DxO just released the new Nik Collection 8 suite (Click here). You can buy it here or try it out here.

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Nik Collection 8 expands Photoshop’s photo editing potential across all seven plugins thanks to new integration and powerful features
Version 8 unlocks the full power of Photoshop masks, and upgrades make Nik Color Efex better than ever. Plus, Nik Silver Efex has been rethought to ensure effortless black-and-white images.

Paris (France): DxO today unveils Nik Collection 8, the latest version of its celebrated creative plugin suite for photographers. This new release brings a completely redesigned Photoshop panel, powerful new masking functionality, and significant improvements to Silver Efex and Color Efex, delivering a more dynamic editing experience.

“With Nik Collection 8, we wanted to enhance both creativity and efficiency,” said Boris Oliviero, Product Director. “We’ve reimagined the Photoshop workflow, making it easier than ever to apply powerful effects, refine local adjustments, and move seamlessly between plugins.”

Powerful new mask options

Photographers can now import masks directly from Photoshop into any Nik Collection plugin, making full use of Photoshop’s powerful selection tools. A new feature in the Local Adjustments panel also lets users transfer masks effortlessly between plugins. And when ready, photographers can send masks created in Nik Collection straight back to Photoshop for further
refinement. With Nik Collection 8, your masks remain accessible at every step of the workflow, whether they originate from Photoshop or a Nik Collection plugin.

A smarter, more flexible return to Photoshop

Bringing edits back into Photoshop is now more intuitive. Users can choose to:

• convert edits into a Smart Object for non-destructive editing;
• apply changes to the current layer or create a new one;
• generate a new layer with a mask, providing additional flexibility.

Send edits as Layers to Photoshop

Photographers can now send their Nik Collection edits directly to Photoshop as a new Photoshop layer while continuing to work inside Nik Collection. This allows users to test multiple ideas for an image without breaking their creative flow, and have all of their edits immediately at hand once back inside Photoshop.

Brand-new Photoshop panel for maximum efficiency

Nik Collection 8 introduces a fully customizable and dockable Photoshop panel, replacing the traditional Nik Palette. This new design allows photographers to save screen space by choosing which plugins to display, and launch any plugin with a single click for a more fluid workflow. Plus, all of the essential controls for managing layers and masks are immediately accessible.

Major upgrades to Nik Silver Efex

Nik Silver Efex, the industry’s leading black-and-white editing tool, gets significant usability and
feature boosts:

• Color Reference Image: Users can now view their original color image while working in
  black and white. This makes it easier to make changes that are dependent on the
  original image, such as applying Color Filters or adjusting the Sensitivity sliders inside
  the Film Types filter.
• Streamlined interface: The logic of the interface now matches that of Nik Color Efex and
  Nik Analog Efex, keeping filters on the left-hand side until they are used to edit an image.
• Better logic when applying presets: Only the relevant filters appear on the right-hand
  side when a preset has been selected.
• New Local Adjustments: ClearView and Selective Tones can now be applied locally.
• New Filter Looks: Each filter now includes various pre-defined options for quick
  application.

New Color Masks bring precision edits to Nik Color Efex

Targeting local adjustments just became more powerful as the suite now lets photographers select a range of colors for changes. Simply click on the desired color, tweak the handles as
required, and then start making adjustments.

Quick Export upgraded for a faster workflow

Upgrades make it quicker to switch to TIFF format when using the Quick Export button. Plus, the export options are now instantly accessible so that users can tweak the Quick Export configuration directly rather than having to navigate the menu.

Interesting to see what cameras “famous” influencers do use!

We are going to have at least three but probably even more announcements this month:

• On May 13 Panasonic will announce a new S1II, a S1IIx(?) and a new standard zoom
• Sony is rumored to announce a new camera in May
• On may 22 Fujifilm will announce the X-Half with 20MP  1 inch vertical aligned sensor

But there is aloes a fair chance Hasselblad will announce the new X2DII and Sigma the new 200mm f/2.0.

Snappiness writes:

I bought the worst kickstarter camera ever (maybe worst camera ever?) and tried to photograph with it. What I didn’t realize was how fun this camera could actually be and how misleading the original advertising of the camera was. I also took the camera apart and made a big discovery about the lens.

Mapcamera shared the top 20 best-selling cameras from April 2024 to the end of March 2025:

1. Fujifilm X100VI
2. Sony a7CII
3. Fujifilm X-T50
4. Nikon Zf
5. Fujifilm X-T5
6. Canon EOS R5 Mark II
7. Nikon Z6III
8. Ricoh GRIIIx
9. Sony a7IV
10. Canon EOS R6 Mark II
11. Nikon Z50II
12. Nikon Z8
13. Sony a7RV
14. Fujifilm X-M5
15. Ricoh GRIII
16. Panasonic LUMIX S9
17. DJI Osmo Pocket 3
18. OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II
19. Nikon Zfc
20. Sony ZV-E10

And here are the top 20 of the USED camera sales:

1. Sony ZV-II
2. Canon EOS R5
3. Nikon Z f
4. Nikon Z fc
5. Nikon Z50
6. Sony α7C II
7. RICOH GR III
8. FUJIFILM X-T5
9. Nikon Z6
10. Nikon Z6II
11. OM SYSTEM OM-1
12. Sony a6400
13. Nikon Z5
14. Sony a7C
15. RICOH GR IIIX
16. SONY a7RIII
17. Canon EOS R6
18. Canon EOS RP
19. Sony a7RV

TTartisan announced this dual bokeh Cine Z-X-E-L-RF mount lens you can preorder at BHphoto, Amazon, TTartisan, FotoErhardt.

