Reviews | PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/topic/reviews/ Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:26:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191656271 Xencelabs Pen Display 16″ Review: Pro Tablet Made for Traveling Creatives https://petapixel.com/2024/07/01/xencelabs-pen-display-16-review-pro-tablet-made-for-traveling-creatives/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:26:33 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=748599 A laptop and a tablet displaying photo editing software are placed on a wooden desk. A man’s portrait is on the laptop screen, while a woman’s portrait is on the tablet screen. Above, the text reads "PetaPixel Reviews." A pair of editing gloves and a control deck are on the desk.

Just last month, Xencelabs announced a new "industry first" $1,249 4K OLED Pen Display targeted at professional digital creatives requiring quality and portability. The tablet has compelling features and big ambitions. Can it live up to these lofty goals?

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Reviewing Every Fujifilm X100 Camera Ever Made https://petapixel.com/2024/06/27/reviewing-every-fujifilm-x100-ever-made/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:01:30 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=748337 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.

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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Leica LUX Review: Ambitious App Not Yet Worthy of the Leica Name https://petapixel.com/2024/06/25/leica-lux-review-ambitious-app-not-yet-worthy-of-the-leica-name/ Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:00:34 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=748339 A smartphone mounted on a tripod, displaying a camera app interface with various settings visible. The phone screen shows a clear outdoor scene of a sidewalk, street, and trees in the background. "PetaPixel Reviews" text is overlayed at the bottom of the image.

A couple of weeks ago, Leica announced the Leica LUX camera app, the legendary German company’s first smartphone app for taking photos. While the company has produced its FOTOS app for many years, this is its first dedicated to smartphone photography.

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Google Pixel 8a Review: Saving Dollars for Pixels https://petapixel.com/2024/06/24/google-pixel-8a-review-saving-dollars-for-pixels/ Mon, 24 Jun 2024 19:00:56 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=748243 Close-up of a blue smartphone with a minimalist design showing its back camera on a white surface. There is a "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the top right corner.

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.

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Dockcase Studio Smart Hub Review: Eight Ports in One Small Dock https://petapixel.com/2024/06/20/dockcase-studio-smart-hub-review-eight-ports-in-one-small-dock/ Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:57:57 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=747279 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.

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.

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Final Cut Camera and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 Review (2024): Easy Multicam For Everyone? https://petapixel.com/2024/06/20/final-cut-camera-and-final-cut-pro-for-ipad-2-review-2024-easy-multicam-for-everyone/ Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:00:25 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=747699 A tablet screen displays a video call with four men engaged in a discussion, each in their own quadrant. Visible behind the tablet are various electronic devices and cables. A "PetaPixel Reviews" logo is visible in the bottom right corner of the image.

The iPad is quickly becoming a more viable tool for creators to use as their main workflow solution. The recent introduction of Final Cut Pro for iPad has been a big part of the improvement to making the iPad more useful for my own work. Now, Apple released a new version, along with Final Cut Camera for iPhone, which brings some thoughtful enhancements to the table.

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Pentax 17 Review: A Brand-New Film Experience Worth Having https://petapixel.com/2024/06/17/pentax-17-review-a-brand-new-film-experience-worth-having/ Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:25:16 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=747107 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.

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.

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Nikon Z6 III Initial Review: A Middleweight Fighter With Heavyweight Dreams https://petapixel.com/2024/06/17/nikon-z6-iii-initial-review-a-middleweight-fighter-with-heavyweight-dreams/ Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:01:41 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=746845 Two men are standing outdoors near a flowing stream, and one of them is pointing at a camera placed on a stone surface. The overlay text reads "PetaPixel Hands-On." Both men are wearing jackets, and greenery is visible in the background.

Nikon's Z6 III brings a lot of technologies to the table and packages them into a camera that seems purpose-built to win the $2,500, mid-range, full-frame camera fight. It may be priced to compete with the middle of the camera pack, but it's swinging punches like a flagship.

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Just How Good Are the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.0 and 40mm f/1.2? https://petapixel.com/2024/06/15/just-how-good-are-the-voigtlander-nokton-50mm-f-1-0-and-40mm-f-1-2/ Sat, 15 Jun 2024 14:01:53 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=746671 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.

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.

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Panasonic Lumix GH7 Initial Review: Sensor Size is the Only Compromise https://petapixel.com/2024/06/05/panasonic-lumix-gh7-initial-review-sensor-size-is-the-only-compromise/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 21:01:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=745541 A man is looking through the viewfinder of a Panasonic GH7 camera pointed towards the sky. The background features a vivid blue sky with scattered clouds. The text "PetaPixel Hands-On" is displayed in the lower-left corner of the image.

