This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,067, Sept. 1, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Last Time I Used a Tripod." I'm Derrick Story.

Last Thursday night I was standing in a school parking lot with the Sony RX10 around my neck preparing to take pictures of the lunar eclipse. As I was waiting for a break in the clouds, I wondered, "When is the last time I used a tripod?" It's a question that says a lot about cameras these days, and it's the top story of this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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The Last Time I Used a Tripod

Normally, when photographing a lunar eclipse, I wouldn't be using a Sony RX10 V with a 1" sensor. But I have this unit on loan and wanted to see how far I could push it.

If you want to read the entire story about this endeavor, with photos of the event itself, check out my Live View article, How Far Can You Push a 1" Sensor.

Traditionally speaking, the camera choice wasn't the most unusual thing that evening. The fact that I had no tripod with me, was.

The last time I photographed the eclipse was May 2021. We were in the middle of the COVID pandemic and standing out in the chilly night air at 4:30 in the morning was one of the few photo activities available at the time.

I remember getting ready for the shoot. I selected my Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 zoom and mounted the rig on one of my tripods. The ISO was set at 1600 for a 1/15th of a second exposure. Fortunately, the sky was clear that night and I got a great shot. It's hanging on the wall at home.

That wasn't the last time I used a tripod, however. Later that year, in November, we were photographing the Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast at dusk. Everyone was using telephotos and long exposures, including me. I don't remember which tripod I had, but I did need one to get the effect I wanted.

After that, there was a long stretch without my 3-legged friend. Then, in September 2025, a former client of mine asked my to shoot executive portraits for her current employer. I wasn't taking on business assignments any more, but I agreed to help as a favor. She had been a great client for years.

We set up in a back room at their offices. I had a backdrop, four lights, and yes, a tripod. Business head shots was the only time I used tripods for portraits because we were usually shooting many different subjects in a short period of time, and it was more efficient having everything dialed in and locked down. The portraits looked great.

And I think that was the last time I used a tripod.

Quite honestly, I don't enjoy using them. I came up through the ranks as a photojournalist. After that, I started my own business photographing weddings and events. These days it's outdoor life, street photography, and workshops. None of those situations require tripods.

The amazing image stabilization in my OM System cameras have further distanced me from the three-legged beast. Not to mention computational magic like Live ND. The Nikon Zf also has great sensor-based IS. And I really like traveling light and working fast.

Now don't get me wrong: I'm not anti-tripod. Some of my best friends use them. And generally for good reason. It's difficult to line up the perfect architecture shot without them.

But they're just not for me. I've had a Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod in the back of my ID.4 for a year that I haven't pulled out once. Even it, in all of its beautiful nimbleosity, is ignored.

So, going back to Thursday night, standing in the school parking lot looking up at the solar eclipse, it was just me and my two legs. I jacked the ISO up to 12,800, extended the telephoto to 300 mm at f/4, held the camera steady, and fired away whenever I could get a glimpse of the moon peaking at me behind the light cloud cover.

The next morning, I updated Lightroom so it could decode the RX10 V RAW files, applied Denoise to my favorite shot and wrote an article about the adventure.

The technology we have on both sides of the photographic equation - capture and post processing - is amazing. I can't believe that I came away with a publishable shot that evening.

Maybe someday I'll put that Peak Design Tripod to use. Maybe.

This Week in the News

Ricoh confirms hotly-anticipated "x" version of the GR IV enthusiast compact as featured on DPReview.com

OM System Teases New Pen Series Camera Launch on September 9 as featured on PetaPixel.com

Mark your calendars: Apple's next event is September 9th as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Compacts and APS-C mirrorless are the only growing camera categories - does this prove that price and portability beat picture quality? as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,066, August 25, 2026. Today's theme is, "Camping Out with the Sony RX10 V - A Field Review." I'm Derrick Story.

My short checklist for this week's campout was: Tent, check; Food, check; Sony RX10, check. I wanted to see if just one camera, with one (impressive) zoom lens, could capture everything I wanted during the trip. I was surprised by its performance, and that's what I'm going to talk about, along with the news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Camping Out with the Sony RX10 V - A Field Review

Camping in the Redwoods combined with a beautiful hike to the Pacific Ocean, provided a varied environment for putting the Sony RX10 V through its paces.

