Features

PetaPixel's Features are in-depth, heavily researched stories designed to answer the most important questions on a topic. Where we flex our journalistic muscle, expect to find the best storytelling and original reporting the photo industry offers.
Close-up of an elephant's face, highlighting its textured skin and tusks. The light and shadow create a dramatic effect, while its eyes gaze forward. Lush greenery is faintly visible in the background, adding depth to the scene.

Photographing Forest Elephants in the Congo

Deep in the Congo Basin, in a remote corner of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, lies Mbeli Bai, a vast forest clearing where wildlife emerges from the dense jungle. Unlike open savanna landscapes, the rainforest hides its inhabitants behind thick vegetation, making photographing species like forest elephants particularly difficult.

Close-up of a digital camera's sensor, surrounded by a metal mount. The camera's body has a textured black surface. The sensor is rectangular, with electronic contacts visible along the mount's inner edge.

Canon Commits to Continuing In-House Sensor Development

Image sensor research and development is notoriously costly, which is why so many manufacturers have opted to work with an existing sensor fabrication company, like Sony Semiconductor, rather than develop their own in-house. Canon has been one of the few exceptions and, according to its executives, that will remain the case.

Close-up of a person holding a vintage-style camera by its strap, with green trees blurred in the background. The person is wearing blue jeans, and the focus is on the camera lens.

OM System Says It Prioritizes Computational Features Over Megapixels

The biggest benefit of Micro Four Thirds is size: cameras and lenses can be significantly smaller than APS-C or full-frame options. One perceived downside, however, is lower resolution. OM System says it could look into higher-resolution sensors but wouldn’t select them if it meant sacrificing computational performance.