opinion

How Photographers Can Protect Their Photos (and Democracy) from Generative AI

Sight was the first of our senses to be technologically shared in a world we did not witness with our own eyes. Photography—writing with light—has historically meant a one-to-one relationship between what was before a camera (defined as a lens focussing light on a recording media) and what came out the other end, created by a human.

Nikon acquires RED

A Seismic Shift: The Ramifications of Nikon’s RED Acquisition

Nikon's surprise acquisition of RED Digital Cinema this week represents a seismic shift in the cinema camera space. It also has far-reaching consequences not only for Nikon and RED but also for the rest of the digital camera industry, including Nikon's biggest competitors.

OM System logo on sunrise backgorund

The Best Is Yet to Come for OM System

The OM-1 Mark II has landed with more of a whimper than a bang. It's a great camera but there's not much new about it. However, the rush to pass judgment on what the lack of novel features means for the future of OM System and Micro Four Thirds at large is premature.

Canon RF Mount

Perhaps We’ve Been Too Hard on Canon and Its ‘Closed’ RF Mount

When it comes to protecting its intellectual property, Canon is among the most litigious. Whether printer ink or lenses for the RF mount, the company spends significant effort shutting down unregistered third party brands. From the outside looking in, this can come off as petty, aggressive, or even greedy.

Beloved gear

The Beloved Photography Gear That Nobody Uses Anymore

As we wrap up 2023, a year that featured a ton of incredible photography gear that will undoubtedly feature in many a photographer's kits for years to come, we began to wonder, "What popular photography gear from years past is much less common now?"

Leica Q3

Leica Q3 Review From a Canon Photographer: Hit and Miss

Like many photographers, I've spent years hunting the impossible combination: a high-quality camera that's also compact. Must haves: a great sensor and a wide aperture wide angle lens. Today, I’ll walk you through the meandering journey that eventually led me to the Leica Q3.

Fujiflim, Please

Fujifilm is the Best Company to Make the Camera of my Dreams

After wrapping our awards, PetaPixel's staff turned its attention to another annual project, "Bold Camera Predictions." The 2024 edition arrives later this week with the help of a special guest, but ongoing internal discussions birthed the camera of my dreams, a Sony RX1R II replacement.

AI models and energy use, negative impacts on the environment

Legislation Must Consider AI’s Energy Demands and Environmental Costs

Much of the focus on the potential hazards of generative AI technology has understandably been on how it impacts artists and copyright ownership, and how it could affect people's jobs and wages. New research shows that the dangers of generative AI go much further and may be catastrophic for the environment.

Sony a9 III ISO 250 and dynamic range

The Sony a9 III’s Base ISO Reflects the Cost of a Global Shutter

The Sony a9 III is still months away from release but has already sent photographers into a frenzy. The positive buzz around the camera is as high as any camera reveal ever, and with good reason. The a9 III's global shutter system is a complete game-changer for a wide range of photographers and videographers and will enable shots that have long been impossible.

Apple iPhone Clipped Highlights

Critics Are Wrong: It Is Impressive Apple Shot its Latest Event on iPhone

This week's Scary Fast Apple event was significant in mostly expected ways. Apple debuted its new M3 series of chips, launched super-powered new MacBook Pro notebooks, and updated the iMac for the first time since 2021. However, Apple also did something unprecedented: it shot the entire event on the iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphone.

Canon 10-20mm f/4 L

No, Sigma Did Not Make Canon’s New 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM Lens

Late last night, Canon introduced a new wide-angle zoom lens -- the 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM -- that is unlike any optic it has ever produced. It's unique, and one publication published a story with quite an incendiary accusation: Canon didn't actually make it, Sigma did.

The Best Thing About Every Camera Brand: 2023 Edition

Recently we made a video detailing the worst things that each of the major camera manufacturers was guilty of. It could have been a lack of foresight or a technological setback. It could have been a failure to update cameras, or a decision to cut off third-party manufacturers.

USB-C is the Biggest Improvement the iPhone Has Ever Seen

Ah, that new iPhone smell is in the air, which means two things. Autumn, probably the best season for photography, is just around the corner. And two, Apple has stoked its hype train's engine and sent it roaring down the tracks, spewing buzzwords and fancy graphics at everyone it passes.

Does The World Need Images of Fake A.I. People?

We have all heard the arguments for and against A.I. imagery from the perspective of photographers. By now, most of us realize that these images are not photographs but some sort of graphic design created by artificial intelligence.

Clipped Highlights what is Sony doing with its drone

Sony’s Drone Product Strategy is Confusing and Inconsistent

Sony's Airpeak S1 drone has thus far been a rare misstep for the respected Japanese company. Despite some (expensive) improvements to the Airpeak S1 drone, Sony's support for its flagship aerial platform, first revealed in 2021, has been significantly undercut by yesterday's reveal of the Sony ILX-LR1 full-frame camera.

SanDisk

SanDisk’s Name is Now Mud

Due in large part to its abysmal response -- or rather, complete lack thereof -- to widespread reports of the failure of its portable SSD products, the SanDisk brand name is now mud.