This is The Digital Story Podcast #832, March 1, 2022. Today's theme is "My Favorite Tiny Lenses." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

A compact sensor doesn't make much sense unless you have a few great pancake lenses to go with it. After all, that's where the nimbleosity comes in, with the glass! Today I'm going to share 5 of my favorite tiny lenses. These are the optics that lighten my load without compromising quality. I hope you enjoy the show.

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My Favorite Tiny Lenses

Even though I ordered the new OM System Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II Lens ($999) to go with the new OM-1, it will be used primarily for my professional work, inclement weather, and landscape. When I'm just banging around, I'll have the incredible Olympus Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens ($299) on the camera most of the time.

You might think to yourself, "Why would you buy a flagship pro camera body and put a $299 optic on it?" Answer: because it's that good. And I'm not the only one that thinks that.

Digital Camera World just published an article titled, Olympus M.Zuiko 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 EZ review - The best pancake zoom lens ever!. In their verdict they give it 5 Stars and say:

"The Olympus M.Zuiko 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 EZ is, in our opinion, the best pancake lens ever. In full frame terms it covers a 28-82mm focal range in an impossibly small form factor - not only is this a genuine feat of engineering, but its optical performance punches way above its weight. This is the kind of lens that's only possible on Micro Four Thirds, making it an absolute travel and everyday essential for Olympus / OM System and Panasonic shooters."

I couldn't have said it better. And when I put that zoom on my PEN-F, OM-D E-M10, or even the new OM-1, I have a sophisticated camera with a wonderful 28-84mm zooming range that fits in my jacket pocket. Isn't that why we shoot Micro Four Thirds?

But Wait, There's More!

Here are four more favorite tiny lenses that I adore.

• Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. Lens ($267) - Characterized by its slender profile, the Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. is a compact, slightly wide 40mm equivalent prime for Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. Its bright f/1.7 maximum aperture offers notable control focus for working with shallow depth of field techniques and also benefits working in difficult lighting conditions. The optical design incorporates a pair of aspherical elements to suppress spherical aberrations and distortion for high sharpness and accurate rendering, and individual elements have also been multi-coated to control surface reflections and flare for improved contrast in strong lighting conditions.
• Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) Lens ($296) - The NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) from Nikon is an ultra-compact and lightweight FX-format prime lens with a traditional Nikon heritage design. This Special Edition lens inherits its design from the classic NIKKOR lenses released around the same time as the Nikon FM2 film SLR camera, with features that faithfully reproduce the designs of that time, such as knurling, and a prominent control ring. With an f/2.8 max aperture, this fast, bright lens offers beautiful details at a standard focal length. Complementing the optical design, a multi-focus system, which employs two stepping motors, helps to realize impressively fast, accurate, and quiet focus performance, along with full-time manual focus override, to suit both stills and video needs. Additionally, a programmable control ring can be set for intuitive adjustment over a variety of camera and exposure settings. It makes for a great carry-around lens for spontaneous moments at any time of day.
• Fujinon Super EBS23mm f/2 II Lens ($1,399, comes with the Fujifilm X100V camera) - An updated Fujinon 23mm f/2 lens features a revised optical design that now includes two aspherical elements for improved sharpness and clarity through the reduction of spherical aberrations and distortion. This lens's 23mm focal length is equivalent to 35mm, making it a comfortable wide-angle prime that is well-suited to a variety of shooting situations. The bright f/2 design also suits working in various lighting conditions and affords greater control over depth of field to help isolate focus on subjects. Additionally, a Super EBC coating has been applied to suppress lens flare and ghosting for greater contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.
• Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited Lens ($496) -- This lens is the reason I will never sell my Pentax KP DSLR - "The black HD Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited Lens from Pentax is a prime portrait-length lens providing a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 105mm. This short-telephoto 23° angle of view is well-suited to portrait and landscape shooting as well as general long lens applications. A high-grade multi-layer HD coating has been applied to lens elements to help minimize flare and ghosting for enhanced contrast, clarity, and color fidelity and a nine-blade diaphragm contributes to an aesthetic out-of-focus quality to benefit shallow depth of field imagery. Additionally, an SP Protect coating has also been applied to the front lens element to effectively protect it from dirt, oil, and finger prints."

I have used every one of these lenses, and they shine both in image quality and compactness. What more could you want from an everyday optic?

