The PetaPixel Photography Podcast

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Episodes

152

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake join PetaPixel's Editor-in-Chief Jaron Schneider for a weekly discussion on current events in the photography industry, camera equipment, technology, culture, and more.

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October 28, 2026Episode 1501 hr 58 min

Sigma's Unique Lens, Meeting PixelMeter, and ANOTHER New Instax?

This episode is brought to you by Epson Professional Imaging and their SureColor P-Series photographic printers. For decades, Epson has had the honor of being the choice of the world’s leading photographers - empowering artists with industry leading technology so they can bring their stories and vision to the photographic print. Discover why the print matters at http://epson.com/petapixel Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo. Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by photography legend Stephen Wilkes and his 25th anniversary exhibition of his series "America in Detail." Check out PetaPixel Merch: http://store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio: https://creators.riverside.fm/Petapixel We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/petapixel In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 08:20 - We're excited to launch the PixelMeter , the first reviews aggregator for photo gear 17:07 - Sigma's new 50mm f/1.4 CL DG has vintage looks but futuristic design 22:51- Fujifilm launches the Instax Mini Evo 2 24:22 - Instagram is going to try long form again 32:59 - GoPro teams up with PolarPro to solve the Mission 1's biggest weakness 34:11 - Sirui's neat new tripod 35:53 - Huge Final Cut Pro updates 39:09 - Review Round-Up, Sigma FP2 43:14 - Review Round-Up, Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A 44:11 - Review Round-Up, Sigma 50-120mm f/2.8 DC OS Contemporary 45:40 - Review Round-Up, Oppo Find X10 Pro Max 48:29 - Interview with photographer Stephen Wilkes 1:37:05 - What have you been up to? 1:46:12 - Tech support 1:55:34 - Feel Good Story of the Week

October 20, 2026Episode 1491 hr 28 min

Building Our Very Own Frankencameras

Run your entire photography business in one place with Pixieset! From building your website and delivering client galleries to managing bookings, payments, and now AI-assisted photo editing, Pixieset brings your entire workflow together in one platform. With Pixieset Photo Editor, you can cull and edit your photos faster, stay true to your signature style, and deliver finished images directly to your client galleries — all without switching between tools. Whether you're new to Pixieset or already using some of its tools, there's more to explore. Every Pixieset product has a free plan, so you can try them out and see what works for you. Explore Pixieset and get started for free! Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by PetaPixel's Tech Editor Jeremy Gray to build their own parts bin Frankencameras. They have to build a complete camera from a limited selection of parts, showcasing what the most important features of a camera are to each of them. Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 08:28 - Changes Chris made to avoid issues with his video feed 12:03 - Apple just announced an event on October 28 16:12 - The FX5 delay saga appears to be at its end 18:16 - Instagram CEO says it's "not practical" to ban AI content 23:14 - AI can never make a lens as good as Sigma lenses, CEO says 29:58 - Photographer cuts down trees for a better train photo, gets arrested 34:32 - Building Our Own Frankencameras 1:17:12 - Tech Support 1:25:58 - Feel Good Story of the Week

October 14, 2026Episode 1481 hr 32 min

Adobe Ripped Off by AI?

Thanks to ProGrade Digital for sponsoring this episode! Go behind the scenes with Chicago Cubs team photographer Matt Dirksen to see how he photographs a season. From capturing the action to importing thousands of photos after a game, discover how ProGrade’s memory cards, readers, hubs, and docks help keep his workflow moving. Read the full story and see Matt’s photos on PetaPixel: https://petapixel.com/2026/10/14/inside-a-season-with-the-chicago-cubs-photographer/ Explore ProGrade’s memory cards, readers, SSDs, hubs, and docks: https://progradedigital.com/ Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, Chris, Jordan, Sarah, and I discuss a big heaping pile of news, including the biggest story of the week: Adobe Creative Cloud getting ripped off and rebuilt with AI. Beyond that, Getty filed for bankruptcy, Sony announced two new microphones, APS-C got a ton of love in the past week, and the OM System PEN is shaping up to be outrageously popular. Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 08:06 - Photographing baseball 15:25 - Adobe Creative Cloud was remade using AI 24:25 - Getty is filing for bankruptcy 28:01 - Godox is trying what Profoto failed to make popular 34:30 - Sony has two new mics 48:34 - APS-C got a lot of love this week (Sigma and Tamron) 52:19 - Fujifilm's latest Instax is a new Square 55:47 - The OM Pen is beyond popular 1:01:50 - Japan seems to have misunderstood creator cameras 1:20:43 - What have you been up to? 1:29:50 - Feel good story of the week

