Image: Westend61 / Westend61 via Getty Images
Welcome back to our Question of the Week series! This reader-focused series aims to get our photographic community to share thoughts on all sorts of photography-related topics in our forums. We pose questions about gear, favorite camera stores, advice, problem-solving and more, and you share your thoughts and opinions.
This week, we’re leaning into the holiday spirit! The season of giving (and occasionally re-gifting) is upon us, and that means it’s time to unwrap some memories – both heartwarming and hilarious.
What are the best (and worst) photography-related gifts you've received?
What’s the best photography-related gift you’ve ever received? Maybe it was a dream lens that caused you to take on an adventure deep in the mountains, or a handmade camera strap that’s now an essential part of your kit. And what about the worst? Perhaps someone thought you needed yet another "World’s Best Photographer" mug, or that odd lens filter set that turned every photo a shade of green.
In this edition of our Question of the Week series, we want to hear your gift stories: the memorable, the useful and the truly baffling. Share your favorites (and flops) in the forum link below. Photos of ... Continue Reading »
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
Playing 'Top Trumps' with camera specs doesn't give the full picture, but it can still reveal something interesting.
Composite image: Richard Butler
It occurred to me, recently, that the latest enthusiast cameras can often shoot faster than the pro cameras of just a few years ago. So I decided to do some quick comparisons to get a sense of how far cameras have come, in a series of regards, since the last generation of pro-level sports cameras.
The biggest change, of course, is the move from DSLRs to mirrorless. The previous gen pro sports models from both Canon and Nikon were DSLRs, whereas Sony launched its pro tier cameras in earnest with the mirrorless a9, back in 2017.
Speed
Max frame rate (Mechnical / Electronic)
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III (2020)
Canon EOS R6 Mark III (2025)
16 fps / 20 fps
12 fps / 40 fps
Nikon D6 (2020)
Nikon Z6 III (2024)
14 fps / 10.5 fps
14fps / 20 fps
Sony a9 II (2019)
Sony a7 V (2025)
10 fps / 20 fps
10 fps / 30 fps
The most obvious spec comparison is shooting speed, as that's historically been the main area in which pro models stand out from more mainstream ... Continue Reading »
I created this image while I was working full-time, applying to far too many graduate schools and navigating a long-distance relationship. Photo: Abby Ferguson
It's well established that photography is a superb tool for documentation purposes. It's also fairly well accepted as an art form. It's less recognized, or at least talked about, as a therapeutic tool, but it can be a powerful resource for just that. If you'll allow me to get a bit personal, photography has helped me get through some very challenging times. I won't go so far as to say that it's saved my life, but I know many people can say that is the case for them.
To be clear, I'm not a therapist, and I don't see photography as a replacement for therapy with a licensed professional. Instead, I view it as a therapeutic tool. I have seen the impact the medium has had on my own life and the lives of others. For those who haven't used photography intentionally as a tool for healing or growth, perhaps this can be a helpful guide on how to do so, or a gentle push to lean on the medium as such when you need it.
Distraction and mindfulness
Sometimes ... Continue Reading »
Image: Adobe
Adobe has announced an update to Photoshop that brings new types of adjustment layers and improves generative AI-powered fill tools. It's also adding a feature in beta that makes it easier to manipulate text into certain shapes.
Late last year, Adobe announced it was adding two new adjustment layers to Photoshop: one that controlled dehaze and clarity, and another for adding a grain effect. Now, those are coming out of beta and should be available to everyone using the app. While you've been able to use similar effects in Photoshop before, you had to bake them into a specific layer in your image, and once they were added, you couldn't adjust them. Having them as an adjustment layer, though, lets you easily adjust the effects after adding them, and easily have them apply to multiple parts of your image.
The update also brings some of Photoshop's AI-powered features out of beta, with the company promising better, higher-resolution results when using the Generative Fill, Generative Expand and Remove tools in the web version of Photoshop. The company also says it's improved the reference image feature in the Generative Fill tool, which lets you use an existing image to give the model a ... Continue Reading »
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
Image: Nikon
Nikon has announced firmware V1.10 for the ZR camera, heralding the first update for the video-focused camera. Given that it comes only a few months after it launched, it's no surprise that the changes it brings are mostly small quality-of-life tweaks, rather than massive overhauls to how the camera works.
Perhaps the biggest change is that Nikon says it has "significantly extended" the amount of time the camera can record for in many of its modes. While it used to top out at 125 minutes, it can now continuously capture for up to six hours in its sub-100fps compressed modes, though doing so will require the use of an external power supply or battery.
The company has also added the option to display a red line in your histogram or waveform to make it obvious where the clipping point is, which can be especially useful as you switch between modes with different base ISOs.
