Reviews

Expert reviews of the latest digital cameras, lenses, lighting products, accessories, phones, photography-editing software, and more. PetaPixel tests state-of-the-art products in the photo industry and provides insights and recommendations for photographers to make informed purchasing decisions.

One Year With the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

After a little over a year of owning the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8, I think it’s time to write a review. This will be no way a technical review but based more on actual usability and real-world use.

Hands On with the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Sony E-mount

As a landscape and travel photographer, I often carry around an ultra-wide-angle 14mm lens and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. Last week I was able to test the latest addition to the Tamron series for full-frame mirrorless cameras: the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD. And I think I've found the perfect addition to my usual 2-lens kit.

Nikon Z6 II Autofocus Test: A Solid Improvement Over the Z6

Wedding and event photographer Taylor Jackson has been shooting with the original Nikon Z6 pretty much since it came to market. So when the Nikon Z6 II came out promising improved autofocus, TWO image processors, better video, and a battery grip, he jumped on it.

Fujifilm X-S10 Review: The Welterweight Challenger

Fujifilm is considered by many to be the champion of the APS-C sensor space. Heavyweights like the X-T4 and the X-Pro3 dominate the ring with first-class features – for an equally heavyweight price. So, what is available to someone with a more modest budget who still wants to get in the ring?

Hasselblad 907X Hands-On Review and Vintage Lens Test

I have been so excited about this Hasselblad 907X camera. In this hands on review of the Hasselblad 907x and CFV II 50C we show you an image quality test, discuss the ergonomics and try it out on our Hasselblad 500cm with some vintage lenses. Check it out to see what we got!

Sony LA-EA 5 Adapter Review: A Nice Gesture From Sony

It has been a while since we talked about Sony A-mount. The A99 II felt like the last hurrah for the format when it was announced, and seeing continued support in any way probably wasn't necessary from Sony, who has clearly moved on to the E-mount. The LA-EA 5 adapter, though, shows that despite not needing to, they still care about A-mount users.

Sam Hurd’s PIXII Rangefinder Review: It’s Complicated

Sam Hurd recently published a video review of the PIXII Rangefinder: a rear-LCD-less, smartphone-connected, M-mount rangefinder developed by PIXII, an upstart camera manufacturer. And while his introductory statement that it is the "worst camera I have ever owned" does more to get the click than convey his actual opinion, it doesn't look like the PIXII is a camera you should be picking up just yet despite some extremely promising design choices.

The $4.5K Fuji XT-1 Forensics Package Doesn’t Really Create UV Photos

UV photography has many obstacles. Ultraviolet light, or light from 200nm – 400nm in wavelength, is notoriously difficult to image with normal camera equipment. A normal digital camera will record images in the visible light spectrum, or 400nm – 700nm in wavelength. To unlock sensitivity to those shorter wavelengths, a camera has to be physically modified to allow passage of light below 400nm.

Canon EOS R5 Underwater Photo and Video Review

The summer 2020 release of the Canon EOS R5 made one thing clear - Canon has decided to set the photographic standard for this decade. Without a doubt, the EOS R5 is the top image maker of 2020 and could potentially go unmatched in the camera world for another few years.

A Comparison of Variable ND Filters

Is there a good variable ND filter out there? Today, we’re going to take a look at variable ND filters. We compare Peter McKinnon’s Polar Pro, B&W, Syrp, and Tiffen variable ND Filters. Let’s see if those pricey Peter McKinnon filters are worth it compared to some of the less expensive options.

CFexpress: A Real-World Performance Comparison

The newest, best cameras coming on the market use a new kind of memory card called CFexpress Type B. They’re fast, but they’re new, so users don’t really have an impression of which ones might be better to buy. This review shows tests from the better of the ones available and presents the results so that readers can use the factors most important to them to choose the best card for themselves.

My Experience with the Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Peak Design Travel Tripod. Let's just get it out there: it's $600 for the carbon fiber model. That’s a lot of money. You can buy less expensive tripods that are objectively better at a lot of things that this tripod does. The main selling point is that it's light and packs up tiny, so it’s less of a burden to use when you’re traveling.

