I will be traveling in the next 10 days and will have limited Internet connectivity. Blog posts on the latest news and rumors could be delayed or non-existent. Responding to emails will take a while. While I am offline, you can check the following Facebook groups for the latest photo gear news:
You don’t have to be a paying member of a website in order to get discounts from certain brands – here is an updated list of photo gear promo codes you can use. Most of the coupon codes require the purchase to be made from the provided links:
Key Features of the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS and FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS
Lightweight, Compact Design with Excellent Handling for Super-Telephoto Shooting
The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS measures approximately 108 mm in maximum diameter and 242 mm in length; the FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS measures approximately 108 mm in maximum diameter and 263 mm in length. Those compact dimensions aid portability and give you comfortable handling and control during handheld shooting.
A weight balance that shifts the center of gravity closer to the camera body makes it easier to hold framing on a subject, track moving subjects, and pan. The lightweight design adds flexibility to super-telephoto work, particularly when searching for subjects handheld in environments where a tripod or monopod is difficult to use, and during long handheld sessions.
High Resolution and Beautiful Bokeh Characteristics of G Master
The latest optical design incorporates three Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one ED glass element, suppressing chromatic aberration and other aberrations that commonly occur at super-telephoto focal lengths and delivering high resolution from the center of the image to the edges.
Sony’s proprietary Nano AR Coating II reduces ghosting and flare in backlit conditions for clear, crisp imagery.
An 11-blade circular aperture and optimization of spherical aberration during both design and manufacturing achieve the smooth bokeh characteristics of G Master.
Fast, Precise, and Quiet Auto Focus Performance and Optical Image Stabilization for Stable Super-Telephoto Shooting
Two XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors and a control algorithm optimized specifically for these lenses deliver fast, precise, and quiet AF, for reliable tracking of fast-moving subjects such as birds, wildlife, and sports. Both lenses are fully compatible with α9 III continuous shooting at up to 120 fps with AF/AE tracking.3
Built-in optical image stabilization reduces camera shake during handheld shooting at super-telephoto focal lengths.
The lenses also support the camera body’s Active Mode image stabilization and coordinated image stabilization control,4 for high-quality stills and movies with reduced blur when shooting handheld. They support the camera body’s breathing compensation function,5 which corrects changes in angle of view caused by shifts in focus position during movie recording.
Operability, Reliability, and Expandability for Super-Telephoto Photography
Four customizable focus hold buttons sit around the lens barrel.
A function ring, focus range limiter, Full-time DMF switch, focus mode switch, and image stabilization mode switch support intuitive operation across shooting styles.
With Sony’s optional teleconverters,6 the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS reaches focal lengths up to 800 mm and the FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS up to 1200 mm.
A dust and moisture resistant design7 and a fluorine coating on the front element that resists contaminants support use in a range of outdoor environments.
Here is a recap of the major new features and updates to ON1 Photo RAW 2027:
New RAW Processing Engine: Delivers richer colors, sharper details, and more natural shadow and highlight rendering straight out of the camera.
Rebuilt NoNoise AI: Features new AI noise reduction models specifically tuned for wildlife, portraits, astrophotography, and scanned film to clear out noise while preserving natural texture.
Updated Tack Sharp AI: An improved de-blurring engine that recovers soft or slightly out-of-focus shots more effectively.
AI Culling Assistant (MAX Exclusive): Automatically groups similar photos, flags closed eyes, and identifies out-of-focus subjects to dramatically speed up your review process.
Simplified Masking Experience: Apply masks consistently across layers, local adjustments, and Effects filters, complete with an instant hover preview so you can see results before you commit.
Improved Brilliance AI: Provides more natural automatic enhancements across a wider variety of photo styles, reducing the need for manual tweaking.
Faster AI Performance: AI-powered tools run noticeably faster, with added speed gains on Windows machines using dedicated ML execution providers.
Enhanced Perfect Eraser: Removes distractions over larger areas while retaining realistic detail. MAX users also gain optional cloud-based AI rendering for Generative Eraser and Crop.
New Loupe Pane & Compare View: Inspect faces and subjects up close or compare multiple shots side-by-side without leaving the Grid view.
Automated Folder Actions: Automatically apply metadata, presets, and export settings to new photos as soon as they land in a watched folder.
Workspace & UI Refinements: Includes a new toggle for Light and Dark themes, a smoother sign-in experience, higher-contrast controls, and an updated font for better readability.
Expanded Sharing & Support: Direct sharing to Flickr, native Windows sharing to email, and broader compatibility for the latest camera RAW file types and lenses.
Ultimate Modularity: Almost every component is interchangeable. You can swap out the legs, canopies, flat plates, rings, heads, and feet to build a custom setup for your specific shoot, eliminating the need to own separate tabletop, travel, or studio tripods.
Two Core Canopies:
James: Built for portability with a slim profile that fits easily into a camera bag’s water bottle pocket.
Jason: Designed for maximum strength, stability, and additional mounting features.
High Payload Capacity: Despite their portability, both base canopies can handle heavy camera rigs up to 30 kg (66 lbs).
Three Carbon Fiber Leg Options:
5-Section: The most compact for travel, folding down to 16.7 inches.
4-Section: A happy medium balancing folded length and overall height.
3-Section: The sturdiest option, prioritizing maximum height (up to 60.6 inches) and stability.
Multi-use Legs: Individual legs can be detached from the canopy to function as standard monopods or lightweight boom poles for lighting and audio.
