Category: Gadgets

There are lots of things to think about when choosing a new compact camera – what do you want to use the camera for? Perhaps you want a versatile, all-rounder for a vacation or travelling. Maybe you want a camera with a bonkers-long zoom?

Here at Pocket-lint we’ve been cutting through the abundance of compact camera releases over recent years, including the creme de la creme of last year’s models and earlier, as relevant.

We’ve broken down our list of great compacts into sub-headed categories to make things easier to digest. You name it, we’ve got you covered. 

So without further ado let’s guide you through the top compact cameras to save you time when it comes to buying one from your local shop or online.

Best do-it-all compact camera

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix TZ90 / SZ70

squirrel_widget_140940

Panasonic’s TZ-series has long been a favourite and the Lumix TZ90 (SZ70 in the USA) is its top-end do-it-all compact. It even has a built-in electronic viewfinder to the rear, which is helpful to see an image direct to the eye when sunlight makes the rear screen tough to see.

The TZ90’s premier feature is its 30x optical zoom lens, which encompasses wide-angle (24mm equivalent) for those group shots or can zoom right in (to a 720mm equivalent) to make far-away subjects appear large in the frame. There are more advanced cameras in this series (the TZ200 springs to mind) but they tackle different features.

With decent autofocus, excellent image stabilisation, a tilt-angle LCD screen for selfies, and a whole roster of other top features, the TZ90’s aspirations make it the one-stop shop for all things. The only downside, really, is the limitation to low-light image quality. 

Read our full review: Panasonic Lumix TZ90 review

Pocket power

When it comes to something small and pocketable, but where image quality needs to be a step above a conventional small-sensor compact or smartphone, there are various models to choose from. Such cameras tend to have shorter zoom lenses in order to retain best sharpness and clarity throughout, while offering more advanced optical features such as wider maximum aperture for better low-light shooting or creating that pro-looking, soft-focus background effect. 

Pocket-lint

Canon PowerShot G7 X II

squirrel_widget_137555

The big sell of the G7 X Mark II is its larger-than-typical sensor. It’s called a 1-inch sensor (note: not a physical measurement), meaning larger on-sensor pixels that can better digest light for cleaner, clearer images.

Although the G7 X II doesn’t opt for the smaller scale of the Sony RX100 series (below) and there’s no viewfinder, there’s still a lot to enjoy about Canon’s revamped take on the 1-inch market. Plus the price is within reach rather than super-high like Sony’s advanced offerings.

At its best this is the standout “G-X” series camera. It puts the slender G9 X to bed, is more pocketable than the G5 X and others in the range, without compromising on the performance front.

Read our full review: Canon PowerShot G7 X II review

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix LX15 / LX10

squirrel_widget_138718

The Panasonic Lumix LX15 is high-end, but comes minus the highest-end price point. It’s a significant chunk of cash less than the Sony RX100 (below), and competitive against the Canon G7 X Mark II too.

Crucially the LX15 comes with a best-in-class lens: a 24-72mm f/1.4-2.8 equivalent, which will open up creative possibilities. That wide aperture at the wide-angle setting means plenty more ability when it comes to low-light conditions.

There’s even an aperture control ring, a nod to the earlier LX7 from years gone by, to simplify controlling the camera. Add a touchscreen, great autofocus abilities and a stack of other top-end features, including 4K video capture, and there’s almost nothing we don’t like about the LX15… except its odd name (we’d have opted for LX10, as it’s called in the USA). 

Read our full review: Panasonic Lumix LX15 review

Superzoom without the scale

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix TZ100 / ZS100

squirrel_widget_136159

Now here’s an odd one out, as you can probably tell from looking at the TZ100’s small scale (or ZS100 in the USA). Superzoom, you say? Well it kind of is, kind of isn’t. This pocketable camera combines a large 1-inch sensor, similar to that of the FZ2000 (further down the page), but condenses the lens to a 10x optical zoom with a more limited aperture range, in a body that’s more akin to the TZ90 (further up the page).

Now while that combination doesn’t mean it’s a stand-out camera for shooting everything under the sun, if you’re after top quality and a decent zoom range then there’s not really anything else on the market just yet that can match it – except, that is for the TZ200, which we’re yet to review, and it’s 15x optical zoom lens! – so long as you have expectations in check with what the lens can achieve due to its aperture limitations.

Read our full review: Panasonic Lumix TZ100 review

Best advanced / enthusiast compact camera

Here’s where compacts step up a gear. Whether it’s all the bells and whistles in the form of hands-on controls, a built-in viewfinder, or a large sensor for optimum quality, there are all kinds of advanced compacts to suit different tastes and purposes. But these bigger wedges of camera are not only larger, they tend to demand a more considerable asking price too.

Pocket-lint

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V

squirrel_widget_139172

The Sony RX100 series has gone from strength to strength and in its M5 format it’s a camera that, at this size, pretty much has it all.

It’s small scale enough to be pocketable, yet has a premium build, a pop-out built-in electronic viewfinder and stacks of features – not to mention great image quality and 4K movie capture from its 1-inch sensor and 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens.

If pocketable is priority then this is one of the best options out there. It’s a tour de force. But it’s far from cheap.

Read our full review: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V review

Pocket-lint

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI

squirrel_widget_145815

We’ve left the M5 model (above) in this mix as it’s quite a different beast to the RX100 M6. This newer model breaks the mold for the series by extending the lens yet further for greater versatility.

You’ll need deep pockets though – and not on account of its size, simply because its £1,150 asking price is mega. It’s a great camera that’s worth it for the right buyer.

Read our full review: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI review

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix LX100

squirrel_widget_131317

The Panasonic LX100 is like the company’s LX15 (above) on steroids. It’s the first compact camera to feature a large Micro Four Thirds sensor – the same size you will find in top-of-the-line interchangeable lens models – for exceptional image quality. That’s a bigger sensor than the Sony RX100 series (above), delivering equal or better quality overall, more similar to a mirrorless system camera.

There’s heaps on offer too, with physical retro dials giving that chunky metal body plenty of personality. There’s an autofocus system that will see off a whole range of compact camera competitors, a fast 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 equivalent lens and brilliant electronic viewfinder. Although there’s no tilt-angle screen or touch-based controls, the follow-up Mark II model – which we’re yet to review in full – does offer the power of touch.

Read our full review: Panasonic Lumix LX100 review 

Pocket-lint

Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III

squirrel_widget_142548

Canon’s answer to the Panasonic LX100 (above). The G1 X Mark III crams in an APS-C sensor – which is the same size as you’ll find in the company’s DSLR cameras – for the utmost in image quality.

In one sense, we love the G1 X III. Considering the sensor is that big, the camera itself is small – far smaller than the Mark II model (which had a smaller sensor!). It’s hugely capable when it comes to image quality.

But there’s a caveat: the 24-72mm f/2.8-5.6 equivalent lens quickly drops down the aperture range, so you’ll often be shooting at higher sensitivities when using a little bit of zoom. Sometimes that can counter some of the quality that can be extracted from this otherwise great camera. Plus the autofocus, while decent, isn’t as advanced as the Sony RX100 VI (above).

Read our full review: Canon G1 X MkIII review

Best superzoom

When normal compacts just aren’t enough and you want to zoom in on those far-away subjects to make them appear large in the frame, a superzoom – sometimes called bridge camera – is just the ticket. Safari, bird spotting and so forth are well matched to a superzoom camera.

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix FZ330

squirrel_widget_134561

Typically as a zoom lens extends the amount of light it lets in drops, which potentially means image quality can suffer in low-light conditions. Not so with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330: its wide-angle 24mm lens extends all the way through to a 600mm equivalent, all the while maintaining a maximum f/2.8 aperture. And that’s been managed without significant impact to the model’s relatively trim scale.

This f/2.8 aperture means more light can enter, which is ideal for faster exposures to capture action or to avoid using those less desirable higher ISO sensitivities.

As the replacement for 2012’s FZ200, the FZ330 adds a touchscreen and ups the ante in the viewfinder resolution stakes too. It’s still dependent on a 1/2.3in sensor size, however, so don’t expect complete and utter miracles in the image quality department – for that you’ll want a larger yet sensor, as found in something like the FZ2000 (see below).

Read our full review: Panasonic Lumix FZ330 review

Best premium superzoom

If you want that little extra from image quality, while achieving significant zoom, then you’ll need to fork out some extra cash for a larger sensor model. The current range is a fight between Panasonic with its FZ1000 and FZ2000 models and Sony with its RX10 Mark III and Mark IV.

Pocket-lint

Sony RX10 III

squirrel_widget_138844

The earlier RX10 II was by no means a disappointing camera, but the RX10 III takes its only real flaw – its lack of zoom reach – and tosses it out the window, thanks to its 24-600mm f/2.8-4.0 equivalent optic.

The result is a bridge camera with a 1-inch sensor that offers a stunning level of flexibility and versatility all from the one lens. If you’re ok with the body’s big scale, anyway.

Many bridge cameras feel like jacks of all trades, masters of none, but Sony has produced one that truly masters most areas of stills and video photography.

There’s also an RX10 IV, which enhances autofocus capability, if you want to stretch even further and spend a little more cash.

Read our full review: Sony Cyber-shot RX10 Mark III review

The camcorder-beater

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000

squirrel_widget_138720

The FZ2000 is certainly a big and pricey superzoom, but its premium position is justified for the right kind of user. And with its significant push towards video features, including 4K capture and an abundance of high-end features, that will be for both photographers and videographers alike.

When a normal superzoom won’t cut it, the FZ2000’s has two things that stand out: enhanced image quality from its 1-inch sensor and an internally focusing lens, which means the optic doesn’t physically move throughout its 24-480mm equivalent range.

If you’ve been looking for a do-it-all body and aren’t fearful of a DSLR scale, then as a stills camera there’s plenty on offer in the FZ2000. If video is more your thing then we think the FZ2000’s considerable capabilities paints a red cross on the door of the enthusiast camcorder market too.

Read our full review: Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 review

Best fixed-lens compact cameras

When money is no barrier and quality is everything, there’s a camera for that. DSLR sensor sizes in compact bodies and, typically, a fixed lens (no zoom) that’s matched up to its respective sensor for best possible image quality. Here’s where the compact goes pro – and these special specimens don’t just match DSLR quality, they often better it.

Fujifilm X100F

squirrel_widget_140051

Fujifilm has stormed the high-end compact market with the X-range, and the X100F keeps the bar high, upping the resolution and design compared to the previous X100T model.

