B&H Photo News Roundup: Week of July 7th, 2024

Hope you enjoyed the holiday break because we are back with a few pieces of exciting news. The biggest is Sony’s first camera announcement of the year: the ZV-E10 II. Sony’s vlogging-centric ZV series has been a hit, and the second generation of their APS-C mirrorless model is turning out to be one of the best values around b using the same technology found in the cinema-ready FX30. Alongside the ZV-E10 II is the E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II Lens, an updated kit lens with improved optics and a more modern exterior.

Nikon surprised us with the announcement of the Z 35mm f/1.4 Lens so shortly after the launch of the Z6 III. The biggest surprises however is the price—at just under $600, this is the cheapest 35mm f/1.4 we have seen from a major brand. And finally, Leica revealed full specifications for the D-Lux 8 as part of its official release.

Sony steps up vlogging with APS-C ZV-E10 II and 16-50mm II

Sony’s ZV-E10 II is making a strong case for ditching the smartphone and picking up a dedicated camera for your vlogging and everyday imaging needs. This next-generation take on their APS-C mirrorless gains huge image quality improvements with the use of the 26MP BSI CMOS found in the higher-end FX30 and a6700 while also bringing plenty of usability upgrades to the menu and controls.

That APS-C sensor is what makes the ZV-E10 II special. It’ll capture 4K video in up to 60p using the full width of the sensor—giving users the ability to create video with that shallow depth of field effect that gives that cinema-like quality that can’t be matched by the computational methods of modern smartphones. It’ll even record 4K at 120p for slow motion with a 1.6x crop. And we know the image is sharp and noise is well controlled based on its performance in the FX30.

It still retains plenty of vlogging-specific features, including a flip-out 3” touchscreen, a 3-capsule microphone optimized for capturing audio directly in front of the camera, and plenty of dedicated shooting modes. Product Showcase and Background Defocus make a return here as well. A big change is that now it works with the larger NP-FZ100 battery pack for a power boost of 30%.

Many everyday shooters looking to upgrade from their smartphone will benefit from a dedicated image capture tool like the ZV-E10 II.

Completing the ZV launch is the release of an updated kit lens with the E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II. Sony has promised enhanced image quality and externally it adopted a more modern design. It’s a solid 24-75mm equivalent zoom and features a power zoom motor for smooth movements during video. It’s a great pairing for the ZV-E10 II.

Nikon reveals affordable and lightweight Z 35mm f/1.4 prime lens

Nikon is kicking off summer with the surprise launch of the Z 35mm f/1.4 Lens. The shocker here is the price—at under $600 this is one of the most affordable fast 35mm lenses we have ever seen from a major brand.

The lens is a good fit for Nikon’s mirrorless system with a relatively small and lightweight design. It has a modern STM autofocus system that should be fast and accurate for both stills and video while the click less control ring can be set for smooth aperture control during shooting.

Based on Nikon’s well-earned reputation for putting out great glass, we expect it to be a solid offering. The lens does mix up Nikon’s lineup, as the slower Z 35mm f/1.8 S we have had since the early days of the Z System is slower and more expensive, though that is due to it being a more premium S-Line optic.

We are expecting to get our hands on a copy of the Z 35mm f/1.4 and putting it to the test. No matter what, having this option available to photographers is very exciting and I’m sure many are planning on adding it to their bag.

Leica makes D-Lux 8 compact camera official

The Leica D-Lux 8 isn’t exactly new news, but it is now officially released and we have the full spec sheet and features to talk about. The big question is whether this camera is a baby Q or something closer to a rehash of the older D-Lux 7.

The camera definitely has things going for it when it comes to design and controls. The D-Lux series has traditionally borrowed much of its design and menu from the Panasonic LX series it shared its tech with. The D-Lux 8 is a true “Leicafication” of the system, with a modern style and a clean control scheme. That is honestly one of the biggest improvements with the D-Lux 8.

Internally, we are looking at the same tried-and-true Four Thirds CMOS sensor we have seen before with a 17MP active area with its multi-aspect design. The 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 lens is also the same as its predecessor. The bigger changes are the use of an OLED display for the EVF—which is a nice improvement over the previous model—and DNG raw support.

Now, one thing that does separate it from the Q3 it emulates so much is that it does not have Leica Looks, which is essentially Leica’s take on film simulations and creative styles. This is unfortunate as Leica claims it requires the latest Maestro processor to unlock.

As an everyday walk around camera the D-Lux 8 seems like it is one of the best picks around, though it comes with a premium price point. The revamped design is a great quality of life upgrade and in a world where nearly every camera can capture good-looking pictures the user experience can make a huge difference.

Coming up…

Canon has something big on the way. Check back on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 6AM EDT to see what they have in store for the EOS R System.

In other news…

Panasonic is reviving the superzoom compact (aka a bridge camera) with the Lumix FZ80D—essentially a rerelease of the last camera in the series with a few minor tweaks.
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens for APS-C mirrorless is now available in Canon RF mount.
Neumann has announced matte black versions of their popular BCM 104 mt and BCM 705 mt broadcast microphones.
Godox has a trio of Litemons LED lights that are perfect for creators.
Allen & Heath has a more compact option to add to its Avantis digital mixer system: the Avantis Solo.
Moog continues to create unique and interesting music creation tools. This time with the Labryinth Parallel Generative Analog Synthesizer.