October 7, 2026Episode 1471 hr 30 min

Why New Digicams Fail to Capture the Magic of the Originals

You probably know VSCO for film presets, but VSCO One goes further, into the business of being a photographer. VSCO One comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can see whether it fits the way you work. Check it out today! Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank This week on the PetaPixel Podast, Chris Niccolls and Jaron Schneider are joined by Gordon Laing and Sarah Teng for a discussion on the explosive popularity of digicams and why no matter how hard they might try, modern companies can't fully recapture the magic of the point-and-shoot cameras from 10+ years ago. Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 09:41 - The a7S rumor mill has spun up again... 17:26 - The FX5 is delayed again 20:55 - Have you heard of Mandler? 28:03 - Final Cut Camera gets a major update 33:03 - You can add a zoom lens to the Luna Ultra 34:44 - Yashica has another new compact camera 37:15 - The Polaroid Mod 38:34 - Viltrox is bringing its full Air series to Leica L mount 42:07 - Full Frame Camera Power Rankings 1:17:19 - What have you been up to? 1:23:50 - Tech support 1:33:10 - Feel good story of the week

October 1, 2026Episode 1461 hr 36 min

Ranking Our Top 10 Full Frame Cameras

This week on the PetaPixel Podast, the team discusses the return of the a7S IV rumor reappearing, but spends the majority of the episode creating the first-ever PetaPixel Power Rankings for full frame cameras. When it comes to ultralight tripods, every ounce counts. ProMaster’s iota series fully embraces this philosophy by prioritizing speed, simplicity, and minimal weight. If your priority is carrying the least amount of weight possible while still having a capable and thoughtfully designed tripod, both the ProMaster iota 422 Ultralightweight Tripod Kit and the ProMaster iota 219 Tabletop Tripod Kit make a compelling case. Whether hiking, traveling, shooting landscapes close to the ground, or setting up a quick tabletop or macro shot, these tripods strip away complexity in favor of speed, simplicity, and a remarkably lightweight design. The iota series delivers a lightweight, fast, and genuinely enjoyable experience that encourages you to carry it more often and photograph more freely . Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 09:41 - The a7S rumor mill has spun up again... 17:26 - The FX5 is delayed again 20:55 - Have you heard of Mandler? 28:03 - Final Cut Camera gets a major update 33:03 - You can add a zoom lens to the Luna Ultra 34:44 - Yashica has another new compact camera 37:15 - The Polaroid Mod 38:34 - Viltrox is bringing its full Air series to Leica L mount 42:07 - Full Frame Camera Power Rankings 1:17:19 - What have you been up to? 1:23:50 - Tech support 1:33:10 - Feel good story of the week

September 24, 2026Episode 1451 hr 32 min

When It Comes to Viewfinders... Are We Out of Touch?

This week on The PetaPixel Podcast , the team stands firm in their belief that camera brands are misunderstanding the "smartphone generation" as they call it. Wish you could spend less time managing your photos and videos? Excire’s award-winning software helps you instantly find any file, get organized, intuitively browse your catalog, and stay on top of culling! To get your Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit https://www.excire.com/en/excire-foto/ PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL. Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 11:26 - A quick follow-up from last episode, all Pentax DSLRs are now discontinued, but a future is coming 17:40 - Sigma turns 65 19:29 - Fujifilm's Pal 2 camera is nothing like the original 23:44 - Affinity's RAW photo processing just got way more robust 25:46 - 54 lens caps had to be removed from Yellowstone's thermal vents this year 28:35 - Lumix has a new 20mm f/2.5 30:32 - Ilford is releasing limited-edition film, for some reason 36:02 - GoPro officially joined Micro Four Thirds 38:05 - Camp Snap has entered its Minox era 41:30 - Glass Imaging appears to have been acquired by OpenAI 44:51 - Review round-up 58:24 - Are we out of touch, or are the camera brands wrong? 1:08:18 - What have you been up to? 1:11:45 - Tech support 1:28:33 - Feel good story of the week

September 11, 2026Episode 1441 hr 49 min

Did the New PEN Impress You? Plus Apple Adds Aperture

This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team discusses OM System's new PEN camera and then transitions to Apple Park where they are joined by Jason Vong and The Verge 's Allison Johnson to talk Pros and Duo. Thanks to our friends at DxO for sponsoring today’s podcast! PhotoLab 10 adds smarter AI masks for people and subjects, new color grading tools, and automatic sensor dust removal. Its new depth masks let you select areas by their distance from the camera, so you can brighten distant mountains without changing the foreground. Its AI tools work offline, and there’s no subscription required. PetaPixel ’s Michael Bonocore walks through the new features using his photographs from Morocco, with before-and-after examples and practical editing tips. Save 15% on any DxO software, including PhotoLab 10, with code PetaPixel at https://dxo.com . Valid for new customers only; excludes upgrades. Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 07:55 - The Nikon ZR is getting open gate 12:09 - Nikon is making nine T1.9 cinema lenses 15:57 - Sigma's new lenses look very nice 24:48 - Also, new Sigma filters 29:28 - Dang, it's been 20 years since Sony made one of these 32:17 - SmallRig's new batteries are designed to be used on set 34:23 - GoPro's founder promises the company isn't done making consumer cameras 36:16 - Pentax doesn't actively make any DSLRs anymore 38:49 - Leica made a very limited edition 66mm f/2 41:29 - OM finally gave us a new Pen... but the monkey's paw curled. 54:57 - Jason Vong and The Verge's Allison Johnson from Apple Park 1:37:16 - Tech Support 1:48:21 - Feel good story of the week

