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.
Anyone remember the Fujfilm GS645W, that robust go-anywhere 120 rollfilm leaf shutter rangefinder with a 45mm f/5.6 wide-angle lens, or its electronic GA645W with faster f/4? Well, in a slightly different body form the medium format digital GFX series is revisiting this amazingly popular minority choice for landscape, travel and everyday use.
The GFX100RF is the first fixed-lens digital camera in the GFX Series, equipped with the 102-megapixel high-speed sensor ‘GFX 102MP CMOS II’ and the latest high-speed image processing engine ‘X-Processor 5.’ By thoroughly reviewing the design of both the lens and the body, it achieves a weight of approximately 735g making it the lightest in the GFX Series despite being a fixed-lens camera.
• Achieving the lightest weight in the history of the GFX Series, the GFX100RF weighs approximately 735g. To achieve significant reduction in size and weight, Fujifilm developed a new lens and thoroughly revised and optimized the internal structure of the camera body. As a result, despite being a fixed-lens digital camera, it is significantly lighter than the previous lightest model in the GFX Series, the GFX50R, which weighs 775g (body only).
• The GFX100RF is equipped with a 102-megapixel large format sensor and high-speed image processing engine. With a newly developed lens and advanced color reproduction technology, it achieves the exceptional image quality that the GFX Series is known for. The ‘GFX 102MP CMOS II’ sensor, with improved pixel structure and microlenses, offers a wide dynamic range, low-noise shooting, enhanced edge quality, and improved AF accuracy, allowing you to enjoy the extraordinary high image quality that the GFX Series proudly delivers.
• For the first time in our digital cameras, the top plate of the camera is manufactured using precision-machined aluminium. This meticulous machining extends to the lens ring, dials, bottom plate, and other details, enhancing the feel of the metal and unifying the design. This results in a sophisticated design that highlights the presence of the camera body and dials, befitting a premium model.
• The camera features a first-ever Aspect Ratio Dial on the top rear. This allows for easy switching between nine aspect ratios for stills and video including new ‘3:4′ and ’17:6’ ratios.
• To make the digital teleconverter function, which utilizes the 102-megapixel high-resolution sensor, even more user-friendly, a Digital Teleconverter Lever is mounted on the front of the camera. This lever allows you to quickly and intuitively select the desired angle of view. Designed with a 35mm focal length (equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format), it can be switched in three field of view to 45mm (equivalent to 36mm in 35mm format), 63mm (equivalent to 50mm in 35mm format), and 80mm (equivalent to 63mm in 35mm format), providing flexibility to accommodate various shooting scenes.
• A new 3.15-inch, 2.1 million-dot, two-axis tilt LCD monitor features a new user interface (UI) that optimally aligns shooting icons to match the monitor’s 3:2 aspect ratio. A new surround view function has been added, displaying areas outside the shooting frame in a semi-transparent or line format according to the aspect ratio. This function can be easily switched using a lever while looking through the viewfinder, providing an OVF-like experience even with an EVF, allowing you to be aware of what’s happening outside the frame.
• Fujifilm have newly developed a dedicated 35mm f/4 lens for the GFX100RF. A leaf shutter instead of focal-plane has allowed shortened the back focus and extra space for the advanced lens design without making it very deep.
• The 35mm focal length (equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format) is suitable for a wide range of scenes, including landscapes, travel, snapshots, and portraits. The 102MP sensor allows a wide range of crops from the frame, with just 1/10th of the image area being needed for the best quality A4 repro.
• The 10 elements in 8 groups lens configuration, which includes two aspherical lenses, reduces spherical aberration and field curvature, delivering high resolution performance. A newly developed Nano GI coating, optimized for lenses with significant curvature, suppresses light reflection even at the periphery of the lens. This ensures the exceptional resolution performance worthy of the GFX Series.
• Focusing is to just 20 cm from the lens front. Despite being a large format camera, its compact and lightweight body design allows you to get close to your subject and enjoy photography freely.
• For the first time in the GFX Series, the camera is equipped with a built-in 4-stop ND filter. This is useful for shooting with a wide aperture in bright environments or for slow shutter speed photography.
• The leaf shutter up to 1/4000s allows flash photography at any shutter speed, providing greater flexibility in shutter speed and expanding creative possibilities, even for outdoor daytime shooting.
• With high-speed, high-precision autofocus and 4K/30P video capability, GFX100RF delivers outstanding performance across a wide range of scenarios.
