BREAKING NEWS: Photography

Xiaomi wants to stick a Four Thirds camera to the back of your phone

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:46:00 +0000

Xiaomi just updated its flagship smartphone, filling it with even more Leica camera tech, but apparently, that's not enough. The company has also announced a concept called the "Modular Optical System," which asks: "what if you could magnetically attach a Four Thirds sensor and lens to the back of your phone?"

A video posted to Xiaomi's YouTube channel shows the module, which includes a sensor with a "Light Fusion X sensor" that "delivers true 100MP clarity," paired with a 35mm F1.4 lens in a relatively small package. The company says it produces "strikingly sharp images" despite its size. The module magnetically attaches to the back of your phone, with no mechanical latching system or pairing process required.

Image: Xiaomi

While an increasing number of phones include magnetic rings on the back thanks to the Qi 2 charging standard, the system will still require a specially-designed phone. That's because it uses – no joke – lasers to get data from the camera module to the phone. Xiaomi says this allows it to produce Raw files with 16EV of dynamic range, with mere nanoseconds of latency, which is important when you're trying to preview your image. Of course, that means your phone has to have a window for the laser to travel through, as well as hardware to receive the signal.

There are no details on when this system will make it into a commercial product if that's even in the cards at all. However, it does make it seem like Xiaomi is one step closer to achieving the dream of smartphone photography: dedicated camera quality from a device that you already own and always have with you.

It's a goal that many other smartphone makers have pursued through similar means: Sony was mounting camera modules to phones in 2014 with its QX series, and companies like Samsung and Zeiss have experimented with devices that were hybrid Android phones and compact cameras. But while the concept may not be new, Xiaomi's concept is one of the slickest we've seen.

That doesn't mean that it's absolutely seamless. Of course, it still requires a separate component that you must carry around. However, it's still substantially smaller than a whole separate camera, and it doesn't require its own batteries or storage. It also gives you all the upsides that come with phone photography, such as the immense image processing power and the ability to share your photos instantly. If Xiaomi can pull this off, it could be a big step in the evolution of smartphone photography, especially if it expands on the system, adding additional lenses, or even giving you just a bare sensor and a lens mount, letting you use traditional glass with your phone.

This is the most Leica-looking smartphone we’ve ever seen

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:50:00 +0000

Image: Xiaomi / Leica

Xiaomi has announced its 15 Series smartphones, promising exceptional image-making abilities thanks to a partnership with Leica, and the Ultra's inclusion of a Type 1 sensor. The two companies originally partnered in 2022, bringing Leica camera technology to the Chinese smartphones. That collaboration continues, with the brand promising these latest models will be "the ultimate professional imagery flagship."

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra sits at the top of the company's lineup, combining "supreme build quality with a sense of refined sophistication," according to Xiaomi. It features a WQHD+ 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a 3200 x 14440 resolution and 522 ppi. The display offers 3200 nits of peak brightness. The 5410mAh battery is slightly improved over the 14 Ultra, though the Chinca-only model gets an even better 6000mAh.

The device runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and is available with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of memory.

For durability, it features the Xiaomi Guardian Structure, which uses Xiaomi Shelid Glass 2.0, an upgrade from the previous model. The company says this results in 16 times better drop resistance. Meanwhile, the entire camera module is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 7i to protect it from scratches and features a dual anti-reflection (AR) coating to improve optical performance.

The phone comes in black, white, and silver chrome, with the latter being the most unique of the bunch. With aerospace-grade glass fiber and PU leather, it is more reminiscent of classic Leica cameras when held in landscape orientation than typical smartphones. Each color variation features Leuca prominently on the camera module.

Image: Xiaomi

Camera details

The 15 Ultra's camera array is the main feature that makes it stand out from the Xiaomi 15 since it uses four different sensors for each lens. Starting with the main camera, the latest flagship keeps the same 50MP Type 1 (13.1 x 9.8mm) LYT-900 sensor with the Leica Summilux 23mm equiv. F1.63 lens that was used on the 14 Ultra. That same camera supports 28mm and 35mm focal lengths, albeit with a crop, as they rely on digital zoom. Xiaomi says this camera provides a 14EV dynamic range, which should help with photographing in low-light conditions.

Next up on the 15 Ultra is a 50MP, 70mm equiv. F1.8 Leica floating telephoto camera with a Sony Type 1/2.51 (5.72 x 4.29mm) sensor. The 14 Ultra featured a 75mm equiv. telephoto camera. It keeps the close focusing distance of 10cm, though, making it suitable for macro photography as well as portraiture.

For even more reach, the 15 Ultra features a 200MP, 100mm equiv. F2.6 Leica-branded periscope telephoto camera using the Samsung Isocell HP9 Type 1/1.4 (9.14 x 6.86mm) sensor. This is the most significant change from the 14 Ultra, which featured a 50MP, 120mm F2.5 equivalent periscope camera. That big jump in resolution may seem impressive, but it doesn't necessarily mean there will be a massive increase in image quality. It's also worth noting that Xiaomi claims the ultra-telephoto camera "captures 136% more light than Xiaomi 14 Ultra." That's about the difference we'd expect, given that the 14 Ultra used a much smaller Type 1/2.51 sensor paired with a slightly faster lens. The ultra-telephoto camera is also capable of shooting at 200mm (equiv.) with digital zoom.

Image: Xiaomi

The wide-angle lens, a 50MP 14mm equiv. F2.2 lens with a Type 1/2.76-inch (5.23 x 3.92mm) sensor, rounds out the camera array. It provides a slightly tighter field of view than the 14 Ultra (115 degrees compared to 122 degrees).

Both telephoto cameras and the main camera offer optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) to smooth out shake. The phone is capable of recording at 4K 120fps or 8K at 24 and 30fps. It supports Dolby Vision recording at 4K 60fps and 10-bit Log across all focal lengths, providing smartphone videographers with plenty of options and control.

Alongside the Leica lenses, the phone features "Leica color technology and the Leica brand’s authentic visual language."

Pushing the focus on photography even more, Xiaomi also launched a Xiaomi 15 Ultra Photography Kit Legend Edition. It includes a "signature red decorative ring" so everyone knows it's a Leica collaboration, plus a "custom-designed UI under camera's Fastshot mode, detachable thumb support and shutter buttons, a multifunctional 67mm filter adapter ring, and an integrated 2000mAh battery for extended usability."

Image: Xiaomi

Xiaomi 15

The Xiaomi 15 is smaller and cheaper than the 15 Ultra, featuring a 6.3-inch AMOLED (2670 x 1200) display. Still, it offers many features similar to the more premium model. That includes the Summilux lenses with anti-reflective coating. It also offers Dolby Vision, 8K 30fps and 4K 60fps recording, plus 10-bit Log recording at 4K 60fps across all focal lengths.

The Xiaomi 15, though, only features three cameras. The main camera is a 50MP 23mm equiv. F1.6 camera with a smaller Type 1/1.31 (9.80 x 7.35mm) Light Fusion 900 sensor. The telephoto camera offers slightly less reach, coming in at 60mm equiv. F2.0. Finally, the wide-angle is the same as the one found on the 15 Ultra.

