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Nikon announces NIKKOR Z 35mm F/1.2 Lens at ₹2,57,995

Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. announces the launch of the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S, a high-performance wide-angle prime lens designed for professional photographers and videographers. With its fast f/1.2 aperture, this lens delivers exceptional detail, depth, and beautifully soft bokeh, making it ideal for portrait, street, and wedding photography, as well as cinematic video production.

As part of Nikon’s S-Line series, the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S ensures outstanding optical performance with three ED glass elements and one aspherical ED glass element, minimising aberrations and maximising sharpness. Advanced Meso Amorphous, Nano Crystal, and ARNEO coatings significantly reduce ghosting and flares for superior clarity. The lens’ multi-focussing system, powered by stepping motors (STMs), provides fast and precise autofocus for both stills and video.

Optimized for videographers, the lens ensures smooth exposure transitions, suppresses focus breathing, and features a click-less control ring for silent operation. With dust and drip resistance, it is built for reliability in challenging shooting conditions.

Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, stated that the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S exemplifies Nikon’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of optical excellence, offering professionals a powerful tool to elevate their creative expression.

The NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S will be available soon at authorized Nikon dealers and online stores.

National & Regional Awards: India Winner Announced

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Sony India recently revealed Rajeev Gaikwad as India’s National Award winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025.

The National & Regional Awards programme is an initiative set up by Sony and Creo under its photography strand the World Photography Organisation to support local photographic communities around the world, with 56 countries taking part this year. Across this year’s Awards over 419,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2025.

National and Regional Award winners were selected from the Open competition, which champions the best single images taken in the past year.

Rajeev Gaikwad was anonymously selected by judges for his photograph Phantom Bloom, entered into the Object category of the Open competition. Amidst a vast abandoned waste marble dumping yard in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, a lone tree reaches towards the sky, its bare branches a testament to its resilience. Hanging from the branch, the vivid burst of colour of the two bags introduces a touch of humanity. In this image, the photographer reflects on the delicate balance between nature and human presence in an unforgiving landscape.

Growing up on the surreal outskirts of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, I found inspiration in the dreamlike rural landscapes around me. Photography became my way of preserving moments and telling stories, blending realism with a touch of surrealism. My work focusses on capturing emotions, connections, and the beauty in the mundane. I Always aim to share my unique perspective and inspire others to see the world through a creative and thoughtful lens.

Commenting on his win, Gaikwad said, “Being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards is a surreal and humbling experience for me, I feel completely Blessed. It’s an honor to have my work recognised on this esteemed international platform.

As India’s National Award winner, Rajeev Gaikwad receives Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.

The overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open and Professional competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 will be announced on 16 April and will go on display as part of the exhibition at Somerset House, London (17 April – 5 May 2025)

This year’s National and Regional Awards winners are:

Bangladesh - Syed Mahabubul Kader — **Bangladesh Winner — © Syed Mahabubul Kader**

**Indonesia Winner — © Sim Jhones Gozali**

**Philippines Winner — © Renzer Rev Damaso**

**Nigeria Winner — © Nsikanabasi Effiong**

**South Africa Winner — © Werner De Kock**

**Qatar Winner — © Ridhwan Mohammed Rafi**

**Saudi Arabia Winner — © Mohammed Muhtasib**

**Sri Lanka Winner — © Sasindu Pramuditha**

**Uzbekistan Winner — © Mubina Fayzullaeva**

**United Arab Emirates Winner — © Donell Gumiran**

**Republic of Korea Winner — © Kibong Nam**

**Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova Winner — © Peter Svoboda (Slovakia)**

**Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania Winner — © Ieva Gaile (Lithuania)**

**Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Winner — © Marko Buntić (Croatia)**

**Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia Winner — © Panagiotis Rontos (Greece)**

**Latin America Winner — © Lucero Mora Ardila (Mexico)**

FUJIFILM India Unveils X-M5 Mirrorless Camera at ₹77,999

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FUJIFILM India has launched the highly anticipated FUJIFILM X-M5, the latest addition to its renowned X Series of mirrorless digital cameras. Known for its compact design, cutting-edge technology, and exceptional image quality, the X-M5 sets a new standard for photography and videography enthusiasts.

