Red hot new issue out now! Summer is one of the most exciting times of the year for getting out and about to shoot some amazing images, and the new Photography News is out to inspire you to do just that. In a packed issue, we have a huge guide to taking photographs of one of our readers’ most popular subjects – birds. Alongside expert techniques and buying advice, it’s all you need to know to avoid getting in a flap! We also have lots of equipment news, hands-on reviews and some incredible work from our Photography News Photographer of the Year contest.
ISSUE 128 July/August 2026
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Your free newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories
Creator king Canon EOS R6 V is aimed at video creators but is an all-round performer
Retro Lumix The resurgence of compacts continues with Panasonic’s L10
Bird is the word From techniques to kit, take your best-ever pics of our feathered friends
Sirui-sly good! Two affordable and fast Aurora AF prime lenses put to the test
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Photographer of the Year is hotting up! But there’s still time to get your entries in SEARCH FOR OUR STAR
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The ultimate Leica? Luxury meets 40fps and 8K performance in the no-compromise 44-megapixel SL3-P
With its stellar combination of speed, resolution, robust
For memory, it possesses one CFexpress Type B and one SD slot, but the camera can record directly to external SSDs. The ISO range is 50-200,000 and multi-shot mode shoots up to 176 megapixels. The SL3-P retains Leica’s signature all-metal construction and minimalist styling, complete with IP54 weather sealing, while battery life is rated at up to 383 shots per charge. It connects via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB-C and is compatible with
the Leica Fotos app for file transfer, remote control and more. There’s Adobe Frame.io Camera to Cloud integration, as well as a built-in Content Credentials chip, which embeds secure image authenticity data directly into files for greater confidence in provenance. Leica has also just launched two new lenses to fit the L-Mount: the innovative Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH and the APO-Macro- Elmarit-SL 100mm f/2.8.
using the electronic shutter – while the mechanical shutter tops out at 7fps. This is the fastest camera in Leica’s SL range, on top of its high- resolution credentials. Video performance is equally impressive. The SL3-P records 8K open gate footage at up to 24fps or 7.2K open gate at 30fps, while full-width 8K recording is available at up to 30fps. For super slow-motion, it offers 4K at up to 120fps. Apple ProRes codecs and LUTs come pre-installed.
HANDS-ON TEST
construction and advanced video capabilities, the SL3-P is Leica’s most complete full- frame mirrorless camera. It has a 44-megapixel back-side illuminated CMOS sensor with newly developed phase detection autofocus and subject recognition with 819 AF points. The camera shoots at up to 40fps in 12-bit mode with continuous AF, or 25fps in full 14-bit quality – both
More than megapixels Sony’s A7R VI offers so much more than its 66.8-megapixel sensor
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NEWS / 3
FULL SPEED AHEAD Leica’s latest masterstroke
FROM THE EDITOR
But are the tech specs of the new SL3-P enough to make you buy it?
Kits are also available, such as the SL3-P with a Vario-Elmarit-SL 28- 70mm f/2.8 ASPH for £6100 or instead with the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 for £8560. With the long zoom costing £2880 and the standard zoom priced at £2379 alone, it means you’re essentially bagging the new SL3-P for £3300. Of course, if you want to build a system and save more, the L-Mount means there are lots of options from Panasonic, Sigma and more. One stumbling block might be Panasonic’s £2699 Lumix S1R II, as it uses the same lens mount, sensor and processor as well as boasting 40fps stills speed and rolling shutter performance. However, it does have a different body and build – with none of Leica’s brand kudos. The SL3-P is also set to include Leica’s own colour science, LUT and app support. We’ll be doing a full test in the next issue of Photography News . leica.com
Photography used to be full of technical compromises – autofocus would miss, high ISO was noisy, burst rates were slow. If you wanted resolution you sacrificed speed, and if you wanted speed you gave up detail. Every camera came with limitations that photographers simply learned to work around. Not any more. The latest cameras are simply astonishing. In this issue alone we test Sony’s remarkable new A7R VI, which somehow combines huge resolution with stacked-sensor speed. Leica’s new SL3-P delivers 44 megapixels, 40fps shooting and 8K video in one beautifully engineered package. And its neo-brutalist looks prove that not all cameras have to look alike. Canon’s EOS R6 V pushes hybrid imaging even further, with creators now firmly in its sights. They’re incredible tools by any measure. But they also raise an interesting question: if cameras have become so good that they rarely get in the way, what separates a great photograph from the millions uploaded every day? The answer has never really changed. It’s still about seeing something others miss. It’s about patience, timing, composition and the understanding of light. No amount of AI-powered autofocus can decide where you should stand, when to press the shutter or why one moment is more meaningful than another. Technology can help you capture the picture, but it can’t tell you what the picture should be. Perhaps that’s why I particularly enjoyed putting together this issue.
