On this episode of LensVid Talk (41) we cover our initial thoughts on a number of new cameras, lenses, and other tech, including the Sony FX2, Sony RX1R III, Sony PXW-Z300, Insta360 GO Ultra, Ricoh GR IV, Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II, Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Sports, Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC, Viltrox 90mm lens for DJI Inspire 3 drone, Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro, Runway Aleph, and RodeCaster CallMe.
LensVid Talk 41 was recorded in late August 2025.
Sunwayfoto T3620CM table top tripod
We recently received a number of products from Sunwayfoto for a collaboration that we are about to do with the company (more on this to come in future episodes). One of them is the compact yet heavy-duty tabletop tripod named T3620CM.
This is one of the most robust little mini tripods that we have used, rivaling (and in many respects surpassing) the Benro HH75AV high hat that we own, considered one of the best in the industry. Unlike the Benro, the Sunwayfoto seems to be designed more for outdoor use with very rugged rubber feet and spikes compared to flat feet for the Benro (we have asked Sunwayfoto if they could look into adding optional flat feet for table use in the future).
We will posta short overview of the T3620CM later this year, and you can order it from the Sunwayfoto website (with or without a head/75mm half ball, etc.).
The ultra-rugged T3620CM from Sunwayfoto
Sony FX2 First Impressions
We already covered the FX2 when it was announced by Sony a couple of months ago. We recently purchased 2 units of the FX2 that we plan to use in future LensVid Talk and other podcast shooting. We also took one with us to a family vacation in Hungary (more to learn how to set it up than to actually use it in a real-world setting).
Here are a few early notes after using it for a fw weeks:
- The EVF is more useful than you might expect, allowing you to use it in daylight in all sorts of interesting ways that are impossible with most EVFs on other mirrorless cameras.
- The on/off switch takes getting used to (compared to the Alpha series shutter button on/off). The possible advantage is that it might (still testing this) not turn on as easily in the bag.
- The joystick is super annoying and located on the top (like other Cine cameras). This makes this camera unsuitable for any but the most occasional stills shooting, as this location is really not comfortable unless you have really large hands (and even then, we are not sure it is ideal).
- The grip is much deeper than any of the other Alpha cameras we have (A7 IV/A1/A7R V), and for people with smaller hands, it is not comfortable at all to hold in one hand for a long time.
- The ISO is strange. You can simply switch to AUTO ISO and then to a specific manual setting (100/200/400, etc.), just like you can on Alpha cameras. We are not sure why this is, and we plan to ask Sony about this.
These are just a few very initial notes – we might have more after we use the camera for more time.
The Sony FX2 sells for around $2700.
Sony RX1R III
The newly announced Sony RX1R III is a high-end, fixed-lens compact camera featuring a 61-megapixel full-frame Exmor R BSI sensor (similar to the A7R V) and a fixed ZEISS Sonnar T* 35mm F2 lens (same as the one from the old model of the camera). The camera includes an AI processing unit for advanced autofocus and real-time subject tracking, a BIONZ XR image processor for improved performance, and a fixed 3-inch touchscreen. It records 10-bit 4K video at up to 30 frames per second and supports USB-C Power Delivery for charging.
The body of the camera is extremely small, although the lens prevents the camera from being truly pocketable. While some reviewers liked the camera for its size and image quality, there was also a lot of criticism for the lack of IBIS, Lack of weather sealing, small battery (although bigger than the previous model), and the old lens design (with slow AF), fixed LCD (the previus model was tilting) but more than anything the very high price tag.
The Sony RX1R III sells for $5,100 USD.
Official Sony RX1R III video
Sony PXW-Z300 handheld XDCAM camcorder
We don’t typically cover new camcorders, but the new Sony PXW-Z300 brings a lot of existing Sony advanced technologies to the camcorder segment. The Sony PXW-Z300 is a professional handheld XDCAM camcorder featuring three 1/2-inch 4K Exmor R CMOS image sensors and a dedicated AI processing unit for advanced subject recognition autofocus. It comes equipped with a 17x optical zoom lens with three independent manual control rings and records in various formats, including 4K 60p, with support for S-Cinetone and user-imported LUTs. Designed for news and production, the camera has a flexible LCD arm, an electronic variable ND filter, and enhanced networking capabilities for live streaming and file transfer.
The Sony PXW-Z300 sells for approximately $8,300 USD.
Official Sony PXW-Z300 video
Insta360 GO Ultra
The Insta360 GO Ultra is a new camera that improves upon the original Insta360 GO by incorporating features from the higher-end Insta360 Ace Pro series. Some of its key upgrades include a larger sensor, an increase to 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, and enhanced low-light performance. Unlike the original Insta360 GO, the GO Ultra has a swappable microSD card.
