Ted Kritsonis

Staff Writer

Ted has been a journalist for almost 20 years and beyond writing copious amounts of words on the regular, is also an avid photographer. He’s the type of guy who takes multiple smartphones with him to test out how well each of them captures a scene. He has contributed to dozens of publications from his home in Toronto, Canada.

Articles by Ted Kritsonis

A blue and black "PL" logo on the left and a photo editing interface on the right, showing a woman smiling on a bed and various editing tools and adjustment panels around her photo.

DxO PhotoLab 9.6 Promises Better Noise Reduction, Masking, and Compression

DxO has released PhotoLab 9.6 to bring its more advanced noise reduction algorithms, only recently introduced when the company launched PureRAW 6. While this was an anticipated move, it makes official the expanded coverage for a wider range of cameras. This includes new edge-softening controls for its AI-based masking tools, along with a compressed DNG export option to reduce storage overhead.

A close-up of a rose gold smartphone’s rear camera module with three lenses and a flash. The words “Reno AI Camera” are engraved. The Petapixel Reviews logo appears at the bottom right corner.

Oppo Reno 15 Pro Review: High-End Cameras at a Mid-Range Price

I had no idea what to expect with the Oppo Reno 15 Pro once I unboxed it and started setting it up. Billed as an “all-in-one creative partner,” the general premise is to impress with the images it captures, and using it as much as I have, I’m surprised at what it delivers considering the specs.

A professional video camera rig with a smartphone mounted on a tripod captures a studio scene with bright lights and blurred background. The phone’s screen displays the live camera view.

vivo Debuts Revamped X300 Ultra Video Camera System at MWC 2026

vivo is taking mobile videography to new lengths in a very literal sense with the X300 Ultra, putting a professional cinema camera into your pocket. This means filmmakers and content creators can now capture professional-grade footage anytime, anywhere, without compromising on quality or creative control.

A close-up of a smartphone with an external camera module attached on top. In the blurred background, a person is holding a camera, taking a photo.

Honor Put a Robotic Camera Gimbal in a Smartphone

What happens when you put a small robot into a smartphone and let it control the camera? Honor’s Robot Phone is essentially built on that premise as an Android phone with a built-in gimbal. And the company says it will become a finished product coming to market at some point in 2026, starting in China first.

A hand holding a smartphone with a large professional camera lens attached, showing a close-up side view. The background is blurred with indistinct people and colorful lights.

Tecno’s Modular Magnetic Concept Tries Resurrecting a Dead Idea

When it comes to Tecno’s Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology, the company describes it as a “phone that grows on demand”. A magnetic-based system that allows users to stack components -- including various cameras -- onto the back of the phone makes it highly adaptable. At least in theory.

A close-up of a bird’s head, with the left half appearing grainy and noisy, while the right half is clear and sharp, showing the effect of image noise reduction.

DxO Wants PureRAW 6 to Be the First Step in Your Photo Editing Workflow

DxO has released PureRAW, characterizing the software as a foundational step in a photography workflow rather than just another editing tool. PureRAW’s primary focus doesn’t change with this launch, which is to work with RAW files before handing them off to other apps for more elaborate touches, be it in DxO PhotoLab, Lightroom, or Photoshop.

A hand holding three Samsung smartphones of different sizes and colors, showing the backs of the phones with their camera lenses prominently visible.

Samsung’s New Galaxy S26 Smartphones Look Very Familiar

Samsung’s annual winter Unpacked event revealed the latest trio of flagship Galaxy S26 smartphones. The new devices largely preserve the familiar design language of recent years, continuing the company’s emphasis on software-driven upgrades rather than any dramatic makeover.

A gaming laptop on a wooden table displays a hockey game photo in editing software. The screen shows image thumbnails below. In the top left corner, there's a "PetaPixel Reviews" banner.

Asus Vivobook Pro 15 (2025) Review: Gorgeous OLED Tethered to the Wall

One look at the Asus Vivobook Pro 15 (2025) might be enough to dismiss its plastic-heavy build as little more than another PC lost in the shuffle. Asus figures you won’t feel that way once you open it up and take it for a creative-laden spin thanks to its attractive OLED screen and dependable performance.

A golden retriever stands on pavement at night with a harness holding a device and a color checker on its back. The image is split in half, showing a yellowish left side and a brighter, clearer right side.

A Look at the ‘World’s First’ Full AI-Based Image Signal Processor

Two companies are collaborating to create the “world’s first full AI-based image signal processor” to replace the hardware-based ISPs that have been core to digital imaging for decades. Chips&Media, a Korean IP provider for image processing, is working with Visionary.ai, an Israeli startup focused on low-light image processing, to develop this new ISP.

A person holds a blue and clear plastic camera up to their face, preparing to take a photo. The focus is on the camera and their hand, while the background is blurred.