The Leica SL3-P ticks so many boxes. It has bags of resolution
and speed for fast action stills, plus video specs and connectivity that makes it a great choice on paper. It hits the sweet spot for those who shoot a variety of subjects. The sticking point for Leica is the price, as its reflects the brand’s luxury heritage and top-quality build. Body only is £5150, putting it above rivals like Sony’s £4399 A7R VI, which uses a faster, stacked sensor. But it is still below the flagship Leica SL3, which uses a 60-megapixel sensor and is now discounted to £5749 at select retailers. The SL3-P is faster than the SL3 in terms of frame rates and rolling shutter performance.
GLOVES ARE OFF The SL3-P is fast and looks stylish, but it’s not cheap compared to its competition
Adam Duckworth
Editor
EDITORIAL TEAM Editor Adam Duckworth
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Pair excellence Leica has expanded its premium SL lens line-up with two primes. Joining the range are the Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH standard prime and the APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100mm f/2.8. The new £3890 50mm is claimed to be the world’s most compact autofocus f/1.4 standard lens, at 75.5mm long and 584g. Despite its small size, Leica says it delivers superb image quality thanks to two aspherical elements, an 11-blade aperture for smooth bokeh and a fast, quiet autofocus system. The bright aperture also makes it well suited to low-light photography and shallow depth-of-field portraits. Alongside it comes the £2110 APO-Macro-Elmarit-SL 100mm f/2.8, inspired by Leica’s classic 1987 macro lens. Offering life-size 1:1 reproduction with a minimum focusing distance of just 30cm, it’s designed for everything from detailed close-ups to flattering
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portraiture. Apochromatic correction helps deliver sharpness and colour accuracy, while a nine-blade aperture produces smooth background blur. Both lenses feature Leica’s weather- resistant full-metal construction with IP54 protection, Aquadura coatings on the front element and a shared 67mm filter thread.
GLASS ACT Leica’s 50mm and 100mm Macro are a premium optical pairing
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MADE FOR MOTION The EOS R6 V is designed to be video-first, but still packs in great spec
READY TO ROLL Canon takes aim at creators The newest EOS may be aimed squarely at video creators but it still offers plenty for still photography
Canon’s new EOS R6 V isn’t aimed at traditional
for a better view. And it also makes the camera more compact. Under the hood sits the same 32.5-megapixel full-frame sensor that is found in the EOS R6 Mark III and Cinema EOS C50, paired with Canon’s Digic X processor. That means plenty of resolution for everyday shooting, travel, portraits and commercial stills work, while still maintaining manageable file sizes and strong low-light performance. Where the EOS R6 V distinguishes itself is its movie capability. Removing the viewfinder has allowed Canon to incorporate an active cooling system, complete with internal fan. That means much longer recording times than most mirrorless cameras, particularly when shooting demanding formats. The camera records 7K Raw video up to 60fps, as well as open gate 7K using the full sensor area. For photographers asked to deliver both stills and video content, this flexibility is particularly useful, allowing footage to be reframed for horizontal, vertical or social media formats. There is also oversampled 4K up to 60p, uncropped 4K/120p slow motion and Full HD recording at up to 180fps. Both Canon Log 2 and Canon Log 3 are also included for advanced
colour grading, while HDMI Raw output provides further options for professional workflows. Autofocus remains one of Canon’s biggest strengths. Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with intelligent subject recognition tracks people, animals and vehicles with impressive accuracy. The camera offers a claimed 7.5 stops of in-body image stabilisation, helping produce sharper handheld images while smoothing video footage. Paired with Canon’s latest RF lenses, it makes the EOS R6 V a highly capable run-and-gun camera. However, there are compromises. The lack of an EVF means that it’s less suited to photographers who spend long days shooting stills, particularly in bright sunlight. The absence of a mechanical shutter and flash support also limits its appeal for some photographic applications. But Canon isn’t trying to replace the EOS R6 Mark III. Instead, the EOS R6 V fills a different role. It’s a camera for photographers who increasingly find themselves producing video content, live streams, social media clips and client films alongside more traditional still images. canon.co.uk
photographers but is designed for a growing audience of hybrid shooters who spend as much time filming as they do taking pictures. At first glance, the most obvious change is the missing electronic viewfinder. Canon has removed it, making the £2400 EOS R6 V a screen-based camera much like Sony’s creator-focused ZV range. While that may immediately deter some photographers, many content creators, vloggers and social media shooters rarely use an EVF, preferring the rear screen or an external monitor
SOUND SYSTEM The audio features are a benefit for creators
Specs that stand out
What it is Full-frame hybrid mirrorless with a 32.5-megapixel sensor shooting up to 7K Raw, 4K/120p and open gate Body No EVF but has zoom lever, vertical tripod socket as well as a cooling fan Webcam use Plug and play Memory 1x CFexpress Type B, 1x SD
VIEW TO A SKILL Fancy trying video? This is an ideal way in
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NEWS / 5
POWER TO THE PEOPLE The 20-50mm is the first Canon RF optic with an internal power zoom
FAN-TASTIC Cooling vents and a built-in fan stop overheating
The power zoom era begins
Designed as the perfect partner for the EOS R6 V, the companion RF 20- 50mm f/4L IS USM PZ full-frame lens combines premium L-series optics with something Canon has never offered before on an RF lens – an integrated internal power zoom. Unlike traditional zoom lenses that rely on manual movement, the RF 20-50mm features a built-in servo system for smooth, controlled focal length changes. The zoom ring doubles as a manual zoom-by-wire control, giving the best of both worlds. The focal range itself is highly practical. Starting at a wide 20mm
makes it ideal for handheld vlogging, interiors and establishing shots, while the 50mm long end provides more natural framing for interviews, portraits and product work. Canon has clearly focused heavily on video usability. Focus breathing is optically suppressed to prevent distracting framing shifts during focus pulls, while the Nano USM autofocus motor delivers fast, silent and highly accurate tracking. Despite all this advanced tech, the lens remains impressively compact at just 420g. Not only that but the optical image stabilisation offers up to six
stops of correction, increasing to eight stops when paired with compatible in-body stabilised cameras such as the EOS R6 V. To go along with the new EOS R6 V, Canon has launched a range of accessories. The first is the £149 HG- 200TBR tripod grip that comes with a new remote control that can be used wirelessly and controls shutter, zoom, AF and recording. And finally, the £199 AD-M1 macro flash head adapter works with Canon’s own Macro Twin Lite, as well as various RF mount lenses, to light close-ups effectively.
