Camera
Sony announces a9 III: World’s first full-frame global shutter camera
| Sony a9 III |
Sony has announced the Alpha 9 Mark III, the world’s first full-frame camera with a global shutter. It can shoot at 120 fps with no blackout and a maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 sec.
It’s a 24.6MP camera that Sony says doesn’t compromise on ISO performance or dynamic range. The global shutter means photos with zero distortion of movement. It promises 8EV of in-body stabilization.
The a9 II is built around the latest Bionz XR processors, giving eight times as much power as the a9 II.
The a9 III can shoot 120 fps with full AF conducting calculations between each shot. It can continue this for 1.6secs of 14-bit Raw files: 192 frames and 6Gb/s. It can pre-buffer for up to 1 sec, giving a preemptive 120 frames of pre-capture. The camera includes a ‘Speed Boost’ custom button to prompt the camera to jump from a slower rate up to 120 fps.
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CMOS sensors with a global shutter have been available for several years but haven’t been able to offer as much dynamic range as conventional, progressive-scan designs. The emergence of Stacked CMOS technology provides enough space for the added circuitry that global shutter designs need on one layer, while also allowing enough space for electron storage, helping relieve this DR restriction.
The global shutter means the a9 III can sync at up to 1/80,000 sec and eliminates the need for High Speed Sync, and allows this feature with third-party flashes. It also means there’s no risk of banding from artificial lights, but the camera has an ‘Anti-Flicker’ mode that syncs the shutter with the bright point in the light’s cycle, to avoid inconsistent exposure.
It’s rated to focus down to -5EV with an F1.8 aperture lens. It adds smaller AF points, alongside Sony’s subject recognition modes.
On the video side, it can shoot 4K/60p taken from 6K capture and 4K/120p without any crop. It includes options such as 10-bit 4:2:2 capture, the S-Cinetone profile and ’16-bit’ Raw video output over HDMI.
The a9 III has a 2K-dot 3.2″ rear screen with full articulation and a tilt-out cradle. It’s the same setup as the a7R V and includes an LCD panel which covers the DCI P3 color gamut. It features a 9.44M dot OLED viewfinder with 0.9x magnification. It can run at full resolution at 120fps or with a reduced resolution at 240fps.
Sony says it’s moved the shutter button to improve ergonomics, as well as adding a fifth function button to the front of the camera. The optional battery grip’s ergonomics have also been reworked and the battery performance boosted by 15% by treating the two included batteries as a single entity, rather than discharging one and then the other.
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The a9 III will be available from Spring 2024 at a recommended price of $5999.
What is a global shutter?Global shutter is a method of ending an exposure where all the image data is captured simultaneously. This is distinct from most existing shutter systems (electronic and mechanical) that start and end progressively: working their way across the sensor. There are multiple benefits to such a system, with the most obvious being the elimination of the rolling shutter distortion effect often seen on video and with slow electronic (progressive) shutters. But another major benefit is that a global shutter can sync with flash at almost any shutter speed. With global shutter it’s the duration of the flash burst that becomes the limitation, rather than the length of time it takes to close the shutter (which in turn dictates the shortest period where the whole sensor is exposed). Sony says the a9 III can sync at all shutter speed (all the way up to 1/80,000 sec). A global shutter also eliminates the banding that can occur with progressive shutters under flickering lights. Because the image is all captured at exactly the same moment, you don’t capture different parts of a light’s flicker cycle in different parts of the image. You might capture an image of an LED sign board refreshing, if you use a very high shutter speed, but that’s an issue with the LEDs, not the camera, which is accurately capturing a single moment in time. |
It also says it will be introducing firmware updates to the a7S III and the a1, adding features such as breathing compensation. The a7S III will also gain DCI 4K capture. Sony says it will also add the ability to continuously shoot with shutter speeds at up to 1/80,000 sec in a firmware update.
All three cameras will also add C2PA authentication metadata.
