Amazon Prime Day is just a few days away and this week we have new product launches, scathing reviews, firmware fixes, and a big teaser from Canon.
We were also very saddened to hear of the passing of esteemed photojournalist Thomas Hoepker at the age of 88.
While the Nikon Z6 III left us feeling unsatisfied, Sony has made its best vlogging camera yet, and Fujifilm has released a plethora of new firmware. Plus, Canon has a big announcement coming on Wednesday that might just be a big one…
Fujifilm Firmware Solutions
Fujifilm has released firmware updates that fix bugs and issues across its entire GFX camera line, including some delayed lens firmware.
Fujifilm is great at updating its cameras and lenses, future-proofing existing models and ensuring they perform optimally. Firmware updates usually fall into one of two categories: one that adds new features and one that fixes bugs. We’ve recently seen what Fujifilm calls Kaizen firmware updates, which add new features, but the new wave of updates focuses on bug fixes.
The 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 rolls out firmware solutions for multiple cameras and lenses
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Canon has a big announcement…
Canon has just announced that it will be making a major announcement next week. All we are told is that it is a “Canon EOS R System live event”“. But the fact that everyone has been told it’s happening almost a week in advance means the news has to be big. And that almost certainly means it’s a new EOS R camera.
The launch will take place on Wednesday 17th July at 06:00 ET / 11:00 BST / 20:00 AEST. The great thing is that the announcement will be live online, so everyone can follow the news…
Read more: Big announcement of the Canon EOS R 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. The observation was made by William Claff of Photons to Photos, who does in-depth testing on camera sensor performance and more. Claff’s findings show that the Z6 III can achieve a maximum of 10.44 EV of dynamic range at ISO 100, compared to the Z6 II’s 11.26 EV at the same sensitivity.
Claff clearly knows a thing or two about this and has been testing sensor performance for years, so I’m not going to criticize his results or testing methodology. What I can say, however, 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 nearly identical to that of the Nikon Z6 II at lower sensitivities, though the new camera lagged behind the previous generation by 0.5-1 EV at ISO 6400 and above…
Read more: The Nikon Z6 III’s image quality has been compromised, and we can prove it
Sony has made its best vlogging camera yet
Sony’s ZV series of vlogging cameras is a bit of a convoluted affair, 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 faults, as it was criticized for its poor menus and limited streaming resolutions. Now, Sony is hoping to address all of those shortcomings in a brand new update – the Sony ZV-E10 II.
Looking at the outside of the ZV-E10 II, you probably won’t notice that anything has changed from the previous version. There’s only a subtle update to the photo/video/S&Q button, which is now a three-position switch, and the power switch has been moved below the shutter button.
Still, Sony engineers have also found a way to cram a Z battery into the grip, delivering an additional 50% power boost over the previous model – the equivalent of 610 images or 130 minutes of video. We praised the ZV-E10’s small, vlogging-focused body with its decently grippy 3-inch vari-angle screen, so no complaints here that Sony hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel for its successor…
Read more: The Sony ZV-E10 II is a follow-up to Sony’s best vlogging camera
German-born photojournalist Thomas Hoepker has died
Thomas Hoepker, the esteemed German photographer and long-time member of Magnum Photos, has passed away peacefully at the age of 88 – it was announced on Instagram via Magnum Photos.
Hoepker was born in Munich, Germany, in 1936, and his 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 pursued studies in art, history, and archaeology at the University of Göttingen, but his calling was always behind the lens.
In 1960, before he had completed his studies, Hoepker was hired by Munich illustrated magazine. He continued to perfect his craft at Kristall until 1963, and in 1964 went to work for Stern magazine, where he received widespread recognition for his compelling photojournalism…
Read more: Thomas Hoepker, legendary Magnum photographer, passes away peacefully at age 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 camera .