Equipment

Photographers use all kinds of equipment to craft their art, from cameras and lenses to lights and accessories. We cover the latest news and information on the tools of the trade in the photography industry.
Gold laurel wreath around geometric design with the letters "PP" in the center, above the text "2025 WINNERS," on a sparkling, festive background.

The PetaPixel Awards: The Best of Photography in 2025

We are proud to announce the results of the fifth-annual PetaPixel Awards where we are able to honor the best new photography products released in the last year. We were really impressed with how big of a year 2024 was but, somehow, 2025 managed to be an even more impressive showing.

A Sony digital camera with a fluffy microphone attachment is mounted on a tripod. The flip-out screen displays a person taking a selfie outdoors with green fields in the background.

Sony’s Great ZV-E10 II Camera Gets Even Better With Free 4Kp120 Upgrade

When the Sony ZV-E10 II launched in July 2024, it did so with the promise of significant improvements over its predecessor and high-level content creation ambitions. One of the biggest improvements was finally delivering 4Kp60 video, something the original ZV-E10, puzzlingly, could not. Now, with a free upgrade released today, the ZV-E10 II can do one better: 4Kp120 recording.

A split image shows a portable card reader with multiple SD cards on the left and the same card reader connected to a laptop with several SD cards inserted on the right.

Why Choosing the Right Camera Card Is Essential for Professional Photography

In modern photography, nearly every part of the workflow has evolved at an incredible pace. Sensors are larger, resolutions are higher, and video formats now reach deep into 8K and beyond. Yet one of the smallest pieces of gear in your bag plays one of the biggest roles in whether your camera can take full advantage of that power: the memory card. For professional photographers, choosing the right media is not a convenience. It is a critical decision that affects performance, reliability, data safety, and ultimately the quality of the work you deliver.

A person holding a Sony camera equipped with a large white telephoto lens, positioned against a blurred outdoor background.

Viltrox’s New 2x Teleconverter for Sony E-Mount Costs Under $300

Viltrox has been busy so far in December. Alongside wide-angle and telephoto conversion lenses for Fujifilm X100 Series cameras, the Chinese lens maker has also launched a new 2x teleconverter for Sony E-mount cameras. The new teleconverter works with the expected Sony lenses, plus Viltrox's 135mm f/1.8 prime.

Split image: On the left, a black Fujifilm camera facing forward; on the right, a silver Fujifilm camera viewed from above with a detached lens beside it, both on a dark background.

Viltrox’s Conversion Lens Gives the Fujifilm X100 a Wider 28mm Prime

Viltrox, best known for its excellent camera lenses, has announced a new Wide Conversion Lens that attaches to the built-in lens on Fujifilm's popular X100 compact cameras, including the newest X100VI model launched last year. The conversion lens turns the X100's 35mm equivalent lens into a wide-angle 28mm prime.

A pair of sleek, modern white binoculars with metallic accents is shown on a light background, viewed from an angle that highlights the lenses and textured surface.

Leica’s Beautiful New Binoculars Will Set You Back

Leica Sports Optics, which makes the legendary photo company's binoculars, spotting scopes, and weapon sights, announced a pair of new Leica Ultravid White Ocean binoculars. The 7x42 binoculars are designed to be a powerful and elegant companion for people's luxurious outdoor adventures, especially those on the ocean.

A hand holding a metallic cup against a dark background, with beams of light and subtle rainbow reflections passing through the scene.

This Photographer Found a Beautiful Vintage Angenieux Lens for Just $10

Sometimes the universe has a sense of humor. Other times, it hands you a $10 cinema lens that shouldn’t exist outside a collector’s dream and whispers, “Here, go make magic.” This is exactly what happened to Mathieu Stern, the intrepid lens hunter who just scored cinematic history for about the price of a nice latte.

Two action shots from an ice hockey game: on the left, a player in a red uniform skates with the puck; on the right, two players, one in red and one in white, battle for the puck along the boards.

Photographing Professional Hockey with the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 Art

Sometimes it is the least obvious choice that produces the most striking results. That is why I ended up photographing a hockey game in the Swiss National League, with a Sigma 135 f/1.4 Art and a Lumix S1 II and not your standard f/2.8 zoom -- and boy was I up for an exciting shoot!

Colorful graphic featuring "CYBER WEEK HOLIDAY SAVINGS" text surrounded by electronics like a camera, lens, monitor, printer, and SD card, along with holiday icons like snowflakes, a candy cane, and a gift box.

Cyber Week Savings: 25 Great Photo Deals You Can Still Get

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be over, but the deals on cameras, lenses, and essential photo gear are still going strong with Cyber Week. We’ve handpicked the best offers, spanning major brands and covering everything from hobbyist-friendly cameras to flagship systems used in professional production.

A smiling woman examines a camera with a large lens next to an orange drink, while the right side shows a close-up of a camera lens against a blurred background.

Tamron Lens Buyer’s Guide: All New and Holiday Instant Savings

Capture the season’s best moments with incredible savings—Tamron’s Holiday Instant Savings event is here, bringing exclusive deals on some of their most advanced and versatile mirrorless lenses. From the all-in-one travel favorites like the 18-300mm and creator essentials including the 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 and 70-180mm F/2.8 G2, these limited-time discounts make it easier than ever to upgrade your kit.

A gold emblem with "PP" in the center and laurel branches around it, above the text "2025 Nominees," set against a sparkling, bokeh light background.

