

The PetaPixel Podcast
PetaPixel
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 14, 2025 • 1h 35min
Chris and Jordan 'Sell' a Content Creator Cameras! Feat. Sarah Teng
The Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is a versatile all-in-one zoom lens, perfect for travel and everyday photography. With a wide 18-300mm range, it lets you capture everything from expansive landscapes to distant wildlife. Its Vibration Compensation (VC) ensures sharp images even in low light, while the VXD autofocus delivers fast and precise performance for both photos and videos. Compact and lightweight, this lens is ideal for on-the-go photographers. Available for Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X-mount, with Canon RF-mount and Nikon Z-mount versions coming soon. Whether you're exploring new destinations or capturing everyday moments, this lens offers flexibility and quality in one compact package. Shop today and save $100 at Tamron Americas!--The X5 is the latest flagship camera from Insta360. With full 360° 8K30fps capture, enhanced low-light performance, and a 185-minute battery life, X5 is designed for all-day, all-night, all-angle shooting. Get the X5 now, the smartest and toughest 360° Camera ever made here and use code “PetaPixel” to get a free 114cm invisible selfie stick with your purchase.--This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by content creator Sarah Teng the newest member of the PetaPixel team! Sarah is an underwater and travel photographer as well as a content creator, but she's not necessarily up to date on the latest cameras from every manufacturer. So, Chris and Jordan try and "sell" her the top options!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 - Are we too hard on dentists?11:15 - TTArtisan's new 35mm T2.1 has two different bokeh options15:40 - Viltrox has a new compact flash19:15 - Adobe opens the gates for any AI models to work in Creative Cloud22:15 - Logitech MX Creative Console now supports Final Cut and Resolve24:33 - Our friend Hugh made a grip for the Sigma BF28:05 - Canon confirms tariffs are going to increase prices32:26 - Are there limits to what a lens can be anymore?1:03:49 - What have you been up to?1:08:17 - Tech support1:26:02- Feel good story of the week

May 12, 2025 • 52min
Bonus Episode: Photographer Doug Mills on Winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize!
The Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is a versatile all-in-one zoom lens, perfect for travel and everyday photography. With a wide 18-300mm range, it lets you capture everything from expansive landscapes to distant wildlife. Its Vibration Compensation (VC) ensures sharp images even in low light, while the VXD autofocus delivers fast and precise performance for both photos and videos. Compact and lightweight, this lens is ideal for on-the-go photographers. Available for Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X-mount, with Canon RF-mount and Nikon Z-mount versions coming soon. Whether you're exploring new destinations or capturing everyday moments, this lens offers flexibility and quality in one compact package.Save $100 for a limited time! Shop now at Tamron Americas!--In a special bonus episode of The PetaPixel Podcast, we spoke with award-winning veteran photojournalist Doug Mills about his latest Pulitzer Prize — his third — which he won for his series of photos showing a speeding bullet whizzing past now-President Donald Trump during an attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last year. Mills discussed how he captured the winning photos, how the latest gear empowers photojournalism, and the rapidly changing political landscape in which he operates.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.

May 7, 2025 • 1h 31min
Photographers Are SPOILED by Modern Camera Tech!
Keep your Mac tidy with CleanMyMac! It's time to take control of your digital life! With a single button of CleanMyMac, you can maximize the performance, declutter and protect your Mac. Get tidy your way!<a href="https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=PetaPixel&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=PetaPixel&utm_content=date20250416X5Launch">Get the X5 now</a>, the smartest and toughest 360° Camera ever made here and use code “PetaPixel” to get a free 114cm invisible selfie stick with your purchase.</em>The Nikon Z6 III absolutely demolishes the D6 while the Canon R6 II puts the 1DX Mark III to shame -- and those flagship DSLRs are just five years old! Seriously, photographers don't sit and reflect just how spoiled they are with modern camera tech. 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 - Intro12:14 - Pulitzer Prize announcement15:05 - Tamron plans to announce six lenses this year, 10 next year18:39 - The DJI Phantom is dead21:14 - Sony reportedly considering spinning off its sensor business25:49 - Canon announced a "new" 75-300mm that just looks like a remount of a lens from 199929:47 - So, we have to talk about tariffs again...30:52 - Leica raises prices in Canada because of the US34:04 - The DJI Osmo Pocket costs $800 now, if you can find one36:12 - Clever Supply's take on the tariffs: https://petapixel.com/2025/05/05/how-trumps-tariff-chaos-impacts-small-american-photo-companies/39:29 - Photographer's often forget how good they've got it. 1:10:51 - What have you been up to?1:15:37 - Your crazy lens ideas (and if they're viable)1:20:00 - Never read the comments1:23:40 - Tech support1:28:52 - Feel good story of the week