Here is a review that explains what’s so unique with this lens:

Skylum released the new Spring update on their Luminar software (10% off with our coupon code “SAR”).

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The latest update focuses on making everyday editing faster, easier, and more intuitive, with new tools and thoughtful improvements shaped directly by user feedback. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to streamline your process or a pro aiming for polished results with less hassle, this update brings meaningful enhancements without overcomplicating your workflow.

A Smarter, Smoother Luminar Neo: Here’s What’s New

Luminar Neo continues to evolve, and this latest update is a perfect example of how thoughtful changes can make a big difference in your photo editing workflow. Built on direct feedback from users, this update focuses on refining the user experience, improving performance, and adding just the right touch of creative flexibility.

Instead of sweeping changes or flashy overhauls, this update brings a collection of smart, user-driven enhancements that photographers will actually use. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new and how it can help improve your editing process.

Auto Adjust: Your New Go-To for Quick Enhancements

One of the most helpful additions in this update is Auto Adjust, a new feature integrated into the Develop and Develop RAW tools. Auto Adjust analyzes your image with one click and automatically adjusts key settings like exposure, highlights, shadows, and black and white levels.

Whether you’re processing travel shots, portraits, or everyday moments, Auto Adjust gives you a great starting point. It’s especially useful for photographers looking to speed up their workflow while still keeping creative control over the final look.

You can use Auto Adjust as a quick fix or as the first step in a more detailed edit—either way, it adds real value to your toolkit.

Catalog Cache Cleaning: Smoother Performance, Less Clutter

Photographers always prioritize performance, especially when working with large image libraries. That’s why Luminar Neo has introduced a new Catalog Cache Cleaning feature, now available in the Preferences panel.

This tool lets you quickly clear cached files from your catalog, helping free up disk space and improving speed. The team recognizes that speed can be tricky—it might feel faster when there’s more room to work with, especially if you’re running low on storage. However, clearing the cache can sometimes mean that images take a bit longer to reprocess the next time you open them. It’s a trade-off that opens the door for future optimization and smarter memory handling.

If you’ve ever noticed slowdowns with a large project, this tool is definitely worth checking out.

Smarter Atmosphere AI: Fog That Feels Like Magic

If you love adding mood to your photos, you’ll appreciate Atmosphere AI’s subtle yet noticeable upgrade. This update includes improvements to the tool’s underlying Depth Models, which result in more realistic and immersive fog effects.

Now, when you apply fog or haze, the tool better understands the depth and structure of your image. This allows fog to wrap more naturally around objects in the scene, adding cinematic depth without overpowering the photo.

Whether you’re enhancing a dramatic landscape or adding a bit of mystery to a portrait, this upgrade helps make your edits feel more believable and polished.

An Improved Export Menu with More Custom Options

Finishing your edit is just as important as starting it, and the updated Export Menu in Luminar Neo makes that final step easier and more flexible than ever. The redesigned interface now gives you advanced control over how your images are saved and shared, offering customization for:

• File format (including the new DNG export option)

• Image quality settings

• Resolution and size adjustments

• Custom file naming

• Optimized export for email attachments

• Seamless transfers to Luminar Share for mobile and social sharing

These options streamline the export process, whether you’re preparing files for print, web, or archiving. With more efficient file management and export presets, it’s now faster to share your finished edits across devices or with clients—no extra steps needed. Whether you’re sending a quick preview to a client or transferring a final image to your phone, this update makes it effortless.

User Feedback Takes Center Stage

Perhaps the most meaningful addition in this update isn’t a new tool—it’s the commitment to listening. Luminar Neo now includes built-in options for users to submit feedback and even upload images to help demonstrate real-world issues or ideas.

This opens up a direct line of communication between the community and the development team, making future updates even more relevant and responsive. It’s clear that the team behind Luminar Neo is not just building software—they’re building it with their users.

Final Thoughts: Small Changes, Big Difference

This Luminar Neo update isn’t about radical transformations—it’s about refining what works, fixing what doesn’t, and adding thoughtful touches that improve the everyday editing experience.

From Auto Adjust to smarter fog effects and faster performance, every improvement feels purposeful and practical. It’s the kind of update that might not grab headlines, but it will absolutely make your workflow smoother and more enjoyable.

Perfect! Here’s your final, fully polished closing section with the link and 85% offer seamlessly integrated:

If you haven’t checked out these new tools yet, now’s a great time to open Luminar Neo and explore what’s changed. Sometimes, the best updates are the ones that quietly make everything work better—and this one does just that.

And if you’re not using Luminar Neo yet, now’s the perfect time to jump in. It’s 85% off for a limited time, giving you full access to powerful, intuitive tools designed to help you create with more focus and freedom.