Latest from TechRadar in Cameras

I test camera gear for a living — here are the 5 standout models for 2026 so far, from Sony, Lumix and more

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:26:46 +0000

After having precious little new camera gear to review in the opening months of the year, 2026 has well and truly kicked into gear for us tech journalists.

The first quarter saw a smattering of niche compact cameras, including the Leica Q3 Monochrom, Instax Mini Evo Cinema and Ricoh GR IV. That's right: a black-and-white-only full-frame compact and a 3-in-1 instant camera that shoots video were the highlights.

That peculiar first quarter was followed by some more conventional photographer treats, such as the Sony A7R VI and Panasonic Lumix L10. I described the full-frame A7R VI as 'the perfect camera', and said the L10 was 'the prettiest Lumix in years', and a worthy alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI.

DJI launched a couple of standout five-star drones, the Avata 360 and Lito X1, while navigating both its US ban and some new competition, with Insta360 stealing the Pocket 4P's thunder by launching its fantastic dual-lens Luna Ultra.

Meanwhile, it has been an unusually quiet year for some of the big names thus far. Nikon, for example, is yet to announce a new camera in 2026, nor have we seen a new Fujifilm X.

I expect a steady stream of new releases throughout the latter half of the year, with heavily rumored models including the crop-sensor Fujifilm X-T6 and the Canon EOS R7 II. But here I'm going to look back at my five favorite cameras I've personally tested so far in 2026, in no particular order, with honorable mentions for a few others that have had the full TechRadar review treatment.

5. Panasonic Lumix L10

Release date: May 12
Rating: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Panasonic surprised us all during its Lumix 25th anniversary event by dropping the all-new Lumix L10 — and it was a real treat to review.

It's the spiritual successor to the Lumix LX100 series of premium compact cameras, inheriting a gorgeous 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 lens that's been refined to work with Panasonic's latest 26.5MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and the latest Real Time LUTs profiles.

That sensor isn't all that the Lumix L10 has in common with powerful cameras such as the Lumix G9 II — it also features Panasonic's reliable phase-detection autofocus with advanced subject detection and 5.7K video recording, albeit without sensor-based image stabilization.

There's real power under the hood, and a gorgeous design to boot. It's not quite as retro-feeling as the X100VI, but it isn't far off — and that zoom lens versatility is a real win. If you're looking for a versatile everyday compact camera, the L10 is a fabulous pick.

Read my in-depth Panasonic Lumix L10 review

4. Insta360 Luna Ultra

Release date: June 10
Rating: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Insta360 and DJI's rivalry got extra spicy this year when Insta360 launched its first vlogging camera, the dual-lens Luna Ultra, pipping the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P to the post. Cue lawsuits and counter lawsuits.

I've tested both compact vlogging cameras (though at the time of writing my DJI Pocket 4P review is under embargo), and they take this format to new heights. Both feature dual gimbal cameras with 20mm (1x) and 60mm (3x) lenses, and an extended 6x lossless zoom.

Each brand takes a different stab at the format; the Luna Ultra features a unique and genuinely useful detachable remote and screen, meaning you can see and control the camera from up to 20m away. That module also features a built-in mic, making solo vlogging so much easier. I enjoyed DJI's magnetic fill light, which is powered by the camera.

The DJI Pocket series has dominated this space for years with no real rival, but that's no longer the case. For me it will be hard to go back to a single-lens vlogging camera having tested both the Luna Ultra and Pocket 4P — they both get a mention here, because I expect them to be among the best-selling cameras over the next year.

Read my in-depth Insta360 Luna Ultra review

3. Ricoh GR IV

Release date: Janauary 15, 2026 (announced August 20, 2025)
Rating: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

As a Ricoh GR III X user, I had been patiently waiting for the Ricoh GR IV, hoping that the latest-generation model would address a few of my issues with my beloved premium pocket compact camera. Sadly, the GR IV didn't deliver on several counts: it again lacks a built-in flash and tilt screen, nor does it have any real improvements in autofocus performance or build quality.

However, the GR IV came with surprising upgrades elsewhere, and raises the image-quality bar for such a truly tiny and pocketable camera. A new 26MP sensor and refined lens gave a small boost in resolution, plus a notable improvement in image stabilization performance. Its lightning-fast startup time further enhances the GR series' street photography chops, while battery life saw a welcome boost, and internal storage was increased.

With those upgrades came a price hike, and the GR IV costs much more than the GR III did, especially if you live in the US. However, there's still no real competition for a camera of this size and quality, and Ricoh has further expanded the range with HDF and Monochrome versions of the GR IV.

Read my in-depth Ricoh GR IV review

2. Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Release date: May 2
Rating: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)

This round-up isn't confined to cameras — I had the pleasure of traveling to China for the first time earlier this year to put the Oppo Find X9 Ultra's camera through its paces amid the stunning mountainous landscape of Yunnan province. Put simply, the Find X9 Ultra is the most versatile cameraphone I've ever used.

The flagship device is globally available, and costs as much as an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but that seemingly hasn't deterred fans desiring its five-camera array and top-spec screen, battery and chipset. The 1x main camera paired with the Hasselblad Master mode delivers especially stunning natural colors and RAW photos up to 200MP, while the class-leading 3x and 10x telephoto cameras each pack the largest sensors in their respective formats.

I shot over 2,000 photos with the Find X9 Ultra, and shared my gallery and overall impressions, which you can find in the link below. I also compared the smartphone to the Lumix TZ300 travel zoom compact, and felt that its 1x and 3x cameras were arguably even better quality, although the telephoto lenses are still no match for the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 S II professional lens.

The quality of smartphone telephoto cameras reached new heights in the X9 Ultra, and it has become my most-used camera this year. There's even a 300mm teleconverter lens accessory that further stretches that reach, and which performed admirably when I took it to a pro soccer game.

Read my in-depth Oppo Find X9 Ultra review

1. Sony A7R VI

Release date: May 13
Rating: 5/5

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

I've been reviewing cameras for over 15 years, so it takes something special to cause me to use the word 'perfect' — and that's what the Sony A7R VI is. It's a professional mirrorless camera with a stacked 66.8MP full-frame sensor and lightning-fast burst-shooting and autofocus performance, with an all-new higher-capacity battery bagging you more shots, and 8K video.

During my lengthy review period I shot everything from landscapes to wildlife and portraits, and the A7R VI can handle it all with ease. It's also a seriously well-designed camera, with a high-resolution EVF and multi-angle touchscreen, and is complemented by a rich selection of professional lenses for just about any use case.

In one sense, Sony has shot itself in the foot here — by giving the A7R VI such raw power and quality, it renders the pricier A1 II redundant for most users. The A7R VI can do 95% what the A1 II can do, for a much lower cost. I've never owned a Sony Alpha mirrorless camera, but the A7R VI has me seriously tempted, especially given that Sony has made my favorite lenses over the last 18 months. If I could keep a hold of a single new camera from 2026, the A7R VI would be it.

Read my in-depth Sony A7R VI review

Honorable mentions

Leica Q3 MonochromTim Coleman

DJI Avata 360Future | Sam Kieldsen

Canon EOS R6 Mark IIIFuture / Alex Whitelock

Instax mini Evo CinemaTim Coleman

DJI Lito X1Future | Sam Kieldsen

We've tested plenty more cameras throughout 2026, and five other models I want to highlight are the Instax Mini Evo Cinema, Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Leica Q3 Monochrom, and DJI's Lito X1 and Avata 360 drones.

The Instax Mini Evo Cinema is probably the quirkiest of the lot, being a 3-in-1 Instax that shoots photo, video and prints onto Instax Mini film. The 'Eras' dial is its standout feature — it's a dial with 10 settings, one for each decade spanning the last 100 years that mimicks the look of the media of that time.

Canon launched its incredible EOS R6 Mark III full-frame mirrorless camera at the start of the year, and it went head to head with the Sony A7 V as a top all-rounder, with no real weaknesses for photo and video use.

Monochrome-only cameras made a return too. I tested the Leica Q3 Monochrom, which it shoots next-level black-and-white photos, while Ricoh followed up its GR IV with its first stab at this niche, the GR IV Monochrome, which sadly comes with a big mark-up over the color original. If you only shoot in black and white, these cameras should top your list.

Despite its US ban, DJI continues to lead the pack with new drones — we gave both the Lito X1 and Avata 360 five-star ratings in our reviews. The Avata 360 is a more versatile 360-degree drone than the Antigravity A1, while the Lito X1 is incredible value given that it has object avoidance and costs around half the price of the Mini 5 Pro.

I have a feeling that the second half of 2026 will deliver plenty more treats, though I'm curious about what Nikon and Fujifilm could do next. Which new cameras would you like to see in 2026? Let me know in the comments below.

I've been keen on this compact camera since its launch and it's 42% off ahead of Prime Day — time to snap it up

Max Langridge — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:45:46 +0000

I’m someone who likes the idea of taking a dedicated camera with me wherever I go, in the hopes of capturing higher quality shots than what I can manage with my iPhone 15 Pro. I already have an OM System OM-D E-M10 MKIV, but I’ve taken it away with me on holiday exactly one time, where I used it exactly one day.

Despite being quite small (at least compared to many full-frame alternatives), I found it to be too bulky to fit in a sling bag, especially when spare lenses were thrown into the mix.

It was with this in mind that I actually used a Fujifilm Instax mini camera during my recent trip to Europe. Not only was it easier to fit into my bag, but it made me carefully consider compositions, and I love the fact I now have physical, printed photos to admire.

I can still admit digital is more convenient however, which is why I’ve been keen on the Panasonic Lumix S9, and now it’s 42% off ahead of Prime Day, now is a great time to snap it up.

The Lumix S9 is, admittedly, better suited to videographers than photographers, but given my casual relationship with taking photos, combined with its compact, gorgeous looks, I believe it to be the perfect snapper for my needs.View Deal

Now, as I’ve just mentioned, the Lumix S9 is definitely geared more towards videographers, due to its support of open gate 6K video, which benefits from the full height and width of the 3:2, 24.2MP full-frame sensor. The Lumix S9 also boasts one of the best image stabilisation systems when shooting video that we’ve come across.

Unfortunately, this capability would be lost on me, as a videographer I am not. I’m far more interested in the S9’s picture-snapping credentials, and based on our Panasonic Lumix S9 review, I’m in for a treat if I hit the ‘buy now’ button.

That’s because the 24.2MP sensor — which is essentially the same as the one found in the Lumix S5 II — takes great still images, with superb noise control and dynamic range, meaning it can capture detail in darker areas.

Also, its bigger sensor is better suited to low-light photography compared to my E-M10 Mark IV’s micro four thirds one, although the latter does still take lovely images.

The S9 also employs real-time LUTs (look-up tables) which, despite being recommended for videos, allow you to use a range of colour profiles to help enhance images, although I am a little intimidated by the fact that Panasonic doesn’t make this the easiest of options in its photography menu system. I’m still keen to try this feature for stills.

Future | Tim Coleman

And then there’s how the camera itself looks. I’m pretty infatuated with the S9’s aesthetic — it’s compact and minimal, two qualities I adore. However, one of the biggest gripes we had in our review is the fact there’s no viewfinder. On paper, this won’t be a huge deal for me if I’m not using the camera constantly but, clearly, I have to point it out. The screen does extend and tilt though, which will help when composing shots.

Another advantage that the S9 has is based on Panasonic’s L-Mount Alliance membership, which allows you to use any full-frame L-mount lens from other members, like Leica and Sigma — although this particular offer comes included with an 18-40mm kit lens. If you’re keen to know more, our friends at Digital Camera World have put together a guide to the best lenses for the Lumix S9 to help you on your way.

All in all, I think this is a superb camera, although I did baulk at the AU$3,299 RRP, which is why I held off buying it for this long. Thankfully, the 42% discount fixes that in a big way. Less than two grand for a very capable full-frame shooter? Count me in.

This near-perfect GoPro Hero 13 Black bundle crashes to a new record-low price

paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:05:00 +0000

If you like the idea of owning the very best action camera but have so far been put off by the price, then let me bring you some fantastic news. This excellent value GoPro Hero 13 Black bundle is on sale at Amazon for $379.99 (was $479.99).

That's a new record-low price for the highly rated 5.3K resolution camera from the industry's leading brand. Considering the camera ordinarily retails for $429 by itself, this bundle deal is even more impressive.

In addition to the excellent GoPro camera, the bundle features a handle, two Enduro batteries, two curved adhesive mounts, a 64GB SanDisk MicroSD card, and a handy carrying case. That's everything needed to get filming as soon as it arrives at your door.

Today's best action camera deal

Here's a super-tempting record-low price for one of the best action camera bundles in the world right now. The camera offers an impressive 5.3K video resolution inside a rugged and completely waterproof body. A sweet deal just in time for your summer adventures.View Deal

Competition for the top spot in our best action camera guide is fierce, but the GoPro Hero 13 Black has held prime position for a long time now. Its commendation is in large part thanks to the excellent-quality 5.3K video, a superb range of accessories, including new auto-detected Lens Mods, and improved battery life and heat dissipation.

You can read more about why we love it in our GoPro Hero 13 Black review. Specifically, we praised its Bluetooth audio support, versatile mounting options, and ability to capture great-looking footage in well-lit areas.

I don't record much video for social media specifically, but if you do, then you'll love the 27MP sensor, which enables footage to be recorded in an 8:7 aspect ratio. Say goodbye to the awkward cropping of landscape footage for portrait outputs.

Godox's $29 camera also works as a light meter — as a film photographer, I'm buying

Jon Stapley — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:16:52 +0000

Though mostly known for photo lighting equipment, Godox has announced a small 'transparent viewfinder camera' that weighs just 65g.
It features a transparent(ish) window for composition that also doubles as a settings display — and it can also function as a light meter.
We don't yet have information on key internal specs like sensor size and resolution (but you can expect them to be low).

Very cheap cameras are back in vogue these days, so I wasn't necessarily surprised to see another one released — but I was surprised to see it coming from Godox.

The Godox C100 is a 'transparent viewfinder camera', announced by the Chinese firm who heretofore have been better known for producing the kind of high-end lighting equipment you'd find in the studios of professional photographers, as well as more affordable flashguns. However, with an announced price of just ¥199 (equivalent to about $29 / £22 / AU$42), the C100 is considerably more affordable than anything else on the Godox books.

As you can see, the C100 is built around quite an unusual form factor. A palm-sized rectangle, it doesn't feature a display exactly, but instead a transparent window that you use to compose your images. This window is also able to display key information like exposure settings and battery life.

(Image credit: Godox)

Now, I said 'unusual' form factor, not 'unique'. This is because, as a few people have already observed, the Godox C100 looks a lot like a camera that debuted at CP+ in 2025, the Escura InstantSnap. The Godox version looks a bit more advanced, offering a few interesting features that the Escura version doesn't. But we can make a few inferences — the Escura camera produces images at a resolution of 1.3MP, and I'd be surprised if the Godox offered a great deal more than that.

The Godox C100 features a USB-C connection for charging and file transfer, and it accepts 128GB micro SD cards for storage. It also records video and can do so continuously for up to 1.5 hours, and offers shooting in a number of different aspect ratios: 16:9, 4:3, 3:2 and 1:1. There are a couple of physical buttons for shooting and changing settings, and it weighs just 65g.

A handheld light meter

At first glance, the Godox C100 looks like another cheap novelty camera in a market beginning to be saturated with them. However, there was one feature announced that really caught my attention, since I'm an avid film photographer — the C100 can also act as a light meter.

Like any good handheld light meter, Godox C100 can read the levels of brightness in a scene's central area, and provide the optimal exposure settings with which to capture a balanced image. Once hugely invaluable tools, light meters have been rendered mostly entirely redundant in the digital age. However, anyone who habitually buys a lot of old film SLRs will tell you that the metering system is always one of the first things to go. I have several beautiful Pentax SLRs in the drawer beside me that still shoot and wind on beautifully, but can't meter a scene because the electronics are shot.

So, the idea of an elegant little pocketable device, costing just $29, that I can carry everywhere with me and use to quickly meter a scene, and maybe even use to take a couple of comparison shots for reviewing alongside my developed and scanned frames — that interests me.

Godox

Granted, the metering functionality is only going to be of interest to a small percentage of users. But still, I wouldn't be surprised if the Godox C100 is a huge hit, if and when it eventually arrives at international retailers (it's currently only announced in China). Tiny cameras have been big hits of late, most notably the keyring-sized Kodak Charmera, and screen-free cameras that offer a purer, more immersive shooting experience have also seen success, the poster child for the movement being the Camp Snap.

People like cute cameras. People like cheap cameras. And the Godox C100 is both! I'm sure once we get hold of it for a review we'll discover that the image quality is no great shakes — but did that stop the Kodak Charmera? No, it did not.

(Image credit: Godox)

I took the DJI Pocket 4P travelling — here are my favorite vlogging clips so far, including slow motion, the new 60mm lens, and DLog2 color profile

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:57:29 +0000

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P was fully revealed on the China page of DJI's website earlier this month, and I've already taken my test sample traveling, but tech journalists like me across the globe are in an awkward position, still being under embargo with our review content.

What I can tell you now, is that the Pocket 4P is available in black or white, has a new 60mm medium-telephoto lens with a large aperture, offers DLog2 support and up to 17-stops dynamic range. The rest is under wraps, or publicly available on the DJI site by selecting the China region (中国大陆).

I can, however, share some of the footage that I've shot with DJI's first dual-lens model in its hugely popular series of Pocket vlogging cameras. I'll say it now — I love its versatility and am really impressed with the videos I have been able to create with it.

Duel of the dual lens cameras

DJI must have been hoping for a dramatic reveal of its first dual-lens vlogging camera, only for Insta360 to somewhat steal its thunder by launching the Luna Ultra first. I've already tested the Luna Ultra and said it's a super impressive first generation product.

That's the competition the Pocket 4P is going up against, and I look forward to sharing my comparisons between the two models soon. Until then, you can enjoy my Pocket 4P sample reel, above.

Like I say, I can't reveal any specs related to the video, though at the least it should be pretty obvious which clips are shot with the ultra-wide lens, and which clips are shot with the new 60mm medium-telephoto lens.

We can get a rough ballpark on pricing, too. According the DJI site, the Pocket 4P Standard kit costs CNY 3,799 (about $562 / £420), and the Vlog kit is listed at CNY 4,299 (about $636 / £475).

The single-lens Pocket 4 starts at £429 / AU$749 for the Standard kit, or £549 / AU$959 for the Creator Combo, however, so I expect the Pocket 4P to cost more than those price conversions above.

Insta360's co-founder already told me it 'won't compete on price' — it's Luna Ultra starts at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99. My prediction, therefore, is that the Pocket 4P will sit roughly in the middle between the Pocket 4 and Luna Ultra, but don't expect US availability any time soon.

I'll be bringing you my full review when I'm permitted to.

The GoPro Mission 1 may be top of the range, but my Prime Day pick is the heavily discounted Hero 13 Black

Jon Stapley — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:41:56 +0000

GoPro made a splash recently with its announcement of a new trio of cameras — the Mission 1 series. With 50MP 1-inch sensors, the powerful GP3 processor, and in one case even a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, these are the most sophisticated and advanced action cameras I've ever seen — and I don't think you should buy one.

Not right now, anyway, because right now, the Amazon Prime Day deals on the GoPro Hero 13 Black are absolutely out of this world.

While the Mission 1 cameras are looking like a bit of a revolutionary reset for GoPro, the Hero 13 Black was very much not that. It was, and is, pretty much exactly what you'd expect a GoPro to be — a little cuboid, small enough to wear on a helmet or chest mount, capable of capturing crisp, stabilized 5.3K video and punchy, detailed photos. One thing it did introduce, however, was the idea of Lens Mods — clip-on accessories that significantly alter the perspective of the image.

It's a great action camera, one that still sits at the top of our list of the best GoPros while we're finishing up our tests of the Mission 1 series. And right now, as we enter the final hours of Prime Day, you can get hold of the GoPro Hero 13 Black, together with a raft of accessories, for as little as $399 in the US, and an incredible £269 in the UK.

Prime Day deals are, of course, only for Amazon Prime members — and since the Prime Day deals only run from June 23 to June 26, these offers might not be there this time tomorrow.

Today's best GoPro Hero 13 Black deals (US)

This price includes not just the Hero 13 Black, but also a handle, two Enduro batteries, two curved adhesive mounts, a 64GB micro SD card and a carrying case. You can get the camera standalone for $349, but honestly I think $50 for all those accessories is really good.View Deal

Today's best GoPro Hero 13 Black deals (UK)

The UK deal on the GoPro Hero 13 Black is simply incredible — right now you can get it in the same multi-accessory bundle for just £269. That's almost half-price! And once again, for even further savings, you can opt to get just the camera £229.View Deal

The clip-on Lens Mods allow for the creation of imagery beyond the standard 'action camera' look.. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

One of the most versatile action cameras

The Hero 13 Black uses the same sensor as the Hero 12 Black. A 27MP multi-aspect 8:7 sensor, it captures imagery in a near-square format that makes it easy to crop footage into different aspect ratios. Given that many content creators post their footage to both YouTube (16:9 cinematic aspect ratio) and TikTok (9:16 vertical aspect ratio), this is an invaluable timesaver, making it easy to spread the same content across multiple platforms.

It captures video at a maximum resolution of 5.3K 60fps, and you'll likely have no problems with overheating — in our full GoPro Hero 13 Black review, Tim was recording 5.3K on the go-kart track for more than an hour, and the camera kept up.

Some were disappointed that the Hero 13 Black didn't add 8K, as this felt like it would be the next logical step — and indeed, as mentioned, the Mission 1 cameras can shoot in 8K. But honestly, I think for the vast majority of content creators, especially amateurs and hobbyists, you just don't need it. Very few monitors or televisions will even display 8K, so its main use is allowing you to crop losslessly into footage, effectively giving you a digital zoom. Handy? Sure. Essential? Hardly.

And with the Hero 13 Black, you have a unique, exciting tool in your arsenal — the HB-Series lens mods. These are designed specifically for the Hero 13 Black and will only work with this camera. Clip them on, and you can shoot with an anamorphic perspective for cinema-style shots, or go ultra-wide to radically extend your field of view, get super close-up with a dedicated macro, or control bright sunlight with an ND filter. They're an extra cost, but they're inexpensive, you can individually buy the ones you think you'll use, and if you jump on this Prime Day deal, you'll already have saved a packet on the camera itself.

This is the Macro Lens Mod, enabling super close-ups. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

You can further customise the Hero 13 Black with extras like the Media Mod, which adds a directional mic for better audio, or the Light Mode, giving you a burst of LED illumination. Fundamentally, this is an action camera that's very easy to set up exactly how you want it, in a way that suits your style of adventurous shooting.

This deal is as cheap as I've ever seen the GoPro Hero 13 Black, and if you've ever thought about jumping on board and trying it out, the next eight or so hours are the time to do it. It's worth noting also that GoPro has a pretty robust trade-in program – so if, down the line, you want to trade up for a Mission 1 camera, you'll have the option.

But right now, while Prime Day deals are still live and our review of the Mission 1 cameras is still in process, I'm saying skip it. The Hero 13 Black is outrageously good value.

More of today's best GoPro deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

I tested the Leica SL3-P, and it's a masterclass in restrained design

Sam Kieldsen — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Leica SL3-P: One-minute review

The Leica SL3-P is not a camera for everyone, and it knows it. There's no red dot logo on the front — that easy-to-spot symbol of prestige has been deliberately omitted in favor of a clean, all-black anonymity. Only the word 'LEICA' in white block capitals above the lens mount gives the game away. This is a camera built for photographers who'd rather be invisible than show off, and that philosophy runs all the way through it, with minimal controls, a stripped-back UI, and a design language that says a lot through everything it leaves out.

The SL3-P is built around the same full-frame sensor as the Panasonic Lumix S1R II. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Getting to grips with it takes some patience if you're arriving from a more conventional mirrorless system. With only four labelled buttons on the body, a lot of control is handed off to the touchscreen, which is polished and logically organized once you learn its rhythms. The rear LCD tilts but doesn't swivel, which is an unusual limitation for a camera at this price — and with a serious L-mount lens fitted, the combined weight is considerable. But pick it up, hold it to your eye, and look through that large, crisp EVF, and something clicks. This is a camera that feels like it was made to be used, not admired.

Image quality is exceptional — unsurprising given the 44.7MP BSI sensor, which is of the same type used by the superb Panasonic Lumix S1R II — and battery life is impressive. The autofocus is competent and handles moving subjects well enough, though it won't trouble Sony or Canon on raw speed. At around £5,150 (US pricing TBC), it's an expensive proposition. But as a pure expression of what a modern Leica should be, the SL3-P makes a very strong case for itself.

Leica SL3-P: Price and availability

Priced at $6,690 / £5,150 body-only
Also available in three zoom lens kits

It's unlikely to come as a shock to you that the Leica SL3-P is a very expensive camera. Its launch price, for the body only, is $6,690 / £5,150 (Australia pricing is still TBC at the time of writing).

Leica is also releasing the camera in three kit bundles, each of which includes at least one Vario zoom lens. The SL3-P with a Leica 28-70mm lens is $7,790 / £6,100; with a Leica 24-70mm it's $8,390 / £6,480; and with both the 24-70mm and a 70-200mm it's $10,995 / £8,560.

Leica SL3-P: specs

Leica SL3-P specs
Type:	Mirrorless camera
Mount:	L Mount
Sensor:	44.9MP (effective) BSI full-frame CMOS
Autofocus:	Hybrid AF: 315 contrast / 819 phase detection points; Human and Animal subject detection
Continuous shooting:	Up to 40fps (electronic shutter)
Video:	Up to 8K Open Gate; ProRes to 5.8K; 4K at 120fps; L-Log, 12-bit RAW, 4:2:2 10-bit
Viewfinder:	5.76M-dot LCD EVF, 0.76x magnification
Screen:	3.2-inch tilt-only touchscreen, 2,332,800 dots
Storage:	SD/SDHC/SDXC + CFexpress Type B
Connectivity:	USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2), HDMI 2.1 Type A, 3.5mm mic/headphone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Weather sealing:	IP54
Dimensions:	151.45 x 80.32 x 38.09mm
Weight:	Approx. 768g (body only, without battery)

Leica SL3-P: design

All-black, badge-free design with minimalist controls
Premium full-metal construction with IP54 weather sealing
Large, comfortable EVF with twist-barrel diopter adjustment

The absence of Leica's red dot is the first thing you notice, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. The SL3-P is clad entirely in black, with only 'LEICA' in white block capitals on the EVF housing to identify it. Four buttons across the whole body are labelled (one of which is the power button). It's a stealthy, understated thing — clearly designed for people who want to use a Leica but aren't fussed about being seen with one.

The German-made full-metal body felt exactly as solid and premium as I'd expect from the brand, and comes with IP54 weather sealing for extra outdoors reassurance. There's a large grip covered with a textured material that provides a secure hold even when conditions aren't ideal, and the supplied neck strap is thick and well-padded, which I appreciated given how much weight a serious L-mount lens adds to the equation.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

With so few physical controls, much of the camera's operation is routed through the touchscreen. The UI is stylish and well organized, with photo and video modes color coded distinctly in red and yellow respectively. And while the layout takes some adjusting too if you're used to a more button-heavy system, the logic is coherent, and settings are never difficult to locate. Touch-to-focus on the screen works exactly as expected, and custom button assignments help flatten the learning curve further.

The EVF is large, crisp and comfortable thanks to its 5.76-million dot resolution and 0.76x magnification, and as a glasses wearer I really liked the satisfying diopter mechanism that simply requires twisting the EVF barrel rather than hunting for a small dial.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The top-plate display is a genuinely useful feature, giving you a quick rundown of current settings without you having to lift the camera to your eye. The rear LCD, however, only tilts: up to 90 degrees upward and around 45 downward. That covers most tripod and arm's-length scenarios, but there's no forward-facing position for self-shooting, and no side-to-side articulation, which feels like an unusual limitation at this price.

On a practical note, I will say that the SL3-P is not a lightweight system, especially when teamed with some high-quality glass. The Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 lens I used with it added over a kilogram to the body, and while the grip is secure and comfortable, a long day of handheld shooting (covering a child's birthday party, in my case) does become fatiguing. That's less a criticism — after all, there are plenty of heavy cameras around — and more of a warning about how and when it can be used.

Leica SL3-P: Performance

Exceptional image quality from a 44.7MP BSI full-frame sensor
Competent hybrid autofocus with broad subject detection, including birds
Impressive battery life and extensive video options including 8K and ProRes

Future | Sam Kieldsen

The SL3-P shares its 44.7MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor with the Panasonic Lumix S1R II — a camera I've tested and rate very highly — and the image quality is, predictably, exceptional.

Raw files processed in Lightroom offer tremendous latitude, with smooth tonal gradation, wide dynamic range and excellent high-ISO performance. JPEGs are very good straight from camera too, and five film-look presets — three color, two monochrome — add some welcome creative options. The high-contrast black-and-white preset is particularly striking, and feels authentically Leica in character.

Video capabilities are more extensive than the camera's photographer-first positioning might suggest: 8K Open Gate, ProRes to 5.8K, 4K at 120fps, L-Log, 12-bit RAW and 4:2:2 10-bit are all available. It's a serious toolkit, even if the handling feels more naturally attuned to stills.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

The hybrid autofocus combines 315 contrast AF points with 819 phase detection points, with human, animal (including birds) and car detection. Tracking held up well in practice; testing on an active cat, the camera maintained focus through erratic movement without significant trouble.

Outright acquisition speed with the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 in AF-C is where it falls short of class leaders; it's capable rather than decisive, and anyone shooting fast action should look elsewhere. For portrait, street or documentary work, though, it certainly gets the job done.

Five-axis IBIS rated at up to five stops works quietly and effectively, and battery life is a genuine highlight. After a full charge I shot well over 100 frames across a lengthy session, and the indicator remained full. That seems in line with Leica's claimed 383 shots per CIPA standard cycle.

Should you buy the Leica SL3-P?

Buy it if...

You value craft and image quality above speed
The build, finish and sensor are among the best in class. For considered, unhurried shooting, this is a very rewarding camera to use.

You want a discreet full-frame system
The badge-free design and understated profile make the SL3-P ideal for work where a conspicuous camera would be a liability.

Don't buy it if...

You need fast and precise autofocus
Sony, Canon and Nikon all offer more decisive AF systems at comparable or lower prices. The SL3-P's AF is capable rather than class-leading .

Solo video is central to your work
The tilt-only screen and stills-focused handling mean this isn't the best choice for self-shooting video creators.

