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What has zero moving parts, yet can blast an aerial vehicle to velocities beyond Mach 5? The answer is the recently flight-tested Atmospheric Test of Launched Airbreathing System (ATLAS) powered by a new solid-fueled ramjet built by GE Aerospace.
Category: Military, Technology
Tags: GE Aerospace, Aircraft, Hypersonic
Our gut microbes and genes are in constant conversation, shaping each other in ways that affect everything from immunity and inflammation to disease risk, according to new review of scientific evidence. It’s a partnership that could transform how we prevent and treat illness.
Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Gut Bacteria, Microbiome, Epigenetics, Communications, University of Hawaii
Scientists have just taken the most detailed look yet at the biology of a record-breaking human life, profiling a woman who lived to 117 years and 168 days free of cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia. What they found could help us all with our own longevity.
Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Age-Related, anti-aging, Cells, molecular biology, Health, Longevity
The Xiaomi 15T Pro features a Leica-branded camera system.
Image: Xiaomi
Xiaomi has announced the latest devices in its T lineup, which is designed to bring flagship features to a more accessible price point. The 15T and 15T Pro smartphones focus on photography as a standout feature, with their Leica co-branded three-camera systems.
The two phones share some camera specs and features, starting with a host of Leica-branded components, including Leica Vario-Summilux lenses. They also offer the Leica street photography mode, which allows users to open the camera from the lock screen for ultra-fast shooting, and Leica Master Portrait tools with bokeh effects. Plus, they provide other Leica-tuned photographic styles, filters and shutter sound.
15T 15T Pro Main camera Sensor resolution/size 50MP50MP
Type 1/1.3 (72mm²)
50MP
50MP
Focal length (equiv.) 46mm 115mm Aperture F1.9 F3.0 *Xiaomi does not explicitly disclose the specific sensors used in the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras for either device, making it difficult to determine the exact models (and size) used.Both the 15T and 15T Pro feature the same 12MP, 15mm equivalent ultra-wide camera. The main and telephoto cameras are where things diverge, with the main camera on the 15T Pro offering a larger, Light Fusion 900 sensor and slightly faster aperture. However, the telephoto camera is the most significant difference between the two devices. The 15T Pro offers a 115mm equiv. focal length, while the 15T only offers a 46mm equiv. lens (which isn't really a telephoto offering). The telephoto camera in the 15T Pro also provides significantly more reach than its predecessor, the 14T Pro, with its 60mm equiv. lens.
From a video perspective, the 15T Pro can record up to 4K120 and 8K30, while the 15T tops out at 4K60. Both can record 10-bit log at 4K60 and support custom LUT imports with HDR10+ across all focal lengths.
The Xiaomi 15TOutside of camera features, the 15T Pro uses the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor and 12GB of RAM. The 6.83-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and 3200-nit peak brightness. It supports 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.
The 15T uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra chipset with 12GB of RAM. It also features a 6.83-inch display with a peak 3200-nit brightness, though the refresh rate tops out at 120Hz. The charging is slower on the standard 15T, with only 16W wired charging and no support for wireless charging. Both models feature Gorilla Glass 7i and an IP68 rating for water resistance.
The Xiaomi 15T Pro is available in Black, Gray and Mocha Gold at a starting price of €799, while the 15T comes in Black, Gray and Rose Gold and starts at €649.
Press release:
Xiaomi Unveils Xiaomi 15T Series Blending Outstanding Optics with Cutting-edge Technology and Flagship Design09/24/2025
Munich, GERMANY, September 24, 2025 – Xiaomi today unveiled its latest flagship lineup, Xiaomi 15T Series, including Xiaomi 15T and Xiaomi 15T Pro, at a global launch event in Munich, Germany. This launch marks a bold evolution of Xiaomi T Series from flagship photography and cutting-edge technology built for modern trendsetters to advanced mobile technology, elevated imagery and a refined design. Alongside Xiaomi 15T Series, Xiaomi also unveiled other exciting products, including REDMI Pad 2 Pro Series.
Outstanding optics for next-level imaging
Built for elevated image quality, Xiaomi 15T Series features an advanced triple camera system co-engineered with Leica, consisting of a main, ultra-wide, and telephoto camera on Xiaomi 15T, and a main, ultra-wide, and Leica 5x Pro telephoto camera on Xiaomi 15T Pro. Both camera systems are designed to deliver impressive results across a wide range of scenarios. For versatile composition, both Xiaomi 15T Pro and Xiaomi 15T offer multiple focal lengths for choice. Xiaomi 15T Pro spans focal lengths from 15mm to 230mm, while Xiaomi 15T offers ones from 15mm to 92mm across its three rear cameras, enabling users to frame wide vistas or close in on details with precision.
At the heart of Xiaomi 15T Series' 50MP main camera lies a Leica Summilux optical lens, which captures exceptional detail with an ƒ/1.7 aperture on the base version and an ƒ/1.62 aperture on the Pro variant. Alongside intricate detail, vivid colors and high contrast can also be produced even in low-light environments. This is taken a step further on Xiaomi 15T Pro, which features a high-specification Light Fusion 900 image sensor, boasting a 13.5 EV high dynamic range that significantly enhances clarity and tonal accuracy.
Debuting the Leica 5x Pro telephoto camera in Xiaomi T Series, Xiaomi 15T Pro offers an impressive 5x optical zoom, 10x optical-level zoom, and up to 20x Ultra Zoom, ideal for a wide variety of scenes, from expansive landscapes to detailed shots. Meanwhile, a 32MP front camera is integrated across both devices for selfies and video calls.
Working alongside the series' cutting-edge camera hardware is Xiaomi AISP 2.0, the brand's next-generation computational photography platform. With features such as PortraitLM 2.0 and ColorLM 2.0, Xiaomi AISP 2.0 helps to refine images by enhancing depth perception, tonal range, and color fidelity, resulting in more natural, lifelike photography with minimal post-editing required on both variants.
This is especially helpful for Master Portrait, which builds upon the previous generation's portrait capabilities to introduce all-new bokeh effects for background light, such as Wide and Bubbles, while also giving users the ability to individually adjust aperture effects and focal length. Meanwhile, for capturing spontaneous moments, Leica street photography mode enables quick capture from the lock screen. It provides users with access to iconic focal lengths of 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and, exclusively for Xiaomi 15T Pro, 135mm for close-ups.
Regarding videography, Xiaomi 15T Series delivers pro-level capabilities for creators. Both models support 4K 30fps HDR10+ recording across all focal lengths, thereby maintaining consistent vibrancy and contrast regardless of the lens used. Meanwhile, Xiaomi 15T Pro pushes boundaries further by supporting high-specification 4K 120fps on the main camera, allowing users to produce cinematic clips with precise frame control. For post-production, 4K 60fps 10-bit Log recording with LUT input is provided, thereby offering ample flexibility.
From photography to videography, Xiaomi 15T Series' camera system offers a complete solution for users who want effortless control and memorable results, whether capturing spontaneous moments or creating carefully composed narratives.
Breakthrough connectivity, combined with a brand new operating system
Beyond imaging, Xiaomi 15T Series introduces a leap in mobile connectivity, redefining how users stay connected in various environments. At the heart of this innovation is Xiaomi Astral Communication, a suite of advanced technologies, including the global debut of Xiaomi Offline Communication with Xiaomi 15T Series.¹ This enables direct voice communication between Xiaomi 15T Series devices over distances of up to 1.9km for Xiaomi 15T Pro, and 1.3km for Xiaomi 15T, even without cellular or Wi-Fi signals.² It is ideally suited for open environments such as jungles, deserts, or remote hiking trails, adding an essential extra layer of reliability when traditional networks are unavailable.