Panasonic Plans to Continue to Support 'Full Micro Four Thirds Lineup'

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com

During an online event called Creators Live with Lumix GH6, Panasonic indicated that it plans to continue to support a wide range of Micro Four Thirds cameras and not restrict its development just to high-end products. Spotted by DCLife and 43Rumors, the company's marketing manager Tomonori Nakanishi seems to commit to bringing new versions of cameras from across Panasonic's lineup.

While the photography community tends to belittle or downplay Micro Four Thirds, Panasonic regularly assures fans of the format that it has no plans to ever abandon the system.

The 2022 TDS Workshop Season

We have great events lined up for this year, and there are a few more coming. Here's a recap of what we have so far:

• April 2022 - Humboldt Redwoods Workshop (physical)
• May 2022 - Infrared Photography Workshop (online event)
• August 2022 - Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop (online)
• Sept. 2022 - Eastern Sierra Photo Workshop (physical)
• Nov. 2022 - Oregon Coast Photography Workshop (physical)

You can learn more about all of these events and register by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Acknowledging Our Friends at Skylum, MacPaw, and the Sovereign Nation of Ukraine

Recently, Ivan Kutanin, Skylum CEO posted this on LinkedIN: "IMPORTANT NEWS! Friends, partners, and loyal Skylum friends, I need to inform you that Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air, and sea, confirming the worst fears we've had. As many of you know our development and core center is based in Kyiv, Ukraine, and at this strange time, we can not guarantee on-time support requesr answers and timing of updates to Luminar Neo.We strive for excellence in everything we do and make sure to further develop and improve Neo and we'll keep you updated on any news.

Stay safe there and pray for Ukraine!

My friend, Julia Petryk then posted this: "Every morning I wake up in fear in a bomb shelter. Though I could hardly call that state a sleep. The first thing we do is checking how our relatives are doing in other parts of Ukraine. The whole country is on fire.

No tears left. No mercy for the enemy. We will win 🇺🇦✊♥️

My thoughts about our friends in Ukraine...

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #831, Feb. 22, 2022. Today's theme is "Lightroom vs CP1 with a Dash of Neo on the Side." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

For the longest time, Fujifilm photographers have heard that Capture One Pro is the best Raw processor for their files. But is that true? We review a head to head test with Lightroom to find out. Oh, and Luminar Neo is now available. How does it standup against Luminar 4 and AI. All of this and more on today's TDS Photography Podcast.

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Lightroom vs CP1 with a Dash of Neo on the Side

In the FStoppers article, Which Program Handles Fujifilm Raw Files Better, Lightroom or Capture One?, they pit the two premier RAW processors against one another with Fujifilm files. Some of their findings were quite interesting. Here are some excerpts from the article:

With Fujifilm medium format cameras, there is virtually no difference in how each of the film simulations are rendered. There is some back and forth between how Lightroom and Capture One work, however, for the most part, there's no clear winner.

On the other hand, it's quite a different story when it comes to Fujifilm APS-C cameras. Lightroom seems to have some problems with X-Trans sensors. Also, there are subtle differences in how the film profiles are rendered too.

Capture One has slightly more saturated red tones in the skin. This appears more pleasing in comparison to the Lightroom file, which leans more into the yellows tones. This is, of course, a matter of preference; however, the point is that for Fujifilm X-Trans cameras, there is a difference in how the film profiles are rendered.

The first thing to notice is that the Capture One image appears to have more contrast and vibrance. Due to these subtle differences, most people may likely prefer the results from Capture One. Also, Lightroom does do a better job at managing the vignette, but once again, some may prefer the darker corners.

Additionally, Lightroom seems to have a problem when it comes to rendering green tones from an X-Trans sensor. In the previous image, the blue and yellow tones were perfectly fine in how Lightroom rendered them; however, green seems to cause a lot of problems.

From the images that have been tested over the last month, it seems Lightroom mostly struggles with the color green. All of the other images tested did not demonstrate any issues. Effectively, this worming issue is going to be a problem if what you photograph contains a lot of green tones, for example, landscape photography.

If you're a landscape photographer, you will likely come across this issue in your images. If you're creating content for social media, then this may be a forgivable issue. If you're a professional photographer, it may be wise to avoid Lightroom and use Capture One instead.

Final Thoughts
In this series of articles, we covered Canon, Sony, and now Fujifilm. With Canon and Sony, the choice between Lightroom and Capture One was entirely down to personal preference. There was no clear way to determine a winner because both programs produced great results. With Fujifilm, there are objective differences that cannot be ignored.

