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Smoking's not often touted for its health benefits. But it's been known to help those suffering from colitis even though it exacerbates Crohn's disease. New research that could help treat the conditions says it all has to do with bacteria migration.
Category: Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Smoking, Cigarettes, RIKEN, Inflammatory, irritable-bowel-disease, Gut Bacteria, Gut health, Microbiome
It's been about three years since Hasselblad introduced the 100-megapixel X2D 100C to its lineup of compact medium format cameras. The company's sticking with that resolution for its next X system shooter, but it's adding end-to-end HDR, as well as continuous autofocus, for the first time in Hasselblad's history.
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, Camera, Medium+Format, Hasselblad, HDR
The Hasselblad XCD II 100C is a medium format mirrorless camera, built around a 44mm x 33mm, 100MP BSI CMOS sensor. It's designed to deliver a high-dynamic range image workflow, and gains continuous autofocus supported by Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors and more effective image stabilization.
Key SpecificationsDespite the significant upgrades, the X2D 100C II sees the body-only price fall to $7399 / €7200 / £6400, an $800 reduction, compared with the existing X2D 100C.
Index:Buy now:
Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo What's New "End-to-end" HDRThis image, captured as an Ultra HDR JPEG, makes the chrome of the car's wire wheels shine much more convincingly when viewed on an HDR display.
Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4.0 @ 60mm | F3.5 | 1/500 sec | ISO 100
Photo: Mitchell Clark
Hasselblad claims to be the first company to make a medium format camera with "end-to-end" HDR and has equipped the X2D II with a high-brightness viewfinder and rear screen, so that you can see some of the wider brightness range as you shoot. Its default output is in the HEIF format but it can also create 'Ultra HDR JPEGs' which have an embedded brightness map to let them convey a wider tonal range on compatible devices, while still maintaining backward compatibility. The company says this gives images with up to three additional stops of dynamic range compared to standard sRGB JPEGs, using a technique adopted by Google in its Pixel phones, and by Sigma in its BF Mirrorless camera.
The camera supports the P3 color gamut throughout the shooting and editing experience, in addition to making fuller use of the wide color range, as well as the wider tonal range, of its large sensor. It says it doesn't use either the HLG or PQ response curves used by other brands, and instead uses gain maps with linear response and a roll-off in the highlights to give a natural look. The system appears to be utilizing the highlight data that's usually clipped in the JPEG output, rather than reducing exposure to capture any additional highlight information.
HDR images are only captured in P, S or A modes, where the camera has some control over exposure. The company says it assumes people setting exposure manually may be trying to capture a very specific look that may not lend itself to HDR, so disengages the feature, rather than producing a potentially unnatural-looking image that the photographer didn't want.
Embedded in the above image is this 1/4 resolution brightness map, which tells compatible devices which parts of the image to display with addtional brightness.
The X2D II's rear display has also been substantially upgraded to support HDR, going from a TFT LCD to an OLED panel that can display up to 1400 nit peak brightness. That lets it provide the HDR experience when you're reviewing your images, giving you a better idea of what you've captured.
Hasselblad has also updated its Phocus Mobile 2 app to allow for editing the X2D II's HDR files, and even reprocessing Raws from some of its other cameras, such as the original X2D and the CFV 100C, into HDR output files.
Continuous autofocusWhile the original X2D was limited to single autofocus and manual focus, the II gains continuous autofocus, making it easier to capture moving subjects. Like many modern cameras, the system also includes AI-derived subject recognition for humans, animals and vehicles, and support for tracking arbitrary subjects.
At first seven of the company's more recent lenses will support continuous autofocus, and each will require a firmware update before they can access the feature.
The supported lenses are the XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4.0E zoom, launched alongside the camera, along with the 25mm, 38mm, 55mm and 90mm V-series lenses, and the 28mm and 75mm P lenses.
Even more AF improvementsTo feed the autofocus system with information, Hasselblad has not only increased the number of phase detect autofocus points – 425 versus 294 on the original X2D – but added an entirely new type of sensor as well. The X2D II also uses Light Distance and Ranging (LiDAR) to judge how far away a subject is, with this input fully integrated into the AF system.
