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Chinotechs L.D. Meter Review: Light Meter and Rangefinder in One

A close-up of an L.D. Meter device designed by CHI mounted on a camera, with the PetaPixel Reviews logo overlaid in the foreground and a blurred green background.

As I've delved deeply into the old and the niche of film photography, I've found myself loving cameras that either have no light meter, no viewfinder, or... neither. In those cases, I have found the L.D. Meter from Chinotechs to be the near-perfect solution.

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A Commercial Photographer’s Take on When to Use AI (and When Not To)

On the left, a woman in a flowing white dress sits on a small rock in calm water. On the right, a woman in a silky cream camisole and beige pants stands indoors near a round mirror, looking to the side.

Last year, a client came to me with a straightforward brief: they needed a full lookbook for their new clothing line. But there was a catch. “We don’t want a shoot,” they said. “Just take our phone photos and make them look professional with AI.” I could have said no. Instead, I said yes -- and it changed how I think about my entire career.

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Photographing Hokkaido: The Japan North of Tokyo That Most People Never See

A collage of three photos: an elderly man uses an ATM, a modern apartment building against a blue sky, and an elderly woman smiles at a table with covered dishes.

In March, Jaron Schneider and I traveled to Japan for press coverage at the CP+ photo and imaging show in Yokohama. After four days covering the show, we had a decision to make: go home, or continue the trip and head somewhere else. So, we decided to go north.

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The Best Deals on Lenses for Every Major Mount

Multiple camera lenses of various sizes and brands are arranged diagonally on a vibrant, gradient background with green, yellow, and orange hues. The lenses are viewed from different angles.

Spring often brings a wave of lens promotions, but this week’s deals stand out for the sheer range of systems included. From compact APS-C zooms to flagship telephoto glass, several major mounts are seeing meaningful discounts right now, including Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, L-Mount, and Micro Four Thirds.

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Leica’s Latest Silver Cufflink Series Costs Between $650 and $800

Close-up of a person wearing a navy suit and white shirt, showing silver cufflinks; one has engraved camera settings, the other has “Leica” written in script.

Even though Leica is first and foremost a camera brand, it very often stretches out of that space and into fashion. It's doing so again with the launch of a new set of three silver cufflinks. It's not the first time it has made cufflinks and, perhaps surprisingly, these aren't even the most expensive it has ever offered.

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