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A vintage Leica camera with a lens cap beside it sits in front of a red Leica-branded case on a white surface.

The Most Interesting Items in the 44th Tamarkin Rare Camera Auction

The influential Leica I 35mm camera turns 100 years old this year, and Chicago-based Tamarkin Camera, a premier Leica specialist, is celebrating Leica's centenary in style with a Leica-heavy Rare Camera Auction on November 15. Bidding is open now, so here are 10 of the most interesting lots Tamarkin has up for grabs, some of which are expected to sell for as much as $35,000.

A diagram shows the internal optical path of a camera’s viewfinder system, with colored lines illustrating light passing through various lenses, prisms, and mirrors inside the camera body.

This Explainer on How a Rangefinder Camera Works Is The Best We’ve Seen

Photographer and technology expert David Imel recently published a video discussing why Leica got rid of the most iconic part of its M series cameras in the new M EV1: the rangefinder. But to do that, he first had to explain what a rangefinder is and how it works, and in doing so created the best modern breakdown of the technology that is very easy to understand.

Ethical Wildlife Photography: A Field Guide to Photographing Animals with Respect

Two bear cubs stand on hind legs playfully sparring in a grassy field, while a bald eagle perches calmly on a branch against a blurred forest background.

A crew working for an unnamed wildlife photographer fed and used cellophane paper to lure a fox for the 'perfect shot' in Grand Teton National Park. Since the fox was conditioned to human food, park officials euthanized it. The photographer got his shot. The fox paid with its life. Learning about this event became the North Star for Arthur Lefo, an OM SYSTEM Ambassador who has spent almost a decade photographing iconic wildlife. Lefo believes that ethical wildlife photography isn't just about rules, but respect.

The Best Video Cameras to Take On Long-Distance Backpacking

A hiker with a large backpack walks toward a scenic mountain vista, framed by a tree and a large rock, under a partly cloudy sky.

It was sunset on top of the tallest mountain in the continental United States, and I had two immediate priorities. One was dinner. As a long-distance backpacker on the Pacific Crest Trail, I was burning between 4,000 and 6,000 calories a day, and losing too much weight was a constant concern for myself and my friends. The other priority was 32.4 ounces of metal and glass clipped to the shoulder strap of my backpack: my camera. And as the sun sank towards the horizon, I kept neglecting my dinner in favor of keeping up with the ever-changing lighting.

Aerial view of a residential neighborhood at night with fireworks shooting up from the street, illuminating houses and trees while city lights glow in the background.

City Fines Homeowner $300,000 After Using Drone to Spot Illegal Fireworks

A week after Fourth of July celebrations, PetaPixel reported that multiple California police departments had used drones to surveil and spot people illegally shooting off fireworks. Promised fines have been rolling out since, including a new $300,000 one levied against an Orange County homeowner who claims they were not even home on July 4.

DJI Osmo 360 Review: Ready for Adventure Against Stiff Competition

A 360-degree camera displays a photo of an ornate building on its screen, with the same building blurred in the background. The image includes the "PetaPixel Reviews" logo at the bottom right.

The Osmo 360 is something of a reverse situation for DJI. Rather than being a category leader in this respect, the device is more of a response to what competitors like Insta360 have been doing. That widens the scope and scrutiny for what a camera like this could and should be, given the versatility DJI claims it has.