Outdoor life builds a pretty good argument for choosing the RX10. It's 24-600mm Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/2.4-4 zoom lens provides a lot of optical power for the 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor that's powered by the BIONZ XR Processing Engine with AI Chip. This means I could capture shady landscape shots in the Redwoods, then zoom the lens for coastline life along the Pacific Ocean. All of this horsepower fit into a midsized Lowepro Photo Active TLZ 45 AW Top-Loader camera bag (with room to spare), slung around my shoulder, and not slowing me down on the hike.

Other specs include:

• 3.69m-Dot Quad-VGA OLED EVF
• 3" 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• 30 fps Continuous Shooting
• AI-Powered Autofocus & Subject Tracking
• 4K60 Full-Pixel 4:2:2 10-Bit Video
• 3.69m-Dot Quad-VGA OLED EVF
• 3" 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• 30 fps Continuous Shooting

When I first unboxed the camera, it felt bigger and heavier than I expected. This wasn't unexpected in the sense that I had been using the Panasonic FZ300 as my bridge camera, which has the same reach, but a smaller sensor than the RX10. Bigger sensor requires bigger everything else.

But we have to keep things in perspective here. This is also the only camera and lens you are carrying. Period. The RX10 weighs 2 pounds total. And it measures 5.4" x 3.7" x 6". So as I carried it up hills and across valleys, I wasn't thinking about its heft at all. What I was happy about was the 24mm to 600mm Zeiss lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.4.

So, what about the pictures themselves? Most of my shots on the camping trip were between ISO 100 and 800. And they were beautiful. Noise was well-controlled, color was excellent, details were crisp.

Between ISO 800 and 1600 image quality was still quite good. There was a little noise, but in my shots it was mild. Beyond ISO 1600 most discriminating photographers would probably want a some noise reduction in post. This is where the smaller 1" sensor comes into play. But I have to say, definitely not a deal breaker.

As for usability, I have Pros and Cons.

Pros

Cons

• No built-in flash. Seems like in a body this size one could be integrated.
• The Tilting 3" Touchscreen LCD with 1,620,000 resolution is nice, but I've come to prefer a fully articulated LCD that can be folded with the screen against the camera body for protection. It's also easier for video recording.
• If you're not already a Sony shooter, the menus take some getting used to.
• I was a little surprised that when shooting with Auto ISO on, that the camera didn't increase the ISO setting for faster shutter speeds when zooming out to 600mms. In the future, I have to remember to manually increase the ISO for long telephoto work.
• The $2,298 price tag. I realize everything is more expensive these days, but I feel that this camera should have been more in the $1,999 price range.

Bottom Line

It's great to have an updated long telephoto bridge camera available, and the Sony RX10 V is a good one. Terrific image quality at moderate ISOs, excellent autofocusing, nice handling, solid lens, and plenty of modern features such as USB-C, wireless connectivity, subject detection, and robust imaging pipeline.

What surprised me was that once I had the camera set up the way I like, how much I enjoyed shooting with it and not having to worry about lugging around a bunch of accessories and extra lenses.

Once you get used to the menu system and program the buttons and dials the way you like, it's an easy camera to use, especially for those who prefer to shoot in Aperture Priority.

The delay when you turn on the camera is a bit longer than I like, and it would be wonderful to have a built-in flash. But those are minor nits compared to what you get, which is a 2-pound imaging powerhouse that is a versatile tool for outdoor adventure.

If you're OK with the $2,298 price tag, and you want an all-in-one solution for hiking and camping, you should enjoy the RX10 V.

This Week in the News

Sony's Sensor Factory Is Back to Full Operation After Major Earthquake as featured on PetaPixel.com

Capture One Mobile 4.0 brings desktop-grade denoising and healing tools to iPhone and iPad as featured on DPReview.com

Photomator review: A digital darkroom with AI-powered photo-editing shortcuts as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

How Sony Went From Camera-Industry Outsider to a Full Frame Mirrorless Leader in About a Decade as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,065, August 18, 2026. Today's theme is, "Where Do You Go for Inspiration?" I'm Derrick Story.

Inspiration is a magical thing. The flow of creative energy moves us to work a little harder, go a little farther, and not settle as quickly for an average photograph. Sometimes we find ourselves in a zone where compositions present themselves where there had seemed to be nothing before. So where do we find this inspiration? I'll share my favorite tips on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Where Do You Go for Inspiration?

The easiest places to see the difference between inspired performances is in live music and sports. Watching a musician totally in the zone is an amazing experience. Seeing an athlete push beyond normal boundaries to achieve a victory can leave us awestruck.

