If it's ever been your dream to spend 22 hours on a non-stop flight from Sydney to London, then good news: Airbus has announced the maiden flight of the world's longest-range airliner, the Airbus A350-1000ULR, with a range of almost 10,000 nautical miles.

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Category: Aircraft, Transport

Tags: Airbus, Qantas, Aircraft

The US has its first and only oral COVID-19 post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) on its way, after a Phase III trial of the drug ensitrelvir met goals required for approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind

Tags: FDA, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Drug development, Virus, Transmission

The winners of this year's World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi have been announced, celebrating food storytelling across the world. The winners of the 27 categories were unveiled by chef and food writer Gennaro Contaldo at the Mall Galleries in London this evening.

"These Awards highlight the power of photography to tell food stories from around the world," says Dave Samuels, Brand Director of Tenderstem Bimi Broccolini and headline sponsor of the Awards. "The remarkable images remind us of the essential role food plays in communities across the globe - through growing, harvesting, cooking, eating, celebrating and surviving. Whatever changes the world goes through, food remains central to our lives."

This year's edition of the contest saw nearly 9000 entries from over 50 countries. The judging panel was chaired by David Loftus, a legendary food photographer, and included Claire Reichenbach, CEO, James Beard Foundation; Tom Athron, CEO, Fortnum & Mason; Rein Skullerud, Senior Photographer & Photo Editor, World Food Program; Jamie Oliver, Chef, Restaurateur; and Olia Hercules, Food Campaigner, Activist, Author and Chef.

An exhibition of all 203 finalists will be on view at the Mall Galleries, London, from June 3 to June 7. We've included a selection of the category winners below, but you can see all of the 2026 finalists and category winners on the contest website.

Title: A Woman Eats in the Canteen of the Soviet-era Sanatorium

Photo credit: Jo Kearney / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: British

Description: The Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium (health hotel), Tajikistan, is a brutalist concrete monstrosity built on hot radon gas-infused springs in the mountains. During Soviet times, communist workers were given two weeks annual holiday here. Today, its low price - $28 per day including full board and treatments - attracts ordinary Tajiks plus tourists from the neighboring 'Stans' and the odd backpacker. Treatments include hot pools and steam rooms, wax wraps and tanning barrels, plus hearty, healthy meals.

Instagram: @jokearneyphotography

Title: Ine Fishing Village, Kyoto, Japan

Photo credit: Albert González / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Spanish

Description: Squids drying in the sun using the traditional Japanese technique of Himono in the fishing village of Ine, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

Technical details: Canon EOS 6D | EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM | 89mm | F6.3 | 1/3200 sec | ISO 125

Instagram: @leckerstudio

Title: A Mid-Century Man and His Cake

Photo credit: Claudia Anton / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Australian

Description: This image creates a cinematic mid-century mood with high contrast, warm tones and textures. The cake is the centerpiece with symmetrical lines and buttercream swirls glowing in the firelight. The scene is filled with hidden vintage surprises, family heirlooms and trinkets. A nod to the era and a moment in time.

Instagram: @thesugarologist

Title: Early Morning Catch, Hooghly River

Photo credit: Marco Rutten / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Dutch

Description: At sunrise beneath Howrah Bridge, a small crew hauls in their nets on the Hooghly River. River fish remain everyday food and income here: catches from boats like this are sold in nearby markets and prepared that very morning in Bengali kitchens. A quiet, collective harvest beneath the city’s busiest crossing.

Technical details: Canon EOS 6D Mark II | EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM | 35mm | F7.1 | 1/80 sec |ISO 100

Instagram: @marcophotoworld

Title: Twin Bridesmaids Enjoy Canapés, Devon, UK

Photo credit: Emma Stoner / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: British

Description: May 2025. Twin bridesmaids enjoy canapés of 'Proper Crisps' at Jess & Tom's wedding. They are pictured in the gardens at The Grain Store in Devon, UK.

