Updates and bargains – the photo news of week 27/2023 We hope you are reading this issue of our column on a mobile device while on vacation somewhere. And if not: Even for those “at home” there is a lot to do when it comes to maintaining and expanding the photo equipment.
In particular, you should take action now if you have a current camera from Fujifilm’s X series in your photo bag. The manufacturer has released a number of firmware updates for these devices in recent weeks. Among other things, they should prevent the cameras from freezing – i.e. no longer being operable.
Fuji firmware for X-T3 and Co.
This can occur with the X-T3 and X-T4 system cameras with certain combinations of settings. An example: The selection wheel is set to “Adv” for “Advanced”. The images should be recorded both in raw format and as JPEG in the quality levels “Normal” or “Fine”. Then the camera can freeze and has to be repaired. So don’t try it. To avoid this, the updates should be installed. There is an overview for all camera models on the Fujifilm download page.
Cine formats and Blackmagic support for Lumix GH6
Firmware 2.3 for Panasonic’s Lumix GH6 will be released on July 11, 2023, not because of bugs, but because of greatly expanded video functions. Among other things, it can then also output the Blackmagic Raw format via HDMI to a recorder from the manufacturer of the same name. There are also numerous cine formats such as 5.8K images in anamorphic 4:3 format. After the update, you can now also output 4K video with 100 or 120 frames per second via HDMI or record it internally. If these functions are familiar to you, they are also available for the Lumix S5 II full-frame system camera.
In contrast to the paid update for the S5 II, the new firmware for the GH6 is free. It should be available on Panasonic’s download page once it’s released.
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Changes to Amazon’s Prime Day
If you’re in the mood for a new device, it can be worth taking a look at Amazon’s Prime Day offers. These will be available this time on July 11th and 12th, 2023, i.e. next Tuesday and Wednesday. Prime members can hope for bargains around the clock. Experience has shown that returns are the most worthwhile, on which there was previously a fixed discount of around 20 or 30 percent in addition to the reduced price.
This was known as “warehouse deals” for years. Amazon recently renamed this section to “Returns Purchase”. On the one hand, that’s a bit German, on the other hand, it describes better that it’s not just any used goods, which the platform also offers. You should pay attention to who you are actually buying from if you use the search because of the poor categories, as is always the case with Amazon. And again from my own anecdotal experience: A “damaged original box” does not have to mean that it has already fallen down – usually it simply means a torn off closure flap or something similar.
Even without a discount campaign, Amazon will certainly have a lot of photo accessories on Prime Day at oddly low prices from brands you’ve never heard of. Most of the time it’s not worth it, especially when it comes to everything to do with optics: It is not without reason that filters, teleconverters and adapter rings from well-known manufacturers usually have a price that is several times higher. Of course, this does not mean that third-party manufacturers only ever build dubious products.
USB-C battery for many Canons
An example of a successful accessory is a new battery from Small Rig, a supplier that filmmakers in particular should be familiar with. However, the company has also been building electronics for some time, and the new battery should make quite an impact. It is an alternative to Canon’s LP-E6NH, which fits in almost two dozen cameras from the first EOS 5D to the current EOS R7.
The special feature: For around half the original price, Small Rigs power storage comes with a USB-C port for charging and more capacity. It can also be refueled with the original charger, but charging with a power bank, car adapter or similar is more convenient, especially when you are on the go. Older cameras in particular, where the batteries cannot be filled in the image catcher itself, can be used more flexibly in this way. And a large power bank is more useful for other devices than a handful of batteries that only fit in the camera.
The only snag seems to be with the small rig battery: it’s sold out because so far it’s only been available through direct sales from the manufacturer. Another batch will not be delivered until September, for which pre-orders are already being accepted.
What really counts on a photo safari
If you can’t or don’t want to go away and you don’t have new equipment, why not at least learn what you can do with it? A nice example was published this week by our author Sandra Petrowitz, who was on a photo safari in Botswana with a Canon EOS R6 II and the Supertele RF 100-500mm. Her play is a cornucopia of hands-on experience. Therefore it is our recommendation for a long read at the weekend. (cbr) To the home page
