The PetaPixel Photography Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Nikon is Suing Viltrox Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

We would like to thank this week's PetaPixel Podcast sponsor, OM SYSTEM. They have been a big supporter of PetaPixel over the years and we were lucky enough to recently get the chance to travel to Costa Rica with OM SYSTEM Ambassador and Master Bird Photographer Ben Knoot, and it was an amazing experience. You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel.
Did Chris and Jordan’s journey to Costa Rica inspire you to capture your own travel moments? OM SYSTEM is running a street and travel photo contest right now.
Grand Prize: OM-3 or OM-5 Camera Kit + WANDRD camera bag
How to Enter:Post your best street or travel photo on Instagram (must be a NEW post)Use hashtag #TravelWithOMSYSTEMTag @omsystem.camerasComplete your entry hereDeadline: February 16th Winners Announced: March 2nd
Enter the contest today!
Last week, we found out that the Z-mount might not be quite as open as we previously thought because Nikon is suing Viltrox. While right now it could be as simple as seeking royalties for using the mount, it could also just as easily end up being a similar situation to Canon, who runs a closed mount.
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 (and Chris's favorite bird photos from Costa Rica)
17:43 - Leica is reportedly considering a sale: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/26/leica-camera-considering-selling-a-majority-stake-for-1-2-billion-report/
21:59 - TTArtisan chose a unique color scheme for this lens: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/23/this-might-be-the-ugliest-lens-ive-ever-seen/
25:25 - Ektar and Tri-X join Kodak's line of directly distributed films: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/21/ektar-and-tri-x-are-now-being-distributed-directly-by-kodak/
29:37 - Sony has a new global shutter, square sensor: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/19/sonys-newest-global-shutter-image-sensors-are-square-and-speedy/
31:35 - Nikon ZR gets its first firmware update: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/26/nikon-zr-update-extends-max-recording-time-to-6-hours/
37:28 - Nikon is Suing Viltrox: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/21/nikon-files-lawsuit-against-viltrox-in-china-over-z-mount-patent-report/
57:27 - What have you been up to?
1:01:55 - Tech support
1:24:57 - Feel good stories of the week

Are Cameras ACTUALLY More expensive now? Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

With a PetaPixel Membership, not only can you support original PetaPixel reporting and in-depth reviews, but you can also remove ads from the website and gain access to some seriously great perks, too. Members get $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses.
It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. Join today!
This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team is in New York City and spends time chatting in different hotel rooms together! The big topic that has been on everyone's mind lately is pricing, and the idea that photography has become too expensive. Jordan thought it might be worth checking to see if that's really the case, and quizzes Chris and Jaron on if modern cameras really are pricier than they were just a few years ago.
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 from New York City hotel rooms!
10:08 - Evoto messed up big
14:54 - The "Await" camera is trying to mimic the experience of film
21:17 - The Sony a7 V is killing it in Japan
24:30 - Thypoch's new lens is based on 1970s cinema optics
27:59 - Let's talk one more time about the GR IV Monochrome's price
34:39 - Are cameras actually more expensive now?
57:35 - What have you been up to?
1:03:50 - Tech support

Chris REALLY Likes the Instax Mini Evo Cinema... but Sarah Isn't Sold Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

With a PetaPixel Membership, not only can you support original PetaPixel reporting and in-depth reviews, but you can also remove ads from the website and gain access to some seriously great perks, too. Members get $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses.
It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. Join today: https://petapixel.com/members/
This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider are joined by Sarah Teng to talk about the Instax Mini Evo Cinema. And, in a weird bizzaro world twist, it's Chris who has to convince Sarah that it's great. She's not sold, but Chris absolutely loves this weirdo video/printer/instant camera hybrid.
Also, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome finally has a price and release date, but it's a lot more expensive than the base model. Apple launched a new suite of creative apps called the Creator Studio, Adorama was literally giving X half cameras away, and you can get a GoPro-branded laptop for some reason.
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, and Sarah Teng is back!
12:11 - The Ricoh GR Monochrome costs $700 more than the base model
16:32 - Fujifilm is releasing an all-white X half in China
17:52 - Meanwhile, Adorama is literally giving X halfs away
20:33 - Pentax isn't sure how to make the DSLR popular again
26:43 - You can get a GoPro laptop, if you're into that
30:56 - Nikon's 24-105mm f/4-7.1 is a new kit zoom for the Z5 II
32:57 - The OM-D E-M10 Mark IV isn't being discontinued
36:20 - Apple Creator Studio is the long-awaited competitor to Adobe Creative Cloud
44:15 - Is the Mini Evo Cinema the best Instax camera ever?
1:03:54 - What have you been up to?
1:10:10 - Tech support
1:16:28 - Feel good story of the week: Don't ever change, Radio Shack

