News/Views
The Next Lens Revolution
Get ready for new controversy.
We’ve had several big changes in how lenses are designed in the digital era, and more are coming. The two biggest differences in 21st century lenses have been improvements in computer modeling during the design process coupled with using in-camera “corrections” to “fix” aspects that aren’t addressed by the optical design itself.
“Corrections” and “fix” are in quotes in the previous paragraph because the current form for these is simply some brute force simplified math. For instance, vignetting isn’t measured precisely and then corrected via similar precise pixel-by-pixel data shifts. Instead, virtually all the vignetting corrections are a set of circles containing a pre-ordained amount of data shift, which may or may not exactly match what the lens is doing.
Here’s what’s going to happen next: AI lens corrections.
Large language model AI is about pattern matching. Optical design generates plenty of patterns. We’re going to see AI correction calculated during the computerized design process, and then a way of applying those very specific corrections downstream when the image is actually created.
Already we have some neural signal processing happening in smartphones that does something similar, mostly with so called “telephoto zoom” created from cropping. But what I’m talking about will go further, and essentially pattern-correct the lens aspects that the computerized optical design let slide (typically in order to optimize something else).
This isn’t as simple as it at first sounds (e.g. just apply a correction). Lenses focus at different distances, have adjustable apertures, and may even mechanically zoom, all of which changes the underlying optical patterns and correction needs. Thus, say a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens might need 24, 35, 50, 70mm, close focus, medium focus, distance focus, and fast aperture to slow aperture “adjustment files” at a minimum. Still, that’s doable today with current technology, someone just has to implement it.
Which brings us to the controversy that will ensue.
A perfectly corrected lens wil almost certainly be rejected by some as being “too clinical.” Sure, but the data being collected in the raw file will be more optimal, so I’m for it. Take it a step further, though: not only can you create a near perfect optical correction this way, you can create presets that render differently. Get ready for Lens Picture Controls (LPC). Want classic edge sharpness falloff with vignette? Use the Vintage LPC.
You thought photographers argued about whose color presets are better, wait until we start arguing about whose lens presets are better.
Things Said on the Internet, Part XXXIV
“[Panasonic L10 is] the most exciting camera of 2026 (so far)” — 43rumors headline
Hmm. The L10 was the second camera announced in 2026. At the time the headline appeared, it was the second of only four cameras announced in 2026. So 43rumors has a one in four chance of being right instead of just clickbaiting ;~).
The present paucity of products popping up means that everyone covering cameras and lenses on the Internet gets overly excited when awakened from their writing slumber to comment on something new again. It’s not as if we’re getting anything particular “new” either; we’re getting modest to moderate iteration for the most part. Woo hoo!
Meanwhile, every site seems to be rushing to post affiliate linkages that end up at wait lists that might not ever generate revenue for them. What a business model.
“Pre-orders already exploding” — newcamera headline
Continuing on a theme, now we have a camera (Insta360 Luna Ultra) that hasn’t yet been announced with supposed strong pre-order reports. Best get your affiliate linkage ready, Internet (“we will update this article the second Insta360 drops the official global pre-order link” [emphasis newcamera’s, not mine]).
On your marks, set, affiliate link!
What a business model.
“News: Comparing 6 Best AI Photo Enhancers.” —Imaging Resource headline
A strange article, to say the least. I’m happy Imaging Resource is back, but then I’m not sure it’s really back. First, listing a “comparison” (more on that later) as “news” basically tells us that the new Imaging Resource editors don’t know the definition of news. Given that they have both Reviews and Buyer Guides sections on their Web site, how did the article in question become news?
The front half of the article is basically an advertorial for Aiarty Image Enhancer, complete with…wait for it…affiliate links. I can confirm that Aiarty has been sending emails to photo Web sites encouraging articles, reviews, links. Apparently some are taking them up on the request.
As if to legitamize the “comparison” aspect of the headline, the second half of the article briefly lists five other AI enhancers, though this is headed with “if you prefer to avoid subscription-only apps, here is a nice change to unlock lifetime license [sic] from Aiarty.”
On my browser, the article was accompanied by an ad for Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin. I suppose if I drink enough of that I might consider the article both news and a real comparison. Unfortunately, I’m a teatotaler, so: it’s not news, and not really a comparison.
Dare I say it? What a business model.
“…the market for Action cameras is small” “…the market for Action cameras is finite.” –many comments on the Interwebs
This is typically said in discussing GoPro’s financials and the possibility that they might be sold or go away completely.
Don’t believe Internet amateurs ;~). GoPro sells more cameras each year than does Nikon. Oh wait, Nikon’s going to go away, too, according to those naysayers.
The real issue for GoPro is that we’re now on their 14th iteration (or so), and not a lot got iterated along the way. Meanwhile, the Chinese competition is on their 4th iteration (or so), and quite a bit is getting iterated by them. So much so that GoPro’s market share has plummetted into what is likely single digits in the (small ;~) Action camera market. DJI, Xtra, and Insta360 are growing like weeds as they innovate in the space, while GoPro is showing revenue decline despite being the market initiator. That’s Classic Silicon Valley, not knowing what made you successful and how to iterate on it to protect it.
For instance, it now seems as if GoPro will be last to multi-lens Action cameras or the truly tiny versions (e.g. Insta360 GO 3S or Xtra Atto). The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS with its interchangeable lens capability comes almost 20 years after I first asked for it on this Web site.
What a business model.
Site Timing
It’s been a tough year so far, with a number of unexpected external issues causing me to fall behind my original schedule, including a family emergency that has me bouncing back and forth across the country. I’ve had far less office time this year than expected, so getting big projects done in a timely fashion has been difficult.
Here are my new estimated launch times for projects you know about (I have additional projects you don’t know about, but I’ll let them be a surprise when they appear):
- Update to the existing Zf book: soon; should be the next project shipped
- Nikon ZR for still photography book and ZR review: summer
- Update to Nikon Z9 book: late summer, early fall
- New byThom Web site: summer (this project is well on its way; but everything is being been rewritten, and I mean everything)
- New zsystemuser Web site: late fall
- byThom MAX launch: January 1, 2027 (material has been and continues to be generated for this, so it should be fully stocked when it launches)
Things I have managed to get done so far this year include (a) teaching a pair of two-week workshops in Africa in new locations, (b) relaunching filmbodies.com (including creating a new free book for Nikon film SLR users and rewriting everything that was on that site), (c) completed basic lab testing for 12 new lens reviews and one camera review, (d) wrote another book (not on photography), (e) prototyped and designed for the future Web sites and updates, (f) created a number of items for byThom MAX, plus (g) the usual keeping you up to date on the photography news that’s relevant as well as posting useful new articles on the three active sites.
It’s not that I haven’t been busy. Just the opposite. It’s that many of the projects I’m working on require distraction-free, concentrated time in order to complete, which has been rare in the last few months. The good news is that I can now see things getting better over the next few months, which may allow me to hit the schedule I outline above.
So bear with me.