Image: Xiaomi

Beyond the camera hardware, there are some useful software features on the Xiaomi 15. That includes a Fastshot mode, which it says enables a capture speed of 0.6 seconds at all focal lengths. Additionally, Leica explained that it developed software optimization that allows users to choose between the "classic 'Leica Authentic Look', characterized by warm colors and fine contrasts, and the 'Leica Vibrant Look', providing a dazzling depth of color."

Pricing & availability

The Xiaomi 15 is available in two storage variants at a starting price of EUR 999 ($1030). The Xiaomi 15 Ultra also comes in two storage variants and starts at EUR 1499 ($1550). Unfortunately, both of the Xiaomi Series 15 phones are not available for purchase through retailers in the US or Canada.

Carnivals and kings: photos of the day – Monday

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:18:32 +0000

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Atomos' latest Shinobi monitor is small, bright and $250

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Image: Atomos

Atomos, maker of on-camera monitors and recorders, has announced a new entry in its lineup: the Shinobi Go. The Go is a 5-inch display that can show video previews at 1500nits and supports exposure aids like false color, waveform displays, and vector scopes.

The monitor can be powered using a Sony NP-F battery or via USB-C and has a full-size HDMI port for receiving video from your camera. It also has a headphone jack. It comes with a locking cable adapter, which can help make sure the monitor doesn't get disconnected from your camera during a shoot.

The Go is, essentially, a version of the Shinobi II with some features removed. Perhaps the most notable is the lack of touch-to-focus support, which lets you control your camera's focus point using the monitor. If you want that feature or support for EL Zone exposure mapping, you'll have to pay the extra $100 for the Shinobi II. However, if you just need a bigger display when you're shooting video, the Go could be a decent option.

The Shinobi Go is available now for $250.

Press Release:

Atomos Introduces New Shinobi GO Monitor

Professional monitoring at an affordable price

Melbourne, Australia: Atomos announces a new addition to the award-winning Shinobi range of professional monitors with the new Shinobi GO, a slim, lightweight, high brightness, 5-inch 1500nit HDR monitor that’s perfect for content creators and photographers.

Shinobi GO follows the successful launch of Shinobi II last year, offering some of the same high quality monitoring tools as its more advanced best-selling sister product, but without camera control, touch to focus, and other pro monitoring features like EL ZONE.

The new model includes professional monitoring features like false color, zebra, histogram, waveform, and vector scope. It is powered by Sony NP-F type batteries (purchased separately) or via the USB-C port using a power bank, offering flexibility for extended shooting sessions.

“Shinobi GO is designed for people who either do not need camera control or own a camera that supports it. It offers a high-quality, daylight viewable monitor at an affordable price,” commented Atomos CEO Jeromy Young. “Priced at just USD/EUR 249 excluding sales taxes, Shinobi GO provides exactly what photographers and videographers need without compromising on quality, despite its lower cost. And it comes from a brand trusted by professionals worldwide.”

The monitor comes with a locking connector adaptor for the HDMI and USB-C ports. When used in conjunction with Atomos locking cables (purchased separately) it prevents accidental disconnections during shoots.

Both Shinobi GO and Shinobi II share the same size sunhood and other accessories, making it very convenient to share batteries, cables, rigs and other attachments for professionals that own a variety of equipment and need the flexibility to be able to mix and match between their camera set-ups.

Shinobi GO costs USD/EUR 249 (GBP 215, AUD 399), excluding local sales taxes, and is available to buy now from the Atomos web store and from authorized resellers.

For professionals requiring camera control, touch to focus and EL ZONE, these advanced features are available in the Shinobi II at the MSRP of USD/EUR 349 (GBP 295, AUD 545), excluding local sales taxes.

Documenting Life on Tour Through Mario López's Lens

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Join us as we chat with photographer Mario López, who shares his journey with analogue photography, his experiences on tour with Russ, and the magic behind capturing authentic moments on film.

Florent Tribalat Moreel: In the Name of the Father: The Roots of Patriarchy

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:00:12 +0000

Florent Tribalat Moreel and his work explore the unique intricacies of Ecuadorian tradition. Supported by a discussion of gender roles, as well as exceptionally composed imagery, a discourse surrounding the state of societal relations emerges. The project, spanning a range of 46 separate families, depicted in black and white frames, celebrates individuality as well as

View the rest of Florent Tribalat Moreel: In the Name of the Father: The Roots of Patriarchy on LENSCRATCH.

An Exquisite Portrait, Opposing Forces and More!

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 09:53:35 +0000

Welcome to the weekly Light Stalking community wrap up! I'm literally sitting on the ground while writing this newsletter, and I realised something curious about contrast in our photography. If something defines our most-beloved craft as anything close to language, is the use of contrast for highlighting that to be said on the shot. Now, […]

The post An Exquisite Portrait, Opposing Forces and More! appeared first on Light Stalking.

First cities for meet-ups set - Will you be there?

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:27:46 +0000

The first cities for our meet-ups in 2025 celebrating our 25th anniversary have been scheduled. The event will be a combined half-day learning in a class-room setting followed by the afternoon being out shooting together while having a good time. The detailed agenda is still being worked on and will be announced as soon as ready. Please help us by filling out the interest surveys.

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:18:14 +0000

Have you heard about the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field?

Behind The Image Weekly - Psychedelic Wine Glasses

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Psychedelic Wine Glasses by Darryl Hodson (skibreeze7)

Background....Back in my film days, I had attempted my hand at shooting table-top glassware photography, and quickly learned that you can get some interesting visual effects with the refraction of background elements if the glassware is filled with some sort of liquid.

2025 Oscars: See the red carpet looks

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:18:54 +0000

The 2025 Oscars start at 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. PT Sunday on ABC and Hulu. Conan O'Brien is hosting the show.

(Image credit: Mike Coppola)

Stars turn on the style on Oscars red carpet - in pictures

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 22:02:03 +0000

See all the looks as celebrities arrive for Hollywood biggest night.

5 Common iPhone Editing Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 20:49:23 +0000

Photo editing on an iPhone has never been more accessible, with powerful apps offering professional-level tools right at your fingertips. However, despite all these advancements, many users still face significant challenges when trying to refine their photos. Whether it’s struggling with small screen limitations, getting colors just right, or knowing which adjustments to apply, mobile editing can be a frustrating process.

As part of their Spring Sale, the iPhone Editing Academy aims to help photographers overcome these hurdles. But before diving into solutions, let’s take a closer look at some of the biggest challenges of editing photos on an iPhone.

New: iPhone Photo Editing Academy (see preview videos)

1. Precision Editing on a Small Screen

While iPhones have high-resolution displays, editing detailed elements on a small touchscreen can be difficult. Unlike a desktop with a large monitor and a precise mouse or stylus, using fingers to make adjustments often leads to imprecise results. Cloning out an unwanted object or making selective adjustments can be especially tricky without the right techniques.

2. Understanding Color and Exposure Adjustments

Many iPhone users struggle with knowing how much to adjust brightness, contrast, shadows, and highlights. It’s easy to overdo it, leading to unnatural-looking photos. Similarly, achieving accurate color tones—especially skin tones—can be challenging without understanding white balance and color grading fundamentals.

3. Working with RAW vs. JPEG Files

Shooting in RAW gives you much more control over edits, but editing RAW files on an iPhone requires specialized apps like Lightroom Mobile or Darkroom. Many casual photographers stick to JPEG, which limits how much you can adjust an image before it starts to lose quality. Knowing when and how to use RAW properly is an important skill for iPhone editors.

