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“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.
Share your story ideas or interesting finds with us by emailing [email protected].
Canon Introduces the EOS R1 and R5 Mark II
Pro photographers and serious amateurs were abuzz this week with a big announcement from Canon, who introduced two new cameras with next-generation autofocus capabilities and a host of other advanced features. The EOS R1 and R5 Mark II are geared toward the pro and “advanced amateur” markets, respectively, and offer a variety of upgrades over their predecessors. The EOS R1 has a body style reminiscent of earlier 1D series SLRs, and features a large vertical grip, enormous battery, and a construction that the brand says is meant to meet the needs of photojournalists working in conflict zones. It also has an onboard ethernet port, a useful feature for photographers covering breaking news who have a need to transmit files quickly to an editor or wire service.
The R5 Mark II is being positioned as a camera ideal for event photographers and videographers, and comes equipped with a 45 megapixel sensor, an improved EVF, and a video recording rate of up to 8K60. The R5 Mark II and EOS R1 share a lot of the same processing technology, but the new R5 forgoes the more robust body and will be a better option for photographers who don’t require the most serious professional features. Much more information on both of the new cameras can be found via PC Mag here.
Supreme Acquired for $1.5 Billion
EssilorLuxottica, the eyewear manufacturing giant who makes glasses for Ray-Ban, Oakley, and many, many other brands, has closed a deal to acquire Supreme, the streetwear brand. This is a new vertical for EssilorLuxottica, and their executive team said in a statement that the Supreme brand “perfectly aligns” with their “innovation and development journey,” and that the deal will allow Supreme to reach new audiences worldwide. The cash deal is expected to close by the end of the year. You can read more about it here.
A Portable CD Player from Fiio
Remember the Discman? If you’re of a certain age, you definitely do. Before the iPod, which itself now seems like an antique, we used to carry around literal binders full of compact discs and play them on awkwardly shaped portable players, the most ubiquitous of which was Sony’s iconic Discman. Now, the Chinese company Fiio has announced a new portable CD player that gives the classic portable CD player format some modern upgrades. The DM13 has Bluetooth built in, which will allow you to use the device modern wireless headphones, and it can also be integrated into existing home stereo systems. It has a built in rechargeable battery, as well, and it can even be bypassed while the device is in “Desktop Mode” and connected to external power. At $179, this might be a fun way to relive your CD glory days. More via the Verge right here.
The First Novel from Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves, the iconic star of action staples like Speed, the Matrix series, and Point Break, has accomplished a lot over decades in the film industry. Now, he can add “novelist” to his resume. The Book of Elsewhere, his debut novel cowritten with China Miéville, is out next week, and it’s as strange as you might expect a novel from Keanu Reeves to be. Inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books created by Reeves, the novel follows an 80,000 year old warrior who can’t die. It’s full of sci-fi and action (this guy can punch through chests and rip arms off those who might challenge him) but according to this story in the New York Times, it’s also an authentic meditation on life and death. The stuff of all great novels, right?
Parchie Summer Clearance
If you have a kid in your life who might be ready for their first watch, now is a great time to introduce them to the wonderful world of horology. Parchie, the brand founded by Cara Barrett and specializing in watches for children, is having a massive 75% off sale across the board. Parchie watches come in a variety of fun colors (perfect for summer) and are designed for wrists between 4 and 6.5 inches in circumference. All sales are final and stock is limited, but there’s still a solid selection over on the Parchie website.