Inspired performances are not limited to these venues, however. For photographers, they can happen anywhere, at anytime. But sometimes we need a little help jumpstarting the process. So if you find yourself needing a bit of a boost, here are some ideas for you.

Photography Books - I've found that if I pull photography books off the shelf and leave them lying around, I look at them more often. And when I do, I feel like I've opened a window to a new way of seeing the world. I'm not alone in this, others in our community feel the same way.

Lawrence M. says, "I have a large collection of books by famous 20th and 21st century photographers. When I am looking for inspiration, I open a book, flip through the pages, and can always find an inspiration. Sometimes new composition, sometimes new color combos, sometimes new subject matter, sometimes new ways to ditch color for black and white."

Tim W. Adds, "I just love photography books -- and enjoy both the photos (of course) as well as the writing in these volumes. Looking at the coffee table in front of me right now, I see books by Dorothea Lange, Joel Meyerowitz, Robert Adams and Cartier Bresson. That's just in reach right now, not the many that are on my bookshelves. I picked books for this survey simply because they are more readily accessible, but I also love museum shows. They are just not as easily "consumed" as books. More information is always better!"

Workshops and Live Presentations by Photographers - For me, the energy I feel when being in the same room with other photographers, or with a featured artist on stage, is quite powerful. Many times I've walked away from these experiences ready to go take pictures at that very moment. This is also a favorite source of inspiration for many in our community. Here's a couple comments from them.

John D. says, "I love attending photography workshops. Kinda puts me in the zone." John isn't alone. A third of our audience felt the same way about live presentations and workshops.

Museum Exhibitions - There's something about a great museum show - the great lighting, curation, low murmurs of other admirers. Every time I walk out of a museum featuring a great photographer, I'm re-energized about my chosen craft.

Michael B. says, "Seeing a collection of great photographs is truly motivating and moving. I have been fortunate to see several photography exhibits, but I have seen orders of magnitude more paintings than I have photos in museums so also want to highlight how inspirational seeing paintings has been for me. Seeing the powerful use of color in place of detail that Matisse excels at and the masterful representation of light in a Rembrandt portrait are both inspirational and formative in how I approach photography.

A fellow inner circle member once commented that a landscape photo I shared reminded him of paintings from the Hudson River School. I hadn't thought about it, but I always liked the romanticized landscapes from that movement so I had taken inspiration from those paintings as well. It was an amazingly insightful and inspiring comment!

Photography Online - There is a wealth of great imagery online, but there's also an abundance of frivolous content. I think the trick is finding websites and photographers that feature work you admire, and try to avoid the rabbit holes that sometimes pull us down and waste our time.

John. P has an interesting perspective on this: "I find a lot of inspiration in podcasts with artists about the process that goes into their work. Struggles, challenges and how they are inspired to do things.

In a similar way, documentaries about photographers and their work I like quite a bit. That medium allows you to not only see the photographs but also hear commentary, often from the artist, about the work. "In No Particular Hurry" about Saul Leiter is particularly good. Checking my DVR I still have "Out of Exile" about Fred Stein, "Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer" and "Paper and Glue" about JR are still there. I recently purchased "Tish" about Tish Murtha which was very good. On DVD I have "The Woodmans" about Francesca Woodman, "Finding Vivian Meier".

And speaking of movies, I do find them inspiring as well. One interesting technique that I do at home is hit the pause button on frames that I find particularly interesting. I'm often amazed at how beautifully composed these fleeting moments of cinema often are.

Regardless of where you find inspiration, the important thing is that you continue to seek it out. That flow of positive energy will infuse your own photography. Get out there and see something wonderful this week, then make something beautiful that just may inspire someone else.

This Week in the News

4 PHOTO BOOKS THAT SERIOUS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS KEEP GOING BACK TO as featured on thePhoblographer.com

Tickets for Fujifilm's New York Fujikina Event Cost $10 and Are on Sale Now as featured on PetaPixel.com

ON1's rebuilt noise reduction targets wildlife and astrophotography shooters who don't want a subscription as featured on DPReview.com

"It has never been about asking AI to replace creativity" - Skylum CEO reaffirms Luminar's commitment to photographers as featured on PetaPixel.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,064, August 11, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Conversation About Lightroom." I'm Derrick Story.