4. Balancing Speed vs. Quality in Editing

One of the biggest advantages of mobile editing is speed—apps like Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile allow quick edits on the go. However, many users struggle to balance efficiency with producing high-quality results. Rushing through edits often leads to over-saturated images, excessive sharpening, or artificial HDR effects.

5. Choosing the Right Editing App

With so many editing apps available—Snapseed, Lightroom, VSCO, Darkroom, and even built-in Apple Photos—beginners often don’t know where to start. Each app has its strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right one depends on your editing goals. Learning how to navigate these apps efficiently can make a huge difference in editing workflow.

Overcoming These Challenges

The iPhone Editing Academy was designed to help photographers navigate these common obstacles. The course covers essential editing techniques, offering step-by-step guidance on working with color, exposure, and precision adjustments—even on a small screen. By learning expert workflows, photographers can achieve professional-quality edits directly from their iPhone.

As part of their Spring Sale, the course is currently being offered at a discount for a limited time. If you’re struggling with mobile editing and want to master the tools at your disposal, this could be an opportunity to level up your skills.

Deal ending soon: iPhone Editing Academy at 86% Off

CP+ Roundup: all the news from this week's show

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Logo: CP+

This week was the CP+ show, where camera and lens manufacturers showed off their latest products and made some major announcements. The action actually started well before the show; in the days leading up to it, we saw two new cameras announced from Sigma and Panasonic, as well as a handful of lenses from Sigma, Zeiss and Sony.

It's been a lot to keep track of, but don't worry. We've rounded up all our coverage in this one article so you can get caught up.

Monday

Photo: Dale Baskin

Monday belonged to Sigma, with the company holding a major event to announce several new products, plus a new look for its branding.

The biggest announcement was its new BF camera, a full-frame camera with a Bayer sensor and a "radically simple" design. It does away with almost all the buttons and controls we expect from modern digital cameras. It doesn't even include a card slot in service of cutting out "everything that distracts from your interaction with the image." You can see some sample images we've shot with the BF in our sample gallery.

Read our Sigma BF coverage

Sigma also shared a ton of lens news:

It announced a 300-600mm F4 full-frame lens for sports and wildlife shooters
There's also a do-it-all 18-300mm F3.5-6.7 lens for APS-C shooters
It updated all nine of its I-series primes with a new look

Alongside those announcements came an acknowledgment that it was done developing lenses for DSLRs. That's not necessarily a surprise, but if you're feeling nostalgic for the HSM days, be sure to check out our mini tour of the museum at Sigma's factory.

Tuesday

Photo: Mitchell Clark

We also got a new camera on Tuesday: the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1RII, a high-resolution hybrid camera with a 44MP sensor capable of shooting at up to 40fps. It supports up to 8K video capture and 32-bit float audio, and Panasonic says it's improved the autofocus system's ability to recognize and track humans. We'll be testing it out much more in the coming weeks.

Read the S1RII Initial Review

Image: Zeiss

Zeiss also had news on Tuesday, announcing its first new stills lenses since 2019. The Otus ML line is the company's first foray into making mirrorless glass and is being introduced with two F1.4 primes, 50mm and 85mm for E-mount, RF-mount, and Z-mount. We were able to shoot a sample gallery with the 50mm model and interviewed Tony Wisniewski, Senior Manager, Creative Arts, Zeiss Cinema and Photography, about what the company's been up to and what it has planned for the future.

Also on Tuesday: a new version of Photoshop mobile and a meter from DataColor that promises to measure both light and color temperature.

Wednesday

Photo: Sony

On Wednesday morning, Sony announced two new lenses: a 16mm F1.8 prime that aims to be portable and relatively affordable and a 400-800mm F6.3-8 super-telephoto that offers the furthest reach of any Sony lens. Nikon also quietly released updates for the Z6III and Z8, adding some pro video features previously only available on the flagship Z9.

Thursday

Thursday marked the official start of the CP+ conference, and our editors Dale Baskin and Richard Butler all but kicked down the doors in order to be the first to get hands-on time with Canon's new video-focused compact, the Powershot V1, which was announced last week.

Watch the video

DxO also announced a new version of its PureRaw Raw processing software, and TTArtisan announced its first camera: a folding instant camera with fully manual controls, which takes Fujifilm Instax film.

The bulk of the CP+ news came later in the day, though, as we started to hear about all the new offerings from third-party lens makers. Here are all the lenses we heard about, some of which we were able to go hands-on with.

Photo: Richard Butler

Viltrox

AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE - a flagship full-frame prime lens for E-mount
AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE - a full-frame portrait lens for E-mount
AF 50mm F2.0 Air - a budget full-frame prime that the company says will have the "best IQ of the AIR series," available for E-mount, Z-mount and X-mount.

Viltrox also announced that it'll bring its AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens to Z-mount.

Photo: Richard Butler

Laowa

8-15mm F2.8 Fisheye Zoom - a full-frame manual focus zoom for E, Z, RF and L-mounts
15mm F4.5 - a wide-angle macro lens
35mm F2.8 - a tilt-shift lens for Fujifilm's medium format GFX mount

Photo: Richard Butler

7Artisans

24mm F1.8 - a full-frame prime for E, Z and L-mount
35mm F2.8 - a full-frame prime for the same mounts
A series of autofocus APS-C F1.8 primes for E, X and Z-mount: 25mm, 35mm, 50mm
35mm F1.4 - an autofocus prime for E, X and Z-mount

The company also announced L-mount versions of its 50mm F1.8 and 85mm F1.8 lenses.

Photo: Richard Butler

Samyang

Samyang announced an autofocus 14-24mm F2.8 wide-angle full-frame zoom for E-mount in collaboration with Schneider Kreuznach. It also promises more lenses later in the year: a standard zoom, telephoto prime and wide-angle prime.

Friday

Image: Viltrox

By Friday, the news was winding down, but Viltrox couldn't help but sneak one more announcement in: the release of its 25mm F1.7 Air, an APS-C lens for E, X and Z-mount. Unlike many of the things available at the show, it's actually available for purchase right now, which could be good news if you're looking for an affordable, lightweight, wide-angle prime.

Buy now:

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at B&H Photo

@lomocato's First Impressions of the Lomo Daylight Developing Tank

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Learning to develop her own photos always seemed like a overwhelming task for @lomocato, but the Lomo Daylight Developing Tank 35 mm made it accessible and encouraged her to give it a try. This opened up a new world of creative possibilities!

Introducing @maxverge — Lomography's Honorary LomoHome of March 2025

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We're digging deeper into the Lomography vaults and recognizing community members from all over the world! For the month of March, we're highlighting newcomer Max (@maxverge).

Open Position: Team Lead Nikonians Engagement

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 11:13:34 +0000

We are looking for a member who has the time and skills to support the community on its journey to further growth, increasing our out reach and inbound quality traffic.

