Canon has launched the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens, a versatile telephoto zoom lens for RF Cameras made with portability in mind. We then have a portable wide-angle lens from Canon, the EOS R3, a photography simulator game, and much more.
Here’s the best news I’ve selected for “The Photography News Show”!

LENS NEWS

Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 Telephoto Zoom Lens

his week can be defined as “The Canon Week”, as the Japanese brand has released 2 lenses, the 100-400mm F5.6-8, and the 16mm F2.8, plus its new flagship camera, the long-awaited EOS R3.

This new camera has taken most of the attention, but I would like to start the show talking about the 2 newly introduced lenses, as I find them very interesting. Let’s start with the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8.

This is the lens that surprised me the most, as it offers a super versatile focal range in a lightweight form factor, at a great price. The lens is, in fact, 165mm tall, it weighs only 635g, and it costs $649. The combination of all these numbers makes it a lens that is perfect for landscape photography.

Most telephoto zooms are, in fact, designed to be used for sport & wildlife photography, where it’s important to have a fast lens, and you don’t care too much about weight. On another hand, when you go on a hike, or you explore a city, the weight of your gear becomes a more determining factor. In those cases, you would normally get a cheaper & lighter 70-300mm, but from now on Canon shooters will have the option to choose the 100-400mm focal length, which will add more versatility, and consequently, more shooting opportunities.

To be this light it certainly cannot have a wide aperture, but that’s not a problem if you shoot landscapes, where you normally shoot at a narrower aperture. Still, if you want to use this lens handheld, it has 5.5 stops of stabilization.

If you want to add more versatility to your RF kit, you can order this lens here.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM – Wide-Angle Prime Lens for Canon RF

While the other lens Canon has introduced is the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM.

It’s a prime, wide-angle lens that weighs only 165g. It’s so light that you can basically forget to have it in your bag. It’s a pancake lens that comes with Canon’s STM focus motor, and I consider it ideal for vlogging and to be used on a gimbal. Besides videos, it can also work in a variety of scenarios, from architecture to landscape & astrophotography, and the cool thing is that it costs only $299, which is a very competitive price, and I can imagine Canon will add other lenses in this category so that you can create your own portable kit of bright prime lenses.

Both these lenses have had an immediate success, and Canon has already published an apology saying that it will take some time before it will be able to fulfill the orders.

I personally shoot with Sony, but I’m really glad to see that Canon is introducing new products that will push other camera manufacturers to innovate further!

Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm F2

Nikon also released an affordable and compact lens this week, the Nikkor Z 40mm F2. Being a pancake lens, it has a similar intended usage as the Canon lens I’ve just talked about, and having a 40mm focal length you can use it for street and portrait photography. Coming at just $300, it can be a great choice for those Nikon Z shooters that are looking for a compact & cheap prime lens.

Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Aperture Details

Lastly, Tamron has published more details about the upcoming 35-150mm F2-2.8. Specifically, the aperture will be of F2 from 35 to 40mm, F2.2 from 40 to 60mm, F2.5 from 60 to 80, and F2.8 from 80mm onwards.

CAMERA NEWS

Canon EOS R3 Finally Unveiled

I’ve been talking about this camera from show #2, and it’s finally official: Canon has released the Canon EOS R3, its new flagship camera.

It’s a camera that has been rumored for months and months, and it’s a very important step, as it’s the 1st mirrorless camera from Canon that finally meets all the requirements that professional sports photographers have, while also bringing innovation to the industry.

• 24.1 full-frame sensor
• ISO sensitivity of up to 102,400
• Back-illuminated stacked sensor that is more efficient at gathering light
• Canon promises that the viewfinder is blackout-free during continuous shooting
• Continuous shooting at 30 fps with the electronic shutter, and 12 fps with the mechanical one.
• Eye Control AF
• AF tracking of people, heads, cars, motorcycles, etc.
• In-body stabilization is up to 8 stops
• 6K RAW at 60 fps, 4K up to 120 fps
• Dust & Water-Resistant Body

What I think is the most mind-bending feature is the eye-controlled autofocus. The camera is, in fact, able to move the focus point based on where you look at, making operations extremely fast & effective, something of the essence in sports photography.

It basically is a stellar camera, with a stellar price of $5,999, and you can order it here.

I’m happy to see that Canon is back in the game of high-end cameras, and it will surely push the whole industry to innovate even further. Among all the features, what I would really love to see implemented from other brands is the eye-controlled autofocus. I’m so looking forward to not having to move the focus points manually, and I’m excited to see what’s next for the industry.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

47th annual Small World Photomicrography Competition by Nikon

This week we have the winners of the 47th annual Small World Photomicrography Competition by Nikon, a contest that showcases photographs taken with microscopes. The small world has always fascinated me, as you can see beautiful structures, patterns, and colors, which serve as great reminders of Nature’s perfection.

WEIRD NEWS

Photography Simulator Game

The imaging world can be at times weird! From now on, you don’t need to travel to take pictures. You just have to open up the Photography Simulator and start capturing wildlife all around the world. Heck, you can even fly a drone or shoot a pigeon!

Kidding aside, this can actually be a useful game to practice your photography, as you will have to control all the settings, while also choosing the cameras and lenses. If you’re interested in it, you can find it on Steam here.

RUMORS

Nikon Working on a Camera Focused on Young Content Creators

Nikon has published a statement where it says it’s currently developing an entry-level camera focused on younger content creators. It’s rumored to be released in March 2022, and it’s probably going to be a response to Sony’s ZV-1 and ZV-E10, so, let’s wait and see!