Having just completed two workshops with lots of lab work, I thought it would be a great idea to compare notes with Lightroom expert, Rob Knight, about the evolution of the software, how we can use those changes to improve our workflows, and how advanced techniques mean less work in front of the computer, not more. All of that on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

A Conversation About Lightroom

Rob Knight and I sit down and talk about the latest changes to Lightroom and how they can benefit the photographers in our community.

This Week in the News

Fujifilm Says the Quiet Part Out Loud: The Memory Crisis Is Coming for Cameras as featured on PetaPixel.com

Don't destroy your camera! If you want to photograph the eclipse in August, you NEED a solar eclipse filter as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,063, August 4, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Most Important New Camera Feature." I'm Derrick Story.

Is there a single feature that drives your decision when considering a new camera - that one thing that is a go/no go factor? I know what mine is, but I was curious about the thoughts from those in our community. So I asked them. And in the first segment of today's TDS Photography Podcast, I share what they have to say. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

The Most Important New Camera Feature

When I think about the features that drove my latest camera investment, it was clear the things I wanted, and those that I could not live without. And it got me thinking about the preferences of others. So I decided to find out by asking the question, "When considering a new camera, what is the number one feature at the top of your priority list?" Here's what our Inner Circle Members had to say.

A viewfinder of some sort is a must-have for me. I find value in a rear panel LCD for sure, but I don't want it as my only means of composing. Jim K.

The number one feature that I look for is image quality, which is a combination of dynamic range and megapixels. I will trade away megapixels to get better shadow detail in high dynamic range images. Dave K

At this point, all cameras are generally good in good light. High ISO performance is often the kicker for me, and it's why I use larger-sensor cameras. Rob K.

Even though Megapixels and IQ are important, I would have a tough time changing out thousands of dollars in glass. There would have to be a REAL good reason to switch, and I really don't see myself buying into a third lens system. Larry B.

Right now, I am using an OM-1 that works well for my needs. I did not upgrade to the OM-1 II because the change, in my opinion, did not justify the investment. If a new model features justify the investment, I will strongly consider an upgrade. I would not consider another camera brand as I have the OM lenses that I really like and they work well for me. Larry A.

Even though I checked the megapixel box, these are all important. Brand loyalty is a given, as I do not wish to re-invest in glass, either. Larry M.

Good new features are huge, but I'm also looking for a familiar interface so that years of finger memory don't go to waste. I guess that could go under brand loyalty but it's not a brand loyalty. When I switched from Canon to Sony 11 years ago, it was based in image quality. I put up with an inferior user experience to gain noticeable improvement in my images. That's less of an issue nowadays. Henry H.

I agree with Tim Griffy and Andrew Howe. It all depends. I'm not brand loyal, other than the expense of new lenses. When I went to mirrorless, I only had a few options because neither canon nor Nikon was playing in that sandbox yet. I checked out Olympus and Sony, but decided I like the feel and retro dials that Fuji was offering. Moving forward, keeping everything smaller will be a big factor if I think about changing. Jeff A.

I clicked "Body Size" to indicate smaller is better - my old E-PL5 + removable VF4 electronic viewfinder was probably the most enjoyable size I've owned, even nicer than the PEN-F. My OM-5 has been pretty good so far in size and has better autofocus. I have the Moab workshop coming up in October - should I consider different equipment? Would the 40mp Fuji X-E5 be a better fit for landscape? I plan to resist the temptation and instead hone my craft; learning a whole new system at the last minute seems unwise. The OM-5's high-res mode (50 or 80mp) is not a bad fit for a landscape challenge, and I've had great results by stitching up to 20 telephoto images. Overkill for printing but fun to zoom in on. Charlie W.

And for me? At the top of the list is body size. If the camera and lens get left home because they're too big, then I'm not going to get the return on my investment that I want.

Second on my list, an Electronic Viewfinder. If I want to compose off an LCD, I might as well use my iPhone. And speaking of LCDs, third on my list is one that is articulating. I find these far more useful than the fixed back models.

So, what's your number one feature? You can add your voice on our Facebook page or if you're an Inner Circle Member, chime in on the poll.

And thanks to everyone who participated!

This Week in the News

Best compact camera in 2026: perfect point-and-shoots for photos and video as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

Sony wants to buy Tamron. Nikon and Canon shooters should pay attention as featured on DPReview.com

The best AAA rechargeable batteries as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

The Sony RX10 V modernizes everything but its sensor performance. Does it matter? as featured on DPReview.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

The Panasonic LUMIX L10 is a versatile, travel-friendly semi-compact with a 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 Leica zoom and a Micro Four Thirds sensor. It performs well in a variety of situations.