If you shoot with medium format cameras such as the GFX 100S and the new GFX 50S II, then the differences are negligible. Capture One and Lightroom perform admirably with Fujifilm medium format cameras. This may also be the case with some Fujifilm APS-C cameras that use a Bayer sensor. However, with Fujifilm X-Trans cameras, it's clear that Capture One is the better choice.

Luminar Neo

What is Luminar Neo? Have you ever wanted to achieve more with your images? Luminar Neo is an innovative image editor powered by AI technologies of the future that simplifies complex editing routines and enables creators to bring their boldest ideas to life. And enjoy it.

• Get speed and flexibility in your editing with our brand-new core engine and layers workflow.
• The new engine we built for Luminar Neo is based on all the best solutions from our combined and evolved experience for maximum performance and creativity and is developed for achieving complex creative results.
• Adjust the light in your photo for creative control over the lighting in a scene. You can control the exposure of an image based on the distance from the lens to independently adjust the background and foreground exposure.
• Automatically remove spots on your images caused by dust and dirt on your lens and sensor.
• Clean up unwanted power lines from the skies in your cityscapes.
• Experiment with infinite creative possibilities by effortlessly combining two or more images in a shot.

The new technologies and innovative user experience in Luminar Neo make creative image editing simple and fun.

How Do You Listen to the TDS Podcast?

Here are the Poll Results from our Inner Circle Members.

• Apple AirPods
• Car Audio Speakers
• Using the Built-In Speakers on My Laptop or Mobile Device
• Wired Earbuds
• Over-the-Ear Headphones
• Home Audio System

Some comments included:

"The car was always my favourite place for podcasts, but I don't commute now, so it's starting to move more to playing it in the house on HomePod. Occasionally, I will listen on a walk with AirPods but it has to be cold enough to wear a beanie or they won't stay in my ears!" - Andrew

"I almost always listen while driving. If I do listen at home, It is usually when doing yard work using over the ear heradphones. If I try to just listen, usually get so distracted with something that I never actually listen and have to go back and listen again." - Jeff

Transistor Radio was not an option... - John

The 2022 TDS Workshop Season

We have great events lined up for this year, and there are a few more coming. Here's a recap of what we have so far:

• April 2022 - Humboldt Redwoods Workshop (physical)
• May 2022 - Infrared Photography Workshop (online event)
• August 2022 - Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop (online)
• Sept. 2022 - Eastern Sierra Photo Workshop (physical)
• Nov. 2022 - Oregon Coast Photography Workshop (physical)

You can learn more about all of these events and register by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Free Battery + 3-Year Extended Warranty with Purchase of OM-1!

You can read the entire article at on the Olympus Site.

To celebrate the introduction of our newest flagship camera, the OM SYSTEM OM-1, we're happy to provide you additional peace of mind through our special extended warranty offer. Simply complete your product registration and we'll give you a complementary 3-Year Extended Limited Warranty on the OM-1 body, which stretches your limited warranty coverage to four years from the date of your original camera purchase!

• Preorder the OM SYSTEM OM-1 or OM SYSTEM OM-1 and M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II kit from your favorite OM SYSTEM retailer.
• Receive an additional OM SYSTEM BLX-1 Battery for free with your OM-1.
• Register your OM-1 camera at GetOlympus.com/register within 45 days of purchase.
• Receive an email confirmation of your Three Year Extended Limited Warranty. Hold on to that email confirmation; you'll need it along with the valid receipt from your camera purchase as proof of your extended warranty if you ever need assistance.

Offer valid from February 15, 2022 to March 3, 2022 for OM-1 preorders made in the US and Canada.

If you're going to order from B&H, please use this link.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

"I'd like a seat by the window."

That's a request that you'll hear from me over and over, whether we're in a restaurant, bar, or airplane. If it's a hotel, I want the street view. Visiting a friend at a high rise office, let's go over there.

Powell St., San Francisco. Photography with an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo by Derrick Story.

I consider windows a gift in photography. I don't worry about the glass because by now everyone knows how to avoid reflections by simply putting the camera up against it. And I don't notice any serious image degradation problems.

(Isn't it funny, some photographers are so worried about putting a multicoated optical filter in front of their lens, while others shoot freely through quarter-inch high-rise windows.)

For this lovely shot looking up Powell St. in San Francisco, I didn't have to risk a drone, rent a helicopter, or hang off an unstable precipice. I just had to go to lunch, request a window seat, and line up a few pictures while I sipped my coffee.

