Why the Future of Cameras Is Niche

Plus, epic new shots of Earth and more camera news you missed this week.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read online     April 4, 2026 We're still thinking about those first images from the Artemis II crew — the kind of photographs that make everything else feel a little smaller for a moment. Shot from deep space for the first time in more than half a century, they show Earth suspended in darkness — a perspective so rare (when it's not CGI) that it borders on the surreal, reminding us of what photography can do at its absolute limits. Back here on Earth, we spent the week looking at where the camera industry is headed next — and who it's really for. In our opinion, niche cameras aren't a limitation but the future, while our review of the Sony a7 V explores what happens when one of the industry's biggest players refines its do-it-all workhorse. We also went deep with a photographer who's spent 45 years chasing birds — and the gear that's actually earned a permanent place in his kit — and sat down with Fujifilm at CP+ to talk about where the company sees things going next. It's a mix of big-picture thinking, practical gear insight, and a few reminders that, whether you're shooting from your backyard or 140,000 miles away, the impulse is the same: to make sense of what you're seeing — and hold onto it. —Ben     Highlights   Why niche cameras are the future of photography Mitchell, Abby and Richard look at industry trends and what they mean for the future of cameras.       In partnership with     Trade the Future. The Final Four Starts Saturday. The Final Four is set: Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Illinois all punched their tickets. But watching the games is only half the fun — what if you could put real money behind your predictions? Kalshi is a federally regulated exchange where you buy and sell contracts based on the outcomes of real-world events. March Madness, elections, economic data, weather — if it's happening, there's probably a market for it. I'm placing a trade on Arizona to cut down the nets. Their balance on both ends of the floor has been unmatched all tournament. But the beauty of Kalshi is you don't have to agree with me — you just have to have a take. Sign up now and get $10 free to place your first trade. No fees on your first deposit. Browse all available March Madness markets here. Claim Your Free $10       Could this company challenge Sony's mobile sensor dominance? A new player is putting out chips competitive with the established companies, and they're already showing up in phones. This is the secret sauce behind one of the NFL's most watched moments We spoke with a jib operator who has worked on eight Super Bowl Halftime Shows to find out what the process is like. Sony a7 V review video: is better than before good enough? The Sony a7 V promises much but faces some impressive rivals. Based on our extensive testing and real-world use of the camera, we discuss what it offer. These 20 photos from our "Night Lights" photo challenge will leave you glowing For our March photo challenge, DPReview photographers took us around the world. In the dark. This camera feels like a Ridley Scott prop, but actually works The point-and-shoot of the future we imagined in the 70s. Why the future of cameras looks nothing like the past As the camera market diversifies, we'll see some weird and interesting things that many not necessarily be designed for you or me. Apple's Pro desktop computer is no more: the Studio is the new flagship To no one's surprise, the Mac Pro has been discontinued. How to survive the great camera drought There have been no new camera announcements so far this year, and some cameras we'd expect or like to see remain AWOL. What should we do, while we wait? From forest trails to neon streets: a Viltrox 16mm F1.8 L sample gallery Rain is no obstacle for this ultra wide lens. Never say never: OM System reopens the door to compact cameras At CP+ 2026, we spoke to OM System about the shifting landscape of compact cameras, the progress of the Pen series and the role of AI in photography. From Antarctica to Africa with DPReview reader, Shun Cheung From Antarctica to Africa, DPReview reader, Shun Cheung, shares how a journey that began in the 1970s with a Minolta SRT-101 and has grown into more than five decades of nature and wildlife photography. DJI's Avata 360 drone takes on Insta360 with 8K immersive FPV footage DJI has announced a 360-degree drone to rival Insta360's sub-brand, Antigravity. LK Samyang's latest lens is meant to be a small and light everyday shooter The AF 35mm F1.8 Prima is another fast prime for Sony shooters. Tamron: "We are moving toward simultaneous multi-mount lens launches" instead of Sony-first For a while, E-mount got all of Tamron's new lenses first. 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