The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,070, Sept. 15, 2026. Today's theme is, "Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?" I'm Derrick Story. The iPhone Duo is getting a lot of headlines, but for photographers, the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max are the more applicable tools. I will briefly cover the Duo, but today's focus will be on the new Pro handsets, including the variable aperture main camera. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1070 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro? Before we get to the Pro, let's take a quick look at the Duo. Two cameras, the main and ultra wide. iPhone Duo Camera Overview 48MP Fusion Main: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization. Also enables 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto: 52 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization, Hybrid Focus Pixels. 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) Digital zoom up to 10x 48MP macro photography Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG (No RAW) The 256 GB Duo is $1,999. Decent enough specs, but really nothing compared to the Pro models. Let's take a look at them. iPhone 18 Pro Max 48MP Pro Fusion camera system 48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture (ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, ƒ/4.0): 24 mm, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120 degrees field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) 48MP Fusion Telephoto: 100 mm (4x), ƒ/2.8 aperture, Hybrid Focus Pixels, 3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus, tetraprism design, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Also enables 12MP optical-quality 8x Telephoto: 200 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture Pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and viewing histogram ProRAW Image formats captured: HEIF, JPEG, and DNG Comparing the iPhone 18 Pro with the iPhone 17 Pro Some comparisons between iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Pro Max Smaller Dynamic Island (iPhone 18) A20 Pro 2nm (18) vs A19 Pro 3nm (17) - more computing power without increasing energy consumption. C2 modem (18) vs Snapdragon X80 modem (17) - Apple's more efficient modem. Variable aperture for the 48MP main camera (18) 5567 mAh battery (18) vs 5088 mAh (17) - nearly 10 percent larger. So, there are plenty of improvements in the Pro Max 18 over the last year's 17 model. Are they enough to warrant an upgrade? For most photographers, probably not, especially considering this year's phone starts at $1,299 for 256 GBs and climbs to $1,499 for 512 GBs. BTW: the 2 TB model costs $2,499! I like seeing that Apple is continuing to improve their handsets for photographers. And it's also nice not having to upgrade every year. This Week in the News The iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture camera lens - why don't all phones? as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Bon voyage: OM System PEN means every kind of photographer has a travel option as featured on DPReview.com Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Some New Looks but the Same Old Phone as featured on PetaPixel.com OM System PEN Review - best-in-class features and style at an unbeatable price as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,069, Sept. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "The OM System PEN Review." I'm Derrick Story. No, it's not the PEN-F II; it's just the PEN - a compact, well specified, Micro Four Thirds camera for everyday life adventures. It will fit in your purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. It has IBIS, an EVF, and computational intelligence. And it costs $1,000. On today's TDS Photography Podcast, we'll take a closer look at this latest offering from OM System. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1069 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The OM System PEN Review For a moment, suspend all of your expectations and breathe in the goodness of modern day photography. I present to you 14 ounces of joy to capture the moments of your life that you treasure and wish to remember. These moments can be rendered in soft film-like colors, or rich, vibrant hues, or even in moody monotone grays. If you want blurred motion, you shall have it. Do you prefer to suspend a water droplet in mid air, that too can be yours. The OM System PEN is as cute as a giggling 2-year-old, as smart as your math teacher, and as faithful as any companion you wish to always have at your side. This may not be a camera that you need or want. And that's perfectly fine. We all have plenty of cameras. But you may know someone who could benefit from this latest offering from OM System. And so, with that open mind, you may want to listen to my experiences with it. Let's start with the basic specs. 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS Sensor TruePic IX Image Processor 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization Up to 30 fps RAW & JPEG Burst Shooting 4K 24p Video & 1-120p in S&Q Modes 3" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder 121-Point AF, AI-Based Subject Detection IPX1 Weather-Sealed Design M.Zuiko 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 III Lens What I like It feels great in the hands. The front grip and the back thumb rest work wonderfully in tandem for one-handed shooting if you like, or very comfortable all day treks. The buttons and dials are well-placed and operate well with nice clicks and knurled rings. The fully-articulated LCD allows for shooting at any angle and then folds nicely against the back of the body for protection. The SD card slot is on side. The electronic viewfinder is bright and colorful. There's a nifty color switch on the front that makes it easy to switch to the profile you want. Part of the joy of the PEN is that it only weighs 14 ounces (393 grams) and measures 5 x 2.9 x 1.7". If you put the 14-42mm EZ pancake zoom lens on the body, it's probably the smallest, full featured camera in your arsenal. Yet, you get a ton of technology. Advanced technology features 121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection AF The PEN series' first AI Subject Detection AF for people and animals (cats and dogs) Starry Sky AF A dust reduction system that removes dust from the image sensor, allowing lens changes without the need to worry about dust appearing in photographs AUTO mode, which automatically detects the scene being shot and captures images using the optimal settings 24 SCN modes with 6 themes which supports shooting more complex scenarios, such as starscape photography 16 types of Art Filters for expanded creative expression Pro Capture shooting (records up to 12 previous frames at a maximum of 30 fps beginning with the moment when the shutter button is fully pressed, RAW sequential shooting is compatible) Set custom mode name for easy recall (up to 12 alphanumeric characters) Easily record cinematic video in OM-Cinema1 or OM-Cinema2 picture modes specifically designed for videos Supports vertical video and S&Q (slow/quick motion) There is a new battery, the BLS-7, that's a 1,285 mAh lithium ion rechargeable. It provides approximately 410 shots can be taken on a full charge (based on CIPA testing). Some OM System photographers will be disappointed that they can't use any of their existing cells in the PEN, but OM System wanted a new battery that was compact and as powerful as possible. A few complaints There are a few nits, however. The SD card slot supports UHS-I, not UHS-II, which is surprising this day in age. Also, existing Olympus shooters won't be able to use their super-compact FL-LM3 flash with the PEN. It isn't compatible, which is a shame. I did test my Godox iT30 Pro, however, and it fit great in the hot shoe and the TTL functions worked well. And finally, and this really is a nitpick, but the ON switch is multifunctional, also enabling video and S&Q, but I find myself in video mode sometimes when I first turn it on. I would prefer a single-function On/Off lever. Color Profile Control The Color Profile switch on the front of the PEN allows the photographer to set up a favorite look, then switch to it quickly. It looks simple, but actually is quite sophisticated. The saturation of 12 separate colors can be adjusted in 11 levels to achieve the ideal tones. This can also be combined with Highlight & Shadow Control or shading effects for an expanded range of expression. OM System offers four preset types: Film Rich Color, for rich, deep tones; Film Vivid, for vivid saturation and rich colors; Film Soft Tone, which delivers light, soft tones; and Standard (Natural). Four monochrome presets are also available, that can also be customized, including Film B&W, which makes use of a film grain effect; Film IR, which emphasizes a red color filter effect that looks like infrared film; Film Low Contrast, which reduces the contrast for a soft impression; and Standard (Monotone). You can see photo examples in my Live View article, If You Like Compact Cameras, You're Going to Love the New OM System PEN . In my testing, I preferred the Color 1 profile, which is labeled Film Rich Color. It was vibrant without being oversaturated. For B&W work, I like Mono 4, the standard monochrome profile. The best way to use the switch in front is to figure out (or customize) the profile you want, switch to on, and set that profile. The PEN will remember your preferred preset the next time you use the switch. Bottom Line The OM System PEN is a versatile, affordable, smart camera that can be the one that's with you when the others are too big, too limited, or too long in the tooth. It is a joy to shoot with. Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,068, Sept. 8, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1." I'm Derrick Story. There's so much going on right now in the photography world. We've just had a few industry announcements, which we will cover today, with a couple more arriving on Wednesday, which I will cover in part 2 of this week's podcast. So let's get the ball rolling with the recent new releases. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1068 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1 So here's what we're going to do. I'll start with four recent announcements that I can report on, and then on Thursday, I'll cover the new releases from Apple and OM System. That should keep us busy. So let's start with what we know right now. Fujifilm rounds out its sports and wildlife trio with a 400mm F4.5 as featured on DPReview.com DXO Releases PhotoLab 10 with Depth Masks, Advanced Color Grading, and New AI Tools as featured on FStoppers Leica's new Summicron 66mm F2 is a tribute to a military lens M shooters have never been able to buy as featured on DPReview.com GoPro has been acquired and is getting into 'defense, government, robotics and aerospace' as featured on TheVerge.com GoPro's Founder Promises It Isn't Done Making Consumer Cameras as featured on DPReview.com OK, that brings us up to speed right now. See you on Thursday, Sept. 10 for coverage of the OM System and Apple Announcements. Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,067, Sept. 1, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Last Time I Used a Tripod." I'm Derrick Story. Last Thursday night I was standing in a school parking lot with the Sony RX10 around my neck preparing to take pictures of the lunar eclipse. As I was waiting for a break in the clouds, I wondered, "When is the last time I used a tripod?" It's a question that says a lot about cameras these days, and it's the top story of this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1067 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Last Time I Used a Tripod Normally, when photographing a lunar eclipse, I wouldn't be using a Sony RX10 V with a 1" sensor. But I have this unit on loan and wanted to see how far I could push it. If you want to read the entire story about this endeavor, with photos of the event itself, check out my Live View article, How Far Can You Push a 1" Sensor . Traditionally speaking, the camera choice wasn't the most unusual thing that evening. The fact that I had no tripod with me, was. The last time I photographed the eclipse was May 2021. We were in the middle of the COVID pandemic and standing out in the chilly night air at 4:30 in the morning was one of the few photo activities available at the time. I remember getting ready for the shoot. I selected my Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 zoom and mounted the rig on one of my tripods. The ISO was set at 1600 for a 1/15th of a second exposure. Fortunately, the sky was clear that night and I got a great shot. It's hanging on the wall at home. That wasn't the last time I used a tripod, however. Later that year, in November, we were photographing the Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast at dusk. Everyone was using telephotos and long exposures, including me. I don't remember which tripod I had, but I did need one to get the effect I wanted. After that, there was a long stretch without my 3-legged friend. Then, in September 2025, a former client of mine asked my to shoot executive portraits for her current employer. I wasn't taking on business assignments any more, but I agreed to help as a favor. She had been a great client for years. We set up in a back room at their offices. I had a backdrop, four lights, and yes, a tripod. Business head shots was the only time I used tripods for portraits because we were usually shooting many different subjects in a short period of time, and it was more efficient having everything dialed in and locked down. The portraits looked great. And I think that was the last time I used a tripod. Quite honestly, I don't enjoy using them. I came up through the ranks as a photojournalist. After that, I started my own business photographing weddings and events. These days it's outdoor life, street photography, and workshops. None of those situations require tripods. The amazing image stabilization in my OM System cameras have further distanced me from the three-legged beast. Not to mention computational magic like Live ND. The Nikon Zf also has great sensor-based IS. And I really like traveling light and working fast. Now don't get me wrong: I'm not anti-tripod. Some of my best friends use them. And generally for good reason. It's difficult to line up the perfect architecture shot without them. But they're just not for me. I've had a Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod in the back of my ID.4 for a year that I haven't pulled out once. Even it, in all of its beautiful nimbleosity, is ignored. So, going back to Thursday night, standing in the school parking lot looking up at the solar eclipse, it was just me and my two legs. I jacked the ISO up to 12,800, extended the telephoto to 300 mm at f/4, held the camera steady, and fired away whenever I could get a glimpse of the moon peaking at me behind the light cloud cover. The next morning, I updated Lightroom so it could decode the RX10 V RAW files, applied Denoise to my favorite shot and wrote an article about the adventure. The technology we have on both sides of the photographic equation - capture and post processing - is amazing. I can't believe that I came away with a publishable shot that evening. Maybe someday I'll put that Peak Design Tripod to use. Maybe. This Week in the News Ricoh confirms hotly-anticipated "x" version of the GR IV enthusiast compact as featured on DPReview.com OM System Teases New Pen Series Camera Launch on September 9 as featured on PetaPixel.com Mark your calendars: Apple's next event is September 9th as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Compacts and APS-C mirrorless are the only growing camera categories - does this prove that price and portability beat picture quality? as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,066, August 25, 2026. Today's theme is, "Camping Out with the Sony RX10 V - A Field Review." I'm Derrick Story. My short checklist for this week's campout was: Tent, check; Food, check; Sony RX10, check. I wanted to see if just one camera, with one (impressive) zoom lens, could capture everything I wanted during the trip. I was surprised by its performance, and that's what I'm going to talk about, along with the news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1066 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Camping Out with the Sony RX10 V - A Field Review Camping in the Redwoods combined with a beautiful hike to the Pacific Ocean, provided a varied environment for putting the Sony RX10 V through its paces. Outdoor life builds a pretty good argument for choosing the RX10. It's 24-600mm Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/2.4-4 zoom lens provides a lot of optical power for the 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor that's powered by the BIONZ XR Processing Engine with AI Chip. This means I could capture shady landscape shots in the Redwoods, then zoom the lens for coastline life along the Pacific Ocean. All of this horsepower fit into a midsized Lowepro Photo Active TLZ 45 AW Top-Loader camera bag (with room to spare), slung around my shoulder, and not slowing me down on the hike. Other specs include: 3.69m-Dot Quad-VGA OLED EVF 3" 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD 30 fps Continuous Shooting AI-Powered Autofocus & Subject Tracking 4K60 Full-Pixel 4:2:2 10-Bit Video 3.69m-Dot Quad-VGA OLED EVF 3" 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD 30 fps Continuous Shooting When I first unboxed the camera, it felt bigger and heavier than I expected. This wasn't unexpected in the sense that I had been using the Panasonic FZ300 as my bridge camera, which has the same reach, but a smaller sensor than the RX10. Bigger sensor requires bigger everything else. But we have