An excellent documentary photographer and trainer Jindřich Štreit as soon as stated, “The artwork of pictures is just like enjoying the violin. You need to apply day-after-day to succeed in virtuosity, and in the event you set your instrument apart and return to it solely sometimes, the spark fades. It’s just like the coaching of a high athlete.”
I generally remind myself of those phrases if it’s been too lengthy since I final pressed the shutter. On the similar time, nevertheless, I hope and imagine that this coaching additionally consists of issues like studying pictures books and enhancing my outdated images. And what about you, how do you preserve that spark? Studying our articles on Images Life actually counts, after all.
Current Bulletins
- Meike 85mm f/1.8 SE Mark II: Third-party lens firm Meike has simply introduced a brand new, autofocus-capable 85mm f/1.8 lens for the Nikon Z system. What units this lens aside is the worth – it retails for $230, and in some way is already on sale for $200. I undoubtedly wouldn’t anticipate efficiency that rivals the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S, however for lower than a 3rd of the worth, it’s a compelling finances different (although nonetheless just a little expensive for a stocking stuffer).
- DJI Neo 2: The most recent drone from DJI can also be one of many smallest. The Neo 2 weighs simply 151 grams (5.3 oz), placing it nicely below the 250-gram restrict the place stricter laws apply. Nonetheless, it received’t be obtainable in the USA because of the ban on DJI merchandise anticipated to happen on December twenty third. The drone contains a 1/2″-type sensor, 4K 100p recording, and impediment avoidance sensors. The gimbal is now dual-axis as an alternative of single-axis, making footage extra secure. It’ll retail for 239€/ £209 the place obtainable.
- SanDisk Excessive Match USB-C Flash Drive: This tiny flash drive / SSD substitute from Sandisk is obtainable as much as 1TB in measurement. The velocity of 400MB/s isn’t as excessive as you’d discover on a standard SSD however remains to be a lot quick for much less intensive duties. (By comparability, the favored Samsung T7 SSD sequence has a write velocity of 1000MB/s.) Given the dimensions of the SanDisk Excessive Match, SanDisk advertises you could go away it hooked up to your laptop computer always. Costs vary from $18 for the 64GB model to $135 for the 1TB model.
- Godox iT32 TTL iFlash and X5 Wi-fi Set off: A brand new Godox flash + set off pair caught my consideration this week. There are brighter flashes and flashes with extra options, however that is the least costly off-camera flash I’ve seen but. The iT32 mini flash has a information variety of 59 toes at ISO 100, a 1.5-second recycle time, and a worth of $79. It’s suitable with Godox’s new X5 wi-fi set off, which prices $20 and offers the iT32 flash a variety of 65 toes. The pair may act as a set off for Godox’s different flashes.
- Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 for Leica M: Cosina has introduced a brand new high-performance manual-focus lens for the Leica M system and Nikon Z. We gave the APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 excessive reward in our evaluation, and Cosina’s commercial of “the most effective performing vast angle lens in Voigtländer historical past” actually has a pleasant ring to it. Simply as importantly, it weighs a mere 285 grams (350 grams for the Nikon model). Based mostly on the Japanese Yen worth, the APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 ought to price about $970 USD. It ships in July 2026.
The Rumor Mill
Leica’s Q3 Monochrom ought to be on its method quickly
In about 4 days, we will anticipate to see the announcement of the Leica Q3 Monochrom, a fixed-lens full-frame digital camera with out the Bayer coloration filtration filter on the sensor. It’s anticipated to be primarily based upon the common Leica Q3 with a 28mm lens, not the Q3 43 variant with a 43mm lens.
Through Leica Rumors
Sony a7V might arrive a bit before anticipated
We beforehand reported that the rumored Sony a7V was anticipated to reach in December, with a projected launch date of December fifth. A brand new rumor suggests the discharge date may very well be December 2nd. The digital camera is predicted to have a 33 megapixel sensor (as does the present a7 IV), whereas the autofocus system, EVF, and rear LCD are anticipated to get boosts.