For stable and adaptive connectivity across various conditions, Xiaomi Astral Communication also includes Xiaomi Surge T1S Tuner, which flexibly utilizes GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. This works in tandem with the Super Antenna Array, which features a high-performance antenna that improves overall cellular performance and AI Smart Antenna Switching to maximize signal performance. Consequently, whether users are streaming, navigating, or gaming, this integrated system helps to ensure connections remain strong and stable.
Aside from communication technology, Xiaomi 15T Series will also receive the latest in software with Xiaomi HyperOS 3.³ Driving an elevated user experience, Xiaomi HyperOS 3 will make its global debut in Xiaomi 15T Series and roll out with enhanced multitasking capabilities,³ quicker app launches, and redesigned interface elements, including lock screens, wallpapers, icons, widgets, and even a brand new notification design. Additionally, system-level intelligence from Xiaomi HyperAI and enhanced interconnectivity across devices will help increase productivity,⁴ enabling users to share and sync content seamlessly.
Bigger, brighter, and more immersive display
Complementing Xiaomi 15T Series' powerful hardware and connectivity is a clear, vibrant, and the largest display yet among Xiaomi Series smartphones. This expansive 6.83-inch display is designed to elevate content creation, reading, and entertainment with immersive visuals.² Furthermore, with a peak brightness of up to 3200 nits, the display maintains clarity even in bright light, helping to ensure visibility across a wide range of environments. Beyond that, its sharp 1.5K resolution renders scenes with exceptional vibrancy and tonal accuracy, bringing photos, videos, and graphics to life in stunning detail.
Xiaomi 15T Pro takes visuals a step further with ultra-narrow 1.5mm bezels on all four sides, made possible by LIPO technology.² These bezels are 27% slimmer than the previous generation,² allowing for an edge-to-edge display experience that feels larger without increasing the overall size of the device. Additionally, Xiaomi 15T Pro's display also boasts an ultra-smooth refresh rate of up to 144Hz,⁵ which enables seamless scrolling and makes interactions feel faster and more responsive. To support comfortable and prolonged use, Xiaomi 15T Pro is equipped with full-brightness DC dimming and advanced eye care technology.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi 15T supports a smooth refresh rate of up to 120Hz for fluid scrolling.⁶ To further enhance eye care, it incorporates 3840Hz PWM dimming, which effectively reduces screen flicker, making the display more comfortable for prolonged viewing, especially during nighttime reading or in low-light environments.
Power meets endurance
A powerful display experience calls for equally capable internals. Xiaomi 15T Series delivers robust performance and efficient thermal management to meet the demands of today's users. Inside both Xiaomi 15T and Xiaomi 15T Pro is a 5500mAh battery, providing sustained power within a slim chassis. While Xiaomi 15T Pro provides charging flexibility with both 90W wired HyperCharge and 50W wireless HyperCharge,⁷ Xiaomi 15T features 67W HyperCharge to help ensure users can top up quickly without long wait times.⁸ Furthermore, built for longevity, the battery can retain up to 80% capacity even after 1600 charging cycles.² It can power on in under four seconds when the battery is flat,² after a charger has been connected.
Xiaomi 15T Pro runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset, built on a 3nm process, while Xiaomi 15T is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra. Both processors deliver a boost in CPU and GPU performance over the respective previous generation, ensuring smooth execution across a wide variety of tasks.²
Alongside strong performance, a stellar thermal management system is essential to help ensure long-lasting comfort during extended sessions. In Xiaomi 15T Series, this is where Xiaomi 3D IceLoop System plays a critical role. Unlike conventional passive cooling systems that slowly transfer heat from internal components to the phone's surface, Xiaomi 3D IceLoop System efficiently separates vapor and liquid, featuring a specially designed 3D bulge for the CPU. This design helps to direct heat away from core sources such as the SoC, and evenly distribute it across the device's surface. Users can therefore experience sustained optimal performance and a more comfortable hold, even during demanding tasks.
Flagship design and durability
All of this cutting-edge performance is housed in a refined, premium design that reflects Xiaomi's continued pursuit of elegance, durability, and comfort in hand. Xiaomi 15T Series' unified glass fiber back and battery cover form a seamless exterior, while the flat frame aligns with modern design principles. Slightly rounded edges contribute to a more sophisticated aesthetic, offering a comfortable grip.
Not only does Xiaomi 15T Series come with a premium look and feel, but it also offers added durability for increased peace of mind. This begins from the Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i display, which provides 100% improved scratch resistance compared to the previous generation,² and further extends to a durable glass fiber back, blending style with durability. Both models have been upgraded to now withstand depths of up to 3 meters of freshwater,² coming with an IP68 water and dust resistance certification.⁹
Distinguishing itself from the base variant, Xiaomi 15T Pro is framed in high-strength 6M13 aluminum alloy, offering enhanced drop protection and structural integrity. Its color options include Black, Gray, and the luxurious Mocha Gold,¹⁰ designed for users who appreciate elevated detail and resilience. Meanwhile, Xiaomi 15T will be available in Black, Gray, and the standout Rose Gold,¹⁰ a color crafted for users who value fashion-forward expression and subtle elegance.
Price and availability³¹
Xiaomi 15T Pro will be available in three color options: Black, Gray, Mocha Gold¹⁰
Xiaomi 15T Pro comes with three storage variants,³² starting from EUR 799.
Xiaomi 15T will be available in three color options: Black, Gray, Rose Gold¹⁰
Xiaomi 15T comes with two storage variants,³² starting from EUR 649.
Disclaimers
¹ Xiaomi Offline Communication will be available via OTA starting from September 24, 2025. The availability of the feature and the OTA release schedule may vary by country. Xiaomi Offline Communication requires a SIM card and a logged-in Xiaomi account to function. It supports voice calls within a range of up to 1.9km between two Xiaomi 15T Pro devices, and 1.3km between Xiaomi 15T devices in open, unobstructed environments. Actual call quality may vary depending on environmental conditions. Please refer to your actual experience. This feature is not designed or intended for emergency or life-saving communications.
² Data tested by Xiaomi Internal Labs, actual results may vary.
³ Xiaomi HyperOS 3 will be available via OTA starting from the end of October 2025 in select regions. Availability and rollout schedule may vary by region. Please check your local official website for more information.
⁴ Availability of AI features may vary depending on software version, apps, languages, and regions. Please check the official website for more information. An internet connection is also required. Please check responses for accuracy.
⁵ The screen supports a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. The screen refresh rate may be slightly different under different application interfaces and game image quality. Please refer to the actual experience.
⁶ The screen supports a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. The screen refresh rate may be slightly different under different application interfaces and game image quality. Please refer to the actual experience.
⁷ Please consult the local seller on the availability of power adapters in the box. Using a Xiaomi 90W power adapter or above is recommended for wired charging. Wireless charger is sold separately.
⁸ Please consult the local seller on the availability of power adapters in the box. Using a Xiaomi 67W power adapter or above is recommended.
