Grading Every Camera Maker: 2024 Mid-Year Review (Feat. Gordon Laing) | The PetaPixel Podcast 

Thanks for having me on the show! Always fun, sorry for rambling on and making it a somewhat long podcast!

Gordon should be a permanent contributor. His videos are great, I've been following him for a long time. I've even bought his book. His channel is brilliant and doesn't IMHO get the attention and following it deserves.

Gordon is a legend. Really enjoy Dinobytes. Reading Cameralabs articles is still a pleasure in the RU-vid age.

Yay! Gordon's back. Always a welcome sight.

Most people to Nikon: "Don't you know who I am?" Gordon Laing to Nikon: "Don't you know where I am?"

OM Systems - PEN F mkii -> usb-c, TruePix 10 processor, awesome C-AF --> OM Systems already has great lenses, especially with the rest of the MFT lenses available. Or call it the OM-10. After all, the original OM-10 film camera was a very successful camera and an engineering marvel. OM Systems has a bright future. Hope they see that.

Sony will forever remain S tier for their paid grid line firmware patch

Awesome. Love a guest appearance, especially Gordon

As somsone into OM Systems and full -frame Panasonic, conpletely agree with both those assessments. Very slow start to the year but hopefully potential for some more excitement if they can get over their current hurdles.

You really only need 2 AI labels: 1. Made with AI For photos that were created with AI from scratch 2. Edited with AI For original photos that were edited with AI which may include color grading etc. or object removal

Always nice to see Gordon on

Gordon Laing!!!!!!

*episode sponsored by OM system* "So OM system is like this dead whale sinking to the bottom of the ocean..." :D On more serious note, I would also really love to see SLR releases from Pentax, but unlike Chris I would be happy to see even just a new K1 (unless it would be re-released old K1 witout IR filter or something like that). Just to see commitment to DSLR in general and especially the high end.

Gordon is legendary and always makes sense. Brand should ask him for advise before launching new products. When Chris said content creator was a small market, I don't know what he talked about, since there are at least 10m CC today.

As an OM user, I find your assessment fair. The point about *winding down* by Olympus is very accurate, also there's a massive amount of administrative and IT work that goes into an acquisition like this. I really hope they'll pick up speed, because the system itself is fantastic. I don't mind their focus on outdoor, and I think it makes sense to first focus on a niche. But also, a new Pen-F is way overdue :)

Wow. This is a mash up of people I didn't expect coming. Been following Gordon Laing since the early 2010's. Glad to see this happen!

I am impressed OM has not released a new PEN F, but also impressed others has done little to come up with something similar, other than Fuji.

Nice to see you here, Gordon. Camera Labs was the starting point for my photography, looking at the reviews and even videos even before 2010 and my 5D Mark III is still equipped with the Op/Tech Camera Labs strap. But I'm also watching Chris and Jordan since their "The Camera Store TV" time. Very great to see that combination.

I'd agree with pretty much all the grades and comments. I can't add much other than it's obviously been a gap-year for Sony but we'll likely get multiple cameras next year. They still deserve huge credit for being the only company actually innovating and making generational jumps in camera tech, with a global shutter. Nikon and Fuji are the brands of the moment, taking advantage of a quiet year for Sony, getting plenty of shine and it's great to see.

agree with Gordon on more interesting smaller bodies from the major manufacturers, i.e. ZF is cool, and Fuji doing great. And his analysis on aperture rings on lens is on point. great analysis on the brands and where they are. good ep.

with regards to Nikon, its very clear that they don't care about APS-C at all.

A Canonet QL17 GIII digital compact would be amazing, and perfect for M43.

A legend and ultimate historian, welcome back Gordon!

Though Chris and Jordan are my go to folks for 1st impressions of any newly released gear, Gordon's reviews which I rely most. Mostly they come out while products are still new. DPR comes out with review that matters when everyone else have had their say!

Never had a problem with the Fuji file transfer app. In fact it’s the only one that never let me down!

I really enjoyed the half yearly review. Can't wait till the end of year review

I am here for the third time! I really enjoy the genuine conversation these guys have. Looking forward to the next podcast!

53:20 agreed Jaron. Were I starting from scratch, I'd be buying Nikon. Still considering whether to move to it from Panasonic m43

Wow, love seeing Gordon! He ads so much to the discussion! With the economy being at it is, I think camera companies are going to be making smaller point and shoot cameras to meet the desire of carry cameras. Good reviews and thanks!

Gordon Laing does great reviews.

Re: Fuji X-App image transfer: After a rough start with the new app, this works quite perfectly for me now, no matter how many wifi networks are nearby. If the camera is somewhere inside a 5m radius I can reliably connect, choose images and transfer then quite quickly. The camera does not even need to be switched on. This is something that I find quite convenient.