First Look: Is the Fuji XF 50mm f/1.0 the Ultimate X-Mount Portrait Lens?

A while back, Fujifilm announced that they were working on a 33mm f/1 lens. Recently it was announced that they had scrapped that lens to work on a 50mm f/1, which would result in a more compact lens. With a super-fast 56mm f/1.2 already in the Fuji lens lineup, will a 50mm f/1 be different enough? We were lucky enough to get a sample 50mm f/1 to test out for a short while.

Field Test: One Week in the Lofoten Islands with the Canon EOS R5

I was one of the lucky ones who got their hands on the Canon EOS R5 early in August of 2020. The camera arrived in the morning, just before my flight to the Lofoten Islands. Here's a summary of my experience climbing to 7 summits in 7 days with Canon's new flagship mirrorless camera.

First Look: Flashpoint XPLOR 1200 Pro and R1200 Ring Flash

Ring flashes have always been among my favorite lighting tools. They can be used as effective key lights in certain situations, but I more often use them as front fills, as part of a multiple light setup.

Long Term Review: 9 Months with the Fujifilm X-Pro3

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is Fuji’s flagship stills-orientated body aimed at street and documentary photographers. And while it mostly follows the rangefinder style body of the previous bodies, the X-Pro3 features some significant design changes that will affect the way you use it.

Forget Video: A Review of the Canon EOS R5 for Stills Photographers

Given all of the overheating controversy and the intense focus on the camera's 8K and 4K video capabilities, you'd be forgiven for forgetting that the Canon EOS R5 is also a stills camera. But Gordon Laing at Cameralabs didn't forget, and he's reviewed this camera specifically for stills photographers.

Nikon D6 Wildlife Photography Review

Wildlife photographer Steve Perry of Backcountry Gallery has just completed a massive review of the Nikon D6. And after using the camera in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, and Yellowstone National Park, he has some thoughts on whether or not wildlife photographers should consider buying Nikon's flagship DSLR.

Sony a7S III Hands-On Review Round-Up: Everything You Need to Know

Yesterday, Sony finally revealed the long-awaited and much-anticipated Sony a7S III. So far, the initial reviews are extremely positive, with only a few complaints between them. But don't take our word for it! We've put together a round-up that covers some of the best hands-on previews that we've seen so far.

Pen Tablet vs Pen Display: Which is Better for Photo Editing?

When it comes time to up their photo editing game, most photographers reach for a pen tablet like Wacom's Intuos Pro series. But what about pen displays? Wacom, XP-Pen, and Huion all offer displays that let you draw and edit right on the screen without sacrificing any of the features you get from a tablet. They're typically used by artists, but we wanted to know: are they worth it for photo editing?

Review: Pentax D FA* 85mm Doesn’t Compromise on Image Quality

First of all, many thanks to Pentax, who provided me with this lens exclusively and as a super-early-bird pre-tester, but this report was not sponsored in any way. I use the Pentax K1 in my daily work as a freelancer in my advertising agency, mainly commercially for portrait, product and reportage jobs.

Review: ISDT NP2 is a Unicorn of Sony Camera Battery Chargers

I'd never have thought that a trivial accessory like a humble camera battery charger could get me excited. But ISDT NP2 managed to do just that. What can I say? My life is rock-and-roll, champagne, and caviar.

Testing the Rare Olympus 180mm f/2 Super-Tele Lens from the 1980s

I had a chance to test a very rare lens: the Zuiko Auto-T 180mm f/2 ED-IF, an Olympus super-telephoto lens from the early 80s. Back then, the OM-system bodies that Olympus had were OM-3 and OM-4. Olympus had a very nice line up of Zuiko lenses for those cameras and other OM-system bodies. The one lineup they did not have was pro-grade fast telephoto lenses.

Documenting the Pandemic in NYC with the Canon EOS R6

Living in the NYC area means you’re living around one of the greatest cities in the world -- a city that now I’ve personally seen fall to its knees twice. Once on September 11th. And now during COVID-19.