The question is, will the L10 meet your needs in the situations that you photograph?

I've been working with it for a while now, and I've published a few articles that you may find helpful if you're considering this camera. Let's take a look.

Behind the Scenes with the Lumix L10 - Four days of exploration with Panasonic's Latest Camera.

I packed the L10 for a hot air balloon festival, street shooting, and even a peek in the backroom of a commercial brewery. Here are the images and my thoughts.

5 Things I Like About the Lumix L10 and 2 I Don't - Hands on with Panasonic's latest compact.

After a few weeks of shooting, the camera has scored many points with me. But there are still a couple of things I wish it had...

Why I Decided to Buy the Panasonic Lumix L10 - A non-perfect camera that will be perfect in many situations.

This is the article that I wrote after going through my own pros and cons exercise. Clearly, there were more pros.

The Bottom Line

The Panasonic LUMIX L10 is such an easy camera to like. It's light, powerful, and looks good too. I've already captured so many great moments with it, and have done so with a creative flair that would be hard to match with my iPhone or other cameras. For me, it's a keeper.

Photos by Derrick Story, captured with the Panasonic L10.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,062, July 28, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Lens on the Back Shelf." I'm Derrick Story.

Having just come off two workshops where participants experimented with gear and techniques outside of their comfort zone, I saw firsthand the wonderful, creative results that often follow. One technique along these lines that you can do at home is called the Lens on the Back of the Shelf. I'll tell you more about it on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

The Lens on the Back Shelf

I had been urging my workshop folks to try something new, either with gear or technique. So now that everyone has gone home, I've decided to do the same with the Lens on the Back of the Shelf exercise.

I went to the photo cabinet and dug around in the back. I found the Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 II optic. I had bought it on Kickstarter years ago when I was experimenting with shallow depth of field for Micro Four Thirds cameras.

It was an affordable optic, and well-made too. Its manual focusing ring was smooth and well-dampened. The click-less aperture ring was well-marked and easy to adjust. It has a beautiful, large front objective lens, a screw-in metal hood, and a depth of field scale in meters and feet.

Since I needed to photograph the Panasonic L10 for a Live View article I was working on, I decided to take the Kamlan for a spin. I could do the article shot first, then play around with the wide-aperture stuff for my experimental fun.

I mounted the 50mm f/1.1 on my OM System OM-1 and switched to manual exposure mode. It was like looking into another world. For the product shot of the L10 I had to stop all the way down to f/16, and there was still some lovely fall off.

Then it was time to play. Even on a Micro Four Thirds sensor, f/1.1 is crazy shallow. I decided to focus on the very front of the L10 lens, then let everything else go its way.Now that I have the Kamlan on the OM-1, I'm going to leave it there for a while and try some flower shots in the morning. I had forgotten how much I like this optic. I'm so glad I followed my own advice, dug around in the back of the camera shelf, and retrieved this beauty.

This Week in the News

Is the camera industry waking up to enthusiast demand? as featured on DPReview.com

Viltrox's First Micro Four Thirds Lenses Promise Great Value as featured on PetaPixel.com

Jimmy Chin says bringing less gear makes you a better photographer as featured on DPReview.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,061, July 21, 2026. Today's theme is, "Dawn Patrol." I'm Derrick Story.

We agreed to meet at the TDS Headquarters at 3:30 am. The gates open at 4 am for the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival. That would give us enough time to scout out the area, have some coffee, and be ready for the Dawn Patrol Balloon Glow. After that, we would continue working on site to capture as many meaningful images as possible. Today, you'll hear from the participants about their experiences covering this event. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Dawn Patrol

Photo by Harry Telegadas

Interviews with the photographers who covered the Sonoma County Hot Balloon Festival.

• Richard Bahl
• Harry Telegadas
• Delwyn DeVries
• Henry Heerschap
• Lauren Heerschap

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,060, July 14, 2026. Today's theme is, "Pardon My LUTs" I'm Derrick Story.

Film simulations, photo styles, and LUTs aren't gimmicks. They are artistic tools to help photographers better match the mood of their images to the subject material they are capturing. This past weekend, I did exactly that during a visit to the classic baseball stadium, Oracle Park in San Francisco. The resulting images convey the feelings I had there spending time there with my family. I'll explain more, plus industry news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Pardon My LUTs

Surprise, surprise! No sooner did I publish last week's podcast that included a note about my delayed Panasonic L10, then I received a shipping notice from them and had the camera the next day. Maybe I should complain about not winning the Lottery as well.

