This is The Digital Story Podcast #804, Aug. 17, 2021. Today's theme is "It's Not: What's the Best Software; It's: What's Best for You." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I just read a good Capture One Pro vs Lightroom Classic article on DP Review. The comparison focused on speed with C1P coming out on top. But that doesn't mean it's the best, or even the best for you. I'll explain in more detail on today's TDS Photography Podcast.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

It's Not: What's the Best Software? It's: What's Best for You

We really do like to know who is Number One. I just went through a version of this when I was shopping for our next workshop vehicle. "The number one EV is..."

Number One think permeates many different decision-making areas. What's the best mirrorless camera? Where's the best place to go take pictures? And what's the best software to process my images?

Today, we're going to focus on the last one. I have five questions that depending on your answers will lead you to the best image management software for you. Here we go!

• How important is overall speed for you? Capture One Pro and Photos for macOS are tops in this category.
• How important is top-shelf RAW processing? Capture One Pro usually wins here.
• How big is your legacy library? If it is substantial, and it is a Lightroom catalog, then this gives Lightroom an edge because migration is a pain in the butt.
• How important are cloud connectivity and mobile apps? Lightroom gets the nod here, with Photos also in the mix.
• How important is overall cost (time invested plus actual payments)? Photos is the easiest to learn and is free. Lightroom is very accessible and is reasonably priced. Capture One Pro has a steep learning curve and is overall more expensive.

Now here's the fun part: tally the winners in each category and note what software you should be using? Chances are, it's not what you currently have.

For many non-professionals, Photos for macOS would be the winner. And for many professionals, Capture One Pro would likely come out on top. Yet, we know that the most popular image management software is Lightroom. Why is that?

Because there are a million little things that are both important to us and unique to us as well. And those little things are what determine the best product for us individually.

Let's go back to my car comparison. For me personally, the VW ID.4 was head and shoulders above the competition that included Tesla and the Ford MachE. Now depending on what review you read, the ID.4 could fare as well as first or as low as 5th for best EV for 2021.

But it was those little things, such as comfort and storage for workshop attendees in a car that drives like a sedan. It's the ability for me to sleep comfortably in the cabin while looking at the stars through the panorama roof. It's the 3 years of free high-speed charging. And the list goes on and on.

For you, the best EV could be something completely different, including not an EV at all.

You may not be using the best software, mirrorless camera, or driving the best car. But my hope is that through the time we spend together, you discover the perfect tools for you, know that I stand behind your decision 100 percent.

New Training Course! Mobile Photography: Image Management

What do you do with the plethora of photos on your smartphone after taking them? It's easy to have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos in your library, but it isn't so easy to back up and keep track of them. In this course, get tips on how to manage your ever-growing mobile photography collection.

I delve into several different backup and organizational methods for both Android and iOS devices, highlighting the benefits and risks of each approach. Plus, I share tips for enhancing the appearance of your shots right on your mobile device.

Discover how to leverage your iPad as a mobile photography studio, transfer images from your digital camera to your mobile device, back up and edit photos with Lightroom, and much more.

Mobile Photography: Image Management is a course that practically anyone who enjoys photography on their smartphone would enjoy. Take a look and see what you think.

Fenix E35 V3.0 EDC Flashlight Review - Portable and Powerful

One of the most important items I keep in the car glovebox is a good flashlight. It needs to be compact, durable, and versatile. My choice for the new VW ID.4 is the Fenix E35 V3.0 EDC Flashlight.

This device is impressive. And if you're a flashlight geek like me, you'll see what I mean when you look at the specs. Let's start with the output. (Keep in mind that this light is only 4.65" long and weighs just a few ounces.)

Outputs

• Turbo 3000 Lumens/1.1 Hours/787 Feet
• High 1200 Lumens/2.4 Hours/492 Feet
• Med 450 Lumens/7.9 Hours/295 Feet
• Low 150 Lumens/20 Hours/164 Feet
• Eco 50 Lumens/50 Hours/98 Feet
• Strobe 3000 Lumens

I use it in Eco mode for digging around in my camera bag or backpack. It's plenty bright to help me find what I want, but not so blinding that I lose my night vision. When working outside at night, Low and Medium modes provide plenty of illumination. I don't think I've needed the High mode for anything (it's really bright), but it's good to know that it's there.

One of the features that I really like is that the included rechargeable battery has a built-in USB-C port. So I can top off the flashlight right there in the car using its outputs. Very handy!

The Fenix E35 is also quite durable.

• IP68 Rated
• 3.2' Impact Resistance
• Single Switch Control
• Pocket Clip Included
• Cold Resistance -35°C to 45°C
• Aluminum Body A6061-T6
• Intelligent memory circuit, last-used output recall
• Lockout Function

You can check the battery status at any time. When the light is off, single-click the control button, and the status light on the button will illuminate. Steady green means you're in great shape all the way through flashing red that means it's time to recharge. (To turn on the flashlight, you long-click that same button.)

Other nice touches include the titanium body clip that allows you to secure the light on your bag or belt and a lanyard to keep around your wrist while in use.

If you haven't treated yourself to a new flashlight in a while, the Fenix E35 V3.0 EDC Flashlight is hands down my first choice. You can buy it directly from the Fenix site for $69 with free U.S. shipping. If you sign up for their newsletter, you'll get 20 percent off.

First Camping Test with the VW ID.4 This Week

As I continue to prepare for our upcoming Oregon Coast Photography Workshop in November, I'm putting the ID.4 through a variety of pre-event tests. The first one is this week.

I'm heading out for a camping trip where I'll have the car in isolated areas and will be testing gear for longer events. I'll also be sleeping in the car cabin.

Side note here: I've already been napping in the back during charging at commercial stations. My original intention was to get work done during the 30-minute charging sessions. But I've found myself stretched out and napping more and working less.

Part of my test will be seeing how well Level II chargers work when off the beaten track and away from the high-speed network.

