Table of contents for December 2025 in Smart Photography

Increasingly, ‘ influencers ‘ are playing an important role in influencing consumer opinion. ‘Influencers’ do not need any qualifications or experience. Top influencers, very often, earn vulgar money very often for products they know little about. We know of at least two camera companies that use paid influencers to promote their sales. The fact that the influencers are handsomely paid is never mentioned. Can this be allowed to continue? The Advertising Standards Council of India has said that 76% of India’s top digital stars ( read influencers) were found wanting on disclosure norms. One can just imagine the impact if the celebrity/ influencer was legally required to disclose what he was paid to endorse the product. All credibility of such influencers would plummet but the consumer would stop being misled.…

Nikon’s firmware version 3.00 turns the Zf into an unusually faithful digital–film bridge. Film Grain simulation now applies randomised grain per frame in stills and video, avoiding the repeating patterns that undermine most “retro” filters. Three grain sizes and six intensities allow stylisation that stays subtle for editorial texture or intentionally gritty for documentary diaries. Imaging Recipes remain the smart pairing, allowing colour moods (Kodachrome-esque warmth, desaturated flats, monochrome silver) to be pre-loaded without third-party grading. Operational refinements add tangible handling value. Focus Peaking restricted to magnification keeps the full view clean for composition-first shooting, while new 4:3 and 9:16 frames match social and banner-screen formats directly in-camera. HDMI output with revised EVF/monitor switching logic benefits live feeds in auditoriums and gallery launches. Combined, these upgrades make Zf not merely…

Colston Julian Colston Julian is a leading Indian photographer known for clean, authentic, and timeless visuals across fashion, portraiture, and advertising. Cinematography-trained, he transitioned into photography, working with top global brands and icons while blending craft, technology, and storytelling with precision. • You’ve built a remarkable body of work across portraiture, fashion, and advertising. What creative philosophy ties your images together? My work is rooted in simplicity, minimalism, and a strong human element. While I’m not overly technical, I embrace technology to make the process seamless so I can focus on emotion. I try to shoot with the same curiosity I had when I started out — experimenting, taking calculated risks, and rediscovering light every time. • Your assignments span editorials and major campaigns. What continues to challenge and excite…

Debjyoti Sarkar Debjyoti Sarkar lives in a small town of North 24 Parganas viz. Bongaon. He is a school teacher by profession and a wildlife photographer by passion. He started his photography journey more or less 13 years ago as an amateur photographer, but has always been a nature lover from his childhood. Wildlife is his favourite topic of photography, but he is also very much interested in capturing people and landscapes as well.…

@vimalparmar Dear Readers, As we approach the close of another year, it is natural to pause, look back, and reflect on the moments that made it meaningful. The days may have rushed by, yet within them lie countless memories, some fleeting, others deeply etched. Each shaping who we are and how we see the world. For many of us, photographs are the anchors of these memories. Tangible reminders of where we have been and how far we have come. In a world overflowing with digital images, the act of printing still holds a quiet kind of magic. A printed photograph, or better still, a thoughtfully curated photobook, turns fleeting pixels into lasting stories that can be touched, revisited, and shared. Long after devices change and files are forgotten, prints endure,…

Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 ₹81,500/- The Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens is the successor to the highly praised Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 DI III RXD lens. The 25-200mm (8x) lens offers a telescopic design construction. On the wide-angle side, the new lens gains 3mm increase in the focal length from 28 to 25mm (that’s an increase of approximately 5°angle of view – a substantial increase) and at the same time, offers overall superior performance. The lens was introduced in India on 20th November 2025. Let’s put the lens through our grueling tests… Design & Build Quality The Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens’ exterior is made with engineering plastic; it is well-made and beautifully finished in shiny, glossy black, with improved grip texture.…

The Nikkor Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR is set to lift APS-C credibility for Nikon by offering a 24–75mm equivalent focal length in a 200g footprint. Five-stop VR helps avoid micro jitter without cages or monopods, important for student crews and early-career reel shooters. At f/2.8 throughout, café interiors, seminar halls and post-sunset street frames retain colour discipline without ISO escalation. Paired with the 35mm f/1.7, Nikon effectively fills a long-criticised DX lens gap and signals APS-C isn’t merely a feeder to Z full-frame. India’s ₹30k–₹40k bracket invites college media labs, independent wedding interns and youth-led festival coverage teams toward native Z compatibility. Firmware synergy with Zf offers a colour match across multi-body field teams, reducing post-workflow correction. For Nikon to protect APS-C relevance, this compact zoom becomes outreach more…