How I tested the Leica SL3-P

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Leica loaned me a sample for over a week, along with a 50mm prime lens
I used it indoors and outdoors for several days, shooting photos and video
All sample photos were shot in raw and processed in Adobe Lightroom

Leica loaned me a review sample of the SL3-P camera to test out in real-world use, a few weeks ahead of the official release.

I reviewed the Leica SL3-P over the course of a week, using it exclusively with the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. prime lens. My shooting covered a wide range of scenarios: street photography and candids outdoors, landscape work, and indoor shooting in both natural daytime light and normal interior lighting at night — the latter without flash or studio lighting assistance of any kind.

All sample images were captured in raw format and processed in Adobe Lightroom.

First reviewed June 2026

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it's your shiny new DJI drone thanks to these 35% off savings

amelia.schwanke@futurenet.com (Amelia Schwanke) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:10:46 +0000

My first DJI drone was the flagship DJI Mavic Pro that launched in 2016. At the time, it was the brand's smallest consumer market drone ever made, replacing the bulky DJI Phantom, and that meant it wasn't cheap at $999 / £999.

It didn't take long after unboxing it for me to crash it into a wall. I was excited; the controls were inverted. Back then, there was no way I could simply fork out for a replacement drone — but luckily it just needed a new arm rather than a whole new drone (phew).

Since then, DJI has expanded its consumer drone range considerably, from the ultra-lightweight Mini Series to the more accessible Neo Series for casual flyers. The most beginner-friendly of the lot is the DJI Neo, which you can find at Amazon for as low as $139 (was $199) in the US and £113 (was £169) in the UK for the drone itself.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

I've rounded up the best DJI drone deals, like the DJI Neo, below. Hopefully, you're shopping to upgrade rather than replace, though. Happy flying!

Today's best DJI drone deals in the US

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Weighing just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, the drone itself is less than $140. View Deal

It's not a huge discount on a drone that's now been succeeded by a newer model, but that doesn't mean this DJI drone deal that saves you $150 should be ignored. If you're yet to fly high or want to upgrade from a much older quadcopter, this 249g drone is still pretty darn good. Read our review for the full scoop.View Deal

DJI's latest entry-level drone upgrades the Mini 2 SE with 4K video capture, whereas the Mini 2 SE only shoots in 2.7K. And with this Prime Day deal, it's available for a record-low price, beating the previous low of $255.55. This combo includes DJI's updated remote controller and two batteries for a 62-minute flight time. If you're looking for your first drone equipped with a camera, the Mini 4K Camera Drone Combo is a great starting point. View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Motion Fly More bundle, which includes the RC Motion 3, three batteries, and a charging hub. View Deal

Today's best DJI drone deals in the UK

In our DJI Mini 3 review, we praised it as "an enticing choice for eager drone pilots willing to sacrifice the obvious safety benefits of collision avoidance for a more affordable model". While it has since been succeeded, this 35% saving is still a notable discount worth considering if you want an entry-level drone. View Deal

I've been tracking DJI prices for the last three and a half years, and the current Mini 4K price is the lowest it has ever been. This package includes the drone, controller, and one battery. The camera is mounted to a three-axis gimbal for smooth 4K video capture, offers a handy 2x digital zoom, and boasts 31 minutes of flight time.View Deal

Usually, I recommend Fly More Combos for first-time buyers because you get a controller, extra batteries, and a charging hub, but of any beginner drone, the autonomous Neo is possibly the one where you can get away with the single-battery, drone-only bundle. There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price ever in the UK for a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. View Deal

If you've read our DJI Neo review, you'll already know that it's the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, with one-tap takeoff, subject tracking, and automatic return. Both the drone itself and combo packages are discounted at Amazon right now. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which also includes a controller, three batteries, and a charging hub.View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from £5
Fans: from £20
Fashion: up to 50% off
Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
Laptops: from £149
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

This Prime Day might be your last chance to buy this full-frame Canon camera — and it’s heavily discounted

Jon Stapley — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:57:08 +0000

If you’re thinking about buying your first proper mirrorless camera, or upgrading your current system, Amazon Prime Day is the time to do it. I’ve just found one of the best deals I’ve seen on a full-frame camera in a long time — but you might have to act fast to take advantage of it.

The Canon EOS RP was one of the first cameras in Canon’s EOS R series, released in 2019. Designed to be a lightweight alternative to the then-flagship EOS R, it puts a 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor into a lightweight SLR-styled body with ergonomic controls and excellent handling.

The EOS RP was designed to be the camera for everyone, a user-friendly and inexpensive route into what was then a new system. However, time marches on, and while the EOS RP hasn't been officially discontinued, Canon recently added the 'Sales Ended' tag to its page on its official Japanese store — which is a sign that a camera is about to ride off into the proverbial sunset.

Currently, you can get hold of this full-frame mirrorless camera for as little as $799 in the US, and an amazing £645 in the UK. For such a popular camera of such high quality — one that launched at a body-only asking price of $1,299/£1,399 — that is absolutely incredible.

But you might want to act fast. That 'Sales Ended' tag means no more Canon EOS RP models will be coming off the factory lines — once current stock gone, it's gone for good!

Today's best Canon EOS RP deals (US)

With a chunky three-figure discount, the EOS RP is currently one of the most affordable full-frame cameras you can buy new. Its fast autofocus system and full-frame quality make it a capable all-rounder for all shooting situations.View Deal

This bundle from Adorama isn't part of Prime Day, but the sale price matches Amazon's, and you also get a 64GB SDXC card, cleaning kit, card reader, bag and editing software package.View Deal

Today's best Canon EOS RP deals (UK)

In the UK, the EOS RP is even further discounted — to the tune of a whopping 39% off its current asking price. You could easily pick up this camera, and a lens or two, and still have change from a grand.View Deal

The 'P' in the name stood for 'Popular', positioning the EOS RP as a camera for all users. (Image credit: Future)

The ideal gateway into full-frame

Shooting with a full-frame system camera feels like a tangible step up. The level of depth and dynamic range achievable with a physically larger sensor is immediately striking. If you've only ever been shooting with a smaller-sensor compact camera, or just your phone, you'll immediately notice the difference.

The EOS RP is currently one of the most affordable routes into full-frame. It offers sumptuous image quality backed by Canon's excellent color science, and also benefits from advanced features like Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, with 4779 selectable points. Long regarded as one of the best autofocus systems in the business, Dual PIxel CMOS continues working quickly and accurately even when the light gets low.

When Matt Golowczynski reviewed the Canon EOS RP back in 2019, one of his key criticisms was the lack of native lens options for the RF-mount. Well, seven years down the line that is categorically not a problem any more — Canon has been busy releasing RF-mount upgrades to all its major lens archetypes, from wide-angle zooms to telephoto primes.

There are loads of affordable options to pair the camera with, too — you can pick up the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for as little as $199 / £189. That would still see you spending less than a grand for a complete full-frame setup — and believe me, that's not always an easy thing to achieve!

Or, if you prefer a zoom lens, Amazon will let you bundle up your EOS RP with an RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 lens, a lightweight travel-friendly optic designed for day-to-day photography, spanning wide-angle to telephoto. In the US, this combination will run you a still-respectable $1,099, while in the UK, it's a frankly mad £791.99

The EOS RP also shoots 4K video, albeit with a crop. (Image credit: Future)

Also, if you already own a Canon DSLR and a couple of lenses — perhaps ones that have been sitting in a cupboard untouched for a few years — it's easy to adapt your EF-mount lenses to work with the EOS RP. Simply add the EF-EOS R adapter, and all of your DSLR lenses will work with full electronic functionality of autofocus and stabilization, if they have it.

Granted, the EOS RP is an older camera. This means you're not going to get some of the more exciting features we've seen in cameras from the past few years, such as AI-powered subject-recognition autofocus, which has even started to appear in more entry-level models.

But the best thing about the EOS RP, in my view, is that it's a gateway into one of the most comprehensive and exciting mirrorless camera systems in all of photography. If you get to a point where you think you've outgrown it, you have a broad range of fantastic EOS R cameras to upgrade into. You'll be able to offset some of the cost by trading in your EOS RP — and all your RF or EF lenses will still work with the next model.

So, if you're thinking of jumping into full-frame photography, this could well be your moment. But like I said — don't hang around for too long!

More of today's best Canon deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

The modern version of a fly trapped in amber: 3D printing your Gaussian Splat is one of the most amazing things I've seen in a long time

Darren Allan — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Crysta can make a 3D printed model of a Gaussian Splat
The detail level is quite remarkable
It doesn't come cheap, but nonetheless, this is jaw-dropping stuff

Ever wanted to take a scene from real life and shrink it into a snow globe-style model (minus the snow) to sit on your shelf, preserved forever?

Well, maybe not forever, but you get the idea, and it's possible to do this now thanks to a firm called Crysta.

As Dany Bittel explains on Patreon, Crysta offered to turn one of their 'Gaussian Splats' – of a bee – into a real-world representation of the insect courtesy of a 3D printer.

@Crysta_AI printed one of my bees as a present! pic.twitter.com/HENIVMXaMJJune 18, 2026

The result, as you can see in the post on X above, is pretty spectacular. But wait a minute, I hear you ask (probably): a Gaussian what-now? If you're not familiar with the concept of a Gaussian Splat, it's a 3D model of a real place or thing, built from video footage that you've filmed on your camera (or maybe a drone for more adventurous constructs).

We've previously covered how this works in an in-depth article where we used a cloud-based service called Splatica to make our Splat, and suffice it to say, it's a very cool process with impressive results.

Going a step further with the impressiveness, though, is taking that Gaussian Splat model and 3D printing it. (Crysta can also do this with an alternative process, Neural Radiance Fields, or NeRF).

How is the model turned (back) into a physical rendition? Bittel notes that: "The Gaussian splat is first voxelated, a bit like a Minecraft level. Each voxel has a mix of inks and can be more or less transparent. This then gets printed on [a] special 3D printer, layer by layer."

Cubic cost

(Image credit: Dany Bittel)

As Bittel observes, this is like a modern version of the fly trapped in amber, except it's an entirely artificial construct, built from an artificial model. I absolutely love the idea, and if you do too, you might be wondering how much it costs.

The truth is that it isn't cheap, as you might guess. You'll need to fork out for a Splatica subscription if you go the same way TechRadar did, which is quite pricey (or use an equivalent service or app).

The actual printing of the model by Crysta will run to something like $140 in the US for a 30mm cube, according to Bittel as a guide price (they got one for free, as a present, in case you were wondering). You can go up to a 300mm cube if you want an ornament with a real impact on your room (and likely your wallet, too).

The company ships the 3D printed models globally, although of course, it'll cost more to send outside of the US.

You don't need to skimp with a cheap action cam — DJI's discounted Action 4 is better quality — and much better value at its lowest-ever price

Jon Stapley — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:34:23 +0000

The Amazon Prime Day deals are well and truly up and running — and if you're looking for an action camera, I've found a genuinely fantastic deal.

Cheap action cameras are all over the market these days, and having used and reviewed a few of them, I'm somewhat wary — the image quality just tends to be so poor that they aren't even worth their two-digit price. When it comes to cameras, you're almost always better off going for an older model from a well-regarded name than a newer one from a budget line — and that's why I think this massive deal on the DJI Osmo Action 4 is one to snap up.

First reviewed by our Cameras Editor Timothy Coleman back in 2023, the Osmo Action 4 takes the classic GoPro-style form actor and crams in a 1/1.3-inch sensor that delivers excellent video quality. With comprehensive waterproofing to depths of 18m (no case needed), highly effective RockSteady image stabilization, and a brilliant magnetic mounting system for accessories, it's a comprehensively equipped action cam for capturing dynamic footage of your adventures — and it's able to go places you wouldn't dream of taking your phone or 'proper' camera.

Sure, it's not the best action cam on the market anymore — not while the DJI Osmo Action 6 and GoPro Hero 13 Black exist. But the price! The Prime Day savings on the DJI Osmo Action 4 put it at $169 in the US and £199 in the UK. To put this in context, when Tim first reviewed it, the Osmo Action 4 cost $399 / £379!

Today's best DJI Osmo Action 4 deals (US)

It's two generations old now, with the Action 5 Pro and Action 6 having arrived since, but the DJI Osmo Action 4 still shoots crisp 4K video and has excellent waterproofing. The real appeal to this 2023 model is its low price, which with Prime Day savings is down to less than half of its original asking price.View Deal

Today's best DJI Osmo Action 4 deals (UK)

Savings are also excellent in the UK, with the Osmo Action 4 available for less than £160. This combo also includes a quick-release adapter mount, a charging cable, a lens hood and a protective frame.View Deal

Tim found the DJI Osmo Action 4 to be an ideal family holiday camera — it caused his mirrorless to stay in the bag! (Image credit: Future)

A complete package for content creators

Despite being a few years old, the Osmo Action 4 is still more than capable of producing imagery to the standard demanded by content creators in 2026. With a topline video resolution of 10-bit 4K video, it produces crisp and punchy footage, and offers a number of slow-mo options, as well as the option to shoot in the D-Log color profile to maximize dynamic range. This is everything a content creator could want, especially when you also factor in the punchy 10MP stills.

The later, pricier cameras are better in some areas — I've used the Osmo Action 6, and its low-light abilities are absolutely unreal. But most action camera footage is shot in bright daylight; they tend to be used for capturing POV footage of activities like surfing, cycling, snorkeling or skiing, and if you're not planning to do much shooting at night, you won't have a problem. And besides, as Tim found, the Osmo Action 4 isn't actually all that bad in low light — it's just not a patch on the cameras that have come along since.

The Osmo Action 4's simple UI means kids can use it without too much of a problem, making it a brilliant option for family holidays — this is a camera that won't mind being dropped, splashed, knocked or bumped.

The X4 Air is slightly lighter than the X5, which will feel like a benefit on a long day of shooting. (Image credit: Future)

It's also worth mentioning that if you're in the US, ongoing trade restrictions mean it can be difficult to get hold of newer DJI cameras like the Osmo Action 6, meaning an older model like the Action 4 could well be your best option.

But even if that's not an issue, at this price, I'd recommend the Osmo Action 4 to most people over the Osmo Action 6 — and I loved the Osmo Action 6. I took one on holiday to New York, and have it in a drawer beside me right now!

But this is just such good value for the level of functionality and image quality on offer. It's the perfect gateway for anyone thinking about dipping a toe into the world of action cameras — and it's a much, much better buy than a cheap-and-nasty action camera from a brand you've never heard of.

More of today's best DJI deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Polaroid vs Instax: I’m an instant camera addict and I’m team Polaroid all the way — here’s why

Jon Stapley — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

If you’re looking to buy an instant film camera, there are only two serious names in the game: Polaroid, and Fujifilm Instax. While some manufacturers like Canon and Kodak offer digital instant-print cameras that use techniques like dye-sublimation to create instant prints of digital images on specialist paper, it’s not the same. For the true alchemical magic of instant film, you Polaroid and Instax are the big hitters.

Polaroid is undoubtedly the better-known brand name due to its long history, dating back to the 1940s (though hitting major popularity in the 70s). It spent a few years in the wilderness following a bankruptcy in the early 2000s, before being purchased and revitalised in 2017 by an analog film collective called The Impossible Project. All the proper Polaroid cameras you can buy new today have been released since this renaissance.

Instax cameras may not have the historical cachet of Polaroids, but they are massively popular — Fujifilm reported last year that its Instax line has sold more than 100 million units since its inception in 1998. I don’t have similar sales data on post-revival Polaroid, but frankly, I don’t think it’s anywhere close.

Ultimately, there are compelling reasons to choose either brand. The Instax mini 12 is TR's pick as the best instant camera, and I can see why — it's a great option for the majority of users. But for me personally, it’s Polaroid all the way.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

Why I’ll pick Polaroid every time

It’s not a question of print size, as both brands have similar offerings. Fujifilm Instax Wide film is about the same size as a Polaroid I-Type (or SX-70) print, just rectangular rather than square. Polaroid’s smaller ‘Go’ film produces prints of comparable dimensions to Instax mini.

What it’s all about is vibe. Scoff if you want, but come on — you’re shooting instant film. You’re not here for accurate colors or pitch-perfect sharpness, you’re here because you love the tangibility of holding a print in your hands, the transportative lo-fi look of a format that’s been around for half a century. It’s all vibe.

I’ve shot Polaroid and Instax prints side by side before for comparison. Once, while I was viewing them, my partner made an astute observation that I have since stolen and made my own: the Instax catches your eye first, but you end up liking the Polaroid more. Instax prints are bright and vivid, with naturalistic colors and a decent level of detail, especially the Wide format. They’re fun and kitschy.

But Polaroid images just have that inimitable retro glow that instantly transports me back in time. The softer, more muted color palette makes images less immediately striking, but more satisfying the longer I look at them. There’s a richness to them, a greater sense of depth and subtle tonality. If I were embarking on an artistic project with instant film, there’s no question which format I’d choose. It wouldn’t even be a decision.

This isn't an entirely fair comparison, as full-size I-Type is always going to beat Instax mini. But for me, while the sky in the Instax looks truer to life, that stylized retro glow on the Polaroid is just so appealing. (Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Instax cameras are easier to use for sure — most are just point and shoot. If I were recommending an instant camera for a family, or for someone who isn’t an experienced photographer, I’d go with Instax. But for me, as someone who knows my way around a camera, the depth of control offered by the top-end Polaroid cameras leaves Instax in the dust.

Connect to the Polaroid app, which works very smoothly and is highly intuitive, and you can completely program in your settings, taking total control over your images. Want to try your hand at creating long exposures on instant film? It’s straightforward on a Polaroid Flip or Polaroid I-2, and impossible on an Instax Mini 99.

Sure, Polaroids aren’t perfect. The ongoing cost of I-Type film is a sore point, with packs of eight shots costing the same as a pack of 20 shots of Instax Wide or Mini. This sucks. No way to pretend it doesn’t. Buying in bulk can help a little, though honestly not a lot. At least the smaller Polaroid Go film is much cheaper, and I prefer it to Instax Mini. Again, its subtler look is less striking, but richer.

I really enjoyed shooting with the Go Gen 3. My shots weren't all hits, but there were some that I loved. Again, it's not quite true to life, but it has distinctive character. (Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Do you agree? Let me know which is your preferred instant-film format in the poll above. And if you’re looking for an instant-film camera to buy, see my explainer on why the Polaroid Go Gen 2 is the best buy you can make this Prime Day and click on today's best deals where you live using the links below.

I just took a Fujifilm instant camera on my Euro summer trip, and it transformed my whole approach to holiday snaps — for the better

Max Langridge — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:52:09 +0000

Instant photography takes on a very different form these days. It used to (and ultimately still does) mean a photo you take that’s instantly printed out on paper. Realistically, it means a photo you take on your smartphone in seconds — and it’s something we all take for granted. Just open the camera on a smartphone, point, shoot, done.

However, in many ways, the instant nature of smartphone photography afforded by the best camera phones can remove any creative nature of framing the perfect shot.

This is a thought I had recently at least when heading over to Europe on holiday, and one I wanted to amend by taking a Fujifilm Instax mini 11 in my carry on. In my mind I couldn’t have made a better choice.

Fortunately, the updated model, the mini 13, is on sale at Amazon for just AU$119 at Amazon for EOFY.

The very epitome of point-and-shoot photography, the Instax mini 13 couldn’t be easier to master. Press a button to pop out the lens barrel, frame your subject in the viewfinder and hit the shutter button. A couple of seconds later, your photo is printed on photo paper to hold onto forever. Best of all, this latest model features a self-timer for those all-important selfies.View Deal

I’ve long been on the fence about instant cameras and a separate camera from my phone in general. I’ve made the trip to Europe several times before to visit my family, and in the past I’ve taken my OM System OM-D E-M10 MKIV.

However, the last time I took it, I never used it (as much as I told myself I would), as the added bulk of carrying around lenses and the camera body itself just proved too much of an inconvenience for me. Considering my iPhone 15 Pro could take decent pictures within seconds, I didn’t feel the need to keep it close by.

This year that all changed. While my iPhone was still an undeniably useful companion on my recent trip — I took well over 1,000 photos — I knew this time that I wanted to capture more memorable pics that would actually get looked at again (this is a safe space; we can all admit we never actually look back at photos we take).

I’d never used an instant camera such as the Instax mini before, and I have to admit there was a very slight learning curve to adjust to a new way of taking photos. And that was half of the fun for me — because I knew I only had a finite number of sheets to print on. I had to make my pictures count!

Using the Instax mini meant I had to be more considerate when framing a shot, which fortunately was super simple using the viewfinder. It might look like a tiny window (because it is), but whatever I saw through it is what came out on paper.

And hey, there really was something magical and special about waiting for the image to develop — how would it look? Did the colours come out ok? Did anyone walk into the shot as I pressed the shutter?

When my partner and I returned home, we made a much more conscious effort to look at the pictures I’d taken to determine what we’d keep and what we’d get rid of. Of the photos we kept, we’re going to frame them at some point at home. We haven’t quite decided how just yet, but we know we will.

Considering I’ve only ever printed a handful of photos from my iPhone, I’d call that a win for Fujifilm. And at AU$119 for the mini 13, it’s a small price to pay for photos you’ll actually come back to.

I'm a camera fanatic — and this discounted Polaroid-themed Lego set is going straight into my basket

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

I love cameras and Lego, so imagine by delight when I received the shiny new Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Camera for Christmas in 2023. The charming set, which features an SLR camera with moving parts and a film door, has lived on my desk at home ever since I completed the build on a wet winter day shortly after.

If you know someone with a soft spot cameras and Lego too (looking at you), I can heartily recommend the set, which has fallen in price to $15.99 at Amazon (was ~~$19.99~~). Being part of the Creator 3 in 1 series, there are three builds to choose from; an SLR film camera, camcorder or TV set.

Honestly, the SLR build was already plenty enough for me without the other two options. There are neat touches including a film crank, a viewfinder to peek through, and a film door that opens and closes, plus film rolls that you can slot inside the camera.

Future

• For more deals, check out our Amazon Prime Day live blog

I've also spotted another camera-themed set in the Prime Day sales; the Lego Ideas Polaroid OneStep SX-70 for $65.66 at Amazon (was $79.99). As someone who owns an original SX70 instant camera which dates back to the 1970s — which I got refurbished into fully working order by Retrospekt — it's a dream set that I have my eye on this week.

I'm sure the Polaroid SX70-themed set would put just as big a smile on my face as the real thing did, as they are so thoughtfully created sets now available for much less than the full price — and you can grab the best prices today through the links below.

Not in the US? I've included links to the best deals in your region, further below. Happy building!

Today's best camera-themed Lego set deals

As part of the 3-in-1 Lego series, there are three different possible builds in this retro camera set; SLR, camcorder and TV, all for just $15.99. View Deal

I actually own an original Polaroix SX70 instant camera, which dates back to the 1970s, so when I saw the SX70-themed Lego set it immediately made its way to my wishlist. Now with 18% off, I'm seriously tempted.View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

I've owned a Sony Alpha a6000 for years and am seriously considering this dual battery and charger Prime Day Deal — but I do have some concerns

lance.ulanoff@futurenet.com (Lance Ulanoff) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:58:49 +0000

I'm constantly on the hunt for spare batteries for my Sony Alpha a6000 APS-C camera, and now I think I've found the perfect Amazon Prime Day deal on compatible batteries and chargers. The llano 2-Pack NP-FW50 Batteries and Fast 18W Dual Charger offers two batteries and a charging case is just $54.99 (was $69.99).

At 21% off, this sounds like a fantastic deal, but I also have a complicated history with my Sony cameras and the batteries I can use.

• Browse all early Prime Day deals at Amazon

It's been 16 years since I first started using a Sony Alpha. First, the NEX-5 (until the display died on the viewfinder-less body) and then the exquisite Sony Alpha a6000. Paired with my 200mm lens, they've been the perfect setup for my bird and astrophotography. But I've struggled with the batteries.

The Sony-brand Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries that shipped with the NEX-5 worked with the a6000 I bought second-hand (new, the a6000 will run you almost $1,000), but eventually they stopped holding their charge, and I balked at the $70-per battery for the Sony-branded replacements. After all, I could easily find cheap knockoffs on Amazon (Prime Day or not) for as little as $26 for two (including a charge base!).

It's not unusual for me to wait until Amazon Prime Day to pick up a couple more replacements, and so that's how I stumbled on this llano deal. The two packs of batteries and a charging case that includes both a screen readout to tell you the charge level for each battery and a pair of SD card storage slots (not readers!) for just $54.99 is quite a deal.

Granted, the box offers no extra battery power, which means that if you want to charge the batteries, you do have to plug it in, but after that, you can just take the case with you. It's an efficient way to store and transport the batteries and to know at a glance, which one has enough charge for a day of use. The included batteries do, by the way, also support other compatible Sony cameras, including my old NEX-5, the NEX-7, A3000, A5000, A64000, along with other Sony camera models.

It's also worth noting that Ilano ships the same system in multiple versions for different batteries types, covering some of the best Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon and other Sony cameras (I've included shopping links to other Illano versions, further below).

This stylish Sony Alpha camera charging system ships with two batteries and a magnetically sealed case that charges two batteries at once and features an SD-card slot. It works with a wide array of Alpha cameras, including the A6000, A6400, a7r, and the a5100. Just know that while it's a nice, compact, and seemingly portable size, the device only charges the batteries if it's plugged in. At least you get a cool digital readout, and this is a great deal for two battieres and a charging bay.View Deal

The big caveat here is that these third party batteries are not usually as good or long-lasting as Sony originals. One thing to note is that while the llano batteries are listed as 9 volts, the Sony original is a 1,020mAh battery. In my experience with knock-off batteries that are often manufactured in China, they lose their ability to hold a full charge more quickly and dramatically than the Sony batteries.

Part of this has to do, I think, with the less sophisticated charging bases many of them ship with. In all fairness to llano, they usually don't look like this. They're not closable cases with LCD readouts, just one to three open bays where you drop in the batteries.

Ultimately, you will spend less and may have short-term relief for your Sony Alpha battery issues (nothing like having a pocket full of batteries on a long shoot), but you should not expect these batteries to perform long-term, like Sony originals, which, by the way, I have never seen included in Amazon Prime Day sales.

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

This wild DJI Pocket clone with a built-in fan is the crossover I desperately need today — but these are the top vlogging cameras I actually recommend as a camera expert

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:09:51 +0000

In a product crossover nobody expected, the Philippines-based brand Goojodoq has launched a 2-in-1 DJI Pocket-style vlogging camera with a fan, which costs around $25 / £20.

It's a device that I seriously need right now, and I can thank filmmaker Philip Bloom for bringing it to my attention. Not for its camera skills, mind you, but for its cooling properties — it's super hot in the UK as I write. Like, scorching hot.

As a fan, the device looks decent enough; a 100-speed brushless motor, 2,500mAh battery for a run time between 2-10 hours, plus USB-C charging.

I can't seriously recommend the device as a camera, however. Details are sparse, but it looks like there's Full HD 30p video recording, micro SD storage, a gimbal with 180-degree rotation, plus a 1.3-inch display.

And you can only laugh at the idea of using both camera and fan at the same time. Can you imagine it? Lights... camera... hummmmm.

Still, it's not like it's a pricey product, with the Philippine Peso pricing conversion working out at around $25 / £20.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

If you're looking for a proper compact vlogging camera, I recommend you check out the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It has recently been updated with the Pocket 4, but the older model is equally good in many regards, and it now costs much less in the Prime Day sales. I've included the best Pocket 3 deals below.

And if you're on the lookout for a decent quality fan, we're covering the best ways to stay cool in our beat the heat live blog. For all other deals, check out our Amazon Prime Day coverage.

Today's best DJI Osmo Pocket 3 deal

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 was recently replaced by the Osmo Pocket 4, but the latest model isn't currently available in the US, and we don't know if / when it will be. The Pocket 3 is now available for a record-low price of $378 in a base package, while other bundles with various accessories can be found via the same link.

Price check: $378 at AdoramaView Deal

Following the DJI ban, Xtra appeared, offering effectively the same quality product, for less. The Muse has similar specs to the Pocket 3, and can now be purchased for a record low $329 in a standard bundle.View Deal

There's a reason that the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a best-selling vlogging camera: its winning combination of gimbal-stabilized 4K video, compact design, ease of use, swivel monitor and pro audio mic pairing. That's everything a content creator on the go needs. Yes, there's the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 in the picture now, but it costs much more and is just an iterative update. Fork out a little extra, and you can get the Creator Combo for £372 which includes a DJI Mic and other accessories. View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

I tested the Insta360 Luna Ultra for a month — now I can’t go back to single-lens vlogging cameras

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Insta360 Luna Ultra: One-minute review

Despite being Insta360’s first vlogging camera with multiple Insta360 firsts, the Luna Ultra, overall, feels like a polished and bold product. Its triple chipset ably supports powerful features — especially the gimbal-stabilized 8K 30p video with 10-bit color depth and 4K 120p slow motion video recording, Log color profile, autonomous subject tracking autofocus and 32-bit float audio.

With dual 20mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.0 lenses, each with its own sensor, you truly are getting two cameras in one. And having enjoyed the Luna's ultra-wide and impressive 3x telephoto versatility for a month, it will be hard for me to go back to a single-lens compact vlogging camera.

The detachable remote module — which features the two-inch OLED touchscreen, main camera controls and built-in microphone — has, understandably, won many admirers. It's such a clever and well-implemented design feature that truly enhances the user experience, especially for solo vlogging.

Here the module has been removed. It has a 20m transmission range and when removed it functions just as if it's attached to the camera (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Initially I had a few minor niggles navigating various camera settings, and it certainly paid dividends to spend time customizing the Luna Ultra to the way I like to shoot. It's also notably bulkier than DJI's Pocket 4 vlogging cameras, and pricier than single-lens alternatives.

Despite its infancy in this space, Insta360 has to its credit already produced crucial supporting accessories — including tripod and battery grips, plus the Insta360 Mic Pro wireless mic for top quality audio — meaning you can stick within the Insta360 ecosystem and enjoying the best possible user experience and compatibility, including full Bluetooth support.

Yes, DJI has been in the compact vlogging camera space for much longer and has refined its Pocket series with every iteration, but the Luna Ultra enters with a bang and is an impressive alternative.