The PetaPixel Awards Nominees: The Top Photo Gear of 2025

Every year, PetaPixel recognizes the top cameras, lenses, and photography accessories in The PetaPixel Awards. Selections are voted on by the PetaPixel staff and while final awards will be announced next week, we are happy to share our nominees in each of the categories today.

Three black camera lenses are arranged side by side on a grid-patterned surface, with “Petapixel Reviews” and “Editors' Choice” badges displayed in the image corners.

Sigma Aizu Primes Review: Breathtaking Falloff and Flare

It’s felt like a long six months since Sigma first announced the Aizu Primes (which cost $8,300 each), the company's new series of full-frame compatible T1.3 cinema lenses. Currently available focal lengths include 25mm, 27mm, 32mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, and 75mm. Fortunately, after shooting several projects with them while traveling, I finally have a trio of them at home to do some controlled testing.

Three mirrorless camera bodies—Sony Alpha 7, Canon EOS R6, and Nikon Z—are arranged against a colorful, blurred background resembling fireworks or light bursts.

Mid-Range Showdown: Sony a7 V vs Canon EOS R6 III vs Nikon Z6 III

With this week's reveal of the very impressive Sony a7 V, the mid-range full-frame camera market has never been hotter. The oldest competitor of the bunch, the Nikon Z6 III, has been out just a little over a year, while the Canon EOS R6 III and Sony a7 V are brand-new. All the major players have put their best foot forward, but which of them is actually the best when it comes to key specs and features?

A Sony Alpha 7 mirrorless digital camera body is shown facing forward on a plain white background, with the lens removed to reveal the camera's image sensor.

Sony a7 V vs a7 IV: The 15 Biggest Improvements

The brand-new Sony a7 V ushers in many improvements, ranging from a new image sensor and a first-of-its-kind processor to better autofocus and faster continuous shooting. Let's take a closer look at the most significant changes between the a7 IV and the new a7 V.

A Sony Alpha 7 camera body is displayed on a gray grid surface. "PetaPixel Reviews" and "Editors’ Choice" banners appear on the image, indicating a positive camera review.

Sony a7 V Review: Don’t Call It a Comeback

Canon recently made a huge stir with its excellent do-it-all R6 III and for a while, it looked like the year was going to end with a big win for Canon. But with the Sony a7 V coming seemingly out of nowhere, we have a serious contender for the best all-round camera on the market.

A Sony Alpha 7 mirrorless digital camera body with an E-mount cap, shown on a grid-patterned surface against a plain, light-colored background.

Sony a7 V Has New 33MP Partially Stacked Sensor and Faster Processor

The long-awaited Sony a7 V has finally arrived, just over four years after its predecessor, the a7 IV. Much has changed in the camera landscape, not just for Sony but also for its primary competitors. The Sony a7 V promises a wide range of improvements, including a new image sensor, faster processor, better autofocus, and much more.

A vintage Canon Snap 8 video camera is displayed on a stand against a light wooden background, with the Petapixel Reviews logo overlaid in the bottom right corner.

Camp Snap 8 (CS-8) Review: Pretty But Preposterous

The original Camp Snap camera was released a while back and became an unexpected hit. This digital camera was extremely limited and lacked an LCD screen in an attempt to bring the fun back to photography. Now Camp Snap is bringing this philosophy into the world of video with the Camp Snap 8 (CS-8), a video camera with no LCD, no playback, and only an EVF for framing.

A Sony Alpha mirrorless camera with no lens attached is centered on a background of green binary code on a dark screen, resembling the digital rain from the Matrix.

Sony Releases Major Firmware Updates for a7R V and a7 IV

Sony has issued significant new firmware updates for two of its most widely used full-frame mirrorless cameras, bringing the a7R V to Version 4.00 and the a7 IV to Version 6.00. The updates expand focus control options, add new video workflow tools, and improve FTP transfer handling, enhancements that align both models more closely with the capabilities of Sony’s newer Alpha bodies.

A close-up of a camera lens positioned on its side, with the aperture blades visible. The background features a textured metallic surface and a grid-patterned surface beneath the lens. "PetaPixel Reviews" is overlaid on the bottom left.

Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM Review: Affordable and Usable Wide Aperture

In a photo industry of ever-increasing prices, it's refreshing to see optics that supply exceptional value for the dollar. The new Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM made the entire industry double-take upon seeing an f/1.2 optic for only $479. Surely, there must be a catch, so I took the handy little 45mm to a local Christmas market to explore the myriad lights using an extremely shallow depth of field lens.

A computer monitor displays an image editing program with pink cosmetics on the screen. On the desk are a color palette, a wireless mouse and dial, and a small makeup case. The background is dark grey.

BenQ’s New 27-Inch 4K Monitor Has a Built-in Calibration Tool

BenQ has expanded its Designer series with the PD2770U, a 27-inch 4K UHD color management monitor aimed at small studios, independent creators, and post-production teams by combining professional-level color performance with integrated hardware calibration, without the need for external devices.

A split image shows a woman in a flowing white dress spinning sparklers on a beach at sunset, beside a close-up of a Nikon Z-series camera against a black background.

Nikon and RED Are Launching Imaging Recipes Soon

Nikon and RED are working together on a new set of Imaging Recipes for Nikon cameras, slated to arrive on December 10. Although details are scarce on these hyped new recipes, there's still a lot to say about Nikon Imaging Cloud's Imaging Recipes.