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As part of the launch, Sony has announced the FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS. It weighs 1470g (51.9oz), making it the lightest in its class, the company says. This is the same weight as the original 70-200mm F2.8 GM. The company also says it’s designed to be balanced with the camera attached.
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| FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS |
The 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has two XD linear motors to allow it to focus fast enough to work with the a9 III.
The 300mm F2.8 will also cost $5999 and will also be available in Spring 2024.
Sony event video:
Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award
A few weeks ago, The Natural History Museum, London, announced the winners of its 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards for 2024. Now, it needs your help to select the winner of its 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.
The 25 finalists for the People’s Choice Award were selected from 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories. Members of the public can cast their vote for the award until January 29, and the winning image, along with four runners-up, will be announced in February. Here, we present the 25 finalists for this year’s award.
If you’re a wildlife photographer and want to enter your own images in the 2025 competition, you can find information on the competition’s website. However, act quickly: you have until December 5th to submit your images.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
Wolf Pack
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Wolf Pack by Arvind Ramamurthy, India
Members of an Indian wolf pack pause briefly as they play in fields in Bhigwan, India.
Indian wolves were once found all across India. Now, their number has dwindled to as few as 3,000. Living so close to humans poses many risks. Farming has fragmented their rolling grassland habitat, and feeding on cattle carcasses puts them at risk of disease. But Indian wolves are hardy animals. With better grassland management and protection, they could make a strong comeback. Arvind was photographing this pack playing in the grassy fields. One of them came and sat down at the edge of the agricultural crop, and one by one, four others joined it. They paused for a few seconds before they ran off again, playing and chasing one another.
Copyright Arvind Ramamurthy / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Icy Repose
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Icy Repose by Sue Flood, UK
A dramatic blue-grey sky highlights the soft greys of a Weddell seal as it rests on an ice floe.
Sue watched this Weddell seal from aboard a rigid inflatable boat in Neko Harbour of the Antarctic Peninsula. So as not to disturb its peaceful slumber, Sue used a long lens to record this serene portrait. Weddell seals’ large bodies are covered in a thick layer of blubber. This keeps them warm above and below the icy waters of the Southern Ocean.
Copyright Sue Flood / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A Good Scratch
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A Good Scratch by Mark Williams, UK/Canada
A beluga whale rubs its underside on a shallow river bottom to exfoliate its skin.
Mark took this image in a remote inlet along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. Hundreds of beluga whales come here to socialize and exfoliate in the shallow water. The passage is also a safe haven, away from the predatory orcas. Belugas are extremely sociable mammals. They live, hunt and migrate together in pods that can range from quite small into the hundreds. Nicknamed ‘the canaries of the sea’, they produce a series of chirps, clicks, whistles and squeals that Mark found otherworldly.
Copyright Mark Williams / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Scanning the Realm
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Scanning the Realm by Aaron Baggenstos, USA
A puma stands on a windswept outcrop in the rugged mountain terrain of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.
It is a symbol of hope. A successful conservation movement led to the creation of the national park and a rise in ecotourism in the region. This has also helped to reduce conflict between pumas and local gauchos (sheep farmers). The gauchos view pumas more positively because they’re attracting tourists, which is good for income. The introduction of sheepdogs has also helped. The dogs confront any approaching pumas and stop them attacking the sheep. In turn, the pumas hunt their natural prey, and the gauchos are less likely to shoot them. The change has been gradual but has gained momentum over the past 20 to 30 years. There is hope that humans and pumas can live alongside one another.
Copyright Aaron Baggenstos / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Aspen Shadows
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Aspen Shadows by Devon Pradhuman, USA
Four grey wolves cross a minimalist landscape of naked aspens and snow in Yellowstone National Park, USA.
It was early spring in the Lamar Valley, and this pack was in search of its next meal. Watching from a distance, Devon saw them heading towards this patch of aspens and thought it would make a compelling image. The wolves walked right past these trees and then continued to follow the tree line, eventually disappearing over the hillside.
