Webb Space Telescope Helps a Cosmic Lion Roar Life
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured beautiful new photos of the Lion Nebula, NGC 2392, demonstrating its imaging prowess compared to the venerable Hubble Space Telescope.
The Latest
GoPro Searches for a Lifeline as It Lost $51 Million Last Quarter
GoPro has announced its second-quarter financial results and some of the core numbers are dire.
The Sharge Disk Pro 2 Aims Fix Every Pain Point of the Original
Sharge is just a few days away from wrapping up its crowdfunding campaign for the follow-up to the Sharge Disk Pro with a few nice upgrades, including a way to toggle off its obnoxiously loud fan.
Sony and TSMC Are Spending Billions to Make Next-Gen Image Sensors
Sony Group and chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) are planning to begin mass production of next-generation image sensors in southwestern Japan as soon as 2029, per Nikkei Asia.
Fujifilm Says the Quiet Part Out Loud: The Memory Crisis Is Coming for Cameras
While PetaPixel already covered the big-picture information from Fujifilm's latest financial results, including that the company's Imaging business is a huge moneymaker, there is another part of the company's results well worth discussing: the impact of increased memory prices on expected operational costs and what Fujifilm plans to do about it.
Did Apple Just Spoil an Upcoming Nikon Camera?
Apple seemed to leak an unannounced Nikon camera over the weekend on a ProRes support page. It's a very strange way for a camera to be leaked.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Gets Phase Detect AF and Object Tracking via Firmware
Nearly three years after it launched, Blackmagic has added phase detect autofocus (PDAF) and a set of object detection tracking modes to the Cinema Camera 6K, which significantly ups the value of the video camera.
The Reel Snaps on The Reel are up-to-the-minute updates and quick hits from the PetaPixel news desk.
YouTube Is Making It Harder for New Creators to Get Paid
YouTube has increased the requirements for new accounts that want to monetize their channels. Presently, it asks for 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours in a year or 10 million Shorts views. Starting February 1, 2027, channels will need at least 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 watch hours in a year or 20 million Shorts views.
YouTube says there are some benefits coming in addition to these changes, though, including better opportunities to earn through Premium Lite subscribers. Still, those baseline requirements are pretty high.
Pelican Partners with Chris Burkard for Its First Major TV Campaign
Pelican has partnered with Chris Burkard to create the brand’s first major TV campaign called "The Detour."
Shot on location at Great Sand Dunes National Park, The Detour captures what happens when travel plans fall apart. The film follows Burkard through an unexpected backcountry saga as he navigates truck breakdowns, sandstorms, horseback rides across dunes, and ultralight aircraft flights – all with Pelican’s Aegis Series positioned as the ultimate companion when travel plans go awry.
Light Lens Lab’s All-New 35mm f/2 Apochromatic Lens Is Now Available to Order
The all-new 35mm f/2 Apochromatic lens Light Lens Lab unveiled last week is now available to preorder, including the limited edition Titanium Gray version. The M-Mount lens is the first in a brand-new series for Light Lens Lab, its High Performance Series. The lens starts at $2,099, a signal of its premium design.
The Insta360 GO Ultra Now Has an AI Voice Assistant
Insta360 just pushed an update for the GO Ultra that adds a Gemini-powered voice assistant, which it says turns the camera into "a more capable companion for travel, exploration, and storytelling." The tiny vlogging camera can now perform real-time translation, answer questions based on what the camera is pointed at, or can just answer standard vocal questions.
The company says it is designed to adapt and learn so that it only respond to the sound of the users' voice, so it won't get distracted by crowds or nearby conversations. The update is available starting today and can be applied to the GO Ultra through the Insta360 app.
Oh, and I'm fairly certain that entire launch video was made with AI, which is a gross way to advertise a feature being positioned as a way to enrich travel and experiences.
Atlas Mercury Anamorphic Lenses Get Permanent Price Cut
Atlas Lens Co., a well respected name in the cinema lens space, has slashed the prices of its Mercury Series anamorphic lenses by up to $3,996. As CineD reports, all nine Mercury 1.5x anamorphic lenses have new, lower prices, and these price reductions are permanent. In a world where basically everything gets more expensive, some really high-quality cinema lenses are surprisingly and pleasantly cheaper now. Prices now start at $4,495 per lens, down from the previous entry point of $7,995.