The X100F isn’t going to be suitable for a huge audience as there’s no zoom and its retro aesthetic is a specialist thing in itself – but that, in some regard, is all part of what makes this high-end compact so appealing.

It’s not the model to pick if you’re into close-up macro shooting by any means, as wide apertures render soft images in such situations, but what really sells the X100F is the unique-to-Fuji hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder. And now that comes with a fantastic “electronic rangefinder” option for even more accurate manual focus.

That may all sound bonkers, but it’s not: think of a wider-than-100-per-cent optical viewfinder with all the bells and whistles of an electronic overlay and that’s what the X100T delivers. You can see beyond the frame’s edges to help capture the shot at that decisive moment.

Image quality from the fixed 23mm f/2.0 lens – that’s a 35mm equivalent when paired with the APS-C sensor – is so crisp from f/4.0 and below, in part thanks to Fujifilm’s own special colour array design and the fact there’s no low-pass filter to bypass light diffusion for heightened sharpness. It’s perfect for those candid street photography snaps.

Read our full review: Fujifilm X100F review

Pocket-lint

Fujifilm X70

As much as we’ve got a lot of love for the X100 series, the smaller-scale Fujifilm X70 actually pips it in terms of preference for us. This 28mm (equivalent) fixed lens compact is like a more pocketable, wider-angle, slightly more consumer focused aid to the X100T. 

Although we’d like a more detailed and faster autofocus system, and are in two minds about the lack of viewfinder, the X70 is otherwise a champion addition to the X-series. It’s really all about the image quality, which is why we suspect X100T fans and, to some degree, newcomers will be rushing out to buy this wide-angle wonder.

If you’re looking for something more flexible then the Panasonic LX100 (further up the page) is probably the route to go down, not that both models are distinctly comparable.

Read our full review: Fujifilm X70 review

Best full-frame compact camera

Pocket-lint

Leica Q

squirrel_widget_134816

Originally it was the Sony RX1 which held this spot, as the original fixed-lens full-frame compact camera. Ok, so the Leica Q isn’t particularly “compact” and its £2,900 price tag certainly isn’t small (if you can find one – they’re sold out almost everywhere), but its 28mm f/1.7 lens is so out-of-this-world that it has to take the crown.

It’s not a compact for everyone, of course, with that price tag indicating so. But its huge full-frame sensor, which is the same size as found in pro-spec DSLR cameras, is paired with a lens so sharp that its results are incredible. Nope, there’s no zoom, but in-camera 35/50mm crop modes go some way to help.

There’s a built-in electronic viewfinder (a 3.86m-dot LCOS one, no less) which is wonderfully high resolution, but it ought to activate a little quicker for street work. Add surprisingly speedy autofocus with touchscreen control and  this is every bit the Leica for a new generation.

Sure, it’s not a mass market product, as is the case with any fixed-lens camera. But whether you’re a staunch Leica fan, or simply a photography fan, the Q is that rare Leica that will transcend users old and new.

Read our full review: Leica Q review

Photos serve an important purpose in life. They capture precious moments, funny moments, once in a lifetime moments and many more. With the rise of social media, we’re snapping and sharing more photos than ever. According to a recent survey, more than 2.5 trillion photos were shared online in 2016 alone, more than 30 times the amount of photos we took in the 1990s.

Among the several trillion photos taken over the years, there have been many photo firsts and we’ve done our research to find the best of them. So join us as we take a trip down a visual memory lane of the photographic milestones of the past 190 years.

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photograph made in a camera

The oldest surviving photograph is the View from the Window at Le Gras, taken in 1826 or 1827 by Nicéphore Niépce. It was taken on a camera obscura which projects the image being taken through a pinhole in a screen, where it is then shown as a reversed and inverted image.

The image on the original plate is quite hard to distinguish, but thanks to modern technology it’s been manually enhanced to show buildings and the surrounding fields of the Le Gras estate. It’s been voted as one of the 100 most important photographs in the world.

Louis Daguerre [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First picture of a person

Louis Daguerre was friends with Niépce, and after Niépce’s death in 1833, Daguerre continued to experiment with various and eventually created the Daguerreotype process. He’s also responsible for taking the first photo to feature people.

Taken in 1838 at the Boulevard du Temple, in Paris’ 3rd arrondissement, the long exposure means that that all the traffic in the street has vanished, but two men are clearly visible in the bottom left, who, thanks to one having his boots polished by the other, have remained static long enough to become visible on the negative.

Robert Cornelius [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photographic self-portrait 

Before we called them ‘selfies’ and we flitted around with smartphones, there was a breed a photographer such as American Robert Cornelius, who did things the hard way.

A man of infinite patience he is credited with creating the first ever photographic self-portrait in 1839, a feat that required him to sit motionless in front of his camera of a 15 minute exposure.

Hippolyte Bayard [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photographic hoax

The accolade of the first staged photograph goes to a one Hippolyte Bayard. Bayard was considered Daguerre’s rival, as he came up with his own photography method called the direct positive process. Bayard wanted to be considered the pioneer of photography, but Daguerre beat him to it. As a reaction, Bayard took a photo of himself drowning in water, claiming he had killed himself, when in fact it was all staged.

He even wrote a full paragraph on the back of it, claiming “The Government which has been only too generous to Monsieur Daguerre, has said it can do nothing for Monsieur Bayard, and the poor wretch has drowned himself.”

Unknown

First real “news” photo

Despite the name of the photographer who took this 1847 image being lost to the passage of time, this Daguerreotype image of a man being arrested in France by soldiers is widely regarded as the first photograph of a news event.

James Wallace Black [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First aerial photo

The first aerial photo on record is a view of Boston in 1860 at a height of 2,000 feet. Back then photographer’s didn’t have drones, so this photo was taken from a hot air balloon. It’s titled “Boston, as the Eagle and Wild Goose See it”.

However, French photographer Nadar (real name Gaspard-Félix Tournachon) is credited as being the exponent of aerial photography in 1858, but unfortunately, none of his work has stood the test of time.

By Southworth & Hawes (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photo of a U.S. President

As is often the way with images from the early years of photography – just because an image is first doesn’t mean it survives. So it is with the early pictures of the U.S. Presidents. On 8 March 1841, William Henry Harrison became the first sitting president to be photographed but sadly the image taken on the day of his inauguration speech has been lost.

It is, therefore, this 1843 image of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President, that has become the oldest surviving image of a Commander in Chief, despite it being taken over a decade after he left the office.

James Clerk Maxwell (original photographic slides) ; scan by User: Janke. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First durable colour photo 

Colour images started appearing in the late 1840s, but the techniques of the day were so laborious and the results so fragile, that it wasn’t until 1861 that the first durable colour image was produced.

The image, called Tartan Ribbon, was created by photographing the same subject three times, using red, green, and blue filters over the camera’s lens. When the pictures were developed, they were printed onto glass sheets and then shone onto a wall via three different projectors – each fitted with a coloured lens that matched the filter used to take the original picture.

The Daily Graphic (The Daily Graphic) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First halftone photograph ever printed in a newspaper

Halftone refers to the technique of producing an image using several small black dots of varying size and spacings. It’s an optical illusion of sorts, as the human eye sees the dots as a gradient.

The first printing of a halftone photograph was in the 4 March 1880 issue of The Daily Graphic, an American newspaper. The image in question was “A Scene in Shantytown, New York”.

By George R. Lawrence (1869-1938), George R. Lawrence Co. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photo taken from an unmanned aerial vehicle

Having narrowly survived falling 200 feet from a captive airship, American aerial photographer George R. Lawrence pioneered a safer technique for getting his 22kg cameras to elevated vantage points.

Through the use of kites, Lawrence was able to capture amazing images such as this one of the ruins of San Francisco following the 1906 Earthquake. The image sold like wildfire netting the photographer $15,000 – almost $400,000 by today’s standards.

By Jack Aeby [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photo of an atomic bomb being detonated

As is often the case throughout its history, photography has often been used to document the very best, and the very worst of mankind’s achievements.

On July 16th, 1945 the first ever atomic bomb was detonated at the Trinity Site in New Mexico. Of all the numerous images taken of the blast, Jack Aeby’s is the only colour photo of the blast to have emerged well exposed enough to show the fireball in all its terrifying glory.

By U.S. Army [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First photo of the Earth as seen from Space

On October 24th, 1946 The White Sands Rocket, officially referred to as V-2 No.13 took the first ever photograph of the Earth from Space.

Captured using a DeVry 35mm camera the picture was taken from an altitude of 65 miles (104.6Km), 5 times higher than any other picture taken before.

Courtesy of Playboy

First Playboy front cover

Ever the showman, when Hugh Heffner launched Playboy magazine in December 1953 he knew he needed something big to woo his potential readers, and they didn’t come much bigger than Marilyn.

Thanks in part of Marilyn’s star power, along with there being very little direct competition for the startup magazine, Heffner quickly sold all 53,000 copies printed and the publishing icon was born.

Mogens von Haven/World Press Photo

First photo to win World Press Photo contest

The World Press Photo of the Year is considered as one of the most prestigious press photography competitions in the world.

It was this image from 1955 of a rider falling off his motorcycle during the Motocross World Championship at the Volk Mølle course that won Danish photographer Mogens von Haven the inaugural title.

Russell A. Kirsch (National Institute of Standards and Technology) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First digital image

Russell A. Kirsch is credited as the man who produced the first digital image. While working at the National Bureau of Standards, Kirsch and his team developed a digital image scanner.

The first image scanned was of a photo of Kirsch’s three-month-old son, captured at one bit per pixel. It’s considered to be one of the 100 photographs that changed the world.

NASA

First photo of the Earth as seen from the Moon

The first photo of the Earth, taken from the moon, was taken on 23 August 1966. The photo was taken by the unmanned Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft and transmitted to Earth, where it was received at a NASA tracking station near Robledo De Chavela near Madrid, Spain.

NASA / Bill Anders [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First colour photo of the Earth

The first colour image taken of our planet was shot by Astronaut William Anders as part of the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. Anders used a highly modified Hasselblad 500 EL camera with an electric drive and 70mm colour film.

Life magazine has since regarded Earthrise as being “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken.”

NASA

First full view of Earth

Four years after the first colour image of the Earth was taken, the crew of Apollo 17 captured an image of the entire planet. The photo was taken on 7 December 1972 and is now known as the “Blue Marble”.

