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Pedal-assist bikes can be a great way to ride farther and explore more, but many are much heavier than regular bikes. That's not the case with the upcoming Endorphin from Desiknio, which rides as a stealthy lightweight ebike that's "built for comfort and endurance."
Tags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted, Mahle
Apple has announced a new Mac Mini, which introduces a new design for the desktop computer featuring two front-facing 10Gbps USB-C ports and a high-impedance headphone jack. Also new is the M4 Pro, a more powerful version of Apple's latest chip, though you can also get the Mac Mini with a regular M4 as well.
Apple says the new case for the Mac Mini is just 12.7cm wide, 12.7cm deep, and 5 cm tall (5" x 5" x 2"). The previous M2 model was 19.70 cm x 19.70 cm x 3.58 cm (7.75" x 7.75" x 1.41").
Another big change from the previous model is the lack of USB-A ports. On the back are three Thunderbolt ports – which generation depends on your choice of chip – an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port, which is Gigabit by default but can be optioned to support 10Gbps. The computer also supports Wi-Fi 6E – not Wi-Fi 7 – and Bluetooth 5.3.
So long USB-A, hello Thunderbolt 5 (on some models).
Image: Apple
Back to the ports on the rear: The ones on the regular M4 Mac Mini are the standard 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports that have been on Apple's computers for a while now. However, if you get the M4 Pro model, you'll also get the first Mac with Thunderbolt 5, which can support data transfers at up to 120Gbps.
The M4 Pro, which is only available on the highest-end Mac Mini, starts with 8 'performance' CPU cores, 4 'efficiency' CPU cores and a 16-core GPU; there's also a model with two more performance cores and four more GPU cores. It also has over double the memory bandwidth of the regular M4 and can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM versus the 32GB that the regular M4 appears to top out at.
Both the M4 and M4 Pro variants support up to three displays, though the latter can support up to three 6K displays at 60Hz; the M4 can only manage two 6K/60Hz displays, and the third one will have to be 5K or lower.
The one disappointment for photographers is that the redesign doesn't add an SD card reader like the Mac Studio has. There will almost certainly be custom-made third-party docks that add one – and USB-A ports – but it would've been nice to see one included.
M4 Mac Mini M4 Pro Mac Mini CPU CoresThree displays: 2x 6K/60Hz, 5K 60Hz
Two displays: 5K 60Hz, 8K 60Hz
Three displays: 3x 6K/60Hz
Two displays: 6K/60Hz, 8K 60Hz
RAM 16GB base, up to 32GB 24GB base, up to 64GB Storage Base: 256GB, up to 2TB Base: 512GB, up to 8TBThe Mac Mini starts at $599, with the entry-level model sporting a 10-core CPU and GPU M4, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The M4 Pro model is much pricier at $1,399, though it starts with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. If you're budgeting for the computer, though, do keep in mind that it doesn't include a keyboard, mouse, or monitor. You can pre-order the Mini today, and it will be available on November 8th.
Apple's also touting the new Mac Mini as its first 'Carbon Neutral' Mac, a feat it says it's achieved by making it out of 50% recycled materials, manufacturing it with 100% renewable energy, and prioritizing shipping via ocean instead of air. The company has stated that its goal is to be completely carbon-neutral by 2030.
The computer is the second Mac Apple's announced this week, after the M4 iMac. In the Mac Mini announcement video, the company says it will make its third announcement tomorrow, the 30th.
Image: Peak Design / Carryology
Well-known camera accessory brand Peak Design has teamed up with gear review publication Carryology to release special editions of several of its popular photography accessories. The brands' 'Essentials Collab' contains special editions of Peak Design's Capture Clip, Mobile Tripod and Cuff, as well as its Slide, Slide Lites and Leash straps.
The Capture Clip is the standout product in the collaboration. Normally it comes in black or silver, and is meant to give you an easy anchor point for your camera that can be mounted onto a backpack strap or belt. The Carryology version, however, includes a hexagonal print pattern on the back and is the same bright orange that features on several other Carryology Essentials products – though you'd be forgiven for initially mistaking it with the Cinnabar orange that Sony uses for its Alpha branding.
