Camera & Video Gear

Panasonic Lumix FZ80D Digital Ultrazoom Camera

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There is not much of a market or use case for small sensor cameras anymore (like this 1/2.3″ sensor camera), but ultrazooms is one of the places that they make sense. It has a 20-1200mm zoom range which gives you both a wide angle and an incredible telephoto. Image quality won’t compare to larger sensor cameras but if it’s good enough for your purposes then great. If you just want to photo document everything and want a single camera to compliment your phone without breaking the bank then this camera is worth considering. Nikon is the other company making some pretty interesting small sensor zoom cameras (albeit with somewhat larger bodies than we would like).

We are happy to see cameras coming out in this segment because they are fun and may be a better fit for certain demographic of camera user.

Key specifications:

  • 18.1MP 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor
  • 60x Optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization and 20-1200mm
  • Aperture of f/2.8-5.9 to f/8
  • 2.36m-Dot OLED viewfinder
  • 3.0″ 1.84m-Dot LCD screen
  • Full HD 4K30
  • ISO 80-3200
  • Up to 10 fps
  • $480
  • Shipping early August of 2024

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Canon EOS R1 Announced

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Canon’s long rumored EOS R1 flagship camera is indeed upon us. Although it would also be appropriate to think about it as an R3 Mark II. This camera has a 24mp sensor and prioritizes speed and thus is less of an all-arounder than the Canon R5 II or the Nikon Z8. If you need the speed of this camera you know who you are. This camera also has good video specifications yet will likely be of less interest than the R5II to most video makers.

Despite Canon making a reasonable effort with this camera it feels disappointing. The direction Nikon went with the Z9 seems preferable. And if this was to be a R3 Mark II it would have been nice to give it something new or better than what the competition can muster. We could be wrong though. These are just first impressions.

Key specifications:

  • 6K 60P RAW video recording
  • 4K, 120P
  • C-log2 and C-log3
  • XF-AVC-S and XF-HEVC-S
  • overhauled and improved DualPixel intelligent AF system
  • 8.5-stop in-body image stabilizer
  • AI in-camera integration for stills
  • Professional, durable body and great ergonomics
  • $6300
  • 2 CFexpress Type B card slots
  • up to 40 fps of RAW, JPEG, or HEIF (HDR-PQ) images using Electronic Shutter
  • great buffer

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Canon EOS R5 Mark II Announced

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The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is here after many years of waiting. Canon shooters, particularly those already using the R5 or R5C, will likely find this camera interesting. The big question is whether or not Canon has done enough at a good enough price relative to the competition.

The Nikon Z8 is a significant amount cheaper and has pros over the R5 II (as well as cons). We do think Canon over priced the R5 II considering it’s really just what the R5 should have been with likely not a large improvement in image quality (in fact, the efforts to improve readout speed can reduce image quality).  What can we say?  Life is full of trade offs.

Key specifications: 

  • $4300 USD
  • IBIS with up to 8.5-stops of stabilization
  • New Canon-designed full-frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS 45MP
  • 30 fps electronic shutter
  • New focus system with eye control focus plus lock onto a subject even if things move in front of them
  • Capture video and stills simultaneously
  • People Priority Shooting lets you register up to 10 people the camera can recognize and prioritize
  • Capture 8K raw at 59.94/50.00 fps, and LOG 2 (although don’t expect this mode to let you capture for long without over heating — perhaps 18-21 minutes)
  • Same 0.5-inch 5.76 million dot OLED EVF fas is found in the Canon EOS R3.
  • Three optional battery grips are available to expand your capabilities
  • Canon LOG2
  • Full-size HDMI

But it is early days.  So let’s wait for the reviews to come in before we judge this camera.

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Nikon Z9H Camera With Global Shutter

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There are now rumors of Nikon releasing a global shutter camera using Sony’s global shutter sensor.  Likely a lower megapixel model compared to the Z8/Z9.  However, for Nikon’s purposes a non-global shutter with a fast read out would make a lot of sense so we’re not at all certain that there is any truth to this rumor.

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ZEISS Nano Prime High-Speed Cine Lenses

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As mirrorless becomes more dominant and relevant to filmmakers, manufactures have started to produce more lenses for their platforms.  Mirrorless mount physics should make possible a better quality of lens than what was possible before.