Two lenses in one device, with an additional zoom — an approach familiar to smartphone users (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Insta360 Luna Ultra: price and release date

Full release on June 12 2026
Available in black or white with prices starting at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99
Multiple bundles to choose from, including the Creator Bundle

The Titanium Gold version comes with a matching auto lens cap (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

"We're not going to compete on price" is what Insta360's co-founder Max Richter told me at a pre-launch event for the Luna Ultra, the company's first vlogging camera and DJI Osmo Pocket series rival.

And the Luna Ultra is much pricier than previous Pocket cameras. However, those were single-lens models and, like DJI's most recent Pockets, the single-lens Pocket 4 and dual-lens Pocket 4P, the Luna comes in two varieties: the single-lens Pro and the dual-lens Ultra.

Prices for the Ultra start at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99. That’s a fair whack more than the latest single-lens models, but you are truly getting two cameras in one device.

Insta360 sent me the Creator Bundle to review, which includes multiple extras such as the Mic Pro transmitter and battery grip and costs $969.99 / £829 / AU$1,549.99. I expect the dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P to cost less than the Luna Ultra, but it won't be available in the US because of the DJI ban.

Both Luna models are available in black or white versions, and in a further variety of bundles that cater for various use cases; Standard, Essential, Endurance, VLOG, POV and Creator.

Price score: 4/5

Insta360 Luna Ultra specs

Insta360 Luna Ultra Specs:
Type:	Compact video camera
Lenses	20mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.0
Sensors:	1-inch and 1/1.3-inch
Video:	8K up to 30p / 4K up to 120p / FHD up to 240p
Photo:	9MP JPEG & RAW / 37MP UltraPhoto mode / panorama
LCD:	2-inch OLED, detachable
Memory:	47GB internal, 1x micro SD (up to 1TB)
Battery	1,550mAh, rated up to 4 hours of 1080p
Dimensions	2.1×6.7×1.5in / 52.4×169.9×38.5mm
Weight:	8.2 oz / 233g (black) 8.3oz / 235g (white)

Insta360 Luna Ultra: design

First compact vlogging camera to land with dual lenses, ahead of the Pocket 4P
Similar design cues to the DJI Pocket series (but a little larger), with stick-like form factor and camera supported by a three-axis gimbal
Unique detachable controller which includes a two-inch OLED screen and built-in mic

The chunky protective caseFuture / Tim Coleman

The wind guard attached to camera's mic pickupsFuture / Tim Coleman

The dual-lenses tuck away vertically when the camera is turned off.Future / Tim Coleman

One way to power up the camera is rotating the screen, but there's also a power buttonFuture / Tim Coleman

Horizontal video is available in 8K, 4K and 1080pFuture / Tim Coleman

The profile of the camera — the lowest part is pronounced to accommodate the detachable moduleFuture / Tim Coleman

On the right side is a micro SD card slot, behind a fiddly rubber coverFuture / Tim Coleman

The Luna Ultra’s form factor is familiar — it's a bit like the compact, stick-like design of DJI’s Pocket series. DJI isn’t happy about it, by the way; it has filed a lawsuit accusing Insta360 of patent violations (which Insta360 has responded to with a countersuit).

However, there are some key design differences. Lunas are slightly larger than Pocket models. Not majorly so, but the difference is clear when you hold them side by side as I did (albeit the dual-lens Ultra alongside the single-lens Pocket 4).

In practice, I didn’t really feel that the Luna’s extra weight and size negatively affected its handling — it’s easy in the hand for on-the-go vlogging. If you want the absolute smallest option, however, DJI is your best best. Even the dual-lens Pocket 4P is smaller.

There’s a good reason why the Luna cameras are bigger, and that’s for a super clever and unique feature: a detachable remote control, which is a module that packs the camera's main controls and rotatable two-inch OLED screen. Simply squeeze the red buttons on either side of the Luna, and the module pulls away from the body.

Future / Tim Coleman

The module has a 20m transmission range and operates exactly the same way as if it’s on the camera, with the touch display offering a remote view, and the main camera controls on hand, including gimbal, zoom and record. Transmission range is impacted by the surroundings — I found the feed froze inside 15 meters when other people passed in front of me in a busy urban space — but I could see it happening on the screen in my hand and could rectify the situation.

What’s really neat is that the module has a built-in microphone, so you can easily check your frame and present to the camera. It’s certainly better than using the on-camera mic, though a wireless mic such as Insta360’s own Mic Pro with its customizable E Ink display is an even better pick for audiophiles. The camera has direct Bluetooth support for this mic and Insta360’s Mic Air. The video below gives an idea of what the module is like to use remotely.

I really appreciated how much easier it was to frame my shots with the controller module in hand. There’s also smart subject tracking and autofocus (more on this in the performance section), meaning the camera can track you as you move around, within the gimbal’s range, keeping you or your subject centered in the frame. Controlling the Luna using the module and tracking is like having your own cameraperson filming you, provided you can find a secure surface to rest the camera on or a support to fix it to.

On that note, the Luna Ultra can stand freely on flat surfaces, while the battery grip, which extends battery life plus the physical height of the camera, features tiny flip-out tripod feet for extra stability.

The battery grip is larger than the regular tripod grip and extends the battery life of the camera, which was already impressive being rated at up to four hours of 1080p filming. Not bad for a 1,550mAh unit that can be recharged to 80% in just 23 minutes.

At first I had a few niggles with the handling of the Luna Ultra from how it comes straight from the box. Beyond finding it physically clunkier than the Pocket 4, I needed to change various settings to taste, such as its behavior when rotating the two-inch touchscreen.

Overall, however, I can't find much fault with the Luna Ultra's design, which is seriously impressive for a first generation product.

Design score: 4.5/5

Insta360 Luna Ultra: Performance

Triple chipset, with 4nm and AI chips ensures smooth operation
Smart subject tracking and autofocus, but it's not perfect
Can get a little warm when using the most powerful features

The Luna Ultra is equipped with a triple chipset, comprising powerful 4nm and AI chips. As such, I never really experienced any performance issues, even shooting a lot of 8K video (though never for more than 10 minutes at a time).

The camera does get a little warm when using power-hungry features such as 8K video, and I did see a lag when switching from the 12x zoom back to 1x using the stepped zoom control on the touchscreen. However, those were my only issues.

In addition to regular 8K video, the Luna Ultra has a range of shooting modes, including; Slow Motion up to 240fps (in Full HD), Timelapse, TimeShift and Barrel Roll. I've included some slow motion clips in a sample video below.

Both Luna cameras accept a micro SD card up to 1TB, and include 47GB internal storage — less than DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P, which have more than double the capacity. I shot plenty of video clips and photos directly onto the internal memory, and still had plenty of space left over — the maximum 120Mbps bitrates of video files are fairly low and don't take up too much memory.

And there’s plenty more for audiophiles, namely a decent wind guard for the camera’s internal four-mic array, plus 32-bit float audio. This pro-level setting avoids clipping, and is ideal for unpredictable and noisy environments, but for simpler audio edits, the 24-bit setting is probably your best bet.

The quality of the detachable module's built-in mic impressed me, though for the clearest pickup it's pretty fussy about how close you hold it and the angle it's pointed in.

Subject tracking is impressively sticky, though I did find that it switches to a new subject a little more easily than the DJI Pocket 4. In one situation, I was walking with the camera tracking me when other people came between me and the camera and tracking stopped.

In another scenario as I held a product up to the camera for it to focus on, the camera focused back on my face in the background all too keenly when I came back into view. In such a scenario, I think DJI's tracking performs better.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Insta360 Luna Ultra: Image and video quality

Dual 20mm f/1.8 (1-inch sensor) and 60mm f/2.0 (1/1.3-inch sensor) cameras are effectively like having a decent zoom
8K 30p and 4K 120p video with color grading-friendly I-Log profile — a first for Insta360
9MP photos are decent enough, especially in RAW format, and can be upped to 37MP in UltraPhoto mode

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The Luna Ultra ups the ante in this camera category with 8K video — double the resolution of the Osmo Pocket 4, which shoots in 4K. It’ll shoot 8K up to 30fps, complete with Dolby Vision (aka HDR) and I-Log color profile.

This is the first Insta360 camera with Log, a flat color profile that pros like to use to maximize the color grading potential and for the most dynamic range possible from their camera, which in this case is up to 14 stops.

DJI has billed the Pocket 4P as having 17 stops dynamic range with its new D-Log2 profile — I look forward to comparing the footage of both cameras to see which is better once I have my hands on the Pocket. 4P.

Insta360 thinks its night mode is superior to DJI, with its PureVideo mode boosting dynamic range in 4K 60p videos. That’s another comparison test I’m looking forward to conducting. From the shots I've taken at night in this mode, detail looks impressively sharp, though of course no match for the quality of daytime footage.

Insta360’s Leica partnership goes beyond the Luna’s Leica-branded lenses and into various Leica color profiles. If you like the simplicity of attractive color profiles with no need for color correction, then the Luna has some great alternatives to Log.

I was impressed with the 3x telephoto camera — provided the subject isn't too far away, it's possible to throw depth of field for punchy portraits. I'm talking upper body shots with notable shallow depth of field.

The zoom of that lens can be further extended with a 6x 'lossless' zoom, a term that suggests you shouldn't notice a drop in image quality — I certainly didn't. I can't say the same for the 12x digital zoom setting, which looks a little more pixelated on close inspection. Still, that 12x zoom is a handy addition should you really need to zoom closer.

Honestly, having enjoyed the variety of two lenses in such a small camera, and how impressive the quality of the telephoto camera is (the sensor is bigger than the main sensor in most smartphones), I know I'll struggle if I have to go back to a single-lens compact vlogging camera.

Video is, of course, the primary use for the Luna Ultra, but it shoots decent-quality 9MP photos too, in JPEG and RAW format, albeit with just eight-bit color depth. I've included a couple of scenarios below, taking JPEG and RAW (DNG format) photos simultaneously at night and in daylight, with the 1x and 3x lenses.

I haven't edited the RAWs so you can see the kind of processing that takes place for JPEGs. All the photos are 9MP, but there is also an UltraPhoto mode which quadruples resolution to 37MP.

Insta360 Luna Ultra photo gallery

An unedited RAW DNG file. Note the vignetting (dark corners) and muted colorsFuture / Tim Coleman

The standard color profile, JPEG format. This gives an idea of the kind of camera corrections that take place during JPEG processingFuture / Tim Coleman

Another example. Interestingly, the RAW files use a lower ISO value than JPEGs when shooting. in RAW+JPEG simultaneously. Future / Tim Coleman

The previous RAW image was ISO 180, this JPEG is ISO 360. All of the four dragon photo were taken with the 1x ultra-wide camera.Future / Tim Coleman

Again, a RAW file. There's more detail in this photo than the corresponding JPEG, and I haven't even played with exposure corrections or shadow / highlight recoveryFuture / Tim Coleman

I tried the 'Fresh' color profile here, which is bright and airy. The intensity for any color profile can be adjustedFuture / Tim Coleman

The RAW DNG format again and, like the previous portraits, taken with the 3x telephoto camera.Future / Tim Coleman

The corresponding JPEG to the previous imageFuture / Tim Coleman

Image and video quality score: 5/5

Insta360 Luna Ultra: testing scorecard

Insta360 Luna Ultra
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Considering you get two cameras in one, a detachable touchscreen module and high-end video features, the Luna Ultra is decent value, but it does cost a lot more than single-lens alternatives and DJI almost always costs less	4/5
Design	Slightly clunkier than the rival Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P, but the detachable control is well implemented and seriously useful	4.5/5
Performance	Triple chipset ably supports high-end features, subject tracking works well and gimbal performance is decent	4.5/5
Image and video quality	Twin camera versatility for different shots, sharp 8K footage, I Log and Leica color profiles. You'll struggle to find better image quality in this camera format, though I haven't directly compared footage with the Osmo Pocket 4P yet	5/5

Should I buy the Insta360 Luna Ultra?

Buy it if...

You want a versatile compact vlogging camera
Dual lenses are a revelation for this camera format. You're no longer restricted to ultra-wide shots, but dynamic portraiture and b-roll details are entirely possible.

You're a solo vlogger
The detachable remote with two-inch touchscreen, camera controls and built-in mic aid solo vlogging, in terms of the range of shots you can easily get, especially with subject tracking on board.

Don't buy it if...

You want the smallest possible vlogging camera
The Luna Ultra is clunkier than the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P. Not hugely so, but DJI's cameras are even more pocketable.

You don't need two lenses
For me, having used the Luna Ultra, it's now hard to go back to a single-lens compact vlogging camera, but if you don't need that second telephoto camera, the single-lens Pocket 4 / Luna Pro alternatives cost much less.

Insta360 Luna Ultra: also consider

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P

At the time of writing, I've only reviewed the single-lens DJI Osmo Pocket 4 which isn't a fair comparison especially with the dual-lens Pocket 4P on the horizon and the direct rival to the Luna Ultra. However, if you'd like to know how the cameras compare, check out my Luna Ultra vs Pocket 4 article.

Read our in-depth DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review

Fujifilm X-M5

If we're going on price, there beginner mirrorless cameras enter the picture, and for me the Fujifilm X-M5 is the best-equipped hybrid for the money. It has a bigger APS-C sensor, shoots 6K video recording (with Full HD vertical vlogging mode) and 26MP photos and it's a stunning camera. The drawback is that there's no in-body stabilization, so you'll probably want an additional gimbal to smooth out on-the-go clips.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-M5 review

How I tested the Insta360 Luna Ultra

Future / Tim Coleman

Insta360 supplied me with the Luna Ultra Creator Bundle, which includes 2x grips, Mic Pro transmitter, soft carry case and more
I tested the camera regularly for a month shooting day and night, mainly focusing on video content. I've tried the monitor in various configurations
I was testing the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 simultaneously, and could draw comparisons

I had early access to the Luna Ultra Creator Bundle ahead of its launch, and tested the kit out over the following weeks before writing this review. During this review period, I also had the single-lens DJI Osmo Pocket 4, meaning I was able to make comparisons.

The camera shoots decent still photos with RAW format editing flexibility, but my main focus video performance. I've shot horizontal and vertical vlogging-style videos in the various resolutions and frame rates available in each format, and experimented with various color profiles.

I've made sure to try out all of the accessories supplied to me and the various configurations of the detachable monitor. I've checked the camera and detachable monitor's audio quality, and how easily and reliable it pairs with an Insta360 Mic Pro wireless mic.

First reviewed: June 2026
Read more about how we test

The DJI Mini 4K falls to a scarcely believable low price — here's why it's your best value first drone

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:10:43 +0000

Earlier this week, I recommended a knock-out deal for the DJI Neo — the lowest price for a DJI drone I've ever seen. But if you want a better value drone, especially if you're keen to take control of it yourself and learn to fly, then the DJI Mini 4K is my top pick.

I bought a DJI Mini 4K myself a couple of years ago, and its record-low price right now for Prime Day is less than half of what I paid — the Mini 4K costs $209 at Amazon US / £169 at Amazon UK. And unlike the Neo, a controller is included in the base package.

There are various deals for other bundles too, with additional batteries and so on — I've included links to those deals below. I've also rounded up the best DJI deals for other beginner drones, so you're completely covered for your first drone.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

If you're in the US and not sure about DJI given the current ban, read on for my advice.

The gimbal-stabilized camera shoots smooth 4K video (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Your ideal first drone to learn flight

The DJI Neo is the quickest drone to get started with, with its one-push take-off and automated subject tracking, but if you actually want to learn to fly, then the DJI Mini 4K is a better bet. I've reviewed the Mini 4K, and you can see my YouTube review below.

The base package costs a little more than the Neo, but a controller is included. If you want a controller with the Neo, the price shoots up.

For your money, you get decent aerial photography quality, thanks to a 3-axis gimbal camera, 4K video, and 12MP stills. Flight time is rated up to 31 minutes on a full charge, and there are a host of automated flight moves to quickly level up your aerial videos.

Of course, like all DJI Mini drones, the Mini 4K weighs less than 250g, making it officially a beginner drone that's not hit with the regulations that heavier, pro drones are.

If your budget stretches a little further, I recommend the recent DJI Lito X1, which gives an image quality step up and object sensing, meaning you're less likely to crash it. I've included the best deals for other beginner DJI drones below, but for me, the Mini 4K is the best value.

Today's best DJI Mini 4K deals (US)

DJI's latest entry-level drone upgrades the Mini 2 SE with 4K video capture, whereas the Mini 2 SE only shoots in 2.7K. And with this Prime Day deal, it's available for a record-low price, beating the previous low of $239. This standard combo includes DJI's basic remote controller and a single battery for a 31-minute flight time. If you're looking for your first drone equipped with a camera, the Mini 4K is a great starting point. View Deal

For and extra $46 from the deal above, this Combo adds a second battery and a carry case. I'm not seeing a deal for the Fly More Combo at the time of writing. View Deal

Today's best DJI Mini 4K deals (UK)

The Fly More Combo is the ultimate package, with a carry case, three batteries and a charging hub in addition to the Mini 4K drone. View Deal

More of the best beginner DJI Mini drone deals today

More DJI Mini deals (US)

Usually I would all out recommend the Fly More Combos, but of any beginner drone, the autonomous Neo is possibly the one where you can get away with the single-battery, drone-only bundle.

On the flipside, if you'd like to try immersive FPV flight, the Neo can be purchased with goggles in the pricier Motion Fly Combo for $449 (was $529). View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which includes a controller, three batteries, and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More DJI Mini deals (UK)

There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price ever in the UK for a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, with one-tap takeoff, subject tracking, and automatic return. Weighing just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for well below the list price. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which also includes a controller, three batteries, and a charging hub.

You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its ease of use, beginner-friendly features, and versatile flight options. If you want better quality aerial images, the Mini 4K, Lito X1, and Mini 5 Pro are better picks.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Beat the memory crisis with my 5 photography workflow tips, and today’s lowest prices on portable SSDs

Dan Mold — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:44:31 +0000

If you have tried to buy one of the best portable SSDs recently, you have likely noticed a painful reality: storing photos and videos has become an incredibly expensive business. Over the past year, flash memory prices have skyrocketed, with some popular portable SSDs doubling or even tripling in cost. For photographers and videographers, who routinely generate many gigabytes of data on a single shoot, this price hike has turned a standard administrative task into a massive financial headache.

The underlying problem is a classic case of demand exceeding supply, which has unfortunately triggered a knock-on effect on pricesacross the entire industry. As high-speed Solid State Drives (SSD) became more costly and harder to source, creators naturally looked for alternatives, driving up the prices of traditional mechanical hard drives (HDDs) in the process. When you couple expensive backup drives with modern cameras that churn out massive file sizes, ignoring your storage workflow is no longer an option. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and it is time to change how we manage our data.

Fortunately, you don't need to empty your bank account to keep your portfolio safe. Surviving this storage crunch is not about buying the biggest, fastest drive on the market - it's about working smarter with the tools you already have. By adopting a strict digital diet, separating your fast working drives from your slower archival backups, and rethinking your camera settings before you fire the shutter, you can reduce your storage footprint without sacrificing your creative freedom.

In this guide, I share the exact strategies I use to navigate these rising costs. From sourcing high-capacity secondhand bargains safely to exploiting hidden compression settings in a camera's built-in menus. I cover why changing your shooting habits can save you terabytes of space in the long run, how to avoid the hidden costs of a hardware upgrade, and how to build a rock-solid backup system on a budget. And if you absolutely must buy new hardware, I've also rounded up the best flash storage deals available right now, so you can expand your setup for less.

1. Use HDDs for back ups

HDD drives, also called mechanical Hard Disk Drives, use a spinning disk inside of the hard drive enclosure to store files. Because there’s a disk with a needle, a little bit like a vinyl player, it takes longer to locate and find your files and also write data to HDDs. Flash storage, such as the SSDs which we’ve seen explode in value over the past year, work much in the same way as your camera’s memory card and can locate files instantly and write much faster – but that comes with a higher price tag.

To keep costs down, the trick is to keep all of your archived content and finished projects on the more affordable HDDs as soon as you can. SDDs are great for working on live projects due to their speed, reliability and portability. You can use one of the best portable SSD drives or the flash hard drive on your laptop, so you’re not limited by the speed of an HDD when you’re working on live projects.

With SSDs going up in price this has had a knock on effect with the price of the best HDD drives being pushed up too. I’ve actually been buying up cheap second hand HDD drives from Facebook Marketplace where I can get much more gigabytes for my dollar. I must stress second-hand drives are a risky business and I always check them with a drive health checker first too, such as CrystalDiskInfo. I only use HDDs for backing up files, so if my second-hand drives ever fail, I at least have another copy somewhere else.

2. Cull your photos

In years gone by I would say there’s not a lot of point going through drives and deleting your ‘duff’ shots or video. However, because we’ve seen some storage drives double, or even triple in price in just the past 12 months alone, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Currently, when I import a batch of photos I think carefully whether I really want to take up valuable space on my hard drives with shots that are never going to see the light of day. This has helped me be more self critical of my work, and motivated me to absolutely nail compositions, focus and exposure settings every time I'm out shooting.

Once a project has been delivered I might even go as far as to go through and delete images that were sub-par and didn’t make the grade. It’s also worth using a disk analyser tool such as WizTree to locate big files that are taking up a lot of hard drive space and aren’t being used so you can erase any large memory hogs.

Once your project is finished be sure to transfer the files from your pricey SSD to your cheaper HDD, to free up space for your next project. This saves you from having to buy a new expensive SSD drive when it gets full. Modern SSDs are incredibly durable and can withstand hundreds of terabytes of data being written over their lifespan, so there is no problem formatting them after you’ve transferred the contents to an HDD and backed them up properly.

(Image credit: Samsung / Amazon)

3. Choose the right format

The more detailed and information-packed your files are, the larger they will be. So it’s more important now than ever to carefully assess whether you should shoot a scene in RAW or compressed JPEG. The same goes for recording video too, do you really need 8K or the highest possible bit rates, or is that overkill?

I often shoot in 4K which gets downsampled to 1080p for a lot of my social media content. While shooting 4K provides extra editing options (especially cropping), it is quite a wasteful way of working. You could also switch from the H.264 codec to H.265 which compresses 4K to half the size, with no visible loss in quality.

If you’re shooting on a compact camera with built-in picture styles such as the Fujifilm X100VI then it may be preferable to shoot in JPEG to make full use of its various film effects. If you’re shooting a lot of RAW files with pre-capture then you may want to consider switching from RAW to a compressed RAW format to save space, instead. It all depends on your style of photography and finding out the compromize that works for you.

4. Think twice before upgrading your camera

Before you jump into buying a new camera body you should also carefully assess the costs here, too. I’ve been lucky enough to get hands-on with the new Sony A7R VI, which produces mammoth 67MP files, at rates of up to 30 fps. This means memory cards and hard drives fill much more quickly than a camera with say 30MP, usually considered to be the ‘sweet spot’ for most general subjects.

Many of today's pro cameras need pricier CFexpress type memory cards to unlock their full performance potential and avoid any bottlenecks to the memory buffer, rather than cheap and cheerful SD cards. So even if you find a deal you're happy with for a new camera, there are hidden costs such as these pricier memory card types.

Another hidden cost of upgrading to a super high resolution camera is that your computer may struggle with the large stills and video. If that’s the case then you’re now not only forking out for a new camera, pricey CFexpress cards and hard drive storage, but you'll also need to budget for a new high-end laptop or computer that's capable of handing all of that data! The costs can rack up rather quickly.

Sure, the A7 RVI is a top camera, but do you need its high-resolution sensor and memory-hungry 30fps burst shooting? (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

5. Make use of free cloud storage

I always follow the 3-2-1 method for a secure and robust way of backing up my files; that's backing up three times on at least two different types of media, with one copy kept off site.

For different types of media, this could be one HDD drive and another an SSD, or a DVD, memory stick or even cloud storage. The latter also helps tick the box for keeping one copy of your data off-site, too.

Cloud storage from reputable companies such as Backblaze is of course a great option, but you do have to pay a monthly subscription. For working professionals this is a solid reliable option worth the money.

However, for more casual photographers I’d recommend making full use of free cloud storage from companies like Google Drive (15GB), Microsoft OneDrive (5GB) and Apple iCloud (5GB). Of course, this isn’t a huge amount of free cloud storage, though if you're clever you can 'pool' your free storage together from different companies and it can add up to something substantial. That being said, even the 5GB free options should be more than enough to store backups of your favorite JPEG photos.

Save money today on the best portable SSD deals

Portable SSD deals are hard to come by right now, but I've included the best deals I've found at the time of writing, with discounts on tried and tested Samsung and SanDisk models.

Today's best portable SSD deal (US)

The Samsung T7 is a reliable SSD that I've been using for years. These drives come in a stylish metal case, typically available in different colors, making it easy to tell the difference between them. It has super fast transfer speeds of up to 1,050MB/s and features USB 3.2 Gen 2 with USB-C functionality, too. This deal is for the 1TB version. View Deal

Today's best portable SSD deal (UK)

This reliable drive from Sandisk won a Red Dot product design award in 2021 and is IP65 rated for dust and water resistance so you can rest assured your data is protected. This Prime Day deal gives you a saving of 13% and it comes with 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection to give you a little extra peace of mind.View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

I test 360 cameras for a living, and I'm surprising even myself by recommending this particular budget Insta360 model instead of the awesome X5

Sam Kieldsen — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Amazon's Prime Day sale is here (running from June 23 to 26, and exclusive to Prime members), and if a 360 camera has been on your wish list, it's the perfect time to act. Two of Insta360's best models are getting solid discounts in the sale — but the one I'd actually put in my basket might not be the one you're expecting.

I reviewed the Insta360 X5 last year, and its low-light performance was the standout feature for me. It remains, in my view, the best all-rounder Insta360 makes. At 21% off ($434.99, down from $549.99 for the Standard Bundle, a $115 saving), it's a pretty tempting buy in the Prime Day Sale.

But my colleague Peter Fenech has since put the newer Insta360 X4 Air through its paces, and with Prime Day discounts of 25% on the Standard Bundle ($299.99 at Amazon, down from $399.99) and 26% on the Starter Bundle ($324.99, down from $439.99, also a $115 saving), I think it's the smarter buy for most people.

The Insta360 X5 and X4 Air are both superb 360 cameras, and they're currently both on sale for Prime Day. (Image credit: Future / Peter Fenech)

A baby X5, in the best sense

The X4 Air inherits a lot of what made the X5 so appealing. It uses the same easy-to-swap lens replacement system (which can be a real lifesaver if you scrape a lens on the ground), and it's waterproof to the same 15m depth without a housing.

At 165g, it's also noticeably lighter than the X5's 200g. It's not a huge number on paper, but you'll feel the difference after an hour of holding a selfie stick overhead.

The real divergence is in sensor size. The X5 uses larger 1/1.28-inch sensors, while the X4 Air steps down to 1/1.8-inch (still bigger than the original X4's sensors, for context). In daylight, you'd struggle to tell the two apart. It's only once the light fades that the gap opens up, with the X5's PureVideo mode giving it around a two-stop low-light advantage over the X4 Air.

That sounds like a point in the X5's favor, and it is. But I think that the vast majority of 360 footage gets shot in daylight — think travel clips, bike rides, beach days, family get-togethers — and the X4 Air handles all of that with ease. Peter was impressed by its image quality overall, and found its low-light performance better than expected even without PureVideo on board.

On the battery life front, the X5's larger 2,400mAh battery wins out for marathon sessions: its Endurance Mode can run for over three hours at 5.7K, versus around 105 minutes for the X4 Air with the same settings. But at 8K/30fps (the resolution most people will actually shoot in), both cameras land at roughly 90 minutes.

The X4 Air is slightly lighter than the X5, which will feel like a benefit on a long day of shooting. (Image credit: Future)

If you're a professional creator, you regularly shoot in low light, or you simply want the best 360 camera Insta360 currently makes, the X5 at 21% off remains an easy recommendation.

But if this is your first 360 camera, or you want something that genuinely disappears into a pocket, the X4 Air gives you almost everything that made the X5 special, for $100 to $135 less. That's where my money would be going this Prime Day.

Today's best Insta360 X4 Air and X5 deals (US)

Taking many of the X5 features but squeezing them into a smaller body, there's plenty to like about the X4 Air, especially with its first major discounts for Prime Day, now 25% off. View Deal

For 360-degree action cameras, it doesn't get any better than the X5 from Insta360. With huge sensors, the X5 delivers 8K video and excels in low light. It's also feature-rich with replaceable lenses to boot. Save $85 on the best action camera for shooting in 360.View Deal

Today's best Insta360 X4 Air and X5 deals (UK)

There's also 25% off the X4 Air for shoppers in the UK, taking the base package price down to a record-low £269. Not bad for a 'baby X5'.View Deal

My favorite 360 camera, with a healthy 25% off — it doesn't get any better! With huge sensors, the X5 delivers 8K video and excels in low light. It's also feature-rich with replaceable lenses to boot. Save $85 on the best action camera for shooting in 360.View Deal

More of today's best Insta360 deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

The Instax Mini 12 is at a record-low price at Amazon right now — here's why I think it’s worth snapping up for the summer holidays

amelia.schwanke@futurenet.com (Amelia Schwanke) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

The latest model in Fujifilm's long-running series of budget instant cameras might've only launched earlier this year, but I've just spotted the Instax Mini 12 at Amazon US for $79.95 (was $93.95), which is a record-low price ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

It hasn't been discounted that low since last year, making this the first opportunity anyone who's had the best instant camera on their wish list to bag a bargain. That's great timing if you ask me, because the Instax Mini 12 is a great camera for the summer. In the UK, there's another record-low deal on the same Instax Mini 12 camera for £69.99 (was £79.99).

From capturing holiday moments to being passed around at weddings, this is the perfect time of year to own an instant camera. The Instax Mini 12 produces great-looking prints, and is extremely easy to use — what's more to like?

Today's best Instax Mini 12 deals

Instax Mini 12: was ~~$93.95~~ now $79.95 at Amazon
Snag a record-low price for the best instant camera around at Amazon. It's comfortable to hold and capable of producing attractive prints at a reasonable price. This is a limited-time deal, though, so I wouldn't wait for stocks to run out, as I expect this will be a popular deal throughout Prime Day. View Deal

Instax Mini 12: was ~~£79.99~~ now £69.99 at Amazon
Don't miss grabbing a record-low price for what we rated as the best instant camera around. It was almost a year ago that prices hit this low, making this the perfect time to snap up the Instax Mini 12. With Prime Day running through to June 26, I'm not sure stocks will last for this, so be quick. View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

I've never seen a DJI drone this cheap — the Neo selfie drone falls to an unfathomably low £113, and I think it's a no-brainer as your first drone

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:01:07 +0000

No other 4K drone is easier to get started with than the DJI Neo. Anyone can be airborne with it in minutes, capturing 4K selfies with smart subject tracking. And the good news is that you really don't need all the costly extras that I usually recommend to first-time pilots — the drone-only package for £113.05 at Amazon UK is a great option to take your first flight.

