When we think about living in a tiny house, we often picture people on the road or in some gorgeous sunny locale, but they can also be used in more challenging climates. Case in point is this luxurious new model, which has been carefully designed to stand up to extreme cold without sacrificing comfort.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, House, Home
Modern TVs are absolutely unreal, especially compared to the halcyon days of adjusting analog antennae to clear up the picture. At CES 2026 in LAs Vegas recently, TCL unveiled a display unlike anything the world has seen before. It’s so impressive, in fact, that it makes CRTs look like artifacts from the Stone Age.
Category: Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: TCL, Television, ces-2026, Display
A British hobbyist has applied multicopter drone thinking to radically simplify the steering and powertrain of his high-performance radio-control car – and absolutely demolished the world top speed record in the process.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Radio Control, World's Fastest, Toys, World Records
The Ford Nugget may forever have the spirit of a carefree 22-year-old, but Ford's beloved camper van is actually turning the big 4-0 this year. To celebrate, Ford Pro is kicking off 2026 with a 40th anniversary edition styled to match the original Nugget from 1986. The neutral black-and-white color scheme looks stunning inside and out, while the pop-top floor plan showcases the latest in Ford's three-room mobile living design.
Category: Campervans, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Campervan, Ford, RV, Camping, Outdoors and Camping, Westfalia-Automotive, cmt-2026
The winners of the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards have been announced, highlighting impeccable timing, dramatic lighting and memorable moments. The contest showcases work from sports photographers across 24 categories, spanning more than 50 sports, including American Football, Baseball, Football, Formula 1, and more. In addition to Gold, Silver, Bronze and Special Merit awards in each category, the jury selects a Gold, Silver and Bronze Grand Prix award for the three top images.
This year's edition drew a record number of submissions. 23,130 images were submitted by 4120 photographers from 123 countries. "The images recognised this year showcase photographers at their creative best, pushing boundaries, seeing differently and capturing sport in ways we’ve not experienced before," said Richard Shepherd, Product Marketing Senior Manager, Imaging at Canon Europe.
You can see all of the winning images and learn more about the contest at the World Sports Photography Awards website.
Grand Prix - GoldPhotographer: Edgar Su
Image Title: Carlos' Shadow Hits A Ball
Award(s): Grand Prix - Gold, Tennis - Gold
Description: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 19, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his fourth round match against Britain's Jack Draper
Grand Prix - SilverPhotographer: Beatriz Ryder da Costa
Image Title: The Underworld
Award(s): Grand Prix - Silver, Aquatic - Gold
Description: We were deep in the Solomon Islands, on an island where we were the first white people anyone had ever seen, and yes, we were worried about saltwater crocs. I snapped the photo not knowing if it had worked, and when I saw it had, the stoke exploded. The waves were not great but that didn't matter, it was that raw, chaotic moment of adventure and disbelief that made it unforgettable.
Grand Prix - BronzePhotographer: Richard Heathcote
Image Title: India v England layers
Award(s): Grand Prix - Bronze, Cricket - Gold
Description: Not provided
American Football - SilverPhotographer: Kyle Zedaker
Image Title: POV
Award(s): American Football - Silver
Description: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers take the field during team introductions prior to a regular season game. Shot on a rig with an authentic facemask attached, this photo is intended to simulate a players point of view, giving the viewer a true behind the scenes feel at what it's like to be an NFL player.
