Word scribbler at @diyphotography. I also point cameras at people and animals. Probably won't be on here much anymore. Find me on YouTube - Link below
Articles by John Aldred
The Manfrotto ONE Hybrid Replaces Two of My Favourite Tripods
Like most photographers who’ve been doing this for a few years, I have quite the selection of tripods, and I’m quite partial to certain tripods being my favourites for specific tasks. The Manfrotto ONE Hybrid might have just replaced two of them for me. The Manfrotto ONE Hybrid is the first in a new line of tripods from Manfrotto designed for quick and easy use in the field without compromising on features or stability.
Meiki’s New Air f/1.7 Primes Could Be a Cheap, Lightweight Hit for APS-C Shooters
Third-party lens makers have been getting more and more interesting over the last few years, and Meike looks like it wants a bigger slice of that pie. While wandering the show floor at The Photography Show 2026, we stopped by the booth. We had a chat with Richard, who told us all about Meike’s latest releases, including a new trio of compact APS-C primes and an updated full-frame 85mm f/1.4. The headline announcement at the Meike booth was the company’s new “Air” series for APS-C lenses.
The Best Wearable Action Cameras of 2026 Compared: Xtra Atto vs Insta360 GO vs DJI Osmo Nano
Tiny wearable first-person action cameras have become huge over the last few years. Of course, I don’t mean physically, I mean in popularity. And it’s easy to see why. Aside from the obvious benefits for shooting social media content, they’re also great tools for education, showing insights from perspectives we’d never normally be able to see, and many other uses. We take a look at the current crop of tiny wearable action cameras to see how they compare.
DJI Avata 360 shoots 8K 360° video with 1/1.1″ sensors and “real” controller
DJI has announced the new Avata 360, a 360° FPV drone that aims to combine immersive flying with full spherical capture. It’s essentially DJI taking the Avata concept and merging it with a 360 camera workflow – shoot everything in one go, then decide your framing later. It’s capable of shooting 8K 360° video at up to 60fps, along with 120MP stills, and uses dual 1/1.1-inch sensors to capture the full spherical image.
Saramonic Air SE Wireless Mic comes with “Deep Learning” AI noise reduction
Saramonic has been steadily expanding its wireless audio lineup over the last few years, particularly in the budget-friendly space for mobile creators. Now, they’ve announced the new Saramonic Air SE, a compact wireless microphone system aimed squarely at smartphone shooters. At first glance, this looks like a stripped-down, ultra-affordable option for vloggers, streamers, and short-form content creators.
FREE TOOL: Get Reliable Pinhole Exposures - Try Our Free Pinhole Camera Exposure Calculator
Pinhole cameras don’t behave like standard lenses, and exposure times can quickly become unpredictable. But it’s a pursuit so popular that there’s an annual celebration each year. This calculator helps you determine the correct exposure by factoring in pinhole size, focal distance, and film or sensor ISO, giving you a reliable starting point for consistent results. How to use the calculator: Enter a metered exposure (ISO, aperture, and shutter) from your camera or light meter.
FREE TOOL: Nail Your Focus Every Time - Try Our Free Depth of Field Calculator
Not sure how much of your image will actually be in focus? Depth of field depends on aperture, focal length, sensor size, and distance to your subject. Use this calculator to see how those settings affect what appears sharp, and to find the balance between background blur and usable focus. Enter your focal length (mm). Set the aperture (f-number). Enter the subject distance. Choose units (m / ft / cm / mm / in). Select your sensor / format. Read the near limit, far limit, and total DOF.
Use DIYP's Free Online Tools for Photographers And Filmmakers
These calculators cover common photographic calculations, from print preparation and focus control to long exposures and pinhole cameras. They’re intended as practical references you can use while planning a shoot, setting up a camera, or preparing images for output. New tools are added both in response to our real shooting needs and your feedback. You can even put these calculators on your own websites if you want to. If there’s a calculator you’d find useful and don’t see here, let us know.
Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone Is The Most Fun Flying Experience I've Ever Had
I’m going to start off the Antigravity A1 review a little differently. I’m essentially going to give you my verdict first, and then we’ll get on with the rest. Basically, if you’ve got the money burning a hole in your pocket and you want the most fun drone flying experience you’ve ever had, then get the Antigravity A1. For everyone else, there’s a bit more to it. I will say, though, that this is the most fun I’ve ever had with a drone without a shadow of a doubt.
