Seems like a strong trend with the iPhone 17Pro becoming a perfect camera for capturing ProRes RAW content.

You need to have the right tools depending on whether you are handheld, using a cage, or a gimbal. Using the internal storage on the phone will not work for the files at their highest capture capability.

In this video , we’ll walk through some choices.

OWC is owning the CFExpress B media card world right now with the Atlas Ultra series with speed, less chance of overheating and a system that allows you to triple the speed.

Couple the card with their card reader and a free software, and you have a winner combo.

If you are looking to use a gimbal, the perfect design of the Planck SSD creates a slim attachment, with storage up to 2 TB. In addition they offer a creator hub, that makes it easy to shift to cage set-up and add in a mic receiver and power pass through.

Happy New Year!

For the first post of 2026, we’ll go with a video about a truly versatile tool: The HollyLand  Lark Max 2 mic system.

Sure you get a lot of accessories in the kit, but I was brought to this system for 1 main feature: The ability to monitor the audio recording in REAL TIME!

There are work arounds whether you are using a wired headset into a mirrorless camera, but hearing your audio with a phone, video camera like an Osmo Pocket 3, or any camera as it happens is not only a time saver, but a critical part of your content capture.

These mics have 32 Bit Float, internal recording capabilities, time code generation, ability to add additional lav mics.

That is another feature I was happy to discover reviewing this set-up: I could add a Sanken COS-11D high end mic, plugging into the mic via an included adaptor. To be fair, the included lav mics in the set are excellent, although when I am shooting a vid with my pro cameras, I’ll bring in the Sanken.

Here is what is in the 2 mic kit:

It can all be held in the included pouch.

More vids coming!

From the time I was an assistant in NYC, polaroids were a tool, a photo sharing item, and yes, an art form.

Here is a Polaroid shot on a Hasselblad back testing the lighting from back in the day. Like waaaay back in the day!

We have progressed, and Fuji has taken up the mantle of instant photos. Sure, it’s nice to have a digital copy of your photos. Having a physical print of an image is a whole other thing!
Fuji Instax has given life to this category in a full ranging line-up.

It’s true there are some other options out there as well! Here are just 3 possibilities:

*Instax Wide EVO

*Instax Wide Smartphone Printer

*HP Sprocket 200

By the way, BH Photo does expedited shipping so you’ll get your camera/printer in time for the holidays!!

This year the Instax Wide EVO is a clear winner for the Instax crowd.
I’m in that crowd!

With a sleek design, and textured surface, this camera has so many features for your instant photo experience. The ability to

It has a 16MP Sensor, Fixed 16mm f/2.4 lens., built in flash, You have choices of about 20 different color features,  5 diff design modes like film strip or date/time stamp (and full control over your exposure!) Yes, you are seeing a mirrored circle on the front for your selfie pleasure.

Usually, one of the downsides of instant photography in the past, is that once the print comes out, it’s a one and done. That hasn’t been the case for a while. And this camera also takes a micro-SD to store all the images, and connects via Bluetooth to an app on your phone, then txt/email an image.
So print, save to micro-sd, and share to an app. Choices.
But the experience of a print in the hand is everything. This camera can also be used as a printer, using photos from your phone ported through the app.

You get about 100 exposures per charge.
I would recco spending a pack of 10 photos to get your preferences down pat. Or save to the micro SD, and BT to the app.So many creative choices. Yes, there is internal memory that stores about 45 photos, without a micro-sd card

The controls are right where you want them, and all your creative choices are visible on the true to size screen on the back.
You still get that satisfaction of the print appearing to move up from the screen to a physical print in your hand!

Sells for about $410.

One feature I wish was included was QR code printing and custom sketch application.

Those features are available on the Instax Wide Smartphone Printer.

Imagine handing out a photo from your archive, or that you just took with a QR code leading to your contact info, or maybe Linktree.

You can also doodle or add design that you created added onto a photo. See above.

The Wide Printer sells for about $190

Now there are simpler systems.
The HP Sprocket 200 is an unassuming rectangle that prints directly from your phone, and the print are thin and can also be stickers!
Very fun, and  simple.
All connected fast and easy to Bluetooth, and the image was adjustable in the app before printing. As you can see these prints are smaller than the Instax Wide above.

To be fair about the same size as Fuji Instax mini.
About $90.

The overall concept of instant photos is one that we all can relate to. Sure, sending a digital image is one thing. But…..

I almost feel the same way about physical business cards vs. digital cards.

A well designed card that you can hold in your hand will probably get remembered more that a digital contact card added to a phone will.

OK, fine. Maybe I’m just old school like that. I love having and giving instant photos!

