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Tamron's lens firmware update promises 'significantly' better AF tracking

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Tamron's lens firmware update promises 'significantly' better AF tracking


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Images: Tamron

Tamron has announced a firmware update that it says will ‘significantly’ improve the autofocus tracking performance on the Sony E-Mount versions of its 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD and 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD lenses. The company’s press release says the lenses should now ‘keep excellent track of moving subjects.’

The updates also add support for Sony’s AF Assist function, which lets you manually focus even when autofocus is enabled. That should be handy for videographers who want to use autofocus to initially grab focus but then rack focus to something else in the frame, provided they have a Sony body that supports the feature.

The firmware is now available to download from Tamron’s site.



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A new option for gear rental is now available for Canadians

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A new option for gear rental is now available for Canadians


Graphic: Rentovault

Canadians now have a new way to access gear and earn money, thanks to the launch of an Ontario-based startup called Rentovault, as reported by EIN Presswire. Rentovault is a peer-to-peer gear rental option offering photography and outdoor equipment. It aims to provide better access to outdoor and photography gear by connecting those who own it with individuals seeking to rent. It’s essentially like Turo or Airbnb but for outdoor and photography gear.

According to the company, “Rentovault is an outdoor gear rental platform dedicated to connecting Adventure and Photography enthusiasts. By facilitating the sharing of high-quality equipment, Rentovault empowers individuals to explore their passions without the burden of high costs.” It serves as an alternative to renting from companies like Lensrentals in the U.S. and Vistek in Canada.

Rentovault isn’t the first peer-to-peer photography gear rental company created, though it is the first Canadian company, as far as we’ve been able to ascertain. In the U.S., those looking to rent gear peer-to-peer style have more options, with the two most well-known being KitSplit and ShareGrid. KitSplit operates in Canada, though its options are extremely limited at the time of writing. ShareGrid doesn’t currently operate in Canada.

Of course, any peer-to-peer rental structure depends entirely on users putting up their equipment for rent. People won’t bother checking the site if there isn’t much selection. Even though Rentovault is so new, is does appear to have a fairly good selection already, at least in major cities. There’s still plenty of room to grow, though, so don’t expect to find an expansive selection right off the bat.

Rentovault charges a 20% commission on rentals, but even so, if you have gear you aren’t using regularly, this could be a useful way to help pay for the cost of said piece of equipment. To provide those who are putting their stuff up for rent with some peace of mind, Rentovault says it “assumes full responsibility to reimburse you, the lender, to cover damages or loss during the rental period provided that there is proper proof of damages.”

One benefit to such a website over a larger rental company like Lensrentals (which doesn’t operate in Canada) is that you aren’t stuck waiting for something to ship. Rentovault is designed as a local pick-up option, so you can schedule a time and place to pick up what you’re renting instead of waiting a few days or even a week to receive it. Finding the exact piece of kit you need may be harder, but it could provide a lot faster access. Additionally, Rentovault is unique because it has outdoor gear. If you’re looking to get into outdoor adventure but don’t want to buy everything right away, this could be a convenient option.



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B&W street photography: Our January Photo Challenge is open for submissions

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B&W street photography: Our January Photo Challenge is open for submissions


Japan is a street photographer’s paradise, but it’s the rain that really transforms Japanese cityscapes into something magical. City lights reflect off wet pavement, creating depth and dimension that only exist when it rains, and everyone carries umbrellas, creating captivating shadows and silhouettes. This image, taken in Tokyo during a downpour last year, encapsulates the feeling of wandering through the city’s intimate side streets and alleys on a rainy night.

Panasonic S5II X and Panasonic 28-200mm F4-7.1 lens | ISO 1600 | 1/100 sec | F4
Photo: Dale Baskin

Show us your black-and-white street photography!

The January edition of our Editors’ Photo Challenge is now open for submissions. Our theme this month is ‘B&W Street’. We want to see the city through your lens, whether it’s an unexpected scene, a candid portrait, or some other “decisive moment.” Our favorites will be featured on the DPReview homepage later this month.

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! (Hint: the caption for the photo above is a good example.)

Photos can be submitted between Sunday, January 19, and Saturday, January 25 (GMT). This challenge is open to photos taken at any time.

Visit the challenge page to read the full rules and to submit your photos for consideration.

Enter your photos here

Also, don’t forget to check out some of the other open and upcoming photo challenges hosted by members of the DPReview community. Or, see some of the great photos from recently completed photo challenges.

Open challenges:

Upcoming challenges:



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Accessory Roundup: flashes, DJI DIY, a color kit, and more

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Accessory Roundup: flashes, DJI DIY, a color kit, and more


Images: Westcott, DJI, Datacolor, ThinkTank

We’re back with another accessory roundup! This weekend, we’re taking a look at some big flashes, new bags, color calibration tools, and more, but first – as always – let’s see what’s on sale.

Sales of the week

Nikon-Z8-sensor-shot
Photo: Richard Butler

The Nikon Z8 – a powerful camera that essentially stuffs the company’s sports / action flagship Z9 into a smaller body – is currently on sale for $600 off. At $3,400 it’s still an investment, but you’ll be getting a ton of camera for your money.

Panasonic Lumix GH7 sensor

For anyone who’s focused more on video, Panasonic’s GH7 is also on sale, going for $200 off MSRP.

Big flashes

Westcott-FJ400-2-FJ800-flashes-against-black-background
Image: Westcott

Lighting company Westcott has introduced two new flagship-tier flashes: the FJ400 II, which is an update to an existing model, and the FJ800. Both feature OLED touchscreens that display your settings, give you access to a guide, and let you control the flash.

