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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.

Celebrated Photographer Steve McCurry Picked the Winners of This Photo Contest

All About Photo (AAP) has announced the winners of the 2026 All About Photo Awards, marking the 11th anniversary edition of The Mind’s Eye competition. The annual program highlights international photographic work spanning documentary, conceptual, and fine art practices. This year’s selection was judged by acclaimed photographer Steve McCurry.

OpenAI Claims ChatGPT Images 2.0 Can Think

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Images 2.0, a significant update to its image generation system that expands its role from a creative tool into a more fully realized visual workflow platform. Available across ChatGPT, Codex, and the API, the new model is designed to handle more complex, real-world tasks with greater accuracy, flexibility, and control.

Fujifilm Will Offset 100% of its Electricity Usage in the US and Canada With Renewable Energy

Fujifilm has announced that it will offset 100 percent of its group companies' electricity usage in the United States and Canada using renewable energy certificates (RECs) from a new Texas-based solar energy project.

Inside Leica’s Chicago Flagship: Where Gallery, Retail, and Community Converge

Leica Camera AG has opened a new flagship store and gallery in Chicago, marking a milestone moment that aligns with two major anniversaries: 50 years of Leica Galleries and 20 years of Leica retail. The launch reflects the company’s continued shift toward experiential spaces that combine photography, culture, and community.

Photographers Are Testing the New WideluxX F10 Panoramic Camera Now

The reborn WideluxX camera is inching closer to market, as SilverBridges has now revealed that the first WideluxX production run is in the works and that fully working prototypes are in the hands of photographers right now.

Insta360’s New Wireless Mic Refuses to Stay Hidden

Alongside teasing the Insta360 Luna Pro and Luna Ultra at NAB 2026, an upcoming competitor to DJI's popular Osmo Pocket series cameras, Insta360 also previewed a new wireless microphone, the Insta360 Mic Pro.

Olivia Rodrigo Accused of Copying Photographer’s Work for Album Cover

Olivia Rodrigo has been accused of copying a photographer's work for the cover of her upcoming album you look pretty sad for a girl so in love.

Mars Curiosity Rover Captures Photos of Rocks That Look Like Dragon Scales

The Curiosity Rover has captured photos of a strange crater on Mars where there is an abundance of rocks that look like dragon scales.

Thypoch’s AF 24-50mm f/2.8 Arrives Next Month and Is the First of Six New AF Lenses

Late last month, Thypoch teased the new AF 24-50mm f/2.8 lens, not only the company's first zoom lens and first lens with autofocus, but also the first full-frame zoom lens for mirrorless cameras manufactured by a Chinese company. Thypoch brought its new AF 24-50mm f/2.8 to NAB 2026 in Las Vegas, and PetaPixel got some welcome hands-on time with it.

Llano’s New Card Readers Double as Storage Cases

Llano has introduced a pair of compact 2-in-1 card readers and storage solutions with the F17 and F18, designed for photographers, videographers, and content creators who need both portability and efficient data transfer in a single device. While the F17 targets higher-speed workflows with UHS-II support, the F18 offers a more accessible USB 3.0 option built around UHS-I performance, giving users flexibility depending on their needs.

39% of Americans Now Have a Video Doorbell at Home

Nearly four in ten American households now use a video doorbell and about one in three have an outdoor smart camera, according to new research.

I Hope Canon’s Newest Lens Patents Become Reality

Canon's latest patent applications in Japan outline three very interesting, exciting lenses. The patents describe 130mm f/1.8, 300mm f/2.8, and 500mm f/5.6 prime lenses. The usual disclaimer applies: just because a company files patent applications for products does not mean it will ever actually make them. That said, if Canon did make them, the EOS R system would be decidedly stronger.

Panasonic Introduces Ultra Compact Lumix S 40mm f/2 Lens for L-Mount

Panasonic has announced the Lumix S 40mm f/2, a compact and lightweight prime that it says is ideal for capturing scenes with a natural perspective, making it well-suited for street photography, portraits, and landscapes.

George Eastman Museum Expands One of The World’s Oldest Photography Collections with 900 New Images

The George Eastman Museum, which holds one of the world’s oldest photography collections, has added more than 900 photographic works through purchases and donations in 2025.

Photographer Takes Photo of the Leo Messi Free Kick That Broke His Camera

A photographer covering a Major League Soccer (MLS) game featuring legendary player Leo Messi had his camera broken by an errant ball struck by the Argentine.

DxO Nik Collection 9 Has AI Masking, More Filters, and New Blending Modes

DxO is rolling out Nik Collection 9, the latest version of its suite of eight photo editing plugins, with the biggest changes coming in AI-driven selection tools. In addition, there are three new creative filters, a color grading tool, and blending mode support across its filter library.

Newly Discovered Photos That Might Show Billy the Kid as a Child Set for Auction

Two newly discovered photographs that are said to depict the infamous Western gunslinger Billy the Kid as a child are up for auction.

