credits: Viltrox Viltrox is set to officially announce its new AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO pancake lens tomorrow, July 15, but the company has already revealed the full specifications ahead of launch. Staying true to the pancake concept, the lens measures 69.4mm in diameter and 25.8mm in length, while weighing around 170g. On the inside, the lens features an 8-element, 6-group optical design, including one high-refractive-index element and two aspherical elements to help improve sharpness while reducing optical aberrations. It also uses HD Nano multilayer coatings with water-resistant and anti-fouling protection to reduce flare and make the front element easier to keep clean. Autofocus is powered by a quiet STM motor with a full-group focusing system, supporting both AF and MF operation. The lens offers an 81.2° angle of view, an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/16, a minimum focusing distance of 0.2m, and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.2x. It also accepts 43mm filters and has a 7-blade aperture. The Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO will be officially announced tomorrow for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts. Pricing has not been confirmed yet.

credits: Canon Canon’s next full-frame mirrorless camera is starting to take shape as new rumoured specifications for the EOS R8 Mark II have surfaced. Sources suggest the camera is expected to be announced in early September, although Canon has yet to confirm any specific details. If the latest rumours are accurate, the EOS R8 Mark II will feature a 32.5-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and, perhaps more importantly, add in-body image stabilisation, something many photographers felt was missing from the original EOS R8. The camera is also rumoured to shoot at up to 40 frames per second using its electronic shutter. Like its predecessor, it is expected to omit a mechanical shutter, relying entirely on electronic capture. Other rumoured features include dual SD card slots and 4K video recording, although sources say Canon is not planning to include a higher-resolution 7K recording mode. Canon also appears to be keeping a clear gap between the EOS R8 Mark II and the higher-end EOS R6 Mark III, which launched with a starting price of around $3,400. According to the rumours, features such as Pre-Shooting, Open Gate recording, and faster communication capabilities will remain exclusive to the R6 Mark III. The EOS R8 Mark II is also expected to stand out visually with a retro-inspired design, something not currently seen elsewhere in Canon’s EOS R lineup. Exactly what that will look like is still unknown, with leaked images not expected to appear for at least another month.

credits: Tamron Tamron will announce a new 12-20mm f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom lens very soon, but the lens has already leaked in full ahead of the official launch. Designed for Sony E and Nikon Z full-frame mirrorless cameras, the new Di III lens combines a wide 12-20mm focal range with a constant f/2.8 aperture. It offers a 121°58′ to 94°30′ angle of view while remaining relatively compact, measuring 119.3mm long for Sony E and 121.3mm for Nikon Z. Weight comes in at 570g for Sony and 585g for Nikon. Inside, the lens uses a 17-element, 12-group optical design that includes one XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) element, three GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) elements, and several additional special glass elements to help reduce corner softness, chromatic aberration, and sagittal coma flare. According to the leaked specifications, it is designed to deliver strong sharpness across the frame, particularly for nightscapes and astrophotography. Autofocus is driven by Tamron's VXD linear motor, while a 12-blade circular diaphragm is paired with an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/16. The lens focuses as close as 0.18m at 12mm and 0.28m at 20mm, offering a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.8 and 1:9.1, respectively. The lens also includes an integrated petal-shaped lens hood, a rear filter holder instead of a front filter thread, and support for Tamron Lens Utility for additional customisation. It will also ship with a locking front lens cap, rear cap, and a protective lens wrap. Pricing has not leaked yet, but with the full specifications now out in the open, the official announcement is likely just around the corner.

credits: Aftershoot Aftershoot has started teasing a big upcoming update, bringing new features across its AI Culling, AI Editing, RAW Engine, AI Retouching, and Gallery Sharing tools. The company has not announced a release date yet, but it has revealed a long list of improvements that are supposed to make photo selection, editing, and client delivery faster and more efficient. One of the biggest highlights is an update to AI Culling, where Aftershoot says its selection accuracy has improved from 79% to 85%. The update also introduces Cull to Target in beta, on-device Face Recognition, and Tethering Beta. The AI Editing workflow is also getting several additions, including five new Creator Profiles, three new Aftershoot Profiles, a new Portrait & Headshot Crop tool, and improved automatic exposure adjustments. Meanwhile, the Aftershoot RAW Engine is adding Tone Curves, a Live Histogram, Clones and Virtual Copies, improved masking tools, and Dynamic AI Learning, allowing the software to adapt more effectively to a photographer’s editing style over time. On the retouching side, Aftershoot is introducing AI tools for double chin removal, dark circle removal, neck brightening, and more realistic shadow generation when replacing backgrounds. The company also says syncing edits will be faster than before. Gallery delivery is getting expanded support for additional print labs, including NPhoto, Loxley, and Bay Photo, alongside new Brand Kits, Portfolios & Collections, and Sales Automation tools. Finally, Aftershoot also teased Aftershoot Photon, a free Lightroom alternative that the company describes as a fast, native, and streamlined RAW editing app.