Viltrox’s AF 85mm f/2 EVO arrives to stabilise mid-range Z-mount portrait economics. Its 375g body with STM motor yields quiet AF travel suitable for mandap vows, recital entrances and hospital-volunteer storytelling where lens noise disrupts ambience capture. The 9-blade diaphragm ensures smoother bokeh grades across specular banquet highlights. HD Nano coating controls top-frame glare in open-shade verandas and studio flats alike. Weather sealing and USB-forward firmware updating elevate the lens beyond budget tier assumptions, making it a practical B-cam portrait tool for Nikon shooters who require reliable focus with softened fall-off character. By pricing below Nikon’s 85mm f/1.8, Viltrox positions itself as a viable upgrade path for creators avoiding rental dependency during peak calendar windows.…

Nikon’s Z9 II slipping to 2026 is less delay and more architecture pacing. As Z-mount glass matures (telephoto refinements, DX stabilisation, Zf firmware flourish), Nikon keeps flagships from cannibalising system attention. The second-gen stacked sensor and 8K continuity promise are intact, but ecosystem health steps between. India’s Z8 pro field retains stability through 2025-26 season cycles, enabling rental networks and editorial vans to stay standardised rather than split across variant firmware expectations.…

Panasonic hints at a late-2025 MFT resurgence, fuelling expectation of GH-grade autofocus gains and open-gate anamorphic lanes popularised by indie cinematographers. With vlogging ecosystems reaching congestion, MFT’s renewed pitch is less retro and more logistics: lens reach, weight savings, heat tolerance and rental server consistency. For India’s field-travel documentary collectives and campus broadcast units, MFT readmits itself not as opposition to full-frame but as its pragmatic understudy—lean, quiet, budget-manageable and culturally durable.…

Soumayan Biswas hails from West Bengal, and his journey into photography began just five years ago—almost by accident. He initially bought a camera simply to click pictures, without imagining that it would open the door to a whole new creative world. But as he explored the craft and discovered the works of accomplished photographers, he realised something vital: to truly learn photography, one must step out, observe life closely, and keep shooting images that connect not just personally, but with a wider audience as well. Soumayan’s work is rooted in people—their everyday rhythms, rituals, livelihoods, and the quiet stories woven into their surroundings. He also experiments with short documentary films, driven by a desire to preserve moments that might otherwise fade unnoticed. Professionally, he works in the IT department of…

Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh @vineethvarma_vegesna I am a software developer by profession, innovator at heart, and photographer by passion. I come from an agricultural family in Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, where I live with my parents, wife, and 1.5-year-old daughter. Photography has been part of my life since childhood, beginning with my uncle’s Yashica Zoomate and Nikon Coolpix 4100. During family trips, I loved capturing moments we later printed as 4x6 photos. Using prize money from college projects, I bought my first camera, a Sony Cybershot, and later upgraded to a Nikon D5600 with prime and zoom lenses. Over time, I added new tools, including three 360° cameras—Samsung Gear 360, Mi Sphere, and Insta360 One R and a 3D camera, the Kandao QooCam Ego. Each opened new ways to capture and relive…

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold ₹1,72,999/- (store.google.com) The foldable market has reached a crucial inflection point. The initial novelty has worn off, replaced by a fierce battle over what a foldable should be. Is it a delicate piece of tech, impossibly thin and light? Or is it a robust, practical tool designed for the rigors of daily life? With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Google has emphatically chosen the latter. Instead of chasing the thinnest hinge or the loudest specs list, Google has refocused on reliability, daily usability, and the Pixel platform’s best asset — software that makes the hardware sing. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold presents a compelling, if polarizing, vision for the future of foldables. It champions industry-first durability, class-leading battery life, and a uniquely intelligent software experience,…

Oppo Find X9 Pro ₹1,09,999/- (https://www.oppo.com/in/) The newly launched Oppo Find X9 Pro is a true flagship powerhouse that’s already creating serious buzz in India and globally. With its Hasselblad-tuned imaging system, the largest battery Oppo has ever put in a phone, and relentless focus on computational photography, it’s clearly aimed at photography enthusiasts, travellers, content creators, and anyone who needs all-day (or multi-day) power without compromise. So what happens when you combine a 7,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery, a 200 MP Hasselblad-tuned periscope telephoto, and the new MediaTek Dimensity 9500? We took the Find X9 Pro on punishing road trips across the mountains of Sikkim, the freezing winters of Hokkaido, and the volcanic landscapes of Hakone, Japan to find out. Unboxing & Design Unboxing is straightforward and practical, 80W SUPERVOOC…

Canon’s 170-million lens milestone underscores volume, resilience and inheritance across EF and RF eras. With over 50 RF releases since 2018, Canon now transitions from expansion to population: deeper STM mid-range, lighter primes and more compact zoom families that democratise APS-C R adoption. For India, where EF ecosystems remain active via adapters in rental pools, this milestone signals continuity rather than cut-off. Canon’s optical trajectory pivots from legacy depth to tiered usability: pro L-series, compact f/4 travel ranges, STM everyday primes and possible lightweight tele options for schools and municipal programming crews. Inventory promise matters: 170 million lenses affirm repairability networks and spare allocation beyond fashion of model cycles.…