Leigh Bowery! review – a colossal display of shapeshifting outrageousness and originality

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 09:00:04 +0000

Tate Modern, London
The late Australian performance artist’s huge retrospective is packed with outlandish costumes, stylish photographs, emotive writing and evocative video footage, but what is most striking is his singular artistic vision

Life was a guise to the performance artist Leigh Bowery (1961-94). His looks were so outlandish, his costumes so teemingly various, they jam every inch of this huge retrospective. He is a gilded boy-god, a Christmas pudding on legs, a prosthetised Venus of Willendorf. He is a leather-clad dame in a zipped-up mask or a Regency dandy in pistachio pantaloons, their orange polka dots spreading upwards all over his face.

He fills the frame every time, in period photographs and videos, an enormous Australian with a shaved head and powerful calves, standing 6ft 3in and higher in towering platform soles painted scarlet or silver. Even though he is long gone, a sense of his colossal presence is apparent from the opening gallery, where a rack of Bowery’s earliest costumes gives an immediate sense of his size.

The big picture: Newsha Tavakolian spotlights the Iranian singers silenced by Islamic law

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 07:00:01 +0000

This powerful portrait – an imaginary album cover – depicts one of many female Iranian vocalists banned from performing after the 1979 revolution

The Iranian photographer Newsha Tavakolian began her career as a photojournalist but, one after another, the publications in which her pictures appeared in Tehran were banned. In 2002, she switched her focus from news to art, though the boundaries between the two are porous. She took this photograph in 2011 as part of a project that featured professional Iranian female singers who, since the 1979 revolution, had been banned from performing or recording solo because of the regime’s interpretation of Islamic law.

Tavakolian made images of the singers as if they were in recording studios, mouthing their words or, as she described it, “performing in their mind in front of a large audience”; she also made imaginary album covers, like this one, for her muted divas. “For me,” she said, “a woman’s voice represents a power that if you silence it, imbalances society, and makes everything deform. I let Iranian women singers perform through my camera while the world has never heard them.” The project was called Listen. The ban on solo singing is still in place.

Women Power is at Villa Bassi Rathgeb Museum, Abano Terme, Italy from 22 March to 21 September

Blue Ghost to the Moon

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 05:55:13 +0000

With spacecraft thrusters at top center,

Weekly Update 02-Mar-2025

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 04:40:02 +0000

This weeks Editor's Choice images and top discussions at Nikonians - 02 March 2025

Horse heads, henchmen and Hollywood royalty: the Brit awards 2025 – in pictures

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 23:50:17 +0000

All the glamour – and occasionally ridiculous outfits – from the red carpet, plus Jade’s stunning show and a joyous Charli xcx

David Johansen: a life in pictures

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 20:07:52 +0000

The New York Dolls frontman has died aged 75

The Landscape Photography Bundle 2025: Pre-order Offer

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 18:31:25 +0000

Are you ready to take your landscape photography to new heights? Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or a seasoned pro, the Landscape Photography Bundle 2025 is your gateway to mastering the art of capturing breathtaking landscapes.

Pre-order offer found here: The Landscape Photography Bundle 2025

For a limited time, you can gain access to world-class training, expert tutorials, and exclusive resources—all at a fraction of the retail price!

What’s Inside the Landscape Photography Bundle?

The Main Bundle is packed with 18 premium products, offering over $1,000 worth of content for just $47 during the pre-order period. If you’re looking for an even greater value, the Pro Bundle unlocks 35+ expert-led courses with additional professional-level training, worth over $2,000, for just $84.

Learn From World-Renowned Photography Experts

This bundle features top educators and award-winning photographers, including:

Serge Ramelli – Landscape & Urban Photographer (15.4M+ social reach)
Scott Kelby – CEO of KelbyOne (9.6M+ social reach)
Mark Denney – Outdoor & Landscape Photographer (4.8M+ social reach)
Joshua Snow – Nature Photographer (4.1M+ social reach)
Christian Hoiberg – Founder of CaptureLandscapes (1.1M+ social reach)

These experts will guide you through advanced editing techniques, camera settings, composition tips, and post-processing workflows to ensure you capture stunning landscape shots.

Exclusive Courses and Tools Included

Shooting Golden Hour Scenes – Learn how to capture and edit golden hour landscapes like a pro.
The Lightroom Landscape – Discover 20 essential Lightroom techniques every photographer should know.
Astrophotography for Beginners – Master the art of capturing the Milky Way and night skies.
Northern Lights Photography Made Easy – Step-by-step guidance for photographing the aurora borealis.
Bad Weather, Bad Light, No Problem! – Transform dull lighting conditions into stunning compositions.
Realistic Sky Replacement – Learn Photoshop techniques for natural and seamless sky replacements.

And much more! With over 44+ hours of in-depth training, you’ll gain the skills to produce gallery-worthy landscape photos.

Limited Time Offer Ends Soon!

This exclusive deal is available only until March 7th, 2025, at Noon Pacific Time. Don’t miss your chance to own this essential photography resource at an unbeatable price.

Pre-order offer ending soon: The Landscape Photography Bundle 2025

Rebirth and renewal: Celebrating the outstanding winners of Female in Focus 2024

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Female in Focus 2024 winners

Image credits: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Florence Bass, Camilla Greenwell, Victoria Ruiz, Alice Poyzer, Margarita Galandina, Rebecca Dorothy, Asma Elbadawi, Eloise Genoud and Dale Rio

Editor's note: Image #5 (6th in the gallery) features nudity and may be considered NSFW, so proceed with caution accordingly.

The winners of the Female in Focus 2024 contest have been announced. It was hosted in partnership with Nikon, which allowed photographers to enter one portrait for free. This year's judges included photographer and Nikon Ambassador Heather Agyepong; curator, critic and journalist Charlotte Jansen; co-founder and director at DECK Photography Art Centre Gwen Lee and more.

Now in its fifth edition, the contest aims to "discover, promote and reward the remarkable work of women photographers." In August 2024, the British Journal of Photography surveyed 1,000 respondents from its audience to examine gender inequality in the photography industry. This survey revealed that "women in photography earn 30% less than their male counterparts, and, 55% of the women had experienced gender discrimination in the workplace." It also found that only 34% of major photography award winners over the past five years have been women.

Entries to Female in Focus are centered on a specific theme each year. This year, the theme was Renewal. The contest website explains it is about "delving into the transformative process of rejuvenation and rebirth. This theme captures the essence of starting anew, whether through personal growth, environmental restoration, or societal change. Through evocative imagery, it explores the beauty and strength found in moments of revival and regeneration, highlighting the hope and possibility inherent in beginning again."

Twenty individual images and two winning series were chosen as winners. These works will be exhibited in the UK. You can see all of the images included in the series and additional winners on the Female in Focus website.

Series winner: Margarita Galandina - Ovoo

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Margarita Galandina

Series title: Ovoo

Image: Coffin Bearers, 2022

Grounded in Mongolian shamanistic tradition, the title refers to the ritual Ovoo (or Obo in
Buryat) – a sacred totem pole marking spiritually significant land. These structures, serving as conduits to the spiritual realm, embody the Buryat people’s post-nomadic worldview in Siberia. Through this project, I seek to explore how the presence of Ovoos in today’s landscape marks Indigenous presence, especially within a post-colonial context. The project combines photography, archival research and personal history to challenge conventional historical narratives and reassert Indigenous identity.

