The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,070, Sept. 15, 2026. Today's theme is, "Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?" I'm Derrick Story.


The iPhone Duo is getting a lot of headlines, but for photographers, the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max are the more applicable tools. I will briefly cover the Duo, but today's focus will be on the new Pro handsets, including the variable aperture main camera. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1070


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?

Before we get to the Pro, let's take a quick look at the Duo. Two cameras, the main and ultra wide.

iPhone Duo Camera Overview

48MP Fusion Main: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization. Also enables 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto: 52 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization, Hybrid Focus Pixels.

48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)

Digital zoom up to 10x

48MP macro photography

Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG (No RAW)

The 256 GB Duo is $1,999.

Decent enough specs, but really nothing compared to the Pro models. Let's take a look at them.

iPhone 18 Pro Max

48MP Pro Fusion camera system

48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture (ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, ƒ/4.0): 24 mm, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)

48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120 degrees field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)

48MP Fusion Telephoto: 100 mm (4x), ƒ/2.8 aperture, Hybrid Focus Pixels, 3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus, tetraprism design, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Also enables 12MP optical-quality 8x Telephoto: 200 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture

Pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and viewing histogram

ProRAW

Image formats captured: HEIF, JPEG, and DNG

Comparing the iPhone 18 Pro with the iPhone 17 Pro

Some comparisons between iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Pro Max

Smaller Dynamic Island (iPhone 18)

A20 Pro 2nm (18) vs A19 Pro 3nm (17) - more computing power without increasing energy consumption.

C2 modem (18) vs Snapdragon X80 modem (17) - Apple's more efficient modem.

Variable aperture for the 48MP main camera (18)

5567 mAh battery (18) vs 5088 mAh (17) - nearly 10 percent larger.

So, there are plenty of improvements in the Pro Max 18 over the last year's 17 model. Are they enough to warrant an upgrade? For most photographers, probably not, especially considering this year's phone starts at $1,299 for 256 GBs and climbs to $1,499 for 512 GBs. BTW: the 2 TB model costs $2,499!

I like seeing that Apple is continuing to improve their handsets for photographers. And it's also nice not having to upgrade every year.

This Week in the News

The iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture camera lens - why don't all phones? as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Bon voyage: OM System PEN means every kind of photographer has a travel option as featured on DPReview.com

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Some New Looks but the Same Old Phone as featured on PetaPixel.com

OM System PEN Review - best-in-class features and style at an unbeatable price as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

Virtual Camera Club News

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

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

Workshops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,069, Sept. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "The OM System PEN Review." I'm Derrick Story.


No, it's not the PEN-F II; it's just the PEN - a compact, well specified, Micro Four Thirds camera for everyday life adventures. It will fit in your purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. It has IBIS, an EVF, and computational intelligence. And it costs $1,000. On today's TDS Photography Podcast, we'll take a closer look at this latest offering from OM System. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1069


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




The OM System PEN Review

For a moment, suspend all of your expectations and breathe in the goodness of modern day photography. I present to you 14 ounces of joy to capture the moments of your life that you treasure and wish to remember.

These moments can be rendered in soft film-like colors, or rich, vibrant hues, or even in moody monotone grays. If you want blurred motion, you shall have it. Do you prefer to suspend a water droplet in mid air, that too can be yours.

The OM System PEN is as cute as a giggling 2-year-old, as smart as your math teacher, and as faithful as any companion you wish to always have at your side.

This may not be a camera that you need or want. And that's perfectly fine. We all have plenty of cameras. But you may know someone who could benefit from this latest offering from OM System. And so, with that open mind, you may want to listen to my experiences with it.

Let's start with the basic specs.

20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS Sensor

TruePic IX Image Processor

5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization

Up to 30 fps RAW & JPEG Burst Shooting

4K 24p Video & 1-120p in S&Q Modes

3" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD

2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder

121-Point AF, AI-Based Subject Detection

IPX1 Weather-Sealed Design

M.Zuiko 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 III Lens

What I like

It feels great in the hands. The front grip and the back thumb rest work wonderfully in tandem for one-handed shooting if you like, or very comfortable all day treks.

The buttons and dials are well-placed and operate well with nice clicks and knurled rings. The fully-articulated LCD allows for shooting at any angle and then folds nicely against the back of the body for protection.

The SD card slot is on side. The electronic viewfinder is bright and colorful. There's a nifty color switch on the front that makes it easy to switch to the profile you want.

Part of the joy of the PEN is that it only weighs 14 ounces (393 grams) and measures 5 x 2.9 x 1.7". If you put the 14-42mm EZ pancake zoom lens on the body, it's probably the smallest, full featured camera in your arsenal. Yet, you get a ton of technology.

Advanced technology features

121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection AF

The PEN series' first AI Subject Detection AF for people and animals (cats and dogs)

Starry Sky AF

A dust reduction system that removes dust from the image sensor, allowing lens changes without the need to worry about dust appearing in photographs

AUTO mode, which automatically detects the scene being shot and captures images using the optimal settings

24 SCN modes with 6 themes which supports shooting more complex scenarios, such as starscape photography

16 types of Art Filters for expanded creative expression

Pro Capture shooting (records up to 12 previous frames at a maximum of 30 fps beginning with the moment when the shutter button is fully pressed, RAW sequential shooting is compatible)

Set custom mode name for easy recall (up to 12 alphanumeric characters)

Easily record cinematic video in OM-Cinema1 or OM-Cinema2 picture modes specifically designed for videos

Supports vertical video and S&Q (slow/quick motion)

There is a new battery, the BLS-7, that's a 1,285 mAh lithium ion rechargeable. It provides approximately 410 shots can be taken on a full charge (based on CIPA testing). Some OM System photographers will be disappointed that they can't use any of their existing cells in the PEN, but OM System wanted a new battery that was compact and as powerful as possible.

