The photos captured by the Artemis II team have been beautiful to behold and have brought two brands to the forefront of discussion: Nikon and Apple. Neither brand paid their way into this position, and that's the best endorsement anyone can ask for.
While much of the discussion surrounding the Artemis II crew's beautiful photos from their Orion spacecraft has focused on the images themselves, and they are fantastic shots, some of the discussion has surrounded the cameras used to capture the photos. Photographers love chatting gear, after all. While the Nikon D5 DSLR may seem like a puzzling choice as the primary camera on a prestigious space mission in 2026, it's the best tool for the job.
A camera projects an illusion of authority. It is easy to mistake the act of framing for the act of creation. We expect the lens to function as a paintbrush, assuming that technical mastery guarantees dominion over a scene. The prevailing mythology insists that vision alone bends reality, and that a trained eye can summon permanent order from spontaneous chaos. The vagaries of the environment dictate otherwise.
In the modern age of wildlife photography, I increasingly find myself reflecting on the balance between technological advancement and …
Anamorphic lenses are everywhere these days. From the small screen of television to the big screen of IMAX theaters, cinematographers often reach for anamorphics. These lenses not only deliver an ultra-wide, cinematic look but also feature distinct oval bokeh and exaggerated flare. The look is so prevalent in live-action filmmaking now that even animated movies, like the brand-new "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," are following suit and simulating the "look" of anamorphic lenses.
In all my time reviewing cameras, I've come across some hidden gems, but also some real dogs. Today we are going to be talking about the latter. I want to give some dishonorable mentions to some of the worst-designed cameras throughout history.
Although it is April Fools' Day, OM Digital Solutions (OMDS) is not joking around. The company announced a significant change in its corporate shareholder structure today, which it says will "enable more agile and flexible decision-making."
AI in photography is a hot topic. It can range from a purely workflow tool to a portrait retoucher and even a full-blown creation tool. According to a survey of 363 photographers who either use AI as part of their workflow or are open to AI retouching tools, the vast majority believe AI should assist but not take over creative control.
Thypoch, known for its classically-inspired manual focus prime lenses like the Simera 28mm f/1.4, Eureka 50mm f/2, and most recently, the Ksana 21mm f/3.5, has unveiled its next project: an autofocus-equipped 24-50mm f/2.8 zoom lens. This is a very bold new chapter for the upstart Chinese lens company.
Earlier this week, Panasonic unveiled the Lumix ZS300, also known as the TZ300 in some markets. The new compact camera is nearly identical to its predecessor, released in early 2018, except for one big thing: the ZS200's electronic viewfinder has been removed, replaced with nothing but more plastic. There are logical explanations for this, but they do little to stop me from disliking the change.
When I was in college, I had the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in Florence, Italy to study. There, I took a "Chemistry of Art" class that culminated in a visit to the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, where priceless works of art are on display. It is also where many are stored and maintained.
Sam Altman has always cut a strange figure to me; like a teenager in many ways. Even his Twitter bio, "AI is cool I guess," is a sullen and petulant remark.
I flew to Atlanta expecting to cover a lens launch and came away with something far more meaningful. The debut of the Zeiss Otus ML 35mm f/1.4 was framed as a first look, but what Zeiss created was not a traditional showcase. Instead, it became an evening centered on artists, storytelling, and a sense of community that rarely takes the spotlight in this industry.
A well-known Pentax leaker with a strong history of being right has said a new Pentax DSLR is coming this year. That's certainly possible, but based on very recent conversations with company leadership, you should probably temper your expectations.
AI-powered post-processing platform Aftershoot has published what it describes as binding public commitments, outlining three key pillars for how the company will develop, implement, and utilize artificial intelligence as part of its product offering.
This week, ON1 announced Restore AI for its Photo RAW MAX software. The company says the goal is to give photographers the ability to restore old photos using a "powerful new AI photo restoration module," but what it appears to do instead is dramatically change the photos into AI hallucinations.