DOUBLE ACT The top controls are a mix of stills and video
MERCH DROP There’s a new remote control (above left) and macro flash head adapter (above right) for close-up work
Free firmware tune-up for Canon range
Canon has released fresh firmware updates for its EOS R-series mirrorless and Powershot cameras, adding new features and workflow improvements.
Highlights include enhanced custom controls for the EOS R1 and the EOS R5 Mark II, with four more colour temperature memory settings.
There’s also improved wireless connectivity and new video grid display options, all available as free downloads.
DIFFERENT CLASS Twin card slots but only one is CFexpress
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EVERYDAY HERO
One lens wonder Tamron’s value-packed 17-70mm f/2.8 zoom now fits APS-C Canon and Nikon mirrorless
Tamron has made its popular 17-70mm f/2.8 standard zoom
in mounts to fit Nikon Z and Canon RF mirrorless cameras, but it only covers APS-C sensors. Covering an equivalent focal length of up to 105mm on Nikon and 112mm on Canon, the 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD costs £549 and offers an all-in-one solution for everything from landscapes and travel to portraits, close-ups and video. The lens already comes in Sony E and Fujifilm X Mount. Tamron’s VC image stabilisation helps deliver sharper handheld stills and smoother video. Fast autofocus comes from the RXD stepping motor, with reduced focus breathing making the lens appealing to content creators. Despite boasting the widest zoom range in its class for an APS-C f/2.8 standard zoom, it’s still compact and light. Close focusing down to just 19cm, a weather-resistant construction and a fluorine-coated front element make it a practical everyday lens. tamron.com RANGE ROVER This Tamron zoom now fits Canon and Nikon cameras, as well as Sony and Fujifilm
V FOR VICTORY Flatpack lighting comes of age
Westcott has reinvented the studio V-Flat with a portable design aimed at use in the studio and on location. Replacing fragile foam boards with a lightweight aluminium frame and machine-washable black & white fabric panels, the collapsible system packs into a case and assembles in under five minutes without tools.
Measuring up to 208x213cm when fully opened, it can be used for bounce lighting, negative fill, flagging stray light or even as a freestanding backdrop. Magnetic support feet provide added stability, making it a durable alternative to conventional foam-core V-Flats. Price is £254. fjwestcott.com
FOAM IS WHERE THE HEART IS... But Westcott’s fabric panels are easier to take with you
LONG GAME
Stretching ahead
Samyang’s AF 60-180mm f/2.8 FE is a lightweight telephoto zoom for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, co-developed with German optical specialist Schneider-Kreuznach. Weighing just 730g, the lens is significantly lighter than many traditional 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms while maintaining a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout its range.