• GFX100RF features an evolved AF prediction function and face/eye detection AF thanks to an improved algorithm. Additionally, the AI subject detection AF uses deep learning technology to recognize a wide variety of subjects including animals, vehicles, birds, and airplanes. For video recording, the tracking AF function has been enhanced, allowing easy subject tracking with touch operation. Whether for still images or videos, GFX100RF delivers high-tracking performance, ensuring a comfortable shooting experience.
• GFX100RF incorporates a 0.84x magnification and 5.76 million-dot high-resolution EVF. When using the viewfinder, it minimises image blurring and distortion caused by eye misalignment, ensuring high visibility.
• GFX100RF supports smooth 4K/30P 4:2:2 10-bit video recording. With a standard ISO setting of 100, it allows for wide dynamic range and low-noise shooting. The ‘F-Log2’ with over 13 stops provides rich gradation expression and high flexibility in post-production.
• Compatible with the Frame.io Camera to Cloud service. Video and still image files can be uploaded directly to Frame.io, dramatically speeding up the workflow from shooting to editing.5)Bundled accessories that combine practicality with sophisticated design, further enhancing the product’s appeal.
• The package includes a protector filter PRF-49 and a precision-machined aluminium lens hood with dedicated adapter ring, and a rope-type shoulder strap. ..
First prize awarded to London-based Capri McPherson-Noel with outstanding portrait ‘Sunkissed Boy’
Total prize fund of £10,000, with 14 category winners including ‘Emerging Talent’ and the ‘People’s Choice’ publicly-voted award
Second year of London Camera Exchange competition attracts thousands of stunning entries from around the world
10 March 2025
London Camera Exchange (LCE) has announced the winners of its LCE Photographer of the Year 2025 competition, which attracted entries from around the world, submitted in 14 diverse categories. This year’s contest featured a new ‘Emerging Talent’ category for photography students, with a prize awarded to both the individual photographer and their university or college.
First prize winner: Capri McPherson-Noel
The overall first prize winner is London-based Capri McPherson-Noel with her exceptional portrait ‘Sunkissed Boy’, captured last year in the UK. Commenting on the photograph, Capri said, “I wanted to create the connection between humans and nature. The way the sunlight bounces off the sunflowers for growth is similar to the way the sun beams off the model’s skin tone. As humans, we gain energy from the sun, just as the flowers do.”
British-Caribbean Capri was raised in Ireland and moved back to the UK ten years ago. She currently works in the television industry, but aims to make photography her full-time career, and has a passion for all things creative. “I am a big believer in showcasing stories, especially in my work. I am outgoing and love to meet people. Hearing about different walks of life has always been intriguing for me and this has definitely contributed to my view as a photographer. I try to see the best in everything and live life to the fullest.” Sunkissed Boy was shot on a Canon EOS 90D in summer 2024. Capri received £3,000 in LCE vouchers as the top prize winner.
Category winners (£500 vouchers each):
Action – ‘Blowing the Cheeks’ by Lester Woodward (overall runner-up)
After Dark – ‘Cosmic Gates’ by Dawid Glawzin
Birds – ‘Backlit Cuckoo’ by Colin Vanner
Creative – ‘Future Portrait’ by Gilbert Murray
Emerging Talent – ‘Abigail’ by Martina Aguirre Torres
Landscape – ‘Close to Heaven’ by Edyta Rice
Macro – ‘Season of Love’ by Sandip Guha
Music – ‘Creation of Deadletter’ by Gracie Hall (overall runner-up)
Pets – ‘Muesli Yawn!’ by Jon Pauling
Portrait – ‘Sunkissed Boy’ by Capri McPherson-Noel (overall winner)
Street – ‘Platform No. 1’ by John Seager
Travel – ‘Mundari Women’ by Lynn Fraser
Wildlife – ‘After the Kill’ by Caroline English
People’s Choice – ‘Steep Hill Lincoln’ by Andrew Scott
A standout winner in the Emerging Talent category caught the judges’ attention. Simply entitled ‘Abigail’, the photo was also chosen as a runner-up in the Music category, and portrays charismatic singer Abigail Morris from British indie rock band The Last Dinner Party. The image was captured on the group’s tour in October 2024 at the Eventim Apollo, by student Martina Aguirre Torres, who is studying fashion photography at the London College of Fashion. Martina commented, “Editing photos from this gig is what made me find my editing style. Before, I was a bit lost, as I’m sure a lot of young photographers are – but after playing around in Lightroom and Photoshop, and then seeing the final result, I felt like I could cry! I’m super proud of this photograph because of that.”