It's reasonable to assume this technology comes from DJI, which owns a majority stake in Hasselblad, as the company already uses the technology in several of its cinema tools. The camera also now has an AF illuminator lamp on the front, which doubles as a self-timer countdown indicator.
Improved IBISThe camera's in-body stabilization allows the capture of images at slow shutter speeds, and boosts the frequency with which you'll get the full resolution out of the camera.
Hasselblad XCD 35-100E @ 35mm | 0.3 sec | F8 | ISO 800
Photo: Richard Butler
The original X2D had an IBIS system rated for up to 7 stops of stabilization, but the X2D II takes it even further, with Hasselblad promising up to 10 stops. In real-world use, your results will depend on how still your subject is and how steady you can hold the camera, but in the right conditions, you can definitely use it to push your exposure times past where you'd be able to with an unstabilized system.
Updated controlsHasselblad has updated the controls, adding a joystick that can be used for controlling the autofocus selection point or scrolling through menus and a customizable button on the back plate. Additionally, the front control dial can now be pressed in to access yet another custom function.
The camera also gains a vibration motor to provide haptic feedback for certain operations, such as confirming that the camera has acquired focus or that you have both your spirit levels centered.
How it comparesWhile medium format cameras are most often associated with high-end studio work (a task the X2D II is fully capable of), the X2D series has always clearly been designed to be taken outdoors and used in a wider variety of conditions. The company suggests that the addition of C-AF expands its audience to include subjects such as "landscapes, daily, portraits and street photography."
Fujifilm targets a very similar audience with the GFX 100S II, which uses a very similar sensor and also comes complete with IBIS and continuous autofocus. (The higher-end GFX 100 II is also comparable, but has faster burst rates, more video features and nicer ergonomics.) We've also included the Sony a7R V, since its full-frame sensor uses the same 3.8µm pixels, just fewer of them.
Hasselblad X2D II Fujifilm GFX 100S II Sony a7R V MSRP $7399 / €7200 $5499 / £4999 / €5499 $4199 / £3999 / €4500 Sensor size Medium format*Cannot shoot Raw and HLG HEIFs simultaneously
Fujifilm and Sony don't have the same focus on HDR that Hasselblad does; while the a7R V can shoot HDR HEIFs, doing so comes at the cost of your ability to save Raw files, which is a serious downside for high-end work. The Fujifilm can shoot HEIF images and HLG video, but can't combine the two to offer HDR stills.
Another big difference is that the GFX 100S II and a7R V both have focal plane shutters, while the X2D II uses leaf shutters built into each lens. This comes with the benefit of being able to sync flash at any speed, but means that Hasselblad lenses will be significantly more complex and expensive than similarly-speced counterparts from Fujifilm and Sony. Another side effect: if you want to use a third-party lens with the X2D II, you'll be stuck with the very slow electronic shutter.
While high-resolution cameras have always been more suited to stills, the GFX100S II and a7R V both have relatively complete suites of video features as well, with Log profiles, 10 bit video and headphone and microphone jacks. By contrast, the X2D II doesn't shoot video at all; something to consider if your work ever requires motion pictures.
Body and HandlingThe X2D II feels extremely sturdy and well-crafted in the hand, and the grip instills confidence, even when you're using a relatively large zoom lens. The controls are laid out well, with the essential buttons and dials within easy reach.
The camera has two top plate control dials and several customizable buttons. Two – one on the back and one on the front – are unlabeled, while another two can be accessed by pressing down on the joystick and the front dial. The top-plate M and WB/ISO buttons can also be resigned if you choose, with a choice of 35 options.
The joystick is a four-direction control and can be used for moving your autofocus point (though we found it somewhat slow, and often significantly quicker to just tap on the screen) and to navigate through the menus. Both tasks can also be achieved directly using the touchscreen, which has its own selection of buttons for controlling playback and accessing the menu.
Viewfinder and Screens The camera's rear screen tilts out, and there's a sensor to ensure the camera doesn't switch to using the viewfinder when the screen is extended.The X2D II's viewfinder is large, bright and responsive, providing an excellent preview for composing and exposure. The low-profile rubber eyecup doesn't do the best job of sealing out light, but it'll be sufficient in most cases, and less likely to snag when you're taking it in and out of a bag than some other designs.
