The next transformative phase of weight-loss medication is upon us, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving Novo Nordisk's highly anticipated oral GLP-1 drug – with a starting dose available in early January for US$149.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind
Tags: Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Ozempic, clinical trials, FDA, Obesity, Weight Loss
The Mouflon Tent from Belgian-American company CanvasCamp pulls together a rugged canvas build, instant-pitching integrated hub frame, and massive windows on all four sides like no other tent we've seen. Whether you're leisurely camping at a local park or overlanding through harsh, storm-battered backlands, this three-person A-frame is ready to provide the exact level of protection you need, in as little as a minute after arrival.
Category: Tents, Gear, Outdoors
Tags: Tent, Camping, Glamping, Outdoors and Camping
While it might sound like a weapon of oceanic destruction in the hands of Aquaman’s arch enemies, the new “stingraybot” from a team at ETH Zurich (the Federal Institute of Technology of Switzerland) offers enormous promise for surgery, medical care, wildlife biology, robotics, and more, thanks to muscular membranes of microbubbles.
Category: Robotics, Technology
Tags: ETH Zurich, locomotion, Soft Robotics, Ultrasound, Biomimicry
It's hard not to think of 'T800' without "The Terminator" and "Skynet" coming to mind. However, EngineAI has created a robot with that exact name. This isn’t Hollywood science fiction; it’s an acrobatic, combat-ready machine that will soon be mass-produced for industrial applications, and is backed by a billion yuan in financing.
Category: AI and Humanoids, Technology
Tags: Robots, Humanoid, Industrial design, Artificial Intelligence, Manufacturing
An upcoming wearable device for the legally blind could help them navigate public and outdoor spaces independently, acting as 'glasses' that guide them through their surroundings.
Category: Wearables, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Blind, Vision, Sight, Artificial Intelligence, Navigation, ces-2026, Accessibility
As we come to the end of the year, it can be fun to take a trip down memory lane and look back at the year that will soon be in the rearview. What were the releases that we could've sworn happened forever ago? What were the stories that are still having an impact today? And what series are we looking forward to continuing into the new year?
January Photo: Richard Butler2025 started off with a bang, with the release of the Leica SL3-S – a full frame camera focused on speed, rather than resolution – and our review of the Nikon Z50II, an entry level APS-C camera designed for photo and video creators.
The former release inspired Richard Butler to write about what counts as a "real" Leica, and how branding works in general. We also got an interesting and in-depth look at the history of sensor development, from the people who were there.
February Photo: Mitchell ClarkFebruary was when things really picked up, and not just because that's when the camera industry gets together to hold the CP+ trade show.
OM System kicked things off with its announcement of the OM-3, a retro-styled mirrorless with a stacked Four Thirds sensor, which we were able to review by launch day. It also updated three lenses for its system. Panasonic also had a new camera; the high resolution, full frame S1RII, which aimed to be a solid offering for both stills and video shooters.
Not to be left out, Nikon launched its 35mm F1.2 S lens, its first video-focused full frame power zoom lens and releasing Z-mount versions of Red's most powerful cinema cameras.
Meanwhile, we were busy with reviews, finishing our testing of the Panasonic GH7 and the Leica D-Lux 8... just in time for Canon to surprise announce another compact camera, the PowerShot V1, which we were the first to get our hands on. We also got to test out Zeiss' 50mm F1.4 'Otus' lens – its first major release in six years – and interview the company's Senior Manager of Creative Arts.
Speaking of lenses, Sony had some new ones, too: a 16mm F1.8 full frame prime, and a 400-800 super telephoto. We also got to see over a dozen new lenses from third-party manufacturers like Viltrox, Laowa, and TTArtisan at CP+.
The Sigma BF is unlike any camera we've seen recently. It's also only one of the several things the company announced in February.Realistically, though, the month belonged to Sigma, who managed to overshadow everyone at the last minute with its announcement of the super-minimalist BF, a full frame camera stripped down to the bare essentials. If that wasn't enough, it also updated its logo, announced a stabilized 16-300mm (24-450mm equiv.*) F3.5-6.7 lens for APS-C systems and a full frame 300-600mm F4 lens for sports shooters and, on top of all that, refreshed its entire lineup of I-series primes.
