Volkswagen knows what it takes to make a great van, whether we're talking commercial goods-hauler or MPV-cum-weekend camper. Sometimes that means working with the aftermarket to create a versatile van to take on multiple roles with little to no owner conversion necessary, something like the Caddy with flip-up rear bench. VW's latest piece of van kit doesn't even require a flip, permanently dividing the ID. Buzz into a split-personality cargo-MPV that seats a family of five while carrying all means of tools and packages in a discrete compartment. On the downside, it deletes the e-bus' ability to work with readily available aftermarket camper hardware.

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Category: Automotive, Transport

Tags: Volkswagen, Minivan, Van, Electric Vehicles, Campervan, Multi-functional, mini-campervan

One of the smoothest, most curvaceous hunks of sleep-in fiberglass you'll see this year, the all-new Morningstar series from startup Awaken RV looks to "wake up" an age of higher quality American Midwest-built campers. The 23.9-foot (7.3-m) trailer leaves the notoriously shoddy stick-and-tin construction in the past in favor of a seamless double-hulled fiberglass build designed to make rot, corrosion, leaking and denting forgotten remnants of the past.

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Category: Camping Trailers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors

Tags: Caravan, RV, trailers, Camping, Outdoors and Camping

$1000 might sound like a lot of money for a camera, but it's probably the least we'd recommend spending if you want to go beyond phone photography, especially as photography equipment is steadily getting more expensive. The picks on this list will give you more control than a phone and offer a more satisfying photographic experience.

At this price point, your options will be entry-level interchangeable lens cameras or larger-sensor compact cameras with built-in lenses. Compacts offer more control than a phone and a greater zoom range, but likely won't offer a huge jump in image quality compared to the latest flagship phones (despite their typically larger sensors).

Meanwhile, an interchangeable lens camera won't be as easy to carry around and comes with the added expense of lenses. However, they can make you feel even more involved in the photographic process, and the flexibility of swappable lenses will let you learn and grow into different types of photography as you develop your passion. They also feature much larger sensors than phones and the majority of compacts.

It's worth noting that camera makers sometimes assume that beginners will stick with the basic 'kit' zoom that comes with the camera, so it's worth checking whether a good selection of lenses is available (at a price you're willing to spend) before deciding which brand's system to buy into.

• Best camera under $1000: Canon EOS R10
• The better performer: Nikon Z50II
• The affordable kit: Sony a6100
• Best compact camera under $1000: Canon G7X III
• Best camera for content creators under $1000: Fujifilm X-M5

24MP Dual Pixel APS-C CMOS sensor | 4K/30p video (60p with crop) | 15fps shooting (23fps with e-shutter)

Buy now:

• Capable stills and video camera
• Simple, effective AF in stills
• Relatively easy-to-use

• Video autofocus is less effective than stills
• Mediocre battery life
• Few sensible RF lens choices

There are a few things that earn it the top spot on this list. The first is its stand-out usability, with dual top-plate dials for controlling exposure settings and a joystick to control its very capable autofocus system. It also has a decent selection of lenses; third parties like Sigma and Tamron have stepped in to round out the selection of primes and higher-end zoom lenses available for it, so you have several good options for moving beyond the kit lens that came with it, something that isn't necessarily true with Nikon's system.

Overall, the EOS R10 is a very capable camera for its price point, and offers a lot of room to grow for those starting out in photography, especially now that there's a reasonable selection of APS-C lenses for it.

Read our Canon EOS R10 review

See Canon EOS R10 studio scene

While we much prefer the higher level of control that the EOS R10 provides, the less expensive Canon EOS R50 may also be worth a look if you're extremely budget-conscious but still want to stay in the Canon ecosystem. It has fewer control points – most notably, it misses out on the EOS R10's joystick – and it loses out on features such as 4K/60p video capture and faster burst rates, but it's still pretty capable.

We don't recommend the cheaper still EOS R100. It's based on a previous generation of technology, so it's slower and has less sophisticated autofocus.

We also like the Fujifilm X-T30 III in this price bracket. While its autofocus isn't quite as easy to use as Canon's, it has a flexible Auto mode that still gives you a fair level of control to let you grow into the camera, and a kit lens whose wide-angle focal range will be familiar to phone photographers. Fujifilm's "Film Simulation" JPEG color mode help it deliver really attractive out-of-camera images, and the retro design language has proven popular, too.

