Lightest in class for fast, full-frame 85mm AF lenses
Available for E-Mount and L-mount systems
Completing a trio of F1.2 full-frame prime lenses, the Sigma 85mm F1.2 Art offers the control and clarity of the best large-aperture 85mm lenses, but with less bulk thanks to pioneering industrial design and materials. The new lens complements the existing 50mm F1.2 DG Art and 35mm F1.2 DG Art.
Sigma’s use of composites and engineering plastics has evolved since the first ‘Global Vision’ lenses were announced in 2012, and in the latest Art series this makes it possible for a 17-element, 13 group 85mm f/1.2 lens to weigh 905g.
A dual-mode locking aperture ring (auto mode, or range mode, is locked at power up based on selection) plus two AF-L buttons which can be reassigned, and the abilty to turn off aperture click stops.
Taking advantage of the F1.2 shallow depth of field is a 13-blade rounded diaphragm, and an optical formula including two SLD elements also uses high anomalous dispersion glass to suppress axial chromatic aberration.
The Sigma 85mm F1.2 Art costs £1299, and is available in E-Mount for Sony, and L-mount for Sigma, Leica and Panasonic mirrorless camera systems. Pre orders open 8 September 2026 with stock expected from 30 September 2026.
Compact wide-standard zoom for E-Mount and L-Mount
Full-frame 3x zoom at a size and weight close to APS-C options
On sale from 30th September, RRP £749
Sigma expands the full-frame Contemporary lens range with a wide-standard zoom for L-Mount and Sony E-Mount systems, offering light weight and a versatile close-up capability for a competitive price. The 20-60mm F2.8-4 DG I Contemporary lens weighs less than 400g and features weather resistant coating and seals, a 67mm filter thread, and compact 86-88mm minimum depth.
Designed to offer optical performance better than typical kit lenses, the 15 element, 13 group construction includes three aspherical, three SLD elements. A nine-blade rounded diaphragm contributes to a modern, clean bokeh and the lens has been engineered to minimise focus breathing.
As a versatile and compact 3x zoom covering ultra-wide to standard focal lengths, the 20-60mm F2.8-4’s flexibility extends to a minimum focus distance of 15.8cm at 28mm and a 1:2.3 magnification ratio at 35mm. At 60mm the minimum focus is 25cm with 1:2.9 magnification. The 67mm filter thread means affordable accessories, and the lens comes with a petal bayonet hood, rear and front caps, and a carrying pouch as standard.
The Sigma 20-60mm F2.8-4 DG I Contemporary lens for Sony E-Mount and Sigma/Panasonic/Leica L-Mount systems is available to pre-order at around £749 from 8 September 2026, with stock expected from 30 September 2026.
Sigma is also offering an additional £50 trade-in bonus on pre-orders (above the agreed trade-in value) until 30 September 2026.
400mm (609mm equivalent) F4.5 super-telephoto for X-system
Stabilised and weather resistant, less than 1.3kg
Compatible with 1.4 and 2x teleconverters
Targeting the needs of wildlife, sports and paparazzi photographers, the new Fujinon XF400mm F4.5 R LM OIS WR is a super-telephoto prime lens featuring an equivalent 609mm focal length on the APS-C Fuji X-system, with the benefit of an f/4.5 maximum aperture..
Combined with the compact dimensions of mirrorless X-system cameras, the lightweight and stabilised combination is designed for handheld shooting, with up to 5.5 stops of vibration reduction and an optical design that moves the centre of gravity closer to the camera body.
Additional controls allow recall of a preset focus position and quick selection of AF or manual operation, as well as limiting focus range. The 21-element, 14 group lens includes two Super ED elements and four ED elements to achieve the resolution and clarity demanded by modern sensors, and is weather sealed for operation down to -10° C.
With converters, it’s possible to get an equivalent focal length of 1,219mm f/9 in a very compact kit.The pearlescent white finish ensures the lens stands out and minimises solar gain effects on the lens body.
The Fujinon XF400mm F4.5 R LM OIS WR will be available to order at the end of September 2026, with an RRP of £2,499.
You can now view the latest issue of Cameracraft. This is a 144dpi page turn edition free on this website. The magazine is much better at 300dpi as you can really examine the pictures, and it only costs £15 a year – which keeps us able to publish as a profit-neutral continuation of the former (mildly profitable) printed paper version.