Weighing just 355g, the X-M5 is the lightest camera in the X Series and features a 26.1-megapixel back-illuminated X-Trans™ 4 CMOS sensor and the advanced X-Processor 5 engine, delivering professional-grade performance in a lightweight body. Its innovative subject-detection autofocus, powered by AI, can track animals, vehicles, and more, ensuring precision in diverse shooting scenarios.

The X-M5 boasts impressive video capabilities, including 6.2K/30P 4:2:2 10-bit recording, 4K/60P, and 1080/240P, complemented by a powerful digital image stabilizer for smooth footage even during handheld shooting. The camera also introduces a Vlog Mode with intuitive touchscreen controls and a 9:16 vertical shooting feature tailored for social media content.

With a high-quality design, compact size, and versatile features, the FUJIFILM X-M5 is perfect for professionals and enthusiasts, empowering them to explore new creative horizons. Available soon across India, the X-M5 is poised to redefine visual storytelling.

Sony Announces BURANO Firmware Update Version 2.0: Exciting New Features for Filmmakers

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Sony is unveiling the upcoming BURANO Version 2.0 firmware update, scheduled for release in March 2025. Based on feedback from the filmmaking community, the update introduces significant new features, improved usability, and enhanced performance.

Key highlights include expanded recording formats, such as a new 3.8K Full Frame crop mode capable of 120 fps and a 1.9K mode supporting up to 240 fps, enabling filmmakers to prioritize speed and flexibility. Anamorphic shooters can utilize the new Super 35 4.3K mode at 60 fps. Additional updates include 24.00 fps support in X-OCN 16:9 modes, a 1.8x de-squeeze setting, and expanded high-frame-rate options up to 110 fps.

Monitoring and operational improvements include standardized SDI video output across formats, breathing compensation, image stabilization metadata, and on-screen display enhancements. A redesigned interface places status information outside the image and adds View Finder Gamma Display Assist for S-Log3 monitoring. The update also supports PL Mount lens control for Focus, Iris, and Zoom using the optional GP-VR100 handgrip.

BURANO Version 2.0 enhances image output with improved S-Log3 and 3D LUT presets, better Auto Focus performance at key frame rates, and advanced exposure tools derived from Sony’s flagship VENICE system. White balance memory has been expanded from three to eight presets, and Active/High Image Stabilization is now available in Full Frame 6K and Super 35 modes.

The update further adds live event functionality, including variable ND control via RCPs, enhanced Camera Remote SDK compatibility, and tally control over LAN. Users will also benefit from ease-of-use features like media formatting from the status screen and settings for CAM ID and Reel Number.

Available in March 2025, BURANO Version 2.0 will be free to download for Indian users directly to their cameras via Mac or PC.

Western Digital introduces World’s Fastest 2TB micro SD UHS-I Card in India

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Western Digital recently introduced its first and the world’s fastest microSD UHS-I Card in 2TB capacity from its SanDisk brand. “We aim to inspire people to create more and are committed to helping content creators transform ideas into stories without worrying about storage limitations. We are happy to introduce the world’s fastest 2TB microSD card; so, people around the world have more time to focus on capturing the moment, wherever their adventure takes them.” says, Khalid Wani, Senior Director Sales, India, Western Digital.

