Chris Niccolls

Articles by Chris Niccolls

A camera with a large lens is perched on a rock outdoors. In the background, a person with a beard and mustache is slightly out of focus, smiling and looking at the camera. The text "PetaPixel Reviews" is displayed in the upper left corner.

Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 Review: It’s Good and It Better Be

Most photographers probably don't think Hasselblad makes zoom lenses. In a sea of primes, the company makes the general-purpose 35-75mm lens and even the older H-mount system only has a couple. But Hasselblad has finally branched out into the wide-angle realm with a new 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 zoom lens. It is very good -- and it better be with this asking price.

A person with a beard, wearing a red and black checkered shirt, leans over a wall and points to a Nikon camera placed on it. The text "PetaPixel Hands-On" is visible in the top left corner of the image.

Nikon 50mm f/1.4 Hands-On: Filling a Much-Needed Gap

Nikon makes some incredible prime lenses, from the illustrious 58mm f/.95 Noct to the 50mm f/1.2 S -- the latter of which is the more practical, yet is very expensive even though it is very good. Nikon also makes a full spread of f/1.8 and f/2 prime lenses across a wide range of focal lengths. What Nikon have curiously ignored are any f/1.4 primes, at least until recently.

A person is sitting at a wooden table, smiling, and holding a Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 instant camera. Several instant photos are scattered on the table in front of them. The image includes the PetaPixel Reviews logo. The background shows a brightly lit interior.

Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Review: Back to Basics

Fujifilm Instax instant film brings in a huge amount of income to its imaging division and is a cornerstone of Fujifilm's dominance in the analog arena. With that much popularity, it's odd that we've had to wait so long for a new entry in the Wide series.

A person with short gray hair is closely holding and looking through a professional camera. The scene is outdoors with trees and a crowd in the background. The image has banners with the text "PetaPixel" and "Reviews.

Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II Review: Smaller, Sharper, Speedier

Every manufacturer should have a good, fast 85mm lens, and the fact is, Sony already makes one. Sony has been on a real kick lately to update some of its earlier -- and questionable -- lenses that were released near the beginning of the E-mount system. I liked the original G-Master 85mm f/1.4 but it had some flaws and is showing its age.

A person with gray hair and a beard holds up a Canon EOS R5 camera against a background of trees. The photo includes a "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the bottom left corner.

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Review: Canon’s Most Capable Do-It-All Camera

When Canon released its latest flagship camera, the EOS R1, it was fair to say that it was overshadowed by the humble R5 Mark II. Like a thief in the night, the mantle for the most exciting Canon camera of 2024 was stolen by the R5 Mark II, and for very good reason. I got my hands on a full-production model and decided that a road trip was in order.

A person holds up a Google Pixel smartphone facing the camera. The phone's camera array is visible. The person has a beard, mustache, and gray hair. "PetaPixel Reviews" is prominently displayed in text on the left side of the image.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Review for Photographers: It’s All About AI

As I write this, there is a Pixel 9 Pro XL in my hand with a beautiful, newly designed camera bump -- but what's inside is largely the same as what we've seen before. Sure, Google says they're more durable, have a longer battery life, and feature a redesigned imaging pipeline from the sensor to the photo, but what is the real improvement from last year's model? Well, some would say that the improvement isn't real at all, because the Pixel 9 is all about the powerful new generative AI tools added to the Magic Editor.

A man with short hair and a beard sits on rocks by a lake, looking at the camera, with greenery in the background. In the foreground is a Nikon camera with a large lens. A banner reads "PetaPixel Reviews.

Nikon Z6 III Review: A Little Rough Around the Edges

Nikon is on a roll and the Z6 III is the latest feather in its cap. The Z6 III promises to be the versatile and affordable workhorse in the Nikon lineup but it could lack refinement upon closer inspection. We tested the Z6 III as a final production unit and the findings were enlightening. The Z6 III might have a few cracks in its otherwise sterling armor.

A man with a beard is smiling as he takes a close-up photo of pink flowers with a black camera. The background is blurred, highlighting the flowers and the photographer. There is an overlay with the text "PetaPixel Reviews" at the bottom right corner.

Leica D-Lux 8 Review: Deja Vu All Over Again

With the worldwide craze for analog photography in full swing, we have seen another blast from the past rise again. Everybody wants compact digital point-and-shoot cameras again, to the point where some models are going for prices similar to when they were released.

A person holds a Canon EOS R1 camera close to the camera while smiling. The image has the PetaPixel logo and the text "Hands-On" in the bottom right corner.

Canon EOS R1 First Impressions: More an R3 Mark II Than a New Flagship

It has been a long time coming, but the EOS R1 is finally here. For years, the Canon R1 has been teased and hinted at before getting an official announcement two months ago. Now, finally, we at PetaPixel got our hands on an early test with the R1 body. That said, I cannot stress enough that it was a very early look.

A person with gray hair and a beard smiles and points to a Canon EOS R5 camera with the lens removed, showcasing the camera sensor. The image has a "PetaPixel Hands-On" logo in the bottom left corner.