While the screen's 1400-nit peak brightness allows it to properly display HDR images, you won't get the full effect until after you've taken a photo and the camera has generated your HDR output file. It is, however, still very effective for composing your images and is easy to see, even in direct sunlight. Its hinge allows you to pull it out and position it at a 90° angle for waist-level shooting unobstructed by the viewfinder.
While shooting, the screen provides plenty of resolution for the camera's excellent punch-in manual focusing experience.
The X2D II also has a 1" color display on the top plate, which shows your battery life, exposure settings, and a light meter when the camera is on. It's typically blank while the camera is turned off, though a quick tap of the power button will get it to display your remaining charge.
PortsThe X2D II's minimal selection of ports is hidden behind magnetically latching doors, which feel great to open and close. It has a 10Gbps USB-C port for charging and offloading data, and a 3.5mm for use with Hasselblad's somewhat eccentric cable shutter release.
It also has an CFexpress Type B slot, which can be used for backup or as an overflow, should you fill the internal storage. It's worth noting that the internal storage has capacity for over 4000 16-bit Raw and JPEG/HEIF pairs.
BatteryThe battery is rated as delivering 327 shots per charge, if tested to CIPA's standards. This can be increased, depending on the camera's configuration. These numbers tend to underestimate how many shots you'll actually get, with double the rated figure not being unusual, depending on how you shoot.
In practice, a rating of over 300 shots per charge will let you shoot for a good period of time, especially if you're shooting occasional, considered shots, rather than rattling off hundreds of snaps at a time. We suspect it's few enough to start to be of concern for professional wedding shooters, who'll definitely want to develop a system for ensuring they have spare batteries charged and ready to go. But with the option to charge over USB-C, the X2D II should be relatively comfortable, away from the studio.
In UseThe X2D II can seem a little daunting at first, with four buttons marked with potentially unfamiliar glyphs down the right-hand side of the screen, Playstation style. Their functions turn out to be pretty self-evident once you start using the camera: Play, Ok, Cancel/Delete and Menu.
Most other functions can be assigned to one of four customizable buttons (one of the front of the camera, one on the rear and the Mode and WB/ISO buttons on the top plate), or to a press of the front command dial, rear command dial or press of the AF joystick.
Press the Menu button once and you are presented with a settings panel. Some settings, including drive mode, AF mode and ISO can be set by tapping on the screen your using the joystick. Some exposure parameters can be changed from this screen, but not exposure comp, which tells you to use the dial instead.
The camera offers Auto ISO, including in manual exposure mode. You can set the threshold shutter speed that the system will try to maintain, either by selecting a specific shutter speed or by choosing a relationship to the current focal length, with the choice of: 4f, 3f, 2f, 1.5f, f or f/2, if you're very steady.
Press the Menu button a second time, or swipe your finger left across the screen and you reach the main menus. It's a simple and well-arranged system with eleven named icons arrayed around the screen. Within each category (exposure, focus, connection...) are a handful of settings, often with explanatory text if their function isn't obvious. Swipe upward from this menu page or the settings page and you'll find yourself back in live view, ready to shoot.
It's a quick and easy-to-learn system that lets you just get on and shoot.
Our experience of the autofocus is pretty impressive. There are occasions where it would erroneously confirm focus, but most of the time it focused quickly and accurately, with eye detection in particular giving us a level of performance we'd associate with some of the better mass-market camera. Combined with the up-rated image stabilization, the X2D II is one of the easiest-to-shoot medium format cameras we've encountered.
Initial impressionsBy Richard Butler
The X2D II 100C in many ways still looks a lot like the original X1D launched back in 2016, but the reality of using the two cameras couldn't be more different. The original camera looked great, and was capable of delivering excellent images, but its short battery life and lack of responsiveness meant that it wasn't nearly as comfortable untethered from the studio as its small body would imply.
It's worth noting, though, that the original X1D was launched just a few months after DJI first took a stake in the company, so its development would have started long before. The X2D II can perhaps be seen as what happens when a well-established photography company and an ambitious, advanced tech company come together. The X2D may still resemble the original camera but it's worlds away in terms of performance and usability.
The introduction of LiDAR (already used in products such as the Ronin 4D gimbal camera) is the most overt sign of input from DJI, but it's hard to imagine Hasselblad's cameras would have developed so far, so fast, without DJI's contributions. Continuous autofocus with highly effective eye detection autofocus was not on the cards for the contrast-detect X1D, yet here, and in conjunction with in-body image stabilization it allows you to use medium format like it was a point-and-shoot.
