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The Latest News:
Mandler’s 35mm f/2 “7 Elements” Lens Is Here
credits: Mandler
Chinese newcomer Mandler first announced its debut lens back in May, and it is now officially available. The Mandler 35mm f/2 “7 Elements” is a compact manual-focus prime for Leica M and LTM mounts, modelled after the classic Summicron formula. Mandler takes its very name from Leica’s rich history, the company is named after Dr. Walter Mandler (1922–2005), who designed more than 45 of Leica’s most beloved lenses. Optically, the lens uses a traditional double-Gauss layout with seven elements in five groups. It takes small E39 filters, focuses from 0.7 meters to infinity, and measures 34mm long. Weight is 138 grams for an aluminium version or 210 grams for a brass model.
Mechanically, the lens is fully manual and rangefinder-coupled, with no electronic contacts at all. The focusing helicoid uses a relatively short throw, which makes quick distance changes easy. The preset aperture system uses two rings, one sets the aperture you want to use, while the other opens or closes the diaphragm instantly between wide open and that preset value. It is an old-school design, but still very practical for zone focusing or fast shooting. The 10-blade diaphragm keeps the opening fairly round across most settings, which helps avoid harsh polygonal highlights when you stop down.
Field curvature is present but gradual, so sharpness falls off smoothly toward the edges instead of dropping off abruptly. Chromatic aberration is reasonably well controlled thanks to modern glass and coatings, and distortion stays under one percent, so straight lines do not look warped. The lens is priced at $348 USD.
You can see full details on Mandler’s website here
The Latest Fujifilm X-Pro4 Rumours
credits: Fujifilm
Anyone hoping for the Fujifilm X-Pro4 anytime soon will probably need a bit more patience. New reports suggest the long-awaited rangefinder-style camera is not coming in the immediate future, and definitely not before the Fujifilm X-T6. Since the X-T6 is widely expected to show up around September 2026, that pushes the earliest possible timing for the X-Pro4 to October 2026 or later. Given that the X-Pro3 launched back in 2019, that would mean roughly a seven-year gap between generations, which is unusually long even for Fujifilm.
As for specs, the rumours point to a substantial update. The camera is expected to use the 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor along with the X-Processor 5, the same combo found in several of Fujifilm’s newer high-resolution models. That setup should bring noticeably more detail, better noise control than older sensors, and more advanced autofocus, including AI-based subject recognition. In-body image stabilisation is also rumoured, which would be a first for the X-Pro series.
Other reported changes include a tilting rear screen in place of the X-Pro3’s hidden LCD, plus an upgraded hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder that could reach around 5.76 million dots in EVF mode. Video specs may extend to 4K/60p and possibly even 6.2K, although the X-Pro line has always been meant primarily for photos. New film simulations are also expected, potentially with a dedicated dial.
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