9 of the Most Important Photography Gadgets That Came Out This Year

Releases for photography that will assist you in capturing the moment when you can re-enter the road.

While 2020 has not been the best year for travel, there have been a slew of excellent camera and photography releases that will help you capture the moment you can get back on the road. The following are the highlights.

Moment Magsafe Camera Accessories

Moment is perhaps the most well-known designer of smartphone photography equipment, and it recently announced a MagSafe case for the iPhone 12 alongside a slew of MagSafe attachments, including a tripod, a light, a microphone, a car vent mount, and even a wall mount.

The case is priced starting at $20.

Price: $20 and above

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Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1

On the other hand, the Instax Square SQ1 shoots 2.5-inch square photographs that have significantly more staying appeal than a real photograph and an aspect ratio that any Instagrammer is familiar with. The Square SQ1 (and its film) are slightly more expensive than the Mini, but the difference is worth it for images that are more "photo" than "gimmick."

Price: $120

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Peak Design Tripod for Travel

Peak Design offers the Travel Tripod in two different materials: carbon fiber or aluminum alloy. While the carbon fiber type is lighter and more expensive, both models weigh less than four pounds and can accommodate cameras weighing up to twenty pounds. Additionally, both variants are compatible with DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and incorporate a smartphone mount. The Travel Tripod utilizes latches to extend the legs rather than standard twist locks, making setup easier. It features a quick-release button that simplifies the process of attaching and detaching a camera. Additionally, there are little levers that allow the legs to be extended wide for low-angle photography.

Price: $350+

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iPhone 12 Pro Max

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max include a triple rear camera system with a wide (primary) lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a telephoto lens. Both smartphones have the same ultra-wide lens, but the Pro Max boasts superior wide and telephoto cameras. To be more precise, the Pro Max's wide lens features a significantly larger sensor — 47 percent larger, to be precise — which enables it to capture better images in low-light circumstances. Additionally, the Pro Max features longer telephoto lenses (2.5x vs. 2x), optical zoom (5x vs. 4x range), and digital zoom (up to 12x vs up to 10x).

Price: $1,099+

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The Nikon Z5

The Z5 is most notable for two factors: sensor size and pricing. The Nikon Z5 is not the cheapest mirrorless full frame camera on the market, with a list price of $1,399 (body only). Canon RP (about $899 these days) and many pre-owned or older-model possibilities of several higher-end bodies beat it. Not to mention the possibility of acquiring a DSLR. However, the Z5's feature set and overall performance make it an especially attractive gateway drug for crop sensor converts. And, perhaps more importantly, a portent of things to come.

Price: $1,197.00 plus

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Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKIII

The E-M1 Mark III, the culmination of almost a decade of refining across the OM-D family, demonstrates exactly how myopic a pixel-peeping perspective can be. By squeezing a suite of professional-grade features from the larger, more expensive, and more awkward-looking E-M1x into the E-M1 line's compact, tidy body, Olympus has created a package that carries its 20.4MP sensor (and matching suite of affordable, portable Micro Four Thirds lenses) far beyond where any inveterate spec nerd would expect. It's just a shame that Olympus decided to divest itself of its camera branch.

Price: $1,399+

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Sony Alpha 7c

The A7C is the company's smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable lens camera to date. When combined with the Sony A7C's large 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, the Sony A7C appears to be set to put serious pressure on APS-C compact cameras (including Sony's own A6400). The Sony A7C appears to be a well-executed rebranding of the A7III. Although you'll almost certainly need a lens with an f/2.8 or faster aperture to achieve the full frame benefit. When combined with a 50mm f/1.4 lens, the A7C might make an excellent travel camera.

Price: $1,798+

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Canon R5

Canon's new flagship juggernaut is a class-leading beast, earning it a spot on Gear Patrol's GP100. Its new 45-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers amazingly high-quality, high-resolution images at up to 20 frames per second, with outstanding autofocus and ergonomics. The R5 serves as the test subject for Canon's new in-body image stabilization, which can provide up to eight stops of stabilization in ideal conditions and with compatible lenses.

Price: $3,899+

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Leica SL2-S

In a move reminiscent of the Canon EOS R6, Nikon Z6, or Sony A7s, Leica has launched a lower-resolution, lower-cost version of the excellent SL2 that nonetheless features some impressive characteristics. A stabilized 24-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor (down from 47 in the SL2) enables outstanding low-light performance and 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 video capture at up to 30 frames per second (soon to be 60 with a coming firmware update). Another tiny piece of news that comes with the launch of the SL2-S is that the SL series (together with the insane, medium-format S3) is now supported in Capture One — the industry standard software for many professionals.