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM | 35mm | F3.5 | 1/1000 sec | ISO 500

Instagram: @emmastonerphotos

Title: Noodles

Photo credit: Maja Lewicz / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Polish

Description: Dark, moody noodles with texture that you can almost feel. Mysterious, bold and irresistible.

Technical details: Canon EOS 6D Mark II | EF 50mm F1.8 STM | F10 | 0.3 sec | ISO 100

Instagram: @veggie_intervention

Title: In the Depths of the Deposit

Photo credit: Juan Miguel Ortuño Martinez / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Spanish

Description: During the cleaning of the underground tanks, Pedro goes down and cleans the walls and floor of the remains of the previous wine with pressurized water. Once clean, his partner lowers a small bucket with a sponge inside to collect the remains that are left in the lower corner.

Technical details: Canon EOS R5 | EF 24mm F1.4L II USM | F1.6 | 1/125 sec | ISO 6400

Instagram: @ortunojuanmiguel

Title: The Hidden Vineyard, Pokolbin NSW, Australia

Photo credit: Chris Elfes / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Description: This vineyard is just beside a main road, but you can't see it unless you stop. It is sort of hidden. This image was taken while Mount Pleasant Wines picked their Semillon grapes. I stopped to shoot the ground action, but the drone gave me a great perspective, and nature did its best to help me.

Technical details: DJI Air 2S | 22mm equiv. | F2.8 | 1/800 sec | ISO 200

Title: In the Eye of the Kvevri

Photo credit: Luke Carver / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: British

Description: Point-of-view shot from inside a traditional kvevri during the 2025 grape harvest in Georgia.

Technical details: Canon EOS 6D | EF 16-35mm F2.8L II USM | 16mm | F2.8 | 1/800 sec | ISO 12,800

Instagram: @lukecarverphoto

Title: At the Register

Photo credit: Daniel D Kwak / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: American

Description: A moment of respite from the line at Hadja Marley, an authentic Senegalese eatery in Brooklyn. This portrait captures the daily rhythm of life on Fulton Street, focusing on the steady presence of the staff and the traditional West African flavors that bring the local community together. A study of neighborhood service.

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | 24-70mm F2.8 | 51mm | F3.2 | 1/500 sec | ISO 3200

Instagram: @foodcre8ive, @dkcre8ive

Title: Raw Pairing No.2

Photo credit: Styling: Sarah Ghijselinck | Photo: Sandra Declercq / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Belgian

Description: Instead of presenting a finished dish, this image focuses on the ingredients behind the pairing. Salt, fat and vegetal bitterness are arranged in balance, illustrating how wine pairing originates in the interaction of fundamental flavors rather than the final recipe.

Technical details: Canon EOS R | EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM | F20 | 1/125 sec | ISO 100

Instagram: @sarahghijselinck.foodstyling

Title: Dusty Journey

Photo credit: Serkan Dogus / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Description: Every morning, hundreds of sheep arrive in the village from the high pastures of Mount Nemrut for milking. After the milking is completed, at sunset, the sheep set out once again toward Mount Nemrut, and their dusty journey begins.

Technical details: Sony a7R III | FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS | 164mm | F8 | 1/400 sec | ISO 100

Title: Granny's Welcoming Gift of Love

Photo credit: Kellie Carter / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: American

Description: This home affirms the true meaning of family. Where home is sustained by generosity, where love is expressed through making, sharing and showing up again and again. Where Granny's smile, fresh-baked cookies and a cold glass of milk can make even the bleakest of days bright again.

Title: Campari Barmen, Milan

Photo credit: Marie-Louise Moutafchieva / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Canadian/Bulgarian

Description: I happened by chance to turn my attention to the local bar on the corner of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Camparino. The expression of the barman and the waiter dressed in white tuxedos instantly created a story I had to capture. It was one of those moments where I found myself in the right place at the right time.

Technical details: Sony a7 III | FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS | 70mm | F6.3 |1/160 sec | ISO 320

Instagram: @marielouphotography

Title: The Final Touch

Photo credit: Michela Balboni and Federico Borella / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Italian

Description: Little Asilbek touching the hot bread, straight out of the family tandoor. In Samarkand (Uzbekistan), the 'non' is unlike any other: round, dense, with a thick, chewy crust, and always marked in its center with black sesame seeds.

