Have you ever thought closely about how much or little your photos change with just one stop of shutter speed? Here's what happens to the same scene shot from 1/3200 to 60 seconds.

Chinese lens makers are arriving at the 2026 trade show season with an unusually aggressive wave of new autofocus optics, compact primes, and experimental designs aimed at everything from cinema production to casual street photography.

This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, we're coming to you with a bonus episode... from the past! We recorded this before heading off to the four corners of the planet, but not before Chris and Jordan had hands-on time with the latest gear from Sony and Canon.

An exhibition commemorates the 70th anniversary of the landmark publication of Gordon Parks’ color images of the segregated South in Life magazine

Laowa has officially unveiled its next-generation Probe Zoom system, which it states is "the world’s widest macro probe lens with the broadest focal range ever made." Designed for cinematic and high-end commercial work, the new 15-24mm T8 and 15-35mm T12 macro lenses expand the company’s well-known probe lineup with a wider focal range, increased flexibility, and a modular design built around extreme close-up imaging.

Photographer and creator Mr. 50mm designed a DIY digital rangefinder, which only requires about $200-$250 worth of parts.

New camera announcements continue to arrive at a rapid pace, and this week’s lineup brings together several of the most talked-about new releases alongside deep discounts on premium tripods to support them. Whether you are planning to preorder a new body, upgrade your lens lineup, or finally replace an aging support system, there are some unusually strong deals available right now.

Nikon lost a lot of money last fiscal year. In fact, Nikon lost a record-breaking amount of money, a whopping 86 billion yen, or more than $542 million at current exchange rates. Nikon's largest shareholder, EssilorLuxottica, is reportedly weighing a major acquisition of the company, sending its stock soaring.

Sony unveiled the Xperia VIII smartphone this week, boasting photographer-focused upgrades and improvements. American buyers, who are yet again missing out on the latest Xperia, may have felt a little left out. Looking at the phone's new AI Camera Assistant with Xperia Intelligence and its terrible results, perhaps U.S. buyers aren't missing out on much at all.

Brightin Star has officially launched the new MF 10mm f/5.6 II, an updated version of its ultra-wide manual-focus APS-C lens that offers a wider field of view, closer focusing, and a refined physical design.

YouTube viewers reportedly watch over two billion hours of YouTube Shorts — the platform’s vertical clips that are up to three minutes long — on televisions each month.

A new exhibition will examine how generations of photographers have captured mining and industry in the United States, from early daguerreotypes depicting the California Gold Rush to images of rapid industrialization in the 20th century.

The Rolling Stones' new music video features a de-aged version of the band created using deepfake technology.

A park district director faces a lawsuit after she authorized the landing of a helicopter in a public park for her daughter's prom photo shoot.

DJI has finally officially unveiled the Osmo Pocket 4P. While most already expected it, DJI has finally decided it's ready to talk about its new compact dual-lens camera.

Tilta has introduced the Illusion Magnetic Filter Ultimate Kit, a modular magnetic filter ecosystem designed to simplify how filmmakers and photographers build and swap filter setups in the field.

Minna Camera, a popular camera and lens marketplace in Japan, keeps rigorous data on the best-selling equipment. The company has just shared the 30 most-sold prime lenses, and the data offers many interesting insights.

A fascinating art social experiment unfolded on social media this week after someone shared an actual Monet painting as an AI-generated artwork and asked people to explain what makes the "AI image" inferior to a genuine Monet piece. There was no shortage of "sharp-eyed" critics eager to chime in.

In a world where photography software companies don't always give photography or photographers the respect they deserve, VSCO has committed to the importance of photography.

Insta360 is leaning heavily into nostalgia with the launch of the new Go 3S Retro Bundle, a special edition version of its tiny action camera that transforms the wearable 4K POV camera into something that feels much closer to a vintage point-and-shoot.

The media award season -- a time for applause -- also highlights an irony of the fast-changing marketplace: the winners could be gone.

Not content to just release the new EOS R6 V camera and RF 20-50mm f/4L IS USM PZ lens this week, Canon has also announced firmware updates for a whopping nine of its cameras.