Panasonic Life Solutions India has confirmed that Manish Sharma will step down from his current role after a 17-year tenure that shaped the company’s business strategy, manufacturing expansion and technology positioning in India. Sharma, who served as Chairman & ESGO, will support the organisation during a transition phase, while Managing Director and CEO Tadashi Chiba continues to lead India operations. Panasonic Corporation President Masahiro Shinada acknowledged Sharma’s contribution in strengthening India as a key innovation and production hub for the group. Across nearly two decades, Sharma oversaw the brand’s diversification, guided the establishment of the company’s largest manufacturing facility in Jhajjar, and accelerated digital transformation and sustainability programmes. He also played an industry-facing role in national electronics policy, serving with FICCI committees, CEAMA, and government task forces dedicated to local…

Canon’s RF 45mm f/1.2 STM threads ultra-fast optics into a 346g frame designed to serve street, ceremony and campaign studios without L-series heft. PMo aspherics protect edge integrity by f/8, and magnetic AF ensures softened focus ramps ideal for first-look entrances and bridal micro-gestures. Its focal slot between 35 and 50mm forms a natural framing language for event portraitists who prefer subtle environmental pull rather than deep exclusion. With R6 Mark III pairing, the lens gains stabilisation synergy that supports after-hours mandap coverage and editorial café ambience frames at native ISO. Positioned as a mid-tier anchor, the 45mm may become Canon’s strongest RF-onboarding tool for creators shifting from EF adapters who want full-native autofocus character without price-peak anxieties.…

Srini Swaminathan Srini Swaminathan’s curiosity has taken him to 50 countries. He began his career on oilfield rigs and is now a marathoner and long-distance cyclist who has cycled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Bhuj to Assam. An author and translator, he lives in Chennai and hopes to travel the world carrying his Indie dog, Oreo, in a backpack. He is @srini091 on Instagram and X.…

Ashok Kandimalla has been in the photographic field for over three decades and has extensive experience in both film and digital photography. Being an electronics engineer by profession and a photographer, he possesses a unique and deep insight into the technical aspects of digital photography and equipment. He has published more than a 100 articles on photography and some of his writings have also been published in the well-known international magazine Popular Photography. An avid collector of photographic books and vintage cameras, Ashok has a keen interest in the history of photography and a passion for sharing his knowledge on photography through teaching and writing. He is the only Indian photographer to be featured on the Nikon Centenary website. He is presently working as a Management and Engineering consutant. He…

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II ₹2,29,995/- The previous version of the Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/2.8 had a stellar reputation for all-around performance. It won, deservingly, many awards and was recognised as the best standard zoom available. Improving a lens of this reputation is no easy task. So, did Nikon succeed in producing an even better lens? Read on and discover for yourself. Design & Build Quality Nikon sent the older 24-70 mm lens on a diet! The result is that the new lens is 16% lighter and much smaller. The construction, like the previous version, has a hybrid metal/polycarbonate build, three rings – the first for manual focusing, the second for zooming (with focal length markings), and the last ring, called the ‘Control Ring’, is customisable. There is…

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 ₹1,74,999/- (samsung.com) The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn’t just another foldable—it’s the most refined, ultra-slim, productivity-driven multitasking machine on the market today. At just 8.9 mm folded and 215 grams, it slips into a pocket like a premium notebook, yet unfolds into an 8-inch tablet that redefines mobile workflow. With its armored aluminum frame, IPX8 water resistance, and a hinge engineered for 200,000 folds, this is a device built for professionals who demand durability and elegance in equal measure. For creators, it’s more than a phone—it’s a portable studio, editing suite, and client presentation tool in one. And when it comes to photography and video, the Z Fold 7 doesn’t just keep up with flagships; in many real-world scenarios, it leads. Since picking up…

1. South Korean lens manufacturer Samyang has teamed up with an optical company for manufacturing quality lenses. Which one? Zeiss Voigtlander Leica Schneider 2. Sony has also used a leading optical manufacturer to design and brand its lenses. Which one? Leica Minolta Zeiss Tamron 3. Not so long ago, Zeiss had teamed up with a leading Japanese company. Which one? Yashica Sigma Tokina Topcon 4. Who has Panasonic tied up with for lens design? Fujifilm Nikon Canon Leica 5. Which among the following companies have manufactured lenses for Olympus? Sigma Tamron Schneider Zeiss 6. Nikon has also sourced quality lenses from: Tamron Cosina Voigtlander Zeiss 7. The Cosina Company of Japan was, at one time, the chosen one for making lenses. Cosina made lenses for: Pentax Olympus Rollei Vivitar 8.…