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 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.

A black external hard drive, labeled "OWC Envoy Pro Elektron," connected to a laptop via a USB-C cable, placed on a wooden surface. A digital camera is partially visible next to the hard drive.

OWC Launches World’s First 8TB Thunderbolt 5 Portable SSD

Other World Computing (OWC) unveiled the world's first Thunderbolt 5 8TB drive that is bus-powered, meaning it doesn't require a separate power adapter. The new 8TB version of the existing Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD breaks new ground and is designed for creatives on the go who require the ultimate external SSD performance.

A black external hard drive with a blue indicator light is placed on a wooden desk, partially beneath a computer monitor displaying app icons. A small, silver computer device is positioned nearby.

OWC Unveils Wild 192TB Version of its Fast ThunderBlade X12 RAID SSD

Nearly a year to the day after unveiling its Thunderbolt 5-equipped ThunderBlade X12 RAID SSD solution for professional creators, Other World Computing (OWC) has announced that its ThunderBlade X12 RAID SSD now comes with double the maximum capacity, bringing it to a whopping 192 terabytes (TB).

Side-by-side image of two microphones on abstract wavy backgrounds: the left mic is surrounded by purple lines, while the right mic is encircled by green lines, both with a futuristic, digital design.

Shure’s New USB-C Mic Promises Pro Audio on Smartphones

Audio company Shure unveiled the MV88 USB-C, a new USB-C stereo microphone, today at CES Unveiled 2026. The Shure MV88 combines a classic stereo condenser mic with a USB-C connector, promising accessible, high-quality audio on a smartphone or tablet.

Four mirrorless camera bodies from Nikon, Lumix, Canon, and Sony are arranged in a grid on a marble background, each showing their lens mounts and sensors.

Mid-Range Cameras Have Never Been This Good

We got not one, not two, but three fantastic mid-range full-frame cameras in 2025: the Panasonic Lumix S1 II, the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, and the Sony a7 V. These join the Nikon Z6 III, which launched just 18 months ago. The mid-range mirrorless camera segment has never been this competitive, fresh, and fantastic, which is outstanding news for photographers.

Two digital cameras are shown side by side on a dark green background: the left camera has no lens and exposes its sensor, while the right camera has a classic design with a mounted lens.

2025 Was the Year of the Photographic Experience

There are so many fantastic, capable digital cameras available these days. Nearly every new camera from all the major manufacturers can take great photos, has reliable autofocus, and offers a competitive feature set. Ultimately, the biggest differentiator between most cameras is the experience of using them. 2025 delivered many new cameras that not only provide a great experience, but a different one that celebrates the act of photography itself and what it means to capture photos.

A small yellow Kodak digital camera with a large attached lens is shown. On the left, the camera is held in hand facing forward; on the right, the camera is attached to a bulky manual lens, also held by hand.

What Happens When You Put Big Lenses on the Tiny Kodak Charmera?

The Kodak Charmera keychain camera has been a smash hit. Sold in blind boxes, the 1.6-megapixel retro-styled toy camera was one of the biggest photo gifts of the holidays. However, straight out of the box, its capabilities are arguably a bit lacking, thanks in large part to its tiny built-in lens. That's where expert camera modifier James Warner, or Snappiness as he's known online, comes in. What would happen if you gave the Kodak Charmera a better, bigger lens?

Digital camera body, a large black camera lens, and a long white telephoto camera lens displayed on a gold satin background.

Sigma in 2025: The Best Performance of Any Photo Company This Year

I saved the best for last. Sigma had a truly remarkable year, launching a beautiful new camera and a diverse, large array of incredible lenses. There's a very good reason Sigma was PetaPixel's Photo Company of the Year for a second straight year. The company even rebranded! There's a lot to cover, so let's get right to it.

Three Leica camera products displayed on a dark red and black gradient background: a compact camera on the left, a camera lens in the center, and a camera body on the right.

Leica in 2025: Leica Did Leica Things This Year

This year, Leica celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Leica I, the first 35mm camera. That alone makes it an excellent year for the legendary German company, but it was also jam-packed with new cameras, lenses, and, as always, special edition product launches.

Two OM System OM-5 cameras, one gold and one silver, are displayed on either side of a large white telephoto lens labeled 150-600mm, all set against a blue geometric background.

OM System in 2025: A Great Camera, an Awesome Lens, and Little Else

While Panasonic ignored Micro Four Thirds in 2025, OM System thankfully didn't. And that's a good thing, too, because it's OM's entire business. OM System didn't entirely allay my fears about Micro Four Thirds's ultimate fate, but at least the company did release some nice products this year.

A person in a car uses a tablet showing a photo of bison in a field. The tablet connects wirelessly to a camera outside, with a device nearby enabling the connection. Distant animals and open grasslands are visible.