Aquatic - SilverPhotographer: Petr Slavik
Image Title: Razor
Award(s): Aquatic - Silver
Description: ICF and U23 Wildwater Canoeing World Championships Solkan 2025
Athletics - GoldPhotographer: Kenjiro Matsuo
Image Title: Tokyo Rocket
Award(s): Athletics - Gold
Description: Not provided
Baseball - GoldPhotographer: Steph Chambers
Image Title: Bubble
Award(s): Baseball - Gold
Description: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners takes batting practice prior to game five of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
Basketball - GoldPhotographer: Bob Donnan
Image Title: Breakaway for the Lead
Award(s): Basketball - Gold
Description: Florida guard Alijah Martin gives the Gators the lead for good on a breakaway score in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
Boxing - GoldPhotographer: Alexis Goudeau
Image Title: Uppercut
Award(s): Boxing - Gold
Description: Not provided
Cricket - SilverPhotographer: Santanu Banik
Image Title: Pant’s audacious pull electrifies the SCG
Award(s): Cricket - Silver
Description: Rishabh Pant of India unleashes one of his trademark, 360-degree pull shots during day two of the fifth NRMA Insurance Test of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Known for his fearless, unconventional stroke-play, Pant once again chooses attack over caution at a time when his team needs inspiration. Having soaked up pressure and tight bowling, he responds by taking on the short ball and swinging through the line with complete abandon. The full house at the SCG is treated to the kind of audacious batting that has become his calling card. This frame freezes that moment of risk and imagination, with Pant’s body contorted and the bat carving an improbable arc across the sky.
Cycling - Special MeritPhotographer: Ashley & Jered Gruber
Image Title: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Wins the Tour de France
Award(s): Cycling - Special Merit
Description: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot collapses after winning the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Equestrian - GoldPhotographer: Morgan Treacy
Image Title: Equine Reflection
Award(s): Equestrian - Gold
Description: Runners and riders reflected in the sand on the beach in Laytown, Ireland's only horse racing event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing.
Football - GoldPhotographer: Luis Amaral
Image Title: Black & White Passion
Award(s): Football - Gold
Description: Emotion that bursts in the moment and finds itself in someone else — the kind of feeling football turns into its own language, especially in the father-and-child bond.
Formula 1 - BronzePhotographer: Florent Gooden
Image Title: Eau Rouge F1 Train
Award(s): Formula 1 - Bronze
Description: All the F1 cars racing on lap 1 at the famous Eau Rouge & Raidillon corners during the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix
Golf - SilverPhotographer: K.C. Alfred
Image Title: Fore
Award(s): Golf - Silver
Description: Scottie Scheffler chips on the 8th hole of Torrey Pines south during the second round of the Genesis Invitational as a large promotional golf ball is displayed.
Gymnastics - SilverPhotographer: Arnab Sarkar
Image Title: Poise in motion
Award(s): Gymnastics - Silver
Description: In the midst of a flawless leap, she holds the ball gently, her form a symphony of strength and poise. The composition is striking – her hands holding the ball, as if she's holding her head in hand, even as she defies gravity. This fleeting moment, frozen in time, is the essence of artistic gymnastics. This image is taken in skygrace event.
Ice Hockey - GoldPhotographer: Sophia Sandurskaya
Image Title: Last Line of Defense
Award(s): Ice Hockey - Gold
Description: "Moscow, Russian Federation, Megasport Stadium. Kontinental Hockey League. "Spartak" (Moscow) vs "Shanghai Dragons" (Shanghai). Players of "Shanghai Dragons" (in white) and "Spartak" (in red) during the match."
Martial Arts - GoldPhotographer: Tom Jenkins
Image Title: Unusual sumo attack
Award(s): Martial Arts - Gold
Description: Tobizaru sticks a finger up the nose of Takayasu as they fight during the final day of the five day Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall on October 19th 2025 in London, England.