Buy Now:
Capture Clip: $85 at Peak DesignWhile the orange accents on the Carryology-branded straps and Cuff are decidedly more subtle, they actually have a functional difference compared to the standard Peak Design versions. According to the press release, they "incorporate Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene" threads to add durability and cut resistance.
The regular Slide strap is purely made of tubular nylon webbing, whereas the Carryology version also includes UHMWP. Image: Peak Design/CarryologyUHMWP—often sold under the brand name Dyneema—is a material well-known in the outdoor gear world, with its strength-to-weight ratio often being a big selling point. According to Peak Design, its inclusion in the straps could make it more difficult for someone to cut them in an attempt to steal your camera off your body. However, that does raise the question of whether you want an accessory that will frustrate criminals who are standing very close to you with a blade.
Putting that aside, using UHMWP should help make the strap more durable and could help give you a bit more confidence if you often use your camera around sharp objects such as rocks or industrial equipment. The orange hardware also definitely stands out compared to the black, grey, and silver levers that typically come on Peak Design's straps.
Buy Now:
Slide: $80 at Peak Design Leash: $55 at Peak Design Cuff: $40 at Peak DesignThe final product in the lineup is the Mobile Tripod, which is designed to work with Peak Design's 'Everyday' phone cases or other MagSafe-compatible cases. Like the Capture Clip, it also has a hexagon-like print, though there's far less orange in the design.
The Mobile Tripod is a foldable stand that stores away on the back of your phone. Image: Peak Design / CarryologyPeak Design says the Carryology editions will sell for 10-15% more than the versions without the cobranding, and will be available today on Peak Design's site.
We've seen a lot of crazy renders and heard big promises but now Saudi Arabia has finally delivered on the first part of its incredible Neom giga-project. Named Sindalah, it provides an ultra-exclusive luxury island getaway for a select number of well-heeled guests.
Category: Architecture, Lifestyle
Tags: Neom, Saudi Arabia, Building and Construction, Luxury
Clockwise from top left: James Balog, Sam Abell, Martin Parr, Eve Arnold, Richard Misrach, Paul Caponigro. (Not pictured: Anne Wilkes Tucker)
The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum (IPHF) has announced its 2024 class of inductees, a group that includes photographers, visionaries and historians who exemplify the artistry, passion and evolution of the photographic arts. The IPHF class of 2024 will be formally inducted on November 1st.
According to a statement by the museum, "The [2024] inductees, though widely differing in style and practice, are individually seen as significant innovators in their respective fields. They are all risk-takers who introduced the world to new means of artistic representation and expression."
The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, located near St. Louis, Missouri, is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the inventors, pioneers and pivotal artists throughout the history of photography. Its permanent collection includes works from more than 500 artists and more than 10,000 photographs.
Sam AbellSame Abell (b. 1945) is one of America's most influential documentary photographers, celebrated for his in-depth color photo essays for National Geographic magazine, where he photographed more than 20 articles covering topics from culture to wilderness subjects.
Abell learned photography from his father, a high school geography teacher, while growing up in Sylvania, Ohio. From 1971-2001, he was a contract and staff photographer for National Geographic. In 1990, his work was the subject of a one-person exhibition and monograph titled Stay This Moment at the International Center of Photography in New York City. He has published four additional collections of his work: Seeing Gardens, Sam Abell: The Photographic Life, The Life of a Photograph and Sam Abell Library.
Abell maintains a career as a writer, teacher and lecturer on photography. He has served on the boards of the George Eastman House and the University of Virginia Museum of Art. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Photo Society.
Photo ©Sam Abell
Eve ArnoldEve Arnold (1912-2012) was a pioneering American photojournalist celebrated for her candid and empathetic portraits of people from diverse walks of life. Born in Philadelphia in 1912, Arnold began her career in the 1950s and quickly gained recognition for her insightful documentary photography. Arnold was a member of the prestigious Magnum Photos agency, the first woman to be invited to join. Her work spanned a wide range of subjects, including political figures, celebrities, and marginalized communities. Arnold's most notable projects include her intimate portraits of Marilyn Monroe, her documentation of the Civil Rights movement, and her exploration of life in China and Afghanistan.
