Reviews | PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/topic/reviews/ Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration Sat, 20 Dec 2025 01:05:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191656271 Kodak Charmera Review: Reto Makes a Retro Redo https://petapixel.com/2025/12/20/kodak-charmera-review-reto-makes-a-retro-redo/ Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:00:20 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=831970 A smiling man holds a tiny red Kodak camera up to his eye as if taking a photo. The image includes "PetaPixel Reviews" text in the bottom left corner.

It’s the holiday season, and Reto has come up with the perfect Christmas present for photographers. The new Kodak Charmera is a tiny keychain-sized camera that uses licensed Kodak designs and logos to incredibly popular effect. The Charmera is true to its name and is a marketing masterpiece that is almost impossible to get now. I wanted to find out if this toy camera is worth all the hype, and whether it is worth purchasing after the holiday season.

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DJI’s Osmo Action 5 Pro Is the Best Underwater BTS Camera of 2025 https://petapixel.com/2025/12/15/djis-osmo-action-5-pro-is-the-best-underwater-bts-camera-of-2025/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:11:38 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=831007 A large underwater camera housing with a dome port and attached small action camera rests on a wooden bench, with a blue and yellow boat structure in the background. A person is reflected in the dome port.

BTS -- or "behind the scenes" -- footage has become an essential part of how I tell stories; not just for social media, but for documenting the reality of underwater work. When it comes to shooting underwater, there are a ton of factors to think about — from managing your buoyancy and checking the settings on your camera housing, to being aware of your surroundings and controlling your breathing. The last thing I want to spend time worrying about, then, is how I’m going to capture behind-the-scenes content at the same time.

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K&F Concept’s Popod 3-in-1 Tripod and Selfie Stick Transforms Mobile Creation https://petapixel.com/2025/12/14/kf-concepts-popod-3-in-1-tripod-and-selfie-stick-transforms-mobile-creation/ Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:00:46 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=828182 A smartphone mounted on a compact, extended tripod stands on a concrete surface outdoors. Next to it is the tripod's packaging box. In the background, leafy greenery and a "PetaPixel Showcase" banner are visible.

K&F CONCEPT has expanded its lineup of photography accessories with the Popod 72" Phone Tripod, a 3-in-1 magnetic tripod and selfie stick designed for mobile creators. With a snap-open design, adjustable tripod head, Bluetooth remote, and support for 1/4" screw-mounted accessories, the Popod aims to simplify content creation for solo shooters and small-scale creators.

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We Applaud the Effort but the 7Artisans Floral Bloom Lens Is Awful https://petapixel.com/2025/12/11/we-applaud-the-effort-but-the-7artisans-floral-bloom-lens-is-awful/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:22:45 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=830477 A person adjusts the purple focus ring on a LUMIX camera with an external microphone attached, outdoors on a sunny day.

Earlier this year, 7Artisans announced the Floral Bloom Art Cine Lens series, with the first being a 37mm T2.9 for PL mount only. It sounded interesting, so we agreed to check it out. We appreciate the effort and applaud the company for trying something new, but unfortunately, this lens is terrible.

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Camp Snap CS-Pro Review: Slightly More Tolerable https://petapixel.com/2025/12/11/camp-snap-cs-pro-review-slightly-more-tolerable/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:01:20 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=830197 Close-up of a silver and black camera labeled "Camp Snap Pro," with a logo in the corner reading "PetaPixel Reviews." The focus is on the camera's branding and textured surface.

Everyone wants a point-and-shoot digital camera. There is something to be said for having a compact, simple, fun, pocket camera that you can take photos with, just for the pure joy of it. Memories to be made, without having to know the exposure triangle, or shoot RAW photo formats and edit later. But not everyone wants a used hand-me-down that may or may not function properly, and Camp Snap is hedging its bets that some consumers out there want a fresh start.

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Sigma Aizu Primes Review: Breathtaking Falloff and Flare https://petapixel.com/2025/12/04/sigma-aizu-primes-review-breathtaking-falloff-and-flare/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:48:12 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=829187 Three black camera lenses are arranged side by side on a grid-patterned surface, with “Petapixel Reviews” and “Editors' Choice” badges displayed in the image corners.

It’s felt like a long six months since Sigma first announced the Aizu Primes (which cost $8,300 each), the company's new series of full-frame compatible T1.3 cinema lenses. Currently available focal lengths include 25mm, 27mm, 32mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, and 75mm. Fortunately, after shooting several projects with them while traveling, I finally have a trio of them at home to do some controlled testing.

