B&H Photo News Roundup: Week of September 3, 2023

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B&H Photo News Roundup: Week of September 3, 2023

What a week! The first Bild Expo just wrapped up here in New York City and it was a blast. There were presentations from more than 60 speakers, more than 130 exhibitors in the gear expo, numerous hands-on demos, and a long list of specials. Besides the show, B&H also took this time to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

There's a lot going on here at B&H and, of course, this means there is a great deal of new gear to talk about. If you want a quicker preview, we will have a video covering all the latest news.

If you want a few more details on each product, then continue reading.

GoPro releases the HERO12 Black HDR and a longer-lasting battery

On the first day of Bild, GoPro brought us the HERO12 Black. It is great to see new action cams on such a regular basis, even when the tweaks seem relatively minor. This year brings us one of those smaller updates, but I think the quality-of-life improvements are worth it.

The biggest upgrade was a boost to battery life. A new Enduro Battery Pack just about doubles the run time to 70 minutes when recording in 5.3K at 60 fps. Speaking of that 5.3K video, the camera now also features HDR for video and still imagery. And you can still capture 27MP raw photos.

Image stabilization was upgraded to HyperSmooth 6.0 and features AutoBoost that will minimize cropping. The 360-degree Horizon Lock option keeps the footage stable even when the camera rotates.

Other improvements include:

  • New interval shooting tools

  • HindSight pre-record function

  • Timecode sync

  • And more...

Lest we forget, it is still waterproof down to 33' below the surface, so you can take it nearly anywhere that's wet.

COLBOR expands lineup with RGB version of the CL220 LED light

COLBOR is a relative newcomer in lighting but the brand's lights are looking good. The CL220 series, with 220W output, is one of the company's staples. Now, COLBOR is shaking up the line with the addition of the CL220R, an RGB version of the fixture.

COLBOR 220W RGB COB LED Video Light
COLBOR 220W RGB COB LED Video Light

It has a standard Bowens S accessory mount for hooking up all your modifiers. Plus, the NATO groove and expansion bar add to the versatility of the CL220R. You can even combine a group of these lights to create one super-powered fixture.

Cooke releases Speed Panchro-inspired SP3 lens series for mirrorless

A cool release this week, and on display at Bild, is a new cinema lens series from the legendary Cooke. The SP3 Cine Lenses are a set of purpose-built primes for mirrorless systems—a first from the company. Initially releasing for Sony E and Canon RF, filmmakers will be able to swap out mounts and, in the future, pick up L-Mount and Leica M mounts.

There are five lenses available in the SP3 set: 25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm. All the lenses have a T2.4 maximum aperture and physical designs that have matched locations for focus and iris rings. These lenses are also engineered to match the Panchro/I Classic series, which makes it easy to use a compact mirrorless system as a B or C camera in a larger production.

Sony goes industrial with the ultra-compact ILX-LR1 camera

How about something a bit weird? Sony announced the ILX-LR1, which is an ultra-compact mirrorless camera with a 61MP full-frame sensor, in the most general terms. When you look at it, you'll see it's not meant for the everyday shooter. The ultra-lightweight body weighs just 8.6 oz with dimensions that measure less than 4 x 3 x 2" in size. It also manages this by eliminating things like an LCD, handgrip, and viewfinder.

Sony ILX-LR1 Industrial Camera
Sony ILX-LR1 Industrial Camera

This camera is intended to be installed on drones, in multi-camera environments, and for general industrial use. It doesn't even accept a battery pack. You'll have to rely on a power connector on the back of the camera to get it running. This does save you on weight and allows you to power the LR1 from a drone or other device.

Key to the LR1's success is Sony's Camera Remote SDK. With it, users can integrate the cameras with different programs using the API. It's an interesting camera that has all the image quality of an a7R V but in a body designed for integration in unique environments. We're curious to see how people incorporate this camera into their workflow.

Polaroid is back with the I-2 instant film camera

Polaroid's revival is well on its way and the company is offering proof with the release of the I-2. This brand-new Polaroid camera features the sharpest lenses ever used for the company's instant film prints and is the first to feature manual controls.

Polaroid I-2 Instant Camera
Polaroid I-2 Instant Camera

Photographers will be able to use the I-2 as a true creative tool in more professional environments, thanks to user-enabled control of aperture, shutter, and more. Add multiple exposure and self-timer modes to create unique images. The new camera is compatible with 600 and SX-70 film, in addition to the newer I-Type film.

In other news...

Coming soon...

During all the madness of the Bild Expo, we have a few companies who decided to tease us with some of their upcoming releases.

  • Sony is adding to its high-end CineAlta line of digital cinema cameras. The BURANO has just been released.

  • There is also a new Panasonic Lumix launch that, in the promo, told us to, "Get ready for another NEW PHASE." There is "G" branding in the promo clip... 

  • Apple has scheduled its annual September event for―you guessed it―Tuesday, September 12, 2023. You'll get a slight break after Sony and Panasonic because the Apple event doesn't begin until 1:00 P.M. EDT.

  • This is almost old news, but don't forget that FUJIFILM is having its X Summit beginning on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 5:00 A.M. EDT.

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