I already have a camera kit I love. My wishlist is about what I would like to do next: travel more comfortably with the gear, try a different perspective, and find a little more room for fun along the way.
These are things I am considering for the 2026 holiday season. They are wishlist items, not equipment I have bought or tested. I will add to this page as I narrow down what is actually worth bringing into my setup.
Peak Design Roller Pro Carry-On in Eclipse
On my wishlist · listed at US$599.95. The red Eclipse version is the one on my list. The Roller Pro opens upward like all my gear cases, so I can get to everything without spreading a suitcase across the floor. I could pack it as a full-on gear bag for a shoot or use it as a regular carry-on. That smaller footprint sounds great in a hotel room, but even better when I’m staying in a friend’s living room. I already try to find the corner of their condo they’re least likely to need, and I still feel bad about how much room my stuff takes up.
Then there is the color. Eclipse matches my Pelican and my water bottle perfectly, and it feels like a match made in heaven. I am kicking myself for not going in on this during the Kickstarter campaign. I have not bought it yet, but this is very much the luggage I keep coming back to.
See the red Eclipse Roller Pro at Peak Design · See what I currently pack
DJI Neo: a tiny drone for aerial angles and BTS
On my wishlist · DJI lists the no-controller package at US$169. I already use a Mavic 3 for drone work. What interests me here is a much smaller drone I could bring for a quick aerial perspective or behind-the-scenes footage of a photo shoot.
The original DJI Neo weighs about 135g, records 4K video, and has covered propellers. Follow mode can film a moving person, while Spotlight holds a stationary hover with the camera facing the subject. That is the appeal for me: another angle on the work, in a little drone that is easy to bring along.
For me, the attraction is documenting the work without turning every photo shoot into a full drone production. A short view of the photographer directing someone, moving through the location, or setting up a shot could be useful for a BTS reel.
This would still be a supervised flight. The original Neo has no obstacle avoidance, so I would plan the shot in an open area and have someone manage the drone while I concentrate on the camera. Covered propellers do not make it safe to leave unattended around people. U.S. work flights need the appropriate Part 107 and registration and Remote ID setup.
Check the DJI Neo on Amazon · Compare the package at DJI. Check the selected seller, bundle, current price, and availability before buying.
Yashica Y16: I want photography to feel like this again
High on my personal wishlist: I have not personally used this yet, but it is probably the camera I most want as a holiday gift right now. The design is gorgeous: pocketable, visually distinctive, and exactly the sort of fun camera I want to carry alongside the serious kit.
I cannot get over how the camera looks almost flipped around compared with what I am used to. The whole shape feels so fun that I get a little giddy imagining taking photos of everything with it.
More than a decade into photography, it can be hard to feel that same excitement about the everyday things. I wonder if a little camera like this could make me notice them again—just because taking the picture feels fun. That is what puts the Y16 so high on my list.
Hirono × Kodak Charmera: the just-for-fun wishlist pick
On my wishlist / not personally used: I already love the Charmera idea, and the Hirono collaboration is the kind of little camera I would want simply because it makes me smile. The tiny yellow body and character artwork make it feel like a collectible I could actually take pictures with.
This is the playful end of my wishlist: a camera to bring along for little moments, with a design that makes me want to pick it up. It belongs here for the same reason the Y16 does—the possibility of making everyday photography feel fun again.
View the Hirono Charmera at Kodak Apparel (Korean store). The official listing is currently marked sold out, so this is one I am watching for rather than presenting as readily available. I would still pair it with a protective case.
I would rather add a few things that open up a new possibility than buy more of what I already have. For the equipment that has already earned a place in my bags, see gear I use. For other people’s wishlists, start with the photographer gift guides.