20.9MP APS-C sensor | Subject recognition AF | Full-width 4K video up to 30p

• Twin command dials
• Simple tracking AF w/ subject recognition
• Strong video specs

• Weak battery life
• Limited zoom lens selection
• Non-stabilized sensor limits video

The Z50II makes a case for being the best pick for beginners, thanks to a simple and mostly reliable AF system with automatic subject detection. Nikon has introduced a bright standard zoom lens for APS-C, providing a solid upgrade path from the kit lens, but hasn't allowed third parties to make similar lenses available on its mount, so you have fewer options than with other brands, overall.

Read our Nikon 50II review

Nikon's Z fc is a stylish camera based on the original Z50, which means it has the same sensor as the Z50II. We like it a lot, but the autofocus on the Z50II is such a marked improvement that it's hard to recommend picking up a Z fc at this point – you can read our full comparison between the two cameras here. If you have a strong attachment to the Z fc's aesthetics, your best option is probably holding off for a bit to see if Nikon updates the Z fc. If that's not an option, see if you can get it on sale or used.

24MP APS-C sensor | Hybrid AF with Real-time Tracking | 4K video capture

The Sony a6100 offers a lot of power in a compact, well-priced body. The 16-50mm power zoom isn't the best, though.

Photo: Richard Butler

Buy now:

• Excellent autofocus system
• 4K/30p video recording
• Tilting touchscreen LCD

• Less robust build quality
• Rolling shutter 'jello effect' present in 4K video
• Crop when recording 4K/30p video

It was a very capable and affordable camera when it was launched several years ago, offering some of the best autofocus around and a wide selection of lenses. The latter part is still an advantage, but many competitors' autofocus systems are now on par with the a6100's. However, it's still worth considering if you want to get both a camera body and a decent prime lens for under $1,000.

The a6100 is the most basic model in the a6000-series and doesn't feel quite as robust as its step-up siblings. It offers a lower-resolution electronic viewfinder, and control dials that are both thumb-operated. Its touchscreen flips upward 180-degrees for easy selfie framing and vlogging. It also uses Sony's old menu system, which can be a chore to work with.

Read our Sony a6100 review

See the Sony a6100 studio scene

20MP Type 1 Stacked CMOS sensor | 24-100mm equiv. F1.8-2.8 lens | 4K/30p video capture

Buy now:

• Nice grip and well-placed controls
• 4K/30p recording with live streaming to YouTube
• Fast burst shooting

• Lens is soft at wide-angle
• Limited battery life
• Contrast-detect only autofocus

The Canon PowerShot G7X III is the last in what used to be a popular style: the pocketable enthusiast photographers' compact, with a relatively large Type 1 20MP sensor and bright zoom lens. Canon has added features to make it more vlogging-friendly, but the clicking control wheel gives a satisfying, hands-on shooting experience.

A note on availability: the PowerShot G7X III has been difficult to get for a while, but Canon has recently reiterated that it's working on ramping up production. Still, getting your hands on one for anything near its original MSRP may require some patience.

Read our Canon PowerShot G7X III review

See the Canon PowerShot G7X III studio scene

26MP APS-C BSI CMOS sensor | Fully articulated 3" LCD | 6.2K 3:2 video up to 30p

• Great JPEG colors with dedicated dial
• Solid selection of vlogging features and UI
• Good level of direct control

• No viewfinder
• AF tracking performance isn't the strongest
• Unstabilized sensor

It's aimed at creators taking pictures and video for the web, with a suite of vlogging features that let you shoot video that's ready to upload as soon as you transfer it to your phone. It also has a dial for easily switching between 'Film Simulations,' Fujifilm's much-loved color modes, and the full suite of stills features from larger, more expensive models – minus a viewfinder. Its support for X-mount lenses also gives you access to the most complete range of APS-C lenses, no matter what journey you're on.

Read our Fujifilm X-M5 review

See the Fujifilm X-M5 studio scene

If you plan to shoot more videos than photos, it's worth considering the Canon PowerShot V1. It's a compact camera built for vlogging with its integrated 16-50mm equiv. F2.8-4.5 lens, large (for a compact) Type 1.4 (18.4 x 12.3mm) sensor, complete with optical image stabilization and an ND filter. While we don't think it offers an especially enjoyable photography experience, features like a built-in fan for cooling, headphone and microphone ports, very usable stabilization and the ability to shoot 4K60p with a 1.4x crop make it a quite powerful video camera for its size.

Click here to read the Canon PowerShot V1 review

If you only care about vlogging, and want an even more pocketable option, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 comes in under $1000 and can't be beat when it comes to stabilization thanks to its built-in gimbal. That, and the ability to sync with DJI's wireless microphones, earn it the top spot in our dedicated vlogging buying guide.

