Amazon Prime Day is just a few days away and this week we’ve got new product launches, sharp reviews, firmware fixes and a big tease from Canon.
We were very saddened to hear of the passing of the esteemed photojournalist, Thomas Hoepker, at the age of 88.
While the Nikon Z6 III let us down, Sony has created its best vlogging camera to date and Fujifilm has released a slew of fresh firmware. Additionally, Canon has revealed a big announcement for Wednesday that could be really big…
Fujifilm firmware fixes
Fujifilm has released firmware updates to fix bugs and issues across its GFX camera line, including some pushed lens firmware.
Fujifilm is great at updating its cameras and lenses, future-proofing existing models and ensuring they perform to their maximum potential. Firmware updates usually fall into one of two categories: one that adds new features and one that fixes problems. We recently saw what Fujifilm called Kaizen firmware updates, which added new features, however, the new wave of updates focuses on fixing issues.
Cameras benefiting from the updates are the Fujifilm GFX 100 II, GFX 100S II, GFX 100, GFX 50S II, GFX 50S, GFX 50R, X-T4 and X-T50…
Read more: Fujifilm releases firmware fixes for many cameras and lenses
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Canon has a big announcement…
Canon has just announced that it will be making an important announcement next week. All we’re told is that it’s a live event “Canon EOS R System“. But the very fact that he’s told everyone it’s happening almost a week before it does means the news has to be big. And that almost certainly means it’s a new EOS R camera.
The launch takes place on Wednesday 17 July at 06:00 ET / 11:00 BST / 20:00 AEST. The big bonus is that the announcement will be live online so everyone can follow along with the news…
Read more: Big Canon EOS R announcement next week (and we’re all invited!)
The Nikon Z6 III may not be as good as the Z6 II
Reports have surfaced that the new Nikon Z6 III may have a more limited dynamic range than the old Z6 II. This observation was made by William Claff at Photons to Photos, who does in-depth testing of camera sensor performance and much more. Claff’s findings show that the Z6 III maxes out at 10.44EV of dynamic range at ISO 100, compared to the Z6 II’s 11.26EV at the same sensitivity.
Now, Claff apparently knows his stuff and has been testing sensor performance for many years, so I’m not about to criticize his results or testing methodology. But what I can say is that when I tested the Z6 III in the lab, I found that (contrary to Claff’s results), the dynamic range of the Z6 III was almost identical to that of the Nikon Z6 II at lower sensitivities, although the new camera the previous generation trailed by 0.5-1EV at ISO 6400 and above…
Read more: The Nikon Z6 III’s image quality is compromised, and we can attest to that
Sony has created its best vlogging camera yet
Sony’s ZV series of camcorders is a bit of a conundrum, but my personal favorite is the Sony ZV-E10 – a camera that strikes the perfect balance between affordability and features. That’s not to say the camera wasn’t without its flaws, however, being criticized for its poor menus and limited streaming resolutions. Now Sony hopes to address any shortcomings in a brand new update – the Sony ZV-E10 II.
Take a look at the exterior of the ZV-E10 II and you might not notice that anything has changed from the previous version, with only a subtle update of the photo / video / S&Q button, becoming a three-way switch and the key on/off by moving down the shutter button.
However, Sony engineers have also found a way to squeeze a Z battery inside the grip, giving an additional 50% power improvement over the previous model – equating to 610 images or 130 minutes of video. We appreciated the vlogging-focused ZV-E10’s small body with its good control and 3-inch vari-angle display, so no complaints here that Sony hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel for its sequel…
Read more: The Sony ZV-E10 II is a follow-up to Sony’s best vlogging camera
Photojournalist of German origin, Thomas Hoepker, has died
Thomas Hoepker, the respected German photographer and longtime member of Magnum Photos, has passed away peacefully at the age of 88 – announced on Instagram through Magnum Photos.
Born in Munich, Germany, in 1936, Hoepker’s career spanned 70 years, leaving an indelible mark on the world of photojournalism and documentary photography. Hoepker’s fascination with photography began early. At the age of 14, his grandfather gave him an old plate camera, sparking a passion that would shape his future. He studied art, history and archeology at the University of Göttingen, but his calling was always behind the lens.
In 1960, before completing his studies, Hoepker was employed by Münchner Illustrierte magazine. He continued to hone his craft at Kristall until 1963 and joined Stern magazine in 1964, where he gained widespread recognition for his compelling photojournalism…
Read more: Thomas Hoepker, legendary Magnum photographer, has passed away peacefully at the age of 88
Interested in any of the brands in this article? Check out our guides to the best Canon cameras, the best Fujifilm cameras, the best Nikon cameras and the best Sony cameras.