In 2017, I picked up a Surface Book II to review. While, as a photographer, I didn't like it, I had to admit that it did tick a lot of boxes for the average user.
At first glance, it plays like visual effects wizardry, an F1 car suspended midair, mechanics orbiting it with balletic precision, but the reality behind Red Bull Racing’s zero-gravity pit stop is far more ambitious and well worth revisiting.
Tamron lenses have some very cool capabilities you may not be aware of -- like the ability to pull focus during a time lapse -- and it’s all thanks to its Lens Utility App. I want to talk about what of these abilities are, but I also want to take this opportunity to shame other lens manufacturers for not offering these same features.
At CP+ 2025, TTArtisan, best known for its lenses, unveiled that it was developing its first-ever camera, a retro-inspired folding Instax instant camera. The TTArtisan 203T is finally nearing release, but TTArtisan's approach to the launch is strange.
The passage of time has not been kind to the Nikon F4. At the time of its release, it was a modern superstar, highly sought after, and bristling with modern advancements. It truly bridged the gap between classic manual-focus SLRs and modern autofocusing and advanced metering, flagship cameras.
Just over a month ago, Chinese imaging technology company Shenzen Sonida Digital Technology Co. Ltd. (Sonida), joined the Micro Four Thirds system. Sonida makes Songdian-branded cameras, which are typically low-cost compact models.
GoPro announced a new GP3 image processor a couple of weeks ago, promising twice the pixel-processing power of its prior system-on-a-chip (SoC) and improved image quality. After showcasing the new chip's prowess with sample photos, GoPro today released a new video, and the next generation of GoPro is looking very good so far.
Think back to this time last year when The Brutalist was being pilloried for using AI to improve Adrian Brody's Hungarian accent. Two other Oscar-nominated movies in 2025 had also confessed to using AI to improve speech.
Adobe's longtime CEO, Shantanu Narayen, announced this week that he is stepping down after 18 years as CEO and nearly 30 years at the company. If you ask shareholders, Narayen was, for a long time, among the very best in the biz. If you ask Adobe's core customers, the artists who were once indispensable to the company's success, it's a different story.
Meet Alphy, Sony Alpha India's new AI-generated rodent mascot. Alphy loves his Sony Alpha camera, traveling the world, capturing beautiful photos, and being an affront to human creativity.
Japan's love affair with train photography is well known, with train photographers, also known as "toritetsu," occasionally causing significant safety concerns as they throw caution to the wind to get better train images. However, most train photographers don't menace society. A new Panasonic survey focuses on a pleasant part of railway photography: Photographing train-obsessed kids enjoying their hobby.
When new cameras are announced, dynamic range is often a significant part of the image quality discussion. When a camera offers particularly fantastic dynamic range, it's big news. Likewise, when a camera's dynamic range takes a big hit in exchange for other impressive features, that's news, too. However, does dynamic range really matter that much?
There are many talented, respected professional wedding photographers and videographers. A lot of people do great work for their clients and deliver people with treasured photos and videos from one of the most special days of their lives. However, as controversy after controversy has shown, the wedding photo/video industry is also one rife with malice and scandal.
Apple's new 27-inch Studio Display XDR looks like a great option for photographers and video editors requiring accurate colors and high peak brightness. However, as eagle-eyed prospective customers are discovering, there are some caveats to consider when it comes to compatibility.
In January, news broke that Nikon had filed a lawsuit against Viltrox in China concerning patents related to Nikon Z-mount technology. A couple of weeks later, Viltrox said that despite the lawsuit, it was not adjusting its lens development roadmap. New reports this week claim that lens makers Sirui (China) and Meike (Hong Kong) have both stopped Nikon Z lenses, which is quite the coincidence given the ongoing legal situation with Viltrox.
Apple has announced a brand-new, low-cost laptop, the MacBook Neo. Starting at $599, it is Apple's most aggressively priced MacBook ever, and it sports an Apple A18 Pro chip, like the one the company used in its iPhone 16 Pro smartphones.
