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Image: Nikon
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.2 S, the latest in its lineup of full-frame fast primes. It's an interesting option for photographers who want shallow depth of field, but still want to capture the environment around a subject – something that's not as easy with the company's 50mm and 85mm F1.2 options.
Buy now:$2797 at Adorama$2797 at B&H Photo
The 35mm F1.2 is made up of 17 elements in 15 groups, with three ED elements, three aspherical elements, and one aspherical ED element. The lens also has a variety of coatings to prevent ghosting and flares, but while its body does have dust and moisture sealing, there's no fluorine coating on the front element to repel moisture or oils.
Nikon says that such a wide, fast prime would not have been possible for F-mount
The lens uses stepping motors for its autofocus system, and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m (11.8"). For controls, it has a clickless control ring and a matched pair of function buttons meaning they can be reached whether portrait or landscape shooting. As is expected for a fast full-frame lens, it's ... Continue Reading »
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Photo: Nikon
Nikon has announced an updated (albeit minimally) version of its P1000 24-3000mm equiv. superzoom compact. The Coolpix P1100 gains a USB-C socket, updated Bluetooth and a handful of relatively minor changes over the now-discontinued P1000.
Buy now:$1097 at Adorama$1097 at B&H Photo
When Nikon released the Coolpix P1000 in 2018, it offered something no other bridge camera did or has since: 125x optical zoom. That was well beyond the previous high water mark of 83x optical zoom in the Coolpix P900. The 125x zoom delivered an equivalent focal length of 24-3000mm from the camera's 16MP Type 1/2.3 (6.2 x 4.7mm). It was bulky as a result of that lens, but the extensive reach made it a versatile choice for certain applications (though mainly for photographing the moon).
The P1100 provides the same reach as the P1000, making it feasible to take photos of the moon.
Photo: Nikon
There was speculation that Nikon discontinued the P1000 because it wasn't selling enough models due to smartphone competition. However, Nikon says that wasn't the case, and it was selling enough units to make it worth continuing production, hence the new model. Zoom ... Continue Reading »
Image: Sony
Sony is updating its app and cloud platform to give users more options for getting their photos from their cameras onto the cloud. You can now make it so your photos and videos automatically upload to Google Drive or Lightroom, either straight from your camera via Wi-Fi or from your smartphone via the Creators' App.
The feature works by first uploading the images to Sony's Creators' Cloud, which will then automatically transfer them to Drive or Lightroom. This ability will be limited to Sony's most recent generation of cameras, such as the a1, a1 II, a7 IV, a7S III, a7R V, FX3 / FX30 and ZV-E10 II, as its older models can't upload directly to the cloud or connect to the Creators' App. You'll also need to ensure that your camera has the latest firmware.
If you want to leave your files on Sony's cloud, you'll have to keep an eye on how much storage they take up. By default, you get 5GB free – though owning a Sony camera ups that to up to 25GB – but you'll have to pay a monthly fee if you need more storage. Of course, you can always delete the images from Sony's cloud ... Continue Reading »
Image: Cloudflare
Content delivery giant Cloudflare has announced a new tool to preserve the digital history of images using Content Credentials, based on the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA). It is also joining forces with Adobe's Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) to help people verify the authenticity of online images. The new one-click setting to "Preserve Content Credentials" is available starting today across the entire global Cloudflare network.
Given that roughly 20% of the web uses Cloudflare's services, this marks a significant jump forward in the movement to address the growing problem of AI-based imagery. One of the holdups with the success of this initiative is simply the lack of compatibility across the web. If the metadata is wiped from a file, it's much harder to retain proof that it's authentic. Such a major player getting involved to capture and keep all metadata moves the needle forward in a big way.
Given how easy it is to create realistic-looking fake photos using AI, there has been a push to come up with a solution for verifying the source of imagery. After all, faked imagery can have significant implications, so a greater level of trust is needed as this type of content becomes ... Continue Reading »
Diagram: Canon
For many years there was something of an ideological struggle between the brands that pursued optical image stabilization and those that adopted an in-body approach. Or, to be more precise, between fans, owners and proponents of those brands.
The pro-lens crowd would willfully overlook the fact that their brand had adopted optical stabilization in the film era, when it was the only practical option, and focus on the fact that optical stabilization is better at correcting the large image displacements that can occur with telephoto lenses.
The in-body side of the debate focused on the fact that sensor-shift stabilization worked with every lens they had and was better at correcting the impact of translational movements, that can bedevil wide-angle and macro shooting.
We've just found a diagram by Canon that rather elegantly settles the debate, showing the relative strengths and weaknesses of optical and in-body stabilization. As the diagram makes clear both sides were right. And wrong for indulging in cross-brand bickering, obviously.
What Canon points out in the accompanying, rather marketing-led article, is that this means you can get further benefit by co-ordinating the efforts of both approaches and having them work co-operatively. This is something we first saw with Panasonic's Dual ... Continue Reading »
Editors' Photo Challenge: Your best photos of 2024
The theme for our January Editors' Photo Challenge was black-and-white street photography, one of the most frequently requested themes since we started our Editors' Photo Challenges last year.
