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7Artisans New AF 85mm f/1.8 Lens For L-mount

7Artisans has officially announced its new AF 85mm f/1.8 lens for L-mount. It is aimed at portrait and street photographers looking for a fast short-telephoto prime with autofocus. Designed for full-frame cameras, the lens offers a 28–30° field of view, a fast f/1.8 aperture, and an 11-blade diaphragm for smooth background blur. It weighs 443 grams and is built with a metal barrel for durability.

The lens features a 7-group, 10-element optical construction that includes two high-refractive and two extra-low dispersion elements, which the company says ensures solid performance even on high-resolution sensors up to 60 megapixels. Autofocus is driven by an STM motor and includes support for eye and face tracking, with firmware updates handled via a built-in USB-C port.

Photographers can switch between auto and manual aperture control, and the lens offers a minimum focus distance of 0.8 meters. 7Artisans says it’s suitable for both still photography and video, with continuous aperture adjustment for smoother exposure changes when filming. The AF 85mm f/1.8 joins the company’s growing lineup of autofocus lenses and is available for L-mount systems at $299.

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

Leica SL3 Firmware Update

Leica has released a new firmware update for the SL3 that brings internal ProRes 422 HQ recording in both Cinema 4K and Cinema 6K to the camera, using the full width of the sensor. Previously, the SL3 only supported ProRes in 1080p, making this a major upgrade for video users. Both new formats are saved internally to a CFexpress card and triple the output resolution for ProRes workflows.

Additional improvements include more direct access to headphone volume control, joystick-enabled magnification, and updates to the Control Center that show currently assigned functions by default. The old “Film Style” and “Video Style” menus are now grouped under “Leica Looks,” and a 1/16,000-second shutter speed is now available in P and A modes.

Eye, face, body, and animal detection can now be used together with the AF-ON button, and firmware updates no longer require a full battery—25% is now enough. Leica also fixed two minor bugs: joystick-assigned AF-ON is now saved to profiles, and modified profiles are now marked with an asterisk.

You can download the free firmware update on Leica’s website here

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Weekly Photo Technique Exploration

Welcome to a new section of the magazine where every week we will explore a new photography technique from across various photography genres.

This week’s technique: Panning Photography

So, what is panning photography?

Panning is when you move your camera with a moving subject during a longer exposure. The goal is to follow the subject smoothly enough that it stays relatively sharp, while the background blurs in streaks. Done well, it looks cinematic, fast and energetic.

What you need

• A camera with manual or semi-manual controls (shutter priority mode is great for this)

• A subject that’s moving steadily across your frame (side to side is easiest)

• Optional: a tripod with a swivel head or monopod, but handheld works totally fine too once you get the hang of it

How to shoot a panning photo

1. Set your shutter speed
   Start with a slower shutter speed—something like 1/30 or 1/60 of a second. The faster your subject is moving, the faster your shutter can be (e.g. 1/125 for racing cars, 1/20 for cyclists or runners). You’ll want to experiment a bit depending on the speed and lighting.

2. Use continuous focus mode
   Switch your camera to AI-Servo (Canon) or AF-C (Nikon/Sony) so it keeps focusing on your subject as it moves. Also, use burst mode so you can fire off several shots while you pan, one of them will usually hit the sweet spot.

3. Stand steady, rotate your body
   Plant your feet, keep your elbows tucked in, and rotate at the waist as you follow your subject. Don’t move the camera up or down, just smoothly track side to side.

4. Track, then shoot mid-motion
   Start following your subject before you press the shutter, keep moving as you shoot, and continue the motion after the exposure. It’s like a golf swing: do not stop at the ball.

Tips for sharper pans and smoother blur

• Use a narrow aperture (like f/8 or f/11) during daylight to avoid overexposing while keeping the shutter slow. (however in my opinion panning shots work best at night in cities)

• Lower your ISO to help balance exposure and avoid grain.

• Practice with predictable motion, a bike on a path or a car on a road is perfect. Birds or kids? A bit trickier.

• Try backgrounds with structure, like fences, trees, or buildings. A plain background won’t show the blur as much.

Why you should try it

It’s not just about getting a cool effect. Panning teaches you timing, motion, and how to work with your subject instead of against it. Plus, it adds a whole new feel to action shots in particular. A sharp, frozen car looks static. But a panned car? You can feel the speed through the frame.

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