COURTESY NSSDC/GSFC/NASA

First photo of another planet’s surface

In 1975, whilst on an unmanned mission to Venus, Soviet spacecraft Venera 9 captured these images of Venus’ surface. They became the first photos to show us the surface of another planet in our solar system.

Silvio de Gennaro/CERN

First photo to be published to the Internet

In July 1992 Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, turned to Silvio de Gennaro, his colleague at CERN, and asked if he had a couple of pictures that Berners-Lee could upload to the web to test the newly created support for the Gif file format.

De Gennaro happened to have to hand a series of pictures he had taken of the CERN parody tribute group Les Horrible Cernettes. Being a fan of the group, Berners-Lee decided they would make an ideal test image and selected this frame of the girls posing to upload.

Philippe Kahn/Full Power Technologies

First photo taken with a camera phone

Having a camera on our phones is now considered essential, but there was such a time when you would have to use a separate, dedicated camera if you wanted to take photos, as having one on your phone seemed farfetched.

That all changed in 1997 when Philippe Kahn created the first camera phone, which was done by literally combining a digital camera and a mobile phone, and took the first photo of his newborn daughter. He then sent the the photo wirelessly to 2,000 people around the phone. 

Jean-Paul Goude for Paper

First photo to “Break the Internet”

While it didn’t literally “break the Internet”, it did come under a lot of stress when Paper Magazine released naked photos of Kim Kardashian in the WInter 2014 edition.

The photos were shot by French fashion photographer Jean-Paul Goude, and Paper Magazine’s website received 50 million hits in one day, which accounted for 1 per cent of all US internet traffic that day

Kevin Systrom/Instagram

First photo to be uploaded to Instagram

The very first photo to be uploaded to Instagram was this picture of a dog at a taco stand. It was taken by Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom and uploaded on 16 July 2010.

Since its inception, Instagram has gone on to become the most used social site ever. As of April 2017, the service has 700 million active users and well over 1 billion photos have been uploaded.

Ellen DeGeneras/Twitter

First “super-selfie”

One of the most famous selfies ever was taken at the Oscars 2014. Ellen DeGeneres got as many celebs as she could to get in the frame, including Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Julia Roberts and Kevin Spacey. It was Bradley Cooper that got to press the shutter button.

Since then, the photo has become the fastest retweeted image to date, amassing more than 3.4 million retweets

Kevin Abosh

First photo of a potato to sell for over $1m

No, we kid you not. In a world where photography has long vied to be treated equally to art, it’s hardly surprising that photographs should start selling for crazy insane amount of cash.

There have been several stories over the last few year’s of individual photographs changing hands for vast sums of money but for sheer understated elegance you can’t go beyond a potato photographed by Kevin Absoch.

For the uninitiated, American photographer Abosch specialises in celebrity portraits and has developed a cult following. It was during dinner at the artist’s Paris home in 2015, where a European businessman saw ‘Potato #345’ hanging on the wall and had to have it, regardless the cost, which was a cool million dollars.

beyonce/Instagram

First photo to get over 10 million likes on Instagram

With over 700 million users, it was only a matter of time before a photo uploaded to Instagram would get over 10 million likes. It happened in February 2017 when Beyonce uploaded a photo announcing that she and partner Jay-Z were expecting twins.

The image has now gained more than 11 million likes and over 500,000 comments. 

Jim Hellemn

First Gigapixel photo

In 1998, underwater photographer Jim Hellemn started to photograph the Bloody Bay Wall off the Cayman Islands. Shooting for 10 days straight over 23 dives, Hellemn painstakingly captured a 20 ft by 68-foot area of the wall in 280 overlapping frames.

Post-processing of the shots took 6 months with Hallemn using a drum scanner to import each frame into a Mac G4 at 4000ppi. All 18GB of RAW data got combined to create a stunning 1.77 Gigapixel final image. When the project was completed in 1999, it was believed that Hallemn had made the largest image ever created outside of the scientific community.

cgtn

First photo of the far side of the moon

In January 2019, China’s Chang’e 4 lunar probe made a soft touchdown on the far side of the moon. At that point, the probe snapped the first photo of that region. The image represented a number of different firsts as it was also the first time that area of the moon had been explored. 

NASA

The first photo of a Black Hole

In April 2019, another historic feat was achieved with the help of an international network of radio telescopes called the Event Horizon Telescope. This system was used to capture the first image of a Black Hole. 

Although perhaps not the most impressive photo (many would complain about it being “blurry”) the image itself is actually incredible when you take a look at the facts surrounding it. The first of which is the fact that this Black Hole, known as M87, is located 53 million light-years away from Earth. It’s also a terrifying sight as it is 6.5 billion times the mass of the Sun. It’s huge, powerful and utterly dangerous. The effort that went into capturing this image is also impressive. You can find out more about how they did it here. 

Johan Karlgren is an incredible street artist with an eye for creating new views of the world with awesome pieces of pixel art.

This brilliant Swedish artist is essentially using the world as his canvas. Decorating the streets, coastlines and landscapes with handcrafted wonders.

He uses a mix of beads and ingenious imagination to craft incredible little pixel style visions of some of our favourite cartoon, gaming and TV characters from over the last few decades.

We’ve collated a gallery of our faves for you to enjoy, but be sure to check out his Instagram account and follow him for more.

@pappasparlor

Everywhere’s a golf course

The great thing about this tiny little pixel creations is a simple change of perspective and the smallest area of the world can seem enormous. This shot is a perfect example of that as a small strip of grass is turned into a personal golf course. 

@pappasparlor

Sonic catching some waves

Even Sonic the Hedgehog needs some downtime. Of course, our nifty little blue friend never slows down though. This shot shows him catching some waves in the middle of the urban jungle. 

@pappasparlor

Luigi in danger

Luigi looks fairly cheerful considering he’s plummeting off the side of the road into the waters below. Totalled automobile will be the least of his problems. 

@pappasparlor

Guybrush Threepwood fishing

Guybrush Threepwood is not above a good adventure. The star of the classic Monkey Island series of video games (that originally started in the 1990s) is seen here engaging in a casual spot of fishing. Why not? Adventuring is pretty exhausting and everyone needs a break now and then. 

@pappasparlor

Nevermind Mario

What awesome pixelated display of classic video game characters would be complete without Mario? 

Johan Karlgren, aka Pappas Pärlor, went even further with this one though, by using Mario to recreate the iconic cover of Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind. The old plumber taking the place of the naked baby and the dollar bill being swapped for a mushroom. 

@pappasparlor

Cookie monster

Some of this art almost creates itself. A blue overflow drain by the side of the road, quickly and easily transformed into the cookie monster with the addition of some wild eyes, a cookie and a single munching arm. 

@pappasparlor

Grumpy Cat

Alas, the most famous feline to ever grace the web, Tardar Sauce (aka Grumpy Cat) passed away in May 2019. This pixel art recreation of her may well be a fitting tribute to the much loved pussy. 

@pappasparlor

Mario Kart in real life

We all enjoy a spot of Mario Kart. Imagine if you could race on real beaches and turn the entire world into your race track. How much fun could you have? These chaps are certainly having a blast. 

@pappasparlor

Mo tavernless

Simpson’s bartender Mo is rarely the happiest of chappies, but being without his tavern and forced to sell his wares on the street, he looks even more put out. We love the reimaging of Duff beer in pixel form though, bound to quench the thirst. 

@pappasparlor

Homer meme

It’s great to see the classic Simpson’s meme recreated in wonderful pixel art – Homer Simpson backing carefully through a hedge to avoid the neighbours. 

@pappasparlor

Hulk smash

Hulk smash! Even a tiny, tiny version of the green-skinned Marvel superhero packs a serious punch. We always enjoy seeing artists using potholes to create artwork. There are plenty of different ways these individuals create something cool out of an urban menace. This one might be one of our favourites. 

@pappasparlor

OutRun

Arcade-style racing game OutRun came out back in the hazy days of 1986, but it’s still an iconic legend and sports visual that are instantly recognisable. Pappas Pärlor used his skills to create an awesome homage to the gaming classic with a video that makes it look like he’s racing against the Ferrari in real life. 

@pappasparlor

Sensei Splinter

Mentor and trainer of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sensei Splinter looks pretty impressive in this close up snap of him above ground guarding the entrance to his lair. It does look like he’s casually dropped a cigarette butt though, we don’t approve of smoking or littering. 

@pappasparlor

Robocop

It seems like everyone is selfie obsessed these days. This spot of artwork does make us wonder what it might look like if Robocop was real and had his own Instagram account though. 

@pappasparlor

A different kind of ring

It seems that Sonic’s compulsive need to collect golden rings isn’t limited to virtual ones he can catch as he runs through a gaming level. Crisps and ring-shaped cereal is also fair game. 

@pappasparlor

Finish him

Mortal Kombat fighting legends Subzero and Skorpion have taken to numerous locations on the mean streets to battle it out and see who will be the victor. Who will be the first to pull off their finishing move? 

@pappasparlor

Never eat yellow snow

No Yoshi! Bad dinosaur! Don’t eat yellow snow! Everyone knows you shouldn’t eat yellow snow. 

@pappasparlor

Ninja turtles surveying their surroundings

While Sensei Splinter might be standing guard on the harsh streets, the Ninja Turtles are busy looking for the nearest place to grab a slice of pizza. Guessing by the looks on their faces, we’re not sure they’ve found the right spot. 

@pappasparlor

Vader’s day a the beach

Photos from Darth Vader’s holiday snaps show that even one of the greatest screen villains of our time enjoys a little time by the shore. We’d love to know why he felt the need to take his lightsabre with him though. 

@pappasparlor

Shark puddle

Another pothole, another classic piece of artwork. This small section of the urban landscape has been transformed into a much more dangerous place to be. Jaws strikes again, only this time from the ankle-nipping shallows. 

@pappasparlor

Spiderman just hanging out

Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can. Does he hang from some stairs? Yes does because he’s Spiderman. A little light and a brilliant location shows off a wonderful vision of Spiderman like we’ve never seen before. 

@pappasparlor

Genie in a bottle

A bottle of beer might not be your classic haunt for a genie, but it is an interesting one. This vision of Aladdin’s Genie brings back wonderful memories of the humour and acting talent of Robin Williams. 

@pappasparlor

Who ya’ gonna call?

Slimer is on the loose and the Ghostbusters gang have rocked up to sort him out and clearance the ghostly menace from the streets before he brings any harm to the local motorists. 

We love the attention to detail Pappas Pärlor puts into his work. Little touches including the colours of the ghost traps and even Egon Spengler’s spectacles make an appearance. 