I'll report on all of this during next week's TDS podcast.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.) We have a new poll on the Patreon site for our members: Are You Looking to Buy a New Camera in 2021? Be sure to stop by and chime in.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 40 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #803, Aug. 10, 2021. Today's theme is "I Left My Bag Behind." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

It was about 8pm when I was standing in the Best Western parking lot somewhere off Interstate 5. I was staring into the cargo area of the car that contained two suitcases, a cooler, but no backpack. "Where the hell is it?" I said out loud. At the moment, I didn't know. This was the first night of a 4-day road trip. What happened next is the topic of today's TDS photography podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

I Left My Bag Behind

Here is the story of my leaving my backpack behind that contained my camera gear, laptop, iPad, AirPods, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and every other piece of tech gear I had packed except for the iPhone X that was in my pocket.

Inner Circle Perspective - How Do You View Instagram These Days?

• 13 percent love Instagram and visit it daily or more.
• 47 percent was once a big fan, but doesn't stop by as often these days.
• 8 percent have given up Instagram completely.
• 20 percent never used Instagram in the first place.
• 12 percent say it's complicated, see my comment.

Some of those comments included:

"I visit daily but I wouldn't use the word "love". Can't love anything full of ads." - Thomas.

"I enjoyed posting on Instagram regularly in about 2014 and 2015 ... but the rise of "influencers" and TikTok type videos has killed the fun and meaningful use for me. Just another platform that doesn't meet my needs or wants.I'm in the process of going back to more regular use of Flickr because I find it more meaningful and interesting." -Del."

A Few Takeaways

The Facebook influence seems to really have dampened the party for many.

In my case, I still use it because I can quickly post a picture there, and have it propagate to Facebook and Twitter. That was a bit of a lifesaver on the recent trip where I forgot my gear.

That being said, I'm actually starting to feel like an old fogie on IG because I only post still pictures, not videos. Who would have ever dreamed photography would be an issue there?

You can learn more about the Inner Circle here.

New Training Course! Mobile Photography: Image Management

What do you do with the plethora of photos on your smartphone after taking them? It's easy to have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos in your library, but it isn't so easy to back up and keep track of them. In this course, get tips on how to manage your ever-growing mobile photography collection.

I delve into several different backup and organizational methods for both Android and iOS devices, highlighting the benefits and risks of each approach. Plus, I share tips for enhancing the appearance of your shots right on your mobile device.

Discover how to leverage your iPad as a mobile photography studio, transfer images from your digital camera to your mobile device, back up and edit photos with Lightroom, and much more.

Mobile Photography: Image Management is a course that practically anyone who enjoys photography on their smartphone would enjoy. Take a look and see what you think.

Peak Design Field Pouch v2 Review - Nimble and Nice

In use, it's a perfect size for a grab-and-go kit that you can keep close to your body and not attract attention. I have two basic configurations that I use it for. The first is a photography kit.

Photography Kit Configuration

• My Fujifilm X100V or the Olympus OM-D E-M10.
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• Accessories such as lens cloth, extra memory card, etc.

Or, what I call a "get my work done while riding the train" kit.

Get Work Done Kit

• My iPad mini with Apple Pencil.
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• Accessories such as lens cloth, hand sanitizer, mask, sunglasses, etc.

In both configurations, the iPhone 12 Pro Max fits beautifully in the padded zippered pocket keeping it separate and protected from the other items in the bag.

What's appealing about all of this for me is that I have a very efficient carrying solution to bring along exactly what I need, but doesn't attract attention and can even be positioned under my jacket if necessary.

The Peak Design Field Pouch V2 has a few other tricks up its sleeve. It's expandable design allows you to configure it to just the size you need. You can carry it on your belt or use the supplied shoulder strap.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.) We have a new poll on the Patreon site for our members: Are You Looking to Buy a New Camera in 2021? Be sure to stop by and chime in.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 40 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #802, Aug. 3, 2021. Today's theme is "Camera Industry Fights Back." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

With a very positive recent report from Canon, and others holding their own in 2021, it's beginning to feel like a conservative rebound for the camera industry. On today's show, we'll take a closer look at the trends, then report numbers and comments from our own community regarding potential purchases in 2021. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Camera Industry Fights Back

The most promising imaging division report was just published by Canon, reporting Q2 financial results credit its EOS R5, R6 mirrorless cameras for 101% YoY net sales increase.

The data In its investor relations presentation shows Canon's consumer camera division pulled in 112.1B yen ($1B) in net camera sales--more than double its 55.7B yen ($500M) in sales in the same quarter last year. Granted, Q2 FY2020 was when COVID-19 was hitting much of the world the hardest, this recovery is even better than Canon expected.

Canon attributes this growth to strong sales of its EOS R5 and R6 mirrorless cameras and has raised its full-year outlook 'to reflect solid demand.' Canon specifically references its growing RF lens lineup, which it says will be the 'driver' of growth in its full-year outlook.

Stepping back and looking at a broader picture, 135 CIPA's February data shows 2021 is shaping up to be a year of stabilization for the camera industry.

The YoY numbers are some of the best we've seen in a while from CIPA and the data backs up what some of the major camera companies have emphasized over the past years in their interviews and financial result presentations for investors; the camera market is beginning to stabilize as the drop-off at the lower end of the market has more or less reached a plateau and hobbyist and professional photographers--who are less likely to trade out their dedicated cameras for smartphones--are starting to once again make up the majority of the market.

Considering March 2020 is when the COVID-19 pandemic really started to impact the global economy, contextualizing the rest of CIPA's 2021 data will prove to be more difficult. Specifically, we're going to see high YoY numbers for both production and shipments, due to both being limited in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in future reports we'll do our best to contextualize CIPA's data to ensure we have a solid macro-level view of the photography market.

So I decided to check in with our Inner Circle Members to see what their sentiments were concerning purchases in the second half of 2021. I think you'll find their opinions interesting.

