credits: 7Artisans 7Artisans just launched a new 75mm f/1.4 portrait prime lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. It comes in E, L, RF, and Z mounts and skips autofocus entirely, aperture and focus are controlled using solid-feeling metal rings. That makes it a different kind of tool than most modern lenses, but it also helps keep the size and weight down. At 408g and 77mm in length, it’s a compact alternative to bulkier portrait primes, while still offering a long enough focal length for good subject separation. Optically, it’s a pretty straightforward design: six elements in six groups with a 13-blade aperture diaphragm. That’s a relatively low element count compared to high-end portrait glass, but that also means less glass to move and potentially a more distinctive rendering (good or bad depending on your taste). The company claims it delivers “dreamy bokeh,” and with a fast f/1.4 aperture and medium-telephoto reach, you should definitely get some nice background blur. Minimum focus distance is 0.8 meters, which isn’t great for close-ups, but normal for a lens in this category. There’s no weather sealing, and no electronics of any kind, so you won’t get EXIF data or focus assist without in-body peaking. Pricing for the lens is at $189. You can see full details and sample shots on 7Artisans’ website here

credits: Viltrox Viltrox has added a new wide-angle option to its compact and budget-friendly Air series: the AF 15mm f/1.7. It’s the widest lens in the Air lineup so far, joining the existing 25mm f/1.7 and 50mm f/2. Designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras, it has a 22mm full-frame equivalent field of view, so wide enough for landscapes, interiors, street photography and even some creative video work. It’s also surprisingly fast for such a small lens, with a bright f/1.7 aperture that gives a bit of flexibility in low light or when shooting with shallow depth of field. At 180 grams and a bit over 5.5 centimetres long, this lens is quite compact. It can focus as close as 23 centimetres, which is good for shots with strong foregrounds (or close-up videos). Optically, the lens includes 12 elements in 10 groups, with three ED elements, three high-refractive-index elements, and two aspherical elements. Viltrox also uses advanced coatings to minimise flare and ghosting, which should help in tricky lighting. The company says sharpness holds up even wide open, though real-world tests will tell the full story. The lens accepts 58mm filters and is available in Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fujifilm X mounts. Pricing currently sits at $227 as a launch promo, before it moves to its regular $239 price. You can see full details and sample shots on Viltrox’s website here

credits: Kodak Kodak is set to unveil a new superzoom bridge camera, called Pixpro AZ653, at this year’s IFA show in Berlin, which kicks off on September 5. While the official launch is still a few weeks away, a few key details have already leaked/been teased by Kodak. The AZ653 will feature a 65x optical zoom lens with built-in image stabilisation, paired with a 20-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. All that sounds almost identical to the older AZ652 from 2014, which suggests this is more of a refresh than a brand-new design. One noticeable downgrade, though, is the display. The AZ653 is said to have a fixed 3-inch 460k-dot screen, rather than the fully articulated LCD found on its predecessor. Thankfully, the camera will still offer a built-in electronic viewfinder for composing shots more traditionally. It also swaps out the old Mini USB port for a more modern USB-C socket, in line with recent EU charging rules. There’s one catch however that has the internet talking: even with a 20MP sensor, the AZ653 won’t shoot 4K video, it’s limited to Full HD. That could be a deal-breaker for anyone used to sharper video footage, but for ‘everyday photography’, it’s likely to be a capable, affordable all-rounder. We will see on September 5th!

