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Hello, fellow photographers! A post that made the rounds on our team this week, which you’ll find further down, got me thinking about constraints again. The post is about a creative technologist who built himself an intentionally flawed camera, and how its limitations are what make it enjoyable to him.
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I think about that idea a lot. In fact, when I’m in a creative rut, one of the fixes I always come back to is giving myself rules. That might mean one lens, one subject or one place, as I wrote about in my piece on getting out of creative droughts. Or maybe it’s using a piece of gear you know isn’t ideal for the task. Those limitations can get you thinking in a fresh way.
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That’s also part of why I like this week’s ‘Question of the week’ about the local spot you keep coming back to. After all, it can be a good challenge to find something new in a place you already know well.
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Of course, as it’s the middle of the week, there’s plenty of gear to talk about, too. Mitchell Clark and Richard Butler are continuing to test the Sigma FP2, and there were also some new accessories and firmware announcements this week. Let’s dive in.
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— Abby Ferguson, Features Editor
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Posts That Stopped the Scroll
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Jonothan Hunt spent a weekend with Claude Code building the DITHRPIX, a camera that shoots in four shades of gray and holds just 60 photos. It's slow and imperfect by design, and it's a lovely reminder that making something for yourself, imperfections and all, can be the whole point.
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If you spend a lot of time editing photos, you may pride yourself on your color correction skills. And, if you also happen to be the competitive type like me, you may enjoy this little game that film lab PhotoVision put together. There are two different game modes (correction and identification), varying degrees of difficulty, and you can see how you stack up on the leaderboard. You need to enter an email address to play, but it’s free and a fun challenge.
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Product images by Canon
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Canon announced two new accessories this week. The DM-E10D is a 59 g (2.1 oz) supercardioid mic that draws power and audio from a camera's Multi-Function Shoe, so it doesn’t require cables or batteries. It also announced a new remote, which replaces the TC-80N3. They come in two versions, the TC-N3 for Canon's pro bodies and the TC-E3 for cameras with a 2.5mm remote jack. They add a larger backlit LCD, redesigned controls and a tripod socket for time-lapse and long-exposure work.
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The DM-E10D microphone costs $210 and will ship at the end of December, while the TC-E3 and TC-N3 timer remotes cost $190 and $210, respectively, and will ship in early January 2027. All three are available for preorder now.
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Shimoda Action X v3 - A New Standard for Adventure Camera Bags!
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Shimoda updated its Action X backpacks. The v3 versions add more versatility and customization options such as three capture clip mounting strips, new pockets, more belt adjustability and optional women’s shoulder straps. They also feature a larger side access door, a wider 16" laptop sleeve and a new 35L size, and Shimoda says they can fit a 200-600mm lens. The backpacks come in five sizes, 25L, 30L, 35L, 40L and 50L, and are compatible with a wide range of accessories. They are available to preorder now, starting at $300 for the 25L (without an insert).
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You Asked For It :) - The All New Shimoda Insider Sling!
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The company also introduced the Insider Sling, which weighs under 430 g (0.9 lbs) and is meant for days when a full backpack is too much. It holds a camera with a 70-200mm F2.8 attached or two mid-range zooms. A sliding divider inside lets you rearrange the space without pulling it off its hook-and-loop fastener. The front pocket holds batteries and memory cards, and an inside sleeve fits an AirTag. And the strap adjusts from either end, so you can wear it over either shoulder.
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The sling comes in Black, Cappuccino and Burnt Red, and it is available to preorder for $130.
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Image by Peak Design
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On the mobile front, Peak Design launched its Charging Essentials line. The Kickstand Travel Battery is a magnetic wireless power bank with a built-in kickstand. The Wireless Charging Station 2-in-1 charges two phones at once, and the Dual Slim Charger is a half-inch-thick, 65W wall charger. The battery and charging station are $100 each and the wall charger is $65. Everything but the battery is available to order now.
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It was another light week for firmware releases, with bug fixes for three Fujifilm GFX cameras and an update for the OM-5 Mark II. Nikon and Canon also announced major updates to their video cameras, although they aren’t available for download yet.
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Fujifilm (GFX100 II, GFX100S II and GFX100RF): Firmware 2.51 for the GFX100 II, 1.22 for the GFX100S II and 1.14 for the GFX100RF fix minor bugs.
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OM System (OM-5 Mark II): Firmware 1.1 fixes noise in High Res Shot images and makes information appear faster on screen when you turn the camera on. It also adds an audio fade-out at the end of My Clips movies and improves stability and image quality.
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Nikon (ZR): Firmware 2.00 for the ZR isn't out yet, but Nikon recently shared more details about what it will include. It adds the ability to use RED's Log3G10 for H.265 recording, four levels of High ISO Noise Reduction and support for 3D LUTs over HDMI. It also lets you set ISO, exposure compensation and white balance on the command dials, shows focus peaking with a 3D LUT applied in R3D NE and reduces flicker in dark areas. Nikon still hasn’t provided a date, though, simply saying “before the end of the year.”
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Canon (EOS C400, C80 and C50): Canon just announced new firmware for some of its cinema cameras, but like Nikon’s, it isn't out yet. Canon says it will be available in December. All three cameras get Multi-Matrix color control, black level adjustment in Canon Log 2 and 3, stabilization support for lenses longer than 1000mm and more customizable buttons and dials. The C400 and C80 also get autofocus at more Slow & Fast frame rates between 60p and 120p, and the C50 gains support for Canon Speedlites through its accessory shoe.
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Photo by Mitchell Clark and Richard Butler
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Mitchell Clark and Richard Butler have been shooting with the Sigma FP2 in Seattle this week, putting it to the test in both its cine and stills modes. They are taking advantage of its modularity, which gives it the ability to be shockingly small, without giving up the I/O you need to rig it up for video when the need arises. You can see some of their initial thoughts in the feature below.
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“The limitations of the medium are what make it so fun.”
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