Sennheiser’s HD 480 Pro Are Its Best Closed-Back Headphones

This time, adding "pro" to a product name actually indicates that a product is meant for professionals. Sennheiser has announced the HD 480 Pro studio headphones designed as the top-of-the-range closed-back monitors for studio and live production environments.

Tim Cook Is Giving Up The Reins at Apple

Tim Cook has announced that he will step down as the CEO of Apple on September 1, handing over the reins to Apple's head of hardware engineering, John Ternus as he transitions to the role of executive chairman.

An Unhinged Journey Through NASA’s Manic Photo Publishing System

NASA's historic Artemis II mission delivered many absolutely spectacular photos and inspired a new generation of people to love space exploration. It also provided a fresh opportunity to explore the often confusing, disjointed landscape that is NASA's photo publishing system.

The ProMaster iota Is an Ultralight Tripod You’ll Really Want to Use

When it comes to ultralight tripods, every ounce counts. ProMaster’s new iota series embraces this philosophy fully, prioritizing speed, simplicity, and minimal weight. In fact, the intentional lowercase “i” in the name serves as a subtle reminder of just how small and portable these tripods really are.

Insta360’s Luna Series Cameras Put the DJI Osmo Pocket in the Crosshairs

Insta360 is teasing an all-new camera series co-engineered with Leica. The Insta360 Luna Pro and Luna Ultra cameras, hidden behind partially-frosted glass at Insta360's large booth at NAB in Las Vegas, promise high-end single- and dual-lens imaging and familiar form and function.

Brightin Star’s Newest AF Lens Is an Ultra-Wide 12mm f/2.8 for Full-Frame Cameras

Brightin Star has introduced a new AF 12mm f/2.8 ultra-wide-angle lens designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, offering a combination of an expansive field of view, autofocus performance, and a distortion-controlled optical design. Available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, the lens is aimed at photographers working across landscapes, architecture, interiors, and astrophotography.

PixelMob Wants to End Backup Problems for Creators

UnifyDrive has introduced PixelMob, a new sub-brand aimed at professional photographers and video creators. Positioned as a “Creator’s Companion,” PixelMob is designed to address a longstanding gap in imaging workflows: the inability to verify, at the file level, that backups are intact before leaving the field.

Google Photos Can Now Smooth Skin and Whiten Teeth Via New ‘Touch-Up’ Menu

Google Photos is rolling out a new feature that can help to beautify someone by "subtly" improving features like skin texture or even whitening teeth.

The OWC Express 4M2 Ultra is a Wicked Fast Thunderbolt 5 SSD Array

OWC, or Other World Computing, has announced the Express 4M2 Ultra, an SSD RAID enclosure that pairs NVMe M.2 drives with the speed of Thunderbolt 5 for up to 6,622MB/s performance for $400.

These Limited Time Deals Actually Make Memory Cards Affordable

To celebrate the NAB Show 2026, numerous memory card manufacturers are running special promotions right now, helping reduce the pain of memory cost inflation caused by AI companies and their insatiable demand for data. These deals, available on SD, CFexpress Type A, and CFexpress Type B cards, make capturing photos more affordable at a time when card prices are skyrocketing.

Prince Andrew Once Published a Photography Book

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince who has since become mired in the Epstein scandal, once published a photography book and was described as being “very serious about his photography.”

Google Now Lets Gemini Generate Images From Your Google Photos

Google has announced “personalized” image generation that allows users to connect their Google Photos library to its Gemini AI image generator and photo editor Nano Banana.

GoPro’s New 8K Mission 1 Series Compact Cine Cameras Start at $600

GoPro unveiled the oft-teased Mission 1, Mission 1 Pro, and Mission 1 Pro ILS cameras last week, although the company didn't announce pricing. That mystery has quickly been solved.

Viltrox’s AF 35mm f/1.8 and 55mm f/1.8 Evo Primes Promise Nearly No Aberrations

Viltrox has introduced two new additions to its Evo lineup: the AF 35mm f/1.8 Evo and AF 55mm f/1.8 Evo. Announced at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, the lenses are available for both Sony FE mount and Nikon Z mount systems.

360 Camera Captures Bag’s Journey Through Airport Luggage System

London Gatwick Airport has revealed what happens to luggage after it's checked in by attaching an Insta360 to one of the tens of thousands of bags that are processed each day.

Sirui Unveils Ultra-Wide and Telephoto VP-1 Lenses for Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Alongside a trio of new IronStar 1.5x anamorphic lenses for full-frame cameras, Sirui also unveiled three new Vision Prime 1 Series full-frame lenses at NAB 2026. The company unveiled new 15mm, 75mm, and 150mm Vision Prime 1 (VP-1) lenses, each promising "exceptional bokeh, outstanding low-light performance, and superior optical quality."

Sirui Expands IronStar Anamorphic Series With Three Telephoto Primes

Last July, Sirui announced IronStar, a new series of 1.5x anamorphic lenses for full-frame. The 35mm, 45mm, and 60mm primes all shared a fast T1.9 aperture and sub-$1,000 price tag. Sirui has today expanded this series to include 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm primes.

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