Skip to main content

Zeiss puts Lightroom inside a full-frame camera with a huge touchscreen

Smartphones offer built-in editing, but dedicated cameras have better image quality — Zeiss thinks photographers shouldn’t have to choose between the two. The Zeiss ZX1 is a compact full-frame camera with Adobe Lightroom CC built-in — and a touchscreen that rivals the size of a smartphone. Announced during Photokina on Thursday, September 27, the concept camera is slated for arrival early in 2019.

Recommended Videos

While many companies outsource the sensor, Zeiss is making both the lens and sensor for the ZX1, allowing the optics and the sensor to be specially calibrated to work together. This, Zeiss says, offers “first-class image quality.” The 37.4-megapixel full-frame sensor is paired with a Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2 T* lens built-in. The camera is also the first full-frame model from Zeiss, a company that is best known for its optics.

But the sensor and lens combo isn’t what’s so different about the camera — the ZX1 has Adobe Lightroom CC built in. Photographers can edit the images with the popular RAW photo editor using the built-in 4.3-inch touchscreen.

Besides not requiring a computer for editing, the ZX1 doesn’t need a memory card, either — nor does it have a slot for one. Instead, 512 gigabytes of built-in memory stores up to 6,800 RAW images (in Adobe DNG format) on the device. Those images can be shared wirelessly via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, or wired over USB-C.

With features that cross between a dedicated camera and a smartphone, the body of the Zeiss ZX1 also looks like a mix of the two types of tech. The back is dominated by the 4.3-inch touchscreen next to controls that change based on the camera’s mode. To keep the controls separate from the touchscreen, the screen bends back a bit. The bend at the back also helps make the grip a bit larger. The camera body also houses a mode dial and shutter speed dial, along with an electronic viewfinder. The larger screen most of the other physical controls are missing, however.

“With our concept, we are focusing on ambitious, professional creatives who want to produce their photographic experiences quickly and efficiently, and inspire as many people on the internet as possible,” Jörg Schmitz, head of the consumer products business group at Zeiss, said in a statement. “This requires a streamlined workflow in addition to high-end features. This is exactly what the concept of the Zeiss ZX1 offers.”

The Zeiss ZX1 doesn’t yet have a price or launch date — though with the full-frame sensor, the computing power needed to run Lightroom, and 512GB of built-in storage, it’s likely not a budget camera. Photographers can find a view of the camera in action — shooting and editing — and sign up to be notified of updates on the ZX1 website.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
SpaceX images show the awesome power of Starship’s Raptor engines
The Super Heavy booster's Raptor engines powering the Starship's launch on November 19, 2024.

SpaceX has posted some incredible images showing the Super Heavy booster's 33 Raptor engines as they powered the Starship rocket skyward at the start of the vehicle’s sixth test flight on Tuesday.

“[Thirty-three] Raptor engines powering the Super Heavy booster off the pad from Starbase,” SpaceX wrote in the message on X.

Read more
Best Black Friday drone deals to take to the skies
DJI's Air 3S drone.

Update 11/29/2024: As you likely know, we spend a lot of time reviewing our deal guides to make sure the prices are all up-to-date and you're getting the latest info on steep Black Friday deals and discounts. Our most recent update was no exception. We added a few more offers and updated all the prices. Enjoy!

If you’ve been shopping Black Friday deals you may have noticed there’s a lot to shop right now. Among the hot items are drones, with plenty of Black Friday drone deals available. That includes recognizable brands like DJI and Holy Stone, as well as some budget-friendly options. We’ve rounded up all of the best Black Friday drone deals, and you can read all about them below. So if you’ve been shopping Black Friday camera deals and would rather take a camera to the skies, or if you’d simply like a new toy to fly around, read onward for all of the details on how to save on a drone during Black Friday.

Read more
This Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera bundle is $90 for Cyber Monday
The contents of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera bundle.

We're already seeing the best Cyber Monday camera deals all over. In fact, many of Walmart's Cyber Monday deals are going strong, for example, including their Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera bundle, which is currently still on sale for only $90. Saving 10% also makes this deal the perfect holiday gift, giving your loved one everything they'll need to start making instant camera memories. You'll have to hurry, though, as there's no assurance that this bargain will last as long as most of the other Cyber Monday deals that are sticking around.

Why you should buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera bundle
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 is an instant camera that gives you the photo that you took in just a few seconds. It prints immediately, like an old-school Polaroid. It's also very beginner-friendly, as it will automatically choose the most appropriate shutter speed based on your surroundings for the perfect shot. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 also has a selfie mode that you can activate by pulling out the lens barrel, and you can use the selfie mirror to make sure that you're taking the perfect selfie.

Read more