I’m Stumped by This DJI Pocket 4P Original Short Film
DJI partnered with French actress Isabelle Huppert to create this short film shot on the Osmo Pocket 4P. Called FAMILIARITÉ, it's... let's just say, unusual. Maybe I just don't understand art?
What Is Your Greatest Camera Regret?
Jordan Drake and I recently shared our biggest camera regrets during an interview at a Beers and Cameras event in Atlanta, Georgia (watch it here). For me, it was letting go of my original Panasonic GM5 (of course). Luckily, I have rectified that mistake and now own two!
What about you? What are your greatest camera regrets?
Ricoh’s Successful Camera Business Is a Tiny Part of the Company’s Portfolio
Ricoh's profit exploded in the first quarter of FY2026, an absurd 2.78 times increase year-over-year. But what is perhaps most interesting about Ricoh's latest financial results, as reported by Digital Camera Life, is how relatively insignificant Ricoh's camera division is to its bottom line. The camera business, driven mainly by the Ricoh GR Series, had a 300 million yen operating profit in the first quarter, a huge turnaround from the 1.4 billion yen loss during the first quarter in FY2025. However, that 300 million yen, or $1.9 million USD, is just 0.6 percent of Ricoh's total 47.7 billion yen profit. There is a case to be made that a business segment being so small could be a good thing, I suppose.
Foldables Might Finally Be Popular
Folding smartphones have been around for years now, but they have yet to really scratch past the surface of the cultural zeitgeist. That might finally be changing, as Samsung says consumer demand for its new Z8 folding phones saw a 30% increase in pre-order numbers compared to the last generation.
Galaxy Z Fold8 orders make up nearly half of all pre-orders and more than three times as many Flip owners are upgrading to Fold models compared to last year. All this is to say, 2026 might finally be the year you will legitimately see someone using a Samsung Fold in the wild.
Tamron’s OEM Lens Sales Plummet As Company Considers Sony’s Takeover
Tamron's financial results are always interesting thanks to the company's candor in breaking down its own-brand versus OEM lens production and sales data. However, Tamron's latest results are made even more compelling by the fact Sony is actively trying to acquire the lens maker, a very interesting move with huge potential implications.
How to Film a Simple Music Video, From Start to Finish
I've been thinking lately that it had been a while since I filmed a short form project. As in, actually directed the story, actors, and visuals. Right on cue, my buddy and amazing musician, Sam Plecker, reached out and said he wanted to film a music video for his upcoming track.
Fleeting Moments and Unusual Perspectives: Pure Street Photography Awards 2026 Winners
The winners of the Pure Street Photography Awards 2026 have been announced -- a competition created to celebrate photographs defined by honesty, observation, and humanity.
Before-and-After Photos Show the Crater Left by SpaceX Rocket on the Moon
The first photos of the impact crater left on the Moon after an out-of-control SpaceX spacecraft crashed into its surface last week have emerged.
Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million in New Mexico Child Safety Case
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million over harms to young people linked to its platforms -- in what is the largest fine against Instagram and Facebook’s parent company over child safety.
Cameras on Chinese-Made Drones Used by UK Royal Navy Secretly Sent Data to China
Chinese-made surveillance drones used by the U.K.'s elite special forces were found to have cameras that secretly sent data to China.
UK Venues Ban Meta Smart Glasses En Masse
Several establishments across the U.K. are announcing bans on Meta smart glasses, citing concerns that the devices could be used to record customers and staff secretly.
Pentax’s DSLR Dreams Won’t Come True if It Does the Same Old Thing
Pentax is in a challenging spot. Its parent company, Ricoh, remains committed to the Pentax brand, and Pentax wants to continue to make DSLR cameras. The problem is nobody wants new DSLR cameras.
80 Years of Documentary Photography Reveal the Darker Side of Britain and Ireland
A new exhibition examines how more than 80 years of documentary photography has captured the darker, more unsettling side of life in Britain and Ireland.
A Close Look at a $100M Piece of Photographic History: Machine E
In a town close to the French/German language split in Switzerland lies a piece of photographic history that is worth taking a look at. In Marly, Switzerland, lies Machine E, a multilayer photographic coating machine that has been used to bring many world-beating photographic products to the market.
