Photography News

Stay up-to-date with the latest news within the photography industry. Here we feature new photography gear announcements, creative conferences, and other interesting headlines related to the world of photography and filmmaking.

HP FilmScan 7″ Brings Old Negatives and Slides Back to Life

HP has introduced the HP FilmScan 7" Touch Screen Film Scanner, a user-friendly digitizer designed to convert old negatives and slides into high-resolution digital files without requiring a computer during scanning. Featuring a large touchscreen interface, built-in editing tools, and HDMI output, the FilmScan aims to make preserving film archives simple and accessible.

Ricoh GR IV Firmware Update Adds an Electronic Shutter

Ricoh Imaging has released a new firmware update for the Ricoh GR IV and Ricoh GR IV HDF compact cameras that adds an electronic shutter function to standard GR IV camera, adding the new feature that is already available in the Ricoh GR IV HDF and Ricoh GR IV Monochrome.

Insta360’s CEO Teases a DJI Osmo Pocket Competitor Called the Luna

Insta360's CEO Liu Jingkang has teased what is clearly a DJI Osmo Pocket Competitor called the Luna. From just a few images shared on Chinese social media, the handheld camera sports a similar design to DJI's nearly ubiquitous Osmo Pocket 3, except it is equipped with two cameras, not just one.

Tokyo’s CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show Starts February 26 and Will Be Biggest Ever

The CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show is both the largest photography event in Japan and, with the collapse of Photokina in 2020, is also the most important show internationally. It kicks off on February 26 at the Pacifico Yokohama event center just outside of Tokyo.

How Canon Gear Captured All the Action During Super Bowl LX

While the Seattle Seahawks bask in the glory of a Super Bowl victory, Canon is taking a victory lap of its own, boasting that it made more than 98 percent of the lenses NBC used for its Super Bowl LX broadcast last Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home of the San Francisco 49ers.

New Voigtländer 40mm f/2 Lens for E and Z Is Super Compact and Stylish

Cosina has announced the Voigtländer Septon 40mm f/2 Aspherical prime lens for full-frame Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras.

These 35mm Film Rolls Are Actually Tiny Digital Keychain Cameras

After the success of the Kodak Charmera, it's no surprise to see yet more keychain cameras: step forward the OPT100 Neo Film, a miniature camera made to look like a roll of 35mm film.

Photographer’s New App Gives Digital Photos a Realistic Analog Appearance

Back in late 2022, PetaPixel wrote about photographer Tom Schucker's Pieca camera, a 3D-printed Raspberry Pi-powered camera with a Leica M-mount. Schucker is back with yet another awesome photography creation, but this time it's a photo editing app built around advanced film simulation effects.

Despite What You May Have Seen, the Panasonic S1 II Is Not Discontinued

Customers who recently viewed the Panasonic Lumix S1 II camera on some retail websites may have been surprised to see it marked as "discontinued" or, more recently, as a "new arrival." However, there is nothing to worry about.

MagMod Believes it Just Reinvented the Light Stand

MagMod has launched the MagStand on Kickstarter, aiming to rethink one of the most overlooked pieces of gear in photography and video production: the light stand. Within the first 48 hours, the campaign attracted more than 1,100 backers and surpassed $350,000 in funding, positioning it among the strongest recent photo gear launches on the crowdfunding platform.

‘Assistants’ Celebrates the Unsung Heroes of Fashion Photography

Behind nearly every iconic studio fashion photo is a stylist assistant. These unsung heroes often go entirely unnoticed to the outside world, but they are essential to the photographic process and vital members of the team. A new photography book, Assistants, brings fashion stylists from the background and puts them front and center.

Analog Photography App Newgrain Gets a Web Version

Newgrain, a photo-sharing platform aimed at film shooters, recently launched a web version -- and it looks fantastic.

Ektachrome Slide Film Is Now Distributed Directly by Kodak

Kodak has announced that it has taken over direct distribution of Ektachrome slide film, which joins Kodacolor, Kodak Gold, Ultramax 400, Tri-X 400, and Ektar.

Micro Four Thirds’ Newest Partner Makes So-Called ‘Scameras’

Micro Four Thirds has a new family member: Chinese imaging technology company Shenzen Sonida Digital Technology Co. Ltd.

VSCO Brings Back Beloved Film-Inspired Lightroom Presets

Some of VSCO's beloved Adobe Lightroom presets have returned nearly seven years after they were discontinued, albeit only for a limited time and only for VSCO Pro subscribers.

National Geographic Names Acclaimed Photographers Babak Tafreshi and Ami Vitale as Explorers at Large

The National Geographic Society has announced that renowned photographers Babak Tafreshi and Ami Vitale have been named Explorers at Large, a prestigious title that recognizes their global impact and storytelling excellence.

Amazon May Launch Marketplace for Publishers to Sell Content to AI Firms

Amazon is reportedly in discussions with publishers about launching a marketplace where media sites could sell and license their content directly to AI firms.

India Orders Social Media Platforms to Remove Deepfakes Within Three Hours

India has introduced new rules requiring social media companies to remove deepfakes and other illegal AI-generated content within three hours of receiving a takedown order -- a major shift in how platforms must operate in one of the world’s largest online markets.

This Dog Took a Photo Every Time He Got Excited

Back in 2015 Nikon pulled a stunt where they turned an excitable dog into a photographer by rigging a camera system that is triggered by the dog's heart rate. It's going viral again in 2026.

