PopPhoto Obit

PopPhoto is Dead, Again

After shuttering in 2017 and reviving in 2021 as an online-only magazine, Popular Photography -- colloquially known as PopPhoto -- has let go its last staff members and is effectively dead once again.

Demand in China is Still Largely Driving Camera Sales –CIPA

The latest report out of CIPA (the Camera and Imaging Products Association) shows that demand from China is still the main driver of global camera sales. Sales of high-priced models are strong and shipments are increasing there and in Japan, as we reported back in August.

“Demand in China, which can be said to be the driving force, is solid, and with the tailwind of the weaker yen, sales of high-priced models are strong and shipments are increasing,” Newswitch reports. “Another contributing factor is that consumers have more opportunities to go out and take photos as the coronavirus pandemic subsides. On the other hand, with the successive announcements of new products, sales promotion activities by each company will become more active, and product development will accelerate in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympics and other events. As competition intensifies, companies are likely to be required to further strengthen their supply systems.”

So, that means we’ll see the Canon R1 next year right? Right?

How Sigma Could Make the fp Great

I have always admired Sigma. It wasn’t regarded in the same league as it is today for its lenses until the Art series came out, but Sigma’s digital cameras have always been singular in design and purpose. The family-owned company has never been afraid to try something new, and honestly, that’s something we need to see a lot more of in the photography world.

A Photographer Goes Inside the Ruins of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

For more than a dozen years, I have been documenting the aftermath of the disasters at the Chornobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants, the progress of the cleanup, and the decontamination and revitalization of the contaminated areas. During this time, I made many visits to the Chornobyl plant. Finally, it was time to visit the Fukushima plant.

Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 AF lens

$190 Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 E-Mount Lens Promises Great Value

Chinese lens maker Viltrox routinely releases high-quality lenses that far outpace their affordable price tags. For example, per PetaPixel's review by Ryan Mense, the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE lens has "no business being this cheap." Viltrox has launched a new AF 20mm f/2.8 FE lens for full-frame Sony cameras for just $190 that appears to also be very good.

Markus Hofstaetter

Markus Hofstaetter Has a Fun and Entirely Analog Day of Photography

Photographer Markus Hofstaetter is well known for his excellent analog photography and fun do-it-yourself projects. The Austrian photographer is spoiled with opportunities to get new gear, including at Joe Geier's Mint and Rare Store, which organizes a biannual analog flea market called Wiener Fotoboersë.

Photographing Idaho’s Picturesque Sawtooth Mountains with Matt Suess

With each passing year, more photographers find themselves exploring the endless miles of pristine rivers, remote backroads, and stunning landscapes of Idaho. Even with the influx of tourism, Idaho still has plenty of solitude for those who seek it. OM SYSTEM Ambassador and photographer Matt Suess recently traveled to the state's Sawtooth Mountains in search of portfolio-worthy images and a distraction from an unexpected change in his personal life.