Arnold's photographs are characterized by their warmth, honesty, and compassion. Her legacy as a trailblazer in photojournalism continues to inspire generations of photographers worldwide. In 1980, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Magazine Photographers, and the National Book Award for In China. She was later made a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and named a Master Photographer by New York’s International Center of Photography.
She published twelve books in her lifetime. She passed away in January 2012 at the age of 99.
Photo ©Eve Arnold
Paul CaponigroPaul Caponigro (b. 1932) is known for his captivating and mystical landscape images. His exquisite silver gelatin prints depict images of nature, including flowers, cloud formations, and forest settings, and his work forms a visual bridge between the material world of physical forms and the living spirit behind them. He studied at Boston University College of Music in 1950 before focusing on photography at the California School of Fine Art, where Ansel Adams had established one of the first photography programs in the United States.
Caponigro is best known for his interest in natural forms, landscapes, and still lifes. His subjects include Stonehenge and other Celtic megaliths of England and Ireland; the temples, shrines and sacred gardens of Japan; and the deep mystical woodland of New England.
His twelve books include Sunflower, Megaliths, and The Wise Silence. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships and three National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants. In recognition of a sustained, significant contribution to the art of photography, Caponigro was awarded The Royal Photographic Society’s Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship in 2001 and the Lucie Awards Outstanding Achievement In Fine Art Photography in 2021
Photo ©SPaul Caponigro
Richard MisrachRichard Misrach (b. 1949) is one of the most influential photographers of his generation. In the 1970s, he helped pioneer the renaissance of color photography and large-scale presentation that are in widespread practice today.
For five decades, Richard Misrach has been one of the most significant and influential photographers of the American landscape. He is best known for his monumental epic, Desert Cantos, a multifaceted study of our political, cultural and environmental relationship to the natural world. Recent projects mark departures from his work to date. In one series, he has experimented with new advances in digital capture and printing, foregrounding the negative as an end in itself and digitally creating images with astonishing detail and color spectrum. In another, he built a powerful narrative out of images of graffiti produced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, made with a 4-megapixel pocket camera.
Misrach's museum exhibit, Border Cantos, a collaboration with experimental composer Guillermo Galindo, traveled to the San Jose Museum of Art; Amon Carter Museum of Art, Fort Worth; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; Pace Gallery, New York; Samek Art Museum; and the Missoula Art Museum. The exhibition and the accompanying publication - Border Cantos (Aperture, 2016) - explored complex issues surrounding the US-Mexico border through Misrach’s photographs of landscapes and objects left behind by migrants, together with Galindo's haunting musical instruments, sound installations, and scores.
Photo ©Richard Misrach
Martin ParrMartin Parr (b. 1952) is one of the best-known documentary photographers of his generation. With over 100 books of his own published and another 30 edited by Parr, his photographic legacy is already established. Parr also acts as a curator and editor. He has curated two photography festivals, Arles in 2004 and Brighton Biennial in 2010. More recently, Parr curated the Barbican exhibition Strange and Familiar.
Parr has been a member of the Magnum agency since 1994 and was President from 2013 - 2017. In 2013, Parr was appointed as the visiting professor of photography at the University of Ulster. Parr’s work has been collected by many of the leading museums, including the Tate, the Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Martin Parr established the Martin Parr Foundation in 2017.
In 2019, the National Portrait Gallery in London held a major exhibition of Parr’s work titled Only Human.
Photo ©Martin Parr
James BalogThe International Photography Hall of Fame has announced that James Balog will receive its 2024 Visionary Award.
For nearly 40 years, photographer James Balog (b. 1952) has broken new conceptual and artistic ground on one of the most important issues of our era: human modification of nature. He has been a leader in photographing, understanding and interpreting the natural environment for three decades. An avid mountaineer with a graduate degree in geography and geomorphology, James is equally at home on a Himalayan peak or a whitewater river, the African savannah or polar icecaps.