Copyright Devon Pradhuman / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Evening Song
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Evening Song by Christian Brinkmann, Germany
A singing Eurasian songbird is silhouetted against a backdrop of colorful fairground lights in Münster, Germany.
During a popular fair in Münster called the Send, an interesting atmosphere arose behind the castle. The evening mood was gentle, and Christian had singing birds on one side and party music on the other. In front of the fairground lights, this Eurasian blackbird posed for its song. Although blackbirds are a common sight, Christian likes to photograph them in distinctive ways. Here, the silhouette of the bird set against a colorful backdrop gives the image an artistic flair.
Copyright Christian Brinkmann / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Sneak Attack
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Sneak Attack by Erlend Haarberg, Norway
A polar bear cub attempts an underwater surprise attack on a northern fulmar.
In the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, a walrus carcass had attracted a female polar bear and her two cubs. But one of the cubs was more interested in playing in the water than eating. The cub was having fun diving under the water and resurfacing, playing with the seaweed and kelp. The northern fulmar resting on the surface of the water awakened the cub’s desire to hunt. Erlend watched as it attempted several underwater surprise attacks on the bird, only to fail each time. Play hunting like this is essential learning for a young bear. Eventually, it will have to survive in the Arctic without its mother.
Copyright Erlend Haarberg / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Slap Shot
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Slap Shot by Savannah Rose, USA
A beaver cocks its tail before slapping it down on the water to alert its family to a newcomer.
Savannah enjoys photographing North American beavers in this pond in Jackson, Wyoming, USA. As she approached the shoreline, a beaver cruised cautiously by after emerging from its lodge. It cocked its tail up and brought it down with a resounding crack. Savannah had been trying to document this dramatic beaver behavior for years. Beavers use tail smacks to alert their family group to a newcomer. Despite the theatrics, beavers usually relax quickly after discovering the newcomer doesn’t pose a threat.
Copyright Savannah Rose / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Togetherness
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Togetherness by Ivan Ivanek, Czech Republic
A striking pair of red-shanked douc langurs are seen mating in the forests of the Sơn Trà peninsula in Vietnam.
Known for their bright red ‘stockings’, these primates are found only in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The species is critically endangered because of habitat loss, hunting and the illegal pet trade. After days observing the area, looking for evidence of the monkeys, Ivan managed to find a small group. Late one evening, he saw these two mating. Compared to other species of monkey he’d seen mating, it was an unexpectedly gradual and graceful affair!
Copyright Ivan Ivanek / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Concert in the Forest
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Concert in the Forest by Vincent Premel, France
A Surinam golden-eyed tree frog puffs out its cheeks as it prepares to call for a mate.
The first rains come in French Guiana after a long dry spell. They’re a release for all wildlife, but especially for amphibians. When it rains, the ponds fill with water. Dozens of species descend from the canopy or come out of the ground. They’re here to lay their eggs in the water, in an event called ‘explosive breeding’. The density of individuals is hard to imagine. It made for a special night for Vincent, who is both a herpetologist and a photographer. The call of the Surinam golden-eyed tree frog is so powerful it can be heard hundreds of meters away.
Copyright Vincent Premel / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Snuffling Sengi
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Snuffling Sengi by Piotr Naskrecki, Poland
A rarely seen four-toed sengi forages for food among the leaf litter in Mozambique.
Sengis mainly eat insects and look for their prey at dusk and dawn. They rely on a combination of good vision and excellent sense of smell to find food. Piotr watched this sengi over several weeks in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. It followed the same network of trails every day, looking for beetles and other tasty morsels among the leaf litter. Sengis are extremely shy and skittish, so Piotr set up a remote camera to photograph the little creature sniffing for food.
Copyright Piotr Naskrecki / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Whiteout
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Whiteout by Michel d’Oultremont, Belgium
A stoat sits up and observes its territory as it blends perfectly into a snowy landscape in Belgium.