to keep things in perspective here. This is also the only camera and lens you are carrying. Period. The RX10 weighs 2 pounds total. And it measures 5.4" x 3.7" x 6". So as I carried it up hills and across valleys, I wasn't thinking about its heft at all. What I was happy about was the 24mm to 600mm Zeiss lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.4. So, what about the pictures themselves? Most of my shots on the camping trip were between ISO 100 and 800. And they were beautiful. Noise was well-controlled, color was excellent, details were crisp. Between ISO 800 and 1600 image quality was still quite good. There was a little noise, but in my shots it was mild. Beyond ISO 1600 most discriminating photographers would probably want a some noise reduction in post. This is where the smaller 1" sensor comes into play. But I have to say, definitely not a deal breaker. As for usability, I have Pros and Cons. Pros Love the aperture ring. It's big and easy to use and a great blessing for those of us who like to shoot in Aperture Priority. Plus, there's a switch to turn on and off the setting clicks. The 3,680,000 dot electronic viewfinder is terrific. It's wonderful to work with in the field. Control dials and buttons are well-placed and easy to program. The large hand grip makes it easy to hold the camera steady. The Optical Image Stabilization works well, but you still need to get the shutter speed up for the 400-600mm shots. HEIF format - The Jpegs looked good out of the camera, but they weren't very editable, even for Jpegs. But the HEIF 4:2:0 images were quite good, and more editable. And their file sizes were smaller. The Creative Looks are quite good (Sony's picture profiles). I especially liked the B&W and the Film profiles. Good close-up performance at both the 24mm and 600mm focal lengths. The NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh battery rated for 630 shots is a welcome upgrade. And it can be charged in-camera via USB-C. Cons No built-in flash. Seems like in a body this size one could be integrated. The Tilting 3" Touchscreen LCD with 1,620,000 resolution is nice, but I've come to prefer a fully articulated LCD that can be folded with the screen against the camera body for protection. It's also easier for video recording. If you're not already a Sony shooter, the menus take some getting used to. I was a little surprised that when shooting with Auto ISO on, that the camera didn't increase the ISO setting for faster shutter speeds when zooming out to 600mms. In the future, I have to remember to manually increase the ISO for long telephoto work. The $2,298 price tag . I realize everything is more expensive these days, but I feel that this camera should have been more in the $1,999 price range. Bottom Line It's great to have an updated long telephoto bridge camera available, and the Sony RX10 V is a good one. Terrific image quality at moderate ISOs, excellent autofocusing, nice handling, solid lens, and plenty of modern features such as USB-C, wireless connectivity, subject detection, and robust imaging pipeline. What surprised me was that once I had the camera set up the way I like, how much I enjoyed shooting with it and not having to worry about lugging around a bunch of accessories and extra lenses. Once you get used to the menu system and program the buttons and dials the way you like, it's an easy camera to use, especially for those who prefer to shoot in Aperture Priority. The delay when you turn on the camera is a bit longer than I like, and it would be wonderful to have a built-in flash. But those are minor nits compared to what you get, which is a 2-pound imaging powerhouse that is a versatile tool for outdoor adventure. If you're OK with the $2,298 price tag, and you want an all-in-one solution for hiking and camping, you should enjoy the RX10 V. This Week in the News Sony's Sensor Factory Is Back to Full Operation After Major Earthquake as featured on PetaPixel.com Capture One Mobile 4.0 brings desktop-grade denoising and healing tools to iPhone and iPad as featured on DPReview.com Photomator review: A digital darkroom with AI-powered photo-editing shortcuts as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com How Sony Went From Camera-Industry Outsider to a Full Frame Mirrorless Leader in About a Decade as featured on FStoppers.com Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,065, August 18, 2026. Today's theme is, "Where Do You Go for Inspiration?" I'm Derrick Story. Inspiration is a magical thing. The flow of creative energy moves us to work a little harder, go a little farther, and not settle as quickly for an average photograph. Sometimes we find ourselves in a zone where compositions present themselves where there had seemed to be nothing before. So where do we find this inspiration? I'll share my favorite tips on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1065 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Where Do You Go for Inspiration? The easiest places to see the difference between inspired performances is in live music and sports. Watching a musician totally in the zone is an amazing experience. Seeing an athlete push beyond normal boundaries to achieve a victory can leave us awestruck. Inspired performances are not limited to these venues, however. For photographers, they can happen anywhere, at anytime. But sometimes we need a little help jumpstarting the process. So if you find yourself needing a bit of a boost, here are some ideas for you. Photography Books - I've found that if I pull photography books off the shelf and leave them lying around, I look at them more often. And when I do, I feel like I've opened a window to a new way of seeing the world. I'm not alone in this, others in our community feel the same way. Lawrence M. says, "I have a large collection of books by famous 20th and 21st century photographers. When I am looking for inspiration, I open a book, flip through the pages, and can always find an inspiration. Sometimes new composition, sometimes new color combos, sometimes new subject matter, sometimes new ways to ditch color for black and white." Tim W. Adds, "I just love photography books -- and enjoy both the photos (of course) as well as the writing in these volumes. Looking at the coffee table in front of me right now, I see books by Dorothea Lange, Joel Meyerowitz, Robert Adams and Cartier Bresson. That's just in reach right now, not the many that are on my bookshelves. I picked books for this survey simply because they are more readily accessible, but I also love museum shows. They are just not as easily "consumed" as books. More information is always better!" Workshops and Live Presentations by Photographers - For me, the energy I feel when being in the same room with other photographers, or with a featured artist on stage, is quite powerful. Many times I've walked away from these experiences ready to go take pictures at that very moment. This is also a favorite source of inspiration for many in our community. Here's a couple comments from them. John D. says, "I love attending photography workshops. Kinda puts me in the zone." John isn't alone. A third of our audience felt the same way about live presentations and workshops. Museum Exhibitions - There's something about a great museum show - the great lighting, curation, low murmurs of other admirers. Every time I walk out of a museum featuring a great photographer, I'm re-energized about my chosen craft. Michael B. says, "Seeing a collection of great photographs is truly motivating and moving. I have been fortunate to see several photography exhibits, but I have seen orders of magnitude more paintings than I have photos in museums so also want to highlight how inspirational seeing paintings has been for me. Seeing the powerful use of color in place of detail that Matisse excels at and the masterful representation of light in a Rembrandt portrait are both inspirational and formative in how I approach photography. A fellow inner circle member once commented that a landscape photo I shared reminded him of paintings from the Hudson River School. I hadn't thought about it, but I always liked the romanticized landscapes from that movement so I had taken inspiration from those paintings as well. It was an amazingly insightful and inspiring comment! Photography Online - There is a wealth of great imagery online, but there's also an abundance of frivolous content. I think the trick is finding websites and photographers that feature work you admire, and try to avoid the rabbit holes that sometimes pull us down and waste our time. John. P has an interesting perspective on this: "I find a lot of inspiration in podcasts with artists about the process that goes into their work. Struggles, challenges and how they are inspired to do things. In a similar way, documentaries about photographers and their work I like quite a bit. That medium allows you to not only see the photographs but also hear commentary, often from the