The project began as a personal investigation into my maternal Buryat heritage, where I
sought to integrate familial and state archives with photographic reenactment and self-portraiture. By mimicking ethnographic research, I aim to recontextualise Indigenous Siberians’ complex and often hidden history. Focusing on the early 1930s – a period during Soviet collectivisation that devastated Indigenous identities in North and Central Asia – the work examines how historical narratives are shaped, contested and often erased within the post-colonial framework.

My research began with the discovery of a demolished Buddhist monastery, where one of my ancestors – a Buddhist lama – served before being repressed and sent to a Soviet work camp. His survival and eventual return to Buryatia sparked an effort to salvage the region’s Buddhist cultural heritage. This personal discovery in the local archive in Buryatia in 2023 made me question the fragile positioning of Indigenous history, prompting me to use photography to intervene in such a process. To engage with this erasure, I began creating self-portraits that mimic ethnographic photos from family records and institutional archives, such as those in the Kunstkamera Museum. By juxtaposing these images with historical photographs, I aim to open a conversation about the contested nature of history and reverse the alienating gaze of otherness.

You can see the full series on the Female in Focus website.

Series winner: Alice Poyzer - Other Joys

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Alice Poyzer

Series title: Other Joys

Image title: Kernow Cat Club

Image caption: This photograph depicts one of the winning cats at a local
Championship Cat Show in 2024.

Other Joys is a body of work that explores the intensity of my special interests as an autistic woman, through a careful balance of self-portraits, documentary shots and constructed imagery. The feeling that surrounds special interest is almost indescribable. This heavy sensation of warmth, euphoria and excitement is something many in the autistic community can relate to. Consequently, I wanted to make this body of work as a way to communicate that feeling.

While Other Joys was made to shed light on the concept of special interests, the making of it additionally acts as a way for me to understand my autism better. Throughout, the project comments on my own autistic traits, such as my need for rigid routine and my innate ability to constantly mask my autism. Simultaneously, the work nods to the idea that there is still a desperate need for further autistic representation, especially in relation to autistic women.

The process of making these photographs provides me with a safe space to be my true self, allowing me to unmask and experience my autistic joy to the fullest. What was once a fear of being deemed different and unusual has now become a celebration of self-acceptance and understanding.

You can see the full series on the Female in Focus website.

Single image winner: Asma Elbadawi

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Asma Elbadawi

Image title: Renewed Vows

A woman stands in a vintage white wedding dress, ironing bright green tracksuit bottoms. This striking contrast symbolises the blending of marital expectations with contemporary life, representing a woman who honours the significance of marriage while embracing her
modern identity.

The image reflects the evolving roles of married women, where traditional marriage ideals coexist with new forms of self-expression. The wedding dress signifies grace and heritage, while the tracksuit represents renewal and personal ambition. Together, they illustrate a
complex identity where marital tradition and individual progress intertwine. This quiet domestic scene captures the nuanced journey of redefining women’s roles within marriage, emphasising that tradition and modernity can coexist harmoniously.

Through this quiet domestic scene, the image captures the journey of redefining one’s place in the world. A blend of strength and softness, reverence and reinvention, capturing the power in balancing marital roles with a sense of self that transcends eras. It is a reminder that marriage and modernity can coexist beautifully, adding depth and richness to the tapestry of identity.

Single image winner: Camilla Greenwell

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Camilla Greenwell

Image title: Gertraud Platschek

This summer, I travelled to Germany to create a series of images and a short film with Gertraud Platschek, an artist whose work I’ve admired for years. She transforms everyday materials, such as cardboard, into sculptures and wearable art, often drawing inspiration
from her surroundings in the Bavarian Forest. Her pieces often become part of performances that blend humour with the absurd, and I was particularly interested in creating something with her which felt part documentary but also part performative in itself.

In many ways, her approach embodies the essence of renewal. The materials she uses – seemingly discarded or undervalued – are given new life and purpose in her hands. This process of transformation mirrors the renewal of the self that Gertraud has experienced
throughout her life. She shared stories of how her journey as an artist has evolved, shaped by motherhood, artistic influences and the passage of time. In a world often obsessed with youth and the rapid rise to artistic fame, meeting someone like Gertraud – who’s followed her own path and continuously evolved – was inspiring.

Her work also speaks to the renewal of the land itself. The Bavarian Forest, which serves as both her muse and backdrop, is a place of constant change – where nature’s cycles of growth, decay and rebirth are ever-present. There is a deep respect for the land within her work, alongside a knowledge of what it means to reuse and repurpose materials in a sustainable way. Through her eyes, I saw how art and life intertwine in an ongoing process of renewal, on a personal and creative level.

Single image winner: Hanna Wolf

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Hanna Wolf

Image title: Fiona

I met Fiona as part of an ongoing series exploring the stories of mothers who were unable to hold their children at birth. After the unexpectedly traumatic birth of her twins, Fiona faced the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. The lost moments of holding her newborns on her chest echoed in ways she could never have imagined as she underwent a double mastectomy. When we met, six months after her surgery, Fiona shared that she was ready to be photographed with her scars. What began as the absence of touch transformed into a profound journey of grief, resilience and triumph – reclaiming her body not just as a place of healing but as a space where motherhood and selfhood can be reimagined.

Single image winner: Alessia Rollo

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Alessia Rollo

Image title: Water Cures

This is a portrait of a possessed woman, at least how I imagined a ‘tarantolata’ could be before photography and before north Italian culture colonised south Italian culture, where I am from.

It represents the ritual of ‘cure’ that women affected by nostalgia or melancholy (often confused with possession and hysteria) were practising to take care of their bodies and minds.

The image is part of a more complex series about visual and cultural
colonisation in south Italy.

Single image winner: Victoria Ruiz

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Victoria Ruiz

Image title: El Bravo Pueblo (The Brave People)

‘El bravo pueblo’ holds deep significance in Venezuela as a symbol of the nation’s resilience, strength and spirit. The phrase translates to ‘the brave people’ and it is often used to honour the Venezuelan population’s unwavering courage and defiance in the face of hardship. Historically, it has been associated with Venezuela’s struggles for independence, beginning with the fight against Spanish colonialism and continuing through modern-day challenges, including political oppression, economic collapse and social instability.

‘El bravo pueblo’ represents more than just resistance; it embodies the pride and determination of Venezuelans to stand up for their rights, freedom and dignity, even in the most challenging circumstances. It is a rallying cry that reflects both the collective memory of the country’s past struggles and the ongoing battle for justice, democracy and survival in the present.

Single image winner: Fatimah Mujtaba

Credit: Female in Focus x Nikon vol. 5 / Fatimah Mujtaba

Image title: The Lutadoras of London

As part of a series celebrating young women in martial arts, this image reflects on new beginnings through physical fitness. Not every activity is started in a joyous manner, and in this case the subject confided how boxing became a way to navigate anger and fears
through a difficult period of her life. The women-only boxing lessons at East London’s Fight for Peace offered a space for vulnerability and growth, allowing for personal development of character.

Weekly sessions are something to look forward to and with every session skills, speed and confidence continue to grow. The importance of buying the boxing kit contributed to this shoot, as we reflected on the excitement of finding wraps and shorts in matching colours to celebrate the beginning of this journey. While the male-dominated space of martial arts can often feel as if it pushes out expressions of femininity entirely, we found we were able to express it within the club and the photographic series wa

Accessory Roundup: CP+ Edition

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Images: SmallRig, Angelbird, Billingham

Welcome to the weekend, everyone! This week was CP+, which means a ton of news about cameras, lenses, and – you guessed it – accessories. There's a ton to get through, so let's get right to it.