@pappasparlor

Duck hunt dog

That pesky dog! Cheeky rascal that he was. Popping up to tease us when we were busy blasting ducks in Nintendo classic Duck Hunt. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing him reimagined for VR in Duck Season and we equally love seeing him recreated in pixel art too. 

There is a certain breed of Photoshop artist with a passion for history and a keen eye for detail who take it upon themselves to breathe new life into important historic photos. 

When you have an idea of the level of effort that goes into these colourisations, you can’t help but be impressed. Hours of painstaking effort, tiny mouse strokes and detailed analysis go into every photo.

The result is an impressive and sometimes moving transformation of a photo which might otherwise have spent decades only being seen in black and white.

We’ve hunted down some of the best examples of colourised photos to have graced the internet. Some of the photos here date back well over a Century and give us a new view of a bygone era.

Marina Amaral

Henry Ford in 1921 with his Model T

“Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.”

The founder of Ford Motor Company stands in front of his very own Model T, a glint of pride in his eye. The original photo dates back to 1921, but was modernised by the skilful hand of Marina Amaral.

jecinci/reddit

Winston Churchill (1942)

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is set to appear in this list a few times, but this image taken during a visit to Bradford in 1942 is one of our favourites simply because of the attention to detail. The editor has a keen eye – even carefully tweaking the reflections in the car’s window. 

ColourbyRJM/reddit

Bristol Scout (1916)

A Bristol Scout D is captured on camera in 1916 banking away as it’s piloted by Flight Sub Lieutenant Day RNAS. This single seater biplane was used during the Great War as a fast reconnaissance aircraft as well as a fighter, though it quickly became obsolete as technology progressed. 

The original photo has been updated with a colourful haze as a fitting tribute to a brilliant aeroplane and a homage to the pilot who was sadly killed a year after the photo was taken. 

Marina Amaral

Orville Wright flying a glider over the dunes of North Carolina, 1902

The famous Wright brothers are seen in full-colour glory practising for first proper flight above the dunes of Carolina in 1902. This fantastic colourisation breathes new life into an old image from the past. 

ColorizedHistory

Queen Victoria and family 1894

“Queen Victoria and her family, including King Edward VII, Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Empress Frederick at a wedding in Coburg, Germany, 1894.”

Even members of the Royal family have to pose for photographs. This image from 1894 oozes class and the attention to detail is incredible. These colourised images make the past so much more accessible. 

jecinci/reddit

Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali (1964)

Two legends of history from very different worlds often crossed paths and apparently had a profound impact on one another. This brilliant colourisation shows the two great men in all their glory. 

Jecinci/Philippe Halsman

Marlon Brando in 1950

The handsome and talented film legend Marlon Brando captured on camera in 1950 and colourised earlier this year. We like the level of detail here – right down to the way the artist accounted for the lighting of the original image. 

D McAndrew

Danger in the trenches of the Great War

A soldier carefully looks over the parapet of his trench with a mirror attached to a bayonet. Certainly much safer than popping his head up to look for the enemy. Keeping behind cover was an essential part of surviving during those dangerous times. A touch of colour makes the scene seems slightly more dangerous. 

Wikipedia

Soldiers fighting on the Argonne offensive, 1918

Out from the safety of their trenches, these soldiers are seen amongst the ruined landscape preparing for battle. With a splash of colour, their peril is somehow more real. 

Captain_Toots

Redditor Captain_Toots worked some colourisation magic to bring new life to a photo that’s now over 100 years old. Making it more accessible for a modern generation who will hopefully never seen the tragedy of such a conflict in their lifetime. 

Wikipedia

French soldiers and Red Cross dogs before departing for the front

At the Tuileries Gardens in Paris, some French soldiers are caught on camera with their Red Cross dogs. 

Jecinci

With a dash of colour, a character is added to this photo that wasn’t there before. The soldiers and their four-footed friends can be seen in their full glory. These dogs would prove vital on the front – helping wounded soldiers and those in need. 

Marina Amaral

Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein 1931

“Charlie Chaplin attends the premiere of his newest film City Lights in Los Angeles, accompanied by Albert Einstein. February 2, 1931.”

The famous scientist and actor are seen rubbing shoulders at a film premiere in Los Angeles, in 1931. 

zuzahin

Adolf Hitler declaring war on America 1941

Before an admiring crowd of officials, Adolf Hitler can be seen declaring war on America. His speech would make claims that he was honouring the country’s commitments to Japan under the Tripartite act. This photo dates back to 11 December 1941 but has been recently colourised – adding a hue to the history, long since past but never forgotten.

Slyhoogus

ANZAC AIF. Australian Diggers 1916

Soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force – the main body of the expeditionary force, can be seen resting in the mud banks in 1916. A short respite from the action and danger that awaits them. 

Wikipedia

Two German soldiers and their donkey 1915

Animals played a big part during the war. Carrying wounded soldiers, munitions and weaponry as well as helping clear the land. Donkeys, mules, dogs and more all helped out during the horrors. 

AutisticKnight

Here, German soldiers can be seen with their donkey, all prepared for the danger with gas masks for each. 

Marina Amaral

Football team of British WWI soldiers wearing gas masks, France, 1916

Soldiers were occasionally granted a respite from the horrors of war. These British infantrymen were captured on camera casually playing a game of football while wearing their gas masks in case the worst should happen. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

The construction of the Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1888

Construction of the wrought iron latticework of the Eiffel Tower originally began in 1887 in preparation for the 1889 World’s Fair. This photograph was snapped mid-construction and you can see from the blurred movement of the workers and people around it how long the exposure took.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Photoshop artist Jordan J. Lloyd (@jordanjlloydhq) took this photo through the colourisation process over a Century later. It may well have been one of the easier edits on our list as he could compare with the modern colours of the tower and a range of other photos from over the decades as well.

Marina Amaral

German soldier in a dugout

During the Great War, a German soldier is captured on film ready for battle. A fearsome sight, somehow, even more, intimidating in colour. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

National Rice Festival, 1938

Some of the photos on our list feature obscure events and locations from history, but the addition of colour adds a new life to otherwise seemingly insignificant moments in time.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Here a lone man cooks at the National Rice Festival 1938. The bright colours and contrast of the adverts surrounding him suddenly paint an entirely new picture.  

Marina Amaral

Princess Elizabeth, 1940

Before she became the reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth was once a Princess and a teenager. Here, she’s photographed reading a book in a beautiful day-off frocksitting casually in front of a window. The colourisation of this image by Marina Amaral brings an incredible modern reality to an old photo of the Royal. The attention to detail is astounding. 

Marina Amaral

Royal Marine Commandos, 1944

Fully kitted out Commandos disembark from landing craft on the landing beaches of France on D-Day, 1944. The distinctive green berets worn with pride and dedication as the men trudge forward towards the liberation of Europe. 

Reddit/Urban2487

SAS on patrol

The Army and Royal Marine commandos might well have been a bunch of hardened fighters, but the Special Air Service were the best of the best. A force sent behind enemy lines to destroy enemy weaponry and weaken their fighting ability. 

This colourised image Ryan Urban shows these hardcore soldiers at their finest. 

Andreas Larsson

The crash landing of a Hellcat 1943 

Back somewhere in the middle of November 1943, the USS Enterprise (CV-6) was in the midst of providing close air support for the infantry landings on Makin Atoll. During the fierce battles that ensued, this Grumman F5F Hellcat fighter plane was forced to crash land on the deck of the ship.

Luckily the pilot survived the crash despite the apparent fireball surrounding the plane.

Andreas Larsson

Andreas Larsson saw the heroism in this photo and took to updating it for a modern audience. Somehow the introduction of colour into the photo adds a new level of peril that didn’t come across quite as well in the black and white original.

ColourbyRJM

Ronnie, the Bren Gun Gir

Veronica Foster, more often known as “Ronnie, the Bren Gun Girl”, was a Canadian was of the most famous fo the Canadian workforce busy producing munitions and matériel for the war effort. 

She was known for producing Bren guns on a production line in Toronto, Ontario. Her likeness appeared on numerous propaganda posters at the time.

Max Halberstadt

Sigmund Freud, 1921

Sigmund Freud is credited by many as the father of psychoanalysis and one of the most influential thinkers of the early twentieth Century. He was captured here in a black and white photo in 1921 by Max Halberstadt. 

Andreas Larsson

Again, Andreas Larsson colourised another photo to add new life to it. Here we see Freud as the original photographer would have.

Malakon

Helen Mirren rocking out

Multi-award winning actress and Dame of the British Empire, Helen Mirren, can be seen here rocking out surrounded by musical equipment and amplifiers. Though we don’t know the story behind this photo, we can all certainly agree it is as magnificent as the woman herself. 

Malakon

Redditor Makalon thought so too, when he took to repairing and updating the photograph to return it to its original splendour with a dash of accurate colouring.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Famers drinking beer, 1941

In the heat of the Autumn in 1941, these farmers were captured on camera taking a well-deserved break to down a refreshing beverage.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Jordan J. Lloyd saw this photo in the American Library of Congress and decided to update it with modern colourisation techniques to add character and depth to a photo of simpler times.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Tutankhamun’s Funerary Mask, 1925

Tutankhamun Funerary mask is the death mask of the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh who reigned the lands from 1332 BC. The original photo of the mask was taken in 1925 when Howard Carter originally discovered it in the unearthed tomb.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Just under 100 years later, Jordan J. Lloyd colourised the photo to highlight the solid gold inlay, semi-precious stones and the layers of dust from over 3,000 years of rest in the tomb. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

Hoover Dam, 1935

In the midst of construction of the famous Hoover Dam in 1935, these important officials were captured on camera riding one of the penstock pipes. Considering that 112 people died during the construction of the dam, we’re surprised anyone would take such a risk. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

The updated photos shows the surprisingly colourful suits sported by the men and really brings the detail of the image to life. 