When it launched, the ZR supported timecode synchronization via Bluetooth, making it easier to keep track of footage and audio captured with multiple devices in the edit. The update adds support for timecode sync over ... Continue Reading »
DJI Mavic 3 Classic | 24mm F2.8 | ISO 100 | 1/320 sec | F5.6Photo: Erez Marom
In part one of my series about photographing Mongolia in winter, I wrote about my experience shooting the Khongor Sand Dunes and Lake Khuvsgul. This time, I'd like to take you to another north-Mongolian destination, and to the east of this vast country.
After I was done shooting in Lake Khuvsgul, I took a long 4X4 drive further north-east, across some harsh terrain and interesting, frozen landscapes. We made a short stop to drone over the mountains and valleys of the Khoridol Saridag range.
After long hours, we finally arrived in our next major destination: Jargant River. This river is unique in that its waters come from an underground spring, and so parts of it do not freeze even when it's -40ºC (-40ºF) outside. The temperature difference between the river and the air causes water to rise as droplets, which stick and coat the trees and totally cakes them in white ice. These foggy conditions are great because it emphasizes the sun penetrating between the trees, creating beautiful light rays that work really nicely with the other compositional components around.
The fog here serves both as a ... Continue Reading »
The photo John Abernathy took, showing his point of view as he was being surrounded by ICE officers, right before he threw his camera to another photographer.Photo: John Abernathy | Instagram: @john_abernathy_
By now, you've probably seen the viral photo of John Abernathy, an independent photographer, throwing his Leica M10-R to another photographer after being pinned to the ground by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. It's from a striking sequence of images taken by freelance photographer Pierre Lavie, which show Abernathy being tackled, locking eyes with Lavie – then a stranger – and tossing his camera and phone to him in an attempt to keep them from being confiscated.
We caught up with both photographers to get the story behind the photos they took that day, see how they've dealt with suddenly having their work presented on a global stage, and talk about how this incident, and others like it, have affected how they cover protests and other similar events.
Click to see Lavie's images of Abernathy throwing his camera
If you haven't seen the photos or aren't familiar with the backstory, this is what happened: Abernathy and Lavie were photographing a protest against ICE around the Whipple Federal ... Continue Reading »
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We're back with the first episode of the DPReview team discussions show of the new year, and just in time. The first few weeks of the year have been relatively busy, with Ricoh bringing out a new variant of the GR IV, this time with a completely monochrome sensor, and Fujifilm bringing video to its Instax line.
The team got together to discuss these cameras and the community's reactions to them. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below, and over on our forums. Continue Reading »
This image from last year could have potential, but the composition just isn't very good in my opinion. Photo: Abby Ferguson
I’ve been thinking a lot about growth in photography lately, especially how projects and challenges can push creativity forward. Recently, during one such project, someone asked a question that made me pause: how can taking a bad photograph possibly help you get better or feel creative again?
That question stuck with me. At face value, it can seem pointless to take photos you’re not confident will work, and it’s easy to feel bad when an image doesn’t turn out the way you wanted. Yet I’m a firm believer in the importance of bad photographs. Creating bad work is essential for any creative, and photographers are no exception.
What I mean by "bad" photographs
Photography is, of course, subjective; what's bad in one person's eyes may be brilliant to another. A photograph can also be bad for countless reasons. It may have technical mistakes, such as blur, poor focus or incorrect exposure. There can also be compositional issues that weaken the image. Or there might be a conceptual disconnect, and the photo doesn't capture what you intended to convey. It could also simply capture ... Continue Reading »
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Photo: Mitchell Clark
We recently got the opportunity to get a Leica M11-P (which is, at its heart, the same as the M11, M11-D and M EV1) in front of our studio scene. While we've attempted to shoot the scene with the standard M11 before, we weren't able to get hold of an optimal lens to do so. Leica has this time been able to lend us the APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH, which has given us a much better representation of the camera's performance.
Our test scene is designed to simulate a variety of textures, colors, and detail types you'll encounter in the real world. It also has two illumination modes, full even light and low directional light, to see the effect of different lighting conditions.
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With its base ISO of 64, the Leica M11-P's processed Raws start out cleaner than most (though not all) of its full-frame, color-filter-bearing competitors and are roughly similar to the noise levels we see from cameras like the Nikon Z7 II, which also ... Continue Reading »
We put the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Samsung T7 Shield, USB4 SanDisk Extreme Pro and Thunderbolt 5 OWC Envoy Ultra head-to-head.Photo: Mitchell Clark
These days, there are an overwhelming number of options when it comes to buying an external SSD to expand your computer's storage (an increasingly important ability as Raw sizes and video bitrates balloon). The highest-end options use protocols like Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 to achieve blistering speeds, but this raises the question: do photographers need all that performance?
We tested several SSDs across a range of price points to see if each one had more to offer for photographers, or if the returns quickly diminished.
