Congratulations to ZdevilH1 for winning WA 1103, based on the theme: Back To School.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1104 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1105 just started with theme: "Grandparents"
Deadline: December 13th noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Vatnajökull - Glacierscape by Rajan Parrikar

• Nature & Wildlife:
Bighorn Sheep by G.E. Smith

• People Photography:
Fresh Hair Do = Photos by Chris.J

Congratulations to jboyle9808 for winning MA 234, based on the theme: Swing.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the MA 235 winners.
Cast your vote!

Monthly Assignment 236 just started with theme: "Bottle"
Deadline: January 1st noon - Participate!

Congratulations to Danpbphoto for winning WA 1102, based on the theme: Relax.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1103 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1104 just started with theme: "Dirty"
Deadline: December 6th noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Enchanted Cypress Oasis by epphoto

• Nature & Wildlife:
Okavango Delta, Botswana by VKM2F

• People Photography:
Senior Portrait Shot with Waterfall by friscoron

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your incredible support and active participation. Your presence is what makes this community thrive, and I'm truly thankful for the vibrant discussions, stunning photos, and the wonderful community we've built together.

As we celebrate the holiday season, I extend my warmest wishes to you, your friends, and your family. May your days ahead be filled with joy, warmth, and countless moments bathed in golden light. - Fred

Congratulations to Danpbphoto for winning WA 1101, based on the theme: Fountain.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1102 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1103 just started with theme: "Back To School"
Deadline: November 29th noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Thar Desert and Camels; Rajastan, India by shibutg

• Nature & Wildlife:
Grizzly Cubs by G.E. Smith

• People Photography:
Emilia by Elijah

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports Lens was official released and available for pre-order!

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN at B&H Photo ($1,500)

Here are the main specifications:

1. Focal Length 70 to 200mm
   
2. Maximum Aperture f/2.8
   
3. Lens Mount Sony E, Leica L
   
4. Lens Format Coverage Full-Frame
   
5. Image Stabilization Yes
   
6. Filter Size 77 mm (Front)
   
7. Maximum Aperture f/2.8
   
8. Minimum Aperture f/22
   
9. Angle of View 34.3° to 12.3°
   
10. Minimum Focus Distance 25.6" / 65 cm
    
11. Maximum Magnification 0.19x
    
12. Macro Reproduction Ratio 1:5.2
    
13. Optical Design 20 Elements in 15 Groups
    
14. Diaphragm Blades 11, Rounded
    
15. Tripod Collar Removable and Rotating
    
16. Filter Size 77 mm (Front)
    
17. Dimensions (ø x L) 3.6 x 8.1" / 90.6 x 207 mm
    
18. Weight 2.9 lb / 1335 g

Congratulations to Elijah for winning WA 1100, based on the theme: Dolls.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1101 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1102 just started with theme: "Relax"
Deadline: November 22nd noon - Participate!

@yukosteel has recently published a new disassembly article focusing on modifying the Leica Summicron 50mm F2 "Rigid" lens to reduce its minimum focusing distance from 1m (3.3 feet) to 0.75m. This lens is one of my favorites due to its exceptional performance and unique rendering. However, a common issue with this lens is its limited focusing range of only 1m. Yuri tackled this challenge by reducing the minimum focus distance to 0.75m, greatly enhancing the lens's versatility.

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Western Australia by Gregg B.

• Nature & Wildlife:
My first black water diving, blanket octopus, paper nautilus and a few misc other stuffs (lots of photos). by suteetat

• People Photography:
Magician Portrait by Draper

Better late than never! :)

We've been listening to your requests, and guess what? We've launched a brand new film forum right here at FM! It's exclusively for all you film photography enthusiasts. Welcome to the new spot dedicated to the art of film in our community!

Film Is Not Dead Forum
For discussion on the captivating world of film photography

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/36 exposures!

Congratulations to Danpbphoto for winning WA 1099, based on the theme: Morning.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1100 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1101 just started with theme: "Fountain"
Deadline: November 15th noon - Participate!

The highly-anticipated Sony a9 III has been unveiled, featuring a cutting-edge global shutter that effectively eliminates rolling shutter distortion and allows for flash synchronization at any shutter speed. This exciting announcement took place during a Creative Space event held in New York on November 7, where Sony also introduced the new Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM OSS lens.
It's the lightest full-frame 300mm f2.8 lens available. This G Master lens is designed for smooth bokeh and sharp subjects, featuring advanced optics with an 11-blade circular aperture. It pairs well with the Sony a9 III, designed for sports with quick and quiet autofocus. You can use teleconverters, and it offers a quick APS-C crop mode. Both the camera and lens are set for a Spring 2024 release, priced at $5,999 each.