Motor Sports - Special MeritPhotographer: Yana Stancheva
Image Title: Through the rocks
Award(s): Motor Sports - Special Merit
Description: A tricky crossing of a rocky mountain pass during Dakar Rally 2025
Other - GoldPhotographer: Anna Zinovieva
Image Title: Bout
Award(s): Other - Gold
Description: Not provided
Racket Sports - GoldPhotographer: Abelardo Mendes Jr
Image Title: Kim Nayeong - WTT Foz do Iguaçu
Award(s): Racket Sports - Gold
Description: Kim Nayeong (South Korea) - Table Tennis - WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), 01 August 2025
Rugby - GoldPhotographer: Andrew Dowling
Image Title: New Zealand Haka
Award(s): Rugby - Gold
Description: The Haka at the principality stadium in cardiff
Swimming & Diving - GoldPhotographer: Carel du Plessis
Image Title: Catching a breath
Award(s): Swimming & Diving - Gold
Description: Image taken at the XTERRA World Championship in Molveno, Italy. Photo features Henry Bramwell-Reeks, a Triathlete from the United Kingdom. This was taken during the swim leg of the full-distance triathlon on September 27th 2025
Tennis - SilverPhotographer: Joel Marklund
Image Title: All Light on Djokovic
Award(s): Tennis - Silver
Description: Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his match against Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the quarterfinals of men's singles on centre court during day ten of Wimbledon on July 9, 2025 in London, England.
Urban & Extreme - GoldPhotographer: Martin Bissig
Image Title: Klickflippin' India
Award(s): Urban & Extreme - Gold
Description: An athlete finds an improbable line, launching across the void of an ancient Jaipur stepwell.
Venues & Views - GoldPhotographer: Andrew Hancock
Image Title: Championship View
Award(s): Venues & Views - Gold
Description: A circular fisheye lens from above shows the scene as confetti falls from the circular video board atop Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the Ohio State Buckeyes rush the field to celebrate winning the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Winter Sports - SilverPhotographer: Claudia Greco
Image Title: FIS Freestyle World Championships - Women's Aerials in St Moritz
Award(s): Winter Sports - Silver
Description: Freestyle Skiing - FIS Freestyle World Championships - Women's Aerials - St Moritz, Switzerland - March 30, 2025 Australia's Danielle Scott during the warm up before the event REUTERS/Claudia Greco
When you think of trailer companies, Honda probably isn't the first name that comes to mind. Nonetheless, the automaker has just revealed its prototype Base Station travel trailer, which can be towed by a compact SUV as small as a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.
Category: Camping Trailers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Luke and Mike Bell, a father-son duo from South Africa, have reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the fastest quadcopter drone. Their 3D-printed Peregreen V4 drone clocked a top speed of 657.59 km/h (408 mph).
Category: Drones, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Guinness, World's Fastest, Quadcopter, Speed, World Records
Designed with flexibility in mind, the IndigoGo! is a space-saving single-floor tiny house. It's available in a range of sizes and configurations, from ultra-small all the way up to apartment-sized.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, Home, House
We've taken a look at how the Sony a7 V performs when it comes to stills, now it's time to turn our attention to video. The company's latest hybrid is once again in front of our studio scene, and we aim to see how the 4K footage it delivers stacks up compared to its predecessor and competitors.
Image ComparisonThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.The a7 V's 4K/24 video is oversampled from 7K capture by default, with no option (or real need) to drop down to a subsampled or line-skipped mode. Thankfully, the footage from that mode has good levels of detail and is competitive with the oversampled modes from cameras like the Canon EOS R6 III and Panasonic S1II. However, both those cameras have higher-resolution recording options (7K for Canon, 6K for Panasonic) that allow you to capture a good deal more detail, something the a7 V lacks, but that could be helpful when you're shooting subjects with very fine detail, or want some room to crop in post.
Moving up to 4K/60, the story is slightly more complicated, as the a7 V has an "Angle of View Priority" mode that you have to turn on if you want to get full-width recording at higher framerates; leaving it off will incur a 1.17x crop. While Sony says that enabling the mode turns off noise reduction, we didn't see a major difference at base ISO. With Angle of View Priority on, the a7 V's 4K/60 footage is a touch more detailed than that from the Canon or Panasonic.
Rolling shutter 4K/24 14.5ms 4K/60, Angle of View Priority on 13.3ms 4K/60, Angle of View Priority off 14.7ms 4K/120 6.9msThe a7 V requires a 1.52x crop to record 4K/120, thus using less of its sensor (and changing the framing more) than the S1II with its 1.24x crop, and the EOS R6 III with its subsampled but full-width 4K/120 recording. As with 4K/60, with Angle of View Priority off, there's a further crop, adding up to 1.79x.