Michel had been looking for stoats in the snow for many years. The magic of snowfall fascinates Michel every winter. He wanted to take a photograph that showed how the stoats blend in with the whiteness of the landscape. He’d seen a few in Switzerland but never in his native Belgium. Then, finally, his dream came true. He lay in the snow with a white camouflage net covering all but his lens. This curious stoat came out of its snowy hole and sat up from time to time, observing its territory just before setting off to hunt.
Copyright Michel d’Oultremont / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Earth and Sky
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Earth and Sky by Francisco Negroni, Chile
A double lenticular cloud is illuminated at nightfall by the lava emitted from the Villarrica volcano, Chile.
Villarica is in the town of Pucón in the south of Chile. It’s one of the country’s most active volcanoes, and last erupted in 2015. Francisco takes regular trips to Villarrica to monitor its activity. On this visit, he stayed nearby for 10 nights. He says every trip is “quite an adventure – never knowing what the volcano might surprise you with”. Some nights are calm, others furious, as in this photograph, where the brightness of the crater illuminates the night sky.
Copyright Francisco Negroni / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Fallen from the Sky
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Fallen from the Sky by Carlo D’Aurizio, Italy
A collage of dead butterflies and moths trapped by the surface tension of the water floats in a stream in Italy.
It was a summer morning in the San Bartolomeo Valley in the Majella National Park, Italy. Carlo had visited this small stream many times. He expected to see the graceful flight of butterflies and dragonflies along it. He never thought he would find such a still life, a sad collage of dead insects calmly floating in the water. It hadn’t been particularly hot, and there hadn’t been any storms in the previous days. To this day, Carlo has no explanation of why the insects died.
Copyright Carlo D’Aurizio/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Spiked
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Spiked by David Northall, UK
A bloodied yet determined honey badger returns to finish off a Cape porcupine, which earlier had tried to defend itself.
Found throughout Botswana, honey badgers are famously ferocious. They often chase animals many times their own size. This honey badger got an unpleasant surprise when it attacked the normally nocturnal Cape porcupine. The badger grabbed the porcupine’s right leg. In defense, the porcupine repeatedly backed into its attacker, piercing it with many quills. During a lull in the attack, the porcupine managed to shuffle away, its leg badly damaged. After a short retreat, the bloodied badger returned. It finished off the porcupine under a bush close to the original attack, then dragged it into its underground den.
Copyright David Northall / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Unsold
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Unsold by Jose Fragozo, Portugal
A young cheetah cub hisses while waiting to be sold in Ethiopia.
Captured from her home plains in the Somali Region, she was transported for several days on the back of a camel to the northern coast of Somaliland. Illegal wildlife trafficking is a problem in the Somali Region. Farmers catch and sell cheetah cubs to traffickers, claiming that the cheetahs attack their livestock. Sometimes, the farmers and traffickers cannot sell the cubs immediately. The bigger the cheetahs get, the harder it is to find buyers. Some end up being killed and their parts sold, their bones shipped to Yemen and then to other Asian markets. They are then sold as tiger bones and used to make Chinese bone wine. After hissing at the camera, the cub started chirping, calling out for its mother.
Copyright Jose Fragozo / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Annoying Neighbor
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Annoying Neighbour by Bence Máté, Hungary
A European roller defends its territory from a bemused-looking little owl in Kiskunság National Park, Hungary.
The little owl and the European roller are very different birds, but their nests and feeding requirements are similar. This means they sometimes breed near each other. The male roller makes a sport of annoying other birds that stray into its breeding area during the short mating season. It makes a surprise ambush, flying at full speed behind them. To catch such a fleeting scene, Bence spent 27 days watching from a hide. The little owl seemed nonplussed by the spectacle.
Copyright Bence Máté/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Curious Connection
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Curious Connection by Nora Milligan, USA
A chimpanzee pauses and looks down as its family moves across the forest floor of Loango National Park, Gabon.