artist, about the work. "In No Particular Hurry" about Saul Leiter is particularly good. Checking my DVR I still have "Out of Exile" about Fred Stein, "Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer" and "Paper and Glue" about JR are still there. I recently purchased "Tish" about Tish Murtha which was very good. On DVD I have "The Woodmans" about Francesca Woodman, "Finding Vivian Meier". And speaking of movies, I do find them inspiring as well. One interesting technique that I do at home is hit the pause button on frames that I find particularly interesting. I'm often amazed at how beautifully composed these fleeting moments of cinema often are. Regardless of where you find inspiration, the important thing is that you continue to seek it out. That flow of positive energy will infuse your own photography. Get out there and see something wonderful this week, then make something beautiful that just may inspire someone else. This Week in the News 4 PHOTO BOOKS THAT SERIOUS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS KEEP GOING BACK TO as featured on thePhoblographer.com Tickets for Fujifilm's New York Fujikina Event Cost $10 and Are on Sale Now as featured on PetaPixel.com ON1's rebuilt noise reduction targets wildlife and astrophotography shooters who don't want a subscription as featured on DPReview.com "It has never been about asking AI to replace creativity" - Skylum CEO reaffirms Luminar's commitment to photographers as featured on PetaPixel.com Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,064, August 11, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Conversation About Lightroom." I'm Derrick Story. Having just completed two workshops with lots of lab work, I thought it would be a great idea to compare notes with Lightroom expert, Rob Knight, about the evolution of the software, how we can use those changes to improve our workflows, and how advanced techniques mean less work in front of the computer, not more. All of that on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1064 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In A Conversation About Lightroom Rob Knight and I sit down and talk about the latest changes to Lightroom and how they can benefit the photographers in our community. This Week in the News Fujifilm Says the Quiet Part Out Loud: The Memory Crisis Is Coming for Cameras as featured on PetaPixel.com Don't destroy your camera! If you want to photograph the eclipse in August, you NEED a solar eclipse filter as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,063, August 4, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Most Important New Camera Feature." I'm Derrick Story. Is there a single feature that drives your decision when considering a new camera - that one thing that is a go/no go factor? I know what mine is, but I was curious about the thoughts from those in our community. So I asked them. And in the first segment of today's TDS Photography Podcast, I share what they have to say. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1063 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Most Important New Camera Feature When I think about the features that drove my latest camera investment, it was clear the things I wanted, and those that I could not live without. And it got me thinking about the preferences of others. So I decided to find out by asking the question, "When considering a new camera, what is the number one feature at the top of your priority list?" Here's what our Inner Circle Members had to say. I think this is like being asked "What's the best camera?" The highest priority is that the new camera exists in a niche I can justify filling with a new camera - given all the cameras I already own. The size of the required niche diminishes proportionally with time. It's maybe something we don't want to admit to, but how it looks and feels is really important - especially if you are a collector. Andrew H. A viewfinder of some sort is a must-have for me. I find value in a rear panel LCD for sure, but I don't want it as my only means of composing. Jim K. The number one feature that I look for is image quality, which is a combination of dynamic range and megapixels. I will trade away megapixels to get better shadow detail in high dynamic range images. Dave K At this point, all cameras are generally good in good light. High ISO performance is often the kicker for me, and it's why I use larger-sensor cameras. Rob K. Even though Megapixels and IQ are important, I would have a tough time changing out thousands of dollars in glass. There would have to be a REAL good reason to switch, and I really don't see myself buying into a third lens system. Larry B. Right now, I am using an OM-1 that works well for my needs. I did not upgrade to the OM-1 II because the change, in my opinion, did not justify the investment. If a new model features justify the investment, I will strongly consider an upgrade. I would not consider another camera brand as I have the OM lenses that I really like and they work well for me. Larry A. Even though I checked the megapixel box, these are all important. Brand loyalty is a given, as I do not wish to re-invest in glass, either. Larry M. Good new features are huge, but I'm also looking for a familiar interface so that years of finger memory don't go to waste. I guess that could go under brand loyalty but it's not a brand loyalty. When I switched from Canon to Sony 11 years ago, it was based in image quality. I put up with an inferior user experience to gain noticeable improvement in my images. That's less of an issue nowadays. Henry H. I agree with Tim Griffy and Andrew Howe. It all depends. I'm not brand loyal, other than the expense of new lenses. When I went to mirrorless, I only had a few options because neither canon nor Nikon was playing in that sandbox yet. I checked out Olympus and Sony, but decided I like the feel and retro dials that Fuji was offering. Moving forward, keeping everything smaller will be a big factor if I think about changing. Jeff A. I clicked "Body Size" to indicate smaller is better - my old E-PL5 + removable VF4 electronic viewfinder was probably the most enjoyable size I've owned, even nicer than the PEN-F. My OM-5 has been pretty good so far in size and has better autofocus. I have the Moab workshop coming up in October - should I consider different equipment? Would the 40mp Fuji X-E5 be a better fit for landscape? I plan to resist the temptation and instead hone my craft; learning a whole new system at the last minute seems unwise. The OM-5's high-res mode (50 or 80mp) is not a bad fit for a landscape challenge, and I've had great results by stitching up to 20 telephoto images. Overkill for printing but fun to zoom in on. Charlie W. And for me? At the top of the list is body size. If the camera and lens get left home because they're too big, then I'm not going to get the return on my investment that I want. Second on my list, an Electronic Viewfinder. If I want to compose off an LCD, I might as well use my iPhone. And speaking of LCDs, third on my list is one that is articulating. I find these far more useful than the fixed back models. So, what's your number one feature? You can add your voice on our Facebook page or if you're an Inner Circle Member, chime in on the poll. And thanks to everyone who participated! This Week in the News Best compact camera in 2026: perfect point-and-shoots for photos and video as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com Sony wants to buy Tamron. Nikon and Canon shooters should pay attention as featured on DPReview.com The best AAA rechargeable batteries as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com The Sony RX10 V modernizes everything but its sensor performance. Does it matter? as featured on DPReview.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,062, July 28, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Lens on the Back Shelf." I'm Derrick Story. Having just come off two workshops where participants experimented with gear and techniques outside of their comfort zone, I saw firsthand the wonderful, creative results that often follow. One technique along these lines that you can do at home is called the Lens on the Back of the Shelf. I'll tell you more about it on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1062 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Lens on the Back Shelf I had been urging my workshop folks to try something new, either with gear or technique. So now that everyone has gone home, I've decided to do the same with the Lens on the Back of the Shelf exercise. I went to the photo cabinet and dug around in the back. I found the Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 II optic . I had bought it on Kickstarter years ago when I was experimenting with shallow depth of field for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It was an affordable optic, and well-made too. Its manual focusing ring was smooth and well-dampened. The click-less aperture ring was well-marked and easy to adjust. It has a beautiful, large front objective lens, a screw-in metal hood, and a depth of field scale in meters and feet. Since I needed to photograph the Panasonic L10 for a Live View article I was working on, I decided to take the Kamlan for a spin. I could do the article shot first, then play around with the wide-aperture stuff for my experimental fun. I mounted the 50mm f/1.1 on my OM System OM-1 and switched to manual exposure mode. It was like looking into another world. For the product shot of the L10 I had to stop all the way down to f/16, and there was still some lovely fall off. Then it was time to play. Even on a Micro Four Thirds sensor, f/1.1 is crazy shallow. I decided to focus on the very front of the L10 lens, then let everything else go its way. Now that I have the Kamlan on the OM-1, I'm going to leave it there for a while and try some flower shots in the morning. I had forgotten how much I like this optic. I'm so glad I followed my own advice, dug around in the back of the camera shelf, and retrieved this beauty. This Week in the News Is the camera industry waking up to enthusiast demand? as featured on DPReview.com Viltrox's First Micro Four Thirds Lenses Promise Great Value as featured on PetaPixel.com Jimmy Chin says bringing less gear makes you a better photographer as featured on DPReview.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,061, July 21, 2026. Today's theme is, "Dawn Patrol." I'm Derrick Story. We agreed to meet at the TDS Headquarters at 3:30 am. The gates open at 4 am for the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival. That would give us enough time to scout out the area, have some coffee, and be ready for the Dawn Patrol Balloon Glow. After that, we would continue working on site to capture as many meaningful images as possible. Today, you'll hear from the participants about their experiences covering this event. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1061 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Dawn Patrol Photo by Harry Telegadas Interviews with the photographers who covered the Sonoma County Hot Balloon Festival . Richard Bahl Harry Telegadas Delwyn DeVries Henry Heerschap Lauren Heerschap Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,060, July 14, 2026. Today's theme is, "Pardon My LUTs" I'm Derrick Story. Film simulations, photo styles, and LUTs aren't gimmicks. They are artistic tools to help photographers better match the mood of their images to the subject material they are capturing. This past weekend, I did exactly that during a visit to the classic baseball stadium, Oracle Park in San Francisco. The resulting images convey the feelings I had there spending time there with my family. I'll explain more, plus industry news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1060 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Pardon My LUTs Surprise, surprise! No sooner did I publish last week's podcast that included a note about my delayed Panasonic L10, then I received a shipping notice from them and had the camera the next day. Maybe I should complain about not winning the Lottery as well. The camera itself is fantastic, in part because Panasonic has created an entire ecosystem around it including the Lumix Lab app and its library of photo and video LUTs that we can download for free. I dug in right away. We had a family gathering scheduled for Sunday at the beautiful Oracle Park in San Francisco. No doubt that the L10 would be hanging around my neck. But I wanted to create images with it that captured the warmth of the situation combined with the classic brick design of the ballpark. I downloaded a dozen LUTs from Lumix Lab and transferred them to the L10. On of them in particular seemed perfect for the upcoming outing: Fresh Bright by Jiemo. Here's what the description said: This Japanese-inspired bright and fresh LUT is specifically designed to create vibrant, light-hearted portraits. By brightening shadows, reducing contrast, and enhancing colour depth, it produces a clean, transparent visual quality. Whether capturing sunny outdoor scenes or well-lit interiors, it effortlessly infuses your work with a refreshing vitality and gentle atmosphere, effortlessly conveying a lively and soothing Japanese lifestyle aesthetic. Perfect. Before I left the house, I set up the L10 with the Fresh Bright LUT in the HEIF format. No RAW+Jpeg. I wanted to be all in with my choices. The SF Giants colors are orange and black. Those accents are everywhere around the park, including with the hats and shirts that the fans wear. This color palette is placed against the red brick design of the ballpark, and the blue, summer sky above. Applying the Fresh Bright LUT to this setting produced a lovely Kodachrome-like color palette, but with shadows that had more detail and a luminosity that was cheerful and upbeat. I took pictures of everything that grabbed my eye, the architecture of the stadium, the Jumbotron that showed a realtime wedding proposal, and of course my two boys and Theresa. The L10 performed well. It looked great around my neck. But the real joy was when I reviewed the pictures later that night. The shots were exactly what I wanted: warm, cheerful, heartfelt. The color palette was finishing touch to the photographs. At the same time, Theresa was taking pictures with her iPhone 17. This is something she's really good at: capturing the action from a different perspective. Her shot were bright and colorful, but completely different than mine. And by comparison, much cooler. It was amazing how different the two sets of photos felt. Every camera I own has this ability in one form or another: OM System, Fujifilm, and Nikon. I also know that Sony and Canon have this capability. Generally speaking, you can download film simulations or photo styles and load them on your camera. I highly recommend this. I know this is a priority for Panasonic because there is a dedicated LUT button on the back of the camera. It's a great call. I'm going to print my favorite from the San Francisco series and hang it in the studio. It's a shot of Max, Zach, and Theresa, after the game while we were hanging out in the City. It has everything I want in that photo. And I'll be enjoying it for years to come. I'll share it in the Show Notes. This Week in the News Free Mac App Unravels All Your Annoying USB-C Cable Mysteries as featured on PetaPixel.com A Fast, High-End Nikon Camera Is Reportedly Weeks Away as featured on FStoppers.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,059, July 7, 2026. Today's theme is, "Bridge Cameras Are Coming Back!" I'm Derrick Story. Back in May, I talked about the Panasonic FZ300 and wondered out loud where are all the new bridge cameras? Given the strides in technology, they should be more desirable than ever. Well guess what? There's a brand new one coming down the pike, and it looks like a beauty. I'll talk about it, and other industry news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1059 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Bridge Cameras Are Coming Back! A lot has been going on in the world of photography while I was out of the country. And I think we should take a few minutes today to catch up. I'd like to lead off with the news about the upcoming announcement of the Sony RX10 bridge camera. And then we'll just keep rolling from there. This Week in the News Sony is bringing its RX10 bridge camera back from the dead! New monster-zoom Cyber-shot compact camera launches this week! as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Lightroom Classic 15.4 Adds a Duplicate Finder and Smarter Group Culling as featured on FStoppers.com Adobe upscales its AI capabilities with Topaz Labs acquisition as featured on DPReview.com I'm a photography educator who disregarded Micro Four Thirds for wildlife photography. I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com How I Pack Less Camera Gear on Vacation (And How You Can, Too) as featured on PetaPixel.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,058, June 30, 2026. Today's theme is, "5 Things I Like About Costa Rica." I'm Derrick Story. As I'm sitting here on my back porch in the Cloud Forest, after spending a week with a great group of photographers, I'm thinking about the things I like about Costa Rica. Spending time here, with camera in hand, is unlike any other place I've worked. So this week, I'd thought I'd share five of those favorites with you, in no particular order. Digital Photography Podcast 1058 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In 5 Things I Like About Costa Rica The Wildlife - From scarlet macaws squawking above, to howler monkeys, to red-eyed tree frogs, Costa Rica seems to present a new photo opportunity around every bend. From Coast to Clouds - We start in the low lands and explore the beaches, fishing villages, and national parks, then head up the mountain into the cloud forest. Each world is unique and beautiful on its own. The Challenging Photography - Trying to capture birds in flight, monkeys portraits high in trees, the essence of a working fishing village, and every other opportunity Costa Rica presents is both a challenge and a huge reward. The Efficient Lifestyle - The accommodations are uncluttered and elegant, meals feature local foods, and overall there seems to be very little waste. The People - We are visitors to their land and our goal is to be respectful. But I know there are times when we fall short of our goal, and we are typically greeted with warmth and patience. This is a wonderful place for photography, Central American culture, and an opportunity to slow down a bit and experience nature and culture. This is my third visit to Costa Rica, and I know it will not be my last. Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,057, June 23, 2026. Today's theme is, "When B&W Is Better (and when it isn't)" I'm Derrick Story. During an interesting walk through a graveyard with dappled lighting, I was reminded of how powerful B&W photography can be. And at the same time, when it absolutely fails. Join me for a stroll so we can figure this out together. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1057 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In When B&W Is Better (and when it isn't) A few days ago we had a family hike that led us to a historic graveyard atop a hill in western Sonoma County. I was carrying my OM System OM-3 with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ zoom . It was the perfect camera for this day - compact, light, creative. One of the things that I like about the OM-3, and the Nikon Zf, is that they both have physical dials that makes it easy to toggle back and forth between color and B&W photography. This made it easy to creatively approach the weathered statues and gravestones beneath the canopy of trees in the morning light. At first, I began with color only. I looked for juxtapositions of flowers and objects against the monochrome tones of the graveyard. Then I would see a splash of light break through the tree canopy and switch to B&W to better highlight the illuminated object. Some of my compositions worked, and others did not. Afterward, while examining the entire shoot on my MacBook Air, I drew some conclusions about when color was the better choice, or when monochrome shined. Object Separation was a key factor. When a beam of light broke through the trees and illuminated a statue, for example, then B&W worked very well. The contrast of the darker background with a bright subject worked great. Monochrome held the highlight detail better and provided some dramatic images. But when the lighting was more consistent, the shots sometimes looked too busy in B&W. Tree branches and leaves were the same tones as the headstones and it was difficult to distinguish one subject from another without resorting to a telephoto lens and wide aperture, which I did not have with me. But in color, there were distinct differences between foliage greens, purple flowers, leaves on the ground, and tokens left behind by visitors. Even the gravestones and statues were a variety of shades of brown, green, and gray. I could better draw the viewer's eye to the main subject using color differences. That being said, my hero shots were the dramatic B&Ws. And the entire shoot was a good reminder to be open to both approaches. Both monochromes and color produced good shots, just not on the same scenes. Preparing for Costa Rica When you're listening to this, I'll be in Costa Rica with Rob and 10 of my best friends. I'll file a field report from the cloud forest for next week's show. But in the meantime, here's a bit about my preparations for the trip. This Week in the News Discovering and Using the Unique Features of OM System Cameras as featured on PetaPixel.com Fujifilm X100VI vs. Panasonic Lumix LX10: Which Compact Is Actually Better for Travel? as featured on FStoppers.com The Case for Micro Four Thirds Sensors in 2026g as featured on FStoppers.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,056, June 16, 2026. Today's theme is, "Nighttime Is the Right Time for Smartphone Photography" I'm Derrick Story. Smartphones are good at a lots of things. And they are really good at night photography. And when you want to escape the hot, contrasty glare of summer days, let the evening roll in, grab your phone, and go make some stunning pictures. I'll share my favorite tips for just that on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1056 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Nighttime Is the Right Time for Smartphone Photography So what is Nighttime mode and how does it work? I'll use the iPhone as the example. Night mode automatically turns on when the camera detects a low-light environment. The Night mode icon at the top of the display turns yellow when the feature is active. Depending on how dark the scene is, your iPhone might take a Night mode photo quickly, or it might take several seconds. You'll see the countdown on the iPhone screen. iPhones use a combination of computational photography and image stabilization to take photos in low light conditions. Instead of a single exposure, the camera takes multiple frames at different exposures and fuses them together using software to remove noise, brighten shadows, and preserve colors. This process involves Frame Stacking and Alignment. The camera captures a series of short-to-long exposures over a few seconds. The main "reference frame" freezes motion, while other longer exposures capture color and detail. Then, the phone's image processor aligns these frames to fix blur caused by a shaky hand, then merges them to create a single, crisp image. If you look at the EXIF data for a Night Mode shot, such as in Nitro, you'll see that it's a Composite Image, usually between 10 and 15 frames. You can also see the individual Composite Image Exposure Times. Tips for Night Photography with an iPhone First, let's go to Settings > Camera. Go to Prioritize Faster Shooting and toggle it off. We want the best image quality possible. Next, learn how to turn on Night Mode Max by long-pressing the Moon icon at the top of the Camera app. This allows for a longer exposure, up to 30 seconds, depending on how steady the camera is. There is a tradeoff, however. In Night Mode the resolution is set to 12MP, even on new iPhones such as the 17 Pro. Techniques for Shooting in Night Mode Keep hands as steady as possible. Widen your stance and use two hands to grip the phone and keep them close to the body. Brace your body against a solid surface. Gently press the shutter button. Take multiple photos instead of just one. Then you can choose the best. Use the Main Camera (1X) because of fast aperture. Pro RAW + Night Mode for maximum edibility. One of the great things about nighttime photography with a smartphone is that you don't attract attention to yourself like you would using a mirrorless camera on a tripod. You can go about your business unnoticed and unbothered. Yet, you can come away with stunning shots. If you are in a situation where you feel comfortable setting up a tripod, then shooting in RAW with Night Mode Max can provide exposures up to 30 seconds with incredible detail and color. Night photography is a great way to separate your images from everyday snapshots. Whether you're exploring new territory on vacation, or just feeling like getting out in your hometown stomping grounds, these techniques will render your world in a whole different light. This Week in the News Apple's RAW Processing is Finally Evolving After a Decade and It's a Big Deal as featured on PetaPixel.com Sales of full-frame mirrorless cameras are flatlining, while compact camera sales continue to grow - what's going on? as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com 5 Lenses Nobody Gets Excited About That Produce More Photos Than Anything in Your Bag as featured on PetaPixel.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,055, June 9, 2026. Today's theme is, "Capture vs Post Production: What's More Important?" I'm Derrick Story. Cameras today include a variety of tools, such as built-in film simulations and LUTs, to help us put our creative stamp on every picture we capture. At the same time, post production apps are more powerful than ever, and easier to use. So, what's the perfect mix of creative capture and image editing? I explore this question on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1055 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Capture vs Post Production: What's More Important? I was comparing notes about Costa Rica with a photographer friend the other day, one whose pictures I've seen and admired, and was surprised by his comment, "Yeah, I don't work on my pictures much after I take them. Maybe a little cropping and exposure, but that's about it." This shocked me. He is an adept photographer with enthusiast gear who travels to take pictures. When I remarked that I was surprised by his comment, he continued, "I just never got very good with editing software. Probably, if I knew it better, I would do more." This got me thinking. "Am I in the majority or minority here?" For me, digital photography is equal parts capture and editing. Even in my film days, I spent a lot of time in the darkroom working my pictures to come as close to my vision as possible. Now that Lightroom, Luminar, ON1 Photo RAW, Mac OS Photos, Nitro, Photomator, DxO PhotoLab, and others have streamlined this process, I probably do even more image editing than a few years ago. At the same time, I love the film simulations, art filters, and LUTs that are embedded in our cameras these days. I often leverage them to create the mood I want at capture. Sometimes those shots just stand as they are and are never touched by editing software. Am I typical or unusual? I decided to pose this question, not am I unusual, rather what percentage of a finished image is the result of pure capture vs capture plus image editing, to our Inner Circle Members. I had a feeling that I would be surprised by their comments. And indeed I was. Here's how the poll shook out: Even though our community is relatively proficient at image editing, most prefer to use those tools as finishing touches rather than drive the final product. In fact, I'm often in that camp myself, as long as I'm getting the results I want. If I'm not, then I will lean more on image editing for the desired results. Here are some of their comments: "I try to get it as close as I can in camera and then edit a bit such as color and sometimes getting rid of distractions. I try to avoid Photoshop at all costs. If the photo has to go there I feel that I got something wrong." - John J. "I tend to shoot with the edit in mind, but I don't push things that far in post typically and stay within Capture One. I have done workshops that demand a more experimental approach to post that I found quite liberating though. It just wouldn't fit my more usual genres." - Andrew H. "I find I make small tweaks to most images in terms of highlight and shadow recovery to expand the dynamic range of the captured images. I also make white balance corrections when I disagree with the automatic white balance from the camera. I also play around with B&W conversions of certain images that I think would provide an interesting perspective. All my IR images get post processed, that goes without saying. Post processing is just part of the overall creative process. i guess it comes form all my years working with film and prints in the physical chemical darkroom where the print was the final product and the negative was the score." - Bob W. "The key to your question is "final result". The average iPhone shot that I share may or may not need a little crop or exposure change before sharing. To me that is no more editing that when I used to shoot film and go to the darkroom, tho' slides got no editing. My final result is usually creating a photo to frame or add to a printed book of my travels. Then it is all about editing, cropping, exposure, removing distractions, colorizing so it looks good in a larger format than the screen. To be frank, I like the computer more than the camera." - Harold M. "I've been working on a recipe for my Ricoh GRIII that captures the natural colors in our light. Our light in South Philly is very white and the colors are brick and concrete and colonial blues and reds. I was spending a lot of time trying to get the colors right in post processing. Now, I'm happy to say, my jpg's need little adjustment." - Barbara K. Over the years, photographers have asked me if there's a right or wrong way to go about balancing capture with editing. Like other aspects of photography, the answer is no, that is, as long as you're getting the results you want. But if you're not, I think it's worth the investment of time and money to learn the software you need to get the pictures you want. It makes sense, right? We invest in travel and gear, sometimes a lot, why not maximize that investment in learning a bit more about post production? Certainly the opportunities are there. Books, YouTube videos, and online classes can all accelerate our editing skills. If we invest just a little more, we may get the shots we want. But if you're loving the images you get straight out of camera, there's no need to pursue editing on a computer. And I would say that it's easier today than ever to get amazing photos directly from our capture devices. And if that's the part you love, that's beautiful. So I think the bottom line is driven by your satisfaction with the pictures you're creating. If you love how you're doing it, keep on keeping on. If you wish the finish product better matched your vision, then it might be wise to learn a little more about image editing. Because as we all know, very few things feel better than a photograph that we are truly proud of. This Week in the News Clean Up, Extend, Reframe as featured on Apple.com Improve your compositions with intuitive and intelligent editing tools in the Photos app. Next-level intelligent photo editing. Reframe a photo after it's been taken with Spatial Reframing - move the viewpoint, adjust the angle, or zoom in as if you were repositioning the camera in the moment. Expand your shots with the Extend tool. And remove even larger objects with the enhanced Clean Up tool. Apple's Photos App is Getting Three New AI-Powered Editing Tools as featured on PetaPixel.com Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter After Gun-Themed Polaroid Photo Shoot Ends with Photographer's Death as featured on PetaPixel.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026 Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier. Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more. Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,054, June 2, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Brilliant Compact Flash - Godox iT30." I'm Derrick Story. A flash as compact as your camera. Weighing in at 4.2 ounces and a mere 2" high, the Godox iT30 Pro Flash is available for OM System, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Leica, Sony, Nikon, and Canon. Yet it includes pro features, a gorgeous LCD screen and a $75 price tag. If you're looking to brighten up your photography, this review is for you. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1054 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In A Brilliant Compact Flash - The Godox iT30 Pro Let's start with the basic specs for the Godox iT30 Pro Flash . 1.5 sec Recycling Time Guide number of 49.2' at ISO 100 HSS Support Built-In USB-C Rechargeable Battery Up to 560 Full-Power Flashes 2.4 GHz X Wireless Radio System Works with Optional Godox Transmitter Touchscreen Interface High-speed sync up to 1/8000 sec S1 and S2 settings First and second curtain sync +/- 3-step of flash exposure compensation in 1/3 increments Multi-stroboscopic flash mode up to 100 times, 100 Hz TCM converter capability Standby and screen lock Hot shoe connection with a quick release foot design Includes USB-C Charging Cable and Storage Bag Things I noted during testing The TTL mode is great on my OM-3. I set up a two-flash system with my Godox TT350, even though it is a Fujifilm compatible flash. Also worked with my bare bulb Godox. The TCM Converter function makes manual flash photography a snap. The Wide Angle Converter is not a diffuser, but is good for wider coverage. The flash does lean to the left side of the camera, hanging over the ON/OFF switch on the OM-3. I have to slide my finger through the opening to power up the camera. The Godox iT30 Pro Flash is a marvelous lighting accessory for compact cameras such as the OM System OM-3 and Panasonic Lumix L10. It looks great, performs flawlessly, and is quite affordable at $75. This Week in the News Atmos Is a Weather App By Photographers, for Photographers as featured on PetaPixel.com Vibrant, joyous, confident: these photos celebrate the 100th birthday of timeless beauty Marilyn Monroe' as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com Halide Mark III: Redesigned camera, new looks, and surprise Raw file support as featured on DPReview.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,053, May 26, 2026. Today's theme is, "How Photography Can Help Us Appreciate the Good Things in Life." I'm Derrick Story. We've talked a lot about the value of taking pictures of those who are important to us. But what about everything else? If you browsed my photo catalog, you'd see a lot of simple things that might cause you to ask, "Why did he take a picture of that?" I will answer that question, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1053 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In How Photography Can Help Us Appreciate the Good Things in Life Here's the story of why I photograph the simple things in life. This Week in the News First rumors about a new Nikon compact full-frame fixed lens camera as featured on NikonRumors.com The Enduring Mystery Behind Iconic American Photograph 'Lunch on a Beam' as featured on PetaPixel.com How to Organize 10,000 Photos Without Losing Your Mind as featured on FStoppers.com NYC Gallery Sold an AI-Generated Ansel Adams Photo Without Permission as featured on PetaPixel.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,052, May 19, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Most Exciting Compact of the Year." I'm Derrick Story. Some cameras I just know right away that they are a winner. And the minute I laid my eyes on the Panasonic LUMIX L10 , I knew it was for me, and most likely many of you as well. This week, we'll take a closer look at the most exciting compact camera announcement of the year. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1052 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Most Exciting Compact of the Year The Panasonic LUMIX L10 is a mid-size compact with a 20.4MP BSI CMOS sensor and a Leica-designed 24-75mm-equivalent zoom lens. It's about the size of a Fujifilm X100, but more versatile. Let's dig into some of the details. (You can review them all by visiting Hands on with the Panasonic L10: the most exciting camera of 2026 (so far) on DPReview.com. Micro Four Thirds Sensor - that's 50 percent larger than a Type 1 sensor and half the size of a standard APS-C chip. By always using a 1.1x crop of its total sensor area, it's able to maintain the same diagonal angle of view, whether you shoot 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios. A Zoom Lens with Leaf Shutter - LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 and a leaf shutter that enables flash sync up to 1/2000th of a second. A flash isn't included with the camera, but OM System TTL flashes should work. Additionally, the lens can focus as close as 1.2" away for macro-like performance when photographing close-up subjects. Bigger Battery - Rather than the 7.4Wh battery used in the LX100s, the L10 gains the much larger, DMW-BLK22, which has a capacity of 15.8Wh. This powers it to an 420 shot per charge rating, measured by the CIPA standard test method, and over 1000 shots in power save mode. Fully Articulated Rear Screen - 3" 1.84m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen LCD that's a major improvement over the LX100. 2.36m-Dot OLED Viewfinder - It's a 4:3 panel, rather than the wide 16:9 finder in the LX100 cameras, whose area was rarely used to the full. The new finder has an impressive 0.74x magnification (approaching the size of the finders in professional DSLRs), though with a relatively short 20mm eye point, which glasses wearers may find a little limiting. Imaging Pipeline - The L10 gains the BSI CMOS sensor with on-sensor phase detection from the GH7 and G9 II models, meaning it offers improved dynamic range, improved resolution and faster focus than previous LX100 models. It also gets the latest processor from the Panasonic S1RII, meaning it has access to the latest subject recognition algorithms, which again should significantly increase the ease-of-use of the AF system*, as well as the performance boost coming from phase detection and the more powerful processor. Connectivity - 5Ghz Wi-Fi, as well as a 10Gbps USB-C port. USB-C can be used for in-camera battery charging, data transfer, or for UVC-compliant livestreaming Real Time LUTs and Photo Styles - Benefitting both stills and videos, the L10 allows applying Real Time LUTs while shooting for more creative color styles in-camera. Film-inspired Photo Styles, like L.Classic and L.Classic Gold can be used for either medium and the LUMIX Lab app can also be used to customize and apply looks instantly so photos and videos are ready to share right away. Leica Monochrome is also included. POWER O.I.S. (optical image stabilization) - helps steady handheld shots for sharper results, especially when working in low-light conditions and with slower shutter speeds. Plus there is AI tracking and Subject Detection. 5.6K & 4K Video - 5.6K 30p and DCI 4K 120p recording in 4:2:0 10-bit or DCI 4K 60p recording in 4:2:2 10-bit. Additionally, there is a new MP4 Lite recording mode that keeps file sizes small and easy to share and upload to social media sites. You can preorder the Panasonic LUMIX L10 now with an estimated ship date of June 17, 2026. Current pricing is $1,497.99 for either the black or the silver models. There's also a Titanium Gold 25th Anniversary Version that sells for $100 more, but they are hard to find right now. This Week in the News No, the Sony a7R VI Doesn't Make the a1 II Obsolete as featured on PetaPixel.com Canon's latest camera is targeting a new audience as featured on DPReview.com BatchMark Pro Delivers Fast Watermarking and EXIF Data Overlays as featured on PetaPixel.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,051, May 12, 2026. Today's theme is, "Traversing the Canadian Rockies." I'm Derrick Story. There was one moment, while immersed in the magnificence of the Icefields Parkway, I realized I had never seen anything like this before, not even in Alaska. We were 5 days into our trip with more to come, but at that moment, I just wanted to stop time. I'll cover it all, from Vancouver to Calgary, in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1051 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Traversing the Canadian Rockies In this first segment, I'll cover the journey stop by stop, starting with boarding the Rocky Mountaineer Train in Vancouver. I also want to mention that we worked with Fresh Tracks Canada to build our itinerary and arrange for our various connections. They were instrumental in the success of our adventure. Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver to Jasper - The first two days we were aboard the luxury train during the day, then would disembark in the evening for hotel stay. The first night in Kamloops, and the second in Jasper. Two Nights in Jasper at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Nestled within Alberta's magnificent Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and the rooms are designed with a nod to the property's Canadian backcountry heritage. Exploring Jasper National Park - We spent our time hiking, the the motorcycle sidecar adventure and nosing around the town of Jasper. Icefields Parkway - Jasper to Lake Louise - Now we're traveling by motor van on Highway 93N, known as the Icefields Parkway. We had many stops along the way, each one stunning. We arrived at Lake Louise that evening. Overnight in Lake Louise - The lake was frozen, which was an impressive foreground for the surrounding mountains. Hiking was difficult because of the abundant snow, so one night and a morning was plenty of time for this stop. Yoho National Park Tour to Banff - And amazing day crossing the Continental Divide, hiking at Emerald Lake, visiting Natural Bridge, and exploring Marble Canyon before arriving in Banff. Two Days in Banff - Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for sweeping views of six mountain ranges, hiking along the trails in the National Park, exploring the lakes, and loving the town of Banff. What an amazing two days. Head to Calgary to Catch Our Flight - We weren't quite ready to go home yet, but thankful for each day of the adventure. Here is the photo gear I used for the trip. Nikon Zf full frame mirrorless camera . Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR zoom . Nikon NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 lens . Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE) lens . Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens . OM System TG-7 Tough Camera . Panasonic Lumix FZ300 with Leica 25-600mm DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8 zoom lens. Apple 13" MacBook Air with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD . Samsung T7 Portable SSD, 1TB External Solid State Drive . Apple 8.3" iPad mini 7th Gen, 256GB, Wi-Fi + 5G LTE, Space Gray . All camera gear and portable electronics is being packed in a Think Tank Retrospective 18L backpack. For my luggage, I'm trusting the Solgaard Check-In Closet Original . This Week in the News Sony teases May 13 event with one obvious clue as featured on DPReview.com Now Canon's teasing something new, too as featured on DPReview.com OM System Survived Its Split From Olympus: Who Expected This? as featured on FStoppers.com HP FilmScan 7" Touch Screen Film Scanner review: scan your negs, transparencies and slides with touchscreen simplicity as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season . We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold . Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view . If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members : A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site . You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com , click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.