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.
A person with grey hair and a beard is leaning on a wooden table, smiling at the camera. In front of them, there are six different Fujifilm X100 series cameras lined up. The text above reads "EVERY X100 EVER." The background has an industrial look with brick and metal elements.

Reviewing Every Fujifilm X100 Camera Ever Made

When the Fujifilm X100 first hit the market it took the world by storm. A pocket-sized camera with stellar good looks and a retro-inspired control scheme, it was instantly coveted by photographers aplenty. We wanted to take a retrospective look at the X100 series from the beginning and give you the low-down on the upgrades and quirks over the years.

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Google Pixel 8a Review: Saving Dollars for Pixels

The Google Pixel 8a offers compelling, worthwhile photography features at an accessible price point. It’s hardly a perfect smartphone, but it gets a lot of things right the moment you pull it out of your pocket and start snapping away.

A close-up of a black device with a screen displaying various power-related information, including "Bookcase" and different voltage and current readings. Several cables and a 256GB SD card are connected to the device. The image includes a "PetaPixel Reviews" label.

Dockcase Studio Smart Hub Review: Eight Ports in One Small Dock

As a creative who often has to travel for my clients, the amount of gear and accessories needed to get a job done can often lead to a lot of headaches when trying to get everything connected to my laptop, especially if I'm shooting large campaigns where I need to ingest a ton of data.

A close-up shot of a vintage Pentax camera on a tripod with a waterfall in the blurred background. The camera's branding and lens details are clearly visible. Overlaid at the bottom right is the "PetaPixel Reviews" logo.

Pentax 17 Review: A Brand-New Film Experience Worth Having

I’ve been in the camera review business for over 15 years and in that time I’ve been fortunate enough to have tested and taken photographs with countless cameras, spanning a wide variety of designs and intentions. Curiously, as I prepared to review the Pentax 17 it occurred to me that I had never once reviewed a new production 35mm film camera in all that time.

A bearded man with short hair is smiling excitedly behind two cameras placed on a brick surface. The camera on the left is a Sony Alpha series, and the one on the right is a Canon EOS R5. Both cameras have large lenses facing forward.

Just How Good Are the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.0 and 40mm f/1.2?

Recently, I've pushed myself to look at third-party lens brands from China, which offer interesting character at a relatively low price. I wanted to try out the lenses that cost more money but might provide a more compelling user experience and the Voigtlander manual focus primes could be the answer.

A desktop computer setup includes a monitor displaying "MAINGEAR" with the Petapixel logo above. Beside the monitor are a camera, a mug, and a keyboard on a wooden desk. A PC tower with blue gradient design and "Petapixel" branding is also present.

Maingear MG-1 Ultimate Review: The Most Powerful PC We’ve Ever Tested

Maingear has been a big name in custom PCs for over 20 years and has earned a sterling reputation for its high-end PCs, especially for gaming, and strong customer support. While its flagship MG-1 line, ranging from just over $1,100 to the $4,000 machine I tested, has plenty of features for hardcore gamers to drool over, the MG-1 can also be an outstanding option for creatives.

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Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 XF Review: Fantastic Images at a Budget Price

Viltrox has been busying itself with full-frame Z-mount releases over the last year, building upon the core of its business which has been centered around APS-C. In fact, the last Fuji X-mount release was the "Pro" monikered 27mm f/1.2 that I reviewed in August 2023. The new 56mm f/1.7 sits at the opposite end of the spectrum, retailing at an extremely modest $139. It may be budget in price, but its performance is far from it.

Two men are standing in front of a traditional Japanese building. One man holds a blue camera towards the viewer. The PetaPixel logo and the text "Hands-On" are displayed in the bottom left corner.

Panasonic Lumix S9 Initial Review: Small, Pretty, and Confusing

One of my favorite cameras of all time was the Panasonic GM5. With its interchangeable lenses and ultra-compact design, I could truly take it anywhere and still have full manual control. Compromises had to be made given such a small design, and the Micro Four Thirds format did limit potential image quality, but I had an EVF and a creative camera that was perfect for travel.

