Reviews | PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/topic/reviews/ Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:42:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191656271 DJI Flip Review: Lightweight Done Right https://petapixel.com/2025/01/14/dji-flip-review-lightweight-done-right/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 13:01:37 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=775533 A drone with a camera flying outdoors against a blurred green background. The image has text reading "PetaPixel Reviews" in the bottom left corner.

More than ten years ago, I decided to dip my toe into the world of aerial video when Chris Niccolls and I reviewed the DJI Phantom 2 for The Camera Store TV. Two crashed drones in less than a week later, I decided to leave aerial footage to the professionals. But now DJI has introduced the $439 Flip, with incredibly low weight, just enough video quality mojo, and some cool automated tricks. It might be the perfect compliment to my YouTube camera kit, but I wanted to see how it performed in the field before committing to having it in my bag.

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The State of Canon, Nikon, and Sony’s ‘Holy Trinity’ Zoom Lenses in 2025 https://petapixel.com/2025/01/11/the-state-of-canon-nikon-and-sonys-holy-trinity-zoom-lenses-in-2025/ Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:01:40 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=775104 A man lies on a wooden floor surrounded by various camera lenses. The words "Nikon," "Sony," and "Canon" are written near groups of lenses. He looks up with a playful expression, wearing a black shirt and khaki pants.

The majority of professional photographers pray at the Church of the Holy Trinity. That is to say that they make their daily bread with an ultra-wide f/2.8 zoom, a general-purpose 24-70mm f/2.8, and a 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto. This is a tradition that has held true for decades from the time of the autofocusing film SLR to the modern mirrorless cameras of today. Good things come in threes so today we look at the best three lenses from the three biggest companies.

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Samyang 35mm f/1.4 P Review: Fantastic Value for a Fast Prime https://petapixel.com/2025/01/09/samyang-35mm-f-1-4-p-review-fantastic-value-for-a-fast-prime/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:01:33 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=774870 A smiling person in a beanie and black jacket holds a camera in one hand, while sitting at a table with a glass of dark beer. The background features a brick wall with photos and warm lighting. Text: "PetaPixel Reviews.

It's well-known that I am not a fan of the 35mm focal length. It's also well-known that I am in the extreme minority on this. Everyone loves a good 35mm lens which is a prime candidate for a faster f/1.4 aperture. Samyang has answered the call with its latest "Prima" series of lenses which promise to be optical standouts with sophisticated autofocusing.

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The Leica Q3: A Concise Review https://petapixel.com/2025/01/08/the-leica-q3-a-concise-review/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:31:13 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=774871 A black Leica camera with a textured body and a prominent lens is centered against a dynamic orange and blue blurred background. The brand's red logo is visible on the upper right corner of the camera body.

It’s 4:37 PM Friday at a long-range planning meeting in Leica offices in Wetzlar. Attendees want to get on with their weekend. Fritz is talking.

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OnePlus 13 Hands-On: A More Complete Smartphone With Even Better Photo Features https://petapixel.com/2025/01/08/oneplus-13-hands-on-a-more-complete-smartphone-with-even-better-photo-features/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:44:30 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=774834 Close-up of a smartphone's rear camera module with three lenses on a sleek, dark blue back. The phone has a metallic frame and a small logo. Text overlay says "PetaPixel Hands-On.

The OnePlus 13 got its reveal, but perhaps even more revealing is how much the company is trying to make its flagship more accessible. To do it, it’s embracing MagSafe (albeit only with its phone cases) and including a software feature in OxygenOS to enable sharing with iPhone users. Even faster wired and wireless charging, plus a demonstration of heavy water resistance involving a dishwasher. All that is on top of a focus on improving action photography.

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Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 Review: This Portrait Lens is a Heavy Hitter https://petapixel.com/2025/01/04/viltrox-lab-135mm-f-1-8-review-this-portrait-lens-is-a-heavy-hitter/ Sat, 04 Jan 2025 15:03:22 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=774417 A person outdoors in a snowy setting holds a camera with a large lens, gesturing with their other hand. They are wearing a black cap and jacket. The image has text: "PetaPixel Reviews.

Viltrox has been making waves in the lens space for a while now, but its LAB series, a new push into professional-grade optics, takes the company's ambitions up a notch (or two). The Viltrox LAB 135mm f/1.8 aims to deliver professional performance at a much lower price. Does it deliver the goods?

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Panasonic DC-ZS99 Review: A Disappointing Trend Chaser https://petapixel.com/2025/01/02/panasonic-dc-zs99-review-a-disappointing-trend-chaser/ Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:00:18 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=774234 A person holding a compact camera with a zoom lens extended. The camera lens has "Leica" branding. The image has a blue sky background and features a "PetaPixel Reviews" graphic in the bottom right corner.

