The 3 Best Zoom Lenses from Three Years Ago

Zoom lenses are pretty iconic in their own way. They not only allow you to achieve the desired image without spending too much time on cropping, but also offer the chance to be incisive in a crowded place. Over the year, there have been many zoom lenses that have exceeded expect…

This Nikon DSLR is 20 Years Old. And I’ve Fallen For It

My best friend goes over to his mother's place every now and again to help with cleaning and so much more. His father passed away a little while, and the family ends up giving me some of the stuff that they're working on decluttering. Amongst a collection of watches his mother g…

Hyperacute Interdynamics

Jiggle Cat

This is a pretty good optical illusion. If you’re not on your phone, it also works if you shake your head a little. (thx, caroline) Tags: optical illusions 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Canon Discontinues a Fantastic Lens Designed For Travel Photography

Canon lenses have been the epitome of blending image quality with a great build and versatility. Over the years, we have seen models such as the 35mm f1.4L, the 85mm f1.2L, and the mammoth 1200mm f8L, all of which have performed well in the market. However, like all good things,…

A guide on how (and why) to quit Spotify. “I am extremely...

A guide on how (and why) to quit Spotify. “I am extremely glad I [switched away from Spotify]; it’s been a minute since I’ve felt something approaching genuine delight in discovering a new tech service.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Huge Collection of Laptop Sticker Art

Stickertop.art is a massive collection of the tops of laptop computers adorned with stickers. Laptop stickers are more than decoration, they’re a form of self-expression. Each one is a snapshot of a moment, a place, and an attitude. But they’re fleeting; when…

Why We Have Two Nostrils Instead of One Big Hole. (Great title!)...

Why We Have Two Nostrils Instead of One Big Hole. (Great title!) “The nostrils alternate airflow from one side to the other. This may allow one side of the nose to rest.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Playing in Traffic

And it's just f'ing dumb Henry Farrell: America has identified its greatest enemy: Western EuropeI. t's not a fight the EU wanted, or even imagined before this year. But it's here. Being based in the US is now a disadvantage for forming partnerships with entities in the EU. I s…

I’m working on the 2025 gift guide right now, but I wanted...

I’m working on the 2025 gift guide right now, but I wanted to separately shout-out my favorite gift recommendation of the year: Kelli Anderson’s incredible popup book about typography & the alphabet, Alphabet in Motion (Amazon). 💬 Join the discussion on kot…

A video featuring Magnus Carlsen trying to beat a very novice player...

A video featuring Magnus Carlsen trying to beat a very novice player at chess with increasingly unfair rules (opponent gets two moves per turn, opponent starts with 23 queens, Magnus starts with 1 king and 23 pawns, etc.) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The 4 Best 26MP Cameras From Fujifilm For Passionate Photographers

APS-C cameras have garnered a negative reputation in recent years. One reason is that many camera brands are focusing on full-frame cameras. Fujifilm is perhaps the only brand that has continued to offer great APS-C offers, and they have a different sensor range for different ph…

From Nature, a list of 10 people who helped shape science in...

From Nature, a list of 10 people who helped shape science in 2025. “A fired public-health official, a mosquito breeder and a baby with a smile seen around the world. These are just a few of the remarkable people chosen for Nature’s 10.” 💬 Join the discuss…

The all-out AI race. “They are tearing towards a technology that could,...

The all-out AI race. “They are tearing towards a technology that could, in theory, sweep away millions of white-collar jobs and pose serious risks in bioweapons and cybersecurity. Or it could usher in a new era of abundance, health and wealth.”

This $800 DIY Camera Shoots Like a $10,000 Leica Monochrome

When it comes to dedicated monochrom cameras, there are only a handful that have been doing so. For instance, Leica is one company, and then you have Ricoh, both of whom offer dedicated sensors. However, Leica is far too expensive, and Ricoh's GR Monochrom is still in developmen…

Beautiful Drone Videos of Iceland’s Black Sand Beaches

From photographer and videographer Jan Erik Waider, a trio of videos that features the black sand beaches of Iceland from a drone’s vantage point. Captured on Iceland’s south coast where a glacial river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The camera observes the slow interplay…

Narrative String Theory is collection all known instances in film & TV...

Narrative String Theory is collection all known instances in film & TV of bulletin boards covered with investigatory items, “walls and floors littered with paperwork by obsessives”, and so on. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The Trick to Getting Better High ISO Images

A while ago, the Phoblographer changed the way that we review cameras. For many years, publications and even Youtubers used to talk about Low Light performance. But they were really only discussing how the high ISO output of cameras do. Today, high ISO image quality is really go…

This Lost Soviet Camera Could Rewrite Digital Photography If Revived Today

When we examine the history of phtoography, we often find certain technological advancements that had the potential to change the world, but they did not. For instance, we wrote about the Philip full-frame digital sensor, which had the opportunity to gain a strong hold in the m…

The Panasonic S1R II Got a Pretty Good Update

We’re updating our Panasonic LUMIX S1R II review with tests including the latest updates. However, our tests are specifically for photographers. While the camera has some niceties added, it’s overall just a minor update for those of us who primarily focus on stills. These up…

How to Civilize Digital Life

The Right to Privacy is a brief written by Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren and published in the Harvard Law Review in 1890. It has not been improved upon since, because what it says is so damn obvious and simple: that the right to privacy is “the right to be let alone.” Tho…