Photo: Shaminder Dulai
Blink, and you may have missed it, but the first month of 2024 has already come and gone. Here’s a recap of the most noteworthy camera gear announced, released, or put up for preorder this January.
Hasselblad CFV 100C
Image: Hasselblad
Hasselblad has announced a 100MP version of its CFV digital camera back, which combines with the 907x camera to create the smallest medium format camera on the market.
Read more here.
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Panasonic Lumix S 100mm F2.8 macro
Image: Panasonic
In conjunction with CES 2024, Panasonic has announced the Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro lens for full-frame L-mount cameras. Panasonic calls it “the world’s smallest and lightest medium-telephoto fixed focal length macro lens.” However, as important as its size and weight is versatility: Panasonic tells us its goal was to produce a macro that can also handle portraiture and medium telephoto shooting with vanishingly few drawbacks.
Read more here.
Preorder:
OM System OM-1 Mark II
Photo: Shaminder Dulai
The OM System OM-1 Mark II is a high-speed Micro Four Thirds camera based around a 20MP Stacked CMOS sensor. As the name implies, it’s an updated version of the flagship OM-1, with hardware and firmware improvements.
The OM-1 Mark II will be available from February 26th at a recommended price of $2399, a $200 increase compared with the original model from February 2022. US customers ordering before Feb 25th will receive a second BLX-1 battery and $300 off select lenses; we’d expect other regions to offer similar pre-order incentives.
Read our initial review here.
Preorder:
OM System 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS
Image: OM System
OM System just announced its new OM-1 II, but that’s only some of the news the company had to share. Also breaking cover is a 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 super telephoto zoom (equivalent focal length range of 300-1200mm) as well as a new version of the Olympus 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 (18-36mm equivalent) with an updated body and OM System branding.
Read more here.
Preorder:
DJI Mic 2
Image: DJI
This January, DJI announced the Mic 2, the sequel to its first wireless microphone system released back in 2022. We were fans of the original, especially the details of its interface and user experience, and the Mic 2 expands on that with some additional creature comforts, 32-bit float backup recordings and a new transparent design.
Read more here.
Buy now:
Apple Vision Pro
Image: Apple
Apple announced the Apple Vision Pro’s February 2nd shipping date during CES 2024. The flagship, first-generation “spatial computer” is now available to preorder on Apple’s website for $3,499. Apple Vision Pro is not primarily a camera, of course, but it is, in part, a device for capturing photos and videos. The Vision Pro will be able to capture spatial photos and video using a button along the top edge of the goggle part of the device.
Read more here.
Preorder:
Sony a9 III
Photo: Richard Butler
The Sony a9 III is the company’s latest high-speed pro sports camera. It features a Stacked CMOS sensor capable of shooting at 120 fps while reading all its pixels out simultaneously: the long hoped-for ‘global’ shutter. Announced in 2023, it’s currently up for preorder with a February ship date (at Adorama, at least), though some readers report it’s already available in Europe.
Read our review in progress here.
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