The sales

Photo: Dale Baskin

We recently wrapped up our review of Panasonic's video-focused GH7, apparently just in time for it to go on sale. It's currently available for $200 off MSRP.

Buy now:

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Adorama

Buy at B&H Photo

Photo: Richard Butler

If you're looking for a camera that still has capable video specs but focuses more on stills, the Nikon Z6III is also on sale for $300 off.

Buy now:

Camera tracking

Image: Elevation Lab

If you've ever worried about losing your camera or having it stolen, this next product may be for you. The Elevation Lab TagVault Camera Plate is a carbon fiber Arca Swiss tripod plate that has a secret compartment for an AirTag, Apple's small accessory that will track an item's location. The plate attaches to your camera using a security Torx screw.

The theory is that if someone were to make off with your camera, they may not think to take the tripod plate off, which means you would be able to see its location and potentially recover it. The plates are $20 each but are also available in a two-pack for $30.

Buy at Amazon

The Cape

Image: DxO

Many photographers will be familiar with DxO's software, but apparently, the company is also interested in soft goods. As part of its announcement of a "Photographers Club," the company said it was working on what it calls a "photo storm cape." It's essentially what it says on the tin: a piece of clothing designed to keep you and your camera dry, even in heavy rain.

The company hasn't released that many details on it yet – apparently it plans to launch a Kickstarter "soon" – but it has said it uses "premium high-tech materials" and offers "exceptional comfort and style." It also appears to offer a window in the front flap that lets you see your camera's monitor without exposing it to the elements.

The compact camera holster

Image: Billingham

Famed camera bag maker Billingham has released what it's calling its "first ever camera bag designed for compact cameras" like the Fujifilm X100V, Leica D-LUX or Ricoh GR 3. The bag, called the Ten-16, is available in a variety of colors, such as red, yellow or green and comes with a removable leather shoulder strap. If you're lucky enough to have gotten one of the compact cameras the bag is designed for, it could be a fashionable way to keep it at hand.

Buy at Billingham

SSD To Go

Image: Angelbird

Storage company Angelbird has released a new portable SSD, which uses a USB 4.0 interface to sustain write speeds of up to 1600 MBps. It includes a USB 4 cable, which plugs into a recessed port on the drive's aluminium enclosure.

The SSD2GO PKT also has a write protection switch, which you can flip to keep yourself from accidentally making any changes to the data on it. The 2TB model costs $380, while the 4TB one will run $650. You can also get text engraved onto the drive's enclosure for no extra cost.

Buy at B&H

Buy at Angelbird

Cages for a new hybrid

Image:SmallRig

Panasonic just announced its latest high-resolution hybrid camera, the S1RII, but SmallRig already has accessories ready for it. There's a standard cage, a kit that includes both a cage and a top handle, and a substantially taller version of the cage that's compatible with the S1RII's battery grip. Given the S1RII's video specs, it's not surprising to see accessories being made that will make it even easier to use it for shooting video.

Buy at B&H

Buy at SmallRig

New Manfrotto tripods

The Q90 column makes the 055XPro AS very versatile.

Image: Manfrotto

Manfrotto has released two new ball-head tripods, the 055XPro AS and the 190X AS aluminium. Both are compatible with Arca-style accessories, meaning you can attach your camera directly to them if it's in a cage with an Arca bottom plate.

As the name implies, the 055XPro is geared towards professional photographers and can hold up to 15kg (33lb) of gear, while the enthusiast-class 190X is rated for 10kg (22lb). The 055XPro also lets you quickly rotate the center column 90°, letting you switch between shooting horizontally, vertically, or even top-down.

The 190X AS will cost $299, while the 055XPro AS will cost $399.

F0.38

This week's entertaining/educational video is one by a channel called Applied Science, and it details the process of turning a microscope objective into what is, theoretically, an F0.38 lens. The process involves using oil to couple the glass to a sensor, which has had its protective glass cover removed – a process that apparently resulted in several destroyed sensor chips.

There are a few caveats. The example videos we see – shot using a Type-1/2.5 (5.76 x 4.29mm) sensor – don't show what kind of depth of field or light gathering ability you'd get from an F0.38 lens fitted to a full-frame sensor. However, it's still a fun DIY project and provides an interesting look at exactly what goes into determining a lens' F-stop rating.

Read last week's accessory roundup

Capturing Love in All Its Forms – A Lomography Valentine’s Day Recap

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

This Valentine’s Day, we invited some of our China-based Lomographers to document their day with Lomography cameras. From intimate moments between lovers to the unique perspectives of solo participants, each photograph tells a personal story. Let’s check it out!

Motorsports on Film by Tim van Driel

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this interview, we're joining Netherlands-based photographer Tim van Driel on the track as he tells us all about shooting race cars on film.

Original Observer Photography

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 11:00:36 +0000

From the world of adventure to the worlds of food and theatre: the best original photographs from the Observer commissioned in February 2025

Sydney Mardi Gras parade 2025 – in pictures

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 10:58:53 +0000

All the colour, costume and camp of the 47th edition of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

‘The boy jumped at just the right moment’: Pradiptamoy Paul’s best phone picture

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 10:00:35 +0000

The India-based street and documentary photographer captures a group of children in a moment of joy

University student Pradiptamoy Paul currently lives in Siliguri, West Bengal, but he still regularly visits his home town of Mathabhanga, a few hours’ drive away. On the day he took this photograph, back in 2023, he had done some work in the morning and was taking a walk by the Mansai riverside, hoping to capture something special.

“It’s a residential area and there are no industrial sites nearby, so the water here is clean,” Paul says. “In this photo there is so much going on and so many characters. The boy at the front was taking a rest, someone else was splashing in the water, another boy was jumping from the concrete. And the boy jumping from the top corner happened spontaneously, at just the right moment! It’s impossible to say who the actual hero of this photograph is. They’re children immersed in a moment of energy and joy – they’re all heroes.”

Athena to the Moon

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 07:58:32 +0000

Planet Earth hangs in the background of this space age selfie.

Nikonians 25th Birthday Contest

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 03:04:53 +0000

Let's celebrate Nikonians birthday on April 30th by showing us some of your best photos. The top 3 photographers will receive a 1 year membership extension at the Gold level.

22-28 February 2025

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:15:19 +0000

A selection of news photographs from around the world.

Hands-on with third party lenses at CP+

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:50:00 +0000

Photo: Richard Butler

When we asked which CP+ announcements you wanted us to take a closer look at, we got several responses asking for more information on the many third-party lenses that have been announced at the show. So Richard Butler hit up five booths to get pictures and whatever extra snippets of information that 7Artisans, Laowa, Samyang, TTArtisan and Viltrox would give us.

7Artisans

Sample gallery

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At the 7Artisans booth, we got to see the several new lenses the company announced.

For full-frame there's a 24mm F1.8 for E, Z and L mounts. The company is also creating L-mount versions of its 50 and 85mm F1.8 lenses.

For APS-C, there are three F2.8 autofocus lenses coming out for E, X and Z mounts: a 25m, 35mm and 50mm. There's also a 35mm F1.4, initially releasing for X mount but coming to E and Z later, as well as a 27mm F2.8 lens for X mount by mid-March.

