Monday, April 13, 2026

DxO PureRAW 6 is finally being tested on actual wildlife frames shot at ISO 25,600, which matters because it answers whether you can stop shooting in fear and start shooting with confidence. Meanwhile, Leica shooters are clearing shelves on a $350 Mandler 35mm—a clear signal that four-figure glass gatekeeping is over. The budget prime market just got genuinely interesting: TTArtisan's $148 17mm f/1.8 and Meike's $169 56mm f/1.7 for APS-C bodies are serious challengers to mid-range pricing, though Meike's track record means you should wait for independent tests before buying. 7Artisans is also chasing the rangefinder crowd with a native L39 35mm at $325, and if you're shooting Fujifilm, Acros with subtle grain remains the film simulation worth mastering.