B&H Photo News Roundup: Week of May 7, 2023

Nikon Z8, Sony XPERIA 1 V, Canon PowerShot V10, Panasonic S5 IIX, and more.

Week of May 7, 2023

Sometimes we publish here and say that everyone had something to announce as a fun way of saying several products were released in the past week. This time we mean it. Nikon, Sony, Canon, Panasonic, and more had launches (or relaunches) this week, and some of them are quite substantial.

Recently announced is the Nikon Z8, the mirrorless successor to the D850 that I consider perhaps the greatest DSLR ever made. Sony's smartphone division is back with its creator-centered XPERIA 1 V. Canon is offering fun with the PowerShot V10 vlogging camera, which reminds me of those old-school flip cameras. Panasonic is ready to launch the video-focused S5 IIX, Tamron is making the FUJIFILM X version of its 11-20mm available to order, and quite a few non-photography brands have even more coming out.

Let's get started.

Nikon announces the Z8, a worthy mirrorless successor to the D850

I think it is safe to say that the biggest announcement this week was the Nikon Z8. This pro-oriented mirrorless camera has, perhaps, been the most highly anticipated ever since the birth of the Z Series. Rumors always abounded about what could possibly replace the D850. Well, now we know, and I must say that Nikon's response to those rumors was an amazing camera.

If you want the short version of this release, just imagine the Z9 and chop off the integrated vertical grip. The Z8 delivers essentially the same imaging performance in a smaller form factor. If you want to be exact, it's 15% smaller than the Z9.

What are the highlights?

45.7MP FX-Format BSI CMOS Sensor
8K30p and 4K120p Recording
Internal N-RAW and ProRes RAW
Blackout-Free Viewfinder and 4-Axis Tilting Monitor
Dual Card Slots; Dual USB-C Ports

There are few surprises with this camera and that's a good thing. Nikon did so much right with the Z9 that the only complaints were a preference for a smaller body. The Z8 delivers exactly that.

Our team went hands-on with a few Nikon pros in a range of situations to put the camera to the test. Watch our review to see the camera in action and learn all about it. Or, if you want to hear a conversation with a few Nikon shooters and reps, we hosted a live panel discussion, as well.

Canon makes handy PowerShot V10 vlogging camera

When the Canon PowerShot V10 showed up, I was immediately reminded of the Flip cams from the early 2000s. That's a good thing because I didn't even realize that I missed those fun cameras. They were easy to use, provided better-than-expected image quality, and were tiny enough to be carried everywhere. The V10 features all that but with modern tech.

This camera is light and tiny while still feeling robust. You should feel comfortable tossing it in a bag or pocket for everyday carry. For imaging, it packs a 1" sensor that can record in 4K up to 30p for high-quality video. There's also a wide 19mm lens for easy selfies and vlogging. Its size and features make it a perfect vlogging camera.

Observing the design, you'll find a few other handy features. One is the built-in stand that lets you place it on a table or surface without needing an extra tripod. The rear touchscreen can easily flip up for vlogging. Also, the mic system is much better than your average point-and-shoot and should help capture crisp, clean audio in a range of environments.

There's a lot going on in this small camera and it just might be the right call for some people looking to launch a vlog.

Sony continues with creator-centric smartphones with XPERIA 1 V

Sony's smartphones have always appealed to creators. They offer tons of features oriented to capturing great imagery and come with options that let the phone become an amazing accessory to their dedicated cameras. The XPERIA 1 V is the next generation of the line and with it comes some next-gen tech.

Sony’s XPERIA 1 V brings many features from the Alpha series of cameras to the smartphone world.

Across the board, the camera hasn't changed much—the 16mm wide-angle lens and 85-125mm telephoto lens are both the same at 12MP. However, the real tech comes to the main 24mm wide-angle lens, which features the first use of the Exmor T for mobile chips. This takes stacked sensor tech up a notch with the use of a two-layer structure that further enhances low-light performance. This means improved image quality, new 48MP resolution, and general enhancements to 4K 120p slow-motion recording, autofocus, and stabilization.

These smartphones have surprising camera specs, with many features found on Sony's advanced Alpha and Cinema Line cameras. Examples of this include S-Cinetone, AI processing, Product Showcase Mode, Cinema Pro, monitoring of Alpha cameras, and plenty more.

Sony made the XPERIA 1 V a perfect partner to its lineup of photo and cinema cameras with advanced features like video monitoring.

Creators in the Android world should put the XPERIA 1 V on their list the next time they are shopping for a new smartphone.

In other news...

Panasonic's more video-centric S5 IIX is almost here—and we got our hands on one.

Teenage Engineering released a stylish, pocket digital tape recorder: the TP-7.
Tamron has finally made its 11-20mm f/2.8 lens available for the FUJIFILM X mount. See our review.
The powerful HP Z8 Fury Workstation has arrived. If you want to check out one of the most powerful PCs you can get today this is where you can start.

That's almost everything for this week. Take some time to absorb all this and be sure to come back next week for even more news.