We asked you to show us the city through your lens in glorious black-and-white photography, and you absolutely crushed it! To be blunt, we were blown away; you submitted more fantastic images than we could possibly present here, and we had a tough time judging this one. You'll find our top picks on the following pages, presented in random order.
If you want to view all the photos from this challenge and see how your fellow readers voted, head to the challenge page to see the complete set.
Want to enter some other photo challenges? Here's a list of currently open and upcoming challenges hosted by members of the DPReview community.
Open challenges
Laughter (closes Feb. 3)
Sunset Silhouette (closes Feb. 7)
Repeating Patterns (closes Feb. 7)
Upcoming challenges
Show us BREAD! (starts Feb. 3)
Fortnight 44: My Best Non-bird Photo Shot after 2025-01-20 (starts Feb. 3)
Black and White Landscapes (starts Feb. 4)
Photographer(s) photographed (starts Feb. 8)
The Power of Flowing Water (starts Feb. 8)
Smile!
Photographer: fatplanediaries
Description: I have so many questions about this photo. The dude ... Continue Reading »
Images: Caldigit, Lomography, Canon
Welcome to the weekend! The flow of accessories has been a little light this week – not a surprise, given that CES wasn't all that long ago – but there's still a few interesting things to round up. First, though, let's see what's on sale.
For the video fans
Sony's video-focused a7S III is definitely getting up there in years, but it's still very capable of shooting great-looking 4K footage with very little rolling shutter. It's currently on sale for $300 off its MSRP.
Buy now:Buy at Amazon.comBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
Photo: Richard Butler
If you shoot equal amounts of video and stills, the Nikon Z6III is one of the most capable mid-range hybrid cameras we've tested, and it's currently available for $300 off MSRP.
Buy now:Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
New printers
Image: Canon
Good news for photographers who like printing their work: this week saw the launch of two new photo printers from Canon, the Pixma Pro-200S and the imagePrograf Pro-310. The Pixma, which costs $599, supports paper sizes up to 99 x 33cm (39 x 13"), as well as borderless prints.
The higher-end imagePrograf, which retails for $899, is able ... Continue Reading »
Photo: Getty Images/DeadDuck
Nobu Teranishi, Albert Theuwissen and Eric Fossum, who between them made key breakthroughs in the development of both CCD and CMOS sensors, have collaborated on an article for the open-access "Annual Review of Vision Science" journal.
The article: "Digital Image Sensor Evolution and New Frontiers" takes a look back at the significant improvements in sensor technology and the hurdles that each one overcame.
Understandably, it's quite a technical read, having to describe challenges of both engineering and physics in an article that covers nearly 60 years of developments.
The article touches on details such as the Bayer filter and microlenses, as well as design improvements at the silicon level.
In doing so, it helps explain why we've seen the changes in technology that we have.
"CCD technology can be seen as a special, dedicated technology developed and optimized for imaging," the authors say, but the costs and restrictive yields this brought prompted a push to be able to manufacture sensors using mainstream microelectronics technology.
Click here to read the full article
CCD to CMOS
As the article makes clear, the need to transfer the charges from pixel-to-pixel before they could be read out made it difficult to design faster or higher pixel-count sensors and was challenging ... Continue Reading »
Photo: grinvalds/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
The popular iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) are back and accepting submissions. Founded in 2007, this marks the 18th year of the contest. It is the world's first and longest-running iPhone photography competition, highlighting stunning imagery created using the camera so many already have in their pockets.
As with last year, the contest features 14 categories. Those categories cover topics such as abstract, architecture, children, animals, portraits, nature, still life, and more. It is open to anyone creating photographs with an iPhone or iPad, as long as those images haven't been previously published anywhere (personal social media accounts are acceptable). You can use any iPhone or iPad app and add-on lenses are also acceptable.
The contest will award one IPPA Photographer of the Year title, with the winner receiving an iPad. The top three winners will each receive an Apple Watch. The first-place winner of each category will win a "Gold Bar from the most recognizable private gold mint in the world." Second and third-place winners in each of the 14 categories will win a Platinum Bar.
As with most contests, entry fees are involved. One image costs $5.50, $12.50 for two submissions, $18.50 for five, $37.50 ... Continue Reading »
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Updated Jan 30, 2025
$1000 might sound like a lot of money for a camera, but it's probably the least we'd recommend spending if you want to go beyond phone photography. The picks on this list will give you more control than a phone and offer a more satisfying photographic experience.
At this price point, your main options will be entry-level interchangeable lens cameras or enthusiast-tier compact cameras with a built-in lens. Compact cameras offer more control than a phone and a greater zoom range, but – despite having sensors that are around 60% larger – likely won't offer a huge jump in image quality compared to the latest flagship phones.
Meanwhile, an interchangeable lens camera won't be as easy to carry around and comes with the added expense of lenses. However, they can make you feel even more involved in the photographic process, and the flexibility of swappable lenses will let you learn and grow into different types of photography as you develop your passion. They also feature much larger sensors than phones and the majority of compacts.