What we tested and how we tested them
For this article, we used a 1TB Samsung T7 Shield as our sample for USB 3.2 Gen 2, a 2TB SanDisk Extreme Pro to represent USB4 and a Thunderbolt 5 2TB OWC Envoy Ultra. The tests were carried out on a 2024 MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro processor, which supports Thunderbolt 5, and we tested each SSD one at a time, using the cable it came with.
While this isn't meant to act as a review for the specific SSDs we used for our testing, the results can't ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Richard Butler
Ricoh has released a monochrome version of its GR IV enthusiast compact camera. The GR IV Monochrome features the same 26MP BSI CMOS sensor and 28mm equiv F2.8 lens as the color version, but is black-and-white only.
Key specifications
26MP BSI CMOS sensor with no color filter array
On-sensor phase detection
ISO 160-409,600
In-lens shutter allows flash sync to 1/4000th sec
E-shutter allows use of F2.8 at up to 1/16,000 sec
Built-in red filter, giving punchier blues.
53GB of internal memory
250 shot-per-charge battery rating
UHS-I Micro SD memory card slot
The GR IV Monochrome will sell for a recommended price of $2199. This is a 46% premium over the list price of the standard GR IV, suggesting Ricoh feels that the mono version will have a smaller audience to foot the development costs. The MSRP in the UK is £1599, which is only a 33% mark-up over the standard version's original list price.
Index
What is it
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Specifications
Press release
What is it?
As the name implies, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a black-and-white only ... Continue Reading »
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Updated: December 22, 2025
These days, midrange cameras go for around $2500-3000, though in the US tariffs have made great deals in this price range a little harder to come by. For that money, you get something that's incredibly capable; our picks are high-spec options that are excellent for stills and video, and many have autofocus systems that come close to the performance of professional sports cameras.
Choosing a camera means committing to the ecosystem of lenses that are available for it, so we advise looking into the price and availability of your preferred kit. It's also worth noting that some camera manufacturers are more restrictive of what options third-party lens makers can provide, so be sure to consider that during your lens research.
Speaking of lenses, it's also worth considering that the latest lens designs for mirrorless cameras regularly outperform their older DSLR counterparts. If you have any lenses already, you may want to think about whether it's worth adapting them, or if you'd be better off selling them to help you buy modern equivalents of your most-used lenses. This option also gives you a path to switching brands, ... Continue Reading »
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Product Photos: Mitchell Clark
91%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
The Canon EOS R6 III is an enthusiast-class camera with a new 32MP full-frame CMOS sensor, aimed at photographers and videographers who need high burst rates and fast readout speeds.
Key specifications
32MP full-frame CMOS sensor
Built-in image stabilization rated to 8.5EV
40fps burst rate w/ pre-capture
3.0", 1.62M dot fully-articulating screen
7K recording up to 60p (Canon Cinema Raw Lite)
Oversampled 4K ≤60p, subsampled 4K 120p
3:2 Open Gate recording up to 30p
The Canon EOS R6 III is available at a recommended price of $2799, a $300 premium over the Mark II's launch price. The EOS R6 II has formally dropped to a $2299 price point. There is also a variant costing $100 more, designed to work with the professional stop-motion software, Dragonframe.
The EOS R6 III is available as a kit with the RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM for around $3150 and with the RF 24-105mm F4.0 L IS USM for $4050.
Index:
What's new?
What is it?
In Context
Body and handling
Image quality
Autofocus
Video Capabilities
Video performance
In use
Conclusion
Sample gallery
Press release
Specifications
What's new?
New sensor
The 33MP ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Mitchell Clark
The Sony a7 V is an enthusiast-tier camera with a new, full frame, 33MP 'partially stacked' CMOS sensor, with a focus on high burst rates, capable autofocus and a complete suite of video features.
Key Specifications
33MP full frame 'partially stacked' sensor
IBIS rated to 7.5EV in the center
AI-derived recognition for six subject types
"Blackout-free" continuous shooting at 30fps
Configurable pre-burst capture up to 1 second
3.2" tilting/fully-articulating display
Dual USB-C ports for power and data
4K 60p derived from 7K capture, 4K 120p with 1.5x crop
AI-based auto-framing in video
Sony says the a7 V will be available from late December 2025 at a recommended retail price of around $2899.
Index:
What's new?
In context
Body and handling
Video
Initial assessment
Sample gallery
Press release
Specifications
What's new?
New sensor
Like its predecessor, the a7 V features a 33MP sensor, but with extra readout circuitry to improve readout speeds (which were one of the a7 IV's weak points). We've seen this "partially stacked" technology in 24MP cameras like the Nikon Z6III and Panasonic S1II, but here it's being applied to a higher-resolution sensor.
Sony says ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Richard Butler
Editor's note: This review is based on Panasonic's November 2025 v1.2 firmware update for the S1II, which was provided to DPReview ahead of its public release.
91%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1II is the company's second-generation, high-end 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera, now based around a partially stacked CMOS sensor, and the same body introduced as the S1RII.