Phew!
* - 26-480mm equiv. on Canon
March Photo: Richard ButlerThings didn't slow down much in March, which kicked off with a ton of phone news coming out of the Mobile World Congress show. There were budget offerings from Nothing and Google, exciting concepts from RealMe and Xiaomi, and the continuation of a Leica partnership from the latter.
We also started releasing our interviews from the major manufacturers we got to talk to during CP+; OM System, Ricoh, and Fujifilm (which came in two parts).
Speaking of Fujifilm, we were able to travel to Prague to cover the announcement of the GFX100RF, a fixed lens camera with a 100MP medium format sensor. We also had the chance to sit down with their executives again to talk about the launch.
Rounding out the month was a slate of announcements from Canon. The PowerShot V1 finally got a price and availability outside of Japan, and the company released three new products: a 20mm F1.4 prime in its full frame VCM series, the EOS R50 V, an APS-C vlogging camera, and a new wide-angle power zoom lens to act as its kit.
April Photo: Mitchell ClarkThings calmed down a bit in April, with there being only one major camera release: Nikon's budget full frame offering, the Z5II. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as its price to performance ratio would end up earning it our Product of the Year award (but we're getting ahead of ourselves).
The bad news for value-oriented cameras, at least in America, was April's other big story: the US' launch of tariffs on imports from other countries. While things have (mostly) shaken out, the US government's ever-changing and arbitrary approach meant manufacturers and the market struggled to figure out how to price things for a few months, a story we tracked closely.
April also saw the release of Sony's 50-150mm F2 lens, a fast, full frame zoom offering. We also continued to cover the Sigma BF, through interviews with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki, a deep dive on its UI and the potential implications for the industry, and Richard Butler's personal challenge to use it every day while on vacation holiday in the UK.
May The Panasonic S1II may look like the rest of the company's second-gen S1 cameras, but its partially stacked sensor and the capabilities it brings make it one of the most well-rounded options out there for stills and video shooters.After resting a bit in April, we and the camera industry were back in full swing in May. We finished our reviews of the Canon EOS R50 V, screen-less Camp Snap camera and the Sigma BF, with the latter including a deep-dive into its innovative (and completely unadvertised) implementation of the UltraHDR JPEG spec. We also published our final interview from CP+ 2025, where we met up with executives from Canon.
May also marked the beginning of us publishing regular educational articles, aimed towards beginners who are still figuring out the ins and outs of digital photography. We also launched a few new series:
Of course, there were several launches in May, too. Panasonic came out with the S1II, a full frame hybrid camera designed to excel at both stills and video, and the S1IIE, which used the same body, but paired with a standard BSI sensor, rather than a partially stacked one. The company also released a 24-60mm F2.8 lens, to act as a budget (and back)-friendly alternative to the standard 24-70mm F2.8 zoom.
The X half remains a strange release, but it's hard to knock a company for trying something new.On the other side of the photography spectrum, Fujifilm announced the X half, a compact camera with a Type 1 sensor and tons of quirky, fun features aimed at making photography fun for beginners. Ricoh also announced it was working on the GR IV, releasing a few tantalizing details for fans of its stalwart enthusiast APS-C compact.
Finally, DJI announced the fourth iteration of its Mavic Pro drone, though availability in the US was spotty, to say the least, as it wasn't supposed to officially launch in the country (a trend that would continue for the rest of the embattled company's products throughout the year).
June The X-E5 ups the ante on the Film Simulation dial by letting you assign recipes to it, and brings the rangefinder-styled camera back upmarket with more programable command dials and milled aluminum top and bottom plates.Summer is typically a relatively quiet time for the camera industry, but 2025's was arguably an exception. We saw two camera launches in June: Fujifilm's rangefinder-style X-E5, which came complete with the film simulation dial that's been making its way onto several of the company's products, and OM System's OM-5 II, a light refresh that brought updated menus and a USB-C port.
There were also a few interesting lenses released in June. Sigma released its super-fast APS-C standard zoom, the 17-40mm (26-60mm equiv.*) F1.8 DC Art, and Fujifilm released the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR, a 35mm equiv. pancake lens that emulates the one found on its still quite hard to find X100 series cameras.