To reveal the impact of climate change, James founded the Extreme Ice Survey (EIS), the most wide-ranging, ground-based, photographic study of glaciers ever conducted. The project is also featured in the 2009 NOVA documentary “Extreme Ice” and the feature-length documentary “Chasing Ice,” premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2012.
James is the author of seven books, including "ICE: Portraits of the World’s Vanishing Glaciers." Among his other books are Tree: A New Vision of the American Forest and Survivors: A New Vision of Endangered Wildlife. His work has been extensively published in the world’s major pictorial magazines, including National Geographic, The New Yorker, National Geographic, Life, American Photo, Vanity Fair, Sierra, Audubon, and Outside. In 1996, James was the first photographer ever commissioned by the U.S. Postal Service to create a full sheet of stamps.
Photo ©James Balog
Anne Wilkes TuckerAnne Wilkes Tucker (b. 1945) is the curator emerita of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, having, in 1976, become founding curator of the photography department for which she acquired 30,000 photographs made on all seven continents. She curated or co-curated over 40 exhibitions, most with accompanying catalogs, including surveys on the Czech Avant-garde, the history of Japanese photography, and the history of war photography.
She has also contributed articles to over 150 magazines, books and other catalogs and has lectured throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. Her honors, fellowships, and awards include being selected as “America’s Best Curator” by Time magazine in 2001 in an issue devoted to America’s Best.
Photo ©Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
If you've ever had a packing peanut stick to your clothes as you unbox your Amazon delivery, then you know that Styrofoam is pretty good at generating static electricity. A new invention turns that quality into a workable energy-saving solution.
Tags: Electricity, Energy, Plastic, RMIT, Sustainability
It's that time of the year again. We've got our hands on the shortlisted pictures from the 2024 Close-up Photographer of the Year competition, so you can feast your eyes on a whole new collection of natural wonders from around the world.
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Gallery, nature, Macro, Photography
Rapid weight loss can cause a greater loss of muscle mass than losing weight slowly. The popularity of newer weight-loss drugs that shed pounds quickly has raised concerns among researchers about how this will affect the health of our muscles, which do more than just give us strength.
Category: Body & Mind
Tags: Weight Loss, GLP1, Muscle, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Meet the EV equivalent of a full jerry can – a 141 kilowatt-hour battery charger on wheels, that can autonomously drive itself to wherever it's needed, flexibly extending charging networks and getting much-needed juice to stranded drivers.
Category: Transport
Tags: Battery Charger, Electric Vehicles, Autonomous, Battery Technology, China
More than 30 years since Cosmo Kramer spruiked his coffee table book of coffee tables on an episode of Seinfeld, a new companion tome has surfaced, and it's become quite a hit. It's a coffee table book about coffee. (Sadly, however, it doesn't also turn into a coffee table.)
Category: Around The Home, Lifestyle
Tags: Kickstarter, Coffee, Art, Books
The future of cancer treatment just got a whole lot brighter. Researchers have created digital twins of patients and used them as virtual guinea pigs, testing out different drugs to predict which one would be most effective against the type of cancer they have.
Category: Cancer, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Digital twin, Cancer, Treatment, Predictions
Tired of running out of mousing room on your meagre li'l mousepad? If so, you might like the Padrone Primera mouse. It's worn like a ring, and is claimed to turn the entire top of your desk into a giant touchpad.
Category: Wearables, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Kickstarter, Mouse, Fingers, Input Device
Apple has announced a new iMac, which comes equipped with its latest M4 processor and 16GB of memory standard – double what the previous generation started with. The computer, which is a popular pick for creatives and photographers who don't necessarily need the computer power or modularity of Apple's higher-end models, is available in seven colors: blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green and silver.
