credits: ArcBlue ArcBlue has announced the C42, a new astrophotography system that combines an interchangeable lens camera, motorised tracking system, onboard processing, and automated alignment into a single setup. Smart astrophotography systems themselves are not particularly new anymore, automated telescopes have been doing similar things for years, but ArcBlue is taking a slightly different approach by building the system around a larger full-frame sensor instead of a dedicated telescope design. At the centre of the system is a 24-megapixel Sony IMX410 backside-illuminated full-frame sensor, a sensor that has already appeared in cameras from Sony, Nikon, Panasonic, Leica, and several others over the years. ArcBlue says the system also includes active TEC cooling, allowing the sensor to operate up to 30°C below ambient temperature, which helps reduce thermal noise during longer exposures. The camera also performs real-time image stacking, HDR processing, and onboard image processing directly inside the system, although RAW files remain available for those who prefer handling processing manually afterward. Since deep sky astrophotography usually involves stacking large numbers of photos, having some of that processing built directly into the system could simplify things quite a bit. Unlike most smart telescopes, the C42 uses a native Sony E-mount, allowing you to use regular camera lenses or adapt telescope systems. ArcBlue says the system supports everything from ultra-wide lenses up to 2000mm telescope optics, while maintaining autofocus and electronic communication when using compatible lenses. The ArcBlue C42 is expected to launch ‘soon,’ although the exact pricing and timing have not yet been announced.

It looks like compact lenses are becoming a much bigger focus for Chinese manufacturers again, with both 7Artisans and Viltrox apparently preparing a fairly large number of new releases. Recent leaks suggest 7Artisans is working on at least three new autofocus lenses, including an AF 10mm f/2.5 full-frame fisheye for Sony FE, an AF 18mm f/2 APS-C pancake lens, and an AF 10mm f/4, with the latter two currently appearing for Sony E-mount. Images circulating on Weibo and reports from Fujifilm rumour sites also suggest Fujifilm X versions could be coming as well. What stands out is how much broader 7Artisans’ autofocus lineup is becoming. The company initially entered autofocus mostly through longer focal lengths like the recently released MAX AF 135mm f/1.8, but these new leaks suggest the focus is changing much more toward smaller, compact designs. Pancake lenses especially seem to be making a comeback recently as manufacturers continue pushing smaller mirrorless setups, and the rumoured 18mm f/2 fits directly into that trend. Viltrox appears to have an even larger roadmap. The company has already discussed plans for nine new lenses covering full-frame, APS-C, and Micro Four Thirds systems. Among the rumoured releases are a compact AF 28mm f/4.5 for L-mount, an AF 35mm f/1.4 Pro with an aperture ring, a manual focus tilt-shift lens, and a compact AF 26mm f/2.8 that is expected to arrive first for Sony E-mount before expanding to L-mount later. Neither company has announced pricing or release dates yet, although Viltrox’s recent 35mm f/1.8 EVO and 55mm f/1.8 EVO currently sell for roughly $490 each, which at least gives some rough idea of where future compact autofocus lenses could end up.

credits: Sony Sony released new firmware updates for both the A7 IV and A7S III, although neither update introduces major new features. Instead, both releases focus mostly on fixing a few annoying bugs and improving stability. For the A7 IV, firmware 6.02 addresses an issue where focus bracketing could fail under certain conditions. Sony only added focus bracketing relatively recently with firmware 4.0, allowing photographers to capture multiple frames with different focus points for things like focus stacking. Sony also says the update improves overall stability. The A7 IV update also continues what has been a slightly messy firmware cycle for the camera recently. Earlier this year, Sony had to release firmware 6.01 after withdrawing version 6.00, which reportedly caused problems on some cameras. Version 6.02 appears to be cleaning up remaining issues following those earlier updates. For the A7S III, firmware 5.01 mainly targets problems related to ISO behaviour and connectivity. Sony says it fixed incorrect ISO display behaviour when outputting RAW video over HDMI to compatible external devices, while also correcting problems involving incorrectly applied Auto ISO limits. The update also addresses network connection issues that reportedly caused failures in certain situations, with Sony again mentioning broader stability improvements. You can download the firmware updates on Sony’s website here