Inner Circle Perspective - Are You Thinking About a New Camera in 2021

• 35 percent are considering a new mirrorless camera.
• 40 percent say that their current gear is just fine.
• 15 percent say that they are fine with their existing camera, but they are interested in a new lens.
• 10 percent are eyeing a new smartphone with advanced camera features.
• Zero percent are considering a new DSLR.

Some of the comments included:

"I own a few nice cameras and lenses and remind myself they are "good enough". If my iPhone X starts acting up, I won't hesitate to trade it in for an iPhone 12 Pro." - Scott.

"Unless Olympus does something irresistible camera-wise, I am awaiting the rumored new MacBooks with built-in SD card slots once again. That's probably where my $$ will go. I am lens-heavy at this so I don't "need" anything, but...well, you know. Lol" -Karen."

A Few Takeaways

The first thing that jumped out at me is No DSLR plans. Zero. Next, I'm impressed by Canon's rebound. And third, the Inner Circle comments remind just how diverse our gear list is. We need to balance everything from our cameras, to computers, to smartphones, plus software and subscription fees. It adds up.

In other words, there is a lot of competition for our disposable budget. I predict that 2021 will continue to be a relatively thrifty year for our audience.

2 New Openings for the Oregon Coast Workshop

Sometimes real life gets in the way of our fun, and that's been the case for two of our signed up members for the Oregon Coast Workshop.

The event runs from Nov. 9-12, with our HQ based in Florence, Oregon. I'm co-leading the event with Scott Davenport, and participation is limited to 10 photographers.

If you want to reserve a spot by placing a deposit, go to Our Workshop Page on TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Mastering Capture One Pro 21 Online Workshop

We have two seats open for Mastering Capture One Pro 21 Online Workshop that begins on Aug. 4, 2021.

We will cover best practices for using this app, plus all of the new tools and goodies that have been recently introduced. All of the sessions are recorded and made available to workshop participants.

Also, if you visit our TDS Workshops Page, you'll see a variety of topics including the new IR workshop.

And remember, Patreon Members get a $15 discount on this already affordable workshop.

466 Metadata from Olympic photographer's photos suggests the EOS R3 will have a 24MP sensor

You can read the entire article here on DP Review.

Jeff Cable, a photographer covering the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, appears to have accidentally shared the sensor resolution of Canon's forthcoming EOS R3 mirrorless camera

To date, Canon has announced the EOS R3 is in development and even shown off the body of the camera, but it hasn't yet revealed what specifications we'll find from the hardware inside the camera. However, we might have at least one piece of the puzzle thanks to Cable, who has been testing out Canon's unreleased EOS R3 camera at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

On a blog where Cable is sharing his photos from his time covering the Olympics, he's uploaded a few images that still have that metadata attached. As spotted by members of Canon Rumors' forums, this metadata can be read by the Chrome plugin EXIF Viewer Pro, which shows at least some of the images were taken by a Canon EOS R3 camera and have a resolution of 6,000 pixels by 4,000 pixels -- the image size coming from a 24MP sensor.

This isn't necessarily confirmation Canon's EOS R3 mirrorless camera will have a 24MP sensor, but the data is there to see and appears to be legitimate so far as we can tell (we have been able to confirm the metadata in the images). DPReview has contacted Canon for a comment on the matter, but no response has been received as of the time of publishing this article.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.) We have a new poll on the Patreon site for our members: Are You Looking to Buy a New Camera in 2021? Be sure to stop by and chime in.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #801, July 27, 2021. Today's theme is "The 5 Photo Tips We Seem to Forget." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

One of the great things about hanging around other photographers, as I've been doing during the online workshops, is that they remind you of things that we sometimes forget. This latest batch comes complements of the Ultimate B&W Workshop that we just wrapped up on Saturday. I think you'll get a kick out of these. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

The 5 Photo Tips We Seem to Forget

I have this running joke with photography: If there are 10 things to remember for a successful picture, and I forget just one of them, I'm usually disappointed with the shot.

That doesn't leave us a very wide margin of error. These next five are perfect examples.

5 Things to Remember

• Resetting the ISO to Auto after jacking it up to 6400.
• Shading the front of my lens when shooting in the direction of the sun.
• Remembering to shoot a little wide and crop to taste in post.
• Acknowledging that it's not good enough just to carry an extra battery, but knowing that it must be recharged as well.
• Not forgetting that B&W mode solves every color problem and can be a fix for harsh midday lighting as well.

2 Seats Open for Mastering Capture One Pro 21 Online Workshop

We have two seats open for Mastering Capture One Pro 21 Online Workshop that begins on Aug. 4, 2021.

We will cover best practices for using this app, plus all of the new tools and goodies that have been recently introduced. All of the sessions are recorded and made available to workshop participants.

Also, if you visit our TDS Workshops Page, you'll see a variety of topics including the new IR workshop.

And remember, Patreon Members get a $15 discount on this already affordable workshop.

Instagram's Shift in Focus Is a Reminder of the Risk in Building Businesses on Someone Else's Land

You can read the entire article here on FStoppers.

With the news that Instagram's focus has shifted to be far less centered around images, many photographers who have spent years building their following and brand on the app are left out in the cold. This isn't the first, nor will it be the last time you are reminded of the dangers of building a large part of your business on someone else's platform.

When Instagram launched a decade ago, it would have been difficult to predict that it would evolve into anything that wasn't centered around photographs. At first, I wasn't particularly interested in the app -- it seemed like a niche platform you could take photographs and put filters over the top of them, rather than something aimed at photographers -- but, I was eventually lured into trying it. It was restrictive (square crop only) but enjoyable, and the algorithms that dictated your success and views were intuitive. I became a little obsessed with getting more followers and more likes, which can be seen as a negative reaction, but its impact on my desire to create more and better images was positive at least.

Over the last few years, however, I have grown increasingly disillusioned with the app, to the point where I no longer post to it. Where once I was getting clients and growing analytics, a change from the chronological feed, followed by myriad other prescriptive alterations to who sees what meant it became frustrating and demotivating. I more or less gave up on using Instagram altogether, but that's because I didn't get particularly "big" to begin with. Photographers with six-figure (or more) followings could still harness it to make money and get unimaginable exposure. So, what's the problem?