Await Digital Camera Uses ‘Film Rolls’ and Delivers 4 x 6 Prints

For a company that’s made its name in high-end cables, chargers, and Bluetooth trackers, Rolling Square isn’t known for making cameras. First teased at IFA 2025 in Berlin, the Swiss brand unveiled its Await Camera at CES 2026 in Las Vegas and is set to bring it to market within the next few months. It is a throwback to disposable film cameras and relies heavily on prints.

Close-up of a person holding an Oppo smartphone with an attached camera lens, preparing to take a photo. The Petapixel Reviews logo appears in the bottom right corner.

Oppo Find X9 Pro Review: This Phone Rocks for Photography

Come in for the camera but stick around for the battery life. That’s one way to sum up the Oppo Find X9 Pro, a flagship smartphone that makes a strong case for being one of the top three in the world. And with a global version available, this is the kind of device that makes you think about how much you’ve been missing from the average flagship in North America.

A person sits at a desk with a smartphone mounted on a gimbal, recording a video call. A monitor and the Petapixel Reviews logo are visible in the foreground.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 Review: A Smart, Well-Rounded Smartphone Gimbal

This is DJI’s second gimbal within 12 months, following the Osmo Mobile 7P, and it can be viewed as something of a correction. That’s not to denigrate the OM7P, which remains a very capable gimbal unto itself, but the $159 Osmo Mobile 8 addresses numerous shortcomings of its predecessor.

A close-up of a OnePlus smartphone’s rear camera module against a warm, blurred background, with "PetaPixel Reviews" text in a blue and white banner in the lower-right corner.

OnePlus 15 Review: Camera Conundrum

As a Chinese brand, OnePlus skips the number 14 for cultural reasons, though after using the OnePlus 15 and its camera, I’m more likely to suggest the previous model was the lucky one. As a phone, the device is very impressive thanks to its outstanding battery life, gaming features, and superb software experience. Yet, as a camera system, it presents results that don’t feel like a worthy successor.

A close-up of an iron gate with the inscription “Arbeit macht frei” and a view through the gate showing a watchtower and trees in the background at a historical site.

My Visit to Dachau: Through the Lens and the Gates

Nazi concentration camps have long been documented in all forms of media, but stepping through the gates of one on foot makes for a very different experience. Dachau was where it all began, setting off an industrialized machine of death and depravity that would later consume all of Europe during World War II.

A laptop screen displays a photo editing software with an image of a woman at the beach. Editing tools, selection outlines, a curves adjustment graph, and silhouette icons are overlaid on the image.

DxO Brings ‘Major Enhancements’ to All its Flagship Photo Editing Apps

DxO is rolling out a trio of significant software updates simultaneously for its flagship products -- DxO PhotoLab, DxO PureRAW, and Nik Collection. Each update focuses on the core competency of its respective program, with the company calling them “major enhancements” aimed at improving workflow integration, creative control, and overall image quality.

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DJI Osmo 360 Review: Ready for Adventure Against Stiff Competition

The Osmo 360 is something of a reverse situation for DJI. Rather than being a category leader in this respect, the device is more of a response to what competitors like Insta360 have been doing. That widens the scope and scrutiny for what a camera like this could and should be, given the versatility DJI claims it has.

A close-up view of the rear camera module on a gold-colored smartphone, featuring multiple lenses and "Leica" branding. The bottom left corner displays the PetaPixel Reviews logo.

Xiaomi 15T Pro Review: Great Leica Cameras That Inch Forward

The Xiaomi 15T Pro and 15T are driven by their cameras and Leica co-engineering, and continue to outperform established competitors in North America. As these are global launches, obtaining either of these still requires importing them from online vendors. Or, if you happen to be in Europe, Asia, or one of the other available markets, buy it and bring it back.

A woman in a yellow dress poses with raised arms in a market street. The main photo is displayed next to four smaller, edited versions of the same image, each with different color tones and effects.

DxO’s Nik Collection 8 Works Much Better With Photoshop

DxO has officially released Nik Collection 8, the latest version of its renowned suite of plugins for Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and DxO’s own PhotoLab. This update introduces a completely redesigned Photoshop panel, enhanced masking tools, and significant improvements to both Silver Efex and Color Efex, offering what DxO claims is a more “dynamic editing experience.”

Close-up of a smartphone's rear camera with a prominent circular camera unit featuring a Zeiss lens. A ring light around the camera glows orange. The text "PetaPixel Reviews" is displayed in the bottom right corner on a gray background.

Vivo V50 Review: Marvelous Mid-Range Photo Prowess

There’s something unassuming about the Vivo V50 when first looking at it, yet its camera performance should be a wake-up call to others. The company still sees this phone as unique for its Aura Light in portrait photos but the more significant improvements come from everywhere else.