Who's the Nikon Z5IIC for? Adobe buys Topaz! And Snap has some expensive new glasses… check out our take on the hottest camera news in this week's DCW News Podcast

Header image for DCW news podcast, Sept 25 2026 with words C for compromise, and image of the Nikon Z5IIC and headshots of James Artaius, Chris George and Adam Juniper — (Image credit: Future)

We have a new podcast out today… part of a new series of podcasts that we aim to record every week, looking at the key launches that we have reported in the past seven days. Our team will give their candid, and sometimes controversial, views on these new announcements - debating the strengths, weaknesses, and controversies.

This week, Editor-in-Chief James Artaius and Managing Editor Adam Juniper join me for a chat about the big announcements from Nikon and Adobe – as well as trying to unpick what Snapchat's latest augmented reality camera glasses are all about!

Who's the Nikon Z5IIC for? Adobe buys Topaz & Snap has some expensive new glasses | DCW News Podcast - YouTube

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First up, Nikon has announced the Z5IIC, a new full-frame mirrorless camera designed to make high-quality photography simpler and far more accessible. However, with so much in common with the existing Z5II, it raises a few eyebrows: who exactly is this camera built for, and is Nikon risking cluttering its own lineup with unnecessary overlap?

Next, we shift our focus to augmented reality as we break down Snap’s new SPECS camera glasses. Packed with integrated cameras, spatial displays, and onboard AI, they certainly sound like something straight out of sci-fi—but they also arrive with a seriously high price tag. Are wearable devices like this truly the next evolution of photography and everyday computing, or are they still an over-engineered solution looking for a problem?

Finally, we dissect the major industry news that Adobe has acquired Topaz Labs, officially bringing one of the biggest names in AI-powered image and video enhancement into the Creative Cloud ecosystem. We discuss what this high-stakes deal could mean for photographers, video editors, and current Topaz license holders, before tackling the broader debate: how is rapid AI integration changing the media landscape, and where should creators draw the line between enhancement and manipulation?

We’d love to hear your thoughts…
• Who do you think the Nikon Z5IIC is actually targeted at?

• Would you ever wear a pair of SPECS out in the wild?

• How do you feel about Adobe absorbing Topaz Labs?

Let us know in the comments below:

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Chris George has worked on Digital Camera World since its launch in 2017. He has been writing about photography, mobile phones, video making and technology for over 30 years – and has edited numerous magazines including PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Digital Camera, Video Camera, and Professional Photography.

His first serious camera was the iconic Olympus OM10, with which he won the title of Young Photographer of the Year - long before the advent of autofocus and memory cards. Today he uses a Sony A7 IV, alongside his old Nikon D800 and his iPhone 15 Pro Max.

He is the author of a number of books including The Book of Digital Photography, which has been translated into a dozen different languages.

In addition to his expertise in photography and videomaking, he has written about technology for countless publications and websites including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, What Cellphone, T3 and Techradar.