It's worth noting that camera makers sometimes assume that beginners will stick ... Continue Reading »
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Updated Jan 30, 2025
$1000 might sound like a lot of money for a camera, but it's probably the least we'd recommend spending if you want to go beyond phone photography. The picks on this list will give you more control than a phone and offer a more satisfying photographic experience.
At this price point, your main options will be entry-level interchangeable lens cameras or enthusiast-tier compact cameras with a built-in lens. Compact cameras offer more control than a phone and a greater zoom range, but – despite having sensors that are around 60% larger – likely won't offer a huge jump in image quality compared to the latest flagship phones.
Meanwhile, an interchangeable lens camera won't be as easy to carry around and comes with the added expense of lenses. However, they can make you feel even more involved in the photographic process, and the flexibility of swappable lenses will let you learn and grow into different types of photography as you develop your passion. They also feature much larger sensors than phones and the majority of compacts.
It's worth noting that camera makers sometimes assume that beginners will stick ... Continue Reading »
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Updated January 30, 2025
Travel can expose you to once-in-a-lifetime sights and experiences, and a good camera can be the perfect way to preserve those memories. We've looked at a range of models that offer great image quality, good autofocus and excellent video, so you'll be prepared to capture whatever you run into.
We've also tried to select relatively small cameras so they don't interfere with your trip, though it's worth touching briefly on lens size. If you choose a system with a Four Thirds or APS-C sensor, you'll be able to use lenses that are lighter and more compact than their full-frame counterparts. Full-frame sensors, however, offer the potential for even better image quality, so it's worth considering whether portability or image quality matters more to you and doing some research on what types of lenses you'd like to use and how big the full-frame versions are.
Our recommendations
Portable full-frame: Sony a7CR
All-round compact capability: Sony a6700
The great travel kit: Fujifilm X-T50 with 16-50mm F2.8-4.8
Truly compact mirrorless: OM System OM-5
The stylish travel companion: Nikon Zf
The classic choice: Fujifilm X100VI
Best pocketable travel camera: Ricoh GR III
Portable full-frame: Sony a7CR
61MP BSI CMOS ... Continue Reading »
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Updated: January 30th, 2025
Whether you’re just sharing clips with friends or you’re launching an online on-camera career, vlogging matters. And there’s a point at which your smartphone may not give you the look, control, or flexibility you’re after. With 180-degree selfie screens, wide-angle lenses, microphone inputs and great video quality, more and more dedicated cameras are catering to people who want to take video of themselves and post it online.
The meaning of vlogging has changed over the years, so our picks cover a variety of styles – we'll explain what makes each camera good for vlogging, and what key features each has that make taking video of yourself easier. We've also included videos shot on the cameras in question when we have them to give you an idea of what kind of performance to expect.
Best camera for vlogging on the move: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Photo: Richard Butler
$519 at B&H
$519 at Amazon
$519 at Adorama
DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 is a stabilized handheld vlogging camera, designed for on-the-move vlogging. It’s built around a type 1 (13.2 x 8.8mm) sensor mounted on a tiny gimbal, meaning it can deliver stabilized footage ... Continue Reading »
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88%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
Product photos by Richard Butler
The Nikon Z50II is the company's latest entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera, built around a 21MP CMOS sensor. As with the original Z50, it's expressly aimed at stills and video creators looking for a small camera that makes it easy to upload.
It brings updated burst modes and AF functions to its predecessor, but most of the advancements are on the video side of the camera.
Key specifications
20.9MP APS-C sensor
Twin control dials
Full-width 4K video up to 30p (60p with crop)
3D-tracking autofocus and subject recognition for nine subject types
Up to 11fps mechanical, with up to 1 second pre-release capture
Fully articulated 3.2" touchscreen
Single UHS-II SD card slot in battery compartment
2.36M dot EVF with brightness up to 1000nits
The Z50II retails for a recommended price of $909 body-only and $1,049 as a kit with Nikon's DX 16-50 F3.5-6.3 lens.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Image quality
Video performance
Autofocus
In use
Conclusion
Sample Gallery
Specifications
Press release
Buy now:$1049 w/ 16-50mm at Amazon.com$906 at Adorama$906 at B&H Photo
What's new
The Z50II is, as the ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Leica SL3-S is the company's fast 24MP full-frame L-mount mirrorless camera, sitting alongside the high-res SL3 and superseding the SL2-S.
Key Specifications
24MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with on-sensor phase detection
Up to 30fps shooting
IP54 weather sealed body
96MP Multi-shot high res mode
6K full-sensor 'open gate' video up to 30p
Full-width 4K video up to 30p, 60p with APS-C crop
ProRes 422 HQ internal capture, output to SSD and Raw over HDMI
'Camera-to-cloud' compatibility with Frame.io collaboration platform
CAI Content Credentials authenticity metadata
The Leica SL3-S will be available immediately at a recommended price of $5295.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Specifications
Press release
Buy now:Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at Leica
What's new
Speed
Leica describes the SL3-S as its fastest-ever camera, able to shoot at up to 30fps. This can be done with Raw capture (12-bit), including full use of the camera's subject recognition and tracking autofocus.
