Camera
OnePlus teams up with Hasselblad to launch OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro smartphones
OnePlus has announced a pair of new smartphones co-developed with Hasselblad. The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro smartphones incorporate Hasselblad Camera for Mobile, promising significantly improved photographic capabilities.
The OnePlus 9 Pro is the company’s new flagship smartphone, and its new camera specs are accordingly impressive. Thanks to Natural Color Calibration, the exclusive Hasselblad Camera for Mobile promises strong performance, especially when considering color, thanks to Natural Color Calibration. OnePlus writes, ‘The ultra-flagship camera blends the technological excellence of OnePlus and the legacy of Hasselblad. With the OnePlus 9 Pro, taking your best shot is now effortless.”
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Hasselblad, its ambassadors, and OnePlus worked together to create what OnePlus promises is industry-leading color performance in the smartphone category. OnePlus states that users can expect true-to-life color and natural skin tones. It’s an ambitious promise, to be sure.
Hasselblad’s involvement includes more than significantly improved color rendering. The included pro photo mode includes a new user interface based on Hasselblad’s Phocus software. There are accompanying editing tools included in the new camera mode.
In terms of camera specs, the OnePlus 9 Pro has a 48MP primary camera. The camera uses a Sony IMX789 image sensor, which is 1/1.43″”. The F1.8 lens, which includes optical image stabilization, delivers a field of view equivalent to a 23mm lens on a full-frame camera. The main camera is joined by a 50MP Ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera. The Ultra-wide camera uses a 1/1.56″ Sony IMX766 image sensor. The 14mm lens has a maximum aperture of F2.2. The telephoto camera has a 77mm equivalent focal length, F2.4 aperture and optical image stabilization.
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| The OnePlus 9 Pro has four cameras, including a 48MP main camera and 50MP ultra-wide camera. |
The ultra-wide camera uses what OnePlus calls a ‘Freeform’ lens. The lens uses precise curves to reduce distortion, allowing OnePlus to refer to the ultra-wide lens is rectilinear. The lens can focus as close as 4cm, allowing for macro capabilities.
There’s a fourth (or third, in the case of the OnePlus 9) camera, too, a 2MP monochrome camera. This camera adds additional detail to black and white images captured with other cameras on the phone.
The OnePlus 9 Pro can capture 12-bit RAW images, shoot with dual native ISO, record HDR images, and the camera system promises fast and accurate autofocus. In terms of video features, the OnePlus 9 Pro can shoot 8K video, plus 4K video at up to 120 frames per second.
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While OnePlus itself is placing significant focus on the OnePlus 9 Pro’s photographic capabilities, there’s more to discuss. The 5G-capable OnePlus 9 Pro has a 6.7″ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display, unlike the OnePlus 9’s display, has a variable refresh rate. The smartphone also supports wireless charging, something the OnePlus 9 doesn’t do, and unlike the OnePlus 9, the OnePlus 9 Pro has an IP68 water resistance rating.
However, the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro share some features as well. The 5G smartphones use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Each device also includes the same storage and RAM specs, with 128GB or 256GB storage and 8GB or 12GB of RAM. Each device also includes the same 16MP Sony IMX471 front-facing camera.
In terms of camera specs, the OnePlus 9 lacks the rear telephoto camera of its larger sibling. The OnePlus 9’s primary rear camera, while offering the same 23mm equivalent focal length and F1.8 aperture, uses an older 48MP IMX689 image sensor. In terms of its ultra-wide camera, the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro use the same sensor and lens.
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| The OnePlus 9 has three cameras, including a slightly different 48MP main camera than the OnePlus 9 Pro and the same 50MP ultra-wide camera. |
The One Plus 9 is slightly smaller as well, given its 6.55″ display. The resulting difference in weight between the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro is a mere 5 grams. And in terms of overall size, there’s very little separating the devices. The OnePlus 9 is 160mm tall and 74.2mm wide. The OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly taller at 163.2mm but slightly narrower at 73.6mm. Each phone, built using an aluminum frame, is only 8.7mm thick.
The OnePlus 9 Pro is available in two colors, Morning Mist and Pine Green. The OnePlus 9 comes in Astral Black and Winter Mist. The OnePlus 9 Pro with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage costs $969 USD. The 256GB model comes with 12GB RAM and costs $1,069. The OnePlus 9 comes in the same configurations for $729 and $829, respectively. For additional information and to see the full specifications for each device, head to OnePlus.
| Bikers rounding the corner during a bike race in the Seattle summer. The evening provided some excellent lighting and a chance to test a camera’s autofocus tracking skills. Photo: Richard Butler |
The theme for our May Editors’ challenge is human-powered travel.
