The PetaPixel Photography Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Becca Farsace Talks Leaving The Verge and Going Independent Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Wildlife photography is all about capturing rare, fast-moving moments from a distance without compromising image quality. With its impressive reach of up to 1200mm (35mm equivalent), and market-leading 5-axis sync IS stabilization, the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens ensures stunning, sharp shots even in the toughest conditions. Plus, its IPX1-certified weather sealing makes it the perfect companion for all your outdoor adventures. Right now is a great chance to save! The M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens is available at a special price of $2,299.99—down from $2,699.99. Pair it with the M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20, now $299.99 (originally $429.99), and you’ll save $530 when you bundle them together. But hurry—this offer ends September 29th!
Head to your local authorized OM SYSTEM retailer or visit explore.omsystem.com/petapixel to learn more and take advantage of this amazing deal today!
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Last week, former video producer at The Verge Becca Farsace published a video explaining why she left that job to pursue becoming an independent creator. Since her path is the opposite of the one Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake chose, the three discuss the pros and cons of each direction on this week's PetaPixel Podcast.
The resulting discussion illuminates why there isn't a "one size fits all" set of instructions for being a content creator in the modern era.
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Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.
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In This Episode

00:00 - Intro (and injury update)
09:21 - GoPro's New GoPro Hero 13 Black makes some great usability enhancements
12:41 - Canon R5 II has unpublished recording limitations when using older batteries
16:42 - Tamron brings the 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 to Nikon Z mount
18:19 - Abode's plan to take on Adobe isn't going well
23:14 - Peak Design finally made an adventure backpack
26:49 - Becca Farsace on leaving The Verge and going independent
1:13:38 - What have you been up to? (Sad story from Chris)
1:19:10 - Tech support
1:36:07 - Never read the comments
1:39:23 - Feel good story of the week

Olympics Photographer on Canon R1, Sony a9 III, and More! Feat. Leah Hennel Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

If you are an adventurer or an outdoor enthusiast, OM SYSTEM has designed the ultimate camera just for someone like you. Whether you’re into hiking, backpacking, camping or exploring, the OM SYSTEM OM-5 is the perfect tool to capture your adventures with breathtaking clarity.
From now until September 29, 2024, you can enjoy an incredible $100 instant savings on the OM SYSTEM OM-5 body, or $300 off the OM-5 with the M.Zuiko 12-45mm F4.0 PRO lens kit. Visit explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or your nearest authorized OM SYSTEM retailer today.
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Photographer Leah Hennel is an award-winning photojournalist who has been on the ground at Olympic events for the past 10 years. She just returned from Paris after covering the 2024 Summer Olympics and chats with The PetaPixel Podcast team about process, strategy, the day-to-day experience, and -- of course -- gear.
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.
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In This Episode

00:00 - Intro
06:22 - Samyang made the world's first optical exchange autofocus lens
09:44 - Apple event is scheduled for September 9
15:48 - Check out this 18.7K camera and it's crazy underwater housing
20:11 - Kodak Color Negative photochemicals are available globally
21:53 - Apple published its first Final Cut Pro YouTube video ads for the first time... ever?
25:45 - Story about Resolve
26:35 - The rise and crash of the camera industry in one chart
32:43 - Olympics 2024 Debrief with photographer Leah Hennel
1:07:23 - Tech Support
1:27:46 - What have you been up to?
1:29:43 - Never read the comments
1:37:22 - Feel good story of the week

Brands Have No Idea How to Work With YouTubers Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

Now through September 1st, OM SYSTEM is offering an amazing deal on their ultimate telephoto kit, perfect for reaching those distant subjects and getting breathtaking shots for a total savings of $930! Normally $5,879.96, a kit of the OM-1 Mark II, MC-20 2x teleconverter, a battery grip, and the 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 are now just $4,949.96. Whether you’re capturing the graceful flight of a bird or the intricate details of wildlife, this kit has everything you need.
Visit explore.omsystem.com/PetaPixel or visit an authorized retailer of OM SYSTEM to get your hands on this gear today!
This week, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider discuss the difficulty brands have with working with media personalities that live outside of the "traditional" publication sphere. We also missed a lot of news over the last two weeks so we recap the biggest stories of August, including Sony launching new HandyCam camcorders for the first time in many years, new info on the Canon EOS R5 Mark II's dynamic range, and the revelation that almost half of Tamron's business comes from making lenses that aren't branded Tamron.
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Intro
08:31 - The Canon EOS R5 II’s Dynamic Range Performance Is Complicated
13:58 - Sony announced new handycams
18:50 - Benj Haisch tracks down $25K worth of stolen gear
26:03 - Frame.io now supports camera to cloud directly into Lightroom
29:16 - Canon believes the R3 and the R1 appeal to different photographers
31:58 - 46% of Tamron's sales come from making other camera company's lenses
35:16 - Pre-orders for the Mint $799 Rollei 35AF film camera start on September 10
37:50 - Brands have no idea how to work with YouTubers (Team Pixel drama and follow up
52:50 - The HDR situation
55:49 - Adobe has some work to do...
1:05:01 - Tech Support
1:30:02 - The Feel Good Story of the Week