Yes, the beauty of the Neo is its versatile flight options; it works with or without a controller, and with goggles for FPV flight. However, you really can enjoy its best feature — automated subject tracking — in its simplest controller-free form.

If you're feeling flash, the Fly More Combo is available for below £200 for the first time, now just £198.55 at Amazon UK (was £299), with which you'll get the drone, a controller, three batteries and charging hub, while the price of the Motion Fly Combo, which includes the goggles and motion controller for FPV flight, now costs just £309 at Amazon (was £449).

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

These are excellent prices over Amazon Prime Day for one of the most compelling beginner drones that I've had the pleasure of testing.

With single-push take-off, you don't actually need a controller to use the DJI Neo (Image credit: James Abbott)

A DJI drone at this price?

We gave the DJI Neo 4 stars in our review when it was launched in September 2024 as the cheapest DJI drone that shoots 4K video. It has since been upgraded to the Neo 2 in November 2025 — I've highlighted five key differences in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo explainer so you can be sure what you may or may not be missing out on should you opt for the older model.

Yes, the Neo 2 is a decent upgrade and worth the extra outlay for some people, but there are many similarities between the two selfie drones. For first-timers, I think the original model offers the best value, especially at the new low prices.

If aerial photography is your chief concern, however, you might be better off looking at other DJI quadcopters; the Neo has a small 1/2-inch sensor and is limited to 12MP JPEG-only photos and 4K video with standard color profile (no D-Log). The Neo 2 has much the same image quality, but drones such as the recent DJI Lito X1 give an image quality step up. I've included the best deals for other beginner DJI drones below, though none come close to the extraordinarily low price of the Neo.

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle which includes a controller, three batteries and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

Today's best DJI Neo deals

You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its ease of use, beginner-friendly features, and versatile flight options. If you want better quality aerial images, check out the deals listed below for the Mini 4K, Lito X1, and Mini 5 Pro.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More of the best beginner DJI drone deals today

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

5 travel photography essentials this summer — take stunning snaps on your next vacation

Dan Mold — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Planning a summer getaway? You'll probably want to consider some of the best travel camera gear. And to help you pack light and shoot smart, I’ve tracked down the best Prime Day deals on my absolute favorite travel photography gear.

You don't need a massive budget, either. Three of my top essentials — an ingenious travel tripod, a high-capacity power bank, and a reliable cleaning kit — don’t break the bank. They’re all under $100, so you have more money left over to spend on that dream destination.

I’m focusing on pure essentials: my favorite pocketable camera, an ultimate wide-angle travel lens, and the key accessories I rely on to keep shooting through sand, dust, and sea spray.

You might also want to look for one of the best camera bags for travel, for your passport, travel essentials and the right amount of space for these five items you shouldn't jet off without.

Ricoh GR IIIx HDF

(Image credit: Ricoh)

A rocket in your pocket

It may surprise some of you, especially those in the Fujifilm camp, but one of my favorite cameras for travel photography is Ricoh’s GR series. While these premium compacts don’t perhaps have quite the same cool retro styling as the Fujifilm X100VI, they are extremely practical and portable.

My current top pick from Ricoh's popular series is the GR IIIx HDF, which is one generation old, so it's more affordable than the Mark IV version, yet is still plenty of camera for your dollar.

The Ricoh GR IIIx HDF uses a massive APS-C chip for incredible image quality and its resolution of 24MP is more than adequate for taking tourist snaps and high quality photos when you’re on your holidays and travels. In fact, its lower resolution of 24MP actually makes it a better choice for shooting in low light than high-resolution alternatives like the X100VI, with its larger pixels delivering better light gathering potential with less noise at higher ISO values.

All of this, plus a beautiful prime 28mm f/2.8 lens is squeezed into a body that weighs a miniscule 232g and measures just 4.3x2.4x1.4in / 10.9x6.1x3.6cm, making it a true compact and one that’s entirely possible to fit into a pocket. An added bonus of the Ricoh GR IIIx HDF version is its built in Highlight Diffusion Filter, which is a softening mist filter to add loads of atmosphere to low light scenes and helps your city night shots ooze with atmosphere and fog.

Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC | C travel lens

(Image credit: Future / Dan Mold)

A superb wide-angle lens you can keep on all day

Earlier this year I had the privilege of testing the Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC | C lens and it quickly became my favorite travel lens to use while I spent a week in London in January for New Year's.

One thing to note is that it’s a lens designed for APS-C cameras and effectively delivers a full-frame focal length of around 18mm. But, it works brilliantly on full-frame cameras via crop mode, too. It offers up a much smaller and portable solution than full-frame lenses which are usually much larger and heavier.

As the world’s first fastest 12mm lens with a super wide maximum aperture of f/1.4, I had great fun squeezing in all of the details of the city and zooming with my feet to get closer to the action. Image quality is superb, autofocusing is fast and for me it’s the perfect ‘day lens’ to stick on your camera and take shots as you walk around and explore new towns and cities on your travels. It’s available for a wide range of camera mounts including Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X and L-mount.

Gorillapod 3K

(Image credit: Joby)

Best travel tripod

A travel tripod is a must-have item for any travel photographer interested in landscapes, cities and low light photography. A set of ‘sticks’ allows you to lock off your camera to eliminate camera-shake, which you’d get from hand-holding your camera with slow shutter speeds in low light situations. They also help you to take your time with your compositions, too.

It’s not, however, always possible to take a full-blown tripod on your travels. Perhaps it’s too big or overweight for your flight restrictions, or it would attract too much attention. In these situations I turn to a GorillaPod, and I’ve used many different iterations of these flexible supports over the years. They are much smaller and easily fit inside or attach to the outside of your camera bag, but still allow you to lock off your camera to catch those long exposures - perfect for blurring cars into traffic trails, or taking astro photos.

The only downside is they’re much smaller than a tripod, so to get height you need to wrap the adjustable legs around a railing, lamppost or similar to elevate your camera off the ground – luckily there’s never a shortage of these in busy city centres. Alternatively, you can lean into its small size and shoot close to the ground with a wide-angle lens for a dramatic low angle perspective.

RONEGN 20,000mAh fast charging USB-C Power Bank

(Image credit: Ronegn)

Power in your pocket

Power has never been more important to us photographers - we need a reliable way to charge up all of our power-hungry electrical gadgets, from cameras to laptops and phones to flashes. A plug socket to power up from isn’t always guaranteed when you need it and I myself have been to islands during my travels where I’ve not had power for many days.

A little tip is to carry plenty of spare batteries, you can also purchase specific battery cells for many camera brands which have a USB-C port on them for direct charging without a battery dock and many new cameras now have the ability to charge the battery in situ via a USB-C port too.

For extra juice though, I recommend a power bank like the Ronegn which has a large 20,000mAh capacity and four built-in cables: Lightning, USB-C, Micro USB and USB-A so you can charge up all of your gadgets when you’re on the move and don’t have access to a plug socket. The particular model I've been using currently costs $22.95 at Amazon and is available in several colors. In the UK, the equivalent charger costs around £25 at Amazon.

For more options and buying advice, check out TechRadar's best power banks guide.

K&F Concept 4-in-1 cleaning kit

(Image credit: K&F Concept)

Best kit to clean your camera on the go

I know all-too-well from personal experience that cameras get dirty when you’re on your travels. Sandy beaches, dusty train stations, coastal sea spray and accidental fingerprints can make your camera kit filthy in no time at all.

That’s why I’m thoroughly recommending that you take a camera cleaning kit like this 4-in-1 option from K&F Concept with you on your travels, which costs $19.99 at Amazon US (was $24.99) or £15.99 at Amazon UK.

This kit has an air blower so you can easily blast dust particles off your lens and camera sensor without ever touching it, though for more stubborn grime on the lens it also comes with a lens pen and two microfibre cleaning cloths to keep your equipment in mint condition.

As an extra bonus tip I also recommend buying a high quality UV filter for your lens to keep dirt off the front element and also fit your camera’s rear LCD panel with a protective cover to keep this in perfect condition, too.

The Polaroid Go Gen 3 is a palm-sized instant camera that produces lovely little prints — in the right conditions

Jon Stapley — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Polaroid Go Gen 3: Two-minute review

Cards on the table: I love Polaroids. I’m of the right generation to have grown up with these instant-film wonders on holidays and at parties, and I was thrilled when the brand was properly revitalised in 2017 under new ownership. From the early OneStep cameras to more recent efforts like the Polaroid Flip (which I currently own), I’ve used a lot of nu-Polaroid’s offerings, and I was thrilled to try out the Polaroid Go Gen 3.

The Go series are Polaroid’s range of super-small instant cameras. They use their own dedicated ‘Go’ film, producing prints measuring 66.6mm x 53.9mm with an image area of 47mm x 46mm (for context, a full-size I-Type print measures 107mm x 88mm with an image area of 79mm x 77mm). They still have that Polaroid look, that lo-fi charm, that iconic square format. They’re just smaller.

The Go Gen 3 is the smallest camera the series has yet produced. It is clearly pitched at a younger crowd — festival-goers, beach-enjoyers, selfie-takers, and it has a selfie mirror to facilitate this. Its controls are extremely simple; you can’t control settings, you just point and shoot.

Most of this was also true of previous Go cameras, such as the Go 2, so what exactly is new here? Well, as well as the reduced size, Polaroid has outfitted the Gen 3 with a boosted flash and a redesigned lens sporting a narrower focal length of 63.75mm, compared to 51.1mm on the Gen 2. This gives you a slightly tighter perspective, gets you closer to your subjects, and makes your selfies that little bit more flattering.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

So, it's a much simpler offering than the Flip, which has a fancy four-zone focus system and offers full settings control via the Polaroid app. The Polaroid Go Gen 3 does have a shutter speed range of 1/500–1sec and aperture settings of f/14.4 and f/32, but it will be selecting those for you. However, that’s not to say you’re completely without agency. You can turn the flash on and off via the flash control button, which also activates a self-timer mode and a double exposure mode — meaning you can expose the same frame twice for surreal, creative effects.

I used the Polaroid Go Gen 3 for about a week, mostly capturing shots on photo walks outdoors, but also making use of the selfie mirror to shoot some self-portraits indoors. I’ve been very impressed with the level of quality those little prints are able to display — when the light’s been right, I’ve found myself absolutely poring over images, appreciating all the subtle details that are conveyed in these tiny prints. Even in the smaller size, you still get the feeling of Polaroid’s signature lo-fi tones.

It’s not perfect. I found ultra-bright sunlight to be a problem, with the prints easily becoming blown out and overexposed on sunny days — which also seem to me like the days you’re most likely to want to use the camera. However, the relative affordability of Go film compared to I-Type makes me much more willing to play, experiment and have fun with the Go Gen 3, and not sweat my mistakes too much. Which as far as I’m concerned, is what instant photography should be all about.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Polaroid Go Gen 3: price and availability

Polaroid has been cannily stalking the Instax market share with the Go series, and part of that has been keeping the cameras nice and cheap. The Go Gen 3 comes at a reasonable launch price of $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$150, which is about the same as the comparable Instax camera, the Instax Mini 13, and similar to cheap lo-fi digital cameras like the Camp Snap.

However, as it’s a film camera, you have ongoing costs to factor in. Polaroid Go cameras use dedicated Polaroid Go film, which costs around $21.99 / £18.99 / AU$39 for a pack of sixteen shots (two cartridges of eight). Again, this is similar to Instax mini, which is slightly cheaper at around $20.99 / £14.99 / AU$34.95 for a pack of twenty.

Happily, it’s much more reasonably priced per shot than full-size I-Type film. As much as I love proper Polaroids, $18.99 / £16.99 / AU$32 for just eight shots is really quite brutal, and makes the experience a bit less fun. You don’t kick yourself for a fluffed Go shot in quite the way you do for a fluffed I-Type shot, and it makes the Polaroid Go Gen 3 a more realistic option for kids and families.

Polaroid Go Gen 3: Design

Super small, trop mignon, fits in the palm of your hand
Very simple operation with just three buttons
No tripod thread, but there are lugs for a strap (and one is supplied)

Polaroid Go cameras have always been cute — it’s practically their key USP — and the Go Gen 3 is the cutest yet. The makers call it the world’s smallest instant camera, and I certainly can’t think of a challenger. This thing is tiny, sitting comfortably in the palm of a hand. It measures 106.5 x 83.8 x 64.6 mm and weighs just 8.9oz / 251g.

As such, there isn’t a whole lot of room for bells and whistles, and operation of the Polaroid Go Gen 3 is no-frills. There are just three buttons — power, shutter, and flash control, the latter of which also activates self-timer and double-exposure modes. The entire bottom of the camera is taken up by the film door, meaning there’s no tripod screw thread — best find a flat wall if you actually want to use that self-timer. There also isn’t any of the app-based camera-trigger functionality that you get with the likes of the Polaroid Flip, which also means you won’t be capturing long exposures or anything like that.

The viewfinder is small but lovely. I really enjoy looking through it; I just love that square frame. It really fires my imagination compositionally, and if I hadn’t been limited by how much film I had on hand, I would have been firing off shots left and right. Flip the camera around, and you’ll see that the front of the viewfinder is reflective. This is the selfie mirror, and I have to say, it works exactly as intended.

Jon Stapley

On the side, there’s a USB-C port for charging, and at the back are two lugs on the right and left for attaching straps, and a rope-style wrist strap is included in the box. And, well, that’s pretty much it! This is a very simple offering, something that works in its favor as a lo-fi camera for fun, friends and family. It’s a camera so simple a child could use it, something I tested by giving it to a three-year-old, who — with a little coaching — did indeed manage to capture a photo. If you’re looking for a camera with kid-appeal, I can attest that the Go Gen 3 has it in abundance.

It’s available in five stylish colorways: white, black, teal blue, ice blue and purple. As you can see, I had the white version, and as I took it out and about, it did draw a few comments and compliments from passers-by. This is a nice-looking camera.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Polaroid Go Gen 3: Performance

Lovely detail and tonality in prints, even with small size
But ultra-bright sun can easily overwhelm images
Flash is always on, so you need to remember to turn it off every time if you don’t want it

When a Polaroid works, there’s nothing like it. Even in the smaller Go size, I’m really impressed by the level of detail and tonality you can get out of this thing. For me, it beats Instax any day of the week. In good light, with a well-chosen subject, you can make images that absolutely sing, and I genuinely adore some of the shots I’ve captured with this camera.

I'm really impressed with the level of depth and detail here. The reflection is gorgeous and there are some lovely hints of blue in the sky. (Image credit: Jon Stapley)

One thing that really impressed me was the selfie-taking capability. The Polaroid Go Gen 3’s reworked lens and powerful flash are designed to facilitate just that, and using the mirror as a compositional aid, I was able to capture selfie images that were vivid, detailed and true-to-life, the flash comfortably illuminating the scene without blowing it out.

The flash automatically adjusts by distance for a balanced image. (Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Out in the big wide world, of course, you can and will run into issues. While I was testing the Gen Go 3, we were blessed with several days of glorious sunshine, and in very bright conditions — you know, the exact kind of conditions where you might find yourself saying something like, ‘Darling, it’s lovely out, shall we bring the Polaroid?’ — it’s easy for those little frames to just be overwhelmed.

For all these frames, conditions were just a bit too bright, even with the flash off. (Image credit: Jon Stapley)

More than a few of my images were quite significantly bleached by very bright sunlight, even when I remembered to turn the flash off — and you have to do this manually every single time, because the camera will always turn it back on. Even, as I discovered, halfway through a double exposure.

This worked better than I expected, but that blast of flash probably wasn't needed. (Image credit: Jon Stapley)

I’m generally a bit wary of double-exposure modes on instant cameras; I feel like most of the time, I’m likely to end up wasting a frame on a blurry, muddled mess. However, the lower cost of the Go film made me much more willing to give it a try than I ever am with my Polaroid Flip, and I ended up with a decent image — though I think it would have been better without that unexpected blast of flash halfway through.

Jon Stapley

Ultimately, as with any Polaroid camera or indeed any instant camera, the Polaroid Go Gen 3 is solid knockabout fun. You’ll get some images you like, and some that feel like a bit of a waste of film. That’s just the game, and it’s a much easier game to enjoy when the film is more reasonably priced than full-size I-Type.

Polaroid Go Gen 3: Should you buy?

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Buy it if...

You want an instant camera to take travelling
With its tiny dimensions and relatively cheap film, the Go Gen 3 is a great option for trips.

You want simple, point-and-shoot operation
The Polaroid Go has minimal controls and is very straightforward to operate.

You want an all-analog experience
No screens, no apps — at the core, the Polaroid Go is just chemicals and light.

Don't buy it if...

You want a high level of image quality.
While I like the look of the little prints, there are limits to what they can manage. Bright sunlight in particular posed a problem.

You don’t want ongoing costs
While Polaroid Go film is cheaper than I-Type, it still represents an ongoing cost that you won’t get with, say, a digital Camp Snap.

How I tested the Polaroid Go Gen 3

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

I received a sample camera from the manufacturers, along with some Go film
I took the camera on several photo excursions, mostly shooting outdoors
I shot with and without flash, and tested the double-exposure mode

I’ve had the Polaroid Go Gen 3 with me for the past couple of weeks, and I’ve taken it on excursions around London, as well as on a trip to Bradford-upon-Avon. During that time I’ve gone through a double pack of Polaroid Go film, and have tested out the camera in different scenarios and lighting conditions, with a particular focus on seeing how it renders different colors.

I have shot outdoors and indoors, both with and without the flash. I also gave the double-exposure mode a whirl, using it to create a composite image of my own face from different angles. I shot selfies with flash using the selfie mirror as a compositional aid.

First reviewed June 2026

I’m a travel photographer, and this Canon PowerShot is the one compact camera I’m packing for my next city break — plus it's on sale for it's lowest price yet

Dan Mold — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:22:52 +0000

If you're like me, you've probably made the shift from the best DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, which we were promised would be smaller, lighter and faster. But while my Canon EOS R6 Mark II is undoubtedly lighter and smaller than the DSLRs I owned before it, it's not exactly pocketable.

But it's for this reason that my 'proper' camera gets left at home when I’m on holiday, because they’re just a bit too big and bulky to carry around when I’m being a tourist on holiday and taking snaps.

The best camera is the one you have with you and that's a pedigree which often falls to my phone, but a premium compact camera is what I really need – something I can slip easily in a pocket but with more powerful features, manual modes and better quality than my phone, so I can still get the shots I need when the inspiration strikes.

I’ve tried many of the top models over the years, including the Sony RX1R III, the Ricoh GR IV, the Fujifilm X100VI and the Panasonic Lumix L10. However, I think the Canon PowerShot V1 has gone under the radar. It packs some incredible features into a small compact body — even better, it’s currently on sale ahead of Amazon Prime Day — available now for just $849 at Amazon US or £829 at Amazon UK.

The PowerShot V1 (middle), alongside the PowerShot V10 vlogging camera with built-in stand (left), and the viral PowerShot G7X Mark III (right) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

A rocket in your pocket

It’s no secret that the ‘V’ in the PowerShot V1 stands for ‘video’, but it's a very capable camera for stills photography, too. Considering the V1 weighs just 0.94lb / 426g and easily fits in a coat or baggy trouser pocket, the PowerShot V1 fits in a brilliant 1.4-inch CMOS 22.3MP sensor, 8x larger than the 1/2.3-type found in many cheap compact cameras and phones. This provides much better dynamic range and shallow depth of field abilities.

Its zoom lens retracts to make the camera portable when not in use, but in action it gives users a full-frame focal length equivalent of 16mm at the wide end and 50mm when zoomed in — that's a 3.1x optixal zoom, with a bright maximum aperture of f/2.8. This is perfect for holiday snaps where you can capture everything from wide-angle vistas to close-ups and portraits.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF II is employed for instant focusing on subjects and smooth tracking. Plus it features a built-in 3-stop ND filter to block out light. While an ND filter is fantastic for shooting video in bright light, it’s also great for still photos, too – here the ND can be used to block out light and extend shutter speeds to create expressive motion in moving clouds or rushing water within your frame.

Some travel snaps, taken with the PowerShot V1Future | Sam Kieldsen

Future | Sam Kieldsen

For still photos I love that the V1 features all the usual creative ‘PASM’ exposure modes for taking control over key settings for ISO, aperture and shutter speed, plus it’s also capable of shooting 15fps with its mechanical shutter or a blistering 30 fps with the electronic one.

The PowerShot V1 is an excellent choice for video, too. The built-in fan keeps things cool and you can record unlimited 4K 60p with a 1.4x crop — your battery will drain or memory card fill up before the camera ever overheats. The vari-angle screen makes travel vlogging a cinch, and the microphone provides high quality audio.

The Canon PowerShot V1 is more recent than the popular PowerShot G7 X Mark III, so it features newer features yet is significantly more affordable, so for me it’s a bit of a steal! It’s also on sale ahead of Prime Day and you can currently save up to 17% on its listing price with savings of up to $180 / £130, which you could put towards your next vacation!

Today's best Canon PowerShot V1 camera deal (US)

This pre-Prime Day deal gives you 17% off its listing price of $1029, now down to $849. That’s a saving of $180 which you could put towards your next vacation! The PowerShot V1 offers a serious amount of camera for your money with its 1.4-type 22.3MP sensor, active cooling, 3x optical zoom, stabilization and 4K 30P uncropped video. If you buy the camera at Adorama, there's an 'Included Value' bundle which adds a 64GB memory and camera case at no extra cost, link below.

Price check: $849 at AdoramaView Deal

Today's best Canon PowerShot V1 camera deal (UK)

There's also a price cut for the Canon PowerShot V1 in the UK, but and while it's perhaps not as impressive, a saving of over £100 is not to be sniffed at – that goes a long way towards buying accessories like a case, memory cards or even towards flights for your next trip abroad.

Price check: £859.99 ay ArgosView Deal

Canon is tipped to unveil multiple world-first lenses this year — these are the rumored RF lenses to look out for, and your chance to vote for your favorite

Timothy Coleman — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:24:00 +0000

Canon could release several 'world-first' RF lenses this year
Among them, an RF 24-70mm F2L and several 'big white' telephoto primes
We'd love to get your votes on which ones you'd most like to see

The folks at Canon Rumors have recently been writing about a string of promising Canon RF lenses, each tipped for a 2026 release, according to its sources. There's one pro zoom that sounds dreamy, plus several primes billed as first of their kind.

For me, the RF 24-70mm F2L could be a game-changer, covering multiple professional needs with a maximum aperture that's a whole stop brighter than the f/2.8 aperture in the equivalent traditional 24-70mm f/2.8 pro zoom.

What's even more exciting is that the rumored lens could be much smaller and lighter than the RF 28-70mm F2L USM, according to Canon Rumors, even with that wider zoom.

That original 28-70mm zoom with constant f/2 aperture was launched around the time Canon debuted its EOS R mirrorless camera system and RF-mount in 2018, marking a new, post-DSLR age, and was an optic that we couldn't have imagined for Canon's EF-mount DSLRs.

It's a gargantuan lens, mind you, and I'm sure Canon fans will be excited by the possibility of a lightweight alternative with an even wider zoom range and equally bright constant f/2 aperture. And the 24-70mm F2 isn't the only lens being talked about.

Primed for action

Canon has recently focused on expanded its range of hybrid 'VCM' lenses, such as these six primes, the latest of which is the RF 14mm F1.4 L VCM attached to the camera. I've tried them all! (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Canon Rumors says that an RF 24-70mm F2L could be one of several new RF lenses ready for a 2026 launch — that's one way to keep Canon fans happy especially since Sony has been busy launching it's own lighter f/2 zooms, such as the 28-70mm F2 GM and 50-150mm F2 GM — both five star rated lenses.

Other Canon lenses potentially in the pipeline, according to Canon Rumors, are a new 500mm F5.6L and updates to the current 400mm and 600mm telephoto primes, all 'big-white' pro primes with 'new and unseen technology', the details of which we don't know yet. The 400mm and 600mm primes could feature a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, and eye-watering price tag.

There is also a suggestion that Canon won't stop at a single f/2 zoom lens, and Canon Rumors readers have been speculating about a 70-180mm F2L and 12-24mm F2L in the comments of the Canon Rumors article. There's also mention of a showpiece RF 85mm prime with maximum F1 aperture!

That's a serious collection of pro primes and zooms, though these are all rumored products and by no means guaranteed. I know which lens from the above excites me the most, but I'm keen to hear what you think. Have your say in the poll below — you can vote for multiple lenses, including all seven if you can't decide between them.

Can’t buy the DJI Pocket 4P? This 'remarkably similar' dual-lens camera will rescue US creators soon

Sam Kieldsen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

DJI officially revealed the Osmo Pocket 4P yesterday — and the dual-lens, gimbal-stabilized vlogging camera looks formidable, thanks to its 1-inch main sensor, 3x telephoto secondary lens, 17 stops of dynamic range and 10-bit log color.

Unfortunately, it's also — for the foreseeable future — not going to be officially available in the US, thanks to DJI's ongoing FCC ban. And that's where the new Xtra Muse 2 Pro comes in.

With impeccable timing, this remarkably similar gimbal camera from US-registered brand Xtra has just had a fresh teaser reel arrive on Instagram, and the spec sheet (shared over at The New Camera) will look strangely familiar to anyone who's been following the Osmo Pocket 4P with interest.

A 1-inch CMOS sensor? Check. A second 3x telephoto lens? Check. A 10-bit X-Log 3 color profile, 17 stops of dynamic range and 103GB of built-in storage? Check, check and check.

A post shared by XTRA (@xtratech_official)
A photo posted by on

We've seen this kind of thing before, both from Xtra Technology and SkyRover, two companies that sell products that bear remarkable similarities to DJI cameras and drones, but — unlike those actual DJI products — are freely available to buy in the USA.

As you can see from the embedded teaser above, the Xtra's Muse 2 Pro footage showcases a range of scenarios, including night and low-light performance. There's smooth gimbal movement, with clean detail and well-controlled noise.

It's a smart choice of showcase, particularly when it comes to the low-light scenes: after dark is where small sensors get exposed (so to speak), and the results look very impressive.

The Xtra Muse, which certainly shouldn't be confused with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4, despite being almost identical in every way. (Image credit: Xtra Technology)

What else we know — and what we're waiting on

Beyond the specs from the teaser, the Muse 2 Pro is expected to feature a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, a rotatable touchscreen and ActiveTrack 7.0.

The original Xtra Muse (a dead ringer from the DJI Osmo Pocket 3) has gained Bluetooth support for DJI's Mic Mini and Mic 2 via a firmware update earlier this year — a useful sweetener for anyone already invested in DJI's microphone lineup. So we can expect similar microphone compatibility from the Muse 2 Pro.

If the Muse 2 Pro's real-world image quality can back up those spec sheet numbers, it's going to slot into a very interesting position in the US market. The Insta360 Luna Ultra has just launched there as a dual-lens rival, starting at $769.99 — and having tried it we can attest to it being a serious camera. But competition is good, and with DJI's appeal of its FCC ban still working its way through the courts, US creators are going to need options.

The Muse 2 Pro is shaping up to be a very well-timed one, and it seems likely that Xtra will be pushing for it to arrive this summer, perhaps as early as mid-July.

The dual-lens Insta360 Luna Ultra has already launched in the US, so Xtra will be keen to get the Muse 2 Pro on the market as soon as possible (Image credit: Future)

I tested the Camp Snap 2, and the follow-up to the viral screen-free compact camera is slimmer, quicker and more creative, and still deliciously cheap

Jon Stapley — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Camp Snap 2: two-minute review

From a simple idea, Camp Snap is building an empire. The concept of an ultra-cheap point-and-shoot digital camera with no screen — meaning you can’t see the photos you take until you download them after the fact — proved to be a massive hit, and the original Camp Snap camera has since been joined by the video-focused Camp Snap CS-8, and the upgraded CS-Pro, which doubles the resolution from 8MP to 16MP. And now, we have the Camp Snap 2.

The makers are clearly keen not to mess with success, because the Camp Snap 2 keeps the feel and concept of the original camera very much intact. This new model keeps an 8MP sensor, and it once again has no screen, just a small panel with a running shot counter, a fixed-focus lens, and an LED flash. So, you might ask, what actually is new?

A few things, but the most significant is the new ‘Filters’ button, which allows you to select from a series of vintage-style looks for your images. This was an idea already explored on the CS-Pro, but the Camp Snap 2 ups the ante with six filters rather than the Pro’s somewhat paltry four. While you have to invest some time into learning which filter is which and what they look like (since you can’t check your images mid-shoot), this makes the Camp Snap 2 a more varied and versatile camera to use than the original, adding greater scope for creativity.

This is an important addition, given that there's little room for creativity elsewhere — the lens is fixed-focus and there’s no settings control. Furthermore, the Camp Snap 2 adds a tripod mount, a 33.5mm filter thread on the lens and lugs to attach a strap (though one isn’t supplied). These additions combine to make the Snap 2 feel a bit more like a proper camera than the original ever did. Its image quality is still no great shakes, but the Camp Snap 2 offers more scope and variety without sacrificing its identity as a camera that basically anyone can use — like the original, it’s very kid-friendly.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

I’ve taken the Camp Snap 2 everywhere with me for a couple of weeks, and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The newly slimmed-down body makes it easy to slip into a pocket and pull out for quick grab shots here and there, and with no screen, you can’t spend time fussing over them after the fact.

Normally, when a successor camera is this iterative and minor an upgrade, we reviewers tend to say things like 'If you already own the original, save your money.’ But this is a bit of a different situation. Because the Camp Snap 2 is so cheap, I’d say that if you already own, like and use the original Camp Snap — hell yeah, you might as well upgrade. The filter button adds depth and variety, and one of the most irritating features of the previous model — the shutter lag — has mostly been dealt with.

I’d also go so far as to say that for many users, this is probably a better buy than the more expensive CS-Pro. You get a more pocketable camera for a lower price, and for the types of people who are shooting with Camp Snaps, I don’t think an extra 8MP of resolution is all that useful, particularly when the sensor is not especially larger. The main reason you might prefer the Pro is that its filters are more dramatic and distinctive, though there are fewer of them.

So, if you like the original Camp Snap, and like the sound of the Camp Snap 2 — yes, I feel comfortable recommending you buy it too. At this price, why not?

