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February 27, 2026

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The Latest News:

7Artisans’ AF 40mm f/2.5 Lens Is Here

credits: 7Artisans

7Artisans’ new AF 40mm f/2.5 FE lens is here. It is a compact full-frame prime designed to stay small enough that you barely notice it on the camera. The Sony E-mount version weighs about 90 grams and measures roughly 63 by 40 millimetres, putting it in pancake-style territory. The lens uses a lightweight plastic exterior and a 46mm filter thread. Optically, it consists of seven elements arranged in six groups and uses a nine-blade diaphragm, a configuration that tries balancing the compact size with good image quality and reasonably smooth out-of-focus rendering.

The 40mm focal length sits between the classic 35mm and 50mm perspectives, offering a 56.1-degree field of view. Minimum focusing distance is about 0.4 meters, allowing moderately tight framing for details, food, or portraits. Autofocus is driven by an STM stepping motor, supporting continuous AF and face- and eye-detection on compatible Sony bodies, which should make it usable for both stills and basic video work.

The aperture range runs from f/2.5 to f/16. While not especially fast, f/2.5 helps keep the lens small while still offering subject separation and usable low-light performance. A clicked aperture ring provides direct control, alongside a physical AF/MF switch and a customisable function button on the barrel. The AF 40mm f/2.5 FE is available for Sony E-mount, with Nikon Z and Leica L versions planned later. Pricing is at $159.

You can see full details and sample shots on 7Artisans’ website here

Bolt Hunter For Storm Photographers

credits: Motion Horizons LLC

Motion Horizons LLC has announced Bolt Hunter, a dedicated lightning trigger built specifically for storm photographers. The device is designed to do one thing well, reliably capture lightning in situations where typical triggers often fail. Instead of reacting only to sudden brightness spikes, Bolt Hunter analyses intracloud activity that can occur before visible lightning and measures the camera’s actual shutter lag, adjusting timing on the go. Once a strike begins, it can queue additional exposures within milliseconds to catch return strokes, a process the company calls predictive triggering.

Bolt Hunter is built to handle difficult lighting conditions, including bright daytime skies. Sensitivity adjusts automatically as ambient light changes, so you do not have to constantly recalibrate. A dedicated Night Mode works differently from most systems, it holds the shutter open in BULB mode and closes it the moment lightning is detected, helping capture the earliest structure of a strike without blowing out the frame from repeated flashes. There is also a built-in intervalometer for timelapses and a simulation mode so you can test settings before a storm arrives. Basic operation does not require a phone, though a Bluetooth app adds tools like shutter-lag measurement, firmware updates, and connection monitoring.

The body is weather-sealed, has USB-C charging, and an internal battery rated for about 48 hours of runtime. It attaches via an auto-tightening cold shoe mount with a replaceable breakaway piece, to protect the camera if it falls. The trigger works with most major camera brands using standard shutter cables, and Bluetooth triggering is available for bodies without a remote port. Manufacturing is already underway, with first deliveries expected in April 2026. The device launches on Kickstarter on March 3, with pricing starting at $279.

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