In terms of autofocus, the SL3-S gains on-sensor phase detection and the ability to detect people (head/face/eyes) and animals.
In concert with this added speed, ... Continue Reading »
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84%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
Product Photos by Mitchell Clark/Dale Baskin
The Fujifilm X-M5 is the company's latest APS-C mirrorless camera and comes in as the lowest-end entry in its current lineup. It uses the company's last-generation 26MP X-Trans sensor, the same one found in cameras like the X-T4 and X-100V, but comes equipped with its latest processor, giving it access to Fujifilm's AI-powered subject detection autofocus.
Key features:
26MP X-Trans BSI CMOS sensor
X-Processor 5 with AI-powered subject detection AF
On-sensor phase detection
Fully articulated 3", 1.04M-dot LCD
20 Film Simulation modes, including Reala ACE
Continuous shooting up to 8fps (30fps with E-shutter and 1.25x crop)
6.2K 3:2 video up to 30p, 4K up to 60p with crop
External mic and 3.5mm headphone socket
Single UHS-I card slot
Battery life rated up to 330 frames (440 frames in Eco) per charge
The X-M5 is available in silver at a body-only price of $799. A black version is coming in April 2025. Fujifilm is also selling a kit with the X-M5 and its XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens for $899. Optically, it's ... Continue Reading »
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Updated December 18 2024
Fixed lens cameras may be a bit niche, but there's a reason they're so popular amongst photographers. They often come with some of the best lenses on the market, in a variety of focal lengths, matched to sensors ranging from APS-C to full-frame to give you the perfect field of view for your style of shooting.
Our picks range from pocketable models to larger cameras that you'll have to you'll have to consciously decide to take with you. They also cover a wide range of prices; while there sadly aren't any budget options, some come with much higher price tags than others, reaching well into the thousands of dollars.
Our picks:
Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100 VI
Best pocketable fixed lens camera: Ricoh GR III
The Rolls Royce of fixed lens camera: Leica Q3 43
Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100VI
40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor | 35mm equiv F2 lens | Hybrid viewfinder
Image: Richard Butler
Buy now:$2179 at Amazon.com$1599 at Adorama$1599 at B&H Photo
What we like:Excellent build qualitySubject-detection autofocusNow with in-body image stabilization
What we don't:Lens not especially fast to focus ... Continue Reading »
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Updated November 29 2024
Landscape photography is a demanding medium, requiring cameras with high resolution and dynamic range. When considering what cameras should make it on this list, we look at factors like weather-sealing, battery life and operability on a tripod.
We've selected cameras that are most likely to deliver the best possible image quality if you're going to spend hours hiking to the perfect location and waiting for the perfect light. For some picks, we've also considered the best image quality you can get at a certain size and weight of camera body.
Our picks:
Best camera for landscapes: Fujifilm GFX 100S II
Best for landscapes and more: Sony a7R V
Best camera that's also good for landscapes: Canon EOS R5 II
The bargain option: Nikon Z7 II
Best compact option: Fujifilm X-T5
Best camera for landscapes: Fujifilm GFX 100S II
102MP BSI medium format sensor | In-body image stabilization | 5.76M dot viewfinder
Photo: Mitchell Clark
Buy now:$4999 at Amazon.com$4999 at Adorama$4999 at B&H Photo
What we like:Excellent detail captureVery high tonal quality Ready-to-go JPEG or malleable Raws
What we don't:Autofocus not especially fastVideo prone to rolling shutter
The GFX 100S II uses the same sensor as ... Continue Reading »
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Updated Nov 27, 2024
It's sad to say, but the golden age of compact cameras is pretty much over, thanks to the rise of smartphone cameras that are, in many cases, good enough for most people. Manufacturers seem to realize this, too; we last updated this list in 2023, and since then, there haven't really been any new additions to it. The ones that remain can also be difficult to find in stock, even when the companies that make them say they're still a part of their lineups.
However, that doesn't mean the category is completely dead. Even today, there are several types of compact cameras, and some have capabilities that pretty much no phone can match. This list calls out the few that are still available and looks at what they're good for – because there are still cases where a compact camera is a great option.
Our recommendations:
Enthusiast camera
Best enthusiast compact: Canon PowerShot G7X III
Best do-it-all compact: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Waterproof cameras
Best waterproof compact: OM System Tough TG-7
Long zoom camera
Best long-zoom camera: Panasonic FZ1000 II
Best ultra-zoom camera: Nikon Coolpix P1000
Vlogging cameras
Best vlogging compact Sony ZV-1 Mark II
Enthusiast compacts
The ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos by Mitchell Clark
The Sony Alpha 1 II is the company's latest flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. It's built around the same 50.1MP stacked CMOS sensor as the original but now includes an "AI processing unit," which allows its autofocus system to recognize seven different subject types and to automatically select one based on what's in the scene.
