Photo news: Canon repairs R50, superzoom for more mirrorless

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Even after the short summer break from our column, nothing has changed in the photography industry: There is yet another case of manufacturing or material defects. And not in a brand-new camera, where it can still be dismissed as a teething problem with a lot of goodwill, but in a model that has been on the market for over two years. We're talking about the Canon EOS R50 with APS-C sensor, which was launched at the beginning of 2023.

The dial for selecting the mode can get stuck or even, according to Canon, break off. This is stated in a support note from the manufacturer. However, only cameras with a black housing on which the serial number on the underside begins with digits between 19 and 22 may be affected. It is therefore not necessary to enter the entire serial number on the website, nor is this intended by Canon.

If both conditions apply, Canon offers a free inspection and, if necessary, repair of the camera. To do this, you should contact the manufacturer's customer service department, and experience has shown that good specialist dealers are likely to do this for the buyer. Canon does not provide any details about the process, such as shipping costs, on its support page. The offer is valid until July 31, 2028, but if your camera is impacted, you shouldn't wait – if the mode dial gets stuck when you're out and about, it could be very annoying.

Tamron's travel zoom now also for Canon and Nikon

Like the R50, not brand new, but now available for more bayonets is the, please take a breath: Tamron 18-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD. Simplified: The current travel or superzoom from Tamron for APS-C sensors. It has been available for Sony's E-mount and Fuji's X-mount since 2021, and will soon also be available for Nikon's mirrorless systems (Z-mount) and Canon's (R-mount). First at the end of August 2025 for the Nikons, one month later for the Canons. Apart from minor details such as the end of the lens barrel for the respective flange focal distance, the devices do not differ in terms of optical performance according to their data sheets. What has always been remarkable about this lens is that it has internal focusing, i.e. the barrel does not extend out of the housing. This also makes it easier to seal the Tamron against dust and splash water.

The pricing at the dealers is likely to be exciting. Tamron has given a recommended retail price of 699 euros for all four variants; the first versions went on sale in 2021 for 749 euros street price. Today, the models for E- and X-mount are already available for less than 600 euros. Tamron will most likely have to make license payments to Canon and Nikon for their current bayonets. It is therefore not yet clear to what extent retailers will be able to adjust their offers to the first two models due to possibly higher purchase prices.

Apple's mysterious image sensors

It is still completely unclear what Apple means by its announcement of a chip manufacturing process that has "never been used before in the world". Why does this belong in the photo news? According to several media reports, it is about new types of image sensors. These are to consist of three layers, as Sony can already produce. A combination of higher light yield and greater readout speed would therefore be conceivable. The latter is particularly useful for smartphones, as they already often use automatic stacking: The stored image is composed of various individual shots.

Because Apple is always stingy with specific information on functions and the technology used until the official presentation of a new product, there is still a year left for further speculation. According to analyses by market observers, Apple's new sensors will only be used in the iPhone 18. The next generation, number 17, will be unveiled in just four weeks' time. As is usual with its semiconductors, Apple does not want to manufacture the sensors itself; this is to be done by Samsung in a new plant in the USA. If the technology is also suitable for larger sensors than those used in smartphones, this could create a new competitor for Canon, Nikon and Sony, among others, in the field of image converters.

Cameras can withstand more than you think – perhaps

How tight is tight? As a photographer, you probably ask yourself this question at the latest when you have to hold your expensive camera in the rain for a one-off moment. Especially in sports and at events such as festivals, you often have no choice: miss the best picture or expose the camera to risk. The danger is less than you might think, says Dale Baskin, DPreview's chief of service. In his career, he writes in our recommendation for a long read for the weekend, he has used numerous cameras that were not even advertised as weatherproof in adverse conditions. Not a single one was damaged.

The author of this column also recently held a Nikon DSLR and Tamron lens, described as dust and splash-proof, for half an hour in heavy rain without a protective cover or anything similar. Even a close inspection at home showed no damage to the equipment. Of course, things don't always have to turn out so well, so here is an urgent warning: The use of cameras and lenses labeled as weatherproof as well as those without such manufacturer specifications in the rain or even in a sandstorm is always at your own risk. Hardly any insurance or even the manufacturer's warranty is likely to cover repair or replacement if you overdo it.

The fact that more and more system cameras, even inexpensive ones, are coming onto the market that promise weather protection at least indicates that manufacturers are now also more confident in their designs. Just a few years ago, such specifications were only reserved for top models for professional sports use. Nevertheless, it is important to consider whether a particular image is worth the total loss of the equipment before the actual situation arises.

(nie)