Educational

PetaPixel's editorials are in-depth stories, thought-pieces, and opinions on the photography industry led by the minds of our editorial team.
A vintage Nikon film camera with a 50mm f/1.8 lens is displayed against an orange background. The camera features a black body with manual controls and a classic design.

The Best Budget 35mm Film Cameras in 2024

The resurgence of film photography in recent years has breathed new life into the world of analog cameras and for many, the 35mm format remains the gold standard. Its perfect balance of image quality, convenience, and affordability makes it a favorite among both newcomers and seasoned photographers.

Close-up of an old camera lens with vintage markings. The black and white image highlights intricate details, including a prominent central icon resembling a metallic triangle. Surrounding the glass are mechanical dials and lettering, enhancing its classic look.

A Guide to Camera Shutter Designs: Focal-Plane, Leaf, and the Rest

To take a photograph is to encapsulate a singular moment in time and space in the form of an image. In order to do that, no matter what kind of equipment we are using, we need a sort of tool to divide the past and future from the singular present, the precise moment that we wish to capture – no matter how long or how fleeting it might be.

Image of two black camera mode dials. Each dial includes settings like "P," "A," "S," "M," and "AUTO," along with icons for portrait, landscape, macro, and sports modes. The dials are against a light gray background.

How the Defunct APEX System Inspired Aperture and Shutter Priority Modes

Photography is an art and science deeply rooted in the manipulation of light. From the earliest days of the camera obscura to the digital age, photographers have sought to control exposure—the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor or film—to create compelling images. Central to this control are the variables of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO (no, ISO does not actually change the sensitivity but nevertheless plays an integral role in exposure choices).

Two images side by side: The left image shows two necklaces with pink and blue gemstones on silver and rose gold chains against a light background. The right image shows golden liquid pouring from a bottle labeled "Añejo" in bold letters against a dark background.

Luxury Product Photography Requires Precision, Creativity, and Patience

Arguing the upside of proximity, photographer Robert Capa said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” In-studio commercial photographers, with robotic cameras and high-tech lighting, get plenty close to their subjects.

Close-up of a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR camera lens, showing the zoom ring with focal length markings and part of the VR label. The texture of the grip and the gold Nikon branding are visible.

A Guide to Nikon’s Lens Abbreviations

Few lens makers can claim a lineup as huge and diverse as Nikon's. Its legendary F-mount for film-based and digital SLRs has been in continuous production since 1959, along with the newer Z-mount specifically for mirrorless cameras that launched in 2018.

A vintage Kodak Retina IIc camera with a folding bellows design. The lens is extended, showing detailed dials and markings. The body is metal with black textured panels.

The Pros and Cons of Using a Scale Focus Camera

Nowadays, we photographers are a bit spoiled. With how much power current-day cameras and lenses are packing, we can feel free to relegate a lot of the most basic operations, from determining exposure to acquiring focus and more, to automatic functions.

A close-up image of various camera lenses positioned at different angles. The lenses display colorful reflections and light flares, showcasing the intricate glass elements inside. The overall color palette includes deep blacks and vibrant greens, blues, and purples.

What Even is a ‘Cinema’ Lens, Anyway?

If you, like me, are prone to idly perusing the catalogs of your favorite camera store searching for the next bit of kit to add to your collection, you’ve probably stumbled into the “Professional Video” section and been absolutely bowled over by how much money one can spend on literally anything in this category.

A vibrant fireworks display in a city skyline. On the left, multicolored fireworks illuminate a bridge and buildings with emphasis on red trails. On the right, blue and white fireworks burst against the night sky, reflected on a wet surface below.

How to Photograph Fireworks Like a Pro

With the Fourth of July quickly approaching in the United States, photographers are getting ready to capture the magic of fireworks shows. If you want to nail some spectacular shots, you'll want to pay attention to a few key tips.

A side-by-side comparison of a bald man with a gray beard and extensive face tattoos. The left image is in color, revealing the vivid tattoos, while the right image is a black-and-white rendition of the same person, highlighting facial features in contrast.

Disappearing Ink on a Tattooed Man: A Photographer’s Story

The tattooed man arrived at the photographer’s right on time, a walking gallery of living art in vibrant blues, greens, and reds imprinted all over his face and neck. He sat for a portrait in the studio as scheduled.

Back Button Focus: Everything You Need to Know

In the world of photography, achieving precise focus is a requirement when capturing great images. Whether you're shooting a landscape, a candid portrait, or a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in a fast-paced event, sharp focus can make or break your image. 

A vintage black camera with a large silver lens is displayed against a gray background featuring faint outlines of various camera models. The camera has several dials and buttons on its top surface. The lens is prominently extended towards the viewer.

The Fascinating History of Leica Copies, From Braun to Zorki

Throughout photographic history, few cameras have had the kind of defining influence that can compare to the original Barnack Leica. It’s only natural that the industry of the time would react impulsively to the arrival of such a new, exciting, and innovative breed of camera – which is exactly what happened.

A man with a camera and a backpack in an orange jacket stands in an empty airport terminal, gazing out large windows, with departure gates and clear sky in the background.

Flying with Lithium Batteries: What You Need to Know

As many of us, including myself, prepare to travel this summer, we -- as photographers -- tend to carry a lot of lithium batteries for our photography gear. After all, we aren’t going to check our precious and pricey cameras, lenses, and other equipment. Naturally, batteries are a necessary component of any photographer’s kit, whether they be camera batteries, lithium-ion AA or AAA batteries, or something else.

Split image featuring a vintage camera on the left and two boys standing against a city street background on the right. one boy has his arm around the other's shoulder. black and white tone.

Why I Shoot Medium Format Film

Back in the day, 35mm film was called “miniature” format; its itty bitty negatives were considered only good for snapshots and maybe street photography (sorry, Leica shooter Henri Cartier-Bresson). Serious photography—landscape, portraiture, documentary, commercial—was dominated by medium format film, a platform that produced images with fine detail and luscious tonality, even when blown up to make billboard-size prints.

Color Gamut in Smartphones: What You Should Know

Nothing to see here. You take photos on a smartphone to share them on social media, and that’s it. Only a tiny minority of phone users would ever ponder the color gamut of smartphones or their color management. Accuracy is not a priority.

Eclipse Across America

Eclipse Across America: How to Photograph and Enjoy Today’s Historic Eclipse

After years of anticipation, the 2024 total solar eclipse has finally arrived. Many millions of Americans will be in or near the eclipse's path of totality, ranging from Texas to Maine. However, hundreds of millions more people will have to find other ways to enjoy the celestial event. That's where ABC News and National Geographic come in with Eclipse Across America.

A total solar eclipse, composite image

The Best Tips for Photographing the Total Solar Eclipse

For those who may have somehow missed it, a historic total solar eclipse will be visible across much of North America on April 8. Photographing an eclipse can be tricky, but fret not. You'll surely capture some great photos next week with these helpful tips.

Tracking Down and Testing the Camera from ‘Rear Window’ (1954)

My hobby is film photography, which involves collecting interesting cameras, taking photos, printing pictures, and so on. Within this fairly common hobby though I have a particular niche interest, which is tracking down and trying out cameras that feature in film and media.