The X2D II will shoot HDR unless you go out of your way to stop itThen there's the decision to lean into HDR photography, something that's becoming increasingly common in modern cameras but poorly supported and even more poorly communicated or promoted to photographers. Most modern mirrorless cameras can capture HDR HEIFs that can make use of the wide dynamic range and wide color gamut of modern displays, but very few cameras give you a good preview of its impact or make much effort to encourage its use. The X2D II will shoot HDR unless you go out of your way to stop it.
The X2D II has an excellent screen that can give an impression of how much more vibrant and lifelike your images can look. And, in addition to HEIF files, which can still be awkward to share and view reliably, the Hasselblad can capture JPEGs with brightness map embedded in them: giving full backward compatibility with just about every viewing device imaginable, but giving HDR vibrancy on devices that support it.
In the right conditions, HDR can make it feel less like you're looking at a photo, and more like you're looking through a window to the world. To get the effect, open the photo in a supported browser.
Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E | 100mm | F5 | 1/160 sec | ISO 200
Photo: Richard Butler
By letting you see the benefits of well-judged HDR as you shoot the images, the X2D II encourages you to make use of the capability and start thinking about how to ensure your customers and viewers are able to see those results. We regularly found ourselves as impressed by the way the camera uses its greater DR output as we were by the stunning amounts of detail it captures.
What's all the more impressive is that Hasselblad is launching the X2D II 100C at a lower price than the previous model. In fact, it's at a lower price in money terms than the original X1D 50c, despite the vast improvements that have been made in the intervening nine years. The XCD lenses, with their leaf-shutter designs, tend to be more expensive, and often slower, than the rival Fujifilm system, but the X2D II 100c brings a level of performance and usability that makes the system as a whole look more competitive than it's ever been.
Buy now:
Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo Sample galleryPlease 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.
All out-of-camera JPEGs in this gallery are Ultra HDR JPEGs: please click "Original" link on the right of the preview to download the original file, if you're viewing on an HDR-capable device.
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.Hasselblad has announced the XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E, a medium format zoom lens with a range roughly equivalent to a full-frame 28-76mm. Its range and speed make it similar to the popular 24-70mm "standard zooms" on full-frame systems, making it a versatile option for the system.
The lens is made of 16 elements in 13 groups, with three aspherical lenses and five extra-low dispersion elements. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.4m (15.7") at the wide end, and 0.5m (19.7") at the long end.
Hasselblad says the 35-100mm F2.8-4 is the second entry to its 'E' series, which it says "perform exceptionally well across all focal lengths." It follows the wide-angle 20-35mm zoom the company released last year.
The lens supports the continuous autofocus mode of the X2D II 100C it's launching alongsideIt has a stepper motor for autofocus, and supports the continuous autofocus capabilities of the X2D II 100C that it's launching alongside. Its built-in leaf shutter can shoot and sync with flash at up to 1/4000 sec. It has a control ring for changing your aperture setting, along with its zoom and focus rings.
At 894g (31.5oz), the 35-100mm isn't ultra-lightweight, especially if you compare it to the latest-generation full-frame 24-70mm F2.8s from the likes of Sony and Nikon. However, given that it covers a larger image circle, its weight is surprisingly similar to those companies' first-gen mirrorless standard zooms. It's a similar story when it comes to its physical size, too.
Weight Length (retracted) Diameter Hasselblad XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E 894g 138mm 90mm Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S / II 805g / 675g 126mm / 150mm* 89mm / 90mm Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM / II 886g / 695g 136mm / 120mm 88mm / 88mm Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM 900g 126mm 89mmThe XCD 35-100mm F2.8-4 E will retail for $4599 in the US. It will cost around €4800 in Europe, including tax, and £ 4100 in the UK.
* - The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S II features an internal zoom design, rather than the extending one used by the rest of the lenses in this comparison.