⁹ The device is certified to be water and dust resistant exclusively under specific laboratory conditions not corresponding to normal use conditions. The warranty does not cover liquid damage caused by conditions other than test conditions. Ingress protection might deteriorate due to wear and tear, physical damage and/or disassembly needed for repair. For more information, please see Xiaomi official website.
¹⁰ Color availability may vary between markets.
¹¹ REDMI Pad 2 Pro Matte Glass Version sold separately and is only available for a specific model.
¹² REDMI Pad 2 Pro screen size is about 12.1 inches when measured diagonally. The viewable area is smaller due to the curved corners. Measurements between individual products may vary.
¹³ 300% volume compared to the same model at 100% volume. This feature only applies to media sounds, ringtones, and notification sounds, not alarms. It only works with speaker mode, not with headphones. Volume data is sourced from Xiaomi Internal Labs; please refer to your actual experience.
¹⁴ 33W fast charging means the adapter output power is 33W. Actual power output may vary depending on the environment. Please consult the local seller on the availability of the power adapter in the box.
¹⁵ Supports up to 27W wired reverse charging, compatible with devices verified through Xiaomi Internal Labs testing. Actual performance may vary depending on battery conditions and other factors. When using this feature, please ensure your pad has sufficient battery and verify the compatibility of the receiving device.
¹⁶ Phones and tablets need to be upgraded to Xiaomi HyperOS 2 with Bluetooth and WLAN settings activated, log in to the same Xiaomi account, and make sure "Settings-Xiaomi Interconnectivity" is turned on. Availability of specific features and services may vary depending on software version, apps, and product model. Please refer to the actual use.
¹⁷ Availability of Xiaomi HyperOS features, apps, and services may vary depending on software version and product model.
¹⁸ Gemini mobile app available on select devices, languages, and countries. Works with compatible accounts. Internet connection required. Check responses for accuracy. Feature availability varies based on language. Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC.
¹⁹ Available on select devices, and an internet connection is required. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches.
²⁰ Expandable storage card sold separately.
²¹ Accessories sold separately, availability may vary by region.
²² Millisecond-grade ultra-low latency refers to performance achieved within Xiaomi's self-developed apps. Data tested in Xiaomi Internal Laboratory, the actual result may vary.
²³ Xiaomi Pad Mini screen size is about 8.8 inches when measured diagonally. The viewable area is smaller due to the curved corners. Measurements between individual products may vary.
²⁴ Refresh rate can be adjusted to up to 165Hz for supported apps and games. Please refer to the actual experience.
²⁵ The unibody metal design refers specifically to the back cover of the product and does not include the camera deco, buttons, card slots, or other components.
²⁶ AI Writing, AI Speech Recognition, AI Interpreter, and AI Art are available in select languages and device models. Availability is via OTA and may vary based on region and model. Internet connection required. Check responses for accuracy.
²⁷ AI Calculator is available in select device models. Supports coefficient balancing for equations but does not generate chemical symbols. Check responses for accuracy.
²⁸ 67W HyperCharge means the adapter output power is 67W. Both Type-C ports support 67W fast charging. When both are plugged in, the priority is given to the first inserted port. Actual power output may vary depending on the environment. Please consult the local seller on the availability of the power adapter in the box.
²⁹ Data tested by Xiaomi Internal Labs, actual results may vary. 67W HyperCharge and 18W wired reverse charging cannot be used simultaneously. Supports up to 18W wired reverse charging, compatible with devices verified through Xiaomi Internal Labs testing. Actual performance may vary depending on battery conditions and other factors. When using this feature, please ensure your pad has sufficient battery and verify the compatibility of the receiving device. Both Type-C ports support 18W wired reverse charging. However, when both are plugged in, each port's reverse charging power is limited to 5W.
³⁰ USB 3.2 Gen 1 functionality requires a USB 3.2 Gen 1 enabled cable (sold separately). The short-side USB Type-C supports data transmission in HOST mode (for connecting external devices such as mice and USB flash drives). The long-side USB Type-C supports DP1.4 screen projection, while the short-side USB Type-C does not support screen projection.
³¹ Prices for different markets may vary due to VAT, taxes, and other factors.
³² Configurations available may differ between different regions. Available storage and RAM are less than the total memory due to storage of operating system and software pre-installed on the device.
³³ Wi-Fi 6E/Wi-Fi 6/Wi-Fi 7 capability may vary based on regional availability and network support. Wi-Fi connectivity (including Wi-Fi frequency bands, Wi-Fi standards and other features as ratified in IEEE Standard 802.1 specifications) may vary based on regional availability and local network support. The function may be added via OTA when and where applicable.
³⁴ Dual SIM may vary based on region availability. Use of an eSIM requires a wireless service plan. This service plan may be subject to certain restrictions of use on switching service providers and roaming (even after contract expiration). eSIM availability may vary depending on country/region and carrier. For more details, please contact your carrier.
³⁵ The actual use of 5G networks and frequency bands depends on local carrier deployment.
³⁶ eSIM availability may vary by region. Please refer to local network support for details.
³⁷ Wi-Fi 6 capability may vary based on regional availability and local network support. Wi-Fi connectivity (including Wi-Fi frequency bands, Wi-Fi standards, and other features as ratified in IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications) may vary based on regional availability and local network support. The function may be added via OTA when and where applicable.
³⁸ Wi-Fi 7/Wi-Fi 6 capability may vary based on regional availability and local network support. Wi-Fi connectivity (including Wi-Fi frequency bands, Wi-Fi standards and other features as ratified in IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications) may vary based on regional availability and local network support. The function may be added via OTA when and where applicable.
³⁹ Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
We've long known Specialized to be among the brands charging crazy-high prices for top-spec ebikes, but the new S-Works Turbo Levo 4 LTD e-MTB takes the trend to alarming heights, pricing in a few thousand dollars higher than a brand-new Nissan Versa. It's as if the company charged $1,000 for every character in that run-on product name. With its marbly blue-swirl paint and "cyborg"-level power delivery system, the LTD is definitely a wondrous piece of machinery, but is it really worth the price of a brand-new entry level sedan?
Tags: Specialized Bikes, ebikes, Most-Expensive, Mountain Bikes
This 50x image shows what algae look like in a water dropllet that's in the center of a 50 yen coin. It's probably not something you ever thought to wonder about, but it's visually arresting nevertheless.
Image: Benedikt Pleyer
Nikon has announced the winners of its Small World in Motion competition. The contest calls for videos shot using microscopic lenses, offering a view of the world that we rarely get to see with our bare eyes. This year's winners include footage that shows the self-pollination process of a thymeleaf speedwell flower, a baby sea urchin and what it looks like when you put algae into the hole at the center of a 50 Yen Coin.
Nikon says it puts on the contest, which also has a corresponding stills photography section, to act as a "showcase of the world's most dynamic microscopic imagery." In a press release announcing the winners, Nikon senior communications manager Eric Flem said the winners show off "the extraordinary choreography of life unfolding at a scale beyond ordinary sight."
