credits: SmallRig SmallRig launched a more compact, budget-friendly version of its popular tripod made in collaboration with filmmaker Potato Jet, called the Tribex SE. Like the original, the big selling point here is the one-handle hydraulic design that lets you adjust all three legs at once, meaning you can set it up or adjust it with one hand, even on uneven ground. The SE is still built mainly from carbon fibre, but it’s a bit lighter than the original, about 3.7kg including the head. It has a height range from 25cm all the way up to 168cm (so just under 10 inches to about 5.5 feet), and it actually folds down smaller than the first version, which makes it a lot easier to pack in a backpack or suitcase. SmallRig says it’ll fit into 28-inch luggage, no problem. The head is a bit more compact too, but it still gives you full 360° panning, tilts from -65° to +90°, and can handle camera setups up to 6kg (about 13 pounds). You can also quickly swap between Manfrotto and DJI RS plates with a switch. Now, there is a trade-off: the max weight the tripod can handle overall is down from 25kg to 15kg (so from 55 to 33 pounds). Pricing is $400, about half of the original Tribex. You can see full details on SmallRig’s website here

credits: Hasselblad Hasselblad’s upcoming X2D II just leaked, and it looks like a serious evolution of the original X2D 100C. At the heart of the camera is a 100-megapixel CMOS sensor that shoots in 16-bit RAW with up to 15 stops of dynamic range. One of the most notable additions is LiDAR-based autofocus, which should bring faster and more reliable focus performance, especially in low light or when using adapted manual lenses. Face detection is also onboard now, making handheld portraits much easier. Speaking of handheld work, the camera features 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) rated for up to 8 stops, which puts it ahead of many competitors in the medium format space and allows for sharper results without a tripod. For storage, the X2D II includes a built-in 1TB SSD, but also features a CFexpress Type B slot for those who want fast external capture or additional space. Hasselblad’s signature Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) remains, delivering accurate colour straight out of camera, especially in skin tones and subtle gradients. And naturally, the X2D II will support Hasselblad’s growing ecosystem of lenses, including XCD autofocus glass as well as legacy HC/HCD, V System, and even XPan lenses with the right adapters. An official release date has yet to be announced.

credits: Skylum What is Soft Focus exactly? Soft focus is when you intentionally reduce sharpness just a little to get a gentle, glowing image. It smooths out textures (especially skin), reduces contrast, and gives your photo a kind of ethereal quality. It’s often used in: Portraits, dreamy landscapes, artistic/fine art work, vintage-style shots or even editorial fashion photography How to Get the Soft Focus Look (In-Camera) Use a diffusion filter This is probably the easiest way to get soft focus without messing with your lens. Some good ones are: Tiffen Black Pro-Mist Moment CineBloom Soft FX or diffusion filters These reduce contrast and bloom highlights just enough to get the desired soft focus look. Shoot wide open Use a fast lens (like f/1.8 or f/2.0) and shoot with a shallow depth of field. That slight softness around the edges can mimic the feel of a soft focus photo. Use manual focus slightly off If you’re feeling bold, you can slightly back off the sharpest point when using manual focus. Just keep in mind to be subtle about it. Soft light Make use of natural diffused light or big softboxes. Harsh light brings out detail and contrast, which works against the soft look. Overcast days, window light through sheer curtains, or golden hour light work beautifully. Old lenses = instant softness Vintage lenses often have a naturally soft rendering, especially wide open. Mount an old 50mm on a mirrorless body and you'll be halfway there. DIY Trick: Vaseline on a Clear Filter Take a cheap, clear UV filter and lightly smear a little Vaseline around the edges. This diffuses the light coming in and gives you a soft glow, while keeping the center relatively sharp. Just be careful, don’t apply Vaseline directly to your lens, only to a separate filter. And use it sparingly, a little goes a long way. It’s cheap, it’s fun, and it gives you full creative control over how soft and dreamy your soft look gets. Doing It in Post-Processing You can totally fake the soft focus effect in editing, and honestly, it gives you even more control. In Lightroom or Photoshop: Drop clarity and reduce contrast Add a slight glow (try the Orton effect or soft light overlays) Blur a duplicate layer just slightly, then reduce opacity or blend it with a soft light mode Play with the texture slider to smooth out surfaces without losing shape Use radial filters or masks to apply softness just to certain parts of the image You can also add bloom effects to highlights using tools like Luminar or Photoshop’s glow filters. Some Bonus Tips Soft focus works great in black & white, especially for moody portraits. It pairs beautifully with film simulations or vintage colour grading. Combine it with motion blur, shallow depth of field, or pastel colors for even more atmosphere.

