
The PetaPixel Podcast
A photography podcast. Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake join PetaPixel's Editor-in-Chief Jaron Schneider for a weekly discussion on current events in the photo industry, camera equipment, technology, culture, and more.
Latest episodes

Mar 26, 2025 • 1h 35min
The Very Good Smartphone Cameras We Didn't Talk About (Feat. Ted Kritsonis)
This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and I are joined by PetaPixel's mobile and computing contributing writer Ted Kritsonis to talk about the very good smartphone camera systems that North Americans might not know about or have outright disregarded.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, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. Join today! It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. 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 - Intro08:50 - GoPro's Anamorphic lens mod is finally available12:15 - Tamron will make more prime lenses if that's what photographers want15:18 - Canon is developing 3D dual photo tech powered by Dual Pixel20:15 - Sirui is the ninth member of the L Mount Alliance23:06 - Sony and Canon tease new video cameras27:54 - The very good smartphone cameras you aren't considering 1:05:20 - What have you been up to?1:14:59 - We are going to Las Vegas1:15:41 - Never read the comments1:20:29 - Tech support1:31:51 - Feel good story of the week

Mar 21, 2025 • 1h 32min
GFX100RF Design Philosophy with Fujifilm's Justin Stailey
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, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. Join today! It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris Niccolls and Jaron Schneider sit down with Fujifilm's Justin Stailey to talk about the design philosophy of the new GFX100RF and why the company made some of the decisions it did. Curious why the camera has no IBIS and is only f/4? Stailey provides some answers. 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 Prague!08:34 - Fujifilm is finally getting closer to fulfilling X100VI orders11:28 - Insta360 and Leica extend their strategic partnership and promise new co-engineered products14:05 - Historic auction of Leica cameras in China was manipulated16:41 - The LSST camera has been assembled in Chile and is ready to take its first photos of the universe.20:32 - Canon commits to continuing in-house sensor development24:10 - Magnum, Fujifilm, and MPP teamed up for a massive digitization effort25:18 - The GF100RF Design Philosophy with Fujifilm's Justin Stailey58:23 - Our GF100RF thoughts that didn't make it into the hands-on video1:13:54 - What have you been up to?1:16:34 - Tech support1:29:30 - Feel good story of the week

Mar 12, 2025 • 1h 32min
Is Chris Wrong About the Sigma BF? Feat. David Imel
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, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. Join today! It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by Waveform Podcast co-host David Imel to talk about the Sigma BF and why Chris Niccolls -- who laments the many things cut out to make it "radically simple" -- might be 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 Episode00:00 - Intro07:30 - Apple's new computers are really good, but the M4 Max is all photographers need right now13:40 - Canon won't do the alternate versions of the 1 series, won't do a high resolution version of the R116:54 - Canon is cautiously ramping compact camera production back up20:03 - Viltrox made six pro-level AF lenses for the DJI Ronin 4DThypoch is moving away from its infinity lock switches: https://petapixel.com/2025/03/06/thypoch-is-moving-away-from-its-polarizing-focus-lock-switch/29:11 - Is Chris wrong about the Sigma BF? 1:04:02 - What have you been up to? 1:09:38 - Never read the comments1:18:12 - Tech support1:27:30 - Using anamorphic lenses for still photography1:29:43 - Feel good story of the week

Mar 5, 2025 • 1h 36min
Did Panasonic Finally Support Photographers? Feat. Micro Four Nerds
Do you ever get tired of manually organizing, searching for, tagging, 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! 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 2024. To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit www.excire.com/en/shop! (PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL.)This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by Emily Lowry, the face and brains behind the YouTube channel Micro Four Nerds. Given that Panasonic hasn't supported photographers specifically in many years, there is a lot to discuss about the new camera specifically for taking photos.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 Episode00:00 - Intro: Say hello to Emily, from Micro Four Nerds! 10:01 - Rejoice: Nikon fixes the Z6 III N-log flickering issue12:02 - TTArtisan's debut camera is a retro folding Instax16:20 - Technicolor shuts down abruptly, leaving 10,000 workers in the lurch18:50 - Xiaomi wants to make modular magnetic smartphone lenses23:26 - Chris reviews the Peak Design Carry-On Roller27:23 - Sigma wants to make a "serious" camera34:24 - A new 35mm f/1.2 Art is coming?37:54 - Sigma can make just nine BF cameras per day43:35 - Did Panasonic Finally Give Photographers a Camera?1:01:46 - What have you been up to? (Join Emily's mailing list)1:18:28 - Never read the comments1:24:46 - Tech support1:33:50 - Feel good story of the week

Feb 26, 2025 • 1h 10min
Sigma's CEO Talks BF, Foveon, and More
The innovative Haukland Parka Pro 7-in-1 jacket consists of three jacket layers that can be worn in seven different ways, offering great versatility and comfort in changing and harsh weather conditions. It's warm, durable, and the PetaPixel team relies on them to keep them warm -- and that comes in especially useful during the harsh, brutal winters of Calgary, Alberta. To see the Haukland 7-in-1 Parka Pro Jacket, 3-in-1 Photography gloves, and Haukland photography bags and backpacks, visit https://haukland.us. Thanks to Haukland for sponsoring this episode of the PetaPixel Podcast!This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, Sigma's CEO Kazuto Yamaki sits down with Chris Niccolls to talk about the newly-announced lenses, the Sigma BF camera, and -- of course -- the state of the full-frame Foveon sensor. 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 Episode00:00 - Intro from Japan!07:38 - OM System has a new lens roadmap08:00 - Chris derails us10:25 - Chris brings us back12:47 - Leica has a new 50mm f/1.413:53 - Canon announced the PowerShot V117:24 - Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.420:22 - Sigma's big week34:58 - One-on-one with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki54:39 - What have you been up to?56:27 - Tech support1:08:25 - Feel good story of the week: https://youtu.be/V5MwWcixA6I