First place: Jay McClellan Subject: Self-pollination in a flower of thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) at 5x Technique: Time-lapse, Image Stacking According to Nikon, the flower's pollination process is fast and unpredictable, so Jay had to custom-build a motion control system to keep the action in frame. He says he made his own hardware and software to deal with the focus stacking for the time-lapse, a process that he said generated "many terabytes of raw footage for a single shot." Second place: Benedikt Pleyer Subject: Volvox algae swimming in a water drop that has been pipetted into the central opening of a Japanese 50 Yen Coin at 50x Technique: Darkfield Third place: Dr. Eric Vitriol Subject: Actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells at 40x Technique: Super-Resolution Fourth place: Penny Fenton Subject: A tardigrade moving around a volvox algae colony at 20x Technique: Darkfield Fifth place: Dr. Alvaro Migotto Subject: A newborn sea urchin walking along the seabed at 10x Technique: Darkfield Honorable mentionsAlongside the winners, there were several honorable mentions, including to another video created by Jay McClellan. There are plenty of interesting and visually stunning videos included in the bunch, so be sure to scroll through them as well.
Behold, the rise of the tennis-coaching robots. First there was the PongBot, followed by the Tenniix and the Acemate. Now, there's the possibly even more capable ball-shooting, performance-assessing, AI-packin' Aceii One.
Tags: Tennis, Robots, Coach, Artificial Intelligence, Kickstarter
The Ricoh GR IV is a photographer's compact built around a 26MP APS-C sensor with a fixed 28mm equiv. F2.8 lens. It's the fourth entry in the GR series (though that was preceded by the long-running GR Digital series and film models prior to that), and includes elements from previous GR cameras that had been dropped by its predecessor.
Key Specs:The GR IV is available at an MSRP of $1499. This price represents a substantial increase from the GR III's $899 2018 launch price, though is less of a jump from the former market rate for the special editions of that camera, which go for around $1100 (when you can find them in stock).
Index:Buy now:
Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo What's New Updated sensorThe GR IV uses a 25.74MP backside-illuminated sensor, compared to the 24MP frontside-illuminated one found in the GR III. It seems likely that it's the same sensor Sony uses for its a6700 and Pentax in the K-3 III, which would mean Ricoh is continuing its tradition of using tried-and-true imaging tech in the GR series.
In large sensors, the benefits of BSI tend to have more to do with getting even illumination at the corners of the sensor, rather than having much impact on overall noise.
Redesigned lensAlso getting an update is the 18.3mm (28mm equiv) F2.8 lens. Ricoh has refreshed the formula, adding another aspherical element, which it says should provide better detail and sharpness in the corners. More importantly, the lens barrel is thinner, which means it can extend faster, improving the camera's startup time by 0.2 seconds. This may not sound like much, but it's a 25% improvement.
The company also says it focused on making the lens suck in less dust when it retracts and extends. While it's still not making any claims about weather or dust resistance, it clearly saw users' complaints about their previous GR cameras getting dust on the sensor, as it's also added a new anti-fouling and anti-static coating to the UV/IR cut filter. That should make it easier for the sensor's cleaning routine to shake off any dust that makes it into the body.
New old control layout Left: GR IV. Right: GR IIIThe GR IV's control scheme reverses several changes made with the GR III, and so more closely resembles the layout of the original GR and GR II. Most notably, it replaces the rear-plate control dial with a multi-directional controller, and regains the "+ / –" rocker switch the III dropped.
It isn't just a complete remake of the GR II, though. The rear jog lever that's been on all of the GR cameras up to this point has been replaced with a clickable command dial. The company has also added a position for the Snap Distance Priority mode, introduced via a firmware update to the GR III, onto the camera's mode dial. It makes the camera's zone focusing system a little more approachable, letting you control your focus distance with one dial, and the depth of field with the other, with the camera setting your other exposure settings accordingly.
The Program auto mode has also received a substantial rework, adopting Pentax's Hyper Program mode in all but name. You can now use the dials to override it to either prioritize aperture or shutter speed, using the command dials, and can reset back to auto with a press of the mode dial's lock button.
Upgraded internals and batteryThe GR IV has a new image processor, which the company says can provide more sophisticated noise reduction and more accurate color reproduction in the out-of-camera JPEGs. It's also paired with new autofocus algorithms, which should improve its focusing speed and accuracy, especially in more difficult scenarios, according to Ricoh.
The sensor stabilization system has also been upgraded, moving from a three-axis design to a five-axis one, providing a bump from a 4EV rating of stabilization to 6EV.
Additionally, Ricoh has massively increased the amount of internal storage; while the GR III had around 2GB built-in, the GR IV has 53GB, which, for many users, may be enough to obviate a separate memory card. Which may be a relief, given that Ricoh has chosen to go with a Micro SD card slot, rather than a full-size one, this time around, to make way for other changes.
A flashy accessory The GF-2 is sold separately, but provides a reasonably-priced, compact option for those who miss the original GR's built-in flash.Alongside the GR IV, Ricoh is launching the GF-2, a sold-separately external flash designed to be compact and to fit the camera's design. It has a guide number of 3 at ISO 100, and has its own battery and charges via USB-C, so using it won't wear down the camera's battery. And while it's not a TTL flash, it is aware of the camera's exposure settings and focus distance, allowing for an automatic mode, though it can also be used manually.
Ricoh says that its customers are split on whether they care about the GR having an internal flash, but that they universally care about it being compact and pocketable. According to the company, the external flash lets the camera be as small as possible while making it so those who don't care about having it don't have to pay for its inclusion.
The flash doesn't power on with the camera, as you may not wish to use it every time, but it is clever enough to power down when you switch the camera off.
The GF-2 flash unit will cost $119.
How does it compare?Specs-wise, the GR IV is a mild update to the GR III, but there are enough differences to its core specs that we felt it was worth a direct comparison. We've also included Fujifilm's fixed-lens X100 VI; while its 35mm equiv. focal length will likely appeal to a different set of shooters, it's arguably the most famous of the photographer's fixed-lens cameras out there today. And while the RX100 VII's zoom lens and smaller sensor make for a very different shooting experience than the fixed lens APS-C cameras on this list, its size may make it attractive to the same photographers considering a GR.
Ricoh GR IV Ricoh GR III Fujifilm X100 VI RX100 VII MSRP $1499 $899 / £799 $1799 / £1599 / €1799 $1698 Sensor Size APS-C (367mm²) APS-C (367mm²) APS-C (367mm²) Type 1 (116mm²) Pixel Count 25.74MP 24MP 40.2MP 20.1MP Lens (equiv) 28mm F2.8 28mm F2.8 35mm F2 24-200mm F2.8-4.5 Stabilization IBIS, 6EV IBIS, 4EV IBIS, 6EV OIS Burst Rate 4fps 4fps6fps mech.
13fps elec.
While it's certainly not large, the X100 VI is substantially bulkier and heavier than the GR III/IV. However, there are reasons why: you get better battery life, a faster lens and a viewfinder experience that can be very engaging to shoot with. It's not the best option if you're looking for the most pocketable option, but it's still a portable and engaging fixed-lens camera, with features like a built-in flash and weather resistance that some fans of the Ricoh GR series have been asking for.
The RX100 VII is the oldest camera on this list, and that manifests in several ways; while its older autofocus system was once top-of-the-pack (and is still mostly competitive today), Sony's latest versions are even better. The menu system hasn't aged as gracefully, as it arguably wasn't very good to begin with, and the Micro USB port means that most people will have to carry a separate charger for it. However, its zoom lens and stacked sensor make it a more versatile pick for those looking for a camera that can also handle sports and action.
Body and HandlingThe GR IV retains the same utilitarian styling that the GR series has always been known for, though it is now slightly slimmer and shorter. The difference is subtle on the spec sheet, but is noticeable in the hand and the pocket.