On a trek through the forest, Nora’s guide signaled for the group to stop near the bank of a swamp. They heard the call of a chimp first, then the leaves around them started to rustle and a group of chimpanzees appeared. This family is called the Rekambo group. A group of researchers from the Ozouga Chimpanzee Project is studying them. Nora couldn’t believe her luck when they started to climb the nearby trees. As she peered through her viewfinder, a large male paused and looked down at them. The chimp craned its neck forward and its eyes seemed to widen, as if to get a better look.
Copyright Nora Milligan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Meeting in the Marsh
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Meeting in the Marsh by Michael Forsberg, USA
A disguised biologist approaches an endangered whooping crane in Louisiana, USA.
Michael has been chronicling the lives of endangered whooping cranes since early 2019. The biologist acted with cat-like quickness to check the bird’s health and change a transmitter that was no longer working. The transmitter helps biologists track these non-migratory birds and learn more about them. This experimental population was reintroduced in Bayou Country in 2011. In the 1940s there were roughly 20 whooping cranes in the region. Since then, numbers have climbed to over 800.
Copyright Michael Forsberg / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Brave Gecko
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The Brave Gecko by Willie Burger van Schalkwyk, South Africa
A giant ground gecko stands fast against a pale chanting goshawk in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa.
One hunting strategy of the southern pale chanting goshawk is to walk or run on the ground in pursuit of prey. Willie watched as the little lizard put up a brave fight against its large attacker. Unfortunately, there was no hope of survival, but Willie was impressed by the gecko’s bravery.
Copyright Willie Burger van Schalkwyk / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Forest Dreams
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Forest of Dreams by Samuel Bloch, France
A northern giant petrel sits on its nest at the edge of a rātā tree forest on Enderby Island, New Zealand.
Northern giant petrels are large seabirds. They’re used to flying above the waves for weeks without encountering land. Samuel was surprised to find this one in such a woody environment. Like many other seabirds, it breeds on islands where there are fewer predators. Samuel took this image from a distance and left quickly to avoid disturbing the bird.
Copyright Samuel Bloch / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Edge of Night
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Edge of Night by Jess Findlay, Canada
A ghostly barn owl exits the hayloft window of a derelict barn to hunt fields outside Vancouver, Canada.
Combining high-speed and long-exposure photography in a single exposure required a technical setup. First, Jess quietly watched the owl for several nights to understand its habits and plan the shot. He then set up an invisible beam that would trigger a flash when the owl flew out of the barn. Simultaneously, a slow shutter speed gathered ambient light cast on the clouds and barn to complete the scene. On the tenth night, all the moving parts came together as the owl left to begin his hunt.
Copyright Jess Findlay / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
No Access
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No Access by Ian Wood, UK
An ambling Eurasian badger appears to glance up at badger graffiti on a quiet road in St Leonards-on-Sea, England, UK.
Residents had been leaving food scraps on the pavement for foxes. But Ian noticed that badgers from a nearby sett were also coming to forage. After seeing a badger walking along the pavement by this wall late one night, he decided to photograph it. He set up a small hide on the edge of the road to take his picture. Only the light from a lamppost illuminated the creature as it ambled along, seemingly glancing up at the badger graffiti just in front of it.
Copyright Ian Wood / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Drifting Dinner
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Drifting Dinner by Noam Kortler, Israel
A decorator crab perches on top of a sea squirt to comb the water for drifting plankton.
Noam took this photograph during a night dive off Komodo Island, Indonesia. The sea squirt provided the crab with the perfect stage to feed on drifting plankton. The crab had camouflaged and armed itself with tiny hydroids known as Tubularia. These can sting other animals and so helped protect the crab from predators. Noam watched the crab gracefully search for food, illuminated by the camera flash as if in a spotlight center stage.
Copyright Noam Kortler / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Arrival
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The Arrival by Brad Leue, Australia
Floodwaters that have traveled for months surge towards an enormous salt lake in South Australia.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is Australia’s largest inland lake and one of the world’s largest salt lakes. Photographing from a helicopter in strong winds was quite a challenge for Brad. As well as the floodwaters, a dust storm was blowing and rain was falling on the horizon. Floodwaters had traveled more than 1,000 kilometers (1,600 miles). They’d surged steadily from Queensland towards South Australia. Timing was imperative to photograph this once-in-a-decade natural event. Brad’s image shows the water channeling steadily down Warburton Groove. This is the final stretch before entering the mighty lake. On their journey, the waters bring new life to this remarkable desert system and its rare and threatened wildlife.