Key specifications
24MP partially-stacked BSI CMOS sensor
Up to 70fps shooting, including Raw
1.5 seconds pre-burst capture
96MP multi-shot mode with in-cam combination and motion correction
10-bit HLG HEIF still images
In-body stabilization rated at up to 8.0EV of correction
Open-gate 6K video up to 30p
Full-width 5.9K or 4K up to 60p
4K/120p video with slight crop
6K Raw output over HDMI
Built-in fan for extended recording
External SSD output for video
V-Log with 15-stops in DR Boost mode
Arri C-Log3 paid upgrade option
4 channel and 32-bit float audio with XLR2 adapter
Bluetooth timecode sync
The Panasonic S1II is available now at a recommended price of $3199. As with the launch of the original S1, this is around $400 more than the ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Leica Q3 Monochrom is a black-and-white only version of the company's 61MP full-frame fixed 28mm lens camera.
Key specifications
61MP BSI CMOS sensor with no color filter
Reduced res JPEGs or Raws at 36MP or 18MP
28mm F1.7 lens
5.76M dot OLED EVF with 0.79x magnification
3" tilt touchscreen LCD with 1.84 million dots
8K video capture in UHD or DCI ratios up to 30p (H.265)
Apple ProRes 422HQ support for 1080p video capture up to 60p
AI-assisted perspective control mode
IP52-rated dust and water resistant
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
The Leica Q3 Monochrom will be available from today at a recommended price of $7790.
Index:
What is it
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial assessment
Sample gallery
Specifications
Press release
What is it?
The Q3 Monochrom is an updated version of the Q2 Monochrom based, as the name implies, on the newer Q3 camera. This means it has the same lens as the Q2 but with the excellent 61MP BSI CMOS sensor and Maestro IV processor from the newer camera, bringing features such as perspective correction.
However, unlike the color Q3, it does not ... Continue Reading »
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Product Photos by Mitchell Clark
82%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
The OM System OM-5 II is a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that uses the same stabilized 20MP sensor as its predecessor. It also features the same processor as the OM-5, so the list of new features is relatively subtle, but it gains some minor updates that make it feel a bit more modern.
Key Specifications
20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor
50MP handheld high-res multi-shot mode
Up to 7.5EV stabilization with Sync IS lenses
Up to 30fps continuous shooting, configurable pre-capture
2.36M-dot 0.68x OLED viewfinder
IP53 dust and water resistance rating
USB-C for charging / data transfer
Updated menu system
The OM-5 II retails for $1199 body-only, the same as its predecessor, and is available now. It comes in black, silver and a "sand beige" tan.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Image Quality
Autofocus
Video
In Use
Conclusion
Sample gallery
Specifications
Press release
What's New
USB-C
When the OM-5 launched in 2022, its use of a micro USB port instead of a USB-C one felt like a huge omission, especially given that the European Union was already well on its ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Leica M EV1 is a full-frame manual focus mirrorless camera with a 60MP BSI sensor. It's shaped like the company's other M-series models but has no optical viewfinder or rangefinder mechanism, relying instead on an electronic viewfinder.
Key specifications
60MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor
60, 36 or 18MP output, Raw or JPEG
5.76M dot OLED EVF with 0.76x magnification
Two-way Fn switch on front
2.33M dot LCD rear touchscreen
64GB of internal storage
2.4/5Ghz Wi-Fi
The Leica M EV1 is available everywhere except the USA, where gaining FCC approval has caused a delay. Once cleared for sale in the US, it will be available at a recommended price of $8995.
Index
What's new
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Leica M EV1 specifications
Press release
What's new
The Leica M EV1 features a new, diamond-patterned leatherette coating.
There's not much that's new on the M EV1, other than the concept of removing the rangefinder and optical viewfinder that goes with it, and replacing it with an EVF. Leica points out this isn't the first M-series camera to go without ... Continue Reading »
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Fujifilm X-T30 III is the company's latest entry-level, SLR-shaped mirrorless camera, with its latest color mode recipes and autofocus.
Key specifications
26MP X-Trans APS-C BSI CMOS sensor
Film simulation dial with recipe positions
Tilt up/down rear screen
2.36M dot EVF
4K/60 video with 1.18x crop, 6.2K/30 full-sensor capture
315 shot-per-charge battery life, 425 in power saving mode
The X-T30 III will be available from November 2025 at a recommended price of $999. There will also be the option to buy the camera with a new, unusually wide, 13-33mm F3.5-6.3 OIS zoom lens, which will cost around $1150.
Index
What's new?
What is it?
How it compares
Body and handling
Video
Initial impressions
Sample gallery
Specifications
Press release
What's new?
The Film Simulation dial on the camera's shoulder has three custom positions that can be assigned to film simulations or the simulation-and-parameter-tweak combinations known as 'recipes.'