The heart of the camera are its controls, which can be operated entirely with one hand. The two top-plate command dials are placed near where your thumb and forefinger naturally rest, giving you quick control over your exposure settings.
Pressing the rear dial brings up the 'ADJ' quick settings menu, which is entirely customizable. You can choose up to five categories of settings to be accessible from the menu, from 17 options such as color mode, drive mode, ISO settings, focus mode and so on. One dial switches between the categories, while the other lets you make your selection from them. You can arrange them in whatever order you prefer, so your most-changed settings are immediately at your fingertips.
You can pare the Adjust menu down to contain just your essentials.By default, the menu will pop back up until you confirm your selection, though you can set the camera to do so with a half-press of the shutter. This customizability carries over to the rest of the camera, too, with over thirty settings for the function button and granular control over what a half-press of the shutter button does.
The menu system is also entirely navigable by touch if you prefer a more direct form of interaction. While it can be set to take a photo when you tap the screen, the menu doesn't live on the liveview display, avoiding the risk of accidentally toggling between touch-to-focus and touch-shutter modes.
In short, the GR IV gives you plenty of room to set it up in a way that suits your shooting style. It's extremely quick to operate once you have it dialed in, letting you change your most-accessed settings on the fly while staying in the moment, and making it easy to focus on the essentials of photography, rather than your camera.
All of this hasn't come about by chance: it's a result of continuous evolution of a well-loved interface, and it can be really quick to operate, once you're got a feel for it.
DisplayThe 3.0" rear LCD's resolution is unchanged from the previous model, and while it's not particularly high-resolution, it's sufficient for composing and checking focus after the fact (as long as you punch in to 1:1). It now has an auto-brightness setting, which monitors the ambient light through the lens and makes adjustments accordingly. Even when shooting on very sunny days, we found it relatively visible given its fixed placement on the back of the camera.
While the camera doesn't have a viewfinder, it is still compatible with the add-on optical viewfinders released for the GR III. The company says it plans on releasing new models more suited to the new camera's reduced depth, but that the older models should still fit reasonably well.
Ports and connectivityThe GR IV has a USB-C port hidden under a flap, which you can use to charge the camera even while in use and to offload images from its internal memory and Micro SD card.
It also gains 5Ghz Wi-Fi in regions where the standard is allowed, making offloading images to your phone via the GR World app even faster.
BatteryThe GR IV uses a 6.9Wh DB-120 battery, which has around 40% greater capacity than the 4.9Wh DB-110 used by the GR III. The CIPA battery life rating receives a more modest bump; the GR IV is rated for 250 shots versus the GR III's 200, a 25% improvement. It's a physically larger battery, which is almost certainly why the GR IV has had to adopt a Micro SD slot.
CIPA ratings tend to be lower than what you'll actually get in real-world conditions, and are more useful as a common point of comparison between cameras than a literal number of shots that you can expect to get. With that said, it wasn't uncommon for the GR III to run out of power well before hitting 200 shots, and we found we could actually hit around 250 per charge with the IV, so it's a bigger jump than the ratings suggest.
Image QualityOur test scene is designed to simulate a variety of textures, colors, and detail types you'll encounter in the real world. It also has two illumination modes, full even light and low directional light, to see the effect of different lighting conditions.
Image ComparisonThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.At base ISO, the GR IV's Raws capture a good amount of detail, though not noticeably more than its predecessor (though that's not particularly surprising, given the tiny bump in resolution and limitations of how closely we can match focus). The higher-resolution X100VI captures a touch more detail, but both capture more than the lower-resolution sensor and zoom lens in the RX100 VIII. Compared to its contemporaries, low ISO noise performance follows sensor size, with the GR IV and X100VI performing similarly, though the GR IV appears to have noticeably less than its predecessor, which is somewhat suspicious.
At high ISOs, however, it's clearly applying noise reduction to its Raws, like the Pentax K-1 II does. Thankfully, the cross-hatching pattern that shows up in that camera's Raws doesn't make a return here, but it's still disappointing to see, as it means the camera is throwing away some of the detail it's capturing.
We find the GR IV's standard color mode to be more pleasing than the one on the GR III.The GR III's JPEG engine doesn't do a great job of expressing fine details at base ISO, and unfortunately, that's true of the GR IV, too. The trend continues at higher ISOs, with the noise reduction further reducing the amount of detail while still falling behind the Fujifilm in terms of graininess. We find its colors a bit more pleasing than the GR III's, though, and, realistically, this is an enthusiast camera, so we expect many owners to be working with its Raws to better control sharpness (or choosing to make it even softer with the grain effects in custom color modes).
Lens performanceOur studio test scene isn't designed to test lenses, and we had to shoot it from quite close, thanks to the 28mm equiv. lens. However, our working distance was still enough that the results mirror what we saw in the shots we took with it.
Compared to its predecessor, the GR IV doesn't have a significant lead in center sharpness. Move out towards the edges, though, and the story changes; the GR IV has some of the strongest performance we've seen in this class of camera, delivering noticeably better results than its peers, and more consistent performance across the frame than its predecessor. When you get to the corners, it's a bit soft, similar to the GR III, but Ricoh's use of a unit-focus lens design means it doesn't suffer nearly as much as the Fujifilm or Sony.
Image ComparisonThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.Speaking of the corners, you've likely noticed the heavy vignetting. While it's a touch better than the III, compared to cameras like the X100VI and the RX1R III, the GR IV's lens is noticeably darker in the periphery, even at F5.6. It doesn't get much worse when you open it up to F2.8, though, so the camera's built-in correction profile doesn't have to do a bunch of extra brightening for wide-open shots. It deals with the vignetting very nicely in JPEGs, though the corners getting less light means you'll see the extra noise there upon correction.
That consistency applies to its sharpness, too. At the edges, the lens is almost as good at F2.8 as it is at F5.6. The very corners are definitely softer with the lens wide-open, but performance improves as soon as you stop down.
Overall, we're impressed with the GR IV's lens. The GR III was already impressively sharp at the center, and Ricoh has done an admirable job stretching that performance out towards the edges of the frame. It's also quite consistent, so opening it up to let in more light doesn't come with a heavy cost.
Dynamic Range F4 | 1/800 sec | ISO 100The GR IV uses a sensor we're familiar with, and, as expected, has great dynamic range performance. It adds very little read noise, which means you have room to take a picture at its base ISO of 100 to capture the maximum dynamic range, and then boost it in post.
It also performs well when you're boosting shadows, letting you expose to preserve highlights, as seen above.
Exposure Latitude | ISO Invariance
Autofocus F2.8 | 1/500 sec | ISO 200 | Macro modeThe GR IV has a variety of autofocus area modes, including auto, which samples the whole frame, zone, which has a single size that covers roughly a quarter of the frame, a single, small AF point, and a pinpoint option. These autofocus selection options are single AF only; they'll focus when you half-press the shutter, but there's no way to get them to continuously update to account for movement.
This is more separated than most contemporary cameras, which typically let you use many of their selection point options in either continuous or single AF mode. With the GR IV, continuous is restricted to the Continuous and Tracking modes, both of which have small, non-resizable points. This somewhat limits your options for shooting moving subjects, especially ones where you don't know where exactly they'll enter frame, or ones that move erratically.