Laowa

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Laowa had an interesting array of prototype lenses at its booth. There's the full-frame, manual focus 8-15mm F2.8 fisheye zoom, which will likely be released for E, Z, RF and L mounts, as well as the 15mm F4.5 0.5x wide-angle Macro, which will likely be available for the same mounts. Finally, there's the 35mm tilt-shift F2.8 0.5x Macro lens for Fujifilm's GFX mount.

Samyang

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Much of what we saw at Samyang's booth has already been announced, such as the Remaster Slim modular lens and the APS-C AF 12mm F2 lens for Canon's RF mount. However, the company was also showing off its new 14-24mm F2.8 full-frame lens for Sony E mount and teasing some unspecified future lenses.

TTArtisan

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TTArtisan's most interesting CP+ announcement wasn't a lens at all but a folding instant camera with manual controls, which you can read more about here. However, the company was also showing off an AF 23mm F1.8 lens for X mount and an AF 14mm F3.5 lens for E mount.

Viltrox

Sample gallery

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Viltrox had several new lenses at the show this year: there's a new flagship 35mm F1.2 LAB for E mount. Sony shooters will also be getting an 85mm F1.4 Pro lens, while Nikon shooters will finally be getting access to the company's existing 135mm 1.8 LAB lens next month.

The company also showed off its full-frame 50mm F2.0 Air lens, which it claims will have the "best IQ of the AIR series." It will be available in E, Z, and X mounts.

From first world war diggers to Pavlova in Sydney: Australia’s pioneering press photos

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:00:21 +0000

Curated by veteran photographer Mike Bowers, an exhibition of Fairfax archive images reveals the public life of a nation – and the challenges of capturing it for the newspapers

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For almost a century, thousands of Fairfax employees filed daily past the grainy photograph of a stern looking gentleman astride a horse, a quaint looking box strapped to his chest. The 1910 image of George Bell – widely believed to be Australia’s first press photographer – oversaw the daily bustle of one of the country’s largest media empires, publisher of the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, the Australian Financial Review, the Canberra Times, the Sun-Herald, and a host of rural and regional publications.

When Fairfax left its Jones Street premises in Sydney in the 1990s, George went too, rehung in the corridors of the slick new building in Sussex Street, and again when the company moved to Pyrmont in 2007.

Film Friday: Lomography's latest film tank makes a critical step even easier

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:52:00 +0000

Photo: Lomography

Lomography has announced a new product aimed at making home film development more approachable. The Lomo Daylight Developing Tank 35mm is "an all-in-one developing system" for developing 35mm film without needing a darkroom or changing bag.

Transferring film from the canister to the development reel is one of the most common steps that gets messed up, with many opportunities for problems. After all, fumbling with a roll of film in complete darkness is no easy task, and it is the steepest learning curve of the whole process. It's very easy to end up with frames of film pressed against each other on the reel, fingerprints, creases, wrong cuts and more.

The Daylight Developing Tank eliminates much of that risk by skipping the bag or darkroom and taking the film directly from the canister to the reel. The kit includes a film retriever, developing tank and reel with a built-in film cutter and loading crank. It allows you to pop in a roll of film and load it with the crank system, which Lomography says takes about a minute. This is all done in the developing tank, so when it's loaded onto the reel, you are all set to develop. You can see the full process in the video above.

Lomography says you can process the film using either agitation or inversion development thanks to the included metal buckle that keeps the lid secure. Of course, as with any other development tank, it allows you to experiment with pushing and pulling film, create film soup and more.

Photo: Lomography

The main downside is that the tank only develops one roll of film at a time. If you're a prolific film shooter, this could be more time-consuming than doing the loading part by hand. It's also only compatible with 35mm. But, for new photographers or those who only shoot occasionally, this certainly seems like a handy product.

The Lomo Daylight Developing Tank 35mm Kit is available as of today for $79. You can also purchase a separate reel for $10 or the film retriever for $13.

Buy now:

$79 at Lomography

Third-party lens companies flood CP+ with new lens announcements

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:51:00 +0000

Photos: Richard Butler

The first day of CP+ has come to a close, and while there were relatively few big announcements from major brands today, third-party lens manufacturers stepped up to fill the void. We already shared that Viltrox announced four new lenses and a Z-mount version of its AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens. TTArtisan also revealed a retro-looking instant camera. On top of all that, though, Laowa, 7Artisans and Samyang all unveiled new lens offerings.

Details for the new Laowa, 7Artisans and Samyang lenses were essentially non-existent beyond the lens names. Laowa even went so far as to say this is just a sneak peek of what's coming. The lenses are on display at CP+, though, so we sent our team members who are currently in Japan over to check them out.

The Laowa 15mm F4.5 0.5x wide-angle macro lens.

Photo: Richard Butler

Laowa had three new lenses on display at CP+. The 8-15mm F2.8 Fisheye Zoom lens is a full-frame offering likely to be available for E, Z, RF and L-mounts. It is a manual-focus offering. The 15mm F4.5 0.5x wide-angle macro lens is likely to be available for the same mounts as above. Finally, it was also showing off the 35mm F2.8Tilt Shift 0.5x macro lens for GFX, which promises to be a hefty option at 1350g (3lbs). Laowa didn't provide any details on the pricing or availability of any of the above lenses.

The 7Artisans 85mm F1.8 for Z-mount.

Photo: Richard Butler

7Artistans had several updates to share, involving four full-frame lenses and five APS-C lenses. For full frame, the company is introducing L-mount versions of its 50mm F1.8 and 85mm F1.8, which already exist for Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount. It is also releasing a new 24mm F1.8 for E, Z and L-mount, along with a 35mm F2.8 for E, Z and L-mount, though it didn't say when or provide any additional details.

The 7Artisans APS-C AF 25mm F1.8 lens.

Photo: Richard Butler

For APS-C users, 7Artisans is releasing a 25mm F1.8, 35mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8, all of which will be available for E, X and Z-mount. A 35mm F1.4 is coming to X-mount, followed by E and Z-mount sometime later. The only lens that 7Artisans provided a specific date for is the 27mm F2.8 for X-mount, arriving in mid-March.

The Samyang AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE.

Photo: Richard Butler

Finally, Samyang isn't left out of all the fun, either. It has announced the AF 14-24mm F2.8 full-frame E-mount lens that bears the branding of both Schneider Kreuznach and Samyang. It apparently weighs just 445g (15.7oz). Additionally, Samyang is promising it will be releasing a standard zoom, telephoto prime and wide angle prime sometime in 2025.

Focusing on film: TTArtisan unveils its first-ever camera for around $300

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:59:00 +0000

Photo: Richard Butler

CP+ is barely underway, but it's already been a busy year for the International Camera and Photo Imaging Show. TTArtisan is adding to the growing list of surprises this year by announcing its first-ever camera. The brand revealed the Folding Instant Camera on its Instagram account, announcing that it is on display at CP+ in Japan.

TTArtisan is best known for its lenses, though it has also dabbled in photography accessories. This is the company's first foray into cameras, however. Its Instagram post says to "stay tuned for the official launch," so details are slim at this point. Luckily, the camera is on display at CP+, so our team that is in Japan for the show was able to go check it out and gather more information. At the booth, a representative told us there's no official price for the camera yet, but that "it should be around $300."

