The previously reported new Thypoch Zero Reflex filters are now officially announced, featuring 0.01% ultra-low reflectivity with 1/4- and 1/2-strength, and available in 39mm | 49mm | 52mm | 58mm | 62mm | 67mm | 72mm | 77mm sizes:
Topaz Labs released major upgrades to Topaz Photo and Astra: Wonder 2 is now local, plus Starlight Fast 2 and Scene Controls are now in Astra. Here’s what’s new:
Topaz Wonder 2 (now runs locally in Topaz Photo): Wonder 2 is our newest image enhancement model that denoises, sharpens, and upscales in a single step, with no sliders or tuning required. It is a giant, powerful model that now runs locally thanks to our proprietary NeuroStream technology, which dramatically reduces VRAM usage and allows powerful AI to run on standard creator hardware.
Topaz Astra update: Astra now includes Starlight Fast 2, along with new scene detection and batch rendering. These updates allow creators to enhance videos faster and process multiple files more efficiently, making Astra more powerful for real-world workflows.
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At the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC), the Hong Kong-based company Tecno showcased its new “Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology,” a concept designed to transform a standard smartphone into a photography tool. The system relies on a remarkably slim base device that magnetically snaps onto various hardware modules to expand its capabilities:
Here are the latest Kickstarter updates:
New – Peak Design travel bags: $816,212 pledged by 2,481 backers with 30 days to go.
CamCast – turn your camera into a smart, connected system: $59,902 pledged from 356 backers with 6 days to go.
Shargeek 300 – the next-gen power beast: $539,451 pledged from 2,622 with 23 days to go.
Now available: Spinn Design wrappers (use code SPINN-RUMORS for a discount)
At the 2026 CP+ show, Samyang announced a new AF 35mm f/1.8 P FE full-frame lens with an ultra-compact design, almost identical to the existing AF 85mm f/1.8 P FE and AF 16mm f/2.8 P FE lenses from the Prima series. Here are the key new/updated features from Phototrend:
In the US, some LK Samyang lenses are also sold under the Rokinon brand. In Europe, Smyang lenses are sold at Foto Erhardt and WEX Photo.
Here is some additional information on the Schneider Kreuznach × LK Samyang lens prototypes (previously reported here), courtesy of Phototrend from their CP+ report:
At the 2026 CP+ show in Japan Meike had on display their upcoming Meike AF Air 25mm/35mm/56mm f/1.7 compact APS-C lenses for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z (previously reported here). Here are the new details from Phototrend:
Today, GoPro unveiled its new GP3 custom imaging processor. This is a 5nm System-on-a-Chip (SoC) with a dedicated AI Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Key upgrades vs. the GP2:
DxO launched PureRAW 6 with DeepPRIME XD3, now extended to Bayer sensors (previously exclusive to X-Trans sensors), as well as next-generation High-Fidelity DNG compression, delivering significantly smaller files while preserving full RAW integrity and flexibility.
You can get 10% off DxO products with code RUMORS.
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