Key specifications
50.1MP stacked CMOS sensor
In-body stabilization rated at up to 8.5EV
Improved autofocus subject recognition with automatic selection
Continuous shooting at up to 30fps with full AF tracking
Pre-release capture from 0.03 to 1 second
Fully-articulated rear screen on tilt-out cradle
8K 30p video downsampled from 8.6K / 4K 120fps
9.44M dot viewfinder with refresh up to 240fps (at lower res)
The a1 II will retail for $6,499.99 – the same as its predecessor – and will be available in mid-December.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Sample Gallery
Specifications
Press release
Buy now:Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo
What's new
Despite using the same sensor as its predecessor, Sony claims the a1 II will have improved image quality at ... Continue Reading »
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Image: Nikon
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.2 S, the latest in its lineup of full-frame fast primes. It's an interesting option for photographers who want shallow depth of field, but still want to capture the environment around a subject – something that's not as easy with the company's 50mm and 85mm F1.2 options.
Buy now:$2797 at Adorama$2797 at B&H Photo
The 35mm F1.2 is made up of 17 elements in 15 groups, with three ED elements, three aspherical elements, and one aspherical ED element. The lens also has a variety of coatings to prevent ghosting and flares, but while its body does have dust and moisture sealing, there's no fluorine coating on the front element to repel moisture or oils.
Nikon says that such a wide, fast prime would not have been possible for F-mount
The lens uses stepping motors for its autofocus system, and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m (11.8"). For controls, it has a clickless control ring and a matched pair of function buttons meaning they can be reached whether portrait or landscape shooting. As is expected for a fast full-frame lens, it's ... 
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Photo: Nikon
Nikon has announced an updated (albeit minimally) version of its P1000 24-3000mm equiv. superzoom compact. The Coolpix P1100 gains a USB-C socket, updated Bluetooth and a handful of relatively minor changes over the now-discontinued P1000.
Buy now:$1097 at Adorama$1097 at B&H Photo
When Nikon released the Coolpix P1000 in 2018, it offered something no other bridge camera did or has since: 125x optical zoom. That was well beyond the previous high water mark of 83x optical zoom in the Coolpix P900. The 125x zoom delivered an equivalent focal length of 24-3000mm from the camera's 16MP Type 1/2.3 (6.2 x 4.7mm). It was bulky as a result of that lens, but the extensive reach made it a versatile choice for certain applications (though mainly for photographing the moon).
The P1100 provides the same reach as the P1000, making it feasible to take photos of the moon.
Photo: Nikon
There was speculation that Nikon discontinued the P1000 because it wasn't selling enough models due to smartphone competition. However, Nikon says that wasn't the case, and it was selling enough units to make it worth continuing production, hence the new model. Zoom ... 
Image: Sony
Sony is updating its app and cloud platform to give users more options for getting their photos from their cameras onto the cloud. You can now make it so your photos and videos automatically upload to Google Drive or Lightroom, either straight from your camera via Wi-Fi or from your smartphone via the Creators' App.
The feature works by first uploading the images to Sony's Creators' Cloud, which will then automatically transfer them to Drive or Lightroom. This ability will be limited to Sony's most recent generation of cameras, such as the a1, a1 II, a7 IV, a7S III, a7R V, FX3 / FX30 and ZV-E10 II, as its older models can't upload directly to the cloud or connect to the Creators' App. You'll also need to ensure that your camera has the latest firmware.
If you want to leave your files on Sony's cloud, you'll have to keep an eye on how much storage they take up. By default, you get 5GB free – though owning a Sony camera ups that to up to 25GB – but you'll have to pay a monthly fee if you need more storage. Of course, you can always delete the images from Sony's cloud ... 
Image: Cloudflare
Content delivery giant Cloudflare has announced a new tool to preserve the digital history of images using Content Credentials, based on the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA). It is also joining forces with Adobe's Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) to help people verify the authenticity of online images. The new one-click setting to "Preserve Content Credentials" is available starting today across the entire global Cloudflare network.
Given that roughly 20% of the web uses Cloudflare's services, this marks a significant jump forward in the movement to address the growing problem of AI-based imagery. One of the holdups with the success of this initiative is simply the lack of compatibility across the web. If the metadata is wiped from a file, it's much harder to retain proof that it's authentic. Such a major player getting involved to capture and keep all metadata moves the needle forward in a big way.
Given how easy it is to create realistic-looking fake photos using AI, there has been a push to come up with a solution for verifying the source of imagery. After all, faked imagery can have significant implications, so a greater level of trust is needed as this type of content becomes ... 
Diagram: Canon
For many years there was something of an ideological struggle between the brands that pursued optical image stabilization and those that adopted an in-body approach. Or, to be more precise, between fans, owners and proponents of those brands.
The pro-lens crowd would willfully overlook the fact that their brand had adopted optical stabilization in the film era, when it was the only practical option, and focus on the fact that optical stabilization is better at correcting the large image displacements that can occur with telephoto lenses.
The in-body side of the debate focused on the fact that sensor-shift stabilization worked with every lens they had and was better at correcting the impact of translational movements, that can bedevil wide-angle and macro shooting.
