Camera
Hands-on with the new Panasonic Lumix S 50mm F1.8
Panasonic’s new Lumix S 50mm F1.8 is a dust and splash-resistant lens for L-mount shooters, sporting a reasonably fast F1.8 maximum aperture. It’s the second of four budget-oriented, compact F1.8 primes (announced by Panasonic last September) to come to market, joining the Lumix S 85mm F1.8. All four of these primes are intended to share a similar design, weight, and footprint, while also appealing to both stills and video shooters alike.
Priced at $449 and available in July, the Lumix S 50mm F1.8 offers a lot of versatility at a reasonable price, whether you looking for a walk-around lens, something to shoot portraits with, or a combination of the two; you truly can’t go wrong with the 50mm focal length. Let’s take a closer look at this one.
View our Panasonic Lumix S 50mm F1.8 sample gallery
Remembering Wildlife reveals winning images for its 10th Anniversary book
| Copyright: © Tristan Dicks/Remembering Wildlife |
Remembering Wildlife, a book series focused on conservation, has revealed the 20 winning photos that will be featured in its forthcoming 10th anniversary edition, 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife. The new book, set for release on October 6th, will be the series’ most ambitious project yet. It’ll bring together images spanning a decade of photographers’ work to raise awareness for endangered species.
For the first time, the project will spotlight multiple species rather than focusing on one. This book will showcase not only the winning competition entries but also standout images from the previous nine titles. It will also feature a dedicated section highlighting the plight of the world’s most trafficked mammal, the pangolin. The cover image of a pangolin was captured by Tristan Dicks.
All profits from the sale of the book will fund pangolin conservation efforts. Since launching in 2016 with Remembering Elephants, the entire series has sold over 55,000 copies and donated over $1.5 million to 79 conservation projects across 34 countries. This competition drew over 4,500 entries from photographers worldwide, with winners representing Australia, Brazil, the United States, Kenya and Namibia, to name a few.
Founded by British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett MBE, Remembering Wildlife was founded in response to a personal encounter with a poached elephant in North Kenya. For more information and to browse books and prints, check out the Remembering Wildlife website.
“Clash of the Titans” by Alessandro Marena (Italy)
 |
| Copyright: © Alessandro Marena/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Rhino, Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia, Kenya
About the image: Illegal poaching of rhinos for their horns means they remain
under huge threat. Remembering Wildlife has donated funds to several rhino
protection units and conservation projects, helping to provide smartphones fitted with
cameras and GPS systems, fuel for patrol vehicles and clothing for rangers.
“A touching moment” by Jagdeep Rajput (India)
 |
| Copyright: © Jagdeep Rajput/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Elephant, Corbett National Park, India
About the image: “A young Asian Elephant calf asking for a drink, as mother
drinks water from Ramganga river, during hot summer afternoon.”
“Age of Innocence” by Julie Oldroyd (UK)
 |
| Copyright: © Julie Oldroyd/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Polar bears, Baffin Island, Canada
About the image: “Baffin Island is one of the most majestic and pristine environments
in the world to see polar bears, especially in March and April when the sea ice has
frozen. However, with temperatures between -30 to -40 it is also one of the most
challenging to ensure you keep your hands warm to press the shutter. We had spent
most of the morning and part of the afternoon with this mother and her COYS (Cubs of
the year) which were likely a week or so out of their den.
However, just as they were settled the mother got spooked and she and the cubs ran off towards a nearby iceberg. We set off to see if we could spot them and when we got to this iceberg I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mother and cubs were huddled together on top of the iceberg. To witness such intimate moments, such as this one, between the cubs whilst their mother sleeps is something that is a once in a lifetime sighting.”
“Monkey business” by Pedro Amaral (Portugal)
 |
| Copyright: © Pedro Amaral/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
About the Image: “High in the canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, two young
mountain gorillas dangle from the branches, locked in a playful game of chase. Their
world is one of curiosity and mischief—tugging, teasing, and tumbling through the
treetops as they learn the skills they’ll need to navigate life in the wild. But this
lighthearted moment is also a testament to a serious conservation success.