Copyright Brad Leue / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Black Friday has gone from being a single-day event to a series of sales spanning over a week. And while there are hundreds of discounted items out there, not all of them are worth your while. We’ve dug through them to find products that are actually a deal – the items that we know are good, and that are cheaper than their usual prices.
If the deal is only available for a very narrow window of time, we’ll be sure to note that.
Shortcuts:
Camera Deals
Nikon
Deals will be available starting 11/28
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Gold Award Winners
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Nikon Z9 – $5,000, $500 off
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Nikon Z6III – $2,200, $300 off
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
Canon
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Gold award winners
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EOS R5 – $2,799, $600 off
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| Photo: Dan Bracaglia |
EOS R6 II – $1,999, $500 off
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| Photo: Dale Baskin |
Silver Award winners
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EOS R8 – $1,199, $300 off
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| Photo: Brendan Nystedt |
EOS R7 – $1,299, $200 off
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EOS RP – $899, $100 off
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EOS R10 – $879, $100 off
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| Photo: Shaminder Dulai |
EOS R50 – $579, $100 off
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
Other sales
EOS R3 – $4,499, $500 off
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Sony
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Gold award winners
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Sony a1 – $5,500, $1,000 off
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| Photo: Dan Bracaglia |
Sony a7R V – $3,400, $500 off
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
Sony a7 IV – $2,100, $400 off
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
Sony a7S III – $3,200, $300 off
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Panasonic
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Silver Award winners
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Lumix S5II – $1,700, $300 off
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
Lumix G9II – $1,600, $300 off
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| Photo: Brendan Nystedt |
The Lumix G9 II is the company’s high-end Micro Four Thirds camera, featuring a 25MP sensor and phase detection autofocus.
Fujifilm
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
Outside of its Instax cameras, Fujifilm currently has only one camera on sale: the Gold Award-winning X-T5, which costs $1,600, $100 off its original price. You can read the full review here.
OM System
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OM-1 Mark II – $1,899, $500 off
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| Photo: Shaminder Dulai |
OM-5 with 12-45mm F4 Pro lens – $1,099, $300 off
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| Photo: Brendan Nystedt |
Lens Deals
Nikon
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| Image: Nikon |
NIKKOR Z 70-200mm F2.8 – $500 off (after 11/28)
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F2.8 – $400 off
NIKKOR Z 35mm F1.8 – $250 off (after 11/28)
NIKKOR Z 50mm F1.8 – $200 off (after 11/28)
NIKKOR Z MC 105mm F2.8 – $200 off
Canon
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| Image: Canon |
Sony
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Do note: the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 and 70-200mm F2.8 that are on sale are the first-generation ones, which are a fair bit heavier than the second-generation ones.
Image: Sony |
Panasonic
Micro Four Thirds
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| Image: Panasonic |
Full Frame
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| Image: Panasonic |
{BuyButton: linkHref=”https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Full-Frame-Stabilizer-Freeze-Resistant-Mirrorless/dp/B07N844X8Q/”, linkTitle=”$1,100 at Amazon}
{BuyButton: linkHref=”https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Full-Frame-Stabilizer-Freeze-Resistant-Mirrorless/dp/B07ZZQ3DCC”, linkTitle=”$1,900 at Amazon}
Fujifilm
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| Image: Fujifilm |
XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR – $200 off
Sigma
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| Image: Sigma |
150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS – $200 off | L-mount, E-mount
500mm F5.6 DG DN OS – $200 off | L-mount, E-mount
14mm F1.8 DG HSM – $200 off | E-mount
Tamron
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| Image: Tamron |
150-500mm f/5-6.7 – $200 off | E-mount, X-mount
35-150mm F2-2.8 – $200 off | E-mount, Z-mount
28-75mm F2.8 – $200 off | E-mount
Accessory Deals
DPReview merch
Okay, we’ll level with you – our newly-released 25th anniversary merch isn’t on sale. But if you’re looking for a gift for photography nerds in your life, definitely head over to our pop-up shop and see if any of our shirts, mugs, or hats would fit the bill. They’re only available for a limited time, so grab them while they’re here.