The FJ400II, as its name implies, has 400Ws of power, which it can recycle in 0.01 to 0.9 seconds. The FJ800 puts out 800Ws, and can recycle in 0.01 to 1.8 seconds. Both feature a 30W, bi-color modeling light, include a rechargeable battery, and have a Bowens mount for attaching accessories like softboxes or reflectors.

The FJ400 II costs $599, while the FJ800 is $999.

FJ400 II

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&H
FJ800

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&H

ThinkTank goes tactical

ThinkTank-DarkLight-14L-Montane-Green-with-camera-and-lens
Image: ThinkTank

ThinkTank has released two new backpacks, the DarkLight 14L and DarkLight 20L. The bags, which come in black or green, feature the standard suite of photography-focused features you’d expect from the company: they come with padded dividers, let you access your camera from the top or back of the bag, and have points for attaching tripods.

If you’re into hooking other things onto your bag, though, the DarkLights give you far more options than most of the company’s other backpacks. The front panel is covered in MOLLE loops that let you attach standardized pouches and other accessories, and also features a few hook and loop strips for attaching patches. The side of the bag has additional webbing for strapping things down.

DarkLight-20L-Opened-from-rear
The 20L can hold more gear but weighs 600g (1.32lb) more.

Image: ThinkTank

The company says the 14L model, which has a detachable waistbelt made out of webbing, can hold a “standard-sized camera body with lenses attached and 1–3 standard zoom lenses.” The 20L model, which has a removable padded waistbelt, can hold a 16″ laptop and “two bodies with lenses attached and 2–3 lenses, or one body with lens attached plus 3–5 lenses.” They cost $169 and $199, respectively.

DarkLight 14L

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&H
DarkLight 20L

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&H

Anniversary colors

Spyder-Celebration-Kit
Image: Datacolor

25 years ago, Datacolor came out with its first Spyder color calibrator tool, and now it’s created a “Spyder Celebration Kit” to commemorate the anniversary. The company says the kit is a celebration of “the essentials of precision color management for photography from capture through editing.”

It gathers three of the company’s products – the 2024 Spyder calibrator, a Spyder Checkr 24 color chart, and the “Spyder Cube” white balancing tool – and puts them into a metal carrying case. And, as a bonus, the kit’s $199 price is around $70 less than you’d pay for the products if you bought them separately.

Buy at Datacolor

An inexpensive lens

7artisans-18mm-f5p6-on-sony-a7c
Image: 7Artisans

We don’t generally talk about lenses in the accessory roundup, but if any lens counts as an accessory, it’s this one. 7Artisans has released an 18mm F5.6 pancake lens made for full frame cameras with E, L, or Z mounts… and it costs just $89.

18mm-example-image-girl-standing-in-front-of-building-wearing-backpack
Image: 7Artisans

Of course, you’ll have to cut some corners to make a sub-$100, 146g full-frame lens – the lens is manual focus only, and the aperture is fixed – but it’s hard to complain about those things when the lens doesn’t cost that much more than a good SD card. If you’ve never shot with wide-angle prime before or have always wanted to play around with a low-cost, compact lens, it may be worth picking this one up.

Buy at Amazon

Buy at B&H

Buy at Pergear

Find your next shot

Man-holding-fujifilm-binoculars
Photo: Fujifilm

Fujifilm has been adding stabilization to its cameras’ sensors, but it hasn’t stopped there; this week, the company announced two new pairs of stabilized binoculars, the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L1640 and TS-L2040. Their respective 16 and 20x magnifications give you a lot of reach when you’re surveying the landscape, whether you’re doing so for fun or you’re looking for an interesting subject for your next shot.

Despite packing the electronics and motors used to stabilize the optics while you’re looking through them – powered by two AAA batteries – the binoculars are still relatively compact and lightweight. The company says they’re IPX7 certified, so you won’t have to worry about them if you suddenly get caught in a rainstorm.

The technology and optics don’t come cheap, though. The TS-L1640 comes in at $1,199, and the TS-L2040 costs an extra $100. But if you’re serious about your binoculars and are willing to pay the price, they’ll be available starting January 31st.

Air Traffic Control

DJI-O4-Air-drone-build
Image: DJI

DJI may sell its own first-person view, or FPV, drones, but that hasn’t prevented it from making tools for the enthusiasts who want to build their own. It recently announced the O4 Air and O4 Air Pro, kits that let you attach a DJI camera and transmission system to a DIY drone. The company says the regular model is the “smallest and lightest 4K digital video transmission solution available” and says the Pro model is aimed towards people who want to capture high-quality video without the need for a separate camera like the GoPro Bones.

Both units can transmit 1080p 100fps footage back to the pilot and support the DJI Goggles 2, Goggles 3, Goggles N3, and Goggles Integra, as well as the second and third-gen DJI FPV Remote Controllers.

The regular O4 air costs $109 and can record 4K 60 fps video from its Type 1/2 (6.4 x 5.8mm) sensor. It has a range of 10 km (6.2 mi) and can transmit video with as little as 20ms of latency. The Pro, meanwhile, can record 4K footage at 120fps from its Type 1/1.3 (9.6 x 7.2mm) sensor, supports DJI’s 10-bit D-Log color mode and can be fitted with the ND filters DJI makes for its Avata 2 drone. It has a range of 15 km (9.3 mi), a minimum latency of 15ms, and costs $229.

DJI O4 Air

Buy at B&H

Buy at Amazon
DJI O4 Air Pro

Buy at B&H

Buy at Amazon

Read last week’s roundup



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