Click here to read our Best Cameras for Vlogging buying guide

This 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.

PocketBook’s new InkPad One pairs a 10.3-inch E Ink Mobius display with stylus support, transforming it from a simple e-reader into a tool for annotating PDFs and taking handwritten notes. It’s priced below most premium e-notes, aiming to make large-screen E Ink more accessible for everyday reading and productivity.

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Category: Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: E-reader, E-Ink, Notebook, Portable, Productivity, Reading

American Robin with Cherry Tree in the background.

Fujifilm X-T3 w/ AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR | F5.6 | 1/2400 sec | ISO 800
Photo: Morris0

Continuing our new series on photography and gear, DPReview community member Morris0 shares how a childhood curiosity sparked by his parents’ camera grew into a lifelong passion for wildlife and avian photography – one that’s evolved into a finely tuned, travel‑ready Fujifilm setup built for lightness and precision.

After more than fifty years behind the lens, his bag today reflects both experience and intentional simplicity: every piece has its place.

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Based in New York City, Morris0 spends much of his time photographing wildlife along the Eastern Flyway, a prime route for migratory birds. Avian subjects dominate his portfolio, though his award-winning work also spans mammals, flowers, landscapes, and even aviation.

"I worked hard to refine my knowledge of lighting and composition, both of which I had learned from my father. I’ve won awards for the following types of photography: avian, mammals, insects, flowers, landscape and aviation," he tells us.

"As if I weren’t busy enough raising a family and working as an IT director, I also served as a school board president. I studied both computers and technical theater in college and even worked on Broadway as a lighting and sound designer. Today, I’m retired and loving it. I spend much of my time taking pictures and sharing what I’ve learned about photography."

"I’ve been taking photos since I was seven years old, using my first camera, a Kodak Instamatic 127 with those crazy flash cubes. My dad was an illustrator and comic strip artist, and I learned composition and the use of light from him. I was doing my own darkroom work by the age of ten and got my first SLR, a Canon AE‑1, at eighteen."

"While I’ve been taking photos for most of my life, it was around the year 2000 that I became truly passionate about photography. That was also when I went digital, started sharing my work online, and began entering various contests."

Wood duck in flight with long exposure to blur the wings.

Fujifilm X-H2S w/Nikon 500mm f/5.6E @ 500mm | F/6.3 | 1/60 sec | ISO 800
Photo: Morris0

"When digital came along, I first got a Canon G1, which was fantastic. Even with a teleconverter adapter, though, the focal length was too short for wildlife photography. My solution was to get a Fujifilm FinePix S602, since I couldn’t justify the cost of a DSLR at the time.

As my family’s finances improved, my wife told me to get the DSLR setup of my dreams, so I purchased a Nikon D70s along with an assortment of lenses."

Morris0’s current kit is built around two Fujifilm X‑H2 bodies, each carried on cross‑body straps so he’s always ready to shoot. The bag is for transport only. Once he’s in the field, both cameras are out and active.

When photographing birds, he leans on Fujifilm’s XF 500mm for tight shots, paired with a 1.4x teleconverter for added reach. If he expects large flocks or wider compositions, his second body carries the XF 70–300mm F5.6.

• Main Camera: Fujifilm X-H2
• Lenses: XF 500mm F5.6 and a XF 70-300mm F5.6
• 1.4x and 2x telconverters
• Sirui W-2204 waterproof carbon fiber tripod
• Jobu Junior 3 gimbal head, and a Gitzo ball head
• Think Tank Airport Advantage Roller
• ORORO heated glove liners
• Tilley LTM6 Airflo sun hat
• Desiccant packs and cleaning cloths
• Battery pouches with Fuji batteries
• A pouch with hex keys

Morris0's Think Tank Photo Airport Advantage Roller backpack with camera, lens and other accessories.

Photo: Morris0

"The heated gloves I use are Ororo heated glove liners, which are very thin and allow me to feel all the controls on my camera. Being able to feel the controls means I don’t have to take my eye off the viewfinder, which is a huge advantage when photographing action. There are several brands of heated gloves, but I’ve only tried these, and they’ve kept my hands warm even at -8°C (17°F). The batteries last a few hours, so carrying spares for long outings is a must."

"My hat is a Tilley LTM6 Airflo Sun Hat. The vent on top helps keep my head cool by letting the breeze flow through, making hot days in the sun much more comfortable. The wide brim provides excellent shade, and I also use the hat in the rain – it’s made of canvas and keeps water off my shoulders and face. It even works well in the snow when I wear it over my hood."

