The Best Gear from May 2026

We’ve never been so back. The first few months of 2026 have been a little light on major photo and gear releases, but with a bang, May has seen the arrival of some spectacular new cameras.

Sony has kept the title of the highest-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera with the spectacular A7R VI, while Canon has taken the wraps off a compelling video hybrid for content creators, the EOS R6 V. Elsewhere, a sleek premium compact camera from Panasonic, the Lumix L10, has been wowing us with its retro charms. And with more new cameras from Leica and GoPro, as well as an intelligent smartphone gimbal from DJI, it once again falls to me to say that, truly, we have never been so back.

Let’s take a look at what’s been released this month…

Sony A7R VI Digital Camera Body

The A7R VI combines a 66.8MP Exmor RS sensor, BIONZ XR2 processor, and an integrated AI unit to bring A1-style speed to Sony’s A7R line. With increased readout speed, it shoots up to 30fps blackout-free with reliable tracking, pre-capture, and 16 stops of dynamic range. Recording extends to 8K 30p and oversampled 4K video, with up to 8.5 stops of stabilisation at the centre. This combination shifts the A7R series beyond traditional high-resolution bodies, pairing flagship-level speed with the resolution and flexibility the line is known for.

£4,399.00 View

Sensor: 66.8MP Exmor RS CMOS full-frame

Lens mount: Sony FE

ISO range: 100–32,000 (standard)

Stabilisation: 5-axis in-body providing up to 8.5 stops of centre correction

Weight: 622g

Sony truly marries speed and resolution with the spectacular A7R VI, a camera that sets a new standard for full-frame excellence. With a 66.8MP Exmor RS CMOS full-frame, it’s the new highest-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera – a record previously held by its predecessor, the Sony A7R V. However, it pairs that amazing quality with A1 II-level speeds, thanks to its BIONZ XR2 processor that enables faster-than-ever data-handling speeds.

An integrated AI processing unit further improves the already impressive subject-detection autofocus, making the A7R VI more capable than ever at dealing with fast-moving subjects. The electronic shutter offers 30fps blackout-free burst shooting, and while the new processor reduces the risk of rolling shutter, if you want to be extra safe you can switch to the mechanical shutter and achieve a still-impressive 10fps.

If the 66.8MP on offer isn’t enough for you, you can access the Pixel Shift Multi Shooting to produce up to 265.8MP composite images, with simply stunning levels of detail. A dual gain system enables up to 16 stops of dynamic range to retain maximal detail in highlights and shadows.

The physical body of the camera has also been overhauled from the previous version, with a reworked grip, illuminated controls (which I picked as one of my features I want to see in all cameras, thank you Sony for reading), a 9.44M-dot EVF that’s three times brighter than the previous, and an interface that rotates automatically to vertical orientation when needed.

There’s no doubt about it – Sony has laid down a hell of a gauntlet here. The Sony A7R VI is a spectacular camera, and a new benchmark for full-frame.

Canon EOS R6 V Digital Camera with 20-50mm f4L IS USM PZ Lens

The Canon EOS R6 V and RF 20-50mm f4L IS USM PZ is designed for hybrid creators and solo filmmakers. The EOS R6 V combines a 32.5MP full-frame sensor with DIGIC X processing, enabling 7K 60p RAW, oversampled 4K 60p, uncropped 4K 120p, and 40fps still shooting. Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, up to 7.5-stop stabilisation, a vari-angle screen, and built-in streaming support make handheld shooting and content delivery simple. Paired with Canon’s first RF power zoom lens, the 20-50mm f4L delivers smooth internal zoom control, reliable stabilisation, and consistent exposure in a compact L-series design.

£3,549.00 View

Sensor: 32.5MP full-frame CMOS

Lens mount: Canon RF

ISO range: 50–102,400

Stabilisation: In-body image stabilisation (7.5 stops)

Weight: 598g

Could this be the camera that bridges the gap between solo content creators and filmmakers? Canon might have just cracked it with the new EOS R6 V, a full-frame mirrorless camera with advanced video control and high-resolution capture. Its 32.5MP full-frame sensor benefits from a DIGIC X, enabling a top-line video resolution of 7K 60p.

Elsewhere you get oversampled 4K 60p, uncropped 4K 120p – it’s an embarrassment of riches as far as video is concerned. It captures open-gate video using the full 3:2 width of the sensor, giving you greater flexibility for cropping in the edit. And while this isn’t really a stills camera, a burst rate of 40fps is nothing to complain about!

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system ensures fast and accurate autofocus in video and stills alike, with intelligent subject-tracking. Dual card slots support CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD media, while in-body stabilisation provides up to 7.5 stops of effective correction.

The EOS R6 V releases alongside the RF 20-50mm f4L IS USM PZ, which is the first full-frame RF zoom lens with internal power zoom. It’s designed to facilitate smooth video capture, with a vlog-friendly standard zoom range, effective optical stabilisation, a non-extending barrel, and a constant F4 aperture for consistent exposure throughout zoom movement.

