Welcome back to iPhoto News, your fortnightly catch-up on everything happening in the world of photography — explained in plain English, with no jargon and no hype.
This time we’ve got six stories for you: a clever little camera with Leica glass, two affordable new lenses, a faster way to process your RAW files, an important copyright case, and a couple of competitions that prove just how creative this hobby of ours can be.
Grab a cuppa and let’s get into it.
Insta360’s Luna Ultra puts Leica optics in your pocket
On 10 June, Insta360 finally revealed the Luna Ultra — a tiny handheld camera with a built-in gimbal, made in partnership with Leica. It carries two 50MP sensors (the main one is a 1-inch chip with a bright f/1.8 lens), shoots up to 8K video, offers a 12x zoom and even a 200MP panorama mode, and weighs barely 200g. It also has a clever detachable OLED screen, and it costs around $769 — roughly £600.
So what does that actually mean for the rest of us? In short, it’s an entire camera bag shrunk into something that fits in a coat pocket. The built-in gimbal keeps everything smooth and steady, which is the bit most people find tricky, and it happily switches between stills and video without you fiddling with settings.
Is it essential? Honestly, no — and if you’re just starting out, the camera you already own is plenty. But if you travel, film your family, or fancy a grab-and-go camera that does the technical heavy lifting for you, this is a genuinely exciting little tool. Either way, remember the picture comes from you, not the kit. Start learning with our free photography course.
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Viltrox keeps making good lenses affordable
The budget lens boom we mentioned last time hasn’t slowed down. In early June, Viltrox opened pre-orders on two more affordable EVO-series primes — a 75mm f/1.8 and a 90mm f/2.2 — built for Nikon’s Z-mount cameras, with more focal lengths on the way.
Why should you care? Because focal lengths like these are wonderful for portraits, and lenses that once cost the earth are now available for a fraction of the price. A fast, sharp prime is one of the quickest ways to lift your people pictures — that lovely soft background and crisp subject — without remortgaging the house. Learn portrait photography with our online course.
DxO PureRAW 6.2 speeds up your RAW workflow
On 1 June, DxO released PureRAW 6.2, a tidy update to its RAW-processing software. The headline is speed — a big performance boost on Mac — along with smoother integration with Lightroom and a cleaner, simpler interface.
If you’ve never heard of PureRAW, it’s a tool that cleans up noise and sharpens detail in your RAW files before you edit them, which can work wonders on photos taken in low light. It’s not essential — Lightroom alone will take you a very long way — but it’s a reminder that good editing is half the craft. Master Lightroom with our online course.
A photographer’s copyright case gets a full-court rehearing
Here’s one worth keeping an eye on. On 9 June, the full US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to re-hear the long-running case between photographer Jeffrey Sedlik and tattoo artist Kat Von D, who used his portrait of Miles Davis as the reference for a tattoo.
A full-court rehearing like this is rare, and the outcome could reshape how copyright is judged in the States.
Why does a tattoo case matter to you? Because it’s really about who owns an image and how others are allowed to use it — questions every photographer faces the moment they share or sell a photo.
Knowing your rights is part of taking your photography seriously. Start your photography business the right way.
The Beaker Street finalists prove science can be beautiful
On 8 June, the Beaker Street Science Photography Prize unveiled its 26 finalists — a gorgeous set of images that sit right where science meets art, from the tiniest details under a microscope to wildlife caught out in the field.
What I love about competitions like this is that they remind us photography isn’t only about pretty landscapes and posed portraits. Curiosity is a brilliant creative tool, and some of the most striking pictures come from looking very closely at the small things most people walk straight past. Discover our Macro Photography short course.
How far women in sports photography have come
Over at the 2026 NBA Finals, there’s been a quietly mentioned but lovely milestone: more women than ever working the sidelines as professional sports photographers, with first-timers covering the biggest games in the calendar. It’s a sign of how much the industry is opening up.
I mention it because photography belongs to everyone, whoever you are and wherever you start. You don’t need permission or a press pass to begin — just a camera, some curiosity, and a friendly place to learn and share your work. Discover iPhotography PLUS+.
Final Thoughts
That’s your fortnight in photography. A pocket-sized camera with posh glass, lenses getting cheaper and better, faster editing, an important copyright battle, and a reminder that creativity and curiosity are what really matter.
As ever, I’d love to hear what caught your eye — drop a comment below and let me know. And do tell me if you’d buy that little Luna Ultra, because I’m rather tempted myself.
I’ll be back in two weeks with another round-up. Until then, keep shooting.
Stephen