The top level of Morris0's packed camera bag.

Photo: Morris0

"I developed several pinched nerves in my neck and wrist that made my Nikon gear far too heavy to use. I couldn’t shoot for about six months, and when I finally could, I decided to lighten my load, likely the source of my problems."

"Switching to the Fujifilm X‑T3 paired with the XF 100-400mm lens was my solution. At that time, very few people were photographing birds in flight with that setup, which led me to explore the custom AF‑C settings. After a lot of experimenting, I shared my findings and settings with the community."

"When I first switched to Fujifilm, I worried that the XF 100-400mm wouldn’t hold up to my demanding shooting style – and I was right. When I sent it in for repair, I tried a Sigma 150–600mm with the then‑new Fringer Adapter and discovered how well they worked together. While I loved the performance of the 150-600mm, the long rotation required for zooming began to strain my arm. Eventually, I transitioned to the Nikon 500mm PF with the Fringer Adapter, and that legendary lens performed beautifully on the X‑T3."

The sun burns through the fog at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Fujifilm X-H2S w/ Fujinon XF500mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR | F5.6 | 1/900 sec | ISO 1600
Photo: Morris0

"Living in New York City, I’m fortunate to be along the Eastern Flyway, which brings a variety of seasonal birds to photograph. I also love to travel and have visited many national parks and cities. While I often shoot alone, I enjoy working in small groups and mentoring other photographers."

"I’ve had many wonderful photography trips, but the most recent, visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and White Sands National Park, was truly special. It included the best single day of photography I’ve ever experienced. The day began before sunrise at a crisp, cool -8°C (17°F), with fog and frost covering everything. The pre‑dawn light was incredible, and the entire landscape glowed orange.”

Snow Owl Photographed on the South Shore of Long Island on a foggy morning.

Nikon D200 w/ AF-S Nikkor 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 260mm | F8 | 1/800 sec | ISO 400
Photo: Morris0

"Some digital photography advice for you all: simplify your setup, both to keep weight down and so that you can be intimate with your equipment. Invest in clothing and accessories that keep you comfortable, as it's much harder to be creative and to operate your gear if you're miserable."

You can also visit Morris0's social media channels on Facebook and his portfolio website.

Some responses have been edited for clarity and flow.

Editor's note: This article continues a new series, 'What's in your bag?', highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like to be featured in a future installment? 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.

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'What's in your bag?'

We usually associate Timbercraft Tiny Homes with large luxurious models. However, its Ynez tiny house maintains the firm's trademark attractive rustic styling, but does so in a much smaller and easier-to-tow package.

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Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors

Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home

Luna Systems, a Dublin-based startup, has built something that might actually make urban cycling less nerve-wracking: an AI-powered rear-view camera that acts like the collision warning systems already standard in modern cars. The device, called Luna Oculus, watches your back and (metaphorically) screams when danger approaches.

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Category: Bicycles, Transport

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Cameras, Safety, Cycling, Road Safety

With a single invisible shot, Raytheon's Coyote Block 3 UAV zapped swarms of drones out of the sky in a US Army demonstration showing that a reusable drone with electromagnetic weapons is an economical alternative to explosive interceptors.

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Category: Military, Technology

Tags: Raytheon, drones, Electromagnetic

We have certainly entered the age of AI robots doing the jobs we formerly relied on humans for. Some are yet to do it as well, but the Pongbot Pace S Pro is the best tennis coach I've had – even if it doesn't criticize my poor two-handed backhand grip.

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Category: Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: Tennis, Training aid, Sports, Artificial Intelligence, Smart technology, Outdoor Technology, Reviews

Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's ... a 20,000 cubic-meter power-generating airship, floating 6,560 ft (2,000 meters) above the ground. Introducing the S2000 stratospheric airborne wind energy system (SAWES), the world’s first megawatt-level airborne wind power system, according to its developer, Beijing-based Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology. The system has recently completed a test flight, successfully generating electricity from high-altitude winds without the need for towers or substantial ground infrastructure.

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Category: Energy, Technology

Tags: Airships, Wind Power, Blimp, Tsinghua University

Camping season is approaching fast for many of us, so it’s a good time to start gearing up. Outdoor adventures require quite a bit of planning, especially when it comes to cooking in the backcountry. Carrying heavy gear can make long hiking days feel even longer, so most people try to cut every extra gram when packing. If this sounds familiar, the ultralight and compact TiStove might be worth trying.

