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TTArtisan’s Folding Instant Camera
credits: TTArtisan
Last year at CP+ 2025, TTArtisan revealed it was working on its first camera, a retro-inspired folding Instax model. Now, the TTArtisan 203T is getting closer to release, although the way the company is handling it is a bit unusual. Alongside the update, TTArtisan shared an unboxing video that gives a better look at how the camera works and what to expect in terms of build and operation.
From a technical standpoint, the 203T is fairly interesting. It features a 75mm f/3.5 Cooke triplet lens, which is roughly a 50mm equivalent in full-frame terms. The Cooke design dates back to 1893 and was originally developed to correct several optical issues like distortion, coma, and spherical aberration using a simple three-element layout. The lens here is paired with a leaf shutter, offering speeds from one second up to 1/300s, along with bulb mode, and an aperture range from f/3.5 to f/22. The camera is fully mechanical, meaning it does not require any batteries, and focusing is done manually.
The unusual part is how TTArtisan is bringing it to market. Instead of a normal release, the company is running a paid beta program, where select people can buy the camera for $400 (anyone interested can sign up for it). Buyers do not get to choose the colour, it is randomly assigned, and returns are only allowed for actual defects. While invite-only launches are not new, paying for a beta product is a different approach, and it leaves some open questions about how close the camera really is to a final release.
Thypoch’s Upcoming 24-50mm f/2.8 AF Lens
credits: Thypoch
About a week after rumours started circulating about a Chinese manufacturer preparing its first full-frame autofocus zoom lens, it is now becoming clear who is behind it. The original rumour pointed to a company with no prior autofocus experience making a jump straight into a full-frame zoom, and that is exactly what seems to be happening here. At The Photography & Video Show in Birmingham, Digital Camera World got a look at a working prototype of the Thypoch 24–50mm f/2.8 AF for Sony E-mount, effectively confirming the source of the earlier speculation.
Thypoch has so far been known only for its retro-style manual focus prime lenses, so this is a pretty big shift. Not only is this its first autofocus lens, but it is also its first zoom lens. According to early hands-on impressions, the lens has a fairly modern design despite using a plastic outer shell, and it keeps a relatively slim profile similar to lenses like the Samyang 24–60mm f/2.8. It includes an aperture ring, focus ring, and an AF/MF switch, and autofocus performance, at least in brief testing, was described as reasonably quick.
There is still no official word on pricing or a release date, but with earlier rumours pointing to a Q2 2026 launch, it likely won’t be long before more concrete details start to come out.
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This time in the Spotlight: Simon Clayton
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Missed The Sunday Issue?
In case you missed yesterday’s Sunday Issue (Snapshot Issue 108) including the amazing interview with photographer Benny Bulke and many more incredible articles, you can read it here.
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