We've just found a diagram by Canon that rather elegantly settles the debate, showing the relative strengths and weaknesses of optical and in-body stabilization. As the diagram makes clear both sides were right. And wrong for indulging in cross-brand bickering, obviously.
What Canon points out in the accompanying, rather marketing-led article, is that this means you can get further benefit by co-ordinating the efforts of both approaches and having them work co-operatively. This is something we first saw with Panasonic's Dual ... 
Editors' Photo Challenge: Your best photos of 2024
The theme for our January Editors' Photo Challenge was black-and-white street photography, one of the most frequently requested themes since we started our Editors' Photo Challenges last year.
We asked you to show us the city through your lens in glorious black-and-white photography, and you absolutely crushed it! To be blunt, we were blown away; you submitted more fantastic images than we could possibly present here, and we had a tough time judging this one. You'll find our top picks on the following pages, presented in random order.
If you want to view all the photos from this challenge and see how your fellow readers voted, head to the challenge page to see the complete set.
Want to enter some other photo challenges? Here's a list of currently open and upcoming challenges hosted by members of the DPReview community.
Open challenges
Laughter (closes Feb. 3)
Sunset Silhouette (closes Feb. 7)
Repeating Patterns (closes Feb. 7)
Upcoming challenges
Show us BREAD! (starts Feb. 3)
Fortnight 44: My Best Non-bird Photo Shot after 2025-01-20 (starts Feb. 3)
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Smile!
Photographer: fatplanediaries
Description: I have so many questions about this photo. The dude ... 
Images: Caldigit, Lomography, Canon
Welcome to the weekend! The flow of accessories has been a little light this week – not a surprise, given that CES wasn't all that long ago – but there's still a few interesting things to round up. First, though, let's see what's on sale.
For the video fans
Sony's video-focused a7S III is definitely getting up there in years, but it's still very capable of shooting great-looking 4K footage with very little rolling shutter. It's currently on sale for $300 off its MSRP.
Buy now:Buy at Amazon.comBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
Photo: Richard Butler
If you shoot equal amounts of video and stills, the Nikon Z6III is one of the most capable mid-range hybrid cameras we've tested, and it's currently available for $300 off MSRP.
Buy now:Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
New printers
Image: Canon
Good news for photographers who like printing their work: this week saw the launch of two new photo printers from Canon, the Pixma Pro-200S and the imagePrograf Pro-310. The Pixma, which costs $599, supports paper sizes up to 99 x 33cm (39 x 13"), as well as borderless prints.
The higher-end imagePrograf, which retails for $899, is able ... 
Photo: Getty Images/DeadDuck
Nobu Teranishi, Albert Theuwissen and Eric Fossum, who between them made key breakthroughs in the development of both CCD and CMOS sensors, have collaborated on an article for the open-access "Annual Review of Vision Science" journal.
The article: "Digital Image Sensor Evolution and New Frontiers" takes a look back at the significant improvements in sensor technology and the hurdles that each one overcame.
Understandably, it's quite a technical read, having to describe challenges of both engineering and physics in an article that covers nearly 60 years of developments.
The article touches on details such as the Bayer filter and microlenses, as well as design improvements at the silicon level.
In doing so, it helps explain why we've seen the changes in technology that we have.
"CCD technology can be seen as a special, dedicated technology developed and optimized for imaging," the authors say, but the costs and restrictive yields this brought prompted a push to be able to manufacture sensors using mainstream microelectronics technology.
Click here to read the full article
CCD to CMOS
As the article makes clear, the need to transfer the charges from pixel-to-pixel before they could be read out made it difficult to design faster or higher pixel-count sensors and was challenging ... 
Photo: grinvalds/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
The popular iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) are back and accepting submissions. Founded in 2007, this marks the 18th year of the contest. It is the world's first and longest-running iPhone photography competition, highlighting stunning imagery created using the camera so many already have in their pockets.
As with last year, the contest features 14 categories. Those categories cover topics such as abstract, architecture, children, animals, portraits, nature, still life, and more. It is open to anyone creating photographs with an iPhone or iPad, as long as those images haven't been previously published anywhere (personal social media accounts are acceptable). You can use any iPhone or iPad app and add-on lenses are also acceptable.
The contest will award one IPPA Photographer of the Year title, with the winner receiving an iPad. The top three winners will each receive an Apple Watch. The first-place winner of each category will win a "Gold Bar from the most recognizable private gold mint in the world." Second and third-place winners in each of the 14 categories will win a Platinum Bar.
As with most contests, entry fees are involved. One image costs $5.50, $12.50 for two submissions, $18.50 for five, $37.50 ... 
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Updated Jan 30, 2025
$1000 might sound like a lot of money for a camera, but it's probably the least we'd recommend spending if you want to go beyond phone photography. The picks on this list will give you more control than a phone and offer a more satisfying photographic experience.
At this price point, your main options will be entry-level interchangeable lens cameras or enthusiast-tier compact cameras with a built-in lens. Compact cameras offer more control than a phone and a greater zoom range, but – despite having sensors that are around 60% larger – likely won't offer a huge jump in image quality compared to the latest flagship phones.