In October, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) warned photographers against rights-grabbing credentialing agreements after The Gazelle Group, a major firm known for its sports coverage, offered credentials for sporting events in exchange for irrevocable, free use of photos taken by credentialed photographers. This pay-to-play arrangement understandably irritated photographers and wire services, and the fallout has persisted.
Thousands of professional sports photographers descended on northern Italy last month for the Winter Olympics, coming away with many incredible photos captured using a wide range of equipment from all the major brands, including Canon.
When it comes to Tecno’s Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology, the company describes it as a “phone that grows on demand”. A magnetic-based system that allows users to stack components -- including various cameras -- onto the back of the phone makes it highly adaptable. At least in theory.
Legendary cinema company Arri has teamed up with smartphone maker Honor to bring Arri's imaging science and video technology to Honor smartphones, including the upcoming Honor Robot Phone.
Earlier this month, Polar Pro announced a new lens filter that it says makes photos look like they were shot on Portra film. Photographers on Threads have taken umbrage with that opinion and have spent the last few days dunking on the product.
Once-a-decade superblooms are just starting to turn deserts of the American West into a photographer’s dream. For photographers, the challenge of capturing beautiful wildflower blooms is as thrilling as it is fleeting. Finding the right blooms, capturing their scale and variety, and conveying both their delicate details and the sweeping grandeur of the desert is an exciting opportunity. In this guide, I’ll share my approach to making the most of this extraordinary event, from planning and equipment to timing, composition, and even some scientific insight.
Drawing on decades of photographing nightscapes, this guide offers practical tips on Milky Way timing, scouting, blue-hour blends, and crafting strong foregrounds. Learn how to capture distinctive night sky landscapes through thoughtful planning, smart gear choices, and creative field techniques.
SAG-AFTRA, the Motion Picture Association, Disney, Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, these are just some of the powerful companies and organizations fighting back against AI video generators, which can now imitate scenes from movies.
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's global tariffs he instituted last year based on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Hours later, the president announced new 10% global tariffs against most imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Today, the president said he is actually going to raise the tariffs to 15%, the maximum allowed under the trade law he is using for his latest tariffs.
Photography is an art form of trade-offs. When the shutter speed goes up, the aperture must come down. Higher ISO raises the exposure but hurts the image quality. A brighter maximum aperture means more cost and more weight. Everything is based on a give-and-take relationship, and balancing these factors is key to success.
Never has photography come under such scrutiny, especially in photojournalism and sports photography. In its history, …
AI will come to a mainstream camera; it's only a matter of time. Somewhere, in some boardroom, the case is being made right now to inject some level of AI -- most likely generative -- into the tool of photography, and the first brand to do it will be the last. And they will regret it.
Chinese newcomer Mandler announced its first lens last May, the Mandler 35mm f/2 "7 Elements." The lens faithfully recreates the classic Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 at an extremely aggressive price of about $350. It went on sale this week and sold out almost immediately.
In an era when artificial intelligence thrives on data, a new initiative is turning everyday photographers into paid collaborators, one original image at a time.
Although nobody needed even more Kodak Charmera knockoffs, companies cannot help themselves. The latest iteration is the Magecam Thumb Keychain Camera, and this time the cheap retro-styled, Charmera-inspired toy camera has a flip-up screen.
What if creating a truly unique landscape photograph isn’t about finding somewhere no one has ever stood, nor simply revisiting the places everyone knows, but about noticing the extraordinary in both?
Abstract photography is one of those things that you either love or hate. Either way, it’s a genre worth dabbling in, as you can learn a lot about your camera from it.
Photography has never been more accessible, yet truly distinctive images feel harder to come by than ever. With social media reinforcing familiar compositions and popular locations, many photographers find themselves asking how to create work that feels original and fulfilling. This three-part series is designed to explore that question across three genres: wildlife, landscape, and night sky photography. In this first article, the focus is on wildlife and how slowing down, understanding animals on their own terms, and committing to personal projects can help photographers create images that rise above the expected.