credits: SongRaw SongRaw’s new AF 85mm f/1.2 MS “Youth Edition” is here. It is a full-frame autofocus portrait lens for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, and despite the “Youth Edition” name, it is not a stripped-down budget lens. Instead, it is a slightly more affordable addition to the company’s lineup while still offering features such as a bright f/1.2 aperture, weather sealing, and a body made from aviation-grade aluminium. Optically, the lens uses an 18-element, 10-group optical design that includes six special elements, an APO element, and nano coatings to help reduce flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration. It features a 13-blade aperture with an aperture range of f/1.2 to f/16, a 29.1° angle of view, and a minimum focusing distance of 0.85m with a maximum magnification of 0.13x. Autofocus is driven by an STM motor with real-time position tracking and closed-loop monitoring, while eye-detection autofocus, internal focusing, and an 86mm filter thread round out the main specs. Weight comes in at approximately 870g to 900g, depending on the mount. The new SongRaw AF 85mm f/1.2 MS Youth Edition is priced at $649.

credits: HoneyBook HoneyBook has announced a new set of features built specifically for photographers, expanding its CRM platform with integrated photo galleries, mini session booking, and new payment tools. The company says the new additions were developed with help from a dedicated photographer council, a group of HoneyBook users who shared feedback on some of the biggest challenges photographers face when managing clients. The goal is to reduce the number of separate apps photographers need for things like galleries, scheduling, contracts, and client communication. One of the biggest additions is Client Photo Galleries, which are now built directly into HoneyBook. You can deliver branded photo and video galleries through the same client portal already used for contracts, invoices, and project communication. Higher-tier plans also include unlimited gallery storage. HoneyBook has also introduced a new Mini Sessions booking tool, making it easier to schedule back-to-back sessions for events like holiday portraits or seasonal shootings. The platform automatically manages bookings, contracts, and payments. Another new feature is Tap to Pay on iPhone, allowing you to accept in-person card payments without needing a separate card reader. The new tools sit alongside HoneyBook’s existing automation features, including automated emails, reminders, and follow-ups. The company has also confirmed that Two-Way SMS is coming soon as an optional paid add-on. Once available, you will be able to send and receive text messages through a dedicated business number directly inside HoneyBook, including automated messages and file sharing with clients. The new Client Photo Galleries and Mini Sessions features are available now for existing HoneyBook subscribers. Plans start at $29 per month.

credits: Reflx Lab 110 film has long been one of the most niche formats in analog photography, with Lomography being the only company producing fresh 110 film for the past 15 years. That is now changing, as Reflx Lab has announced two new 110 film stocks, giving photographers another option for the cartridge-based format. The new releases include Fortuna C200color negative film and 100R Color Reversal slide film, with Reflx Lab also saying that more premium 110 films are already planned for the future. The Fortuna C200 is respooled from Lucky C200 film stock, while the 100R Color Reversal is made from respooled 16mm Kodak Ektachrome slide film. Both films are packaged in 3D-printed cartridges, which help keep production costs down but come with one notable drawback. There is no rear window to show how many exposures remain. Instead, you simply load the cartridge, wind the film until it stops, and continue shooting until the advance lever can no longer be turned. Both films retain standard 110 perforations on one side, while the original 16mm perforations remain on the other. Reflx Lab recommends using higher-quality 110 cameras such as the Canon 110ED, Pentax Auto 110, Minolta 110 Zoom, and Rollei E110, rather than the inexpensive fixed-focus cameras that helped make the format popular decades ago. According to the company, those simpler cameras do not make the most of what these new film stocks can offer. The Reflx Lab Fortuna C200 is priced at $19.99, while the 100R Color Reversal sells for $24.99.

credits: Panasonic A newly published Panasonic patent suggests the company could be working on a much more compact macro lens, one that retracts when it is not in use to make it easier to carry around. The patent, P2026104790, describes a lens with a control ring that switches between three different positions. A fully retracted transport mode, a standard shooting mode, and an extended macro mode. As is always the case with patents, there is no guarantee this will ever become a real product, but it does offer an interesting glimpse at what Panasonic could be developing. According to the patent, the control ring mechanically moves the internal lens groups along the optical axis depending on the selected mode. In the retracted position, the lens pulls back toward the camera body to reduce its overall size. Turning the ring moves it into its normal shooting position, while rotating it further extends the lens into a dedicated macro mode for close-up photography. Panasonic also describes separate distance scales for each position, helping maintain accurate focusing no matter which mode the lens is being used in. The goal is with this is to combine the convenience of a retractable lens with true macro capability, something that is currently not available on the market. Retractable lenses already exist, including Nikon’s Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 and Z 26mm f/2.8, Canon’s RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3, and Sony’s 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, but none of them are dedicated macro lenses. Panasonic’s current Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro is already regarded as one of the strongest macro options for the L-Mount system, so a smaller retractable version would certainly be an interesting addition if it ever reaches production.