Designed for travel, the £899 lens completes Samyang’s Compact Zoom Series, including the 14-24mm f/2.8 and 24-60mm f/2.8. The lens delivers 0.26x magnification, making it suitable for detail shots as well as portraits and action. Its fast Linear Stepping Motor, weather sealing and a compact design complete the package. lksamyang.com
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MODERN CLASSIC Compact with character Panasonic’s latest MFT premium compact pairs retro charm with advanced autofocus
images for different outputs without changing focal length. The L10 features 779-point Phase Hybrid AF with AI-powered subject recognition for people, animals, vehicles and urban sports. Continuous shooting reaches up to 30fps with the electronic shutter. Panasonic embraces creative photography with film-inspired colour profiles, including L Classic and L Classic Gold, while Real Time LUT support enables previews of custom looks directly in camera. An OLED electronic viewfinder, fully articulating screen and smartphone connectivity via the Lumix Lab app complete the set. panasonic.com
Panasonic is marking 25 years of Lumix cameras with the
L10, a premium fixed-lens compact combining retro-inspired styling with modern imaging technology. Available in black or silver for £1299 and a special £1399 Titanium Gold edition, it weighs 508g and has a 20.4-megapixel Micro Four Thirds BSI CMOS sensor. It’s paired with a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm equivalent lens featuring an f/1.7-2.8 aperture. Close focusing down to just 3cm opens up creative detail shots. The camera has a multi-aspect sensor, which allows switching between 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 formats while maintaining the same angle of view. This makes it easier to compose
PRIME TIME
Viltrox Evo-lution optics, this reduces chromatic
Viltrox has expanded its Evo lens line with two full-frame primes, the AF 35mm f/1.8 and AF 55mm f/1.8 for Sony FE and Nikon Z mounts. These lenses are designed for stills as well as video. Both optics possess an advanced 13-element optical design with ED, HR and aspherical elements, but the headline feature is their new APO (apochromatic) correction. Traditionally reserved for premium
aberration and colour fringing for cleaner edges, more natural focus fall-off and sharper contrast. Both lenses also feature STM autofocus motors for quiet focusing, de-clickable aperture rings for video, weather sealing, USB-C firmware updates and a unified 58mm filter thread. The 35mm is £385 and the 55mm is £359. viltrox.co.uk
VILTROX FOR VALUE The 35mm and 85mm primes offer advanced designs on a budget
FOCUS POCUS
Laowa powers perfect parfocals
Laowa’s latest Axon lenses are the world’s first parfocal zoom super- macro lenses. The 45mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro 1-5x APO and 17.5mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO are an optical breakthrough, as they maintain a fixed working distance across the entire zoom range.
This eliminates the need to reposition the camera when shifting magnification. By keeping a constant gap between the lens and the subject, you can now zoom right through the range without casting shadows on subjects. Prices are yet to be revealed. venuslens.net
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SCREEN BREAK Precision panels for pros The Philips 49B2U6903CH takes
Philips is sharpening its focus on creatives with a range of Thunderbolt 4 monitors designed for colour-critical work. At the top of the line-up is the Brilliance 27E3U7903, a 27-inch 5K display aimed at high-end retouching and grading. The 5120x2880 resolution delivers great detail, while wide gamut coverage of 99.5% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3 ensures accurate colour. As it includes Display HDR 600 and Thunderbolt 4 with up to 96W power delivery, it’s a strong option for clean, single-cable studio set-ups.
a somewhat different approach. Its 49- inch 32:9 super-wide dual QHD panel is designed to replace multi-monitor configurations. An integrated webcam with auto-framing points to modern hybrid workflows. With HDR support, wide gamut panels and flexible connectivity, these displays are built to handle complex video production while simplifying the workspace. Prices have yet to be announced. philips.co.uk
PHILIPS DRIVER There’s a new range of high-end monitors coming from the Dutch electronics firm
STAR OPTIC Voyager of discovery Meet the first Chinese-made autofocus zoom for mirrorless
ALEXA, GO LARGER This is the new Sony Rialto sensor - bigger than the one in Arri’s Alexa cine cameras
The optical formula features 16 elements in 13 groups, including aspherical, ED and high-refractive- index elements, plus a ten-blade aperture for smooth bokeh. With support for Sony Eye AF, continuous tracking autofocus and weather sealing throughout, the Voyager costs £586. thypoch.com
The new Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 is not only Thypoch’s first
autofocus optic, but also the first full- frame autofocus zoom developed by a Chinese optical brand. Designed for Sony E-mount, the Voyager uses an internal zoom design to keep the lens the same physical length regardless of focal length, so it’s ideal for video use on gimbals.
LOGICAL MOVE Thypoch expands into full-frame AF zoom lenses – the first Chinese brand to do so
It’s Sony make believe! SENSOR-SATIONAL
The big time is beckoning for Sony, as it has recently revealed the Rialto 65, a 65mm-format image sensor that’s scheduled for release in 2027. Measuring in at 53.75x35.83mm, it’s bigger than the 43.8x32.9mm sensor in the Fujifilm GFX100 series and the Hasselblad X2D 100C. Capable of 9.6K open gate recording, it is initially destined for Sony’s high-end Venice 2 cinema
camera. The 65mm format is the size across the diagonal of the sensor, and it refers to a traditional super-size film format. But the move has since fuelled speculation that the sensor could be used in a new family of medium format Sony stills cameras. These would need a whole new lens mount as E-mount glass would not cover the sensor. sony.com
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Excire Foto boost The best gets better as the AI-powered Excire Foto 2027 packs in lots of new features to sort your photo library
numbers, vehicle registrations and menus. Text recognition is also possible in another must-try feature: AI-powered smart filtering – this lets you filter your image database by visible text, plus content and metadata. In a folder of racing motorbikes, we selected ‘Text in photos’ in the filter bar and keyed in ‘426.’ It identified all the shots of a single race bike carrying that number. On a folder of British seaside scenes, we searched for ‘fish and chips,’ which brought up every photo with those words somewhere in the image. It’s a huge time saver and incredibly powerful. After this, we switched to content filtering and keyed in ‘church’ in a folder of mono cityscapes at dusk. All images with a church in the frame appeared. By default these are in time order of capture, but by selecting ‘aesthetics,’ the AI system reorders them by visual appeal. That’s a useful tool to sort some of your best shots quickly. Location-based searching and browsing has been transformed thanks to the new World Map View. Explore images via an interactive map interface, making it easy to rediscover work from specific cities, countries, regions or even streets. Excire Foto’s core AI search capabilities remain a major strength of the software. You can search for faces, content, visually similar images and more. The software now includes Timeline Graph, which shows how many images were taken at a specific date and allows you to filter accordingly: ideal for navigating extensive archives. Additionally, the new Survey View offers a distraction-free environment for comparing, rating and selecting images. Inspired by traditional light tables, it’s a fast, intuitive way to identify the best frames.
