Month: August 2024
Astronauts Stranded in Space: What to Know, When They’ll Be Home
Butch WIlmore and Suni Williams were supposed to spend eight days on the ISS, but have been there for months now.
Butch WIlmore and Suni Williams were supposed to spend eight days on the ISS, but have been there for months now.
I Asked the Pixel 9 Pro’s AI to Write a Review of Itself. Here’s What it Said
Commentary: The phone called itself “exceptional” but also “gimmicky.”
Commentary: The phone called itself “exceptional” but also “gimmicky.”
Election 2024: Here’s Who Might Get More Money Under Kamala Harris’s Child Tax Credit Plan
Democratic nominee Harris wants to extend the child tax credit, with a major boost for certain families.
Democratic nominee Harris wants to extend the child tax credit, with a major boost for certain families.
Forget the Pentax 17, the upcoming Rollei 35AF is the film camera I’m most excited about in 2024 – here’s why
The upcoming Rollei 35AF brings new features to a much-loved classic film camera from the 1960’s.
Mint’s reimagining of the classic Rollei 35 from the 1960’s came to light at the turn of the year, and it looks like the project has made significant headway over the following months.
We now have detailed Rollei 35AF product photos (see below) plus sample images taken by the new classic snapper that have further whetted the appetite for what could be one of the best film cameras released this year.
According to its makers – analog photography minnows Mint – the upcoming Rollei 35AF is due for a 2024 release, with production underway and preorders starting on September 10. I for one can’t wait – though like many others on the waitlist on the dedicated Rollei 35AF website I’ll have to be patient as orders are fulfilled.
This could be the high-quality everyday film camera that analog photography enthusiasts crave, and it’s set to deliver compelling updates from its vintage forebearers. Let’s take a look at what is so compelling about the new version and why it could surpass the excellent recent Pentax 17.
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
A classic, for today
Coming a full 50 years after the Rollei 35S and 58 years after the original Rollei 35, Mint is equipping the new Rollei 35AF with autofocus and a built-in flash – features that neither of the original models include.
The 35AF utilizes LiDAR technology and a center spot for autofocus, though, of course, we don’t know how effective it is yet. It should, however, be a big upgrade from the zone-focusing setup of the original models.
Users can select auto or manual exposure, with a shutter speed range of 1/500 to 1 second. Icons on a new OLED display indicate your exposure levels: whether the exposure setting is too bright or too dark and by how much, to help you get the correct brightness.
The fixed 35mm f/2.8 lens is slightly wider than the 40mm lenses from before and has a minimum focus distance of 2.3ft / 70cm. It’s an everyday all-glass lens with 5 front and rear-coated elements, and its quality is certainly promising if the 35AF sample photos already shared are anything to go by (see below).
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
(Image credit: Mint)
I’m happy to see a built-in flash is now included. Such a feature is super handy for everyday photography and tops my wishlist for my own Ricoh GR IIIx digital compact camera. Flash can be turned on or off via a mode selector dial and its power is automatically adjusted based on subject distance.
Mint is also adding modern conveniences such as a selfie button and an auto shooting mode, handy for newbies. All of these improvements are being implemented into an all-metal body with a familiar compact and retro styling that Rollei fans love.
This 35m film camera is a different prospect than the half-frame Pentax 17. For me, the Rollei 35AF ticks more boxes for film beginners and enthusiasts alike in 2024. I expect it to be durable and easy to use, the lens admirably sharp, and it’s certainly easy on the eye. We still don’t know pricing or how quickly preorders will be fulfilled after September 10 – we could be looking at lengthy Fujifilm X100VI-level wait times. I’m hoping to have the camera in my hands this year. Roll on Rollei.
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Treat Yourself to These Popular Wellness and Fitness Labor Day Deals
Close out the summer with a decked-out home gym thanks to all these fitness deals.
Close out the summer with a decked-out home gym thanks to all these fitness deals.
How Many Security Cameras Does My House Need?
From light coverage to maximum security, we cover the number of security cams that are right for your home.
From light coverage to maximum security, we cover the number of security cams that are right for your home.
This could be the date when Apple launches the iPhone 16, iOS 18, the Apple Watch 10, and more
According to those in the know, Apple’s hardware and software refresh is slated for September 10.
Apple usually launches its new iPhones and Apple Watches in September, and it looks as though Tuesday, September 10 could be the date when we get to see the iPhone 16 series (and iOS 18), the Apple Watch 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and the AirPods 4.
None of this is certain just yet, but the tip comes from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who is usually accurate when it comes to Apple predictions. Preorders for the iPhones will likely start on September 13, before they actually go on sale on September 20.
This September 10 date makes the most sense looking at the calendar, and going off what Apple has done in the past. It’s also a date that’s been previously mentioned by tipsters, and we may well see macOS 15 Sequoia pushed out at the same time.
Gurman says “people familiar with the matter” have pointed to September 10 as the big day, though Apple hasn’t commented. Considering it’s only a little over two weeks away, we might well see an official announcement about this sometime next week.
What to expect
A successor to the Apple Watch 9 could show up too (Image credit: Apple)
There have been plenty of leaks and rumors around the four expected iPhone 16 models so far: we’re expecting faster chipsets, bigger screens for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, some improvements in the camera department, and quite possibly the same starting prices as we saw last year.
We’ve not seen quite as much speculation around the Apple Watch models, but some information has appeared ahead of time. It looks as though the upcoming Apple Watch 10 could boast a larger screen compared to its predecessor, while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is said to be sticking to the same design as the current one.
As for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple revealed plenty about these software updates at its WWDC 2024 event in June. We might not get all of the features right away though: the talk is that some Apple Intelligence features are going to follow on later.
If you’re keen to see everything that Apple’s been working on, then mark your calendars for an event on September 10. We will of course be covering all the announcements as they happen, and the event will most likely be streamed online too.
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