The facial recognition on the GR IV didn't reliably recognize people wearing sunglasses as humans.The GR IV's face/eye detection mode works almost exclusively on humans (sorry, pet owners) and is available in the single focus modes. It's nowhere near as advanced as most manufacturers' systems; it generally only recognizes people who are close to and facing the camera. When it recognizes a face or faces, it automatically selects it, and you can choose between multiple recognized faces by tapping on the screen or using the directional controller. You can also tap elsewhere on the screen to get your AF selection point back and to ignore the recognized face.
You can move your focus point or zone using the four-way controller, though it's generally more expedient to do so via the touchscreen.
Autofocus performanceYou can capture fast-moving objects with the GR IV, with a little pre-planning.
F2.8 | 1/60 sec | ISO 800
We found that the GR IV was generally quick and accurate when focusing in its single autofocus modes, though it would still occasionally hunt in darker, lower contrast scenarios, even with the help of the AF assist lamp.
Continuous autofocus performance was weaker. The camera was far more likely to hunt for a bit, then show a red box indicating that it couldn't focus on the subject. It would also occasionally seem to acquire focus on a subject, turning the box around it green, only to start hunting for focus again in the moment before we pressed the shutter, frustratingly leading to a completely out-of-focus shot.
Its tracking performance is also well off the pace for modern cameras. In ideal scenarios, it does a reasonable job of staying with your selected subject, allowing for track and recompose shooting, as long as you don't move too fast. However, with less favorable conditions, it would frequently wander off target, not keep up with a moving subject, or give up on tracking entirely.
But who needs it anyway?Of course, many GR-series die-hards don't buy the camera for its autofocus capabilities. The line is famous for its zone focus-emulating Snap Focus system, which lets you specify a pre-determined distance. When you press the shutter button, it'll immediately focus to that distance and take a picture.
The Snap Focus priority mode, which now gets its own place on the mode dial, makes it even easier to use by giving you direct control of focus distance via a command dial (when shooting Snap Focus in other modes, you have to press a button and turn the dial to change your distance). It also lets you change your aperture setting by telling the camera how deep you want your field of focus to be, though it doesn't give you direct control over shutter speed, unless you work around it using the auto ISO minimum shutter speed setting.
Snap Focus priority mode, added via firmware update to the GR III, has graduated to having its own spot on the mode dial.The mode (and zone focusing in general) takes time to get used to, but once you do, it can be a powerful tool, especially for street photography. However, you don't have to be all-in on the mode to benefit from it. In Snap Focus mode, you can touch the screen, and the camera will autofocus on your selected point, overriding the set focus distance. You can also set the camera to shoot at your selected Snap Focus distance even in your autofocus modes, provided you press the shutter all the way down immediately, with no half-press in between.
The GR IV is also one of the very rare compacts that retains your manual focus position even when you turn it completely off, letting you set the focus where the action will happen, then turn the camera off until just before the moment happens to conserve battery. As in all its focus modes, the camera's manual focus mode also does a good job of visualizing what the depth of field will be, given your aperture setting.
It has a dedicated infinity focus mode as well, where the camera will always focus to infinity when you press the shutter button (though as with Snap Focus, you can override it with a tap on the screen).
In UseThe GR IV isn't a revolutionary change to the series' formula, so there aren't that many surprises when it comes to what it's like to use. It's still a camera that can fit in a pant or jacket pocket, offers a lot of manual control and customizability, and is booted and ready to take a picture as soon as you take it out.
I find the return to the GR II's control scheme is a welcome one; the +/– rocker is a much nicer control point than a fiddly rear-plate dial, and the multi-directional controller is better for accessing your custom functions. Ricoh also doesn't make you waste time diving through menus; for example, if you use the on-screen display to adjust ISO, you can toggle auto mode with a press of the Fn button.
The GR IV (front) returns to a more traditional control scheme for the series, after the III (rear) departed a bit from it.Of course, you could also do so using the extensively customizable Adjust menus, which feel like this camera's secret weapon. They put the controls that matter most to you right at your fingertips, making it so you rarely have to dive into the menus while shooting. The fact that you can zip through them using the two dials and have the option of confirming your choice with a half-press of the shutter button means it's very friendly to one-handed use, which is great for when you want to quickly grab a snapshot of whatever's happening in front of you.
The menus are, thankfully, entirely operable by touch for the rare times you have to dive into them. Of course, if you prefer the dials or multi-directional controller, those will work as well. The GR IV, characteristically, also gives you several options for choosing what a tap on the touchscreen does in live view, and there's no easily-brushable on-screen button that will change that choice on you.
Battery life still isn't exceptional, but you don't have to constantly worry about itWhile battery life still isn't exceptional, it is now at least to the point where you don't have to constantly worry about it. I found I didn't feel the need to charge it after a light outing, where I'd only shot around 50-60 images; I was confident the camera could make it through another similar outing without dying.
The GR III lets you manually boost the screen's brightness to make it easier to see outdoors, but you can now set the GR IV to do so automatically, which is a nice touch. It appears to still be the same panel, though, so it will wash out in really bright conditions, making it a bit hard to compose and review your images.
ConclusionBy Mitchell Clark
Pros ConsReviewing a camera like the GR IV is tough; it has a lot of dedicated fans who use it in a very particular way, and Ricoh has put a lot of effort into making sure the camera caters to that style of shooting. But at the same time, there's clearly a lot of interest in photographers' compacts outside of that core audience, and those buyers will likely value very different parts of the experience.
This divide is likely at its deepest when it comes to autofocus. I'm sure there will be GR IV owners who would never even consider using the camera's tracking mode, but if you're coming to the camera with experience from modern mirrorless systems, you'll likely find its continuous autofocus modes a letdown. Even compared to those on the X100VI, they're a fair way behind what we've come to expect, and the rest of the camera is absolutely good enough to justify a better class of autofocus.
If you can look past that, though, there's so much to like here. The user interface, both hardware and software, is pitch-perfect for the type of shooting you're likely to do with the GR IV. The better battery life makes it easier to take with you, without having to worry if it's fully charged. The Raw image quality is great, it has plenty of highly customizable and pleasing JPEG color modes, and the lens is shockingly good given the body it has to fit into.
That size is, increasingly, the star of the show, and it's impressive that Ricoh managed to make the GR IV even smaller (the difference is subtle, but definitely there). While the GR series has long provided some of the best image quality available in a pocketable camera, there used to be at least some competition.
Now, though, that's not really the case, and that brings us to what will likely be a big sticking point: price. Value is rarely as distinctly in the eye of the beholder as it is with this camera, because there aren't other options that provide this much image quality in a package this small. If you're willing to budge on either of those points, you can get something cheaper or with more bang for the buck. If you're not, your only real option is to pay what Ricoh is asking, even if it is substantially more than it asked for the previous model.
If the GR III were still available, we suspect there'd be customers who went for it to save some money... but they'd be missing out.Ricoh perhaps could have softened that blow by packing in the flash (or at least making a slightly discounted kit available), or by improving the autofocus or making a noticeably bigger leap in image quality compared to the (still quite good) III. But as we've said before, we can only review the camera that the company actually made, and despite its price, the GR IV is still a very fun camera to carry, and an even more fun one to use.
While the autofocus performance keeps it from getting a Gold Award, we feel it handily deserves its silver thanks to its image quality, user interface and the subtle but important improvements it makes compared to its predecessor.