Software Excire Foto 2027 Platforms Windows and MacOS Licence One-time purchase, no subscription Launch price £199 (normally £229) Upgrade price From £79 Free trial 14 days At a glance Image evaluation has also received an upgrade. New rule-of-thirds overlays and focus peaking tools enable instant assessment of composition and sharpness while reviewing images. And Excire offers powerful culling tools that can group, sort and even select the best photos. Importantly, Excire Foto is still a stand-alone application with a one-time purchase price and no subscription fees. It performs its AI-powered analysis locally, meaning photographers retain control of their image libraries without needing to upload files to the cloud. Updates also include support for OneDrive and Nextcloud, improved keyword management, video export tools, a more refined interface and faster folder navigation. Try Excire Foto 2027 libraries free for 14 days and you’ll be hooked!
If you’ve ever tried Excire’s award- winning Foto software, you’ll know it’s an incredibly powerful and fast way to rediscover forgotten portfolio shots, overlooked gems and pictures from your hard drives. Now, it’s taken a huge leap forward with the 2027 version that’s packed with even more cutting-edge tools. The latest version of this AI-powered, stand-alone software turns folders of work into a fast, searchable library by using new search tools, location-based browsing, smarter filtering and enhanced image evaluation – and it supports MacOS and Windows for both stills and video.
n Search through photos using everyday language n Explore your archive through a new interactive world map n New focus peaking and Survey View features for evaluation n No subscription or cloud dependency required n Free 14-day trial, then 15% off purchase if you quote PHOTONEWS Five reasons to try Excire Foto 2027 Installation is quick and easy, and it doesn’t take you long to get to grips with the intuitive workflow. Import your folders of photos and videos, then it’s simple to navigate to a gallery view. There’s a new filter bar that helps you to navigate your photo library, with options like filtering by ratings, flags, file type and metadata. You can even filter images by specific people using the powerful, AI-driven facial recognition. But it goes further. Excire Foto 2027 can now identify visible text within photographs, so you can search for images containing everything from street signs and shop names to race
excire.com
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ZOOM IN Insta360’s Luna Ultra has twin lenses – but look out, DJI’s competitor is imminent
WIN! A 512GB Samsung memory card Complete our word search and you could win one of Samsung’s updated Pro Ultimate cards. It’s a fast U3, Class 10-rated card with read and write speeds up to 200 and 130MB/s to let you take and transfer masses of photos and video. The card offers protection from water, extreme temperatures, X-rays, magnets, drops and wear out – and it comes with a ten-year limited warranty. Finish the word search below, which comprises 20 things associated with outdoor photography, and you will find one word in the list that’s not in the grid. Email puzzle@photographynews.co.uk with that word in the subject box by 8 September and the card will be yours if your name is drawn at random from the correct entries received. Only entries from UK residents please. Congratulations to Allan Rooke from Ipswich, who was our winner from issue 126. The missing word from issue 127 was ‘crop’.