Beyond covering all of that, we also published our review of the GFX100RF, and went hands-on with Peak Design's new Pro tripods.
* - 27-64mm equiv. on Canon
JulyThe RX1R III was a bolt out of the blue.
Photo: Richard Butler
July only saw one blockbuster release, but it was a big one: the Sony RX1R III, the company's full frame compact camera with a fixed 35mm F2 lens. It was released pretty much out of the blue, with very few rumors or teasers leading up to the launch.
Tamron also had an announcement in July, releasing its updated 16-30mm F2.8 wide-angle zoom lens.
As for reviews, we published our experiences with the Fujifilm X-E5, PowerShot V1, from both a photography and videography standpoint, and the Fujifilm X half, which Richard Butler says was one of the most difficult-to-review cameras he's ever written about. We also interviewed Leica for its 100th anniversary, and took a look at how the Kodak brand name was making a comeback in some surprising places unrelated to photography.
August The X2D II not only shoots HDR output files by default, but lets you preview them on a bright rear display.We were hard at work on reviews in August, publishing them for the Sony RX1R III, Panasonic S1RII, and Nikon Z5II. We also covered the launches of the Ricoh GR IV, which was fully unveiled after being teased in the spring, and the Hasselblad X2D II, a medium format camera that goes all-in on HDR.
There was a lot of lens news in August, too. Sigma announced a 12mm (18mm equiv.*) F1.4 prime for APS-C cameras, as well as a 200mm F2 prime for full frame systems. Alongside the X2D II, Hasselblad released a fast, standard zoom for medium format, and Nikon updated its own full frame standard zoom, creating the first internally zooming 24-70mm F2.8 for full frame systems.
Our new community coordinator, Mathew Anderson, is here to act as a bridge between us at DPReview and our community.We also made a big investment in our community, bringing on Mathew Anderson to act as our full time community manager. If you've spent any time in our forums at all, you'll almost certainly be familiar with him, as he's been working to make sure we keep in touch with what our readers and members need most.
* - 19mm equiv. on Canon
September The Nikon ZR is an interesting release, but September belonged to the lenses.Things ramped back up in September, with a slew of lens news. Canon introduced an 85mm F1.4 to its VCM lineup, and OM System released its long-awaited 50-200mm (100-400mm equiv.) F2.8 IS Pro for Micro Four Thirds. Sigma was back at it again with three full frame lenses: an updated 35mm F1.2 which was lighter and smaller than its predecessor, a 135mm F1.4 made to be a portrait powerhouse, and a 20-200mm F3.5-6.3 designed to be small enough to travel anywhere with. Panasonic and Sony also got in on the action, releasing the 100-500mm F5-7.1 OIS and 100mm F2.8 Macro GM, for their respective full frame systems.
Nikon also announced a new camera, the video and vlogging-focused ZR, which takes the partially stacked sensor from the Z6III and puts it in a small body with a big screen and Red logo. We also posted our final reviews of the Hasselblad X2D II and Ricoh GR IV, and dug into some of the marketing behind the new iPhone and its lenses.
October A visit to Canon's lens factory in Utsunomiya, Japan, was a highlight of the month.We opened October with a visit to Canon, where we got to interview executives about the company's culture and take a tour of the company's lens production facility. We also traveled to Adobe's Max conference to hear about the future of Photoshop and Lightroom, which, unsurprisingly, involved a lot of AI.
Some of the most interesting releases this month were lenses. Nikon introduced a fast standard zoom for APS-C with the 16-50mm (24-75 equiv.) F2.8 VR, alongside a 35mm (53mm equiv.) F1.7 'Micro' branded lens for capturing close-up objects. Tamron also brought out its 25-200mm F2.8-5.6 to compete with Sigma's 20-200mm, and Fujifilm released a collapsing 13-33mm (20-50mm) F3.5-6.3 stabilized lens.
An M series without a rangefinder? Is this blasphemy?That lens, however, is initially only available kitted with the X-T30 III it was announced alongside, an entry-level mirrorless camera with an EVF and a film simulation dial. Leica also released a new camera: the M EV1, a camera that eschews the company's classic rangefinder mechanism for an electronic viewfinder. This prompted an excellent op-ed from Richard Butler on jargon and the semantics of "mirrorless," which we promise is more interesting than those descriptors may make it sound (or, to a certain type of person, is exactly as interesting as those descriptors promise).