Also of note is overall runner-up (and Action category winner) ‘Blowing the Cheeks’ by Lester Woodward, which was taken at the 2023 British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship practice sessions, featuring Dutch champion and Paralympics gold medallist Jiske Griffioen. Lester said, “I think this image really highlights the dedication and effort put in by the athlete, and felt the practice sessions were a lot harder than the match. I was lucky to have great lighting on the day.”
Lee Harasyn, managing director of LCE, commented, “The calibre of entries this year was outstanding, and it took the judges many, many hours to agree on the shortlist, as the standard generally was so very high. Submissions in the ‘Emerging Talent’ category for photography students blew us away with their diversity and creativity. We are particularly thrilled to present this new award, celebrating up-and-coming photographers and providing a platform for their work to be in the spotlight. On behalf of the LCE team, I’d like to congratulate the all the winners and thank all the entrants for making the second year of our competition such a triumph.”
The awards were presented at a special ceremony at The Photography & Video Show on Sunday 9 March 2025 at Excel, London. All the finalist images were displayed in an exhibition at the four-day show and have been published in a commemorative book. Winners received a share of the £10,000 prize fund and an impressive trophy.
Open to entries from October 2024 to January 2025, the LCE POTY competition received more than 10,000 submissions. The prize fund was generously supported by major photo industry brands including headline sponsors Canon, Nikon and Sony, plus partners Fujifilm and OM System. The judging panel included Chris George, content director at Future Publishing, street photographer Peter Dench, journalist and SheClicks founder Angela Nicholson, and Lee Harasyn, Managing Director at London Camera Exchange.
Well, a couple of days after Sigma announced their new 300-600mm f/4 to much acclaim Sony has pulled the rug slightly from their feet with a £2,549 400-800mm ƒ6.3-8 G OSS supertele zoom. Like Canon, they have realised current mirrorless sensors can focus easily with small apertures on long lenses
The saving in cost is matched by a saving in weight – 2.4kg is good for a big white lens in this class, rugged and weather-sealed (they claim ‘fully’) and with optical stabilisation to take over from I.B.I.S. which would be at the limits of movement at 800mm. As adding converters… it works with both 1.4X and 2X.
Main points:
400-800mm OSS lens with G optics Sony’s first E-mount super-telephoto zoom lens to extend to 800mm 27 elements in 19 groups, with six ED glass elements f/6.3-8 aperture with an 11-blade diaphragm Fast, silent AF from Two XD Linear Motors Internal zoom mechanism does not extend barrel Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilisation with three modes Focus down to 1.7m (400mm) / 3.5m (800mm) 0.23x macro scale Compatible with 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, extending reach to 1600mm Focus range limiter Full-time DMF Detachable tripod collar Weather-sealed with silicone gaskets Fluorine-coated front element repels water, oil, and fingerprints Lens hood features with filter window for rotating polariser
Viltrox inspiration?
The new 16mm f/1.8 is hardly surprising when Viltrox in China has made such a groundbreaking lens and taken the market by storm. Sony’s G response even fairly priced by its standards at £849 RRP, and at 304g it’s a striking 246g lighter than a bigger Viltrox. It’s also much smaller but still a full-frame f/1.8. It focuses down to 13cm and has a declickable aperture ring with an unusual iris lock switch to prevent change of setting. It takes 72mm filters. It lacks the A-B focus change movie function or clever (fault prone?) LED display of the Viltrox, but has a regular multi-function button. At £300 more than its independent predecessor it should become a standard addition to pro and enthusiast kits alike.
The Panasonic Lumix S1R II, just announced, features a new 44.3MP sensor offering high-resolution imaging with a wide dynamic range (14-stop V-Log/V-Gamut) and impressive low-light performance.
Powered by the latest L2 engine, it balances high resolution with low noise, offering a flexible ISO range of 80-51,200 (expandable to 40-102,400). It’s equipped with advanced 779-point phase-detection AF and AI-driven subject recognition. The camera also offers a 177MP high-resolution mode and supports 8K video recording, as well as 6.4K 30p 10-bit Open Gate, making it a powerful tool for both photographers and filmmakers.
New 44.3MP full-frame sensor
14-stop dynamic range
Fully articulated rear screen
Latest processor with L2 technology
ISO 80-51200 (expandable to 40-102400)
AFC/AFS at 40fps, blackout-free
8.1K (17:9) / 8K (16:9) 30p 10-bit with V-Log/V-Gamut
779-point phase-hybrid AF with advanced AI Tech
AI subject recognition for People. animals, cars, planes and more
8.0-stop 5-axis sensor-based stabilisation
Sensor shift 177MP high resolution capture
Weather-sealed pro body in magnesium alloy
It is priced at £2,999 body only, £3,799 with 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS lens.