Technical details: Leica SL2-S | Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH. | 35mm | F5 | 1/320 sec | ISO 800

Instagram: @_michelabalboni_

Title: Chhath Puja Offerings

Photo credit: Indigo Larmour / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Irish

Description: During Chhath Puja, food offerings are held by devotees, who stand in bodies of water as they pray to the sun god, Surya. This Puja is predominantly performed by women, and is always vibrant and colorful, particularly when observed in a rural setting, such as this in West Bengal, India.

Technical details: Nikon D600 | AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm F4G ED VR | 24mm | F4 | 1/640 sec | ISO 250

Instagram: @i_larmour

Title: Irebero Miller

Photo credit: Glenn Vanderbeke / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Description: Portrait of a female miller after processing grains into cornmeal. At Vocational Training Center Irebero, single women are trained as millers.

Technical details: Canon EOS 600D | Tokina atx-i 11-16mm F2.8 | 11mm | F3.2 | 1/40 sec | ISO 400

Title: The Making of Granola Bars

Photo credit: Sarah-Vanessa Schneider / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Swiss

Description: This image captures the process of making granola bars, highlighting the warm afternoon light spilling across a rustic setting dominated by browns and blues. The human element grounds the quiet mood of the scene. Sometimes a story isn't told in the finished dish, but in the act of making it.

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | EF 85mm F1.2L II USM | F3.5 | 1/10 sec | ISO 100

Instagram: @velvetandvinegar

Title: Cabbage Market. Mohastangor, Bogura, Bangladesh

Photo credit: Kazi Mohammad Golam Quddus / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Bangladeshi

Description: In Mahasthangarh, Bogra, a large vegetable market comes alive each morning. Farmers bring in their freshly harvested cabbages, usually transported by rickshaw vans, and gather for the daily cabbage market. Traders buy the produce here and supply it to Dhaka and other major cities.

Technical details: Hasselblad L2D-20c | 24mm F2.8 | F5.6 | 1/80 sec | ISO 400

Title: Poaching

Photo credit: Erik Lafontaine / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Belgian

Description: A poached mackerel emerging from a deep, shadowed broth. Controlled lighting sculpts texture and surface tension. The image plays with darkness and stillness, turning humble preparation into a study of depth, contrast and restrained drama.

Technical details: Fujifilm GFX 100S II | GF 55mm F1.7 R WR | F4 | 1/125 sec | ISO 100

Instagram: @helloeriklafontaine

Title: Red Cocktail

Photo credit: Lara Zeh / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: German

Description: A sophisticated, monochromatic study of heat and elegance. This deep crimson composition uses a precise spotlight to highlight the glass’s silhouette and create depth. Featuring a hand-crafted chili-sugar rim, the image focuses on geometric symmetry and rich textures, translating the cocktail’s spicy character into a bold, artistic statement.

Technical details: Canon EOS R6 Mark III | RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM | 70mm | F18 | 1/250 sec | ISO 640

Instagram: @_larazeh_

Title: Proven Recipe

Photo credit: Lehóczki Balázs / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Hungarian

Description: I had planned this image for six to seven years, but kept postponing it, feeling unworthy of capturing them. Now, because of their age, I couldn’t wait. Grandma went to the hairdresser, Grandpa shaved, and I filled their kitchen with studio gear. When she saw the photograph, my grandmother called me an artist.

Technical details: Fujifilm GFX 100 | GF 45mm F2.8 R WR | F4.5 | 1/125 sec | ISO 640

Instagram: @lehoczkistudio

Title: The Open Air Hotel

Photo credit: Mithail Afrige Chowdhury / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Bangladeshi

Description: An open-air restaurant owner serves food to her customers. She sells at a low price so that daily laborers who work at the Gabtoli coal station can afford it. The photograph was taken in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Technical details: iPhone 12 Pro Max | 26mm equiv. | F1.6 | 1/120 sec | ISO 50

Instagram: @mithail_afrige

Title: Kyoto Street Vendor

Photo credit: Kara Baird / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Australian

Description: Shot in Kyoto, Japan in September 2025, this image was taken in a split second as I moved through the packed, sweaty crowd at Nishiki Market. With barely any space to stop, I raised the camera and captured a brief, unfiltered moment of the energy and intensity of the market at its busiest.