2020 Razer Blade 15 Studio Review: Better in Every Way

Only 7 months after releasing the first Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition, the PC maker turned around and released an update. Aesthetically, it's almost identical to its predecessor; but under the hood, you're getting even more horsepower... and that's saying something.

Developing ECN-2 Motion Picture Film at Home

If you’re a film geek like me, these numbers should look familiar, 5203, 5207, 5217, and 5219. These are the film stocks Kodak Motion Picture offers to film directors and cinematographers. Since 2014, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorcese, and J.J. Abrams partnered with former Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke, to spearhead an effort in protecting the use of celluloid in the motion picture industry.

I Got to Test the New Canon EOS R5 for a Full Week Ahead of Release

I am a Canon Ambassador and I had the chance to test the new Canon EOS R5 (pre-production model) that we have all been anticipating for such a long time. This is not a review of the camera, but I wanted to share some of the most important settings and show you some real-life samples I was able to shoot that week.

Testing the Most Expensive MacBook Pro Apple Makes

When Apple announced the new, more powerful GPU configuration for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we reached out to ask about performance. How did it compare to the previous top-of-the line model that we tested in December? Apple's response: test it out for yourself.

Hands On with the Sigma 100-400mm DG DN: A Budget Superzoom For Sony

Wildlife photographers who shoot with Sony have been limited when it comes to lens choice. The Sony 100-400mm GM was released in early 2017, but the price ($2,500) was out of reach for many. Last year, Sony released the 200-600mm G, which was a bit more budget friendly ($2,000) but is a pretty large lens to carry around on wildlife hikes.

Photo Editing Tablet Comparison: Is Wacom Still Worth It?

Ask any retoucher what one item they couldn't live without, and they will probably point to their photo editing tablet. Swapping your mouse for a pen tablet can make a huge difference for your workflow, but is it really worth spending $380 on the Wacom Intuos Pro that everyone seems to be using? Are there any affordable alternatives? I'm glad you asked!

Microsoft Surface Book 3 Review: A Great Laptop, Flawed by Design

I like the Microsoft Surface Book 3. In fact, I like it a lot. The build quality is great, and the design is both useful and pretty much unique right now. But it's also flawed... critically flawed by the selfsame design that makes it a unique product, which is why I can't recommend it to most working photographers.

Shooting an Entire Wedding Day with the iPhone 11 Pro

Last year when the iPhone 11 Pro came out with three lenses, we heard a lot of chatter from photographers about how the iPhone photos looked so good that no one would want to hire a pro photographer anymore. Most of this was just people joking around. We saw a few shoots where people used iPhones to see if they would be a viable option.

Lensbaby Omni Color Expansion Pack Review: Adding Foreground Interest

For those that have followed my work for a while, you’ll know that I love to show a sense of depth to my images. Sure we can all shoot wide-open (f/2.8 for example) to get that shallow depth of field, but nothing beats the depth of showing not only a separation between subject and background, but a foreground element to your image too.

Review: The New 13-Inch MacBook Pro is Surprisingly Powerful

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is a confusing proposition from Apple. We called it a "half update" in our first impressions, and I stand by that. But it's also an important update that gives photographers and video editors a lot more performance bang for their buck—as long as they're willing to spend $1,800 or more. Let's dive in.

Wedding Photographer Reviews the Nikon D780

These are my thoughts on the Nikon D780 after shooting a 9-hour wedding with one in London in February of 2020. I had it for 3 days, so this isn’t an exhaustive technical review; I’m not going to dissect it or pixel peep, just report on my impressions as a full-time wedding photographer who normally uses a couple of D750s.

Hands On with the 13-Inch MacBook Pro: Half the Update We Wanted

Earlier this week, Apple released the latest iteration of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. And while the update came with some very welcome additions, many felt that it was a half-step: a refresh rather than a redesign, like we saw with the 16-inch MacBook Pro earlier this year. Now that we have one in hand, we tend to agree.