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Camp Snap 2: price and availability

Camp Snap hasn't got carried away with its success, and the Camp Snap 2 is still very attractively priced indeed, launching at $69.95 / £53 (around AU$130). This is at about the same level as the original Camp Snap, and comes in way less the CS-Pro, which goes for $99 / £90 (around AU$180).

Snap 2 is currently available from the Camp Snap website, and I expect before long it’ll also make its way to major retailers, the way the original Camp Snap has.

Frankly, this pricing is perfect. For a fun, knockabout digital camera that doesn’t offer much in the way of image quality and is all about the ultra-simple point-and-shoot vibes, nobody should be paying more than this. It’s a camera that pretty much anyone can instantly pick up and use, at a price that lots of people can afford.

Camp Snap 2: design

Even slimmer and lighter than the original, just 3.8z / 108g
All-plastic build with LED flash and fixed-focus lens
Point-and-shoot operation, but adds button to switch filters

The original Camp Snap was already slim, but the Camp Snap 2 is even slimmer — around 15% slimmer according to the manufacturers. It is genuinely pocketable in a way that not all cameras that make ‘pocketable’ claims actually are, and at 3.8oz / 108g it’s a true featherweight. The body is all-plastic, of course, but the front has a nice textured surface for a bit of extra grip, and there’s an indentation on the rear panel for your right thumb to rest. On the sides there are lugs for attaching a strap, though no strap is supplied with the camera.

On the top you have just a single button: the shutter. This is of course a point-and-shoot, so you won’t be fiddling with settings dials. On the front you have the LED flash and the fixed wide-angle lens — and, a new addition, a 30.5mm filter thread on the lens. Though this was on the CS-Pro, it wasn’t on the original Camp Snap, and it allows you to attach screw-on filters to imbue your images with specific effects — as one reader suggested, a good fit for the Camp Snap would be a mist filter to enhance the lo-fi, retro feel of images. Camp Snap has also not-so-subtly hinted that Camp Snap-branded filters will be coming in the future.

At the rear you have the simple screen, which displays a shot-counter and lets you know which filter you currently have selected. As well as the aforementioned thumb groove, you also have the power switch, which doubles as a flash toggle, and the tinny speaker that plays the stock ‘shutter release’ sound effect. The viewfinder is a perfectly serviceable optical type — if you’ve ever used an old-school disposable, it’ll be familiar. It’s nothing special but it does the job.

Jon Stapley

To the right of the screen, there’s the new filter select button. Pressing this button allows you to cycle through the filter selection. It can also be held down for ten seconds to activate ‘Camp Lock’ — which locks the button to make the camera more useable for children (negating a scenario in which they accidentally take all their pictures in black and white). Hold down for ten more seconds to unlock. Also, while testing this, I inadvertently discovered that tapping the filter button twice in quick succession will cause the camera to take two photos. Not sure why, but there you go.

At first it seems like the Camp Snap 2 doesn’t have a battery indicator like the four LEDs on the CS-Pro. In fact, it does, but you could be forgiven for not noticing it. When you boot up the camera, the screen will briefly display a number between 0 and 100, before reverting to your current shot counter. This is, I believe, a percentage-based battery indicator. It’s not exactly advertised, and easy to miss given that your shot counter will likely be a quite similar number, but it is there.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Color-wise, the Camp Snap 2 is available in a selection of standard shades — green, black, white, yellow and brown. However, it can also be bought in a selection of rather stylish translucent ‘jelly’ colorways, evoking the early-millennium trend for translucent tech. I’ll admit that I think these versions are pretty cool, and my partner (who isn’t into cameras) independently showed me them on Instagram because she liked the look of them. I suspect they’ll be very popular.

Camp Snap 2: performance

Image quality is a bit scuzzy, but it's part of the lo-fi charm
Operation is very easy, and the shutter lag from the original has been dealt with
New filters add creative options, but aren't as striking or distinctive as those on the CS-Pro

As mentioned, the Camp Snap 2 uses the same sensor as the original, so raw image quality is identical. You still get 8MP images with limited dynamic range. Blown-out highlights are a fairly common sight, as are muddy and indistinct shadows. In the latter situation, the LED flash can be helpful, though it’s nowhere near as powerful as a proper Xenon flash (which the CS-Pro has).

The new filter dial really does add some welcome creative depth. You have six options — first there’s the Standard (S) look, which produces naturalistic but warm colors. Then you have Vintage 1 to 3 (V1, V2, V3). V1 ups the saturation and has a slight purple tint; V2 is almost identical to Standard, but slightly cooler; V3 has a distinctly sunny yellow cast.

Next, there’s the black & white mode (BW), which delivers decent contrast for striking monochrome. And lastly there’s the interestingly named Analog (A). I was expecting this to be covered in artificial film grain, something that Camp Snap experimented with on the CS8. But in fact, it’s the warmest look of the bunch, with muted colors and a slight magenta cast, and it proved to be my favorite.

Standard (S)Jon Stapley

Vintage 1 (V1)Jon Stapley

Vintage 2 (V2)Jon Stapley

Vintage 3 (V3)Jon Stapley

Black & white (BW)Jon Stapley

Analog (A)Jon Stapley

I was surprised by how subtle the filters were, especially coming off the back of the CS-Pro, in which they are very striking. Someone looking for a dramatic image effect might come away a little disappointed; V2 in particular is so similar to Standard that I questioned the point of having it. I think in practicality, most users will probably just figure out which is their favorite and stick with it, occasionally switching to BW when the moment calls. I can't exactly picture myself agonizing over whether this pub garden sunset deserves V2 or V3.

Filter: SJon Stapley

Filter: V1Jon Stapley

Filter: V2 Jon Stapley

Filter: V3Jon Stapley

Filter: BWJon Stapley

Filter: AJon Stapley

Filter: S, with flash. It's not flattering, but it works.Jeremy Lowen

Filter: I don't know, I'd had a few beers.Jon Stapley

Filter: AJon Stapley

One oft-criticized aspect of the original Camp Snap was its shutter lag — the appreciable delay between the user pressing the shutter button and the photo actually being taken. This was significantly improved in the CS-Pro, with a more powerful processor, and in the Camp Snap 2 it seems to have been somewhat improved.

However, I would note that the lag seems to be mostly confined to the cosmetics — the shot counter and the shutter release sound effect. On a few occasions, I pressed the shutter and then heard the MIDI ‘clunk’ half a second after moving the camera away, and chastised myself for missing a shot through impatience. But later, when I reviewed the image, I seemed to have gotten away with it. And I can live with the sound effect being slow if I still have the shot in the bag.

It’s also worth noting that the Camp Snap 2 has a new feature called QuickDraw. After a period of inactivity, the camera sleeps to save power, but you can press the shutter button while it’s in this state, and it will wake and quickly take a picture. Note that I said ‘quickly’, not ‘instantly’ — it does take a moment to bestir itself. I’ve seen a few comments online complaining about shutter lag, and I actually think this is probably what they’re referring to. When the camera was awake, I experienced no real shutter lag issues.

Should I buy the Camp Snap 2?

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Buy it if...

You want a camera to take everywhere
Slimmer than ever, the new Camp Snap 2 is genuinely a pocketable camera, so light it’s easy to always have on you.

You want a screen-free experience
Camp Snap’s key selling point, the lack of a rear screen, makes it great for those who want a more immersive, analog-style shooting experience.

You want a bit more creative versatility
While it’s still a point-and-shoot, the new filter selection, tripod mount and filter thread all make the Camp Snap 2 a more versatile camera than its predecessor.

Don't buy it if...

You want an image quality upgrade
The Camp Snap 2 uses the same small 8MP sensor as the original.

You want a fast, responsive camera for action
While the shutter lag has been improved, you still wouldn’t exactly call the Camp Snap 2 a speedster — there’s no burst mode.

How I tested the Camp Snap 2

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

I received a loan unit of the Camp Snap 2 for testing
I have taken it out on a number of photo excursions, as well as to a sporting event and to a concert
I’ve shot in variable light conditions throughout June, though with mostly very bright and sunny weather

I received a review sample of the Camp Snap 2 from the manufacturers, and had it in my pocket and about my person for a couple of weeks. I took it on excursions around London, as well as on trips south to Bradford-on-Avon, Frome and Bath, during which time I used it to capture more than 100 photos using all of the filters, in a range of weather and lighting conditions.

First reviewed June 2026

DJI Pocket 4P revealed in full — now we know exactly how the dual-lens vlogging camera compares to the Pocket 4 and Insta360 Luna Ultra, and DJI might be going hard on pricing

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

DJI's Pocket 4P has been revealed in full on the China page of DJI's website
It shares the core features of the Pocket 4, but adds a 3x telephoto camera
There's no official word on global availability or pricing yet

We knew it was coming after a soft reveal at Cannes Film Festival last month, but now DJI has fully revealed its first dual-lens compact vlogging camera, the Osmo Pocket 4P.

You'll have to dig for the details, mind you — the Pocket 4P has only been announced in China, and for now, the full specs and features can only be found on the China page of the DJI site. You'll need to select the China region (中国大陆) to learn about the camera's core features, or you can stick with me here for the highlights and how it compares to the Osmo Pocket 4 and the Insta360 Luna Ultra dual-lens rival.

There's no official word yet on global pricing and availability, but based on recent DJI launches, I would expect a two-week wait before there's wider availability. Let's see how the Pocket 4P compares to the Pocket 4 and Insta360 Luna Ultra. For now, DJI's confirmed a starting price of CNY 3,799 for the Pocket 4P, which is about $562 / £420.

1. Lenses

The 20mm f/2.0 lens (lower) uses a 'refined' 1-inch sensor, while the 60mm f/1.8 lens (upper) a smaller 1/1.28-inch sensor, but which will still produce lovely-looking portraiture (Image credit: DJI)

The Pocket 4P's core design is the same as the Pocket 4, but with one major difference: the lenses. Where the Pocket 4 has a single ultra-wide 20mm f/2.0 lens, the Pocket 4P adds a second 3x telephoto lens.

The 3x lens is a 60mm f/1.8 optic, and it records onto a separate 1/1.28-inch sensor to the ultra-wide's refined 1-inch sensor. This is truly a dual-camera device with two distinct perspectives, and it's a design approach we've seen in the recent Insta360 Luna Ultra, which I'm still testing in depth as I write this article.

At first glance, the Pocket 4P and Luna Ultra's lenses are designed differently; the Pocket 4P's twin-lens array is vertically arranged, the Luna Ultra's is horizontal. I'm not sure of the reasoning for that, or what practical advantages each array has over the other.

Both Pocket 4P and Luna Ultra offer a 'lossless' 6x zoom from their telephoto cameras, plus a 12x digital zoom. I'll compare the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P and Insta360 Luna Ultra in real-world tests soon, but the specs look pretty similar:

	Ultra-wide	3x telephoto
DJI Osmo Pocket 4	20mm f/2.0, 1-inch sensor	N/A
DJI Osmo Pocket 4P	20mm f/2.0, (revised) 1-inch sensor	60mm f/1.8, 1/1.28-inch sensor
Insta360 Luna Ultra	20mm f/1.8, 1-inch sensor	60mm f/2.0, 1/1.3-inch sensor

2. Dynamic range and color

Almost all of the Osmo Pocket 4 and Pocket 4P specs are identical, but there is one area where DJI is pushing the pricier dual-lens model: dynamic range and color profiles.

The Pocket 4's dynamic range is rated up to 14 stops, whereas the Pocket 4P is billed as having a ludicrous-sounding 17 stops, which would beat the performance of high-end professional cameras. I don't have details on how the dynamic range is achieved or whether you need a specific mode to get it, but we'll find out soon enough.

One way could be DJI's new D-Log 2 color profile, which it says is an upgrade from the D-Log profile used in the Pocket 4.

And as for the Luna Ultra, it supposedly has a 14-stop dynamic range and an I-Log color profile. I-Log is Insta360's first Log profile, whereas DJI has iterated log profiles over multiple versions.

As far as which camera delivers the best-looking footage, we'll have to wait and see, but the shots on the Pocket 4P product page look stunning!

3. Design

DJI

The Pocket 4 (left) and the Luna Ultra (right)DJI / Insta360

You can think of the Pocket 4P as a Pocket 4 but with an extra camera, because otherwise the design of the two cameras is pretty much the same; they both feature a compact design, a rotating 2-inch touchscreen, which reveals two additional buttons when positioned horizontally.

They both utilize a 3-axis gimbal camera unit, which features a magnetic arm and contact points to which a neat LED light snaps onto, and is powered by the camera. I like the new slimline gimbal protector in the Pocket 4 models — it's much more compact than the hard shell case that came with the Pocket 3.

Of course, there are more design differences between the Pocket 4P and the Luna Ultra. The Pocket 4P is the slimmer and the slicker of the two, and it has additional buttons and that gimbal feature.

The Luna Ultra comes in a larger hard shell case and is overall clunkier, but it has a clever and well-implemented detachable control with 20m transmission range, which has gained much praise and is being touted as a reason to choose Insta360 over DJI. The control features the rotating 2-inch OLED touchscreen, key camera controls and a built-in mic.

I'll be returning soon with my in-depth Luna Ultra review and, no doubt, comparisons with the Pocket 4P once I've got the two cameras side by side.

Having already used the Luna Ultra for about a month, I can safely say that I'd struggle to return to a single-lens vlogging camera like the Pocket 4; these dual-lens models are so much more versatile, so stay tuned for more.

4. Pricing

Pocket 4P Standard kit costs CNY 3,799 (about $562 / £420)
Pocket 4P Vlog kit costs CNY 4,299 (about $636 / £475)

If those price conversions are remotely accurate to the actual price, then the Pocket 4P will be much cheaper than the Insta360 Luna Ultra. I think the actual price will be higher.

But of course, DJI is banned in the US, and so the Pocket 4P won't be available there for the foreseeable future, and so those US prices are a moot point.

The luna Ultra costs; $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99 for the Standard Kit, while a Creator Bundle costs $969.99 / £829 / AU$1,549.99. The Pocket 4 starts at £429 / AU$749 or £549 / AU$959 for the Creator Combo.

The original DJI Neo just got cheaper — should you buy the discounted bundle or spring for the fresher Neo 2? I test drones for a living, and here's the one I'd buy with my own money

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:14:39 +0000

The simplest beginner drone I've ever used is DJI's tiny Neo. It works with or without a controller, with goggles as an FPV drone, and can take off from the palm of your hand, track your movement for aerial 4K selfies, and return to your hand. It's also DJI's cheapest drone that just got even cheaper ahead of the Prime Day sales.

The Fly More Bundle now costs $295 at Amazon US or it's just £198.55 at Amazon UK, and includes the drone, a controller, three batteries and charging hub. You can get the drone-only package for much less, just $169 at Amazon US / £113.05 at Amazon UK.

Other Neo deals

There are two further bundles available; one with additional batteries and no controller for $239 / £175 or, if you fancy immersive FPV flight, there a Motion Fly Combo for $449 / £297 — all available for the same link.

These excellent value deals, for a drone we gave 4 stars in our review on its September 2024 release, would have been a straightforward recommendation but for one thing — the Neo 2 upgrade.

You can see five key differences in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo explainer, but I can tell you here that the Neo 2, which came a year later in November 2025 (just six months ago or thereabouts), came with some very welcome improvements and gained 4.5 stars in our Neo 2 in-depth review.

Of course, the Neo 2 costs more, and with the original Neo early Prime Day deal that price gap further grew. The DJI ban is also in the picture for US consumers. So which model, if either at all, do I recommend you buy?

A 'big upgrade', but is the Neo 2 worth the extra money?

Having tested many of the best DJI drones over the last few years, I can tell you that Neos are small, simple and excellent starter drones, especially if aerial selfies top your shot list. Anyone can get started with a Neo in minutes, with no prior experience needed.

It's no exaggeration that the Neo 2 was a big upgrade over the Neo, delivering important improvements in key areas. Chief among those upgrades is that the Neo 2 has obstacle avoidance, so it's much less likely to crash into things than its predecessor.

The Neo 2 camera is supported by a 2-axis gimbal, max flight speeds are improved by up to 50%, there's more internal storage, a built-in screen and better wind resistance, thanks in part to its slightly larger and heavier build. Gesture control has also been added. All solid improvements for an all-round sturdier-in-flight drone.

However, there is also much that's familiar between Neo drones, and autonomous tracking flight is where they both shine. Battery life is still modest, and image quality from the same 1/2-inch sensor is largely similar too, with JPEG-only 12MP photos. The max 4K video frame rates are upped to 60fps (or 100fps when using the controller), but again there's only the standard color profile (no D-Log), nor any way of fitting an ND filter.

In short, both Neos are simple and fun selfie drones, that can be flown multiple ways with or without a controller (and goggles), but not ideal for serious aerial photography. If image quality is a chief concern you might want to look at alternative drones such as the Lito X1, and you won't need to pay extra for the Neo 2 instead of the Neo.

And if you can live without the Neo 2's obstacle avoidance, which for this kind of casual drone is entirely possible, then the original Neo at this low price is arguably the more compelling of the two.

I'm in the US — should I still buy a DJI drone in 2026?

If you’re based in the US and new to flying drones, you might be concerned about how the DJI ban impacts purchasing and using these models.

Currently, the restriction only applies to newly released and imported drones, meaning existing inventory already in the country - including the Neo and Neo 2 - isn’t affected.

Both Neo models are especially lightweight options, too, well below the 249g threshold which effectively defines the difference between beginner and enthusiast / professional models. In the US, sub-250g drones don't need to be pre-registered with the authorities before you fly them.

Today's best DJI Neo deal (US)

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle which includes a controller, three batteries and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

Today's best DJI Neo deal (UK)

There are even better deals for the DJI Neo in the UK than in the US — grab the Neo Fly More bundle for it's lowest ever price and the first it has sunk below £200.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option in the UK, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price for a DJI drone ever in the UK, period. View Deal

More of the best beginner drone deals today

The Kodak WPZ2 is less than half the price of Tough TG-7 — even still, should you buy it? I tested the cheap waterproof camera on vacation, and here’s my verdict

Sam Kieldsen — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: One-minute review

The Kodak PixPro WPZ2 is a budget waterproof camera aimed squarely at adventurers who want to take their photography somewhere a smartphone or regular point-and-shoot can’t follow.

It costs a fraction of what you’d pay for a premium rugged compact like the OM System Tough TG-7, and the trade-offs are exactly what you’d expect at this price: a fairly basic feature set, modest image quality and 1080p/30fps video recording that feels pretty old-school in 2026. But after spending some time with it at my local beach, I found plenty to like.

For one, it certainly looks the part. The WPZ2’s yellow-and-black color scheme, chunky G-Shock-esque lens barrel and prominent rivet-like screws on the front give it an appropriately ruggedized aesthetic. It’s also smaller than it looks, and I managed to squeeze it into my jeans pocket, protruding lens barrel and all.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Build quality feels solid, and the double-locking battery and card compartment is a reassuring design choice that should prevent any accidental pop-opens while you’re underwater. I tested it in saltwater rock pools and have no reason to doubt Kodak’s 15m waterproofing claim. There was no lens fogging when transitioning between underwater and above-water shooting, either. One note of caution: the front element doesn’t appear to be noticeably hydrophobic, so water droplets will cling on after submersion. My advice? Pack a microfiber cloth or two.

There are some usability niggles, though. The rear screen is small and dim – even at maximum brightness I found it difficult to gauge exposure or compose shots with any confidence. The zoom rocker requires a very firm press to register, which is understandable given the waterproofing demands, but isn’t much fun with wet hands. And getting a microSD card in and out of its deeply-recessed slot in the battery chamber is really fiddly, to the extent anyone with larger fingers is going to struggle.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Image quality is in line with what the specs would lead you to expect: JPEGs that lack saturation, contrast and dynamic range, with some over-sharpening and noticeable corner softness. That said, the macro mode produced some impressively sharp results in my testing, with good central detail and pleasing colors.

The 4x optical zoom is a useful range to have, but engage the digital zoom beyond the optical and quality falls straight off a cliff. Low-light shooting is another weak point, though the built-in flash does keep the camera functional after dark.

Video maxes out at 1080p/30fps, which feels like a big limitation in this day and age. My underwater rock pool footage looked fine for casual use, but above-water clips suffered from the same flatness and over-processing that characterizes the still shots.

Battery life is one of the more pleasant surprises. The CIPA-rated 200 shots held up well in real-world use, and USB-C recharging felt reassuringly quick. For a day’s casual shooting, you’re unlikely to run dry.

Oh, and a small bonus if you’re a music fan: the five-note power-on chime is an uncanny dead ringer for the opening of Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls.” Not a reason to buy, obviously, but I enjoyed it every single time.

The WPZ2 certainly won’t trouble the OM System TG-7 or Ricoh WG-8 in a straight image quality fight. But as an affordable way to get a camera into the water without worrying too much about the consequences, it fits the brief well.

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: Price and availability

Priced at around $189 / £149 / AU$279
Available in three color finishes

The Kodak PixPro WPZ2 is available now, priced at $189 / £149 / AU$279, though you may find it slightly cheaper (or pricier) depending on where and when you look. It comes in three colorways (yellow, red and blue) and is widely available through major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and B&H Photo in the US, and their international equivalents.

As well as the camera and a single battery, the box includes a wrist strap and USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Note that a microSD card is not included, and with only 8MB of space on the camera's internal memory, you'll need one.

At this price it sits well below the premium rugged compact options on the market. The OM System Tough TG-7 commands around $400, so the WPZ2 undercuts it by a significant margin. The more relevant question is whether you’d be better served by choosing a similarly-priced action camera instead — and that probably depends on whether you're primarily shooting photos or video.

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: specs

Leica SL3-P specs
Type:	Compact camera
Sensor:	16.35MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS
Lens:	4x optical zoom, 27–108mm, f/2–f/6.6
Video:	Up to 1080p/30fps
Screen:	2.7-inch LCD
Waterproofing:	IP67 rating (up to 15m/49ft)
Shockproofing	Up to 2m/6ft drop distance
Storage	8MB internal + microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
Dimensions:	103.2 x 66.7 x 52.4mm / 4.06 x 2.62 x 2.06in
Weight:	176g / 6.21oz

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: design

IP67-rated rugged build
176g weight and pocketable size

Pick up the WPZ2 and the first thing that strikes you is how proudly it wears its ruggedness on its sleeve. Where most compact cameras at least try to look sleek, this one leans into the industrial; the visible screws on the faceplate, the thick black grip and the chunky lens housing all read less “camera” and more “piece of heavy equipment.”

The Caterpillar digger-style yellow-and-black colorway I tested reinforces that impression, but red and blue options are available if you’d prefer something that looks a little less like it came straight off the construction site.

Despite its bulk-suggesting aesthetics, the WPZ2 is actually very small and manageable in the hand. It slipped into my jeans pocket without much protest, which is more than you’d expect from something that looks so burly. At 176g / 6.2oz it’s light enough that you’ll almost forget it’s there between shots, too.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

The double-locking mechanism on the battery and card compartment is one of the smarter design decisions here. It takes a deliberate two-step action to open, which inspires confidence that it’s not going anywhere mid-dunk. Less impressive is the microSD slot itself, which sits so deep within that compartment that swapping cards becomes a two-handed exercise in patience. Larger fingers will find it particularly trying.

On the back, the controls are straightforward enough. This is very much a point-and-shoot in its operational philosophy, with no pretensions toward manual control complexity.

The main frustration is the rear LCD, which is both small and insufficiently bright; even cranked to maximum, it struggles in daylight conditions, making exposure assessment and framing more of an educated guess than a precise exercise. The zoom rocker, necessarily stiff to maintain its watertight seal, demands a firmer press than feels natural, which is something I noticed most acutely when my hands were wet.

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: Performance

Camera performs best in good lighting
No raw shooting option and video limited to 1080p
4x optical zoom

The WPZ2’s natural habitat is somewhere sunny, shallow and wet, and that’s precisely where it performs best. My rock pool testing on a bright day returned some pleasing results, particularly in macro mode, where the camera locked on with decent accuracy (if not much speed) and rendered the finer details of shells, barnacles and seaweed with more sharpness and color fidelity than I was expecting at this price point. Keep the light on your side and you’ll come away with shots you’re happy to share.

Step outside those ideal conditions, though, and the limitations become harder to overlook. The JPEGs have a processed, over-sharpened quality to them, and what the camera gains in apparent edge definition it loses in natural color rendition; images tend toward the flat and undersaturated rather than the vivid. Dynamic range is modest, so high-contrast scenes (bright sky against dark water, for instance) will test it. Corner sharpness drops off noticeably, too, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re framing wide shots.

An underwater shot taken with the WPZ2.Future | Sam Kieldsen

A macro shot taken with the WPZ2.Future | Sam Kieldsen

Future | Sam Kieldsen

An example of the image quality fall-off when using the camera's digital zoom.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The 4x optical zoom covers a useful range for a camera of this type, but treat the digital zoom as decorative – image quality deteriorates the moment you engage it, and by the time you reach the maximum combined 24x, you’re looking at something closer to an impressionist painting than a photograph.

Low-light shooting is perhaps the WPZ2’s most significant imaging weakness. Without a flash, the results are soft and noisy, and the camera gives you no shutter speed readout when shooting manually, which makes managing camera shake largely a matter of luck. The flash rescues things for indoor and after-dark shots, but don’t expect miracles.

In good lighting, the camera can produce some quite impressive results. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Video maxes out at 1080p/30fps, a spec that would have felt reasonable a few years ago but stands out as a limitation today, when even mid-range smartphones routinely shoot 4K at 60fps. My underwater footage of the rock pools was perfectly watchable for casual use, but the above-water clips exhibited the same flatness and over-processing that characterises the stills. There’s no optical stabilization either, only digital, so handheld video isn't particularly smooth.

Battery life is one of the more pleasant surprises. The CIPA-rated 200 shots held up well in real-world use, and USB-C charging felt reassuringly quick. For a day’s casual shooting, you’re unlikely to run dry.

Should you buy the Kodak PixPro WPZ2?

Buy it if...

You want an affordable camera that can get wet
The WPZ2 is a fraction of the price of premium waterproof compacts. For rock pooling, snorkeling or kayaking on a budget, it fits the bill.

You need a dedicated camera for water adventures
Most smartphones aren’t waterproof to any meaningful depth. The WPZ2 fills that gap without requiring a bulky housing.

Don't buy it if...

You're precious about image quality
Flat, over-sharpened JPEGs and no raw support mean the WPZ2 struggles to flatter its subjects. Spend more on an OM System Tough TG-7 if image quality is a priority.

You shoot a lot of video
A 1080p/30fps ceiling is unusual. An entry-level GoPro or Insta360 will serve you considerably better for similar money.

Also consider

OM System

Tough TG-7

The TG-7 is the go-to waterproof compact for most people, and for good reason. It matches the WPZ2’s 15m waterproofing while adding dust, crush and freeze resistance, plus a 4K video capability and a wide range of shooting modes that make it a considerably more versatile tool. Image quality from its 12MP sensor can’t compete with a modern smartphone, but it outclasses the Kodak in virtually every other respect. You’ll pay roughly twice the price, but the step up in capability is commensurate.

Read our in-depth OM System Tough TG-7

DJI

Osmo Action 6

If video is your priority, the Osmo Action 6 is the smarter buy over the WPZ2. Its 1/1.1-inch sensor delivers superb footage in both bright conditions and the kind of low-light environments where the WPZ2 struggles, and it goes deeper thanks to 20m waterproofing. Factor in 4K/120p video, dual OLED screens, strong battery life and an expanding modular accessory system, and you’re looking at a truly pro-capable action camera. It’s a step up in price, but a significant step up in performance.

Read our in-depth DJI Osmo Action 6 review

How I tested the Kodak PixPro WPZ2

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Test sample purchased from Amazon UK
Tested in and outdoors on English coast
All images and videos shot at highest quality settings

TechRadar purchased the Kodak PixPro WPZ2 from Amazon UK for my testing purposes.

I tested the camera over several days, using it primarily at a local beach where I shot stills and video in and around saltwater rock pools. This gave me a real-world sense of its waterproofing credentials, image quality in both macro and wider shooting scenarios, and general handling in wet conditions. I also tested it indoors and in lower-light situations to assess flash performance and the limits of its low-light capability.

All sample images and video were shot using the camera’s highest quality settings.

First reviewed June 2026

My favorite ‘worst camera ever' gets a Y2K makeover — meet the cutesy Kodak Charmera Millennium Edition

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Kodak Charmera returns in a new Y2K-inspired 'Millennium Edition'
It comes in six new colorways, with additional photo filters and frames, but is otherwise the same mini digital camera
As before, the Charmera costs $35 / £35 / AU$55 — and you don't know which version is in the box

In a predictable but highly welcome product launch, the wildly popular Kodak Charmera returns in a new 'Millennium Edition'. It's essentially the same 30g / $35 digital toy camera as last year's '1987' edition, but this time the design is Y2K-themed.

The Charmera Millienium Edition comes in six new Y2K-inspired colorways, plus it's equipped with additional photo filters and frames that pay homage to the tech of that era, including camcorders and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.

Otherwise, it's exactly the same digital camera with a 35mm f/2.4 lens and tiny 1/4-inch CMOS sensor, which shoots some of the worst-quality 1.6MP JPEG photos and 1440 x 1080pixel 30p video you'll see — which oddly is part of the charm.

Pricing is the same as the original, too — a single Kodak Charmera costs $34.99 / £34.99 / $54.99 and comes in a 'blind box', meaning you don't know which colorway you're getting. The 'Whole Set' box, which includes all six varieties, costs $209.94. That's not so much as a dime of a discount versus buying a Charmera individually, but it does ensure that collectors get each version.

As before, there's a limited-edition seventh look, which in this case is a shiny silver version (the uppermost camera in the image below), but you have a one-in-49 chance of getting one of those.

(Image credit: Kodak)

That's another era checked off

Tech nostalgia is big business in 2026, and the renewed interest in film photography, vintage compact cameras — and, indeed, the Charmera itself — proves it.

The original Charmera was a marketing masterstroke, and sold out on the day of its November 2025 release. It inspired a wave of low-cost miniature alternatives, including the even-cheaper Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera series 3, so it's not surprising to see Kodak to return with a fresh offering.

Building on the '1987' edition, Kodak has pinpointed Y2K nostalgia with Charmera 2.0, the Millennium Edition, doubling the varieties available from 6 to 12 in one swoop (14 if you include the limited-edition versions of each model).

