DxO has released major updates for three of its products — and the best part is, you can now get 15% off with our exclusive checkout code “Rumors15”!

DxO PureRAW 5.5 -> 15% off with our code “Rumors15”

• The third generation of DxO’s pioneering technology, DeepPRIME 3, delivers unprecedented image quality — free of noise and with exceptional color rendering — for images captured at high ISO levels.
• DeepPRIME XD technology is designed for the most demanding files captured in challenging conditions. It not only removes noise but also extracts outstanding detail from RAW files. Introduced in DxO PureRAW 5, DeepPRIME XD3 for X-Trans brings DxO’s most advanced denoising to Fujifilm users.
• Exclusive to DxO software and backed by over 20 years of research, DxO Modules automatically optimize lens sharpness and correct distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration for more than 100,000 camera and lens combinations.
• New in DxO PureRAW 5.5, integration with Photoshop’s Smart Filters gives users complete control, allowing them to revisit DxO PureRAW settings at any time.

DxO PhotoLab 9.2 -> 15% off with our code “Rumors15”

• Re-organizable masks with improved labelling — With this update, users gain even greater control over their local adjustments. Masks and sub-masks can now be freely reordered, making it easier to keep complex edits organized and intuitive. When a mask is duplicated, the software automatically labels the new version with a sequential number, saving time and avoiding confusion. These refinements streamline workflows and help photographers stay focused on the creative process.
• New PhotoLibrary filters — File management and image curation become even more efficient in DxO PhotoLab 9.2 thanks to three new filters designed to speed up how photographers locate their work. Alongside existing options, users can now instantly display only Unedited Images, quickly isolate Edited Images, or focus specifically on Edited Images featuring Local corrections. These filters simplify navigation and editing across large photo libraries.
• Improved History panel for Windows — Already available on macOS, the History panel now remembers every step of an edit even after the software is closed and reopened. Windows users can step back to any point in their workflow across multiple sessions, ensuring complete editing continuity.

Nik Collection 8 -> 15% off with our code “Rumors15”

• 30 authentic paper surfaces — Inspired by traditional photographic, artistic, and antique papers, the new textures add grain, depth, and character to images.
• Fine control — Adjust intensity, blend modes, and tonal integration to achieve everything from subtle mood to striking artistic impact.
• Effortless workflow — Nik Collection 8 integrates seamlessly with Adobe Photoshop and works efficiently alongside DxO PhotoLab, Adobe Lightroom Classic, and Affinity Photo.

From minute 39 Sigma CEO Yamaki joined the podcast. Here are a couple of highlights:

• He doesn’t work with other manufacturers, they prefer to produce lenses in their own factory
• Sigma made no profit in past fiscal year due the increase of cost.
• Response of the market on the Sigma BF was way beyond his expectations
• Sigma 14mm f/1.4 lens is a niche lens only being produced in January and February
• Demand for L-mount lenses continuous to increase

There are no secrets left — the launch is set to happen on November 6!

via CR

Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM specs via CR:

• Optical quality on par with the RF EF 50mm f/1.2L USM (Claimed)
• Digital Focus Breathing Correction
• 67mm Filter Thread
• Weight: 346g
• Price: €499 or €599 (We have been told both price points)

It’s impressive they launch a f/1.2 prime for such a low price.

A mysterious lens craftsman known only as DJ — or “Mirror Caster-DJ” — has emerged from the shadows with a singular goal: to build a 50mm f/1.0 M-mount lens from scratch in China. His project, dubbed “Yagami’s Desire,” is more than just a technical challenge — it’s a journey into the very soul of lens design.

After more than 100 days of meticulous iteration, DJ has unveiled what he calls the “perfect form.” The prototype lens is not simply a mechanical object — it is the result of deep introspection, repeated trial and error, and a refusal to compromise for the sake of efficiency. From countless digital renderings to hollow-sounding 3D-printed mockups, each step revealed what was lacking — until the final form emerged from a block of aerospace-grade aluminum, carved with 5-axis CNC precision.

The resulting lens embodies more than just optical ambition. The ergonomic curves, solid weight, and tactile feel represent the culmination of desire — a vessel designed to evoke the stillness of the night and the sacred quality of image-making. It’s not a “product,” but a crafted experience. One that blurs the boundary between ordinary tools and extraordinary creative expression.

The heart of the lens — the so-called “skeleton of God” — is the bronze mirror section, where the human hand meets the soul of the tool. It’s machined to feel organic and intuitive, delivering haptic trust with each touch. This attention to detail speaks to DJ’s 30-year career in lens polishing and design, a craft he continues to practice in near-anonymity.

But this is not the end of the journey. With the form now realized, DJ’s next task is to give the lens a “soul.” In his words, that soul is born the moment light passes through the optics and is captured by the camera’s sensor. At that instant, glass and metal become alive, guided by the photographer’s will. This project isn’t about efficiency — it’s about faith in the act of creation.

DJ calls this lens the “Night God” — a tribute to its ultra-bright maximum aperture and elite imaging performance, particularly in low-light scenarios. It’s meant to dominate the darkness, not simply by specs, but by spirit.

This chapter has closed with the perfect shape in hand — but the next chapter begins now, in search of perfect light.

If you’d like to follow the full journey of DJ’s lens craftsmanship, you can find the complete “Longing for Yagami” series on Note.com.

One of our readers spotted the design of the upcoming new RODELINK II Transmitter.

Amazon has just rolled out a brand-new feature that reveals how many cameras were sold this month. The Amazon ranking shows the best selling cameras of the past days. And I added the info of the units sold in the past 30 days:

1. 400+ for the Sony A7IV
2. 1000+ for the Canon R50
3. 500+ for the Canon R6II
4. 500+ for the Canon R100
5. 200+ for the Sony ZV-E10
6. 200+ for the Sony A6700
7. 100+ for the Canon R10
8. 100+ for the Sony A7rV
9. 100+ for the Sony A6400
10. 200+ for the Canon R8