As for reviews, we published our final thoughts on the OM System OM-5 II. That may make it seem like it was a quite month, but that's because we were gearing up for...
NovemberThe EOS R6 III is a strong new entry in the very competitive midrange enthusiast marketplace.
Photo: Mitchell Clark
... the Canon EOS R6 III, which was November's first big release, alongside the company's $470 43mm F1.2 lens (no, the price isn't a typo). Leica was also back this month, with the Q3 Monochrome, a – you guessed it – black and white version of its full frame compact with a 28mm F1.7 lens.
We also published our review of the Panasonic S1II, following a firmware update that brought dramatic improvements to its autofocus performance and cooling performance for video.
DPReview also got a big update in November, as we officially moved our forums onto a modern, sustainable platform. Come say hi!
December The a7 V's faster, partially stacked sensor, brings a much-needed speed boost to Sony's mainline full frame entry.This brings us to this month. While releases have finally slowed down, with the massive exception of Sony's enthusiast-tier a7 V, we've still been busy. We published our review of the Canon EOS R6 III, in-depth looks at Nikon's 24-70mm F2.8 S II and the a7 V's impressive dynamic range performance, and have started on our end-of-year content. That includes our annual awards, our Gear and Photos of the Year series, and this very article. (And there's still more to come!)
While it's been a year full of news, reviews and buying guides, we've also been working on increasing our engagement with the community, featuring your work and thoughts on our homepage. We've done so through the monthly editors' photo challenges, and our question of the week series, as well as with events like our AMA. Look forward to even more of that coming in the new year!
While the EOS R6 III was our last review of the year, we already have our work cut out for us going into next year, with the reviews of the Sony a7 V and the Fujifilm X-T30 III. Stay tuned for those, as well as our coverage of the CP+ show in February and anything else that happens in the upcoming year.
We appreciate you reading our work in 2025, and look forward to bringing you even better coverage in 2026.
Since 2011, scientists have been puzzled about the force resulting from a gigantic earthquake and tsunami that destroyed, among other things, Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Plant. Now, a Guinness World Record drilling expedition has solved the puzzle.
Category: Environment, Science
Tags: Earthquake, Seismic, Tsunami, Japan, Fukushima, Cornell
When Triumph released its first-ever 400cc motorcycles last year – the Speed 400 and Scram 400 – very few people would have foreseen the success that followed. Many at the time termed them as the most value-for-money motorcycles on the market, and it seems like the bikemaker has taken note of that success.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Triumph, cafe racer, Retro
The end of the Age of the Battleship appears to have been called prematurely as the Trump administration, as part of its Golden Fleet US Navy reform, says it is reviving the giant battlewagons in the form of 35,000-tonne Trump-class battleships.
Category: Military, Technology
The US government has placed a de facto ban on the import and sale of new drones and drone parts made outside of its borders, including ones from popular manufacturers like DJI. While people are still able to fly the drones they currently own and retailers can sell current models, it's a major blow to the drone market in the country.
A press release from the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, predictably cites national security as the reason for the policy change. It acknowledges that "unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, offer the potential to greatly enhance public safety and innovation," but goes on to say that "criminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists can use them to present new and serious threats to our homeland." It lists major events, like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 summer Olympics, as potential reasons to "safeguard" its airspace.
The policy isn't an outright ban on selling foreign dronesThe policy isn't an outright ban on selling foreign drones. Rather, it makes it so the FCC can't authorize new drones or critical drone parts* if they're made in a foreign country. However, the end result is that any drone that doesn't currently have that authorization won't be able to be legally imported or sold in the US, without explicit approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. Again, this doesn't impact drones that Americans currently own (except for, potentially, the availability of replacement parts).
This move has been a long time coming. The US government has been threatening to ban DJI's drones, which make up the vast majority of the market, in one way or another for years. Its most recent move was to require a security audit of the company's products before December 23rd, and to subsequently not carry out that audit, but the efforts have spanned all branches of the government, under multiple administrations.