Instagram: @karabairdphotography

Title: Candied Pear

Photo credit: Anne Mason-Hoerter / World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi

Nationality: Canadian

Description: I wanted to create a unique image of candied fruit, and I have always been fascinated by the transparency of colors revealed through the process. I began by slicing a pear very thinly and boiling the slices in a mixture of sugar and water. Once the slices became transparent, I laid them out to dry on paper. The image was created using sugar water and a pear slice placed on a glass sheet, along with coloured plastic in front of a table lamp. I photographed the setup multiple times from different angles, and finally, I used Photoshop to combine the various images.

Instagram: @annehoerter

Just recently we covered an adaptive sleeping bag that combines three separate components and can be used across a wide temperature range. Another modular sleeping bag is now seeking funding on Kickstarter – ThermoShift from TravelBird, a Hong Kong-based outdoor gear company that specializes in camping equipment.

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Category: Gear, Outdoors

Tags: Kickstarter, xxKickbooster, Sleeping Bags, Camping, Modular

Leica has been in the premium imaging business for more than a hundred years. After testing the waters with a few industry partnerships, the iconic brand launched its first smart projector in 2022. Now the range is expanding with the addition of the Cine Compact 1.

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Category: Home Entertainment, Consumer Tech, Technology

Tags: Leica, 4K UHD, Laser, Projectors

A deep-sea mystery that has stumped researchers for the past two-and-a-half years has a solution, with marine scientists from NOAA Fisheries and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in the US finally determining the identity of a bizarre “golden orb” recovered from the Pacific in 2023.

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Category: Biology, Science

Tags: Marine Biology, NOAA, Ocean, jellyfish, Coral

Downsizing to a tiny house always involves compromises, but the Coolangatta 8.4 aims to minimize them with a storage-packed and flexible interior that's well suited to full-time living, on or off-grid.

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Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors

Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home

Fancy driving an off-roader guided by its own remote drone flying ahead to recce the terrain and relay images back to your dashboard screen?

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Category: Automotive, Transport

Tags: GM, GMC, Hummer, Electric Vehicles, Concept Vehicle, Truck, SUV

Kovi Rose, University of Sydney/ The Conversation

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Category: Astronomy, Science

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Small camping trailers are great for a lot of reasons. They're easier to tow and maneuver than large trailers. They're compatible with a large variety of vehicles, likely including the everyday driver parked in your garage. Less trailer usually means less price tag, and less money spent on gas. The list goes on, but for all those advantages, small trailers usually fall short on one highly critical spec: a bathroom. The latest ROG trailer from Encore RV solves the lack of bathroom issue in a rather bold way, and it's a much better small camper for it.

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Category: Camping Trailers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors

Tags: Caravan, trailers, Trailer, RV, Off-road, Camping, Outdoors and Camping, Off-grid

Bus-sized cephalopods reminiscent of the legendary kraken may have sat at the top of the food chain, using their smarts to hunt down prey in the oceans of the Late Cretaceous.

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Category: Biology, Science

Tags: Octopus, Predator, Dinosaurs, Ocean, Ecology

GoPro is coming off of what may be one of its most exciting product announcements in years, but its most recent communication to investors and regulators could cast a shadow over the launch. In it, the company says that new market forces "raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern," citing "unprecedented increases and volatility in memory costs" that have seen price increases of up to 115%.

There's a fair amount of nuance and complexity to the situation, most of which is pretty deep in the financial weeds. The upshot is that the company's management is taking several steps to try and avoid defaulting on loans, including exploring a sale or merger, investigating "opportunities within the defense and aerospace sector," selling "certain non-critical assets" and negotiating with lenders. It also says that it's "reducing operating expenses through disciplined cost management," citing its recently announced layoff of 23% of its workforce.