Buy now:
Buy at B&H PhotoPress Release:
XCD 2,8–4/35–100E: A COMPACT STANDARD ZOOM LENS WITH FLAGSHIP PERFORMANCEThe new XCD 2,8–4/35–100E is a versatile standard zoom lens that seamlessly bridges wide-angle to medium telephoto focal lengths. With approximately 3× optical zoom, it delivers a 28–76 mm full-frame equivalent focal length and an aperture range of f/2,8 to f/4. Effectively combining the range of seven Hasselblad prime lenses into one, it excels in capturing sweeping landscapes, intimate portraits, dynamic street photography, and spontaneous travel moments with confidence.
At its widest aperture of f/2,8, the lens delivers exceptional low light performance, while producing smooth, creamy bokeh and distinct background separation.
The “E” in XCD 2,8–4/35–100E stands for “Exclusive” and represents the top-tier optical performance, delivering the same edge-to-edge image quality as Hasselblad’s XCD prime lenses. Its advanced optical design comprises 16 elements in 13 groups, including three aspherical and five ED elements, ensuring sharp resolution and authentic colour that meet the demands of a 100-megapixel sensor.
The XCD 2,8–4/35–100E is powered by the fastest stepping motor in the XCD lens lineup. This compact internal focusing group, paired with optimised control algorithms, enables smooth and accurate autofocus. When paired with the X2D II 100C’s AF-C system, it confidently tracks moving subjects and ensures precise focus in action shots.
The integrated leaf shutter offers full flash synchronisation from 1/4000 second to 68 minutes, allowing photographers to balance fill flash in bright light or shoot wide open without compromise.
Despite its bright aperture and extended zoom range, the lens remains remarkably compact, measuring just 138 mm in length and weighing just 894 grams. It features the highly praised control rings from XCD V Series lenses, allowing quick adjustments to shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure compensation, and subject switching. The engraved “H” logos and subtle “V” insignia on the control rings reflect Hasselblad’s commitment to minimalist design and enduring quality, creating a lens that performs as elegantly as it appears.
AVAILABILITY AND PRICING
The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is priced at $7,399 / €7 200.
The XCD 2,8–4/35–100E lens is priced at $4,599 / €4 800.
The Vandra Backpack is priced at $469 / €429.
The UV 86mm Filter is priced at $299 / €259.
The ND8 86mm Filter is priced at $329 / €289.
The CPL 86mm Filter is priced at $559 / €469.
Please consult your nearest Hasselblad Flagship Store, authorised dealer, or the Hasselblad online store for purchasing details. For more information, visit www.hasselblad.com.
XCD 35-100 F2.8-4 E Specifications: Principal specificationsLens typeZoom lensMax Format sizeMedium Format (44x33mm)Focal length35–100 mmImage stabilizationNoLens mountHasselblad XApertureMaximum apertureF2.8–32Minimum apertureF4–32Aperture ringNoOpticsElements16Groups13Special elements / coatings3 asph., 5 extra-low dispersionFocusMinimum focus0.40 m (15.75″)Maximum magnification0.25×AutofocusYesMotor typeStepper motorFull time manualYesFocus methodInternalDistance scaleNoDoF scaleNoPhysicalWeight894 g (1.97 lb)Diameter90 mm (3.54″)Length138 mm (5.43″)MaterialsMetalColourBlackZoom methodRotary (extending)Power zoomNoZoom lockNoFilter thread86 mmHood suppliedYesWe know by now that exercise is good for the body and mind at any age, but new research has found that your workouts may be helping in a less obvious place too: inside your gut. It's yet another sign that the gut microbiome is central to overall health.
Category: Fitness & Exercise, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Edith Cowan University, Microbiome, Gut health, Exercise, Muscle, metabolism, Gut Bacteria
This year a clinical trial will test a drug combination designed to bring lasting relief for people with panic disorder – a condition that can upend daily life and be notoriously difficult to treat. No new medications have been approved to treat the condition since 2003.
Category: Mental Health, Brain Health, Body & Mind
Tags: mental health, clinical trials, Anxiety, cognitive-behavioral-therapy, Drug development, Depression
Garmin has always been well known for virtual on-screen marine navigation, but since 2019 it's also been doing some work on the mechanical side of on-water navigation through its Force lineup of trolling motors. Its latest Force drive might just be its most innovative yet. The lightweight Current electric kayak motor goes totally hands-free with a foot pedal system Garmin calls an industry first. Keep your bait in the water while cruising forward, reversing and performing zero turns.