The camera itself is fantastic, in part because Panasonic has created an entire ecosystem around it including the Lumix Lab app and its library of photo and video LUTs that we can download for free. I dug in right away.

We had a family gathering scheduled for Sunday at the beautiful Oracle Park in San Francisco. No doubt that the L10 would be hanging around my neck. But I wanted to create images with it that captured the warmth of the situation combined with the classic brick design of the ballpark.

I downloaded a dozen LUTs from Lumix Lab and transferred them to the L10. On of them in particular seemed perfect for the upcoming outing: Fresh Bright by Jiemo. Here's what the description said:

This Japanese-inspired bright and fresh LUT is specifically designed to create vibrant, light-hearted portraits. By brightening shadows, reducing contrast, and enhancing colour depth, it produces a clean, transparent visual quality. Whether capturing sunny outdoor scenes or well-lit interiors, it effortlessly infuses your work with a refreshing vitality and gentle atmosphere, effortlessly conveying a lively and soothing Japanese lifestyle aesthetic.

Perfect. Before I left the house, I set up the L10 with the Fresh Bright LUT in the HEIF format. No RAW+Jpeg. I wanted to be all in with my choices.

The SF Giants colors are orange and black. Those accents are everywhere around the park, including with the hats and shirts that the fans wear. This color palette is placed against the red brick design of the ballpark, and the blue, summer sky above.

Applying the Fresh Bright LUT to this setting produced a lovely Kodachrome-like color palette, but with shadows that had more detail and a luminosity that was cheerful and upbeat.

I took pictures of everything that grabbed my eye, the architecture of the stadium, the Jumbotron that showed a realtime wedding proposal, and of course my two boys and Theresa. The L10 performed well. It looked great around my neck. But the real joy was when I reviewed the pictures later that night.

The shots were exactly what I wanted: warm, cheerful, heartfelt. The color palette was finishing touch to the photographs.

At the same time, Theresa was taking pictures with her iPhone 17. This is something she's really good at: capturing the action from a different perspective. Her shot were bright and colorful, but completely different than mine. And by comparison, much cooler. It was amazing how different the two sets of photos felt.

Every camera I own has this ability in one form or another: OM System, Fujifilm, and Nikon. I also know that Sony and Canon have this capability. Generally speaking, you can download film simulations or photo styles and load them on your camera. I highly recommend this.

I know this is a priority for Panasonic because there is a dedicated LUT button on the back of the camera. It's a great call.

I'm going to print my favorite from the San Francisco series and hang it in the studio. It's a shot of Max, Zach, and Theresa, after the game while we were hanging out in the City. It has everything I want in that photo. And I'll be enjoying it for years to come. I'll share it in the Show Notes.

This Week in the News

Free Mac App Unravels All Your Annoying USB-C Cable Mysteries as featured on PetaPixel.com

A Fast, High-End Nikon Camera Is Reportedly Weeks Away as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshops!

The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.

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

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

Derrick Story and Rob Knight teamed up to lead ten photographers through the jungles, beaches, and cloud forests of Costa Rica. Together, we explored these locations, then refined our images on site during lab sessions.

The following images show the diversity of this irresistible Central American country, as well as the fellowship of the workshop photographers capturing its beauty in their lenses.

Rob Knight

Howler Monkey

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Kathy Aspy

Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird

Scarlet Macaw

Daryl Brinkley

Fishing Boat Anchors

Sara Longwing Butterfly

Celeste Harris

Boat-Billed Heron

Cattle Egret

Jay Tuttle

White-Winged Swallow

Jewel Scarab

Harold Mancusi-Ungaro

Black & White Infrared Landscape

Color Infrared Landscape

Linda Jackson

Howler Monkey

Pelicans

Kathy Veitch

Horses Standing at River's Edge

Hummingbird Feeding

Dale Aspy

Howler Monkey

Fishing Boat

Chris Zahniser

Costa Rican Fisherman

Moored Fishing Boat

Sara Aspy

Costa Rican Boy in Fishing Village

Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

Derrick Story

Jesus Christ Lizard

Tiger Longwing Butterfly

Rob and I will be returning to Costa Rica for new adventures in September 2027. If you wish to get on the reserve list for the next workshop, you can use the Contact Form on The Nimble Photographer website.

And thank you so much to all of our photographers from this year's event for sharing their beautiful work.