Windows to the world are a gift. Enjoy them!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #830, Feb. 15, 2022. Today's theme is "How the New OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mirrorless Camera Stacks Up." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

As I predicted, OM-System has released a new flagship system camera titled the OM-1. This mirrorless will succeed the popular E-M1 Mark III and includes a raft of improvements. Plus, it starts shipping in early March. So let's dig in to how the latest Micro Four Thirds release stacks up to its predecessor. I hope you enjoy the show.

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How the New OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mirrorless Camera Stacks Up

In this segment of the show, I will compare the new OM-1 to the E-M-1 Mark III. You can preorder the Olympus OM-1 for the $2,199 and it ships in early March. Preorders will receive an extra battery and 3 additional years of OM System warranty. Offer ends March 3, 2022.

Western Digital to lose out on 6.5 exabytes of flash storage following production line contamination

You can read the entire article on DP Review.

Western Digital has announced that two of its manufacturing facilities in Japan were contaminated, which has affected production and will result in a shortage of 'at least 6.5 exabytes in flash storage availability,' according to Reuters. For context, one exabyte is equivalent to one billion gigabytes.

Western Digital doesn't specify what products will be affected by this shortage, but its flash storage options include hardware under its SanDisk Professional (formerly G-Technology), SanDisk and WD brands.

Western Digital didn't specify how the contamination of its facilities happened, but says it will be working alongside Kioxia to get the facilities up and running as quickly as possible. As recent as last year, Western Digital and Kioxia were in talks to merge, according to Reuters, but nothing has come of the negotiations yet.

The 2022 TDS Workshop Season

We have great events lined up for this year, and there are a few more coming. Here's a recap of what we have so far:

• April 2022 - Humboldt Redwoods Workshop (physical)
• May 2022 - Infrared Photography Workshop (online event)
• August 2022 - Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop (online)
• Sept. 2022 - Eastern Sierra Photo Workshop (physical)
• Nov. 2022 - Oregon Coast Photography Workshop (physical)

You can learn more about all of these events and register by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

These are the 10 most complained-about cameras amongst Twitter users

You can read the entire article at on DigitalCameraWorld.

Would you believe that the GoPro Hero8 Black is the most complained about camera on Twitter? That's according to Electronics Hub, which carried out its own research into negative tweets across a broad spectrum of electronic devices.

Here's the full top 10 with the percentage of negative tweets about these cameras.

1. GoPro Hero8 Black: 8.6%
2. GoPro Hero9 Black: 6.4%
3. Ricoh GR III: 5.7%
4. Polaroid Now: 5.5%
5. Nikon Z7 II: 5.1%
6. Sony A6600: 5.0%
7. Sony A7R IV: 5.0%
8. Canon EOS 90D: 3.8%
9. GoPro Hero10 Black: 3.8%
10. Sony A7 IV: 3.7%

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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

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

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

See you next week!

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

When I'm exploring the world with my camera, there are two shots I try to capture. First, the standard composition. You know, the one that initially caught my eye. Many times, that's the image I like.

But then, I remind myself to compose a second version. This time with a low camera angle. And there are times when this is the image I love.

Low camera angles tend to increase drama with your foreground subject. My favorite versions have an object that I find visually interesting that I can work with, something to build the shot around. This can be particularly fun with a wide angle lens.

The background completely changes from this angle. In this shot, for example, I was able to include lots of morning sky and the moon. The standard framing had sand, ocean, and just a bit of sky - very different.

Cameras with flip-up LCDs make this task easier. That way I can get the framing as low as I want, compose the picture, and make adjustments without sacrificing my knees in the process.

Sometimes I use HDR to manage the wide tonal disparities. Other times I let the foreground subject go dark. It just depends on the mood I want.

Either way, remembering to add a few low angle compositions to the shoots has increased my keepers, and has often transformed ordinary subjects into something special.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #829, Feb. 8, 2022. Today's theme is "All Photography is Good Photography." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

This is not a show about everyone is a winner and every picture is good. We know better on both counts. We also know that some people do bad things with their cameras. They're not included here either. What I mean when I say, "all photography is good photography," is that working with a camera and creating an image is good for your craft, regardless of the camera. I'll explain more on today's TDS Podcast.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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All Photography is Good Photography

In the past year, I've worked with a variety of cameras and formats. A list that named a few, but not all, would include: Olympus PEN-F, Olympus OM-D E-M-10 Mark III IR converted, Pentax KP APS-C digital, Pentax LX 35mm analog, Fujifilm X100V APS-C digital, Fujifilm GFX 100S medium format digital, Nikon D610 Full Frame digital, Nikon Lite Touch 35mm analog compact, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Olympus TG-4 Tough, and Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Hybrid.