Subscribers have been sent a link and it’s also gone live on Pocketmags. It will shortly be available to print on demand via Mixam.
Innovative built-in 1.4x teleconverter plus zoom, extends range to 420mm
Full-frame coverage, but will it undercut the AF-S?
Nikon confirms that a new 120-300mm F2.8 sports lens is under development for the Z system, albeit one with a twist. Potentially reducing bulk over the use of an FTZ adaptor and the current, near-£7,000 AF-S 120-300mm F2.8, the mirrorless system has opened up a different possibility.
As the full name implies – Nikon Z 120-300mm F2.8 TC VR S – the new lens includes a teleconverter. Is this the first telephoto zoom with a built in TC? Nikon’s 400mm and 600mm TC primes are established, high-end models. Combining a fast sports-focused zoom with a convenient integrated converter makes a lot of sense.
The 1.4x conversion increases reach to 420mm, with a corresponding drop in the fixed-aperture zoom’s F2.8 rating to F4.
Official release is expected in September, potentially alongside a new flagship Z body. You may spot some pre-production examples in use around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, however – which would explain the announcement of the lens development pre-release.
Challenger-brand Godox consolidates position in USA market
Combined distribution network offers cohesive warranty and aftersales support
MAC Group’s proven track record key for professional users
Launching 1 May 2026, Godox USA marks the creation of a new subsidiary partnership between MAC Group and MPEX Distribution. Previously, some Godox products had been imported and sold by MAC Group, and others by MPEX or independent resellers as the Chinese challenger to ‘on camera’ speedlights, Quantum and Elinchrom‘s lighter location systems built a reputation among professional photographers.
Under the strategic collaboration, photographers in America will find Godox products and support unified at https://www.godox.us/. Flash and LED systems will offer a holistic lighting package, and professional users will appreciate a three-coast service centre availability in New York, Ohio, and Los Angeles.
This collaboration goes beyond sales, as the idea is to offer lightshaping, power supply and control that unifies the full product range from Godox – including the latest KNOWLED innovations.
Godox users in the UK should be watching this development carefully, as the brand continues to be offered by fragmented distributors including Godox UK, Lencarta and EssentialPhoto.
A new model from Alfie Cameras gives a new twist on instant photography
View camera with pinhole or custom optics shoots straight to paper
Develop on location – without the Impossible challenge of integral chemistry
Showcased at The Photography Show in Birmingham, the new [ B O X X ] camera from Alfie Cameras is a very different proposition to their current, innovative turret-lensed half-frame 35mm offering. Launching with a Kickstarter campaign that opens on 17 May 2026, early access and VIP benefits are offered for those who sign up as an Alfie VIP.
Built around a traditional wooden case with lens plates, Waterhouse stops and a ground glass focusing screen the [ B O X X ] camera is small and lightweight. A choice of three optics is available: 100mm portrait lens, 55mm wide-angle lens, and a 65mm pinhole lens – though the design allows the scope of adapting your own view camera, bellows or other systems.
Using cut sheet media and environmentally friendly darkroom chemistry, the DIY approach to solving the problem of instant photography offers immense scope for experimentation and technique, while also returning to the one-off, unique quality of every capture and the shared experience of taking images together if you choose to share your creativity.
We got to play with the prototype a little in Birmingham and can’t wait to see the finished product – and we hope to bring you some more information on Alfie’s existing TYCH half-frame camera – you’ll want to check it out before grabbing that Pentax 17…
You can see the [ B O X X ] camera at Photographica in London on the launch day, where the fascinating system of miniaturised, portable darkroom in the form of a film back may be just the start of a flexible camera for enthusiasts.
24Mp full-frame offers D3X resolution at £1,995 prosumer price point
Limited full-frame video support shows where DSLRs were heading
Nikon announced the D600 at 5am today, confirming rumours which were beaten only by Apple’s iPhone 5 leaks for accuracy.
The 24Mp entrant seems to be part of ‘full-frame fever’ undoubtedly driven by Sony’s CMOS sensor development, pricing and more crucially, packaging the definitive 35mm format to appeal to mainstream consumers.
Despite a D3X matching resolution, the D600 is a very different sensor and package. Will this be the camera to push Nikon’s DSLR market share to over 50%?