Augustus Sherman

Ellis Island Laplander, 1900

In a more welcoming era when America happily took in immigrants from all over the planet and welcomed them to the New World, Ellis Island saw 12 million people pass through its doors. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

During its time, Ellis Island clerk Augustus Sherman captured unofficial portraits of the people passing through from 1892 until 1925. Here, a Laplander is captured in native wear. In the colourised photograph, the wonderful colours of her garment are highlighted in their original glory for all to see.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Cherry Blossoms, 1925

Sometimes colourisations just reveal the original beauty lost in a black and white photograph.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Here, the updated version shows the vibrant pinks of the blossoms and the wonderful contrasting blues of the girl’s dresses. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

Country store, 1939

Another seemingly insignificant photo from the early 1920’s. This one shows the front of a local country store. A number of men sit resting in the shade, drinking and chewing the fat. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

The front of the shop is littered with adverts which seem almost lost in the black and white photo, but come to life brilliantly when colourisation techniques are applied. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

Ice Grotto Antartica, 1911

Over 100 years ago, explorers in the Antartica captured this photo of a large ice grotto with a magnificent view of the horizon. An awe-inspiring view in black and white now expertly transformed into an even more impressive sight with the addition of realistic views and whites. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

Now we can witness the same sights that these brave adventurers would have seen without even leaving the house. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

Warpaint, 1944

From the official archives come this photo captioned “Private Ware Applies Last Second Make-Up to Private Plaudo in England”. Two American paratroopers from the American 101st Airborne Division (AKA the “Screaming Eagles”) apply Native American war paint to each other before their jump into France on D-Day 1944.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Mohawks, Thompson sub-machine guns and a menacing bit of face paint, these troops are a force to be reckoned with. Their true colours are now easy to see in the updated and colourised version created by Jordan J. Lloyd. A magnificent piece of work and a wonderful homage to the heroes of their time.

Jordan J. Lloyd

Jaws of Death, 1944

A grim scene from a different viewpoint. This time, the invasion forces are captured storming the beaches of Normandy with American troops being dropped off by landing craft into a hail of German gunfire. 

Jordan J. Lloyd

The peril in this scene is only enhanced by the addition of colourisation which makes the photo more accessible to a modern audience who will never likely see war on that scale again. 

Marina Amaral

Roza Shanina, Russian sniper

Roza Georgiyevna Shanina was a Russian sniper during World War II. She was one of many women in the Russian military at the time, but she was also incredibly special. She was a volunteer and an astounding marksman. Roza Shanina had 59 confirmed kills by the end of the war but was tragically killed herself by artillery fire during the East Prussian Offensive in 1945. Her memory is honoured by this brilliant colourisation by Marina Amaral.

Marina Amaral

A young Winston Churchill, 1899

From a much earlier time, the future wartime Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill is photographed at his writing desk.

A serious look etched across his face seems to imply a knowledge of things to come, but in 1889 it was common practice for people not to smile in photographs that took an age to capture. Much like in painted portraits that came before them. 

Will Doran

US President Theodore Roosevelt, 1900

A year later and another important head-of-state is captured on film only to be updated and colourised a Century later. Here, US President Theodore Roosevelt stands in a regal pose for a portrait.

Photoshop artist Will Doran chose not to restore the original photo as others might have done, perhaps to retain its authenticity and majesty.

Will Doran

Grace Kelly, 1950

1950’s American movie star and later Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, was perhaps one of the most well-known actresses of her time.

Her beauty was originally mostly captured in black and white (as were most of the films of the time), but here we can see her in her full glory thanks to the colourisation work of Will Doran. 

Marina Amaral

A more pleasant backdrop, 1946

In the ruins of Warsaw in November 1946, a man uses his own less depressing backdrop for a portrait photograph. His backdrop disguises the bombed-out ruins of the capital City and shows the people trying to carry on with their lives through the hardship and misery. 

Will Doran

American soldier and his pet kangaroo, 1942

Forgetting the horrors of war for a brief moment, this American soldier operating at a forward Allied base takes time out to peacefully play with his pet Kangeroo. The addition of colour here helps humanise the moment even more. 

Will Doran

Audrey Hepburn

The late, great Audrey Hepburn was a British actress, model, dancer, fashion icon and philanthropist. She rose to fame during Hollywood’s golden age, but sadly passed from this world too soon, aged just 63, another in a long line of cancer victims.

Nonetheless, her beauty (aptly captured by this colourised photo) and humane spirit inspired millions across the world. 

Will Doran

Susan Peters

Susan Peters was another famous American Starlet who made her way to fame and stardom only to have her life tragically cut short. Discovered by Hollywood at the age of just 18, she was in a series of films until she became paralysed during a hunting accident. A downhill struggle ensued before her life ended at just 24 years of age. 

Here, Will Doran has immortalised Peters with the colourisation of a magnificent photograph from her prime. 

Will Doran

Julie Andrews, 1955

Julie Andrews is another Dame of the British Empire appearing on our historic list of colourised photographs. Andrews is perhaps most well-known for her role as Mary Poppins, but also turned herself into a household name with roles in films like Bedknobs and Broomsticks and The Sound of Music. 

With the colourisation process, Will Doran once again brought new life to an old photograph and perhaps apart from the headwear, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a photo of a young modern woman. 

Marina Amaral

JFK on his wedding day, 1953

In 1953, Senator John F. Kennedy married his sweetheart Jacqueline Bouvier. This wonderful photo was taken on their wedding day and later given the colourisation treatment by Marina Amaral 63 years later.  

Reddit/marinamaral

Franz Reichelt

This is Franz Reichelt, an Austrian-born French tailor. The man is unfortunately famously remembered for his untimely death. He took to the Eiffel Tower to test out a wearable parachute design that unfortunately didn’t turn out well.

The colourised image is a great homage to the fallen man though. 

Will Doran

Lady in the water, 1947

In 1947, alone woman wades in the waters of Wachee Springs, Florida. Decades later, colourisation techniques are applied to the original black and white underwater photograph and now this could be a photo from any time. 

A peaceful and idyllic scene only enhanced by the addition of various underwater hues. An impressive feat of photo editing if ever we saw one. 

Will Doran

Marilyn Monroe

Not your average photograph of Marilyn Monroe. A striking icon of a bygone era, brought to life into wonderful technicolour by the expert hand of Will Doran. 

Will Doran

Mickey Rooney, 1940 

American actor, comedian and radio personality Mickey Rooney was a silent film legend who appeared in over 300 films and was one of the last surviving actors from that era. This original photo of him was snapped in 1945 and colourised byWill Doran. 

Will Doran

Pablo Picasso, 1957

Pablo Picasso was highly regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and is known the world over for his surrealist painting style. Captured in a black and white photo by Andre Villers in 1957, Picasso is seen posing as Popeye. A photo which perfectly captures the artist’s eccentric style and demeanour. 

Will Doran took to colourising this image to highlight Picasso’s environment including the domestic mess and smatterings of his works that surrounded him. 

Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

A good day’s fishing, 1894

This might be one of our favourites from the wonderful list of colourised photos that we’ve discovered. Have you ever seen smarter fisherman than this? This photograph was originally taken by W H Jackson in 1894 and with the addition of colour by Paul Edwards really transforms the image.

Suddenly the whole scene is somehow unbelievably daft, yet this is how people dressed in those days and you certainly have to marvel at the number of fishes they caught in that getup. 

This photograph originally dates back to 1894 and with the addition of colour it somehow becomes unbelievably daft, yet this is how people dressed in those days and you certainly have to marvel at the number of fishes they caught in that getup. 

Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

A dance group in Washington D.C. 1942

Wonderful colouring of an original photo of a group of dancing girls from 1942. This colourisation by Paul Edwards really adds a lot more personality and warmth to the image.

Paul Edwards

Ian Flemming, 1963

Ian Flemming is perhaps best known for his creation of James Bond, but he was also a journalist and Naval intelligence officer during the Second World War. 

Paul Edwards colourised this photo of Flemming that dates back to his heyday in 1968 and typically captures the man in a haze of smoke (he was famously known for smoking up to 70 cigarettes a day). 

Horst Tappe/Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

A man cooling off in a bird bath on a hot day, 1930

In a simpler time, in the depths of the summer of 1930, a man takes a cooling plunge in a bird bath. 

Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

A small child with a puppy, 1943

During a decade when the rest of the World is plunged in war, this small boy peacefully points at a puppy in a basket. The expert colourisation by Paul Edwards really brings this image to life.

Arthur S Siegel/Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

Albert Einstein and David Rothman, 1939

There’s a great story behind this photo. On the right sits Albert Einstein, the genius of his generation and perhaps one of the greatest minds to ever live. On the left is David Rothman, a local store owner. Einstein met Rothman when trying to purchase some sandals which Rothman misinterpreted as sundials due to the scientist’s thick accent. They quickly became good friends and can be seen here relaxing by the beach.

The colourised version of the image (updated by Paul Edwards) really shows Einstein’s relaxed dress sense and helps humanise and otherwise super-human individual. 

Paul Edwards

Thomas Edison, John Burroughs and Henry Ford, 1914

Another photo from the early 1900’s which highlights some of the great minds and businessmen of that generation. 

Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

Audrey Hepburn in her apartment, 1954

Another colourised photo of Audrey Hepburn appears on our list, but this time Dana R Keller has chosen to update an image that captures the acting legend in her own home environment. The newly updated colour image reveals the beauty hidden by the original black and white photograph. 

Paul Edwards

Boys with Easter flowers in New York, 1908

From an acting legend, to a simple shot of some boys with Easter flowers captured in 1908. It’s incredible what a difference a little colour makes to these images that are well over 100 years old. 

Paul Edwards/PhotoRetrofit

Chicago, 1931

During the hard times of the 1930’s a line of unemployed men stand neatly dressed outside a building queuing for food to scrape by. Again Dana R Keller brings life to an old dated photograph of a bygone era. 

Dana R Keller

Claude Monet in his study

Famous oil painter Claude Monet is pictured posing by some of his art. The colourisation of this image helps to highlight the magnificent work of the impressionist that was otherwise lost in the original black and white image. 

Dana R Keller

Colorado in the snow, 1949

A wonderfully seasonal photograph from 1949 is brought to life with lighting and colours otherwise missing from the original snap. We can only imagine the level of effort and attention to detail that went into colourising this image. 

Dana R Keller

Coney Island, 1915

This colourised image perfectly captures the wonder of the entertainment that took place on Coney Island in decades gone by. With elephants on parade and people in smart dress of the era soaking it all in. 

Dana R Keller

Ice delivery, 1918

In a simpler time before smart fridges and ice machines, these ladies struggle to deliver large slabs of ice to local stores. Another brilliant colourisation from the turn of the Century that shows a simpler time. 

Dana R Keller

Golden Gate Bridge under construction, 1935

We take the sights of these great monuments and tourists destinations for granted, but how often do we get to see colour images of how it looked when the original construction was taking place.

Dana R Keller wonderfully updated this photo of the Golden Gate bridge first being built.