FREE TOOL: Get Picture-Perfect Prints - Try Our Free Print Size Calculator
Printing our photos is on the rise. Do your prints look soft or blocky when they come back from the lab? Let our Print Size Calculator help. Just enter the dimensions of the physical size you require, along with the PPI your lab requires, and it will tell you the pixel dimensions your file should have for a sharp result. Enter the Width and Height of the print. Choose Units (in/cm/mm). Set PPI. 300 is a good all-round choice; 240–360 is common, but your print lab will tell you what they need.
Insta360's X4 Air is the lightest 8K 360 camera they've released to date
Insta360 has refreshed its lineup with a new addition. But it’s not a successor to the Insta360 X5 – it’s a bit soon for that – but it is a sort of successor to 2024’s Insta360 X4. It’s the Insta360 X4 Air, and it’s the lightest 8K 360 camera the company has released so far. The new camera, Insta360 says, brings everything creators love about the X4 into a lighter, smarter and more intuitive package.
Building a Computer on a Budget for Photography and Video
For creative professionals, a high-performance computer is essential – but it doesn’t need to cost thousands more than it should. With the right balance of parts, you can build a machine that handles real-world editing tasks smoothly without overspending on unnecessary hardware. Before we dive into the parts list, you might be wondering: why build your own PC instead of buying an off-the-shelf system?
The Saramonic TC-NEO takes all the hassle out of timecode
The Saramonic TC-NEO is designed to take the hassle out of multi-camera sync, combining a compact wireless timecode generator with flexible connectivity and long battery life. Available as a single unit or in a triple-kit with its own charging case, it promises frame-accurate reliability for everything from solo documentary shoots to full multi-cam productions.
AI Photography Explained: Tools, Techniques & Future Trends
AI is a hotly debated topic in the world of photography, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s had a controversial start, from claims of copyright infringement to AI “stealing our jobs”. But whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay, and we need to pay attention to it. It’s come a long way in the last couple of very short years. Some form of AI is now integrated into just about every tool we use, and artificial intelligence technology has become vital in many photographers’ workflows.
AI Photography Explained: Tools, Techniques & Future Trends
10 hours ago Having invested in Ive’s startups, Powell Jobs stands to profit from the device’s success. The mysterious AI gadget being created by OpenAI and former Apple design chief Jony Ive has been given the thumbs up from Laurene Powell Jobs. In a new interview published by The Financial Times, the two …
Upgrade Your Workflow with Crucial’s super fast X10 USB & T710 Gen5 SSDs
Today at Computex 2025, Micron Technology unveiled two new additions to its Crucial storage lineup designed to meet the rigorous demands of photographers and filmmakers. There’s the ultra-portable Crucial X10 USB SSD, and the high-performance Crucial T710 PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD. These drives combine blazing transfer speeds, generous capacities, and rugged designs to streamline on-location workflows and accelerate multicam editing and other post-production tasks.
Insta360 X5 Boasts Three AI chips and User-Replaceable Lenses
Insta360 has now officially announced the new Insta360 X5. It brings with it 144% larger sensors, a bigger battery and – finally – user removable and replaceable lenses. It also sees improved waterproofing, PureVideo and a triple AI chip. The video frame rates on the X5 are very similar to the Insta360 X4, but it also bumps 5.7K Active HDR video up to 60fps, adds PureVideo mode and InstaFrame – a new tool to help you frame up your shots while you film for faster editing.
The Saramonic K9 UHF Wireless Mic Cuts Right Through WiFi Interference
Saramonic has announced the new Saramonic K9 professional digital UHF wireless microphone system. Targeted towards higher-end filmmakers, the K9 offers a range of features suited to higher end productions and set ups. It avoids the now-ubiquitous 2.4GHz frequencies in order to minimise interference. Instead, it uses a 550-960MHz UHF system with various frequency ranges for legal use around the world.
Never Lose Your Photos Again: Backing Up on Location with an SSD
Today is World Backup Day, the day where we’re compelled to remind you to back up your data! But we’re not just going to tell you to back it up—we’re going to show you how. Specifically, how to back up your memory cards on location. Anything can happen on the way home from a shoot. Cards can get lost, stolen, or damaged. And if it’s a non-repeatable event, those photos and video footage can be lost forever. But it’s easy to back them up with your phone and an SSD.
Never Lose Your Photos Again: Backing Up on Location with an SSD
Now Most women were not taught how to build real wealth. We were taught how to budget, how to save money, but nobody is teaching us how to retire rich. For many women in their 40s and 50s, the topic of retirement planning brings a mix of urgency and uncertainty. After years of working, raising …
YoloBox Extreme: The All-in-One Live Streaming Beast Gets Even Better
Live streaming just got a serious upgrade. YoloLiv has unveiled the YoloBox Extreme, and if you thought the previous models like the YoloBox Pro, Instream and Yolobox Ultra were powerful, this one takes things to an entirely new level. Designed for creators, videographers, and streaming professionals who need top-tier performance in a compact package, the YoloBox Extreme is essentially an encoder, monitor, switcher, and recorder all wrapped up into one beastly device.
