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Sony's content authenticity system isn't just for pro cameras anymore

Digital Photography Review news -

When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission. Photo: Richard Butler

Sony has released a firmware update that brings its Content Authenticity Solution to the a7 IV. The company announced a similar update for the a1 II, a1 and a9 III in January. However, this is the first time the tool to authenticate images will be available on something other than high-end, professional-grade cameras.

Software Ver. 5.00 for the Sony a7 IV adds support for the "Write Digital Signature" function for still images. This function allows photographers to add an electronic signature to their images to prove that they were taken with that camera. Authenticity tools such as this are becoming increasingly important with the growing prevalence of generative AI-created imagery and, as a result, the spread of fake images.

Of course, as with the update for the three pro-grade cameras in January, there are some caveats involved. The Digital Signature function requires a paid license and is only available for certain media outlets, not the general public. Unfortunately, Sony still hasn't provided any additional information on if or when it will be available for general consumers. On the firmware update page, Sony simply says that the "timing for the provision of paid licenses to customers other than certain media outlets is yet to be determined."

Even though the current usability is limited, Sony rolling this out to consumer models is a step in the right direction. The Content Authenticity information page also says that "more camera models will be supported in due course," so it sounds like we should see additional cameras with the tool at some point. If Sony makes the feature more widely available beyond media outlets, the Digital Signature feature will already be on cameras and ready for use.

If you want to be prepared, or happen to work for one of the select media outlets, the Sony a7 IV firmware update Ver. 5.00 is now available for download.

Fujifilm teases a new camera in X Summit announcement

Digital Photography Review news -

Fujifilm took to some of its social media channels to announce that its next X Summit will take place in just two weeks. The March 20 event will be hosted in Prague, supposedly at 10 am GMT (5am ET), according to some posts. "The wait is almost over. Mark your calendars for March 20 and get ready to witness something extraordinary. Stay tuned for more updates," teased the Fujifilm X India YouTube channel.

A screenshot from the YouTube video announcing the X Summit and teasing a new camera.

Image: Fujifilm

Fujifilm is clearly aiming to build excitement, and the announcement video included a very brief flash of a camera at the end. The camera is shrouded in shadow, so it doesn't reveal much. A closer examination of a screenshot reveals a compact-looking lens with text that says "Fujinon Aspherical Lens" on the front. That's really all that's visible, though it does seem like the camera may be larger than standard compacts like the X100VI.

The company's post certainly leaves more questions than answers about the upcoming camera announcement. Luckily, though, two weeks isn't terribly long to wait.

Disappointed with the iPhone Camera Control button? This smartphone might have a better idea

Digital Photography Review news -

Rendering: Nubia

We live in a time when camera brands (well, at least one) are stripping down controls while smartphone brands are ramping up physical camera controls. Indeed, the quest to bring a camera-like shooting experience to smartphones is going strong, as we've seen on full display at MWC 2025 in Barcelona. Brands like Xiaomi and RealMe have even gone so far as adding lens mounts to prototype smartphones.

On the less dramatic side are features like Apple's iPhone Camera Control button, which provides quick access to the camera and various settings like zoom. You can also find grips from the likes of Belkin, ShiftCam and even Leica that add shutter buttons and a more camera-like form factor. Now, a lesser-known smartphone brand is getting into the mix with an innovation on the camera itself.

Nubia, which also sells phones under the name Redmagic, opted for a simple control ring on its new Focus 2 Ultra smartphone. According to Notebook Check, the distinctive rotating ring allows users to control zoom or select filters. Such a feature should feel more natural and familiar for zooming in or out, especially for those who use dedicated cameras. Plus, you don't have to remember if you double press, long press, or tap your head three times to get to certain settings. A control ring also means there's no fiddling with getting your finger placed just right to zoom in or out, as is necessary on Apple's Camera Control Button.

Adding to the camera-like experience, the Focus 2 Ultra has a dedicated button that acts as a shutter release when you have the camera app open.

The camera system itself on the Nubia Focus 2 Ultra doesn't seem like anything to write home about; the company says the main shooter uses a Type 1/1.55 (8.3 x 6.2mm) sensor with 2μm pixels and an F1.47 lens, but doesn't provide further details about it or the phone's other cameras. However, it's exciting to see how phone makers are experimenting with physical camera controls on their devices. Especially as phone camera technology improves, it certainly would be nice to have more tactile controls when I leave my dedicated cameras behind.

The company hasn't announced exactly when the Focus 2 Ultra will be available, but Notebook Check reports it'll cost around 300 Euros.

See-through teardrop camper throws open spectacular views

Gizmag news -

A trailer you can see clean through, the Naledi Camper is as simple and straightforward to use as any other teardrop on the road, but it packs two big distinguishing features: oversized picture windows on each side. Campers get sandwiched between huge views of the local surroundings to which they traveled, providing a camping experience more akin to sleeping in the fresh air on naked ground ... albeit from the comfort of a sheltered foam mattress.

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Category: Outdoors, Lifestyle

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Apple's new Macs take portability and power to the extreme

Digital Photography Review news -

Images: Apple

Apple has updated its ultra-portable laptop, the MacBook Air, as well as its ultra-powerful desktop, the Mac Studio. The former gets the company's latest chip, a price cut and comes in a fun new color, while the latter is being billed as "the most powerful Mac ever."

The M4 MacBook Air Image: Apple

On the outside, the MacBook Air is much the same as its predecessor, though it's now available with a "sky blue" finish. On the inside, it features the company's latest M4 chip, which has been available for a while now in computers like the Mac Mini, iMac and entry-level MacBook Pro. Based on those machines, the M4 Air should be a bit more powerful and efficient than its predecessor.

