Final Tuesday, April 22, was Earth Day – an occasion that’s been reminding us to deal with our house planet for the previous fifty-five years. Contemplating the present state of the Earth, although, there actually wasn’t a lot to have a good time. This thought got here to me this week whereas watching Minamata, a film through which Johnny Depp portrays legendary photographer W. Eugene Smith. In the event you haven’t seen the film, I extremely suggest it.
Except for the seriousness of the story it tells, the film made me need to combine up a batch of developer and lock myself in a darkroom. There’s one thing magical about watching a picture slowly emerge beneath your fingers. As an alternative, I ended up “growing” the primary of many RAWs of Griffons that I shot just a few weeks in the past from a excessive rock in central Spain. Watching these magnificent creatures circling above me was a very uplifting expertise.
Latest Bulletins
- Schneider-Kreuznach x LK SAMYANG AF 14-24mm f/2.8 FE: This autofocus lens is the results of a collaboration between Schneider and Samyang, beforehand teased at CP+, was formally introduced this week. It’s a comparatively light-weight (445g) and compact (88.8mm lengthy) ultra-wide full-frame lens. The optical design consists of 15 parts in 11 teams (together with 3 aspherical, 5 high-refractive, and three ED parts). The minimal focusing distance is 0.18m (0.59ft), delivering a magnification of 0.17x on the large finish as much as 0.26x at 24mm. The lens accepts customary 77mm screw-on filters. It’s weather-sealed and features a USB-C port for firmware updates. For now, it’s out there just for Sony. The worth is about at €1,186 (round $1,350).
- Insta360 X5 360° 8K: A digital camera designed for content material creators and videographers that captures a full 360° view (we examined the third era right here). In comparison with its predecessor X4 (now discounted to $425), the X5 will get a sooner AI processor and a considerably bigger 1/1.28″-Kind CMOS sensor (up from 1/2″). It may well report 360-degree video at as much as 8K/30p, although when taking pictures with a single lens (not protecting the complete 360°), it tops out at 4K/60p. The X5 additionally captures 72MP RAW (DNG) stills. The producer guarantees higher sturdiness than earlier than, with replaceable lenses and improved waterproofing — now rated for dives as much as 15 meters. Battery life has jumped from 2.2 to three hours. Pricing begins at $550 for the digital camera alone or $660 for the Necessities Bundle.
The Rumor Mill
Tamron seemingly quickly to announce an APS-C superzoom for Canon and Nikon
Particularly, I’m speaking in regards to the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD lens. Does this lens sound acquainted? No surprise. In the event you shoot with Sony or Fujifilm, you may have already got had it in your digital camera bag since 2021. Nikon and Canon APS-C customers have wanted to attend lengthy 4 years for his or her flip.
For Nikon APS-C cameras, the full-frame equal focal size will probably be 27-450mm, whereas for Canon it is going to be the marginally longer 29-480mm. With a comparatively respectable aperture, the lens will cowl many of the generally used focal lengths for each panorama and wildlife. As is typical for Tamron, the lens has respectable “macro” capabilities. Particularly, it could possibly focus from 15cm on the large finish, permitting a magnification of 1:2.
In the event you discover the lens too lengthy on the large finish, you possibly can go for the Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Modern. Sadly, that is solely out there for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Sony E and L-Mount, not for Nikon Z-Mount.
By way of Nikon Rumors and Canon Rumors
Fujifilm Half the Dimension, Twice the Story
Below this headline at B&H Photograph, you possibly can try the silhouette of the anticipated Fujifilm digital camera I discussed on this part final week. The teaser video ends with the phrases “See you quickly”. The phrase “quickly” appears to tackle a extra concrete form. In response to the newest rumors, it may be translated as “Could 22”. The brand new digital camera, anticipated to be known as the Fujifilm X-Half, is anticipated to function the basic (retro) design that Fujifilm is understood for, a method that simply earned them one other set of Pink Dot design awards this yr. Probably the most notable spec? A vertically oriented sensor, seemingly from Sony (and both 1/2 body or 1″-type in measurement).
By way of Fuji Rumors
On safari with a Leica M digital camera?