During that time, I've captured images of flowers in the garden, my car charging off some lonely highway, my family joyous then gripped with grief, desolate stretches of Interstate 5, Maui sunsets, my cat sunbathing just hours before she passed away, an old barn that caught my eye, my boys filling their plates at a Christmas taco bar, and me, just thinking about what it all means.

In addition to light and color, pictures represent thoughts, feelings, and activities. They remind us things we may have otherwise forgotten. They help us see the beauty in everyday life. And for many of us, the more we take pictures, the more alive we become.

This is why it's important to keep embracing new aspects of photography. So that we want to take pictures. Because once we're engaged and have that camera in our hands, life becomes just a little more alive.

Keeping an open mind to analog, infrared, black & white, instant, portraits, still lifes, action, macro, large format, small format, and anything that records light and color and life is good for us.

If you're not taking enough pictures right now, you need to do something about it. And fast. Because photography is an important part of your life. And you need to make it one of your priorities.

CP+ goes online-only as Covid-19 disrupts the Yokohama trade show for the second year in a row

You can read the entire article on DP Review.

Japan's Camera & Imaging Products Association has cancelled the physical element of its globally significant CP+ 2022 camera show with just two weeks to go before the doors of the Pacifico exhibition Centre in Yokohama, Japan, were due to open. Organizers cite the high number of Omicron infections and the fact that there is unlikely to be a drop in cases sufficient to make people feel safe before the show opens. As has been the case for the previous two years, the show will be held as an online-only event. It had been hoped that the show would have been able to take on a hybrid online and in-person format this year.

The show's management says that it gives top priority to the safety and security of visitors, exhibition staff and all those involved with the event, and says too that a tight supply of antigen test kits isn't helping the situation.

The CP+ show is considered especially important now in the absence of any other major international camera shows since both the PMA show and Photokina stopped running. Historically the show was more of a domestic Japanese affair but in recent years it has gained prominence abroad and has become an important launch pad for camera and lens makers from both inside and outside of Japan.

The 2022 TDS Workshop Season

We have great events lined up for this year, and there are a few more coming. Here's a recap of what we have so far:

• April 2022 - Humboldt Redwoods Workshop (physical)
• May 2022 - Infrared Photography Workshop (online event)
• August 2022 - Ultimate B&W Photography Workshop (online)
• Sept. 2022 - Eastern Sierra Photo Workshop (physical)
• Nov. 2022 - Oregon Coast Photography Workshop (physical)

You can learn more about all of these events and register by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Understanding the Fujifilm Mini Evo Hybrid Instant Camera - A Review

You can read my review at on The Digital Story.

When I was contemplating buying my first instant camera in decades, I did a little research on the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Hybrid camera. Some reviewers thought that the instant film side was good, but the digital specs were lacking. I mean, who puts a 1/5" sensor in a camera these days?

Now that I have the Mini Evo, I understand what Fujifilm was thinking, and what some reviewers missed.

It's not supposed to be a digital camera. The hybrid functions are designed to give us more flexibility with the instant shots. So instead of pressing the shutter and waiting for the print to emerge, we can take as many pictures as we want, then choose the best of them on its 3" LCD, output that and leave the rest as digitals. Not only is the Mini Evo clever, it's efficient.

The camera is available now for $199.

Fujifilm Cameras Have Serious macOS File Issue, Firmware Fix Incoming

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.

Fujifilm has issued an "important notice" to photographers using Fujifilm cameras and macOS computers, warning that a firmware incompatibility found in several popular that may cause issues with accessing files and a risk of file loss in macOS. The company says a firmware fix is in development.

In a news article titled "Important notice for consumers processing FUJIFILM digital camera files using macOS," published on February 2nd, Fujifilm shares that it has managed to track down an issue to its camera firmware. "FUJIFILM Corporation has identified a firmware incompatibility between specific X and GFX series cameras [...]," the company writes. "This incompatibility can result in macOS users being unable to directly access files if they were initially saved to SDXC memory cards in-camera.

"To address this anomaly, Fujifilm is creating a firmware patch, which is expected to be available for free download by X Series and GFX System users soon.

Fujifilm says a number of its popular X Series and GFX System mirrorless camera models have been found to have the firmware incompatibility with macOS.

