Everyday carry tools have evolved far beyond simple pocketknives. They are smaller and lighter than ever and come in diverse designs, turning them pretty much into practical accessories and a reflection of personal taste.
Category: Knives and Multitools, Gear, Outdoors
Tags: EDC, Multitools, Knife, Kickstarter
More practically, the camera is also $200 off at most retailers, too.
Photo: Richard Butler
Sometimes, sales don't make a ton of sense, but are all the more intriguing for it. That's certainly the case with one Adorama is running right now: if you buy a Fujifilm X-T5 with a 16-80mm F4 lens, you'll not only get $100 off the normal price of the kit, but you'll also receive... a free X half?
Seriously. If you go to the US retailer's page for the X-T5, select that kit lens and set the kit style to "base," you'll see a pop-up saying it comes with a "free gift" valued at $649; a black X half camera. Add it to your cart, and they both show up.
While I haven't fully gone through the checkout process, as far as I can tell this deal is real.Currently, this deal seems relegated to Adorama. While the X-T5 is on sale at other retailers for the same price, no other stores that we found were throwing in an X half with it.
If we're being honest, it seems like a bit of an odd pairing to us. When we reviewed the X half, we found that it was a fun camera as long as you didn't try to treat it like a serious photography tool. While that might make it seem like a good complement to the X-T5, which is a serious piece of equipment, it's also easy to imagine that the type of person looking to buy an X-T camera might quickly get annoyed by the X half.*
Still, there's probably enough overlap between the two markets that at least a few of our readers will be excited by this news. Adorama doesn't say how long the offer will last, or whether supplies or limited, so if you're in the market for a X-T5 and were curious about the X half, it may be better to act sooner, rather than later.
Also worth noting: the X half has been selling for less than its original MSRP of $850, with several retailers offering it for $649.
* - Though, to overanalyze it further, would that kind of buyer really go for the 16-80mm F4?
Thanks to Jonikon for posting about the deal in our forums.
Buy now:
$644 at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoWintertime offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors: downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing on untouched terrain, or hiking through quiet forest. The only problem is that each of these activities requires its own specialized set of gear, and it’s often heavy, not very cheap, and impossible to carry all at once. But what if a single piece of equipment could do it all?
Category: Ski and Snowboard, Toys, Outdoors
Tags: Skiing, Snowshoes, Winter, Transformable
There are a bunch of dedicated devices that literally lift the veil of darkness to reveal a secret nocturnal world. Some rugged phones can do this too, but Fossibot reckons that none have the reach and clarity of its recently launched F113.
Category: Mobile Technology, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: smartphones, Rugged, Night Vision, Battery
Designed as a permanent home for a couple of enthusiastic travelers, the Bespoke Base doesn't compromise on comfort. Its spacious interior is arranged on one floor and looks more like a compact apartment than a typical tiny house.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home
Today marks the end of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the annual trade show that showcases innovative technology and devices. While photography once played a more prominent role at the event, many major camera companies no longer participate, and headlines now tend to focus on flashy TVs and odd gadgets instead. That doesn't mean there wasn't anything for photographers and videographers, though. We’ve rounded up some of the most interesting photography and videography-related gear unveiled this week so you can see what's new.
StorageComputers are a core component of CES, so it makes sense that new storage devices are also fairly common throughout the show. This year was no different, with multiple brands unveiling new products.
Other World Computing (OWC) Image: OWCOWC made a few announcements at CES this year. First, the ThunderBlade X12 RAID SSD, which was announced last year, is now available with a capacity of 192TB. That's double the capacity of the original device. For video professionals, that much storage isn't out of the realm of reasonable, as Raw video files can be exceptionally large.
The drive is also fast, with promised speeds of up to 6600MB/s peak and 5990MB/s sustained write speeds thanks to its Thunderbolt 5 technology. OWC says it is the first and only Thunderbolt 5 RAID shuttle drive with this capacity in a compact form factor. The drive won't be available until "mid-2026" and no pricing information is available yet. However, the 96TB model costs $16,800, so be prepared for an eye-watering price to match the eye-watering amount of storage.