All that said, the a7 V's 4K/120 footage is substantially more detailed than the EOS R6 III's, and is competitive with the S1II's. We also don't see an observable reduction in detail going from the 4K/24 APS-C mode to the 4K/120 mode.
The 'missing' piecesThere's been a lot of discussion about the features the a7 V is 'missing,' compared with its rivals. But it's worth considering whether these are relevant to you or are just people point-scoring about brands.
Whereas Panasonic and Canon allow open-gate shooting, capturing the whole sensor output, the Sony only shoots in 16:9, UHD 4K. If your workflow requires higher resolution capture, the use of anamorphic lenses or you're trying to compose for both vertical and horizontal delivery, simultaneously (which is an aesthetic challenge, even when it's technologically possible), then those other cameras will be a better choice.
Likewise, if your shooting benefits sufficiently from the increased workflow complexity and storage challenges of shooting raw video (the advantages of which are much less pronounced than in stills shooting), then this isn't the camera for you. But a great many people find that shooting high quality 4K footage is more than sufficient for their needs, and the a7 V appears competitive in this regard.
Calling the Jetbeam E28 a "flashlight" is almost a disservice, as the gizmo can pump out five different light sources and serve as a battery bank to charge your devices. It's currently blasting through its Kickstarter campaign with just a few days left.
Tags: Flashlights, EDC, Everyday Carry, Rechargeable, Camping, Kickstarter, Crowdfunding
The fact that I’m covering a second electric dirt bike in a span of a week should tell you that motorcycle manufacturers are getting more and more open to taking more risks. That’s terrific news, if you ask me.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Segway, Electric Motorcycles, Dirt Bikes, Enduro, ebikes, Zero Motorcycles
The whole point of making new motorcycles from scratch is creating them the way you want, right? Think aviation-inspired geometry, full carbon-fiber body, top-spec components, and an artsy design … and once you have all of that in there, sure, chuck an electric motor in there that gives it a 150 mph top speed.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Electric Vehicles, Electric Motorcycles, cafe racer, South Korea, Art, ces-2026
Two revolutionary aerospace technologies collide as GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin team up to demonstrate a new liquid-fueled rotating-detonation ramjet (RDRJ) designed to close the "efficiency gap" in hypersonic flight with new tactical inlets.
Category: Military, Technology
Tags: GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Hypersonic, Rotating Detonation Engines
After a highly celebrated North American relaunch in 2024, Westfalia has been focused on expanding out its lineup one model at a time. On the very first day of this year's Florida RV Supershow, it debuted its most focused product yet, a roomy camper van so specifically designed around the needs of TWO adventurous road-trippers, it's actually called the "For 2." But is it really?
Category: Campervans, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: Westfalia-Automotive, Campervan, RV, Camping, Outdoors and Camping
Product photos: Richard Butler
Ricoh has released a monochrome version of its GR IV enthusiast compact camera. The GR IV Monochrome features the same 26MP BSI CMOS sensor and 28mm equiv F2.8 lens as the color version, but is black-and-white only.
Key specificationsThe GR IV Monochrome will sell for a recommended price of $2199. This is a 46% premium over the list price of the standard GR IV, suggesting Ricoh feels that the mono version will have a smaller audience to foot the development costs. The MSRP in the UK is £1599, which is only a 33% mark-up over the standard version's original list price.
IndexBuy now:
$1199 at Amazon.com What is it?As the name implies, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a black-and-white only variant of the GR IV.
You get all the usual benefits and costs of a mono-only sensor: a higher base ISO, because less light is being lost to a color filter array (a 2/3 of a stop increase, in this instance), and much sharper detail, as there's no demosaicing taking place.