A DJI spokesperson told Politico that it's "disappointed" in the new policy. The company has clearly seen the writing on the wall, though, as many of its recent products (drones or otherwise) haven't officially launched in the US. That's despite the company telling us that the Mavic 4 Pro had "all necessary approvals and clearances, including FCC certification, for sale in the United States."
Drones are obviously useful tools for photographers and videographers, but they've also become vital in other industries such as forestry, agriculture, industrial inspections and more. While the FCC's press release states that this move will "unleash American drone dominance," it's unclear what, if any, American companies are poised to take up the mantel of designing and manufacturing drones that are as affordable or easy to use as those available from DJI and its competitors.
* - Banning authorization of parts cuts off the obvious loophole of companies selling each part individually, and giving users instructions on how to assemble them
Back in 2009, a friend bet British cyclist Paul Spencer that he couldn't ride his bike the length of the British Isles in less than a week. Spencer took up the challenge, and completed the route – from Land's End in England to John O’ Groats village in Scotland – in just four days.
Tags: Pedaling, Watercraft, Record-breaking
After several busy years of ebike and bicycle camper debuts, the segment really seemed to slow down in 2025. In fact, we only saw one new bicycle camper debut this year, in the form of the truly one-of-a-kind Spacecamper e-cargo-integrated nano-motorhome. Before the year officially twilights, though, one more bike camper has emerged and grabbed our attention. And it's the one that bears the closest resemblance to a full-on automobile teardrop. The Bike Camper from France's Nirvana Van can be left a basic empty shell or optioned up with kitchen equipment, solar-charged battery, windows and awning.
Category: Camping Trailers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: bike-campers, Camping, Bicycle, Bikepacking, RV, Trailer, trailers, Caravan, Outdoors and Camping, ebikes
Updated: December 22, 2025
These days, midrange cameras go for around $2500-3000, though in the US tariffs have made great deals in this price range a little harder to come by. For that money, you get something that's incredibly capable; our pics are high-spec options that are excellent for stills and video, and many have autofocus systems that come close to the performance of professional sports cameras.
Choosing a camera means committing to the ecosystem of lenses that are available for it, so we advise looking into the price and availability of your preferred kit. It's also worth noting that some camera manufacturers are more restrictive of what options third-party lens makers can provide, so be sure to consider that during your lens research.
Speaking of lenses, it's also worth considering that the latest lens designs for mirrorless cameras regularly outperform their older DSLR counterparts. If you have any lenses already, you may want to think about whether it's worth adapting them, or if you'd be better off selling them to help you buy modern equivalents of your most-used lenses. This option also gives you a path to switching brands, if you feel there's a compelling reason to do so.
Our Recommendations32MP full-frame CMOS sensor | 3.0", 1.62M dot fully-articulating screen | 7K recording up to 60p
Photo: Mitchell ClarkBuy now:
$1798 at Amazon.com What we like:It earns top place on this list because it's such a complete package, with image quality, burst rates and autofocus capable of helping you tackle pretty much any subject. It's also a very capable video camera; no matter what your needs, its hard to imagine you'll find that the EOS R6 III holds you back.
It has plenty of customizable buttons and a decent range of settings for them. It's comfortable to hold, but its viewfinder and display aren't the nicest around. The EOS R6 III has very dependable autofocus across its selection of tracking and subject recognition modes. It can shoot at bursts up to 40fps (though with reduced dynamic range), and supports pre-capture for up to 0.5 sec before you press the shutter. The EOS R6 III isn't a "jack of all trades, master of none." It's a master of most. Images from the EOS R6 III have very good levels of detail and pleasing colors. The camera's peak dynamic range can't match the best of its competitors, and it'll struggle a bit more in e-shutter mode, but it's good enough for most use cases. The video quality from the camera's open gate, Raw and oversampled 4K modes is quite good at 24p, though its higher-framerate and subsampled modes suffer a bit. Its rolling shutter performance is great, and it's quite nice to use for shooting video. However, its overheating performance could limit its most ambitious modes in hot shooting environments. The EOS R6 III is an abundantly capable camera for most kinds of stills and video shooting. It pairs great performance with excellent ergonomics and a refined user experience.Read our full review of the Canon EOS R6 III
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Please open this article's permalink in a browser to view this content. A tight raceEarly 2026 is a great time to be shopping for a midrange camera, as fierce competition has lead to some strong options. Panasonic's S1II has more video features and longer record times than the EOS R6 III thanks to its built-in fan, but misses taking first place on this list because of its higher price tag and autofocus that isn't quite the best in class. Still, if you don't mind spending the extra and are enticed by the lens options available on L-mount, it's a great choice.