Instagram has openly stated that they are moving away from photo sharing and photography, with a stronger focus on the more contemporary desires of social media users.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.) We have a new poll on the Patreon site for our members: Are You Looking to Buy a New Camera in 2021? Be sure to stop by and chime in.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #800, July 20, 2021. Today's theme is "Introduction to Infrared Photography." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Mysterious, wonderful, sometimes psychedelic, infrared photography can both marvel and baffle photographers at the same time. If you've been curious about IR, consider today's show an introduction to help you decide if this is the next new frontier for you. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Before we get into the meat of today's show, I just have to say this: 800 episodes!

Introduction to Infrared Photography

The IR spectrum lives beyond how we normally view the world of visible light. But we can pull back the curtain and take a peek with our cameras and a simple IR filter. Once you do that however, you may get hooked. Infrared photography is one of the most fascinating explorations for visual artists.

I thought a good way to get us started is by leading a Q&A session. These questions have come up repeatedly during my IR workshops, and my guess is that many of them would be of interest to you as well.

Infrared Q&A

• Do I need a special camera to make IR photos?
• If I did want to get a modified camera for IR, what should I look for?
• Why do the colors sometimes look so weird in IR photography?
• Will my camera focus properly when capturing infrared?
• What's the best software to process infrared photos?

Workshop Swap for September

I'm adding a Infrared Photography Workshop for Sept. 22, 2021, replacing the ON1 Effects event that was originally planned for that time slot.

If you visit our TDS Workshops Page, you'll see a variety of topics including the new IR workshop.

TTArtisan releases $150 7.5mm F2 fisheye APS-C lens for 7 camera mounts

You can read the entire article here on DP Review.

TTartisans has released a new 7.5mm F2 fisheye lens for a long list of mirrorless camera systems.

The lens is constructed of 11 elements in eight groups, including two low-dispersion elements and three high-refractive index elements. It features a minimum focusing distance of 12.5cm (5"), uses a seven-blade aperture diaphragm and has an aperture range of F2 through F11. Due to the front element extending beyond the front of the lens, no filters can be used without third-party adapters.

The lens is available for Canon EOS-M, Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Leica L, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon Z and Sony E mount camera systems. However, due to it being an APS-C lens, full-frame cameras will need to be used in crop shooting mode or crop in in post-production to avoid a circle vignetting.

TTArtisan doesn't mention physical measurements, but does note the lens weighs between 343-370g (12-13oz), varying based on the lens mount version you choose. The TTArtisan 7.5mm F2 fisheye lens is available from TTArtisan's online shop for $149 in each of the aforementioned mounts. The first orders will ship out on July 21, 2021.

Nikon Says Z fc Shipments Will Be Slow, Delays 28mm f/2.8 Kit Indefinitely

You can read the entire article here on Petapixel.

Nikon has announced that while it intends to begin shipping Nikon Z fc cameras on schedule starting July 23, it does not have the supply to meet all demand. Additionally, overwhelming numbers of orders for the 28mm f/2.8 special edition kit have forced the company to delay it indefinitely.

The "Z fc 28mm f / 2.8 Special Edition Kit," which is scheduled to be released in late July 2021, has received a large number of reservations beyond expectations, and due to the delay in parts supply, the supply amount is sufficient for release. Is not expected to be available. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the release. We will inform you of the release date as soon as it is confirmed.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to customers who are waiting for our products. We will do our utmost to deliver the product as soon as possible, and we appreciate your understanding.

A shortage of parts, likely caused by the global silicon shortage and the AKM factory fire last year, has resulted in extremely slow production from Nikon and other camera manufacturers over the last year. At the time, AKM factory leadership expected to be able to rebuild and restart production quickly, but the company was only able to start the recovery process in April of this year -- six months after the fire. It will be some time before AKM is able to return to its former manufacturing level. The lack of parts combined with Nikon shuffling its own factories has likely exacerbated the production issue for the camera company. Just like with AKM, it may be a while before Nikon is able to return to full manufacturing capacity.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #799, July 13, 2021. Today's theme is "The Return of the Glovebox Camera." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I've found myself taking more and more pictures with the iPhone, if for no other reason, it's my most readily available camera. And it occurred to me, that since I do have a car, why not have one of my other cameras more accessible as well? I did this before smartphones, and I think it's time to revisit the concept. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

The Return of the Glovebox Camera

It's amazing how many wonderful things I see through my car windows. I know part of it is because of where I live in Sonoma County. And part of it is because life is endlessly interesting.

My iPhone is always there by my side, and much of what I capture when I'm on the go is with it. But lately, I've had this feeling, that no matter how good the iPhone is, I'm missing some opportunities to capture different pictures with my camera. And so I've revisited the idea of keeping one in the car with me.

Now I know the first thing you're thinking: "Derrick is that really a good idea?" My theory is how you implement it. Here are the ground rules that I'm using.

Glovebox Camera Ground Rules

• Out of site, but accessible.
• Bring with me when exiting the car whenever possible.
• Never leave it in there on a hot day.
• Keep it in a nimble case with a shoulder strap.
• Keep the car locked at all times.

Modern Cars Make this Easier and More Fun

My camera actually lives in the center console with a sliding door cover. My iPhone (with wireless charging pad) and two USB-C ports are in there as well.

Lately, I've been keeping the Fujifilm X100V in there. It fits nicely in my Lowepro pouch with shoulder strap. And because it accepts USB charging via USB-C, I can refresh the battery in-between shoots right there at the console.

After just a week with this setup, I can tell you that I love it. I still shot plenty with my iPhone, but now I have a second option that I truly enjoy. And it's nice to be capturing more images with a device other than a smartphone.

Workshop Swap for September

I'm adding a Infrared Photography Workshop for Sept. 22, 2021, replacing the ON1 Effects event that was originally planned for that time slot.

If you visit our TDS Workshops Page, you'll see a variety of topics including the new IR workshop.