Image: OWCOWC also announced a slightly more consumer-friendly product as an extension of its Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD lineup. The company's portable SSD is now available in an 8TB capacity, joining the existing 2TB and 4TB options. OWC says it is the first Thunderbolt 5 bus-powered 8TB drive. It promises speeds of over 6000MB/s with a large amount of storage for professionals on the go. It's also crushproof, dustproof and waterproof, with an IP67 rating. It's still not cheap by any means, with a $1700 price tag, but it is available for purchase now.
Lexar Image: LexarThis year marks Lexar's 30th anniversary of being in business, and the brand is celebrating at CES with a range of new flagship products. That includes the Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC UHS-I card, with capacity up to 2TB. The card is rated V30, so it supports full HD and 4K video recording. Lexar promises speeds of 255MB/s read and 180MB/s write and says it's an ideal option for drones and action cameras.
Images: LexarThe company also showed off the Lexar Air Portable SSD. It's a highly compact SSD that weighs just 17g (0.6oz) and features a carabiner loop, making it easier to keep on hand. It comes in light blue or black, so you can pick one that fits your vibe. Lexar promises speeds up to 400MB/s, and says it offers two-meter drop protection. It's available in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Another SSD on display was the TouchLock Portable SSD. It offers a dual-encryption system with an integrated NFC chip and 128-bit AES hardware encryption. Each drive has a unique ID, allowing access only through a registered smartphone that you tap to unlock. It's highly compact (only 7mm thick and 40g) and magnetic, so it can attach to the back of your iPhone. Like the Air mentioned above, it's available in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Lexar didn't provide pricing or availability information for the new products, so we'll have to wait to see how those shake out.
Hohem Image: HohemHohem is best known for its budget-friendly gimbals and mics, but now, it's entering a new market: SSDs. The company announced its first SSD, aptly named the SSD-01. It's a smartphone-focused drive with a tiny form factor and a flip-up USB-C plug so you can more easily attach it to your phone for ProRes Raw and Open Gate recording on supported iPhones.
The drive comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities, and Hohem promises 2000MB/s read and 1800MB/s write speeds. It also offers two extra USB-C ports so you can charge devices or plug in accessories like mics. Hohem hasn't said when it will be available, but the 1TB will cost $219 and the 2TB drive will be $339.
AudioThere were also some new microphones on display at CES this week, aimed at creators using either phones or dedicated cameras.
Shure The updated MV88 now features a USB-C connector for Android phones and modern iPhones.This year, Shure is updating the MV88, a small, stereo microphone made to plug in to the bottom of your phone via USB-C as an upgrade to your phone's internal microphones. It features an all-metal construction, and has the ability to both swivel and rotate, making it easier to point it at the audio source, no matter which way you're holding your phone.
As with most gadgets these days, there's a corresponding app to give you access to features like auto-leveling, denoising, and the ability to switch the microphone's pickup pattern.
The MV88 works with Android, iOS and most computer operating systems, and will be available later this month for $159.
Buy at B&H Buy at Shure SmallRigSmallRig is continuing to push into the wireless microphone space with its new S70 system, which includes two transmitters with built-in lavaliere mics, a receiver made to mount on a camera's hotshoe and plug in via a 3.5mm cable, a receiver designed to plug into a USB-C device and a charging case to keep it all running and in once place.
While the set may not have every feature under the sun – it doesn't support 32-bit float backup recording like the DJI Mic 3 – it's also only $90. The company says it starts to shipping orders to the US on January 12th, and to other regions three days later.
Buy at SmallRig Buy at B&H Cameras Image: DreameWhile there were plenty of robots with cameras and security camera-type devices at CES, there weren't any major camera releases from familiar brands. However, we did see an action camera from a company best known for its robot vacuums: Dreame.
The Dreame Leaptic Cube looks remarkably like the DJI Osmo Nano, which itself is very similar to the Insta360 Go series. Like those, it's a modular camera that can magnetically attach to a pod with a screen, or be worn on its own. However, the Leaptic Cube offers 8K video in 10-bit with 50MP photo resolution and a Type 1/1.3 sensor. Dreame also says the camera offers gyro AI image stabilization and 13.5 stops of dynamic range. It promises 200 minutes of runtime with the pod, pre-recording, wireless control from the pod and gesture control.