The Annual Airing of Grievances [Bonus Episode] Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Do you ever get tired of manually searching for, organizing, and culling your images? We do, too, and that’s where Excire can help!
Excire’s photo-management software harnesses AI to make tedious tasks 10x faster, easier, and more fun. Thanks to Excire, you can easily get your images organized, stay on top of culling, and instantly find any photo in your catalog—so you can spend less time managing your images and more time doing what you love!
And since the AI runs locally on your computer, you’ll never have to worry about privacy or security. Best of all, Excire can be integrated seamlessly into your current workflow, either using the standalone image organizer, Excire Foto 2025, or the Lightroom Classic plugin, Excire Search 2026. To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit http://excire.com/en/shop/!
PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL.
Surprise! The PetaPixel Podcast team got together one more time for the true Season 4 finale! Grab a glass of eggnog, don your Santa hats, and pull the pole out from the crawlspace, because it's time for the annual airing of grievances!
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 (Your most vivid Christmas memory)
13:53 - DJI drones have been banned in the US
16:30 - Fujifilm to spend nearly $32 million expanding Instax film production
20:18 - Benro's electronics Variable ND filter automatically adjusts its strength
24:56 - Leica made major updates to the SL3 and Q3 series autofocus
26:48 - All visual arts students worldwide can now join ASMP for free
27:50 - Ricoh's GR IV HDF is coming soon and has a new electronic shutter
31:56 - The Annual Airing of Grievances
52:51 - What have you been up to?
58:52 - Tech Support

PetaPixel’s Bold Camera Predictions for 2026 (Feat. DPReview's Richard Butler) Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

The holiday season is here, and the OM SYSTEM Holiday Savings Event continues. Right now, you can save up to $400 on many of the cameras and lenses that OM SYSTEM makes, including the popular travel camera, the OM-3.
But that's not all: right now, almost every lens in the M.Zuiko lineup is on sale right now. Whether you're building your first OM SYSTEM kit or adding to an existing collection, there's never been a better time to go light without compromising on image quality. Check out the full lineup at explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or visit your local authorized OM SYSTEM retailer today!
Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card, which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) Or you can pay over time with 6 and 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo.
Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Now for the fifth year in a row, PetaPixel has gathered its team together to gaze into the future and see the facts, the truths, that will come to pass in the camera industry in 2026. As always, we are prepared to be very wrong.
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 (were you naughty or nice this year?)
09:53 - No, Sony did not intentionally brick third-party lenses, Viltrox confirms
13:17 - Sony a7 V dynamic range is really good
15:41 - Ironically, The Stringer used photos from Dave Burnett without permission or attribution
17:37 - About that 7Artisans Floral Bloom lens
21:06 - Japan railway pleads with photographers to stop being dangerously dumb
25:51 - Z9 got yet another firmware update
26:38 - The CP+ Photo Show in Japan will be the biggest ever
29:35 - BOLD Predictions for 2026, feat. DPReview's Richard Butler
1:28:14 - What have you been up to?
1:37:02 - Feel good story of the week

The 2025 PetaPixel Awards Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card, which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) Or you can pay over time with 6 and 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo.
Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
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
08:03 - Affinity sees 3M downloads in 33 days
12:02 - Martin Parr passed away
14:06 - This photographer built his own medium format rangefinder (and so can you)
17:05 - Tamron 150-500mm firmware update
20:13 - Crucial SSDs are no more
22:55 - The Antigravity A1 is now available
25:55 - Green lenses are beautiful
28:16 - The 2025 PetaPixel Awards
29:26 - Accessory of the Year
24:55 - Software of the Year
37:47 - Workstation of the Year
42:48 - Smartphone of the Year
48:25 - Zoom Lens of the Year
52:12 - Prime Lens of the Year
56:43 - People's Choice Award: Camera of the Year
1:00:35 - Camera of the Year
1:07:09 - Photo Company of the Year
1:07:38 - Technology Innovation of the Year
1:09:19 - What have you been up to?
1:16:43 - Tech Support
1:31:57 - Feel Good Story of the Week

Grading Every Camera Maker: 2025 FINAL Review (Feat. Gordon Laing) Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Do you ever get tired of manually searching for, organizing, and culling your images? We do, too - and that’s where Excire can help! Excire’s photo-management software harnesses AI to make tedious tasks 10x faster, easier, and more fun. To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit http://www.excire.com/en/shop!
EXCIRE BLACK FRIDAY SALE: PetaPixel viewers can receive 30% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL30 -- valid through December 7th!
Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card, which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) Or you can pay over time with 6 and 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo.
Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
In July, The PetaPixel Podcast team was joined by Camera Labs' Gordon Laing to give mid-term grades to every major camera and lens manufacturer. Now that the year has ended, it’s time for them all to get graded on their finals in this annual tradition!
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
08:26 - You can now edit 32K video in Resolve
10:29 - Sony's new smartphone sensor promises 17 stops of DR
12:39 - Thypoch's new Eurka 28mm f/2.8 is inspired by another cool, obscure lens
16:04 - The custom film simulation recipe from the limited edition GFX100RF
17:11 - Review Roundup
25:28 - Grading Every Camera Maker in 2025 Feat. Gordon Laing
27:17 - Canon
34:21 - Nikon
40:12 - Sony
53:35 - Panasonic Lumix
1:03:28 - Fujifilm
1:14:18 - Hasselblad
1:18:02 - OM System
1:24:16 - Leica
1:28:55 - Sigma
1:35:26 - Tamron