With up to 2TB of capacity, the new SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-I Card is designed for modern creators offering massive capacity to capture for longer and store more. Whether you’re recording high-quality 4K UHD point-of-view video, capturing pristine high-resolution stills, or wanting to expand storage for your Android devices, laptops, or handheld gaming consoles, this microSD card delivers unparalleled performance. Now one can save precious moments with blazing fast read and write speeds up to 250MB/s and 150MB/s respectively when used with SanDisk QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader (sold separately). Further this card load apps quickly and enables smooth performance. The SanDisk Extreme PRO microSD UHS-I card withstands extreme conditions and rough handling, despite const ant use. Further, RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software effectively restore photos, videos, documents, and other types of files in a wide range of formats that have been accidentally deleted, corrupted, or lost due to formatting. With a lifetime limited warranty, this card is built to last and provide exceptional performance for years to come.

Key features include: Ideal for action cams, drones, Android devices, and handheld gaming devices. When used with an SD adapter: cameras, including Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) and Mirrorless (MIL), camcorders, laptops, portable audio recorders; Read speeds up to 250MB/s and write speeds up to 150MB/s when used with SanDisk QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader (sold separately); Capture for longer and store more with up to 2TB of storage that can hold up to 2,808 minutes of 4K UHD video recorded at 30 fps (641MB/minute); Recover and restore files with the RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software, free, for two full years; Backed by a lifetime limited warranty, SanDisk branded cards perform over the long haul.

The range starts with the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Card the 2TB capacity is available at ₹16,997 MSRP, on Amazon.in.

Nikon Releases Firmware Update 5.10 for Flagship Z9 Camera

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Nikon has announced firmware version 5.10 for its flagship mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z9, launched in December 2021. This update introduces advanced features tailored for professional video recording, enhancing flexibility and usability.

A notable addition is the new Shutter Mode, enabling users to set the shutter angle in 15 steps between 5.6° and 360° when shooting in [M] mode. This feature simplifies achieving optimal motion blur by eliminating the need to manually adjust shutter speed when changing frame rates.

Further improvements include customizable options for video exposure aids. Users can now alter the color of the zebra pattern display and adjust the size, transparency, and position of brightness indicators like histograms and wave-form monitors. These updates ensure precise exposure control while accommodating individual preferences or specific shooting scenarios.

Nikon reaffirmed its commitment to supporting photographers and videographers by continuously enhancing its products through firmware updates.

For more details on the firmware update and Nikon’s full product lineup, visit Nikon India.

Chennai Photo Biennale Edition 4 announced

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The fourth edition of the Chennai Photo Biennale takes its primary inspiration from Dayanita Singh’s ongoing exploration “#whyphotograph”. The biennale will showcase diverse practices by artists who are reshaping dominant narratives by addressing gaps in representation, remixing colonial visual vocabularies with native avant garde aesthetics, by shifting the gaze from the lone photographer to forge an ethic of care and collective authorship. The Biennale will encompass 20+ exhibitions and several programmes across the 90 days. The CPB Edition 4 opens in 2 phases.

The CPB4 is organised with the support of Goethe-Institut Chennai as the primary partner in association with The Hindu Made of Chennai and Palladium Partners – TNQ Publishing | Photo South Asia.

Phase 1 opens on December 20, 2024 with ‘Vaanyerum Vizhuthugal’ (Roots that reach for the sky) – 12 lens-based artists across Tamil Nadu curated by Jaisingh Nageswaran. It’s a project by CPB Foundation in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Chennai in association with The Hindu, Made of Chennai. The participating artists are – Alina Tiphagne, Aishwarya Arumbakkam, Arun Karthick, Brinda Anantharaman, Krithika Sriram, Osheen Siva, Priyadarshini Ravichandran, Sathish Kumar, Shankar Raja Narayana, Sridhar Balasubramaniyam, Steevez Rodriguez and Vivek Mariappan.

Next in Phase 1 will be ‘It’s time. To see. To be seen’ – Women responding to the world through photographic practices. Its a project by CPB Foundation in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Chennai, British Council, Pro Helvetia and the French Institute. The participating artists are – Ann Griffin (Switzerland), Bhumika Saraswati (India), Delphine Diallo (France/USA), Farheen Fatima (India), Fast Forward Collective (UK), Hannah Cooke (Germany), Indu Antony (India), Kiki Strietberger (Germany), Nony Singh (India), Offset Projects (India), Prarthna Singh (India), Radha Rathi (India), Samar Hazboun (Palestine).

