Happy Sunday, photographers! I’ve had adventure on my mind lately. I’m a trail runner, cyclist and backpacker, and I love following along on the epic journeys others embark on, especially when I can’t get out on my own. Given that it’s summer, there have been plenty of adventures to follow and lots of incredible things happening.

Naturally, as a photographer, I tend to think about the people behind the scenes who make it possible for us to see these feats. The athletes are, of course, impressive, but the photographers and videographers must be remarkably capable to do what they do as well.

Thankfully, camera gear has gotten lighter over the years, but chasing someone running through the Alps or following a climber up sheer cliffs with a full camera kit is still no easy feat. You have to think ahead to capture compelling imagery without getting in the athlete’s way, all while lugging gear and dealing with potentially harsh conditions. And there's the added pressure of working on a deadline and getting photos or footage back to editors in time for real-time coverage. I find it incredibly impressive, and I love any glimpse into the work of these creatives. You can see a few examples that caught my attention in the Posts That Stopped the Scroll section later on.

But first, let’s turn the lens back toward the photography world and catch up on the news, gear and stories that made waves on DPReview this week. Highlights include a 66mm limited-edition Leica lens, GoPro’s focus on “defense, government, robotics and aerospace,” and KEH’s new repair service for Zeiss optics in North America—plus much more. Let’s get into it.

— Abby Ferguson, Features Editor

Long-range photography has always come with a bit of a packing problem. Getting close to a hawk in the distance or a bear traversing a faraway hillside traditionally means carrying a full-frame body, a telephoto lens the size of your forearm, a tripod to steady it all, and the patience to keep a subject in frame by hand. The Farseer RocXZoom reimagines that kit with a camera that only weighs about 400 grams.

The RocXZoom combines 20x optical zoom with 50x hybrid zoom for a 40 to 2000mm equivalent range, which is the kind of telephoto territory that’s normally reserved for dedicated lens setups. The difference is that this one delivers it without the large traditional lens-and-tripod rig, and in a package that’s light enough to carry on a trail all day.

The RocXZoom uses dual stabilization, pairing a gimbal with electronic image stabilization to help keep long-range photos and video steady without a tripod. Its powered pan-and-tilt system physically follows the action, helping keep subjects framed while zooming.

The RocXZoom has an MSRP of $799, but early backers can get it for $449 on Kickstarter.

I was closely following along last month as Sophie Woods spent three weeks running the length of the Alps to beat the previous fastest known time. With achievements like this, attention is typically focused on the athlete, but this post shines a light on what photographer Zoe Salt went through to tell Sophie’s amazing story on the trail.

I recently tried my hand at bird photography and now have an even greater appreciation for these types of images. Forum member Zeee had remarkable timing with this image; I love the spray of water and the positioning of the bird.