Weekly News Roundup
New lenses in Beijing, a monochrome camera rumor worth paying attention to, and Moriyama opens in Paris this week.
This week in photography: Panasonic announces a compact 40mm prime, Canon's anniversary G7 X arrives, DaVinci Resolve takes on Lightroom, NASA releases new Artemis II images, the L-Mount Alliance grows, and DxO updates Nik Collection 9.
Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.4 Pro Debuts at Beijing P&E
The Beijing P&E Imaging Show runs May 15 to 18 and Viltrox is bringing something worth paying attention to. The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.4 Pro full-frame lens will debut at the show, becoming the third Pro lens in the lineup after the 50mm and 85mm f/1.4. Sony E-mount ships first with Nikon Z to follow. Nailyaalexandergallery
The 35mm focal length is one of the most useful for street and documentary photographers and an f/1.4 aperture at this focal length gives you serious low light capability and subject separation. Viltrox has been building genuine credibility in the photography community over the past few years by delivering lenses that compete on optical merit rather than just undercutting on price. The Pro designation suggests this is their highest optical tier and if it performs anything like the 50mm and 85mm Pro lenses it will be worth serious consideration. We will have more details once the show opens.
ZY Optics Announces 30mm f/2.4 and 45mm f/1.4 at Beijing P&E
Also debuting at the Beijing P&E Show this week is ZY Optics, the company behind the Zhongyi lens brand. ZY Optics will release new 30mm f/2.4 and 45mm f/1.4 lenses at the show. Both are medium format lenses available through B&H Photo and Amazon in the US. Nailyaalexandergallery
Two interesting focal lengths for photographers who work in the medium format space. The 30mm f/2.4 gives you a wider perspective with a moderately fast aperture, useful for environmental portraits and street work. The 45mm f/1.4 sits in classic normal lens territory and that f/1.4 maximum aperture is genuinely fast for medium format glass. ZY Optics has built a following among photographers looking for affordable alternatives to the major medium format lens manufacturers. Worth watching as more details emerge from the show floor.
OM System OM-3 Monochrome Rumored
This one is directly relevant to the Collective so we want to be upfront that it is a rumor and should be treated with appropriate skepticism. There is a rumor circulating about OM System launching an OM-3 Monochrome camera in 2026. Trovatten
A dedicated monochrome camera from OM System would be a significant development. The case for it is real. OM System has a devoted following among street and travel photographers who value compact bodies with serious optical stabilization. A monochrome sensor removes the color filter array and gives you more resolution, better low light performance, and richer tonal rendering from the same pixel count. The Leica M11 Monochrom and Ricoh GR IV Monochrom have proven there is a genuine market for dedicated black and white cameras. An OM System version at a lower price point would open that world to a much wider audience. No confirmation from OM System yet but it is a rumor worth watching.
Daido Moriyama Opens in Paris This Week
This is the one to plan around if you are anywhere near Europe this summer. Declarations to Photography opens at the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation in Paris from May 20 until October 4, 2026. Artnews
We have written about Moriyama here before and his influence on black and white photography is hard to overstate. His grainy high contrast street work from Tokyo has shaped how multiple generations of photographers think about monochrome. This exhibition focuses on his French connection, his relationship with the earliest surviving photograph, and his writings on photography which will be translated into French for the first time. The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation is one of the best photography venues in the world. If you are in Paris between now and October this is not optional. Go.
Leica SL3-P Expected Soon
A new Leica SL 44MP camera probably called the SL3-P is expected in May to June 2026. No official confirmation from Leica yet but the rumor is credible and the timing aligns with Leica's typical announcement cadence. Nailyaalexandergallery
The SL system occupies an interesting position in the Leica lineup. It uses the L-mount which means access to the growing ecosystem of lenses from Panasonic, Sigma, and an expanding list of third party manufacturers alongside Leica's own glass. A 44MP sensor update would bring the SL line into direct competition with Sony and Nikon's current high resolution offerings. For photographers who want the Leica experience with autofocus capability and a modern sensor the SL3-P could be significant. We will cover it properly when Leica makes it official.
Sony and TSMC Partner on Next Generation Image Sensors
This is the kind of story that does not generate immediate excitement but matters enormously in the long run. Sony and chip manufacturing giant TSMC have entered into a preliminary agreement to co-develop a Japan-based sensor fabrication facility with the goal of producing the next generation of image sensors. Trovatten
Sony makes the sensors that go into a significant proportion of the world's cameras including many bodies from other manufacturers. A new fabrication facility developed in partnership with TSMC, one of the most advanced semiconductor manufacturers on the planet, suggests the next generation of image sensors will be substantially more capable than what we have now. Better dynamic range, better low light performance, faster readout speeds. All of these improvements matter directly for black and white photography where tonal range and the ability to shoot in difficult light are fundamental. This is a story to bookmark. The implications will be felt across the entire camera industry over the next several years.
Fujifilm X-T6 Expected September 2026
Worth flagging for the Fujifilm shooters in the Collective. Fujifilm plans to launch the X-T6 in September 2026, the first camera on Fujifilm's sixth-generation platform with X-Processor 6 and tri-band Wi-Fi 6 support. Doug Ash Photography
The X-T series has been one of the most beloved camera lines among serious photographers for years. The tactile controls, the film simulations, and the overall shooting experience have built a devoted following. A new generation platform suggests meaningful advances rather than an incremental update. For photographers in the Collective who shoot Fujifilm this is worth putting in the diary. September is not far away.