CPB Invited Projects in December 2024 are – ‘Madras, Margazhi & Music’ Portraits by Amar Ramesh; ‘Common Nouns’; and ‘Light Salt Water’ by Sujatha Shankar Kumar.

Phase 2 opens on January 17, 2025 with ‘Love and Light’ – A Site of Infinite Possibilities. Its Sunil Gupta retrospective curated by Charan Singh and presented by Tarun and Tarana Sawhney. It is supported by Avtar Foundation for the Arts, Sid Khanna & Meher Varma, Payal and Annurag Khanna.

Next in Phase 2 wil be ‘What Makes Me Click!’ – Celebrating & spotlighting 20 photography projects by children globally curated by Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation and the Children’s Photography Archive, UK, with support from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.

Participating institutions and artists include the Tamil Nadu School Department & Palani Kumar (India), Fawood and Curzon Nursery Schools & Catherine Rive (UK), Children’s Photography Archive (UK), CEDAR Coimbatore, Girl Museum (UK), Nirmal Bhartia School (India), Fotohane Darkroom (Turkey), Fotokids (Guatemala), Through the lens (South Africa), Art Reach (India), Bronx Documentary Centre (USA), Anjali House with Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops (Cambodia), Objectifs Centre (Singapore), Museum of Photography (Greece), Photoworks, The National Gallery, London and Brighton & Hove Museums, Alejandra Carles-Tolra (UK), Prakriti School (India), Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation (India), Chinky Shukla (Rajasthan), Ibn Rushd Fund, Qattan Child Centre Gaza, Asmaa Seba (Gaza).

The exhibition will be curated as an interactive installation designed by The Architecture Story along the museum campus with photographs as well as engaging playful activities for all ages including a pinhole camera.

‘CPB4 Open Call Showcase’ features 40 photographers for the first time via an open call. Entries were received from across 30 countries. The exhibition will showcase single images and photo essays selected by an established international jury including Alessia Glaviano – Head, Global PhotoVogue (Milano); Brendan McCleary – Curator, PHOTO Australia (Australia); Gwen Lee – Co-founder & Director, DECK, Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF-Singapore); Joseph Radhik – Co-founder – Stories (India); Julie Héraut – Head of Exhibition & Research, Le Bal Paris (Paris); Michael Weir – Director, Belfast Photo Festival (UK); Smita Sharma – Visual Journalist (India); Umah Jacob – Director of External Relations & Outreach, India Art Fair (India); Varun Gupta – Managing Trustee, CPB Foundation Director (India).

The CPB – Photoworks Darkroom Residency Showcase, showcasing works by artists from India and UK – Ārun (Chennai), Holly Birtles (UK) and Soham Joshi (UK). The show is supported by the British Council.

CPB Invited Projects in January 2025 are – ‘For the love of…’ Cop Shiva and Lim Soo-Sik curated by Nandini Valli Muthiah; ‘Time Present Time Past’ by Sebastian Cortez; ‘Photography Strictly Prohibited’ A retrospective of Navroze Contractor by Navjivan Trust and National Photography Festival; ‘Lalit Mohan Sen Archives – An Enduring Legacy’ by Emami Art; ‘The Architecture of Remembrance’ by Debasish Mukherjee; ‘Artist Through The Lens’ by Manisha Gera Baswani.

CPB Primary Shows in February 2025 are: ‘Kaana Katral’ – Learning to see – Graduate students’ work from Dr MGR Janaki College for Women and Tamil Nadu Government MGR Film & Television Institute, Chennai. The exhibition showcases 15 students’ works on visual storytelling supported by Photo South Asia and Murthy Nayak Foundation; ‘Hey!’ – The exhibition features photographs made by people with disabilities and neurodivergence.