(Image credit: Kodak)

Something tells me the Millennium Edition isn't the last we've seen of new Charmeras — and I wonder which era Kodak will celebrate next. It could, perhaps, take inspiration from the quirky Fujifilm Instax Evo Cinema — a 3-in-1 instant camera which has a unique Eras dial, with a unique setting for every decade spanning the last 100 years, including the 2000s.

There's really no need for Kodak to improve the specs and features of future editions. People aren't buying the keychain Charmera for its capabilities as a camera, but for the vibe — and its retro style, novel size and low cost are clearly a winning combo.

That said, Kodak might eventually need to tweak the form factor to mimic other types of camera, like the Chuzhao Mini TLR, depending how far back in time it goes.

Deals for nostalgia-inducing cameras

The FBI says it’s already seized 13 drones in Atlanta near World Cup stadiums — and pilots could face fines up to $100,000 if they don’t follow these new rules

Sam Kieldsen — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:57:50 +0000

If you’ve recently picked up a new drone (or you’re thinking about flying one near a World Cup host city this summer), you’ll want to read this before you head out.

The FBI has spent the past week confiscating drones and citing pilots near stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches — and the agency has made it clear it isn’t messing around.

The FBI’s Counter Drone Enforcement Team has been busy around last night’s #WorldCup game and related events ensuring drone pilots aren’t violating @FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions. But some were, and as promised, they were cited and had their drones seized. Meanwhile,… pic.twitter.com/s0vy75E73EJune 13, 2026

Around 15 drones were seized near SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum over a single weekend, with multiple operators cited for violating temporary flight restrictions, according to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Down in South Florida, the FBI’s Miami division separately confiscated nine drones and fined seven operators near Hard Rock Stadium and the Bayfront Park Fan Festival, with the FBI’s Atlanta office also reporting seizures from three operators.

This FBI has been preparing for months to keep players, fans, and visitors safe during @FIFAWorldCup 2026. SSA Meghan from @FBIBoston shares about the work that goes into securing large special events, and the FBI steps up to the challenge of emerging threats from drone… pic.twitter.com/RoDNebF0pgJune 13, 2026

It’s a pattern that’s likely to repeat itself across the tournament’s 11 US host cities. The FAA has designated World Cup stadiums as strict “No Drone Zones” on match days, and law enforcement has been blunt about its approach.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drones violating the temporary flight restrictions,” said Amir Ehsaei, special agent in charge of counterterrorism and crisis response at the FBI’s LA Field Office.

Over in Florida, Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of FBI Miami, struck a similarly firm tone: “Public safety is our top priority. Our agents and law enforcement partners are authorized by the Department of Justice to use specialized mitigation tools to intercept and seize drones that breach these restrictions.”

So if you’re packing a drone for a trip to a host city (or you simply live in or near one), here’s what you actually need to know.

(Image credit: Future)

What the no-fly zones cover

The restricted areas are larger than many casual fliers might assume. The FAA prohibits all aircraft operations, including drones, within a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around stadiums hosting World Cup matches. That’s roughly a 5.5km bubble stretching nearly a kilometer into the sky, centered on the venue.

At SoFi Stadium specifically, that 3-nautical-mile, 3,000-foot restriction applies on match days, while fan festival venues like the L.A. Memorial Coliseum carry their own ban, covering a 1-nautical-mile radius up to 1,000 feet above ground level.

Similar temporary flight restrictions (TFRs for short) apply at other venues hosting games this summer, including Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Lumen Field in Seattle, Gillette Stadium in Boston and New Jersey's MetLife Stadium (which will host the tournament's final).

If you’re traveling to a host city for any stretch of the tournament, it’s worth assuming the airspace around the stadium could be locked down on any given day, not just during the match itself.

Los Angeles' SoFi stadium, venue for the 2022 Super Bowl, is hosting eight games throughout the FIFA World Cup. (Image credit: Getty Images / Icon Sportswire)

The penalties for getting it wrong are steep. Violators could face fines of up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges, and that’s on top of losing the drone itself. The FBI isn’t shy about confiscating hardware on the spot, and it has been actively monitoring airspace around match events using a dedicated Counter Drone Enforcement Team.

The good news is that checking whether you’re in a restricted zone takes about 30 seconds. The TFR section of the FAA website lists all active temporary flight restrictions by location and date, and apps like B4UFLY pull this data into an easy map view; both are worth checking if you’re heading anywhere near a host city this summer. The FAA pushes out updates as restrictions are added, so it’s worth double checking on the day itself, not just the week before.

Want to grab some nice footage in and around the World Cup stadiums? A small vlogging camera like the Insta360 Luna Ultra is a much safer bet than a drone. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

If your World Cup trip plans included grabbing some striking footage of the festivities, it might be time to turn to other gear instead. A good action camera or gimbal-stabilized handheld like the new Insta360 Luna Ultra will get you sweeping, cinematic shots of the fan zones and surrounding areas without any risk of a federal agent walking over to confiscate your kit and levy a hefty fine.

Happy shooting!

My favorite digital photo frame just got the Google Photos integration I've been waiting years for — and it's super easy to set up

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:36:35 +0000

Aura has added Google Photos support for its digital photo frames
Albums / individual photos can be uploaded to frames from linked accounts
Aura Frames can also be pre-loaded with existing Google Photo albums

Aura features heavily in my best digital photo frames guide. In fact, I have two of its frames in my home; the Ink with its natural, print-like E Ink display, and my absolute favorite, the punchy and classy Walden. Now, as a Google user, those frames just got better with the addition of Google Photos integration.

To add the feature, you'll need the Aura app (which is super handy for syncing frames anyway). In the app, select the 'Add Photos' option, tap 'Connect' on Google Photos, sign into your Google account, and then select which albums / individual photos you'd like to add. It's as simple as that.

Those photos will be added to your frame, and any new photos added to albums later will be included automatically.

Aura frames are collaborative too, in that you can invite family and friends to add their own photos to a frame, from anywhere in the world through the cloud. There are plenty more ways to add images besides the Aura app and now Google Photos, including iCloud, email, web and even by text message.

I've enjoyed personalizing an Aura frame as a gift before; photos can be pre-loaded to a frame, and that now goes for the new Google Photos integration too.

The two Aura frames in my home, side by side for comparison, the Ink (left) and the Walden (right) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Photos shared, the proper way

I regularly find myself huddled around a phone with my wife and children when curated memories pop up from our Google Photos albums. We've got years worth of memories stored in a Google Photos account, with new photos added automatically.

As much as I love the spontaneity of our family slideshows around the small screen of a phone, there's something that little bit more special seeing those photos in a slick wall-mounted frame or one on a sideboard.

This Aura update, therefore, massively improves my experience with Aura frames, especially for displaying family memories. Most Aura frames also play video with sound, but not the Ink frame, which has the most authentic print-like quality, but is photo-only.

If you're totally new to digital photo frames, I've included links to the best deals for my favortire Aura frames below, and for more buying advice, check out my digital photo frames guide.

DJI accuses Insta360 of 'blatantly' copying its Pocket 3 vlogging camera in new lawsuit, and demands ban on Insta360 Luna cameras. Insta360 says Luna is 'the result of years of independent R&D' and responds with countersuit

Timothy Coleman — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:00:38 +0000

Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra 8K vlogging camera on June 10
DJI filed a lawsuit on the same day, claiming Luna had copied its DJI Pocket 3, only for Insta360 to file countersuits two days later
Because of the ongoing DJI ban in the US, Insta360 could enjoy unrivaled availability there

No sooner has Insta360 unveiled its first vlogging cameras, the Luna Ultra and (upcoming) Luna Pro — which look set to enjoy unrivaled access to the US market because of the DJI ban — than DJI has filed an Insta360 lawsuit in the US, claiming they "blatantly copy" its Pocket 3.

For years, DJI has enjoyed near total dominance in the compact vlogging camera market with its hugely popular Osmo Pocket series, but now it faces two very real challenges: access to the US market, and the first serious-rival product.

DJI's latest and best vlogging camera, the Pocket 4, was launched in April this year, but the polished Pocket 3 successor is yet to make it to the US, given that DJI is on the FCC's 'Covered list', which currently affects any DJI products with a camera, not just its drones. So it's unlikely to hit US stores any time soon.

Meanwhile, Insta360 Luna cameras have made quite the impression. Despite being a first-generation product, the Luna Ultra is polished, and features a neat modular design that DJI Pocket cameras lack — check out my first impressions of the Luna Ultra, which I've been testing at length.

Now DJI is going straight for the jugular with its lawsuit, demanding that Luna cameras are banned. I've tested both cameras, and the user experience is very similar, but the crux of the situation is whether or not Luna cameras actually violate design and utility patents, as DJI claims in its lawsuit.

Insta360 has now filed two countersuits against DJI, related to "patents covering technology used in gimbal and 360-degree cameras". In a statement provided to TechRadar, Insta360 also defended its Luna cameras, saying "Luna Ultra is the result of years of independent R&D, not a response to any competitor's product."

Here's the DJI camera in question, the Osmo Pocket 3. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The DJI / Insta360 rivalry just went up a notch

I spoke with Insta360 co-founder Max Richter at a pre-launch Luna event, and he told me the company was "not going to compete on price", but on premium and exclusive features. Specifically he was referring to the Luna's innovative removable remote, which features a 2-inch OLED screen, camera controls and built-in mic. Right now in the US, however, Insta360 doesn't need to rival DJI at all, because it has a clear field in that market.

But Insta360 faces a potential headache in the form of DJI's lawsuit. Petapixel reports that DJI has filed two patent lawsuits against Arashi Vision Inc. — which does business as Insta360 — covering two alleged violations of design patents and four utility patents.

The lawsuit claims that Luna cameras closely copy the design and features of the Osmo Pocket 3, claiming that “Insta360’s new Luna line of gimbal cameras, including but not limited to the Luna Ultra, supporting accessories, and the Insta360 mobile application (collectively, the “Accused Products”) blatantly copy DJI’s patented inventions wholesale.”

The suit adds: "From its silhouette to its feature set, the Accused Products mirror what DJI has spent the better part of a decade engineering and patenting for its innovative handheld gimbal camera systems.

"The visual similarity between the Accused Products and the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 design is striking. [As shown below,] the Accused Products share the same general proportions, the same gimbal-on-handle architecture, and the same component arrangement as DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3."

And here's one of the Luna Ultra. The Luna Pro is a single-lens alternative which has more in common with the Pocket 3 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

As for the four utility patents, DJI says that Insta360 Luna cameras and accessories "copy key features that make the DJI Osmo Pocket unique in the marketplace including DJI’s innovative subject-tracking technology, seamless gimbal-mode switching allowing the camera’s shooting direction to follow user movement of the handle, and a 'locked' mode to maintain a fixed shooting direction regardless of how the handle is moved."

DJI was clearly ready with this lawsuit, given that it was filed on the day the Insta360 Luna Ultra became officially available for purchase in leading US stores, including B&H Photo.

Many US-based vloggers will likely be watching the case with interest — they're already missing out on the excellent DJI Pocket 4, and they must be hoping that they won't also be denied the chance to buy Insta360's Luna cameras.

Now the rivalry has been raised another notch, with Insta360 filing its countersuit.

Insta360's response

In a statement provided to TechRadar, Insta360 founder and CEO JK Liu struck a defiant tone in his response to the DJI lawsuit and Insta360's countersuit, saying about the Luna cameras:

"Development began in 2020, with earlier Insta360 products including the ONE R, Link Series webcams, and Flow Series gimbals helping shape the technology and design direction behind Luna Ultra. DJI filing lawsuits on the same day we launched Luna Ultra speaks volumes — exposing their fear of competition from a highly competitive product."

Regarding the countersuit, the statements reads:

The company asserts that DJI infringed its patents relating to gimbal stabilization, gimbal directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video stabilization. These technologies are incorporated into several major DJI products, including the Osmo Pocket series, Ronin/RS series, Osmo Mobile series, and Osmo 360.

Liu said, "We are fully committed to protecting our innovations and will take decisive action to defend our intellectual property from infringement."

Insta360 unveiled its dual-lens Luna Ultra 8K vlogging camera early — here’s how its pricing and handling compares to the DJI Pocket 4

Timothy Coleman — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:48 +0000

Insta360's Luna Ultra is a modular 8K compact vlogging camera
It rivals the upcoming dual-lens DJI Pocket 4P
The single-lens Luna Pro is yet to be fully unveiled

We now have the full picture of Insta360's first compact vlogging camera and DJI Pocket rival, after the Luna Ultra hit online stores yesterday (June 10), with prices starting at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99.

I've already shared my first impressions of the dual-lens 8K video camera, but Insta360 limited what could be shared ahead of its launch. Now all can be revealed — but you'll have to forgive the timing and nature of my coverage, because Insta360 hastily brought forward the launch from the previously-set embargo that I was working to.

I can now reveal that the Insta360 Luna Ultra packs two cameras which are stabilized by a 3-axis gimbal. The 1x main f/1.8 camera shoots 8K 30p video with Dolby Vision (HDR) and 4K 120fps slow motion, and features a 1-inch sensor (Insta360's largest yet, matching DJI) with 14 stops of dynamic range. (DJI has separately teased 17 stops dynamic for its upcoming Pocket 4P.)

The 3x telephoto f/2.0 camera works with a smaller but still decent-sized 1/1.3-inch sensor, and offers a 6x lossless zoom and up to a 12x digital zoom. I've tried both cameras extensively, and the telephoto camera is able to throw depth of field nicely for upper-body vlogging.

The Ultra is equipped with I-Log color profile — a feature pros demand for color grading flexibility, and another complete first for Insta360, plus Insta360's triple processing chips and latest AI subject tracking, which works pretty darn well.

I'll share more about the Luna Ultra's features in my upcoming in-depth review, but until then, let's look at how it handles compared to the Pocket 4.

The Luna Ultra with its 1x and 3x zoom cameras. The Luna Pro has just the 1x zoom camera. Future / Tim Coleman

The Luna Pro and Ultra's party trick; a removable OLED screen / controller, with built-in mic.Future / Tim Coleman

The Osmo Pocket 4P is yet to be launched, but we know exactly what the dual-lens camera looks likeDJI

And here's the single-lens Osmo Pocket 4, with its battery-less LED light accessory attachedFuture / Tim Coleman

Clearing up the Luna / Pocket 4 confusion

Insta360 is going hard with its first vlogging cameras, the single-lens Luna Pro and dual-lens Luna Ultra. The latter is available now, while the Pro's launch date is yet to be confirmed. Insta360 changed the Luna Ultra launch date several times due to a "rapidly changing competitive landscape," and it was eventually brought forward to a week earlier than the date I was working to. I've been testing the product for several weeks, and will publish my in-depth review as soon as I can.

DJI's latest single-lens vlogging camera was launched last month — check out my in-depth Pocket 4 review. It's no secret that the Pocket 4P is coming soon — DJI teased the dual-lens vlogging camera at Cannes Film Festival recently.

So, both brands will have single-lens and dual-lens vlogging cameras in their product lineups soon. But what we have right now is DJI's single-lens Pocket 4 and Insta 360's dual-lens Ultra, which makes direct comparisons tricky — it's like pitting a featherweight against a heavyweight in terms of versatility.

That being said, we know enough about the specs of all four cameras, and I've had enough time to get a feel for the design of the Luna Ultra and Pocket 4, to make some early impressions.

Luna Ultra versus Pocket 4

This isn't a fair comparison — the Luna Ultra is a pricier model with dual-lens versatility that will rival the upcoming Pocket 4P. But it's Insta360's first foray into a vlogging camera market, which has been dominated by the DJI Pocket series for several years. In that respect, the Luna Ultra feels surprisingly polished.

The Pocket 4 is the smaller of the two, and the Pocket 4P will be smaller than the Luna cameras too. It's not a big difference in size, and the extra bulk of the Luna Ultra hardly effects its handling, plus it's to facilitate a unique, game-changing feature — a detachable 2-inch OLED screen.

The screen is part of a module which also includes the camera's main controls. It has up to a 20m transmission range, and can be used to view and control the camera, and of course to initiate recording.

Given that the Luna Ultra features advanced subject tracking, you effectively have an autonomous camera that can track you while you move, within the limits of the gimbal's range. The module also features a built-in microphone, which is super handy too for vlogging, even if you still might want a wireless mic like Insta360's 5 star-rated Mic Pro for the best quality audio.

The Luna UltraFuture / Tim Coleman

It also features tiny feet making it free-standing, plus a tripod mountFuture / Tim Coleman

The screen rotates between vertical and horizontal, and the camera can spin around between front and rear-facing with a single button tap — all features that the Osmo Pocket 4 has. Future / Tim Coleman

This modular functionality is a bit like the Insta360 Go 3S and its Action Dock / DJI Nano action cams, and clearly an advantage over the Pocket 4. The Pocket 4 has its own tricks mind you, such as its magnetic LED light which directly attaches to and is powered by the camera.

Both cameras are compatible with useful accessories, such as wireless mics. Yes, DJI has had skin in the game for longer, and boasts a solid ecosystem, but Insta360 is hardly lacking either.

As for the single-lens and dual-lens varieties, the latter are indeed like having two cameras, and will set the benchmark for compact vlogging camera quality, potentially persuading new users over using their smartphones. They're much pricier than the single-lens varieties, though — as we now we know, having seen how much the Luna Ultra costs.

How do the two cameras sounds to you? Is the dual-lens version overkill, or what the format needed? Let me know in the comments below, and make sure you vote in the poll above — and check back in for my in-depth coverage, coming soon.

This California city just approved the use of Flock drones as first responders, but residents are worried about 'militarization and surveillance'

David Nield — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Stockton has approved a $3.15 investment in Flock drones
The drones will act as airborne first responders
Residents have raised privacy and surveillance concerns

Surveillance and privacy are huge concerns for individuals across the world right now, and municipal leaders in the California city of Stockton are the latest to attract criticism for a controversial drone expansion program that's ostensibly being undertaken in the interests of public safety.

As reported by Stocktonia, the city council recently gave the thumbs up to a $3.15 million investment in drones manufactured by Flock, on top of the automatic license readers the company already supplies. These drones can act as airborne first responders, giving police eyes on a 911 call situation in as little as 30 seconds.

The sales pitch is that officers will be better informed when they arrive, and that some incidents could be handled remotely. "It'll really enhance what we already have, in that we get quick deployments, real time updates for officers on scene," said Police Lt. David Padula when the deal was approved.

However, while city leaders all liked the drone program, there has been massive public opposition against it. Issues around privacy, immigration enforcement, and mass surveillance have been raised by residents — not just in regards to how the drones are used, but how the data they collect is stored and shared.

These drones aren't widely used in the US, but there are active programs in some cities in states, including Texas, Indiana, and Connecticut. The license plate readers are far more widespread, with more than 100,000 now in use.

Data collection and privacy

Flock drones are designed to respond to incidents in minutes (Image credit: Flock)

"It sends the wrong message," said local activist group The Stockton Community Check-In Booth in a statement after the council decision. "While our residents continue to struggle under the financial impacts of this administration and economy, Stockton continues to invest in militarization and surveillance."

"Private organizations can control your data from those Flock cameras, and because they're privately owned, you can't even use freedom of information to find out what they have about you," said Stockton Republican congressional candidate John McBride, calling the use of the drones "a total invasion of privacy".

According to Flock, local agencies remain in control of the data. It states that it doesn't work with ICE, and that federal agencies are blocked from discovering or requesting data held by Stockton. Drone flights are logged on a public-facing dashboard, and Stockton police will own 100% of the data they collect.

However, Flock has run into trouble elsewhere: It has previously been found to be sharing access with US Customs and Border Protection in Colorado and Illinois, though it says these practices have now been stopped. In Texas, police used a Flock camera network to track the movements of a woman who had an abortion.

In other areas, authorities haven't been so welcoming to Flock and its systems. In Mountain View, California, a Flock network of cameras was recently scrapped over concerns about unauthorized access.

Potensic just took on the DJI Lito X1 with its new and upgraded Atom 3 beginner drone — but the same US barriers to entry currently apply

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:50:00 +0000

Potensic's new Atom 3 replaces the Atom 2 beginner drone
It adds a bigger sensor, higher 4K frame rates, better battery life, and more
The Fly More Bundle includes an upgraded controller with a 5.5-inch display

You don't need me to tell you that DJI dominates the consumer drone space, despite its current difficulties entering the US market with a current ban on all foreign-made drones. But there's a viable beginner drone alternative, and that's Potensic.

Sadly for US consumers, Potensic also faces the same barriers to entry as DJI, given that the drone manufacturer is also Chinese. But for the rest of us, the shiny new Atom 3 looks like an excellent value option.

It upgrades the already excellent Atom 2 in several key ways, with a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K video recording at up to 60 fps with a Log color profile, 50 MP photos in JPEG and RAW, 7x slow motion in Full HD, plus a host of improved flight features.

Battery life has seen a boost, now up to 40 minutes on a single charge, as has transmission range, which now extends to 16km, not that I'd ever expect to fly that far away!

And the usual Fly More Combo, which includes three batteries and a charging hub, also comes with an upgraded controller that has a brighter 5.5-inch Full HD display than Potensic's previous offering, rated at 900 nits.

Potensic has upped its drone's tracking capabilities with AI Tracking 2.0, which can now operate down to a low altitude of 4 meters and recognize and follow hiking and vehicles.

Naturally, there are a range of flight moves too, one of which includes Waypoint (that's a pre-planned flight path that the drone follows).

All of these features point to the Atom 3 being a solid alternative to the new DJI Lito X1 — even if that drone also includes omnidirectional object avoidance — especially with its competitive pricing. The Atom 3 standard kit (with no controller) costs $429.99 / £319.99, while the bundle with the new 'RC PTD 2' controller costs $549.99 / £429.99 at Amazon and the Potensic store with pre-orders now live — I'll update this page with Australia pricing when that info is available.

(Image credit: Potensic)

In the US? No dice

US pricing for the Atom 3 is positive news for US consumers, but we don't actually know if or when the Atom 3 will land in the US. After all, the drone ban in the US doesn't just apply to DJI, but to all foreign-made drones, including those by Potensic.

Potensic is another drone manufacturer based in China, and so it faces the same barrier to entry as DJI. So for now, the Atom 3 looks like another feature-packed and affordable drone for aerial photography that drone fans in the US could miss out on.

For the rest of us, the Atom 3 is easily the best drone by Potensic yet, with a feature set that rivals the Mini 4 Pro / Lito X1, minus object avoidance. I will share my in-depth Atom 3 review once I've had more time with it.

Are you a drone user based in the US? What do you make of the drone ban currently? Make sure you vote in our poll, above.

Looking for your first real camera? This huge Lumix pre-Prime Day deal is hard to beat — plus top alternatives from Canon, Fujifilm and more

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:58:23 +0000

Truly low-cost cameras that are actually worth buying are hard to come by, and that's what makes the Lumix G97 so special today in this unbeatable deal ahead of Prime Day.

In our Lumix G97 review of its 2025 release, we awarded this beginner mirrorless camera 4.5 stars out of 5, saying its "competitive price point makes it a very appealing camera for novice photographers and vloggers". And B&H Photo just slashed that already great price by $260 — you can grab Lumix G97 with 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens kit for $597.99 at B&H Photo and other leading retailers.

I've included links to the best deals below, many of which include handy extras to get you started. For example, B&H Photo throws in a memory card and shoulder bag for no extra cost!

The deal is less impressive for shoppers in the UK — the Lumix G97 with 12-60mm lens costs £649 at Amazon (was ~~£749~~). That's still excellent value, but if price is your main concern, then there are decent alternatives worth considering, such as the Canon EOS R50 for £659 at Amazon (was ~~£900~~). Conversely, the deals for the Canon camera are less impressive in the US.

In its favor, the EOS R50 has a larger 24MP APS-C sensor and superb autofocus. However, lens choice is pretty limited. On the other hand, the Lumix G97 — despite being a refresh of the much older Lumix G95 / G90 — still very much packs a punch, with decent 20MP micro four thirds sensor, superb ergonomics and a huge choice of affordable lenses. Trust me, it's a fabulous first camera.

Whichever model you prefer, you are getting standout prices for one of the best beginner mirrorless cameras. I've included more deals below for other top models, including the Fujifilm X-M5 and Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.

Today's best Lumix G97 camera deal (US)

The deal link I've included is for the Lumix G97 bundle with the Lumix 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens and a 64GB memory card and shoulder bag. It's the same price as for the camera and lens-only kit — who doesn't love extra goodies, especially when it's all you need to get started?

Price check: $597.99 at Adorama (with memory card, spare battery and lens filters included, worth well-over $100) / and $597.99 at AmazonView Deal

Today's best Lumix G97 camera deal (UK)

There's also a price cut for the Lumix G97 with Lumix 12-60mm lens in the UK, but the £100 discount is less impressive (and there are no accessories included in the bundle). Still, a price cut for a beginner camera that we described as great value at full price, says it all. If cost is a major factor in your decision, then it's a closer call with the Canon EOS R50, which is currently on sale for the same price (see links to the best deals, below). View Deal

Best beginner mirrorless camera deals today — including Canon, Fujifilm, Lumix and more

I’m a pro photographer and my favorite camera bag is 50% off ahead of Prime Day — grab this stylish roll-top Wanrdrd backpack for half price while you still can

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:23:07 +0000

I've worked as a pro photographer and tech journalist for two decades, and that means one thing: I own a ludicrous number of camera bags. No one bag can do it all, am I right?

From day packs to travel cases and huge outdoor backpacks, I have bags to cover every single one of my always-changing photography needs. And I recently discovered a new favorite for causal photography days, the Wandrd Prvke V4.

What caught my eye in the first instance was the bag's attractive looks. In contrast to most alternatives, it's really a stylish roll-top backpack — the kind I regularly see when commuting — that just so happens to be kitted out to securely store camera gear, with quick side access.

I have the V4 21L Photo Bundle version, which includes an insert with padded compartments for camera gear, and features that roll-top upper compartment. Provided my gear for the day fits, the Prvke is my go-to camera bag.

It's a pricey bag, mind you. My 21L Photo Bundle version costs $319, the 15L version is $279, and the largest 31L (Photo Bundle) is $339. Ouch.

As such, I just had to share an amazing deal with you — 50% of the previous V3 version. The Wandrd Prvke V3 Photo Bundle 21L is now just $149 at B&H Photo. There are a couple of small caveats — that superb price is for the all-black version only (see below).

It's not the latest version either — that's the V4 that I have, which was released in 2025. I haven't directly compared the two versions, but there are plenty of tech reviewers that have, and the overall consensus is that there is little to differentiate between the two bags.

Wandrd itself spelled out the upgrades, but actual users suggest that the V3 remains a better bag in some ways. I do, therefore, still feel comfortable recommending this Wandrd Prvke V3 deal.

For further alternatives, be sure to check out my best camera bags guide.

Today's best Wandrd Prvke V3 deal

The Wandrd Prvke series is available in 15L, 21L and 31L versions. The deal above is for the Photo Bundle 21L version, which means a custom padded insert is included to securely hold camera gear. The bag is available without the insert too. Unfortunately the deal is just for the all-black version, although the Yuma Tan version price is close, at $164.45. View Deal

Viltrox unveils two affordable and lightweight portrait primes for Sony, Fujifilm and Nikon’s APS-C cameras — and I’ve got my eye on this reimagined classic

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:21:18 +0000

Viltrox unveils 75mm f/1.8 and 90mm f/2.2 autofocus primes for APS-C
They're available in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z-mount versions
We still don't know the outcome of the Nikon / Viltrox lawsuit

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Viltrox lenses — and why not? The Chinese lens manufacturer makes some of the best-quality and affordable third-party lenses, and we now have two more to choose from: the AF 75mm F1.8 EVO and AF 90mm F2.2 EVO.

Both lenses are available from today in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z-mount versions, for $329 / £319 at Amazon and $369 / £359 at Amazon respectively (Australia pricing TBC). There are often deals at the Viltrox site — in fact, there's already around 5% off those prices at launch.

They're designed for APS-C cameras, meaning both lenses work directly with the likes of the Sony A6700, Nikon Z50 II, Fujifilm X-T5 (look out for my review of the X-mount version of the 90mm, coming soon), and have 113mm and 135mm effective focal lengths respectively.

These focal lengths are particularly popular for portrait photography — I especially love the 135mm focal length — and the bright maximum aperture for each able to render blurry backgrounds.

Being 'EVO' lenses, the pair are affordable, especially lightweight, and will be impressively sharp considering those factors. And I should know — we've already tested other EVO lenses, including the 85mm F2 EVO for full-frame, and expect the same high quality from the latest additions to the series.

Each lens features a clicked / de-clicked aperture ring, customizable function button and AF/MF switch, plus autofocus powered by an STM motor. They're pretty much the same size and take 58mm lens filters, while the 75mm lens weighs 11.8oz / 335g and the 90mm lens weighs 11.3oz / 320g.

With a 0.74m minimum focus distance, neither lens is particularly strong for close-up photography.

The 90mm F2.2 is a different proposition to Viltrox's 135mm F1.8 LAB lens for full-frame cameras, which has the same effective focal length — that flagship lens is thrice the price and weight. No, Viltrox's EVO lenses are designed to deliver dreamy bokeh and sharp detail for enthusiast-level cameras, but in a lightweight and tidy package. I'm excited to share my review of the 90mm lens soon.

Viltrox

So what's up with the Nikon lawsuit?

It's no surprise to see more new prime lenses by Viltrox — it has been prolific in the last two years especially. What did cause my raised eyebrow, however, is that these two new lenses are available for Nikon cameras.

At the turn of the year, we reported that Nikon was suing Viltrox for alleged patent infringements, and that the case would be in courts at some point in March. That situation has since been awfully quiet, and we don't know the status of this case.

So if you're a Nikon user, say of the Z50 II or Z30, should you buy either of these new lenses? I don't see much of a risk — it would be a highly aggressive move for Nikon to push future firmware updates for its mirrorless cameras that breaks existing compatibility with Viltrox lenses.

There could be a point at which Viltrox lenses go up in price, however, should Viltrox start paying Nikon royalties as a result. Until then, it remains arguably the best-value lens manufacturer of all, even if Sigma overall has a wider choice.

The Viltrox AF 90mm F2.2 EVO lens is available for Fujifilm X-mount cameras, such as the X-T5 (Image credit: Viltrox)

Forget the Kodak Charmera — this miniature digital camera is even smaller, even cheaper, and features a mini torch!

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:51:45 +0000

Mini cameras are in. So much so, that I recently rounded up 9 of the most eye catching models, which all cost under $50 / £45. But even at such as low price, are they still worth the money?