Love the podcasts - Great to see Gordon! 👌👍

The demand for compact fixed lens cameras can largely be explained I think by people starting to travel after COVID.

Even though Tamron isn't making fast primes, I'm pretty sure their recent lenses are selling like hotcakes and their stock price is through the roof (quadrupled in the last 3 years). I thought they were doing amazingly lately, except for the focus on starting their zooms at 28mm (it's shocking how often it's not wide enough, for me anyway, as a "walking around" lens). I think there's a large consumer market full of people like me that are tired of the non-stop releases of fast primes (obviously higher profit margin, targeting enthusiasts after they lost beginners to cell phones).

Love my OM/Olympus gear. I came over from Nikon DSLRs late last year and have been buying used MFT bodies and lenses like a guy on GAS crack. I love my Pen and OM bodies. The lens library is fantastic. I hope a Pen F ii is in the works. Put an OM-1 sensor and EVF in it, add weather sealing, and you havd a winner. The next step would be to weatherize the small f1.8 primes.

Well, my daughter wants to buy Pentax 17. She is trying to get funds from my wife and me to add to her pocket money and buy one. The perseverance she is showing I believe she will be an owner of one soon.

Gordon, there’s is someone who makes amazing small lenses a little know German 🇩🇪 manufacture

like watching the brady bunch or hollywood squares. Thanks dudes!!

the GOAT Gordon' IS back

Love that Chris has got some really great points.

I love seeing Gordon. Y'all are very hard on the camera industry, maybe too hard?

Gordon is back! Just watched his video on the EOS 300D recently, lovely channel(Dino Bytes), definitely deserves a lot more attention!

Great podcast as always…love it!! Considering the end product for all these companies is being the best tool for photos and videos, wondering if Apple, Blackmagic and even Hasselblad would have been good to include considering you’ll have reviewed products from these companies and they have made some discussion worthy products. Also, Gordon is just class. Thanks for inviting him back.

Let's go!! Gordon is the man.

I love my E-P7. Having a new PEN that maybe bumps the resolution a bit and throws in the modern OM System computational features along with 10-bit Log video would be a dream come true. The size makes it an everyday carry for me; I use it way more than my flagship Sony cameras.

Yes, Gordon’s book is a treasure of tips and info. Fwiw, Olympus Pen-f Digital is wonderful and needs a new edition! Yay, on learning about the EM1 Astronomy version! I’m staring at my EM1Mk3 and pondering several ideas; thanks guys! 👍

33:08 "Wheels on a bike"... lol! Perfect analogy. Canon, Nikon, and whatever other company is like them needs to have a fully open mount for 3rd parties so that users can get completely functional lower cost options in full-frame and APS-C. Feels very anti-consumer to block those options.

Pentax K1 iii is what I'm waiting for...

I have a pen-f but I would like to replace it with a definitive M43 mirrorless used for travel and family in addition to a professional all-round camera also valid for low light ceremonies...I'm undecided between om-1II or gh7...+ Em- 10 mIV instead of pen-f. What do you recommend?

Chris was a bit grumpy, thats OK we all have a bad day, but Chris was a bit grumpy.

My Tokina 16-28 F2.8 is a good lens, are they doing anything now?

43:00 I have to agree with Chris, you really can't objectively give a grade to Leica because their goals are so different to the rest of the market. It's also kind of the area Fuji are looking to put themselves in, as partially evidenced by their choice to go with a niche "medium format" line instead of trying to compete in the full-frame quagmire. However, they haven't quite got the full prestige status (or possibly long-term financial stability) to move fully into that space yet, so they're left straddling 2 markets and not quite mastering either of them.

I think Thomas makes the best lens reviews! Honestly, he was one of the reasons I choose a Nikon. Probably rediculous, but I honestly love the review!

I was sitting here thinking about upgrading the firmware on my xh2 while I watched this. Thanks for the tip. I'll wait and see.

Love me some Gordon!

Gordon is a living legend in the camera review scene

Gordon is the best of British camera nerds

i found my way to pentax via the vintage lens market. their continued commitment to the k-mount and their high build quality across their range appeals to exactly the kind of cantankerous-before-their-time optical-viewfinder-manual-focus-or-bust deal-loving fogey like me. I'd love a dslr that seriously leaned into that: a high megapixel camera with some old school non-digital focus assist tools built into the viewfinder, make it easier to use m42 mount lenses, figure out a way to allow TAv on fully manual lenses...

Here's a suggestion for OM Systems ..... how about rebranding as "Olympus" ? Radical I know. I think you've had your "New Coke" moment.

still am a happy owner of an A7III, and i was positive at the time this body could last me at least 5 years, which it definitely has. That being said, i'd probably instant buy a A7V if it can at least offer similar features to the Z6III.