CPB Invitation Shows in February 2025 are ‘Limits of Change’ by Parvathi Nayar and Nayantara Nayar; ‘Art in Prison’ by Rahimunisa Begam; ‘Footprints on the moon’ by Dheeraj Khandelwal.

CPB Invitation Shows in March 2025 are: ‘Indianisms’ by Prashant Panjiar; ‘So far and Henceforth’ by Nandini Valli Muthiah.

Key programmes on weekends include – public openings, talks, panel discussions, exhibition tours, workshops, film screenings, poetry intervention and more.

Sony India Announces FE 28-70mm F2 G Master Lens at ₹2,99,999

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Sony India recently announced its first G Master standard zoom lens with constant F2 max, the FE 28-70mm F2 G Master (SEL2870GM). This premium E-mount lens boasts a large aperture of F2 across the entire zoom range to achieve beautiful bokeh, high resolution and unrivalled autofocus for both stills and video, with sharpness and contrast to rival prime lens quality. All this is achieved in a compact, lightweight and well-balanced design that gives professionals and creators the ultimate freedom to capture a variety of scenes with just one lens where no shots can be missed including portraits, weddings, sports, documentaries and cinematic video.

The FE 28-70mm F2 G Master is the first G Master standard zoom lens with a constant F2 aperture making it ideal for both stills and video. Advanced design and optical simulation result in a zoom quality that rivals prime lenses with three XA (extreme aspherical) elements manufactured using original techniques to ensure high corner-to-corner resolution at F2 throughout the zoom range. Floating focus also allows sharpness, even at close focus down to 0.38 m/1.25 ft throughout the zoom range. Sony’s original Nano AR Coating II minimises flare/ghosting and optics designed to suppress internal reflections provide further flare resistance, ensuring high clarity whenever a strong light source appears in the frame. The G Master optics deliver soft bokeh for deep, dimensional images because of carefully controlled spherical aberration at both the design and the manufacturing stages with XA elements and a newly developed 11-blade aperture unit. The Super ED (extra-low dispersion) and ED glass elements effectively reduce chromatic aberration.

The FE 28-70mm F2 G Master delivers stress-free shooting with all the advantages of zoom and good image quality. Innovative technologies including advanced optics and XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors make all this fit in a constant F2 zoom that is only 92.9 x 139.8 mm (3-3/4 x 5-5/8) and weighs just 918 g (32.4 oz).

Four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors and the latest algorithm precisely control the large and heavy focus group. It delivers reliable focus tracking and instant response, which are essential for weddings or sports events where every frame counts. This lens is fully compatible with the α9 III ‘s high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking of up to 120 frames per second, with tracking continued even whilst zooming.

By using the latest optical technology, Sony’s lens effectively subdues focus breathing, resulting in refined movie imagery. Rack focus and zoom effects can be used with F2 depth of field to create smooth, natural transitions and critical focus for high frame rate 4K 120p/FHD 240p recording is easy due to the high AF tracking performance. The XD linear motors and the newly developed aperture unit operate quietly and support α body breathing compensation with the α series camera’s image stabilisation “Active Mode”.

Important control functions include Linear Response MF for intuitive manual focus, adjustable zoom ring torque, and an aperture ring with a click ON/OFF switch. There are also two customisable focus hold buttons, an iris lock switch, and an AF/MF switch. The filter diameter is 86 mm, and the lens hood has a window for easy variable filter operation.

Buttons and switches feature silicone gaskets, the lens mount includes a rubber ring, and all other critical areas are designed to prevent the intrusion of dust and moisture to ensure maximum reliability in challenging outdoor conditions. A fluorine coating on the front element effectively repels contaminants and makes cleaning easy.

The FE 28-70 F/2 G Master Lens will be available across all Sony Centers, Alpha Flagship stores, Sony authorized dealers and major electronic stores across India from 29^th November 2024 onwards at price of ₹299,990.