Enhance Your B&W Photos with New Silver Efex 3

All through its journey from Nik, to Google, to DxO, Silver Efex has more or less remained the same. That wasn't really a problem however because it's good. And much like a black tux that never goes out of style, so remained my favorite application for digital black and white photography.

Then along came Silver Efex 3, and truly, a good thing got better. This new version released by DxO updated the interface, added presets, now includes DxO's ClearView technology, and made the control points easier to use. If you work with Tiff files, you have the option to retain all of the edits so you can return to the image and pick up where you left off.

Two Basic Workflows

You can use Silver Efex as a standalone app or as a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. I tried it with Capture One Pro, and it behaved like it knew what to do, but in the end the experiment failed. (In fact, make sure Capture One Pro is not open when working with Silver Efex 3 or it will muck up your workflow.) I also could not get it to work with the Creative Cloud version of Lightroom or Photos for macOS. So that left me with Photoshop for roundtripping. Ugh.

As a standalone, the app works well. I recommend exporting the file from your photo management app as a Tiff so you can return to the project and retain your edits. Silver Efex will also accept Jpegs, but without the nifty return-to-edit feature. No RAW files of any type are accepted.

The Bottom Line

Silver Efex Pro 3 remains a quirky application. The workflow is limited compared to other apps, and you have to spend a little time getting inside its head. But if you love black and white photography, it's still the premier tool for creating stunning monochrome and duotone images.

Silver Efex 3 is part of the entire Nik Collection, currently on sale for $99.

Photographers Covering the Olympics Faced With Mounting Challenges

You can read the entire article here on Petapixel.

The 2020 Olympics is set to officially begin on July 23, 2021 and while the Olympic committee is forging ahead with the event, photographers are being saddled with challenges that will make documenting it harder than ever before. As the Olympics inch closer, the pandemic looms large.

As the event inches closer it is clear that preparations are not going smoothly. Photographer Jeff Cable will be arriving on the ground on July 20 and has written a detailed blog about the evolving situation that is taking place, even now. Additionally, he spoke to PetaPixel and explained that at least for him, a team of one, the situation is thus far hectic and at times, confusing.

"I leave for Tokyo in a week and a half and I do so with very mixed emotions. Normally I am super excited to get to the Olympic city and start my preparation for the three-week adventure," he says. "But this time around is really different. I am still excited to go, but this is also mixed with the apprehension of an Olympics with major pandemic precautions."

Cable says that in preparations for the event, communication has been challenging as the situation has been changing rapidly and sometimes without warning. For example, before last week some fans were expected to be in attendance. But last Thursday, it was suddenly announced that there will be no fans at all at any of the Olympic events.

Additionally, Cable says that there has been a slew of different forms that he has needed to fill out, return, and keep log as the Olympic organizers aren't tracking who has submitted what application.

Neither Japan nor the Olympic Committee is requiring vaccinations to attend the events, either. While he and other photographers were asked if they had been vaccinated, that information was not being disseminated and it does not appear to affect how the photographers will be treated in travel to the island nation. The Olympics appear to be operating as if no one is vaccinated, and the organizers are attempting to get everyone into a "bubble" to avoid any possible transmissions of the virus.

Cable, who is fully vaccinated, has been instructed to get multiple COVID tests before boarding the plane and will also be required to take more upon arrival in Japan and intermittently through his time there for at least two weeks.

The number of precautions and tests is in response to a rising COVID infection rate in the country. According to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, Japan reported 2,032 new cases of the virus on July 11, the most since June 6. the number of new cases in the country has been trending upwards since June 21.

As a result, Japan has entered into a new state of emergency as of July 12, and opinion polls have consistently shown that the Japanese public has major concerns about holding the international event amidst a growing wave of infections, Reuters reports.

But the Olympics are unlikely to be canceled, and instead, more restrictions are likely to be imposed on those making the journey.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #798, July 6, 2021. Today's theme is "The Nikon Z fc: Brilliant or Brain Freeze?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

For those of us who love classic Nikon film cameras, it's hard not to have an impulse-buy reaction when first setting eyes on the new Nikon Z fc with heritage 28mm lens. But since we've learned that it will take a while for Nikon to get these out the door, we have the luxury of analyzing just how brilliant, or not, this camera is. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

The Nikon Z fc: Brilliant or Brain Freeze?

The just-announced Nikon Z fc Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28mm Lens is a 21 MP, cropped sensor beauty that looks a lot like the classic FM3 complete with machined dials and a heritage designed 28mm lens.

For many of us who have loved Nikon film cameras, the first impulse is, "I must have this!" But as we delve into the specs, the debate becomes a bit more balanced. Let's start with two lists: the things I like, and what could be improved.

Things I Like

• I love its looks!
• The classic 28mm lens is handsome and affordable.
• It's nimble, so I don't mind the APS-C sensor (DX-Format).
• The 3" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen that folds inward.
• ISO 100-51200, Up to 11 fps Shooting.
• Time-lapse movies.
• 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder.
• Capable HD and 4K movie recording chops.
• Robust magnesium alloy chassis is both dust- and weather-resistant .
• Live streaming and web conferencing via separately purchased USB Type-C cable.
• 3.5mm mic jack.
• 100 to 51200 ISO
• -4 to 17 EV metering range.

What Could Be Improved

• No built-in flash.
• No ultrasonic sensor cleaner.
• No sensor-based image stabilization.
• Single Slot SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I).
• No MF/AF focusing mode switch.

Final Verdict

I'm still looking forward to shooting with the Nikon Z fc once I receive my review copy. And that physical experience my overcome a few of my disappointments.

I think Nikon missed a big opportunity by not including IS and sensor cleaning. Had those two features been included, this could have been a no-brainer for me.

Also, there's not pathway, that I can tell, to use my classic AI-S optics on this body, which would have been a real deal closer, especially with IS. Ken Rockwell writes, "Use the FTZ adapter and it should work with most [Nikon] DSLR AF-S lenses, but won't autofocus with AF or AF-D screw-focus lenses, and works very poorly with manual-focus AI and AI-s lenses." Hmmm, that is a bummer at best.