The Panasonic GH series has always been some of the best hybrid cameras ever made, and the new Lumix GH7 brings the best features of the GH6 and last year's G9 II together in a single body. It's basically a perfect camera for me as the sensor size is the only thing I consider a compromise.

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Maingear MG-1 Ultimate Review: The Most Powerful PC We’ve Ever Tested https://petapixel.com/2024/06/03/maingear-mg-1-ultimate-review-the-most-powerful-pc-weve-ever-tested/ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:12:44 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=745192 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 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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Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art Review: Limited Zoom, Maximum Light https://petapixel.com/2024/06/03/sigma-28-45mm-f-1-8-dg-dn-art-review-limited-zoom-maximum-light/ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:01:33 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=745119 A person with a beard and gray hair smiles while holding a Sony camera with a large lens. The background features colorful geometric shapes, and there is a "PetaPixel Reviews" label in the lower left corner of the image.

Sigma introduced the world's first full-frame, mirrorless, f/1.8 lens: the 28-45mm f/1.8 Art. But if no one has ever made a lens like this before, do we even need it? Let's look at the facts with this rather odd entry and see if it's a hidden gem or a mad science experiment.

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Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.7 XF Review: Fantastic Images at a Budget Price https://petapixel.com/2024/05/29/viltrox-af-56mm-f-1-7-xf-review-fantastic-images-at-a-budget-price/ Wed, 29 May 2024 18:39:07 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=741249 A black camera lens sits on a rock surrounded by vibrant purple flowers and green foliage. In the top right corner of the image, the PetaPixel logo is displayed alongside the word "Reviews" on a blue background.

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.

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Fujinon GF 500mm f/5.6 LM WR OIS Review: Medium Format Wildlife? Yup. https://petapixel.com/2024/05/28/fujinon-gf-500mm-f-5-6-lm-wr-ois-review-medium-format-wildlife-no-joke/ Tue, 28 May 2024 14:01:20 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=743563 A person with gray hair and a beard is looking through the viewfinder of a camera with a large Fujinon lens. The setting appears to be outdoors with green foliage in the background. The image includes the text "PetaPixel Reviews" in the bottom left corner.

"Medium Format cameras can’t shoot sports, action, and wildlife," they said. Well, maybe now they can.

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Panasonic Lumix S9 Initial Review: Small, Pretty, and Confusing https://petapixel.com/2024/05/22/panasonic-s9-initial-review-small-pretty-and-confusing/ Wed, 22 May 2024 14:01:12 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=743412 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.

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 https://petapixel.com/2024/05/21/fujifilm-xf-16-50mm-f-2-8-4-8-review-a-lot-to-live-up-to/ Tue, 21 May 2024 14:26:55 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=741677 A person with a beard and mustache enthusiastically gestures towards a DSLR camera set on a rock. The background features a forest scene. There is a "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the bottom left corner of the image.

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.

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Hobolite Iris Review: A Shining Example of Pocket-Sized Lighting https://petapixel.com/2024/05/17/hobolite-iris-review-a-shining-example-of-pocket-sized-lighting/ Fri, 17 May 2024 21:07:02 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=742997 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.

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.

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I’m Shocked at How Good the Nano-Texture Glass is on the New iPad Pro https://petapixel.com/2024/05/17/im-shocked-at-how-good-the-nano-texture-glass-is-on-the-new-ipad-pro/ Fri, 17 May 2024 15:58:00 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=742835 A tablet with a keyboard is shown on a wooden surface. The screen displays a colorful aurora image. A light pen rests on top of the tablet, and glowing light trails in green and white swirl around the tablet, creating a dynamic visual effect.

PetaPixel editor-in-chief Jaron Schneider got his hands on the new M4-powered iPad Pro already, and is actively putting it through its paces for a comprehensive review. My iPad Pro arrived last night, and I opted for Apple's "Nano-texture" glass option. So far, it is much better than I expected.

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The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II Has G Master Quality for Half the Price https://petapixel.com/2024/05/16/the-sigma-24-70mm-f-2-8-dg-dn-art-ii-first-impressions-review-has-g-master-quality-for-half-the-price/ Thu, 16 May 2024 12:01:04 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=742067 A man holding a professional camera with a large lens is standing in front of a waterfall. He is wearing a dark jacket, and there is a "PetaPixel Hands-On" graphic at the bottom left corner of the image.

Sigma updated its 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art with a new body design, a new autofocus motor, and a reworked optical formula to make it lighter, smaller, faster, and sharper. That's the promise, anyway, but is it true?

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Hands-On With The Fujifilm X-T50: An X-T5 Lite, or Something More? https://petapixel.com/2024/05/15/hands-on-with-the-fujifilm-x-t50-an-x-t5-lite-or-something-more/ Thu, 16 May 2024 06:01:15 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=741678 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.

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.

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