The rivalry between Insta360 and DJI has entered a new phase after the launch of the Luna Ultra, a dual-lens gimbal camera aimed squarely at creators. Insta360 is best known for its 360° cameras and action cams, but the Luna Ultra marks its first major push toward territory traditionally dominated by DJI’s Osmo Pocket range. DJI recently launched its Osmo Pocket 4 but is also ONE SMALL STEP Gimbal wars Competition between Insta360 and DJI reaches another level with the just-launched Luna Ultra
UINULAFOCUS
teasing that a dual-lens 4P version is on the way, which looks somewhat similar to the new Insta360 camera. The £649 Luna Ultra has a one-inch sensor capable of 8K video at up to 30fps, paired with a Leica Summicron lens and a secondary telephoto lens offering up to 12x zoom. Video includes 10-bit I-Log for up to 14 stops of dynamic range. The compact camera weighs just over 200g yet has a full three-axis stabilisation system, electronic image stabilisation and AI-powered Deep Track 5.0 subject tracking to follow people, groups and moving subjects. A standout feature is the detachable two-inch OLED touchscreen, which can operate remotely up to 20 metres away. The Leica partnership continues with colour profiles inspired by the famous camera maker, while professional workflow features include ACES colour support, built-in timecode and compatibility with popular editing software. insta360.com
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Eizo has expanded its premium Flexscan line-up with two curved ultra wide monitors that use one USB-C connection for simplicity. The flagship 37.5-inch EV3851X offers 3840x1600 resolution, while the 34.1-inch EV3451X features a P3, DCI-P3 and BT 709. Sustainability credentials include recycled materials, eco-friendly packaging and industry certifications. The EV3851X will begin shipping from July, while the EV3451X is set for autumn this year. eizoglobal.com Eizo throws a curveball with Flexscan pair 3440x1440 panel. Prices have not been revealed but both will come with an industry-leading seven-year warranty. The USB-C connection is used for video, data, networking and power delivery up to 94W. The monitors have preset colour modes including Display
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Apple-approved accuracy From Studio Display to Macbook Pro, Calibrite’s affordable Display Plus HL gives next-level colour consistency using your Mac’s built-in calibration workflow
All serious photographers and content creators will know that colour accuracy is vital. Whether you’re preparing images for print, editing a wedding album or grading a video, displays need to show colours exactly as they should appear. Now, thanks to a major milestone for Calibrite, achieving that level of accuracy on Apple displays has become significantly easier and more affordable. The Calibrite Display Plus HL is the first colorimeter to receive official Apple approval for use with Apple’s built- in display calibration system. This means that it can perform true hardware-level calibration on supported Apple displays, which includes the Apple Studio Display, Studio Display XDR, Pro Display XDR and compatible Macbook Pro models. The difference is significant. Traditional display profiling works by creating a correction profile that sits on top of the display output. Apple’s
calibration workflow instead writes adjustments directly to the display hardware itself for a more precise and consistent image across the entire brightness range, from SDR workflows through to HDR content reaching up to 2000 nits. Beyond calibration Until recently, this level of colour
calibration has been largely restricted to specialist colour facilities that possessed professional spectroradiometers, which could cost thousands of pounds. Except the Display Plus HL changes all this. At just £309, it brings professional-grade calibration within reach of creatives working on Apple systems. The Display Plus HL has also been designed with the future in mind. It supports Apple’s next-generation colour- matching function, ensuring compatibility with evolving display technologies and colour standards. For anyone who needs a complete colour management workflow, Calibrite’s Display Plus HL also works seamlessly with Calibrite Profiler software for ICC profiling, display validation and reporting. This maintains colour consistency across multiple devices and outputs. With Apple approval, hardware- level accuracy and a price point that makes professional colour management accessible to more users than ever, the Calibrite Display Plus HL represents an important step forward for anyone serious about their images. The Display Plus HL brings pro-grade calibration within reach of Apple system users
Colour revolution: The core of the breakthrough
Calibrite’s general manager Stefan Zrenner answers our questions on this landmark achievement with Apple. The partnership between Calibrite and Apple – what does it actually mean? It’s simple: Apple built a professional display calibration tool right into MacOS, and the Calibrite Display Plus HL is the device that drives it. You connect this compact sensor to your Mac, place it on the screen and Apple’s built-in software retunes your display to be colour-accurate, automatically, in about 45 minutes; no extra software or expert knowledge required. For many years, that precision lived only in high-end studios. Now it works natively on your own Mac, with a device most creatives can actually afford. Apple displays already look stunning out of the box. Why would a photographer, videographer or designer need to calibrate it? They do look beautiful but ‘looks good’ and ‘is accurate’ aren’t the same. Every display drifts a little over time and
no two screens are identical. If your screen is even slightly off, the print comes back wrong, the client sees different colours than you did, or your edit looks great on your Mac and dull everywhere else. Calibration removes that guesswork. What makes this different from calibration tools people have used for years? Firstly, it’s hardware-level. Traditional tools lay a correction layer on top of the picture, like putting a tinted filter in front of the screen. Our approach with Apple writes the correction into the display itself, fixing the colour at the source. It’s cleaner, and it updates every display mode at once. Second of all, it’s accessible. Apple’s calibrator officially supports only one affordable device – the Calibrite Display Plus HL.
Accurate, hardware-level colour was locked behind professional colour- grading suites. By bringing it into MacOS and onto a device under £400, we’re handing the same precision to the freelance photographer, the indie filmmaker, the designer working from a home studio. More people than ever create on Apple hardware, and the bar for visual quality keeps rising. Where is this heading? What does the future look like? This is a foundation, not a finish line. Apple is moving the whole industry forward with a new modern colour standard that finally moves past a measurement model from the thirties, and the Display Plus HL is built to work with it. As Apple’s displays evolve, this device evolves with them. For professionals who want to go even further, it pairs with the Calibrite Profiler software for fine- tuning, profiling and reporting, so you get one accurate foundation plus the freedom to build on top of it. This is the start of a long-term, future-proof colour pipeline for Apple users.
