Product Announcement

If someone mentions the word Action Cam for underwater use, who else would automatically think of either Go Pro or the Osmo dpi range? This week I've been learning about Insta 360’s Ace Pro 2 and I have to say, I’ve been completely blown away by it’s specs. Not only does it boast an incredible Leica Summarit lens to set a completely new and unrivalled benchmark for action camera image quality (a whopping 50 MP), it has an F2.6 aperture to capture more light and reduce noise plus a 2.5” flip

Panasonic has made a significant announcement for hybrid photographers and videographers with the launch of its new full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Lumix S1 II and Lumix S1 IIe. Both models are engineered to cater to the demanding needs of creators who seamlessly switch between capturing high-quality stills and professional-grade video. Lumix S1 II: Pushing Boundaries with a Partially-Stacked Sensor The flagship Lumix S1 II marks a milestone for Panasonic, introducing the company's first

SeaLife have recently released their new S Smartphone Housing which is compatible with all iPhone models and some Android models (the Ultra is compatible with almost all Androids).  It is slightly smaller both externally (16%), internally (27%) and is also 16% lighter than it’s popular Ultra model weighing in at 24 oz/680 grams compared to 808 grams. It has the same easy-to-use buttons and large shutter release making it a complete breeze to use when wearing thick gloves. It includes the sam

Firmware Update for Sony A7sIII and Sony A7CII / A7CR https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7sm3/downloads Sony A7III https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7cm2/software/00301105 Sony A7CR and Sony A7CII

Sony released a firmware update for three cameras: A1 - A1II and A9III More details here: https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-released-a-new-firmware-update-for-the-sony-a1ii-a1-and-a9iii/

Nikon have announced a firmware update to the Z9. According to the Nikon firmware website, version 5.20 brings the following: Added support for “NX Field*”, a remote shooting system for corporate users. * Visit the “NPS” website for overview and user’s manual of NX Field. Nikon Professional Services (NPS) (English) Note: “NX Field” app for smart devices may not be available in some countries and regions. • Renamed d14 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU]. • Fixed the following

Weefine have just released a new ring light, the WF101 Ringlight 3000 Version 2 to compliment their existing WF105 Ring Light 3000 CCW but what are the differences between the two and why would you prefer to use one over an external strobe?       Ring Lights are particularly useful in macro underwater photography, providing shadow-free illumination when a subject is close to the lens (the WF105 Ring Light provides 1000 lumens of light allowing users to shoot at jus

Meet Stuart from Atlantis Berlin Wassersport & Mee(h)r who talks us through Divevolk's new Trigger Release which can be added onto their housings to make starting and stopping video recording much easier to help reduce video shake, as well as of course capturing images.   Huge thanks to the Atlantis Team for their help.   https://www.facebook.com/reel/959890282752812

Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger Review & Setup Guide [Moderators Note: Waterpixels member, James Emery, is the Marketing and Media Manager at Backscatter]   The Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger provides super-accurate, automatic flash exposures with Olympus/OM System and Sony cameras using Backscatter strobes. The Olympus/OM System trigger is TTL compatible with the Mini Flash 2 and Hybrid Flash, while the Sony trigger is TTL compatible w

Sony and Panasonic underwater macro photographers shooting full frame should checkout my latest review in UWPMAG.com issue #141. It fully details the Sigma 105mm F/2.8 macro for FE and L-mount cameras. I reviewed the Sony version of the lens using Marelux housing, ports, strobes and Marelux closeup lenses +10, +15 and a +5 including stacking two lenses. If you are looking for a quality macro at a reasonable price or wanting to add to add an additionaly macro lens this may be the lens for you.

Introducing the Retra Maxi: The Ultimate Underwater Strobe and Video Light Combo The Retra Maxi sets a new standard in underwater photography, combining a GN46 strobe with an optional 6000 lumen ultra-wide video light. Perfect for both stills and video, it offers unmatched performance for photographers and videographers looking to elevate their work. Incredible Strobe Power and Performance The Retra Maxi features a GN46 strobe, providing excellent light output for distant su

We’re excited to announce the Retra Maxi Underwater Strobe, the perfect blend of performance and value, designed for those entering the world of underwater photography. With the renowned quality and reliability you expect from Retra, the Retra Maxi is tailored to make superior lighting more accessible to a wider audience.   This new addition to the Retra family complements our existing high-end models, offering an entry point to the exceptional performance you know and trust from Retra

Nauticam has introduced its underwater housing for the new Nikon Z6 III. This third-generation midrange full-frame mirrorless camera is the first of its kind to feature a “partially stacked CMOS sensor.” This innovation offers many of the advantages of a fully stacked sensor—like faster autofocus, reduced rolling shutter, quicker continuous shooting, and higher frame-rate video capture—while keeping manufacturing costs lower. In fact, the Z6 III's specifications are approaching those of the Z8 a

Another update to Adobe Lightroom - to v13.5   I loaded it on to my system yesterday and so far, so good (touching wood) Main updated features appear to be:   - Greater HDR support - Enhancements to Sync Workflow and Edit-in PS - various bug fixes, and camera and lens support   I know there are forum member who grumble about Adobe's commercial practices, but, from the viewpoint of a LR user, this package just gets better and better.....    