Buy now:
Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo ScoringScoring is relative only to the other cameras in the same category. Click here to learn about what these numbers mean.
Ricoh GR IVCategory: Enthusiast Large Sensor Compact CameraBuild qualityErgonomics & handlingFeaturesMetering & focus accuracyImage quality (raw)Image quality (jpeg)Low light / high ISO performanceViewfinder / screen ratingOpticsPerformanceMovie / video modeConnectivityValuePoorExcellentConclusionThe GR IV offers the most image quality you can get in a camera this size, alongside an engaging user interface.Good forStreet photography Travelers People who want a truly pocketable fixed lens cameraNot so good forSports/Action Videographers84%Overall scoreRegularScoreCompareWidget({"mainElementId":"scoringWidget","mainProduct":"ricoh_griv","scoringSchema":{"id":"SLRs","variables":[{"id":"BuildQuality"},{"id":"ErgonomicsAndHandling"},{"id":"Features"},{"id":"MeteringAndFocusAccuracy"},{"id":"QualityRaw"},{"id":"QualityJpeg"},{"id":"LowLightHighISO"},{"id":"ViewfinderScreenRating"},{"id":"Optics"},{"id":"Performance"},{"id":"Movie"},{"id":"Connectivity"},{"id":"Value"}],"categories":[{"id":"EntryLevel","label":"Entry Level Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR","shortLabel":"Entry Level"},{"id":"MidRange","label":"Mid Range Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR","shortLabel":"Mid Level"},{"id":"EntryLevelFullFrame","label":"Entry Level Full Frame Camera","shortLabel":"Entry Level Full Frame"},{"id":"MidRangeFullFrame","label":"Mid Range Full Frame Camera","shortLabel":"Mid Range Full Frame"},{"id":"SemiProfessional","label":"Semi-professional Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR","shortLabel":"Semi-professional"},{"id":"SemiProfessionalFullFrame","label":"Semi-professional Full Frame Camera","shortLabel":"Semi-professional Full Frame"},{"id":"Professional","label":" Professional Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR","shortLabel":"Professional"},{"id":"LargeSensorCompactEntry","label":"Entry Level Large Sensor Compact Camera","shortLabel":"Entry Level Large Sensor Compact"},{"id":"LargeSensorCompactEnthusiast","label":"Enthusiast Large Sensor Compact Camera","shortLabel":"Enthusiast Large Sensor Compact"},{"id":"VideoCamera","label":"Video Camera","shortLabel":"Video Camera"}]},"helpText":"Choose one or more cameras from the drop-down menu, then roll your mouse over the names to see how their scores compare to the camera on review."}) Compared to its peersFor some, a comparison to the Fujifilm X100VI will be a non-starter, thanks to its 35mm equiv. lens and noticeably larger body that won't fit in most pockets. If you're fine with the focal length and size, though – and are somehow lucky enough to find one for sale – its extra features like weather resistance, viewfinder, and flash could be quite enticing. While Fujifilm's continuous and tracking autofocus is more reliable than Ricoh's, it's not at its fastest in the X100VI, thanks to the unit-focus lens.
As for the Sony RX100 VII, it's a hard camera to recommend today, and is in some ways the GR IV's polar opposite; rather than giving you hands-on, engaging controls, it fights against you if you try to use it as anything other than a point-and-shoot. Its zoom lens makes it undeniably more versatile (at the cost of the focused style of photography that comes with a fixed prime), and its built-in flash and pop-up viewfinder will make some GR fans jealous, as will its autofocus. But even if you're willing to accept the lower image quality that comes from its smaller sensor, its antiquated menus, microUSB port, and absurdly inflated price tag are all reasons to avoid it in 2025.
Compared to its predecessor, the Ricoh GR III, there's no one standout spec that makes the GR IV the obvious winner. Rather, it's the compound effect of all the little improvements: the more consistent lens, improved autofocus, nicer user interface, bigger battery and more storage all add up to make it a noticeably more enjoyable camera to use.
Sample GalleriesPlease do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab. Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.Welcome back to our 'Question of the week' series, where we ask our community to share their thoughts on a photography-related topic in our forum! Thus far, we've asked you about buying advice for cameras and lenses, and asked for your thoughts on smartphone cameras. While there were some unconventional answers for each of those questions, we are shifting gears slightly this week and looking for potentially controversial opinions.
What is the one camera you hate on paper but love in real life?This week, we want some hot takes. We're curious what cameras you hate on paper, yet love in real life. Or, perhaps the opposite is true: you love a camera on paper but can't stand it in real life.
Was there a time you reluctantly picked up a camera you thought you'd hate, only to be pleasantly surprised? Or maybe one you were convinced would be perfect, but let you down on a shoot? We want to know the cameras that defied expectations – either in a good way or a bad way – and why that may have been the case.
We're open to even the most unpopular or off-the-wall opinions, so don't hold back. Head over to the post in the Open Talk forum to share your thoughts.
Panasonic has announced the Lumix S 100-500mm F5-7.1 OIS, a full-frame ultra-telephoto lens that the company says is made to be approachable to people who wouldn't necessarily consider larger, more expensive models.
The lens is made up of 19 elements in 12 groups, with two UED lenses, two ED lenses and two UHR elements. It has an 11-bladed aperture to provide circular bokeh. Panasonic says it worked to make sure the lens's minimum focus distances were manageable, so you won't have to be extremely far away from your subject at the short end. At 100mm, the lens can focus as close as 0.8m (2.6'), though that extends to 1.5m (4.9') at 500mm.
As its name implies, the lens is also optically stabilized. When working in tandem with a camera's IBIS system, Panasonic says you can achieve up to 7EV of stabilization, allowing for relatively long handheld exposures, even when you're zoomed in.
This lens isn't small by any means, but it's surprisingly compact for what it is.Despite all this, the lens is fairly small and light for its reach. It weighs 1285g (2.83lb) without the removable tripod collar, and is 196mm (7.7") long when it's not extended. It takes 82mm filters, and is water, dust and freeze-resistant.
The lens has a programmable function button, and, like the company's 24-60mm F2.8, lets you program the manual focus ring to control other parameters and features when you're in autofocus mode. It also features a switch that allows you to adjust the manual focus ring's tension, making it easier or harder to turn. There's also a focus limiter switch and switches to control the focus and optical stabilization mode.
Image: PanasonicPanasonic says that several technologies that it introduced in other lenses helped make this lens possible. This includes the dual-phase linear autofocus motor it launched with its 100mm F2.8 macro, and the optical encoder that can help the autofocus system and account for things like heat deformation. Panasonic told us the encoder is one of the reasons why it didn't feel the need to paint the lens with a reflective white paint.
The company also says it took design cues from its 100-400mm Micro Four Thirds lens to make the 100-500mm compatible with teleconverters. Even though the rear element is very close to the back of the lens, it has a mechanism that allows you to attach a teleconverter after you zoom in to 150mm and set that as the zoom limit with a switch. There won't be any damage if you forget to do that and then close the lens down to 100mm, but your camera will warn you that you can't take pictures until you zoom in a bit.
Image: PanasonicThe company says the lens is made for people interested in getting into telephoto photography, but who don't want to spend a ton of money on a high-end lens or get something that will take up their entire backpack. For example, Sigma's 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 is around the same price, but is over 1kg (2lb) heavier and 80mm(3.1") longer.