I've already tested popular models such as the Kodak Charmera and Fujifilm Instax Pal, and they're clearly not a patch on the best compact cameras. In fact, I called the Charmera the 'worst camera I've ever used', but in a way that made me like it all the more.

To that extent, I couldn't resist checking out what is probably the cheapest and smallest digital camera I've ever seen online, the Mini Digital Camera series 3 by Photo Creator (also known as Canal Toys), which is currently available for £9.99 at Very (was £12.99). It's currently pricier in the US, being $22 at Amazon.

It's so cheap in fact (in the UK at least), that you can pick up all four varieties of the miniature, fully working digital camera for the price of one (and a bit) Charmeras. And get all four is exactly what I did.

From left to right: Retro (silver), Pro (black), Compact (pink) and Instant (white) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

A lo-fi bargain

There was no need for me to test each of the four cameras — they have identical specifications, and the only difference is the style, including; Retro (silver), Pro (black), Compact (pink) and Instant (white). Cast your search wider, and there are additional styles, including Instant Camera. I divvied up the cameras one each between myself and three TechRadar colleagues, and got to testing my pink version.

How small is the camera? Well, mine measured just 1.8 x 1.2 x 1.0in (W x H x D) — a Lego figure is taller (see below)! Truly miniature.

The camera is fitted with an understandable tiny 150mAh battery and charges by USB-C, records onto micro SD (not included), and features what is possibly the smallest LCD display I've ever seen in a digital camera, a 16:9 screen measuring approximately 1-inch on the diagonal. Bizarrely, the image is stretched from a narrower 4:3 aspect ratio to fill the display.

There are only four buttons on the camera and they each double up to maximize the camera's functions. A press and hold of the power button turns the camera on or off. Press it again (while the camera is on), and you enter image playback.

Future / Tim Coleman

A shutter button takes photos, which you hold down to record video (complete with audio thanks to a built-in mic). Up / down buttons on the side scroll between 14 various picture effects, including color filters and overlays — these are applied directly onto your 3MP photos and Full HD videos.

Hold down the up button and you enter the camera's menu. Do the same with the down button and a dinky LED torch light is activated — handy for low light snaps, but it is very low-powered.

A keychain comes in the box and I fitted it to mine, hooked the camera up to my keys and slid it into my pocket for everyday snaps.

Future / Tim Coleman

Like the Charmera, battery life is poor, even for a camera that consumes very little power. It pays to carry a USB-C powerbank to top up the charge on the go.

Almost every time I've taken the camera out of my pocket and got snapping, I've had various banter with the people around me who have found the camera hilarious / cute / weird / all of the above. It's certainly an icebreaker and gives licence to take pictures around you. If only the 3 megapixel JPEGs where better quality, then. They are about as lo-fi as digital cameras go, and of similar quality to the pricier Kodak Charmera.

In a way, Full HD video quality is more pleasing — yes it's of the same quality (with horrible audio to boot), but it has a Super 8-like feel to it.

There's really little else to say about my experience using the Mini Digital Camera series 3. For £10 and the novelty factor, there's absolutely nothing to lose here. The Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera series 3 is a fun gift for kids or the lo-fi tech lover in your life. If anything else, it's a novel keychain accessory.

Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera series 3 deal sample gallery

Ignore the timestamp — I didn't update it before using the camera!Future / Tim Coleman

Future / Tim Coleman

Today's best Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera series 3 deal

As mentioned, the Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera series 3 is on sale for £9.99 at Very. It currently costs £1 more at Amazon, from which there are additional style including Instant Camera. There are a range of low-cost Photo Creator digital cameras, including a 12MP floating waterproof model for £26.25 (was £34.99) at Amazon, which looks interesting, and a Thermal Printing instant camera for £44.99 at Amazon (was £64.99). There's a much better deal in the US for the Thermal Printing camera which currently costs $32.36 at Amazon (that's 35% off the $50 price).

Price check: £10.99 at AmazonView Deal

I tried the Vidabay Snap — and this tiny, $30 E Ink frame might just be the world’s most charming fridge magnet

Timothy Coleman — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but my fridge at home is decorated with numerous snapshots of family and friends spanning many years, precariously fixed in place with souvenir fridge magnets. It's into this mix that I've recently added a few Vidabay Snaps.

A Vidabay Snap looks like an instant-film print, but it is in fact a tiny, magnetic E ink display. So, unlike an actual print, you can change the picture displayed and easily attach it to a range of surfaces.

It's optimized for iPhone (and compatible with various Android devices), and any image from your gallery can be uploaded via the (free) Vidabay app using NFC, whenever you like.

Think of Vidabay Snaps as, like, tiny digital photo frames, just set within a Polaroid-style border, and with an E Ink display that's much more basic than the fabulous Aura Ink.

Vidabay Snaps are available from the Vidabay website in white, black, yellow or red (see below), with prices starting at $29.99 for a single Snap (was $35.99) or $86.99 for a pack of three (was $99.99). Vidabay ships to most regions, including the UK and Australia, and price is calculated at checkout.

I picked up five Vidabay Snaps, covering each of the four colors available (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

A genuine instant print from the likes of a Polaroid Go Gen 3 or Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 costs around $1 / £0.80 / AU$1,50 a go — much cheaper than a Vidabay Snap. Even pricier (and larger) formats like Polaroid I-Type are around $3 / £2.50 / AU$4.50 per print, while regular photo prints from the lab are typically the cheapest of the lot. However, the image on a Snap can be changed as often as you like.

I have a small collection of the best instant cameras, and am not short of instant prints to put on my walls (and fridge). And now that it's been a month since I got my Vidabay Snaps, I can tell you they don't hold the same magic as an instant print.

My experience using Vidabay Snaps with an Android phone has been mixed, which I'll unpack next, but there's one fundamental flaw to the product — the frames don't display the color blue (not for me, anyway), which is very limiting for color images.

However, I can totally appreciate these neat, low-cost E Ink devices for what they are, and the concept is pretty well executed. And even though they feel pricey compared to prints, I believe Vidabay Snaps are great little gifts. Let's take a look at how they work.

How to get started

Obtaining an NFC connection between a Snap and my Android phone was very fiddly, but possible (Image credit: Future)

To get started, you need to pair a Vidabay Snap with your NFC-enabled device — they're optimized for iPhone, but I've done the whole process with an Android phone. Once that's done, you select the desired picture from your phone's gallery, choose the paired Snap, and then hold the two devices together to upload to the frame.

Using a recent Oppo Find X9 Ultra phone, I found the NFC connection for image uploads — which takes around 30 seconds to complete — exceptionally fiddly, but persevered for around 15 attempts each time before my first success.

The trick is locating NFC in your device, and Vidabay does point out that not all Android devices will work. The company says there's a Bluetooth dock on the way, which will simplify the process and widen compatibility for Android. Until then, you'll need to check with Vidabay if your device is compatible. I haven't tried a Snap with an iPhone, but I imagine the process will be much easier.

The original picture (left), how it will look once loaded to a Vidabay Snap (middle), and the sight you'll need to get used to — image uploading (right)Future / Tim Coleman

The Snap's display flickers as the uploading image appears, and then there you have it — a lo-fi E ink (aka E Paper) image in a handy magnetic display.

E ink displays like this are typically lo-fi — don't expect fine detail or a vibrant and wide color range. Quite the opposite, they don't even display the color blue, meaning that in a photo of my son with two teammates in their blue-and-black-striped soccer gear, the jerseys were essentially monochrome. You can imagine what happened when I attempted to load a photo of a sailboat out on the water on a sunny day. The screenshot (above) demonstrates the difference in quality between an original image and how it appears loaded on a Snap.

I picked up five Vidabay Snaps and had mixed success. Three of the five loaded fine (after several attempts); the other two refused to load in color, period, and I eventually gave up.

If you pair multiple Snap devices, it can be a minefield remembering which one is which because you can't rename them in the appFuture / Tim Coleman

This particular Snap frame only seemed to want to load in monochromeFuture / Tim Coleman

You can forget images dominated with the color blueFuture / Tim Coleman

The app could also do with some work; there's no way of recomposing / cropping the photo within the square frame, nor can you rename a frame once it's registered. I had five frames all identically named, making it extremely difficult to track which frame was which in the app. Writing a number on the back of each one with a Sharpie was my solution.

Each Vidabay Snap has a magnetic back for attaching to surfaces like a fridge. It's also fitted with NFC for image uploads and charging. Being a tiny E Ink display, it consumes next to no power – a true lo-fi product. An individual Snap can be purchased with a leatherette tag to attach to something like your bag, and this bundle costs $48.99.

If you have that sentimental person in your life who happens to be an iPhone user, then Vidabay Snap is an easy, low-cost gift recommendation. Until the Bluetooth dock lands and it proves to address my user experience issues, I'm hesitant to recommend the product for Android users.

Panasonic Lumix L10 vs Fujifilm X100VI: two of my favorite premium compact cameras, but which one is best for everyday photography?

Timothy Coleman — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:11:23 +0000

Panasonic

Lumix L10

Fujifilm

X100VI

The fabulous Fujifilm X100VI is a major success story, being the most preordered camera in history, with a waiting list that stretched well beyond its first 12-months. Not bad for a fixed-lens premium compact camera that costs more than the latest flagship iPhone.

It was arguably the catalyst for a compact camera revival that saw a 35% surge in sales in 2025, the biggest yearly uptick in camera shipments since the dawn of smartphones, and the launch of the Panasonic Lumix L10, which was a surprise unveil at the 25th anniversary of Lumix event in May this year.

Just to be clear, Panasonic has long had skin in this premium compact camera game too. The new L10 is very much a spiritual successor to 2018's popular Lumix LX100 II. It's no mere refresh, mind you, but very much a camera for 2026, fitted with Panasonic's latest sensor, processor and autofocus.

The Panasonic Lumix L10 and Fujifilm X100VI serve the same market; premium compact cameras with retro design and high-end features, but both take a different swing at it. So which of the two is best for you? Let's take a run through the key features.

1. The lens

Future

Future / Tim Coleman

Lumix L10: 24-75mm (equivalent) f/1.7 to f/2.8 with OIS
X100VI: 35mm (equivalent) f/2.0, built-in ND filter

A major difference is the built-in lens that each camera uses. The X100VI has a fixed 35mm lens with a maximum f/2 aperture, while the Lumix L10 has a 24-75mm zoom lens with a maximum f/1.7 aperture at 24mm, which drops to f/2.8 at 75mm.

Zoom versatility wins for most photographers — the Lumix L10 is equally at home for portraiture and macro photography as it is, like the X100VI, for travel and everyday photography. During my lengthy review period with the Lumix L10, I was regularly drawn to its 75mm telephoto setting, and overall, I picture myself using the L10 more often than the X100VI.

The X100VI, to be fair, has twice the number of pixels and a handy digital crop mode. Punch in 1.4x to an effective 50mm focal length, and the resolution is still 20MP, matching the L10. The 2x digital crop mode offers the equivalent 70mm focal length at 10MP. The Lumix L10 also has digital crop settings, mind you.

A lot can also be said, however, for sticking with a single focal length, like what the X100VI offers. Not only are prime lenses typically sharper — the prime lens quality versus zoom lens versatility choice — but they can help users develop a style and an instinctive way of seeing, which is especially helpful for the likes of quick-fire street and reportage photography. If you typically stick with a single focal length, why go for a zoom?

One final note relayed to the lens is the X100VI's built-in ND filter, which is rated up to 4-stops, whereas the L10 doesn't have one. It's an especially handy feature for using the maximum aperture in bright sunlight and for video recording. For the Lumix model, you'll need a separate ND filter (43mm thread size).

2. Sensor

Lumix L10: 26.5MP Micro Four Thirds (20.4MP effective)
X100VI: 40.2MP APS-C with 5-axis stabilization up to 6EV

Future

Tim Coleman

If it's photo quality you're after, there is seemingly little contest between the two cameras; the X100VI has a larger APS-C sensor with significantly more pixels.

Photo quality isn't, however, purely down to sensor size and pixels. For one, the pixels in the Lumix L10 are in fact 55% bigger than those in the X100VI, despite its smaller sensor — that's a 4.74µm pixel pitch to 3.04µm. Bigger pixels do in theory gather more light, which better supports low light photography.

Depth of field is also a consideration — a larger sensor gives you greater control assuming you're wanting to achieve a shallow depth of field and subject separation. Set the Lumix L10 to 35mm and its maximum aperture is f/2.3 to the X100VI's f/2 and the Lumix sensor is smaller — you can get blurrier backgrounds with the X100VI. However, the L10 can shoot at the 75mm focal length and f/2.8, at which setting you can get nice-looking portraits.

There's another major difference between the two sensors; the X100VI's is stabilized (in-body image stabilization aka IBIS), while the Lumix L10's is not. The X100VI is in greater need of enhanced stabilization because it has more pixels, which means softness in detail would typically be more obvious when shooting handheld. However, IBIS also enables slower shutter speeds for more creative shooting effects and working in low light.

The perceived strengths of each camera are countered by weaknesses, so there's really not a clear winner in the sensor department.

Another major consideration regarding image quality is the lens, which I've covered above, especially since both cameras have a built-in lens rather than being interchangeable lens cameras.

3. Handling

Future

Tim Coleman

Future / Tim Coleman

Lumix L10: 504g, 127.1 x 73.9 x 66.9mm (W x H x D), not weather resistant, battery life up to 420 shots, hotshoe, delayed start up
X100VI: 521g, 128.0 x 74.8 x 55.3mm (W x H x D), weather-resistant, battery life 450 shots (OVF) or 310 shots (EVF), hotshoe, quick start up

Held side by side, the cameras are essentially the same size and weight, meaning there's no reason to pick one over the other in this regard. Both are majorly attractive cameras too, but it's the X100VI that has the edge for build quality, retro goodness, plus it's weather-resistant.

Control layouts vary and, honestly, again, it's hard to recommend one over the other just from having a feel for each one. I like the Lumix L10 lens and its external controls, while I appreciate the X100VI's shutter speed /ISO dial and AF joystick.

Battery life is pretty similar between the two cameras, and above the typical average, depending on which mode you use the X100VI in. You see, the X100VI has a hybrid viewfinder (more on this, next), and a better battery life when using its optical viewfinder. Personally, I'm a fan of the X100VI's OVF, but most X100VI users I know typically stick with the electronic viewfinder (EVF), which results in lower battery life — much lower compared to the L10's.

Both cameras feature a fully functional hotshoe, making them compatible with accessories such as an external flash. The X100VI goes one step further and offers a built-in flash, but it's a modest LED type.

If you're looking for a quick draw camera, the X100VI is the better bet. From turning the camera on and it being ready to shoot, you're looking at somewhere between 0.5 and 1.0 second, whereas the L10 is easily double that because of its collapsible lens, which takes time to extend on powering up. This very fact makes the X100VI a more suitable street photography camera if you need to be ready to shoot at any given time.

4. Viewfinder and displays

Future

Tim Coleman

Lumix L10: 2.36m-dot 0.39-inch OLED EVF with 0.74x mag, and a 3-inch 1.84m-dot vari-angle touchscreen
X100VI: Hybrid viewfinder; OVF or 3.69m-dot 0.5-inch EVF with 0.66x mag, and a 3-inch 1.62m-dot tilting touchscreen

Both cameras pack a viewfinder and rear display, making them easy to use in practically any situation, but there are distinct differences between the two.

The Lumix L10 arguably has the better LCD — it's a vari-angle type with greater pixel density, whereas the X100VI's is a tilt-only touchscreen. Which display type is better for you depends on what you typically photograph; a tilt-only display can be better for waist-level shooting and discreet street photography, whereas the L10's vari-angle screen flips out to the side and can be rotated for selfies.

The X100VI has a unique hybrid viewfinder that offers both optical and electronic displays. I'm a fan of the optical display — it shows outside the frame of your final picture, which can be truly helpful for timing shots, say if you're waiting for the action to literally enter the frame. It's less helpful than an EVF if you simply want to know how your picture is going to turn out.

I marginally prefer the quality of the X100VI's EVF to the L10's; however, it's not enough reason to pick the Fujifilm model over the Lumix.

5. Video and autofocus

Lumix L10: 5.6K 60p 10-bit, 5.2K 30p open gate, slow motion recording up to 240fps
X100VI: 6.2K 30p 10-bit/ 4K 60p, slow motion recording up to 240fps

Both cameras are photo-centric by design, but they can both shoot highly detailed and attractive video, too.

The X100VI has the edge for resolution, being able to shoot 6.2K video at 30fps in 10-bit color depth. However, the Lumix L10 can shoot 5.6K video up to 60fps (the X100VI 4K 60fps), and 5.2K video up to 30fps in the versatile open gate (that's the full height and width of the 4:3 aspect ratio sensor), also with 10-bit color depth.

And there's nothing to split the cameras regarding slow-motion recording, since they can both shoot 240fps in Full HD.

Autofocus impresses in both cameras; hybrid phase detection autofocus offers a range of modes, including subject tracking for photo and video. I've not run direct comparisons yet, but the initial verdict among other trusted reviewers is that the L10's autofocus is, overall, more reliable, which is no surprise given that the L10 inherits the same autofocus skills, sensor, and processor as the excellent Lumix GH7.

6. Color

X100VIFuture

Lumix L10Tim Coleman

Lumix L10: Real Time LUTs, Log, wide range of color profiles including Leica looks
X100VI: Fujifilm film simulations, film recipes, wide range of color profiles

Fujifilm has rightly built up a name for its attractive color profiles, which mimic actual Fujifilm film stock, such as Veliva (vivid) and Provia (standard). But it's the film 'recipes' where photographers got really excited. These recipes are essentially customized versions of the film simulations, created and shared by Fujifilm users, and are a rapid way of getting the look you want with no editing required.

It would be easy to write Panasonic off, then, but the Lumix L10 enjoys Real Time LUTs profiles in addition to the wide range of in-camera profiles that include several 'Leica' looks. Real Time LUTs are a bit like film recipes, and there are plenty available for (free) upload from the Lumix Lab app.

Ultimately, color preference will always be creatively subjective. But in my experience, I find Real Time LUTs even more versatile for photo and video.

7. Price

Lumix L10: $1,499 / £1,299 / A$2,599
X100VI: $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,899

I'd hardly call either camera a great value or unreasonably expensive. Both cameras are certainly premium in terms of pricing, but the Lumix L10 costs less than the X100VI. The price difference varies depending on your region — being $100 / £300 / AU$300 less. As you can see from the prices noted above, it looks like the UK gets the best value for the Lumix model.

Two years since its launch, the X100VI costs the same as, if not more than, it did before. It has remained a popular camera, and it will hold its value very well. Lumix cameras do not tend to hold their value, but the L10 could be an exception if it's as popular as I expect it to be.

There have also been pricier limited edition versions of each camera, including the Titanium Gold special edition Lumix L10, which costs an additional $100 / £100 (but is not available in all regions) and comes with various extras, including an auto lens cover, leather shoulder strap, and custom lens cloth.

Another Lumix L10 alternative is the excellent Ricoh GR IV, which costs $1,499 / £1,199 / AU$2,199 — that's roughly the same price, depending on where you live. Like the Fujifilm model, it's a premium compact with APS-C sensor and sharp fixed-lens. Being much smaller, it's the only genuinely pocketable camera of the three, but it's overall performance is somewhat behind the other two models.

Future

Tim Coleman

Conclusion

The Lumix L10 and Fujifilm X100VI sit in the same premium compact camera category; they look alike and are pretty much the same size. That's about where the similarities end.

The X100VI wins for prime lens quality, resolution, in-body stabilization, premium build quality, quicker start-up, and next-level retro aesthetics.

However, the Lumix L10 brings home a versatile zoom lens, exceptional Real Time LUTs profiles, while its burst shooting, autofocus, and video performance have the edge, plus it costs much less.

When listing pros and cons, I'm swayed to the X100VI — there are more areas where it wins. However, having used both cameras extensively, I feel like I'd get more use out of the Lumix L10. It's not an easy decision between the two!

I've covered the key features, and there are too many other little details that impact the overall user experience with each camera to sensibly include here. Have you used either camera? What do you particularly like about it that I haven't mentioned in this versus article? Which camera sounds best to you? Let me know in the comments below.

Sony A7R VI vs Sony A7R V: 5 upgrades in Sony’s ‘perfect full-frame camera’

Timothy Coleman — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:02:40 +0000

Sony

A7R VI

Sony

A7R V

In my in-depth Sony A7R VI review, I called it "the perfect camera"; but just how much better is it than its predecessor, the A7R V — and is it worth upgrading, or switching systems for, say from Canon and Nikon?

The previous A7R model launched in November 2022, so that makes three-and-a-half years between cameras, and gives me plenty to talk about. I'll cover the headline upgrades here, including the new sensor, design improvements and, notably, Sony’s first new battery for mirrorless cameras in nine years.

The answer to my 'upgrade or switch' question very much depends on what kind of photographer you are — so let’s dive straight into it…

1. Sensor

A7R VI: 66.8MP stacked full-frame sensor
A7R V: 61MP ‘standard’ full-frame sensor
Canon and Nikon rivals have a 45MP stacked sensor

Sony’s ‘R’ nomenclature indicates resolution. If you buy an ‘R’ camera, you buy it for pixels — and lots of them — and images from both the A7R V and A7R VI are detail-rich.

With a stabilized 61MP full-frame sensor, the A7R V had the joint-most pixels in a full-frame camera, along with other Sony models including the A7C R and RX1R III, and some cameras from other brands, including Leica’s Q3 and the Sigma Fp L.

That 61MP sensor was debuted in the even older A7R IV, which is now seven years old (there's an updated A7R IVa still available for less than half the price of the A7R VI). Sony’s latest model has, however, upped the ante with a 66.8MP sensor, and it now leads the pack.

If it’s pixels alone that you’re concerned about, then that might seem like a small bump in resolution, especially when Sony rumors have regularly speculated about a 100MP sensor. A quick look at various Sony forums following the A7R VI's announcement makes it clear that some would-be upgraders are disappointed.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Is an extra 6MP worth upgrading for (read: spending a whole load more cash on)? On the surface, no. However, there’s more to a sensor than its pixels. The new sensor here is a ‘stacked’ type, which means it has a much faster readout speed, making it more capable for capturing fast-moving action and for video recording, with less rolling shutter distortion.

The A7R VI does, therefore, have the highest-resolution full-frame sensor, and it’s a speedy stacked type. It has stepped out of the ‘R’ series lane which prioritized quality, and into the speed and quality category occupied by Sony’s 50MP A1 II, which is slightly faster again but has less pixels.

In my book, the A7R VI’s sensor is the perfect marriage of speed and quality, and it's narrowed the market for the pricier A1 series to top sports photography pros. For everyone else, the A7R VI doesn’t miss a beat.

As for Sony and Canon rivals, their top cameras for detailed images include the Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II, and those cameras max out at 45MP (as does the Lumix S1R II). Canon has a neat in-camera upscaling trick which quadruples resolution for pictures you’ve already captured to 180MP, but this is achieved by smart (and convincing I must add) upscaling.

2. Performance

A7R VI: a stacked sensor and new Bionz XR 2 processor / combined AI chip
A7R V: a regular sensor, Bionz XR processor and twin processor / AI chips
Canon and Nikon rivals also feature a stacked sensor

The A7R VI’s stacked sensor has a faster readout speed than the A7R V, but Sony says the A1 II is even faster. Until lab testing is done, that’s as much detail as we have, because, unlike some other brands, Sony doesn’t divulge sensor readout-speed specifics.

A quicker sensor readout speed addresses rolling shutter distortion, making the A7R VI a better camera than its predecessor for video and fast-moving subjects when the electronic shutter is in play. Put simply, the A7R VI is more of an all-rounder than the A7R V, but there’s no advantage over the Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II, which also have stacked sensors.

Following the lead of the Sony A7 V, the A7R VI has a combined Bionz XR 2 processor and AI chip, whereas in the A7R V the processor and AI chips are separate. Burst-shooting speeds are technically the same at 10fps using the mechanical shutter, and up to 30fps using the electronic shutter, but you should be able to squeeze out longer high-speed sequences with the mark VI versus its predecessor.

Sony sticks with the twin card slots that each accept either CFexpress Type A or SD cards. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

During my in-depth test of the A7R VI, I found that autofocus performance is marginally better too. It also adds an ‘auto’ subject-detection autofocus mode, meaning you don’t have to select a dedicated subject-detection mode, which is infinitely helpful when you’re regularly swapping between subject types.

The new processor and sensor combine for class-leading dynamic range, at least in theory, which is extended by one stop to 16 stops, with new dynamic range boost settings in the mix. Oh, and image stabilization performance has been marginally improved, measured at 8.5 stops to 8 stops (center) or up to 7 stops (periphery).

3. Battery

A7R VI: New NP-SA100 battery with 2,670mAh capacity
A7R V: The NP-FZ100 battery with 2,280mAh capacity
Canon and Nikon rivals can't match the A7R VI’s battery life

Bigger, better, but currently exclusive to the A7R VI — Sony's new NP-SA100 battery (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Sony has introduced a completely new battery — the NP-SA100, which is physically bigger than the NP-FZ100 battery used in all of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras for the last nine years. That battery was already legendary, delivering rival-beating capacity, and compatibility with a range of third party accessories such as external monitors.

The new battery is even better. How much better? It has 17% extra capacity at 2,670mAh compared to 2,280mAh. Battery life is one area where the A7R VI beats its predecessor, and indeed its rivals.

The bad news for existing Sony shooters is that the new battery is a different fit and physically larger, meaning there’s no forward or backwards compatibility with the older NP-FZ100 battery. If you’re looking at the A7R VI, your NP-FZ100 batteries are of no use, and additional batteries are going to be an extra cost to factor in.

4. Handling

A7R VI: larger grip, illuminated buttons, brighter viewfinder, but otherwise much the same
Both cameras feature a 3.2-inch 4-way vari-angle display and 9.44m-dot viewfinder

The larger battery is housed inside the camera’s grip, which is in turn physically larger than the one in the A7R V. I’m a fan of the larger grip, it’s even more comfortable to hold. Otherwise, the camera’s design is pretty similar to that of the A7R V’s — it’s a game of spot the difference.

Playing that game, I’ve found a few welcome tweaks. There’s a new lamp button on the top plate. Press it, and the control buttons around the body light up. I love this feature for low-light shooting, which makes locating buttons all the easier.

Speaking of lights, there’s also a tally lamp on the A7R VI, which is a handy visual aid letting you know the camera is recording, whereas the A7R V doesn't have one.

See the lamp button centrally placed below and to the left of the red record button (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The displays are mostly the same. The 3.2-inch 2.1m-dot touchscreen has a four-way tilt hinge — you can tilt it up from the body, or pull it out to the side and rotate it for selfies, for vertical and horizontal shooting at just about any angle. The EVF is again a 9.44m-dot unit, but on the A7R VI it's 3x brighter, and I can attest that it’s an even nicer viewfinder to use — the best I’ve used on a camera this size, and up there with the very best of any camera I’ve used.

On the side of the new camera, each port has its own rigid door now, whereas some share a door in the A7R V. By the way, I much prefer this type of door to the soft doors found in most other cameras, which can get in the way.

5. Price

A7R VI: Body-only: £4,500
A7R V: Now £3,000 (launched at £4,000) while the A1 II is £6,200
Nikon Z8: Now £3,000 (launched at £4,000)
Canon EOS R5 Mark II: £4,500

I've tested the A1 II too, and it has a few advantages over the A7R VI for pro sports and flash photography, but the A7R VI feels like better value (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Compared to the A7R V, the A7R VI is a pricier upgrade, especially since the A7R V is over three years old, and its price has dropped by about 25%. It started out at £4,000, but can now be had from Sony’s site and other leading retailers for around £3,000.

I’m not surprised by the bump in price, considering the time between the two cameras and the A7R VI's new sensor and battery.

The A1 II is much pricier than either, costing around £6,000, and making the A7R VI look like excellent value by comparison. That being said, Sony’s latest ‘R’ camera costs the same as the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, and is in turn pricier than the Nikon Z8 which is closer in price to the A7R V.

In summary, the A7R V costs significantly less, but the A7R VI gives you more camera, and offers decent value compared to rival models.

Conclusion

I already loved the Sony A7R V, with its 61MP full-frame sensor and speedy autofocus. The A7R VI is, however, better on both the quality and speed fronts, and even plants a foot on A1-series turf.

For me, as someone who shoots a wide range of photography genres, covering anything from landscapes to portraits and sports, the A7R VI is a dream camera, and it now tops my Sony camera wishlist.

Before the A7R VI was announced, I would have opted for Canon and Nikon rivals, given the various compromises in its predecessor, but the A7R VI changes the equation. It's a strong upgrade for a range of photo and video subjects, and could even be worth switching systems for. It also offers superior battery life, and a range of lenses for all budgets that Canon and Nikon owners wish they had. For me, the A7R VI is the professional camera to beat.

I took over 1,000 photos and videos with the gorgeous Panasonic Lumix L10 — these are my favorites, and they really show off what the premium compact can do (and yes, there are cute kittens)

Timothy Coleman — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I've been snapping away with the Panasonic Lumix L10 for weeks, ever since it was announced on May 12.

You can learn more about the Lumix L10 in my in-depth Panasonic Lumix L10 review, but because I've taken so many photos and videos with the premium compact camera, I thought it apt to share more of my favorites in this extensive photo gallery.

I've included a range of my favorite photos, and they really show what the Lumix L10 is capable of, but they're also simply for you to enjoy (the timing of cute kittens joining our family couldn't have been better)!

For its gorgeous design and powerful features, the Lumix L10 ranks among the best compact cameras. And with its versatile and bright zoom lens, the L10 is, for me, a compelling alternative to popular fixed-lens compact rivals such as the Fujifilm X100VI and Ricoh GR IV.

As the spiritual successor to the LX100 series, and a camera that's packing the latest Lumix tech, I predict the Lumix L10 will be one of the most popular Panasonic cameras in years — it's available in Black, Silver or limited edition Titanium Gold, and I've provided links to today's best deals below.

That's enough about the camera — let's get to the pictures...

Panasonic's latest autofocus

I had to start with the kittens, which were rescued after being found in a neighbor's cupboard (a stray had entered the house, given birth, and left), and which my family is currently nursing!

The Lumix L10 features Panasonic's latest hybrid phase-detection autofocus with subject detection, including humans, animals and more, and it can be fine-tuned for certain species such as cats, with pose detection. The camera pretty much nailed the focus every shot.

