Articles by Matt Williams at PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/author/mattwilliams/ Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration Mon, 22 May 2023 19:52:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191656271 A Plea to Manufacturers: 12 Features All Cameras Desperately Need https://petapixel.com/2023/05/22/a-plea-to-manufacturers-12-features-all-cameras-desperately-need/ Mon, 22 May 2023 19:47:04 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=683715 Cameras Flying through space

Cameras all have a pretty solid set of features and design elements that appeal to a wide range of users. But, for the most part, pretty much all of them lack a set of features that would make them all a lot more powerful and enjoyable to use.

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Meyer Optik 35mm f/2.8 Trioplan II Review: Bokeh is Front and Center https://petapixel.com/2022/12/15/meyer-optik-35mm-f-2-8-trioplan-ii-review-bokeh-is-front-and-center/ Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:55:40 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=650745 Meyer Optik Görlitz 35mm f/2.8 Trioplan II Review

The Meyer Optik Görlitz 35mm f/2.8 Trioplan II is a unique lens that performs its best when the bokeh is specifically integrated into a shot and not just a coincidence of the defocus area. That means it's not for everyone, but it has its place.

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The Best 35mm Film in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-35mm-film/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 15:45:47 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=637525 Best 35mm Film

Film is back, and with its booming popularity, there are a lot of options to try. These are our top picks for the best 35mm film you can find today for a range of use cases.

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Panasonic GH6 Review: One of the Best Hybrid Cameras You Can Buy https://petapixel.com/2022/10/07/panasonic-gh6-review-one-of-the-best-hybrid-cameras-you-can-buy/ Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:04:26 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=633542 Panasonic GH6 Review

I've been using the Panasonic GH6 for a few months so we could provide a long-term review for what was once a hotly-anticipated successor to the very popular GH5.

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Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 APO Review: Excellent Lens with a Caveat https://petapixel.com/2022/08/09/laowa-argus-25mm-apo-review/ Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:50:20 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=618492 Laowa Argus 25mm Review

Venus Optics has introduced yet another unique lens to the market: the Laowa Argus 25mm f/0.95 APO for Micro Four Thirds. As a long-time user of the Micro Four Thirds system, I jumped at the opportunity to test drive this lens after I heard “0.95” and “APO” in the same sentence.

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Best Disposable Cameras in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-disposable-cameras/ Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:42:03 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=620578

Once a staple of photography for the general populace, disposable (or “single-use”) cameras have become something of a niche -- most people who never stopped shooting film or those younger audiences who are coming to it for the first time choose to use an affordable SLR or point and shoot camera. The image quality is quite superior and a single roll of film is less expensive (though typically not by much) than a disposable camera.

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The Best Plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-plugins-photoshop-lightroom/ Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:35:31 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=570110 best lightroom and photoshop plugins

Photoshop and Lightroom are mainstays in most photographers’ workflows for a reason. While other options abound, no other set of programs matches the popularity and widespread adoption of Adobe’s signature photography software. But while Photoshop’s manipulation capabilities and Lightroom’s processing and editing power are certainly robust, both offer even more power beyond the software itself in the form of plugins.

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A Complete Guide to Memory Cards https://petapixel.com/memory-cards/ Wed, 27 Apr 2022 20:53:29 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=595652 Memory Cards

If you’re a photographer, you’re likely familiar with memory cards. They’re what our photographs are stored on -- removable flash media that we insert into a slot (or slots) in our camera, take photos, and then (sometimes) remove and insert into a card reader or card slot on our computer.

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OM Digital OM-1 Review: The Best Micro Four Thirds Camera Ever Made https://petapixel.com/2022/03/29/om-digital-om-1-review-the-best-micro-four-thirds-camera-ever-made/ Tue, 29 Mar 2022 16:16:47 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=591042 OM Digital OM System OM-1 Review

I’ve been an Olympus and Micro Four Thirds user since I purchased a used E-M5 in 2016. I love Olympus, and like many others was sad to hear the news when the company’s photo division came to an end. There was a lot of speculation and anxiety over what JIP would do with the business, but the rebranding to OM Digital encouraged confidence. Since then, I have eagerly awaited the new company’s first camera. And now we have it: the OM System OM-1.