Apr 30, 2025 • 1h 29min
Are There Any Limits to What We Can Do With Lenses Now?
The X5 is the latest flagship camera from Insta360. With full 360° 8K30fps capture, enhanced low-light performance, and a 185-minute battery life, X5 is designed for all-day, all-night, all-angle shooting. Get the X5 now, the smartest and toughest 360° Camera ever made here and use code “PetaPixel” to get a free 114cm invisible selfie stick with your purchase.We've seen some incredible lens designs in recent years, but last week's announcement of a Sony 50-150mm f/2 GM got us wondering what the limits of reasonable lens development are now. We've seen you all suggest lenses that sounded crazy, but now... maybe we aren't so sure.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 - Are we too hard on dentists?11:15 - TTArtisan's new 35mm T2.1 has two different bokeh options15:40 - Viltrox has a new compact flash19:15 - Adobe opens the gates for any AI models to work in Creative Cloud22:15 - Logitech MX Creative Console now supports Final Cut and Resolve24:33 - Our friend Hugh made a grip for the Sigma BF28:05 - Canon confirms tariffs are going to increase prices32:26 - Are there limits to what a lens can be anymore?1:03:49 - What have you been up to?1:08:17 - Tech support1:26:02- Feel good story of the week

Apr 23, 2025 • 1h 36min
Severance's Jessica Lee Gagné on Cinematography, Directing, and More!
The X5 is the latest flagship camera from Insta360. With full 360° 8K30fps capture, enhanced low-light performance, and a 185-minute battery life, X5 is designed for all-day, all-night, all-angle shooting. Get the X5 now, the smartest and toughest 360° Camera ever made here and use code “PetaPixel” to get a free 114cm invisible selfie stick with your purchase.--This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by Cinematographer and Director Jessica Lee Gagné from the hit TV show Severance! She talks at length about how she approached lighting, framing, camera work, and more!--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 - Intro07:25 - Insta360 announced the X5 360-degree camera13:02- Synology wants you to buy its official drives and restricts many features to them15:41 - Light Lens Lab is remaking the rare P. Angenieux Type S21 50mm f/1.519:48 - Fujifilm finally priced the new Instax mini 4121:31 - Fujifilm teases a "half" camera22:57 - Viltrox announced a new 35mm f/1.213:35 - Sorry, but we have to talk about tariffs again...25:48 - Blackmagic was going to build a US factory, but tariffs made it untenable26:51 - Harman is raising film prices in the US30:26 - Japan has no idea what the US wants33:21 - Fujifilm confirms it has paused shipments of some cameras amid trade disarray35:28 - Nikon's vending machine mini cameras have arrived in the US39:01 - Severance's Jessica Lee Gagné on Cinematography, Directing, and More!1:13:22 - What have you been up to?1:18:16 - Tech support1:31:38 - Feel good story of the week

Apr 9, 2025 • 1h 11min
The Coolest Camera Gear from the Year's Biggest Video Show!
Need incredible music and sound effects? Use what PetaPixel uses: Audiio! You can get 70% off your first year of Audiio Pro (just $59 for unlimited music & SFX downloads) when using our exclusive partner deal. Go to audiio.com/petapixel and use code "petapixel" at checkout!The NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters) is the largest video-centric exhibition of the year and Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider walked the show, saw it all, and have thoughts!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 the floor of NAB!06:11 - So we have to talk about tariffs07:29 - Sony a1 II shortage is getting worse12:54 - DxO quietly pulls back on X-Trans 5, apologizes for "misleading" messaging14:15 - Don't hold out hope for native leaf shutters on GFX17:26 - DJI is begging the US government to do its job18:39 - Fujifilm film prices in Japan are going way up 22:54 - DaVinci Resolve adds more than 100 new features26:54 - We got more details on the GFX Eterna cinema camera32:54 - The stuff at NAB that caught our eye51:39 - Curtis Judd drops by52:25 - Never read the comments55:37 - Tech Support

Apr 3, 2025 • 1h 35min
Does Any Competitor Beat the Nikon Z5 II Right Now?
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. Nikon announced a new entry-level full-frame camera in the Z5 II. Based on initial impressions, not only does it carry on the legacy of "good value" from its predecessor, but it expands on it to the degree it might be the best camera in its segment right now. em>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 - Intro09:40 - Why no Canon V1 or R50V launch video?13:45 - Canon's PowerShot V1 is $900 and coming next month16:19 - The Canon EOS R50V is a compact cinema-focused camera19:54 - The RF 20mm f/1.4 L is Canon's widest-ever f/1.4 prime23:48 - Sony's announcement is a very expensive add-on for the Venice26:03 - The Nodus Obscura watch has an analog exposure gauge in the bezel29:50 - The GR III successor will definitely come... at some point32:48 - Apple should have actually sold this computer35:22 - Would you take the Z5 II or ANY equivalent from each competitor?1:03:10 - What have you been up to? (Looking at some B&W film shots Chris took)1:10:04 - Never read the comments1:14:50 - Tech support

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