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FT editor Roula Khalaf has chosen her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
with old school
Incorporating advanced technology into traditional-looking hardware is sure to induce mild euphoria in people of a certain age (specifically, my age, actually). Nikon’s latest Z-mount mirrorless camera has an old-school F-mount look. The faux-leather exterior, buttons and switches are inspired by models from 50 years ago but offer modern functionality, and the brass dial will acquire a gentle patina over time. Car chunk mechanical shutter. The classic black version is unashamedly retro, but six additional colorways are available, including moss green and sunset orange, for those wanting a more glamorous collision of classic and modern.
Nikon Z f, body only from £2,299
Any camera that takes design cues from the past will inevitably take some ergonomic hits. Although its professional sister product is significantly lighter than the Z8 and Z9, the Z f is not always comfortable in the hand. But it’s a small negative event in a sea of positives. For those (like me) who get mild anxiety when manually adjusting camera settings, the full auto mode does the heavy lifting admirably, effectively allowing you to pick up a supercharged point-and-shoot camera and pop it in your hand. Masu. Very fast startup time and great results. If you’re already fluent in ISO/aperture/shutter speed, you can have as much control as you like. But if you want to learn, Z f teaches you the basics and encourages you to think creatively about the images you’re creating.
It is a well-forged alliance of old and new. On the other hand, it has slots for both SD and microSD cards, a vari-angle monitor for vloggers, super smooth slow-motion video, and automatic subject detection (people, animals, planes, etc.). Deeptone’s monochrome mode allows you to take stunning black and white photos with little effort. It’s a bold shot that looks like it was painstakingly taken using a red filter in the film era. If you grew up using cameras like this, the Z f will probably bring a gentle smile to your face. If not, you’ll just enjoy semi-pro power in a very pretty package. nikon Z f, body only from £2,299
instant gratification
The history of Polaroid has been extraordinary, from being highly admired (both practically and artistically), to being almost obsolete, to being brought back again. It’s a little ridiculous that this new high-end three-lens autofocus integrated film camera even exists, considering how easy it is to take high-quality photos with a much more portable smartphone. But as soon as you insert a thick cartridge of i-type film, those eight shots of her become rather precious.
The device works seamlessly with the accompanying app (I rarely say that), and the resulting photo is now pinned to my office bulletin board: shimmering colors, sharp details, And beautiful bokeh. polaroid I-2 Instant Camera, £599.99
horizontal head
Having experienced the humiliation of trying to assemble and calibrate the wrong smartphone gimbal in public, I’m grateful for DJI’s flagship compact all-in-one camera gimbal that makes such antics seem laughably outdated. . This package includes 2 handles, a microphone transmitter, a wide-angle lens, a tripod, and more. Three gimbal modes offer flexibility when shooting (like follow mode for selfies), and the Active Track feature closely follows the subject in focus. The 2-inch touchscreen is good enough for monitoring, but playing it on the big screen reveals the true beauty of his 4K footage, smooth with vibrant colors. DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo, £619
I have high hopes
unistela Odyssey Pro Telescope, from £3,499
Amateur astronomy can take a long time to learn. There’s a lot of technology out there for urban stargazers, but you need to know where to look, when to look, and why. Unistellar’s latest model is designed for people with little knowledge but endless curiosity. A companion app advises you where the most interesting celestial objects are currently and what they’re doing that night, and high-precision Nikon optics guide you towards them. Multi-depth technology captures not only high-brightness objects (nebulae and galaxies), but also high-brightness objects (moons and planets) and autofocuses on these small points despite the surrounding darkness. It does a great job of matching. unistela Odyssey Pro, from £3,499
your next project
There are two annoyances with large, high-spec TVs: climbing a spiral staircase and screen reflections. Both of these are solved by short-throw projection onto an ALR (ambient light rejection) screen, and Cine 1 demonstrates this to great effect. It is Leica’s belated successor to the world’s first mass-produced projector (Uleja), released in 1926. Although that equipment is now a museum exhibit, Cine 1 is a true living room statement, his large 15kg unit with 50W Dolby Atmos. surround sound. Cheaper short throws can project in a variety of sizes, with an associated loss in image quality, but Cine 1’s 120-inch version projects breathtaking detail in just his 120-inch. leica Cine 1, 120in, £8,995 (no screen)
@Rhodri