Visit the DPReview Pop-up Shop
MacBook Pros
Apple doesn’t generally run sales on its laptops, which are well-liked by photographers and other creatives. However, that doesn’t stop retailers like Best Buy, B&H, Costco, or Amazon from knocking $200-300 off the price for Black Friday, even for the latest M4-equipped models. The ones with older chips are no slouches either, just make sure you’re not getting one of the entry-level ones with a vastly insufficient 8GB of memory.
Peak Design
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You can get Peak Design’s normally $600 carbon fiber travel tripod for $480.
Photo: Dan Bracaglia |
Peak Design makes camera straps, tripods, and camera-focused packs, some of which are popular around the DPReview office. Most of them are currently 20% off, which can be a fair chunk off the price if you’re looking at a higher-end item like its carbon fiber travel tripod or camera-ready Everyday Backpack.
NiSi Filters
If you’re looking for lens filters, NiSi is having a 20% off sale on most of its offerings. That can add up to some rather substantial savings if you’re looking to stock up on different sizes or strengths of ND or black mist filters, or if you’re shopping for a pricier piece of glass like a variable ND filter.
Software Deals
DXO
DXO has put its photo-focused apps on sale. Its full Raw editing suite, PhotoLab 8, is available for $180 ($50 off its normal price) for first-time buyers, or $90 as an upgrade. Its plugin pack, film emulation pack, geometry correction software, and Raw processing software, are also on sale.
Davinci Resolve
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| Image: Blackmagic |
Davinci Resolve Studio, the upgrade to the free Davinci Resolve video editing software, is also on sale for Black Friday; you can pick it up for $235, $60 off its usual price.
Topaz Labs
Topaz Labs is well known for its AI-powered noise reduction and upscaling software. You can get it for 50% off from the company’s website. It’s also running a deal where you can bundle all its programs – Photo AI 3, Video AI 5, and Gigapixel 8 – together for $399.
Find a deal we missed? Leave it in the comments!
| Image: Tamron |
Tamron has announced that it’s launching its first lens for Canon’s RF mount, the 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD, next month. The APS-C lens has been available on Sony’s E-mount and Fujifilm’s X mount for a while, and Tamron announced it’d be coming in April of this year, but now it’ll actually be available to buy.
The 11-20mm F2.8 has a moisture-resistant build, and an optical formula consisting of 12 elements in 10 groups. It has two glass molded aspherical elements, one XLD element and two LD elements. It also has Tamron’s second-generation anti-reflective coating, as well as a fluorine coating for oil and water resistance on the front element.
When attached to a Canon APS-C body, it should make for a relatively small kit. It weighs 340g (12 oz) and is 84mm (3.3″) long. It accepts 67mm filters.
Given Canon APS-C cameras’ 1.6x crop compared to full-frame, this lens will be roughly equivalent to 18-32mm.
When it launches on December 12th, it’ll be the third zoom lens available for RF mount not made by Canon itself, alongside the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 and 18-50mm F2.8. It rounds out a selection of lenses for the system that was quite sparse just a year ago, owing to how tightly Canon has controled the license for its mount.
The Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD will cost $659.
TAMRON Announces the Launch of Its First CANON RF mount Lens
The compact, lightweight, fast-aperture F2.8 ultra wide-angle zoom 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD (Model B060)
Commack, NY, November 26, 2024 – Tamron announces the launch of TAMRON’s first CANON RF mount lens, 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A1 RXD (Model B060), an ultra wide-angle zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras at $659 USD / $899 CAD on December 12, 2024.