For those who must keep family or paying clients happy, in this era of completely modified selfies and altered perceptions of what a portrait should be, the latest AI version of Portrait Pro has real value. The discount has been increased pre-Christmas 2025 to 50% plus and extra 25% instead of 10% when using our new code F2BF24.
If badly out of focus faces within a group can be recovered, reflections removed from glasses, and smiles improved without the £10k my dentist suggests is necessary to replace teeth you can’t even see… take a look at this full info. – David Kilpatrick
Key New Features
Mouth Inpainting & Teeth Replacer
Glasses Reflection Remover
Face Recovery
Skin and Hair masks
Improved workflow
New gender and age detector
This is Face Recovery, though the lass has become a bit long in the tooth – the AI teeth are more realistic than any amount of focus retrieval and sharpening plus retouching could achieve in a few minutes.
This is Mouth Inpainting.
And this is Glasses Reflection removal, which again is a task not to be relished in Photoshop, and the top end version of PortraitPro (Studio Max) can handle in groups, in a series of shots where it’s having a similar effect.
This pair shows a cumulative but very subtle effect from the improved workflow, and it clearly compensates for failings in the colour management and lighting. It’s impressive to note that PortraitPro started life being a very obvious process, and our advice was always to turn the default sliders down rather than up. It has matured considerably. The new workflow has improved gender and age detection, and Studio Max is well-tuned to Apple Silicon to make optimum use of CPU, GPU and RAM.
PortraitPro 24 Editions
PortraitPro Standard is standalone software for photographers working with JPG or 24-bit TIFF files.
PortraitPro Studio is for photographers who work directly with RAW files or want the higher quality of 48-bit colour files, supports conversion between different color spaces, and provides JPEG/TIFF embedded color profile support. Offers Batch Dialog.
PortraitPro Studio Max For professional photographers or those working with a large number of images. Full Batch Mode to speed workflow greatly.
Today Sigma announced their latest E and L mount DG DN Art series wide to standard zoom with a constant maximum aperture of f/1.8. The focal length range from 28 to 45mm on 24 x 36mm full frame covers 75° to 51°.
It’s a large lens taking 82mm filters as does the new 24-70mm f/2.8. It is six inches/151mm long and and does not extend during zooming. It weighs 950g (E-mount) and focuses down to 30cm for quarter life size 1:4 close-ups at 45mm. It has 18 elements in 15 groups, with three aspherical and five super-low dispersion.
No previous mirrorless lens from Sigma has been similar but two have a good reputation in DSLR fit, from 2015. The 24-35mm ƒ2 DG HSM Art weighs only 20g less, takes the same filter size and is smaller by the difference between mirrorless and DSLR body depth. The 18-35mm ƒ1.8 DC HSM Art is for crop format (1.5-1.6X) not full frame.
The 28-45mm comes with a new type lens hood, front and rear caps and a padded zip case. It goes on sale on June 20th for £1299 inc. VAT, UK retail. Sigma claim ‘sharpness and clarity comparable to that of a prime lens throughout its entire zoom range’. A de-clickable physical aperture ring stops the 11-blade rounded diaphragm down to f/16. A function button, AF-MF switch and zoom lock complete the controls.
Our review of the 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art will appear in the July/August edition of Cameracraft, it’s being tested right now. First impressions: crystal clear images, good handling for a large zoom, usual top-grade Sigma case/strap/new-type hood and excellent value. We expect the 28-45mm to appear in a later issue.
Sony has announced the launch of its two new Alpha 7C compact full frame cameras, and version II of the ƒ2.8 wide-angle G-master 16-35mm zoom. But the cameras do look good with the 50mm f/1.2 G Master – a bit of a classic photojournalist’s combo.
