Our comprehensive new product section includes full press releases from all distributors: Another Hero from GoPro…Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM and RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 IS USM… Nikon Nikkor Z 40mm f2…Polaroid Now+ has smartphone ‘smarts’… Third of fourth f1.8 for Lumix… Tamron goes long… Fujifilm X-T30 II plus 23, 33mm f1.4 lenses…
Another Hero from GoPro
GoPro has announced the tenth iteration of in action cam series, the 23-megapixel GoPro Hero 10 Black.
Pricing is quite bizarre, with the camera at $600 with a one-year subscription included and $750 without a subscription – which makes one wonder what customers are signing themselves up for. (Caveat emptor!)
The new model features a fresh GP2 processor which the company says ‘delivers breakthrough image quality and blistering video frame rates’. (GoPro also describes the camera’s image stabilization system as ‘shockingly good’ – which is kinda cute.)
It captures ‘5.3K’ video at 60 frames per second and 4K 120 fps.The sensor is still of the tiny 1 2/3-inch size mostly abandoned by camera manufacturers in 2021.
Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM and RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 IS USM
Along with announcing the flagship R3 mirrorless full-frame camera, Canon has also unveiled two new lenses: the RF 16mm f2.8 STM ultra-wide prime lens and RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 IS USM telephoto zoom lens.
Both are available from late October, with the 16mm RRP set at $549.00 and $1379 for the 100-400mm.
The RF 16mm f2.8 STM ultra-wide prime lens is described as a ‘versatile lens’ suited to vlogging, group photography, environmental portraiture and architectural photography. As the first ultra-wide angle prime for the EOS R system, the appeal for vloggers is attributed to low light performance and shallow depth of field, allowing subjects to ‘pop’ against a softened background. And ‘near silent’ sharp focusing thanks to the STM motor.
Other features include:
– Lens construction of nine elements in seven groups
– Max magnification of 0.26
– 0.13m minimum focusing distance;
– Weighs 165 grams, and 40.2mm long.
Access the RF 16mm spec sheet here.
The RF 100-400mm f5.6-8 IS USM is designed for enthusiast sports and wildlife photographers. The lens features 5.5 stops of in-lens optical image stabilisation, which can reach six stops when coordinated control is used with a camera’s existing IBIS. The lens has a Nano USM focus motor for smooth, fast AF.
Other features include:
– Lens construction of 12 elements in nine groups;
– Max magnification of 0.41x at 400mm;
– 0.88m minimum focus distance at 200mm;
– weighs 635 grams.
Access the RF 100-400mm spec sheet here. And the press release for both lenses here.
Nikon Nikkor Z 40mm f2
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 40mm f2 prime lens will be available from September 30, with no local pricing supplied. However, a US website provides this snippet: ‘At an MSRP of (US)$299, the Z 40mm F2 will join the Z 28mm F2.8 SE in being one of the two most affordable native lenses for the Z mount…’
This little lens weighs just 170 grams, and uses a high-torque stepping motor to achieve quick and accurate AF.
Other features include:
– 0.29m Minimum focus distance;
– Nine aperture blades.
Press release here.
New Polaroid Now+ has smartphone ‘smarts’
Brands Australia has announced local availability of the Polaroid Now+ instant camera, which introduces a tripod mount and aperture priority mode to the Polaroid range while retaining the advanced features of recent releases, such as double exposure and light painting.
Perhaps more than any other camera release, it ‘outsources’ significant functionality to the almost essential Polaroid Now+ app. Could this be a sign of how consumer-level cameras might evolve? It’s almost an ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’ approach from Polaroid in regards smartphones. Kind of clever.
It also includes 5 new lens filters – orange, yellow, blue, starburst, and red vignette.
RRP is $329.95
Here’s the full local press release: Polaroid Now+
Third of fourth f1.8 for Lumix
Panasonic Australia has announced the release of the Lumix S 24mm F1.8, its third of four f1.8 lenses for its L-Mount (S series) cameras.
The Lumix F1.8 lens series has a common positioning of controls for ease of use, a similar size that makes it swifter to switch between lenses, and a common barrel diameter that provides users with the convenience of using the same filters.
The 24mm has a dust/splash-resistant design and at 310g is light for a wide-aperture, wide-angle prime.
It’s locally available this month from ‘leading photographic specialists’, with an RRP of $1399.
Here’s the full local press release: Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 September
Tamron goes long
Tamron has announced late September availability of the 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD, which it claims is the ‘world’s first 16.6x all-in-one zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras’.
It will first be available for Sony APS-C format cameras, with a Fuji X mount version arrival date to be announced.
Filter size is 67mm, weight is just 620g and length is 126mm
RRP is just $1199, which seems pretty good value for such a long zoom range.
Features include:
– Extremely fast and precise AF,
– VXD linear motor focus mechanism, the highest-level in its class.
– MOD: 0.15m (5.9 in), maximum magnification ratio: 1:2 at 18mm wide end.
– ‘The best image quality in its class’.
Here’s the full press release: Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
Fujifilm X-T30 II plus 23, 33mm f1.4 lenses
Fujifilm has announced the X-T30 II, an incremental upgrade that includes a new higher resolution LCD (1.68M-dot versus 1.04M-dot) and additional memory. The latter allows it to perform as robustly as the X-T4. Click here for the press release.
The XF 23mm f1.4 R LM WR lens has been given a complete overhaul to its predecessor, with a new optical design consisting of 15 lens elements in 10 groups. This includes two aspherical elements and three ED elements to minimise common aberrations.
The middle focusing group controls spherical and chromatic aberration, while a two-element lens group, including an aspherical lens at the far, reduces fluctuation of aberration caused by the movement of focusing elements. securing superior image quality across focus range.
The XF 23mm f1.4 lens weighs approximately 375 grams and is 77.8mm long. It’s scheduled to release in November at an RRP of $1599. Click here for the press release.
Lastly, the XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR features the same optical design to the XF 23mm, resulting in an identical reduction to various mentioned aberrations. Click here for the press release.
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