credits: Acer Acer has announced three new ProDesigner displays for photographers, video editors, and other creative users, led by the new ProDesigner PE320QXT, a 31.5-inch 6K display that focuses on colour accuracy and HDR work. The flagship model uses a 6016 × 3384 Quantum Dot IPS panel running at 60Hz. Acer says the display reaches 600 nits peak brightness, carries HDR600 certification, and is Calman verified with claimed Delta E below one performance alongside 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage. One of the more unusual features is touchscreen support, which still is not particularly common on larger colour-focused displays. The PE320QXT supports 10-point touch input and works with MPP 2.0 stylus pens, allowing you to interact directly with editing tools, photos, or timelines on the display itself. Acer has also added an 8MP webcam, integrated speakers, and a relatively broad selection of ports including DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, USB-A, USB-C, and a headphone jack. Alongside it, Acer also introduced the smaller 27-inch PE270K, which drops to 4K resolution but increases refresh rate up to 144Hz with a 1ms response time. It still keeps fairly strong colour specs with Calman verification, Delta E below one, 99% Adobe RGB coverage, 96% DCI-P3 coverage, and HDR400 support. The third display is the portable PE160W, a 16-inch OLED monitor for ‘editing on the go’. It uses a 1920 × 1200 OLED panel with 95% DCI-P3 coverage, Delta E below two, and brightness rated at 300 nits, which probably makes it more useful indoors or in controlled lighting rather than brighter outdoor environments. Connectivity includes HDMI 1.4 and dual USB-C ports. All three displays begin shipping in June. The PE270K starts at $450 and ships June 1, the PE320QXT costs $1,499 and arrives June 8, while the PE160W is priced at $249.99 with shipping starting June 22.

credits: Calibrite The Calibrite Display Plus HL has now officially been approved for use with Apple’s hardware-level display calibration workflow, making it the first colorimeter supported by Apple’s newer calibration system for its professional displays. Up until now, photographers and other creatives using displays like the Apple Studio Display or Pro Display XDR could still profile their screens with regular calibration tools, but not perform full hardware-level calibration directly through Apple’s system without extremely expensive professional equipment. With the new support, the Display Plus HL can now write calibration adjustments directly to compatible Apple displays. That includes things like white point, luminance, and overall colour accuracy adjustments at the hardware level. According to Calibrite, a single calibration can now update all reference modes simultaneously across SDR and HDR workflows. The device also supports displays reaching up to 2,000 nits of brightness, including Apple’s newer HDR-capable panels. Compatible devices include the Apple Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, and newer MacBook Pro models using Apple Silicon chips from the M1 Pro/Max generation onward. The update also adds support for Apple’s newer CMF 2026 colour system, which moves beyond the older CIE 1931standard traditionally used in display calibration. Apple displays are already known for being very colour accurate out of the box, but like any monitor, colour performance can slowly change over time depending on usage and environment. That is where calibration becomes important for photographers, video editors, and other colour-critical workflows. The Calibrite Display Plus HL comes in at $339. Hardware-level calibration support requires macOS Tahoe 26.4 or newer.

credits: Leica The latest rumours around the Leica SL3-P suggest that the company could be preparing a new model positioned between the current 24MP SL2-S and the 60MP SL3, with most reports pointing toward an announcement sometime around May or June 2026. According to the leaks so far, the camera is expected to use a 44.3MP full-frame sensor, which many believe could be related to the sensor platform used in Panasonic’s newer full-frame cameras. Leica and Panasonic have shared technology through the L-Mount alliance for years, so that part at least sounds plausible. Most of the rumours right now are centred around autofocus improvements. Current reports suggest the camera could feature around 800 autofocus points, along with a significantly improved AF system that is supposedly faster and more capable than the current SL3-S. Leaks also suggest the overall body design and operating experience may move closer to Panasonic’s newer generation of cameras, which could mean changes to menus, handling, and overall responsiveness. Video specifications are still less clear, though, and several sources claim that Leica may intentionally reduce video capabilities compared to other SL3 models in order to create more separation inside the lineup. There is also some lens speculation happening alongside the camera rumours. Multiple reports suggest Leica could introduce a new SL 100mm APO Macro lens around the same time, although no technical details have surfaced yet. Current pricing rumours place the SL3-P somewhere around $6,500, which would position it directly between Leica’s lower-resolution and higher-resolution SL bodies.