Are there any leaf shutter lenses for L mount that you could use for the S9? If so, you could then place an optical finder in the cold shoe and that could be a viable set up.

The Fujifilm firmware focus bug was fixed by an update last week.

Nikon just killin it with the best to performance of any camera manufacturer in both body and lenses.

yess Gordon Laing I've been following him since 2010 ("how to take sunset photos" video tutorial)

pentax 645 mark2 is what pentax needed

Panasonic should have paired the S9 with the 28-200mm (it's only just over 400 grams!), but I guess if they're trying to get video makers that's not the lens to promote. That 14-28mm is also a great light match for that lightweight body. If it had a higher pixel count I would have gotten one for photography (with those two lenses). Fully agree with Gordon about lenses being too big lately.

Yes, if any company, Oly or not, comes up with Pen F ish camera, I am probably there.

Very enjoyable and informative review of 2024, so far. As an OM System fan I think you were all a bit harsh with you D or D+ grades. The OM-1 Mk II is arguably the best birding camera on the market today with substantially improved AF over the original OM-1. The Live Graduated ND filter transforms landscape photography. I think a second look is in order. Ok - moving on to missed opportunities - it's not just OMS who seems to be sitting out the small camera trend/market/fad, but I agree it seems almost criminal for them of all companies to not introduce a current-tech PEN-series body that leverages all the small lenses of the MFT format. I *really* like the Kickstarter idea, and I'd be there with my money, but I believe OM System is going to introduce a "PEN-F Mk II" grade camera later this year. It will probably be in the price range of the Fuji X100 VI which (don't stone me) just isn't all the impressive to me over all, and certainly not for US $1,500. I think this new camera will combine the "outdoor" adventure weather sealing of the rest of the OMS line to create a new benchmark street/travel camera. I hope I'm even close to right in this. 🙂

The Viltrox Pros for XF mount are incredible lenses and much cheaper than Fuji's offerings. As long as you can handle a big thick lens those are compelling reasons for 3rd party on Fuji.

Nice to see skin smoothing algorithms in action.

That trick of using handheld mode on a tripod for astro isn't a new thing, people have been doing that since it came out. This camera is basically the IR filter cut and 2 body filters. It does show that OM-Sushi is primarily concerned about picking as much from the carcass as possible before it's all massively out of date and would require some actual new R&D instead of riding off Olympus R&D that's going on years old now. I'm not a hater of MFT or OM-System, quite the opposite, my jump into MFT was using the E-M5 as my main work body, and I've continued with upgrades all the way to the OM-5 today for its discrete size and quality it gives with equally discrete long lenses like the 75mm f1.8. It's more that I'm sad that they were bought out by a company that's doing even less with the people and name than Ricoh did with Pentax before they fired most of the staff there. The company that did buy Olympus Imaging is known 100% to be a vulture type of buyer, so it doesn't surprise me, it's just sad. Panasonic might not ever release a stills focused MFT camera again since the G9.ii (that only came out as a collection of R&D/tooling for the GH7 and S5.II) that was meant to test the waters for a stills focused MFT body only got press for being a good video camera that "is ok for certain niches." Which that's sad too, the G9.ii is wonderful for portraits if you're using a wildlife zoom that launched with it that everyone tested with or the 12-60 f2.8-4 zoom. If people were honest and tested the stills centric camera with the 42.5mm f1.2 Nocticron or the f1.2 Olympus primes, they'd find that there's plenty of subject separation and amazing sharpness with the PRO f1.2's and character you expect with the PanaLeica 42.5mm f1.2 (still plenty of sharpness and contrast wide open, amazing lens regardless of the system). I think I saw maybe two reviews that used lenses like the 15mm f1.7 and others instead of just the 100-400mm zoom and maybe the 12-60mm kit it came with. The point is, there's a good chance photo-focused MFT cameras are done for, which is a massive shame for all kinds of photographers, not just hikers/wildlife and people that have trouble with extra weight. Marketing killed it, not actual limitations worth mentioning in real world applications. Companies want to sell higher margin FF systems, so they stunt the development of crop sensors (Sony used the same APS-C sensor for basically a decade while cranking out new FF ones every year or two) and release marketing directly or through influencers to rant about FF or go home more or less (this crew has never been like that, but it's rare to say the least). It doesn't help that the company that grabbed up the only brand that had the biggest interest in photo-focused MFT to succeed was a company that has, based on all observations of choices made sense, zero interest in actually investing into R&D and making great cameras. They're more interested in picking apart what was left while it sells before OM-System just becomes a brand any crap item can have slapped on it by paying for the license, like Polaroid.