Tim Coleman

A versatile zoom

Unlike other popular premium compact cameras with a fixed lens, the Lumix L10 features a 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 optic. That's a 3.1x zoom, and I often found myself at the telephoto end of the zoom range.

Below I've included a series of five shots of the same scene at key focal lengths: 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm and 75mm. A switch on the camera's lens can be assigned as a stepped zoom for quick access to three of the six recognized optical focal lengths, or beyond for digital zoom settings.

24mmTim Coleman

35mm (the same focal length as the Fujifilm X100VI)Tim Coleman

50mm Tim Coleman

70mm – I must point out that gorgeous sunstar!Tim Coleman

And finally 75mm, the maximum focal length, and my favorite setting in this scenarioTim Coleman

Macro focusing

The Lumix L10 can focus as close as 3cm, which sounds super-impressive. However, that's just for the wide-angle 24mm setting of the lens — which is not the perspective I typically go for with macro photography.

With the lens zoomed in to 75mm, the minimum focus distance increases to 30cm, which isn't nearly as impressive. However, the camera can still focus nice and close.

24mm and 3cm focus distanceTim Coleman

75mm and 30cm focus distanceTim Coleman

At 3cmTim Coleman

Again at 3cm. I know because I manually set the focus distance and focal lengthTim Coleman

Back at 75mm for a perspective I prefered, even if that meant not getting as close as I would likeTim Coleman

An everyday and travel camera

The beauty of a compact camera like the Lumix L10, which only weighs around 500g, is that it can be with you at all times. It excels as a travel and everyday camera; however, one drawback makes me cautious recommending it for street photography, and that's its start-up time.

The camera itself is lightning-quick in operation, but it features a collapsible lens. That means from starting up, to the lens extending into position, and the camera being ready to shoot, there's a good 2-3 seconds delay, which is fine for many scenarios but less helpful for quick-fire street photography.

Tim Coleman

Portraiture

The 3.1x zoom lens covers popular focal lengths for portrait photography, while its maximum f/1.7 (24mm) to f/2.8 (75mm) aperture can provide a shallow depth of field to separate subject and background.

With a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensor, the full-frame effective depth of field is like having a f/3.4 to f/5.6 aperture. Still, with the right framing, and distance between the camera and subject, and the subject and background, it's pretty easy to get attractive portraits.

Bokeh is nice and smooth most of the time, but if the scene has strong background sunlight I've noticed the unattractive onion-ring effect in bokeh at times, rather than it being smooth (I've included a couple of backlit wildflower photos to give you an idea of bokeh quality). The lens is far from being a specialist portrait optic.

Tim Coleman

Color profiles and Real Time LUTs

Fujifilm has a solid reputation in this department, but don't overlook Panasonic. A combination of in-camera profiles — which include numerous 'Leica' looks and some new profiles including L.Classic Gold (most of the images below are shot with this new profile) — and Real Time LUTs, which can be downloaded via the excellent Lumix Lab app and used for photo and video, make the Lumix L10 a color powerhouse. As I said in my review, I've never been more tempted to shoot JPEG-only.

Tim Coleman

Is GoPro the next Kodak? AI could bring down the action cam pioneer as filings raise ‘substantial doubt’ about its future

Sam Kieldsen — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:42:52 +0000

On June 1, GoPro filed a regulatory notice disclosing "substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue." The culprit? A deadly combination of increased competition, plummeting sales and soaring memory prices. It seems scarcely believable that the firm that essentially invented the action camera should be struggling, but there's been a long road to get to this point.

GoPro's origin story is almost comically Californian. Founder Nick Woodman started the company in 2002 with a loan from his parents and a surfer's frustration at not being able to capture what he was doing out on the waves.

Woodman's first product was a wrist strap designed to hold a camera, but by 2004 he was selling his own branded cameras, designed specifically for action sports photography. In 2012, GoPro accounted for more than a fifth of all digital camcorders sold in the US. A year later, Woodman would become a billionaire.

GoPro founder and CEO Nick Woodman showing off the GoPro Hero 2 camera in 2011. (Image credit: GoPro)

GoPro's 2014 IPO was the high watermark for the company. GoPro wasn't just a camera maker by that point, but a full-on lifestyle brand. It had democratized the hero shot and put cinematic self-shot footage within reach of anyone who owned a surfboard, a mountain bike or a pair of skis.

Where things started to go wrong

Suddenly, problems arrived quickly and from multiple directions. In 2016, GoPro launched its Karma drone to considerable fanfare, only to recall every single unit within weeks after some begun to lose power and drop out of the sky. The drone made a brief reappearance in 2017 before being quietly canned; margin pressures were cited, but the reality was that the China-based DJI already had the consumer drone market sewn up in a way that left almost no room for a late entrant.

GoPro's ventures into virtual reality with the Omni and Fusion followed a similar faltering trajectory. Meanwhile, smartphone cameras were getting capable enough to satisfy the casual end of the market, while DJI and Insta360 were building serious action camera competition at the top. GoPro found itself squeezed from both sides.

A bold pivot toward a direct-to-consumer model and subscription service helped stabilize things for a while, with subscriber numbers growing sharply through 2020 and 2021. But revenue kept trending the wrong way, while the competitive pressure never let up.

The GoPro Karma drone was a huge gamble for the company, and it didn't pay off.

An unexpected blow

The latest twist in this tale is that GoPro's current crisis hasn't been caused by a rival outmaneuvering it or a botched product launch. Instead, the AI infrastructure boom has generated a voracious demand for memory chips at the datacenter level, pulling supply away from consumer electronics and sending prices soaring; memory reportedly more than doubled in cost in some cases during the first quarter of this year. Pair that with weaker sales through April and May, and the regulatory filing starts to make sense.

GoPro was already running on thin margins, so these rising AI-driven costs come at a terrible time. The company's own warning states that without new financing or a strategic transaction, it may be required to "significantly reduce, restructure, or cease operations." No specific plans along those lines have been announced as the time of writing.

What it means for you

There's a cruel irony in the timing. GoPro launched its Mission 1 range just weeks ago — a trio of cameras that represent a genuine step forward for the brand, with 8K capture, impressive stabilization, and enough versatility to appeal well beyond the traditional action camera crowd. We have an in-depth review on the way, but our early impressions suggest that the Mission 1 is a great piece of engineering, and that the company that still knows what it's doing when it comes to hardware design. The filing, however, shows that it may be running out of time to prove it.

The new GoPro Mission 1 range is technically bold — but has it arrived too late to save the company's fortunes? (Image credit: GoPro)

And if the worst happens and the brand does exit the market, there could be some major consequences for consumers. GoPro is the Coca-Cola of action cameras: the brand that everyone reaches for first and the name that defines the category in mainstream consciousness. Rivals like Insta360 and DJI make excellent products, and they'd continue to push each other forward without GoPro around. But its loss would mean losing the market's default reference point, and losing the brand that competitors have spent years measuring themselves against. It's the sort of presence that doesn't get replaced easily, and its absence rarely works out in the consumer's favor.

Nothing is written in stone yet, and GoPro may yet turn things around. But the notice feels like the sort of document that tends to mark a turning point, one way or another. We'll be keeping an eye on developments, and will bring you more news on what happens next for GoPro.

Adorama's 'Summer Sony Sale' drops the A7R V and A7R IV cameras to a record-low price — these still-great bodies are much cheaper than the A7R VI

alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:03:52 +0000

The stunning new Sony Alpha A7R VI has been one of the biggest camera launches of the past few months, and with good reason - our review has praised it as a near-perfect full-frame flagship.

The release of a new model, however, also means great price cuts on slightly older (but still great) iterations. Right now, for example, you can get a record-low price on both the Sony A7R V and the Sony A7R IV thanks to a 'Summer Sony Sale' at Adorama.

Currently, you can pick up the Sony A7R V for $3,298 (was $3,798), while the older A7R IV is retailing for $2,798 (was $3,698). While still pricey, you're potentially saving up to $900 versus the original price here on full-frame flagships with the extreme levels of resolution that the Sony R series is known for. An impressive 61MP, in fact!

Today's best Sony Alpha A7R deals

The Sony A7R V still holds up great thanks to its impressive 61MP sensor, support for 8K video, and advanced AI-trained autofocus. If you don't need, say, the faster read-out speeds or burst shooting of the latest A7R VI, then the V is still an amazing choice considering it's much, much cheaper thanks to this discount at Adorama.

B&H Photo: was $4199 now $3,298View Deal

The A7R IV is still on sale, and as you'd expect, it's much cheaper than the more recent iterations. At the heart of this model is the same 61MP sensor as the V, but you lose support for 8K video, some more advanced autofocus modes, and compressed RAW files. In terms of resolution, however, this camera can still output incredible results for all types of photography.

B&H Photo: was $3699 now $2,798View Deal

See more: check out all of today's camera deals at Adorama

Is it still worth buying these with the release of the Sony A7R VI?

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Absolutely! Both the A7R V and IV are still up there with some of the best mirrorless cameras you can buy if you're looking for a full-frame camera with heaps of resolution.

Of the two, the A7R V is the easiest to recommend. While it shares the same 61MP sensor as the IV, you get a very compelling set of upgrades. Alongside AI-assisted subject detection modes, the V features a better EVF, multi-angle screen, better IBIS, and support for 8K video. It's just a much more fully-featured and modern camera overall, although you will need a pricier CF-Express Type A card to fully utilize its full set of features.

Right now, the latest A7R VI is retailing for an eye-wateringly high $4,498 at Adorama, so the A7R V looks like a good middle-ground. Having personally used the A7R VI, I can attest that it's a fantastic camera - but there's no doubt it comes at a serious premium.

I spent three weeks with Panasonic’s prettiest camera to date — here’s why the Lumix L10 is a Fujifilm X100VI killer

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Panasonic Lumix L10: Two-minute review

Panasonic marked the 25th anniversary of Lumix cameras by announcing the attractive Lumix L10 premium compact camera. If it looks familiar, that's because its retro design cues are taken directly from the popular LX100 series — the most recent being the Lumix LX100 II from 2018 — while its form factor brings to mind the popular Fujifilm X100VI.

Unlike other recent Lumix compact cameras, such as the ZS300 / TZ300, there are genuine upgrades in the Lumix L10 — it's fitted with Panasonic's latest 26.5MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, processor, and autofocus system, a higher-capacity battery, and it even has a viewfinder!

The 24-75mm f/1.7 to f/2.8 Leica Summilux lens with 3cm macro focusing is based on the lens in the LX100 II, with Panasonic saying it's been refined for the L10's higher-specced sensor. How exactly, is unclear, but the user experience is essentially the same, for better or worse; the sharp detail and bright aperture are a major boon, but it's not weather-sealed, and it slows the camera's startup and shut-down time.

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In the hand, the Lumix L10 is a joy to use, and it's quickly become one of my favorite compact cameras. Beyond its charming retro design there's a decent 2.36m-dot OLED viewfinder, a bright 1.84m-dot vari-angle touchscreen, and a proper hotshoe for accessories such as a flash.

The lens is beautifully crafted, and offers direct aperture control, a zoom ring and a customizable switch, with a choice of functions including a stepped zoom, Real Time LUTs, and aspect ratio selection.

Speaking of aspect ratios, it's a cinch to switch between 4:3, 16:9, 1:1 and 3:2, which aids composition for various outputs including social, but the drawback is that not all of the sensor's pixels are usable because of the imaging circle of the lens. 4:3 stills get you the highest-resolution stills at 20.4MP, while 1:1 is an oddity in that it technically doesn't use all of the pixels that it could (based on the imaging circle of the lens).

A current-day Lumix compact camera with a viewfinder! (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

If you compare the L10 to the older Lumix LX100 II, the latest model is feature-packed and snappier in operation, while video performance is in another league, with 5.7K recording, Log color profile, and Real Time LUTs downloadable through the Lumix Lab companion app. Lumix Lab, by the way, is one of the best apps around, with new features regularly being added, the latest being raw editing. (You can shoot raw with the L10 without needing editing software such as Lightroom.)

Battery life is better too, with a larger and higher-capacity battery slotted inside the grip. The downside is that the L10 is notably bigger than the LX100 II, which is a real shame if you like your cameras extra-small. That being said, the size and form factor are a good fit in the hand, and already-available extras further improve the camera's handling — I had the excellent the SmallRig thumb grip and hand grip for my review.

Overall, the Lumix L10 is exactly the kind of camera Panasonic fans — and, indeed, any compact camera fan — needed. There's no other model like it with such a heady mix of powerful features, large sensor, versatile 3.1x optical zoom, in an attractive retro body.

I'm not convinced the L10 is totally for me — I like my sensors big and bokeh extra creamy, meaning I'm in the "please Panasonic announce a full-frame Lumix S9 with a viewfinder" camp — but the L10 should be the one for many photographers hoping for a powerful everyday and travel camera that's simply enjoyable to use. The zoom-lens versatility is the real winner.

The versatile 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 stabilized lens (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Panasonic Lumix L10: price and release date

Announced on May 12 2026 to mark the 25th anniversary of Lumix
Available in black or silver versions for $1,499 / £1,299 / A$2,599 from June 2026
The Titanium Gold Special Edition (pictured) costs $100 / £100 more and comes with extras, with limited availability from July 2026

The Titanium Gold version comes with a matching auto lens cap (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The Lumix L10 costs $1,499 / £1,299 / A$2,599, which feels about right for this type of camera, and one with such powerful features, and the current market conditions. That's a full $400 / £300 less than the Fujifilm X100VI, which has a fixed lens, but which overall feels a little more premium.

If it's a purely compact package you're looking for, then another option is picking up a full-frame Lumix S9, which body-only costs hundreds less. Add the tiny new 40mm F2 or the collapsible kit zoom lens, and the package is around the same price as the Lumix L10. You'll miss out on a viewfinder, but you will have an L-mount camera with a powerful full-frame sensor, and a wider choice of colors.

The Lumix L10 pictured throughout this review is the Titanium Gold Special Edition, which costs an additional $100 / £100, and is available through select outlets, namely Panasonic's store (and it's not available in every region). You're not paying a premium just for the color — the kit also includes a titanium-colored auto lens cap, a Lumix-branded leather strap, and a dedicated L10 lens cloth. The menus of the camera are suitably monotone to match the warm tones of the camera, and the camera model name is etched onto the camera's lower right-hand side on the back.

Price score: 4/5

Panasonic Lumix L10 specs

Panasonic Lumix L10 Specs:
Type:	Compact camera
Lens	Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9-34mm (24-75mm equivalent), F1.7-2.8
Sensor:	26.5MP Micro Four Thirds (20.4MP effective)
Video:	5.6K up to 60p / 5.2K 30p open gate / 4K up to 120p / FHD up to 240p
ISO range:	ISO 50-25,600
Burst shooting	Approx 11fps mechanical, up to 30fps electronic
LCD:	3-inch articulated, 1.84m dots
Viewfinder:	2.36m-dot, OLED EVF. 0.39in, 0.74x magnification
Memory:	1x UHS-II SD
Battery	DMW-BLK22 rated to approx 420 shots
Dimensions	5.01 x 2.91 x 2.64 inches / 127.1 x 73.9 x 66.9mm
Weight:	1.12lbs / 508g with battery, SD card and hotshoe cover

Panasonic Lumix L10: design

The prettiest Lumix in years, available in silver, black or a limited-edition Titanium Gold
Roughly the same design as the Lumix L100 II, which also has a 24-75mm f/1.7-f/2.8 lens, but overall it's bigger
There's a flip-out touchscreen and a handy EVF

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Design-wise, the Lumix L10 is very much the spiritual successor to the Lumix L100 II, which remains a popular and versatile everyday camera for keen photographers.

And if it ain't broke, don't fix it; there's essentially the same control layout, 24-75mm f/1.7-f/2.8 lens, vari-angle 1.84m-dot touchscreen and 2.36m-dot EVF, and every part works perfectly well for casual photo and video use.

One key difference is the size and weight of the 2026 model — the L10 is noticably bigger and a little heavier than the L100 II, with a strikingly similar profile to the Fujifilm X100 VI.

A chief reason for the larger body is that the L10 is fitted with a larger battery — the same kind used in Panasonic's mirrorless bodies such as the Lumix GH7. Of course, a bigger battery means better battery life, and it's also better able to support more powerful features.

The actual difference in battery life isn't so much as you might imagine, though; the L10 runs for up to 420 shots compared to the L100 II's 350 shots. However, the L10 also packs better-quality video, and video capture is more demanding of power.

Future / Tim Coleman

The lens is a defining feature of the camera — it's a versatile 24-75mm optic which is improved from the Lumix 100 II's, although Panasonic hasn't made clear how, besides describing it as being fine-tuned for the L10. It's impressively sharp, and the maximum aperture is bright throughout the zoom range, and able to produce reasonable subject and background separation, especially using the telephoto setting.

Macro focusing is down to 3cm, but that's at the wide-angle end of the lens. Zoom in to 75mm and the minimum focus distance is more like 30cm, which is hardly 'macro' — see my comparison photos below to get an idea of how close the camera is able to focus at either end of the zoom range.

Shot at 24mm using the closest focusing of 3cmTim Coleman

Zoomed in to 75mm, I needed to step back because the minimum focus distance is much further awayTim Coleman

The lens still isn't weather-sealed — and users of the LX100 series have reported dust ingress in the lens, so that's very much a possibility with the Lumix L10. And with a slightly plasticky feel in parts, it's a camera that probably needs to be looked after, rather than tossed into a bag or used in extreme conditions.

Besides the lack of an AF joystick, there are plenty of external controls at your fingertips, most of which can be customized to taste, and it certainly pays dividends to take the time assigning the L10's custom controls to your regularly used settings.

Take the switch on the lens, which can be used to control anything from aspect ratio to stepped zoom or Real Time LUTs color profiles — that's a handy range of controls.

Future / Tim Coleman

Despite its decent video credentials, the L10 is very much the stills-oriented camera by design. Yes, there's a mic jack, but no headphone or HDMI. The camera can be charged via USB-C.

The rangefinder-style 2.36m-dot OLED viewfinder and 3-inch 1.84m-dot vari-angle screen make viewing and composing images a cinch in just about any scenario — even if both units are a little dated now.

Overall, I have no major complaints about the L10's design. It's highly enjoyable to use, and it's a very attractive camera too, which made me want to use it all the more.

Design score: 4.5/5

Panasonic Lumix L10: Performance

Panasonic's latest 26.5MP MFT sensor and processor, but the sensor is not stabilized
Snappy and reliable hybrid phase-detection autofocus with subject detection
Startup / power down time is slowed by the lens extension / retraction

The L10 is an altogether different kettle of fish compared to recent Lumix compacts (which were basically re-releases with USB-C added, but, annoyingly, with the viewfinder removed). It's a genuine upgrade from the eight-year-old LX100 II, equipped with Panasonic's latest sensor, processor and autofocus system.

Throughout my three weeks and counting of testing, the camera has never missed a beat; it happily rattles through 11fps burst shooting sequences, and records high-resolution 5.6K video with no lag and minimal rolling-shutter distortion.

Autofocus is snappy and reliable, and includes subject detection for humans and animals (including pose recognition), plus vehicles and more. At times, however, I missed having a joystick for quick and easy manual selection of autofocus points. The camera offers this control through two steps: pressing the autofocus mode option on the D-pad, then pressing down on the D-pad, at which point the pad can be used to shift the autofocus points in play.

Subject-detection autofocus includes specific animals, such as cats (identifying this adorable kitten)Tim Coleman

Tim Coleman

And of course people detection autofocus features, with a range of settings covering eye priority and so onTim Coleman

If there's one drawback in using the Lumix L10 for everyday and street photography, it's the retractable lens design. From powering up, there's around a two-second wait for the lens to extend before the camera is ready to shoot, and around the same time for it to retract when turning the camera off.

We get the same 26.5MP MFT sensor as used in recent mirrorless cameras such as the Lumix GH7, but with one major difference: the sensor isn't stabilized (the lens is), which can limit the camera's handheld use, especially in low light or for creative long-exposure photography, for which you'll want a support for the camera.

Rival cameras including the Ricoh GR IV and Fujifilm X100VI have in-body image stabilization (IBIS), as do most MFT mirrorless cameras at this sort of price point, including the OM System OM-5 II and Lumix GH series.

From powering up to the lens extending and the camera being ready to shoot takes a good two secondsFuture / Tim Coleman

Future / Tim Coleman

Overall, however, there are few cameras that are able to perform as smoothly as the L10 while offering such processor-intensive features — inside that retro body is some serious grunt.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Panasonic Lumix L10: Image and video quality

Multi-aspect stills up to 20.4MP, from the 26.5MP sensor
The lens is sharp and bright
A wide range of color profiles, including Real Time LUTs

24mmTim Coleman

35mm (the same focal length as the Fujifilm X100VI)Tim Coleman

50mm Tim Coleman

70mm (and remember, there is the option to assign the lens switch as a stepped zoom, with one push change from these popular settings) Tim Coleman

And finally 75mm, the maximum focal lengthTim Coleman

I've had more than enough time with the Lumix L10 to get a feel for its capabilities and image quality, and it's really grown on me.

When I started writing this review, I was ready to table my request for a fixed-lens Lumix with full-frame sensor instead, or a Lumix S9 Mark II with a viewfinder; but I've come to appreciate the versatility of the L10's 24-75mm lens, which I value more than prime-lens image quality for everyday photography (see the range above).

The lens is impressively sharp, and crucially its maximum f/1.7-2.8 aperture is plenty bright. This is a camera that's as comfortable with street photography scenarios as it is for macro photography or portraiture.

Lens distortions are kept to a minimum — there's only an occasional touch of chromatic aberration in out-of-focus areas, and rainbow flare when shooting towards bright sunlight, while sunstars are crisp (check out the gallery below).

Check out that crisp sunstar — stunning!Tim Coleman

Here is the L10's lens flare at its worst — any lens would struggle pointed directly at the sun, but the rainbow flare is quite pronouncedTim Coleman

Look closely at bokeh (the out-of-focus orbs of light) and you can see some onion ring effect (rather than attractive smooth bokeh)Tim Coleman

Tim Coleman

The unfortunate drawback to the camera's design is that the imaging circle of the lens cuts into the sensor area, meaning that not all of the sensor's 26.5 megapixels are usable — the maximum photo resolution is 20.4MP.

That's still a big resolution bump from the LX100 II, which had an effective 12MP resolution, but some way behind high-resolution alternatives such as the 40MP Fujifilm X100VI.

The low-light quality of a Micro Four Thirds sensor is also limited compared to larger-sensor alternatives, especially since there's no IBIS which would otherwise enable users to use longer shutter speeds when shooting handheld.

It's easy to switch between aspect ratios, as I have here for this scene using 1:1, but at this ratio the maximum photo size is 3,904 x 3,904 pixelsTim Coleman

Tim Coleman

Detail across the aperture range is surprisingly sharp for a zoom lens, and you'll struggle to find a better-equipped compact camera for video at this price point — just what I would expect from a modern-day Lumix.

And then there's the unsung highlight of a photographer's life with a Lumix camera: attractive color profiles and free Real Time LUTs uploads from the always-improving Lumix Lab app.

I've easily paired the L10 with the Lumix Lab app to remotely control the camera and view scenes, and upload Real Time LUTs profiles directly onto the camera (remember there's a switch on the lens which can be assigned as direct access to these profiles). These profiles can be used for photo and video.

Put simply, it's straightforward to get the look you want for photo and video in-camera, minimizing time needed with editing software. I've never been more tempted to save space on my memory cards and shoot JPEG-only.

Panasonic Lumix L10 sample gallery

Tim Coleman

Image and video quality score: 4/5

Panasonic Lumix L10: testing scorecard

Panasonic Lumix L10
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	An expected price for this type and level of camera, and I'd be surprised if it's discounted any time soon	4/5
Design	Really attractive retro body, equipped with a wide range of controls, EVF and vari-angle touchscreen	4.5/5
Performance	Besides the boot-up time, the camera never missed a beat. I missed in-body stabilization, however	4.5/5
Image and video quality	Stills max out at 20.4MP, and the MFT sensor has the usual low-light quality limitations, but there are stunning Real Time LUTs profiles available	4/5

Should I buy the Panasonic Lumix L10?

Buy it if...

You want a stylish everyday camera for photography
With a retro profile and rangefinder-style viewfinder, the Lumix L10 looks the part like no other recent Panasonic camera.

You'd like a sidekick to your mirrorless Lumix
With a sharp zoom lens, powerful autofocus, decent video performance and the same color profiles, the Lumix L10 is an excellent sidekick to recent Lumix mirrorless cameras.

Don't buy it if...

You know you're focal length
Zoom lens versatility is a key reason to buy the Lumix L10. If you typically shoot using a single focal length, a Ricoh GR or Fujifilm X100 series model could be a better bet.

You want a rugged camera for all conditions
The L10 looks the part and performs brilliantly, but it's not weather sealed and the body feels less premium than an X100 camera, so you'll want to look after it.

Panasonic Lumix L10: also consider

Fujifilm X100VI

A modern day classic — the X100VI is the most preordered camera ever, equipped with a stabilized 40MP APS-C sensor (larger than MFT), fixed 35mm f/2 lens and a hybrid viewfinder. It feels better built and costs around 20-25% more than the Lumix L10, and with that larger sensor and twice the pixels, the X100VI's picture quality has the edge. However, the lens is fixed and less versatile than the L10's zoom.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100VI review

Panasonic Lumix S9

If the Lumix L10's compact size appeals, a versatile alternative is the full-frame Lumix S9. You can pick up the 24MP L-mount mirrorless camera with a small kit lens or the new 40mm F2 prime for around the same price as the L10, and it has that larger, stabilized sensor and even-better video skills. However, the Lumix S9 lacks a viewfinder, which can make it less suitable for photography.

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix S9 review

How I tested the Panasonic Lumix L10

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

I've had the Lumix L10 since its global announcement, meaning 3 weeks and counting at the time of writing
It's been by my side daily, capturing every day moments and travel scenes
I've compared image quality at various aperture settings and focal lengths, and experimented with various color profiles

Panasonic handed me the Titanium Gold Special Edition of the Lumix L10 one day ahead of the camera's global announcement, together with the limited edition accessories plus a thumb grip and hand grip made by SmallRig. I've used all of these accessories for my review.

The camera has been slung over my shoulder a lot of the time throughout the three weeks and counting that I've had it, during which time I've been on two trips and also used the camera to capture every day moments, day and night.

I've tried the various aspect ratios, color profiles, video settings and fully tested the lens's capabilities across its various aperture settings and focal lengths, plus its macro focusing skills. I continue to fine tune the camera settings to my own preferences. I've made sure to assess battery life and autofocus performance too.

First reviewed: June 2026
Read more about how we test

Camp Snap returns with another ultra-cheap screen-free compact camera — and this is the new feature I’m most excited about

Jon Stapley — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The Camp Snap 2 is the latest screen-free digital compact camera, designed to provide a simple experience and film-like feel
It adds a new filter button, similar to the dial on the CS-PRO but with even more options for giving images a vintage look
The shutter has also been upgraded for faster responsiveness and instant quick-draw shooting

Camp Snap, producer of affordable retro-styled digital cameras, has announced the successor to its mega-viral original Camp Snap camera — the Camp Snap 2.

The original Camp Snap came somewhat out of nowhere to become an unexpected hit. An ultra-affordable compact camera with a tiny sensor and no screen, meaning you couldn’t see your images until after you’d shot them, it proved hugely appealing to consumers looking for a simpler photography experience that evoked some of the feel of shooting film without the ongoing expense.

Since then, we’ve also seen the Camp Snap CS-8, a video camera aping Super 8 camcorders, and the CS-Pro, a slightly upgraded Fujifilm X100-styled version of the original Camp Snap with a higher-resolution sensor and filter dial. But now, we have the mainline sequel to the original camera that started it all: the Camp Snap 2.

(Image credit: Camp Snap)

So, what’s new? At first glance, not much — this is still a screen-free digital compact with a small 1/3.2-inch sensor that has a resolution of 8MP. Once again this is paired with a fixed-focus wide-angle lens (26mm equivalent), in a camera with fixed exposure settings, a small optical viewfinder and an LED flash. All these things were true of the original Camp Snap.

However, once you dig in a bit further, there are a few upgrades that I really like the sound of. And with the price still tantalizingly low ($69.95 at launch, equivalent to about £52 / AU$97), I think it’s quite possible that Camp Snap is going to have another hit on its hands. I have the camera on my desk now and will be testing it out fully over the next few weeks — but here’s a quick rundown of the key new features.

(Image credit: Camp Snap)

More filters, faster shooting

The Camp Snap 2 adds a new filter-toggle button, similar to the dial on the CS-Pro but with even more options: six filters by default rather than four. You get: Standard, Vintage 1–3, Analog, and Black & White. I’ll be interested to see exactly what ‘Analog’ means (I suspect it’s going to be grainy). This button comes locked by default as part of the ‘Camp Lock’ feature-set designed to make the camera suitable for children; this is also why the memory card door is screwed in.

Sample images taken with the Camp Snap 2.Camp Snap

Camp Snap

Elsewhere, the shutter has also been upgraded. Shutter lag was a common complaint about the original Camp Snap, and the manufacturer promises that the button has been redesigned for an instantly responsive shooting experience. Also, Camp Snap says that while the camera will power-off after a period of inactivity to save battery, you can still quickly draw it and shoot to get the next shot without needing to power-up first.

This, I really like the sound of. One of my gripes with a lot of film-style digital compacts — I discussed it in my RewindPix review — is that auto power-off functionality means they don’t recreate the always-on readiness of analog compacts. If the Camp Snap 2 has fixed this issue, I’ll be very pleased.

Camp Snap says this new version is even lighter than the original Camp Snap, to the tune of a 15% weight reduction (it weighs a slender 108g). It now has a screw thread on the bottom for tripod mounting, and a 30.5mm filter thread on the lens for attaching screw-on filters.

The CS-Pro also has a filter thread, and in my review I was a bit dismissive of the idea that a Camp Snap user would bother to attach a screw-on lens filter. Naturally, someone immediately popped up in the comments to prove me wrong and explain how they bought a cheap mist filter and it really helped enhance the lo-fi filmic look of their images. So, that’s taught me to be a bit more open-minded about how people are using these cameras.

Furthermore, in the release material for the CS2, Camp Snap also not so subtly hints that it’s working on producing its own filters for the cameras. I’m interested to see what comes out.

The Camp Snap 2 is available now in a range of colorways, priced $69.95. I have the natty Sunbeam Yellow version with me now, and I’m looking forward to putting it through its paces for a full review coming soon.

(Image credit: Camp Snap)