Every display drifts a little
over time and no two screens are identical
calibrite.com
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14 / ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Look up and take it in Fujifilm encourages creative image makers to press pause on life and enjoy its finer details
The answers to these questions are rarely found by rushing. Some of the strongest photographs are made after spending time in one place, watching the light evolve or waiting for people and subjects to move naturally into the frame. A familiar location can become endlessly rewarding when revisited throughout the seasons, while an ordinary street corner may reveal different stories depending on the time of day. Looking up is ultimately about recognising that good photographs often appear when we allow ourselves the time to notice them. This way of thinking can also change how we approach storytelling. Technical excellence will always have its place, but memorable photographs tend to be the ones that reveal something about a person or a place. They communicate atmosphere as much as detail, encouraging viewers to ask questions rather than simply admire sharpness or resolution. Photography has always had the unique ability to preserve not only what we saw, but how we felt while standing there. This may be why making photographs remains such a rewarding creative pursuit. A camera encourages us to engage with our surroundings in a way that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere. We instinctively begin searching for relationships between subjects, patterns in architecture, changing weather or moments of human connection. Familiar places become fresh again because we’re actively looking rather than simply passing through. Experience more For photographers looking to develop this way of seeing, spending time with others can be invaluable. New locations, fresh perspectives and shared experiences all have a way of broadening our creative horizons. Watching how a different photographer approaches a scene often reveals possibilities we may never have considered ourselves, while discussing ideas after a walk could prove every bit as rewarding as the photographs made along the way. The same applies to equipment. Different cameras encourage different ways of working, whether that’s a versatile landscape photography to portraiture, wildlife and studio lighting. Designed for photographers of all levels, sessions combine practical tuition with real-world shooting opportunities, helping participants build confidence while developing their creative eye. Whether you’re picking up a camera for the first time or refining
Ever true to its analogue heritage, Fujifilm is turning back the clock on
modern distractions and inviting people to use photography as a way to be more engaged with the world around them. Its new Look Up campaign for the X Series and GFX System urges people to reconnect with imaging as a grounding force, helping you to notice subtle details – the quality of light, the interplay of colours, the coming together of complementary subjects – and turn them into meaningful photographs. Photography has always been about more than making a visual record. At its best, it encourages curiosity, patience and observation, rewarding those who spend a bit longer with a scene rather than rushing on to the next one. This summer, whether you’re exploring unfamiliar surroundings or photographing the places you know best, the simple act of looking a little more carefully can transform everyday moments into something more memorable. As Fujifilm – and anyone who has ever used an analogue camera – knows full well, this is far from a new idea. Long before photography became instant and effortless, photographers had to slow down. For most people, every press of the shutter was carefully considered, and every image represented a conscious decision about composition and light. While today’s digital systems offer extraordinary convenience, the mindset behind the Look Up campaign suggests that this isn’t the ultimate goal of a photographer. Search for meaning Rather than encouraging photographers to make more images, Fujifilm is encouraging everyone to instead make more meaningful ones. Instead of simply documenting where we’ve been, Fujifilm invites us to think about why a scene caught our attention in the first place. What drew us towards it? What story does it tell? How might another person experience that same moment? Photography is developed through experience, and there’s no substitute for spending time behind a camera with guidance from experienced photographers. FUJIFILM School offers workshops, walks and specialist courses across a wide range of genres, from street and Learn to see differently with FUJIFILM School
a style, there’s always something to discover. Explore upcoming events by clicking the box.
Click here
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE / 15
Thinking about trying a different X Series or GFX System camera or lens? As part of the Look Up campaign, Fujifilm is encouraging you to experience equipment in the real world before making a decision. Use special code ‘LookUp’ to access a free four-day loan period, giving you more time to discover the camera that Access Fujifilm’s free loan service
best suits the way you like to create. Click the box to learn more and book your loan.
Click here
FRESH PERSPECTIVE Matching the right camera to your shots is essential, as in this candid caught by the X100VI (above) or this nightscape with the GFX100S II (left)
SOAK IN THE DETAIL The fixed- lens GFX100RF is great for candid street shots (right), and you can take the lightweight X-T30 III with you anywhere (below)
New locations, fresh perspectives and shared experiences broaden our horizons
compact model you can carry everywhere, a rangefinder-inspired body that encourages a slower pace or a larger system designed for deliberate image making. Discovering which approach feels most natural is an important part of every photographer’s journey, but it’s a decision that’s best made through experience rather than specification sheets alone. As part of the Look Up campaign, Fujifilm is extending its free camera and lens loan service from two to four days. Rather than asking photographers to imagine how a camera fits into their creative process, it offers the opportunity to spend time with a system. That might be a weekend exploring your local area, a landscape trip or carrying it with you as part of your daily routine. Having the chance to live with a camera tells you far more than a brief hands-on session ever could.