Dana R Keller

Harry Houdini performing an escape stunt, 1914

A snap of famous illusionist and stunt performer Harry Houdini captures him about to carry out a death-defying stunt, plunging into icy waters and escaping his chains.

The colourisation process highlights his surroundings and the smart dress of his onlookers.

Dana R Keller

The end of the Blitz, 1945

A small boy sits solemnly surrounded by the rubble of bombed out buildings during the end of the Blitz. The colourisation neatly captures the devastation and destruction of the era, adding a heartwarming sentiment to a photo we might not otherwise be able to relate to.

Dana R Keller

Louis Armstrong in New York City, 1946

Louis Armstrong, one of the most influential figures in jazz is captured here on his favourite instrument. Colourisation here really helps show his character.

Andreas Larsson

Abraham Lincoln 

What list of colourised photos from history would be complete without the magnificent beard of Abraham Lincoln? Perhaps the greatest President of the United States brought back to life in full-colour glory by Andreas Larsson.

Andreas Larsson

Atomic Explosion at Nevada test site

The sheer force and fearful destruction of one of the first atomic bomb tests is enhanced further by the colourisation process. A scary glimpse at the destructive capabilities of man. 

Andreas Larsson

Memorial Celebration, 1933

The faces of evil captured on film here as Adolf Hitler and other German officials sit at a memorial ceremony before the escalations of war that followed in later years.

Mads Madsen/www.colorized-history.com

Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan 1862

Abraham Lincoln is caught chatting in a tent with George Mecallen in late October 1862. Incredible to see such old photographs in the same light and colour the original photographer would have.

Mads Madsen clearly put a lot of effort into colourising this poignant photo from an important time in American History.

Mads Madsen/www.colorized-history.com

Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, 1908

Butch Cassidy, the notorious American train and bank robber poses for a portrait photo with his gang shortly before his death in 1908. Mads Madsen’s colourisation of this image highlights perhaps the most well-known villains of history. 

Mads Madsen/www.colorized-history.com

Winston Churchill

Wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill gets the colourisation treatment. A wonderful homage to a great man who helped lead the British Nation out of war and back into peacetime. 

Mads Madsen/www.colorized-history.com

Sir David Attenborough, 1952 

Sir David Attenboroughveteran broadcaster and naturalist is pictured in his youth, full head of red hair, petting a parrot. The wonderful colourisation here brings out the bright colours of the bird and the young Attenborough in his element. 

Mads Madsen/www.colorized-history.com

Demonstrating the bulletproof vest

In a brave feat of faith in their product, two men demonstrate the safety of their bulletproof vests. The colourisation here only adds to the drama and risk to life being carried out here. 

Mads Madsen/www.colorized-history.com

Client Eastwood working on his car, 1960

American acting legend Clint Eastwood demonstrates that he’s a man of many talents as he’s photographed working on his 1958 Jaguar XK 120.

Here Makalon managed to restore the original colours of the car as well as highlighting Eastwood in his home surroundings. 

Malakon

The discovery of the structure of DNA

This image captures perhaps one of the most significant scientific findings of our age as two scientists discuss the structure of DNA. Colourisation helps to highlight the men and their work in a way that black and white photography could not. 

Marina Amaral

Big Ben

The internal workings of the clock face of Big Ben and its maintenance are captured in an old photograph which has been expertly colourised by Marina Amaral. 

Marina Amaral

Dr Martin Luther King Civil Rights March

Another significant figure from history, Dr Martin Luther King is pictured here on a civil rights march. The colourisation of this photo only adds to the importance of a man who only wanted the best for his race and humankind as a whole. 

Marina Amaral

Lee Harvey Oswald’s assassination

The moment John F. Kennedy’s assassin is himself gunned down is captured on camera by complete fluke as Lee Harvey Oswald is lead out of jail by police for transport to County jail. 

Yet another famous photograph is updated with colourisation techniques which makes the historically significant moment more accessible for a modern audience.

Just how good do you think you are at taking a picture of the night sky? That’s the question thousands asked themselves earlier in the year and soon we will find out whose is the best thanks to the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

The competition is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, showcases the best astronomy photos that capture the beautiful and spectacular visions of the cosmos, the vast galaxies millions of light years away, and the night sky taken much closer to home.

Over the years, thousands of spectacular images have been submitted from over 60 countries across the globe in the competitions main categories.

Those categories include everything from photographing the sun, the planets, galaxies, the moon, and even aurorae.

There are also two special prizes: The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer is awarded to the best photo by an amateur astrophotographer who has taken up the hobby in the last year and who has not entered an image into the competition before, and Robotic Scope, acknowledges the best photo taken using one of the increasing number of computer-controlled telescopes at prime observing sites around the world which can be accessed over the internet by members of the public.

The overall winner receives a large cash prize and runners up get a payout too.

We’re rounding up some of the best images from the last few years for you to enjoy.

Paul Zizka

Assiniboine Dreams 

Taken in the Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia, the photographer spent most of his night on the Niblet taking in the breath-taking view. 

Fabian Neyer & Robert Pölzl

Deep Dumbbell Nebula

A striking image of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) exposed for 79 hours (using [O III] and [Halpha + [NII]) Filter and classical LRGB data). The image shows a very faint outer halo of the planetary nebula that could indicate an early ejection period. The faint emission nebula also mixes with background nebulosity in the area.

Steve Knight

Full Moonrise Composite

Taken from just outside Port de Pollenca in Majorca, the photographer set the camera to take images 2 seconds apart to create a timelapse. He then selected 6 images taken 140 seconds apart and stacked them using StarStax to get the effect of the moons just touching. The colour change in the rising moon illustrates a beautiful display of atmospheric Rayleigh scattering.

Rakibul Syed

Ghost of Eta

NGC3324 or Gabriela Misteral Nebula shown on the right is more known to resemble a face and was named after the Nobel prize winner. However, to the photograph it resembles a Ghost guarding the nearby more popular Eta Carina nebula, leading to the title ‘Ghost of Eta’

Paul Zizka

Glacier Aurora II

Lining up all the ingredients for a glacier ice night shoot at the Athasbasca Glacier, in Jasper National Park was exciting enough for the photographer, but when the sky filled with aurora it was all the more exciting. The aurora showed a wide array of colours and shapes over the Canadian Rockies and lasted several hours, making a dream come true for the photographer.

The Seagull Nebula © Bob Franke

IC2177 – The Seagull Nebula

A four-panel mosaic depicting the Seagull Nebula. The name Seagull Nebula is sometimes applied by amateur astronomers, although it more accurately includes the neighbouring regions of star clusters, dust clouds and reflection nebulae. This latter region includes the open clusters NGC 2335 and NGC 2343 and the reflection nebula NGC 2327.

Andrew Whyte

Irresistible

Taken at the Dark Sky site of the Brecon Beacons, the image shows the Sgwd yr Eira Waterfall in the National Park gleaming under the night sky. The photographer was able to position his camera on one side of the river, cross behind the waterfall and trigger the camera from the other side of the river using only his phone meaning he could use just the right amount of light to gently illuminate the landscape.

Jeff Sullivan

Lunar Eclipse setting over Convict Lake

The landscape around Convict Lake was well lit by the moonlight as the Lunar eclipse started when the photographer took the image. He then captured the moon at roughly 8 minute intervals thereafter and merged the sequential images into the original exposure using StarStaX. A second camera was used to test exposure so the main camera could be adjusted as the moon dimmed.

Tommaso Maiocchi

On Top

Taken on the 14th April 2014; the day of the eclipse, in Canyonlands National Park. The moon rose as the sun set, and at the time the image was taken, the moon was just above one of the Buttes in the park.

Ivan van Niekirk

Quiver trees and Shooting Star

The Milky Way shines over quiver trees at Bet-El Farm in the Northern Cape of South Africa. The photographer used diffused LED lights to illuminate the trees rivalling the glow from the star above.

Vincent Brady

Skogafoss, Iceland – 360 Degree Panorama

On the night of October 27th 2014, the aurorae flowed through the sky like cold river at the bottom of the mighty Skogafoss. In a shallow spot, the photographer placed his 4 cameras with fisheye rigs to shoot a panorama time-lapse for several hours.

Rónán McLaughlin

The Tower and the Milky Way

In Malin Head, Co. Donegal, the Milky Way illuminates the sky above a tall derelict building known locally as “The Tower” that was built in 1805 by the Admiralty, and later used as a Lloyds Signal Station.

Alexa Kershaw

The Magic Mountain

A breathtaking display of the aurora in the remote fishing village of Grundarfjörður, on Iceland’s west coast taken at 3am in the morning.

Terence Kong

The Stars Among Us

Taken in Kirkjufell, Iceland, the photographer was worried that on his first stargazing session in Iceland he would not have the best view of the night sky. With patience and a little luck after a couple of hours the storm clouds drifted away and revealed the sea of stars behind and took a self-portrait to document his experience.

Rebecca & Remy Hoehener

Total Solar Eclipse Faroe Islands

A sequence of the total Solar Eclipse on 20th March 2015. The image is a composite intended to visualize how the eclipse progresses over two hours and was taken as part of a 2 hour photo session to capture the total solar eclipse in the Faroe Islands – one of the only two populated locations to experience totality. This was the first attempt of Remy and his daughter Rebecca shooting a solar eclipse, which they had prepared for over a year.

Martin Campbell

Venus and Mars in conjunction with Moon

Looking at the western evening sky on February 20th 2015, the photographer was aware that dazzling Venus and the red planet Mars had been locked in a celestial embrace over the previous few nights. When a young crescent Moon muscled in on the planetary dance it provided him with a compelling photographic opportunity. He experimented with exposures until he had adequately exposed earthshine on the night time side of the Moon.

Tom Davidson

Westerhever at Night

Light rays emitted by the light house streaking across the night sky are captured by a long exposure (20s). One of the glasses in the lighthouse creates a red beam, contrasting with the southern part of the Milky Way visible on the left of the photograph.

Tianhong Li

Galaxy Curtain Call Performance

This brilliant photo shows an incredible night’s sky view over a bank of radar dishes designed to monitor radio astronomy. It won the Sir Patrick Moore Prize in 2018 and it’s easy to see why. 

Transport the Soul

2018’s winning photo for the people and space category certainly shows the breathtaking expanse of space as a backdrop to the rocky plains. 

Nicolas Lefaudeux

Sun King, little King, and God of War

A staggering view our sun somehow presented with stunning stark surroundings. Another amazing astronomy photo that’s a real winner. 2018’s winner of the “Our Sun” category in fact. 