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Category: Outdoor Cooking, Gear, Outdoors

Tags: Kickstarter, Camping, Cooking, Titanium, Folding, Stoves

Welcome back to our Question of the Week series! This reader-focused series aims to get our photographic community to share thoughts on all sorts of photography-related topics in our forums. We pose questions about gear, favorite camera stores, advice, problem-solving and more, and you share your thoughts and opinions.

This week, we’re leaning into the holiday spirit! The season of giving (and occasionally re-gifting) is upon us, and that means it’s time to unwrap some memories – both heartwarming and hilarious.

What’s the best photography-related gift you’ve ever received? Maybe it was a dream lens that caused you to take on an adventure deep in the mountains, or a handmade camera strap that’s now an essential part of your kit. And what about the worst? Perhaps someone thought you needed yet another "World’s Best Photographer" mug, or that odd lens filter set that turned every photo a shade of green.

In this edition of our Question of the Week series, we want to hear your gift stories: the memorable, the useful and the truly baffling. Share your favorites (and flops) in the forum link below. Photos of the gifts (or what you created with them) are also more than welcome! We'll highlight some of your most entertaining and heartfelt responses in next week's roundup.

Click here to answer the Question of the week

With its length of just 7.2 m (23.7 ft), the Tiny Amsterdam is a bite-sized tiny house that suits regular travel or use as a vacation home. Despite its modest size, it has been designed to maximize living space and to keep things simple, meaning it looks surprisingly spacious inside.

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Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors

Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home

At massive audiovisual conferences like ISE 2026, extreme projection is everywhere, from the large venues and expansive screens to immersive installations and rental setups built around impressive brightness. In this arena, 30,000-lumen projectors have been the top-end standard for years: immensely powerful, but typically also heavy, bulky, expensive, and logistically challenging to deploy.

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Category: Technology

Tags: Epson, Projectors

As US-based aerospace manufacturer Natilus secures US$28 million in additional financing, the company has revealed the latest supersized version of its Horizon blended-wing airliner that upgrades the basic design into a double-decker for cargo.

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Category: Aircraft, Transport

Tags: Nautilus, Aircraft, blended wing

Each year in February, the camera industry gathers in Yokohama, Japan, for CP+ Expo, the industry's official trade show sponsored by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA). DPReview is proud to be one of four Founding Global Media Partners for the inaugural CP+ partnership program, bringing you exclusive news, insights, and hands-on access to the event.

CP+ runs from February 26th to March 1st. Visit this hub for pre-show announcements, hands-on impressions from the expo floor, interviews with industry executives, behind-the-scenes looks at what it takes to cover this critical event for the camera industry.

When a predator like a lion walks through the grasslands, it makes its presence known by roaring, which can be heard miles away. Since the lion is at the top of the food chain, it doesn’t particularly require privacy. But for animals like deer, making loud sounds isn’t exactly the safest way to communicate. So, to get noticed, deer mark areas with rubs and scrapes, known as signposts. Now, a new study in Ecology and Evolution reports that these signposts hold a hidden glow, and other deer can see it.

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Category: Biology, Science

Tags: Bioluminescence, Deer, Forest, Communications

In the front lines of combat between scientists and bacteria, there's a notorious group of bugs that belong to a nefarious organization known as ESKAPE. These bacteria are particularly good at evading the effects of antibiotics, making them a major cause of hard-to-treat infections, often transmitted during hospital stays. The acronym that classifies them consists of the first letters of the six bacteria that belong to the group: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species.

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Category: Biology, Science

Tags: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Bacteria, Infections, Immunotherapy, University of Melbourne

Ford launched the all-new Nugget High Roof in icy blue at the 2025 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon last summer, showing it again a few weeks ago at CMT 2026. But while Ford's high-rising, hard-sided "winterproof" Nugget is available to order with buyer's choice of rear toilet or extended cabinetry, it's not available with all-wheel drive. Feeling this a rather large market gap, aftermarket conversion shop Nugget Schmiede has introduced its own sleek high sleeper roof atop a factory long-wheelbase Nugget with all-wheel drive.

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Category: Campervans, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors

Tags: Ford, Campervan, mini-campervan, Camping, RV, Outdoors and Camping, Off-road

In order to stay compact and lightweight, most folding bikes have just a single chainring, limiting their hillclimbing capabilities. The Easy Ride is made to address that issue, by incorporating two shiftable gears into a custom single-ring crankset.

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Category: Bicycles, Transport

Tags: Kickstarter, Cycling, Gears