The 11-20mm F2.8 is a fast-aperture zoom lens covering a focal length range from ultra wide-angle 11mm to 20mm2, with a maximum aperture of F2.8 across its full range of focal lengths. With a surprisingly compact and lightweight design for a fast ultra wide-angle zoom lens, the lens feels well balanced when attached to a compact APS-C mirrorless camera body, making it ideal for daily use.
Despite its small, lightweight design, the lens delivers high-level imaging power with its uncompromising optical design. Wide macro shooting is possible at 11mm with an MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 0.15m (5.9in) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4, and its stunning close-range shooting performance enables creative use of perspective at the wide end.
The lens also incorporates an AF drive system with an RXD (Rapid-eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit that is remarkably quiet. The lens accurately captures not only still images but also video. It is highly practical, with Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating, and other features designed for outdoor shooting, letting users easily enjoy the high image quality of this ultra wide-angle fast -aperture F2.8 lens under a range of conditions.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
1. Fast-aperture ultra wide-angle zoom lens
The 11-20mm F2.8 (full-frame equivalent of 17.6-32mm) allows for the capture of landscapes and architecture with the dynamic perspective unique to ultra wide-angle lenses. It is also well-suited for indoor group portraits and real estate photography by leveraging its wide-angle focal lengths. At the telephoto end, it supports everyday snapshots with its natural field of view close to one’s view, all while delivering soft and beautiful bokeh with its F2.8 aperture.
2. Compact and lightweight
Designed with APS-C mirrorless cameras in mind, the 11-20mm F2.8 provides a compact and lightweight form, measuring just 3.3” (84.2mm) in length and weighing 12 oz. (340g), allowing you to shoot without worrying about weight. When used with a compatible APS-C mirrorless camera body, you’ll enjoy handheld shooting of still images and find it comfortable to shoot video even when using a compact tripod or gimbal.
3. AF/MF Switch and TAMRON Lens Utility Compatibility
The CANON RF mount includes an AF/MF switch. Additionally, the lens features a Connector Port for users to easily update the lens to the latest firmware via TAMRON Lens Utility™ software.
4. Outstanding optical performance
The optical construction uses 12 elements in 10 groups including two GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) lens elements to maintain high resolution across the entire image area. It also incorporates one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) and two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements to effectively suppress aberrations, ensuring clear image quality. Additionally, the BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) Coating minimizes ghosting and flare, faithfully rendering details even in backlit conditions.
5. MOD of 5.9” (0.15m) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4
With an MOD of 5.9” (0.15m) at 11mm and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4, the 11-20mm F2.8 surpasses traditional ultra wide-angle zoom lenses in its close-up capabilities. This allows for wide-angle macro photography and creative shallow depth of field effects, enhancing subject prominence against blurred backgrounds.
6. High performance autofocus system for both still and video use
Equipped with TAMRON’s proprietary RXD motor unit, the autofocus system delivers high-speed and high-precision focusing. It accurately captures moving subjects and is suitable for both still photography and video. Its quiet RXD stepping motor is ideal for capturing moments where noise may be a concern, or silence is required.
7. High convenience and protective features
- 67mm filter size, same as most other TAMRON lenses for mirrorless cameras
- Enhanced overall lens design for user-friendly operation
- Moisture-Resistant Construction
- Fluorine Coating
This product is developed, manufactured, and sold under license from Canon Inc.
1: Di III-A: For APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
2: The full-frame equivalent of 17.6-32mm.
Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 11–20 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Sony FE |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | F16 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 7 |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 12 |
| Groups | 10 |
| Special elements / coatings | 2 aspherical + 1 XLD + 2 LD elements, BBAR-G2 coating |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.15 m (5.91″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.25× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Full time manual | No |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Focus distance limiter | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 335 g (0.74 lb) |
| Diameter | 73 mm (2.87″) |
| Length | 86 mm (3.39″) |
| Sealing | Yes |
| Colour | Black |
| Filter thread | 67 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Tripod collar | No |
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