New Viltrox Vintage Z1

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 25, 2025


Viltrox Vintage Z1: B&H Photo / Amazon

Featuring a retro-inspired design, this Vintage Z1 On-Camera Flash from Viltrox is a manual flash for use with Sony, Nikon, Canon, and FUJIFILM, compact cameras. Viltrox’s first-ever flash unit is designed to improve your flash image quality and features a 39.4′ guide number at ISO 100 and 28mm of wide-angle coverage. This flash is perfect for those—beginners or even experts—looking for simple flash solutions for retro-styled images. Experiment with seven levels of brightness from 1/1 to 1/64 and 0.2 to 3.5 second recycle speeds. An easy-to-use mechanical dial placed at the back of the flash easily controls intensity settings. Along with this, the flash’s vintage-style body will also visually add to the aesthetics of your camera.

Greater Control
Experience greater control with S1 and S2 settings. In S1, the flash triggers when it sees any burst of light from a main flash. In S2, the flash ignores a single pre-flash and fires on the second burst of light.

USB-C Charging
The Vintage Z1 was developed with a built-in battery and USB-C interface to allow recharging in approximately 50 minutes. The integrated 3.7V/1100mAh battery is able to give you 400 to 10,000 flashes. A charging indicator is available to keep you informed.

Ready To Use
Single contact hot shoe communication offers compatibility with major camera brands, including Sony, Nikon, Canon, and FUJI. The light can also be adapted to CCD cameras, as well as film cameras, and other brands and cameras that use a single contact hot shoe.

Distinct Design
Measuring just 3 x 2.7 x 2″, the Vintage Z1 has a matte silver metal texture with classic grain leather details.

Go-Anywhere
Lightweight body at only 4 oz, which makes its highly portable, elegant body easy to be taken or stored anywhere.

Other Details

  • 23Ws rating at full power output
  • 6500K ±200K CCT
  • Flash duration of 1/5000-1/50,000 sec (t0.5)
  • Sleep functionality after 15 minutes of inactivity

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Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount Coming May 15th, 2025

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 24, 2025


Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS | Contemporary:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Sigma has updated the release date of the Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS | Contemporary to May 15th, 2025. The lens was announced in February with an unknown release date in May.

 

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Canon Has Automated Production Lines For Cameras And Lenses

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 20, 2025


Robots and AI are coming for us all, but Canon is ahead of the curve, announcing it has begun using robots for assembling cameras and lenses in its 2024 annual report:

Productivity Improvements Through Automation and In-House Production
Canon aims to achieve further production efficiency by leveraging technologies cultivated in different businesses regardless of divisions and by collaboration among design, production engineering, and manufacturing sites, to refine its automation and in-house production technologies. In addition to key devices and components, we are also actively pursuing in-house production of production equipment and molding dies. Following toner cartridges, we have rolled out automated production lines for cameras and interchangeable lenses to further enhance productivity.

via: Canon, Photorumors

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TIPA Awards 2025: Canon EOS R5 Mark II BEST FULL FRAME HYBRID CAMERA and Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM BEST WIDE-ANGLE ZOOM LENS

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 19, 2025


TIPA WORLD AWARDS 2025 BEST FULL FRAME HYBRID CAMERA Canon EOS R5 Mark II
This upgraded pro and very advanced enthusiast camera utilizes the latest technology in connectivity, controls and recording options. Its new 45MP stacked sensor offers high precision autofocus with selective eye control, even for photographers wearing glasses, and numerous clever and useful shooting aids, including smart tracking of “registered” subjects, such as a bride coming down the aisle or a star player on a soccer pitch, It also offers a wide range of video formats and framing rates and makes video connectivity a priority, with an HDMI port, wireless communication with a smartphone or tablet, Wi-Fi 6E / 11ax 6GHz in-body, plus optional connectors for wired network environments.

Canon EOS R5 Mark II: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama


TIPA WORLD AWARDS 2025 BEST WIDE-ANGLE ZOOM LENS Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM
This wide-angle zoom offers a versatile focal length range that is suitable for landscapes, architecture, and vlogging. It incorporates a unique leadscrew type STM motor, a super-silent and smooth operating AF motor that pays off with greatly reduced noise and minimal focus breathing effects when recording video. When mounted on compatible cameras with in-body image stabilisation, the lens features an impressive 8 stops of image stabilization, which greatly benefits low light and hand-held video and still capture. Weighing approximately 445 grams (slightly less than a pound), it is both compact and lightweight, making it a practical choice for content creators seeking high-quality imagery without the bulk of heavier lenses.

Canon RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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Canon 24mm f/0.7 and Canon 12mm f/1.0 Patents Found

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 16, 2025


Patents were found for a Canon 24mm f/0.7 and a Canon 12mm f/1.0.

overview

  • [Publication number] P2025040484
  • [Release date] 2025-03-25
  • [Title of the Invention] Imaging optical system and imaging device having the same
  • [Application date] 2023-09-12
  • [Applicant]
    [Identification number] 000001007
    [Name or company name] Canon Inc.
  • [Background Art]
    [0002]
    In recent years, the demand for miniaturized imaging optical systems is increasing due to the spread of smartphone cameras and the shift from single-lens reflex cameras to mirrorless cameras in the high-end camera market. In addition, in the market for drones and car-mounted cameras, the demand for wide-angle imaging lenses to capture a wider field of view is increasing in addition to the miniaturization of cameras. Patent Document 1 discloses a compact imaging optical system using two reflective and transmissive surfaces.
  • [0004]
    However, the imaging optical system of Patent Document 1 is not sufficient in terms of widening the angle, and it cannot be said that good optical performance is necessarily ensured.
  • An object of the present
    invention is to provide a compact imaging optical system with a wide angle and a bright F-number.


Example 1

  • Focal length: 24.00
  • F-number: 0.70
  • Half angle of view: 42.04
  • Total length: 85.00
  • Back focus: 5.00


Example 2

  • Focal length: 12.06
  • F-number: 1.00
  • Half angle of view: 50.23
  • Total length: 76.50
  • Back Focus: 11.50


Example 3

  • Focal length: 11.00
  • F-number: 2.03
  • Half angle of view: 63.04
  • Total length: 100.00
  • Back Focus: 13.60


Example 4

  • Focal length: 6.21
  • F-number: 2.00
  • Half angle of view: 105.0
  • Total length: 58.60
  • Back Focus: 13.60

via asobinet

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Voigtlander NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical IV, NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical II, and NOKTON 50mm F1.2 Aspherical II Updates Coming!

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 15, 2025


The Voigtlander NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical IV, NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical II, and NOKTON 50mm F1.2 are generally M-mount lenses, but I love this line of lenses natively and adapted. I have always found the Voigtlander NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical to be magic, and I have owned every edition of it for M mount. You can find the press release below:

Thank you for your continued patronage of Cosina products.

Today, Cosina is releasing new Voigtlander brand VM mount products, the NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical IV, NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical II, and NOKTON 50mm F1.2 Aspherical II, as well as lens hoods LH14 and LH15.

Scheduled for release in May 2025: NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical IV / NOKTON 50mm F1.2 Aspherical II / LH-14 / LH-15

Scheduled for release in June 2025: NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical II

We will inform you again once the official release date has been decided.

Voigtlander NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical:
Amazon / B&H Photo
Voigtlander NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical:
Amazon / B&H Photo
Voigtlander NOKTON 50mm F1.2 Aspherical:
Amazon / B&H Photo

TTArtisan Lens Adapter for Leica M Mount Lens to Canon R:
Amazon / B&H Photo

via Fujiaddict

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