Feb 19, 2025 • 1h 35min
What to Expect From CP+ 2025, the World's Biggest Photo Expo, Feat. Ted Forbes
Do you ever get tired of manually organizing, searching for, tagging, 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! 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 2024. To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit www.excire.com/en/shop! (PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL.)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 Episode00:00 - Intro11:03 - Apple's acquisition of Pixelmator is complete17:00 - Capture One shut down its community forum21:53 - Western Digital and SanDisk are divorcing26:33 - Harman Red 125 is a new redscale color negative film30:20 - Lucky Film is making a comeback and distributors are fighting over it33:14 - Content Credentials on Samsung's Galaxy S25 don't work on real photos, only AI36:02 - The Nikon block46:33 - PetaPixel members get access to full-resolution RAW and JPEGS from new cameras and lenses49:71 - What do you want to see from the CP+ Photography Exhibition in Japan?1:11:07 - Never read the comments1:16:55 - Tech support1:31:22 - Feel good story of the week

Feb 6, 2025 • 1h 31min
What Else MUST Micro Four Thirds Do in 2025?
The hosts delve into the future of Micro Four Thirds technology amid the new OM System OM-3 release. They discuss the challenges and innovations required for the system, emphasizing compact designs and better sensor performance. There's also a humorous reflection on childhood sports experiences, alongside a critique of the stagnation in firmware updates. The conversation touches on Kodak's resale challenges and Canon's market position, while reminiscing about gaming nostalgia and the charming return of compact cameras, sparking a lively debate on the evolving photography landscape.

Jan 24, 2025 • 1h 19min
Did Samsung Do Enough To Separate From Google?
While many of the creator-focused additions to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are direct responses to what Apple is doing with the iPhone (digital aperture adjustment and log video are prime examples), it is perhaps Google that Samsung should be most wary of. Because it relies so much on what Google develops when it comes to AI enhancements, it might be harder for Samsung to meaningfully stand out to Android users. The PetaPixel Podcast team discusses!
Do you ever get tired of manually organizing, searching for, tagging, 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!
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 2024.
To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit www.excire.com/en/shop!
(PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL.)
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
06:36 - One-of-a-kind Nikon fisheye lens costs $250,000
09:27 - Pentax discontinues the K-3 III in Japan... but not in the US
13:08 - Tamron adds 120FPS support to 50-400mm on Sony E-Mount... with a caveat
16:23 - Sony adds content authenticity to a1, a1, and a9 III
19:39 - Fujifilm's new Instax Wide Evo
22:26 - Did Samsung do enough to stand apart from Google?
41:49 - What have you been up to?
46:15 - Tech support
1:14:30 - Feel good story of the week

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 35min
Is L-Mount Worth Investing Into?
Want to support Chris, Jordan, and the entire PetaPixel team directly? Sign up for a PetaPixel Membership and you can do just that as well as remove ads from your browsing experience here on PetaPixel.com. You also get 25% off orders from the PetaPixel Merch Store and a $15 coupon to use at the Moment store. Sign up today for just $3 per month or $30 per year.
The Leica L-mount was created in 2014. The L-mount Alliance was formed in 2018. While there has been a steady release of cameras for this mount since then, considering the number of companies involved, it is a bit thin – especially for still photographers.
With the recent announcement of the Leica SL3-S -- which feels like it's not the best value for the dollar in ways that go beyond even typical expectations of Leica cameras in the past-- we found ourselves asking: if you were coming in fresh to mirrorless and were thinking of investing in a system, is L-mount worth it over the alternatives? If not, why? What is missing? Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and I dig into it.
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
12:08 - DJI's new Flip looks like a nice balance between good quality and ease of use
20:08 - Nikon's custom Z9 and thermal blanket are headed to the Moon
21:53 - Canon warns that some SanDisk SD cards will corrupt with the R5 Mark II
26:02 - Canon may follow Nikon, move manufacturing out of Japan
29:41 - Adobe's generative AI in Lightroom and Photoshop is doing some weird stuff
37:40 - Leica announced the SL3-S
43:26 - Is L-Mount worth investing into in 2025?
59:43 - What have you been up to?
1:04:00 - Never read the comments / Tech support
1:32:27 - Feed good story of the week

8 snips
Jan 8, 2025 • 1h 32min
This Isn't the Compact Camera Revival We Asked For
The hosts dive into the intriguing resurgence of compact cameras, debating the right approach for manufacturers to revamp older models. They discuss the merging landscape of stock photography, the anticipation of innovative gear releases, and Fujifilm's potential return to film cameras. A humorous critique of tech frustrations, especially with Sandisk, amplifies their nostalgic yearning for classic designs. Listeners are treated to insights on camera terminology and practical lighting techniques, making it a delightful exploration of photography's past and future.