Here's your latest photography news roundup — a mix of gear drops, history, and a few things to make you raise an eyebrow.
The First American Wanted Poster With Photographs Went Out in 1865, and One of the Three Faces May Be the Wrong Brother
In April 1865, the US War Department issued America's first wanted poster to feature photographs — a nearly two-meter poster with three portraits just over 7 cm each, hand-glued photo by photo onto every copy. Since each was assembled individually, no two surviving copies are identical, and one of the three photos may actually show the wrong brother.
Hipstamatic Reboots Camera Club Membership With Unified Access and Four New Analog Apps
Hipstamatic has rolled out a major overhaul of its Camera Club subscription, now offering unified access to all the company's apps. The update brings the Winter 26/27 collection — four new analog-inspired photo apps included automatically with membership.
Throwback Thursday: Fujifilm's SuperCCD EXR didn't take off, but its legacy might live on in your pocket
DPReview looks back at the Fujifilm F200 EXR, an often-overlooked compact built around the SuperCCD EXR sensor. Though the tech never caught on at the time, its image-processing ideas live on in today's smartphones.
The Real Reason Most Photography Websites Fail
Most photography websites fail not from lacking features, but from being overloaded with them — portfolio, about page, shop, and blog all bolted on without a clear direction. The fix is clarity and intention, not more features.
Every Flash Photo Is Really Two Exposures
Every flash photo is actually two overlapping exposures — ambient light and flash. The author explains why memorized settings fail the moment the light changes, proposing a fixed decision order instead, whether you're shooting with a small flash like the Westcott FJ or something more powerful.
Is the Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 the APS-C Zoom Worth Leaving on Your Camera?
Tamron's 16-50mm f/2.8 aims to be the standard APS-C zoom you never take off your camera — a segment long plagued by heavy, pricey, or mount-limited options. It costs roughly half of Sony's equivalent and is much lighter, raising the question of what compromises come with the savings.
High camera prices aren't proof that camera makers are greedy
Rising camera prices reflect higher production costs, not increased manufacturer greed. Profit margins have stayed steady — they're just showing up on bigger price tags due to higher expenses.
Luminar Now Runs in Your Browser With RAW Editing and Free Basic Version
Luminar has launched Luminar on Web, a browser-based editor that supports RAW files. The basic version is free, while full feature access costs $69.
This Ain't Your Granddad's Sony Walkman
The Sony Walkman, launched in 1979 as the first portable cassette player, is still around today despite portable music players being largely replaced by smartphones. The new Walkman models, though, come in a far flashier and pricier style than the originals.
Robin F. Williams Suspends the Allure and Horror of Technology in an Endless Loop
Artist Robin F. Williams explores how humanity and machines might merge, capturing a strange techno-dystopia suspended between fascination and terror in a continuous visual loop.
This Famous Ether Daguerreotype Shows the Wrong Patient
A famous daguerreotype, cataloged by the Getty Museum as "First Operation with Ether" and published since 1903, may actually show a different patient than the one from the historic October 16, 1846 demonstration in Boston. For decades, the image was wrongly tied to the exact moment of the first public ether anesthesia demonstration.
New AstrHori 8mm f/2.4 medium-format circular fisheye lens for GFX/XCD mount announced
AstrHori has officially launched its 8mm f/2.4 circular fisheye for medium format, compatible with GFX/XCD mounts. It offers a 220° ultra-wide field of view, weighs 517g, apertures F2.4–F16, and focuses from 0.1m to infinity. Preorders are open at $398 via AstrHori store and Pergear, with B&H Photo coming soon.
AstrHori's 8mm f/2.4 Medium Format Fisheye Has an Expansive Field of View
AstrHori has released a new manual-focus fisheye for medium-format mirrorless cameras, the AstrHori MF 8mm f/2.4, available for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD mounts, delivering a circular image with an impressive 220-degree field of view.
Fake Blood Left on a Family Grave: How Far Is Too Far for a Creative Shoot?
Someone staged a Halloween-themed photo shoot at Denver's Fairmount Cemetery, splattered fake blood on a family mausoleum, and left without cleaning up. Cemetery staff had to wash it off, sparking debate over the ethical limits of creative shoots in sacred spaces like cemeteries.
Kodak Portra 160 Might Be the Best Fine-Grain Color Negative Film
The reviewers call Kodak Portra 160 even more "perfect" than Portra 400 and 800, which they'd previously called nearly flawless. Part of the Film Friday series, the piece digs into this fine-grain film's qualities.
This Might Be the Last Camera Case You Ever Buy
Pelican has launched the Protector 1510 Studio Case, a rugged camera bag promising long-term durability in line with the brand's reputation. The review examines whether the build quality justifies the premium price.
The Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO FE lens is now available in graphite gray and mist silver
Viltrox's AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO for Sony FE now comes in two new finishes — Graphite Gray and Mist Silver — alongside the original Classic Black. It's an ultra-compact lens with a 130g/170g metal body, aperture and focus rings, sharp wide-open performance at f/2.8, and a 0.2m minimum focus distance. Preorder via B&H Photo or the Viltrox store.
Lomography's New Lens Makes Your Photos Look Deliciously Weird
Lomography has launched the Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35mm f/1.8, a lens built around unusual optical quirks. It offers seven bokeh settings, ranging from subtle edge softness to dramatic image distortion.
You Can Save Hundreds on All Types of Memory Cards
Memory card prices have jumped significantly over the past year, largely due to flash memory shortages driven by the AI boom, hitting photographers directly. Still, there are deals out there to grab new cards without breaking the bank.
Pegasus Astro FlatMaster Neo 160: Flat-Field Calibration and Telescope Protection
Pegasus Astro has launched the FlatMaster Neo 160, an astrophotography accessory combining a motorized telescope cap with an LED panel for flat-field calibration — offering both gear protection and an integrated calibration solution.