September 2, 2026Episode 1431 hr 40 min

The Most Influential Camera Brand of Every Decade

With a PetaPixel Membership, not only can you support original PetaPixel reporting and in-depth reviews, but you can also remove ads from the website and gain access to some seriously great perks, too. Members get 20% off Capture One, $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 10% off lighting gear from FJ Westcott, 10% off Viltrox products, can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses, and MORE! It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. Join today! Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank This week on The PetaPixel Podcast , the team goes through the decades starting in the mid 1900s and examines which camera company was the most influential during that time. That doesn't mean who sold the most, it means who drove the industry in a particular direction. Plus, GoPro drama abounds, Ricoh announced the GR IVx, and Chris, Jordan, and Jaron say goodbye to one of their dear friends. All that and more! Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro and what camera brand do you want to be a primary investor in? 14:52 - Our friend Rishi Sanyal has passed away 23:36 - The GR IVx is coming 27:54 - Should you buy the GoPro Mission 1 ILS? 33:56 - Miller Tripods is done 37:35 - OM System now makes ragu 39:12 - Sigma changed the order system for the 14mm f/1.4 again 41:25 - How did you like the short editorial-style video? 43:01 - The most influential camera brand of every decade 1:18:07 - GoPro has a new owner 1:20:09 - What have you been up to? 1:24:46 - Tech support 1:37:11 - Feel good story of the week

August 28, 2026Episode 1421 hr 16 min

Ricoh, You Disappoint Us

Photographers today are stitching together 4–6 tools across editing, gallery delivery, websites, client management — often spending $2–3K/year, plus constant app-switching.VSCO has built one connected system: editing, client galleries, portfolio sites, booking/business tools, all designed to work together. The point isn't "more features" — it's removing the exporting, re-uploading, and switching that eats a photographer's time. Try VSCO for free today! Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, we're at Sony Kando to discuss Hover Air's last-minute change, new Macs, and Ricoh's very disappointing AI choice. Top creators share the issues plaguing them the most and what camera brands can do to better address them. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro from Sony Kando 06:51 - Photographer Jay Maisel has passed away 09:09 - Apple has a new Mac Studio and Mac Mini 19:33 - Sony's sensor fab is back to full operation 21:20 - Nikon continues to only release cool things in Japan 23:03 - HoverAir's flying gimbal camera already got banned in the U.S. 25:05 - You can definitely buy the banned DJI Osmo Pocket 4 in the U.S. 26:29 - Photo contest chose to selectively enforce its rules, and people are mad 31:12 - Xtra and Ricoh used AI to try and sell cameras 38:24 - Feel good story of the week 42:38 - The challenges creators are facing and how they and camera brands can solve them.

August 20, 2026Episode 1411 hr 40 min

Sony FX5 DELAYED and is Back-Button AF Stupid?

The new CleanMyMac interface is beautiful, intuitive, and responsive, allowing you to quickly see any potential concerns keeping your computer from running its best. Get Tidy Today! Try CleanMyMac 7 days FREE and use code PETAPIXEL for 20% off! Now saving when you shop for your favorite gear at B&H Photo is even easier with the B&H Payboo Credit Card which lets you Save the Tax — you pay the tax, and B&H pays you back instantly! (Save the Tax on eligible purchases shipped to eligible states.) OR you can pay over time with our 6 & 12 month financing (on minimum purchases of $199 for 6 months, and $599 for 12 months). Terms apply, learn more at http://bhphoto.com/payboo . Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. Payboo Credit Card Accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank This week on The PetaPixel Podcast , the Sony FX5 is officially delayed, Kodak has been profitable for a year straight, and a former Sony executive shares that back before it took over mirrorless with the E-mount, another company suggested they team up rather than Sony strike out on its own. Plus, Jordan Drake chats with special guest Becca Farsace and the two decide who "won" this generation of gimbal cameras: the Luna Ultra from Insta360 or the Osmo Pocket 4P from DJI. And, is back button autofocus stupid? All this and more! Check out PetaPixel Merch: store.petapixel.com/ We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel , but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe . In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 10:30 - The FX5 is delayed . 17:14 - Kodak has been profitable for a solid year 22:13 - Insta360 is making a camera with a shape "you've never even considered. " 26:17 - NYC Fujikina finally has details 28:08 - Sony declined to work with an established mirrorless camera brand back before it made its first mirrorless camera 32:33 - Jared Polin says back button focus "is stupid" 43:25 - How much would it take for you to sell your soul? 52:08 - So, who won? DJI or Insta360? w/ Becca Farsace ( watch her comparison here ) 1:19:24 - What have you been up to? (The Odyssey discussion) 1:28:44 - Tech support 1:38:00 - Feel good story of the week