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Xiaomi’s Phone For Photographers

Chinese smartphone makers have been leaning more and more into photography, and Xiaomi’s newest flagship fits right into that pattern. The company has officially revealed the Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica, a camera-heavy phone that puts a lot of emphasis on manual control and hardware features photographers usually don’t associate with phones, the most eye-catching detail being a physical zoom ring built into the camera module.

On the camera side itself, the phone uses a 50-megapixel Type 1 Light Fusion 1050L sensor paired with a 23mm-equivalent f/1.7 lens. Xiaomi says the sensor uses LOFIC technology, which essentially allows each pixel to store more light before clipping, helping with dynamic range in difficult lighting. Alongside the main camera is a 50-megapixel ultra-wide with a 14mm-equivalent lens and a 115-degree field of view, as well as a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto covering roughly 75–100mm equivalent. The telephoto uses a large Type 1/1.4 sensor and features Leica APO optics, meant to reduce colour fringing.

The physical zoom ring ties the whole system together. Turning it launches the Leica-styled camera app and lets you smoothly zoom between 3.2x and 4.3x on the telephoto, or switch between cameras without tapping the screen. The ring can also be reassigned to control manual focus or exposure compensation, which makes the phone feel a bit more like a compact camera. Beyond the cameras, the phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, includes up to 16GB of RAM, a 6,800mAh battery, and a 6.9-inch AMOLED display. For now, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica has only been announced in China, priced at CNY 7,999 (about $1,138), with a global release expected later.

The Latest Fujifilm 2026 Rumours

Rumours around Fujifilm’s 2026 lineup are starting to solidify, with multiple sources pointing to a broader generational update across both the X Series and GFX systems. At the center of these rumours is a new 5th-generation X-Trans CMOS sensor paired with an updated X-Processor, expected to debut across three key X-series bodies, the X-T6, X-Pro4, and X-H3. The focus appears to be on faster sensor readout, reduced rolling shutter, improved low-light performance, and more advanced AI-driven subject recognition.

The X-T6 is starting to look like Fujifilm’s most important APS-C release of the cycle. Leaks suggest it could move to a stacked version of the new sensor, bringing blackout-free high-speed shooting, noticeably improved autofocus tracking, and more serious video capabilities, potentially including internal 6.2K or even 8K recording. IBIS is expected to see another refinement, and there is ongoing speculation about a higher-resolution EVF and possibly a fully articulating screen. Current expectations point to a release in the second half of 2026.

Attention is also turning to the GFX system. With the GFX100RF setting a new direction in 2025, chatter points toward a next-generation GFX flagship with faster autofocus, higher burst speeds, and a higher-resolution EVF. On the rangefinder side, Rumours suggest Fujifilm may significantly rework the hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, improving refresh rates and usability for street photography. Lens development appears to be a major part of that push as well. The GF roadmap points to new zooms like the GF100–200mm f/5.6 and GF45–100mm f/4, alongside compact primes such as the GF50mm f/3.5. There is also growing discussion around expanded teleconverter support and longer effective focal lengths.

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Photographer Spotlight

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This time in the Spotlight: Anthony Rosner

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