You also get better noise performance at any given ISO: again because there's no color filter sapping any light, but with that advantage disappearing if the color version can use its lower base ISO.
However, with only a single color channel, there's a lot less flexibility to the Raw files: once the image appears to be clipped, there's no way to approximate highlight data from unclipped channels.
The electronic shutter can deliver exposures down as low as 1/16,000 sec, letting you use the maximum aperture even in good lightTo prevent overexposure when shooting at F2.8, the GR IV Monochrome lets you switch from its in-lens shutter to an e-shutter. The electronic shutter can deliver exposures down as low as 1/16,000 sec, letting you use the maximum aperture, even in good light, despite the camera not having an built-in ND filter. As with the regular GR IV, the mechanical shutter has an upper limit of 1/2500 sec at F2.8: you need to stop down to F5.6 to achieve the 1/4000 sec maximum.
Interestingly, Ricoh says the GR IV Monochrome's autofocus is the same as that on the GR IV, which means it has on-sensor phase detection. This would mean that, unlike the Leica Q3 Monochrom, it has to do some degree of interpolation during processing, to hide any impact of those phase-detection pixels. We've not seen any negative impact from this in our preliminary shooting, even when trying to induce flare to highlight any issues.
The company also says that the sensor is not the same one used in the K-3 III, though it wasn't specific about how the two differ.
Red FilterOther than the lack of color filter array, the other difference is that the GR IV Monochrome has a slot-in red filter, rather than the neutral density filter in the color version. This selectively lowers the impact of blue and green light on the sensor, which gives more dramatic skies and higher contrast, generally.
The filter in the GR IV Monochrome reduces the overall light to the camera by around 3 stops, for a neutral subject (it's around a 4 stop cut for blues, 3.5 for greens and closer to a single stop for reds).
Body and handlingAs you might expect, the GR IV Monochrome looks and handles exactly like the regular GR IV: it's a tiny camera for one with such a big sensor and yet it manages to put a lot of control at your fingertips without seeming too cramped.
The finish of the camera is also a little different, with a less textured matte black finish. The shutter button is also black and the GR logo on the front is a very dark grey, rather than white. The green LED ring around the power button is also white, to keep with the monochrome theme. Sadly, Ricoh has not borrowed the beautiful 'Monochrome' typography from its Pentax K-3 III Monochrome DSLR.
The control logic is well worked through, as you'd expect for the eighth generation of a design (prior to 2013's GR, with its APS-C sensor, were four iterations of GR Digital, which used a much smaller Type 1/1.7 sensor in a very similar body).
Despite its size, the GR IV's magnesium alloy body makes it feel very solid, without being overly weighty. And, unlike almost all modern cameras, it will sensibly fit in a pocket.
Ricoh says the GR IV's lens was specifically designed to reduce the risk of dust ingress, but that they had to make the choice between the small form factor that a retractable lens makes possible and complete weather sealing, so there are no promises around the level of sealing.
Buy now:
$1199 at Amazon.com Initial impressionsRicoh was kind enough to lend us a pre-production GR IV Monochrome, to let us get a feel for the handling, but we were asked not to make measurements or publish images from it, as it's not necessarily representative of final production performance.
But, even in the limited time we've spent with the camera, its appeal shines through: it forces on you that same way of looking at light and shade that Leica's monochrome cameras bring. And I maintain that using a camera that can only capture black and white is a completely different experience to using a normal camera in mono mode. Knowing that you can't switch, no matter how appealing the colors are in your scene means you solely focus on light, shadow and contrast.
The inclusion of a built-in, switchable red filter is a brilliant idea, letting you add that punch to your images at the touch of a button, without having to add a filter ring adapter or carry filters round with you. I'm sure there'll be people who would have preferred a different color, but red seems like a sensible option since they had to choose one. And the option to engage electronic shutter, so that you can still shoot wide-open in bright conditions feels like a reasonable work-around.