This Repeater Turns Your Camera Into a Remote Wildlife Camera Trap

For wildlife photographers, distance has always been both a necessity and a limitation. Get too close, and the subject disappears. Stay too far away, and the image loses intimacy. SmallRig is attempting to rethink that balance with the launch of the Remote Wildlife Pro Wireless Repeater, a long-range Wi-Fi hub designed to give photographers control over cameras placed deep in the field while they remain hundreds of meters away.

A festive holiday background with pine branches, baubles, and berries displaying camera accessories: memory card case, camera, lens adapter, filters, camera strap, remote controls, and a backpack.

Top Holiday Deals on Essential Photography Accessories

Accessories may not get the same attention as cameras and lenses, but they are often the tools that keep photographers shooting smoothly. From memory card protection to power solutions and lens accessories, small upgrades can make a meaningful difference in daily workflow. Right now, holiday and last-minute savings are bringing substantial discounts to many of these essentials.

A man with gray hair and a beard stands in front of a wall lined with rows of camera lenses, some of which are reflected in the mirrored surface behind him.

Made in Japan: How (and Why) Sigma Does Things Differently

When Sigma announced its new cinema lens series earlier this year, that may have been the first time that some heard the word "Aizu." Aizu, the shortened form of Aizuwakamatsu, refers to a region in Fukushima, in northern Honshu, Japan, where Sigma is based. This region and its people are so important to the core of what makes Sigma special that it only makes sense to name a lens series after it.

Three compact cameras with textured grips are displayed against a green, diagonally split background. The top camera is black, the lower left is black, and the lower right has a silver and black body.

Fujifilm in 2025: High Highs and Low Lows

Fujifilm is going to be very difficult to grade this year, not because the company didn't do anything, but because it delivered such an eclectic mix of products, ranging from fun but bad to good but boring. Fujifilm always does things a bit differently, but this year was especially odd.

A collage of three images: a gloved hand examining a photo with a ruler, a close-up of a vintage camera viewfinder and lens, and a black Leica 110 camera showing its lens and viewfinder.

The Most Special Cameras, Lenses, and Photos in Leica’s Archives

Leica counted down the days to Christmas in style, delivering daily videos that showcase "the most special things" in the company's archives. As is tradition, the photographic advent calendar of sorts concluded yesterday, Christmas Eve, and we thought a nice little Christmas present to our passionate readers was a recap of Leica's Christmas countdown.

Close-up of a person holding a camera with a large lens among orange leaves (left), and a person in a brown sweater and beanie using a camera in a snowy mountain landscape (right).

7 OM SYSTEM Deals Worth Grabbing This Holiday Season

OM SYSTEM's Holiday Savings Event runs through January 11, 2025, and the deals are compelling. The Micro Four Thirds system has always offered a distinct advantage: professional-grade performance in a package that weighs half as much as full-frame equivalents. With savings up to $500 on flagship cameras and lenses, this is an ideal time to build or expand a travel-ready kit without compromising image quality.

Four Nikon Z series camera bodies and lenses are displayed on a yellow and black abstract background. Two camera bodies and two interchangeable lenses are arranged diagonally and viewed from different angles.

Nikon in 2025: Another Excellent Year for a Resurgent Nikon

Nikon's 2024 acquisition of RED bore its first major fruit this year, but the RED-infused Nikon ZR is far from the only great product the legendary Japanese company released in 2025. Nikon launched three cameras and five lenses, nearly all of which proved impressive.

A triptych: left, a man with dramatic red and blue lighting; center, two purple camera lenses on a reflective surface with a purple background; right, two people close together, surrounded by warm, golden light.

7Artisans’ New Floral Bloom 57mm T2.9 Lens Promises Same Eye-Catching Style

7Artisans has announced the Floral Bloom 57mm T2.9, a full frame cinema lens designed for PL mount cameras and built around a deliberately unconventional optical signature. Rather than aiming for neutral rendering, the lens embraces a strong stylistic identity, producing a pronounced radial bokeh effect intended for highly expressive, story-driven filmmaking.

A front-facing view of a quadcopter drone, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, with glowing lights highlighting its camera and rotors, set against a dark background.

US Government Bans New DJI and Other Foreign-Made Drones

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced late Monday that it would add DJI to its "Covered List," effectively banning all future DJI drones from the United States. A disappointed DJI says it remains committed to the U.S. market despite the ban.

A Canon EOS R6 camera body is displayed between two Canon RF camera lenses, all set against a textured red and black background.

Canon in 2025: Fantastic R6 III Headlines a Strong Year for Canon

This was a busy year for Canon, highlighted by a very good video camera in the Canon EOS C50 and an even better hybrid camera in the EOS R6 Mark III, PetaPixel's Camera of the Year. But Canon's 2025 included much more than just these two cameras, so let's take a deeper dive into Canon's year, how it transformed the EOS R landscape, and how it sets the stage for more excellence from Canon in 2026 and beyond.