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Fujifilm XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 Review: A Lot To Live Up To

The Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS was truly a legendary kit lens. It broke the stereotype of bare-bones kit lenses that came packaged with slow apertures and pedestrian optics. I say was because it now must make way for a new lens to take center stage. The new Fujifilm XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 has very big shoes to fill indeed.

A hand holds an Iris Hobalux camera. The camera features a round Noblige Lens System and a small screen on the side. The bottom of the camera has a brown panel with the Hobalux logo. The text "PetaPixel Reviews" is overlaid in the lower right corner.

Hobolite Iris Review: A Shining Example of Pocket-Sized Lighting

The Hobolite Iris, the company's latest addition to its lineup of LED lighting equipment, is small enough to slide into a pocket yet versatile enough to deploy in a variety of ways. The main reason why is because it integrates into the broader Hobolite ecosystem, with particular compatibility with the existing Hobolite Micro light.

A person wearing a blue shirt holds up a silver and black Fujifilm X-T50 camera with a large lens. In the foreground, the words "PetaPixel Hands-On" are displayed. The background is blurred, focusing attention on the camera.

Hands-On With The Fujifilm X-T50: An X-T5 Lite, or Something More?

Fujifilm is consistently updating its line of mirrorless cameras to make use of the latest film simulation modes and sensor technology. It is no surprise, then, that it has released a 40-megapixel version of its insanely popular X-T double-digit line to bring high resolution to an affordable platform: the X-T50.

A close-up shot of a Fujifilm GFX100S camera with a large lens resting on a rock, with a blurred background of trees and water. The PetaPixel logo and the words "Hands-On" are displayed in the top left corner. A person with a beard is looking at the camera.

Hands-On with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II: Medium Format for the Masses

The first Fujifilm GFX 100S had my favorite form factor of any GFX camera due to its take-anywhere size. I loved the smaller body design of the latest GFX 100 II, and of course all the improvements to autofocus and film simulation modes as well as an emphasis on faster shooting and video. But it was only a matter of time before the latest improvements transferred over to the GFX 100S line and the wait is now over.

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Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 V Review: Bright and Wide

Hasselblad has introduced a new 25mm prime lens to add to its already crowded wide-angle assortment. I've reviewed the 30mm f/3.5, and Hasselblad also has 28mm f/4 and 21mm f/4 lenses. However, this new wide prime splits the difference and has an even brighter f/2.5 aperture.

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Vivo V30 Pro Review: Among the Best Affordable Phones for Photography

The Vivo V30 Pro may be a mid-range smartphone, but with Zeiss in the mix, the camera takes a decisive step forward compared to its predecessors. Until now, Vivo reserved its collaboration with Zeiss for its X Series, but no longer. The Zeiss tech makes the more affordable V Series more interesting to photographers.

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Shure MV7+ Review: The Best Studio Mic for Most People

I've used a lot of different microphones over the past few years, but recent experience with Shure on The PetaPixel Podcast put its SM7db at the top of my tier list. Shure's new MV7+ doesn't quite unseat my number one favorite mic, but it comes darn close.

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Honor Magic 6 Pro Review: A Strong and Emerging Smartphone Contender

The Honor Magic 6 Pro is a quality smartphone with a camera array built to make the case that it has the goods to be among the best. Honor is a spinoff of Huawei, which let the brand go in 2021 in a bid to evade U.S. sanctions. Since then, Honor has carved out its own purpose and identity, including a current attempt to go public with an IPO.

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Fujifilm X100VI Review: Joy Masquerading as a Camera

It is highly unlikely that you have not heard of the Fujifilm X100VI. Similarly, you've probably seen some polarizing discourse around it. For some reason, it's seemingly only appropriate to love this camera or dunk on it. There is no in between.