Drone Tutorials

Laowa 200mm f/2 AF, Nikon Offers

August 11, 2025
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The photograph I’m opening this week’s Pictures Information with was initially meant to look in my newest article, “Wildlife Pictures Necessities.” However since its creator—an excellent photographer and my good pal Tomáš Grim—was someplace deep within the Brazilian Amazon on the time, it didn’t make it into the piece. Nonetheless, I couldn’t let its message and humor go unseen. What I didn’t point out within the article is that the enjoyment of images is even higher when shared.

Tomas Grim_Australia_Eungella_Behind the scenes_DSC_0541
A pal’s presence isn’t restricted to the social dimension—generally an additional pair of arms is probably the most helpful piece of substances you have got. Be certain so as to add them to your packing record everytime you get the possibility. Copyright: Tomáš Grim

Current Bulletins

  • Brightin Star AF 35mm f/1.8: This 12 months in China is unquestionably the 12 months of the 35mm! Brightin Star’s third autofocus lens is aimed toward full-frame Sony E and Nikon Z cameras. The optical formulation (11 components in 6 teams) options glass from Japanese producer Hoya. The lens consists of an AF/MF swap, a programmable Fn button, and a de-clicked aperture ring. The mount is sealed towards water drips, and there’s a USB-C port for firmware updates. Minimal focusing distance is 0.4 m. For the Nikon Z model, dimensions are 90 mm (L) × 75 mm (D) with a weight of 430 g. The lens takes 62 mm filters. Value: $250.
  • HOVERAir AQUA: Touchdown an everyday drone on water normally means its unhappy and soggy farewell. Not so with the HOVERAir AQUA, which cannot solely land on water but additionally take off from it. Its waterproof distant management ensures the drone can observe you even on aquatic adventures. The producer claims, “It might probably body you, observe you, and fly circles round you.” The AQUA falls into the least-restricted class of drones below 249 grams. Its onboard digicam shoots 4K at 100 FPS, utilizing a 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor. High pace is 55 km/h, and it might probably deal with winds as much as 33 knots. Pricing has but to be introduced.
  • BOYA Magic: “One mic, 4 varieties” is Boya’s major promoting level for this pair of mini (7 grams every) wi-fi microphones. With the included stand and charging case, the mics might be configured for clip-on, handheld, desktop, or on-camera use. Noise cancellation is powered by AI algorithms skilled on greater than 700,000 real-world noise samples. The mics document 48 kHz/24-bit audio within the 20 Hz–20 kHz vary. Audio might be transmitted to your machine through USB-C, Lightning port, or 3.5mm audio cable. Relying on the receiver kind and included equipment, costs vary from $92 to $153.

The Rumor Mill

Ricoh GR IV – specs and pictures

The fourth technology of Ricoh’s well-liked compact digicam is beginning to take actual form. Pentax Rumors has posted photographs from a current presentation in China. The buttons are the identical because the GR III, with one exception: the management dial is gone, and as a substitute there’s a brand new +/- button.

The largest updates, nevertheless, are seemingly below the hood. The usual model (anticipated fall 2025) will function an 18.3mm f/2.8 lens (28mm equal) with a built-in 2-stop ND filter. A brand new GR ENGINE 7 processor will deal with knowledge from the upgraded 25.74-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor. Picture stabilization is anticipated to enhance from 3-axis to 5-axis. Additionally noteworthy is the swap from normal SD to MicroSD playing cards, alongside 53 GB of inside storage for backup. Autofocus will get an replace with face monitoring and improved low-light sensitivity.

Through Pentax Rumors

One other 200mm f/2 lens on the horizon

After I noticed rumors about yet one more 200mm f/2 lens, I needed to double-check my very own Pictures Information from final week to verify I wasn’t mixing issues up. Only a week after the rumor mill churned out information of Sigma’s upcoming 200mm f/2 Sport, right here comes one other one.

This time, and moderately unexpectedly, from Venus Optics Laowa, and it’s going to function autofocus! Till now, the model has solely dipped its toes into AF lenses very cautiously — their present autofocus choices are the 10mm f/2.8 and 12mm f/2.8. With an annual progress charge of 2mm per 12 months, I had calculated we would see a 200mm lens someday round 2119. And but, right here we’re, with precise product images already floating round.