credits: TTArtisans TTArtisan just released the M01 On-Camera Flash ($29) and J01 Wireless Flash Trigger ($10), both designed with a nod to retro film aesthetics but built for modern digital workflows. The M01 in particular stands out with its tiny footprint, weighing 35 grams, and a cool design that mimics a vintage 35mm film canister. Despite its compact size, the M01 packs a respectable GN12 output and delivers a consistent 5600K ±200K color temperature from a xenon light source, meaning it should be ideal for casual portraiture, street shots, or still life work, and the flash gives off an early 2000s visual vibe. Photographers can select from four manual power levels (1/8 to 1/1), and the M01 is hot shoe-compatible, meaning it works on-camera with most mirrorless and DSLR models that have a standard hot shoe connection. For more flexibility, it can also be triggered wirelessly using the J01 Wireless Trigger, designed specifically for TTArtisan flashes. The J01 Trigger is 18g, has a built-in lithium battery with USB-C charging, and promises around 800 flashes per charge, same as the M01. The trigger uses a dedicated channel system for stable off-camera firing and includes smart power-saving features like automatic shutdown after an hour of inactivity. You can see full details and sample images on TTArtisan’s website here

credits: Venus Optics Venus Optics announced the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye, the first lens of its kind to offer both a circular fisheye at 8mm and a rectangular/diagonal fisheye at 15mm in a single zoom. There’s also a cine version built specifically for filmmakers, the Laowa 8-15mm T2.9 FF Zoom Fisheye Cine. At 8mm, you get a full circular 180° fisheye image on full-frame sensors. Zoom to 15mm, and it shifts into a full-frame diagonal fisheye with dramatic distortion, perfect for everything from shooting landscapes to creative astrophotography or dynamic skate videos. It’s the kind of lens that used to require swapping between two different models, but now you can do it all with one. The photo version weighs 650g (1.43 lbs) and is fully manual, with a fast f/2.8 aperture and a close focusing distance of just 16cm. No filter threads up front (as expected for a fisheye), and it’s built for mirrorless mounts — Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and L-Mount. The lens comes in at $699 (cine version goes for $1,399), which undercuts Canon and Nikon’s slower AF options in this range. You can see full details and sample images on Venus Optic’s website here

credits: Falcam Falcam just launched two new carbon fibre tripods — the TreeRoot Quick Lock Lite and the TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro — and both aim to deliver pro-level performance in a portable build. The TreeRoot Quick Lock Lite (starting at $399) is the lighter of the two, weighing 2.9 pounds and collapsing down to 18.6 inches. Despite its small size, it supports up to 88 pounds thanks to its reinforced T300 carbon fiber legs. Setup is fast with one-handed twist locks, and it extends up to 60 inches, or goes as low as 7.3 inches without the center column. You also get magnetic tools, a ball head option, and even ARRI mount points for added gear. For more demanding use, the $700 TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro steps things up with high-modulus M40 carbon fibre, taller triangle-profile legs, and a 110-pound payload capacity. It skips the centre column for maximum stability and reaches nearly 78 inches high, though it’s also a bit heavier and longer when packed. Both tripods work with Falcam’s new F38 Pro ball head ($249), and are available now as standalone legs or in kits. A closer look at both tripods will follow in this week’s big Sunday magazine Issue, stay tuned ;) You can see full details on Falcam’s website here

credits: Fujifilm While the Fujifilm X half camera won’t hit shelves for another week or so, its companion app has already landed on the App Store and Google Play Store and apparently it’s not just a sidekick, it’s an essential part of the whole X half experience. The app was built specifically for the Fujifilm X half camera, and it’s central to how the camera works, especially in its unique Film Camera Mode. In that mode, you can’t preview shots on the camera’s screen, instead, you choose a Film Simulation and a set number of “exposures” per digital roll. The app is where you’ll ‘‘develop’’ those images, view them as a contact sheet, and transfer them to your phone. You even have to “advance” the film manually using the camera’s lever, mimicking the feel of analog shooting. Beyond that, the app handles all the basics like Bluetooth pairing, photo and video transfers, and browsing your images in a gallery. So yes, if you’re picking up an X half, the app is sort of a must-have, and that is not just for full functionality, but because it really completes the creative, film-like workflow that makes this camera so compelling. The Fujifilm X half app is free to download on the App Store and Google Play Store