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10 Best Camera Straps in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-camera-straps/ Mon, 07 Feb 2022 17:46:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=581228

We can spend hours poring over buying guides and recommendations for the fanciest, most expensive pieces of kit to complete our bag as photographers, but in all that excitement, there is one crucial piece of our arsenal that can be overlooked. It hardly qualifies as a bell or a whistle and no one will drool with envy at the sight of it, but it is absolutely one of the most important purchases you will make: the camera strap.

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10 Vintage Lenses That Work Great on Mirrorless Cameras https://petapixel.com/best-vintage-lenses-mirrorless-cameras/ Fri, 04 Feb 2022 18:16:30 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=580535

Vintage lenses are more popular than ever, thanks in large part to the mirrorless revolution as well as affordable, high-quality cinema and hybrid video cameras. These lenses are regularly “cine modded” for video use due to their unique character and less clinical rendering, (sometimes) affordable prices compared to cine lenses, helicoid-driven focus with hard stops, and physical aperture rings (which are often de-clicked).

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The Best Instant Cameras in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-instant-cameras/ Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:41:47 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=580512

While visiting a friend recently, I noted that his teenage daughter’s walls were lined with Polaroids of her and her friends. I expressed some surprise and inquired about what got her interested in instant photography. She tilted her head and smirked at the question, and I soon understood why. The term “instant photography” struck her as curiously redundant.

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The Best Cameras for Beginners in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-cameras-for-beginners/ Sat, 29 Jan 2022 17:22:46 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=580187

Looking to get started in photography but feel overwhelmed at the huge number of different camera models on the market? The daunting feeling can be an obstacle as you try to dive headfirst into the art form, but you have come to the right place: we have selected the best cameras for beginners looking to dip their toes in photography without breaking the bank or getting in over their heads.

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The Best Medium Format Film Cameras to Buy in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-medium-format-film-cameras/ Sat, 22 Jan 2022 17:03:38 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=578572

The past decade has seen an explosion of film users. Whether this is driven by a sense of nostalgia, or a desire to experience the past (for those too young to have shot film earlier in their life), for the simplicity, or perhaps because some celebrities have taken to shooting film, it doesn’t really matter. The reality is likely a combination of many factors.

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The Best Used Digital Cameras to Buy in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-used-digital-cameras-to-buy/ Wed, 19 Jan 2022 19:22:46 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=577544 The Best Used Digital Cameras

While there are many advantages to buying a brand new camera -- including a manufacturer warranty and, well, the fact that it’s never been used by anyone else -- there are likewise a plethora of reasons to buy cameras on the used market.

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Why the 1-Inch Camera Sensor is a Myth https://petapixel.com/why-1-inch-camera-sensor-is-myth/ Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:47:27 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=578370 A 1-inch sensor is not actually 1-inch in size

It is very common to hear the term "1-inch sensor" and based on the name, it would be natural to assume that at least part of it is 1-inch in size. Except that's not the case.

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The Best Photo Sharing Sites in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-photo-sharing-sites/ Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:49:52 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=577925 Best Sites to Share Photos

We exist in a constantly churning sea of content: there were 1.4 trillion photos taken in 2021 and an estimated 1.6 trillion shutter buttons will be pressed this year. With so many taken, where is the best place to share photos?

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Leica M11 Initial Review: It Could Actually Be Your Primary Camera https://petapixel.com/2022/01/13/leica-m11-first-impressions-review/ Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:00:52 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=577209 Leica M11 First Impressions Review

Leica has finally officially revealed the M11 Rangefinder, letting us finally put all the rumors of what we may or may not expect to rest. Now that it's here, what has five years of development given us?

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The Best 35mm Film Cameras to Buy in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-35mm-film-cameras/ Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:33:04 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=575488 Best 35mm film cameras to buy

Film has experienced a bit of a resurgence in the past decade and we've seen a proliferation of never-before-made film stocks and even brought some back from the dead. But if you want to get started in film photography now, you'll need a camera. So where should you start?

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The Best Lenses for APS-C Cameras in 2023 https://petapixel.com/best-lenses-aps-c-cameras/ Mon, 10 Jan 2022 15:25:32 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=535358

While full-frame has received the most attention from camera manufacturers in recent years, there are plenty of great reasons to purchase smaller format sensors like APS-C. These systems can be cheaper, smaller, lighter, and offer greater reach over their full-frame counterparts.

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