Adobe Answers Your Questions on AI, Controversies, and Photography Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

Over the past few weeks, we've been compiling the questions you want Adobe to answer related to its push into AI, recent controversies, and photography in general. We had a chance to sit down with Maria Yap, Adobe's Vice President of Digital Imaging, to give the company a chance to respond.
For over an hour, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider chatted with Yap and presented her with a range of inquiries from the whole "skip the photoshoot" debacle, pricing and subscription strategy, Lightroom performance, and more. While Yap answers many of those in the podcast, she also wanted to be sure to give detailed answers in text form to a few that stood out as needing more context.
You can read those here: http://petapixel.com/2024/08/15/adobe-answers-your-questions-on-ai-controversies-and-photography-the-petapixel-podcast
We expect to speak with Adobe more frequently moving forward, so more questions and ideas for topics to discuss are welcome!
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Intro
03:28 - Meet Maria Yap, Adobe's Vice President of Digital Imaging
06:20 - Discussing the "skip the photoshoot" ad
11:04 - Can Adobe use AI to make metadata tagging easier?
13:27 - Does Adobe plan to update its TOS to allow boudoir photographers to use AI tools, or are they out of luck?
16:37 - Is Adobe going to leverage NPUs better so sending AI requests to the cloud is not necessary?
21:13 - When are we going to get proper multi-core and graphics card acceleration?
28:05 - Will Lightroom on iPad ever have feature parity to Lightroom on desktop?
46:34 - When is Lightroom Classic tethering support coming to Apple Silicon? Are you working to improve the stability of tethering on Windows?
47:17 - Why hasn’t there been any significant improvement or revision to the Lightroom import process?
48:35 - Could there be a Photoshop or Lightroom "lite"?
51:43 - Would Adobe consider a "build your own" or a la carte bundle plan of apps?
53:41 - How does Adobe ensure that its decision-making remains independent and user-centric?
55:14 - How does Adobe plan to improve communication and transparency with its users?
59:43 - How does Adobe ensure that customer value remains central to its business strategy?
1:03:19 - The broken promise of Lightroom as perpetual software forever.
1:06:12 - Adobe's stance on AI, imagery, and what is a photo?

Making YouTube Videos Using a Film Camera is HARD Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

From now until September 1st, you can snag some incredible deals, including $300 off the OM-1 Mark II body. It’s usually priced at $2,399.99, but right now, it’s just $2,099.99. It’s a fantastic opportunity to pick one up if you’ve been considering it!
Check out OM SYSTEM’s August specials and take advantage of these incredible savings while they last. Visit explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or visit your local authorized OM SYSTEM retailer today!
Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring our main story segment! To learn the creative skills needed to succeed and grow, we use the world’s largest online learning community, Skillshare, which has thousands of video classes on illustration, graphic design, photography, music, marketing, productivity, and more. The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare.
Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake have been trying to finish a review of the Kodak Super8 camera but have found one unassailable truth in doing so: shooting on film for YouTube is very, very hard.
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Send us questions to ask Adobe!
05:30 - Tamron's new 28-300mm f/4-7.1 all-in-one (that we reviewed)
11:20 - Sigma is making a Cine lens version of the 28-45mm f/1.8 but retaining autofocus
16:24 - Canon files five unique zoom lens designs
22:34 - Atomos Shinobi II HDMI display finally lets you control the camera through it
25:05 - Shooting YouTube videos on film is HARD.
39:15 - An update on repairing Jaron's dad's cameras
47:37 - Should we publish all our smartphone reviews in HDR?
1:01:23 - What will you be up to?
1:05:08 - Tech support
1:05:22 - Could you argue it is possible to use only Sony products for end-to-end photo creation and publishing?
1:08:29 - Does any photo editor import Sigma fp color?
1:10:30 - When is the best time to use the different shutter options in modern cameras?
1:12:39 - Why are Chinese lens makers able to pump out lenses so fast?
1:15:42 - Can you explain preamps in cameras and what makes them better or worse?
1:20:38 - Will Sony drop the price of the Alpha 1, or release a new one?
1:22:48 - Is using a UV filter for lens protection necessary?
1:28:34 - Is there an image quality hit with the electronic shutter on the OM-5?