Alpha 7C II key features:
Full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R® CMOS sensor similar to A7IV, with approximately 33.0 effective megapixels
ISO sensitivity from 100 to 51200 for both still images and movies (expanded ISO 50 to 204800 for still images)
Same AI-processing unit as the A7R V
Alpha 7C R key features
Full frame image sensor with approximately 61.0 effective megapixels similar to A7RIV, IVa and V
Same AI-processing unit as the A7R V
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM IIkey features:
World’s smallest and lightest high-resolution f2.8 wide-angle zoom lens
Fast and precise AF that brings out the best in advanced bodies
The new products will be available to purchase from September 2023 at a variety of Sony’ authorised dealers throughout Europe, for an estimated retail price of:
Alpha 7C R: £3,200 / €3,732
Alpha 7C II: £2,100 / €2,449
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II: £2,400/ €2,799
Our comments before handling and using these: first of all, they are welcome and affordable specifications though the full A7 body is better ergonomically and in controls. The A7CR has seven-stop Steady Shot Inside as does the II, but also Pixel Shift Multi Shooting, something unexpected in the smaller body. Having said this, these bodies have only a single SDXC UHS-II card slot and both feature the same small (0.70X with 50mm) 2.35 million pixel OLED EVFs – far lower resolution, less tolerant eyepoint and apparently smaller size compared to the mainstream A7IV/RIV+ models. If the eyepiece (ocular) glass design is similar to the A7C, it’s also likely to be zonally unsharp and demand very accurate centering of the eye.
Sony’s current emphasis on video and vlogging, fortunately not emphasised in the press info which major instead on the travel friendly aspect of these bodies for still shooting, does mean they have microphone and headphone jack sockets as well as the audio functions found in the Multi Interface shoe.
As for the 16-35mm GM II, it may be the claimed smallest and lightest but taking 82mm filters makes it about as kit-friendly as any larger lens if you use a filter system, and even screw-in filters like a convenient polariser end up taking loads of space in typical 82mm size packaging or keepers. Perhaps a 16-35mm f/4 G or even GM series II might be on the way. Maybe the qualification of the claim with the words ‘high resolution’ is s clue – there may be smaller and lighter competitors which Sony believes they can prove to be lower in resolution, and they must have tested every single one of them to make this claim! The A7C II body is offered as a kit with the 28-60mm collapsible lens, slow but useful for travel – the A7CR does not come as a kit, perhaps an indicator of Sony’s own view about using this budget lens on 61 megapixels.
The 20-70mm f4 Sony G looks interesting though the UK price of £1400 is a bit over the top (under $1100 in the USA) – maybe allowing for further losses pounds vs dollar. It’s over twice the price of the Panasonic 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 – maybe not comparable but the Lumix lens is regularly discounted by 25% or more, and partly due to being sold as a kit lens with full frame body some white box new lenses have been at 40-50% discount. It’s unlikely the Sony will be bundled as a kit lens. Even at the UK price, it looks attractive for anyone like me who might consider working with just a two-kens kit, this and the 70-300mm G. At the moment I use 17-28mm and 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron lenses to cover the practical range this one lens almost manages, though there’s a fair gap between 17mm and 20mm.
In the specification there’s one oddity – the stated minimum focus distance and magnifications. Most wide to portrait zooms focus closer at the wide angle end. Apparently this one does the reverse, and the 0.39X close-up image scale is based on 25cm at 70mm (it’s a mystery why the specs bother to say AF and MF distances, when there’s no difference – 25cm either way!). Here’s from the spec:
MINIMUM FOCUS DISTANCEWide: 0.30 m / Tele: 0.25 m (AF), 0.25 m (MF) (Wide: 0.99 ft / Tele: 0.82 ft (AF), 0.82 ft (MF))MAXIMUM MAGNIFICATION RATIO (X)0.39
Well, 30cm at 20mm focal length is just OK; my yardstick for min focus is that I like to see it just less than 10X focal length, so for an 85mm lens I want to get 0.85m if possible, like having anything closer and don’t like ones which only manage 1m. With a 20mm focal length 20cm close focus is desirable. The Tamron 17-28mm as an example manages 19cm at 17mm, it’s just OK, but can’t shoot any real close-ups as the largest c/u scale in 1:5.2 or 0.19X. The Sony 20-70mm manages 1:2.56, getting on for half life size, by focusing closer at 70mm than it does at 20mm.
This is such an unusual overall mix of zoom/focus behaviours that I really do want to try this lens and understand how.
The other unusual statement about the lens is that the zoom and focus design minimises breathing (desirable) and axial shift – well, I’ve not seen a zoom with axial shift, image wandering off centre when you zoom or focus, since the days of pioneering 1970s consumer glassware. Especially not a non-stabilised zoom, like this. Stabilisation has been the main reason any lens shifts off axis.
The lens weighs 488g which is great, takes 72mm filters which is not great but matches some other Sony lenses, and the size as you can see from the images here is convenient though not a single PR image sent to me shows it with a lens hood which could have some impact on bag/pocket ability. One thing’s for sure, if the dual linear motor focusing is as good as claimed, f/4 will not be a big loss over f/2.8 and carrying one lens in place of two will make this a winner for travel, landscape and urban shooting. It’s due to be in UK stores from March 3rd.
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