The Leica L-mount was created in 2014. The L-mount Alliance was formed in 2018. While there has been a steady release of cameras for this mount since then, considering the number of companies involved, it is a bit thin – especially for still photographers.

With the recent announcement of the Leica SL3-S -- which feels like it's not the best value for the dollar in ways that go beyond even typical expectations of Leica cameras in the past-- we found ourselves asking: if you were coming in fresh to mirrorless and were thinking of investing in a system, is L-mount worth it over the alternatives? If not, why? What is missing? Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and I dig into it.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

With smartphone cameras coming to a plateau on quality -- especially on zoom lenses -- there is a distinct spot for point-and-shoots. Compact cameras certainly have value and the team thinks there is definitely a place for them in the market today, but also thinks there is a "right" and "wrong" way for manufacturers to jump in on this popular trend. Sure, these kinds of cameras need to be affordable but it's often not quite enough to just slap a USB-C charging port on a compact camera design from 8 years ago and call it good.

That said, there are a few compact cameras that the team thinks would be okay to just re-release with minor upgrades to start serving the market right away.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

So, what are you waiting for? The world is your canvas—show OM SYSTEM how you’ve turned the ordinary into the extraordinary. Submit your entry now, and you could be on your way to Japan!

For more details, visit explore.omsystem.com/petapixel.

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This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, the team says goodbye to 2024 with the most important of traditions: the airing of grievances. Thanks for joining us for season three of the PetaPixel Podcast! The show will be back in January for the episode 76 and the start of season four.

em>Support Chris and Jordan directly with a PetaPixel Membership!

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

Don’t miss out! This amazing offer expires on January 5, 2025! Discover more at http://explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or at your local OM SYSTEM retailer.

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PetaPixel viewers can receive 15% off their purchase with the special discount code PETAPIXEL.

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We are proud to announce the results of the fourth-annual PetaPixel Awards where we are able to honor the best new photography products released in the last year. 2024 was a heck of a year for photography and the results showed that: it was the closest batch of voting in the awards’ history.

Support Chris and Jordan directly with a PetaPixel Membership and check out PetaPixel Merch.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

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In This Episode:

If you’re a wildlife or birding photographer, you know the magic of capturing rare encounters from afar. To bring your vision to life, OM SYSTEM has curated the ultimate telephoto kit designed for those who demand precision, durability, and exceptional image quality.

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Don’t miss out! This amazing offer expires on January 5, 2025! Discover more at explore.omsystem.com/petapixel or at your local OM SYSTEM retailer.

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Tamron's holiday savings are live! Don't miss out on huge savings on lenses for Sony E-mount, Nikon Z-mount, and Fujifilm X-mount mirrorless cameras from Tamron's impressive range of stellar optics. Mix the high-quality, fast performance with the company's 6-year warranty which ensures long-lasting reliability.

Save up to $200 on a wide selection of lenses at tamron-americas.com/petapixel

It's time! Our annual tradition continues with our BOLD PREDICTIONS for 2025! This year, we're joined by Becca Farsace and PetaPixel's Jeremy Gray to make our predictions for what the camera industry will see in the next calendar year. It's time to get bold!

Support Chris and Jordan directly with a PetaPixel Membership

Check out PetaPixel Merch.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe

Don’t wait! To take advantage of these incredible deals, visit your local authorized OM SYSTEM retailer or head to explore.omsystem.com/petapixel today!

In July, The PetaPixel Podcast team was joined by Camera Labs‘ Gordon Laing to give mid-term grades to every major camera and lens manufacturer. Now that the year has ended, it’s fime for them all to get graded on their finals.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

Whether you’re looking for a new camera or the right lens for your next adventure, check out OM SYSTEM’s Black Friday deals. Head over to explore.omsystem.com/petapixel to see all the savings. Offers end December 8.

Tamron's lenses offer high-quality and fast performance that are designed to elevate your photography experience. Shop now and save at tamron-americas.com.

This week on The PetaPixel Podcast there is a lot to discuss, with Fujifilm announcing it will make a new cinema camera next year, Final Cut Pro getting its first version change in 13 years, Sony bowing out of making drones, and more!

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

00:00 - Intro (Chris finished his new studio!)

06:11 - Fujifilm is developing a dedicated GFX cinema camera called the GFX Eterna

11:35 - Apple Moves to Final Cut Pro 11, updates iPad app and Final Cut Camera, too

26:26 - Hasselblad announced a new 75mm f/3.4 P lens

28:18 - Sony's Airpeak has been discontinued

29:10 - Why did the Airpeak fail?

33:44 - The FlashBack "non-disposable digital disposable camera" got a $330K investment on Shark Tank

37:29 - Benro's Theta self-leveling tripod Kickstarter is nearly two years delayed

42:11 - What is the state of photobooks in 2024? With Mixbook CEO and Co-Founder Andrew Laffoon

1:20:34 - What have you been up to?

1:22:20 - Never read the comments

1:33:40 - Feel good story of the week

Whether you’re looking for a new camera or the right lens for your next adventure, check out OM SYSTEM’s Black Friday deals. Head over to explore.omsystem.com/petapixel to see all the savings. Offers end December 8.

Tamron’s Holiday Savings are happening now! You can save up to $100 on these incredible lenses, but hurry, this offer ends January 5, 2025. It’s the perfect time to upgrade your gear or give the gift of a Tamron All-in-One zoom lens to the photographer in your life. Visit tamronamericas.co/all-in-one for more information.

With the recent announcements of the Fujifilm X-M5 and the Nikon Z50 II, the entry-level segment got a sudden burst of new interest. With that in mind, Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake share their thoughts on the best entry-level cameras you can get right now.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

If you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, OM SYSTEM has something for everyone and every budget. For more information and to learn about local promotions, visit your local authorized retailer or explore.omsystem.com/petapixel today!

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This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, the team is joined by retired Sony Imaging executive Mark Weir who reflects on the evolution of cameras over the last two decades and, perhaps more importantly, how photographers have changed in that time, too.

In this episode, he talks about how Sony Japan fielded input from its users, looks back at how Sony chose to leave the mirror behind, the choice to make E-mount an open standard, and where he thinks the industry is going next.

We use Riverside to record The PetaPixel Podcast in our online recording studio.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you like what you hear, please support us by subscribing, liking, commenting, and reviewing! Every week, the trio go over comments on YouTube and here on PetaPixel, but if you’d like to send a message for them to hear, you can do so through SpeakPipe.

In This Episode

This is a special bonus episode of the PetaPixel Podcast where Jaron Schneider, editor-in-chief of PetaPixel, talks with Della Huff, a member of the product marketing team at Apple who oversees all things camera and photos and who you would very likely recognize from many of Apple's recent keynote events as well as Billy Sorrentino, a member of the Apple Design team who has a hand in almost everything the company does and who oversees the user experiences across the company's platforms.

The two discuss immersive, spatial content and how Apple, the makers of the most popular camera in the world, views the next era of photography. They answer a lot of questions about spatial photos, the Vision Pro, and generally about immersive content as well as how Apple sees the future of photography and the preservation of memories.