The PetaPixel Photography Podcast

PetaPixel

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.

  1. 1D AGO

    Samsung's Phones Aren't Exciting... But Does That Matter?

    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 $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. 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 is joined by mobile expert Ted Kritsonis who shares his opinion on why Samsung might be afraid to take risks with its smartphone hardware and, more importantly, why it doesn't seem to matter how far behind Chinese brands its devices are. 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 w/ mobile specialist Ted Kritsonis11:10 - Apple finally replaced the Pro Display XDR and it's pretty good18:37 - Apple announced a new MacBook Pro Powered by M5 Max22:04 - Peak Design has a bunch of new travel bags and the 2-in-1 makes some necessary improvements30:25 - Jaron is using the new Shure MVX2U Gen 233:24 - Fujifilm introduced some new lens ideas42:12 - Yashica announced the Tank47:30 - Samsung's Phones Aren't Exciting... But Does That Matter?1:15:37 - What have you been up to?1:27:43 - Tech Support1:30:42 - Feel good story of the week

    1h 34m

  2. MAR 2

    What Is Going On With Canon's Very Weird, Surprise Camera?

    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 $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. 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 past week was a doozy in the world of photography, thanks to the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan, happening at the same time that Samsung announced a new smartphone and Xiaomi brought its 17 Ultra worldwide. But perhaps more interesting than any of it was the surprise appearance of a new prototype camera from Canon on the show floor: an SLR with a fixed, manual focus lens and a top-down, waist-level viewfinder. Oh, and it comes in two flavors. What is Canon thinking with this one? In This Episode:00:00 - Intro 08:11 - The Xiaomi 17 Ultra gets a lot right: TBD13:09 - How does Samsung's offering look? 20:01- You need a dongle to use iOS with Tamron Link23:40 - DJI is suing the FCC24:46 - Zeiss announced a 35mm Otus27:52 - Sigma has a new 35mm f/1.4 Art29:54 - Sigma supports APS-C with a 15mm f/1.431:38 - Sigma will make an 85mm f/1.235:08 - Sigma is a farming company now38:12 - Megadap adapter let you mount M to Canon RF with autofocus39:52- Nikon is 2/3 through with its updated trinity43:35 - Canon showcased a very unusual prototype camera54:48 - What have you been up to?1:00:28 - Tech Support1:09:12 - Feel good story of the week

    1h 11m

  3. FEB 19

    The World's BIGGEST Photo Show and Galaxy Unpacked Are Both Next Week

    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 $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. 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 Next week starts a string of important product launch windows. First up is Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, followed nearly immediately after by the CP+ show in Japan. But it doesn't end there, because the following week is Mobile World Congress. It's a busy time! 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 (happy lunar new year!)14:33 - Let's talk about the 14mm f/1.4L and astro16:25 - AI has made digital photography way more expensive22:40 - Ricoh gives all GR IV models the Monochrome's electronic shutter25:08 - Insta360 looks like it's about to go toe-to-toe with the Osmo Pocket30:09 - Ektachrome is now directly distributed by Eastman Kodak32:41 - "Scamera" company is the latest Micro Four Thirds member36:43 - The Biggest International photo show kicks off next week52:21 - Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is next week, too1:03:20 - What have you been up to?1:11:09 - Tech support1:32:54 - Feel Good story of the week

    1h 37m

  4. FEB 11

    Are Lenses ACTUALLY More Expensive Now?

    Tether Tools makes the entire tethering workflow easy. From cables to accessories, everything is designed to work together right out of the box. But they also make workstations. Their new AeroTrac is a compact, lightweight workstation you can customize with accessories for your specific workflow. Built for photographers, it works just as well for audio, video, and podcasting setups. Check it out at tethertools.com/aerotrac 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! 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 A few weeks ago, Jordan Drake challenged Chris Niccolls and Jaron Schneider's historical camera pricing knowledge with a test: are cameras actually more expensive now than they were 10 or more years ago? The answer was mostly no, but it got them thinking... was the same the case for lenses? em>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 - A very jetlagged intro14:52 - Despite Nikon's lawsuit, Viltrox says it isn't adjusting its product roadmap plans17:12 - OM System's new camera is an astro-focused OM-321:43 - Zeiss Aatma T1.5 primes are small, fast, and extremely expensive25:29 - Nikon posts huge losses27:59 - Fujifilm had record-high profits and Canon's camera business grew, too30:46 - Viltrox's first L-mount lens is the 16mm f/1.831:57 - Canon announced two new wide-angle lenses37:20 - Canon's new limited edition G7 X mark III looks great, but you'll probably never own one40:15 - Ricoh Pentax is releasing a limited edition camera strap made from recycled train seats42:59 - Are lenses actually more expensive now?1:03:50 - What have you been up to?1:08:30 - Check out the Exposure Festival in Calgary1:11:07 - Tech Support1:32:23 - Feel Good story of the week