The following list of cameras is affected by the issue regardless of firmware version:

GFX100
GFX100S
GFX50S II
X-Pro3
X-T4
X-S10
Fujifilm X-E4
X-T30 II
X100V

Fujifilm says the issue can arise when a photographer using an affected camera saves photos shot in-camera to an SDXC memory card and then tries to directly access those photo files using a Mac running macOS -- Windows users are not affected by this issue.

"While the current firmware versions allow these X and GFX series cameras to internally write and store 9,999 frames to a single folder, it has been observed that if more than 4,000 files are written in-camera to a single folder on an SDXC card and directly accessed using macOS," two issues could occur.

First, the photographer could be unable to access the files they are looking for.

"Some files on the memory card may become inaccessible if the card has been connected to the computer through an internal or external memory card reader and directly accessed using macOS," Fujifilm says.

Second, and likely more worrying to photographers, there could be a chance of file loss if the memory card is not properly ejected. Do not remove the card without ejecting first and/or while your Mac is in sleep mode.

"If the memory card is not ejected correctly from a computer using macOS, there is a likelihood that data may be lost if the same card is directly connected and accessed a second time using macOS," Fujifilm says. "However, risk of data loss in this situation can be prevented by following proper ejection procedures for macOS operating systems.

"If the proper procedures are followed, no data will be lost. However, files will still remain inaccessible when attempting to directly access the data on the memory card using macOS.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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When I was contemplating buying my first instant camera in decades, I did a little research on the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Hybrid camera. Some reviewers thought that the instant film side was good, but the digital specs were lacking. I mean, who puts a 1/5" sensor in a camera these days?

Now that I have the Mini Evo, I understand what Fujifilm was thinking, and what some reviewers missed.

It's not supposed to be a digital camera. The hybrid functions are designed to give us more flexibility with the instant shots. So instead of pressing the shutter and waiting for the print to emerge, we can take as many pictures as we want, then choose the best of them on its 3" LCD, output that and leave the rest as digitals. Not only is the Mini Evo clever, it's efficient.

Digital Designed for Analog

The Mini Evo captures Jpegs with its 1/5" CMOS sensor. You can review the images on the 3.0" 460k-dot LCD screen, and they can be saved to a mini-SD card that is accessed via a slot hidden in the bottom of the camera.

If you import the pictures on to your computer, you get a 1920 x 2560 Jpeg that's 1.3 MB with basic metadata including ISO, shutter speed, EV compensation, aperture, and timestamp. Applied lens and film effects are added to the Jpeg. They look quite nice, in a 2010 kind of way.

Exported image with lens effect and film simulation.

If you instant-printed one of these images via the camera, you can send that image to your smartphone. It has less resolution, 800 x 800, but includes the cool-looking Polaroid-style framing.

Export of a printed image.

So yes, you can use the Mini Evo as a digital camera, but that's not its intended use. What it excels at is being a very flexible, fun, and efficient instant print camera.

Instant Printing with the Mini Evo

The way I've been using the camera is to experiment with its 10 different lens effects and 10 film simulations, taking as many pictures as I want (never even coming close to filling up the mini-SD card), reviewing them on the 3" LCD, then printing the best of the bunch.

The 2" x 3" photos look great, and they fit perfectly in the wallet making them wonderful keepsakes marking occasions and experiences that we enjoyed.

I've been purchasing the Mini Film Value Pack that includes 6 packs of 10 exposures for only $34.88. In the world of analog photography, and instant in particular, that's a deal.

Plenty of Settings and Features

The camera's Bluetooth communicates effortlessly with the Instax Mini Evo app (Android and iOS), allowing you to transfer printed images from camera to phone, enable remote shooting, and use the Mini Evo as a printer for your smartphone pictures. That's right. Why buy a separate instant printer when you can have all of this in about the same size?

The Instax Mini Evo app on an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Camera features include controllable flash, exposure compensation, white balance, face detection, multi-segment metering, autofocus, AF illuminator, and macro mode. The 28mm (equivalent) lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.0

There's a top function button, two shutter buttons, a selfie mirror, and a cool film advance lever that serves as the print initiator. The whole package weighs 10 ounces and measures 4.8 x 3.4 x 1.4", so it's easy to bring along.

The Bottom Line

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Hybrid camera is now available in the U.S. for $199. Even though the camera itself costs more than many other instant film models, you get many more features, and its efficiency will save you money in the long run.

The Mini Evo is a camera for photographers as well as instant film fans. Its collection of features, configurable settings, film simulations, lens effects, and smartphone compatibility more than justify its place in your jacket pocket for family events and outings.

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