The biggest upgrade, though, is to external display support. The M3 MacBook Air could only run one display alongside its built-in screen. You'd have to close the laptop's lid if you wanted to use a second external display. With the new model, that limitation is gone: it can drive two 6K external monitors and its internal display.

Multi-monitor support has historically been the Apple Silicon MacBook Air's biggest weakness, but that's clearly no longer the case.

Image: Apple

Apple has also upgraded the webcam and says the new model has "improved video quality." In a rare move, it's done all this while lowering the computer's base price. The M4 Air's predecessor started at $1,099 for a model with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage – now, you can get those same specs for $999.

There are caveats: the entry-level 13" M3 Air had a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, while the cheapest 13" M4 model has a 10-core CPU and an 8-core GPU. It's not a change that most people looking at this class of computer will notice, and jumping to the $1199 model will get you those cores back, but it does make it clear where Apple's saving that $100. The base 15" model gets the same price cut, starting at $1199 instead of $1299, but instead of taking a hit to the GPU, it takes a hit to storage; instead of starting at 512GB like its predecessor, it starts at 256GB. That cut will likely be more noticeable to the average consumer, as 256GB can be pretty limiting, especially if you've got a lot of documents or photos.

The M4 MacBook Air is available to pre-order now and will be available starting March 12th.

Buy at Apple The new Mac Studio

Apple says the M4 Max Mac Studio is "1.6x faster image processing in Adobe Photoshop" than the M1 Max version.

Image: Apple

Apple has also updated the Mac Studio, its desktop aimed at creative professionals with its powerful internals and integrated UHS-II SD card reader. It's been a moment since the computer has been updated – the previous version came out in the summer of 2023 and was powered by Apple's M2 chips.

The base-spec Studio now comes with the M4 Max, which has 14 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores. That chip is the same found in the top-tier MacBook Pros released last year. However, the computer also introduces the M3 Ultra. As its name implies, it's built around Apple's last-gen architecture, but it makes up for that by essentially being two Max-class chips fused together. The entry-level M3 Max has a 28-core CPU and a 60-core GPU but can be optioned to add 4 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores.

The Mac Studio offers more I/O than any of Apple's laptops.

Image: Apple

The M3 Ultra also supports ThunderBolt 5, a spec previously only available on M4-powered machines, which allows for data transfers at up to 120 Gbps. The Ultra-equipped studio has a whopping six ThunderBolt ports, two more than the Max model, which has four ThunderBolt ports and two USB-C ones.

Beyond the new silicon, the new Studio has a few improvements over the previous generation. It can now drive eight 6K displays or four 8K displays; the M2-powered Studio topped out at six and three, respectively. The M3 Ultra version is also available with much more storage and RAM; you can get it with a 16TB SSD and up to 512GB of memory, which Apple says is "the most unified memory ever in a personal computer." The maxed-out M2 Ultra only supported an 8TB SSD and 192GB of memory.

Given that this is more or less Apple's flagship desktop – sorry, Mac Pro – it's not surprising that it costs a pretty penny. The M4 Max version starts at $1999 and comes with 36GB of memory and a 512GB SSD. The M3 Ultra Studio starts at $3999 and has 96GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. Like with all Apple machines, costs start to add up if you want to upgrade – the 512GB memory option costs an additional $4000, and bumping up to that 16TB SSD will run you a cool $4600. Both models are available to pre-order now, and will be available starting March 12th.

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This RealMe concept turns a smartphone into an interchangeable lens system

Digital Photography Review news -

Phone manufacturers are continuously trying to find ways to make the cameras in their devices bigger and better, allowing them to serve as a true replacement for dedicated cameras. To this end, Xiaomi recently announced the "Modular Optical System" concept phone, which features a lens module with a built-in Four Thirds sensor that attaches magnetically to the phone's back. RealMe, a fellow Chinese smartphone brand, said, "Hold my lens," and upped the ante, releasing a concept phone with an M-mount.

While Xiaomi's approach uses a sensor built into a lens that attaches magnetically, RealMe opted for a bare sensor built into the back of the phone and an existing lens mount. RealMe says the concept features a customized Type 1 (13.2 x 8.8 mm) Sony sensor, which is covered by glass to protect it. Granted, no matter how tough that glass is, it is vulnerable to scratches and cracks, which would then impact image quality.

The phone's M-mount allows users to take advantage of existing full-frame lenses rather than buying a proprietary lens system. The prototype is on display at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. RealMe is reportedly providing lenses to try out the system, though the current concept isn't able to power autofocus motors and lacks electrical contacts to provide EXIF data. Given those limitations, it makes sense that the company chose the manual focus-only M-mount.

The mount itself is rather large, even before attaching a lens.

Image: RealMe

The concept phone features also two traditional phone cameras, both of which use Type 1 sensors. It's still not all that common to get one sensors that large in a phone, let alone three, so it's possible the phone could be a standout shooter even without an external lens attached.

The concept of a phone with an interchangeable lens mount isn't new – Xiaomi did something very similar a few years ago – and the end product can be quite unwieldy. That is especially true with larger lenses, which would get incredibly front-heavy when attached to a slim, lightweight phone. It's hard to imagine the ergonomics would be anything you'd want to experience for very long. After all, you would have to essentially only hold the lens, not the phone itself. Plus, the required lens mount is bulky before attaching a lens, so it isn't exactly a compact system. However, despite all its potential flaws, it is nice to see companies working to push the boundaries. Who knows where it could take us, after all.

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