The X-T30 III, as the name implies, is an iterative update of the existing X-T30 II. It gains the latest Fujifilm processor, which brings subject recognition autofocus. This brings it into line with the X-M5 and X-T50.
It also ... Continue Reading »
Image: Westend61 / Westend61 via Getty Images
Welcome back to our Question of the Week series! This reader-focused series aims to get our photographic community to share thoughts on all sorts of photography-related topics in our forums. We pose questions about gear, favorite camera stores, advice, problem-solving and more, and you share your thoughts and opinions.
This week, we’re leaning into the holiday spirit! The season of giving (and occasionally re-gifting) is upon us, and that means it’s time to unwrap some memories – both heartwarming and hilarious.
What are the best (and worst) photography-related gifts you've received?
What’s the best photography-related gift you’ve ever received? Maybe it was a dream lens that caused you to take on an adventure deep in the mountains, or a handmade camera strap that’s now an essential part of your kit. And what about the worst? Perhaps someone thought you needed yet another "World’s Best Photographer" mug, or that odd lens filter set that turned every photo a shade of green.
In this edition of our Question of the Week series, we want to hear your gift stories: the memorable, the useful and the truly baffling. Share your favorites (and flops) in the forum link below. Photos of ... 
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
Playing 'Top Trumps' with camera specs doesn't give the full picture, but it can still reveal something interesting.
Composite image: Richard Butler
It occurred to me, recently, that the latest enthusiast cameras can often shoot faster than the pro cameras of just a few years ago. So I decided to do some quick comparisons to get a sense of how far cameras have come, in a series of regards, since the last generation of pro-level sports cameras.
The biggest change, of course, is the move from DSLRs to mirrorless. The previous gen pro sports models from both Canon and Nikon were DSLRs, whereas Sony launched its pro tier cameras in earnest with the mirrorless a9, back in 2017.
Speed
Max frame rate (Mechnical / Electronic)
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III (2020)
Canon EOS R6 Mark III (2025)
16 fps / 20 fps
12 fps / 40 fps
Nikon D6 (2020)
Nikon Z6 III (2024)
14 fps / 10.5 fps
14fps / 20 fps
Sony a9 II (2019)
Sony a7 V (2025)
10 fps / 20 fps
10 fps / 30 fps
The most obvious spec comparison is shooting speed, as that's historically been the main area in which pro models stand out from more mainstream ... 
I created this image while I was working full-time, applying to far too many graduate schools and navigating a long-distance relationship. Photo: Abby Ferguson
It's well established that photography is a superb tool for documentation purposes. It's also fairly well accepted as an art form. It's less recognized, or at least talked about, as a therapeutic tool, but it can be a powerful resource for just that. If you'll allow me to get a bit personal, photography has helped me get through some very challenging times. I won't go so far as to say that it's saved my life, but I know many people can say that is the case for them.
To be clear, I'm not a therapist, and I don't see photography as a replacement for therapy with a licensed professional. Instead, I view it as a therapeutic tool. I have seen the impact the medium has had on my own life and the lives of others. For those who haven't used photography intentionally as a tool for healing or growth, perhaps this can be a helpful guide on how to do so, or a gentle push to lean on the medium as such when you need it.
Distraction and mindfulness
Sometimes ... 
Image: Adobe
Adobe has announced an update to Photoshop that brings new types of adjustment layers and improves generative AI-powered fill tools. It's also adding a feature in beta that makes it easier to manipulate text into certain shapes.
Late last year, Adobe announced it was adding two new adjustment layers to Photoshop: one that controlled dehaze and clarity, and another for adding a grain effect. Now, those are coming out of beta and should be available to everyone using the app. While you've been able to use similar effects in Photoshop before, you had to bake them into a specific layer in your image, and once they were added, you couldn't adjust them. Having them as an adjustment layer, though, lets you easily adjust the effects after adding them, and easily have them apply to multiple parts of your image.
The update also brings some of Photoshop's AI-powered features out of beta, with the company promising better, higher-resolution results when using the Generative Fill, Generative Expand and Remove tools in the web version of Photoshop. The company also says it's improved the reference image feature in the Generative Fill tool, which lets you use an existing image to give the model a ... 
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
Image: Nikon
Nikon has announced firmware V1.10 for the ZR camera, heralding the first update for the video-focused camera. Given that it comes only a few months after it launched, it's no surprise that the changes it brings are mostly small quality-of-life tweaks, rather than massive overhauls to how the camera works.
Perhaps the biggest change is that Nikon says it has "significantly extended" the amount of time the camera can record for in many of its modes. While it used to top out at 125 minutes, it can now continuously capture for up to six hours in its sub-100fps compressed modes, though doing so will require the use of an external power supply or battery.
The company has also added the option to display a red line in your histogram or waveform to make it obvious where the clipping point is, which can be especially useful as you switch between modes with different base ISOs.