Lightweight and powerful, the Canon EOS R6 V is the finest video-first camera in the EOS R range.

GoPro MISSION 1

GoPro has announced the MISSION 1 as the entry point in the MISSION 1 series, aimed at creators who need a compact, durable cinema camera with strong image quality. It is equipped with a powerful 50MP 1-inch sensor with strong low-light performance, 8K30, 4K120, and 1080p240 frame rates, and 4K120 Open Gate video capture. The new GP3 processor supports impressive image quality, battery runtime, and thermal performance.

£529.00 View

GoPro MISSION 1 PRO

GoPro has announced the GoPro MISSION 1 PRO as the flagship of the MISSION 1 series, a range of ultra-compact cinema cameras designed as the smallest, lightest, and most durable options for 8K and 4K Open Gate capture. It combines a 50MP 1-inch sensor with strong low-light performance, high frame rates up to 8K60, 4K240 and 1080p960, and Open Gate recording at 8K30 and 4K120. The new GP3 processor supports leading image quality, battery runtime and thermal performance for consistent operation in demanding conditions.

£599.00 View

GoPro has entered the big leagues with its new MISSION series, a radical rethinking of the action camera concept. The MISSION 1 and MISSION 1 PRO are both huge upgrades in terms of image quality, each sporting a newly developed 1-inch sensor with a whopping 50MP of resolution. And these are properly futureproof cameras too – they’re capable of capturing Open Gate 8K, with the MISSION 1 shooting 8K 30p and the MISSION 1 PRO shooting 8K 60p.

As fully waterproofed and tough as you’d expect GoPro cameras to be, the MISSION 1 and MISSION 1 PRO also benefit from built-in stabilisation for moving shots, and a GP3 processor that delivers stable thermal performance to provide long maximum shooting times.

However, also on the docket is something even more exciting – the MISSION 1 PRO ILS. This genuinely new breed of camera takes all the superb functionality and quality of the MISSION 1 PRO, and puts it in a body with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount! We’re still waiting to confirm pricing and availability on this model; sign up with your email to be sure you’re among the first to hear.

Leica M11-P Digital Camera Body - Metal Grey

Continuing Leica’s legacy of pioneering photography, the M11-P is the world’s first camera to store metadata by including Content Credentials at the point of capture. This next-generation camera protects the authenticity of digital images whilst boasting a 60MP sensor, Maestro III engine, and highly resistant yet iconic design with 256GBs of internal memory and a compact digital rangefinder system.

£8,250.00 View

Leica Q3 Digital Camera - Metal Grey

As one of the most prestigious names in the industry, Leica continues to pioneer the market with the launch of the long-anticipated Q3. This classic, minimalist masterpiece features a new triple-resolution sensor (60MP/36MP/18MP), an upgraded Maestro IV processor, 8K 30 fps video, and an improved hybrid AF system with phase detection - delivering industry-leading imaging power in one compact body.

£5,750.00 View

Leica D-Lux 8 Digital Camera - Metal Grey

The Leica D-Lux 8 delivers the classic Leica experience in a compact form, pairing a 17MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor with a bright 24-75mm equivalent f1.7-2.8 zoom lens. It introduces DNG RAW support to the D-Lux series for the first time, along with 4K 30p video recording and Bluetooth-enabled connectivity through the Leica FOTOS app. A redesigned button layout, OLED EVF, and 3” high-res LCD ensure confident, streamlined shooting.

£1,550.00 View

A style update from Leica with its new Metal Grey trim, a colour variant for select mirrorless, rangefinder and compact cameras. Launching with a range of complementary accessories, the new Metal Grey trim is sleek, stylish and understated. It’s available for the Leica M11-P, the Leica Q3 and the Leica D-Lux 8 cameras, as well as the Leica APO-SUMMICRON-M 50mm f2 ASPH Lens, which has its own matching cap.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P Standard Combo

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P is a compact 3-axis smartphone gimbal for handheld mobile video, remote framing and self-filming. Unfold the handle, attach your smartphone with the magnetic clamp, and the gimbal counters small hand movements as you film. The included Osmo FrameTap device provides a separate screen for checking composition and controlling the camera from a distance, while the built-in extension rod and tripod make it easier to set up and frame shots solo.

£135.00 View

And finally, DJI has updated its popular smartphone gimbal series with the Osmo Mobile 8P. If you’re capturing video content on your phone, a compact 3-axis smartphone gimbal is an essential purchase, making smooth handheld filming and self-recording ridiculously easy.

The advanced ActiveTrack 8.0 enables following specific subjects through the DJI Mimo app, while the Magnetic Phone Clamp 5 enables quick and easy mounting. Putting a number of different movement and tracking modes at your fingertips, a gimbal like the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve the quality of your smartphone footage.