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The Folding Instant Camera is retro in more than just looks. As the imagery shows, it uses a foldable design with bellows. It will feature a fully mechanical design with a spring-loaded shutter that doesn't require batteries. Like mechanical cameras, the shutter requires manual re-cocking before each shot. It will offer shutter speeds from 1 sec to 1/300.

Photo: Richard Butler

The camera features a 75mm (43mm equiv.) F3.5-22 lens with a Cooke Triplet design, which was patented in 1893. It is made up of three air-spaced elements – two biconvex lenses surrounding a biconcave lens – which helps reduce distortion and aberration. Of course, given there is no power for the camera, it will be manual focus only.

TTArtisan didn't provide any information on exposure or metering, but a close look at the lens reveals an aperture ring, shutter speed control and DoF scale, meaning it has full manual control, unlike most modern instant cameras. The model on the show floor also has the TTArtisan Light Meter II on top of the camera, suggesting there isn't a built-in light meter.

Photo: Richard Butler

TTArtisan promises soft bokeh and a bulb mode for long exposures. It will use Fujifilm Instax film and looks to be of the Mini variety. The images posted to its Instagram account suggest the camera will come in a range of colors, including blue, orange, pink, and black.

The camera looks quite nice, and the idea of manual control with instant film is intriguing. It should be available in autumn 2025.

Legends and newborns: Africa's top shots

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 15:40:13 +0000

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond.

Black models, foreign films, queer culture – how the Face shaped me as a young man | Marc Thompson

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 15:06:01 +0000

In the 1980s and 90s this pioneering magazine was a hub for subcultures, but in today’s digital landscape trends are followed rather than set

I still remember the first copy of the Face magazine I bought at age 14. It was the January 1984 issue, with model and pop-rock singer Nick Kamen on the cover, in a ski cap. As a young kid, I bought magazines weekly, starting with Look-in, a preteen music and television magazine, followed by the brightly coloured teen bible Smash Hits and then the Face, the last two founded by Nick Logan. The Face was like a cool, older teenager who invited you into a sexy new world where fashion, music and design fused to create a revolutionary culture. As a young Black gay man, that invitation meant everything.

This truly was the heyday of magazines, as I was reminded when visiting The Face Magazine: Culture Shift at the National Portrait Gallery last week. I was moved to see all of the magazine covers and spreads that I had collected and hung up on the walls in my youth. There was a particular image of the Kiss FM crew in their studio with Norman Jay, Gordon Mac and Paul “Trouble” Anderson, DJs whom I had loved and followed. When I was 16 and had left school, the Face opened a window into London’s arts, music, clubbing, queer and fashion scene, which took me out of my small world in south London and allowed me to aspire to something different. Beyond the capital’s walls, the magazine introduced me to the emerging house music scene in Chicago and New York, and foreign-language films.

From leaping mudskippers to volcanic eruptions: the World Nature Photography awards 2025 – in pictures

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:00:13 +0000

The World Nature Photography awards have announced their winners for 2025. From white-cheeked terns to a blue-tailed damselfly peeking through a daisy, the photographs are a stark reminder of the beauty and chaos of the natural world. The top award went to Maruša Puhek’s image of two deers running through a Slovenian vineyard

Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G sample gallery

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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Sony a7C R | Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G | F5.6 | 1/800 sec | ISO 100
Photo: Mitchell Clark

Earlier this week, Sony announced the FE 16mm F1.8 G, a new, ultra-wide fast prime that focuses on being relatively compact and affordable. We were able to test it in a variety of locations and conditions to get a feel for how it performs. You can see the sample gallery below.

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

Sample gallery

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Buy now:

Buy at B&H Photo

See the sample gallery

Athens protests and Ramadan preparations: photos of the day – Friday

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:12:45 +0000

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Cheeky monkeys, gored matadors and trompe l’oeil masks – the week in art

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:00:12 +0000

Alison Watt pays homage to John Soane, Ella Kruglyanskaya honours Manet, and chaos comes for civilisation – all in your weekly dispatch

Alison Watt
New paintings inspired by the sublime, poetic architecture of Georgian visionary Sir John Soane.
• Pitzhanger Manor, London, 5 March to 15 June

Community Gallery: Seizing the Day with the Sprocket Rocket

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

How do you make the most out of a day? By making memories in panoramic mode! In this community gallery, we're sharing a few images taken with the Sprocket Rocket showcasing the cinematic appeal of the format.

Week in wildlife: a turtle hatchling, a curious marmoset and an oarfish

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 08:00:52 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Open Star Clusters M35 and NGC 2158

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:23:04 +0000

Open Star Clusters M35 and NGC 2158

Weigh in: which CP+ announcements do you want a closer look at?

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:29:00 +0000

Logo: CP+

As we enter the second day of the CP+ trade show, we'd like to hear from you: are there any announcements that you think warrant a closer look?

Our editors Dale Baskin and Richard Butler are on location in Japan, and have already gone hands-on with Canon's new V1 vlogging compact and the Sigma BF. However, there were several other announcements made during the show, which we've been covering throughout the week. We've started a thread in our forum to see if people have questions about these announcements that could be answered if we went to see them in person – if you have any, be sure to raise them over there.

Also, if you've seen something floating around that we've missed, be sure to let us know!

Viltrox announces four new lenses and a new mount option at CP+

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:12:00 +0000

Image: Viltrox

Viltrox decided to go big at CP+ this year, announcing four brand-new lenses and a new mount option for its AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens. In case that wasn't enough, it also unveiled a camera battery charging case with a retro-looking design, which is the only item currently available for sale.

First up is the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE, which, as the name gives away, is part of the new Viltrox Lab series of lenses. That lineup is the top tier of Viltrox lenses, meant to compete more directly with Sony's G-Master lineup. Viltrox says that this lens is "revolutionizing the 35mm category," promising precise autofocus and strong image quality. The wide aperture also makes it worthy of low-light situations. Next is the AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE, which is part of the Pro series. Viltrox promises that it "redefines portrait photography with its sharp details and creamy bokeh." Both lenses include FE in the names, so Sony users can expect even more options shortly.

The AF 50mm F2.0 Air is promised as a lightweight, compact option ideal for street and everyday photography. Viltrox didn't specify which mounts it will be available for, but Digital Camera World says it will be coming to Sony FE and Nikon Z mounts. Viltrox also teased that it will be unveiling the AF 25mm F1.7 Air lens at some point today, providing no details beyond the name.

Image: Viltrox

Unfortunately, not much information is available about the new lenses. What we do know is the names of each and, as a result, the different Viltrox lens lineups to which these lenses belong. The company also shared images from its CP+ booth on Instagram, which include some of the new offerings.

"This is the perfect venue to showcase our commitment to innovation and dedication to providing the tools photographers need to capture stunning images," said Viltrox CEO, Daniel Dai. "We welcome attendees to visit our booth, and experience the future of photography."

In addition to the new offerings, Viltrox announced that the AF 135mm F1.8 LAB is coming to Z-mount. This lens was announced back in November for Sony cameras. As a member of the Lab lineup, it offers a premium design, smooth bokeh and sharp performance.

Viltrox didn't provide any pricing or availability information for any of the above lenses, but says it will "soon announce official release dates."