So in my book, the Nikon Z fc is both brilliant for its design, and a brain freeze for its lack of obvious features. You can preorder it now for $1,196 with the 28mm lens..

Workshop Swap for September

I'm adding a Infrared Photography Workshop for Sept. 22, 2021, replacing the ON1 Effects event that was originally planned for that time slot.

If you visit our TDS Workshops Page, you'll see a variety of topics including the new IR workshop.

Great Music to Go - Get Together Mini Portable Bluetooth Speakers Review

I have collected many bluetooth speakers over the years so I can enjoy and share music when away from my home HiFi components. Usually, I will like one aspect (such as the sound), but not another, (such as the form factor). When I decided to try the Get Together Mini by House of Marley, I got everything I wanted in one package.

Really, Really Good Looks

By far, they are the most handsome portable speakers I've used. The outer case is a combination of natural, solid bamboo and unique "Rewind" fabric. Not only do they look great, they feel good when walking around with them in hand. (House of Marley builds eco-friendly products and ships them in 100 percent recyclable packaging.)

Excellent Sound

The Get Together Mini delivers on sound as well. I've been listening to Rebelution's latest album, In the Moment streaming from my iPhone to the speakers via bluetooth, and the music sounds amazing. Crisp, but not tinny, rich midtones and bass, but not muddy. I was sold on both the album and speakers immediately.

Plenty of Features

The Get Together Mini features:

• 2.5" Woofers, 1" Tweeters.
• 10 hours of playtime.
• Bluetooth technology allows your device to be up to 45 feet away from the speaker while still maintaining connection. Compatible with iOS and Android.
• Built-in microphone so you can use it as a speaker phone to take and make calls.
• Auxiliary input jack allows you to connect it to record players, TVs, and other audio devices.
• USB port that allows you to charge your phone and other USB devices.

Possible Issues

On the downside, some customers had complained that the mini-USB charging port had failed preventing them from refueling the rechargeable battery. I examined the port on my kit and gave it a good workout. So far it's holding up and seems solid. I have to say, I'm not a fan of mini-USB ports in general, and look forward to the day they are all replaced by the more dependable USB-C design. As for these speakers in particular, they seem solid.

One other user complaint was the audio cues that announce connecting and disconnecting from devices. I have other speakers that include this feature. I'm not a huge fan of the announcements either, but maybe I'm just used to them. You should be aware that House of Marley uses this technology as well.

Final Verdict

I'm hoping that my Get Together Mini speakers last a long time, because I really like them. They are super portable (the same width as my MacBook 13" laptop), sound great, connect easily, an look fantastic. You can buy the Get Together Mini by House of Marley for $149 with free shipping directly from their site.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras

Greg Croasdill recently wrote me this: "My father-in-law passed away recently and I would like to donate his film cameras to the Film Camera Shop. I've heard you speak of this for years on your podcast and now finally I have some good equipment to send you way."

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.

If it's a camera we can use for the shop, I'll send you a Donation Kit that includes a USPS Priority Mail shipping box and prepaid label. All you have to do is tape it up, insert the camera, and add the label. USPS will pick up your shipment from the front door of your house during their regular mail delivery. It's that simple!

Your donation help get analog gear in the hands of aspiring fine art photographers, and the proceeds help support this podcast.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #797, June 29, 2021. Today's theme is "A Workshop for Everyone." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

One of the biggest challenges we've had over the years is finding a way that every person who wanted to attend a workshop, could. We may have reached that point. On this week's show I'm going to outline our events for the next 12 months. We have a mix of online and physical events, and a good variety of topics as well. Hopefully good enough to have you join us and spend time with others from our community. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

A Workshop for Everyone

If you visit our TDS Workshops Page, you'll see a variety of topics and events that I'm predicting you'll find tempting. Let's take a closer look at what's on the docket.

Inner Circle Members Pump the Brakes on Podcast Sound Effects

If you were mildly annoyed by the canned audience applause and laughter last week, you were not along. In a recent poll of Inner Circle Members, 60 percent voted to eliminate them.

"I prefer the velvet tones of your voice without the sound effects; you have a fantastic 'radio voice' with a lot of warmth, humor and inflection."

20 percent thought they were fun, but to be used with restraint.

"Very occasional use of sound effects might be OK, for instance applause to announce a new workshop or release of an anticipated camera or lens, but if you're doing it more than a few times a year it's probably too much (IMO)."

And the final 20 percent thought it was OK to continue to sprinkle the effects throughout the show.\

"Sprinkling in sound effects can be entertaining on a limited basis. Kind of reminds me of old time radio shows."

I promise to try to be better behaved moving forward. And thanks to our Inner Circle Members for helping to keep this show on track and moving in the right direction.

Peak Design's latest camera bag is barely big enough for a camera!

You can read the entire article on Digital Camera World.

Meet the Field Pouch V2: an ultra-compact camera bag for when you want to travel really, really light

Peak Design, renowned for its innovative and high quality camera bags, has introduced the second incarnation of its Peak Design Field Pouch. The Field Pouch V2 is an ultra-compact camera pouch designed to carry daily essentials like your phone, a notebook, keys, spare batteries or a couple of filters - ideal for summer weather when you'd rather not store such items in a coat.

A compact camera or a small mirrorless body with an attached pancake lens could fit inside, while a larger camera can be mounted to the outside of the Field Pouch V2 via Peak Design's Capture Clip quick release camera clip attachment (sold separately).

The bag features two clip mounting points, along with an improved pocket layout over the original Field Pouch. All fabrics are recycled, including the soft felt internal lining and waterproof 400D exterior nylon. A clever roll top flap opening enables quick access to your kit, plus it also allows the bag to expand to up to double its minimum volume so you can choose to carry more gear or alternatively eliminate unused space..

