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.
A person holds a blue and clear plastic camera up to their face, preparing to take a photo. The focus is on the camera and their hand, while the background is blurred.

Await Digital Camera Uses ‘Film Rolls’ and Delivers 4 x 6 Prints

For a company that’s made its name in high-end cables, chargers, and Bluetooth trackers, Rolling Square isn’t known for making cameras. First teased at IFA 2025 in Berlin, the Swiss brand unveiled its Await Camera at CES 2026 in Las Vegas and is set to bring it to market within the next few months. It is a throwback to disposable film cameras and relies heavily on prints.

A compact black digital camera is displayed on a grid surface, with "PetaPixel Reviews" text overlaid in the bottom left corner of the image.

Ricoh GR IV Monochrome Review: Black and White Comes at a Premium

Why buy a dedicated monochromatic camera when a regular camera can take black and white photos? It's more expensive, far less versatile, and made for a very small market of users. That's the question I hear a lot, and I get it. But I would argue that photography isn't always about the most efficient tool, or the easiest path to a final result.

Two views of a compact, retro-style camera: the left image shows a person holding the camera and viewing a landscape on its screen; the right image shows the camera resting on a hand, displaying its front and lens.

3D-Printed Kit Gives the DJI Osmo Nano Vintage Hasselblad Style

The DJI Osmo Nano is a clever, compact modern action camera with cutting-edge features. But what if it looked and acted less like a modern action camera and more like a classic waist level-viewfinder Hasselblad camera? For some reason, there's a 3D-printed shooting kit that answers that very question.

A black camera lens with engraved focus and aperture markings, including a yellow "75" for the focal length, sits upright against a gradient dark background. The lens features a textured grip and metallic mounting ring.

SG-image’s New 75mm f/1.2 Medium Format Portrait Prime Is Under $500

SG-image is a relatively new Chinese lens company making a wide range of lenses, including autofocus and manual lenses for photography and video across many different camera systems and lens mounts. The company's latest, a 75mm f/1.2 prime, is designed for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD-series medium-format cameras.

A close-up of a gloved person holding a Sony camera with a large lens. The image includes the "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the bottom left corner.

Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 Review: Sirui Succeeds Again

With all the budget lens manufacturers available to a prospective buyer, it’s hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Sirui is a well-known manufacturer of tripod gear, and when I heard they were making lenses too, I was very skeptical.

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.

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

"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 variety of professional photography lights, including LED panels, ring light, and strobes, are arranged on a peach background with fireworks. Some lights are on stands, and a smartphone displays color controls.

Save Big on the Lighting Gear That Can Improve Your Photos in 2026

The new year is the perfect excuse to finally upgrade the lighting gear that shapes every shot you take. Whether you are refining a home studio, stepping into video production, or simply tired of fighting inconsistent light, better lighting delivers immediate, visible improvements to your work.

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.

The word "PENTAX" in bold red letters is centered against a dynamic, glowing digital background with orange and white lines, grids, and light streaks, suggesting technology and innovation.

The Future for Pentax is Uncertain, but Ricoh is Committed to the Brand

The Pentax brand has been largely quiet for the last several years. Outside of the Pentax 17 and the K3 Mark III Monochrome, there has not been significant activity. Speaking to PetaPixel, Ricoh President Yasutomo Mori and Kazunobu Saiki, General Manager of Ricoh's Camera Business Division, both promise that Ricoh is committed to the Pentax brand, despite the quiet situation.

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.

A Nikon Z series digital camera with a zoom lens hangs from a black strap, suspended in front of a blurred, beige outdoor background.

The Nikon 24-105mm f/4-7.1 Is a New Kit Zoom to Pair with the Z5 II

Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 zoom lens for Nikon full-frame mirrorless cameras. While it is available on its own, the lens is also being paired as a kit with the Z5 II, giving photographers a third configuration option with one of the most compelling entry-level full-frame cameras on the market.

Four camera stabilizers, each holding a different device: a DSLR camera, a mirrorless camera, a smartphone, and an action camera, are displayed on black podiums against a dark background.

Hohem’s New Gimbals Have a Built-in Camera for AI Subject Tracking

Hohem has announced the iSteady MT3 series, bringing its latest artificial intelligence–driven tracking tools to a new generation of prosumer camera stabilizers. Designed to support mirrorless cameras, action cameras, and smartphones, the MT3 lineup focuses on intelligent subject tracking, flexible mounting, and long battery life in a compact, travel-ready design.

A laptop with a blue glowing logo on screen is placed on a dark surface, surrounded by two suitcases and two action cameras on tripods. The arrangement suggests travel or outdoor content creation.

GoPro and Asus Are Making a Co-Branded ProArt Laptop

GoPro is getting into the personal computing space. Announced at CES, the action camera company is partnering with PC brand Asus in a ProArt GoPro Edition laptop, which the two companies say is designed specifically for modern content creators.

A drone with propellers and a remote control.

Antigravity A1 Drone Review: There Has Never Been Anything Quite Like It

If you're looking at picking up a drone, you probably are thinking of one made by DJI, or another DJI, or yet a third DJI option. Others have tried, but largely, all have failed to get a solid foothold. However, this only refers to the drone market that appeals to the creative videographers. When it comes to the first-person view (or FPV) market, there are many brands vying for attention.

A rugged black Glyph external hard drive is connected to a laptop, sitting on a mouse pad next to a keyboard and a black pen.

Glyph Says Its New Atom EX SSDs Are Unbeatable For Creative Workflows

Glyph has announced two new portable SSDs: the Atom EX40 and the Atom EX20. Both are described as rugged, high-speed NVMe portable SSDs that are built for high-intensity, demanding creative workflows. The company says most other SSDs aren’t designed for this kind of work, "but their spec sheets won't admit it."

Three camera lenses labeled AF 24mm, AF 50mm, and AF 85mm are displayed on a dark reflective surface with a warm gradient background, positioned upright with the 50mm lens in the center.

7Artisans’ New f/1.8 APS-C Primes are ‘Lite’ in Name, Size, and Price

7Artisans is continuing its push into autofocus territory with the announcement of three new APS-C prime lenses designed to balance modern convenience with aggressive pricing. The newly unveiled AF 25mm f/1.8, AF 35mm f/1.8, and AF 50mm f/1.8 Lite target Sony E and Fujifilm X shooters looking for compact, everyday primes without the cost or bulk typically associated with first-party glass.

Three professional camera zoom lenses are shown standing upright side by side against a backdrop of large, out-of-focus golden lights. Each lens has visible brand and model markings.

Zooms Dominate Map Camera’s Best-Selling Lenses of 2025

Alongside sharing its 10 best-selling digital cameras of 2025, major Japanese photography retailer Map Camera also revealed last year's 10 best-selling lenses. It's a diverse mix of affordable, versatile zoom lenses, compact primes, and professional-grade f/2.8 "holy trinity" zooms.