When it launched, the ZR supported timecode synchronization via Bluetooth, making it easier to keep track of footage and audio captured with multiple devices in the edit. The update adds support for timecode sync over ... 
DJI Mavic 3 Classic | 24mm F2.8 | ISO 100 | 1/320 sec | F5.6Photo: Erez Marom
In part one of my series about photographing Mongolia in winter, I wrote about my experience shooting the Khongor Sand Dunes and Lake Khuvsgul. This time, I'd like to take you to another north-Mongolian destination, and to the east of this vast country.
After I was done shooting in Lake Khuvsgul, I took a long 4X4 drive further north-east, across some harsh terrain and interesting, frozen landscapes. We made a short stop to drone over the mountains and valleys of the Khoridol Saridag range.
After long hours, we finally arrived in our next major destination: Jargant River. This river is unique in that its waters come from an underground spring, and so parts of it do not freeze even when it's -40ºC (-40ºF) outside. The temperature difference between the river and the air causes water to rise as droplets, which stick and coat the trees and totally cakes them in white ice. These foggy conditions are great because it emphasizes the sun penetrating between the trees, creating beautiful light rays that work really nicely with the other compositional components around.
The fog here serves both as a ... 
The photo John Abernathy took, showing his point of view as he was being surrounded by ICE officers, right before he threw his camera to another photographer.Photo: John Abernathy | Instagram: @john_abernathy_
By now, you've probably seen the viral photo of John Abernathy, an independent photographer, throwing his Leica M10-R to another photographer after being pinned to the ground by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. It's from a striking sequence of images taken by freelance photographer Pierre Lavie, which show Abernathy being tackled, locking eyes with Lavie – then a stranger – and tossing his camera and phone to him in an attempt to keep them from being confiscated.
We caught up with both photographers to get the story behind the photos they took that day, see how they've dealt with suddenly having their work presented on a global stage, and talk about how this incident, and others like it, have affected how they cover protests and other similar events.
Click to see Lavie's images of Abernathy throwing his camera
If you haven't seen the photos or aren't familiar with the backstory, this is what happened: Abernathy and Lavie were photographing a protest against ICE around the Whipple Federal ... 
This image from last year could have potential, but the composition just isn't very good in my opinion. Photo: Abby Ferguson
I’ve been thinking a lot about growth in photography lately, especially how projects and challenges can push creativity forward. Recently, during one such project, someone asked a question that made me pause: how can taking a bad photograph possibly help you get better or feel creative again?
That question stuck with me. At face value, it can seem pointless to take photos you’re not confident will work, and it’s easy to feel bad when an image doesn’t turn out the way you wanted. Yet I’m a firm believer in the importance of bad photographs. Creating bad work is essential for any creative, and photographers are no exception.
What I mean by "bad" photographs
Photography is, of course, subjective; what's bad in one person's eyes may be brilliant to another. A photograph can also be bad for countless reasons. It may have technical mistakes, such as blur, poor focus or incorrect exposure. There can also be compositional issues that weaken the image. Or there might be a conceptual disconnect, and the photo doesn't capture what you intended to convey. It could also simply capture ... 
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Photo: Mitchell Clark
We recently got the opportunity to get a Leica M11-P (which is, at its heart, the same as the M11, M11-D and M EV1) in front of our studio scene. While we've attempted to shoot the scene with the standard M11 before, we weren't able to get hold of an optimal lens to do so. Leica has this time been able to lend us the APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH, which has given us a much better representation of the camera's performance.
Our test scene is designed to simulate a variety of textures, colors, and detail types you'll encounter in the real world. It also has two illumination modes, full even light and low directional light, to see the effect of different lighting conditions.
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With its base ISO of 64, the Leica M11-P's processed Raws start out cleaner than most (though not all) of its full-frame, color-filter-bearing competitors and are roughly similar to the noise levels we see from cameras like the Nikon Z7 II, which also ... 
We put the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Samsung T7 Shield, USB4 SanDisk Extreme Pro and Thunderbolt 5 OWC Envoy Ultra head-to-head.Photo: Mitchell Clark
These days, there are an overwhelming number of options when it comes to buying an external SSD to expand your computer's storage (an increasingly important ability as Raw sizes and video bitrates balloon). The highest-end options use protocols like Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 to achieve blistering speeds, but this raises the question: do photographers need all that performance?
We tested several SSDs across a range of price points to see if each one had more to offer for photographers, or if the returns quickly diminished.
What we tested and how we tested them
For this article, we used a 1TB Samsung T7 Shield as our sample for USB 3.2 Gen 2, a 2TB SanDisk Extreme Pro to represent USB4 and a Thunderbolt 5 2TB OWC Envoy Ultra. The tests were carried out on a 2024 MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro processor, which supports Thunderbolt 5, and we tested each SSD one at a time, using the cable it came with.
While this isn't meant to act as a review for the specific SSDs we used for our testing, the results can't ... 