Is There Something Going on With the Nikon Z6 III Sensor? Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Thanks to our podcast sponsor, OM SYSTEM! OM SYSTEM are innovators behind some of the most versatile and high-quality lenses on the market, and they’ve got some incredible deals on M.Zuiko lenses now through the end of September that are perfect for expanding your photography toolkit. In fact, some of these lenses are at their lowest price ever.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO is available for $999.99, which is $400 off the regular price of $1399.99. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye PRO fisheye is on sale for $799.99, which is $300 off the usual $1099.99. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO, Jordan's favorite lens, is $699.99, which is $400 off its regular price of $1099.99. Finally, the the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO is $599.99 -- $300 off the usual $899.99.
If you’re ready to take advantage of these exceptional deals, visit your local authorized OM SYSTEM retailer or visit explore.omsystem.com/petapixel today!
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This week, Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake concluded their review of the Nikon Z6 III. It's a fantastic overall camera that has some interesting new technology, but the few limitations it has appear directly linked to the sensor.
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Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.
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In This Episode

00:00 - Intro
10:36 - Sigma (sort of) makes more lenses work with with a9 III's 120FPS mode
14:19 - Hugh Brownstone's Leica Q3 grip
19:21 - The world's first underwater housing for the Leica M6
21:58 - Harman makes multi-million-pound investment in the future of film manufacturing.
25:40 - Pentax Astrophotography Assistant is paid firmware update to K-1 and K-1 II
30:21 - Is there something going on with the Nikon Z6 III sensor?
48:55 - What have you been up to?
55:37 - Tech Support
55:53 - Is Micro Four Thirds good for street photography anymore?
1:01:27 - Can you help explain sensor size conversions?
1:06:48 - How should you store camera equipment in high humidity locations?
1:09:04 - What's the most affordable Mac option for the most power?
1:12:56 - Is there something to the "Leica Look" people talk about?
1:16:28 - What happened to the "$500" pocket cam? What happened to Type 1 sensors?
1:20:53 - Can you explain what about Panasonic's video tools makes them better than, say, Nikon?
1:22:55 - Is there a fixed lens compact camera with good zoom?
1:24:33 - Don't forget about Darktable!
1:29:02 - How come camera companies share so little info about their processors?

Is the Canon R3 Line Dead Now? Feat. Kai W Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

If you’re itching to upgrade your camera or have been eyeing the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II, now may be the time. For three days only, from July 23 rd to 25 th , 2024, head over to your local OM SYSTEM authorized photo specialty store to score $300 off the OM-1 Mark II body, now just $2,099.99 (US), down from $2,399.99 (US). If you prefer a kit, the OM-1 Mark II with the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II lens can be yours for $2,699.99.
Don’t miss out on these incredible savings. Get your hands on a brand new, powerful, portable, and weather-sealed OM-1 Mark II for your upcoming adventures. Don’t wait, this offer is only available until July 25th!
Visit your nearest authorized OM SYSTEM retailer or find one at explore.omsystem.com/petapixel.
This week, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider are joined by Kai W to talk about the R3 and ask... why does it still exist? Canon says the R3 line isn't going anywhere, but side-by-side with the new R1, there doesn't seem to be any reason for it to exist anymore. The four debate!
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Intro... with Kai W!
08:52 - SL3 Bug could delete your photos, but Leica already fixed it
16:07 - Canon says it is developing new lenses "no one can imagine yet"
19:58 - Laowa Makes the world's first zoom shift lens
22:43 - Serif Affinity is free for six months, no strings attached
24:51 - Got a question for Adobe? Let us know.
27:57 - Is the R3 Line dead now?
42:36 - Does dual pixel hold Canon back?
46:29 - What has Kai been up to?
55:31 - Tech support
1:27:15 - Never read the comments

Everything You Need to Know About the Canon R1 and R5 Mark II Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Today, Canon announced the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II – two highly anticipated cameras that say a lot about where the company stands on technology and, more importantly, how what it can provide photographers compares to its peers.
Each camera alone is a big deal for Canon but together they mark what is arguably the most important launch for the company in the digital photography era -- it is unquestionably the most important launch for Canon since it moved to mirrorless.
It was odd, then, that Canon gave US media so little time with the cameras. This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake join me to go over all of the details about the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II that we weren't able to talk about when we got hands-on time with them a couple of weeks ago in Phoenix, Arizona. We weren't able to dedicate the time to doing things as we would typically for camera launches because Canon only provided us about two hours of shooting time. If we attempted to record all of this information on site, we wouldn't have had any time to evaluate the equipment.
Beyond that, Canon wasn't able to provide concrete information to many of our questions in Phoenix. While we did eventually get final specifications this week, a lot was still missing. It doesn't seem like Canon wants to share everything and we'll have to get production units in hand to provide full information to everyone.
So because of our limited time and because we didn't have enough information when we had the R1 and R5 Mark II in-hand, we focused our efforts on explaining the most important aspects of each camera with the anticipation that we would spend a lot more time discussing those features in a podcast format.
Now that podcast is here, and we do our best to answer every question we think you might have about both cameras. Enjoy!
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Setting the stage and explaining how this video is divided
03:25 - Canon EOS R1 specifications and breakdown
46:05 - Canon EOS R5 II specifications and breakdown
1:07:31 - Explanation of the shooting opportunity in Arizona
1:18:22 - Opinions so far...
1:28:37 - Canon did a round of layoffs and Rudy Winston is gone
1:30:02 - OM System Curry