Unsurprisingly, the company is also pitching it as a good option for videographers, especially those who are shooting or live-streaming events or concerts, potentially from the sound booth. Panasonic says the lens does a good job of optically compensating for focus breathing.
The Lumix S 100-500mm F5-7.1 OIS will go on sale September 25th for a retail price of $2099. It is available for L-mount.
Press release:
Panasonic Introduces the First*1 Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens in the LUMIX S SeriesLUMIX S 100-500mm F5-7.1 O.I.S. (S-R100500)
Newark, N.J. (September 24, 2025) – Panasonic is proud to introduce the new LUMIX S 100-500mm F5-7.1 O.I.S. (S-R100500) interchangeable lens based on the L-Mount system standard.
As the first*1 ultra-telephoto zoom lens in the LUMIX S Series lineup to cover a focal length of up to 500mm, this lens supports lens teleconverters*2 (sold separately), enabling ultra-telephoto shooting with a combined focal length of up to 1000mm. It delivers high resolution and beautiful bokeh across the entire zoom range, enabling photographers and videographers to capture stunning images and footage in a wide variety of shooting scenarios, including wildlife, motorsports, and landscapes.
With an optimized lens element arrangement and Dual Phase Linear Motor, the lens achieves a remarkably compact design with an overall length of just 196.1mm, while delivering impressive ultra-telephoto performance. High-speed, high-precision, and silent autofocus, combined with Dual I.S. 2 image stabilization supporting up to 7.0 stops*3, ensures exceptional portability and handheld shooting support, expanding creative possibilities in the field.
The lens is also designed for intuitive operation, featuring a customizable focus ring and a focus button. The focus ring can be used as a control ring, by assigning preferred settings such as aperture or other customizable parameters*4, while the focus button allows users to assign their preferred functions, enabling a highly personalized and responsive shooting experience. To meet the growing demand for video production, the lens also incorporates features such as focus breathing suppression and micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure transitions, supporting high-quality video performance.
With this product, Panasonic aims to expand the creative scope by providing a compact yet powerful ultra-telephoto shooting experience for both enthusiasts and professionals.
Main Features
1. The First*1 Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens in the LUMIX S Series Covering Up to 500mm
2. Powerful 7.0-stop Dual I.S. 2 for Unshakable Stability and Enhanced Mobility
3. Intuitive Operability for Focused Shooting
Price and availability
The new LUMIX S 100-500mm lens will be available for pre-order on September 25th for $2099.99 at valued channel partners.
*1 As of September 24, 2025. Among interchangeable lenses for AF compatible full-frame mirrorless cameras.
*2 With optional teleconverter DMW-STC20 attached. The maximum aperture becomes two stops slower. When a teleconverter is attached, the focal length of this lens is limited to 150–500mm.
*3 Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=500mm. When LUMIX S1RII is used.]
*4 Compatible cameras: DC-S1M2, DC-S1M2ES, DC-S1RM2 (Firmware version 1.2)
*5 This function combines optical zoom and crop zoom, allowing you to extend the telephoto range using only the zoom ring without changing the focal length at the wide end.
Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm F5-7.1 OIS specifications: Principal specificationsLens typeZoom lensMax Format size35mm FFFocal length100–500 mmImage stabilizationYesCIPA Image stabilization rating7 stop(s)Lens mountL-MountApertureMaximum apertureF5–7.1Minimum apertureF29–40Aperture ringNoNumber of diaphragm blades11OpticsElements19Groups12Special elements / coatings2 UED, 2 ED, 2 UHRFocusMinimum focus0.80 m (31.5″)Maximum magnification0.36×AutofocusYesMotor typeLinear MotorFull time manualYesFocus methodInternalDistance scaleNoDoF scaleNoFocus distance limiter5m-InfinityPhysicalWeight1285 g (2.83 lb)Diameter92 mm (3.62″)Length196 mm (7.72″)SealingYesColourBlackZoom methodRotary (extending)Power zoomNoZoom lockUnknownFilter thread82 mmHood suppliedYesTripod collarYesLava Music caused a glitch in the Matrix a few years back with an oddball carbon-fiber acoustic guitar rocking built-in digital effects. Now the company is looking to reshape the amplification landscape with "the world's most advanced amp."
Category: Music, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Kickstarter, Amplifiers, Guitar Effects, Learning, recording, Bluetooth Speakers
A report based on data compiled between 1990 to 2023 across 204 countries found that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the most common cause of death among humans. Heart conditions are behind one in every three deaths on the planet.
Category: Body and Mind
Tags: Heart, Cardiovascular disease, Cardiovascular, University of Washington
With projects like the Halley VI Antarctic research station under its belt, Hugh Broughton Architects is no stranger to working in extreme environments. The UK firm will need this experience as it has now been commissioned to deliver a series of upgrades for Australia's Davis Station in Antarctica.
Category: Architecture, Technology
Tags: Hugh Broughton Architects, Antarctic, Shelter, Building and Construction, Australia
It's been six years since GoPro refreshed its Max 360-degree action cam, and the new model brings plenty of new features and thoughtfully updated hardware.
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Consumer Electronics, GoPro, Actioncam, 360-degree, Insta360, DJI Innovations
Scientists have developed a new eyedrop that can ferry protective compounds all the way to the retina, paving the way for a less-invasive injection-free method of managing sight-stealing diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: RMIT University, RMIT, Retina, Eye diseases, Nanomedicine, Age-Related, Sight
The earliest evidence of the invention of the wheel pops up around 5,500 years ago in Uruk, ancient Mesopotamia, which has to go down as the most innovative society in human history. These guys, best we can tell, invented everything from cities, to maps, to sails, proverbs, aquariums, moral ideals and messiahs.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Wheel, In-wheel, Motor, Crowdfunding
Switching off a single enzyme in immune cells protected mice from obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease in a new study, offering a potential new treatment target for metabolic disorders.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind
Tags: Obesity, Enzyme, The Immune System, Type 2 diabetes, Inflammation, Monash University, Baylor College of Medicine
A layer of foam may be good at protecting you from simple whacks on the head, but it's not necessarily sufficient when you're cycling at speed. That's where RLS bike helmet tech comes in. It's claimed to offer four times the concussion protection of a regular helmet, via ball bearings and panels that pop off under pressure.
Tags: Helmets, Cycling, Road Safety, Traumatic Brain Injury
World-leading American RV manufacturing group Thor Industries and its EV chassis partner Harbinger presented one of the most impressive motorhomes of 2024, an electrified Class A camper bus offering an estimated 500 miles (800 km) of hybrid range. It was just a concept a year ago, but it ultimately paved the way for the all-new Embark EV, the market's first range-extended Class A electric motorhome, debuted under Thor brand Entegra Coach. More than just a breakthrough powertrain, the new large motorhome is an impressive build from nose to tail, incorporating European-inspired spaces and design elements that let travelers live cleanly and comfortably.
Category: RVs and Motorhomes, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Motorhomes, electric-camper, RV, Thor Industries, Camping, Travel, Off-grid, Outdoors and Camping
Drone manufacturer DJI continues its foray into the world of actioncams in a big way – or actually, in a small way – with its tiniest camera yet, the Osmo Nano. The 4K-shooting tyke can be magnetically mounted on shirts, hats or other clothing, and is waterproof down to 10 m (33 ft).
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: DJI Innovations, Actioncam, Video Cameras
