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.
Jeremy Gray
Three compact cameras in a diagonal arrangement against a neutral background. The cameras are mint green, white, and gray, each featuring a prominent lens and minimalist design.

Obsbot’s Two New AI-Powered Webcams Cost Under $100

Imaging company Obsbot announced two new AI-powered webcams, the Obsbot Meet SE and the Obsbot Tiny SE. The former is a more traditional Full HD webcam, while the latter is a PTZ camera, meaning it can pan, tilt, and zoom during recording.

Ted Kinsman
A mechanical device with gears is shown on the left. An arrow points from it to a vibrant, blurred image of space, Earth, and a distant galaxy on the right, suggesting a connection between the device and space exploration.

Designing a Star Tracker for Astronaut Don Pettit to Use on the ISS

In the spring of 2023, I received a phone call from Peter Blackberg (an old friend, RIT alumnus, and a space enthusiast) when he asked if I would join a call with NASA astronaut Don Pettit. Don wanted to build a star tracker for his next space flight.  

Jordan Drake
A drone with a camera flying outdoors against a blurred green background. The image has text reading "PetaPixel Reviews" in the bottom left corner.

DJI Flip Review: Lightweight Done Right

More than ten years ago, I decided to dip my toe into the world of aerial video when Chris Niccolls and I reviewed the DJI Phantom 2 for The Camera Store TV. Two crashed drones in less than a week later, I decided to leave aerial footage to the professionals. But now DJI has introduced the $439 Flip, with incredibly low weight, just enough video quality mojo, and some cool automated tricks. It might be the perfect compliment to my YouTube camera kit, but I wanted to see how it performed in the field before committing to having it in my bag.

Chris Niccolls
A man lies on a wooden floor surrounded by various camera lenses. The words "Nikon," "Sony," and "Canon" are written near groups of lenses. He looks up with a playful expression, wearing a black shirt and khaki pants.

The State of Canon, Nikon, and Sony’s ‘Holy Trinity’ Zoom Lenses in 2025

The majority of professional photographers pray at the Church of the Holy Trinity. That is to say that they make their daily bread with an ultra-wide f/2.8 zoom, a general-purpose 24-70mm f/2.8, and a 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto. This is a tradition that has held true for decades from the time of the autofocusing film SLR to the modern mirrorless cameras of today. Good things come in threes so today we look at the best three lenses from the three biggest companies.

Jeremy Gray
A Nikon camera without a lens is displayed next to a white and red camera bag, which has a camera lens built into the front, both set on a white surface with a dark, blurred background.

The Custom Nikon Z9 and Thermal Blanket Headed to the Moon

Nikon and NASA have a rich history of collaboration dating back more than 50 years when Nikon supplied specialized analog cameras for Apollo missions. Nikon cameras are headed back to the Moon, and Nikon showed off some of the new lunar-bound technology this week at CES.

Jeremy Gray
Black wireless earbuds hover above an open charging case against a neutral background. The earbuds have ear hooks for a secure fit. The case features a small LED indicator light.

The Tiny Hollyland Lark M2S Wireless Mic System Is Nearly Invisible

The sixth-generation Hollyland Lark Series microphone, the Lark M2S, is exceptionally tiny, weighs just seven grams (0.25 ounces), and is logo-free, ensuring it is easy to conceal while still delivering high-quality wireless audio for videographers, content creators, vloggers, and streamers.

Chris Niccolls
A smiling person in a beanie and black jacket holds a camera in one hand, while sitting at a table with a glass of dark beer. The background features a brick wall with photos and warm lighting. Text: "PetaPixel Reviews.

Samyang 35mm f/1.4 P Review: Fantastic Value for a Fast Prime

It's well-known that I am not a fan of the 35mm focal length. It's also well-known that I am in the extreme minority on this. Everyone loves a good 35mm lens which is a prime candidate for a faster f/1.4 aperture. Samyang has answered the call with its latest "Prima" series of lenses which promise to be optical standouts with sophisticated autofocusing.

Alan Adler
A black Leica camera with a textured body and a prominent lens is centered against a dynamic orange and blue blurred background. The brand's red logo is visible on the upper right corner of the camera body.

The Leica Q3: A Concise Review

It’s 4:37 PM Friday at a long-range planning meeting in Leica offices in Wetzlar. Attendees want to get on with their weekend. Fritz is talking.

Jeremy Gray
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 Debuts Thunderbolt 5 ThunderBlade X12 RAID for Pros

Other World Computing (OWC) announced two new products at CES in Las Vegas: the Thunderbolt 5-equipped OWC ThunderBlade X12 RAID solution and the OWC USB4 Active Optical Cable. The tech company also said its previously announced Thunderbolt 5 Hub is now available to customers.

Chris Niccolls
A person holding a compact camera with a zoom lens extended. The camera lens has "Leica" branding. The image has a blue sky background and features a "PetaPixel Reviews" graphic in the bottom right corner.

Panasonic DC-ZS99 Review: A Disappointing Trend Chaser

Here, we thought that the smartphone would kill the point-and-shoot digital camera. There is, instead, a steady resurgence with more and more (mostly young) people purchasing used point-and-shoot cameras. The Panasonic ZS99 aims to capitalize on the trend, offering a modernized take on an older P&S model.

Jeremy Gray
A collection of Nikon cameras and lenses against a starry background. Two cameras and three lenses are displayed, highlighting camera models and lens details.

Nikon in 2024: Z6 III and RED Acquisition Bolster Slower Year

After a torrid pace in 2023, during which time Nikon launched a pair of cameras and nine all-new lenses, the company slowed a bit this year, releasing just two new cameras and three lenses. Nonetheless, it was a strong year for the Japanese company and one that helped Nikon continue to claw back market share in the mirrorless era. Plus, Nikon bought RED, so there's that.