'The Stringer' Stands to Destroy the Reputation of Nick Ut and the AP Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Do you ever get tired of manually searching for, organizing, and culling your images? Excire’s photo-management software harnesses AI to make tedious tasks 10x faster, easier, and more fun. To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit http://www.excire.com/en/shop!
EXCIRE BLACK FRIDAY SALE: PetaPixel viewers can receive 30% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL30 -- valid through December 7th!
Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card, which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) Or you can pay over time with 6 and 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo.
Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
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
08:37 - The Kodak Snapic A1 is a $99 film camera with a double exposure switch
11:06 - The AP has switched to DaVinci Resolve
12:29 - Arri closed two facilities dedicated to lighting
16:12 - Leica's M EV1 is finally available in the US after delays due to the government shutdown
17:15 - Q3 Monochrom was announced
22:41 - Lumix significantly improved S1 II and S1R II record times
25:27 - Laowa made a new half-macro tilt shift lens
28:36 - Fujifilm teamed up with a Japanese artist for a limited edition GFX100RF
31:35 - The world's biggest walk-in camera is for sale
34:38 - "The Stringer" Utterly Ruins the Reputation of Nick Ut and the AP
1:29:12 - Read Matt's review of "The Stringer" on PetaPixel
1:29:24 - While you were out taking pictures, Polar Pro studied the blade

The Gear We Used Every Day of 2025 Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

The holiday season is here, and so is OM SYSTEM’s Black Friday pricing. Right now, you can save up to $400 on many of the cameras and lenses that they make.
The OM-1 Mark II, their professional powerhouse perfect for bird and wildlife photography, with blazing-fast autofocus and class-leading stabilization, is $400 off. For those looking for an even lighter all-around travel kit, the OM-3 and M.Zuiko 12-45mm F4.0 PRO package is only $2099.99. And if you’re looking to upgrade your glass, you’ll find big savings on almost al M.Zuikol lenses.
Check out the full lineup at explore.omsystem.com/petapixel and take your photography to the next level without breaking the bank.
Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card, which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) Or you can pay over time with 6 and 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo.
Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
The PetaPixel team uses different cameras and lenses every day as part of our job but behind the scenes, we carry around a few pieces of mainstay gear that we just can't live without. This week, The PetaPixel Podcast team reveals the equipment they've been carrying this year that keeps the wheels of journalism turning.
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio

In This Episode

00:00 - Intro; Chris and Jordan are working a shift at the Camera Store Next Week!
12:25 - We just got the best look yet at Jeff Bridges' WideluxX project
15:10 - ARRI is trying to mimic film with a digital plugin
18:11 - Fujifilm released the film simulation LUTS it promised
20:49 - Light Lens Lab has recreated the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4
24:56 - Mint addresses major Rollei 35AF shortcoming
27:40 - Lumix is shutting down its pro services in the UK and Europe
31:34 - The R6 Mark III can overheat
34:34 - Basketball player runs back onto the court with camera strapped to his leg
36:51 - Everything ELSE you missed!
41:00 - The Fantasy Camera Draft poll results
44:46 - Do you do graphic design? Reach out!
45:54 - The gear we use every day (2025 edition)
1:07:49 - Chris teases an upcoming new Wotancraft Pilot sling bag
1:11:22 - New segment alert: Review Roundup!
1:19:51 - What have you been up to?
1:23:58 - Tech support
1:35-45 - Feel good story of the week

We Drafted Our Dream Camera Teams! Feat. David Imel & Jeremy Gray Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

DxO is offering PetaPixel Podcast listeners 20% off any DxO software, including Nik Collection 8, by using the code ‘PetaPixel’ at checkout. If you’re a Photoshop user looking to elevate your color grading and creative editing, Nik Collection 8’s redesigned UXP panel, enhanced masking capabilities, and non-destructive Smart Object workflow make it a game-changer. Create your own non-destructive workflow in Photoshop, Lightroom Classic and DxO’s own powerful PhotoLab 9, that will transform simple captures into compelling, professional-grade photographs.
Head over to dxo.com and check out Nik Collection 8. Use code ‘PetaPixel’ to save 20%!
Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at bhphoto.com/payboo.
Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by photographer David Imel and PetaPixel's Jeremy Gray for a unique challenge: who can draft the best fantasy camera team? Based loosely on fantasy football rules, all five must create a dream team based on eight categories.
We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.
In This Episode