This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,078, Nov. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "If You Want to Use a Tablet Instead, You Should!." I'm Derrick Story.

The latest crop of tablets from Microsoft, Samsung, and Apple are powerful, portable, and productive. And for photographers on the go, whether it be vacation or business travel, a tablet can get the job done both for work and play. Today we'll look at the top choices from Windows, Android, and Apple. All of that and more on this episode of the 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

If You Want to Use a Tablet Instead, You Should!

Last week I went over to a friend's house to help him with his photography. He is a terrific shooter, with impressive images of landscape and wildlife. But he's never been comfortable with post-production.

I told him how easy the Photos app is to use, and that I'd be happy to share with him my workflow and favorite tips. He loved the idea, and we set up a time to meet at his house.

When I arrived, I was expecting to see a large desktop monitor or a late-model laptop. But instead, he had his iPad on the dining room table. And that's what he used for his work.

As I was walking him through all the workflow steps, it was clear to me that this was a totally workable approach. I use my iPad all of the time for photography, but that's usually in coffee shops or hotel lobby. Not on my dining room table.

In Photos, we organized his images, added star ratings, adjusted color and tone, and applied AI-powered tools. All operations were just as smooth as on my laptop. I thought to myself, "We've finally reached the point that if someone wants to use a tablet for serious work, they can."

In the article titled, The best tablets for photo editing in 2026 on DigitalCameraWorld.com, authors Mike Harris and Gareth Bevan list their favorite tablets for photographers. I think that's a great place for us to start.

(Derrick reviews the list of tablets in the article)

Interestingly enough, my favorite tablet wasn't on the list: the 2026 iPad mini with A20 Pro Processor. I've been using the 2024 iPad mini for a couple years now, and to tell the truth, I'm perfectly comfortable working with my images on it.

(Derrick covers some of the basic specs for the 2026 iPad mini.)

Upcoming 2027 TDS Workshop Season Announcement

It's that time of year when I announce our 2027 TDS Workshop Season. Rob and I have a terrific slate of Online Classes, Webinars, and In-Person events. And I can't wait to share them with you.

Inner Circle Members will receive a notification on both our Patreon site and our Inner Circle space on DerrickStoryOnline for their sneak peek of the workshop season. They will be able to pre-register at that time for their chosen events.

The general public announcement will be on Tuesday, Nov. 17, during our regularly-scheduled podcast. I will go over all of the highlights then, and Rob will join me for part of the show as well.

If you're not an Inner Circle Member, and want to be part of the Sneak Peek, I would sign up right away by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on all the pages of TheDigitalStory.

This Week in the News

PixelMeter Now Lets You Compare Specs and Scores on Cameras and Lenses as featured on PetaPixel.com

Peakto Launches Version 3.0: A Media Manager That Can Handle Millions of Assets as featured on FStoppers.com

TA deep dive into the Sigma FP2's image quality finds a camera that's unconventional to its core as featured on DPReview.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 1,077, Nov. 3, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Think Tank FocusPoint Crossbody 8L Review." I'm Derrick Story.

I've been using photo backpacks for the last year. Not so much because I love backpacks, but because I hadn't found a shoulder bag that I liked for my Nikon kit. When I learned about Think Tank's FocusPoint Crossbody 8L with an alternative design, I was intrigued. And then I was thrilled. Find out why 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

The Think Tank FocusPoint Crossbody 8L Review

Think Tank went back to the drawing board and reconceived the camera shoulder bag with the FocusPoint Crossbody 8L. Their version is a roll-once and buckle approach. So the roll-top isn't too deep like many are, yet, there's a little extra room when needed. They added two hybrid magnetic closure strips at the top that snap together stylishly sealing the bag closed when you're walking around.

The upshot is a single-strap shoulder bag that always looks good, provides fast access to its contents, and can be secured with the magnets when working, or a parachute buckle when traveling from point-A to point-B. I've never tested anything like it.

Specifications

I'll get back to the features in a minute, but first here are the basic specs for the 8 liter model:

• Exterior: 11.75" W x 9" H x 6" D
• Interior: 9.5-11" W x 7" H x 5" D
• Total Volume: 8L
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Includes shoulder strap, interior dividers, and rain cover.

