168: State of the Camera Industry: Part 1

A closer look at the iPhone 18 Pro cameras after the review: what variable aperture really changes, where Apple’s film styles fall short, and how the new Pro Controls feel in everyday use. Plus, viewer questions about AI reframing, lens flare, telephoto quality, and whether it’s worth upgrading.

What creatives got out of the iPhone 17 Pro and how they plan to use the Duo & 18 Pro Austin Mann's photography https://www.austinmann.com Andy To's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@andyto Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/ Subscribe Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/full-stack-creator/id1316226044 Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1316226044/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7wKUaUj9TUm9nqAKbCJqjB Follow us Website http//www.fullstackcreatorshow.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fullstackcreatorshow Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@fullstackcreatorshow

Tyler went hands-on with Apple’s new iPhones at Apple Park. Now he joins David to unpack the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, and what Apple’s announcements mean for photographers, filmmakers, and solo creators. We explore the camera upgrades, variable aperture, photographic styles, folding design, and real-world shooting workflows—with footage from the event and Tyler’s own photo examples. Which features will actually help you create, and which iPhone makes sense for your work? Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/ Follow us Website http//www.fullstackcreatorshow.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fullstackcreatorshow Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@fullstackcreatorshow

Apple’s surprise Mac Mini and Mac Studio updates arrive just before iPhone season, accompanied by a casual social-first launch video. The M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini options make a strong case for creators who want a compact desktop for video editing, while aftermarket SSD upgrades offer a way around Apple’s expensive storage tiers. The M5 Ultra Mac Studio pushes further into visual effects, AI-assisted photo and video editing, and private local AI, with high-memory configurations and the option to cluster machines for larger models. USB-C genlock adds a specialized but genuinely useful tool for frame-perfect sync in multi-camera shoots, screen recordings, and virtual production. Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/ Follow us Website http//www.fullstackcreatorshow.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fullstackcreatorshow Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@fullstackcreatorshow

Now the initial hype has died down, here's what we really think of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Everyone should follow Kai https://www.youtube.com/@kaimanwong Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/ Follow us Website http//www.fullstackcreatorshow.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fullstackcreatorshow Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@fullstackcreatorshowSpecial Guest: Kai W.

Most camera companies make something great in 2026, which is why choosing one has become so hard. After covering Sony, Nikon, and Canon in part one, we looked at the brands taking less obvious paths. Fujis are cameras people actually want to carry. Great JPEGs, fun film simulations, and a commitment to APS-C and GFX instead of full frame. Lumix offers some of the best value in hybrid cameras now that its autofocus has caught up. Leica is having incredible sucess with the Q series. OM System keeps the original promise of Micro Four Thirds alive with small lenses, rugged bodies, and excellent reach, but its aging sensor technology is becoming hard to ignore. Hasselblad delivers a more refined shooting experience than GFX but you pay for it in price and enormous files. DJI continues to push drones, compact cameras, and stabilization forward. And Blackmagic is easy to overlook if you only follow hybrid cameras, but it remains deeply embedded in live event productions. Full disclosure: we’ve worked with Lumix and Hasselblad, and some of the cameras discussed were provided as loaners. There isn’t one winner here. These brands make sense for different people, which is more useful than pretending one spec sheet can settle the argument.

Breaking down the modern camera landscape now that nearly every major system now has a strong option, but each excels in different ways. Canon’s reliability and professional reach vs Sony’s lens lineup, Nikon’s ergonomics RED acquisition.

Based on early reviews rather than hands-on use, this episode assesses how the Sony FX5 moves beyond the FX3 with internal RAW, Open Gate, CineAlta tools, a larger articulating display, and a detachable EVF. It also weighs important trade-offs: no internal ND filters, Open Gate initially limited to RAW, 32-bit float tied to the handle, and incomplete anamorphic support. The result is a strong fit for Sony-based freelance cinema shooters and crews, but a less natural choice for hybrid photographers, wedding shooters, and solo creators who need a single all-purpose body.

The Canon R6 V is a capable camera that raises some questions about how much form factor maters and how much should your existing gear ecosystem shape the decision. Where does Canon's R6 V sit in the video and photo lineup, and most of all, who is this camera for?

Recorded at Apple Park with Adam Lisagor, this conversation gets into what stood out from WWDC26 beyond just the feature list. It covers the looser, more human feel of this year’s keynote, what it’s like shooting in Apple Immersive Video, and why Apple’s new Photos tools feel both exciting and a little uncomfortable. Spatial Recompose, Expand, and Cleanup open up a bigger discussion about AI, photography, memory, and how much a photo can change before it stops feeling real. The conversation also touches on the “Snow Leopard” vibe of the release, and why vibe coding might really matter for creative work.Special Guest: Adam Lisagor.