📸 The Magazine For Photographers - Bite Size
Read the Latest Photography News and Updates in the Creative Industry in 2 minutes or less ;)
In partnership with
Important note: All photography articles are NOT sponsored
The Latest News:
Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Lens Unveiled
credits: Sigma
After months of leaks and speculation, Sigma has finally confirmed what many expected: the company is releasing a 200mm f/2 DG OS | Sports lens, the first of its kind for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens uses a fairly complex optical formula with 19 elements in 14 groups, including pairs of FLD and SLD glass. Sigma says the design should keep aberrations in check while delivering sharpness right across the frame. It also features an 11-blade circular diaphragm, which should help with smoother background rendering at wide apertures.
Autofocus is powered by Sigma’s High-response Linear Actuator (HLA), built for speed and accuracy. It can focus as close as 1.7 meters, giving a maximum magnification ratio of 1:7.6. Optical stabilisation is also built in, with Sigma’s OS2 system claiming up to 6.5 stops of shake correction. While it’s a sports lens at heart, the reach and subject separation of the 200mm f/2 could get portrait and landscape photographers interested, in fact most of the presented sample shots are portraits and landscapes.
On the outside, the 200mm f/2 follows the design of Sigma’s Sports line. It’s weather-sealed, weighs just over 1.8 kilograms, measures 201mm long, and accepts large 105mm front filters. The barrel includes three customisable AFL buttons, plus dedicated switches for focus modes, focus limiting, stabilisation, and custom settings. An Arca-Swiss compatible tripod foot comes standard, designed specifically for this lens to make handholding easier when needed. The Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS | Sports is set to arrive in early September for Sony E and L-Mount systems at a price of $3,299.
You can see full details and sample shots on Sigma’s website here
Maven’s New Magnetic Filters
credits: Maven
Maven Filters has kicked off the third wave of its magnetic filter system on Kickstarter. The lineup first showed up in 2022 with the basics like NDs and circular polarizers, then expanded last year with a big batch of new options including infrared filters and improved polarizers. Now, wave three is here, and it brings eight new filter types plus a handful of accessories to round out the system.
Some of the new filters are pretty creative. There’s an LPL + Diffusion filter that combines a polarizer with a softening effect, a laser protection filter, Dream Soft for hazy, cinematic shots, and an IR830 filter that blocks out wavelengths below 830nm. Night shooters get a new Star Walker filter to bring out the stars, while other additions include diopters for close-up work, Star Arms for starburst effects on bright lights, and a set of color filters for black-and-white photography. Maven has also built a magnetic ring light that snaps right onto the system. It’s small, charges over USB-C, and lets you adjust color temperature from 2700K to 6000K.
The Kickstarter campaign has already passed its first two stretch goals, unlocking an H-Alpha filter for astrophotography and a kaleidoscope filter. A third stretch goal at $250,000 would add a Miami Skies filter designed to boost sunset and landscape colours. Prices start at $69 for a single filter, though that doesn’t cover the adapter ring. For people just starting with Maven, the $199 bundle includes an adapter, cap, case, and four filters, while higher tiers like the $499 option have 10 filters plus extra rings.
You can see full details on Maven’s kickstarter page here
Something You Have To Check Out
Down below you will find an AMAZING newsletter that I myself read every single day (absolutely recommend subscribing + it’s completely free) ⬇️
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
Photographer Spotlight
Discover amazing photographers
This time in the Spotlight: Martin
You can find him on Instagram as: @rtm_street
A few photos of his:
Download My IG Hashtag Guide For Photographers
Download My Instagram Hashtag Guide For Photographers - learn everything there is to know about hashtags on Instagram and how to use them to grow your photography account! Inside the guide, you will also find 20+ pre-optimised hashtag packs for different photography categories.
The Rest of this Issue is for Premium Subscribers
