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NEWS / 3
OPTICS Nikon’s fast pro telezoom reborn The Z series flagship 70-200mm is lighter and quicker to focus
FROM THE EDITOR
The shortest day is long gone, the weather is marginally improving and it’s time to get excited about meeting like- minded creative types at The Photography & Video Show. It’s also time to go out in the real world and start creating! If you follow predictions for 2026, life is now about getting away from doomscrolling and back into reality. Real experiences with real people and, for many of us, real photography. Authenticity is everything, especially in the face of AI photos and videos. AI is here to stay. Used well, it’s a powerful tool to clean up noise, retouch blemishes and speed up editing. But when generative AI systems are trained on copyrighted photographs and films without permission, ingesting decades of human creativity to make synthetic alternatives, it stops being innovation and starts looking like exploitation. The Association of Photographers (AOP) – alongside other creator-led organisations – has warned policymakers that livelihoods are at risk. The issue isn’t technology. It’s consent, compensation and credit. Photography has always evolved, but every shift until now has still relied on photographers creating photographs – with human judgement. When AI ‘mimics human originality’ without permission, it chips away at authorship, identity and value. We believe in real photography. Work made by real people, with real intent. Maybe that’s something we need
Nikon’s new Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II is an upgrade to one
3.5x faster than the last version while reducing noise by 50%. Focus tracking during zooming has also been refined. The redesigned optical formula uses fewer elements to achieve greater sharpness, smoother bokeh and better anti-glare performance. Dual-sided aspherical elements, Super ED and SR glass, plus Meso Amorphous and Arneo coatings contribute to higher image quality and reduced weight. Further refinements include a removable tripod collar with an Arca- Swiss foot, a de-clickable control ring for silent aperture adjustment, pro- grade weather sealing and a lens hood with a filter window. nikon.co.uk
of its most important zooms. Designed for both stills and video work, the S-line lens has improved weight, autofocus, stabilisation and handling. Just 998g, the £2999 lens is 362g lighter than its predecessor and 12mm shorter. Its internal zoom design keeps the centre of gravity consistent when changing focal lengths – ideal for video. Stabilisation is rated at up to six stops of in-lens Vibration Reduction, with Synchro VR when paired with compatible Z cameras for enhanced stability across the frame. Nikon’s new Silky Swift voice coil motors power the AF system, giving AF speeds up to
TAKE TWO The recent version of the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 is better optically and more compact
to champion more loudly. AI as a tool? Yes. AI as a substitute built on unlicensed labour? No thanks.
Editor
EDITORIAL TEAM Editor Adam Duckworth adamduckworth@bright.uk.com Editorial director Nicola Foley nicolafoley@bright.uk.com Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Junior sub editors Tabitha John & Kezia Kurtz ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com DESIGN TEAM Design director Andy Jennings Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Senior designer Carl Golsby Design & ad production Holly May DISTRIBUTION Distribution and subscription manager Phil Gray philipgray@bright.uk.com
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Longer takes for the cinema-ready ZR hybrid
Nikon has released a free firmware update for the ZR that extends maximum continuous recording time from 125 to 360 minutes,
making it more suitable for interviews and events. The update also adds timecode input, expanded LUT import capacity now up
to 50, new exposure warning lines for Log recording as well as an energy-saving power-on lamp option. nikon.co.uk
OPTICS State of the Art 35mm
accurate bokeh. An 11-blade rounded diaphragm aids smooth background rendering. Sigma’s newly developed Advanced Amorphous Coating (AAC) reduces flare and ghosting, improving contrast. The £849 lens is around 14% shorter and 20% lighter than the last version, thanks to a floating focus system and refined mechanical design. AF is run by Sigma’s dual HLA (High- response Linear Actuator) motors for fast, quiet stills and video operation. Additional features include an aperture ring with lock and de-click options, minimised focus breathing plus dust- and splash-resistant construction. sigma-global.com
ISSN 2059-7584
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Sigma’s classic fast 35mm prime has been upgraded to the full-frame 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art, combining enhanced optical performance with a noticeably more compact design. Available in L- and Sony E-mount, the redesigned construction features 15 elements in 12 groups, including four precision aspherical and two SLD elements. Axial chromatic aberration has been reduced, helping give cleaner detail and more natural, colour-
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PRIME UPGRADE The light Sigma 35mm lens is new and improved
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