Ok, we know about all the basic gear you use in your photo/video life.
How about the tools you use to get it all done?
Not photographic in nature, but everyday life use cases.

*Pixel Drive Electric Screwdriver

*ArkPro Ultra from OLight

*Leatherman Tools

One of my favorite new tools comes from a company called HOTO.
The core model for me is the Pixel Drive electric screwdriver.

In this powerful compact set, you get this well-designed cylinder
that houses 30 different bits, and the handle in one unit.

You have all the control you need with adjustable torque, depending on the job at hand.
Plus, there is an LED light at the end of the handle, so you know exactly where you are working.
This is a perfect tool to screw in your Platypod tripod mount, or honestly, put together that piece of Ikea furniture!
Adjustable power, as well as torque to customize your working experience.

Along with this main tool they also make a series of more refined tools, all based on the handle concept with multiple bits. The handles are slim, and the bits specific to each category are kept in a slim, magnetic case to keep it all organized in the best way. From screwdrivers for your electronics, to drill for those starter holes, all the way to a burnishing set, that is a perfect way to smooth out that prop you are shooting in macro. Best for hobbyist or those working on anything requiring tiny tools.
Keep is smooth and clean.
I have had the big tool cases in the past and finding the more precise bits was a huge pain.

I will admit I use their electric scrubber and it is perfect!

And who doesn’t love a great flashlight?
Right now, I have one on my desk, and one on my work areas.
This new design from OLight is definitely going in your bag.

With options like Spot, Flood, & UV, you also get 3-way power options.

One more note on the UV: if you have ever seen a crime drama where they flash a UV to see if there is any “evidence” in the crime scene, this option will let you know how much more cleaning you need to do. Nuff said.

The design of the unit is rectangular instead of round so it fits better in your pocket or even has a strong clip making it easy to attach to the brim of a cap, or belt, or secured in a pocket.

The unique textured finish, makes it a non-slip handling tool.

In addition, you get a laser pointer, which can be used as a constant green light, or activated by a button as needed.

USB-C charging, plus it’s own mag safe charging with adaptor included ,this is my new favorite, and it’s a great gift for anyone on your list.

Here are the details. The Ultra is the one reviewed.

Then we have the tried and true-
Leatherman.
This particular versatile tool has always been there in a pinch fro me. Pliers, wire cutters, a variety of screw heads, knife blades, an awl, small ruler stamped into the legs.
It all came in a leather case, have had mine for years, although now it’s nylon, that can be belt mounted.

It’s an all-in-one tool, that can solve a problem in a pinch. With 14 essential tools, this 100% stainless steel tool, has a 25 year warranty. Hard to find anythinglike that these days.  Check out the full Leatherman range

Not a dedicated tool but has a place in everyone’s life.

Just a small sampling of the tools you can use. Honestly, anyone receiving one of these is going to be a very happy camper!

OK, let’s talk about AI products, and I’m not going into the generative AI conversation.
Yes, we will be seeing more content created with AI and even now, your editing software has lots of tools to “adjust” your work.
The supersonic speed that all the development is going, I’m sure by the time next week rolls around there will either be a new offering or upgrade versions.

What I’m going to cover today are the tools that take notes.
They listen, translate and transcribe. ( just trying to post for Cyber Monday!)

*Plaud

*OpenNote from Viaim

*Soundcore Aero Fit 2

Whether you are in a meeting, a lecture, a call, you want to try to take notes.
These tools will do that for you.
I do a lot of interviews, and being able to be in the moment, not looking down for notes, or knowing I have the info recorded. Is a major plus.
Maybe you were on the phone with a client and want to make sure you have all of the necessary info.
Solids tools. Now always carry in the bag.

Plaud has had a great deal of visibility, and for good reason.

You can use magsafe to attach the Plaud Pro to your phone or just leave it on a table, please on, and it will record/translate and transcribe the conversation or meeting. 4 mics capture it all when on a table and the magsafe helps record your call and transcribe.
Then you can have the app summarize and yes, chapter and verse, create a doc that you can export.
Here is a sample from a show I was watching on TV:

“11-24 Interview: Wright Thompson on Emmett Till Historic Site Preservation

2025-11-24 21:50:14

00:00:18 Speaker 1
Tonight, one of the most consequential sites in U.S. civil rights history is now… The Emmett Till Interpretive Center said the legendary TV writer and producer Shonda Rhimes helped buy the Mississippi barn where Emmett Till was tortured and killed back in 1955. The barn has never been treated as a historic place, as hard as that is to believe. Instead, it was just privately owned. It was even used for storage at one point. The structure itself is fragile. It’s at risk of collapse. But now it’s going to be maintained. That’s because the center says it plans to open the barn to the public by the year 2030.