Sony's a7 V is also a compelling option, though we haven't fully completed our testing of it. While it doesn't offer every video option that serious videographers might want, it makes up for it with excellent thermal management and record times, as well as battery life that's head-and-shoulders above the others. Like the S1II, it uses its fast sensor readout times to achieve impressive dynamic range performance when using the mechanical shutter, which could be good news for landscape shooters.
Finally, there's the Nikon Z6III, which frequently goes on sale for around $2500, or even less. For those looking for a bargain, it's a compelling option, but at list price it has downsides – mainly worse dynamic range performance and no Raw pre-burst capture option – that the competition doesn't.
The compact option: Sony a7C II33MP BSI CMOS sensor | 4K/60p video with 10-bit color | Dedicated ‘AI’ processor for AF system
Photo: Richard ButlerBuy now:
$1849 at Amazon.com What we like:The Sony a7C II is a compact, full-frame mirrorless camera with a 33MP BSI CMOS sensor.
The a7C II's viewfinder is a little small and rather low resolution for this price, but it's part of what helps the camera stay so compact. Modern full-frame lenses are often so large as to make the difference in camera size fairly trivial but Sony's E-mount has the widest range of lenses available, so there are some relatively compact options.
The a7C II is impressively small for a full-frame camera. The addition of a front control dial improves handling significantly and brings it closer to its peers. A fully articulating screen anchors the back and features an extremely responsive touch interface. Unlike many cameras at this price, there’s no joystick control. Autofocus performance on the a7C II is fantastic and is helped by having a processor dedicated to handling machine learning-derived algorithms. Subject recognition is quick, and the AF system tracks subjects tenaciously around the frame in both stills or video. 10 fps burst shooting with continuous AF results in a dependably high hit rate. “The a7C II is a surprisingly capable camera for its size.” The a7C II's 4K/30p video is downsampled from 7K, but with fairly high rolling shutter. There's also 4K/60p from an APS-C crop, all in 10-bit color. S-Log3 and S-Cinetone profiles provide flexibility in post, and the camera supports internal LUTs. Auto Framing mode punches in on subjects, keeping them framed and in focus. The camera includes mic and headphone jacks. The a7C II is a surprisingly capable camera for its size. It essentially provides the same level of image quality, video capabilities, and AF performance as Sony’s a7 IV, but in a smaller package. In exchange for the small size, you make a few tradeoffs, like no AF joystick, but if compact size is a priority the a7C II will get you there with few compromises.Read our full review of the Sony a7C II
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Please open this article's permalink in a browser to view this content. Should I buy the Sony a7 IV, a7 III or a7C?The Sony a7 IV is tough to recommend in 2025, especially at its post-tariff MSRP in the US. Its viewfinder, ergonomics, and full mechanical shutter are improvements over the a7C II, but it's also larger, heavier and offers less effective image stabilization. If you're you don't care about compactness, it might be worth paying a little extra for the a7 IV's larger, higher-resolution viewfinder, but only if the price difference is small.
It's a similar story with the a7 III and a7C. These are from an older generation of products with less sophisticated autofocus, video and image stabilization. They also use an older, more awkward-to-navigate menu system, which we'd happily pay to avoid ever having to use again. The a7C lacks the version II's front control dial and features an even smaller viewfinder, so we'd strongly recommend saving up for one of the newer models.
What about APS-C?We make most of our APS-C recommendations in our best cameras under $2000 buying guide, which covers cameras like the Fujifilm X-T5, Canon EOS R7 and Sony a6700. The latter two are the highest-end crop sensor cameras from their respective brands, but Fujifilm makes the X-H2S, which is historically one of the better video cameras on the market. However, cameras like the Z6III have arguably caught up in capabilities and framerate options, and while the X-H2S' global price is eligible for its list, in the US it's closer to $3000.