Inside, 8 stretch pockets, zip pockets and stretchy cords keep smaller items in place and organised. An included strap enables you to carry the bag on your shoulder or as a sling, but the Field Pouch V2 is also designed to be used as a secondary bag within a larger backpack so you can organize smaller items and stop them rattling around, potentially damaging a camera or lenses.

You can order the bag for $44.95.

New Release: Capture One Pro 21 Essential Training

Capture One Pro is a complete digital photo management and editing application for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts. Photographers who appreciate outstanding RAW processing, expert color control, and logical organization should consider Capture One Pro for its comprehensive feature set. In this course, professional photographer and instructor Derrick Story helps you learn the basics quickly, then takes you deeper into the application to master its finer points. For seasoned users, Derrick also covers all the new features in version 21, including Speed Edit, the Dehaze slider, and Style Brushes that allow you to enhance specific areas of a photo. To wrap up, he shares tips and techniques that can help you ensure your workflow is as efficient as possible.

You can check it out now by visiting LinkedIn Learning.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras

Greg Croasdill recently wrote me this: "My father-in-law passed away recently and I would like to donate his film cameras to the Film Camera Shop. I've heard you speak of this for years on your podcast and now finally I have some good equipment to send you way."

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.

If it's a camera we can use for the shop, I'll send you a Donation Kit that includes a USPS Priority Mail shipping box and prepaid label. All you have to do is tape it up, insert the camera, and add the label. USPS will pick up your shipment from the front door of your house during their regular mail delivery. It's that simple!

Your donation help get analog gear in the hands of aspiring fine art photographers, and the proceeds help support this podcast.

Virtual Camera Club News

0 Seats Remaining for Our Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop - July 2021.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #796, June 22, 2021. Today's theme is "Digital Teleconverters Are Better than You Might Think." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Thank you so much! Humans can have amazing memory when it comes to bad things. A linger disdain for dogs because one chased you in second grade, or a bias against digital teleconverters because you zoomed out to 10X in 2005 and were horrified by the results. But things change, and this week we're going to revisit the modest, but useful 2X teleconverter that may be languishing in your mirrorless camera. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Digital Teleconverters Are Better than You Might Think

Image on the left captured with a 2X digital teleconverter on a Fujifilm X100V. Image on the right is the RAW file from the same camera.

Today I'm going to talk about the joy of digital teleconverters (pause with laughter). No, I'm serious!

I'll start with a story from Father's Day. (Tell the story of taking pictures at the Presidio in San Francisco.)

So I dashed out the door with the Fujifilm X100V and my iPhone 12 Pro Max in my pocket.

On our walk along Crisy Field, I notice a nice view of the Palace of Fine Arts with the San Francisco skyline in the background. I composed the shot with my X100V, but the lens was just too wide for the composition that I wanted. So I used the built-in digital teleconverter set to 70mm.

This digital teleconverter, like the 2X on my Olympus cameras, provides the magnification at the native resolution. So, if the RAW file is 26MP, so is the magnified Jpeg. (Footnote about the firmware improvement that allows you to use this function in RAW+Jpeg mode.) If you want a true safety net, then shoot RAW+Jpeg and record the scene with each version.

Back home, I opened both images in Capture One Pro, cropped both the RAW file and the magnified Jpeg to the same proportions, and compared the two files. Here's what I observed.

• The cropped Jpeg measured 5,479 x 3,331, giving me ample resolution to print and play with. The cropped RAW file measured 2,748 x 1,755, which is fine for web work, but not much beyond.
• At Fit in Window magnification, the two files looked equally sharp. It would be difficult to tell the difference.
• At 200 percent magnification, the Jpeg held its own compared to the RAW file at 400 percent magnification, which was needed to provide the same framing. The Jpeg had a bit more smearing of detail, and the RAW had some pixelation due to its magnification.
• Another difference I could tell between the files was the tonal gradation was a little smoother with the RAW file, than with the Jpeg. But this would likely happen without any magnification is is just the difference between these two formats.
• The RAW does provide access to tools such as defringing and RAW sharpening that are not available for the Jpegs.

I've posted the full size comparison files on my Flickr account, so you can download them and look for yourself. But the bottom line is, the Fujifilm digital converter gave me the reach that I wanted, but at a small real world cost quality wise.

Canon Rebuffs Rumors That Its R3 Sensor is Made by Sony

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.

Since Canon's initial development announcement for the EOS R3, rumors have swirled that the company -- despite its statement otherwise -- was not the manufacturer of the backside illuminated sensor at its core. A report published on June 17 stated factually that the R3 sensor is made by Sony, and Canon has responded.

As PetaPixel reported on April 13, Canon stated that the upcoming EOS R3 sensor "will feature Canon's first-ever full-frame backside-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor that it designed in-house."

Nearly a month after Canon's R3 development announcement, Canon News and Canon Watch noticed that some language had been adjusted on Canon UK's website. What once stated "designed and manufactured by Canon" was adjusted to "developed by Canon." This was the first in a set of reports that would surmise that Canon was not the maker of the sensor.

On June 17, these rumors finally culminated in a story published on EOSHD that definitively stated based on documentation of a new Sony sensor -- the IMX554DQC -- the EOS R3 sensor would not be made by Canon but instead would be a Sony product.

Editor's note: After publication, the EOSHD report was edited. The below quotes are from the original story.

Olympus Lens Sale Ends June 27

There's less than a week left for the summer Olympus Lens Sale that includes free 2-day shipping for orders over $100 and 45-day returns.

Most optics are discounted between $50 and $100, but a few of the premium lenses were marked-down $150.

New Release: Capture One Pro 21 Essential Training

Capture One Pro is a complete digital photo management and editing application for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts. Photographers who appreciate outstanding RAW processing, expert color control, and logical organization should consider Capture One Pro for its comprehensive feature set. In this course, professional photographer and instructor Derrick Story helps you learn the basics quickly, then takes you deeper into the application to master its finer points. For seasoned users, Derrick also covers all the new features in version 21, including Speed Edit, the Dehaze slider, and Style Brushes that allow you to enhance specific areas of a photo. To wrap up, he shares tips and techniques that can help you ensure your workflow is as efficient as possible.