Once critically endangered, mountain gorillas are now the only great ape species whose
population is increasing, thanks to anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and
responsible eco-tourism in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a world where every life counts, these two remind us that the future of their
species isn’t just about survival—it’s about thriving, playing, and living wild and free.”
“Bengal Tiger reflection” by Bircan Harper (UK)
 |
| Copyright: © Bircan Harper/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Tiger, Bandhavgarh National Park, India
About the image: Weighing up to 260kg and measuring up to 3 metres in
length, the tiger is the largest of the big cats. It is found in Asia, from India – where
two-thirds of all wild tigers live – through to the Russian Far East and into China.
“African Black Bellied Pangolin” by Alessandra Sikand (USA)
 |
| Copyright: © Alessandra Sikand/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Black bellied pangolin, Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha
About the image: National Park, Central African Republic. The landmark book 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife has a special focus on pangolins – also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet.
“5 at blue hour” by Johann du Toit (Kenya)
 |
| Copyright: © Johann du Toit/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Cheetahs, Shompole Hide, Kenya
About the image: “Five cheetahs at the Shompole Hide at blue hour.”
“Carried away” by Vicki Jauron (USA)
 |
| Copyright: © Vicki Jauron/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Lioness and her cub, Maasai Mara, Kenya
About the image: “A lioness carries one of her two little ones to a new hiding spot in
early morning. Taken in 2021 when vehicle traffic was light and we were able to
follow without impacting her movements.”
“Leopard enjoying morning sun break” by Ifham Raji (Sri Lanka)
 |
| Copyright: © Ifham Raji/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Leopard, Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka
About the image: “After three days of heavy downpour this leopard took the opportunity to enjoy the first morning sun break.”
“Puppy love” by Marcus Westberg (Portugal)
 |
| Copyright: © Marcus Westberg/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: African Wild Dog puppies, Tswalu Kalahari Nature Reserve, South Africa
About the image: Projects that Remembering Wildlife supports include vaccinating
domestic dogs to help prevent the spread of rabies to African wild dogs; GPS collars
to track their movements and even helped facilitate the translocation of 14 African
wild dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete
Wildlife Reserve, in a historic project to reintroduce this endangered species to
Malawi. Since the successful translocation, pups have been born.
“Enjoying the sunrise” by Mark Meth-Cohn (UK)
 |
| Copyright: © Mark Meth-Cohn/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Tigers, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
About the image: “Two sub-adult tiger brothers enjoying the early morning
sunrise” Margot Raggett MBE, founder and producer of Remembering Wildlife, said: “It’s an
oft-quoted fact that there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than there are left in
the world, a stark reminder of how the future of tigers might end if conservationists do
not continue their focus and their fight. Tigers are a bellwether for the health of an
ecosystem. For every tiger protected in the forest, there are plants, trees, insects,
birds and other mammals who thrive.”
“In the arms of eternity” by Kim Paffen (Netherlands)
 |
| Copyright: © Kim Paffen/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Mountain Gorilla and her baby, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
About the image: “A mountain gorilla mother cradles her infant – a portrait of
tenderness etched in shadows and light. Here, where Dian Fossey’s legacy still
whispers through the bamboo, every touch is a lesson, every gaze a vow. Her quiet
strength shields not just her child, but the fragile future of species reborn from the
brink.”
“Cold callers welcome” by Mark Meth-Cohn (UK)
 |
| Copyright: © Mark Meth-Cohn/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Sloth bear, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
About the image: “Sloth Bear making use of an abandoned building.”
“Sunset scales” by Armand Grobler (South Africa)
 |
| Copyright: © Armand Grobler/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Pangolin, Manyeleti Game Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa
About the image: “The vibrant colours of a winter dusk highlight the gentle spark of life
in our planet’s most trafficked mammal.”
“Mbili bora in the rain’ by Xavier Ortega (Spain)
 |
| Copyright: © Xavier Ortega/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Cheetahs, Masai Mara, Kenya
About the image: “The famous coalition of 5 cheetahs that ruled the Masai Mara,
during a storm.”
Remembering Wildlife reveals winning images for its 10th Anniversary book
| Copyright: © Tristan Dicks/Remembering Wildlife |
Remembering Wildlife, a book series focused on conservation, has revealed the 20 winning photos that will be featured in its forthcoming 10th anniversary edition, 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife. The new book, set for release on October 6th, will be the series’ most ambitious project yet. It’ll bring together images spanning a decade of photographers’ work to raise awareness for endangered species.