credits: OM-System After launching exclusively in Japan last year, the OM System E-M1 Mark III Astro has finally landed in Europe. This special version of the 2020 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is designed specifically for astrophotography. Its key feature is a modified IR-cut filter that allows Hα rays to pass through, making it possible to capture images of red emission nebulae that most regular cameras just can’t. Olympus also bundles the camera with light-pollution filters and includes several settings and modes for astrophotographers, including a custom Starry Sky AF mode and dedicated presets for night shooting. For those of you who are not familiar with the camera: it keeps the proven 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and TruePic IX processor, offering solid image quality with excellent low-light performance. The 5-axis in-body stabilization system can be useful for handheld or tripod-based long exposures. Perhaps most interesting for astro shooters is how Olympus leverages computational photography: the “Handheld High Res Shot” mode can stack 16 frames into a single 50MP image with reduced noise and increased detail and when used on a tripod or equatorial mount, it can even correct for star movement or tracking errors. Beyond the astro-specific stuff, the rest of the E-M1 Mark III remains unchanged. You still get 121-point all cross-type phase-detect autofocus, 4K video, weather sealing, and a fully articulated touchscreen. It’s also quite lightweight at just over 500 grams. Pricing for the camera is at 2,200€. You can see full details on OM-System’s website here

credits: Adobe Adobe just rolled out some new Photoshop updates, with one of the biggest being a new AI-powered feature called Generative Upscale. The tool (Built on Adobe’s Firefly generative model) lets users upscale images with better sharpness, clarity, and detail. It supports scaling options of 2x, 3x, and 4x, up to a maximum output resolution of 8 megapixels. The new tool is available in beta for both desktop and web versions of Photoshop. To use it, you just go to the Image menu and select “Generative Upscale.” You can choose your scale factor, and Photoshop creates a new high-res version in a separate document. If your output exceeds 4,096 pixels in either dimension, the app will prompt you to adjust the size. Alongside increasing resolution, the tool also analyses pixel data to boost sharpness and clarity, which is especially handy for prepping images for print. Adobe also dropped a few other updates. The regular release of Photoshop now includes a much-improved Remove tool, again powered by the latest Firefly Image Model. It’s designed to more cleanly eliminate unwanted objects, while blending in the background with fewer artifacts. Another beta feature, Harmonize, helps composite objects more naturally into existing scenes by automatically adjusting lighting, shadows, and colours. For Creative Cloud subscribers, all the new features are available now in the beta channels. You can see full details on Adobe’s blog here

Canon is reportedly expanding its growing VCM prime lens lineup with a new RF 85mm f/1.4L, which would become the fifth entry in the series after the 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm f/1.4 lenses. The VCM series (short for Voice Coil Motor) has gained attention for blending compact design with high-end optics, and this 85mm addition rounds out a versatile set of fast primes for both photographers and videographers. The new 85mm is expected to match the physical size of the other VCM lenses, with a compact 76.5 x 99.3mm design and a weight likely around 550-580 grams. That would make it dramatically lighter than Canon’s RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, which tips the scales at nearly 1.2kg. The smaller footprint is possible because Canon skips optical image stabilization and uses a more efficient VCM focusing system. Like the rest of the VCM line, the lens is also expected to include an aperture ring for manual exposure control, though full compatibility is currently limited to newer bodies like the EOS R5 Mark II and upcoming R1. An 85mm f/1.4 in this form factor could be really coll. The focal length is a favourite for portraits, offering flattering compression and shallow depth of field, but it’s also useful for everything from street photography to events and product work. While Canon hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, the pace of recent VCM releases suggests we might not have to wait long. You can see full details on Canon-rumour’s website here

credits: Insta360 Antigravity is the name of a new drone company spun out of Insta360, and while they haven’t released a product yet, they’re already making some pretty bold claims. Their first drone, coming later this year. will be ultra-light (under 249g), shoot 8K in full 360 degrees, and, according to the company, completely change how we think about flying cameras. It’s clearly aimed at photographers, videographers and storytellers more than technical drone pilots, with a focus on ease of use and ‘‘emotional storytelling’’ as antigravity puts it. From the language in the announcement, it’s obvious that Antigravity is trying to position itself as a creative-focused alternative to DJI. Instead of talking about flight speeds or obstacle sensors, they’re leaning into the idea that most drones today are tools, and they want theirs to be something more intuitive and expressive. They claim their drone will require zero prior experience and will simplify complex controls so anyone can pick it up and start shooting immersive content right away. There’s also talk of “world-firsts” in drone design and safety features to prevent misuse, but we’ll have to wait and see what that really means. What’s interesting is how much of this sounds like a direct shot at DJI’s dominance, especially with creators and FPV fans. The mention of “immersion” hints at possible VR or headset integration, and the fact that they’re using Insta360 tech means they’re coming in strong on the camera side. The full reveal is expected in August. You can read full details on Insta360’s blog here

