The Path to Pentax’s Survival Is to Mirror Sega

The image features the SEGA logo in blue and white above the word "PENTAX" in bold red letters on a dark, abstract background with red and blue light patterns.

Ricoh Imaging recently revealed to PetaPixel that it was having a difficult time figuring out how to make the DSLR popular among a wider group of people, admitting that the current fan base of the brand wouldn't be enough to keep it afloat. I argue the best route forward is to pull a Sega.

A photo editing interface shows a grid of image thumbnails on the left and a large photo of a glowing green and purple aurora over a calm lake and hills under a starry sky on the right.

Excire Search 2026 Lets Me Focus on the Photos I Care About the Most

Digital photography is wonderful. It has positively impacted my life from the second I picked up my first camera, a Nikon D80. However, the other side of that coin of accessibility and convenience and nearly infinite image-capture capabilities is a seemingly impenetrable pile of image files, including RAWs, JPEGs, and even videos, over almost 20 years. Finding what I'm looking for in my massive library has always been a nightmare. But it doesn't have to be, thanks to Excire Search 2026.

Photographer Transformed a Panasonic Lumix G9 II Into a Leica Look-Alike

A hand holds a black Leica camera in the center of a park pathway lined with benches and autumn trees, with yellow leaves scattered on the ground.

"Programmer by day, photographer by weekend" Cristian Băluță could not find the precise camera he wanted in the market, so he made it himself. Băluță expertly took the internal components from the Panasonic Lumix G9 II Micro Four Thirds camera and put them inside a Leica M replica body he made. It was a labor of love, and while the photographer admits the result isn't necessarily the dream camera he imagined, the project is incredible.

A blue app icon with a white "FX" in the center, surrounded by a starburst shape and small sparkles, set against a blue to purple gradient background.

ON1 Is Giving Away Effects 2025, No Strings Attached

Until January 12, ON1 is giving away its Effects 2025 standalone software and plugin for free, with no strings attached. The company says the goal is to give photographers a chance to try the software firsthand without having to provide payment information or sign up for a long-term commitment.

A digital illustration of a rectangular computer chip with a central sensor, set against a background of abstract blue and green circuitry lines and patterns.

Canon Shows Off Prototype SPAD Image Sensor

Canon showcased a prototype Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, promising extraordinary dynamic range and low-light capabilities while offering a tantalizing glimpse of how digital capture might evolve over the next decade, especially in environments where conventional sensors struggle.

Three photographs of the Great Wall of China are displayed side by side against a pale background, each showing different angles and lighting of the wall winding through mountains.

Uncovering the History of How China Fell in Love With Photography

China is one of the world's biggest photography markets, even besting the Americas in terms of camera and lens sales earlier this year. However, China's rich photographic history is not well known in the West, something American photographer Ben Fraternale, who runs the excellent photography YouTube channel "In An Instant," hopes to change through his new three-part documentary series, "Inside China."

The Photographer’s Guide to Breaking Your Own Rules

Left: A wall decorated with cowboy hat shapes, a window, and a row of chairs. Right: An abandoned, weathered U.S. Air Force jet resting on the ground under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

After 25 years behind the camera, OM SYSTEM photographer Jerred Zegelis thought he knew the rules of photography. Shoot RAW. Stay neutral. Fix it in post. Art Filters are for amateurs. These weren't suggestions. For Zegelis, they were law, absorbed from forums, tutorials, and years of professional habit.

A close-up of a Hasselblad digital camera body, showing the lens mount and sensor. The camera sits on a grid-patterned surface with a black background.

The Hasselblad X2D II 100C Honors its Legacy While Embracing the Future

The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is the company's best demonstration yet of how medium format photography doesn't have to come with compromises. Gone are the days of huge, heavy cameras, sluggish and unreliable autofocus, and an obtuse user experience. The X2D II 100C delivers the exceptional image quality photographers expect from medium format and represents the mature roadmap of the company to stand out in the medium format camera industry.

Side-by-side images of a Meike 85mm f/1.8 camera lens: on the left, the lens stands upright with branding visible; on the right, the lens lies on its side showing the front glass element.

Meike Found a Loophole for Canon’s Closed RF Mount

It's 2026, and Canon has been making full-frame EOS R-series mirrorless cameras since 2018. That has not stopped Chinese lens company Meike from releasing a new 85mm f/1.8 Mark II lens for Canon EF-mount DSLR cameras, which seems strange at first glance, but is actually a clever way to bypass Canon's restrictions on third-party full-frame RF lenses with autofocus.

A hand adjusts the settings on a Westcott FJ200 strobe light, which is mounted on a tripod. The background is out of focus with autumn-colored foliage.

Westcott’s FJ250 Strobe Boasts the Best Battery Life in its Class

Westcott's new FJ250 250Ws Touchscreen Strobe is an exciting entry-level monolight for photographers who need reliable power, fast performance, and a compact footprint on location. Positioned in Westcott's refreshed lineup below the FJ400 II and FJ800, the FJ250 replaces the popular FJ200 and introduces several user-requested upgrades into a more accessible package.

A black camera backpack is shown next to a camera and three lenses. The bag is open, revealing organized compartments with a camera body attached to a lens, plus three additional lenses.

Think Tank’s New Photo Backpacks Ditch Dividers for Pouches and Straps

Think Tank's redesigned Shape Shifter 25L and 37L backpacks promises to better serve photographers whether they are working in the field, transporting gear from shoot to shoot, or traveling afar. Think Tank specifically targets the backpack at fast-moving photojournalists, but it is built for all photographers who need to carry a lot of gear safely and access it quickly.