CAMERA

Apple has updated Final Cut Camera with variable aperture support on the iPhone 18 Pro, alongside additional professional-grade camera features arriving with iOS 27. The update gives filmmakers finer manual control over exposure and depth of field directly from the app, reinforcing Apple's push to position the iPhone as a serious tool for professional video production.

Cognex Corporation is acquiring RealSense, the Intel spinout known for 3D depth-sensing cameras, in a roughly $500 million deal. The move targets robotic perception: as a viral example shows, a box arriving just a few centimetres off-target can defeat a conventional automation robot entirely. Cognex, a leader in machine vision, aims to pair its inspection technology with RealSense's 3D sensing so robots can cope with the messiness of real-world environments.

Surveillance company Flock, a Y Combinator alumnus from 2017, is reportedly trying to get a detailed map of its roughly 300,000 license-plate reading cameras in the United States taken offline. Critics argue the public has a right to know where the devices are located, while the company sees the map as a security and business risk.

Tech outlet Engadget is asking whether the Google Pixel 8 remains a worthwhile purchase in 2026, two years after its release. The question highlights ongoing debate over how well Google's 2023 flagship holds up against newer, cheaper mid-range phones and updated Pixel models, particularly on software support, camera performance and battery life.

New imagery from NASA's Curiosity rover, taken on Martian sol 5014 with its Mast Camera, is being circulated among space enthusiasts. The images, credited to NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS, have been processed into high-resolution Gigapan and GIGAmacro viewers, letting people zoom into the Martian surface in fine detail and examine the terrain around the rover's current location.

Apple has updated its Final Cut Camera app to support the variable aperture lens expected on the iPhone 18 Pro, letting users control aperture settings directly from the app. The update signals that Apple's pro video tools are being prepared for the next generation of iPhone camera hardware. Coverage is limited so far, with reports from PCMag noting the change but no user reaction yet.

Mavis Camera 8.2 has been released with support for the iPhone 18 Pro, including control over its variable aperture. The update lets filmmakers using Apple's newest pro phone adjust aperture directly within the app, expanding its usefulness as a serious video capture tool. Coverage has come mainly from filmmaking outlets such as Newsshooter, which report the new aperture control as the headline feature of the release.

A new report claims Apple's upcoming iPad mini will use an A20 Pro processor and feature a landscape-oriented front camera, a design change long requested by users for video calls. Details on timing or other specifications were not given, but the reported upgrades suggest Apple plans meaningful hardware improvements rather than a minor refresh for the small tablet.

Mavis Camera has released version 8.2 of its camera app, adding support for the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture control alongside ProRes RAW recording. The update lets filmmakers manually adjust the lens aperture on the newest iPhone and capture RAW video in ProRes, extending the phone's professional video production capabilities.

Tech commentators are weighing whether the iPhone 18 Pro's camera upgrades warrant the price, concluding that only a single new camera feature offers real value for most users. The analysis suggests buyers should think carefully before paying for the full package. Discussion centers on whether incremental camera improvements still justify Apple's premium pricing.

Flock Safety, a company that supplies automated license plate reader technology to police departments, faced tough questions at a public meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Residents and officials pressed the company on how its cameras track vehicles, who can access the data and what safeguards exist. The scrutiny comes as US cities debate the privacy trade-offs of expanding surveillance networks.

Apple has rolled out an update to its Final Cut Camera app that ties into a signature feature expected on the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, according to CNET. The move signals Apple is preparing its pro video tools for the next flagship phone's camera capabilities, though details of the feature and the app changes remain limited in early coverage.

State lawmaker Toney is calling for legislative action on automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology after Flock cameras were dropped in northeastern Wisconsin. The withdrawal of the cameras has raised questions about how the surveillance technology is regulated and used, and Toney wants the state to set clearer rules governing its deployment by local agencies.

Ledyard, Connecticut is working to remove its Flock safety cameras, according to local station WFSB. The license plate reader cameras, installed in many US towns to help police track vehicles, have faced growing scrutiny over privacy concerns and data sharing. It is not yet clear what prompted the town's decision or how the removal will be carried out.

San Francisco is implementing new safeguards around its use of Flock automated license plate readers following an investigation by the city's Human Rights Commission. The rules are intended to restrict how surveillance data is accessed and shared. The move follows criticism from civil liberties advocates who argue the camera network could be misused for tracking residents and immigrants.

A photographer is opening up a Sony FE 24–105 mm F4 G lens after grit got into the zoom mechanism and jammed it, sharing the repair attempt with fellow photography and DIY enthusiasts. The post has drawn modest engagement, with hobbyists following along to see whether the self-repair saves the lens.

A driver who was wrongfully stopped by police after Flock Safety's automated license plate reader misidentified their vehicle is crediting the incident with pushing their city to ban the company's surveillance cameras. The stop drew national attention and renewed criticism of how errors in automated plate-reading data can lead to innocent motorists being detained at gunpoint by police.

A widely shared roundup lists 28 cases where TV shows or movies concealed an actor's injury, pregnancy, or other personal circumstance during filming. Examples typically include rewrites, body doubles, props, and creative camera work used to keep productions on track. The piece is drawing attention from television and film fans interested in behind-the-scenes production tricks.

Formula 1 has released a compilation of the top ten onboard camera moments from the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, highlighting the most dramatic driving sequences from the street circuit, including overtakes, near-misses and qualifying laps from the cockpit perspective. Fans of the sport are watching and sharing the footage as they relive the key moments of the race weekend.

Apple has released an update to its Final Cut Camera app adding support for the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture. The change lets users control the phone's adjustable lens opening directly from the app, taking advantage of the new camera hardware for more flexible depth-of-field and exposure control. Coverage of the update has been noted by tech outlets including Engadget.