A few complaints

There are a few nits, however. The SD card slot supports UHS-I, not UHS-II, which is surprising this day in age. Also, existing Olympus shooters won't be able to use their super-compact FL-LM3 flash with the PEN. It isn't compatible, which is a shame. I did test my Godox iT30 Pro, however, and it fit great in the hot shoe and the TTL functions worked well.

And finally, and this really is a nitpick, but the ON switch is multifunctional, also enabling video and S&Q, but I find myself in video mode sometimes when I first turn it on. I would prefer a single-function On/Off lever.

Color Profile Control

The Color Profile switch on the front of the PEN allows the photographer to set up a favorite look, then switch to it quickly. It looks simple, but actually is quite sophisticated. The saturation of 12 separate colors can be adjusted in 11 levels to achieve the ideal tones.

This can also be combined with Highlight & Shadow Control or shading effects for an expanded range of expression. OM System offers four preset types: Film Rich Color, for rich, deep tones; Film Vivid, for vivid saturation and rich colors; Film Soft Tone, which delivers light, soft tones; and Standard (Natural).

Four monochrome presets are also available, that can also be customized, including Film B&W, which makes use of a film grain effect; Film IR, which emphasizes a red color filter effect that looks like infrared film; Film Low Contrast, which reduces the contrast for a soft impression; and Standard (Monotone).

You can see photo examples in my Live View article, If You Like Compact Cameras, You're Going to Love the New OM System PEN.

In my testing, I preferred the Color 1 profile, which is labeled Film Rich Color. It was vibrant without being oversaturated. For B&W work, I like Mono 4, the standard monochrome profile.

The best way to use the switch in front is to figure out (or customize) the profile you want, switch to on, and set that profile. The PEN will remember your preferred preset the next time you use the switch.

Bottom Line

The OM System PEN is a versatile, affordable, smart camera that can be the one that's with you when the others are too big, too limited, or too long in the tooth. It is a joy to shoot with.

Virtual Camera Club News

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

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

Workshops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,068, Sept. 8, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1." I'm Derrick Story.


There's so much going on right now in the photography world. We've just had a few industry announcements, which we will cover today, with a couple more arriving on Wednesday, which I will cover in part 2 of this week's podcast. So let's get the ball rolling with the recent new releases. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1068


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1

So here's what we're going to do. I'll start with four recent announcements that I can report on, and then on Thursday, I'll cover the new releases from Apple and OM System. That should keep us busy. So let's start with what we know right now.

Fujifilm rounds out its sports and wildlife trio with a 400mm F4.5 as featured on DPReview.com

DXO Releases PhotoLab 10 with Depth Masks, Advanced Color Grading, and New AI Tools as featured on FStoppers

Leica's new Summicron 66mm F2 is a tribute to a military lens M shooters have never been able to buy as featured on DPReview.com

GoPro has been acquired and is getting into 'defense, government, robotics and aerospace' as featured on TheVerge.com

GoPro's Founder Promises It Isn't Done Making Consumer Cameras as featured on DPReview.com

OK, that brings us up to speed right now. See you on Thursday, Sept. 10 for coverage of the OM System and Apple Announcements.

Virtual Camera Club News

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

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

Workshops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

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


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

Digital Photography Podcast 1067


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




The Last Time I Used a Tripod

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Week in the News

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

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

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

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

Virtual Camera Club News

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

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

Workshops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

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


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

Digital Photography Podcast 1066


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




Camping Out with the Sony RX10 V - A Field Review

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

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

Other specs include:

3.69m-Dot Quad-VGA OLED EVF

3" 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

30 fps Continuous Shooting

AI-Powered Autofocus & Subject Tracking

4K60 Full-Pixel 4:2:2 10-Bit Video

3.69m-Dot Quad-VGA OLED EVF

3" 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

30 fps Continuous Shooting

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

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

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

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

As for usability, I have Pros and Cons.

Pros

Love the aperture ring. It's big and easy to use and a great blessing for those of us who like to shoot in Aperture Priority. Plus, there's a switch to turn on and off the setting clicks.

The 3,680,000 dot electronic viewfinder is terrific. It's wonderful to work with in the field.

Control dials and buttons are well-placed and easy to program.

The large hand grip makes it easy to hold the camera steady.

The Optical Image Stabilization works well, but you still need to get the shutter speed up for the 400-600mm shots.

HEIF format - The Jpegs looked good out of the camera, but they weren't very editable, even for Jpegs. But the HEIF 4:2:0 images were quite good, and more editable. And their file sizes were smaller.

The Creative Looks are quite good (Sony's picture profiles). I especially liked the B&W and the Film profiles.

Good close-up performance at both the 24mm and 600mm focal lengths.

The NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh battery rated for 630 shots is a welcome upgrade. And it can be charged in-camera via USB-C.

Cons

No built-in flash. Seems like in a body this size one could be integrated.

The Tilting 3" Touchscreen LCD with 1,620,000 resolution is nice, but I've come to prefer a fully articulated LCD that can be folded with the screen against the camera body for protection. It's also easier for video recording.

If you're not already a Sony shooter, the menus take some getting used to.

I was a little surprised that when shooting with Auto ISO on, that the camera didn't increase the ISO setting for faster shutter speeds when zooming out to 600mms. In the future, I have to remember to manually increase the ISO for long telephoto work.

The $2,298 price tag. I realize everything is more expensive these days, but I feel that this camera should have been more in the $1,999 price range.

Bottom Line

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

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

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

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

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

This Week in the News

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

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

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

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

Virtual Camera Club News

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

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

Workshops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you next week!

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