There are also other AI features built in, including AI Scene Optimization, which Dream says will recognize scenes such as city nights and fireworks and then enhance vibrance, clarity and depth depending on the scene. It can also automatically edit portraits to "enhance your beauty" while leaving the background untouched.
It certainly looks promising for such a tiny camera. Pricing and availability still haven't been announced, but you can find out more at the Leaptic website.
Gimbals Hohem The Hohem iSteady M3 gimbals have built-in cameras for tracking subjects.Hohem also introduced two new additions to its gimbal lineup, the iSteady MT3 and MT3 Pro. Both are designed to be used with mirrorless systems with 1.4kg (3.1lbs) and
2.5kg (5.5lbs) payload capacities, respectively, and feature an integrated fill light, but their big trick comes from their built-in cameras. They're not used to capture footage; rather, they allow the gimbal to track a selected subject, letting you focus on just moving the camera, rather than also having to control where the camera is pointed.
The iSteady MT3 can track humans, while the MT3 Pro is also capable of automatically moving the camera to follow pets, vehicles and arbitrary objects as well. The Pro also comes with a detachable remote that wirelessly shows you (or a camera operator) a live feed, while also allowing you to control the gimbal's settings and movements, if you'd rather not leave it up to AI.
Both models include a quick release plate and base, which lets you easily change your camera's orientation from horizontal to vertical, depending on what platform you're shooting video for. They'll be available for pre-order in the US starting on January 20th, with the standard iSteady MT3 going for $329 and the Pro model running $449.
Following a successful Kickstarter last year, a combination tuner, string winder and metronome is now available to buy. There's been a Roadie in my gig bag since the first iteration landed 10 years ago, and now I've been sent the fourth generation unit to try out.
Category: Music, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Guitar, Tuning, Automatic, Multitools, Reviews
Spelling F-O-O-D or O-U-T might only get you so far around your dog if he or she is considered a Gifted Word Learner (GWL). Researchers have just figured out that even when you're not talking to them directly, they're still acquiring new terms.
Category: Science
Tags: Dogs, Animals, Learning, Language, Eötvös Loránd University
Fidget toys are great for relieving anxiety and helping you find your focus – and this new one we came across also happens to be a practical tool, indoors and out.
Category: Knives and Multitools, Gear, Outdoors
Tags: Outdoors and Camping, Knife, EDC, Titanium, Kickstarter
What looks like a flying egg, was never designed to land, and was so light it could be thrown off course by its own guns? Introducing the Goblin XF-85 – the Cold War compact fighter designed to be carried in the belly of a nuclear bomber.
Category: Military, Technology
Tags: Aircraft, Fighter, US Air Force, Boeing
Two billion years before we made history and split the atom, the Earth had already accomplished it and was running its own nuclear reactors. And they operated for hundreds of thousands of years, as the first signs of multicellular life emerged.
Category: Environment, Science
Tags: Nuclear Fission, Atoms, Africa, Mining, Uranium, Nuclear, Geology, Natural compounds
There are many tools that offer to help us focus – but very few are designed to do this in just a minute. BrainBlink is built just for this, with 60-second games on a pocket-sized device featuring real buttons and a link to players across the globe.
Category: Games, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Kickstarter, Gaming, Brain stimulation, focus, Portable Gaming, Cognitive functioning
Back in the day, the Sportage was first introduced as a bug-eyed monstrosity of a compact utility. It’s evolved and matured since then, as the compact SUV market grew to become the most competitive automotive segment. For 2026, Kia’s popular crossover gets a refresh that’s all about refining an already hard-won, solid formula.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Ever since its official launch in 2021, the Jetson One has looked like it might be the first personal eVTOL to reach consumers. If Chinese company Rictor is to be believed, however, its similar X4 should ship later this year – and at a fraction of the price.
Tags: Personal eVTOLs, urban transport
A 26-ft (8-m) deep excavation in Indonesia has revealed that humans and a hominin species that pre-dates humans used the same cave. The enticing possibility even exists that both species overlapped, sharing the space at the same time.
Tags: Archeology, Fossils, Tools, Griffith University, Evolution
Bull elk take shelter in a morning fog while grazing the Grass Flat Tank meadow.
