Issue #456: The New & Improved Have Camera Will Travel Newsletter!
Welcome to the new and improved Have Camera Will Travel newsletter! I do hope you like it!
This newsletter contains some affiliate links.
News Roundup
Here’s a quick roundup of some photography news and updates that have caught my eye.
The Nikon Z9 gets a massive firmware update
It's a doozy, with a ton of tweaks, fixes, and new features. Highlights include new auto capture modes, new 4x and 5x slow-motion (1080p) right out of the camera, better 3D autofocus tracking, and pre-release capture (great for sports and wildlife!). The Z8 had its own massive firmware update not long ago.
The Fujifilm X100VI instantly goes into backorder
You just knew this was going to happen. Fujifilm tried hard to reassure us that they had their manufacturing backlog under control. Well, it turns out, not so much . . . It seems they still vastly underestimated the demand for the X100VI. Even if you preordered within hours of the announcement back in February, there's a good chance you're still on the waitlist that's going to extend into at least April.
A new Leica compact premium to take on the Fujifilm X100VI (rumor)
Fujifilm has muscled in on Leica territory with the X100 cameras. But it sounds like Leica isn’t just going to sit by and watch. Rumors are swirling that they’re working on refreshing their premium compact D-Lux 7, a model that is now discontinued, with used copies selling for around the price of a new X100VI (if you could get your hands on one!). For now, it’s just a rumor, but it’s a plausible and intriguing one.
Solar eclipse on April 8
If you’re lucky enough to be in the path of the solar eclipse on April 8, and have clear skies, B&H is hosting an online event on March 28 going over some of the creative possibilities way beyond just pointing the camera and pressing the shutter.
What’s new?
It’s cherry blossom season in Washington DC. That means many very early mornings out taking *lots* of photos of cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin.
The surprising versatility of the Nikon Z 105mm ƒ/2.8 S Macro
I’ll be posting more about this soon, but this is my first season shooting with the Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z 105mm ƒ/2.8 VR S Macro combination. And I’m loving it! Don’t be put off by the “macro”—I find it to be an incredibly versatile lens.
Here are a few sample shots:
Testing & reviewing the Sony a6700
And I’ve been testing out the Sony a6700 and a few wide-angle lenses for it. Stay tuned for my review, coming soon!
SD card test: Samsung PRO Ultimate V30
As you may know, I have for several years been buying and speed testing SD cards and microSD cards. You can find the full test results here.
I’ve recently added the Samsung PRO Ultimate V30. While it’s not going to knock any of the V90 UHS-II cards off the podium, it’s notable for existing at all.
For the longest time, Samsung has focused mostly on microSD cards, which has made sense to support their smartphones. But now they’re moving into full-size SD cards.
That’s great news, because they make excellent flash storage devices, and it’s exactly the kind of competition that’s good for us as end users.
If you enjoyed this newsletter
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