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II First Impressions: The Real Star of This Show

The Canon EOS R1 has been hogging all the attention with announcement dates, sneak peeks, and speculation. It had been a long time since we saw a new flagship camera from Canon and now we had one in our hands. But with all the fanfare going on about a new "1" series camera, another Canon release quietly slipped under the radar -- until now.

A close-up view of a Nikon Z series mirrorless camera body. The image highlights the lens mount and sensor area with an orange arrow pointing towards it, emphasizing the central feature of the camera. The camera buttons and grip are also visible.

The Best Lenses for Nikon Z-Mount

Nikon has done a great job providing a robust full-frame lens lineup for the Z-mount. There are so many choices that we thought it necessary to help narrow the field for you to this list of our favorite options across different focal lengths.

A person with grey hair and a beard is leaning on a wooden table, smiling at the camera. In front of them, there are six different Fujifilm X100 series cameras lined up. The text above reads "EVERY X100 EVER." The background has an industrial look with brick and metal elements.

Reviewing Every Fujifilm X100 Camera Ever Made

When the Fujifilm X100 first hit the market it took the world by storm. A pocket-sized camera with stellar good looks and a retro-inspired control scheme, it was instantly coveted by photographers aplenty. We wanted to take a retrospective look at the X100 series from the beginning and give you the low-down on the upgrades and quirks over the years.

A close-up shot of a vintage Pentax camera on a tripod with a waterfall in the blurred background. The camera's branding and lens details are clearly visible. Overlaid at the bottom right is the "PetaPixel Reviews" logo.

Pentax 17 Review: A Brand-New Film Experience Worth Having

I’ve been in the camera review business for over 15 years and in that time I’ve been fortunate enough to have tested and taken photographs with countless cameras, spanning a wide variety of designs and intentions. Curiously, as I prepared to review the Pentax 17 it occurred to me that I had never once reviewed a new production 35mm film camera in all that time.

A bearded man with short hair is smiling excitedly behind two cameras placed on a brick surface. The camera on the left is a Sony Alpha series, and the one on the right is a Canon EOS R5. Both cameras have large lenses facing forward.

Just How Good Are the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.0 and 40mm f/1.2?

Recently, I've pushed myself to look at third-party lens brands from China, which offer interesting character at a relatively low price. I wanted to try out the lenses that cost more money but might provide a more compelling user experience and the Voigtlander manual focus primes could be the answer.

Two men are standing in front of a traditional Japanese building. One man holds a blue camera towards the viewer. The PetaPixel logo and the text "Hands-On" are displayed in the bottom left corner.

Panasonic Lumix S9 Initial Review: Small, Pretty, and Confusing

One of my favorite cameras of all time was the Panasonic GM5. With its interchangeable lenses and ultra-compact design, I could truly take it anywhere and still have full manual control. Compromises had to be made given such a small design, and the Micro Four Thirds format did limit potential image quality, but I had an EVF and a creative camera that was perfect for travel.

A person with a beard and mustache enthusiastically gestures towards a DSLR camera set on a rock. The background features a forest scene. There is a "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the bottom left corner of the image.

Fujifilm XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 Review: A Lot To Live Up To

The Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS was truly a legendary kit lens. It broke the stereotype of bare-bones kit lenses that came packaged with slow apertures and pedestrian optics. I say was because it now must make way for a new lens to take center stage. The new Fujifilm XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 has very big shoes to fill indeed.

A person wearing a blue shirt holds up a silver and black Fujifilm X-T50 camera with a large lens. In the foreground, the words "PetaPixel Hands-On" are displayed. The background is blurred, focusing attention on the camera.

Hands-On With The Fujifilm X-T50: An X-T5 Lite, or Something More?

Fujifilm is consistently updating its line of mirrorless cameras to make use of the latest film simulation modes and sensor technology. It is no surprise, then, that it has released a 40-megapixel version of its insanely popular X-T double-digit line to bring high resolution to an affordable platform: the X-T50.

A close-up shot of a Fujifilm GFX100S camera with a large lens resting on a rock, with a blurred background of trees and water. The PetaPixel logo and the words "Hands-On" are displayed in the top left corner. A person with a beard is looking at the camera.

Hands-On with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II: Medium Format for the Masses

The first Fujifilm GFX 100S had my favorite form factor of any GFX camera due to its take-anywhere size. I loved the smaller body design of the latest GFX 100 II, and of course all the improvements to autofocus and film simulation modes as well as an emphasis on faster shooting and video. But it was only a matter of time before the latest improvements transferred over to the GFX 100S line and the wait is now over.

A man with a slight smile looks at a camera mounted on a tripod in the foreground, with a city's blurry lights in the background. the image includes a "petapixel reviews" label.

Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 V Review: Bright and Wide

Hasselblad has introduced a new 25mm prime lens to add to its already crowded wide-angle assortment. I've reviewed the 30mm f/3.5, and Hasselblad also has 28mm f/4 and 21mm f/4 lenses. However, this new wide prime splits the difference and has an even brighter f/2.5 aperture.