News from Photography, Nature and Practice
Photography news with a focus on nature and wildlife photography. This includes rumors and updates about new cameras, lenses, firmware updates, and technical developments. You will also find news about interesting photography locations, events, and developments in nature and species conservation at the local, regional, and international levels.
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Sharp Decline in Bavaria’s European Adder Population
On a study plot of just over three square kilometers in the Fichtelgebirge, the recorded European adder population…
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Japan’s Wild North in Winter: What Wildlife Photographers Can Expect on Hokkaido
From January into February, Hokkaido is buried in snow. That is when wildlife photographers from all over the…
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How many ospreys breed in Germany?
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is one of the success stories of German bird conservation. After decades of persecution…
WildeNatur News
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Sony a7R VI – the high-resolution surprise
Update after the announcement: Many rumors turned out to be true The rumors about the Sony Alpha 7R VI were surprisingly close to reality. Sony announced the camera on May 13, 2026, and many of the previously rumored key specifications have now been confirmed: a new full-frame Exmor RS stacked sensor with around 66.8 megapixels,…
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Sony a7 V – Wildlife camera or flop?
Sony a7 V – The key facts at a glance – 33 MP Exmor RS full-frame sensor – BIONZ XR2 processor – 759 AF points, approx. 94% coverage – AI-based subject recognition – insects, vehicles, birds, etc. – 30 fps with AF/AE tracking – Greatly reduced rolling shutter – partially stacked sensor – Pre-capture up…
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Sony A1 II: A Smart Evolution or an Overpriced Update?
This is not a practical test of the Sony a1 II. It is a quick overview of Sony’s latest flagship. From my subjective point of view as a Sony a1 user. On November 19, 2024, Sony introduced the Alpha 1 II, the successor to its flagship camera, the Sony A1. Three years after the debut…
Wildlife in Numbers
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Sharp Decline in Bavaria’s European Adder Population
On a study plot of just over three square kilometers in the Fichtelgebirge, the recorded European adder population fell from 48 animals to just eight within 25 years. That is a drop of about 83 percent. The Bavarian Red List reflects this decline in numbers as well. Why the Adder Is Under Pressure One of…
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How many ospreys breed in Germany?
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is one of the success stories of German bird conservation. After decades of persecution and later pollutants such as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) drove the breeding population down to about 70 pairs by the mid-1970s, a long recovery set in.
Nature in Season
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Japan’s Wild North in Winter: What Wildlife Photographers Can Expect on Hokkaido
From January into February, Hokkaido is buried in snow. That is when wildlife photographers from all over the world head to northern Japan. Off Rausu, Steller’s sea eagles perch on the ice floes as soon as the drift ice reaches the coast. Red-crowned cranes gather near Kushiro, and on Lake Kussharo whooper swans crowd into…
Rumors
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Sony Alpha 6900: Rumors About a New APS-C Camera
33 megapixels, a stacked sensor, 30 frames per second, and BIONZ XR2: since spring, details about a possible Sony “Alpha 6900” have been surfacing in the photo community. So far, there is no concrete evidence. On top of that, claims about a new sensor architecture have now been added to the mix.
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Sony’s New 600 mm f6.3? For Now, It Is Still a Rumor
For weeks, rumors with specific figures have been circulating about a new Sony FE 600 mm f6.3 GM OSS prime lens: 995 grams, around €4,200, and supposedly a launch in the first half of September. The problem: Sony itself has not confirmed any of it.
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Sony FE 400mm f4.5 GM Under 1 kg – Rumors
Sony is rumored to announce a 994 g FE 400mm f4.5 GM OSS on September 8, 2026. What the leaks say, what the forums doubt, and how likely each claim is.
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Sony 400mm f/2.8 Mark II is Coming – Rumors
Not long ago, I wrote about a rumor that Sony is working on a [500 mm f/2.8 GM](/en/equipment/sony-500mm-f28-gm). At the time, I shared my thoughts and still believe that such a lens is unlikely to see the light of day. However, an updated Sony 400 mm f/2.8 GM would make perfect sense. The current lens, launched in…
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Photo – News: The Hottest Rumors and Updates
Table of Contents Sony: New Lenses and Firmware Update Two New Lenses in February? According to recent rumors, Sony is planning to launch two new lenses: Wildlife photographers will likely be most interested in the 400-800mm. If it maintains f/6.3 at 600mm and delivers image quality comparable to the 200-600mm, it could serve as a…
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Sony 500 mm f/2.8 + 1.6x Teleconverter Lens
Hello everyone, Today, I’d like to briefly discuss a new lens from Sony that is expected to hit the market in the coming months. It is the Sony 500 mm f/2.8 for E-Mount with an integrated 1.6x teleconverter, which would result in a focal length of 800 mm at f/4.5. Pretty impressive! According to an…
Launch
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New: Sony 400mm f4.5 & 600mm f6.3 – Both Under 1 kg
Sony announced two lightweight super-telephoto primes on September 15, 2026. The FE 400mm f4.5 GM OSS weighs 994 grams without the tripod collar, and the FE 600mm f6.3 GM OSS 995 grams. The rumors of the past few weeks were right on the main points.