Even more so than the standard GR IV, the Monochrome version is going to be a niche proposition. Some people will immediately know they want one, while I suspect a great many people will be baffled at the idea that a regular GR IV in mono mode wouldn't be similar enough. And cheaper.
The price of adopting a decidedly niche camera is that there are fewer people to share the development costs with. The Ricoh is just over a quarter of the price of the other dedicated mono compact on the market – though the Leica Q3 mono has a sensor more than twice the size and a maximum aperture that's over a stop brighter, so can capture more than four times as much light – but there's still something inherently counter-intuitive about having to spend more, for less.
Product photos: Richard Butler
Ricoh has released a monochrome version of its GR IV enthusiast compact camera. The GR IV Monochrome features the same 26MP BSI CMOS sensor and 28mm equiv F2.8 lens as the color version, but is black-and-white only.
Key specificationsThe GR IV Monochrome will sell for a recommended price of $2199. This is a 46% premium over the list price of the standard GR IV, suggesting Ricoh feels that the mono version will have a smaller audience to foot the development costs. The MSRP in the UK is £1599, which is only a 33% mark-up over the standard version's original list price.
IndexBuy now:
Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo What is it?As the name implies, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome is a black-and-white only variant of the GR IV.
You get all the usual benefits and costs of a mono-only sensor: a higher base ISO, because less light is being lost to a color filter array (a 2/3 of a stop increase, in this instance), and much sharper detail, as there's no demosaicing taking place.
You also get better noise performance at any given ISO: again because there's no color filter sapping any light, but with that advantage disappearing if the color version can use its lower base ISO.
However, with only a single color channel, there's a lot less flexibility to the Raw files: once the image appears to be clipped, there's no way to approximate highlight data from unclipped channels.
The electronic shutter can deliver exposures down as low as 1/16,000 sec, letting you use the maximum aperture even in good lightTo prevent overexposure when shooting at F2.8, the GR IV Monochrome lets you switch from its in-lens shutter to an e-shutter. The electronic shutter can deliver exposures down as low as 1/16,000 sec, letting you use the maximum aperture, even in good light, despite the camera not having an built-in ND filter. As with the regular GR IV, the mechanical shutter has an upper limit of 1/2500 sec at F2.8: you need to stop down to F5.6 to achieve the 1/4000 sec maximum.
Interestingly, Ricoh says the GR IV Monochrome's autofocus is the same as that on the GR IV, which means it has on-sensor phase detection. This would mean that, unlike the Leica Q3 Monochrom, it has to do some degree of interpolation during processing, to hide any impact of those phase-detection pixels. We've not seen any negative impact from this in our preliminary shooting, even when trying to induce flare to highlight any issues.
The company also says that the sensor is not the same one used in the K-3 III, though it wasn't specific about how the two differ.
Red FilterOther than the lack of color filter array, the other difference is that the GR IV Monochrome has a slot-in red filter, rather than the neutral density filter in the color version. This selectively lowers the impact of blue and green light on the sensor, which gives more dramatic skies and higher contrast, generally.
The filter in the GR IV Monochrome reduces the overall light to the camera by around 3 stops, for a neutral subject (it's around a 4 stop cut for blues, 3.5 for greens and closer to a single stop for reds).
Body and handlingAs you might expect, the GR IV Monochrome looks and handles exactly like the regular GR IV: it's a tiny camera for one with such a big sensor and yet it manages to put a lot of control at your fingertips without seeming too cramped.
The finish of the camera is also a little different, with a less textured matte black finish. The shutter button is also black and the GR logo on the front is a very dark grey, rather than white. The green LED ring around the power button is also white, to keep with the monochrome theme. Sadly, Ricoh has not borrowed the beautiful 'Monochrome' typography from its Pentax K-3 III Monochrome DSLR.
The control logic is well worked through, as you'd expect for the eighth generation of a design (prior to 2013's GR, with its APS-C sensor, were four iterations of GR Digital, which used a much smaller Type 1/1.7 sensor in a very similar body).