FPV Drone Operator Reveals Details of the 2026 Olympics’ Aerial Coverage

While not everyone is a fan of their presence, the addition of aerial drone coverage at the 2026 Winter Olympics has provided unique visuals for audiences at home. One operator took some time to share challenges and details of the drone shot integration in a quick video on Facebook.

This Teeny-Tiny Retro-Inspired Camera Is So Darn Cute

The new Haru Mini Retro Camera, released this week in Japan, is downright adorable. It may not necessarily take good-looking photos, but it will absolutely look good doing it.

The Most Popular Cameras on Flickr

Flickr is celebrating its 22nd birthday, a remarkable achievement. To mark the occasion, Flickr shared some interesting data and insights into how photographers use Flickr, which cameras they own, and what types of shots they like to share the most.

Are Lenses Actually More Expensive Now? | The PetaPixel Podcast

A few weeks ago, Jordan Drake challenged Chris Niccolls and Jaron Schneider's historical camera pricing knowledge with a test: are cameras actually more expensive now than they were 10 or more years ago? The answer was mostly no, but it got them thinking... was the same the case for lenses?

DIY Digital Iris Animates and Customizes Lens Bokeh

Adapters to use DSLR lenses on modern mirrorless cameras are very common parts of photography kits. They are extremely useful tools that enable photographers to use their existing, older lenses on new mirrorless cameras. However, as New Zealand builder James, who goes by Ancient on YouTube, shows, these adapters can be so much more and capture photos and videos that would otherwise be impossible.

Snap Rabbit Softbox Delivers Big, Soft Light in a Snap

DoPchoice has introduced the Snap Rabbit Octa 5' Snapbag, a new softbox system designed to simplify setup while maintaining the high-quality light control expected on professional sets. Built for today’s high-output COB LED fixtures, the Octa 5' aims to reduce assembly time without sacrificing diffusion quality or output efficiency.

ZoneLab Helps Analog Photographers Determine the Effective Speed of Their Film

A new analog photography app allows film shooters to determine the effective speed of any given film roll, as the number on the box can sometimes be inaccurate.

Security Camera Captures Tortoise Slowly Fleeing Fire

A security camera captured the moment a fire engulfed the shed that Leo the tortoise was living in -- causing her to slowly run away.

Facebook Profile Pictures Can Now Be Animated with AI

Meta has announced that Facebook profile pictures can now be brought to life via its AI technology. Other features include image restyling for Stories and Memories, while text posts can now have animated backgrounds.

BeerPAN 35mm SLR Makes Panoramic Film Photography Accessible

Photographer and tinkerer Robin Beerman is bringing analog panoramic photography to a wider audience with the BeerPAN, a fully mechanical 35mm panoramic SLR designed to be accessible, repairable, and eventually open-sourced.

Tamron Says It Will Launch 10 Lenses in 2026

In Tamron's newly published FY2025 financial results, the company not only detailed its financial performance over the full fiscal year 2025 but offered key insights into its plans for 2026 and beyond, including how many lenses it plans to release in FY2026.

Free FilmMeter App Is an Analog Photographer’s Best Friend

Photographer Zachary Hou shoots film, so he decided to build an iPhone app to help him out. The new app, FilmMeter, combines multiple useful features into a single, entirely free application, and it looks as pretty as it is useful.

US Air Force Bans Meta Smart Glasses Over Operational Security

The U.S. Air Force has banned personnel from wearing smart glasses that have "photo, video, or artificial intelligence capabilities" while in uniform.

MetaBox Is an SSD-Based NAS Designed for Photographers and Videographers

Orico has announced an upgraded M.2 NVMe SSD-compatible version of its MetaBox Series, a private cloud NAS designed for photographers, videographers, and creatives who need reliable, high-capacity storage without relying on subscription-based cloud services.

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Venues as Seen From Space

With the Winter Olympics in full swing and hundreds of millions of people worldwide tuning into all the sporting action from Italy, the European Space Agency (ESA) delivered a very special look at different Winter Olympic venues using its Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission satellite.

PolarPro’s New Lens Filter Tries to Replicate the Look of Portra 400 Film

Digital photographers typically try to recreate the look of classic film stocks using presets and emulations. PolarPro is taking a very different and unique approach with its latest product, a physical filter designed to recreate the look and color profile of the beloved Kodak Portra 400 film stock.

Wotancraft’s Parashooter Slim Camera Straps Have WWII Aesthetics

Wotancraft has unveiled a new, slimmer version of its stylish and practical Parashooter Strap Series, inspired by the pragmatism of old-school photojournalism. The slimmer straps are designed for compact cameras and are available in neck and wrist lengths.

Zeiss’ Nine New Vintage-Inspired Aatma T1.5 Lenses Look Exceptional

Zeiss has announced the Aatma T1.5 full-frame cinema lens series, featuring nine lenses. Focal lengths ranging from 18mm to 135mm, and each lens features a fast T1.5 aperture. Zeiss' new professional cine lenses promise to combine modern technology with 20th century-inspired rendering.

FPV Drones Are Transforming Winter Olympics Coverage – But the Noise Is Dividing Fans

They can be seen, they can definitely be heard. Nevertheless, Winter Olympics fans are enjoying the shots provided by FPV drones that are often racing behind the athletes.

Evan Vucci, Pulitzer-Winning AP Photographer, to Leave His DC Post

Evan Vucci, chief photographer for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., is set to leave the news agency after 23 years working there.