credits: Sigma Sigma just filed a patent for something pretty special: a 15mm f/1.2 lens for full-frame cameras. What makes it interesting is that it’s not designed as a fisheye, despite the ultra-wide angle and fast aperture. According to the patent, the lens would be about 16.3 cm long, which actually puts it just slightly longer than Sigma’s existing 15mm f/1.4 fisheye. A 15mm f/1.2 would be a first of its kind, no manufacturer has ever developed such a lens before. So where would a lens like this even fit? The obvious answer is astrophotography, however Sigma already has a 14mm f/1.4 for that, released in 2023 and built specifically with astrophotography in mind. That makes this 15mm feel a bit redundant on paper. Sure, it’s a hair faster and a millimeter longer, but it’s hard to say if that would justify developing a whole new product. It’s also possible that this patent is more about exploring the idea than prepping for production. Still, Sigma might actually produce this lens. Rumors say the company is working on two new lenses with specs that are “unprecedented,” though there are no real details yet. Whether this 15mm f/1.2 is one of them remains to be seen, but it would definitely stand out.

credits: Viltrox Viltrox released the AF 90mm f/3.5 for DJI’s DL mount, a full-frame lens built specifically for drone-mounted photo and video work. It’s designed to work with the DJI Inspire 3 and the Ronin 4D, giving creatives a longer focal length option that wasn’t available before. Until now, DJI’s official DL lens lineup topped out at 75mm, so this 90mm fills a gap for anyone looking to capture tighter, more compressed shots from the air. The lens is lightweight and compact, which is critical when you’re dealing with drones and gimbals. It weighs 170 grams and measures 63mm in length, so it won’t throw off your drone’s balance or require counterweights. The optical design includes 12 elements in 9 groups, with five ED and four high-refractive elements to keep sharpness consistent across the frame. Autofocus is handled by a quiet STM motor, and while close-up work probably isn’t the priority here, it can still focus down to 0.8 meters with a max magnification of 0.11x. Filter threads are standard 52mm. Viltrox says the lens is made for 8K aerial cinematography, and while that’s a bold claim, the specs are solid. The nine-blade aperture should also help with rendering more natural background blur. The Viltrox AF 90mm f/3.5 for DL mount is priced at $459. You can see full details and sample shots on Viltrox’s website here

credits: Meike After months of rumours and leaks, Meike has officially released its 35mm f/1.8 Pro Full Frame Auto Focus STM Lens. First teased back in May at the China P&E expo, the lens generated a lot of buzz for its blend of pro-level features and a reasonable price tag. Now that it’s here, the $379 lens is available for Nikon Z and L-mount users, with the Sony E-mount version expected to ship starting August 16. The lens features a 35mm focal length with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 and a minimum focusing distance of 0.35 meters (13.8 inches). Meike has equipped the lens with an STM autofocus motor for quiet and responsive operation, which should be particularly useful for video applications. The lens construction includes nine elements in seven groups and early sample shots suggest solid sharpness and contrast in the centre of the frame. The bokeh rendering at f/1.8 appears smooth, although likely not on par with more expensive options that use more complex optical designs. Physically, the lens weighs around 400 grams (14 oz) and includes a metal mount, 55mm filter thread, and what looks like a fairly straightforward manual focus ring. There’s no weather sealing or optical stabilisation, which isn’t unusual at this price point. You can see full details on Meike’s website here