Ultimately, the message behind Look Up is refreshingly simple. Photography isn’t only about the images we bring home. It’s about the experiences that lead to them. Every memorable photograph begins with a moment of curiosity, a decision to pause or the instinct to look a little longer. The camera simply gives us a way to preserve that experience and share it with others. Next time you head out with a camera, don’t worry about ticking locations off a list or chasing your white whale. Slow down, wander without expectation. Find the details that others walk past. Sometimes, all we need to do is look up.
fujifilm-x.com
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16 / INSPIRATION
Tangerine Green
A vibrant new Bristol exhibition celebrates the communities, rituals and colourful characters that combine to make modern Britain unique
Award-winning documentary photographer Sophie Green
stars in a major new exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol, bringing together over a decade of work exploring Britain’s communities, traditions and subcultures. Tangerine Dreams: Rituals of Belonging in Contemporary British Life is open now and runs until 6 September 2026. This display showcases Green’s distinctive documentary photography style, combining vivid colour, graphic compositions and intimate portraiture to examine how people form identities through shared rituals and social gatherings. Her photographs span a range of subjects, from traveller horse fairs to church congregations, dog shows, Irish dance competitions and modified car festivals. The exhibition gets its name from Green’s self-published photo book Tangerine Dreams , which was released in 2025 and ended up selling out within a week. A second edition is scheduled to coincide with the Bristol show. Alongside the images from Tangerine Dreams , visitors will get a preview of Green’s ongoing project documenting British death rituals. The work was encouraged by the late Martin Parr and includes photographs made while exploring funeral traditions across Britain’s multicultural communities. Green’s work has previously been exhibited at institutions including the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A and Somerset House. sophiegreenphotography.com
HIGH TIMES The Gate by Filip Hrebenda was the winner
A beautifully composed image featuring a lone figure framed beneath a natural rock arch surrounded by mist-covered mountains was Filip Hrebenda’s winning photo in the 11th annual Skypixel contest. The contest for drone-based stills and video attracted almost 95,000 entries from 96 countries. Among the top ten was F Dilek Yurdakul’s Carpet Fields. The judges highlighted its strong graphic qualities and the way it tells a story about traditional craftsmanship and labour. Another standout was Daniel Viñé Garcia’s Smoking Skull, which captured a remarkable volcanic formation. dji.com Reach for the sky
WHAM GLAM Simone’s Nails, Southend-on-Sea beach, Essex, from Beachology, 2020 (above); and Irish Dancer, Kent Championships, Kent, from Fast Feet & Feis, 2022 (left)
COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL Banger Mechanic & Family, Smallfields Raceway, Surrey, from the series Bangers & Smash, 2024 (left); Horsey Hat, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, from Pedigree Power, 2016 (centre); Lady in Hair Steamer, The Makeover Salon, Peckham, London, from Wefts & Tracks, 2016 (right). All pictures courtesy of Martin Parr Foundation
VIEW FROM ABOVE F Dilek Yurdakul’s Carpet Fields (top), and Daniel Viñé Garcia’s Smoking Skull (above)
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ISSUE 128
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PNPOTY / 19
Entries are flooding in for the Photography News Photographer of the Year 2026 contest, but there’s still time to enter Gliding into contention
The response to the Photography News Photographer of the Year competition has been nothing short of incredible. With entries arriving each day from photographers across the UK and beyond, the standard has already reached an exceptionally high level. Every genre is represented here. Astonishing wildlife moments sit alongside magnificent landscapes, creative portraits, captivating street photography and beautifully observed everyday scenes. Some images impress through flawless technical execution, while others stand out because they
tell a story, capture genuine emotion or simply present a familiar subject from a fresh perspective. That’s exactly what this competition is all about. We’re not searching for the most expensive camera or the longest lens. We’re looking for photographs that stop people turning the page; images that make us smile, think, wonder or simply admire the skill behind them. Great photography is about far more than sharpness or pixels. With 11 categories, there are more opportunities than ever to showcase your work.
The photographs and photographers featured on these pages are just a small selection of the superb entries we have received so far this year. If you haven’t entered yet, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to join them. Entry is completely free, there’s no limit to the number of photographs you can submit and every image has the chance to impress our expert judges. Your next image could be the one we’re talking about in the next issue. You can enter the contest now through photographynews.co.uk , with the deadline set for 14 August. Winners
will be revealed in issue 129, out in September. Read on to see some standout entries and find out about the categories you could enter into.
How to enter
Open Now Closing date 14 August 2026 Entry cost Free How to submit Visit photographynews.co.uk
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20 / PNPOTY
Underhay is far from an underdog We love it when a photographer is proficient in so many genres, and Ken Underhay is the perfect example of this. The Nikon shooter has entered several shots in various categories, proving he could be the man to beat. He’s clearly a master of mono, as proved by his stunning work in the buildings, portraits and black & white categories, which all ooze class. Yet he’s also confident in colour, lighting and composition, as his entry in the wildlife class proves. Entrants can go for as many categories as they like, with the same or different images. So why not have a go?
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PNPOTY / 21
Buesden’s brilliance Sony mirrorless photographer Steve Buesden has shown some impressive versatility with four superb entries. Three striking monochrome images showcase his flair for composition and storytelling, including a live rock band performance in the events category, an elegant fine-art portrait and a graphic architectural study featuring a lone figure among towering columns. Completing the quartet is a vibrant colour portrait of a red-haired model, where bold styling, vivid red lipstick and a matching lollipop create an eye-catching splash of colour. Together, the images highlight his ability to move effortlessly between genres while maintaining a distinctive photographic style.
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