Jingyi Zhang

Aurora Wings

It’s hard not to take a good photo of auroras and the colourful light shows presented by the Northern lights, but saying that might underplay the talent behind an image like this. This snap by Jingyi Zhang appeared in the people and space category in 2018.

DJI has built something of a reputation for high-quality stabilisation systems, usually attached to the front of a flying device of some sort, but also handheld gimbals. In most cases, it involves a physical, mechanical stabiliser with two or three axes. 

What’s interesting about its Osmo Action is twofold: one, it’s firmly planting a foot in GoPro territory; two, it’s using its stabilising knowledge to build a camera without physical gimbals attached, while still promising super smooth footage using EIS (electronic stabilisation) and an algorithm – similar to GoPro’s HyperSmooth – to smooth out any bumps. 

Add that to the 4K HDR and 4K/60 capture, slow-motion, waterproofing and an intuitive user interface. Indeed, DJI might be onto a winner here – and all for a price that undercuts the GoPro Hero 7 Black. 

Rugged build

• Waterproof to 11 metres
• 65 x 42 x 35mm; 124g

The Osmo Action looks very much like an action camera – although there’s still plenty to differentiate it from the GoPro Hero 7, so it’d be hard to get it confused with the GoPro line of products.

First off, the DJI’s camera lens on the outside is circular rather than square, and has an attractive, ridged metal ring around it. It’s not only durable, but can be unscrewed to remove the lens cover from the front of the camera, which means if it was to ever break then you replace it with another.

As for the body of the camera, DJI has gone with a rough-textured hard plastic, not a soft-touch grippy finish. It’s not exactly a luxurious finish, but it does give the sense of durability, which is exactly what you want from an all-action recording device.

The Osmo Action’s battery lives on the underside, taking up most of the space on the bottom edge, and has two internal clasps holding it in place. Rather than have a cover that reveals the battery, the bottom portion of the battery becomes the bottom edge of the camera, ensuring as little space as possible is wasted, and that the battery is as big as can be.

Two screens/UI

• 2.25-inch 640 x 360 touchscreen on rear
• 1.4-inch square screen on front

DJI’s first attempt at creating a camera that’s easy to use is a resounding success. Its user interface and the dual-screen setup make it super simple. Even if you never read the user manual, within a few minutes you’ll have the gesture-based navigation system nailed.

Swipe left-to-right in the main viewfinder and you’ll get to the gallery. Swipe right-to-left and you’ll enter some basic control settings for whichever shooting mode you happen to be in. Swipe bottom-to-top and you can adjust the resolution and frame-rate of the video. Finally, swipe top-to-bottom to reveal a settings panel.

All of this is displayed on a wide ratio touchscreen on the back that takes up nearly all of the available space. This ratio means you get to see the full video frame in 16:9 aspect without any letterboxing or black bars anywhere.

But what makes the Osmo Action more convenient to use than a GoPro is the screen on the front. Rather than just place a tiny monochrome screen that only displays some basic information, DJI has equipped a colour screen that you can use as a viewfinder when shooting selfies or videos of yourself. It’s a square display, so you can either choose to have some heavy letterboxing and seeing the full video frame, or have the video fill the screen and crop a portion from view. Either way, it’s still better than not being able to see yourself and hoping the framing is okay.

There are also a trio of buttons, so it’s not just all touchscreen gestures: Power, Record/shutter and Quick Switch (QS). The first two are self explanatory, the last of the three is a really quick way to switch between the recording/capture modes. What’s more, you can choose which modes you want to appear in the QS menu, meaning you only have to cycle through the ones you want and can get rid of the modes you don’t use.

Stills and video

• 4K video up to 60fps
• 4K HDR (no stabilisation)
• 240 fps slow-mo at 1080p/720p
• RockSteady electronic image stabilisation
• 12MP stills

One of DJI’s biggest areas of expertise is stabilisation. Whether it’s the Big Ronin S handheld gimbal for DSLRs, the Mavic drone series, or the tiny Osmo Pocket, they all feature world-class stabilisation. In short: these devices are good at making your should-be shaky video look smooth.

With such a small action camera, however, it’s not possible to build in a three-axis gimbal, so DJI had to use electronic stabilisation and some artificial intelligence (AI) smarts. And the result is pretty awesome.

The feature is called “RockSteady”. Using what we can only assume is some form of dark magic, it turns shaky video smooth, almost as if you’re using an actual gimbal. It completely tunes out the jittery shakes you get from running or walking with a camera handheld, but just as importantly it makes any panning or moving of the camera smooth as well.

We tested it on our running route, just holding it handheld, and it does a great job of smoothing out the video, making it watchable, rather than the nauseating bouncing up and down you’d get from a non-stabilised camera.

In good daylight, the video looks vibrant and sharp too, especially when shot in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. There are other resolutions available too: you can shoot in 720p, 1080p, 2.7k, 2.7k (4:3), 4K and 4K (4:3), each with their own selection of frame rates, all the way up to 60 frames per second for 4K. You also have a couple of different slow-motion options, with either 8x or 4x speeds available in both 1080p or 720p.

1/6Pocket-lint

We stuck the Osmo Action in Full HD mode at 8x (240 frames per second) for all of our slow-motion recording to get the maximum slow-mo effect at the highest possible resolution. Get the timing right and it still looks rather impressive – we’ve seen birds flapping in slow motion across a scene and long reeds waving slowly in strong wind. Sure, compared to the regular recording it does look a bit grainy and lacking in detail, but that’s expected at both a lower resolution and much higher frame rate.

Switch to still photos mode and things are fine – as long as you’re in good daylight and not too close to your subject. You’ll get decent, colourful shots. They’re not world-beating, but they’re good enough. Where this camera struggles is when the light levels drop and you’re close to what you’re trying to shoot. That’s because it is fixed focus, thus you can’t adjust where it should be focusing.

Performance/battery

• Up to 63 mins capture at 4K/60p
• 1,300mAh battery capacity

In all of our testing so far, the Osmo Action has been a solid and reliable performer, posing very few issues to overcome. The touchscreen on the back is responsive and the buttons are easy to use. The one area that we did struggle with is a bit of a gimmick anyway: voice actions. More often than not, the camera failed to respond to any of its preset commands.

As for the battery, it’s good enough. DJI claims up to 63 minutes can be captured, but as action cameras are often best used recording short bursts of video rather than whole long segments – after all, you want to capture the best bits of action, not just miles and miles of boring mountain path – it’s difficult to absolutely verify this. Plus, you’ll need a huge memory card capacity if you’re wanting to shoot an hour’s worth of 4K video at 60fps.

While we weren’t getting the full over-and-hour of capture, what we will say is that the bigger battery in the DJI does mean that it seems to go noticeably longer than the Hero 7 Black when shooting 4K. And as that’s the benchmark many will go by, that’s a score for DJI.

Amazon Prime Day is only a few weeks away and once again we’ll bring you all the very best Prime Day deals right here throughout the Prime Day period. 

Like Black Friday, the summer-based Amazon Prime Day is a chance to pick up some amazing bargains. When the deals are gone, they’re gone. 

When is Amazon Prime Day 2019?

We haven’t had it confirmed by Amazon UK, but based on past dates we predicted the deals would start flowing on July 15-16. These dates have now been backed up by a leaked email. 

Last year Amazon Prime Day deals took place across 16-17 July. In July 2017 it was 10-11 July. 

Prime Day, as the name suggests, is centred around a 24-hour period. However, there may be other deals in the lead-up to the big day itself and Prime Day deals were actually offered across 36 hours in 2018. 

Do I need to be a Prime member to get Amazon Prime Day deals?

Yes – to get Amazon Prime deals you need to be a Prime member. If you’re not, it’s high time you signed up for Prime membership – you get 30-days free membership if you’ve not been a member before. It costs £79 a year (or £7.99 a month, if you can’t stretch to the one-off payment).

Some of the very best deals are always on Amazon devices, but there are stacks across all product categories such as TV, laptops, smart home, fitness, cameras, gaming and more.

Browse Amazon deals by category

Check out these popular deal pages on Amazon (UK) to see if there’s a deal for you:

You can ask an Alexa-enabled device, such as an Amazon Echo or Amazon Dot, “Alexa, what are your deals?”, and you’ll get a heads up on many Prime Day deals. Try asking Alexa right now, she’s always got deals on the go. 

How to find Amazon Lightning deals

Lighting deals go as quick as they arrive and are offered throughout Amazon Prime Day. Check out the links below for Lightning deals in key areas on Amazon.co.uk:

Amazon

Can you get Amazon Prime Now on Amazon Prime Day? 

Yes you can on selected items. Prime Now is Amazon’s free two-hour delivery service available to customers in select postcodes in London, Birmingham, Hertfordshire, Sheffield, Surrey, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Glasgow. You order something from the dedicated smartphone application or in-browser at primenow.amazon.co.uk and it will be with you, with free delivery, within two hours.

Previous Amazon Prime Now deals included:

• 30 per cent off select Walkers crisps
• 40 per cent off select Nescafe coffee
• 30 per cent off select Coca-Cola bottles and cans
• 25 per cent off select wine when you buy 6 bottles
• 20 per cent off select items from Dettol, Vanish and Finish

Amazon Prime Day 2019 tips and tricks

Get an Amazon Prime free trial to get the deals

Amazon Prime costs £79 a year. You can, however, sign up for a free 30-day trial to get the deals. A neat trick is that you are fully entitled to cancel your Amazon Prime subscription after once you’ve got your shopping deal.

• Amazon Prime free trial: UK
• Amazon Prime free trial: US

As long as you cancel the trial before the end you won’t be charged the £79 / $99 yearly subscription. Amazon hopes though that once you’ve enjoyed some of the benefits you won’t hit the cancel button.

Amazon

Don’t miss an Amazon Prime Day deal

Get the dedicated Amazon shopping app on your mobile and turn on notifications.  Within the notifications settings you can turn on “Watched” and “Waitlisted Deals” so you don’t miss it.

Save even more money on your Amazon Prime Day deal

Get £1 back by opting for No-Rush Delivery if you don’t need your new bargain straight away.

Make a list to get the best deals

Rather than going in with a scattergun approach, make a list before you go onto Amazon and be targeted about the products you want. It might be in July, but Amazon Prime Day is a perfect chance to do your Christmas shopping on the cheap.