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Sony a7 V Review: Don’t Call It a Comeback https://petapixel.com/2025/12/02/sony-a7-v-review-dont-call-it-a-comeback/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:01:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=828305 A Sony Alpha 7 camera body is displayed on a gray grid surface. "PetaPixel Reviews" and "Editors’ Choice" banners appear on the image, indicating a positive camera review.

Canon recently made a huge stir with its excellent do-it-all R6 III and for a while, it looked like the year was going to end with a big win for Canon. But with the Sony a7 V coming seemingly out of nowhere, we have a serious contender for the best all-round camera on the market.

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Oppo Find X9 Pro Review: This Phone Rocks for Photography https://petapixel.com/2025/12/01/oppo-find-x9-pro-review-this-phone-rocks-for-photography/ Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:57:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=828565 Close-up of a person holding an Oppo smartphone with an attached camera lens, preparing to take a photo. The Petapixel Reviews logo appears in the bottom right corner.

Come in for the camera but stick around for the battery life. That’s one way to sum up the Oppo Find X9 Pro, a flagship smartphone that makes a strong case for being one of the top three in the world. And with a global version available, this is the kind of device that makes you think about how much you’ve been missing from the average flagship in North America.

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Camp Snap 8 (CS-8) Review: Pretty But Preposterous https://petapixel.com/2025/11/29/camp-snap-8-cs-8-review-pretty-but-preposterous/ Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:01:05 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=828413 A vintage Canon Snap 8 video camera is displayed on a stand against a light wooden background, with the Petapixel Reviews logo overlaid in the bottom right corner.

The original Camp Snap camera was released a while back and became an unexpected hit. This digital camera was extremely limited and lacked an LCD screen in an attempt to bring the fun back to photography. Now Camp Snap is bringing this philosophy into the world of video with the Camp Snap 8 (CS-8), a video camera with no LCD, no playback, and only an EVF for framing.

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DJI Osmo Mobile 8 Review: A Smart, Well-Rounded Smartphone Gimbal https://petapixel.com/2025/11/28/dji-osmo-mobile-8-review-a-smart-well-rounded-smartphone-gimbal/ Fri, 28 Nov 2025 19:19:15 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=828362 A person sits at a desk with a smartphone mounted on a gimbal, recording a video call. A monitor and the Petapixel Reviews logo are visible in the foreground.

This is DJI’s second gimbal within 12 months, following the Osmo Mobile 7P, and it can be viewed as something of a correction. That’s not to denigrate the OM7P, which remains a very capable gimbal unto itself, but the $159 Osmo Mobile 8 addresses numerous shortcomings of its predecessor.

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Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM Review: Affordable and Usable Wide Aperture https://petapixel.com/2025/11/27/canon-rf-45mm-f-1-2-stm-review-affordable-and-usable-wide-aperture/ Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:01:10 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=827961 A close-up of a camera lens positioned on its side, with the aperture blades visible. The background features a textured metallic surface and a grid-patterned surface beneath the lens. "PetaPixel Reviews" is overlaid on the bottom left.

In a photo industry of ever-increasing prices, it's refreshing to see optics that supply exceptional value for the dollar. The new Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM made the entire industry double-take upon seeing an f/1.2 optic for only $479. Surely, there must be a catch, so I took the handy little 45mm to a local Christmas market to explore the myriad lights using an extremely shallow depth of field lens.

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‘The Stringer’ on Netflix Review: Nobody Is Going to Believe Nick Ut Took ‘Napalm Girl’ Now https://petapixel.com/2025/11/25/the-stringer-on-netflix-review-nobody-is-going-to-believe-nick-ut-took-napalm-girl-now/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:59:31 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=827521 A digital collage shows a man with a camera, elderly people reviewing materials, a misty landscape, and the Netflix logo. The "PetaPixel Reviews" logo is at the bottom left. The overall tone is blue-green with layered images.

The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo, which lands on Netflix this week, opens with a line implying Nick Ut is a liar: "What you do know is what you didn’t take." But is that really true? I've always thought the inverse makes more sense.

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Leica Q3 Monochrom Review: Q3 is Back in Black (and White) https://petapixel.com/2025/11/20/leica-q3-monochrom-review-q3-is-back-in-black-and-white/ Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:01:06 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=826640 A Leica digital camera with a large lens is displayed on a surface, in front of a geometric black-and-white background. The image includes "PetaPixel Reviews" text in the lower left corner.

Leica is by far the leading company to create monochromatic versions of its most popular camera models, and that is because, love it or hate it, black and white exclusive cameras sell really well. Now the Leica Q3 gets the Monochrom treatment that we've seen in the recent Q2 and M11 models. It comes with a higher price at $7,790 and the limitation of only shooting monochromatic images, but it also comes with some image quality improvements.

