets you quickly rotate the center column 90°, letting you switch between shooting horizontally, vertically, or even top-down.

The 190X AS will cost $299, while the 055XPro AS will cost $399.

F0.38

This week's entertaining/educational video is one by a channel called Applied Science, and it details the process of turning a microscope objective into what is, theoretically, an F0.38 lens. The process involves using oil to couple the glass to a sensor, which has had its protective glass cover removed – a process that apparently resulted in several destroyed sensor chips.

There are a few caveats. The example videos we see – shot using a Type-1/2.5 (5.76 x 4.29mm) sensor – don't show what kind of depth of field or light gathering ability you'd get from an F0.38 lens fitted to a full-frame sensor. However, it's still a fun DIY project and provides an interesting look at exactly what goes into determining a lens' F-stop rating.

Read last week's accessory roundup

Photo: Richard Butler

When we asked which CP+ announcements you wanted us to take a closer look at, we got several responses asking for more information on the many third-party lenses that have been announced at the show. So Richard Butler hit up five booths to get pictures and whatever extra snippets of information that 7Artisans, Laowa, Samyang, TTArtisan and Viltrox would give us.

7Artisans

At the 7Artisans booth, we got to see the several new lenses the company announced.

For full-frame there's a 24mm F1.8 for E, Z and L mounts. The company is also creating L-mount versions of its existing 50 and 85mm F1.8 lenses.

For APS-C, there are three F1.8 autofocus lenses coming out for E, X and Z mounts: a 25m, 35mm and 50mm. There's also a 35mm F1.4, initially releasing for X mount but coming to E and Z later, as well as a 27mm F2.8 lens for X mount by mid-March.

Laowa

Laowa had an interesting array of prototype lenses at its booth. There's the full-frame, manual focus 8-15mm F2.8 fisheye zoom, which will likely be released for E, Z, RF and L mounts, as well as the 15mm F4.5 0.5x wide-angle Macro, which will likely be available for the same mounts. Finally, there's the 35mm tilt-shift F2.8 0.5x Macro lens for Fujifilm's GFX mount.

Samyang

Much of what we saw at Samyang's booth has already been announced, such as the Remaster Slim modular lens and the APS-C AF 12mm F2 lens for Canon's RF mount. However, the company was also showing off its new 14-24mm F2.8 full-frame lens for Sony E mount and teasing some unspecified future lenses.

TTArtisan

TTArtisan's most interesting CP+ announcement wasn't a lens at all but a folding instant camera with manual controls, which you can read more about here. However, the company was also showing off an AF 23mm F1.8 lens for X mount and an AF 14mm F3.5 lens for E mount.

Viltrox

Viltrox had several new lenses at the show this year: there's a new flagship 35mm F1.2 LAB for E mount. Sony shooters will also be getting an 85mm F1.4 Pro lens, while Nikon shooters will finally be getting access to the company's existing 135mm 1.8 LAB lens next month.

The company also showed off its full-frame 50mm F2.0 Air lens, which it claims will have the "best IQ of the AIR series." It will be available in E, Z, and X mounts.

Photo: Lomography

Lomography has announced a new product aimed at making home film development more approachable. The Lomo Daylight Developing Tank 35mm is "an all-in-one developing system" for developing 35mm film without needing a darkroom or changing bag.

Transferring film from the canister to the development reel is one of the most common steps that gets messed up, with many opportunities for problems. After all, fumbling with a roll of film in complete darkness is no easy task, and it is the steepest learning curve of the whole process. It's very easy to end up with frames of film pressed against each other on the reel, fingerprints, creases, wrong cuts and more.

The Daylight Developing Tank eliminates much of that risk by skipping the bag or darkroom and taking the film directly from the canister to the reel. The kit includes a film retriever, developing tank and reel with a built-in film cutter and loading crank. It allows you to pop in a roll of film and load it with the crank system, which Lomography says takes about a minute. This is all done in the developing tank, so when it's loaded onto the reel, you are all set to develop. You can see the full process in the video above.

Lomography says you can process the film using either agitation or inversion development thanks to the included metal buckle that keeps the lid secure. Of course, as with any other development tank, it allows you to experiment with pushing and pulling film, create film soup and more.

Photo: Lomography

The main downside is that the tank only develops one roll of film at a time. If you're a prolific film shooter, this could be more time-consuming than doing the loading part by hand. It's also only compatible with 35mm. But, for new photographers or those who only shoot occasionally, this certainly seems like a handy product.

The Lomo Daylight Developing Tank 35mm Kit is available as of today for $79. You can also purchase a separate reel for $10 or the film retriever for $13.

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Buy now:

$79 at Lomography

Sony a7C R | Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G | F5.6 | 1/800 sec | ISO 100 Photo: Mitchell Clark

Earlier this week, Sony announced the FE 16mm F1.8 G, a new, ultra-wide fast prime that focuses on being relatively compact and affordable. We were able to test it in a variety of locations and conditions to get a feel for how it performs. You can see the sample gallery below.

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.

See the sample gallery