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Product photos: Richard Butler
Ricoh has released a monochrome version of its GR IV enthusiast compact camera. The GR IV Monochrome features the same 26MP BSI CMOS sensor and 28mm equiv F2.8 lens as the color version, but is black-and-white only.
Key specifications
26MP BSI CMOS sensor with no color filter array
On-sensor phase detection
ISO 160-409,600
In-lens shutter allows flash sync to 1/4000th sec
E-shutter allows use of F2.8 at up to 1/16,000 sec
Built-in red filter, giving punchier blues.
53GB of internal memory
250 shot-per-charge battery rating
UHS-I Micro SD memory card slot
The GR IV Monochrome will sell for a recommended price of $2199. This is a 46% premium over the list price of the standard GR IV, suggesting Ricoh feels that the mono version will have a smaller audience to foot the development costs. The MSRP in the UK is £1599, which is only a 33% mark-up over the standard version's original list price.
Index
What is it
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Specifications
Press release
What is it?
As the name implies, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a black-and-white only ... 
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Updated: December 22, 2025
These days, midrange cameras go for around $2500-3000, though in the US tariffs have made great deals in this price range a little harder to come by. For that money, you get something that's incredibly capable; our picks are high-spec options that are excellent for stills and video, and many have autofocus systems that come close to the performance of professional sports cameras.
Choosing a camera means committing to the ecosystem of lenses that are available for it, so we advise looking into the price and availability of your preferred kit. It's also worth noting that some camera manufacturers are more restrictive of what options third-party lens makers can provide, so be sure to consider that during your lens research.
Speaking of lenses, it's also worth considering that the latest lens designs for mirrorless cameras regularly outperform their older DSLR counterparts. If you have any lenses already, you may want to think about whether it's worth adapting them, or if you'd be better off selling them to help you buy modern equivalents of your most-used lenses. This option also gives you a path to switching brands, ... 
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Product Photos: Mitchell Clark
91%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
The Canon EOS R6 III is an enthusiast-class camera with a new 32MP full-frame CMOS sensor, aimed at photographers and videographers who need high burst rates and fast readout speeds.
Key specifications
32MP full-frame CMOS sensor
Built-in image stabilization rated to 8.5EV
40fps burst rate w/ pre-capture
3.0", 1.62M dot fully-articulating screen
7K recording up to 60p (Canon Cinema Raw Lite)
Oversampled 4K ≤60p, subsampled 4K 120p
3:2 Open Gate recording up to 30p
The Canon EOS R6 III is available at a recommended price of $2799, a $300 premium over the Mark II's launch price. The EOS R6 II has formally dropped to a $2299 price point. There is also a variant costing $100 more, designed to work with the professional stop-motion software, Dragonframe.
The EOS R6 III is available as a kit with the RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM for around $3150 and with the RF 24-105mm F4.0 L IS USM for $4050.
Index:
What's new?
What is it?
In Context
Body and handling
Image quality
Autofocus
Video Capabilities
Video performance
In use
Conclusion
Sample gallery
Press release
Specifications
What's new?
New sensor
The 33MP ... 
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Product photos: Mitchell Clark
The Sony a7 V is an enthusiast-tier camera with a new, full frame, 33MP 'partially stacked' CMOS sensor, with a focus on high burst rates, capable autofocus and a complete suite of video features.
Key Specifications
33MP full frame 'partially stacked' sensor
IBIS rated to 7.5EV in the center
AI-derived recognition for six subject types
"Blackout-free" continuous shooting at 30fps
Configurable pre-burst capture up to 1 second
3.2" tilting/fully-articulating display
Dual USB-C ports for power and data
4K 60p derived from 7K capture, 4K 120p with 1.5x crop
AI-based auto-framing in video
Sony says the a7 V will be available from late December 2025 at a recommended retail price of around $2899.
Index:
What's new?
In context
Body and handling
Video
Initial assessment
Sample gallery
Press release
Specifications
What's new?
New sensor
Like its predecessor, the a7 V features a 33MP sensor, but with extra readout circuitry to improve readout speeds (which were one of the a7 IV's weak points). We've seen this "partially stacked" technology in 24MP cameras like the Nikon Z6III and Panasonic S1II, but here it's being applied to a higher-resolution sensor.
Sony says ... 
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Product photos: Richard Butler
Editor's note: This review is based on Panasonic's November 2025 v1.2 firmware update for the S1II, which was provided to DPReview ahead of its public release.
91%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1II is the company's second-generation, high-end 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera, now based around a partially stacked CMOS sensor, and the same body introduced as the S1RII.
