Reviews | PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/topic/reviews/ Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration Mon, 22 May 2023 16:58:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191656271 Tokina 11-18mm f/2.8 ATX-M Review: Strong Optics, Delicate Lens https://petapixel.com/2023/05/22/tokina-11-18mm-f-2-8-atx-m-review-strong-optics-delicate-lens/ Mon, 22 May 2023 16:58:13 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=683697 Tokina 11-18mm f:2.8 ATX-M Review

Wide-angle zoom lenses with fast apertures are few and far between when it comes to Sony APS-C cameras. The Tokina 11-18mm f/2.8 ATX-M takes its shot in this overlooked class.

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Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Nightscape and Astrophotography Review https://petapixel.com/2023/05/19/nikon-z-17-28mm-f-2-8-nightscape-and-astrophotography-review/ Fri, 19 May 2023 20:25:33 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=683518 Nikon Z Mount 17-28mm f/2.8

Last September, Nikon released the Z mount 17-28mm f/2.8 lens. Immediately, two specifications piqued my interest when it came to how this lens would perform with astrophotography and nightscapes: it was a wide-angle lens and also fast at f/2.8.

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Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Lens Review: Good Things Come in Small Packages https://petapixel.com/2023/05/16/sigma-17mm-f-4-dg-dn-lens-review-good-things-come-in-small-packages/ Tue, 16 May 2023 13:59:51 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=682397 Sigma 17mm f/4 Contemporary Review

There just aren't a lot of ultra-wide full-frame prime lenses to choose from. There are plenty of zoom lenses to choose from, however, compact dedicated ultra-wides are in short supply. Cue Sigma to save the day with its brand new Contemporary series 17mm lens. But is this the hero we were looking for?

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Sony ZV-E1 vs Panasonic S5 IIX: Two Cameras for Totally Different Creators https://petapixel.com/2023/05/13/sony-zv-e1-vs-panasonic-s5-iix-two-cameras-for-totally-different-creators/ Sat, 13 May 2023 13:59:03 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=682099

Arriving in stores only weeks apart and at the same price, the Panasonic S5 IIX and Sony ZV-E1 are full frame, video optimized cameras designed for creators. Obviously, I had no choice but to compare them!

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Insta360 X3 New Firmware Hands-On: Better Photos, Bigger Toolkit https://petapixel.com/2023/05/12/insta360-x3-new-firmware-hands-on-better-photos-bigger-toolkit/ Fri, 12 May 2023 19:36:06 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=682236 Insta360 X3

The Insta360 X3 recently improved after the company released a free firmware update that adds mobile-to-desktop reframe data syncing, turns the 360-degree camera into a simple plug-and-play webcam, and enhanced PureShot image quality.

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Haukland Parka Pro Jacket Review: Outrageously Warm, Overkill for Most https://petapixel.com/2023/05/12/haukland-parka-pro-jacket-review-outrageously-warm-overkill-for-most/ Fri, 12 May 2023 16:43:56 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=682040 Haukland Parka Pro Jacket Review

Adventure or travel photographers will sometimes find themselves in rather extreme environments. Alaska, Iceland, Antarctica, or even Yellowstone National Park in the winter can be very cold. So, does Haukland's Parka Pro Photography Jacket successfully combat low temps and wet weather?

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Nikon Z8 Hands-On: This Apple Didn’t Fall Far From the Z9 Tree https://petapixel.com/2023/05/10/nikon-z8-hands-on-this-apple-didnt-fall-far-from-the-z9-tree/ Wed, 10 May 2023 12:00:28 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=681165

As a parent, you hope that your children will emulate your best traits, but also blaze new trails and achieve greatness beyond their own. You hope that lessons will be learned from your own mistakes and that your weaknesses will not be theirs. Is the Nikon Z9 a proud parent?

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The Best Photography Print Labs in 2023 https://petapixel.com/2023/05/06/the-best-photography-print-labs-in-2023/ Sat, 06 May 2023 16:43:41 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=680929

One of the most frequently asked sets of questions I receive from other photographers is: What print lab do you use? Which online photo printing service is the best quality? Who prints the best quality photos?

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Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2: Trash or Treasure? A Little Bit of Both https://petapixel.com/2023/05/06/laowa-argus-28mm-f-1-2-trash-or-treasure-a-little-bit-of-both/ Sat, 06 May 2023 14:00:34 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=680502

When I reviewed the Laowa Argus 35mm f/0.95 I was struck by how bad it was, but also how good it could be. Normally, I rate a lens based on how well it handles flare, how sharp it is, and how well it controls chromatic aberrations. Going by the above criteria, the Argus should have failed spectacularly.

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Nikon Zfc Review: Lots of Style But Lacking in Substance https://petapixel.com/2023/05/03/nikon-zfc-review-lots-of-style-but-lacking-in-substance/ Wed, 03 May 2023 21:32:40 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=658320 Nikon Zfc Review

The Nikon Zfc is a crop sensor mirrorless digital camera designed to replicate the classic Nikon FM2 Film camera, often considered one of the best 35mm film cameras of all time. While the system looks amazing and definitely brings a huge hit of nostalgia, does it live up to that legacy?