The Insta360 GO Ultra sells for approximately $450 USD.
Insta360 GO Ultra official video
Ricoh GR IV
The Ricoh GR IV is a new compact camera that is a direct successor to the Ricoh GR III. It features a new 25.74-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and an upgraded GR ENGINE 7 imaging engine for improved image quality. While it retains the 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, it now has a new lens construction and a 5-axis sensor-shift shake reduction mechanism, an upgrade from the 3-axis system in the GR III. Other improvements include a larger 53GB internal memory, a switch to a microSD card slot, and a new DB-120 battery for a longer battery life of up to 250 shots per charge.
The Ricoh GR IV sells for approximately $1,500 USD.
Official Ricoh GR IV video
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens
The new version of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S (version II) Lens is a significant upgrade, particularly in its internal zoom design (vs. extending in the old version), weight reduction, and faster autofocus system. The new lens loses the OLED information panel of the original but gains a de-clickable control ring and a focus limit switch.
The lens is lighter at 675g, but longer (due to the internal zoom) compared to the older model.
The Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S II sells for $2800 (the original sells for $2100).
Official Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S II video
Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Sports
The Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Sports is a high-performance telephoto prime lens designed for professional sports and wildlife photography. It is part of Sigma’s Global Vision Sports line, featuring a weather-sealed and durable construction. The lens includes an Optical Stabilizer (OS) system for up to five stops of shake reduction and is equipped with a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for fast and quiet autofocus. Its optical design is composed of 17 elements in 12 groups and includes a variety of specialized glass elements to minimize aberrations and produce sharp images with pleasing bokeh.
The Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Sports sells for approximately $3,300 USD.
official Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS Sports
Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC
The Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC is a new ultra-wide-angle prime lens designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras, offering the widest angle of view at F1.4 for this format. Part of Sigma’s Contemporary line, it features a compact and lightweight design for portability, a stepping motor for fast autofocus, and an aperture ring for intuitive control. The lens’s optical construction includes specialized glass elements to minimize aberrations, making it suitable for landscape, astrophotography, and low-light shooting.
The Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC sells for approximately $630 USD
Official Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC video
Viltrox 90mm lens for DJI Inspire 3 drone
The Viltrox AF 90mm F3.5 DL is a new full-frame lens designed for the DJI Inspire 3 and Ronin 4D, specifically for high-fidelity 8K aerial cinematography. It features a lightweight design, weighing approximately 170g, and an optical structure of 12 elements in 9 groups, which includes 5 ED and 4 HR elements to minimize distortion and flare. The lens has a maximum aperture of F3.5, a minimum shooting distance of 0.8m, and uses an STM+Lead screw focus motor for fast and accurate autofocus.
The Viltrox AF 90mm F3.5 DL sells for approximately $500 USD.
Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro
The ZY Optics Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro is a specialized full-frame lens designed for extreme magnification. It features a manual focus design and a high magnification range from 1x up to 5x, allowing for capturing incredible detail. The lens has a relatively compact design and a 10-element, 7-group optical construction, which includes three ED elements to minimize chromatic aberration. It is optimized for macro photography, lacking an infinity focus, and is compatible with a wide range of camera mounts, including Nikon F, Canon EF, Sony E, and Pentax K.
The Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro sells for approximately $400 USD
Official Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro video
Runway Aleph
Runway Aleph is an AI model from the company Runway designed to generate ultra-realistic videos from text, images, or video clips. As the latest iteration of Runway’s video generation models, it is built to produce complex scenes with cinematic quality, including consistent characters and motion dynamics over extended sequences. Unlike previous versions, it is capable of generating longer clips and has been developed with improved fidelity to user prompts. It seems to be very capable in terms of special effects.
Runway Aleph is not sold with a fixed price; instead, it is available through Runway’s subscription plans (starting from $15).
Runway Aleph video
RodeCaster CallMe
RodeCaster CallMe is not a standalone product but a new firmware-based feature for the RodeCaster Pro II and RodeCaster Duo. Developed in partnership with Vortex Communications, it enables direct, high-fidelity, low-latency audio connections over Wi-Fi or Ethernet to remote guests who can connect from another RodeCaster or via a web browser. This feature is designed to overcome the audio quality limitations of standard VoIP services, making it suitable for professional broadcasting and podcasting.
RodeCaster CallMe is available via a free firmware update, with optional subscription tiers for additional features and unlimited usage.
Official RodeCaster CallMe video
You can check out all of the LensVid Talk videos here. If you want us to cover any specific topics or products in our upcoming LensVid talks, please let us know in the comments or on our YT or Facebook pages.
Iddo Genuth 
You can support LensVid by shopping with our affiliate partners
Affiliates: Amazon, B&H, Adorama and E-bay.
Why should you trust us?