    1h 37m

  5. JAN 28

    Nikon is Suing Viltrox

    We would like to thank this week's PetaPixel Podcast sponsor, OM SYSTEM. They have been a big supporter of PetaPixel over the years and we were lucky enough to recently get the chance to travel to Costa Rica with OM SYSTEM Ambassador and Master Bird Photographer Ben Knoot, and it was an amazing experience. You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel. Did Chris and Jordan’s journey to Costa Rica inspire you to capture your own travel moments? OM SYSTEM is running a street and travel photo contest right now. Grand Prize: OM-3 or OM-5 Camera Kit + WANDRD camera bag How to Enter:Post your best street or travel photo on Instagram (must be a NEW post)Use hashtag #TravelWithOMSYSTEMTag @omsystem.camerasComplete your entry hereDeadline: February 16th Winners Announced: March 2nd Enter the contest today! Last week, we found out that the Z-mount might not be quite as open as we previously thought because Nikon is suing Viltrox. While right now it could be as simple as seeking royalties for using the mount, it could also just as easily end up being a similar situation to Canon, who runs a closed mount. 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 Chris's favorite bird photos from Costa Rica)17:43 - Leica is reportedly considering a sale: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/26/leica-camera-considering-selling-a-majority-stake-for-1-2-billion-report/21:59 - TTArtisan chose a unique color scheme for this lens: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/23/this-might-be-the-ugliest-lens-ive-ever-seen/25:25 - Ektar and Tri-X join Kodak's line of directly distributed films: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/21/ektar-and-tri-x-are-now-being-distributed-directly-by-kodak/29:37 - Sony has a new global shutter, square sensor: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/19/sonys-newest-global-shutter-image-sensors-are-square-and-speedy/31:35 - Nikon ZR gets its first firmware update: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/26/nikon-zr-update-extends-max-recording-time-to-6-hours/37:28 - Nikon is Suing Viltrox: https://petapixel.com/2026/01/21/nikon-files-lawsuit-against-viltrox-in-china-over-z-mount-patent-report/57:27 - What have you been up to?1:01:55 - Tech support1:24:57 - Feel good stories of the week

    1h 28m

  6. JAN 20

    Are Cameras ACTUALLY More expensive now?

    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 $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. Join today! This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team is in New York City and spends time chatting in different hotel rooms together! The big topic that has been on everyone's mind lately is pricing, and the idea that photography has become too expensive. Jordan thought it might be worth checking to see if that's really the case, and quizzes Chris and Jaron on if modern cameras really are pricier than they were just a few 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 from New York City hotel rooms!10:08 - Evoto messed up big14:54 - The "Await" camera is trying to mimic the experience of film21:17 - The Sony a7 V is killing it in Japan24:30 - Thypoch's new lens is based on 1970s cinema optics27:59 - Let's talk one more time about the GR IV Monochrome's price34:39 - Are cameras actually more expensive now?57:35 - What have you been up to?1:03:50 - Tech support

    1h 31m

  7. JAN 14

    Chris REALLY Likes the Instax Mini Evo Cinema... but Sarah Isn't Sold

    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 $15 off the Moment Store, 5% off certified pre-owned gear from KEH, 25% off the PetaPixel Merch Store, and now can download full-resolution RAW files and JPEGs from the latest cameras and lenses. It costs just $3 per month or $30 per year. Join today: https://petapixel.com/members/ This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider are joined by Sarah Teng to talk about the Instax Mini Evo Cinema. And, in a weird bizzaro world twist, it's Chris who has to convince Sarah that it's great. She's not sold, but Chris absolutely loves this weirdo video/printer/instant camera hybrid. Also, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome finally has a price and release date, but it's a lot more expensive than the base model. Apple launched a new suite of creative apps called the Creator Studio, Adorama was literally giving X half cameras away, and you can get a GoPro-branded laptop for some reason. 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 Sarah Teng is back!12:11 - The Ricoh GR Monochrome costs $700 more than the base model16:32 - Fujifilm is releasing an all-white X half in China17:52 - Meanwhile, Adorama is literally giving X halfs away20:33 - Pentax isn't sure how to make the DSLR popular again26:43 - You can get a GoPro laptop, if you're into that30:56 - Nikon's 24-105mm f/4-7.1 is a new kit zoom for the Z5 II32:57 - The OM-D E-M10 Mark IV isn't being discontinued36:20 - Apple Creator Studio is the long-awaited competitor to Adobe Creative Cloud44:15 - Is the Mini Evo Cinema the best Instax camera ever?1:03:54 - What have you been up to?1:10:10 - Tech support1:16:28 - Feel good story of the week: Don't ever change, Radio Shack

    1h 21m

  8. 12/24/2025

    The Annual Airing of Grievances [Bonus Episode]

    Do you ever get tired of manually searching for, organizing, and culling your images? We do, too, and that’s where Excire can help! Excire’s photo-management software harnesses AI to make tedious tasks 10x faster, easier, and more fun. Thanks to Excire, you can easily get your images organized, stay on top of culling, and instantly find any photo in your catalog—so you can spend less time managing your images and more time doing what you love!  And since the AI runs locally on your computer, you’ll never have to worry about privacy or security. Best of all, Excire can be integrated seamlessly into your current workflow, either using the standalone image organizer, Excire Foto 2025, or the Lightroom Classic plugin, Excire Search 2026. To purchase an Excire lifetime license or to download a 14-day free trial, visit http://excire.com/en/shop/!  PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL. Surprise! The PetaPixel Podcast team got together one more time for the true Season 4 finale! Grab a glass of eggnog, don your Santa hats, and pull the pole out from the crawlspace, because it's time for the annual airing of grievances! 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 Episode00:00 - Intro (Your most vivid Christmas memory)13:53 - DJI drones have been banned in the US16:30 - Fujifilm to spend nearly $32 million expanding Instax film production20:18 - Benro's electronics Variable ND filter automatically adjusts its strength24:56 - Leica made major updates to the SL3 and Q3 series autofocus26:48 - All visual arts students worldwide can now join ASMP for free27:50 - Ricoh's GR IV HDF is coming soon and has a new electronic shutter31:56 - The Annual Airing of Grievances52:51 - What have you been up to?58:52 - Tech Support

    1h 32m
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
92 Ratings

About

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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