ESSENTIAL GEAR is a regular feature produced in collaboration with StudioDaily’s exclusive retail partner, Adorama.
DSLR or mirrorless? Some photographers and videographers remain loyal to the DSLR, with its optical viewfinder, relatively long battery life, and easy access to quality glass, but others have been tempted to the other side, where smaller, lighter mirrorless cameras await. And it’s an exciting time for mirrorless — this week alone, Sony announced a new flagship mirrorless model, DJI debuted a handheld stabilizer tailor-made for lightweight camera bodies, and Fujifilm released two new lenses demonstrating its commitment to providing glass for its mirrorless camera lines.
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Sony Alpha 7R IV Mirrorless Camera
Sony just announced the highest-resolution full-frame camera it’s ever made — the Alpha 7R IV. The 61-megapixel camera is a no-brainer for still photographers who want to push the envelope of pure pixel power, and this model looks versatile enough to hold its own with 4K video, too. The new Real-Time Eye Auto-Focus feature is designed to keep subjects in sharp focus even when they’re on the move, and the camera captures footage at approximately 6K (6000 x 3376) in Super 35mm mode, an oversampling factor of about 2.4x compared to the processed 3840 x 2160 4K image, helping preserve detail while reducing moiré and other artifacts. The Alpha 7R IV ships in September and will likely be in high demand from the start.
Learn more and pre-order the Sony Alpha 7R IV at Adorama | SHOP NOW
DJI Ronin-SC Handheld Camera Stabilizer
DJI’s new Ronin-SC is a three-axis stabilizer designed for mirrorless cameras. It supports a payload of up to 2.0 kg, making it a good match for cameras from Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony — see DJI’s official compatibility list to make sure your camera is on it. Among the features is a special Sport Mode that increases sensitivity on each access, making the system more responsive to sudden motion or changes in direction when following fast action. Meanwhile, the Ronin-SC allows an “infinite” 360-degree roll on the pan axis for maximum versatility. It’s also the first Ronin stabilizer to use DJI’s ActiveTrack, an AI-driven technology that uses visual data from a smartphone mounted above the camera to help analyze motion and more precisely control the gimbal’s movement. (That system requires a smartphone running iOS 9.0 or Android 5.0 or later.) The Ronin-SC is available for pre-order in a basic combo or a pro combo with focus motor.
Learn more about the DJI Ronin-SC at Adorama | SHOP NOW
Fujinon GF 50mm F3.5 and XF 16–80mm F4 Lenses
Fujifilm shooters are getting some new options with the impending arrival of two lenses. First up is the GF50mmF3.5 R LM WR (above, left), the smallest and lightest GF lens yet. This 50mm lens (35mm equivalent: 40mm), the 10th in the GF line, weighs less than 12 ounces. It’s designed for both still and motion shooting with Fujifilm’s GFX series mirrorless cameras, the company said. At the same time, Fujifilm is introducing the XF16–80mmF4 R OIS WR lens for its X Series mirrorless cameras. The 16mm–80mm zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 24–122mm) has built-in optical image stabilization and weighs less than 16 ounces, making it lighter than an equivalent zoom for a 35mm camera. Both of the new lenses are weather-sealed and rated for operation at temperatures as low as 14° F. They ship in September.
Learn more about the Fujinon GF 50mm F3.5 and XF 16–80mm F4 lenses at Adorama | SHOP NOW