Osmo Mobile 7 Series: DJI’s Lightest and Smartest Gimbal Yet
DJI has just dropped the Osmo Mobile 7 Series, and if you’re into smartphone photography or content creation, this might be worth a look. Even if you already own the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 or Osmo Mobile SE, the new 7 series adds some welcome features.
Tokina's 11-18mm F2.8 X is its first super-wide zoom designed for mirrorless
Tokina’s had quite the range of wide lenses over the years, from the classic 11-16mm and 11-20mm f/2.8s to the wide aperture 14-20mm f/2. But they’ve all been made primarily for DSLRs. Today, though, Tokina’s announced its new 11-18mm f/2.8 X, designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras. As the “X” in the name might suggest, this is an APS-C lens for the Fuji X mirrorless system.
RED Komodo-X and V-Raptor cine cameras are now available in Z-mount flavour
Ever since Nikon’s acquisition of RED in March last year, the filmmaking and photography worlds have been wondering what’s going to happen. Will Nikon bring RED tech to its mirrorless cameras? Will we see Z-Mount RED cameras? Well, while Nikon said little about their plans, the latter has now been answered. RED Digital Cinema has announced Z-Mount versions of both the RED Komodo-X and RED V-Raptor-raptorX cinema cameras. The initial acquisition of RED was very much shrouded in secrecy.
Adobe Firefly Video Model Brings AI-generated Video Into The Real World
AI-generated video has been making waves, but it’s mostly been a gimmick. It’s cool to look at, but it’s not exactly ready for primetime. Adobe is looking to change that with the Firefly Video Model, the first commercially safe generative AI video tool. In plain English? It means you can actually use it for real projects without worrying about copyright takedowns or legal headaches.
Nikon Announces the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S Fast Prime for Professionals
Nikon has announced its latest addition to its S series lens lineup – the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S. Aimed squarely at professionals, it’s a fast, medium-wide-angle lens that should appeal to photographers and filmmakers seeking a combination of sharpness, subject isolation, and creative depth. With its f/1.2 aperture, Nikon says this 35mm prime is designed to create smooth, natural bokeh and help subjects pop from their surroundings.
ByteDance OmniHuman-1: Game-Changing AI Tool or Gimmick for Visual Creators?
ByteDance, the company that brought us TikTok, is now making headlines with its latest AI development: OmniHuman-1. The premise? Feed it a single image, and it can generate a video complete with natural gestures, lip-syncing, and even full-body movements. It’s an impressive claim, and it will distract from some of its legal issues. But before we start calling this the next revolution in content creation, let’s break down what it actually offers – and what it doesn’t.
Lexar ARMOR SD Cards: Built Like Tanks, but Are They Fast Enough?
Lexar is taking durability seriously with its latest ARMOR GOLD and SILVER UHS-II SDXC cards. Offering storage capacities of up to 1TB, these new cards ditch the usual plastic design in favour of stainless steel, promising 37 times the strength of traditional SD cards. If you’ve ever had an SD card crack or fail during a crucial shoot, you’ll know how much peace of mind that could bring. Both the GOLD and SILVER series are built to endure just about anything.
Blackmagic Camera 2.0 Brings Multi-Cam Control and More to Android
Blackmagic Design just dropped a major update for Android users, and it’s packed with features that could be a big deal – depending on how you use them. Blackmagic Camera for Android 2.0 now supports several Android tablets, including the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Samsung Tab S9, along with Samsung’s latest S25 series phones. But the real buzz comes from multi-device remote control and monitoring, and some upgrades aimed at serious mobile filmmakers.
How to make your own DIY optical waist-level viewfinder for any camera
Waist-level viewfinders aren’t all that common in photography today. In fact, most people coming into photography in the last decade may not even know what one is. They used to be the norm for many medium-format, and some 35mm cameras. You can add one to your modern mirrorless camera, though. All it takes is a lens, a mirror and a little DIY. In this video from Snappiness, we see the complete build from start to finish.
Team Group’s 2TB T-CREATE Expert UHS-II V90 SD Card Sets a New Standard
Team Group has just announced its newest T-CREATE EXPERT SDXC UHS-II V90 SD card, and it’s turning heads for a simple reason: it’s the first V90 card to hit 2TB. For professional photographers and filmmakers, this could be a game-changer. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? With blazing read speeds of up to 300MB/s and write speeds of 260MB/s, this card is clearly designed for those shooting 8K video, high-res RAW files, or anything else that eats up storage.