Like before, Apple's selling a base model that has two Thunderbolt ports, and a less powerful processor. The two-port model has an M4 chip with 4 performance CPU cores and 4 efficiency CPU cores, along with an 8 core GPU. The upgraded four-port models add two efficiency and GPU cores. They also max out at 2TB of storage instead of 1, and 32GB RAM instead of 24.
Apple opted to release a video presentation for the iMac, instead of just doing a press release – though it does spend the first four minutes rehashing its AI features.Those four ports are all full Thunderbolt 4 now; the previous-gen four-port iMac had two Thunderbolt ports and two USB 3 ports, which were substantially slower.
The built-in 24" display appears to be unchanged from the previous model. It's still a 4.5K 'Retina' panel with a max brightness of 500 nits and support for P3 color. However, there's good news for fans of external displays: the four-port models with 10-core GPUs can drive up to two 6K/60Hz displays alongside the built-in screen or a single 8K display at 120Hz. The previous-generation iMac only supported one external display, though that's unfortunately also true for the new two-port iMac as well.
Four full-speed ports is good if you want to use a bunch of displays. Like with previous models, the four-port iMac also includes a gigabit ethernet port built into the power brick.
Image: Apple
Another downside for the two-port model is that you can't add the 'Nano-texture' display option like you can with the higher-end models. Apple says the $200 add-on, which wasn't available on the previous M3 iMac, will "reduce reflectivity and glare while maintaining outstanding image quality." Essentially, it's a matte display option for those whose computers are often in direct sunlight.
The new iMac also has some other small upgrades. The 1080p webcam now supports Apple's 'Center Stage' and 'Desk View' features that work to keep you in the frame and show off what's on the desk in front of the computer, respectively. The included color-matched peripherals now use the near-universal USB-C to charge instead of the old Lightning; the keyboard included with the four-port model includes a Touch ID sensor, which is missing on the keyboard that comes with the two-port model.
Overall, the new iMacs should continue the tradition of being decent all-in-ones for photo editing, light video work and general use, especially now that they're no longer blighted by a woefully inadequate 8GB of RAM – a change Apple will hopefully bring that change to the rest of its lineup too. The base storage, however, is still stuck at 256GB, and Apple still charges a pretty penny for its bigger SSDs.
It's also nice to see that Apple hasn't raised the base price of the iMac in the US: the base model still starts at $1,299. However, it's arguable that most people should spend the $200 upgrade to the four-port model, as you get a lot of bang for your buck. If you go with the base model, though, you'll be glad to hear that Apple's now selling it in all seven colors, while the previous base iMacs only came in a limited selection.
The new iMacs are available for pre-order now, and will start hitting store shelves on November 8th. Apple says it has two more Mac announcements coming this week.
The Aether x Leica Reporter Jacket was developed in collaboration with four of Leica's sponsored 'Ambassador' photographers.
Photo: Aether
US travel/adventure clothing brand Aether has collaborated with Leica and some of its sponsored photographers to develop a jacket with photographer-friendly details.
The Aether x Leica Reporter Jacket is waxed cotton field jacket with pockets designed specifically for camera batteries and SD card holders, with an additional SD card pocket in its collar. The army green jacket is designed to match the color of Leica's 'Reporter' special edition cameras.
There's also a rear pocket that Aether says is large enough for a tablet. The jacket has waterproof zips on its pockets but the company only considers the jacket to be "water-repellent". Which feels almost like a comment on the promises of 'weather resistance' by camera makers.
Like a rubber gasket on the back of a high-end lens, the waterproof zips indicate some consideration of weather sealing.
Photo: Aether
But, now photography no longer requires us to lash rolls of film to a khaki vest, do these design details really make the jacket that much more photo friendly? Do you regularly find yourself wishing you could stash a spare memory card in the neck of your jacket? And, if you're going to buy a jacket made in collaboration with Leica, shouldn't it at least have a red top button?
Aether will make just 125 examples of the jacket, which will cost $795 and be available from its website and stores.