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OnePlus 15 Review: Camera Conundrum https://petapixel.com/2025/11/18/oneplus-15-review-camera-conundrum/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:39:38 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=826413 A close-up of a OnePlus smartphone’s rear camera module against a warm, blurred background, with "PetaPixel Reviews" text in a blue and white banner in the lower-right corner.

As a Chinese brand, OnePlus skips the number 14 for cultural reasons, though after using the OnePlus 15 and its camera, I’m more likely to suggest the previous model was the lucky one. As a phone, the device is very impressive thanks to its outstanding battery life, gaming features, and superb software experience. Yet, as a camera system, it presents results that don’t feel like a worthy successor.

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Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 Review: Travel Light https://petapixel.com/2025/11/13/tamron-25-200mm-f-2-8-5-6-di-iii-vxd-g2-review-travel-light/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:14:41 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=825328 A camera lens rests on its side next to a lens cap, with a Petapixel Reviews logo in the corner and a grid-patterned background.

Tamron has a long and illustrious history of making travel-zoom lenses with massive focal ranges. These lenses provide a maximum amount of convenience, but how much of a compromise needs to be sacrificed to make this all possible? The new $900 Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di VXD G2 is set to make a mark on the travel-zoom industry.

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Videographers Might Have to Worry About the Canon R6 Mark III Overheating https://petapixel.com/2025/11/07/videographers-might-have-to-worry-about-the-canon-r6-mark-iii-overheating/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:54:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=824567 A Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera is shown without a lens, set against a dramatic red and orange smoky background.

In PetaPixel's review of the new Canon R6 Mark III, the lack of a fan versus the C50 -- which uses the same sensor and has many of the same video features -- was mentioned as one of the reasons a videographer might want to go with the cinema-focused body. When it comes to the R6 Mark III, we do see overheating as a possible concern in some use cases.

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TerraMaster D1 Portable SSD Enclosure Review: Quiet and Fast Storage https://petapixel.com/2025/11/06/terramaster-d1-portable-ssd-enclosure-review-quiet-and-fast-storage/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:54:09 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=820462 A close-up of a silver TerraMaster external hard drive on a wooden surface, with the Petapixel Reviews logo in the upper right corner.

With modern, high-resolution camera systems, photographers are capturing tens or even hundreds of gigabytes of files per shoot, before even considering video. Your storage workflow is now almost as important as the camera and lenses you use to capture everything. This is why portable, interchangeable Solid State Drives (SSDs) like the TerraMaster D1 SSD Plus have become commonplace among photographers.

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Canon EOS R6 III Review: Predictably Excellent https://petapixel.com/2025/11/05/canon-eos-r6-iii-review-predictably-excellent/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:01:28 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=824050 A Canon EOS R6 Mark II camera without a lens is mounted on a tripod outdoors. The image features PetaPixel Reviews and Editors' Choice badges in the corners.

The Canon EOS R6 III is an excellent camera for nearly every type of photographer and is better than its impressive predecessor in many essential ways. But did Canon play it a bit too safe with its new enthusiast-oriented, photo-first camera?

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Sigma Contemporary 20-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Review: A Lens with Broad Appeal https://petapixel.com/2025/11/01/sigma-contemporary-20-200mm-f-3-5-6-3-dg-review-a-lens-with-broad-appeal/ Sat, 01 Nov 2025 14:01:55 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=821875 A close-up of a camera lens placed on a surface, with the "PetaPixel Reviews" logo in the bottom right corner.

I recently took a trip to Aizuwakamatsu, Japan and this represented an ideal situation to also test the Sigma Contemporary 20-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DG super zoom lens. The autumn colors were just staring to turn and the mountainous area around Mt. Bandai promised some excellent landscape and wildlife opportunities.

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Vivo X300 Pro Review: An Outstanding Camera That Happens to Be a Phone https://petapixel.com/2025/10/31/vivo-x300-pro-review-an-outstanding-camera-that-happens-to-be-a-phone/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:03:38 +0000 https://petapixel.com/?p=823324 A man holds a smartphone with an attached camera lens, aiming it toward the viewer. The background is slightly blurred, showing people outdoors. The image features "PetaPixel Reviews" text in the bottom right corner.

It only takes a few shots to realize just how different the Vivo X300 Pro is as a mobile photography tool. It is laden with improved performance and output, plus a photography kit made up of a 2.35x telephoto lens extender and grip with built-in physical controls and a 2300mAh battery. It's stacked.

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