We’re looking for photos that show people propelling themselves in fun or interesting ways. That could be walking, hiking, skateboarding, biking, roller-blading or even more exotic means of transportation, as long as they’re not motorized. Our favorites will be featured on the DPReview homepage at the end of the month.
This challenge is open to photos taken at any time.
You can submit photos to the competition starting Sunday, May 11th. The last day for entry will be Saturday, May 17th (GMT).
IMPORTANT: Images MUST include a title and a caption of at least 25 words to be eligible. Viewers want to know the story behind your photo. We will consider both photos and captions when selecting our winners, so make sure to tell us that story!
Walk, run, pedal or paddle to the challenge page to read the full rules and to submit your photos for consideration as soon as the challenge opens.
Visit the challenge page to see the rules
| Images: PGYTech, SmallRig, Chimera, Epson |
Another week down, another chance to check out some new accessories. This time around, we’ve got some massive printers, a wildly fast SD card, cages for new cameras and more. But first, as always, the deals.
Deals of the week
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| Image: Nikon |
The Nikon Z7 II has been included in our Best Cameras for Landscapes buying guide because it provides a lot of image quality at a very reasonable price. This week, it’s even cheaper, selling for $500 under MSRP.
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| Image: Nikon |
If you’re more excited by style and shooting experience, Nikon’s retro-inspired Zf is also on sale for $200 off.
More mounting options
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| Image: Chimera |
Chimera, a lightning company that prides itself on building quality modifiers that it says will be “durable and long lasting,” is giving users even more mounting options. Its new Chimera Pro series light modifiers are compatible with Bowens mount rings, which many users may already have, given the widespread use of the mount by several of the biggest names in lighting.
There are several different modifiers in the Pro series, including a 30″ lantern and four sizes of its “LightBank” softboxes. Pricing will depend on what option you’re going with, but they’re currently available to preorder at B&H and Chimera’s website.
An SD card that reaches new heights
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| Image: Adata |
SD Express has been around for a few years now, but Adata says its latest card is the first to support the SD 8.0 Express specification. That means it has write speeds of up to 1200MBps and read speeds up to 1600MBps. Adata says that’s 12 times faster than standard UHS-1 cards and four times faster than what UHS-II cards are capable of. It even trades blows with some relatively high-end CFExpress cards despite being the same tiny SD form factor we’re all familiar with.
Of course, the elephant in the room with SD Express is that there currently aren’t any cameras that support the standard; they’ll work in a standard SD card slot, but only at UHS-1 speeds, which sort of defeats the purpose. But if a camera manufacturer ever does decide to support the standard, it seems like there will be cards ready to go for it.
Currently, there’s no word on pricing or availability for Adata’s SD8.0 Express card, but the company says it’ll come in a 512GB capacity.
Kitting out the Canon EOS R50 V…
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The cage lets you attach accessories like the sold-separately handle, as well as various coldshoe-compatible add-ons. Photo: SmallRig |
Canon’s latest camera is the video-focused EOS R50 V, which seems like it’s designed specifically to fit into a cage or a gimbal. It’s no surprise, then, that SmallRig has already stepped in to make a cage for it, which adds a deeper grip and a plethora of mounting points. It also has a built-in Arca-Swiss quick-release plate, which could be a big upgrade since, by default, some larger tripod plates will block the EOS R50 V’s battery/SD card compartment. If you don’t need all the mounting points, SmallRig is also selling an L-shaped mounting plate that adds the grip and tripod plate but doesn’t go all the way around the camera.
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| Image: SmallRig |
Also available from SmallRig: a furry windscreen that attaches to the camera’s hotshoe and covers the microphone to cut down wind noise. Thankfully, its design includes a coldshoe mount as well, so you can still mount a microphone, monitor, light or other accessory on top of your camera.
… and the Insta360 X5
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| Photo: PGYTech |
The EOS R50 V isn’t the only camera getting a cage this week. PGYTech has designed one that locks on to Insta360’s latest 360 camera, the X5. The X5 is a bit of a blank slate camera, so the cage adds some attachment points for coldshoe accessories, as well as a bit of protection in the form of silicone lens covers.
Print big
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| Image: Epson |
Recently, Epson announced two new large-format printers: the SureColor P7370 and the SureColor P9370. At 24″ and 44″ respectively, the printers are aimed more towards commercial use than home use, but they’re also designed to be a bit less expensive than higher-end models. While the company’s site doesn’t currently have pricing info, PetaPixel reports that they’re around $1000 cheaper than their higher-end counterparts. That’s because they use a 10-ink system instead of a 12-ink one, though Epson says they’re still capable of “accurate color reproduction and industry-leading print permanence.”
The two models will be available in “summer 2025.”
The month of May brings new opportunities to get your work seen by a large, international audience. While they sometimes get flak, photography competitions, when judged fairly and conducted with integrity, offer exposure to industry decision-makers, an opportunity to get your work published or exhibited and recognition that can elevate your career.