Press Release:
AETHER APPAREL AND LEICA CAMERA UNITE TO LAUNCH LIMITED-EDITION JACKET FOR THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHERDesigned by photographers for photographers, the durable and naturally water-repellent AETHER x Leica Reporter Jacket brings together a unique combination of functionality and design to support excellence in the field
LOS ANGELES, October 29, 2024 — AETHER, the Los Angeles-based outerwear brand creating high-end gear for all of life’s adventures, and Leica, the international camera company with a history of excellence in German craftsmanship and design, have partnered to create the AETHER x Leica Reporter Jacket. The special collaboration has produced a limited edition of 125 jackets designed to enhance a photographer’s creative journey. The Reporter Jacket was developed with input from top Leica photographers and is crafted to carry all the essentials needed for a day in the field.
“We’re committed to evolving the craft of photography and making it more accessible for photographers,” says Mike Giannattasio, President of Leica Camera North America. “By partnering with AETHER, we’ve created a product that helps photographers carry everything they need efficiently in the field. The AETHER x Leica Reporter Jacket combines craftsmanship and functionality to truly enhance the photographer's journey—which is what matters most to us.”
Inspired by Leica’s storied ‘Reporter’ series featuring special-edition cameras in army green, the AETHER x Leica Reporter Jacket comes in the same iconic green color. Thoughtful details and design that one would expect from the partnering brands include:
The concept for the AETHER x Leica Reporter Jacket was born from ongoing conversations between leadership at AETHER and Leica.
“This jacket is the result of countless design discussions starting with Steffen Keil at Leica AG, AETHER’s purpose-driven approach to outerwear, field testing, and guidance from an incredible roster of photographers,” says AETHER co-founder Jonah Smith, who also provided input on the design from his own experience as a photographer. “We’re proud to have designed a jacket that perfectly balances the practical features that a photographer needs with the refined silhouette that they want. For me personally, this project is a dream come true, as I’ve been using Leica cameras for 25 years.”
The Reporter Jacket was designed under guidance and input from four Leica camera ambassadors: Mathieu Bitton, Ragnar Axelsson, Cira Crowell, and Misan Harriman. Each lent their experience and expertise to create a jacket celebrating a photographer’s artistry and dedication to their craft.
“Finally having the ultimate jacket to work anywhere in the world and under any condition, with pockets for anything I need to work with, is a game changer for me and any photo enthusiast,” says Bitton. “Working with AETHER has been a very rewarding experience as they truly understand apparel that is not just great looking but extremely useful and of the highest possible quality. The Reporter Jacket is a perfect companion to my camera collection and a tool I will use on all my travels.”
The AETHER x Leica Reporter Jacket retails for $795 USD and is available now in limited quantities at aetherapparel.com and at AETHER retail locations nationwide.
Back in 2019, we reported on the incredible US$5.5 million Arkup floating home, which features a hydraulic system that raises it above the waves. The firm has now revealed the Arkup 50, which is similar, but comes with some notable changes and starts at a much lower price.
Tags: Houseboats, Luxury, Solar Powered, Home, Floating
Its lustrous exterior might call to you but Panasonic's S9 model isn't primarily designed for 'Photographers.'
Photo: Dale Baskin
It's remarkable how excited some people get at the slightest touch of leatherette. That seductive, retro flourish on Panasonic's S9 full-framer seems to have encouraged some people to project their personal desires onto the camera, in spite of what's actually on offer.
Let's be clear: the S9 is primarily a vlogging camera, designed for creative video as much, or perhaps more, than it's intended as a stills camera.
It's not a mistake that there's no viewfinder, any more than some neglect or oversight has seen Panasonic fail to include a hot shoe, a mechanical shutter or a second at-your-fingertips command dial. Those omissions aren't accidental: they're intentional decisions to stop it under-cutting sales of Panasonic's more photo-focused S5 II models.
But that colorful faux-leather wrapping and its compact size seems to prompt people who want a GM successor or something that reminds them of their first SLR to overlook this.