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f/4.5 – Sony FE 100–400 mm GM II is here
UPDATE 13 May 2026 With the announcement of the Sony a7R VI, the long-awaited Sony 100–400 mm f/4.5 GM also arrived, as expected. With a weight of 1,840 g, new AF motors, and updated optics, it is expected to deliver fast, precise, and even sharper results. That will probably be needed with the new 67…
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Sony 100 – 400 mm GM II – The Big Move Is Here
Today, Sony made a big move with the 100–400 mm f/4.5 GM. Sony has officially introduced the new FE 100–400 mm f/4.5 GM OSS together with the α7R VI. The telephoto zoom offers a constant aperture of f/4.5 across the entire zoom range. The aperture has been upgraded to eleven rounded blades, which should further improve the…
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Sony 400-800mm f/6.3-8.0 G – It’s Here!
Update February 26, 2025: The question I raised in my article about the new Sony 400-800mm lens has now been answered: How do the f-stops between f/6.3 and f/8 distribute across the focal range? This could be a crucial factor in the purchase decision. For some, it might be a better choice to go with…
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Sony Alpha 6900: Rumors About a New APS-C Camera
33 megapixels, a stacked sensor, 30 frames per second, and BIONZ XR2: since spring, details about a possible Sony “Alpha 6900” have been surfacing in the photo community. So far, there is no concrete evidence. On top of that, claims about a new sensor architecture have now been added to the mix.
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Sony’s New 600 mm f6.3? For Now, It Is Still a Rumor
For weeks, rumors with specific figures have been circulating about a new Sony FE 600 mm f6.3 GM OSS prime lens: 995 grams, around €4,200, and supposedly a launch in the first half of September. The problem: Sony itself has not confirmed any of it.
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Sony FE 400mm f4.5 GM Under 1 kg – Rumors
Sony is rumored to announce a 994 g FE 400mm f4.5 GM OSS on September 8, 2026. What the leaks say, what the forums doubt, and how likely each claim is.
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f/4.5 – Sony FE 100–400 mm GM II is here
UPDATE 13 May 2026 With the announcement of the Sony a7R VI, the long-awaited Sony 100–400 mm f/4.5 GM also arrived, as expected. With a weight of 1,840 g, new AF motors, and updated optics, it is expected to deliver fast, precise, and even sharper results. That will probably be needed with the new 67…
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Sony a7R VI – the high-resolution surprise
Update after the announcement: Many rumors turned out to be true The rumors about the Sony Alpha 7R VI were surprisingly close to reality. Sony announced the camera on May 13, 2026, and many of the previously rumored key specifications have now been confirmed: a new full-frame Exmor RS stacked sensor with around 66.8 megapixels,…
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Sony 400mm f/2.8 Mark II is Coming – Rumors
Not long ago, I wrote about a rumor that Sony is working on a [500 mm f/2.8 GM](/en/equipment/sony-500mm-f28-gm). At the time, I shared my thoughts and still believe that such a lens is unlikely to see the light of day. However, an updated Sony 400 mm f/2.8 GM would make perfect sense. The current lens, launched in…
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Sony a7 V – Wildlife camera or flop?
Sony a7 V – The key facts at a glance – 33 MP Exmor RS full-frame sensor – BIONZ XR2 processor – 759 AF points, approx. 94% coverage – AI-based subject recognition – insects, vehicles, birds, etc. – 30 fps with AF/AE tracking – Greatly reduced rolling shutter – partially stacked sensor – Pre-capture up…
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Sony 100 – 400 mm GM II – The Big Move Is Here
Today, Sony made a big move with the 100–400 mm f/4.5 GM. Sony has officially introduced the new FE 100–400 mm f/4.5 GM OSS together with the α7R VI. The telephoto zoom offers a constant aperture of f/4.5 across the entire zoom range. The aperture has been upgraded to eleven rounded blades, which should further improve the…
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Sony 400-800mm f/6.3-8.0 G – It’s Here!
Update February 26, 2025: The question I raised in my article about the new Sony 400-800mm lens has now been answered: How do the f-stops between f/6.3 and f/8 distribute across the focal range? This could be a crucial factor in the purchase decision. For some, it might be a better choice to go with…