For the first time, the project will spotlight multiple species rather than focusing on one. This book will showcase not only the winning competition entries but also standout images from the previous nine titles. It will also feature a dedicated section highlighting the plight of the world’s most trafficked mammal, the pangolin. The cover image of a pangolin was captured by Tristan Dicks.
All profits from the sale of the book will fund pangolin conservation efforts. Since launching in 2016 with Remembering Elephants, the entire series has sold over 55,000 copies and donated over $1.5 million to 79 conservation projects across 34 countries. This competition drew over 4,500 entries from photographers worldwide, with winners representing Australia, Brazil, the United States, Kenya and Namibia, to name a few.
Founded by British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett MBE, Remembering Wildlife was founded in response to a personal encounter with a poached elephant in North Kenya. For more information and to browse books and prints, check out the organization’s website.
“Clash of the Titans” by Alessandro Marena (Italy)
|
| Copyright: © Alessandro Marena/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Rhino, Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia, Kenya
About the image: Illegal poaching of rhinos for their horns means they remain under huge threat. Remembering Wildlife has donated funds to several rhino protection units and conservation projects, helping to provide smartphones fitted with cameras and GPS systems, fuel for patrol vehicles and clothing for rangers.
“A touching moment” by Jagdeep Rajput (India)
|
| Copyright: © Jagdeep Rajput/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Elephant, Corbett National Park, India
About the image: “A young Asian Elephant calf asking for a drink, as mother drinks water from Ramganga river, during hot summer afternoon.”
“Age of Innocence” by Julie Oldroyd (UK)
|
| Copyright: © Julie Oldroyd/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Polar bears, Baffin Island, Canada
About the image: “Baffin Island is one of the most majestic and pristine environments in the world to see polar bears, especially in March and April when the sea ice has frozen. However, with temperatures between -30 to -40 it is also one of the most challenging to ensure you keep your hands warm to press the shutter. We had spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon with this mother and her COYS (Cubs of the year) which were likely a week or so out of their den.
However, just as they were settled the mother got spooked and she and the cubs ran off towards a nearby iceberg. We set off to see if we could spot them and when we got to this iceberg I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mother and cubs were huddled together on top of the iceberg. To witness such intimate moments, such as this one, between the cubs whilst their mother sleeps is something that is a once in a lifetime sighting.”
“Monkey business” by Pedro Amaral (Portugal)
|
| Copyright: © Pedro Amaral/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
About the Image: “High in the canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, two young mountain gorillas dangle from the branches, locked in a playful game of chase. Their world is one of curiosity and mischief—tugging, teasing, and tumbling through the treetops as they learn the skills they’ll need to navigate life in the wild. But this lighthearted moment is also a testament to a serious conservation success.
Once critically endangered, mountain gorillas are now the only great ape species whose population is increasing, thanks to anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and responsible eco-tourism in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a world where every life counts, these two remind us that the future of their species isn’t just about survival—it’s about thriving, playing, and living wild and free.”
“Bengal Tiger reflection” by Bircan Harper (UK)
|
| Copyright: © Bircan Harper/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Tiger, Bandhavgarh National Park, India
About the image: Weighing up to 260kg and measuring up to 3 metres in length, the tiger is the largest of the big cats. It is found in Asia, from India – where two-thirds of all wild tigers live – through to the Russian Far East and into China.
“African Black Bellied Pangolin” by Alessandra Sikand (USA)
|
| Copyright: © Alessandra Sikand/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Black bellied pangolin, Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha
About the image: National Park, Central African Republic. The landmark book 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife has a special focus on pangolins – also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet.
“5 at blue hour” by Johann du Toit (Kenya)
|
| Copyright: © Johann du Toit/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Cheetahs, Shompole Hide, Kenya
About the image: “Five cheetahs at the Shompole Hide at blue hour.”