credits: Godox Godox has launched the V480 TTL Flash, a new mid-sized unit that slots between the compact V350 and the beefier V860III. It’s designed to offer a balance of portability and power. Weighing 361 grams with battery, the V480 still delivers a solid GN50 output (ISO 100, 105mm), supports HSS up to 1/8000s, and includes TTL, manual, second-curtain sync, and multi flash modes. The flash head tilts –7° to 120° and rotates 330°, with a zoom range of 24–105mm and built-in wide-angle diffuser and catchlight panel for more flexible bounce and fill light options. Power comes from a 2200mAh lithium-ion battery that’s good for up to 650 full-power pops, with a 1.7-second recycle time, charging is handled via USB-C. There's also a built-in LED modeling light with 10 brightness levels to help preview lighting before taking the shot. A nice feature is the 2-inch touchscreen paired with tactile buttons, allowing quick, intuitive control over settings. Godox also includes a real-time flash range display, so users can instantly check if their subject is within optimal lighting distance. The V480 supports Godox’s 2.4GHz X wireless system as both a transmitter and receiver, with full compatibility across Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Panasonic. The flash is available for pre-order for $169 and ships with a battery, charger, USB-C cable, flash stand, and pouch. You can see a full details on Godox’s website here

credits: Fujifilm Fujifilm fans won’t have to wait much longer, the X Summit in Shanghai is just around the corner, and the long-anticipated X-E5 will be revealed on June 12th. While the company has been tight-lipped, a full set of newly leaked specs just dropped, giving us a pretty clear picture of what to expect. Here is what we know: The X-E5 is reportedly packing Fujifilm’s latest 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor — the same one found in the X-T5 — backed by in-body image stabilisation that supports 160MP multi-shot high-res mode. It’s also getting a displays upgrade, with a 3.69 million-dot OLED EVF and a 3-inch 1.84 million-dot side-tilt LCD screen. Those additions alone are a big leap forward for the X-E series. Other highlights include 4K at 60p and 6.2K at 30p video recording in 4:2:2 10-bit, a Film Simulation dial on top for quick aesthetic changes, and a fast hybrid autofocus system with 425 points. Shutter speeds are quick too, 20fps with the electronic shutter or 15fps mechanically. Fujifilm will reportedly debut a brand-new 23mm pancake lens alongside the X-E5, which sounds like the perfect lightweight pairing for a street-focused, travel-ready setup.

credits: Lenovo Lenovo, the tech giant best known for its laptops and tablets, just announced their first compact camera: The Lenovo C55, and it’s about as budget-friendly as they come (around $69). The C55 isn’t trying to compete with your mirrorless camera or even your smartphone. Instead, it’s a, entry-level option that focuses on accessibility and ease of use. It’s built around a tiny Type 1/3 Sony sensor (supposedly 64 megapixels) paired with a fixed lens. Lenovo doesn’t get too specific about the sensor itself, and at this price point, it’s likely something older or possibly even a lower-res chip with upscaling. It can record 4K video and includes a few digital filters and effects you can cycle through using a top-mounted dial. There’s a 2.8-inch fixed screen on the back, and no electronic viewfinder, which isn’t surprising for a camera under $70. But interestingly, Lenovo did include a small front-facing mirror to help frame shots if you’re filming yourself. The standout feature, though, is the built-in circular LED ring light around the lens. Lenovo claims it offers high-quality fill lighting, though they haven’t shared details on its brightness or settings. As far as zoom goes, the camera relies entirely on digital zoom — up to 18x — which, realistically, is going to result in some pretty soft images. But again, the C55 isn’t about high-end image quality. It’s about having a simple, dedicated device for shooting without relying on a smartphone. For now, it looks like the camera is only launching in China, however an international launch may be in the cards soon, according to experts. You can see full details on techblog’s website here

credits: Adobe Adobe just brought Photoshop to Android (finally!). The popular image editing app is now available as a public beta on the Google Play Store, just months after launching on iPhone. Built specifically for smartphones, this mobile version of Photoshop features a redesigned interface, but still includes many of the core tools photographers and designers rely on: layer support, masking, and even generative AI tools like Generative Fill powered by Adobe Firefly. While it’s clearly aimed at casual and on-the-go creators, Adobe hasn’t stripped things down too much. The beta includes features like Tap Select, Spot Healing, Object Select, Magic Wand, and compatibility with Adobe Stock. Even advanced users will find a surprisingly deep toolkit here, all accessible from a phone. There’s also a growing library of tutorials and mobile-specific tips baked right into the app, meant to help both beginners and experienced Photoshop users navigate the new workflow. During the beta period, everything is free to try, but Adobe plans to move to a paid model when the full version launches. Pricing will line up with existing mobile and web plans, starting at $7.99/month or $69.99/year. To use the app, you’ll need a phone running Android 11 or newer with at least 6GB of RAM, though Adobe recommends 8GB for smoother performance. You can download Adobe’s free public beta on the Google Play Store here