2023 shows no signs of slowing down as far as new photo and video gear is concerned. April has seen a raft of new releases, but it’s especially been a month for mirrorless lenses, with new glass from Canon, Nikon, Samyang and Sigma.
Then of course, just as the month was drawing to a close, DJI announced the liftoff of two spectacular new drones, the Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic Inspire 3. We’ll get into exactly why these two drones are so special later in the round-up – but we’ve plenty more to get through first.
New firmware for Sony FX3 and FX30
Our first new release isn’t gear at all – it’s a set of firmware updates for two of Sony’s cinema cameras, the Sony FX3 and Sony FX30. The key additions that both cameras are getting are as follows:
- Full 4K DCI resolution
- In-camera anamorphic de-squeeze
- 24p recording
It’s great to see these relatively entry-level cinema cameras getting a more professional feature-set. We’re sure plenty of filmmakers will be especially excited to see the option to shoot in the cinematic 24p frame rate. This will help further set the FX cameras apart from Sony’s mirrorless A7 range, providing a compelling path for filmmakers and content creators who are near the beginnings of their pro video journey.
You can download FX3 Ver 3.00 and FX30 Ver 2.00 from Sony’s website.
Canon RF 100-300mm f2.8 L IS USM Lens
Designed for professional sports photography, Canon’s RF 100-300m f2.8 L IS USM lens sets a new benchmark for telephoto zoom lenses, combining industry-leading optics with a high-speed AF performance to surpass other lenses in this category. Equipped with a versatile focal range, a constant f2.8 aperture and up to 6 stops of IBIS, this lens is guaranteed to capture the height of the action.
£11,499.00 View
Sports photography has a new star, as Canon has taken the wraps off its RF 100-300mm f2.8 L IS USM lens for the EOS R mirrorless system. With an internal construction of 23 elements in 18 groups, this premium lens combines dazzling sharpness with high-speed dual nano USM autofocus, helping professionals nail the shot time and time again. Its useful 100-300mm focal length should also see it garnering plenty of interest from wildlife photographers. The constant aperture of f2.8 lends the lens versatility in all lighting situations, and its weather-resistant “L” series construction means it’ll withstand outdoor use.
Of course, marketing copy is all well and good, but there’s only one way to be sure a lens delivers the goods – try it out. We recently joined pro sports photographer Eddie Keogh for a day testing the Canon RF 100-300mm f2.8 L IS USM lens in its natural home, the London Olympic Park, to see how it handled an assignment shooting professional racing cyclists. We truly put the lens through its paces, also testing it out with the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
Check out our full video review below to see what Eddie made of the lens:
Nikon Z 12-28mm f3.5-5.6 DX PZ VR Lens
As the first Z series Power Zoom lens, the Nikon Z 12-28mm f3.5-5.6 DX PZ VR is a compact and well-balanced choice optimised for vloggers, movie makers and photographers alike. With a versatile 12-28mm focal range, a 0.19m minimum focus distance, 11 different zoom speeds, and up to 4.5 stops of vibration reduction, this lens is perfect for covering various subjects, scenes and everything in between.
£379.00 View
We’re massively pleased to see the lens range expand for DX-format Z-mount cameras, as Nikon unveils its new budget-friendly Nikon Z 12-28mm f3.5-5.6 DX PZ VR lens. Offering an equivalent zoom range of 18-42mm, this lens is designed in particular for vloggers and movie-makers, and thus will likely be a good choice to pair with the Nikon Z30.
This is the first Z-mount lens to be equipped with a power zoom, powered by a linear motor and designed to deliver smooth and natural-looking zooming when recording video. There are eleven zoom speed settings, and the zoom can be triggered and controlled in a variety of ways – the ring on the lens, camera controls, Nikon's ML-L7 Bluetooth remote, or using the Snapbridge app on a computer or smartphone.
Focusing is powered by a stepping motor, and the lens is also stabilised, with 4.5 stops of built-in vibration reduction. The function has a number of specialised modes for different situations, including Sports Mode, which is meant for capturing fast action.
Samyang AF 35-150mm f2-2.8 Lens for Sony E
As an all-in-one zoom, Samyang’s latest E-Mount lens combines a large f2-f2.8 maximum aperture with premium optics and a versatile 35-150mm focal range to deliver outstanding resolution in any shooting scenario. Perfect for everything from candid street portraits to night-time cityscapes and beyond, this lens is a valuable investment for photographers needing to adapt quickly to get ‘the shot’.
£913.00 View
Here’s a nice present for users of full-frame Sony E-mount cameras – an all-in-one zoom from Samyang. Covering a broad focal range that suits lots of different modes of shooting, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f2-2.8 uses a premium optical construction of 21 elements in 18 groups, ensuring pin-point sharpness throughout its zoom range. Also weather-sealed, the lens is a versatile tool designed for the photographer who wants to be prepared for all situations.