Here, we thought that the smartphone would kill the point-and-shoot digital camera. There is, instead, a steady resurgence with more and more (mostly young) people purchasing used point-and-shoot cameras. The Panasonic ZS99 aims to capitalize on the trend, offering a modernized take on an older P&S model.

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Lomo’Instant Wide Glass Review: Creative, Not Complicated https://petapixel.com/2024/12/28/lomoinstant-automat-wide-glass-review-creative-not-complicated/ Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:01:01 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=774081 A person leans forward with a smile beside a large vintage camera on a wooden table. Several instant photos are scattered on the table. The background shows part of a warmly lit interior with festive decorations.

The Lomography Lomo'Instant Automat Wide Glass aims to be the best instant camera on the market, and in many ways, it lives up to this ambitious goal.

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eKids Bluey Camera Review: This Nightmare Puts the Eww in Review https://petapixel.com/2024/12/24/ekids-bluey-camera-review-putting-the-eww-in-review/ Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:00:38 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=773664 A person holds a blue camera with a cartoon dog face design on the back. The background is a blurred colorful outdoor scene. The bottom right corner shows "PetaPixel Reviews" text.

My editor-in-chief, Jaron Schneider, tasked me with a Christmas challenge to review a camera unlike anything I had reviewed before. On my doorstep shows up a Bluey-themed kids' camera with the worrisome "eKids" branding on the bottom. I had a family vacation coming up in Alberta's capital city of Edmonton, so it was the right opportunity to put the camera through a rugged baptism of fire. We planned on shooting at the Royal Alberta Museum, which would give us bright and dark conditions in which to test the camera. Even with low expectations, I came away disappointed.

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LincPlus Studio S1 Tablet Review: An Affordable All-In-One Device for Traveling Creatives https://petapixel.com/2024/12/23/lincplus-studio-s1-tablet-review-an-affordable-all-in-one-device-for-traveling-creatives/ Mon, 23 Dec 2024 21:00:03 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=762004 A tablet with a keyboard is displayed on a wooden table. The screen shows colorful abstract art. A stylus and a long, narrow device are placed beside it. The words "PetaPixel Reviews" are overlaid on the image.

The LincStudio S1 Tablet from LincPlus Studio S1 may look like a standard run of the mill tablet, but this portable pen display has a bit more hidden up its sleeve. The retouching tool is also a fully functional handheld PC that, while not without its shortcomings, has a surprising amount to offer traveling creatives.

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The Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses for Every Situation https://petapixel.com/2024/12/19/our-favorite-lenses-micro-four-thirds-edition/ Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:02:34 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=772751 A man smiles and points at a camera he is holding. The camera has no lens attached. Behind him, a logo reads "Micro Four Thirds" on a dark background.

Jordan and I regularly give our two cents about the lenses we enjoy the most from each of the major manufacturers. Taking each brand in turn, we list our favorite wide-angle, normal zooms, normal primes, portrait, and telephoto lenses. However, we have never tackled the Micro Four Thirds system, which is unique because it has two major OEM manufacturers that can share lenses. This gives us roughly twice as many optics to sift through, but we managed to narrow it down.

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The Best and Worst Cameras and Lenses of 2024 https://petapixel.com/2024/12/14/the-best-and-worst-cameras-and-lenses-of-2024/ Sat, 14 Dec 2024 15:01:47 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=772699 Two men holding camera lenses and beverages, smiling in a living room. The words "Best & Worst" and "2024 Edition" are displayed in bold letters above them. One wears a plaid shirt, the other a denim shirt.

Some of the best traditions are holiday traditions. Turkey at Thanksgiving, pumpkin carving at Halloween, and Christmas trees loaded with decorations are some of the cherished classics but undeniably, the greatest of them all is our annual Best and Worst camera gear roundup.

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Hasselblad XCD 75mm f/3.4 P Review: Portable, Pleasing Portraits https://petapixel.com/2024/12/07/hasselblad-xcd-75mm-f-3-4-p-review-portable-pleasing-portraits/ Sat, 07 Dec 2024 15:01:00 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=771464 A person with gray hair is using a Hasselblad camera. They are wearing a black jacket and focusing intently, standing next to a yellow wall. The image has a "PetaPixel Reviews" overlay at the bottom right.

Hasselblad is a name that screams premium optics at a premium price. However, Hasselblad recently developed a line of more compact and somewhat more affordable lenses categorized under the “P” for portable moniker.

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The ‘Perfect’ Travel Camera Might Not Be One Camera, But Three https://petapixel.com/2024/12/06/the-perfect-travel-camera-might-not-be-one-camera-but-three/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:16:20 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=771654 Four action cameras, including DJI, Insta360, and GoPro models, are placed on a concrete surface with grass and a blurred background. A "PetaPixel Reviews" banner is in the bottom left corner.

