Opinion

Close-up of a camera's sensor and lens mount with the label "E-mount," showing a metallic circular opening and electronic contacts. The camera body has a textured black finish and visible buttons.

Sony Reusing an Image Sensor in the a1 II Is Not That Weird

A lot of the conversation surrounding Sony's new flagship camera, the a1 II, concerns the camera's image sensor. The 50-megapixel backside-illuminated stacked sensor is the same as the one featured in the original a1 which released in 2021. While some describe the reused sensor as disappointing, it is normal for Sony to use the same sensor across multiple iterations of the same camera series.

Two digital cameras are floating against a dynamic background of yellow and orange light streaks. The larger camera is positioned to the left, while a smaller version is on the right. Both cameras have visible lens mounts.

Sony Has the Problem Every Competitor Wants: Its Flagship Was Too Good to Follow

The Sony a1 II has arrived, and it is a fantastic flagship camera. However, while its predecessor was leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, the mirrorless flagship camera race is much closer in 2024 than it was in 2021, and it has left the a1 II in a somewhat awkward position -- it feels like the middle child in a camera series that only actually has two models.

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Apple Smells Blood in the Water

In just the last year and a half, Apple launched Final Cut on iPad and Final Cut Camera, updated Final Cut Pro to a new version for the first time in 13 years, and moved to purchase Pixelmator. As Adobe's public perception continues to struggle, Apple is making moves to take advantage.

A vintage-style poster featuring a Panasonic 4K camera lens against a textured, aged paper background with brown border edges. The lens is prominently displayed, emphasizing its details and modern design.

Panasonic’s HC-VX3 Camcorder is a Relic That Is Best Left in the Past

Not long ago, camcorders ruled as the go-to device for capturing life’s moments. Now, they’re relics. Smartphones have stomped out almost every practical use for camcorders, replacing them with better features and internet connectivity. Yet, some manufacturers cling to the past, hoping to squeeze a few bucks from a dying market.

Close-up view of a Sony Alpha 9 camera body, showcasing the E-mount connection in the center. The camera is black, with textured grips and visible branding at the top. The camera is displayed against a dark background.

The Sony a7S Series Can Be Saved By Sony’s Global Shutter Sensor

The Sony a7S series is the oft-forgotten member of the Alpha lineup, languishing in the shadows of its siblings and never quite finding a place to shine. However, while some think the series should -- or at least will -- be left in the past, perhaps the Sony a9 III shows that there's instead a path to a bright future for a hypothetical a7S IV.

The image shows two logos: Adobe Photoshop (Ps) on the left and Adobe Illustrator (AI) on the right, with a "not equal" symbol (≠) between them. The background is a swirling, abstract design with shades of green, blue, and black.

AI Empowers Fake Photos and Disinformation in Ways Photoshop Never Could

Since digital image editing tools like Adobe Photoshop hit the scene in the late 1980s, there have been heightened concerns about whether photos can be trusted. This long-time worry has become an increasingly common refrain among artificial intelligence's most ardent defenders, but it doesn't serve as a sound defense against criticisms of AI.

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The ‘Team Pixel’ Drama Exposed a Disconnect Between Creators and Brands

Last week, Google updated its agreement with "Team Pixel" members to stipulate that they weren't allowed to support any other smartphone brand or else risk ejection from the platform. Because many in that program considered themselves reviewers, it exposed a major disconnect between how many perceived themselves versus how Google perceived them.

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I Hope Adobe Can Overcome Some Photographers’ Vitriol

This week, PetaPixel published a podcast where the entire premise was simply posing questions provided by photographers to Adobe. But just the act of publicizing those answers immediately turned some viewers off, showing a huge number need to see action, not words -- if anything at all will work at this point.

A person with a beard and wearing a red plaid shirt holds up a gray Google smartphone, showing its back with the Google "G" logo. The blurred background features colorful, abstract shapes. The image includes text: "PetaPixel Hands-On.

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro May Have Finally Made AI Useful

We have been extremely skeptical of AI tools, especially as they relate to photography. But today during the launch of the Pixel 9 Pro, Google said its latest round of Gemini-powered AI would be actually helpful and after seeing some of what it can do, we might agree.