Category: Boats and Watersports, Toys, Outdoors
Tags: Kayaking, Garmin, Fishing, Electric Boats, Electric Motors
Why tear down an entire building, if only its flimsy interior components need to be replaced? That's the thinking behind a new Velcro-like fastening system which allows interior walls to simply be yanked out by hand and swapped for new ones when necessary.
Category: Good Thinking, Technology
Tags: TU Graz, Building and Construction, Velcro, Sustainability
Less than a week ago, Ricoh announced the GR IV, the next iteration of its highly popular compact line. Now, six years after its launch, Ricoh has discontinued the predecessor, the GR III.
The move shouldn't come as much of a surprise, since when Ricoh initially teased the GR IV earlier this spring, it also said that production of the GR III would end in July 2025. That's now official, as the Ricoh GR III is listed as discontinued on the Ricoh Japan website as well as at B&H. The Ricoh US site and other retailers still have the camera marked as backordered at the time of writing, however.
Even though Ricoh had announced its plans, it still may be a disappointment to those hoping to pick up the GR III at a discounted price. That is, after all, what happened with the last changing of the guard: when Ricoh launched the GR III in 2019, the GR II got a price cut. At that time, the company was likely selling through existing stock, though. The GR III, on the other hand, has been backordered since roughly the beginning of 2024, suggesting there is much less stock available.
The GR IIIx is still available, as there is currently no replacement for it. Ricoh also said in its May teaser that it will continue to produce and market the GR IIIx for now. Unfortunately, that device is also listed as out of stock, so while it isn't discontinued, getting your hands on one may not be straightforward. Likewise, Adorama has the GR III Street Edition listed, though also on backorder.
Attention all petrolheads and e-bike fans ... Swedish-owned, Spain-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Stark Future has just confirmed some big news. The company is developing electric street bikes with one mission: to outdo petrol-powered bikes.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: stark, Electric Motorcycles, Off-road, Enduro, livewire, Can-Am, Zero Motorcycles
If you're trying to firmly clamp small irregular-shaped objects, utilizing an adaptable desktop fractal vise is certainly one option. The K-One offers an interesting alternative however, plus it's reportedly the first of its kind to pack an electric motor.
Category: Around The Home, Lifestyle
Tags: Kickstarter, Tools, Motorized
Although we've seen a number of different robotic water striders over the years, scientists are still finding clever new aspects of the insects to replicate. Recently, for instance, researchers created a strider-bot that zips across the water's surface via fans on its feet.
Category: Robotics, Technology
Tags: UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, Insect, locomotion, Biomimicry
For a drone company that just broke cover in May, SiFly has certainly gone from strength to strength in 2025. Its latest achievement came on Orville Wright's birthday, when the company's Q12 drone soared into the most famous record book in the world.
Category: Drones, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: SiFly, eVTOL, Quadcopter, Delivery drone, World's Longest
Several feet below city streets around the world lurks a dangerous and unspeakably gross threat to our way of life: fatbergs.
Tags: Sewage, RMIT University, Water
Retro compact cameras are a hot ticket item at the moment. Some of these pocketable devices have gone viral on social media, driving up interest and demand, leading to steep prices. Many used to sell for $5 at garage sales, but now have seen prices of $500 or more on the secondhand market. While they have their appeal, most retro point-and-shoots are running on borrowed time.
Cameras have limited lifespans Many things can break on older cameras, especially if they aren't stored or cared for properly. In this case, the battery compartment of this compact film camera is corroded.Every electronic device has a limited lifespan, and cameras are no different. Electronic components do eventually fail. Capacitors, flexible flat cables and LCD screens are common points of failure on compact cameras. The LCD may go dim, lose segments or flat out stop working. Flex cables like those used for moving lens assemblies can crack and disconnect. Additionally, moving components like sliding lens covers, pop-up flashes, or even shutter buttons can all develop issues and break with repeated use.
Most compact cameras were designed to last between 3 and 7 years. Some are able to reach 10 years with gentle use. The issue here is that many of the popular models came out in the early 2000s or 2010s, meaning they are now well beyond their expected service life. Making matters worse, if you're buying a used camera on eBay, you have no clue how it was handled before you get your hands on it. It may not have had the careful treatment that would allow it to have a longer lifespan.