credits: Sony Following the launch of the Sony A7R VI, it looks like Sony’s 2026 camera roadmap is only getting started. Multiple reports are now suggesting that at least two more camera announcements could arrive within the next couple of months, with additional lenses apparently in development as well. The latest rumours are tied to two recently discovered Sony camera registrations in China, which surfaced back in early May under the model numbers WW679475 and WW721795. According to the current reports, the first model is believed to be a new FX-series camera being produced in Shanghai, where Sony also manufactures the current FX2. Rumours are pointing toward a possible FX3 II, with some sources suggesting Sony could announce it toward the end of August ahead of the annual IBC broadcast show. The second registered camera appears more entry-level based on its wireless specifications, since it reportedly only supports standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi rather than Wi-Fi 6. That has led to speculation that Sony could finally be preparing either a new RX100 compact camera or another more affordable APS-C model. Sony has mostly ignored the RX100 lineup for years now, but recent comments from the company have revived speculation that a new compact camera may finally be coming. There are also rumours that Sony could still announce another full-frame Alpha body later this year, possibly sometime between October and November. Several models are technically due for updates, including the A7S III, ZV-E1, A7C II, and A7CR, although most reports currently suggest the A7C-series cameras are more likely to slip into 2027. On the lens side, reports continue pointing toward a new FE 16-28mm f/2.0 GM lens that could arrive as early as June or July. Additional telephoto lenses are also reportedly in development, although no concrete specifications have leaked yet.

credits: Godox Godox has announced the new MF-T76 Macro Twin Flash, a dedicated macro lighting system for close-up photography on Canon, Sony, and Nikon cameras. The setup uses two adjustable flash heads mounted around the lens, allowing you to control light direction more precisely when shooting small subjects at very close distances. The MF-T76 has a rated output of 76Ws with a guide number of roughly GN22.4 at ISO 100. Flash power can be adjusted from 1/1 down to 1/256 in 1/3-stop increments, and Godox lists flash durations ranging from 1/700s to 1/19,300s depending on the power level. The twin flash heads rotate between 0° and 150°, which should make it easier to position light around your subjects. The flash also supports TTL, manual flash, high-speed sync, and both first- and second-curtain sync modes. The system includes dual 1W modelling lamps with a rated colour temperature of around 4800K and runs on a built-in 7.2V 2980mAh lithium battery. Godox claims recycle times of roughly 1.2 seconds at full power and around 550 full-power flashes on a charge. Wireless control is built in as well, with support for 32 channels, 99 wireless IDs, and a transmission range of up to 100 meters. The controller weighs around 466 grams without the battery attached. The Godox MF-T76 is priced at $249.

credits: Fujifilm The rumour mill around the Fujifilm X-T6 is starting to pick up again, with multiple reports now pointing toward a possible launch sometime in late August 2026. According to the latest leaks, the camera is expected to use a new 40MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 6 sensor paired with an upgraded X-Processor 6. Most of the rumoured improvements seem focused on speed and responsiveness, especially around autofocus, buffer performance, and sensor readout. Reports also suggest Fujifilm is working on more advanced AI-based subject detection for sports, wildlife, and action shooting. A 200MP pixel-shift mode is rumoured as well. Video could apparently become a much bigger part of the X-T lineup this time around too. Some retailer leaks suggest the X-T6 may support 8K recording, which would be a fairly major jump for the series considering Fujifilm has usually kept its more advanced video features reserved for the X-H models. Another rumour that is already dividing Fuji users is the possibility of Fujifilm replacing the X-T5’s three-way tilt screen with a fully articulating flip-out display. Early product listings also point toward improved battery efficiency, with some reports mentioning around 750 shots per charge. Current estimates place the camera somewhere near the $3,000 price range. There are also rumours that Fujifilm could launch two new lenses alongside the X-T6. Nothing is confirmed yet, but several possibilities continue appearing across older Fujifilm roadmaps, internal test catalogs, and long-running community wish lists. Some of the names that keep showing up include an XF 18mm f/2 MK II, XF 35mm f/1.2, XF 10mm f/2, XF 14-30mm f/2, XF 70mm f/2, and even a possible XF 200-400mm f/4 telephoto zoom. Other rumoured options include a compact constant f/2.8 wide-angle zoom, a 16-200mm superzoom, a fisheye lens, and updated standard zooms like an XF 16-70mm f/2.8-4 or XF 16-135mm f/4. At this point, though, most of the lens rumours are still pretty speculative.

