Nikon has announced firmware version 5.30 for its full-frame flagship mirrorless camera, the Z9. The free firmware promises across-the-board improvements, including enhanced autofocus, better Auto Capture functionality, and workflow improvements.
BTS -- or "behind the scenes" -- footage has become an essential part of how I tell stories; not just for social media, but for documenting the reality of underwater work. When it comes to shooting underwater, there are a ton of factors to think about — from managing your buoyancy and checking the settings on your camera housing, to being aware of your surroundings and controlling your breathing. The last thing I want to spend time worrying about, then, is how I’m going to capture behind-the-scenes content at the same time.
Map Camera, one of Japan's largest photography retailers, has released its monthly sales charts for brand-new and used camera models. The Canon EOS R6 Mark III, PetaPixel's Camera of the Year, delivered an outstanding debut, topping the November sales charts "far ahead" of second-place.
Viltrox, one of the most popular third-party lens manufacturers for Sony E and Nikon Z-mount cameras, says it is working on a firmware update that will stabilize performance of its lenses on the new Sony a7 V. Additionally, despite rumors and speculation swirling online, the lens company doesn't believe Sony made any changes to intentionally degrade the performance of third party lenses on E-mount.
The ongoing battle of the latest superb mid-range cameras has a new chapter. Photons to Photos has published Canon EOS R6 Mark III dynamic range test results, enabling pixel-peeping photographers to see how the Canon R6 III stacks up against the Sony a7 V. Both cameras employ 33-megapixel full-frame sensors and target similar audiences at nearly identical prices, but they do many things differently, including image sensor technology.
Your favorite holiday tradition is back! Yes, it is time for our annual Best and Worst camera gear roundup. Jordan and I get together to battle it out with some not-so-friendly challenges, drink more than we probably should, and reminisce about the last year’s gear releases.
Brightin Star has introduced a new full-frame wide-angle option for Sony E and Nikon Z shooters with the launch of the Brightin Star AF 24mm f/1.8, a fast-aperture autofocus lens aimed at photographers who want a lightweight, affordable, and sharp everyday companion. The lens brings modern optical engineering, quiet autofocus, and a bright f/1.8 aperture together in a compact form factor that targets street, portrait, architectural, and low-light creators.
SmallRig has unveiled a full accessory ecosystem designed specifically for the Ricoh GR IV, expanding the compact camera’s portability, protection, and day-to-day usability by offering a leather half case, straps, a thumb grip, a lens hood with UV filter, and a crossbody-style storage bag. The coordinated system is meant to elevate the GR IV’s handling and field-readiness.
Atomos has pushed out a free update to its TX and TX Go monitor recorders with the capability of capturing 4:3 open gate RAW out of the Fujifilm Eterna 55 cinema camera via HDMI out.
Another day, another Sony a7 V dynamic range update. Our initial speculation has proven correct, and the new a7 V is employing Dual Gain Output (DGO) to achieve outstanding dynamic range when using its mechanical shutter at base and low ISO settings. Further, building upon research by Adam Horshack, William "Bill" Claff of the excellent Photons to Photos has revised his a7 V testing to indicate that the camera is not using baked-in noise reduction with its RAW files. What initially appeared to be evidence of noise reduction is, in fact, DGO.
After popular YouTuber Kai Wong reviewed the a7 V last week and mentioned potential issues with third-party lenses, concerns about whether the a7 V is taking a different approach to E-mount's famous openness spread like wildfire. However, while there is always the chance that certain lenses, particularly third-party ones, may have compatibility issues with new cameras, there is no reason to believe that the Sony a7 V represents any departure from Sony's longstanding view toward third-party optics.
Just one day after publishing his dynamic range tests for the Sony a7 V using its mechanical shutter, show exceptional dynamic range performance that rivals medium-format cameras -- William "Bill" Claff of Photons to Photos is back with a7 V electronic shutter testing. The story the results show is an interesting, albeit predictable one.
Starbucks is a camera manufacturer now. The company has announced a series of branded compact digital cameras in China called the Starbucks Retro Digital Camera, which is available now through the holiday season in China.
Earlier this year, 7Artisans announced the Floral Bloom Art Cine Lens series, with the first being a 37mm T2.9 for PL mount only. It sounded interesting, so we agreed to check it out. We appreciate the effort and applaud the company for trying something new, but unfortunately, this lens is terrible.
