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DZOFILM has announced the launch of the Octopus II Adapter and Marlin 1.4x Extender, providing with greater flexibility, compatibility, and efficiency across a wide range of filmmaking applications, from short-form bloggers, content creators, livestreamers and YouTubers to independent filmmakers, commercial media and advertising, and professional DOPs.

Octopus II: 2nd Generation Multi-Mount Lens Adapter
The new Octopus II is a highly versatile multi-mount lens adapter that supports E, Z, L, and RF mount lenses, as well as Super35, full-frame, and medium-format sensors. With 7.12% more internal space, it offers improved compatibility with DZOFILM’s Arles, Arcana, Vespid, Catta, Pictor, Gnosis, and other professional cinema lenses.

The second-generation design is up to 49% lighter, weighing as little as 190g (depending on mount). Its strong aluminum body is paired with a stainless-steel mount that is rated for more than 100,000 mounting cycles with 0.01mm precision, ensuring long-term reliability and durability.

The redesigned ergonomic handle features directional guides that make lens changes easier, particularly when working with handheld or fully rigged camera setups. A detachable 1/4″ threaded base allows the center of gravity to be shifted onto the adapter, reducing stress on the camera’s native mount. In addition, the factory pre-set flange focal distance eliminates the need for calibration while ensuring accurate infinity focus.

Marlin 1.4x Extender with Integrated Back-Focus Adjustment
The new Marlin 1.4x Extender increases effective focal length by 1.4x while maintaining light loss below one stop, enabling lenses designed for Super35 to cover full-frame sensors.

The extender incorporates premium high-refractive-index SR optical elements, large-diameter aspherical lenses, and an internally flocked design that effectively minimizes stray light. Chromatic aberration is tightly controlled, helping preserve the original character of the lens. Integrated back-focus adjustment eliminates the need for operators to detach the lens or use shims during setup and fine-tuning.

Manufactured with stainless-steel mounts on both sides, the Marlin 1.4x Extender is engineered for long-term reliability and durability. Precision machining further helps prevent binding during mounting and operation.

The new lens is now on preorder at BHphoto, Amazon, BrightinStar.

In this video, photographer Matt Granger conducts a shootout between five professional 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses from top manufacturers. Tested on their respective high-resolution camera bodies in Hong Kong, the lenses are evaluated on handling, build quality, autofocus performance, image stabilization, and overall image quality.

The Five Contenders

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z (tested on Canon R5 Mark II)
Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II (tested on Nikon Z8)
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (tested on Sony A7R V)
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports (tested on Leica SL3)
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200mm f/2.8 ASPH(tested on Leica SL3)

Matt concludes that if you are using a Sony, Nikon, or Canon system, their respective 70-200mm lenses are absolute top-tier choices that will not disappoint. The Sony takes a slight edge for its incredibly lightweight and ergonomic design.
Conversely, the Leica acts more like a luxury item—it looks and feels premium but is too heavy and slow for demanding professional workflows. The Sigma, while optically sound, struggled massively with autofocus tracking, making it hard to recommend in this highly competitive class.

Here are the latest Japanese May sales rankings:

Mapcamera ranking:

• FUJIFILM X100VI
• SONY α7V
• FUJIFILM X-T30 III
• FUJIFILM X-E5
• FUJIFILM X-M5
• Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III
• Panasonic LUMIX TX3
• SONY α7C II
• SONY α6700
• RICOH GR IV

Yodobashi ranking:

• Hasselblad X2D II 100C Body
• Sony α7 V Body
• Fujifilm X-M5 XC15-45mm Lens Kit
• Fujifilm X-T30 III XC13-33mm Lens Kit
• Nikon Z50II Double Zoom Kit
• Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit
• Sony α7C II Zoom Lens Kit
• Sony α7C II Body
• Nikon Z50II 16-50 VR Lens Kit
• Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit

Surprising to see the expensive Hassleblad on top of the Yodobashi ranking!

You can get the new second generation lens at Meike store. The cool thing is that you an choose between the Black, White and a mixed color version which I personally truly do like!

Viltrox is teasing the launch of a new pancake lens.No idea yet what it could be…

Get Sharper, Cleaner Results with Aiarty: New VILTROX 90mm F2.2 EVO Review Workflow

Professional DP and videographer Mauro has shared an review of the new VILTROX 90mm F2.2 EVO, a compact APS-C telephoto lens with a classic 135mm-equivalent portrait perspective, testing it across outdoor portraits, autofocus tracking, low-light samples, and handheld video.

But the review is not only about lens performance. It also shows a practical finishing workflow for the kind of files many photographers and video creators know well: strong captures that still need a little cleanup before publishing.

Even with good optics and careful shooting, some photos and clips may still show minor softness, low-light noise, or details that need extra polish.

How Aiarty Fits into the Review Workflow

For these almost-there files, Mauro integrates Aiarty into his post-production workflow to reduce softness, improve clarity, recover detail, and prepare files for publishing.

The fit makes sense: much like VILTROX, Aiarty offers strong performance at an accessible price, runs locally without cloud uploads, and offers a Lifetime License with free future updates and no recurring subscription.

Fine-Tuning Stills: Polishing “Almost Perfect” Captures

For still images, Aiarty Image Enhancer helps clean up strong captures that need a little extra clarity, detail recovery, or noise reduction before publishing. It is especially useful for portraits, low-light shots, cropped frames, and images that are already good but need a cleaner final polish.

More-Detail GAN v3: Mauro uses Aiarty Image Enhancer‘s More-Detail GAN v3 to recover cleaner edges and usable detail from a slightly soft frame. It is best suited for fixing minor softness, restoring fine textures, reducing noise, and upscaling images while keeping skin, hair, fabric, fur, and other natural details believable.

Aiarty Image Enhancer’s More-Detail GAN v3 helps recover cleaner edges and usable detail from a slightly soft frame.

Real Photo Model: Aiarty Image Enhancer’s Real Photo model is better suited when the goal is a realistic, less processed look. It helps enhance high-resolution photos with improved clarity and fidelity, making it useful for portraits, product shots, family photos, landscapes, and other images where authenticity matters.

Aiarty Image Enhancer can improve real-world photos with cleaner detail, better clarity, and a more usable output size.

Cleanup for Video Content

For video, Aiarty Video Enhancer works as a final cleanup step for handheld, low-light, or compressed clips. It can help with denoising, detail recovery, upscaling to Full HD or 4K, frame interpolation, HDR enhancement, and audio denoise, keeping useful footage cleaner and easier to edit.

Aiarty Video Enhancer helps clean up low-light footage with denoising, detail recovery, upscaling, and adjustable enhancement strength before export.

Add Aiarty to Your Toolkit (Now with Big Savings)

Aiarty has extended its Anniversary promotion until June 12, 2026. Current offers include:

• 49% off Aiarty Image Enhancer
• 36% off Aiarty Video Enhancer
• Use coupon code ANNIVERSARY for an extra $5 off, or $10 off with a bundle.
• 1-Year and Lifetime licenses available
• 30-day money-back guarantee

For creators who want a reliable offline tool in their editing setup, the Lifetime License keeps Aiarty available long term with free future updates and no recurring subscription.