Many compacts aren't repairable Photo: vavlt / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty ImagesYou may think that a broken camera is just something that could be repaired. Unfortunately, it's rare for manufacturers to provide service or spare parts for devices that are more than 5 to 10 years old (and that's even assuming the company that made the camera is still around). That's even more true for consumer-level devices like point-and-shoot cameras. That means you can't send the camera to the brand for repairs, and repair businesses won't have spare parts.
Beyond being outside their service window, compact cameras are, as the name suggests, designed to be very small. To do that, companies created densely packed and non-modular builds. Replacing an LCD screen, then, isn't as simple as just popping the old one off and replacing it. It generally involves a complete disassembly. Such a repair job requires highly specialized skills, lots of time and parts that were not meant to be serviced by a consumer or general repair tech.
As an example, I was at a local camera repair shop recently and saw someone bring in two point-and-shoots that weren't working. One would turn on but the LCD didn't work, and the other wouldn't turn on despite the person replacing the AA batteries. The repair tech looked at both cameras, but pretty quickly said that they weren't repairable and were essentially paperweights. Once the customer left, they told me that people looking for compact camera repairs is a very common occurrence these days, but that most of the time, they can't be fixed.
Don't forget obsolete accessories Older memory cards, like the MMC on the left, can be hard to find.Even if you picked up a camera in fantastic working order, you also need to consider that some accessories may be obsolete. For example, some older point-and-shoots may use obscure memory card formats that are difficult or impossible to find. Finding a card reader for them could be just as tough. Likewise, it may be challenging or impossible to source batteries or battery chargers.
Without those items, your camera won't be functional. As a result, it's important to look at what batteries, chargers, memory cards or other accessories are necessary to use the camera.
Keep in mind longevity when buyingOld compact cameras can be a nice change of pace from today's highly technical and precise cameras or the overly processed images from smartphones. However, they can also be a risky purchase for the above reasons. If you're picking one up for $5 to $20, that's a lot different than $500, of course. But you may not want to pay a significant bit of money for a device that is already long past its predicted lifespan and could be nothing more than an artifact in a short amount of time.
If you deal with waves of drowsiness during the day, you might be among the estimated 33% of the population who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a common but often unrecognized condition that's linked to a host of increased health risks including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Now, researchers have identified the biological markers of it, bringing targeted treatment within reach.
Category: Sleep, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Mass General Brigham, Sleep, Sleep deprivation, Hormone, Cortisol, metabolism, Circadian Rhythms, Genetics, Diet
Since revealing its 2nd-generation Transit Custom in 2022, Ford has used each subsequent Düsseldorf Caravan Salon to debut a different new-generation Nugget camper van, first in 2023 with its standard-wheelbase Nugget and PHEV preview, then last year with the first long-wheelbase models. This year marks its third opportunity, and it will grab that opportunity by debuting a new Nugget variant it calls "completely winter-proof." In the process, it will leapfrog Volkswagen yet again with a fully hard-sided four-sleeper layout VW doesn't offer in this segment.
Category: Campervans, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Ford, Campervan, RV, dusseldorf-caravan-salon-2025, Camping, Outdoors and Camping, Westfalia-Automotive
If you feel that your morning coffee puts a spring in your step, science agrees. In the first large-scale real-world study of its kind, researchers have found that caffeine isn't just a stimulant but can significantly improve mood under certain conditions – especially in the morning.
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Bielefeld University, University of Warwick, Caffeine, Coffee, Well-being, Happiness, Depression, Anxiety
A US Army quadcopter engaged and destroyed a winged drone during an exercise at Fort Rucker, Alabama. These days, that's not such a rare occurrence, but this one is different – it's the first that used a Claymore landmine strapped to the quad.
Category: Military, Technology
Tags: US Army, drones, Explosives
Researchers have successfully tweaked a specialized compound from brown seaweed that appears to hold powerful anti-obesity potential – not through appetite suppression or fat burning, but by targeting the gut microbiome to get your body to fight weight gain naturally and long-term, without drugs or diet changes.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Zhejiang University, Seaweed, Algae, Obesity, Weight Loss, Gut Bacteria, Microbiome, nature, Marine Innovations, Diet, fat-absorption