Canon's New Full-Frame Sensor Shoots 410 Megapixels
Canon has announced a shiny new full-frame 410-megapixel CMOS sensor. It’s a world first, and it’s very impressive. But it’s highly unlikely to be appearing in a mirrorless camera near you any time soon. It’s designed primarily for medical, industrial, and surveillance uses. With a resolution of 24,592 x 16,704 pixels, it captures a lot of detail and absolutely hammers Canon’s previous record of 250 megapixels.
DIY Photography
Panasonic has unveiled a new lineup of 4K 60p camcorders aimed at filmmakers, videographers, and live-streaming professionals. The four models – AG-CX20, AG-CX18, HC-X1600 ($1,699.99), and HC-X1200 ($1,299.99) – combine advanced features with a lightweight, portable design that’s perfect for on-the-go shoots. All four new models feature a powerful 25–600mm zoom lens (35mm equivalent) with 24x optical zoom. Panasonic’s 4-Drive Lens System keeps the zoom smooth and responsive.
Pelican turns to comfort for its new Aegis range of soft backpacks
If you’ve been into photography or video for more than five minutes, you’ve certainly heard of Pelican. They’re the industry standard cases for storing and transporting your gear. They’re built to be rugged and handle anything that can be thrown at them – even baggage handlers. Pelican seems to be changing tactics, though. The company has announced its new Aegis range (buy here) of backpacks and accessories, designed for style and comfort rather than pure function. Yeah, that’s right.
ProGrade Launches 960GB CFexpress Type A Gold Card for Sony shooters
ProGrade Digital has just unveiled its latest addition to the CFexpress Type A Gold lineup – a 960GB memory card designed to keep up with today’s high-resolution video demands. If you’ve been tired of swapping out smaller cards mid-shoot, this might just be your new best friend. This 960GB card offers the same level performance as its smaller siblings (120GB, 240GB, and 480GB), but with enough capacity to tackle longer shoots without interruption.
How to Make Your Own Studio-Quality Mic for Only $20
I’ve been following Andrei Gabriel (AKA Electronoobs) on YouTube for quite a few years now. As an electronics hobbyist, it’s one of my go-to YouTube channels for information about a lot of electronics-related things. Sometimes, my electronics obsession meets my photo/video/audio obsession. This is such a case and definitely fits in here on DIYP. In this video, Andrei builds a studio-quality microphone using only $20 worth of supplies. There are definitely pros to buying your own microphones.
Westcott FJ800 and FJ400 II: Portable powerhouses with advanced features
Westcott has announced its latest strobes – the FJ800 ($999.90) and FJ400 II ($599.90) Touchscreen Strobes. They bring some serious capability for photographers who need speed, precision, and portability in their lighting gear. With new features like Creative Mask and enhanced usability through intuitive OLED touchscreens, these strobes add significant features to Westcott’s strobe lineup. At 800Ws, the FJ800 packs a serious punch, but what really stands out is its speed.
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro launches with advanced AI and iPhone integration
Insta360 has introduced the Flow 2 Pro ($159), their latest smartphone gimbal aimed at creators who want professional-level features without the professional-level hassle. With AI tracking, extended iPhone integration, and a host of upgraded tools, it’s an ambitious addition to a market already saturated with options. The Flow 2 Pro’s Deep Track 4.0 AI is designed to handle just about any tracking scenario you throw at it.
DJI Flip: The compact, safe drone for vloggers on the move
DJI has introduced its newest entry into the world of consumer drones, the DJI Flip. Designed with vloggers and casual creators in mind, this lightweight drone (just under 249g) combines portability, safety, and impressive camera capabilities. It’s similar to the HoverAir X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max – and we’ll have our review on the latter finished soon – but with DJI’s usual unique twist. DJI says they wanted to combine the simplicity of the Neo with the photo capabilities of the Mini.
Adobe is bringing new user collaboration tools to Photoshop
Since the work-from-home culture went mainstream, Adobe has been rushing to add collaborative features to its products. To help achieve its goals, the company even acquired Frame.io. Now, more collaborative features are coming to Photoshop. Launching as a private beta next week, the update will allow multiple user to access and edit the same document simultaneously. This presents all sorts of opportunities for collaboration, particularly on large teams, not to mention real-time client feedback.