credits: BenQ BenQ’s new Creative Pro PD2732U monitor is here. It is the first display in the company’s refreshed Creative Pro lineup for photographers, video editors, and graphic designers. The new display features a 27-inch 4K UHD (3840 × 2160) IPS panel that covers 99% of the Adobe RGB, 99% of the DCI-P3, and 100% of the sRGB colour space, making it well suited to both photo and video editing while coming in at a relatively accessible $699.99 price point. There are a few trade-offs, however. Unlike some higher-end creative monitors, the PD2732U is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate instead of 120Hz, and its maximum brightness of 400 nits means it is not really built for demanding HDR editing. BenQ has instead focused on colour performance. The monitor ships factory calibrated with an individual calibration report, promises Delta E <2 colour accuracy, and is both Calman Verified and Pantone Validated. It also includes M-book Mode, which helps match colours more closely with MacBook displays, along with iDevice Color Sync for previewing content from iPhones and iPads, and iKeyboard Control, allowing Mac users to adjust brightness and volume directly from their keyboard. The monitor also comes with BenQ’s wireless Hotkey Puck, giving you quick access to colour modes, brightness, and other commonly used settings. Connectivity includes DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and two Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C ports, one of which supports 15W power delivery and monitor daisy-chaining. The BenQ PD2732U is priced at $699.99 and begins shipping on July 22.

credits: Viltrox Viltrox has officially started teasing the upcoming AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO, with the company confirming the launch on its own social media channels. The pancake lens is now expected to arrive later this month for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, with an L-Mount version expected to follow a few months later. Alongside the AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO, Viltrox has already introduced the AF 28mm f/4.5 for L-Mount and has several other lenses in the pipeline. The 26mm f/2.8 EVO is designed as a true pancake lens, combining a very slim, lightweight design with a versatile 26mm full-frame focal length. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, while autofocus is expected to be driven by a newly developed VCM (Voice Coil Motor), which should provide fast and quiet performance for both stills and video. Although Viltrox has not revealed the full optical formula yet, the lens is said to use internal focusing and prioritise sharpness. Those early teaser images also point to a clean EVO-series design with what appears to be a metal barrel, and possibly a bayonet lens hood that incorporates filter threads. The new pancake lens is just one part of Viltrox’s expanding roadmap. The company has also announced plans for an 18mm f/1.2 Pro for APS-C, a 25mm f/1.7 for Micro Four Thirds, a 40mm f/1.2 Pro, a 35mm f/1.4 Pro with an aperture ring, and a manual tilt-shift lens, alongside additional EVO-series lenses such as the 75mm f/1.8 and 90mm f/2.2. The Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO is expected to be priced at $299 when it launches later this month.

credits: Nikon Nikon could be bringing back its canceled DL compact camera series, according to a new rumour floating around the internet. The rumour is based on a single source and has not yet been confirmed in any way, so it is worth taking with a healthy dose of skepticism. If accurate, though, it would mark the return of a camera lineup that Nikon originally announced back in 2016, only to cancel before it ever reached store shelves. According to the rumour, the new camera would closely follow the design and lens concepts of the original DL 18-50 and DL 24-85 models, although a 24-70mm version with a slightly thicker body is also said to be under consideration. The camera is expected to feature a 24-megapixel stacked 1-inch sensor, along with Nikon’s Flexible Colour Picture Control system for creating custom colour profiles. Other rumoured features include premium construction materials and an included leather case. Interestingly, the camera reportedly won’t have a built-in electronic viewfinder. Instead, Nikon is said to be developing an optional clip-on EVF that attaches through an intelligent hot shoe. The timing would certainly make sense. When Nikon originally canceled the DL series in 2017, the market for premium compact cameras was shrinking rapidly. Today, the situation looks very different, with cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI and Ricoh GR IV proving there is still strong demand for high-end fixed-lens cameras. Canon is also rumoured to be expanding its PowerShot lineup, while Sony is expected to announce a new compact camera of its own. It is still unclear whether this rumoured DL revival is the same fixed-lens full-frame Nikon compact that has been rumoured recently, or whether Nikon is actually working on multiple compact camera projects at the same time.

credits: photorumors Fujifilm Meike has announced that its first autofocus lens for the Fujifilm GFX system will be officially unveiled on July 10. The new AF 85mm f/1.8 marks an important step for the company, becoming one of the first third-party autofocus lenses designed for Fujifilm’s medium-format system. The announcement follows teasers shown at the China P&E Imaging Show 2026, although Meike is still keeping the full specifications under wraps. On Fujifilm’s GFX cameras, the 85mm focal length provides a field of view roughly equivalent to 67mm on full frame thanks to the sensor’s 0.79x crop factor. That makes it more of a standard portrait focal length rather than delivering the classic 85mm look most photographers know from full-frame cameras. To get that more traditional 85mm perspective on GFX, you would usually need a lens such as the Fujinon GF 110mm f/2, which comes at a very high price. The announcement is particularly interesting because affordable autofocus lenses for the Fujifilm GFX system are still quite rare. Most native GF lenses cost well into four figures, with the GF 80mm f/1.7, the closest equivalent to Meike’s new lens, selling for around $2,450. If Meike can offer good autofocus performance and solid image quality at a significantly lower price, it could become a very attractive option photographers looking to build a GFX kit without spending a fortune on native lenses. Pricing and full specifications are expected when the lens is officially unveiled on July 10.