Nikon Z9 + Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S | F6.3 | 1/25 sec | ISO 12800
Photo: Bill Ferris
Editor's note: This article launches a new series highlighting DPReview community members, their photography, and the gear they depend on. If you'd like to be featured in a future installment, please use the submission link at the bottom of this page.
DPReview community member and volunteer moderator Bill Ferris loves wildlife and the outdoors. A lot. By his own estimate, he spends about 150 days each year in the field, trading the comforts of home for pre-dawn conditions in the Arizona high country. The result of his dedication is a portfolio of spectacular images born of persistence and patience.
We asked Bill to take us into his world, including his beginnings in photography, his photographic process, and what gear he relies on to get the job done.
Getting startedLike many of us, Bill's obsession with photography was sparked by family members and the work of other photographers.
"My father used to present slide shows from his backpacking trips. His photos took me to places and revealed experiences I dreamed of. He passed away too early in 1981."
"I recall the day I saw "Afghan Girl" on the cover of National Geographic magazine. I looked at and studied that face for hours. Those eyes."
Three bald eagles enjoy the sunrise while perched near northern Arizona's Lower Lake Mary.
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E VR | F8 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 640
Photo: Bill Ferris
"My interest in photography took a back seat to college and work until 1993. That was when I bought my first camera, a used Nikon F3 film body. I remember how it felt in my hands in the camera store. It had brassing, nicks and scratches. She was rough around the edges, but perfect. I imagined the F3 had been used by a photojournalist to cover wars. I used that camera and a small collection of lenses to do photography on vacations and a little night sky photography."
Shooting in the Arizona high countryBased in Flagstaff, Arizona, Bill has turned the surrounding high country into his personal studio, focusing on wildlife, including large mammals and raptors.
"I spend a lot of time driving Lake Mary Rd. It's a two-lane asphalt that cuts a path through the Coconino National Forest, heading southeast from Flagstaff past Lower and Upper Lake Mary to Mormon Lake and beyond."
Bill's photography has made waves in his home state of Arizona, where the Arizona Game and Fish Department produced this video about his work."My subjects include elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes and other mammals. When it comes to birds, my favorite subjects are raptors. Mormon Lake overlook is home to a wide variety of species: bald and golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, ferruginous and rough-legged hawks, peregrine and prairie falcons, American kestrels, and turkey vultures."
Photographing these subjects requires more than just a long lens. It means getting up early and being familiar with his subjects.
"Photographing these subjects requires more than just a long lens. It means getting up early and being familiar with his subjects.""Lower Lake Mary is usually a dry lakebed and a favorite grazing spot for the area elk and pronghorn. From May through September, I'll leave the house a couple of hours before sunrise, drive to a gravel pullout along Lake Mary Rd, park and walk in darkness across the lakebed to set up at the edge of the forest. Often, I'll sit with my back against a juniper tree, concealed beneath a LensCoat fabric photo hide with my camera on a gimbal head tripod."
A Red-tailed hawk soars past Bill's lens.
Nikon D610 + Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E VR | F5.6 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 1100
Photo: Bill Ferris
"Whether photographing wildlife or birds, I prefer locations where the Sun will be at my back and with water nearby. Food and water meet the animals' needs. Open fields address my preference for clean surroundings and backgrounds."
Beyond camera skills, Bill attributes his success to a keen understanding of his subjects' behavior, gained through years of observation.
"Beyond camera skills, Bill attributes his success to a keen understanding of his subjects' behavior, gained through years of observation.""I've learned over the last decade that raptors like to ride the prevailing winds out of the west and southwest, soaring along the rim to hunt the dry lakebed below. While red-tailed and most other hawk species like to survey their hunting grounds from high above, northern harriers like to fly just above the tall grass of a field, looking and listening for the sounds of their prey."
"Harriers are a special favorite. They're wary of humans and, if you can get close, have such beautiful plumage and expressive faces."
What's in your bag?Bill's photography kit is surprisingly lean, optimized for reach, mobility and blending in so as not to spook his subjects.
"From 2018 to 2024, my main wildlife and bird kit was a Nikon D500 paired with a Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E VR. In May 2024, I treated myself to a retirement gift: an upgrade to a Nikon Z9 paired with a Nikkor 800mm F6.3 VR S prime lens."
Bill's camera bag is is the padded bag Nikon provided with his Nikkor 800mm F6.3 VR S prime lens. Other essential items in his kit include tripod, camp chair, blind and toiletry supplies for when nature calls.