Sigma Contemporary Lens Range: 23mm f1.4 DC DN, 17mm f4 DG DN and 50mm f2 DG DN
Sigma’s “Contemporary” lens range consists of lightweight, relatively compact lenses that suit lighter systems. This month we’ve seen a handful of new optics added to the line-up:
23mm f1.4 DC DN: This is an APS-C lens, delivering an equivalent focal length of 35mm and a nice big maximum aperture of f1.4. Sigma says it offers excellent resistance to flare and ghosting and should be ideal for a range of photographic styles and genres. It’s coming for Sony E, Fujifilm X and Leica L-mount.
17mm f4 DG DN: This ultra-wide full-frame lens is inspired in its design by cine lenses. With a metal barrel and textured focus ring, it looks and feels premium while also benefiting from a shortened body. It can focus from distances as close as 12cm, and it uses a stepping motor for fast, quiet autofocus. It’ll be available for Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount.
50mm f2 DG DN: A standard prime lens, Sigma says the performance here is “comparable” to that of the bigger and heavier 50mm f1.4 DG DN | Art lens. It has plenty of physical controls, including an AfMF switch and an aperture ring, and is also available for Sony E and Leica L mounts.
If you’d like to see these lenses in action for yourself, we teamed up with London photographer Oscar Lindsey to put them through their paces in a video review…
DJI Mavic 3 Pro (RC)
Sporting three powerful lenses each with different focal lengths, the Mavic 3 Pro provides next-level imaging performance. It’s possible to shoot up to 5.1K and 4K/120fps video, and the Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing helps keep your drone safe whilst you focus on shooting. With a 15km transmission range and a 43-minute maximum flight time, you can comfortably capture stunning footage.
£1,808.00 View
DJI has brought out a world’s first for its Mavic 3 Pro, which is the first consumer drone to sport a triple-camera setup. The Mavic 3 Pro uses a Hasselblad-made 20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor for its main camera, with a 24mm equivalent lens, but also offers two tele lenses with their own sensors. There’s a 3x (70mm equivalent) medium tele lens with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, and a 7x (166mm equivalent) tele lens with a 1/2-inch sensor, giving the drone photographer/videographer much more versatility when it comes to shot composition.
DJI Inspire 3 Combo
Take the skies by storm with the DJI Inspire 3 Combo, a powerful full-frame 8K quadcopter with interchangeable lenses for high-end photography and cinematography. Designed from the ground up with improved aerodynamics in mind, the Inspire 3 is faster and flies for longer. Combined with centimetre-level RTK positioning and smart flying functionality, the DJI Inspire 3 is the peak of aerial imaging.
£12,999.00 View
Setting a new standard for high-end drone cinematography, the DJI Inspire 3 uses a full-frame 8K sensor. It’s capable of capturing 14+ stops of dynamic range, with DJI Cinema Color for lifelike skintones and all-around excellent colour accuracy. The sensor has Dual Native ISO, while the drone itself can be positioned with accuracy to the centimetre thanks to GPS integration. Supporting both ProRes RAW and CinemaDNG formats, the Inspire 3 is the ultimate aerial tool for pro video.
Sennheiser EW-DP ME 2 Digital Wireless Set - GB
The Sennheiser EW-DP ME 2 Digital Wireless Set is a portable digital UHF wireless microphone system paired with the ME 2 omnidirectional lavalier. Ideal for filmmakers and content creators, the EW-DP provides a professional audio workflow that utilises a UHF transmission. The digital receiver features integrated Bluetooth, smart notifications and a compact build ready for production.
£519.00 View
The new portable digital UHF wireless microphone system from Sennheiser is ideal for filmmakers and content creators. This lavalier mic system is designed for professional use, and so it makes use of UHF (Ultra High Frequency) for reliable, long-range signal transmission. It’s designed with ergonomic controls for ease of use, and Smart Notifications provide helpful notifications for issues like peaking audio or low battery.
Aputure INFINIBAR PB3
Upgrade your lighting with the Aputure INFINIBAR PB3 - a cutting-edge LED pixel bar with 24 individual pixels, full-colour RGBWW capabilities, and infinite blending design. Measuring 30cm and boasting 6.5W of power, this modular light offers unparalleled control and customisation options. Its long battery life ensures it's a reliable light you can trust.
£312.00 View
If you want a portable, flexible LED lighting solution for your videos, give the Aputure INFINIBAR a try. Available in 30cm (PBS), 60cm (PB6) and 120cm (PB12) configurations, this LED pixel bar delivers highly accurate colours, customisable from 2,000K to 10,000K. It also has a frosted diffusion layer to soften the light and reduce glare, and brightness can be adjusted in 0.1% increments for high precision.
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