Adobe is killing off its 20GB Photoshop & Lightroom plan in two days
If you’ve been taking advantage of Adobe’s 20GB Photoshop and Lightroom plan, you’ll not want to let it lapse. As of January 15th, Adobe is abandoning the plan for new users. And even those grandfathered in by existing accounts will see a price increase. The price for current subscribers – and anyone who gets in before the deadline – goes from $9.99/mo to $14.99/mo after January 15th. For anyone who wants to sign up after that, you’ll have to go with another, more expensive plan.
Hollyland Lark M2S: Tiny microphones with big features for content creators
Hollyland has unveiled its latest wireless microphone set, the Lark M2S ($119-149). It’s compact and logo-free (yay!). Yhey’re designed designed to blend seamlessly with your attire while delivering outstanding audio performance. Hollyland wants to cater to to a broad range of users with this one. Everything from videographers to online educators, vloggers, and live streamers. The Lark M2S transmitters are impressively small, measuring just 1.3cm x 0.63cm and weighing only 7g.
Shure MV7i smart mic combines studio sound with a built-in audio interface
Shure has just unveiled the MV7i Smart Microphone ($349) at CES 2025. And it’s clear the company’s aiming to make life easier for creators. The MV7i combines a microphone and audio interface into a single unit, letting you record two separate audio sources – like a second mic or an instrument – without needing external gear. At its core, the MV7i builds on Shure’s popular MV7+ by adding an integrated XLR and ¼” input alongside its USB-C connection.
Godox MA5R: Portable RGB Lighting Meets Wireless Charging
Godox has introduced the MA5R ($49), a pocket-sized LED light designed to make life easier for creators on the go. While it doesn’t break entirely new ground, it combines two practical features – full-colour lighting and a magnetic wireless power bank – into a compact form factor. For mobile photographers and content creators, the MA5R offers a good solution for both lighting and charging on the go.
ProGrade's PG20 Pro Hub is a Thunderbolt 4 hub designed for creatives
ProGrade Digital is branching out from its usual lineup of memory cards and readers with the new PG20 Pro Thunderbolt 4 Hub ($169.99). While Thunderbolt hubs are nothing new, ProGrade has taken a workflow-focused approach with this one. It’s an interesting choice for creators who need reliable performance and a tidy desk. It has an 85W output port for charging your MacBook and three 15W USB-C downstream ports. You can even mount two ProGrade card readers on top.
AltCineCam Eclipse is another modded Blackmagic Cinema Camera, but it's only 1080p
It looks like Blackmagic camera mods are all the rage at the moment. First, we had the Nexus G1, based on the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K (buy here). Now, we’ve got the AltCineCam Eclipse, built around the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera (buy here). Yes, that’s right, the original Micro Cinema Camera with a 1080p Super 16 Fairchild sensor. It feels like an odd move when other manufacturers have already started moving beyond 4K into 6K and 8K territory.
Godox iA32 - Compact flash control in a pocket-friendly package for under $50
Flash photography isn’t just about power. Sometimes, it’s about control, portability, and adaptability. Enter the Godox iA32 ($49.90). It’s a pocket-sized flash designed for shooters who prioritise travel-friendly gear without compromising on basic functionality. Sure, it’s not aiming to replace studio-grade units or high-end speedlights. But its simplicity and versatility might make it a solid option for specific shooting scenarios. And at less than $50, it’s a great first flash for beginners.
Actor Jeff Bridges is bringing back the Widelux panoramic film camera in 2025
It’s no secret that actor Jeff Bridges is a big photography fan. He’s been shooting behind-the-scenes portraits of his co-stars, as well as general everyday life, for decades. He’s not the only one, either, but he uses a particularly unique camera. He was gifted a Widelux panoramic film camera by his wife at their wedding, and he hasn’t stopped shooting with it since. The last Widelux rolled off the production line in 2000. Now, in 2025, Jeff Bridges is bringing it back as the Wideluxx.
Godox just put 100Ws of flash on your hoshoe with the Godox V100
Godox has unveiled its latest on-camera flash, the Godox V100. It’s packed with features that should pique the interest of photographers across the board. It’s small in size but big on power, designed to handle everything from event photography to creative portrait setups. What sets the V100 apart is its impressive power output. But beyond that are its intuitive touchscreen interface and unique feature set.
DJI Drones Dodge U.S. Ban - But the Fight Isn’t Over
DJI has narrowly avoided what could have been a major setback. The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed without the inclusion of the Countering CCP Drones Act. The proposed clause could have banned DJI from selling or operating its products in the United States. But while DJI’s drones remain in the air for now, the company isn’t out of trouble yet. DJI now has a year to prove to the US government that it’s not a Chinese spy agency. The NDAA doesn’t outright ban DJI.
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