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Pentax 100mm f/2.8 Macro Review: Great Quality in an Outdated Package https://petapixel.com/2023/05/01/pentax-100mm-f-2-8-macro-review-great-quality-in-an-outdated-package/ Mon, 01 May 2023 17:10:49 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=664430 Pentax 100mm macro review

When it comes to macro photography, having the right lens is critical for achieving the best possible images. As such, the updated $547 HD D FA Macro 100mm F/2.8 ED AW from Pentax brings a refreshed optical formula optimized to work better with larger megapixel DSLR's but, sadly, not much else.

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Leica M11 Monochrom Review: Worth it? The Answer Isn’t Black and White https://petapixel.com/2023/05/01/leica-m11-monochrom-review-worth-it-but-the-answer-isnt-black-or-white/ Mon, 01 May 2023 14:00:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=679192 Leica M11 Monochrom Review

Check out our first YouTube video with Chris and Jordan, and the full written review!

Every time I review a Leica digital rangefinder, the major argument against buying one becomes a matter of price versus practicality. How can I recommend a camera that is neither affordable nor versatile?

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Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro Review: Power To The People https://petapixel.com/2023/04/28/jackery-solar-generator-1500-pro-review-power-to-the-people/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:04:26 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=677263 Jackery Solar Generator

The Jackery booth at the Consumer Electronics Show was attention-grabbing, with solar panels and battery power systems laid out in various outdoor dioramas. Each setup was designed to highlight Jackery’s Portable Power System and its Solar Generator line.

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Insta360 Flow Review: Great Promise, Big Hype, Major Problems https://petapixel.com/2023/04/25/insta360-flow-review-great-promise-big-hype-practically-unusable/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:06:59 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=677557

The Insta360 Flow is a gimbal for smartphones that, on paper, looks like the perfect solution for vlogging, YouTube creators, and social media influencers. The Insta360 Flow’s promise is artificial intelligence (AI) tracking in a compact gimbal that can be folded and taken anywhere.

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Wide-Eyed with the Carl Zeiss 16mm f/8 Hologon https://petapixel.com/2023/04/22/wide-eyed-with-the-carl-zeiss-16mm-f-8-hologon/ Sat, 22 Apr 2023 15:14:21 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=678370

Dramatic, restrictive, and humbling are three words I'd use to describe the Carl Zeiss 16mm f/8 Hologon Ultra-wide lens that I shoot adapted to Leica M film cameras.

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Hands-on with the Cyber Acoustics CA Essential Webcam Flex: A New Angle https://petapixel.com/2023/04/21/hands-on-with-the-cyber-acoustics-ca-essential-webcam-flex-a-new-angle/ Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:01:42 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=678111 Cyber Acoustics CA Essential Webcam Flex

When you set up a webcam, you usually park it in one ideal spot and leave it. The Cyber Acoustics CA Essential Webcam Flex looks to change that by changing all the angles.

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OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock Review: Yeah, It’s Pretty Great https://petapixel.com/2023/04/20/owc-thunderbolt-go-dock-review-yeah-its-pretty-great/ Thu, 20 Apr 2023 21:06:33 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=672876 OWC Thunderbolt Go

OWC’s Thunderbolt Go Dock not only solves the problem of ports and connectivity but also provides a go-anywhere solution that creatives can use daily on their desktop or when traveling.

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Loupedeck CT Review: A Dialed-In Creative Editing Superstar https://petapixel.com/2023/04/14/loupedeck-ct-review-a-dialed-in-creative-editing-superstar/ Fri, 14 Apr 2023 19:27:48 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=676596

External editing keyboards and decks are huge time savers. Move the critical features of an editing or creative tool to a compact editing surface, and workflow productivity climbs.

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Hands-On with the Leica M11 Monochrom: An Artist’s Camera https://petapixel.com/2023/04/13/hands-on-with-the-leica-m11-monochrom-an-artists-camera/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:37:26 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=676368 Leica M11 Monochrom

Somehow, 2023 has turned into quite the year for monochrome cameras. Leica, though, is no stranger to the format and the M11 Monochrom is just the latest in a series of excellent additions to the space.

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Xencelabs Pen Display 24 Review: Putting Wacom on Notice https://petapixel.com/2023/04/12/xencelabs-pen-display-24-review-putting-wacom-on-notice/ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:59:54 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=675254 Xencelabs Pen tablet review

At this point in the "Tablet Debate", the argument about who makes the best tablets for photographers will shift back and forth between Xencelabs and Wacom depending on who you talk too and what deep-down preferences they have. While Wacom may have reigned supreme for a very long time, it's hard to deny that with the launch of the $1,899 Pen Display 24 Studio Series, Xencelabs has officially given Wacom a reason to worry.

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