Photo: Bill Ferris
"I chose this mirrorless system for a few reasons. Over the years, I've come to appreciate that photography is all about the glass. It's the lens that forms the image captured by the camera. The Nikkor 800mm PF is a unicorn. It's a long focal length prime lens that's handholdable and great in low light."
"When deciding what to upgrade to, I reviewed the best photos I'd made with the D500 and 200-500mm lens and found that 85% were made with the zoom at 450mm or greater focal length. Given that I routinely crop my photos, I concluded that 90% or more of my favorite images were made using a 750mm full-frame equivalent angle of view."
In addition to camera and lens, Bill carries a few key accessories, but keeps his kit mobile.
"I bring a Benro TMA38CL Mach3 carbon fiber tripod with a GH2 aluminum gimbal head for camera/lens support. That's in the left hand. In the right, I carry a Tragopan V6 photo blind. Atop that bag is a Coleman folding camp chair. I pack a LensCoat fabric photo hide inside the hide bag."
A mountain lion leaps over deadfall while evading a curious photographer in the Coconino National Forest. Bill captured this photo when the cougar suddenly emerged from the forest righ in front of him, raising his camera and firing off 15 exposures in two seconds. He admits it's not the greatest photo, but says it means a lot to him as it documents a close encounter with an apex predator.
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm F5.6E VR | F8 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 2000
Photo: Bill Ferris
"I keep camera accessories to a minimum. I stow a spare battery, Peak Design Slide camera strap, body and lens rear cap in the side pockets. I rarely use any of it, but it's nice to have just in case."
Bill also reminds us that sometimes the most critical piece of gear isn't a camera or a lens.
"Bill also reminds us that sometimes the most critical piece of gear isn't a camera or a lens.""The most useful and essential accessory I bring – and I'll admit, we're entering the too much information zone with this one – is a quart ziplock bag containing four snack-size ziplocks. The snack-size ziplocks each contain four sheets of facial tissue," he tells us. "I'm often out from an hour or two before sunrise until 10 or 11 am. Nature is going to call, and one must be prepared. I bury the solid waste and pack home any used tissues for proper disposal."
Finally, Bill proves that sometimes, the best bag for carrying your camera is the one in the box.
A pronghorn and two fawns.
Nikon Z9 + Nikon Z 800mm F6.3 VR S | F6.3 | 1/200 sec | ISO 3200
Photo: Bill Ferris
"I use the padded nylon bag Nikon shipped with the 800mm F6.3 VR S as my camera bag. The Z9 with 800 PF attached fits in the bag. The strap slings over my head and across the opposite shoulder. I like it because it's the smallest, lightest option I have for carrying this gear, and it was free... with the $6K lens."
Bill's advice for other photographers"Get out with your camera as often as possible. You'll never make a great photo unless you're out trying to make a great photo."
Would you like to be featured in a future installment of 'What's in your bag?' Tell us a bit about yourself and your photography by filling out this form. If you're selected for a feature, we'll be in touch with next steps.
A lot of tiny houses nowadays are focused on offering a spacious apartment-like living experience on wheels. However, this model recalls the small living movement's roots with a compact cabin-like dwelling that runs off-the-grid and embraces rustic styling.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, House, Home, Micro-House
Fujifilm's been in the instant shoot-and-print camera business for more than 25 years now, and its newest offering is a fun departure from its longstanding lineup. The Mini Evo Cinema captures 15-second videos, and prints out a still from the footage along with a QR code that lets you watch the clip online.
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Video Cameras, Video, FUJIFILM, Instant Photography, Gadgets
After a century of false starts, scientists believe they have found a way to make cells burn more energy without the dangerous side effects – and it could be a breakthrough that reshapes weight-loss and anti-aging medicine as we know it.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind
Tags: University of Technology Sydney, Obesity, metabolism, Weight Loss, Molecules, Cells, Energy-efficient
China has eclipsed its own – and the US – record, building a monster underground hypergravity centrifuge that can model scenarios with 1,900 times the real-world gravitational force of Earth, bending space and time with unprecedented power.
Category: Science
Tags: Gravity, China, Zhejiang University, Engineering