Godox C100 Review: A Troubled Viewpoint
I have a real dislike for most of what I call e-waste cameras on the market, which are those that are capturing the world through the lens of a literal dashcam. They tend to be cheaply built, take poor photos, and are littered with many frustrating compromises. I am instantly skeptical anytime a new cheap $45 point-and-shoot comes across my radar.
What Shooting 6×6 Taught Me About Formats and Rules
I recently added a camera that shoots 6x6 to my shelf. Square negatives, twelve per roll. I expected to enjoy the lens, the build, the ritual of loading film backs. What I didn’t expect was how much the shape of the frame would mess with the rest of my photography vision.
Incredible Photo Collection Featuring Works by Nan Goldin and Diane Arbus Goes on Tour
An extraordinary picture collection spanning 100 works by photographers including Diane Arbus, Dorothea Lange, Richard Avedon, Nan Goldin, and Edward Steichen will be on view at museums across the United States.
Fujifilm’s Imaging Business Accounts for Much of the Company’s Profit
Continuing the slate of financial result releases, Fujifilm shared its latest earnings for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027. Revenues are up, but operating income is down.
The FCC Is Weighing a Retroactive Ban on DJI Drones it Previously Allowed
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering expanding its already existing ban on new DJI drones to include drones that already exist in the marketplace, claiming it wants to “secure the drone supply chain” by preventing the sale of drones equipped with military technology.
This New Mac App Keeps Track of Your Photo and Video Backups
Keeping track of photo and video files across multiple hard drives, memory cards, and cloud services can become difficult as projects accumulate. A new Mac application called Tusk is designed to give photographers and video creators a way to track those files while also handling parts of the backup and offload process.
James Webb Space Telescope Opens Up a Cosmic Treasure Chest
The newest NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope Picture of the Month delivers a spectacularly colorful look at a cosmic "Treasure Chest," a neat feature of the nearby Carina Nebula, located just 7,500 light-years away.
Lomochrome Color ‘92 Sun-Kissed Is a Fun Film With Character All Its Own
Toward the end of the summer of 2024, Lomography struck again, bringing a new (sort of) addition to its Lomochrome line of experimental films. The company introduced Lomochrome Color ‘92 Sun-Kissed, a color negative film meant for experimentation and indulging in nostalgia.
The Zhong Yi Pittura 30mm f/2.4 Is a Fast and Wide Medium Format Lens
Zhong Yi Optics has announced the Pittura 30mm f/2.4, a manual focus prime lens designed to give Hasselblad XCD and Fujifilm GFX photographers an unusual combination of both fast aperture and a wide-angle.
Flashback Is Offering a Photographer a Six-Month ‘Dream Job’
Want to live in Hong Kong while getting paid to create photography and video content?
Adobe Is Coming for Canva With Expanded ChatGPT Integration
Late last year, Adobe introduced integrations for Photoshop, Express, and Acrobat inside OpenAI's conversational AI platform, ChatGPT. Now Adobe has upped the ante and announced the Adobe plugin in ChatGPT, which brings every Adobe app inside ChatGPT.
DJI Teases Osmo 360 II With Footage From the New Camera
DJI has released a second teaser for its upcoming Osmo 360 II, this time showing footage captured with the new 360-degree camera. The company says the camera will officially launch later today.
Tons of Top Cameras Are Discounted Right Now
There are many great deals on a wide range of very good cameras at B&H right now. While not all of them are the absolute latest and greatest, they are very good interchangeable lens cameras, ranging from Micro Four Thirds all the way up to full frame.
International Pet Photographer of the Year Has an Incredible Portfolio
The winners of the 2026 International Pet Photography Awards have been announced, with photographer Callie Soden claiming the Creative and Studio category titles before being named the overall International Pet Photographer of the Year.
This Photographer Built An App to Capture Perfect Solar Eclipse Photos
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will dazzle people in Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, and a small part of Portugal, plus some lucky people on boats in the Atlantic Ocean. For photographers gearing up for the total solar eclipse next week, and others farther down the road, photographer Steven Madow has created an incredibly robust new solar eclipse automation app, Umbra.
The Most Detailed Photos Ever of the Sun’s Surface
Scientists have captured the most detailed photos of the Sun's surface yet, revealing mysterious solar processes with incredible resolution.
