Photo news: Smartphone interchangeable lens again and lots of instant photos

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First CP+ , then MWC – The last weeks of winter have been the spring awakening of the photography industry for several years now, even if the really big trade fairs in Germany have now died out. There was so much going on that we have to add an innovation that was already reported in the news ticker and is really big in every respect in this column: Sony presented its first super telephoto lens from the G series at CP+. In other words, a glass monster for professionals who can spend 3000 euros on it.

Wait a minute: isn't that downright cheap for a telephoto lens with a focal length of 400-800 millimeters, and a G-class one at that? No, because unlike long sports lenses with f/4.0 and below, Sony's new lens only works with apertures of 6.3 to 8, which is sufficient for brightly lit stadiums and in sunshine, but not what sports photographers are used to. In its announcements, the company repeatedly emphasizes that the telephoto camera can keep up with the A9 III global shutter camera at its full 120 frames per second. To ensure that the autofocus still works, it needs the lightest possible glass, i.e. small lenses, which means less light intensity.

And this in turn also means a weight of just under 2.5 kilograms, which other full-frame lenses in this focal length range easily exceed by one kilogram. Thanks to double stabilization in the lens and camera, the telephoto lens should also be easy to use handheld – We will check this out when we get the chance, as the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS is already being delivered. Its further specifications, and those of the compact ultra-wide angle FE 16mm F1.8 G, can be found in a detailed report.

Clip-on cameras for smartphones

While the trend with Sony's system cameras is towards smaller and faster, some lenses on – and not "in" – smartphones are once again getting bigger. Both Realme and Xiaomi are trying out the idea of attaching half a camera or at least the lens to a cell phone. The desire for better and better photos from smartphones continues to be one of the drivers of the industry, but physics sets limits. A lot of focal length and a lot of light – see Sony telephoto – requires a lot of glass.

At Realme, a 1-inch sensor is built into a prototype in the cell phone itself, in front of which there is space for interchangeable lenses. The advantage: you only pay for the sensor once. Xiaomi is different. Here, the lens and sensor form a single unit and the smartphone only supplies the rest of the electronics. However, the MFT chip sensor is almost twice as large as a 1-inch sensor, the latter of which is already available with fixed lenses in other cell phones.

As both concepts are still studies and not yet finished products, we can perhaps wish for an MFT sensor in a cell phone with interchangeable lenses, i.e. the best of both approaches. The Realme design also appears to be somewhat more open, as it relies on an L-mount with adapter ring, at least mechanically. However, the company has not yet revealed whether it is also working on general compatibility with L lenses. That would really be a completely different kind of smartphone camera.

Polaroid's Now and Now+ slightly modernized

The cell phone with interchangeable lens has not really taken off in recent years, unlike various instant cameras. As a result, Polaroid is now updating its models and introducing the 3rd generation of its "Now" and "Now+" cameras. The latter can also be controlled via smartphone app – without image transfer –, and both devices are also available in new colors.

Bellows folding soft image

The TTArtisan 203T, on the other hand, is completely new and aims to combine two trends: instant photography and retro charm. Because instant pictures per se are no longer really "retro" thanks to the colorful Instax cameras, whose films the TTArtisan uses. You need a bellows like those found on cameras in the 19th century. Although this looks very classic, it is not necessarily as elegant as a Polaroid SX-70. This "folding camera" was a revolution in the 1970s. The manufacturer also describes the TTArtisan as foldable, but in reality only the bellows are folded in and stowed behind a flap together with the lens. Whether this all just looks nice or also takes good pictures can only be tested from fall 2025, when the 203T is due to be launched on the market.

Wet plates today

The latest episode of our podcast takes us right back to the beginnings of photography. In it, Thilo Nass explains that working with collodion wet plates – which he actively pursues – is not just a technical challenge. The photography itself is not only different because of the long exposure times. The scene, the subject and the device have to be prepared for a single image, and then the final composition takes place during development. Of course, this podcast edition is our recommendation for a long listen instead of a long read to start the week.

(nie)