IIT Hyderabad and Nikon India inaugurate the first Nikon “Centre of Excellence”

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IIT Hyderabad and Nikon India, recently inaugurated its first “Centre of Excellence” (CoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad. This first-of-its-kind CoE aims to offer advanced imaging technologies to trainees, visiting scholars, and collaborators across the country, fostering impactful collaborations between IIT Hyderabad researchers and Nikon teams. As a hub for innovation, the centre will empower researchers to explore biological systems across scales – from single cells to human tissues – advancing research breakthroughs in high-resolution imaging.

Equipped with state-of-the-art imaging technologies, the Centre of Excellence offers a Confocal Microscope System AX R with NSPARC and TIRF. It also houses a Nikon Inverted Microscope System ECLIPSE Ti2-E for fluorescence imaging, a Nikon ECLIPSE Ts2-FL Inverted Routine Microscope, and a Nikon SMZ800N with a fluorescence attachment for macro imaging. Drawing upon its resources, technical expertise, and experienced staff, the centre will address critical challenges in cell biology and other research areas, facilitating innovative studies across various scientific fields.

Speaking on the launch, Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, said, “We are thrilled to bring state-of-the-art microscopy systems to the greater scientific community in Hyderabad. This Centre of Excellence equipped with our most up-to-date imaging technologies, will not only drive scientific research but also empower researchers and students with the means to push the boundaries across various scientific disciplines. Our goal is to foster an innovative learning environment that will encourage further developments and benefit the community at large.

“Nikon’s dedication to advancing science is reflected by this first of its kind “Centre of Excellence”. By partnering with IIT Hyderabad, we are confident that we can make a substantial impact on India’s research landscape, equipping scientists with advanced high-resolution imaging tools that will drive innovation and discovery,”.

Prof. B. S. Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, added, “It gives us great pleasure to work with Nikon India to establish this Centre of Excellence. This initiative aligns perfectly with our goal of fostering innovative research and diverse learning opportunities. In various academic and research domains, the Centre will serve as a catalyst, inspiring our researchers and students to push the boundaries of what is possible”.

The Nikon Centre of Excellence at IIT Hyderabad marks a significant step in bridging industry and academia, offering a vital platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and skill development. With advanced imaging resources, the centre will drive discoveries across diverse research fields and build a strong community of future scientists. By providing practical experience aligned with global advancements in microscopy, this partnership underscores Nikon’s commitment to advancing research and education, benefitting both the scientific community and the wider region.

Sony India Celebrates 30 Years Presence in India

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Sony India celebrates 30 years of offering products and services to the Indian market in November 2024. Since its inception in 1994, Sony India has been at the forefront of revolutionising consumer electronics, reshaping the entertainment landscape and setting new standards in product quality and innovation across key product categories such as televisions, home and personal audio, digital imaging and gaming.

Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director of Sony India, commented, “For 30 years, Sony has been more than a brand, it has been a companion in the lives of millions of Indian families. We are deeply grateful for the trust and love our consumers have shown us. This milestone is a testament to our shared journey of innovation, creativity and connection. As we look ahead, we are committed to continuing to deliver experiences that inspire and bring people closer together.”

At Sony, every product and service is designed with Kando – the Japanese concept of deeply moving and inspiring people. From enabling families to enjoy blockbuster movies together, to listening to music in its purest form, to compelling gaming experience and empowering creators’ intent with world-class cameras, Sony’s mission has always been to bring people closer to what they love.

Sustainability remains a cornerstone of Sony India’s operations, aligning with the global “Road to Zero” environmental plan. Beyond its business operations, Sony India has made a impact on society through its CSR initiatives. Some of these programmes focus on skill development, heritage preservation, village development, elderly care and medical support.

As Sony India steps into its fourth decade, the company remains steadfast in its mission to create products that inspire wonder and connection. From reimagining home entertainment to pushing the boundaries of technology, Sony is committed to shaping a future filled with possibilities.