Retra have just announced a firmware upgrade to a number of their strobes.   Firmware update 2.2 is available for the Pro Max, Prime+ and Pure (4th generation) and firmware update 4.2 for Pro X and Prime X (3rd generation models)   Retras announcement explains that:    Both updates include the following improvements:   Enhanced optical sensing when using inefficient fiber optic cables Resolution of a rare issue with an unresponsive mode dial

Canon has officially announced the EOS R1, a 24MP Stacked CMOS sensor mirrorless camera designed for professional sports and photojournalism.   Key Specifications:     24.2MP stacked CMOS sensor 100% AF coverage with cross-type sensors Up to 40fps blackout-free shooting (JPEG+Raw) Pre-capture for photo and video (1/2 sec. for photos, 3 or 5 sec. for video) Eye-controlled AF with enhanced eye detection Activity AF mode trained for spe

Canon's EOS R5 Mark II is the company's latest high-end, full-frame mirrorless camera, now featuring a Stacked CMOS sensor and many autofocus capabilities from the flagship R1 model.   Key Specifications: 45MP Stacked CMOS sensor Eye-controlled AF subject selection Up to 30fps continuous shooting with blackout-free viewfinder In-body stabilization rated up to 8.5EV correction, coordinated with lens stabilization Pre-burst capture (JPEG) 8K Raw

The Marelux Apollo S strobe has begun shipping world wide. The specs include a link to a site where you can purchase the recommended Sony VTC6 18650 batteries.    Product Features 1. Support TTL, RC, HSS,wireless triggering 2. With a special designed MTL mode, support continuous flashes 3. With 2 fisheye wireless signal sensor units. Plus one fiber port, sensor coverage 160 °. Wireless trigger supports M, MTL, HSS. (TTL ,RC needs fiber) 4. GN.ISO 100 : 33 (tested on

MELVILLE, N.Y., June 5, 2024 —Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is pleased to announce the new Canon EOS C400 cinema camera, with a native RF-mount and full-frame, back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor, designed with the film and live production markets in mind. For the first time in the cinema EOS system, the Canon EOS C400 camera features a newly developed 6K full-frame, back-illuminated CMOS sensor, with triple-base ISO, allowing the camera to deliver stunning imag

Fujifilm has released updates for some of its X and GFX-series cameras including the X100VI plus the X-S10, X-T30 II, X-T3/X-T4 andGFX S50 II   Updates are available via Fujifilm's App available on the Apple App Store for IOS users and the Google Play Store for Android's.

A new update to Lightroom Classic appeared today (14 Dec). This is v13.1 and follows on from 13.0.01 and 13.0.2 which were released some weeks ago. Although the download was very slow (an Adobe banner acknowledged this and said it was being fixed), the update seems to work without a problem. Adobe report that the update fixes bugs and provides support to new cameras. No new features apparently.

On a live event, OM Digital announced three new products and a new lens road map. The most notable is the new OM-1 Mark II camera.   The OM System OM-1 Mark II is a Micro Four Thirds camera with a 20MP Stacked CMOS sensor, designed for high-speed performance. It serves as an updated version of the flagship OM-1, featuring various hardware and firmware enhancements. Set to launch on February 26th, the OM-1 Mark II will be priced at $2399, marking a $200 increase from the original m

Marelux has announced the new Soft Lite today. This is a redesign using plastic which drops the weight by 190g over the past Soft Pro line which is now discontinued. I have attached the specs and photos. Smart Optical Flash Tube Lite (SOFT Lite) Patented Product Product Features Enables to narrow down beam coverage simply by attaching in front of strobe. The aiming light of SOFT-LITE can be changed between red and white. The aiming light of SOFT-LITE XW/XR is only

In these last months of 2023, underwater photography and video enthusiasts have witnessed a phase of particular excitement in the action cam market with the release of new models of video cameras, cases and other accessories. If in the camera sector GoPro has suffered an attack from the competition with the presentation of models suitable for 360° shooting or equipped with a larger and more high-performance sensor (the very recent INSTA ACE PRO with its 1" sensor), as regards accessories, G