As we’ve learned, not all competitions are created equal. Some have been exposed as cash grabs at best and content farms at worst. We waded through a long list of open calls and came up with this list of eight competitions worth considering. From Pop Art to Landscape and Black & White, there is a genre for every type of photographer.
We’ll lead with the free-to-enter competitions and follow with contests that require an entry fee. No matter the contest, it’s essential to read the rules and terms and conditions closely. As a former judge, I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to disqualify a promising submission because a watermark was left on or the photo was formatted incorrectly. Reading the requirements will at least get your foot in the door.
We wish you the best of luck if you decide to enter any of these competitions. While there is no guarantee that your work will be selected, and rejections are always discouraging, taking steps to get your work out there is always valuable. If any noteworthy contests are missing, let us know.
The CEWE Photo Award
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| Image: CEWE Photo Award |
Deadline: May 31st
Entry Fee: Free
CEWE is a leading photo printing company based in Europe. Its annual competition offers €250,000 in prizes, including vacations and photography gear. Participants can enter up to 100 photos, taken on anything from a full-frame camera to a smartphone. CEWE also donates €0.10 for every entry to the SOS Children’s Villages International. There are 10 categories to enter, including Travel & Culture, Landscape, Food and Macro/Close-up.
Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition
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| Image: Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity |
Deadline: May 5th
Entry Fee: Free
The Banff Photo Essay Competition emphasizes storytelling through a curated series of images that delve into mountain culture, natural history, adventure, wildlife, sports and the environment. Open to amateur and professional photographers, you must submit three to five images that can stand independently but also combine to create a narrative. A prize of CAD 3000 and a showcase at the Banff Centre of Mountain Film and Book Festival will be awarded to one Grand Prize Winner.
Photometria Awards Open Call, “Non Stop Pop”
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| Image: Photometria |
Deadline: May 31st
Entry Fee: The first image is free or €5 for up to 3 photos
This competition invites professional and amateur photographers to explore the influence of pop culture on modern society. Submissions will be judged by Magnum photographer Alec Soth, who is looking for compelling and original interpretations. The overall winner will receive Nikon gear and the top 25 images will be exhibited during the 17th Photometria International Festival in Ioannina, Greece.
The Motif Collective: Black and White Photography Competition & Sunrise and Sunset
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| Image: The Motif Collective |
Black and White deadline: May 7th
Sunrise and sunset deadline: June 7th
Entry Fee: $12 to $36, depending on the number of submissions
The Motif Collective currently has two contests: Black and White and Sunrise and Sunset. April’s contest, which closes on May 7, focuses on the art of monochrome imagery. The May contest is dedicated to sunrises and sunsets and closes on June 7. Both are open to professionals and amateurs worldwide; participants can submit up to six images. The prize pool scales with the number of entries and can reach up to $10,000 in total cash rewards. There will also be an artist showcase gallery promoted across its social media channels.
International Garden Photographer of the Year Macro Art Photo Project
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| Copyright: © Zsolt Varanka |
Deadline: May 6th
Entry Fee: €16 for up to 4 single images
The Macro Art Photo Project from International Garden Photographer of the Year asks that photographers from all over the world capture the fine details of plants, insects and other natural forms. Only single entries are accepted as the judges aren’t looking for a series of images. Winners will get international exposure through exhibitions and publications.
reFocus Awards: Black & White Photo Contest
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| Image: reFocus |
Deadline: May 13th
Entry Fee: Anywhere from $12 to $50 for single images and series
The reFocus Black & White Photo Contest is open to student, amateur and professional photographers. Individual entries or a series of two to five monochrome images can be submitted. Winners receive $4000 in cash prizes, custom-engraved trophies and features in the reFocus Artist Directory. There is also a People’s Vote Award, which allows the public to select standout work.
40th AOP Photography Awards
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| Image: AOP Photography Awards |
Deadline: May 15th
Entry Fee: Anywhere from £50 to £90 for a single image or project
The Association of Photographers (AOP) deems its awards competition as the “Oscars” of the photography world. While this competition is only open to AOP members, everyone from students to assistants and professionals at any stage in their career can apply for inclusion. The 10 open categories include Documentary, Portrait, Best Moving Image and Still Life. Winners will be exhibited and featured in a book.
Nature Photographer of the Year
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| Image: Nature Photographer of the Year |
Deadline: May 25th
Entry Fee: Free for Youth Category and £34 to £49.50
NPOTY features 12 categories including Birds, Landscapes, Underwater and Natural Art. There’s also a Youth category for photographers under 18 and the Fred Hazelhoff Award for Best Portfolio submission. The total prize pool is £25,000 with the overall winner receiving £3000. Winning images are displayed at the Nature Talks Photo Festival and receive international recognition in publications and exhibitions.
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