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Rode has announced a new microphone. It’s the Rode NT1 Signature Series (buy here), and from what I can tell, it’s largely the same as the recently released Rode NT1 5th generation (buy here). But, it has one significant difference.
There’s no USB-C port on this one, just XLR. So, you’re not going to be able to plug it into your computer. You need to go into a mixer, field recorder or audio interface. It’s also available in six different colours, and it’s $100 cheaper.
As well as the new Sony A9 III (buy here), Sony has also announced the new Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (buy here). While not exactly a pocket-sized lens, it’s incredibly lightweight for its focal length and aperture, weighing only 1.47kg.
It’s a G Master lens, meaning it sits in Sony’s top-tier lenses, and it comes with a price tag to match. That being said, it’s not too dissimilar from 300mm f/2.8 lenses of the past from other manufacturers.
This is a camera that Sony shooters have wanted for a long time, but now it’s finally here. Sony has announced the new Sony Alpha A9 III (buy here). While its resolution stays relatively low, by today’s standards, its sensor features a global CMOS shutter.
Global shutters are something that camera users from all brands have wanted ever since cameras ditched CCD sensors. The Sony A9 III has beaten everybody to the punch on bringing global shutters back, but that’s not the only trick up its sleeve.
In an unexpected – but not illogical – announcement, Yashica and I’m Back have announced they’re entering a new partnership. Exactly what this partnership will offer has not yet really been revealed, but we can make some educated guesses.
Yashica is a pretty legendary name in the world of photography with a long history, especially when it comes to film. I’m Back, on the other hand, is a relatively new company creating digital backs for older 35mm film cameras.
It’s been a couple of months since Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 (buy here), and they’ve not stopped boasting about its video capabilities. Last month, Blackmagic also announced their new camera app for the iPhone, the imaginatively titled Blackmagic Camera.
It’s becoming clear the iPhone 15 is intended for shooting serious video. It even supports USB-C SSDs (finally!). But are yours fast enough? OWC’s new free OWC Drive Speed app will tell you.
Blind Spot Gear, creator of the Power Junkie (buy here), has announced its newest product, the LumiCard (buy here), a small colour-accurate LED panel that attaches to your smartphone magnetically and is powered wirelessly.
As usual, the company has taken to Kickstarter to launch the new product. It’s already raised more than 5x its modest goal and there are still 20 days to go on the campaign.
Fake storage devices are rife these days. We can go search sites like AliExpress, eBay and even Amazon and find many obvious fakes. Some, however, are not so obvious, mimicking well-known brands like SanDisk, Lexar and others.
Fortunately, Amazon will cover fake cards (if they shipped them) and replace them, but how do you know if you’ve got one? Well, a new free software tool called ValiDrive will check it out and tell you.
Viltrox has announced the new Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 FE (buy here). As an FE lens, it’s a full-frame lens designed for Sony E mount cameras. It’s also an ultra-lightweight autofocus lens and comes at a very low price point.
With a focal length of 20mm, this is a very wide angle lens on full-frame, offering about 91.6º field of view. And with a weight of only 157g, it’s an ideal walkabout landscape lens or even for vlogging.
Panasonic has announced new firmware for the Panasonic S5II (buy here) and Panasonic S5IIX (buy here). The new firmware adds a handful of new features, but probably the biggest is that long exposures have been enabled for High Resolution Mode.
An AF-Point Scope mode has also been added, which magnifies the focus point during autofocus. You’re also now able to zoom in up to 20x with manual focus lenses to really ensure you’ve nailed focus.
When I first saw this project, I had mixed reactions to it. On the one hand, badgers are awesome. But on the other, they can cause absolute mayhem on your property if left unchecked. Many consider them to be a pest.
Lots of people resort to unscrupulous means to rid their gardens of mammalian pests, but James Milward decided to take a more friendly 21st-century approach. He used a Ring camera and vision AI on a Raspberry Pi to spot badgers and foxes in his garden and then scare them away safely.
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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