00:00:56 Speaker 1
That would come 75 years after Emmett Till’s lynching. And they say it will be, quote, part of a larger public memorial, a place of truth, creativity, and conscience. My source on this story is Wright Thompson, who investigated the site of Emmett Till’s lynching for his book, The Barn, The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi. And Wright, you know, when I saw that this was happening today, I immediately said I wanted to have you on because we’ve talked about this so much with you and how so many tried to basically erase this part of me. And I think that’s a very important part of the story.

00:01:27 Speaker 1
And you described it as the most important thing to happen to the Delta in generations. How are you feeling when you found out about this tonight.”

This unit comes with 300 minutes free per month.
If you are a heavy user, you should investigate a yearly subscription with varying levels of extra minutes with unlimited being the primo package.
This needs a very specific charging cable, so if you buy, don’t lose it!

Then a new player on the scene has come on called Viaim.
They have a few different offerings, which do essentially the same thing as the Plaud with one main difference:
The Open Note can be used as earpods with a full complement of equalizer tools to make your listening to music, podcasts, games, or movies that much better. The recorder is built right into the earbuds!
As soon as you connect to your phone, download the recoding and you have the full space for the next record.

You get up to 2 hours of call recording or 1 hour of live recording per earbud. Plus you can translate almost 100 different languages even in a mixed language meeting.
As you can see, if they are just your listening earbuds, you get almost 53 hours!

As a test, I was at an event where after a movie screening, a major celebrity came out as a surprise.
I decided to check out the capabilities, and just did a tap on the earpods, heard the double tone telling me that it was in record mode.

“So we were trying to look for things that unlock him and unlock me as an actor to become somebody else.And I had a front row seat for that unlocking when you were five feet tall, looking up at everyone, he was like, holy shit, it’s a whole different world.

None of my attempts to flirt with Margaret Wally went over anything in that particular scenario.Technically, it was a real thing in the ass, of course.But like the actor who played Oscar, who’s notoriously a tall guy, was probably, Ethan’s around six feet tall, like I was like 5’9.

But he was perfect for Oscar. So we would have him up on some boxes, and Ethan kind of lowered, and everybody trying not to fall in.But if you didn’t capture, I mean, it was said that Larry Hart didn’t even think he was capable of seducing his own shadow, which was beautiful and heartbreaking.

That was the big leap for Ethan to be able to get that.Let’s be honest.No, never.Never has anyone ever wanted to do in that one.I’ve been hawking on Coke Closet with Elizabeth is seven minutes in heaven.

It’s not Larry Hart and the kind of beseeching.But you know, the thing is, all that’s funny, but the truth is, from the get-go, this is a screenplay that I spent, whatever, 40 years of acting.

On one hand, I can count the amount of screenplays that, you know, knocked me back so much as like, I have to do this.The quality of the writing, learning the lines was fun because I would sit there and giggle and be moved.

Every turn of phrase is fascinating.It’s so well built the way it really does function the whole movie.And we came to this pretty early in the process.Years ago, when we first started reading that loud, the whole movie needs to feel like a 90 minute righteous and heart song.

It’s got a it’s got a float, and it’s got to have a bridge, it’s got a dissonance and resolve, and have that same wit, and the same soulfulness that  they carried.And if we could do that, then we felt like we could sustain the audience’s attention with the spirit.”

Later I went to the Viaim app, and here it all was! Text, and summarized. True there were some misspellings on thngs like names, but overall usable notes.
Now, the ability to export as a chaptered summary is not there yet but coming.

The above was opened in PAGES app

The Viaim comes with 600 minutes a month included.
USB-C charging for the case.

I will admit that there is a school of thought that states if you write it down it stays with you better. I have been leaning more into the exports!

Then we have the Soundcore Aero Fit 2.

These are not designed to record audio to translate or summarize. They are earbuds designed to translate, communicate, and listen to your music. The open ear design limits wearing fatigue, and it seems to be a strong trend
And this will translate up to 100 different languages.
Open the app, listen to another language, it translates into your language, speak your native language back and you will get a translation in audio through the phone speaker and in script. A conversation!

Basically if you are traveling to another country with it’s own language, or even in a multicultural city, you want this this to help communicate.
I honestly went to a local Mexican favorite restaurant to pick up some lunch and they always have Mexican TV on with the app open and the ear pods on, I was hearing the real time translation!

The Soundcore is not about taking notes and saving the conversation. You don’t need any subscription.
If you are traveling, this is a solid buy. The sales this month are excellent!

By the way, if you are using any/all of the AI generative products, just be gentle.
Learn how they work, just be ready for incredibly fast advances!
And the cost every time you change the prompt.

Plus the AI engine was trained basically on existing content. Copyright issues abound.