Gear of the Month | October 2024

Welcome to our quickfire round-up of all the essential photo and video gear releases from October. If you’re interested in camera lenses, then we’ve got the top picks for you. Canon, Fujifilm and Panasonic have all released new lenses and ones that you’ll definitely want to consider. Equally, we have new cameras on the scene too.

Other than these, the drone news is from DJI with its latest offering; a drone that may seem similar at first but it’s got something special up its propeller-sleeve. And then there are some significant firmware updates for the S9, S5 II and S5 IIX. Read it all here, in October’s Gear of the Month!

We kick things off with the new DJI Air 3S. This drone stands as one of DJI’s best. While it doesn’t have tonnes of upgrades, the ones it does have are pretty significant. Equipped with a boosted dual-camera system, featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor for stunning 20 MP stills and 5.4K video at 60fps, producing exceptional image quality, especially in low light. Naturally, this opens up all sorts of new creative options. 

It’s also safer to fly with improved obstacle avoidance. The Air 3S is fitted with a forward-facing LiDAR sensor. Combine this with its downward infrared time-of-flight (TOF) sensors and six vision sensors, and this drone offers enhanced nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing. It can spot and avoid obstacles automatically during flight and when returning home, making flying much safer - day or night.

Here’s our first look at the Canon RF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM Z lens. This lens steps it up a notch, offering advanced features that make it ideal for both photography and video work. It’s packed with tech including 5.5 stops of OIS (7.5 with IBIS) and a wide constant f2.8 aperture. And, as you’d expect from a Canon L series lens, the images it can produce are exceptional.

Where this lens differs from other Canon 70-200mm lenses is its hybrid design that leans toward video use. It’s compatible with Canon's zoom servo grip, which enables power zoom functions despite not having internal power zoom. It has a 32-notch aperture ring which allows for precise control over exposure. And, while it isn’t a true parfocal lens, it uses internal technology to mimic the effect digitally, maintaining focus during zooms.

We’ll cover these together. Like the previous lenses, these join the ever-growing Canon RF L-series lens lineup, filling in the prime-lens gaps from the original DSLR L-series. Each one features exceptional optical sharpness, premium image quality and precision autofocusing; all that we expect from Canon L lenses. They’re for the pros. 

These lenses are packed with Canon’s latest tech including near-silent Nano USM & VCM AF motors and wide, bright and fast maximum f1.4 apertures that are perfect for low-light shooting and creating stunningly shallow depth of field.

Be sure to take a look at our review and comparison with Jon Devo below:

Fuji shooters were gifted the second iteration of the beloved Fujifilm XF 16-55mm. The original was a fan favourite for its versatile focal length and fast aperture compared to other Fuji lenses at the time. It was, and still is, a workhorse. 

So what has Fuji done to improve on such a lens? This version features several improvements including an upgraded optical design that offers better sharpness and reduced chromatic aberration, as well as upgraded coatings that further minimise flare and ghosting, enhancing contrast and colour accuracy. It has faster and quieter autofocus, improved weather sealing, and is optimised for Fujifilm's latest camera models. The size and weight are similar but the upgrades make the II lens a more appealing option.

Then we have this incredible addition to the X-mount lineup, Fujifilm XF 500mm f5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens. Wow. This is the farthest-reaching prime lens available for the Fujifilm X-mount system. With an equivalent focal length of 762mm, it delivers incredible detail through its advanced optical design, featuring 21 elements in 14 groups, including 5 ED and 2 Super-ED lenses.

This lens features some pretty impressive Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) that effectively reduces camera shake, meaning you can use this for handheld shooting and your images are going to be sharp. Additionally, it's weather-sealed which is essentially for wildlife and sports photography. Overall, it promises excellent optical performance and user-friendly features. We thank you, Fujifilm. 

Fujifilm’s brand-new X-M5 is a standout addition to the X series. Designed for content creators, vloggers and street photographers, this sub-£1000 camera is kitted out with a 26.1MP X-Trans BSI CMOS 4 sensor that delivers high-quality images. Powered by the X-Processor 5, the same seen in Fuji’s top-end cameras, offers fast performance with 20% less power consumption. Even more surprisingly, the X-M5 also get over 13 stops of dynamic range, F-Log2 capabilities and 6.2K at 30p and 4K at 60p. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Fuji camera without film simulation modes, and this camera has 20 options, encouraging you to get creative! 

Again, we see lots of things from Fuji’s pro-cameras such as advanced face and eye autofocus, a 425-point autofocus system, and continuous shooting at 8fps (mechanical) or 20fps (electronic). Its Vlog Mode and 9:16 video recording simplify content creation, and it has a UVC webcam function for 4K live streaming. For such an affordable camera, it really is packed with features. It feels like the perfect beginner camera.

Joining the Lumix lens lineup is the Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm f4.5-6.3 lens. Weighing in at less than half the weight and size of other zoom lenses in the series, this compact lens offers a versatile 18-40mm focal length, making it perfect for a wide range of genres, from landscapes to street photography. Despite its compact form, this lens delivers stunning image quality and has been optimised for both stills and video. If you’re a L-mount lens user, this is definitely one to be on the look out for.

The Panasonic S5D offers a significant upgrade over the regular S5 body featuring DJI’s LiDAR autofocusing system. By not relying on the surface texture of your subject to acquire focus, this groundbreaking AF system makes it much easier to shoot hand-held and is especially effective in low-light environments. It might not seem like much but it’s a significant upgrade that should not be missed. This new body is available as a kit with either Panasonic’s new 18-40mm or widely regarded 28-200mm lenses.

Firmware updates: What’s new for the S9, S5 II and S5 IIX?

Panasonic has released firmware updates for the LUMIX S9, S5 II, and S5 IIX cameras, providing new features, enhancements, and improvements; demonstrating Panasonic's commitment to improving its cameras, offering more flexibility, creative control, and high-quality performance for photographers and videographers.

• The LUMIX S9 (Firmware 1.1) now has no video recording time limit and an Open Gate upgrade for video mode, as well as autofocus recognition enhancements and Lumix Lab App functionality.
  
  
• Both the LUMIX S5 II and S5 IIX (Firmware 3.1 and 2.1) have received Leica Monochrome Photo Style, compatibility with the DMW-XLR2 microphone adapter, an upgrade to the Real-Time LUT function, 5GHz Wi-Fi option, and Lumix Lab App compatibility.

• The LUMIX S5 II offers Hybrid Phase Detection Auto-Focus, improved all-around AF, a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor for 6K video recording, and powerful functions for versatile performance.

• The LUMIX S5 IIX, a new ground-breaking Lumix mirrorless camera, features Hybrid Phase Detection Auto-Focus, a 24-megapixel sensor for 6K video recording, Apple ProRes support with SSD and Atomos outputs, and additional powerful functions.
  
  
• Read the full breakdown here!