Love Jaron’s Jim Breuer imitation at 1:35:41.

I was just at the B&H store for the first time today, but sadly only had about 20 minutes to browse before needing to head to my flight, but I loved handling the select cameras I was able to. I was finally able to see for the w first time in person just how small some of the micro 4/3 and app camera can get. I was blown away by how small and featureless the canon r100 is. And how absurd the body of the Sony 6000 series aps-c bodies are. If I were to get an APA-c camera these days it would be a Fuji, as they are killing it with their retro styling. And the Nikon z6iii was surprisingly small for an amazing seeming full frame camera. I am quite liking what Nikon is doing these days, though I am currently a canon shooter.

I'd totally pick up a new OM PEN!

Nikon should release the scrapped DL series ? To jump on the small fixed lens camera? Even the old Fuji x10 are going for £300-400 on ebay £400+ on MPB and thats 13 years old now.

Just waiting on that a1ii

Hahahahah😅,i like this meeting

As a photographer who uses Panasonic FF, I do have to agree with their review. Love the Jpegs, but do wish they had some more bodies that would benefit photographers. Really hoping for an S5iii with the same sensor and stats of the Nikon Z6iii.

Regarding the Ai meta thing: What about Denoise Ai…that should not put an original image in the same bag as a 100% generated image not produced by a lens.

I think in 2024, Canon has not fallen behind, but they are perhaps less ahead. The R5 at the time of release was way ahead of other currently available bodies. The R1 is likely to do the same thing.

The X App works well for social media with smaller files if you change the frequency to 5…

Gordon

Should review Zeiss as well ;) they did release some Nano primes this year

If the Sony A7cR or II had a better screen/evf, I would have sold my Fuji cameras.

I think OM System is a bit gun shy about the Pen F. When they announced the camera was discontinued, in the states that camera stayed in stock well over a year. I think they over produced to the demand. Plus the abundance of availability of cameras before the pandemic with other brands like Fujifilm also was a factor. Rather it is intentional, Fujifilm has played the scarcity game very well with their retro looking cameras after the pandemic. Which will drive up demand. X100VI they raised the price $300-400 and it’s currently on back order. On sale, Pen F was $1,000. They can easily increase the price for the Pen F II and keep it limited quantities. The only thing they don’t have is the name “Olympus” and that is a part of the heritage. That may affect things but if there are fans of a future Pen F II, they need to do it.

Are Sony going to announce A1ii shortly after we get Canon R1 full spec’s

Gordon and Jordan should get their own show.

I have a A7riii that is as good as anything available today for photography. I cannot comment on video and I find the handling to be lumpy, especially when compared to Nikon or Olympus but the imaging is spectacular.

My claim to fame is that I live an hour away from Gordon. Sad but true.

Maybe we could get a button for before and after? Two pics, one as a final product and another "behind" that one that is SOOC file?

With Panasonic, both their MFT and FF lens mounts are partnerships. With MFT, Olympus has been better for photography. With FF, Leica has been better for photography. It seems that Panasonic has concentrated on video and hybrid, leaving the photo-centric emphasis to their collaborators. With Nikon, the latest Z9/Z8 firmware came out in 2024. The firmware upgrades to the Z9 over 2.5 years would have been a new camera for Sony. The PetaPixel Sony A9III launch even video came out on Nov 9, 2023.

Can I say this about Sony, when they started with mirrorless they has an old DSLR system with minolta lenses. And they had few lenses - some partnered with Zeiss. And now that have lots of lenses. They built slowly and now have a full lineup.

OM need to hurry up with that bright pro mid tele on their roadmap

Nikon has Snapbridge which has improved

I started as a Pentax user, but they were so slow moving across to AF that I changed. It’s the same here with mirror less.

"Noone is doing really really small lenses" I couldn't agree more Gordon. I have the Sony a6700 and I love my 15mm 1.4. Being an APS-C user I love bright lenses a lot, but the 24mm 1.4 not only from Sony, but also from everyone else, is already too big to look sexy on the a6700. The Sigma i-series looks great, but it's already f/2. Sony, please do an APS-C 24mm 1.4 lense as small and optically great as the 15mm.

very good

I believe the overpopularity of the compact cameras are due to OM System kind of not being in that segment now with there PEN cameras. I miss Pen PM-3 and a similar with fixed zoom. By the way, I love the OM System Astro camera idea. Super cool is correct term.

No mention of Fujifilm supply issues? Also the neglect of the XE, X-Pro lineup? XE-4 was discontinued in less than 2 years. This needs addressing.

Wasn't the Sony 300mm f2.8 released in Jan/Feb 2024? I think you missed that one.