Opinion

A Canon EOS R mirrorless camera is displayed against a bold red and black abstract patterned background. The camera’s lens mount is exposed, and the Canon logo is visible on top.

The Canon EOS R Was Such a Weird Camera

Between writing the polarizing opinion that Canon should revisit the EOS R's much-maligned Touch Bar and reviewing the excellent Canon EOS R6 III in recent weeks, it has become even clearer just how bizarre the original Canon EOS R actually was when it arrived in 2018.

A close-up of a black Epson R-D1 digital rangefinder camera mounted on a tripod, with the lens facing forward and a blurred outdoor background.

A New Epson RD Camera Could Succeed for the Same Reasons the R-D1 Failed

When my colleague Jordan Drake swiped the Epson R-D1 series of digital rangefinders out from underneath me in our recent Fantasy Camera Draft, I was disappointed. But my frustration also got me thinking about why the Epson RD should return and become more than just a quirky bit of digital camera history. The Epson RD series deserves better.

Close-up comparison of the rear controls on two different camera bodies, showing various buttons, textured grips, and dials, including "INFO" and navigation buttons.

Canon Should Revisit Novel Touch Controls, and Here’s How

The maligned Multifunction Touch Bar, commonly called the "Touch Bar," on the original Canon EOS R mirrorless camera is an excellent example of what happens when interesting, even good, ideas try to do too much. However, it's time for Canon to revisit the Touch Bar, or at least the underlying concept of expanded touch on modern mirrorless cameras. Technology is better now, lessons have been learned, and there is still room for improvement in camera ergonomics.

Two side-by-side photos show a woman holding a camera. On the left, she sits while getting her hair styled. On the right, she smiles at the camera while sitting on a couch, holding the same camera.

The Enduring Desirability of the Fujifilm X-Pro

Last week, Vogue France published a short snippet from an interview where Jisoo -- an incredibly popular member of the K-pop group Blackpink -- talks about her love of the Fujifilm X-Pro3. Describing the photos it takes as "cinematic" and "atmospheric," she also touches on another angle of why she and her friends like it: how it looks.

Two Nikon camera lenses are standing upright side by side against a white background. The left lens is marked "AF-S DX NIKKOR 12-24mm," and the right lens is marked "NIKKOR DX 16-50mm.

Nikon Deserves More Credit for Addressing a Major Weakness in the Nikon Z System

There has been a lot of big news in the photography space in the past month, so it's perhaps not too surprising that Nikon's pair of new APS-C lenses has flown a bit under the radar. That's a shame because the Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR and Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 actually address a major complaint many have had about the Nikkor Z system: the lack of new high-end APS-C lenses.

A Rollei 35AF vintage camera is centered on a golden bokeh background, creating a vibrant and nostalgic atmosphere.

The Rollei 35AF is in the Midst of a ‘No Man’s Sky’ Redemption Arc

Sean Murray, the founder of Hello Games, was once one of the most derided figures in video gaming. In 2016, he and his studio released No Man's Sky, a game that was so disappointing at launch that it was jokingly called "One Man's Lie." Nine years later, and Murray has earned that respect back by delivering the game he originally promised -- and more.

A coastal scene at sunset with calm water, rocky shore, and trees on islands. The left half is clear and vibrant, while the right half is grainy and noisy, showing a difference in image quality.

We Are Post ISO Now

A camera's native ISO range used to be a huge deal and was an integral part of how companies advertised their latest and greatest cameras. However, these days, companies sometimes don't mention ISO at all, relegating it to side, separate detailed spec sheets.

A yellow Nikon-branded SUV with flames on its roof is parked at night. Next to it, a woman and a man in a bright yellow shirt examine a camera together outdoors during the day.

The Nikon Tour Highlights Big Changes, and I’m Here For It

It’s no secret that things are changing in the camera and imaging space. As technology advances and the old guard passes the torch to the new, we’ve seen the digital camera evolve from a work instrument only accessible to industry professionals to a creative tool that even those of modest means can access.

Two Canon cameras side by side on a red background, with a greater-than symbol between them. The camera on the left is a Canon EOS R6 Mark II, and the camera on the right is a Canon EOS R5C.

The Canon R6 Mark III Makes the C50 Far Less Compelling for Most People

Earlier this year when the Canon C50 was announced, I saw a significant amount of chatter online about how well-designed and well-priced it was for the average content creator. I wanted to agree, but thought it lacked two major features that those content creators were going to miss: in-body image stabilization and an electronic viewfinder.

A red Coca-Cola truck drives down a snowy, tree-lined road at night, with holiday lights on the trees and a starry sky above. Mountains are visible in the background.

Generative AI Is Here to Ruin Christmas

Despite the controversy surrounding its use of generative AI to create a trio of Christmas advertisements last year, Coca-Cola has once again returned to the world's driest well, churning out yet another terrible AI-generated advertisement.

Four vertical color stripes with camera brand names: Fujifilm on green, Nikon on yellow, Sony on orange, and Canon on red, each in their distinctive logo fonts.

Camera Makers Need to Lean Into Their Brand Colors Again

When Nikon added the gold ring to the lens mount of its 28-135mm f/4 PZ earlier this year, I was ecstatic. Finally, Nikon was leaning into its brand color. I was saddened to learn it would only do this on select products moving forward. That got me thinking: every brand is leaning away from color when they should be leaning into it. For a tool designed to create art, the camera tends to be dreadfully boring.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a white blouse smiles brightly in soft, golden sunlight, with an out-of-focus natural background.

Stop Making Digital Look Like Film

I shoot digital. I don’t do film, and I have never touched a film camera. I have never spent hours in a darkroom waiting for a print to appear under red light. My photography career began entirely digital, and I have grown to appreciate the possibilities it offers. Every modern camera provides clarity, precision, and control that film could never fully deliver. Every detail, every color, every expression is there, ready to tell the story as it happened.

Two smartphones are shown: the left phone in a beige and black case with an attached camera lens accessory, and the right phone in a black case with the Apple logo and visible MagSafe ring.

The Audacity of Case Makers Flaunting the iPhone 17 Has Me Suspicious

Last week, I received multiple emails from different case makers showing supposed designs for the iPhone 17 series. Then this week, that ramped up to Dbrand, Moment, UGreen, and basically every case maker at IFA showing the same thing, all flaunting the same design. Apple is historically excellent at keeping a secret, so what changed this year?

A smiling man outdoors holds up a large camera lens with his left hand and gestures toward it with his right. The logo "PetaPixel Showcase" appears in the lower right corner. Trees and a blue sky are in the background.

The Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro Is What a Budget Lens Should Be

In an effort to learn to love the 35mm full-frame focal length, I took the latest Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro lens out for a spin. The Meike 35mm f/1.8 is an affordable take on the popular focal length, but it has some handy tricks up its sleeve that belie its lower cost. Many creatives who are looking for a compact and sharp lens will find the Meike 35mm ideal for street photography and travel. I carried it on a little road trip around southern Alberta, and it proved to be a handy companion.

Two elderly people sit on a bench outdoors, looking at a photo album filled with black-and-white pictures. Sunlight casts shadows on the wooden path beside them.

Why Are There No Digital Photo Albums?

It is hard for anyone to deny the positive effect that the transition from film to digital has had on photography. The sheer number of photographs taken each year has increased exponentially in the digital age, particularly now that cameras are included on nearly every cell phone. But we have lost one aspect of photography: the photo album.