As exciting as the latest and greatest cameras are, the best-selling models are, by and large, entry-level cameras with older, worse technology. Photographers love to talk about cutting-edge flagship cameras, but when it comes to consumer spending habits, entry-level interchangeable-lens cameras rule the day, as BCN+R's latest data from Japan shows.
Everyone wants a point-and-shoot digital camera. There is something to be said for having a compact, simple, fun, pocket camera that you can take photos with, just for the pure joy of it. Memories to be made, without having to know the exposure triangle, or shoot RAW photo formats and edit later. But not everyone wants a used hand-me-down that may or may not function properly, and Camp Snap is hedging its bets that some consumers out there want a fresh start.
Rewindpix, a new project from photographer and designer Xiao Liu, aims to give digital photography a more tactile, intentional feel. Inspired by classic film compacts and built around a large optical viewfinder and customizable film-like filters, the upcoming camera blends analog charm with modern flexibility.
William "Bill" Claff of Photons to Photos has published his Sony a7 V photographic dynamic range (PDR) results. They are fascinating for multiple reasons, not the least of which is that the a7 V's dynamic range performance is superb, rivaling, at least on paper, medium-format cameras with much larger image sensors.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Japanese stationery and electronics company Nakabayashi Co. Ltd. is all-in on fun cameras. The company recently announced a wide-ranging line-up of cameras that runs the gamut from keychain toy cameras to point-and-shoot film cameras.
Alongside a new wide-angle conversion lens for Fujifilm X100-series cameras, Viltrox, maker of great optics, has also launched a new telephoto conversion lens for X100 models. The lens offers a 1.4x magnification, delivering a 50mm equivalent focal length on the X100.
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.
Godox announced the AD300Pro II, a new all-in-one outdoor flash arriving five years after the original AD300Pro.
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.
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.
Last week, photographer Dan Martland published a video on Instagram where he claims that a two-day old Hasselblad X2D II 100C that he purchased from Pictureline started to significantly malfunction. After trying to work with Hasselblad directly to resolve the issue, the camera company and Pictureline both declined to replace the unit, citing severe water damage.
I've been thinking a lot about the Canon EOS R lately. From why I think the underlying concept of the maligned M-Fn Touch Bar should be revisited to just how weird the EOS R camera itself actually was, Canon's entry into the full-frame mirrorless camera market has been on my mind of late.
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!
Audiio, a sound and music licensing platform, has announced Voices, an advanced Voice-to-Voice creation tool that lets filmmakers and creators transform their own recordings into studio-quality narration in seconds.
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.
Tamron has released a new firmware update for its 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (Model A057) telephoto zoom lens, bringing improved autofocus performance and full compatibility with Sony's highest-speed cameras, including the a9 III and its 120fps continuous shooting mode, albeit with some unsurprising limitations.
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.
It did not take long for online discourse surrounding the a7 V to turn negative, even toxic. I am not sure exactly what the reason is for the loud, unhappy response to this camera, but I can report that demand for it is in stark contrast to the online conversation.
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.
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.
The Antigravity A1, the world's first 8K 360° drone, is now available for purchase. The innovative new drone builds upon Insta360's technology, including 360° cameras, stabilization, and AI-assisted video editing.
Leica has made four of its legendary Leica M-Lenses available in stylish new finishes: three in the Leica Safari Design and one in a fresh, glossy black finish.
PolarPro has announced Shift, a three-piece diopter system created to give photographers and filmmakers faster access to close-focus capabilities without the need to change lenses.
As an annual tradition, PetaPixel has published its awards for the best cameras, lenses, smartphones, and more. Last year, we expanded the awards with a new category and that continues this year: People's Choice.
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?
Nature photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, acclaimed for his superb remote camera photography, also runs a camera trap company, Camtraptions. Burrard-Lucas' company has just released the PIR Motion Sensor v4, a new camera-trap sensor six years in the making.
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.
Alongside the exciting new a7 V camera, which introduces Sony's first partially stacked image sensor and powerful processor with built-in AI capabilities, Sony unveiled an updated FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II compact full-frame zoom lens.
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.
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.
Fast prime lenses don't need to break the bank. Pergear has announced a new 50mm f/1.2 manual-focus prime lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras, priced under $100.
You might know funny man Seth Rogen from his hit comedy movies from the 2000s or from Apple TV's new series The Studio. But the Canadian actor recently revealed that he is also an enthusiastic photographer -- specifically panoramic film photography.