“Carried away” by Vicki Jauron (USA)
|
| Copyright: © Vicki Jauron/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Lioness and her cub, Maasai Mara, Kenya
About the image: “A lioness carries one of her two little ones to a new hiding spot in early morning. Taken in 2021 when vehicle traffic was light and we were able to follow without impacting her movements.”
“Leopard enjoying morning sun break” by Ifham Raji (Sri Lanka)
|
| Copyright: © Ifham Raji/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Leopard, Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka
About the image: “After three days of heavy downpour this leopard took the opportunity to enjoy the first morning sun break.”
“Puppy love” by Marcus Westberg (Portugal)
|
| Copyright: © Marcus Westberg/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: African Wild Dog puppies, Tswalu Kalahari Nature Reserve, South Africa
About the image: Projects that Remembering Wildlife supports include vaccinating domestic dogs to help prevent the spread of rabies to African wild dogs; GPS collars to track their movements and even helped facilitate the translocation of 14 African wild dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, in a historic project to reintroduce this endangered species to Malawi. Since the successful translocation, pups have been born.
“Enjoying the sunrise” by Mark Meth-Cohn (UK)
|
| Copyright: © Mark Meth-Cohn/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Tigers, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
About the image: “Two sub-adult tiger brothers enjoying the early morning sunrise” Margot Raggett MBE, founder and producer of Remembering Wildlife, said: “It’s an oft-quoted fact that there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than there are left in the world, a stark reminder of how the future of tigers might end if conservationists do not continue their focus and their fight. Tigers are a bellwether for the health of an ecosystem. For every tiger protected in the forest, there are plants, trees, insects, birds and other mammals who thrive.”
“In the arms of eternity” by Kim Paffen (Netherlands)
|
| Copyright: © Kim Paffen/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Mountain Gorilla and her baby, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
About the image: “A mountain gorilla mother cradles her infant – a portrait of tenderness etched in shadows and light. Here, where Dian Fossey’s legacy still whispers through the bamboo, every touch is a lesson, every gaze a vow. Her quiet strength shields not just her child, but the fragile future of species reborn from the brink.”
“Cold callers welcome” by Mark Meth-Cohn (UK)
|
| Copyright: © Mark Meth-Cohn/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Sloth bear, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India
About the image: “Sloth Bear making use of an abandoned building.”
“Sunset scales” by Armand Grobler (South Africa)
|
| Copyright: © Armand Grobler/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Pangolin, Manyeleti Game Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa
About the image: “The vibrant colours of a winter dusk highlight the gentle spark of life in our planet’s most trafficked mammal.”
“Mbili bora in the rain’ by Xavier Ortega (Spain)
|
| Copyright: © Xavier Ortega/Remembering Wildlife |
Subject: Cheetahs, Masai Mara, Kenya
About the image: “The famous coalition of 5 cheetahs that ruled the Masai Mara, during a storm.”
It’s firmware Friday. Once again, Sony and Nikon lead the charge with firmware updates. Nikon even surprised us with an update to a discontinued model. The Coolpix P1000, which has become a meme in photography circles for its insane zooming capabilities, may have been discontinued in March 2024, but that doesn’t mean it’s been forgotten.
We’ve rounded up the latest firmware changes for Sony’s a7CR, a7S III and a7C II, along with updates for Nikon’s Z50 and Zfc cameras. Lenses from Chinese manufacturers TTArtisan and 7Artisans also received improvements. Here’s what came out this week.
Sony
a7CR Ver. 2.00 and a7S III Ver. 4.00 firmware updates are identical
You can download the software update using the Creators’ App, which is available for iOS and Google Play.
Benefits and improvements
Shooting & Playback functions:
- Allows you to set Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals.
- Introduces support for the Framing Stabilizer feature, which automatically adjusts the composition to keep the tracked subject in the same frame position during movie recording mode.
- Adds Dynamic Active mode to SteadyShot for movie recording.
- Allows you to add OK/NG/KEEP flags to clips during or after movie recording.
- Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings.
- You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
- Improves image quality when applying user LUTs.
- Allows the use of Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF while using the Bright Monitoring feature.
- Adds a function that allows you to narrow down played-back images using multiple filters (e.g. Rating).
- Adds the Golden Ratio Grid option to the Grid Line Type setting menu.
- Adds support for the Custom Grid Line feature.