Carrying the Bag

There are two basic configurations determined by how you attach the single strap. For a traditional shoulder bag approach, attach the strap hooks to the loops on each end of the bag. For a crossbody carry, use the loops on the back of the bag. Of course, you can use any combination of the four loops and the adjustable strap to get just the right fit.

I opted for a hybrid approach where I attached the strap to the loops on the ends of the bag, but carried it "crossbody" against my back. When I needed to access the gear, I simply swung the bag around.

The strap has a long, thick pad that makes all-day carrying more comfortable. The backside has six loops to attach small accessories if you wish.

Internal Access

I absolutely love the wide opening of the roll-top, making it easy to retrieve cameras or lenses. There's no lid to get in the way, nor zippers or Velcro. Grab what you want, fold the flap once, and the magnets click together. This is as easy as it gets.

Inside my FocusPoint I've stashed a Nikon Zf with a 24-50mm Nikkor zoom attached. In the center is the Nikkor 28-400mm zoom, and on the other end is a Fujifilm X100 V. A Nikkor 26mm pancake is stored snugly in the front pocket.

For maximum room inside the bag, store the camera on end and point the lens outward to the side. This works because of the trapezoid design that has a smaller base than top. With the attached lenses pointing outward, it takes advantage of the bag's shape, allowing for efficient storage inside. As a result in my case, there was plenty of room for the 28-400mm zoom in the center compartment.

The tradeoff is that you can't put anything thick in the outside end pockets because the lenses are pushing against the sides. I'm fine that. I'd rather have the interior room and use the outer side pockets for lens caps and filters. But, if nothing is pushing against the ends, you can store a hot shoe flash in the outer pocket.

When you're done exploring and ready to move to the next location, the parachute bucket secures the top of the FocusPoint. This hardware looks great, and does its job well. Also, if you want to attach the FocusPoint to a roller suitcase, there's a luggage strap on the back.

The front outside pocket is good for filters, batteries, spare cards, and in my case, a pancake lens too. The back pocket is smaller and is lined for smartphones and other devices, or can be used for additional accessories.

For those who tote iPad minis (that would be me), there's an internal sleeve to keep it separate from the camera gear.

Also, inside the front zippered pocket, there's a concealed AirTag sleeve that I absolutely love.

In the Field

I loaded up the FocusPoint 8L with the Nikon kit and X100V and headed up to Healdsburg for some autumn street photography around their downtown square. The air was a bit chilly when I arrived, so I was wearing my Nomatic Outset Soft-Shell Jacket to stay comfortable. But as the afternoon warmed up, I was able to roll up the jacket and stash it inside the FocusPoint bag, taking advantage of the extra space provided by the roll-top.

After several hours, I was still light on my feet. The 8-liter model is the smaller of the two FocusPoints, but for me it's a great size, balancing capacity with weight on my left shoulder.

Bottom Line

As I mentioned at the top of the review, I haven't carried a shoulder bag in quite some time. I've missed that. For urban photography I prefer the ease and access of the FocusPoint compared to a backpack. Plus I don't have to worry about bumping someone, or knocking things off a store shelf, when I turn around.

The robust construction of the FocusPoint means that this is an investment that will last for years. Plus, it's such a joy to use. Finally, a roll-top that's sharp looking and doesn't feel like an open laundry bag.

The FocusPoint Crossbody 8L retails for $129.75, and the 13L model sells for $149.75. Each bag is available in three colors: Asphalt Black, Greenway, and Urban Rust.

If you purchase directly from Think Tank, which I recommend, use coupon code: nimble20 for a 20 percent discount - one use per customer, online store only, can't combine with other discounts, and is good until Nov. 30, 2026.

If you miss the ease of a shoulder bag for urban exploration, the FocusPoint Crossbody is worth your consideration.

For a complete set of pictures of the FocusPoint Crossbody 8L, check out this issue of The Nimble Photographer Newsletter.

This Week in the News

Affinity for iPad is finally here - and its core tools are free as featured on DPReview.com

OM Exec Says Company Considered Expanding Into Larger Formats as featured on Petapixel.com

The Luminar Fall Update Has Some Powerful New Tools 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.

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.