"It's not a mistake that there's no viewfinder... hot shoe, mechanical shutter or second at-your-fingertips command dial"Step back, though, and check what Panasonic has said – "a stylish companion for content creators on-the-go" – look at what the camera offers and what it doesn't. It's not intended as an alternative to Sony's a7C II, which has a mechanical second curtain, twin command dials on its shoulders, to make it more photographer-friendly. Along with an EVF and a list price $700 higher.
Looking at Sony's lineup, the S9 has more in common conceptually with the ZV-E1 vlogging camera – though the Sony's special features aim to replace a camera operator, whereas the Panasonic's try to eliminate the color grading process. In many regards, the S9 has most in common with Sigma's fp, with which it shares its shutterless sensor and lens mount. If you weren't queuing up for that camera five years ago, what's changed with Panasonic?
Fujifilm's X-M5 is also aimed at vloggers and content creators, though its twin command dials and mechanical shutter mean it's stronger for stills. But if you find yourself thinking it should have a viewfinder and something other than a Film Simulation dial, then there might be other models better suited to you.
Photo: Mitchell Clark
As I say, I think it comes down to the leatherette. A lot of established photographers see the S9's style-driven exterior and reminisce about the cameras of their youth. But with its talk of "content creators" and "the creative smartphone user," it's clear that Panasonic isn't trying to speak to people who bought a brand new Nikon FM, it's trying to reach people who picked one up in a thrift store.
As the industry desperately tries to find a way to attract a younger audience who have grown up shooting stills and video with their phones, this sort of thing is only going to become more common.
We saw the same thing with Fujifilm's X-T50, to an extent: established photographers decrying the presence of the Film Simulation dial. "Why can't it have an drive mode dial or something I'd find more useful" was a common complaint. To which the answer is: "because if you're the kind of user that wants an ISO dial, you're probably the kind of user that Fujifilm wants to buy the X-T5."
"When you see a feature and think 'that's no use to me,' it's worth asking yourself whether you should take that as a hint."When you see a feature and think "that's no use to me," it's worth asking yourself whether you should take that as a hint. In order to reach a broader (and younger) market, we're going to see more and more models that aren't aimed at people that already consider themselves photographers.
Sony makes things a little clearer: omitting enough features from its vlogging camera that it doesn't work as a substitute for the a6700 but also using the ZV name, rather than 'Alpha' branding.
Photo: Richard Butler
There'll still be plenty of models for those that do, but camera lineups increasingly aren't going to be a progressive hierarchy of models differentiated by price; they're going to be a chaotic array of different models for different needs, trying to appeal to different audiences.
And that shouldn't be seen as a threat: if camera makers can engage with "creators" and "vloggers" and audiences that don't currently buy cameras, it'll help fund the development of the next generation of camera, including the more photo-focused ones, and it'll encourage the continued expansion of lens options.
But in the same way that the X-T50 isn't trying to be a cut-price X-T5, and the X-M5 isn't designed for those people still holding out for an X-E5, the Panasonic S9 isn't designed to be a compact full-framer for the committed stills shooter. Regardless of its apparent allure.
Exoskeletons have been helping paraplegic patients to walk for years, but the latest development from KAIST is a little different. The WalkON Suit F1 can amble over to a patient seated in a wheelchair, wrap itself around the legs and body, and get the user up and walking.
Category: Robotics, Technology
Tags: Exoskeleton, KAIST, Assistive Technologies
Honey from stingless bees contains large amounts of a unique sugar that’s not a major component of any other food, according to researchers. It has a range of health benefits, from preventing tooth decay and helping with weight loss to managing type 2 diabetes.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Bees, Honey, Health, University of Queensland
The 'down the rabbit hole' online-search behaviors of nearly 500,000 people from 50 countries has shed new light on how mood, education level, gender, background and culture influence how we sate our curiosity and seek out new knowledge. So we ask: Are you a hunter, busybody or a newly identified 'dancer'?
Category: Science
Tags: University of Pennsylvania, Wikipedia, Education, Search Technology
As the world watched slack-jawed while SpaceX's Super Heavy booster made the world's first tower capture landing after boosting the Starship 5 mission into orbit, few knew that the event came within one second of disaster.
