New Year, new me! Or, maybe New Year, new gear? It’s true, I’m one of those odd people who wait until after the holidays to clean up, add to, and replace my kit. This is because, as a fashion shooter, I was typically slow at the beginning of the year, shooting-wise anyway. In this month’s Editor’s Picks, I want to cover some of my recent purchases, plans, and let’s face it, dreams. I can’t be the only one who dreams of camera gear, can I? Also, I’ll touch on some stuff that caught my eye recently and a cool release from CES 2026
OWC ThunderBay RAID
It was time for an update for my ancient Drobo RAID system. Enter the OWC ThunderBay 4 4-Bay 96TB (4x24TB) Thunderbolt 3 RAID. A RAID is certainly not as flashy and maybe not as exciting as a new mirrorless body, but for those who do this professionally, it takes a huge weight off our chests to know we have a fast local backup.
Leica Q3 Monochrom
As some of you might have guessed, I am a die-hard rangefinder guy, but I must confess that the LEICA Q3 Monochrom has really captured my imagination. I didn’t get to shoot with this little beauty for very long, but I loved the all-in-one simplicity, and the files, wow.
OM Systems OM-5 Mark II
Ever since I sent our sample out with Austin for an article and video this summer, I’ve had this little gem of a camera on my mind. Micro Four Thirds is an interesting tool in today’s “full frame” world. When paired with a 100-400mm lens, you get the reach of a full-frame 800mm for a fraction of the size and weight. Having one of these OM system bodies and a long zoom lens for travel and birding is probably worth the price of admission. I’ve been having a hard time trying to capture the birds at my feeders with my phone – this combo might just be the answer.
Panasonic LUMIX S9
The LUMIX S9 is the camera I keep on my desk here at Adorama for any quick, pick-up shots. Truth be told, I didn’t ask for this camera; it’s what the content team had that they were willing to let me borrow. Of course, after using it for a bit, I never returned the S9 to them. LUMIX has positioned itself firmly as hybrid cameras, and the S9 is definitely that. With Open Gate and great video as well as stills features, this versatile body gets the job done. Check out this article about a student challenge that features the S9.
Westcott 45″ Round Halo Mono Softbox
Looking through the site for some inspiration, I came across Halo, and the memories rushed in. This modifier was one of the first I purchased way back in the day when I was shooting beauty and fashion on South Beach (SOBE). I saw an ad for it in a photo magazine and just had to have it, the round shape, the diffusion all made for a clean portrait and beauty light. I’ve since lost that original Halo that I bought from my local rental house, but those images I made with it moved me to the next level back in the day.
LG Touchscreen IPS LCD HDR Monitor with Rolling Stand
Have you ever made a quick decision and kinda regretted it? If you follow Adorama’s social media, you might have seen me talking about this cool little bit of tech. It’s a combination of a great screen for editing, and an entertainment center – I need to watch my Stranger Things somewhere. Anyway, I had this beauty all set up when my friend Ab came by and said, “That’s cool, you want me to make some content with it?” How am I gonna say no to Ab? So, you guys will get some cool content to watch, and I have to stick with watching shows on a regular TV… Boring.
CES 2026
This is always an interesting show to watch. After all, cameras are just part of a creator’s toolkit. Various accessories allow us to work smarter and oftentimes faster and with less gear.
Here’s my pick from CES 2026-
SHURE MV88 USB-C Microphone
As someone who has hosted several podcasts in my day, I’m always on the lookout for microphones not just for studio-quality recordings, but also for portable “guerrilla podcasting.” TBH, I envy those who just grab their phone and start talking. However, the “pro” in me wants just a bit more.
Up until now, I’ve been using wireless and sometimes wired Lavs to get the job done. I have been eyeballing these tiny, cheap mics that are not only trendy but also cool. They just seemed more like toys to me. CES drew my attention to this version of the MV88. As a long-time SHURE fan, I find this to be appealing. The previous version was great for iPhone users, but I like how USB-C is making more and more products versatile for many brands and devices.