credits: Viltrox Viltrox has announced the new Z1 Pro, an updated version of its compact retro-style flash for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm cameras. The flash keeps the same vintage-inspired design as the original Z1, but this time Viltrox is adding a more advanced feature set underneath. One of the biggest additions is support for High-Speed Sync up to 1/8000s, making the Z1 Pro the first model in Viltrox’s Vintage-series lineup to support HSS shooting. The Z1 Pro offers 24Ws of flash output with recycle times rated at around 1 second. Flash power can be adjusted from 1/1 down to 1/64 in 1/3-stop increments, and the flash duration ranges between 1/3000s and 1/50000s depending on the power level. It supports both TTL automatic flash metering and manual flash control, along with S1 and S2 optical trigger modes for multi-flash setups. Viltrox has also redesigned the controls compared to the original Z1. The new version now uses a small circular colour touchscreen paired with a physical control dial instead of the simpler button layout from before. The flash has a fixed 28mm coverage, a rated colour temperature of around 6000K ±200K, and supports front-curtain, rear-curtain, and high-speed sync modes. The flash uses a built-in 3.7V 800mAh battery, which Viltrox says is capable of delivering around 350 full-power flashes. Charging is handled over USB-C, with a full charge taking roughly 70 minutes. Physically, the unit measures 68.5 × 72.8 × 50 mm and weighs 136 grams. The Viltrox Z1 Pro is priced at $68.

credits: Venus Optics Venus Optics’ new Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF fisheye zoom is here. It is an ultra-wide manual-focus lens designed for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras and it has a 180-degree field of view at the 4.5mm end, which produces a full circular fisheye image. Zooming toward 10mm changes the lens into a more traditional diagonal fisheye that fills the frame instead. Inside, the lens uses a 13-element, 9-group optical design with a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. It also works as a parfocal lens, meaning focus stays locked while zooming, which is particularly useful for video. The lens has a very close 10cm minimum focusing distance, allowing for some exaggerated foreground perspectives and close-up fisheye shots. Venus Optics also says the lens can be “de-fished” in post-processing, turning the curved fisheye rendering into an even wider-looking rectilinear-style photo than a standard 10mm ultra-wide lens would normally produce. The lens measures around 68.9 × 59.3mm and weighs roughly 330 grams, it uses a fully manual focus design, has a 7-blade aperture diaphragm, supports a maximum magnification of 0.27x, and offers an aperture range from f/2.8 to f/22. The Laowa 4.5-10mm f/2.8 CF is priced at $399 and is available for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF-M, L-Mount, and Micro Four Thirds mount systems.

credits: XPPen XPPen has announced the XPPen Pilot Pro, making this the company’s first dedicated editing console for photographers and other creative users. XPPen is actually mostly known for its drawing tablets and pen displays, but the Pilot Pro is meant for a different part of the editing workflow. The device is designed around one-handed operation and uses physical controls that can be mapped to different editing software. The Pilot Pro has 16 customisable buttons, three control dials, and an all-way joystick, along with a built-in linear motor for haptic feedback. XPPen says the console is designed for “eyes-free” use, meaning you should be able to operate it mostly by feel once controls are mapped out. The device supports app-specific profiles and can automatically switch layouts depending on which software is currently open. Out of the box, the Pilot Pro supports programs including Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, and Final Cut Pro. The console connects through either USB-C or Bluetooth 5.4, and XPPen says the built-in battery is rated for up to 15 hours of use on a charge. Weight comes in at around 251 grams and it is available in white only. The controls themselves can be assigned to anything from timeline navigation and clip trimming to image rotation, exposure adjustments, photo rating, tool switching, brush size adjustments, scrolling through edits, etc. The XPPen Pilot Pro is priced at $210.