Zeiss has released this interesting set of lenses with 6 focal lengths all at T1.5: 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm.  It’s $26,000 for the set which works out to $4,333 a lens.  These lenses are “initially available for the Sony E-mount” but we expect that the Canon R-mount is just around the corner.

ZEISS Nano Primes are cinema lenses designed for modern full frame mirrorless cameras — initially available for Sony E-mount. Lenses for everyone looking for highest performance and cinematic look in a small package. The six focal lengths all feature a consistent high speed of T1.5, come with a small and robust real cine lens housing with professional cine ergonomics and have an interchangeable mount.

Nano Primes are lenses for all cinematographers. No matter if up-and-coming or seasoned DP. For all budgets. No matter if small or big. For all projects. No matter if for commercials, documentaries or music videos, for series, independent or features films. Lenses that check all the boxes when it comes to look, ergonomics, size and weight or lens data workflow. Lenses that you can afford. Lenses that won‘t let you down.​

​ZEISS Nano Primes are the go-to lenses for everyday: True Cinema. For All.​

Visit Zeiss’s website for more information.

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Nikon Z6 III

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This camera is really overdue.  Nikon’s doing well at the high end with their Z8 and Z9, but their mid-range camera bodies have been lacking for quite a while, especially on the video side.

We’re starting to get excited about this camera though as it’s looking to be decently video oriented and full-featured.  Really, like with the Z8, it seems like Nikon is throwing everything at this camera to make it all you need as long as you can live with the 24MP sensor.

Some key specifications that intrigue us:

  • 6K video with strong codecs
  • Significantly improved IBIS
  • Strong dynamic range and low-light performance
  • N-RAW video
  • Improved AF
  • $3000

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Sony A9 III Global Shutter Mirrorless Camera

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This $6000 camera is expensive but it’s also the king of action capturing full-frame cameras.  The global shutter is most valuable for video but also helps with sports and wildlife when you’re shooting in bursts and don’t want any distortion to your image from a rolling shutter.  There is a trade off, however, in that the low light performance is reduced on account of global shutter.  This is expected behavior when a global shutter is involved.

We were sad to see the 10bit 422 at 500Mbit codec of the Sony A1 missing on this camera as that was our favorite way to shoot video.

The reviews are out for this camera so do take a look at some:

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Fujifilm X100VI Camera

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The Fujifilm X100V is a niche but well loved camera with a fixed 35mm equivalent lens and an excellent Fujifilm cropped sensor with all of the expected functionality.  If you can live with the focal length and want a more compact camera, this is certainly a nice option.

The X100V sells for $1400 but rumors seem to indicate that the X100VI will go for $1700.

The best information we have indicates that the specifications may be:

  • 40MP Sensor with 6.2K 30P and 4K 60P video
  • Same EVF as the X100V and single UHS-I card slot as the X100V
  • Heavier, but only slight
  • Production has moved from Japan to China
  • $1700

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Canon Registers New Interchangeable Lens Camera: Is This the Canon R1?

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Canon has to register their cameras with regulators is this is one way we can an early warning of an imminent camera release.  The number used for this camera is consistent with past other interchangeable lens cameras.  While we’re not certain, the best guess we have is that this would finally be the long fabled Canon R1.  A true flagship camera, apparently.

We’ve been told that there are people testing prototypes of this camera presently but they’ve all signed non-disclosure agreements and no leaked photos of the camera body have appeared yet.  We really don’t have much reliable reports about this camera but we’ve seen a few indications that they may not be going for as high of a megapixel count as one might guess.

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Hasselblad 907X & CFV 100C Medium Format Camera

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Unlike most digital cameras, the Hasselblad in question is both a CFV 100C medium format digital back and a 907X camera body.  The back distills a lot of what was in the X2D 100C to a modular component that is compatible with other Hasselblad V-Series camera bodies as well.  The combination of the two will set you back $8200 which is only a few thousand more than some of the top end full-frame mirrorless cameras.

It’s nice to see new development in the medium format sector.  We’re hoping it grows and more players enter it.

Key specifications of this camera includes:

  • V System Camera Compatibility
  • 100 MP (BSI) CMOS Sensor
  • 3.2″ Tilting Touch Display
  • 25,600 ISO
  • USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C / Hot Shoe Connection
  • Built-In 1 TB SSD Storage
  • Aluminum body
  • $8200
  • 44 x 33mm sensor
  • 16-bit RAW files

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