- The Custom Grid Line feature is available as a paid license. Availability depends on country and region.
- Increases the maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder to 9,999.
- Adds support for importing/switching multiple IPTC Presets.
FTP Transfer & Network functions:
- Allows scheduling of FTP transfers while writing data to the camera’s storage media.
- You can now automatically schedule FTP transfer of protected movies and still images.
- Movies/still images transferred via FTP transfer can now be automatically protected.
- You can now continue shooting while transferring captured photos and videos to a smartphone or tablet.
- Transfer to smartphones and tablets can now be resumed even if interrupted in the middle of a transfer.
- You can now transfer only the differences that have not yet been transferred to your smartphone or tablet, or add videos to be transferred during the transfer process.
- Adds support for the Network Streaming function.
- Allows you to upload camera images directly to the Creators’ Cloud.
- Displays the Wi-Fi signal strength when the Wi-Fi function is On.
Please note that Ver. 2.9.0 or later of the Creators’ App is necessary for some of the above FTP Transfer & Network functions. The Creators’ App may not be available in some countries or regions. For more information, visit the Creators’ Cloud support website.
Others:
- Allows notifications to be displayed when the latest software is available for your camera.
- WPA and WEP functionalities are no longer supported.
- You will no longer be able to select WPA or WEP when connecting to Wi-Fi.
- Please use the more secure WPA2 or WPA3 moving forward.
- Fixes an issue where the camera operation may become unstable when Pixel Mapping is performed.
- Improves the operational stability of the camera.
The a7C II also got a Ver 2.00 update, with a difference in the benefits and improvements.
Shooting & Playback functions:
- Allows you to set Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals.
- Introduces support for the Framing Stabilizer feature, which automatically adjusts the composition to keep the tracked subject in the same frame position during movie recording mode.
- Adds Dynamic Active mode to SteadyShot for movie recording.
- Allows you to add OK/NG/KEEP flags to clips during or after movie recording.
- Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings.
- You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
- Improves image quality when applying user LUTs.
- Allows the use of Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF while using the Bright Monitoring feature.
- Adds a function that allows you to narrow down played-back images using multiple filters (e.g. Rating).
- Adds the Golden Ratio Grid option to the Grid Line Type setting menu.
- Adds support for the Custom Grid Line feature.
- The Custom Grid Line feature is available as a paid license. Availability depends on country and region.
- Increases the maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder to 9,999.
- Adds support for importing/switching multiple IPTC Presets.
Nikon
 |
| Image: Nikon |
Z 50 updates for Version 2.60 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Fixed an issue where browsing other pictures would not function as expected after using a stretch gesture to zoom in on a picture taken in portrait orientation.
Z fc updates for Version 1.80 (Mac) and (Windows)
Fixed the following issues:
- The values on the control panel would remain on even after the camera was turned off and the lens was removed if [On] was selected for [Connect to smart device] > [Upload while off] in the [SETUP MENU] while the camera was connected to SnapBridge via Wi-Fi.
- The viewfinder display would sometimes be disrupted if the shutter-release button was pressed halfway right before entering playback mode by pressing the playback button while looking through the viewfinder with the monitor closed.
- The viewfinder display would sometimes be disrupted when Picture Control settings were displayed in the i menu.
Coolpix P1000 updates for Version 1.8 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Fixed an issue where the camera would in rare circumstances stop responding after burst shooting.
Lens firmware updates
TTArtisan FUJI-X AF 35mm F1.8 Mark II V1.0.2 update
 |
| Image: TTArtisan |
- Improved corner vignetting performance.
- Fixed firmware version display errors and focus reset issues on some cameras.
- Improved slow or abnormal autofocus performance on some cameras.
- Must be upgraded with Windows system.
- Do not update this firmware on the AF 35mm F1.8 Mark I.
7Artisans AF50mm f1.8 Z V1.01 update
- Added a feature where switching to full-time AF (AF-F) allows direct transition to manual focus (MF) by rotating the focus ring.
- Reduced power consumption and minimized heat generation.
- Enhanced system stability.
That’s all for this week. Make sure you check in every Friday for the latest news on firmware updates for cameras and lenses. Happy updating!
Read last week’s firmware roundup
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