Leica M cameras should not actually meant as a instrument for wildlife photographers. However that doesn’t imply that these basic rangefinder cameras solely belong within the city jungle. Among the coloration variations are additionally excellent for pure environments, the place they mix in completely with their environment. Such because the soon-to-be-announced Leica M11-P Safari Version. I wouldn’t select it for traditional safari pictures, however to cowl the combat between conservationists and poachers, for instance, I’d.
By way of Leica Rumors
Good Offers and New Gross sales
B&H Photograph is presently operating its “Terrific Commerce-In Occasion” for Canon gear (occasion ends Could 4, 2025). As typical, the thought is that B&H Photograph will purchase again your outdated, working digital camera or lens (for the trade-in worth) plus a trade-in bonus. The trade-in bonus ranges from $100 to $500. Some gadgets are presently discounted. The costs in parentheses present the unique worth and the ultimate worth after the low cost and trade-in bonus, not counting the extra worth that B&H pays to your used gear. Right here’s a have a look at the highlights on provide:
Cameras:
- Canon EOS R1 (was $6,300, now $5,800)
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II (was $4,300, now $3,800)
- Canon EOS R7 (was $1,500, now $1,300)
- Canon EOS R10 (was $980, now $780)
- Canon EOS C80 6K Full-Body Cinema Digital camera (was $5,500, now $5,200)
Lenses:
- Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM (was $3,100, now $2,700)
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM (was $2,300, now $2,100)
- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM (was $2,400, now $2,200)
- Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM (was $2,800, now $2,600)
- Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM (was $2,400, now $2,000)
- Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM (was $2,100, now $1,700)
- Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM (was $2,900, now $2,500)
- Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM (was $2,800, now $2,400)
Different Pages of Curiosity
A couple of month in the past, I introduced you the nominated pictures for the competition Czech Nature Photograph 2025. At the moment, I invited you to play the jury and guess the winner. Now that the winners have been determined, you possibly can verify whether or not you have been appropriate. By the way in which, all three of the instructors from my On-line Workshop, and yet one more photographer who I interviewed right here up to now, did very effectively within the competitors: 4 second locations and one win of their classes! Congratulations to them and all of the winners. In the event you make your approach to Prague, I like to recommend visiting the exhibition, which this yr is being held for the primary time within the lovely grounds of Prague Fort.
Final week, the outcomes of the TIPA World Awards 2025 have been introduced. For these unfamiliar, this can be a competitors based again in 1991, the place a panel of editors from pictures magazines selects one of the best pictures gear of the previous yr. So, who took house the trophies? The award for Finest Full Body Skilled Digital camera and Finest APS-C Fanatic Digital camera went to the Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z50 II. The title of Finest Full Body Skilled Digital camera was claimed by the Sony Alpha 1 II. Canon’s EOS R5 Mark II obtained the award for Finest Full Body Hybrid Digital camera. And from the vary of lens classes, I’ve picked the award for Finest Skilled Telephoto Lens, which went to the Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS | Sports activities. You may try the complete listing of winners on the competitors’s official web site.
I don’t actually watch actuality TV reveals. Not solely do I not personal a TV, however I don’t know why I needs to be inquisitive about peeking into somebody’s kitchen, lounge, and even bed room. However generally I make an exception for birds. A number of stork nests right here within the Czech Republic are outfitted with webcams, so you possibly can comply with the nesting season from the arrival of the dad and mom from the wintering grounds to the second the chicks depart the nest. In fact, I don’t have time to observe them on a regular basis, however when a headline appeared within the morning information saying “Tough assault on chimney in Ronov nad Doubravou: A sleeping stork was carried away by an eagle-owl“, I couldn’t resist. I received’t spoil how the drama ended.
Photograph Theme Problem, Week #99
Final week’s theme was intersections, and you may see the outcomes on this thread. Thanks to everybody to your submissions! This week’s theme is repeating patterns, and you may submit your outcomes on this thread by Saturday, Could 3, 2024!
Week #98 Outcomes
Let’s try a number of the pictures we obtained for the “intersections” theme, beginning with vidmarko’s picture:
The numerous intersections right here show the complexity of the scene.
PRG Lagarde’s picture:
The intersection of the signal with the background offers a managed chaos of summary shapes in a concrete setting!
Mauro70’s picture:
The intersection of the individual with the horse gives just a little context whereas conserving the eye on the horse. Good!
Thanks everybody for submitting their pictures within the problem, and we hope to see extra subsequent week within the repeating patterns theme.