Glove-Friendly Adjustments: Features a new trigger-pull latch design that makes it easy to adjust the leg angles for a wider stance or low-angle shots, even if you are wearing thick gloves.
Airhed Orbit Ball Head: Debuts a newly designed ball-style head that uses just one main control knob to intuitively level, adjust, and lock the camera into place.
Tabletop Conversion: By removing the primary legs, you can attach the interchangeable feet directly to the canopy to create an ultra-sturdy, low-profile tabletop mini tripod.
Easy Maintenance: Because the system is entirely modular and breaks down into separate pieces, it is exceptionally easy to clean out dirt, sand, and grit after shooting in harsh environments.
At IBC2026, Viltrox will showcase new Air Series and Pro Series lenses, expanding its full-frame portfolio. These include the Viltrox AF 14mm F4.0 L, Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 L, Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5 L, and Viltrox AF 50mm F2.0 L, adding four new focal lengths to the L-Mount system to give creators the opportunity to experience the series on their preferred camera system. From expansive scenes and architectural spaces to travel, vlogging, everyday shooting, and portraits, the four focal lengths offer versatile options for a wide range of visual storytelling.
In addition, the Viltrox 35mm F1.4 Pro is a highly anticipated addition to the Viltrox Pro Series, combining high-level image quality, meticulous craftsmanship, and a bright F1.4 aperture in one highly versatile focal length.
Two New APS-C Pro Series Lenses Deliver New Creative Potential
Viltrox will also introduce the new Viltrox 18mm F1.2 Pro and Viltrox 40mm F1.2 Pro to its Pro Series of APS-C lenses.
The Viltrox 18mm F1.2 Pro provides a broad perspective while maintaining the creative possibilities of a bright F1.2 aperture, while the Viltrox 40mm F1.2 Pro takes a more focused approach, combining a versatile perspective with an ultra-bright F1.2 aperture. Together, they allow creators to explore subject isolation, depth, and a more intimate relationship between the subject and the frame.
Beyond the Lens: New Tools that Support the Creative Process
Beyond optics, Viltrox is introducing new tools designed to support other essential stages of the creative process. This includes a new high-power flash that expands Viltrox’s imaging portfolio, giving creators greater lighting capability and flexibility, and providing another tool to help transform an initial idea into a finished image.
For modern video-production workflows, the new Viltrox DC-X4 camera monitor will also debut. Its larger, more practical production view provides greater control over composition, focus, exposure, and the overall image.
Insta360 Launches Luna Pro: Leica Co-Engineered Gimbal Camera for Everyday Vlogging
Designed around the needs of today’s lifestyle creators, Luna Pro combines high-end imaging with a fast, flexible approach to content creation. Native 4K Vertical Video makes it easy to capture high-quality content for short-form platforms, while AI-powered tracking, intuitive controls, and streamlined editing help creators work quickly when shooting solo or on the move.
A Leica Summicron lens, 1-inch 8K sensor, 8K Dolby Vision video, 10-bit I-Log, and built-in timecode give Luna Pro the imaging quality and workflow tools to take on more demanding creative projects as well.
Luna Pro is available starting September 10 via the Insta360 Store, Amazon, and select retailers worldwide. Pricing for the Standard Bundle starts at US$599.99.
Professional Imaging
Luna Pro pairs a Leica Summicron lens with a 1-inch 8K sensor for exceptional detail and strong low-light performance.
Its Dual AI Chip architecture combines a dedicated imaging chip with a 4nm flagship chip, providing the processing power needed for advanced imaging and intelligent shooting features.
For creators producing short-form content, Luna Pro supports native 4K30fps Vertical Video with 6K oversampling for greater clarity and detail. Rotate the touchscreen to switch orientation and start shooting vertical content in 4K.
Luna Pro also records 8K Dolby Vision video for rich detail, color, and dynamic range. For slow motion capture, it supports 4K120fps and 1080p240fps recording.
Up to 2× lossless zoom and 4× HighRes Zoom give creators more freedom to reframe or get closer to distant subjects, with AI-powered enhancement helping preserve image clarity at higher zoom levels.
Smooth, Flexible Shooting
Luna Pro’s 3-axis stabilization keeps footage smooth and steady, while AI-powered Deep Track and Rapid Focus help keep moving subjects sharp and in frame.
The detachable 2-inch OLED touchscreen makes it easier to compose and monitor shots from different angles. Slide-to-start recording and twist-to-shoot controls also reduce the time between picking up the camera and getting the shot.
With up to 4 hours of battery life and 47GB of built-in storage, Luna Pro is equipped for longer shooting sessions without frequent charging or storage changes. It also connects directly to the Insta360 Mic Series for high-quality wireless audio capture.
More Ways to Create
The POV Head Tracker opens up new possibilities for immersive first-person content, while NFC lets compatible phones connect to the Insta360 app with a simple tap for faster access to files and editing.
Luna Pro also offers Leica color profiles including Leica Natural, Leica Vivid, and Leica Chrome, alongside a range of cinematic filters for distinctive looks straight out of the camera.
For creators who want more control in post-production, 10-bit I-Log preserves more color information and highlight and shadow detail, with support for ACES workflows for professional color grading.
Built-in timecode simplifies synchronization in multi-camera productions and integrates into workflows using Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. AI-powered editing tools in the Insta360 app can also turn footage into polished content, particularly when speed matters.
The Sony FE 600mm g/6.3 GM OSS lens is expected in the next two weeks and is rumored to have a minimum focus distance of approximately 2.5 meters, significantly closer than its rivals.
Connexion