Despite this, GoPro says that some of its plans "are dependent upon factors outside" its control, and that there are no assurances it'll be able to continue as a going concern. If it can't, the company says it "may be required to significantly reduce, restructure,
cease operations, or seek protection under the Federal bankruptcy laws," though it points out that it hasn't started on any specific bankruptcy plans.

In the document, GoPro says it "expects to continue to incur operating losses and negative operating cash flows" due to lower-than-expected sale throughout the first few months of 2026. Hopefully, the company can find a way to turn things around soon, though if memory pricing is a major factor, it may be a while before things really improve.

Researchers have developed a urine-based screening tool that may help identify individuals who are most likely to be diagnosed with autism later in life, opening the door to assessment and support networks.

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Category: ADHD & Autism, Brain Health, Body and Mind

Tags: Arizona State University, Diagnostic devices, Autism spectrum disorder, Developmental conditions, Brain, Neuroscience

Really Right Stuff (RRS), known for its premium camera support systems, has announced its most affordable carbon fiber tripod lineup yet. The Core Line includes two tripods to start, the Benchmark and the Benchmark Inverted, with RRS promising more in the future.

Both the Benchmark and Benchmark Inverted use the company's in-house carbon fiber technology. RRS says the entire carbon manufacturing process is now done in its facilities in Lehi, Utah, from raw fiber selection to finished tubes. It says that bringing production in-house allowed for significantly reduced costs while maintaining its high quality standards, resulting in what RRS says is a 32% lower price than the most comparable RRS substitutes.

The Benchmark Inverted is a three-section carbon fiber tripod with an inverted leg design, which allows users to extend or collapse the legs from the top without needing to reposition or bend down. It uses the company's twist lock system (Tacti-Stop), which provides tactile feedback when they are loosened enough, preventing users from twisting the locks too far. Those locks are also weather-sealed.

The inverted model offers four leg angle selections (24, 44, 64 and 84 degrees), which is up from three on previous models, making it easier to level the tripod on uneven terrain. It features magnetic pull tabs that are easy to adjust, even when wearing gloves.

The tripod weighs 1.6 kg (3.6 lbs) and has a working load capacity of 40 lb. It offers a minimum height of 11.8 cm (4.6") and a maximum height of 155.2 cm (61.1"), and measures 67.3 cm (26.5") when folded down. While it has a similar weight to some travel options, its folded size means you probably won't be able to fit it in a backpack, so you'll need to consider how to attach it to your bag.

The Benchmark is similar in most ways, though it features four-section legs instead of three, and doesn't have the inverted design. It features the same Tacti-Stop twist locks with weather sealing, four leg angles to choose from and magnetic pull tabs for easy leg angle adjustments.

Those with heavier rigs or who want a bit more reach will benefit from the non-inverted Benchmark. It offers a 34 kg (75 lb) maximum capacity, a minimum height of 10.7 cm (4.2") and tops out at 177 cm (69.7"). Of course, that comes with added bulk, too. It weighs 1.7 kg (3.8 lbs) and folds down to 60 cm (23.6"). Like the inverted model, the weight isn't out of the question for hiking and travel, but it isn't very compact when folded.

The Benchmark tripod starts at $945 without a head. It can also be bundled with RRS's Anvil-30 ARC ballhead for $1290, or with the BH-40-LR-II ballhead for $1360. The Benchmark Inverted starts at $795 for the tripod, or can be bundled with the same ballheads for $1150 and $1215, respectively.

Press release

Lehi, UT – May 12th, 2026 – Really Right Stuff, LLC (RRS) today announced the Core Line, an all-new series of carbon fiber tripods featuring the company’s latest in-house carbon fiber technology. Designed and manufactured entirely at RRS’s Lehi, Utah facility, the Core Line delivers true RRS performance at a more accessible price point.

Purpose

The Core Line was developed to bring premium Really Right Stuff support systems to a broader audience of photographers, videographers, and precision shooters. After years of research and development, RRS brought the entire carbon fiber manufacturing process in-house — from raw fiber selection to finished tubes.

