The Ultimate ‘First Camera Purchase’ Accessory Tier List | The PetaPixel Podcast

May 27, 2026

Jaron Schneider

This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team discusses a week’s worth of news, including a controversial story where a Gallery in New York sold an AI-generated, colorized version of an Ansel Adams classic, the Sony a7 V’s latest firmware update, and what might be the rarest digital camera ever made.

Plus, the trio breaks out the tier list and rank every optional accessory that camera stores try to convince you that you need to bundle with your first camera purchase. What’s S-tier and what’s F-tier? They dig into it!

Thanks to our friends at DxO for sponsoring today’s podcast. DxO just released Nik Collection 9, the latest version of their popular editing suite that photographers have been using for over a decade. If you know Nik, you know Silver Efex for black-and-white and Color Efex for creative grading. Nik Collection 9 is the biggest feature update in years.

If you want the full breakdown, our very own Michael Bonocore wrote a deep dive covering all the new features with real examples using his travel photography.

DxO is offering PetaPixel Podcast listeners 15% off any DxO software, including Nik Collection 9, by using the code “PetaPixel” at checkout at http://dxo.com. Thanks again to DxO for sponsoring today’s podcast!

Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo. Credit card offers are subject to credit approval.

Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank

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We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.