Weekly News Roundup

Viltrox keeps delivering, the Sony a7R VI is finally shipping, and Canon is teasing something retro worth paying attention to.

This week in photography: Viltrox announces two new APS-C EVO lenses, Luminar Neo summer sale runs through June 28, Sony a7R VI begins shipping, Peak Design Travel Line hits retail, Light Lens Lab announces a 75mm for Leica M, Nikon spotted at Roland Garros, and Canon hints at an AE-1 tribute.

Viltrox Announces AF 75mm f/1.8 EVO and AF 90mm f/2.2 EVO for APS-C

Viltrox will officially announce two new AF APS-C EVO lenses on June 8th: the AF 90mm f/2.2 EVO and the AF 75mm f/1.8 EVO. Both are compatible with Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Nikon Z mounts, weighing approximately 330 grams with a 58mm filter thread, positioned above the AIR series but below the Pro series. Digital Photography ReviewCanon Rumors

The 75mm f/1.8 is the more interesting of the two for portrait and street photographers in the Collective. On APS-C it gives you a field of view equivalent to roughly 112mm on full frame, a classic portrait compression with the subject separation and background rendering that focal length is known for. The 90mm f/2.2 extends that further, sitting in the short telephoto range that works beautifully for environmental portraits and candid work at a slightly greater distance. Both lenses continue Viltrox's EVO line approach of delivering genuinely capable optics at a price point that makes the major manufacturers uncomfortable. We will have more once the official announcement lands tomorrow.

Luminar Neo Summer Sale

Skylum has launched a new Luminar Summer Sale with discounts of up to 70%, running June 5 through 28, 2026. If you have been considering Luminar Neo as an addition to or replacement for your current editing workflow this is the time to act. The sale runs for another three weeks so there is no urgency to rush but it is worth checking the current pricing before it reverts to normal at the end of the month. Luminar Neo has developed a solid reputation for its black and white conversion tools and its AI masking capabilities which have become genuinely useful for monochrome work without requiring the kind of manual selection work that used to eat hours in post. PetaPixel

Sony a7R VI Begins Shipping

Announced in May 2026 and arriving in June, the Alpha 7R VI is the sixth generation of the legendary R series and the highest-resolution Alpha camera ever made. We covered the announcement extensively in the May 17 roundup. The camera is now actually in photographers' hands and the first real world impressions are beginning to appear. The body-only Sony a7R VI topped the trending mirrorless cameras list at B&H for May 2026, with the a7R VI bundled with the new 100-400mm GM lens close behind. The pre-order demand has been significant and if you are waiting on one check your retailer for current shipping estimates. First real world black and white results from the 80MP stacked sensor are going to be worth watching closely. RedShark NewsThe New Camera

Peak Design Travel Line Bags Now Available

After over 7,100 Kickstarter backers pledged over $2.4 million for Peak Design's new Travel Line bags, the four new travel-friendly adventure-ready bags are now available for direct retail purchase. The Travel Line has been one of the most anticipated bag launches in recent memory and the Kickstarter campaign performance suggests the photography community was genuinely waiting for it. Peak Design has built a reputation for bags that solve real problems rather than just looking good on a shelf. If you travel with camera gear and have been waiting for these to hit retail they are now available through Peak Design's website and major retailers. CostBench

Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 Announced for Leica M Mount

The Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 is now officially announced and available for pre-order, the latest lens in the Z21 series following the 50mm f/1.5. Light Lens Lab has been quietly building one of the more interesting lens lineups for Leica M shooters who want classic optical rendering at prices significantly below what Leica charges for its own glass. The Z21 series takes its design language from classic Zeiss lenses and the 75mm f/1.5 sits at a focal length that works beautifully for street portraiture and environmental work on the M system. At f/1.5 you get serious low light capability and subject separation that few lenses at any price can match. Worth a look for M mount shooters in the Collective.

Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S Spotted at Roland Garros

The upcoming Nikon NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens is being tested at Roland Garros alongside the FIFA World Cup, with what appears to be the first spy photograph of the lens in the field. We covered the development announcement back in the May 10 roundup. Seeing the lens appear simultaneously at two of the world's biggest and most demanding sporting events suggests the release timeline is moving forward and that Nikon is confident enough in the optical performance to put it in front of professional sports photographers at the highest level. Field testing at events like these is the last stage before a lens goes to market. Keep watching for an official announcement. Camera Times

Canon Hints at AE-1 Anniversary Special Edition

This one is for the Canon shooters and the gear history enthusiasts in the Collective. Rather than the much speculated Canon RE-1 tribute camera, it is now being suggested that Canon is planning a special edition version of the Canon EOS R8, possibly as a sister model to an imminently announced R8 Mark II, as a commemoration of the AE-1. Canon has been hinting at this for months. At CP+ 2026 senior Canon executives were laughing and coyly alluding to some kind of AE-1 commemoration while stopping short of confirming anything. The AE-1 launched in 1976 and is one of the most significant cameras in the history of photography, the camera that brought SLR photography to a mass audience and arguably created the modern enthusiast photographer market. Whether the tribute takes the form of silver plates and leatherette or something more substantially retro in design remains to be seen. More details are expected soon.