Rokid’s Style AI Glasses Bring Affordability to XR Glasses

A man wearing a pair of Rokid Style Smart Glasses on a computer in a cafe.
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AI Glasses have managed to escape their “glasshole” origins, but high costs and a lack of support for prescription eyewear needs have kept them from really taking off. The new Rokid Style smartglasses with their ultra-lightweight design and open AI ecosystem are achieving something none of their competitors have been able to do to date: making them affordable.  

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Fujifilm’s X-M5 is an Unapologetic Shift from Photographers to Content Creators

The Fujifilm X-M5 with the XF16-80mm F4 R OIS WR on a blue marbled background
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If you’ve been keeping up with photography news and camera releases, you might have noticed that most new cameras are packed with increasingly advanced video features. Increasingly, these video features are targeted at a specific type of video/film creative – the content creator. Fujifilm’s X-M5 is one such camera that does away with the manual control dials of more photo-centric cameras, like the X-T5, and instead leans all the way in on what might make a Content Creator jump for joy. Here’s what I found after using it for a month.

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OWC is Unleashing Thunderbolt 5 Power: A Look at the New StudioStack and Helios 5S at Inter BEE 2025

A production studio work desk with an OWC Helios 5S drive bay displayed.
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The world of high-end media production is in a constant arms race against bottlenecks. You need more speed, more storage, and more ports—and you needed them yesterday. For creative professionals heading to Inter BEE 2025 in Japan, OWC, a name synonymous with high-performance gear for media pros, has just announced it’s bringing its brand-new Thunderbolt 5 powerhouses to the show. This isn’t just a minor update; it’s a workflow revolution. Let’s take a look at the two new stars of the show.

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Blackmagic Camera for iOS 3.2 Brings Live Streaming to its Pro-Level Camera App

A movie set featuring an iPhone using the Blackmagic Camera app.
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Blackmagic Design has just leveled up mobile filmmaking with the release of Blackmagic Camera for iOS 3.2. This free update introduces powerful, professional-grade live streaming and workflow enhancements that further blur the line between a smartphone and a digital film camera. Whether you’re a content creator, working journalist, or filmmaker on the go, the ability to instantly broadcast professional-quality video directly from an iPhone could potentially change the game.

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Meet the New Apple M5 Products. Same as the Old Ones

Image of the Apple M5 Logo against a black background
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Maybe I’m giving too much away with the headline, but hear me out. If you’ve been plugged into the latest Apple news, you already know that the Fall 2025 refresh of their product line was hyped only to deliver what we’ve come to expect from the company – a new chip, self-proclaimed efficiency boosts, and no new product designs. Now, I’m not saying that this is all bad. I’m typing this out on a 2024 M3 MacBook Pro, which works just fine, thank you. But if you were hoping for something groundbreaking, you won’t find it here.

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Will the Viltrox Spark Z3 Bring a Spark of Creativity to Your Photography?

The Viltrox Spark Z3 Flash on a black background.
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When it comes to photography gear, we often find ourselves having to compromise between features and price. Flash photography can be incredibly pricey, creating an artificial barrier to entry. While buying used is still one of the best ways to save some serious coin, there are some affordable options thanks to companies like Viltrox. With that said, I’ve been using the Viltrox Z3 TTL for Fujifilm cameras for about a month, and here are some of the takeaways from my time with the lens.

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WANDRD’s ROGUE V2 Sling has Crushed its Kickstarter Goal

WANDRD's ROGUE V2 Sling in Black on the left and the new Burgundy color on the right.
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Kickstarter campaigns are usually news items we don’t typically cover – mainly because we’d hate to get you excited about a really cool project or product that ends up being vaporware. With WANDRD, things are a bit different for a couple of reasons: 1. They are an established brand that has not failed to deliver on any past successful Kickstarter campaign. 2. They absolutely crushed their latest campaign: the new WANDRD Rogue V2 Sling.

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The Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens is an Ultra-Wide Lens Built for Travel

Sigma's 12mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens on a white backdrop.
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Sigma has been building out its mirrorless lens lineup, and its latest APS-C Contemporary lens promises to give photographers and videographers one of the fastest, widest lenses that is nearly pocketable in size. The Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary boasts one of the fastest apertures at this focal length, making it a natural fit for astrophotography. Its compact design lends itself easily to travel photography. We had an opportunity to test this lens ahead of launch, so strap in and get ready for a Noisecast Review.

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A New Luxury Compact Camera: the Sony RX1R III Announcement

Sony RX1R III on a black background. Courtesy of Sony Electronics.
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This week, Sony did what seems impossible these days; it announced a camera that no one had any clue was in the works: the Sony RX1R III. High-end compact cameras have really become all the rage among deep-pocketed photographers, both pros and hobbyists alike, and it makes sense that Sony would bring back a camera model that has been sitting in a corner, ignored like a stepchild. But is this truly a revival of Sony’s full-frame compact or a scramble to regain market relevance?

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Harman Announces Phoenix II Color Film and We’re Stoked

Harman Announces Phoenix II Color Film and We’re Stoked Film is (thankfully) not dead. That’s the message from Harman, as today they announced the release of their latest film emulsion, Phoenix II. Back in 2023, Harman produced its first color negative film, and today’s announcement reminds us that their foray into color isn’t a one-off but a serious attempt to create something unique specifically for photographers. The Phoenix II film stock is available as a 36-exposure ISO 200 emulsion in 35mm or in 120 formats, edge numbered one to 19. It produces a stronger contrast, more balanced color, and finer grain than its predecessor, but keeps all of the character that made the original special. Compared to traditional color films (like a Kodak Gold 200 or Fujifilm Superia 400), it may produce images that lend themselves to high contrast, cooler tones, but from the samples Harman provided, I’m really loving the feeling they elicit. They sit somewhere between nostalgic and cinematic without being heavy-handed either way. Harman’s Phoenix II can be processed in C41 chemicals, which should make it easy and relatively inexpensive, unlike some cine film stocks that require special processing or more expensive E-6 processing. For me, the exciting part of this announcement is the fact that there are companies that are still seriously pushing the boundaries of film. Finding new and innovative processes and in turn, giving photographers a new set of tools to work with. Even if you’re not a pro, the more options available to hobbyists or simply the artistically curious, the more likely we are to see innovation in art. And there’s no downside to that. A recent conversation about some of the boredom I’ve had with new digital cameras revealed what I’ve known for years—most digital sensors are made by Sony, and this has made the resulting images kind of monotonous. In my opinion, analog film continues to capture viewers’ attention and imagination because of its organic nature—no two film stocks are alike, and even the same film stock can look wildly different over time. I’m excited by this bit of news, and while I might not make a dime from the images I make with Phoenix II, I hope that it will help me create images that are not only unique but also timeless.
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Film is (thankfully) not dead. That’s the message from Harman, as today they announced the release of their latest film emulsion, Phoenix II. Back in 2023, Harman produced its first color negative film, and today’s announcement reminds us that their foray into color isn’t a one-off but a serious attempt to create something unique specifically for photographers.

Continue reading