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 close-up of a Polaroid x530 digital camera with various colorful stickers on the front, placed on a wooden surface with its lens cap off and lying nearby.

A Close Look at the Extremely Rare, Foveon-Powered Polaroid X530

As promised, photographer James Warner, known for his YouTube channel snappiness, created a full-length video about his ultra-rare Polaroid X530 compact camera. The weird 2004 digital camera has a Foveon X3 image sensor, marking the first and only time a Foveon sensor was utilized by a non-Sigma digital camera.

Two black camera lenses are displayed on a light blue surface, one standing upright and the other lying on its side. Both lenses have visible text and controls on their bodies.

Viltrox Announces Evo 75mm f/1.8 and 90mm f/2.2 Portrait Primes

Viltrox has introduced two new additions to its Evo series lineup, the AF 75mm f/1.8 Evo and AF 90mm f/2.2 Evo, designed specifically for APS-C mirrorless systems. Built for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fujifilm X mounts, both lenses focus on delivering professional portrait performance in a compact and lightweight form factor.

Aerial views of volcanic landscapes with green moss, dark mountains, winding rivers, and a circular rainbow-like halo in the left image, under a dramatic cloudy sky.

Iceland’s Targeted Drone Ban Is Nature Conservation Theater

For several summers, I have taught drone photography in Iceland’s highlands under permits issued by the country’s nature conservation agency. I applied on time, followed every condition, and never received a complaint from a ranger, another visitor, or the agency itself.

A camera lens with yellow and white distance and aperture markings sits upright on an orange background. The "PetaPixel Reviews" logo appears in the lower left corner.

Light Lens Lab 35mm f/1.4 ASPH ‘11873’ Review: All the Joy for Way Less Money

Amongst the plethora of different versions of the Leica M 35mm f/1.4 Summilux lenses, the “11873” model has garnered special attention. This double-aspherical design is famous for its lens character and classic glow at wider apertures. Of course, lens aficionados have driven the price of this original lens to astronomical values, which is where Light Lens Lab has stepped in.

Three black camera lenses with lens hoods are displayed upright against a blurred gray background, next to a large white telephoto lens positioned horizontally at the bottom of the image.

Save Big on Sigma Lenses From Wide-Angle to Super Telephoto

Sigma has spent years building a reputation for producing lenses that often challenge first-party alternatives while remaining competitively priced. This week's Sigma lens deals cover everything from ultra-wide APS-C zooms and fast Art-series primes to versatile travel lenses and professional super-telephoto glass.

On the left, a professional Sony CineAlta film camera with various buttons and controls; on the right, a close-up view of the camera’s large image sensor.

Sony Is Making a Massive Cinema Camera Image Sensor

Sony has announced the development of the Rialto 65, a new 65mm-format image sensor block designed to expand the capabilities of its Venice 2 cinema camera platform. Scheduled for release in the first half of 2027, the new sensor promises to bring large-format cinematography to existing Venice 2 users without requiring an entirely new camera system.

Split image: Left shows a person holding a camera with an external flash; the screen displays a portrait of a smiling woman. Right shows a close-up of a similar camera with a raised flash, set on a table near a speaker.

Harlowe’s New Flash Lifts and Bends to Deliver More Flattering Light

Harlowe has announced its new Pocket Flash, a compact hybrid lighting tool that combines an on-camera flash with a bi-color continuous LED light. Designed for photographers, content creators, and videographers, the pocket-sized unit features a unique built-in lift mechanism that it says helps create more flattering lighting.

A vintage film camera with a flash attached sits on a wooden surface next to a separate black Godox flash unit, against a warm brown blurred background.

Godox Launches Compact, Retro-Inspired iM30Pro Flash

Godox has announced the new iM30Pro, an upgraded version of its popular pocket-sized iM30 flash that adds a rechargeable lithium battery, bounce flash capability, a color display, and expanded creative controls while maintaining the compact design that made the original model appealing to travel and street photographers.

A digital camera with a ring flash, a tripod, a flash, and two camera lenses are arranged on top of a vibrant green leaf with visible veins and water droplets.

Save Big on Macro Photography Essentials

Looking to upgrade your macro photography kit? These great deals on dedicated macro lenses, ring flashes, tripods, focusing rails, and essential support gear will help you capture better close-up photos.

A camera lens with "SINEAR 1:1.4/50 ASPH Ø49" inscribed on it is shown against a bright red background. The lens cap marked "Thypoch" lies in front. "PetaPixel Reviews" is displayed in the bottom left corner.

Thypoch Simera 50mm f/1.4 Review: Crisp and Clean

Having previously used both the Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 and Simera 75mm f/1.4, I was expecting great things from the 50mm f/1.4. I've come to find that the Thypoch Simera series is characterized by clean, crisp optics and affordable prices. At $749, the Simera 50mm f/1.4 for M-mount is certainly far more attainable than the equivalent Leica lenses, but can it still deliver high-quality optical performance?

A vintage Leica camera and a silver lens are displayed separately on a blue background, each with their lens caps and accessories neatly arranged around them.

Crafty Lens Cap for Leica M Hides AirTags

To paraphrase Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a photographer in possession of valuable equipment must be in want of protection against theft. It's just part of the reason why Apple’s AirTags have become so popular.

A close-up of a camera lens with visible reflections, lying on a dark marbled surface. The image includes a "PetaPixel Reviews" banner in the lower left corner.

Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 Review: Autofocus Zoom for a Bargain

Even now in 2026, autofocusing lens design out of the Chinese manufacturers is still in its relative infancy. We have seen some excellent autofocus-equipped prime lenses from companies like Sirui and Viltrox, but who knew that a manufacturer known for making boutique manual-focusing M-mount lenses would be the first to market with a zoom?

Close-up of a camera lens with a red "G" logo. The "PetaPixel Reviews" logo is in the bottom left corner.

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS Review: Zoom Zoom

Sony photographers have a lot of great choices available when it comes to the serious telephoto lens. Whether you are into sports or wildlife, the Sony E-mount has you covered. However, many of these excellent lenses come with big physical dimensions and even higher prices.

A Nikon Z series camera is centered, surrounded by two camera lenses and two 512GB memory cards from Lexar and SanDisk on a red, white, and blue blurred background.

The 25 Best Memorial Day Deals for Photographers

Spring sales have already been aggressive this year, but Memorial Day camera deals take things even further. Across cameras, lenses, memory cards, bags, and tripods, we’re seeing discounts that range from useful everyday savings to genuinely massive price drops on premium gear and pro-level kits.

A person with colorful, mismatched nail polish holds a small, retro-style toy camera with an orange and teal body against an orange background.

Photographers Can Build Their Very Own Keychain Camera at Home

Keychain cameras are all the rage these days. After the success of the Kodak Charmera, it is of little surprise that other companies are getting in on the fun. What sets the new Keymera apart, though, is that it's 3D-printable and can be built by photographers at home.

A close-up of a Canon RF 20-50mm F4 L IS USM camera lens resting on its side on a black surface, with a white tiled background. “PetaPixel Hands-On” text is overlaid in the bottom left corner.

Canon RF 20-50mm f/4 L IS USM PZ Hands-On: Surprisingly Good for Photos

One of my favorite zoom lenses of all time is the Sony 20-70mm f/4. Just the fact that a versatile range can be coupled with an ultra-wide-angle field-of-view brings a lot of convenience to the camera bag. I don’t mind the moderate f/4 aperture either, and the size and weight are kept to a minimum because of it. So when Canon released a 20-50mm f/4 L PZ lens alongside the R6 V, I was excited to try it out.