

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

Sep 19, 2024 • 1h 35min
Not All Megapixels Are Equal (and Nikon RED LUTs Review)
Today we’re excited to highlight a lens that’s truly a game-changer for wildlife and nature photographers: the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko ED 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS. If you’re passionate about capturing distant subjects with incredible clarity, this lens will be your new best friend.
The M.Zuiko ED 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS is also built to withstand the elements, with a weather-sealed construction that ensures durability in challenging conditions. So if you’re in the field experiencing challenging weather conditions, this lens is up for the challenge.
So check out the M.Zuiko ED 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS. Now through September 29 th , it’s $400 off (normally $2,699.99—now just $2,299.99). Visit https://explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or your local authorized retailer now!
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It's been a busy week! Apple launched a new iPhone which started a lot of conversation about "fake" megapixels, Sigma finally showed its autofocus cine lens, Canon announced a new affordable zoom, and Nikon released RED LUTs for its Nikon Log profile -- and that's just the tip of the iceberg!
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: our first smartphones, a birthday, and a neat lens
10:17 - Leica announced the M11-D
13:43 - Chris made Jaron spend a lot of money
17:46 - Nikon's New Heralbony Zfc collab is gorgeous, but not available in the U.S.
20:02 - Here is Sigma's first AF-equipped cine lens
23:07 - Canon announced the 28-70mm f/2.8
25:23 - Gordon Laing's hands-on with the Canon 28-70mm
26:15 - Is the DJI Osmo Action Good?
30:30 - Jordan's review of the new RED LUTs for Nikon N-Log
39:56 - Let's talk about the megapixel situation on iPhone
48:01 - The iPhone 16 Pro doesn't charge faster than the iPhone 15 Pro... most of the time
52:12 - A bit more on the iPhone 16 Pro's Photo Styles
57:09 - What have you been up to? (Chris has a beef)
1:07:23 - Tech support
1:29:15 - What do you think is happening in this photo?
1:32:47 - The feel good story of the week

Sep 11, 2024 • 56min
What We REALLY Thought of Apple's iPhone 16 Launch
Thanks to OM SYSTEM for sponsoring today’s podcast. Right now, OM SYSTEM is offering up to $300 off select telephoto lenses, plus free filters and accessories. For a limited time, with your purchase of the M.ZuikoDigital ED 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 IS, 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO, or 300mm f/4 PRO lenses, you'll receive a free protection filter to shield your lenses from scratches.
The filter features ZERO Coating on both sides of the glass and a satin, glare-reducing black alumite aluminum frame that helps minimize flares and ghosts with its anti-reflection properties. Plus, enjoy a $300 rebate on the OM-1 Mark II body, a $100 rebate on the OM-5 body, and many more rebates and free accessory offers through September 29th!
Visit explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or stop by your nearest authorized OM SYSTEM retailer to take advantage of these deals today!
Chris explained what was new and noteworthy about the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in his first impressions video published on Monday, but that wasn't all there was to discuss. Jordan adds his two cents about the video enhancements and the three of us also couldn't help but notice that Apple put significantly less emphasis on AI tools and features at this event than either Samsung or Google did this 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 - Welcome to the second PetaPixel Carcast!
06:44 - Nikon sold more Z9 cameras in one year than any other flagship camera in the last 15 years
08:50 - Leica 70-200mm
12:35 - Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens
16:33 - Canon announced the C80
21:32 - DJI announced the 75mm f/1.8
23:42 - What We REALLY Thought of Apple's iPhone 16 Launch
49:50 - What have you been up to?
52:52- Feel good story of the week

Sep 4, 2024 • 1h 42min
Becca Farsace Talks Leaving The Verge and Going Independent
Becca Farsace, a former video producer at The Verge, shares her journey into independence as a creator focusing on camera reviews. She dives into the pros and cons of self-employment, contrasting her path with that of her peers. The discussion also touches on the challenges of wildlife photography, the innovative features of the OM System lens, and insights into mastering outdoor photography gear. Moreover, they explore the emotional complexities of transitioning from corporate environments to personal branding, highlighting the importance of creativity and audience connection.

Aug 29, 2024 • 1h 40min
Olympics Photographer on Canon R1, Sony a9 III, and More! Feat. Leah Hennel
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

Aug 22, 2024 • 1h 33min
Brands Have No Idea How to Work With YouTubers
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

Aug 15, 2024 • 1h 24min
Adobe Answers Your Questions on AI, Controversies, and Photography
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?

Aug 7, 2024 • 1h 30min
Making YouTube Videos Using a Film Camera is HARD
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?

Jul 31, 2024 • 1h 33min
Is There Something Going on With the Nikon Z6 III Sensor?
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?

Jul 24, 2024 • 1h 31min
Is the Canon R3 Line Dead Now? Feat. Kai W
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

Jul 17, 2024 • 1h 33min
Everything You Need to Know About the Canon R1 and R5 Mark II
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