The lens is anticipated to weigh round 1.6kg, which is impressively mild when you think about Nikon’s 200mm f/2 G VR II tipped the scales at virtually 3kg. In contrast to the upcoming Sigma, the Laowa will supply a broader vary of mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, and Canon EF first, adopted later by Fuji X and GFX.

Through Photograph Rumors

Everlasting ready for Eterna might quickly finish

On September eleventh, Fujifilm is anticipated to unveil its first medium-format cinema digicam, the GFX Eterna 102MP. The identify already hints on the key specs: a 102MP CMOS II HS sensor and compatibility with Fujifilm’s GFX medium-format lenses.

Alongside the digicam, Fujifilm may also introduce a brand new 32-90mm lens with a Energy Zoom mechanism, reportedly with a most aperture of f/3.5. The Eterna shall be powered by the X-Processor 5, already discovered within the GFX100 II. Most video decision will naturally be 8K, with extra choices for 6K and 4K recording. For the remainder of the specs, we’ll have to attend till subsequent month.

Through Fuji Addict

Good Offers and New Gross sales

On account of Trump’s tariffs, a second spherical of Nikon worth will increase is anticipated beginning September 1st, 2025. So, in the event you’re planning to spend money on Nikon gear, it will be smart to take action earlier than the tip of this month. An excellent alternative is likely to be the continued Again to Faculty Specials sale at B&H Photograph. Under, you’ll discover my number of offers that caught my eye:

Cameras

Lenses

Z-mount (mirrorless)

F-mount (DSLR)

Different Pages of Curiosity

Should you thought all the massive animal species had already been found—and that scientists as we speak have been simply combing by means of the undergrowth with a magnifying glass to search out the final elusive ones—this subsequent hyperlink would possibly shock you. In Australia, researchers have not too long ago described a brand new species of supermodel (Acrophylla alta) measuring 40 cm in size. At 44 g, it additionally grew to become the heaviest identified insect on the continent, outweighing the Big Burrowing Cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros) by almost 10 grams. To place that in perspective, a single supermodel suggestions the scales about the identical as 25 of the world’s smallest hummingbirds, the Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) from Cuba.

The ReFocus Awards have introduced the winners of their newest Coloration Pictures Contest. British photographer Liam Man took first place together with his picture Ring of Fireplace, and Ice. The photograph depicts two ice climbers standing on the ridge of a superbly blue-tinted block of ice. Above them, a photo voltaic eclipse unfolds amid clouds painted a fiery crimson. Maybe probably the most fascinating a part of this surreal scene is the best way Liam lit the glacier and its climbers—a narrative you possibly can examine within the interview on how the successful shot got here to life.

Should you journey with a drone, you might have been as alarmed, as I used to be, by a current case from the Spanish island of Tenerife. On July fifteenth, a British vacationer was caught flying his drone over crowds through the busy maritime procession in Puerto de la Cruz. In doing so, he violated a number of legal guidelines and laws, incomes himself a large €200,000 advantageous from Spanish aviation authorities. The article from CoverDrone features a useful pre-flight guidelines for worldwide drone use that can assist you keep away from such disagreeable surprises. Wishing you protected and trouble-free flying this week.

Photograph Theme Problem, Week #115

Final week’s theme was summary, and you’ll see the outcomes on this thread. Thanks to everybody in your submissions! This week’s theme is clouds, and you’ll submit your outcomes on this thread by Saturday, August 16, 2025!

Week #114 Outcomes

Let’s take a look at a number of the photographs we acquired for the “summary” theme. We acquired fairly a number of superior images, so let’s see 4 of them, beginning with Mr T’s photograph:

That is the primary time we’ve seen a photograph from Mr T, and it’s a close-up of a wood cup. Very fascinating texture! It appears to be like much like the floor of the solar.

Danny’s photograph:

In keeping with Danny, that is the roof of the Liège-Guillemins station in Belgium. Very good and deliberate framing right here.

Stea’s photograph:

Stea’s lovely metallic photograph is definitely a closeup of a Coraebus undatus beetle.

Lastly, AndrewGusew’s photograph:

Though the clouds give some concreteness to this neat architectural shot, the shapes are fairly summary as they actually play together with your sense of perspective.

Thanks everybody for submitting their images within the problem, and we hope to see extra subsequent week within the clouds theme.

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