It’s sure to be a big day for deals on Amazon Prime Day 2019. Hitwise data reveals that the volume of Prime Day web searches last year were up 57% compared to the previous year and on the day of Prime Day’s official announcement, searches unsurprisingly increased 162%

Amazon’s own devices are the most popular products on Prime Day. Echo Dot and Kindle were the most viewed product pages in the days leading up to the announcement of the sale. There were also 68,000 visits to the Nintendo Switch product page around Prime Day last year, too, in anticipation of a decent Nintendo Switch deal. 

Check out more great Amazon Prime Day tips

In order to celebrate 60 years of NASA, the Google Arts & Culture Lab has created a vast visual archive. A collection of some of the best images captured by NASA for us to explore and enjoy. 

Using NASA’s public API, Google has put its machine learning to work exploring a vast collection of historic photos dating all the way back to 1915. This archive includes 127,000 images that have been analysed and categorised for us to journey through.

We’ve put together a selection of our favourites to whet your appetite.

NASA

SpaceX resupply

The business of space exploration requires a lot of resupply and maintenance work. This simple view shows a rocket lifting off to do just that – taking supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. 

“A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 4:30 p.m. EDT, carrying the SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft. On its 14th commercial resupply services mission for NASA, Dragon will deliver supplies, equipment and new science experiments for technology research to the space station.”

See more SpaceX images at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

Mothership

It’s not just rockets that NASA uses to get into space. Another regular form of transport is the Mothership. Over the decades, various B-52 bombers have been converted to carry small spacecraft for aerial launch.  

These hulking great big crafts have been involved in air-launching some of NASA’s most advanced aerospace vehicles. The fact that these bombers can carry so much weight (70,000 lbs) makes them the perfect transport vehicle for other craft. The converted planes are also packed full of masses of monitoring equipment to keep an eye on both vehicles as they climb high into the sky. 

This image shows one Mothership carrying NASA’s experimental unmanned hypersonic aircraft the X-43 nestled neatly under its wing. Easy to miss at first glance, but awesomely impressive once you spot it. 

See more images of Mothership at NASA’s Visual Universe.

NASA

Aerial launch in action 

A much more impressive view of Mothership in action shows the X-38 prototype dropping away from its launch pylon on the wing. The X-38 is a crew return vehicle designed for the International Space Station and this kind of test flights ensure the craft is safe and ready for its job. 

See more images of Mothership at NASA’s Visual Universe.

NASA

Mars Rovers

What gallery of images from NASA would be complete without a view of the Mars Rovers? This is a near identical copy of the NASA Curiosity rover that’s currently on Mars. That little bot landed on Mars in 2012 with the sole mission of determining the planet’s habitability.

See more images of Rovers at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

A curious selfie

After a couple of years on Mars, NASA’s Curiosity rover used its cameras to snap several selfies. These not only showed a snapshot of the landscapes of Mars, but also the condition of the bot during its travels around the planet’s surface. 

We’re always impressed to see Curiosity’s photographs, not just because these are views from another planet, but also because it’s been on that planet for nearly a decade. 

See more images of Rovers at NASA’s Visual Universe.

NASA

A multi-national space effort

This incredible photo shows just how international the International Space Station can be. It shows a view of Japan’s third resupply ship, the H-II Transfer Vehicle-3, attached to the station in 2012. 

The eagle-eyed among you may also notice the arm attaching to that ship is Canadian. It’s great to see the efforts from people all over the world to support these scientific adventures, not to mention the fantastic view of our blue/green home. 

NASA

Not your usual piggyback ride

This incredible photo from 1979 shows the space shuttle orbiter Columbia catching a ride on the back of a Boeing 747 aircraft as it makes a 2,400-mile journey from California. 

This space shuttle would go on to launch for its first space flight two years later and then continue on for a further 27 missions spanning 22 years. Alas, it tragically came to an end in 2003 when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry killing all the crew in the process. 

See more images of the Space Shuttle Columbia at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

Soaring through the clouds

A fairly awesome photo from 2002 shows the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia launching off through the clouds on its mission to maintain and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. This was the Orbiter’s 27th fight and the 108th official flight of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

See more images of the Space Shuttle Columbia at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

Touchdown

Another fantastic shot of the Columbia snapped in 1981 shows the shuttle touching down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. This view is pretty special in itself, but it’s also the first NASA flight to end with a wheeled landing. It also represents a change to the future of spaceflight too. 

See more images of the Space Shuttle Columbia at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

Docking in progress

This image from 2010 shows an unmanned resupply vehicle approaching the International Space Station. It’s bringing with it food, oxygen, propellant and supplies for the crew. 

The view of the craft approaching is impressive, as is the entire process involved. 

See more resupply mission images at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

Shuttle resupplies

This shot shows the space shuttle Atlantis in 2010 during a resupply mission. The shuttle and the team were involved in the addition of a new station module to the International Space Station as well as a replacement of batteries and resupply of the orbiting outpost.

See more resupply mission images at NASA’s Visual Universe.  

NASA

Buzz Aldrin on the moon

This classically iconic image shows astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. (aka Buzz) during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the moon. The view here shows all the scientific experiment equipment with the Passive Seismic Experiment Package and Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector visible in the frame.

This photo was taken by astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, who used a 70mm lunar surface camera to capture the incredible scene. Meanwhile, astronaut Michael Collins, stayed with the Command and Service Modules in lunar orbit. 

See more Lunar Module images at NASA’s Visual Universe.  

A backdrop of blackness

This view from 2007 shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station against a backdrop of the blackness of space and our Earth’s horizon. 

See more images of space at NASA’s Visual Universe.  

A nighttime view of Earth from ISS

This fantastic view of our home at night was taken by the crew of Expedition 43 aboard International Space Station in 2015. One of many awesome images of our world snapped from space. 

See more images of space at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

The Northern Lights from above

In 2016, crew of the International Space Station captured this view of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from above. A fairly spectacular view of an already incredible light show. 

See more images of space at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

A view of Earth taken from 3.9 million miles

In 1992, the Galileo spacecraft took this image of Earth and the Moon from around 3.9 million miles away. Both are apparently cast in darkness, but the Moon reflects a lot less light than our home planet. An incredible view that makes it look like we live on a marble.

NASA

The Blue Marble

The image of our planet was captured in 2014. It was put together using the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite on the Suomi NPP satellite and shows a composite of several different images combined to give a complete picture.

The composite image of the eastern hemisphere shows our planet with a beautiful blue hue. It looks more like a marble than a home. The time-lapse video view of this image is also fairly fantastic. 

NASA

Mercury shows its colours

At first glance this looks like just another photograph of the Moon, but it’s actually a shot if Mercury. This image was captured in 2008 and shows incredible detail of the surface of Mercury, a planet that’s a staggering 48 million miles from our home world. 

See more of Mercury at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

Clouds of Atlantis

An incredible view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis launching off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2009. Atlantis is one of the largest cargo carriers and this launch sent the shuttle skyward to resupply the International Space Station and return Nicole Stott to Earth after two months aboard the station. 

See more images of Atlantis at NASA’s Visual Universe.  

One final Endeavour

In 2011, the Space Shuttle Endeavour took off for its final space flight launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The Endeavour had seen a fair amount of action during its time – including 25 different missions with a total of 173 different crew members. It had spent 296 days in space and traveled over 100 million miles.   

See more images of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

A marble view of Pluto

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft captured high-resolution enhanced colour images of Pluto in 2015 as it passed by the planet. Meanwhile, the Chandra X-ray Observatory observed interesting X-Ray activity from the planet’s surroundings. These X-Rays appeared to be much more than a cold, rocky world should be able to emit, which lead to some debate. 

See more images of Pluto at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

A Moon with a view

In 2011, a full moon was photographed by the crew of the International Space Station with the Earth’s horizon and the blackness of surrounding space also making an appearance.  

Spacecraft on approach

This view shows the Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft approaching the International Space Station. A brilliant view of Earth and the vastness of space makes for a fairly spectacular backdrop. 

NASA

A brilliant light show

A spectacular view of the Aurora Borealis taken over Canada in 2017. This magnificent image of the light phenomena is just one of the incredible sights of our world regularly spotted by the occupants of the International Space Station. 

A vision of solar flares

In 2015, the sun emitted a mid-level solar flare detected by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory which captured this image of the moment. 

These sorts of flares represent massive bursts of radiation that our atmosphere protects us from. But they do interrupt communication signals. 

See more images of the sun at NASA’s Visual Universe. 

NASA

Mercury – The swiftest planet

This colourful view of Mercury was crafted by NASA using images captured by the MESSENGER spacecraft. The MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) mission launched in 2004, setting out to study Mercury in more depth than before. 

Of course this is not how the planet would look to the human eye, but instead represents an enhancement of the chemicals, minerals and physical differences of the planet’s surface. 

NASA

Unmasking the secrets of Mercury

NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft packs some powerful tech designed to help explore the distant planet. This includes the Mercury Atmosphere and Surface Composition Spectrometer instruments. These are designed to carry out spectral surface measurements and analysis of the mineral and surface materials of the planet. These measurements are visualised by overlaying the MASCS data with mosaics created by the Mercury Dual Imaging System to create this representation. Not just a colourful view of another planet, but also one that’s packed full of visual data. 

The MESSENGER spacecraft actually crash-landed on the surface back in 2015, but not before collecting valuable data like this.

Following the release of its full-frame mirrorless series, including the Lumix S1, Panasonic has set its sights on the pro cinema market with the Lumix S1H. So what’s it all about?

In terms of design the camera looks one and the same as the S1 and S1R, but it’s the internal spec that makes it a whole other beast. Principally it’s the resolution and frame-rates possible that make the S1H the camera it is. Capable of 6K resolution at 24fps (or 5.9K at 30fps) and 4K resolution at 60fps (with 4:2:2 10-bit output via HDMI – or internal to card at 30/25fps).

A variety of recording formats are available, including 4:3 Anamorphic mode, with unlimited recording time. Grading through V-Log/V-Gamut provides a wide dynamic range of over 14 stops – which is a huge range from a digital stills camera.

Panasonic is also introducing two teleconverters to make its L mount – that’s the same mount Leica uses, meaning quality glass is available – more capable, through 1.4x (the DMW-STC14, priced £490) or 2x (the DMW-STC20, priced £580).

All of which sounds rather impressive for pro videographers. However, there’s no final price or release date for the S1H. Its US price is penned at $4,000 for the body only, so expect a similar Sterling and Euro equivalent when it arrives on these shores.