You can check it out now by visiting LinkedIn Learning.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras

Greg Croasdill recently wrote me this: "My father-in-law passed away recently and I would like to donate his film cameras to the Film Camera Shop. I've heard you speak of this for years on your podcast and now finally I have some good equipment to send you way."

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.

If it's a camera we can use for the shop, I'll send you a Donation Kit that includes a USPS Priority Mail shipping box and prepaid label. All you have to do is tape it up, insert the camera, and add the label. USPS will pick up your shipment from the front door of your house during their regular mail delivery. It's that simple!

Your donation help get analog gear in the hands of aspiring fine art photographers, and the proceeds help support this podcast.

Virtual Camera Club News

0 Seats Remaining for Our Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop - July 2021.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #795, June 15, 2021. Today's theme is "The Breathtaking Perspective of Ultra-Wide Lenses." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

We all have our favorite optics, and often we begin a photoshoot with our comfortable old friend of lens. But, before you pack up and move on to the next location, I encourage you to break out your widest optic as well. In today's TDS Photography Podcast, I'll tell you why and an easy way to bring ultra wide into you life. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

The Breathtaking Perspective of Ultra-Wide Lenses

Last week, Olympus announced their new Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO Lens ($1,099). At its widest end, this zoom gives you an effective focal length of 16mm. And that's a perspective worth exploring.

Why, you might ask? I'll share a real life example. We had some beautiful clouds this morning in Sonoma County, and I've had my eye on this barn I wanted to photograph when the conditions were right. Today was that day.

Fujifilm GFX 100S with GF 50mm lens. Photos by Derrick Story.

So I dashed out the door with the Fujifilm GFX 100s with the GF 50mm lens and my iPhone in my pocket.

After about 15 minutes of intense photography, I took a deep breath knowing that I had captured some frames that I was going to really like. The 40mm equivalent of the GF 50mm was a comfortable focal length for composition. And with the great lighting and active sky, I was feeling a definite "mission accomplished" sense of well being.

But before I left the site to return to the studio, I pulled out my iPhone 12 Pro Max and fired up the Ultra Wide camera. It has an equivalent focal length of 13mm, and I thought I might be able to capture something wonderful with it as well.

The Ultra-Wide Camera on an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

After reviewing the entire shoot on my MacBook Pro, I was indeed happy with the Fujifilm shots. But my eye kept wandering back to the two ultra wides I had captured as well. I opened up my favorite of the two and spent a couple minutes enhancing it. And lo and behold, I sprang to life.

So much so, it's my favorite of the shoot. That is the breathtaking perspective of an ultra wide lens.

So, what do I look for in these optics? Three things:

• A focal length of at least 20mm.
• Size that is compact enough to always have with me.
• I prefer that it not be a fisheye, but I don't rule those out either. In other words, I prefer rectilinear and distortion mild.

Before I had the iPhone 12, I carried the Olympus Fisheye Body Cap 9mm f/8 Lens ($99). Even though it's a fisheye, I used that rendering to my advantage and have come away with some wonderful images over the years.

I also have the Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 UMC Fisheye MFT Lens ($229). It's a very nice manual focusing lens for MFT that provides a very wide perspective.

So dig around in your lens stash and retrieve the widest optic that you have available. On your next shoot, pull it out, try to keep the subject plane and camera plane parallel, and add an entirely new perspective to the shoot.

You just may find the results: breathtaking!

Venus Optics' new $549 7.5mm F2 MFT lens now has electronic aperture control

You can read the entire article on DP Review.

Venus Optics has announced an updated version of its Laowa 7.5mm F2 Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens that has electronic aperture control and an onboard chip for transferring metadata from the lens to the camera.

As for dimensions, the lens comes in at 3mm (.12") larger in diameter and 7mm shorter (.28") than the manual version. Also, despite adding the electronic aperture control and onboard CPU chip, Venus Optics managed to reduce the lens' weight to 150g (5.3oz), down from the 170g (6oz) weight of the manual version.

The Laowa 7.5mm F2 lens with electronic aperture control is available to order on Venus Optics' website for $549. You can view a gallery of full-sized sample images on Venus Optics' Flickr album.

New Release: Capture One Pro 21 Essential Training

Capture One Pro is a complete digital photo management and editing application for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts. Photographers who appreciate outstanding RAW processing, expert color control, and logical organization should consider Capture One Pro for its comprehensive feature set. In this course, professional photographer and instructor Derrick Story helps you learn the basics quickly, then takes you deeper into the application to master its finer points. For seasoned users, Derrick also covers all the new features in version 21, including Speed Edit, the Dehaze slider, and Style Brushes that allow you to enhance specific areas of a photo. To wrap up, he shares tips and techniques that can help you ensure your workflow is as efficient as possible.

You can check it out now by visiting LinkedIn Learning.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras

Greg Croasdill recently wrote me this: "My father-in-law passed away recently and I would like to donate his film cameras to the Film Camera Shop. I've heard you speak of this for years on your podcast and now finally I have some good equipment to send you way."

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.

If it's a camera we can use for the shop, I'll send you a Donation Kit that includes a USPS Priority Mail shipping box and prepaid label. All you have to do is tape it up, insert the camera, and add the label. USPS will pick up your shipment from the front door of your house during their regular mail delivery. It's that simple!

Your donation help get analog gear in the hands of aspiring fine art photographers, and the proceeds help support this podcast.

Virtual Camera Club News

0 Seats Remaining for Our Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop - July 2021.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have more than 25 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

EV Explorers for Those Who Are Interested in Electric Cars: I've created a new group on DerrickStoryOnline titled EV Explorers. The tagline for this group is: "Bringing Curiosity and Nimbleosity to the World of Electric Vehicle Transportation." Here we can share information, tips, discoveries and more about using electric vehicles for our photography adventures. If you want to join this group, click on this link for an invite. We're going to keep this as a private group for now, but you are invited to join us.

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.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.