Through Sony Alpha Rumors
Good Offers and New Gross sales
All the Large Three have massive gross sales this week as we march into the vacation season. I already informed you about the Nikon offers final week, and this week, I’ll share some massive new Canon and Sony offers with you.
Canon Cameras
Canon Lenses
- Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L Extender 1.4x (was $12,399, now $10,999)
- Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L (was $1499, now $1349)
- Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L (was $2599, now $2199)
- Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 (was $639, now $489)
- Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 (was $1249, now $1049)
- Canon RF 24mm f/1.4L (was $1649, now $1449)
- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L (was $2599, now $2299)
- Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 (was $1249, now $1099)
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L (was $1649, now $1549)
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L (was $1549, now $1449)
- Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L (was $2999, now $2599)
- Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L (was $1699, now $1549)
- Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro (was $1349, now $1249)
- Canon RF 100-500mm f/4-6.3L (was $3099, now $2699)
- Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L (was $2399, now $2099)
Sony Cameras
Sony Lenses
Lastly, there are additionally some Nikon gross sales within the UK proper now that caught my consideration:
- Nikon Z9 (was £4999, now £4499)
- Nikon Z8 (was £3999, now £3199)
- Nikon Z6 III (was £2499, now £2199)
- Nikon Zf (was £2149, now £1849)
- Nikon Z5 II (was £1599, now £1499)
- Nikon Z50 II (was £849, now £799)
- Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 (was £1999, now £1679)
- Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S (was £2699, now £2149)
- Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 S (was £3299, now £2699)
- Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S (was £2499, now £2099)
- Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8 (was £1299, now £999)
- Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 (was £879, now £679)
- Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S (was £1049, now £849)
- Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S (was £2799, now £2599)
- Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 S (was £1049, now £759)
- Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena (was £2699, now £2349)
- Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S (was £2499, now £1899)
- Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S (was £1349, now £1059)
- Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 (was £1199, now £899)
- Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S (was £1149, now £989)
Different Pages of Curiosity
The Aurora Borealis was unimaginable this week. Did you could have an opportunity to see it? What about {photograph} it? Outdoors journal revealed a set of their favourite Northern Lights photographs from the week, exhibiting the aurora from Iceland to California. In case you missed it, you’ll have extra possibilities within the coming months; the solar is at present on the peak of its 11-year cycle of exercise, which suggests extra aurora than traditional.
In your weekly dose of picture contest inspiration, check out the winners from Nature Photographer of the 12 months and HIPA 2025. These are two of the most important pictures competitions on the earth, attracting north of 100,000 submissions between them. Congratulations to the winners, two of whom could sound acquainted to Images Life readers: Vladimír Čech Jr (whom I interviewed for Secrets and techniques of Skilled Wildlife Photographers) and former Images Life author Dvir Barkay.
Lastly, this week, I used to be struck by photographs within the sequence Bohemian Rhapsody by one of many main Czech photojournalists, Milan Jaros. His pictures have a haunting but grounded sensibility – moments which are concurrently surreal and commonplace. Like all the most effective journalism, they present an ideal sense of timing. You possibly can view them right here.
Photograph Theme Problem, Week #129
Final week’s theme was lengthy shutter speeds, and you may see the outcomes on this thread. Thanks to everybody to your submissions! This week’s theme is quick lens, and you may submit your outcomes on this thread by Saturday, November 22, 2025!
Week #128 Outcomes
Let’s take a look at a number of the pictures we acquired for the “lengthy shutter speeds” theme, beginning with AndrewGusew’s picture:
The lengthy shutter velocity emphasizes the chaos of the water!
EisenRa’s picture:
Driving down a freeway is lowered right here to the essence of form and light-weight.
And, we’ve acquired a photograph from new member Ik288:
This was not only a lengthy shutter velocity shot, however one taken with a physique cap lens as nicely. The picture depicts a waterfall, but it surely additionally has an archaic essence to it that’s fairly enchanting!
Thanks everybody for submitting their photographs within the problem, and we hope to see extra subsequent week within the quick lens theme.