The wildlife option with reach: OM System OM-1 II20MP Four Thirds Stacked sensor | 50fps continuous shooting w/AF, 120fps AF/AE locked | IBIS rated to 8.5EV
Photo: Shaminder DulaiBuy now:
$849 at Amazon.comThe OM System OM-1 Mark II is a high-speed Micro Four Thirds camera based around a 20MP Stacked CMOS sensor.
It's well-suited to wildlife photography, as the Micro Four Thirds system has several lenses that give you plenty of reach without being back (or pack) breakingly large, and its Stacked sensor gives it fast autofocus and incredible burst rates for shooting even the fastest subjects. It also has several computational modes that let it adapt to a wide variety of situations, and sports an IP53 rating for dust and water resistance, so you won't have to worry if it starts raining.
The body is quite rugged-feeling (while still being smaller than full-frame counterparts), with dials designed to be used with or without gloves, and has plenty of customizable control points. The viewfinder is relatively large and bright.
While we haven't put the OM-1 II through our full review process, we do have extensive experience with it and with the OM-3, that uses the same processor and sensor. We've found the autofocus to be reliable, though not class-leading, and it's a bit of a shame that continuous autofocus in its 50fps is limited to certain lenses. There's an image quality price to be paid for the smaller sensor, but, for Four Thirds, the OM-1 II's sensor provides good amounts of detail and the multi-shot modes can compensate for this in some circumstances.
While there are more all-round capable cameras at this price point, the OM-1 II fits into its niche quite well and is still quite solid for other kinds of photography. Its video capabilities aren't at the level that other companies provide, but if you simply want to record something, it's certainly up to the task.
Read our initial review of the OM System OM-1 II
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Please open this article's permalink in a browser to view this content. Other Four Thirds camerasThe OM-1 II shares most of its DNA with the OM System OM-3, a smaller, more stylish and less expensive option that uses a smaller viewfinder to achieve its classic styling. Both are similar to the Panasonic G9II, though that's substantially larger, sharing its body with the full-frame S5II. All are Micro Four Thirds, which offers smaller camera/lens combinations at the cost of ultimate image quality. However, they can well worth considering if your photography requires the most compact kit available.
Best for vlogging: Nikon ZR24.5MP full-frame 'partially Stacked' sensor | 7.5EV IBIS | R3D (NE) Raw video codec
Photo: Mitchell ClarkBuy now:
$910 at Amazon.comThe Nikon ZR is a video-focused mirrorless camera with a 24.5MP full-frame 'partially Stacked' sensor.
While its Red co-branding and three flavors of Raw shooting show its ambitions as a video production camera, the ZR has a lot of features that make it a great tool for vlogging, too. It has IBIS, Nikon's fairly effective autofocus system, and a 4", 3.07M dot display that can go up to 1000 nits, which should make previewing your image relatively easy, even if the camera is a bit far away from you.
It's also the first mirrorless camera with support for 32-bit float audio recording built-in, even on the 3.5mm input, which means you won't have to worry nearly as much about your audio gain levels when trying to capture the moment.
It can shoot compressed video at up to 5.4K/60, and is capable of 4K/120 for proper slow-motion, though going above 4K/60 will come with a 1.5x crop. In Raw, the ZR can record full-width 6K/60.
We'll be putting the ZR through its paces more in the coming weeks, but it's essentially a Z6III at heart, with a few more video features that should make it a very capable option if you want to go from vlogging to full-on production.
Why you should trust usThis buying guide is based on cameras used and tested by DPReview's editorial team. We don't select a camera until we've used it enough to be confident in recommending it, usually after our extensive review process. The selections are purely a reflection of which cameras we believe to be best: there are no financial incentives for us to select one model or brand over another.
Many of the tiny houses we see nowadays can actually be surprisingly expensive and quite spacious, with some even suitable for raising a family. However, the Ambra focuses on the basics and delivers a genuinely small, affordable home for up to two people.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home
I haven't tried this product, but even through a screen, it looks like a remarkable little travel accessory for busy businesspeople.