This vertical integration has allowed RRS to significantly reduce costs while maintaining the uncompromising quality, stiffness, and durability that professionals expect from the RRS brand. Combined with a direct-to-consumer model, the Core Line offers exceptional value without sacrificing the stability and precision that define Really Right Stuff.

Target Market

The Core line is engineered for shooters and creators who demand rock-solid stability with price point in mind. Integrating the new Core line of carbon fiber within our tripods, we aim to serve the following customers:

• Competition and precision rifle shooters
• Hunters (including predator and big-game)
• Landscape and astrophotographers
• Multi-row panoramic photographers
• Telephoto wildlife photographers using heavy lenses

The Core Line seamlessly integrates with RRS’s existing ecosystem of ball heads, quick-release plates, and accessories, allowing users to build a complete, high-performance system.

About the Carbon Fiber

At the heart of the Core Line is RRS’s all-new proprietary carbon fiber, developed and produced entirely in-house. This advanced material achieves an optimal balance of lightweight design, exceptional stiffness, and vibration damping while delivering meaningful cost efficiency. Every tube is manufactured under strict quality control at the Lehi facility to ensure consistent performance and long-term durability.

Availability and Pricing

The Core Line will initially launch on two new tripod models, with additional
configurations planned for the future. All Core Line tripods will be available exclusively through the Really Right Stuff website and at RRS headquarters in Lehi, Utah. Introductory pricing for Core Line tripods will range from $795 to $950 USD.

As it is, a recumbent trike is something that may already get you noticed. Add tilting wheels, and it'll draw even more attention. But with its telescoping carbon-fiber-tube body, the Allroadracer TriX is sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

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Category: Bicycles, Transport

Tags: Trike, Tricycle, Recumbent, Carbon Fiber, ebikes, Tilting-Vehicle

Microsoft has made a few attempts to compete with the Apple Silicon-powered MacBook Pros that many photographers know and love, but its latest effort may be the most tempting option yet. It features a 15-inch mini-LED display that can achieve up to 2000 nits peak brightness in HDR mode, an SD card slot for offloading images from cameras, and a chip from a surprising partner: Nvidia.

It's called the Surface Laptop Ultra*, and, from the outside, it seems to continue a lot of Microsoft traditions. It has a hypermodern design with a rectangular metal build, a large trackpad and a 3:2 display that gives you plenty of vertical real estate. It also has a good selection of I/O, with several USB-C ports, a USB-A port for older devices, HDMI output, a headphone jack and an SD card slot, though there aren't currently any details on what speeds you can expect from any of them.

It's under the hood that things start to look a little different. Rather than using a processor from one of the usual suspects – AMD, Intel or even Snapdragon – Microsoft has partnered with Nvidia to use its new RTX Spark system on a chip. While the company is a big player in the graphics card industry and has dabbled in CPUs in the past, it's been a long time since we've seen it make something designed for a consumer PC.

According to Nvidia, the CPU portion of Spark was made in collaboration with MediaTek and features 20 cores, which use the same ARM base as Apple's custom silicon. The GPU is a more familiar affair, though both parts of the chip share a pool of memory – up to 128GB in the Surface Laptop Ultra – which can help if you're trying to render giant photo or video projects. (Of course, it's also useful for running local AI models, a use case Microsoft and Nvidia both give ample time to in their press releases.)

Adobe says it will "rearchitect" Photoshop and Premiere to deliver better performance on the chip, especially when doing tasks that can be accelerated by the graphics processor, like color correction, compositing, using "live filters," and working in HDR. That's not just relevant for people interested in the Surface Laptop Ultra, though, as Nvidia says other manufacturers like Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Acer and Gigabyte will be using the Spark chips in some of their laptops, too, when it launches in the fall.

There are only a few other details currently available about the Surface Laptop Ultra. Microsoft says it will weigh less than 2kg (4.5 lb), and features a new cooling system to help keep the Nvidia Spark running at peak performance. And, unlike Apple's laptops, it features a replaceable SSD. The company also promises "all-day" battery life.

