177: Is the iPhone Duo ACTUALLY Good for Creators?

Tyler flew out to Apple's event in California and got hands-on time with the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it has an OLED touchscreen. We get into what Apple actually announced, why Steve Jobs said touchscreen Macs don't work, the Dynamic Island, the weight drop, and whether the roughly $400 upgrade is worth it. Plus the pro workflow demos from the event, a quick buyer's guide, the new Creator Studio updates for Final Cut Pro, and Tyler's iPhone Duo follow-up.

Hands on with the iPhone Duo Be the first to get notified about the Full Stack Creator Course https://stalman.com/fsccourse

Custom AI-built tools are starting to solve the everyday problems that off-the-shelf software leaves behind. A Final Cut copy-and-paste helper, a client production app, and a thumbnail mockup tool show what photographers, filmmakers, and small teams can build around their own workflows. ChatGPT and Claude offer different ways to get started, while AI-assisted Blender animation keeps cameras, lighting, and assets editable. There’s also a look at agents that manage email and create personal podcast feeds, where they still fall short, and why creative judgment matters as software gets easier to make.

Why add a variable aperture to the iPhone now? Apple’s camera team explains the thinking behind the iPhone 18 Pro, from manual focus and automatic ISO to film grain, halation, and Apple Reference Image. The conversation also covers the iPhone Duo and the creative possibilities of its folding design. Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/

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.