Lightroom’s Masking Just Got Much Better
Adobe released new updates across its Lightroom ecosystem, including Lightroom Classic, Lightroom on desktop, Lightroom for iPad, and Lightroom for mobile. There is a wide range of exciting updates across the board.
Glyph Atom EX80 Review: Fast and Feature Rich
I've been reviewing HDDs and SSDs for the better part of a decade, and there has been one constant throughout all of it: the price-to-speed ratio is pretty much always top of mind. But with the ballooning costs of memory making personal storage absurdly expensive, the value-add found in the Atom EX80 has me rethinking this paradigm, at least a little.
This Grainy Photo of Earth Captured on Mars Is Way Cooler Than It Looks
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z instrument to photograph Earth as it passed behind the Martian moon, Phobos.
China’s Slowing Economy Problem Is Also a Photo Industry Problem
Just a couple of years ago, China's economy was booming to the degree that global companies -- camera manufacturers included -- shifted financial expectations up as a result. But now that boom has inverted, which means companies didn't hit those financial targets.
Nikon Cuts Camera and Lens Sales Projections Amid Slow Start to the Fiscal Year
Nikon lost a record amount of money last fiscal year, and things aren't exactly off to a great start in FY2027. That said, Nikon only lost 0.9 billion yen (under $5.7 million) in the first quarter, a massive improvement versus the over $700 million the company lost in total last year.
Colorado Wildlife Photographers Slam Petition Requiring Annual Permit
A citizen petition submitted to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) that would require photographers to pay an annual fee to operate commercially in the state has been slammed as "enraging" and "unenforceable".
Sony’s Image Sensor Division Is Extremely Profitable
Sony recently released its FY2026 Q1 financial results, and it has been an excellent start to the year for Sony overall.
Over Six Years Later, Nikon’s Final Two DSLRs Are Still Getting New Firmware
Nikon is well regarded for its excellent post-launch firmware support, especially for its mirrorless cameras like the major releases for the Z8 and Z9. However, Nikon's latest updates aren't for its mirrorless cameras, but rather for a pair of the company's old DSLRs.
Don Pettit’s Staggering Photo Confounds Skeptics
Astronaut Don Pettit takes photos so good that people have a hard time believing they are real. Case in point, a stunning image of the Milky Way Galaxy as the Earth zooms below Pettit's International Space Station vantage point.
Trail Camera Captures First Birth of Wild Baby Pine Martens in a Century
Camera traps have captured the first wild baby pine martens to be born in southwest England for over 100 years.
NASA Satellite Captures ‘Hummingbird’ Shape Hidden in Antarctic Ice
A NASA satellite has captured a striking image of a fractured Antarctic landscape that appears to resemble a hummingbird.
Wedding Photographer Gives the Internet Unintended Jump Scare
A talented wedding photographer gave the internet an unintended jump scare after including a pair of dangling legs in his frame.
Now that Generative AI Is the Villain, Luminar Is Spinning Its Messaging
Skylum, best known for its AI-powered photo editing software Luminar, is grappling with today's increasingly negative attitude toward artificial intelligence by changing its messaging to double-down on human creativity.
Nikon Lost Its Viltrox Lawsuit and Sony to Buy Tamron? | The PetaPixel Podcast
This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris and Jordan phone in from the beach to talk about the ramifications of Nikon's loss to Viltrox in Chinese court as well as Sony's bid to buy Tamron. Plus, the two name what they think are every camera brand's greatest accomplishment... and their deepest shame!
Canon Is Developing a Lens Coating Without PFAS-Laden Fluorine
Canon is working on a fluorine-free optical coating that offers the same water-repelling qualities and durability of fluorine, but without the PFAS problems.
Astronomers Capture ‘Exceptionally Rare’ Star Explosion for Only the Second Time in 20 Years
In March, the Einstein Probe, a satellite made by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in partnership with the European Space Agency, detected a very brief flash of "soft X-rays" emitted by a galaxy about 500 million light-years away. Within an hour, ground-based telescopes, including several at National Science Foundation (NSF) NOIRLab facilities, began investigating the region, getting a front-row seat to bombastic and very special star death.
This Photo Makes London Look Like California Amid the Summer Drought
It looks like an image taken on the semi-arid landscape of southern California, but this remarkable news photo, showing scorched grass, was actually taken in London.