Meanwhile, an interchangeable lens camera won't be as easy to carry around and comes with the added expense of lenses. However, they can make you feel even more involved in the photographic process, and the flexibility of swappable lenses will let you learn and grow into different types of photography as you develop your passion. They also feature much larger sensors than phones and the majority of compacts.
It's worth noting that camera makers sometimes assume that beginners will stick ... 
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Updated January 30, 2025
Travel can expose you to once-in-a-lifetime sights and experiences, and a good camera can be the perfect way to preserve those memories. We've looked at a range of models that offer great image quality, good autofocus and excellent video, so you'll be prepared to capture whatever you run into.
We've also tried to select relatively small cameras so they don't interfere with your trip, though it's worth touching briefly on lens size. If you choose a system with a Four Thirds or APS-C sensor, you'll be able to use lenses that are lighter and more compact than their full-frame counterparts. Full-frame sensors, however, offer the potential for even better image quality, so it's worth considering whether portability or image quality matters more to you and doing some research on what types of lenses you'd like to use and how big the full-frame versions are.
Our recommendations
Portable full-frame: Sony a7CR
All-round compact capability: Sony a6700
The great travel kit: Fujifilm X-T50 with 16-50mm F2.8-4.8
Truly compact mirrorless: OM System OM-5
The stylish travel companion: Nikon Zf
The classic choice: Fujifilm X100VI
Best pocketable travel camera: Ricoh GR III
Portable full-frame: Sony a7CR
61MP BSI CMOS ... 
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Updated: January 30th, 2025
Whether you’re just sharing clips with friends or you’re launching an online on-camera career, vlogging matters. And there’s a point at which your smartphone may not give you the look, control, or flexibility you’re after. With 180-degree selfie screens, wide-angle lenses, microphone inputs and great video quality, more and more dedicated cameras are catering to people who want to take video of themselves and post it online.
The meaning of vlogging has changed over the years, so our picks cover a variety of styles – we'll explain what makes each camera good for vlogging, and what key features each has that make taking video of yourself easier. We've also included videos shot on the cameras in question when we have them to give you an idea of what kind of performance to expect.
Best camera for vlogging on the move: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Photo: Richard Butler
$519 at B&H
$519 at Amazon
$519 at Adorama
DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 is a stabilized handheld vlogging camera, designed for on-the-move vlogging. It’s built around a type 1 (13.2 x 8.8mm) sensor mounted on a tiny gimbal, meaning it can deliver stabilized footage ... 
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88%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
Product photos by Richard Butler
The Nikon Z50II is the company's latest entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera, built around a 21MP CMOS sensor. As with the original Z50, it's expressly aimed at stills and video creators looking for a small camera that makes it easy to upload.
It brings updated burst modes and AF functions to its predecessor, but most of the advancements are on the video side of the camera.
Key specifications
20.9MP APS-C sensor
Twin control dials
Full-width 4K video up to 30p (60p with crop)
3D-tracking autofocus and subject recognition for nine subject types
Up to 11fps mechanical, with up to 1 second pre-release capture
Fully articulated 3.2" touchscreen
Single UHS-II SD card slot in battery compartment
2.36M dot EVF with brightness up to 1000nits
The Z50II retails for a recommended price of $909 body-only and $1,049 as a kit with Nikon's DX 16-50 F3.5-6.3 lens.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Image quality
Video performance
Autofocus
In use
Conclusion
Sample Gallery
Specifications
Press release
Buy now:$1049 w/ 16-50mm at Amazon.com$906 at Adorama$906 at B&H Photo
What's new
The Z50II is, as the ... 
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Leica SL3-S is the company's fast 24MP full-frame L-mount mirrorless camera, sitting alongside the high-res SL3 and superseding the SL2-S.
Key Specifications
24MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with on-sensor phase detection
Up to 30fps shooting
IP54 weather sealed body
96MP Multi-shot high res mode
6K full-sensor 'open gate' video up to 30p
Full-width 4K video up to 30p, 60p with APS-C crop
ProRes 422 HQ internal capture, output to SSD and Raw over HDMI
'Camera-to-cloud' compatibility with Frame.io collaboration platform
CAI Content Credentials authenticity metadata
The Leica SL3-S will be available immediately at a recommended price of $5295.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Specifications
Press release
Buy now:Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at Leica
What's new
Speed
Leica describes the SL3-S as its fastest-ever camera, able to shoot at up to 30fps. This can be done with Raw capture (12-bit), including full use of the camera's subject recognition and tracking autofocus.
In terms of autofocus, the SL3-S gains on-sensor phase detection and the ability to detect people (head/face/eyes) and animals.
In concert with this added speed, ... 
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84%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
Product Photos by Mitchell Clark/Dale Baskin
The Fujifilm X-M5 is the company's latest APS-C mirrorless camera and comes in as the lowest-end entry in its current lineup. It uses the company's last-generation 26MP X-Trans sensor, the same one found in cameras like the X-T4 and X-100V, but comes equipped with its latest processor, giving it access to Fujifilm's AI-powered subject detection autofocus.