The big question, of course, is price, especially in the age of ultra-expensive memory. It's also not clear what the base specs will be; sure, the Laptop Ultra can be optioned with 128GB of memory, but what will it start with?

It'll also be interesting to see how the RTX Spark's performance stacks up against the options from more traditional manufacturers. While it'll likely have a leg up when it comes to AI tasks, how will it perform in everyday computing, or while editing large batches of high-resolution photos or rendering a video? We've seen other ARM chips designed for Windows computers, like the Snapdragon X Elite, compete with Apple's base-level M chips, but so far, there hasn't been any real competition for its Pro or Max chips until you get to more traditional x86 designs from AMD and Intel.

We may have to wait a bit to find out. Microsoft says the Surface Laptop Ultra will be available "later this year," and Nvidia says the RTX Spark will start arriving in systems this fall.

* - No, it's not lost on us that Apple has famously helped pioneer the use of the word "Ultra" in its branding.

You know the story. Clouds of dust and gas collapse to form stars like our Sun, around which the swirling maelstrom of debris slowly coalesces into a system of planets.

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Category: Astronomy, Science

Tags: Supermassive black hole, Planet, Exoplanet, Stars

Landscape photography is a demanding medium, requiring cameras with high resolution and dynamic range. When considering what cameras should make it on this list, we look at factors like weather-sealing, battery life and operability on a tripod.

We've selected cameras that are most likely to deliver the best possible image quality if you're going to spend hours hiking to the perfect location and waiting for the perfect light. For some picks, we've also considered the best image quality you can get at a certain size and weight of camera body.

• Best camera for landscapes: Fujifilm GFX 100S II
• Best for landscapes and more: Sony a7R VI
• Best camera that's also good for landscapes: Canon EOS R5 II
• The bargain option: Nikon Z7 II
• Best compact option: Fujifilm X-T5

102MP BSI medium format sensor | In-body image stabilization | 5.76M dot viewfinder

Buy now:

• Excellent detail capture
• Very high tonal quality
• Ready-to-go JPEG or malleable Raws

• Autofocus not especially fast
• Video prone to rolling shutter

The GFX 100S II uses the same sensor as the GFX 100 II, but puts it in a body with fewer features – though you do still get essentials like a tilting screen and a stabilized sensor. The result is the only camera with anywhere near this resolution that fits within the price limit of our buying guides, though do keep in mind that you'll also have to budget for medium-format lenses too, which, while excellent, don't come cheap.

The GFX 100S II has improved autofocus and burst rates compared to its predecessor, but its main strength will be landscapes or studio work where it won't have to track dynamic subjects. That makes it slightly less versatile than most of its full-frame competitors, but if you're doing purely landscape photography its image quality will be unparalleled unless you're willing to spend many thousands of dollars more.

While the GFX100S II's image quality is unassailable, it's also relatively large, heavy and expensive. If you mostly shoot landscapes, but don't want quite as much bulk or cost, consider Sony's a7R V and a7CR. The cameras share a 61MP full-frame sensor, are much cheaper than the GFX, and use less expensive full-frame lenses. The a7CR is smaller than the a7R V, but uses a less flexible fully-articulating screen (versus the larger camera's tilting/fully-articulating), has a smaller, lower-res viewfinder, and doesn't have a mechanical front-curtain shutter.

66.8MP Stacked CMOS sensor | Up to 30fps shooting with e-shutter, 10fps mechanical | Up to 4K/120p video

Buy now:

The Sony a7R VI is a high-resolution full-frame camera with a stabilized 66.8MP stacked CMOS sensor.

Like previous a7Rs, it has strong landscape credentials as the highest resolution full-frame camera on the market, with the ability to read out both of its gain steps to let you exploit the deepest shadows. It's not just limited to static scenery, though; its sensor and autofocus are fast enough that it's capable of shooting faster-moving subjects and video, too.

