Photo News: Mono Leica and variable Osmo

Anyone who wants a Leica wants a Leica – which usually means it's not about special technical or haptic features of the camera. Rather, the brand, trust in longevity, and, well, a bit of the luxury factor are often at the forefront. This is no different with the new Q3 Monochrom. Even the red Leica dot has been omitted; the camera is finished in matte black, right down to the lens hood. This is pure understatement.

Perhaps the new Mono is also intended to be particularly inconspicuous, because a small compact camera for 6750 Euros quickly attracts admirers beyond its owner. And the less visually aggressive the device is, the less you have to explain why you spent so much money on a black and white camera. The advantage of not having a color filter in front of the sensor only becomes apparent when you compare the images fairly.

And as with its predecessor, the Q2 Monochrom, this is the only difference besides the optics to the color model Q3. Consequently, the new Mono also features a 60-megapixel sensor, a large flip-out OLED display, and full wireless connectivity. And the proven Summilux 1:1.7/28mm ASPH. lens. All further details about the Leica, which is already available, are revealed by our detailed announcement.

New Osmo with square sensor

There is also one for the new action cam DJI Osmo 6. Therefore, here is only what sets it apart from models that are several years old, especially from competitor GoPro: square sensor and variable aperture. The former is due to the ongoing trend towards vertical videos. The image sensor can film in a mode called "4K-Custom" with a resolution of 3840x3840 pixels. Only during editing can you then create a horizontal or vertical image crop from the same material. This means: film once, and create the target format for different platforms. Of course, the Osmo can also save the usual vertical formats directly.

The second innovation is apertures from f/2.0 to f/4.0. These can be set manually, or automatically – good for changing light conditions, which are common in action shots. Compared to previous action cams, the water resistance without an additional housing up to a diving depth of 20 meters is also noteworthy. This is easily enough for snorkeling, for example. The camera even records diving depths via a pressure sensor, which is not only useful for evaluating the images, but perhaps also for a bit of showing off. As is usual with DJI, there are two kits: With one battery and two mounts, the Osmo Action 6 costs 379 Euros, with three and a lot of accessories like two mounts, it costs 100 Euros more.

Affinity is free? Yes, but...

At this point, our column must provide an addendum, along with a reading tip. Because since November, it has been clear what would become of Affinity's acquisition by Canva. The feared pure subscription model, as with Adobe, it actually did not become; rather, the new owner is venturing into a new business model: the three applications are free, only AI functions require payment. And indeed, as a subscription for 12 Euros per month or 110 Euros per year.

In addition, Canva has integrated the previous three programs into one, which offers the three workspaces "Pixel", "Vector", and "Layout". The former is the equivalent of the previous "Affinity Photo" and is responsible for RAW development and image editing. Our colleagues at c't have now thoroughly examined all modules, especially in relation to the competition with Adobe. Therefore, the test of Affinity under Canva is our recommendation for a long read on Sunday evening or the start of the week.

(nie)