For years, my wife and I have been aimlessly stuck in a first-world conundrum. We enjoy traveling, and like most folks, we enjoy capturing photos and videos of our trips as keepsakes that remind us of the tremendous experiences we have been fortunate to have. But whenever we have considered buying a dedicated camera for our travels, we just haven’t been able to pull the trigger.

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Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z Review: Excellent Features Come at a Cost https://petapixel.com/2024/12/05/canon-rf-70-200mm-f-2-8l-is-usm-z-review-excellent-features-come-at-a-cost/ Thu, 05 Dec 2024 15:01:24 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=770908 A person in winter clothing smiles while holding a camera with a large telephoto lens. They are positioned behind a green sculpture. The image also features the "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the corner.

I like the ultra-compact Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L lens very much. It’s easy to carry around in the camera bag. It’s very sharp and well-corrected. But the inability to attach a teleconverter is a huge strike against a fast 70-200mm lens and video shooters don’t like the shifting balance as you zoom the extendable lens elements.

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The Genki SavePoint is a Fast and Tiny M.2 SSD Enclosure https://petapixel.com/2024/12/03/the-genki-savepoint-is-a-fast-and-tiny-m-2-ssd-enclosure/ Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:36:53 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=771016 Four textured portable chargers are displayed against a light background. From left to right, they are orange with wavy ridges, gray with vertical ridges, blue with horizontal waves, and teal with a geometric pattern. Each features a lightning bolt symbol.

Earlier this year, Human Things successfully got a batch of handheld gaming accessories backed on Kickstarter, and that included the Genki SavePoint -- a tiny M.2 2230 SSD enclosure with a magnetic back and 100-watt pass-through charging.

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Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 Vs Sony a1 II: 2024 Flagship Camera Review https://petapixel.com/2024/11/30/canon-r1-vs-nikon-z9-vs-sony-a1-ii-2024-flagship-camera-review/ Sat, 30 Nov 2024 15:01:36 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=770543 A person lying on a wooden deck poses with three cameras from Sony, Nikon, and Canon. The person is smiling, resting their chin on their hands. A brick wall serves as the background. The text "PetaPixel Compares" is displayed in the top right corner.

Now that Canon has released the R1 and Sony has updated its a1 II platform, the Nikon Z9 has stiff competition. The title of "flagship camera" represents the pinnacle of each company's technological abilities and becomes the outward face of that company for all to judge. Should a flagship camera be able to handle anything that is thrown at it? And is there such a thing as a "best" right now?

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Fujifilm X-M5 Review: Agonizingly Close to Entry-Level Excellence https://petapixel.com/2024/11/28/fujifilm-x-m5-review-agonizingly-close-to-entry-level-excellence/ Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:01:05 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=770176 A person holding a vintage-style camera close to the lens, standing against a blurred wooden background. The image features the text "PetaPixel Reviews" in the bottom left corner.

I wanted to love this camera so desperately. When I first looked at the X-M5, I was won over by its handsome design and compact nature. And the world needs more stylish little cameras like this, which are within the reach of most people’s budgets. However, we might lose too much to make this lower $799 price possible. Most of the technical specs and features were covered in a previous video and subsequent article, but I want to focus on the make-or-break features today.

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Sony 28-70mm f/2 GM Review: One of the Best Lenses Ever Made https://petapixel.com/2024/11/19/sony-28-70mm-f-2-gm-review-one-of-the-best-lenses-ever-made/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:30:27 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=768287 A person holding a Sony camera with a large lens in a dimly lit street, smiling slightly. The background features illuminated signs and blurred lights. Overlay text reads "PetaPixel Reviews.

I’m an outlier in the photo world, especially regarding glass. I dislike the 35mm focal length, and as much as I love a good 24mm lens, a 28mm lens is even better. Maybe this is why I immediately gravitated to the quirky Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 zoom when it first came out. Despite its massive form factor, this bulbous gem of a lens quickly became a favorite of mine.

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Sony a1 II Hands-On First Impressions: Expensive Excellence https://petapixel.com/2024/11/19/sony-a1-ii-hands-on-first-impressions-expensive-excellence/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:30:03 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=768335 A photographer with a large telephoto lens takes a picture at a crowded outdoor sports event. The stadium is filled with spectators, and a large screen is visible in the background. The image has a "PetaPixel Hands-On" text overlay.

The original Sony a1 is one of the most capable, advanced, and expensive flagship cameras ever. When it first came out, it wowed potential buyers with a fast-scanning 50-megapixel sensor without major rolling shutter issues while offering fast burst rates. It has been almost four years since then, and now we have a version II from Sony in our hands. Does the apple fall far enough from the tree to make it worth the $6,500 cost?

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