The a7R VI captures tons of detail and dynamic range, especially when shooting with its mechanical shutter. Its autofocus is also some of the best out there, and is heavily customizable, with the ability to fine-tune the auto subject recognition modes and more. It also offers features like pre-capture and Speed Boost, which lets you temporarily increase or decrease your burst rate, to help make sure you get the shot without filling your memory cards too quickly.

Its electronic shutter modes don’t have the fastest rolling shutter speeds, but they’re controlled enough that you should be able to capture all but the fastest subjects without distortion. This is true in its video modes as well, even the 8K capture, which is oversampled from an 8.2K region.

While other cameras outperform the a7R VI in things like video or action shooting, it’s one of the most capable landscape cameras we’ve seen that can also stretch to those uses without too much effort.

Click here to read our initial review of the Sony a7R VI

Click here to see the Sony a7R VI studio scene

45MP Stacked CMOS sensor | Eye-controlled AF subject selection | Up to 30fps continuous shooting

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• Excellent image quality
• Fast, dependable autofocus
• Good video support tools

• Slight reduction in dynamic range in extreme scenarios
• Temperamental eye control
• Temperature limits in heaviest video modes

If you need a camera that can handle whatever you throw at it, including the occasional landscape photo, the EOS R5 II is the one. Its sensor isn't the highest resolution, but it makes up for it with speed, letting you shoot up to 30fps. It also has the most capable autofocus system on this list, with its dedicated 'Action Priority' modes made specifically for shooting high-speed sports.

Click here to read our review of the Canon EOS R5 II

Click here to see the Canon EOS R5 II studio scene

The Nikon Z8 is similalry capable to the EOS R5 II, and its 45.7MP sensor is just as able to take beautiful landscapes, while still handling anything else you throw at it. The two cameras are so evenly matched that the best way to choose between them is by comparing which lenses are available for them, figuring out which system has the ones you want at a price you want to pay, then buying the body to match.

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45.7MP full-frame sensor | In-body image stabilization | 4K/60p video

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• Sensor offers some of the best image quality in its class
• Lovely ergonomics
• 4K/60p (with a minor crop)

• Autofocus interface a bit clunky
• EVF not as high-res as competitors
• Customization a bit limited

The Z7 II is decidedly last-generation at this point, a fact you'll feel most in its autofocus system. It can still produce crisp images, though, and its age is a benefit when it comes to its price: you can routinely find it for around $2,000, a price bracket that generally contains cameras with half the resolution.

\The Z7 II is a capable camera that can produce superb image quality. Its autofocus performance and interface aren't quite up there with modern mid-to-high-end cameras, but overall it's a good, capable camera. The improvements over the original version help expand the range of circumstances in which it performs well.

Click here to read our review of the Nikon Z7 II

Click here to see the Nikon Z7 II studio scene

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• Dedicated dial interface shows your settings
• Detailed 40MP images
• Photo-centric design and feature set

• Autofocus prone to false-positives
• Significant rolling shutter in e-shutter mode
• Smaller buffer, lower-spec video than X-H2

If the landscapes you're hoping to capture are far off the beaten path, the X-T5 may be worth a look. While it's marginally smaller and lighter than its full-frame and medium-format counterparts, the real weight savings will come from the lenses you can equip it with. Fujifilm's lineup of APS-C lenses is unmatched and can make for a kit light enough that you won't have to reconsider hiking an extra mile or three to get the shot.

Click here to read our review of the Fujifilm X-T5

Click here to see the Fujifilm X-T5 studio scene

Canon's EOS R7 is a bit heavier than the X-T5, and its APS-C lens selection isn't nearly as robust, but its 32.5MP sensor will be more than capable of capturing detailed landscapes. Its faster burst rates and better autofocus tracking also give the edge over the X-T5 for when you're shooting in the city instead of the wild.

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Our Buying Guides are based on extensive use and testing of the cameras included. We only recommend cameras once we know how they compare to their peers in a variety of shooting situations. All selections are made solely by our editorial and video teams and are the models we'd buy or recommend to friends and family. We gain no financial advantage from recommending one camera over another, either as individuals or as a business.

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