Key features:
26MP X-Trans BSI CMOS sensor
X-Processor 5 with AI-powered subject detection AF
On-sensor phase detection
Fully articulated 3", 1.04M-dot LCD
20 Film Simulation modes, including Reala ACE
Continuous shooting up to 8fps (30fps with E-shutter and 1.25x crop)
6.2K 3:2 video up to 30p, 4K up to 60p with crop
External mic and 3.5mm headphone socket
Single UHS-I card slot
Battery life rated up to 330 frames (440 frames in Eco) per charge
The X-M5 is available in silver at a body-only price of $799. A black version is coming in April 2025. Fujifilm is also selling a kit with the X-M5 and its XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens for $899. Optically, it's ... 
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Updated December 18 2024
Fixed lens cameras may be a bit niche, but there's a reason they're so popular amongst photographers. They often come with some of the best lenses on the market, in a variety of focal lengths, matched to sensors ranging from APS-C to full-frame to give you the perfect field of view for your style of shooting.
Our picks range from pocketable models to larger cameras that you'll have to you'll have to consciously decide to take with you. They also cover a wide range of prices; while there sadly aren't any budget options, some come with much higher price tags than others, reaching well into the thousands of dollars.
Our picks:
Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100 VI
Best pocketable fixed lens camera: Ricoh GR III
The Rolls Royce of fixed lens camera: Leica Q3 43
Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100VI
40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor | 35mm equiv F2 lens | Hybrid viewfinder
Image: Richard Butler
Buy now:$2179 at Amazon.com$1599 at Adorama$1599 at B&H Photo
What we like:Excellent build qualitySubject-detection autofocusNow with in-body image stabilization
What we don't:Lens not especially fast to focus ... 
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Updated November 29 2024
Landscape photography is a demanding medium, requiring cameras with high resolution and dynamic range. When considering what cameras should make it on this list, we look at factors like weather-sealing, battery life and operability on a tripod.
We've selected cameras that are most likely to deliver the best possible image quality if you're going to spend hours hiking to the perfect location and waiting for the perfect light. For some picks, we've also considered the best image quality you can get at a certain size and weight of camera body.
Our picks:
Best camera for landscapes: Fujifilm GFX 100S II
Best for landscapes and more: Sony a7R V
Best camera that's also good for landscapes: Canon EOS R5 II
The bargain option: Nikon Z7 II
Best compact option: Fujifilm X-T5
Best camera for landscapes: Fujifilm GFX 100S II
102MP BSI medium format sensor | In-body image stabilization | 5.76M dot viewfinder
Photo: Mitchell Clark
Buy now:$4999 at Amazon.com$4999 at Adorama$4999 at B&H Photo
What we like:Excellent detail captureVery high tonal quality Ready-to-go JPEG or malleable Raws
What we don't:Autofocus not especially fastVideo prone to rolling shutter
The GFX 100S II uses the same sensor as ... 
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Updated Nov 27, 2024
It's sad to say, but the golden age of compact cameras is pretty much over, thanks to the rise of smartphone cameras that are, in many cases, good enough for most people. Manufacturers seem to realize this, too; we last updated this list in 2023, and since then, there haven't really been any new additions to it. The ones that remain can also be difficult to find in stock, even when the companies that make them say they're still a part of their lineups.
However, that doesn't mean the category is completely dead. Even today, there are several types of compact cameras, and some have capabilities that pretty much no phone can match. This list calls out the few that are still available and looks at what they're good for – because there are still cases where a compact camera is a great option.
Our recommendations:
Enthusiast camera
Best enthusiast compact: Canon PowerShot G7X III
Best do-it-all compact: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Waterproof cameras
Best waterproof compact: OM System Tough TG-7
Long zoom camera
Best long-zoom camera: Panasonic FZ1000 II
Best ultra-zoom camera: Nikon Coolpix P1000
Vlogging cameras
Best vlogging compact Sony ZV-1 Mark II
Enthusiast compacts
The ... 
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Product photos by Mitchell Clark
The Sony Alpha 1 II is the company's latest flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. It's built around the same 50.1MP stacked CMOS sensor as the original but now includes an "AI processing unit," which allows its autofocus system to recognize seven different subject types and to automatically select one based on what's in the scene.
Key specifications
50.1MP stacked CMOS sensor
In-body stabilization rated at up to 8.5EV
Improved autofocus subject recognition with automatic selection
Continuous shooting at up to 30fps with full AF tracking
Pre-release capture from 0.03 to 1 second
Fully-articulated rear screen on tilt-out cradle
8K 30p video downsampled from 8.6K / 4K 120fps
9.44M dot viewfinder with refresh up to 240fps (at lower res)
The a1 II will retail for $6,499.99 – the same as its predecessor – and will be available in mid-December.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Sample Gallery
Specifications
Press release
Buy now:Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo
What's new
Despite using the same sensor as its predecessor, Sony claims the a1 II will have improved image quality at ...