The current DLSR line up at Nikon is quite striking, not only for capability but also the positioning, with a substantial gap between the highly-specified DX-crop D7000 and the 36Mp professional D800 bodies. The middle ground retains the D300s, almost identical in price to the D7000 but qualifying for Nikon Pro User status and now one of Nikon’s oldest DSLR bodies. The D600 fits at the upper end of that gap, with an SRP of £1955.99 in the UK for the body.
For that price, you get a tightly controlled feature set, a compact, lightweight body and sensor capabilities that exceed the state of the art just 2 years ago, when the D3X was in demand, in short supply, and retailing at over twice the D600’s figure. A quick launch-venue play suggests that the specified ISO range – peaking at 6400, rather than the D3X’s 1600 – is very usable. The body weighs only 760g, using a magnesium upper and rear body and offering similar weathersealing to the D800.
Advances in processing, video and OS make themselves felt instantly. FX and DX crop HD video recording with HDMI output for uncompressed streams and sophisticated audio monitoring, a base ISO range from 100 to 6400 extendable to 50 to 25,600, and in-body raw editing are all very compelling features regardless of resolution. The D600 manages 5.5-6fps in full-frame mode, and shoots to two UHS-1 SDHC cards.
The 100% viewfinder is bright and despite using the square, without blanking filter, window rather than the round type used on previous FX bodies seems very similar to the D800. The eyepoint may be a further slight reduction, but without detailed specifications that’s a hard one to call.
A true pentaprism is used – expected, perhaps, in a full-frame high-end body but fighting an increasing trend for electronic viewfinders.
A compact body presents a few ergonomic challenges, and Nikon have tackled the control interface with the experience you’d hope for after the clear new direction shown in the D4. Gentle slopes define the shutter release area, with joystick, function buttons and the standard buttons beside the 3.2″ screen (which features a clip-on protector). A mode wheel/drive wheel combination provides consumer-style selection of scene modes, with a drive wheel below including selection of the IR remote mode, which is supported by receivers on both the front and rear of the body as per the D7000.
Nevertheless the D600 is a consumer package. It’s a high-end one, but it carries a 1/4000th shutter, horizontal axis level only, consumer interface sockets (the compact remote/GPS port rather than the screw-in port of the pro bodies, and no PC-sync socket). Unlike the D800, the D600 has USB 2. At launch, it seemed that the WT4 wireless tethering solution was not supported, but some of the launch material suggests that it is supported, alongside the low cost WU-1b introduced specifically for the D600.
The Android remote control application for the WU-1b (below) is already available; an iOS version will follow before the end of September 2012. It offers rather less control than Camera Control Pro, but does provide a live-view relay and release function.
That WU designation has been seen before, on the similar accessory for the determinedly consumer (and best-selling) D3200.
It’s a wireless broadcast unit slightly more sophisticated than using an Eye-Fi card, and at £64 is almost a tenth of the SRP of the WT4. It sacrifices many of the camera control functions (though triggering is possible), and is mainly intended to transmit and share images via Android or iOS devices. It’s a shame that this split exists in Nikon’s line, as the WT4’s full-fat networking and storage solution is a lot for many studio photographers who would probably find the basic transfer/triggering of the WU-style units very useful on the pro bodies.
Once, Nokia were the largest camera manufacturer in the world. Pioneering the combined camera and smartphone market with for the time, sophisticated Symbian-based phones with Zeiss lenses. Such a short time ago, relatively, is an epoch in the technology industry and Android, combined with the sales success of Apple’s iPhone, has eroded the early gains made by Nokia and Sony with their camera-focused models. As such, in recent years Nokia has struggled to find a clear identity and sales – losing the iconic Communicator ranges, seemingly sidelining their own Symbian OS, and diversifying to the point where selecting a clear Nokia device can be hard.
This is set to change, with a pioneering new cameraphone. The 808 PureView carries a digital-camera threatening 41Mp sensor.
![The Alfie Cameras [ B O X X ] instant analogue film camera, a wooden box camera with lens plate and ground glass in a traditional form with a novel solution for avoiding the darkroom!](https://cameracraft.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Alfie-cameras-boxx.jpg)
![The darkslide, developing film back and two black-and-white prints from the [ B O X X ] camera prototype](https://cameracraft.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Afie-cameras-boxx-prints.jpg)
