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Hello, fellow photographers. I was on vacation last week, and I fully intended to take many, many photographs. I was, after all, back in a beautiful place with fall color at its peak. But beyond taking plenty of digital images on a two-day backpacking trip, I barely touched a camera. The three rolls of film I’d packed came home unused; I only finished the roll already in my camera. |
For the first few days, I was kicking myself for not taking more photos. Then I realized how nice it was not to think about picking up a camera for a little while. I’ve written about finding my way out of creative droughts before, but this trip was a good reminder that sometimes a break is just the ticket. |
Now I’m back in the swing of things, both writing and taking photos. It’s been a relatively quiet week for launches, but Leica released a special F1 edition of its Q3 43, and we have some new accessories to dig into. Let’s jump in. |
— Abby Ferguson, Features Editor |
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Posts That Stopped the Scroll |
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This week, our parent company, Gear Patrol, made an exciting return to print. The Dispatch is a new quarterly broadsheet from Gear Patrol exploring objects, ideas and the world they shape. It’s filled with original reporting and incredible photography from workshops, mountain trails and open water, exploring the people and places behind product culture. You can learn more in the Instagram post or on the Gear Patrol website. |
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Photo by Joe Tornatzky |
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Speaking of physical media, I love it when good design and photography collide, which is just what happens in this post. The video shows a vintage pen plotter drawing out the Nikon F3, and it is very satisfying to watch. |
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The Sirui BH-60 is available now 🎉 |
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Sirui recently launched a new tripod head that combines ball and fluid head features, potentially solving some problems for hybrid shooters. Its three modes let you use it as a ball head to set your composition, then switch to video or transition mode for smooth, controlled camera movements when recording videos. It supports up to 20 kg (44 lbs) of gear and weighs 950 g (2.1 lbs). It’s available for order now for $219 on the Sirui website. |
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Introducing the ZiPod Travel Tripod | Efficient Creation, Professional Mobility. |
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PGYTech also announced a new tripod this week. The ZiPod is a carbon fiber travel tripod that weighs just 1.3 kg (2.8 lbs) and packs down to 43 cm (16.9”) long. It features the company’s auto-locking leg system, so you can pull the legs to the desired height and have them locked into place without twisting locks. It supports up to 10 kg (22.1 lbs) and includes a ball head. It’s available for preorder now for $380. |
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Image by Antigravity |
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Lastly, Antigravity, Insta360’s drone company, announced new accessories for its A1 drone. That includes a watch and ring that promise to make tracking and drone control easier and more reliable. There are also new propeller guards that the company says fully enclose the blades for added safety. The accessories are available for purchase now, though you’ll need to opt for the full Follow Me accessory kit for $340 (currently on sale for $272) or the bundle with the drone, as the items aren’t available separately. |
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This week was surprisingly busy for firmware, with new versions for Canon, Nikon and Ricoh cameras, plus some updates to Nikon software. |
Canon (EOS R6 III, EOS R6 V): Firmware 1.1.2 fixes an issue where image recording to the card may not complete. Nikon (Z9, Z8): Z9 firmware 5.33 and Z8 firmware 3.12 fix an issue that could cause the camera to stop responding with some lenses. Nikon shared an extensive list of warnings for installing the Z9 firmware, including that it will take roughly six minutes and will clear some presets and settings. Nikon (Z6III): Firmware 2.01 makes Pre-Release Capture available from compatible Bluetooth remotes. It also adds focus limiter support for eight Nikkor Z zooms, including the 14-24mm F2.8 S and 24-70mm F4 S, and renames “Cloud Picture Control” to “Imaging Recipe.” The update also fixes rare overexposure during burst shooting in M mode, along with several freezing and exposure issues when using F-mount lenses. Nikon (NX Tether): Version 2.6.1 adds Z5IIC support and lets users select Imaging Recipes with the ZR, Z5IIC and Zf. It also brings live view to the Z50II and Z30. Nikon (NX Studio): Version 1.11.0 adds Z5IIC support and drops the link to Nikon Image Space, which has shut down. It fixes a bug that made exported images brighter after certain NEF adjustments and ends support for macOS Ventura 13. Ricoh (GR IV, GR IV HDF, GR IV Monochrome): GR IV and GR IV HDF firmware 1.20 and GR IV Monochrome firmware 1.10 let you save the AF point as part of a camera's mode memory and add an option to restore User Mode settings. They also add a setting that keeps a wireless connection when the camera is off and let users change the shutdown screen in the GR World app. The Monochrome also gains a Solarized Effect Image Control. Ricoh (GR III, GR IIIx): GR III firmware 2.20 and GR IIIx firmware 1.70 add a GR 30th anniversary shutdown screen. This is a limited-edition firmware and won’t be available for download after December 31, 2026, at 23:59 (JST).
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Photo by Richard Butler |
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Richard Butler has been taking advantage of some sunny weather in Seattle while putting the Canon EOS R8 II through its paces. Testing is nearly complete, and he’s wrapping up his final impressions for the full review, which we’ll be sharing soon. |
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Photo by Richard Butler |
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Longtime DPReview readers may remember our Throwback Thursday series. After many requests for us to revive the series, we are excited to say that it is back! Last week, Richard Butler looked back at the Fujifilm F200 EXR, which was launched in February 2009. He walks through what made that camera interesting and how some of the ideas it introduced may live on in our smartphones. |
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“The secret of photography is, the camera takes on the character and personality of the handler.” |
WALKER EVANS |
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