Category: Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Gadgets, Travel, Clothing, Kickstarter
In the first long-term and real-world reflective study of its kind, scientists have uncovered new detrimental health impacts of the artificial sweetener aspartame that echoes those found in shorter research.
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Artificial sweetener, Brain, Cognitive functioning, Heart, metabolism, Energy, Chronic
I never once dreamed of having automated blinds until one day, when Smartwings reached out for a review. I was hesitant at first because I live in a rental, but then I thought I'd for sure get my deposit back when we eventually move out after an upgrade like automatic shades, right?
Category: Around The Home, Lifestyle
Tags: Smart windows, Smart Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa
For nearly a century, a strange band of thousands of holes carved into a Peruvian hillside has defied explanation. Stretching for nearly a mile (1.5 km) along the edge of the Pisco Valley, Monte Sierpe – "serpent mountain" appears to be a deliberate, repetitive and almost mathematical feature – but its real purpose has so far eluded scientists.
Category: Environment, Science
Tags: University of Sydney, Market, Agriculture, Mountain, Archeology, Farming, Mathematics
An anhinga spreads its wings in a tree to dry at sunset in Everglades National Park in Florida. Unlike many birds in aquatic environments, anhingas don't have waterproof oil on their feathers, so they spend a lot of time with their wings spread to dry out. (Processed from Raw using DxO Photolab)
Photo: Dale Baskin
If there's one common thread that weaves through my photography this year, it's that I didn't do very much of it – at least not as much as I would have liked.
That may sound odd coming from a DPReview editor. After all, a big part of my job is testing cameras and shooting sample galleries. However, 2025 was an unusual year. Instead of running around with gear, I spent much of my time on infrastructure projects that will help lay the foundation for the site's future, including our new forum system and some other things you'll see in 2026. (Teaser!)
Add some unexpected events in my personal life, and I found precious little time for taking photos. A glance at my Lightroom library for 2025 is like looking at an empty cupboard. But one image that's special to me is the one at the top of this article: an anhinga spreading its wings to dry at sunset, captured during a trip to the opposite corner of the country.
For context, I'm a huge fan of national parks, not just in the US, but everywhere, and I've visited them all over the world. This year, I finally had the chance to visit one that's been on my list for a long time: Everglades National Park in Florida.*
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from the Everglades. Living in the western US, national parks usually evoke visions of rugged mountains or grand vistas: Yellowstone. Yosemite. Mt. Rainier. In contrast, the highest point in the Everglades is about 3m (10ft) above sea level.
An American alligator lurks in the shallow waters of Everglades National Park. (Processed from Raw using DxO Photolab)
Photo: Dale Baskin
Contrary to popular belief, the Everglades isn't just a giant swamp. It is a slow-moving slough running from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico/America (circle your preference). This unique ecology makes it a fantastic environment for wildlife and wildlife photography. Unlike other regions where you often have to work incredibly hard to get close to subjects, here, the birds and aquatic species often walk right past you.
As with most wildlife photography, however, the hard part is still waiting. Waiting for your subject to be in just the right spot. Or, if shooting from a boat, waiting until you're in just the right spot. You still have to wait for just the right moment when your subject looks in your direction or starts moving in an interesting way.
"As with most wildlife photography, however, the hard part is still waiting."During the time I was in the Everglades, I was testing the Panasonic GH7 for our review, paired with the Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 PRO lens, which provides an 80-300mm equivalent focal length and is one of my favorite lenses for the Micro Four Thirds format.
And that's the gear I used to capture the photo above of the anhinga, spreading its wings against the sky just as the sun was setting. Unlike many birds, Anhingas don't have waterproof oil on their feathers, so they spend a lot of time with their wings spread out to dry.
Hopefully, 2026 will be the year I get back out in the field more often, testing gear and shooting galleries. And I'm definitely planning to go back to the Everglades as soon as I can.
In the gallery below, you'll find a few more of my favorite wildlife shots from my Everglades adventure.
Sample galleryThis widget is not optimized for RSS feed readers. Click here to open it in a new browser window / tab.*The photos in this article were actually taken during the last couple of days of 2024, but since I shot them after writing my 2024 photo of the year article, I'm considering them to be 2025 photos.