A 72-year-old photographer -- whose work once documented major moments in San Francisco history -- has found renewed recognition after a woman accidentally began receiving calls and messages intended for him.

Shenzhen-based optics maker Thypoch has officially entered the autofocus mirrorless market with the launch of the Voyager 24–50mm f/2.8, a full-frame constant aperture zoom designed for Sony E-mount systems.

A sports photographer was praised for speaking up after a pro soccer player removed his photo watermark and shared the image with his huge Instagram following.

Remote cameras have captured wildlife in a tropical rainforest island in Panama for over three decades -- including ocelots, monkeys, and anteaters.

A wedding photographer has been ordered to hand over images after allegedly defrauding hundreds of couples out of an estimated $1 million in total in a case that has shaken North Carolina.

Instagram has launched a new feature called Instants, a disappearing photo-sharing system designed around fast, unedited sharing with close friends. Available both inside Instagram and through a new standalone Instants app, the feature pushes even further into real-time photography and casual social sharing, with a strong emphasis on authenticity and privacy.

PolarPro has introduced a new creative lens filter that intentionally leaves half the glass uncovered, and that unusual design is exactly what gives the filter its cinematic effect. The new PolarPro Split 50 is a split diopter filter designed to place two subjects at different distances into focus within the same frame, creating a distinctive look long associated with classic Hollywood filmmaking.

India’s tiger reserves are beginning to ban mobile phones during safaris as wildlife tourism faces growing concerns over overcrowding, unsafe tourist behavior, and the impact of social media-driven content creation on endangered animals and fragile ecosystems.

Sony has officially announced the new Sony Xperia 1 VIII, and while the company’s Xperia lineup has long catered to photographers with manual controls, shutter buttons, and Alpha-inspired features, this latest model may represent the biggest camera-focused shift in years.

Sony has announced the FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS, a new professional-grade telephoto zoom lens designed for wildlife, sports, and photojournalism.

Alongside the new Canon EOS R6 V camera for content creators, Canon has unveiled its first L-Series Power Zoom lens, the RF 20-50mm f/4L IS USM PZ. It is also the first full-frame RF-mount lens to offer PZ capabilities without the need for external accessories, unlike Canon's professional Z-series f/2.8 zooms.

NASA's Perseverance rover sent a selfie from Mars taken against the sweeping backdrop of a region scientists call the ‘Lac de Charmes.'

A man has been ordered to pay Kim Kardashian more than $167,000 in legal fees after he sued her for mistakenly posting his photo on Instagram and falsely identifying him as a Texas death row inmate.

A remote camera placed near a watering hole captured a rare wild jaguar roaming an Arizona mountain range.

A professional photographer -- who shot sports as well as weddings -- has been sentenced to 14 years in prison over multiple hidden camera offenses.

Apple’s next iOS update could bring major changes to the Camera app, giving “professional” photographers more control and customization over how they shoot.

Really Right Stuff has announced a new “Core Line” of carbon fiber tripods, introducing the Benchmark and Benchmark Inverted support systems alongside several bundled kits aimed at photographers, videographers, and precision shooters.

A newly resurfaced archive clip from the BBC’s long-running technology program "Tomorrow's World" offers a fascinating snapshot of what people thought the future of photography would look like and why certain surefire ideas ultimately failed.

NiSi has announced the new JetMag Pro Star Soft magnetic filters, a pair of diffusion-style filters aimed specifically at astrophotographers and night landscape shooters looking to add a softer, more atmospheric rendering to the night sky.

If you've ever dreamed of becoming one with ultra-stabilized cameras, DJI today shared a wild-looking camera support system that makes you look more like RoboCop than a photographer or filmmaker.

It has been revealed in European regulatory documents that Apple acquired a one-person software company, Patchflyer GmbH, in January. Patchflyer, or rather its sole employee, Jonathan Ochmann, created the web-based color grading tool Color.io.

The State of the Photo Industry Survey is returning for 2026, with organizers hoping to build on last year’s extensive dataset to create a clearer picture of how professional photographers are navigating an industry that continues to evolve rapidly.