Sony A9 III Main Features:

1. 24.6-megapixel full-frame stacked sensor
   
2. Global shutter at up to 120 fps
   
3. No flash sync speed limits, even while using third-party flashes
   
4. Global shutter also eliminates banding caused by flickering lights
   
5. Shutter speed up to 1/80,000 in single shot, burst up to 1/16,000
   
6. Shortcut button to quickly go from 20 fps to 120 fps
   
7. In-camera star rating to quickly sort through those 120 fps bursts
   
8. Pre-capture for up to 1 second before the shutter is released
   
9. Real-time eye autofocus, even with 120 fps
   
10. 759 autofocus points covering 95.6 percent of the frame
    
11. Low light autofocus down to -5 EV at f1.8
    
12. Tilting LCD touchscreen
    
13. 9.44 million dot OLED EVF with 120 fps refresh rate at highest quality 240 fps with reduced quality
    
14. Dust and weather-resistant

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM specs

1. Optical Design: 20 Elements in 16 Groups
   
2. Diaphragm Blades: 11, Rounded
   
3. Image Stabilization: Yes
   
4. Tripod Collar: Removable and Rotating
   
5. Filter Size: 40.5 mm (Drop-In)
   
6. Dimensions (ø x L): 4.88 x 10.4" / 12.4 x 26.4 cm
   
7. Weight: 51.9 oz / 1470 g

Pre-order at B&H Photo:

Sony A9 III:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1794764-REG/sony_ilce_9m3_a9_iii_mirrorless_camera.html

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1746375-REG/sony_fe_300mm_f_2_8_gm.html

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Walk through the shrooms by Ray Still

• Nature & Wildlife:
Pika by G.E. Smith

• People Photography:
Duran Duran Back Then by Danpbphoto

Congratulations to MMP for winning WA 1098, based on the theme: Hot.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1099 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1100 just started with theme: "Dolls"
Deadline: November 8th noon - Participate!

Congratulations to J. Pow for winning MA 233, based on the theme: Balloons.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the MA 234 winners.
Cast your vote!

Monthly Assignment 235 just started with theme: "Magic"
Deadline: December 1st noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Eastern Sierra Autumn/Fall 2023 by dakel

• Nature & Wildlife:
~~Lookin' Out My Back Door~~ by Ted ellis

• People Photography:
My Daughter's Engagement Portraits by Lisa_Holloway

Update: Both Leica M11-P in Black and Silver are in stock at B&H Photo right now:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=Leica%20M11-P

----------------------


The Leica M11-P camera that was previously rumored has been officially introduced, along with a brand-new Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH lens. What's remarkable about the M11-P is that it's the first camera globally to have technology that follows both the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and the C2PA standard.

Improvements for the M11-P include:

1. Taking off the red dot Leica logo from the camera's front.
2. Adding an engraved Leica script on the top cover.
3. Installing a dark chrome viewfinder.
4. Using sapphire glass on the rear display to make it more durable and resistant to scratches.
5. Increasing the internal storage to 256GB, a boost from the previous 64GB.

The M11-P is offered in Black (Aluminum top) and Silver (Brass top)
Aside from these specifications, there's a hardware modification involving the inclusion of a secure chip. This chip is responsible for activating the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) technology we discussed earlier.

Pre-order at B&H Photo:

Leica M11-P Black | Leica M11-P Silver

B&H Photo Explora article about the new M11-P

Congratulations to chas for winning WA 1097, based on the theme: Simple.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1098 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1099 just started with theme: "Morning"
Deadline: November 1st noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Bugaboo Provincial Park from Ridge in Front of Cobalt Lake by Scott Stoness

• Nature & Wildlife:
A Bittern Sweet Morning... by louie champan

• People Photography:
Another horse session! by dawnkyung

Congratulations to J. Pow for winning WA 1096, based on the theme: The Sky.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1097 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1098 just started with theme: "Hot"
Deadline: October 25th noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Fall Tales From Iceland – Múlagljúfur by Rajan Parrikar

• Nature & Wildlife:
Elk by G.E. Smith

• People Photography:
Mustached Muse by DanielScott

Congratulations to chas for winning WA 1095, based on the theme: Street Photography.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1096 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1097 just started with theme: "Simple"
Deadline: October 18th noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Mount Assiniboine Fall Pictures by Scott Stoness

• Nature & Wildlife:
M for Macaws of the Pantanal - And other exotic creatures by kdacharya

• People Photography:
my kids church activities by Danrdz10103

Congratulations to la-px for winning WA 1094, based on the theme: Arches.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the WA 1095 winners.
Cast your vote!

Weekly Assignment 1096 just started with theme: "The Sky"
Deadline: October 11th noon - Participate!

Congratulations to bnfotografie for winning MA 232, based on the theme: Bridge.

The top five photos displayed below, will also be showcased on our Winners Gallery.

Voting is now open for the MA 233 winners.
Cast your vote!

Monthly Assignment 234 just started with theme: "Swing"
Deadline: November 1st noon - Participate!

Here are the Feature Thread Winners based on your votes:

• Landscape Photographer:
Fall Colors by Gregg B.

• Nature & Wildlife:
Atlantic Forest Vacations by JavierWP

• People Photography:
Alexis by DanielScott

The NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena is a prime lens known for its exceptional brightness. Its name, derived from Latin, signifies a state of complete spatial fullness. This lens aims to excel in light capture, producing pleasing background blur (bokeh), and delivering sharpness from corner to corner of the image.

Nikon meticulously crafted this lens to ensure consistent brightness across the entire frame. Its 11-blade diaphragm and substantial rear glass element contribute to creating a circular bokeh effect and adding a three-dimensional quality to images. With its 135mm focal length and wide f/1.8 aperture, it allows for creating a shallow depth of field, enhancing your photography experience. Unlike the Noct lens, the Plena supports autofocus, but it lacks built-in vibration reduction (VR). This lens consists of 16 lens elements in 14 groups and has a weight of approximately 2.2 pounds or 995 grams.

Pre-order the NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens at B&H Photo:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1788915-REG/nikon_20123_nikkor_z_135mm_f_1_8.html

B&H Article on the 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens