The Digital Story Photography Podcast

Capture vs Post Production: What's More Important? - TDS Photo Podcast

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:47:53 -0800

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

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.

A Brilliant Compact Flash - Godox iT30 - TDS Photo Podcast

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:16:29 -0800

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

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!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

How Photography Can Help Us Appreciate the Good Things in Life - TDS Photo Podcast

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:09:19 -0800

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

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!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

The Most Exciting Compact of the Year - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 18 May 2026 23:30:35 -0800

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

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!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Traversing the Canadian Rockies - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 11 May 2026 23:40:58 -0800

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

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!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Best of TDS - An Interview with Mom - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:08:13 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,050, May 5, 2026. Today's theme is "Best of TDS - An Interview with Mom." I'm Derrick Story.

With Mother's Day this coming Sunday, and with me still exploring the Canadian Rockies, I thought this would be a great time to rebroadcast one of our all-time most popular shows recorded in December 2018, an interview with my mother, who has since passed on, but whose legacy continues to practice the lessons she taught me. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1050

Virtual Camera Club News

B&H Photo Purchases Via TheDigitalStory - I talk about a lot of gear on this show, and if you're getting ready to make a purchase at B&H Photo, please click on our link first on your way to the store. We have a tile at the top of every page on TheDigitalStory. It's the easiest way you can help support this podcast.

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Announcements at NAB, for Photographers - TDS Photography Podcast

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:08:54 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,049, April 28, 2026. Today's theme is, "Announcements at NAB, for Photographers." I'm Derrick Story.

Of course Broadcasting was the focus of the recent NAB show in Las Vegas, that's what the "B" stands for. But among the video rigs, microphones, and soundboards were some gems for photographers. And this week, I'm going to share my 5 favorite announcements from last week. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1049

Announcements at NAB, for Photographers

As always, there was so much interesting stuff at NAB. And even though it's a video centric event, there's intriguing crossover for photographers as well. Let's take a look.

GoPro Goes Interchangeable: What the Mission 1 Pro ILS Means as featured on Luminous-Landscape.com

Panasonic Unveils the Most Beautiful Lumix S9 Color Yet as featured on PetaPixel.com

The Difference Is Clear as Day: We Review the New Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 II EVO as featured on FStoppers.com

Why Canon's cutting-edge sensor tech may not cascade down to photographers as featured on DPReview.com

Nik Collection 9 lets you mask like the Lone Ranger (no sidekick required) as featured on DPReview.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Packing for the Canadian Rockies - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:18:03 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,048, April 21, 2026. Today's theme is, "Packing for the Canadian Rockies." I'm Derrick Story.

Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and Calgary - The Canadian Rockies by train, van, and even motorcycle sidecar. I've been getting ready for this adventure and this week I'm going to share how I prepare to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. All of that, plus industry news, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1048

Packing for the Canadian Rockies

I begin the first segment with an overview of the itinerary, then discuss the following equipment choices.

Nikon Zf full frame mirrorless camera.

Nikon 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

Photographer Joel Meyerowitz Says Smartphones Are a Good Thing, Not So Keen on AI as featured on PetaPixel.com

Tim Cook Will Step Down as Apple C.E.O. as featured on NYTimes.com

10 Lightroom Secrets That Will Change How You Edit Photos as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

5 Whacky, Fun Things to Do With Your Camera - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:10:00 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,047, April 14, 2026. Today's theme is, "5 Whacky, Fun Things to Do With Your Camera." I'm Derrick Story.

It's easy to get a bit too serious about photography. But the truth is, some of our best shots happen when just playing around. And to help stir that pot a bit, here are 5 whacky techniques that you can do with your camera to get your fun on. Plus industry news and more. I hope your enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1047

5 Whacky, Fun Things to Do With Your Camera

We're in the middle of our Creative Camera Techniques online workshop, and I'm having a blast preparing for each session. I thought this week, I would share the love with you. So, here are 5 fun things to do with your camera.

1. Try a New Technique Such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) or Zooming During Long Exposure. - Both of these incorporate motion during exposure. ICM requires you move the camera during a longish exposure, and the zoom method is turning the zoom ring while the shutter is open. Both can yield fascinating results.

2. Mount Your Weirdest Lens on Your Mirrorless - This could be an ultra wide, LensBaby, pinhole, or even a vintage optic with an adapter. Commit to using only that odd couple for an entire day. See what you can get.

3. Dig Out an Old Point and Shoot - It could be a digital compact from the past, such as the Canon S110, or a film favorite like the clamshell Olympus Stylus. Either way, take an afternoon challenge to see how many good shots you can capture with this old friend.

4. Vaseline on an Old Filter - Honestly, this is one of my favorites. With your finger, smear a medium coating of Vaseline on the outside of the filter, starting near the edge and working inward. Leave a clear spot in the middle, about the size of a dime. Then go shoot colorful objects.

5. Experiment with Multiple Exposure - Nearly every camera has some sort of Multiple Exposure function. Read up on how yours works, then go create your next visual masterpiece.

Other options include digging around in your filter shoebox look for old special effects filters, or finally testing some of the unique features of your camera such as Live ND on OM System models.

Whatever your settle on, commit to it for an entire day. I think you'll have a blast.

This Week in the News

OM System just gained more control over its future as featured on DPReview.com

DaVinci Resolve 21 is Now a Lightroom Alternative: RAW Editing, Tethering, Masking, and More as featured on PetaPixel.com

Can DxO Pure Raw 6 Save an ISO 25,600 Wildlife Shot? as featured on PetaPixel.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Journey to the Dark Side of the Moon - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:45:48 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,046, April 7, 2026. Today's theme is, "Journey to the Dark Side of the Moon." I'm Derrick Story.

On April 1, 2026, Artemis II launched for a historic 10-day crewed mission orbiting the Moon, marking it the first human return to deep space since 1972. The pictures from the mission have been stunning. Today we will learn about the gear they are using and hear from the astronauts themselves. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1046

Journey to the Dark Side of the Moon

NASA provided the audio of Mission Control and the astronauts, as well as the image for this podcast. A big thank you!

The crew of four - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen--are testing NASA's Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket. This mission will break records, flying further than any humans before, to prepare for future sustainable lunar exploration.

For their image-making, the crew has 32 cameras aboard the Artemis II. Eliminating the cameras that are mounted on the spacecraft itself, the four astronauts aboard have 17 handheld photo-taking devices at their disposal, including Nikon D5 DSLRs, a Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera, GoPros, and iPhones. (More on the iPhones in the next story.)

Lenses include the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8G ED, Nikon AF Nikkor 35mm F2D, and the Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR.

NASA has selected National Geographic to help tell the story of Artemis II, the first Artemis flight that will carry astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth aboard the agency's Orion spacecraft. Nat Geo collaborated with NASA to train the Artemis II crew in 2025-2026, acting as a "mini astronaut film school". Staff taught astronauts storytelling techniques, cinematic videography, and social media skills for documenting their lunar mission. The crew will act as photographers and filmmakers during their journey.

Some of the images we've already seen include "art002e000192" (April 3, 2026) - A view of Earth taken by Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman from one of the Orion spacecraft's windows after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026. The image features two auroras (top right and bottom left) and zodiacal light (bottom right) is visible as the Earth eclipses the Sun. He used a Nikon D5 with a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8G ED at 22mm, f/4.0, 1/4 sec, at ISO 51,200. This is the shot that everyone has seen and marveled.

Another image that I really like is "art002e000191" taken in the same session by Reid Wiseman of a view of Earth from one of the Orion spacecraft's four main windows, with earth framed by the window and also showing the interior of the Orion craft. Again, with the Nikon D5, Nikkor 35mm F2D, f/20, 1/250 sec, ISO 250.

These images are made available by NASA.

Even though this is a mission of a lifetime, with amazing equipment and technology, these are still humans trying to figure things out in real time. One of my favorite quotes is:

"The moon is so bright in window 4 they have had to temporarily cover it with a t-shirt."

I also liked: "Time to swap positions at the window and take your SD cards with you." Mission Control.

So let's hear from the astronauts themselves. Here is some actual dialog from April 6, 2026, as they near the moon. I also want to mention, great job by NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens, who is moderating this mission in real time.

This Week in the News

Here's how NASA cleared the iPhone 17 Pro Max for astronauts on Artemis II as featured on 9to5mac.com

How Steven Madow Captured the Artemis II Launch With 14 Cameras as featured on FStoppers.com

'Project Hail Mary' Cinematographer Says Film Was 'Challenging', But Was Helped by Cheap Amazon Filter as featured on PetaPixel.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Why I Revisited Crop Sensor Mode on a Full Frame Camera - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:55:25 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,045, March 31, 2026. Today's theme is, "Why I Revisited Crop Sensor Mode on a Full Frame Camera." I'm Derrick Story.

An APS-C sensor isn't exactly chopped liver, right? And it becomes even more alluring when it's extending the reach of your telephoto by 1.5X, and with no light loss! But you do lose a bit of resolution, and that was a speed bump for me. But I'm over it! And I'll explain why, plus industry news, in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1045

Why I Revisited Crop Sensor Mode on a Full Frame Camera

Captured in crop-sensor mode with a Nikon Zf and 28-400mm Z zoom.

What is crop sensor mode?

Many full frame cameras have a crop sensor setting that provides 1.5X or 1.6X magnification. Essentially, this mode uses the center area of the chip and not the full 35x24mm surface.

This allows photographers to use compatible crop-sensor lenses, call DX in Nikon terms, on a full-frame body. But it's also a way to extend the reach of a full frame optic without having to add a physical teleconverter.

The catch is, since you're only using part of the sensor, the resolution decreases. In the case of my 24.4 MP Nikon Zf, I co from 6048x4032 pixels in FX mode, to 3984x2656 in DX mode, which is 10.6 MP.

Unlike digital magnification that interpolates pixels, these are real pixels right off the sensor. DX mode renders both the JPEGs and the RAWs the same resolution. There is savings in file size too. A DX RAW from my Zf is around 14.6 MBs compared to FX at 30.9 MBs.

Why did I revisit DX mode?

As I mentioned earlier, dropping down to 10.6 MP was a speed bump for me. Sure, for publishing online, 3984 pixels on the longest side was more than enough. But beyond that, let's say for printing, it's a bit short. Plus, why not just crop the FX version of the shot in post production and call it a day?

What changed things for me was the potential of AI resolution enhancement when I needed it. If, for example, I used Photomator's Super Resolution enhancement, I could enlarge that 10.6 MP shot to 6147x4095 pixels, essentially the same size of the FX version, with no noticeable loss of detail. In fact, sometimes the shot looks better.

Having this capability in my back pocket allowed me to reconsider DX mode. I could now frame the picture the way that I wanted as I was shooting. And I was recording half as many megabytes in the process. Essentially, I was getting 600mms for the price of 400.

For those of use with higher resolution full frame cameras - 40 MP+ - the equation makes even more sense.

Examples of cameras with cropped sensor modes

Sony full-frame cameras including the A7 III, A7 IV, A7C, A7C II, A7R II, A7R III, A7R IV, A7R V, A7S II, A7S III, A9, A9 II, A9 III, A1, and FX3. Look for the setting called Super 35mm or APS-C mode. For example, the Sony a7R V with a 61 MP sensor yields approximately 26-megapixels (6240x4160) when using APS-C/Super 35mm mode (1.5x crop factor).

Nikon full-frame cameras including the Z6III, Z6II, Z7II, Z8, Z9, D850, and D780. The Nikon Z7 II with its 45.7-megapixel FX sensor provides 19.5-megapixel images when using the 1.5x DX (APS-C) crop mode.

Canon full-frame EOS R-system cameras including the R1, R3, R5, R5 Mark II, R6, R6 Mark II, and R8 have a 1.6x crop setting. For example, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II offers a 1.6x crop mode that produces approximately 17.5-megapixel images (5088x3392).

Panasonic L-Mount cameras such as the Lumix S5II/S5IIX, S1H, and S9. The Lumix S5 II utilizes a 1.5x crop factor in its dedicated APS-C mode, reducing the 24.2MP sensor's active area to an effective resolution of approximately 10.7MP (3984x2656).

Cameras with fix-mounted lenses

High-resolution fixed lens cameras, such as the Leica Q3 and the Fujifilm GFX100RF use crop-sensor technology to provide additional focal lengths from a single optic. The Leica Q3 with its 60MP sensor allows for cropping to 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, or 90mm.

The Fujifilm GFX100RF takes this even further with its 102MP, 44x33mm medium format sensor. The fixed 35mm lens provides a 28mm equivalent field of view. Its high resolution allows for significant cropping, yielding 66MP in 35mm mode, 31MP at 50mm equivalent, and 20MP at 63mm equivalent.

Final thoughts

Photographers with full-frame sensors who don't always need the highest resolution they provide can extend the reach of their existing telephoto lenses, or travel with lighter optics when switching to crop sensor mode.

It's not a choice for everyone, but for those willing to exchange pixels for reach, they can travel with smaller, more flexible lenses.

As for me, with my Nikon Zf, I'm going to continue stretching my 28-400mm Nikkor zoom to 600mms when the occasion calls for it.

PS: I've also published an article with images and more details titled, Your Full-Frame Sensor Has More Reach Than You May Realize. Free access for our podcast listeners.

This Week in the News

Panasonic, Please Stop Removing Viewfinders as featured on PetaPixel.com

Never say never: OM System reopens the door to compact cameras as featured on DPReview.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Interview with Rob Knight About Red River Paper

Rob is now the Educational Director for Red River, and he's stopping by to report on a Camera Club event he just participated in. You can meet with Rob in-person at Florida's Photo Fest, April 22-26, 2026.

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Just When You Think You Have It Dialed In - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:04:48 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,044, March 24, 2026. Today's theme is, "Just When You Think You Have It Dialed In." I'm Derrick Story.

There I stood on a mountain ridge that I had climbed. I had the Lumix around my neck and the OM System in my hand with a beautiful, detailed scene before me. This was the perfect setting to determine, once and for all, which camera rendered the best wide angle detail. And then, disappointment. Find out what happened on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1044

Just When You Think You Have It Dialed In

Here's a story, from a recent camping trip, of my failure to capture a scene, from a ridge I had climbed, with my OM System TG-7. But there is a happy ending.

This Week in the News

Could this be Panasonic's next compact camera? as featured on DPReview.com

Despite the Compact Camera Boom, Canon is Approaching Reentry Cautiously as featured on PetaPixel.com

You could own one of these stunning prints from the world's best photographers - bargain prices for one week only! as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

DxO PureRAW 6 Is the Strongest Version Yet -- Here's What's New and How to Use It as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

No Matter Where Your Photos Are, This App Can Display Them - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:52:44 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,043, March 17, 2026. Today's theme is, "No Matter Where Your Photos Are, This App Can Display Them." I'm Derrick Story.

On my MacBook, I have Aperture libraries, Capture One catalogs, Lightroom collections, thousands of images in Photos for macOS, and a bunch of file folders. I can search across all of those proprietary catalogs, find what I want, and export to my desktop. How? Using a magical application called Peakto. I'll explain how, and its latest updates, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1043

No Matter Where Your Photos Are, This App Can Display Them

I've talked about Peakto on this show before, but it has evolved tremendously since my last discussion.

Just to refresh: Peakto is an AI-powered, Mac-only software by CYME that centralizes, organizes, and searches photos and videos scattered across multiple drives and editing apps like Lightroom, Capture One, and Apple Photos. It provides a unified view, automatically analyzes media for content-based searching, identifies duplicates, and supports cloud-free collaboration.

For someone like me, who has everything from old Aperture libraries, to Capture One Catalogs, to Nitro, Luminar, and Photomator, Peakto is a godsend because I can see all of those photos, regardless of where they reside, in one place.

New Features That I Love

Plus now, there are new features that further increase its value to me. Those include:

Workspaces for Apps that interact with images edited in DxO PhotoLab, Luminar Neo, Nitro, and ON1 Photo RAW.

Peakto Connect is a service built-in to the app that enables me to share my content within my local network or externally, via a web application.

Albums and Smart Albums that span my entire catalog of images, regardless of the app, and allow me to create albums across all of that content.

A note about Aperture Libraries, Peakto supports libraries from Aperture version 3.4.2 or later. Libraries older that will need to be updated with Aperture. If a library is compatible with Peakto, you don't need Aperture on your hard drive to access those images.

AI Search

I'm terrible at keywording. It's boring and I rarely apply them to my shots. Fortunately, AI search using object recognition, gives me a second chance to find images I'm looking for.

When you point Peakto to any set of images, it goes through a multi-step process to ingest that information. One of those steps uses AI Object Recognition. As a result, you can search for broad categories, such as "birds," or get more specific such as "red birds."

As with most AI-powered searches, it's not perfect. But I've found that the tool gets me close enough to what I'm looking for within a short period of time.

Of course, if you do use keywords, text descriptions, etc., this feature gets turbo-powered. Plus, all of the other markers are available too, such as EXIF data and star ratings.

Bringing It All Together

There are tons of other features with Peakto. Things like Aesthetic Rating where the AI scores an image based on technical and aesthetic aspects.

The bottom line is that for many photographers, the notion of being tied to just one photo management app for the duration of your career isn't practical. Things change. Apps come and go. Our personal preferences evolve.

Peakto helps us manage that evolution over the years. It allows us to experiment and change our minds. We don't have to be tied to a single photo management app if we don't want to. And for folks like me who like to experiment with workflows, it's a blessing.

PS: If you want to know more about how I use Peakto, plus screenshots of what I discussed in the podcast, check out my article, How to Bring Multiple Photo Libraries Together in One Place on Live View.

This Week in the News

'Sinners' DP Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes Oscar History as First Woman to Win Best Cinematography as featured on Variety.com

I'm Back Teases APS-C Digital 'Film' Roll That Entirely Fits in a 35mm Camera as featured on PetaPixel.com

Peak Design Slide Lite review - still one of the very best camera straps you can buy as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

Is It Time to Reconsider the Bridge Camera? - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:16:33 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,042, March 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "Is It Time to Reconsider the Bridge Camera?" I'm Derrick Story.

Last week I talked about small sensor cameras in general and how they can pack a big punch in a small package. This week I want to reintroduce you to the high magnification bridge camera that leverages small sensors to a 600mm extreme and beyond. You'll be amazed at the images you can create with them. All of that, plus industry news, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1042

Is It Time to Reconsider the Bridge Camera?

You may have photographic gem stashed in the back of your closet right now, and not even realize it.

Bridge cameras were quite popular a decade ago for their compact size and impressive telephoto reach. But as larger sensor mirrorless cameras became more capable and sophisticated, most companies stoped producing the super telephoto compacts.

Why? Because those smaller sensors could not compete with the likes of full-frame mirrorless. But as I discussed last week, advances in AI-powered software have breathed new life into bridge cameras.

Last month, Rob and I were talking about this very topic as a alternative rig for our upcoming Costa Rica workshop. For Rob, shooting with a full-frame sensor and already owning far-reaching telephotos, the bridge alternative wasn't a practical consideration.

But for me, one who likes to experiment, I was curious. So I found a Panasonic LUMIX FZ300 on the used market and started testing. After a couple weeks of shooting, I thought you might be interested in the results. First a little bit about the FZ300 itself.

When Panasonic introduced the LUMIX DMC-FZ300 in July 2015, Camera Labs wrote it was an, "attractive proposition for anyone looking for a higher-end super-zoom without breaking the bank." And when they said super-zoom, they weren't kidding. The FZ300 featured a 25-600mm constant aperture f/2.8 Leica lens... for less than $600.

In addition to that Leica glass, the FZ300 featured 5-axis image stabilization, 4K video, 4K photo, a high performance electronic viewfinder, high-speed autofocus, 1cm macro, weather sealing, and a lot more. All this technology squeezed into a body that was only 5" wide and weighed a mere pound and a half. Sounds like a dream machine come true.

So why don't we see them today? That demur 1/2.3" 12-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor lacked the image quality and high-ISO performance of the emerging wave of full-sensor wonders.

The irony was... those small sensors were the very thing that made the seemingly impossible 600mm reach of the compact FZ300 possible. To achieve that magnification with a full-frame camera would require optics much larger and more expensive.

So the cameras with small sensors that "bridged" the transition from smartphone photography to DSLRs fell out of favor. And Panasonic never released a successor to the FZ300.

Why Bridge Cameras Could Make Sense Again

The evolution of hardware technology contributed to the demise of bridge cameras, but changes in software may lead to their comeback. The issue of image quality and pixel count from small sensors is real, no doubt. Compared to a modern full frame sensor, a chip smaller than your fingernail just can't compete.

Yet, somehow, the images from our smartphones with their minute chips are nothing short of amazing. How is this so? The answer is software combined with clever merging techniques can help compensate for lack of chip size.

Much of this technology is available to us today through software applications such as Lightroom, DxO PhotoLab, Photomator, Nitro, Luminar, and others. AI-powered noise reduction and resolution enhancement can bring those 12MP photos up to reasonable size and quality. And even though those same technologies can be applied to full-frame cameras, that's a level of quality that many of us don't need.

Some of us still like the idea of a compact camera with exceptional reach and reasonable image quality. Software to help those cameras compete with large sensor cameras wasn't readily available in 2015, but it is today. So let's see what we can do with those bridge camera pictures.

Lots of Light for Small Sensor Cameras

A logical place to start is to understand the shooting conditions that are favorable for the FZ300 and its comrades. In short, outdoor daylight produces the best images. In fact, great images. Small sensor cameras can go toe to toe with the big boys on sunny days. And to be honest, those are the conditions that we most often are using 400-600mm telephotos.

I've made those results even better by adding a combination diffuser plus polarizer filter. My favorites are the PolarPro Everyday Shortstache and the K&F Concept 1/4 Black Diffuser plus circular polarizer. Both of these accessories seem to bring out the best for my FZ300.

Once you retreat indoors or evening conditions, then you'll need supplemental light, such as from the flash, or time to reach for a larger sensor camera. I don't push the FZ300 past ISO 800.

Shoot RAW+Jpeg

Jpegs are great for immediate sharing or for applying in-camera effects such as film simulations, but RAWs are important for squeezing as much quality as possible from the small sensors.

The RAW editing tools in DxO PhotoLab, Nitro, and Photomator are amazing for extracting detail from these RAW files while helping to control noise. In PhotoLab there's DxO ClearView Plus DeepPrime. Photomator features Super Resolution and Denoise. Nitro includes RAW Tuning. And Luminar supports a variety of AI-powered adjustments.

Combining this post-production muscle with RAW files enables us to refine images from small-sensor cameras like never before.

See for Yourself

In my Live View article, How Bridge Cameras Got Lost in the Shuffle, I've posted a number of wildlife pictures captured with the FZ300, and processed with the software I've been talking about. The article is free for our podcast listeners.

Will they blow away a Sony full frame camera? No way. But do this images make good prints and render well on a computer screen? I think they do. And the entire rig only weighs about a pound and a half and is a mere 5" wide.

Now, I wouldn't dare travel all the way to Costa Rica with only the FZ300. But, I will have it in my bag along with my standard gear for those nimble moments when I want the reach of a super-zoom, but the weight of a compact.

I'll let you know how it goes.

This Week in the News

A Camera's Dynamic Range Is Interesting but Not That Important as featured on PetaPixel.com

This woman invented the solution to lens flare - you've probably never heard of her, but every photographer should thank her as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

The Importance of Embracing Imperfection as featured on FStoppers.com

Jeff Bridges unboxing the camera he's been developing is pure joy as featured on DPReview.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.

5 Tips for Small Sensor Photography - TDS Photography Podcast

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:56:30 -0800

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,041, March 3, 2026. Today's theme is, "5 Tips for Small Sensor Photography." I'm Derrick Story.

I just returned from a trip where my large-sensor camera was an OM-3 Micro Four Thirds, and it got smaller from there with a TG-7 and iPhone 17 Pro. And I love the pictures! So I thought it would be fun to talk about techniques for shooting confidently with a small sensor camera. All of that, plus industry news, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1041

5 Tips for Small Sensor Photography

I just returned from a trip to the coast where the only cameras I had were the OM System OM-3 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless, the OM System TG-7 compact, and the iPhone 17 Pro.

We all know that the MFT sensor is quite a bit smaller than an APS-C or Full Frame chip. And the 1/2.3" sensor in the TG-7 is even smaller. Why would anyone endeavor the capture the beautiful California Coast with this gear?

Well you can. The shots will look great for sharing and printing. And unless you're a pixel-peeper, you'll probably be thrilled with the shoot.

That being said, there are a few tricks to maximizing image quality and beauty from your photos. Here are 5 things that I do when working with smaller sensors.

Pay Attention to Shutter Speed and Aperture - Even though all my cameras have built-in image stabilization, I try not to over-depend on it. For handheld photography I keep my speed at 1/30th or faster and aperture stopped down 1-2 stops.

Use Good Shooting Technique - Holding the camera with a steady grip and lightly pressing the shutter does make a difference.

Record in RAW+Jpeg - Sometimes the Jpegs are absolutely amazing, and other shots require my working the RAW file. Of the 15 images gallery I'm sharing in the Show Notes, 12 shots were processed as RAW, and 3 were Jpegs. That ratio varies from shoot to shoot, but I'm always glad to have both.

Photomator Super Resolution and Denoise - Once I've cropped and edited the image, I run my favorites through Photomator Super Resolution to increase pixel count, and if necessary, Denoise to clean things up. There are many other apps that do this as well. Take advantage of the technology that's available.

Image Enhancing Filters - My favorite filter for small sensor cameras is the K&F Concept Diffuser 1/4 & Circular Polarizing in-1 for $22.99. This filter on a small sensor camera renders the images more photographically without the digital look that sometimes appears. Plus, quite frankly, there is less image editing in post.

Simple techniques, yes. But together they can help you travel super light and come home with satisfying images that will impress those who see them.

Creative Photography Techniques with Rob Knight

Rob's Becoming a More Creative Photographer Online Workshop begins this Thursday, March 5th. For those of you who haven't signed up yet, you might be interested in this conversation with Rob about this very cool workshop. Listen in to hear what he has to say.

This Week in the News

The 8 best cameras for travel in 2026 as featured on DPReview.com

The Best New Photo Gear Announced at CP+ 2026 as featured on PetaPixel.com

The Leica Leitzphone is back - and this time it's going global as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Why Physical Media Is Making a Comeback Among Younger Generations as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

We now have the dates set for the Hot Air Balloon Classic and Micro Brewery Photography Workshop that begins on July 17th and ends on July 20th. We'll go behind the scenes at the Balloon Classic for an inside look at how these beautiful aircraft are designed, maintained, and piloted. We'll photograph the Dawn Patrol launch, the big bash, and even rise up in a balloon if you want. We'll also explore the vibrant Micro Brewery culture in Sonoma County, home for Russian River Brewery, Lagunitas, and more. And if you add on to your adventure, there are days and days of photographic opportunities from majestic redwoods, to rugged coasts, to hillside vineyards. What a wonderful getaway. Place your deposit today!.

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

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.

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.