Key specifications
24MP partially-stacked BSI CMOS sensor
Up to 70fps shooting, including Raw
1.5 seconds pre-burst capture
96MP multi-shot mode with in-cam combination and motion correction
10-bit HLG HEIF still images
In-body stabilization rated at up to 8.0EV of correction
Open-gate 6K video up to 30p
Full-width 5.9K or 4K up to 60p
4K/120p video with slight crop
6K Raw output over HDMI
Built-in fan for extended recording
External SSD output for video
V-Log with 15-stops in DR Boost mode
Arri C-Log3 paid upgrade option
4 channel and 32-bit float audio with XLR2 adapter
Bluetooth timecode sync
The Panasonic S1II is available now at a recommended price of $3199. As with the launch of the original S1, this is around $400 more than the ... 
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Leica Q3 Monochrom is a black-and-white only version of the company's 61MP full-frame fixed 28mm lens camera.
Key specifications
61MP BSI CMOS sensor with no color filter
Reduced res JPEGs or Raws at 36MP or 18MP
28mm F1.7 lens
5.76M dot OLED EVF with 0.79x magnification
3" tilt touchscreen LCD with 1.84 million dots
8K video capture in UHD or DCI ratios up to 30p (H.265)
Apple ProRes 422HQ support for 1080p video capture up to 60p
AI-assisted perspective control mode
IP52-rated dust and water resistant
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
The Leica Q3 Monochrom will be available from today at a recommended price of $7790.
Index:
What is it
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial assessment
Sample gallery
Specifications
Press release
What is it?
The Q3 Monochrom is an updated version of the Q2 Monochrom based, as the name implies, on the newer Q3 camera. This means it has the same lens as the Q2 but with the excellent 61MP BSI CMOS sensor and Maestro IV processor from the newer camera, bringing features such as perspective correction.
However, unlike the color Q3, it does not ... 
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Product Photos by Mitchell Clark
82%Overall scoreJump to conclusion
The OM System OM-5 II is a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that uses the same stabilized 20MP sensor as its predecessor. It also features the same processor as the OM-5, so the list of new features is relatively subtle, but it gains some minor updates that make it feel a bit more modern.
Key Specifications
20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor
50MP handheld high-res multi-shot mode
Up to 7.5EV stabilization with Sync IS lenses
Up to 30fps continuous shooting, configurable pre-capture
2.36M-dot 0.68x OLED viewfinder
IP53 dust and water resistance rating
USB-C for charging / data transfer
Updated menu system
The OM-5 II retails for $1199 body-only, the same as its predecessor, and is available now. It comes in black, silver and a "sand beige" tan.
Index:
What's new?
How it compares
Body and handling
Image Quality
Autofocus
Video
In Use
Conclusion
Sample gallery
Specifications
Press release
What's New
USB-C
When the OM-5 launched in 2022, its use of a micro USB port instead of a USB-C one felt like a huge omission, especially given that the European Union was already well on its ... 
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Leica M EV1 is a full-frame manual focus mirrorless camera with a 60MP BSI sensor. It's shaped like the company's other M-series models but has no optical viewfinder or rangefinder mechanism, relying instead on an electronic viewfinder.
Key specifications
60MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor
60, 36 or 18MP output, Raw or JPEG
5.76M dot OLED EVF with 0.76x magnification
Two-way Fn switch on front
2.33M dot LCD rear touchscreen
64GB of internal storage
2.4/5Ghz Wi-Fi
The Leica M EV1 is available everywhere except the USA, where gaining FCC approval has caused a delay. Once cleared for sale in the US, it will be available at a recommended price of $8995.
Index
What's new
How it compares
Body and handling
Initial impressions
Leica M EV1 specifications
Press release
What's new
The Leica M EV1 features a new, diamond-patterned leatherette coating.
There's not much that's new on the M EV1, other than the concept of removing the rangefinder and optical viewfinder that goes with it, and replacing it with an EVF. Leica points out this isn't the first M-series camera to go without ... 
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Product photos: Richard Butler
The Fujifilm X-T30 III is the company's latest entry-level, SLR-shaped mirrorless camera, with its latest color mode recipes and autofocus.
Key specifications
26MP X-Trans APS-C BSI CMOS sensor
Film simulation dial with recipe positions
Tilt up/down rear screen
2.36M dot EVF
4K/60 video with 1.18x crop, 6.2K/30 full-sensor capture
315 shot-per-charge battery life, 425 in power saving mode
The X-T30 III will be available from November 2025 at a recommended price of $999. There will also be the option to buy the camera with a new, unusually wide, 13-33mm F3.5-6.3 OIS zoom lens, which will cost around $1150.
Index
What's new?
What is it?
How it compares
Body and handling
Video
Initial impressions
Sample gallery
Specifications
Press release
What's new?
The Film Simulation dial on the camera's shoulder has three custom positions that can be assigned to film simulations or the simulation-and-parameter-tweak combinations known as 'recipes.'
The X-T30 III, as the name implies, is an iterative update of the existing X-T30 II. It gains the latest Fujifilm processor, which brings subject recognition autofocus. This brings it into line with the X-M5 and X-T50.
It also ...