Despite its size, the GR IV's magnesium alloy body makes it feel very solid, without being overly weighty. And, unlike almost all modern cameras, it will sensibly fit in a pocket.
Ricoh says the GR IV's lens was specifically designed to reduce the risk of dust ingress, but that they had to make the choice between the small form factor that a retractable lens makes possible and complete weather sealing, so there are no promises around the level of sealing.
Buy now:
Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo Initial impressionsRicoh was kind enough to lend us a pre-production GR IV Monochrome, to let us get a feel for the handling, but we were asked not to make measurements or publish images from it, as it's not necessarily representative of final production performance.
But, even in the limited time we've spent with the camera, its appeal shines through: it forces on you that same way of looking at light and shade that Leica's monochrome cameras bring. And I maintain that using a camera that can only capture black and white is a completely different experience to using a normal camera in mono mode. Knowing that you can't switch, no matter how appealing the colors are in your scene means you solely focus on light, shadow and contrast.
The inclusion of a built-in, switchable red filter is a brilliant idea, letting you add that punch to your images at the touch of a button, without having to add a filter ring adapter or carry filters round with you. I'm sure there'll be people who would have preferred a different color, but red seems like a sensible option since they had to choose one. And the option to engage electronic shutter, so that you can still shoot wide-open in bright conditions feels like a reasonable work-around.
Even more so than the standard GR IV, the Monochrome version is going to be a niche proposition. Some people will immediately know they want one, while I suspect a great many people will be baffled at the idea that a regular GR IV in mono mode wouldn't be similar enough. And cheaper.
The price of adopting a decidedly niche camera is that there are fewer people to share the development costs with. The Ricoh is just over a quarter of the price of the other dedicated mono compact on the market – though the Leica Q3 mono has a sensor more than twice the size and a maximum aperture that's over a stop brighter, so can capture more than four times as much light – but there's still something inherently counter-intuitive about having to spend more, for less.
Blood sampling is painful and invasive, plus it only tells you what's going on in the patient's body right when the sample is taken. So, how about this? Permanent skin grafts that glow green when specific biomarker chemicals are present in the bloodstream.
Category: Science
Tags: Skin, University of Tokyo, Stem Cells
Storied British brand Phelon & Moore made its comeback in the two-wheeled scene only recently. It looks like the company isn't resting on its laurels, coming up with an adventure-oriented scooter in a span of mere months since its revival.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Scooter, Phelon & Moore, Adventure Bikes, Off-road, Honda Motorcycles, Yamaha
Allergen Alert, from French food safety diagnostics company bioMerieux, is a “pocket-sized laboratory” instrument capable of identifying food allergens. It was recently unveiled at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Allergies, Food technology
All photographers inevitably deal with creative droughts or periods when they feel their skills have plateaued. At the end of last year, I wrote about part of why (and how) that's manifested for me over the past few years. For me, one common tool I fall back on to combat such feelings is tackling a specific project or goal related to photography, which I just wrote about as well.
I've completed multiple 365s (a photo a day for a year) and 52-week projects (one photo each week for a year). Most recently, I've accidentally stumbled into a project with a friend that involves alternating who picks a theme each week, and then each creating a photo around that theme. We don't have a set end date, so it could be less than a year or more than a year, but so far, we're about 12 weeks in.
Those are the projects that have helped me, but there are countless other iterations and other types of projects. No matter what, though, the main goal is to force yourself to pick up your camera either to try to generate some creativity or learn new skills.
With that in mind, I'm curious to hear from you all:
What projects are you undertaking to move your photography forward?
Some of you shared a glimpse into your projects in the comments on my recent article, but we'd love to see more. Maybe it's a project you're working on now, or maybe it's something you've done in the past. It could be a week-long project, or maybe a multi-year undertaking.
No matter what, we're curious what projects have helped, or are helping you bring back inspiration or forward momentum to your photography. Even better, share some of the images you've taken for such projects! Your responses and images may even be featured in next week's front-page update.