Grading Every Camera Maker: 2024 Mid-Year Review (Feat. Gordon Laing) Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

OM SYSTEM is renowned for their extensive line-up of lenses, offering a wide variety of compact, lightweight options featuring advanced optical performance. From compact primes to versatile zooms, extreme telephoto, and specialized macro lenses, the range caters to photographers of all skill levels and photography genres.
M.Zuiko lenses have earned a reputation for their exceptional optical quality, portability, and versatility, making them a popular choice among photographers who demand the best. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting out, don’t miss OM SYSTEM’s best lens deals of the season, available until July 21st. Upgrade your kit or expand your collection with savings up to $400. Visit your nearest OM SYSTEM authorized retailer or explore.omsystem.com/petapixel to take advantage of big savings today!
Professional quality prints are the perfect way to elevate your photography and, if you have your own photo business, a great way to boost sales. With Bay Photo as your partner lab, you can easily order and quickly deliver stunning photo products to your clients.
You can save 25% Off Any One Wall Display Order when you go to bayphoto.com/petapixel and use promo code PETAPIXEL25.
Even though we're only halfway through 2024, it has felt like a very busy year for the camera industry. This week, the PetaPixel Podcast team is joined by Camera Labs' Gordon Laing to give a midterm grade to every camera maker. Who is acing the year, who only earns a passing grade, and who is at risk of failing? The four discuss!
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Intro: It's Gordon Laing!
03:38 - Meta changed "Made with AI" to "AI Info"
09:01 - Google appears to be bringing the next Pixel much earlier than expected
12:22 - The Leica D-Lux 8 is now shipping, although it is already sold out
17:15 - OM System's E-M1 Mark III Astro repurposes old tech for a niche audience
22:01 - Grading Every Camera Maker: 2024 Mid-Year Review
26:11 - Canon
34:21 - Fujifilm
40:57 - Leica
46:31 - Nikon
53:35 - OM System
1:01:17 - Panasonic
1:13:51 - Ricoh/Pentax
1:18:56 - Sigma
1:25:15 - Sony
1:32:30 - Tamron
1:37:18 - Two final things...

So... Where is the Nikon Z7 III? Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

OM SYSTEM Ambassador Chris Eyre-Walker's photography and filmmaking career has taken him across the world, however, some of his favorite photography locations are located right in his backyard in east Belgium. Today on PetaPixel, take a multi-day hike with Eyre-Walker across the Venntrilogie, a 109 kilometer trail that weaves through some of the most scenic landscapes and towns in East Belgium. In the story, you will get to listen to his inner voice, learn what draws his eye, and understand how he constructs photographs along the way.
Take Chris Eyre-Walker’s free, six-part photography class ‘Learning to See Like a Photographer’ here.
You can also read the story, Six Ways to Help Yourself See Like a Photographer, today here.
Thanks once again to OM SYSTEM for sponsoring today’s podcast. Learn more about OM SYSTEM’s impressive line of cameras and M.ZUIKO lenses at explore.omsystem.com/petapixel
In a topic spurred by an opinion piece on PetaPixel last week, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider discuss what they think the future of the Nikon Z7 III is – if it has one at all.
Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.
In This Episode

00:00 - Intro
09:44 - U.S. House passes DJI Drone ban bill
13:42 - Sigma dropped its first RF lens
15:58 - Congrats to Pentax, the Pentax 17 is selling well
24:22 - Blackmagic Camera is now on Android
25:47 - So, where is the Nikon Z7 III?
43:22 - What have you been up to?
46:41 - Kristi Odom sent prints!
48:17 - Tech support
48:35 - If you could only have one lens forever, what would it be?
52:31 - Are there too many sensor sizes? Too few?
53:34 - What's the best solution to dissatisfaction with Fujifilm autofocus?
59:51 - Is the Lumix S9 good for training a new photographer?
1:03:02 - Which is better for a photographer, the Z6 III or Zf?
1:06:13 - What are some tips to take better photos of moving subjects in extreme low light?
1:10:30 - Never read the comments