Given the recent leaks purporting that DJI’s upcoming Osmo Action 5 camera will likely be a minor upgrade at best, I figure it’s not at all too late to point out the year-old Osmo Action 4.

This rival to the GoPro Hero 12 Black — which released right around the same time — empowers you to capture the most thrilling moments of all your outdoor adventures, whether you’re diving to depths of up to 18 meters or dealing with temperatures as low as -4°F (-20°C).

It makes use of a large 1/1.3-inch CMOS image sensor, a wide aperture of f/2.8, and an ultra-wide 155° field of view that allow you to shoot vibrant 4K/120fps footage with loads of detail even in low light conditions.

The output of that footage is also sure to be smooth and stable thanks to its HorizonSteady, RockSteady, and HorizonBalancing stabilization features. And, you can shoot for 2.5 hours (150 minutes) straight without missing a beat thanks to the Action 4’s 1,770mAh battery, which can be quick-charged back to 80% in only 18 minutes.

There are loads more features (and compatible accessories) you can do a deep dive into if you wish, but suffice to say that the DJI Osmo Action 4 continues to be a fantastic choice for thrill-seekers looking to get crystal-clear footage of their exploits.

Get it for $299 on Amazon.

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Also just released for 2024, LEGO Ideas’ new Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera is designed for lovers of vintage photography gear, bringing Polaroid’s iconic camera to life in build-it-yourself brick form.

Once assembled, this 516-piece model kit will display beautifully just about anywhere, and it even has some functional elements you can play with, including a working viewfinder, a rotatable exposure compensation dial, and a few LEGO Polaroid ‘photos’ you can load into the openable film door and actually eject out the front with the red shutter button!

Get this nostalgic LEGO camera set for $80 on Amazon.

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Designed with professional athletes, filmmakers, and photographers in mind, the Metal Edition SANDMARC Pole is a water- and salt-proof GoPro camera extension/selfie stick that extends from 15″ to 50″ and weighs just 14 ounces.

Whether you’re surfing, snowboarding, skiing, scuba diving, biking, or simply traveling through beautiful locales, this thing will let you capture close and wide-angle shots of all the action.

In addition to being constructed from quality materials and built to last, the Pole is compatible with pretty much every GoPro model you can think of and then some:

• HERO11
• HERO10
• HERO9
• HERO8
• MAX 360
• HERO7
• Osmo Action
• HERO6 Black
• HERO5 Black / HERO5 Session
• HERO4 Black / HERO4 Silver
• HERO3 / HERO3+
• HERO2
• HERO HD / HERO Session
• HERO+ / HERO+ LCD
• Osmo Action

It also includes a remote holder clip that works with most GoPro remotes.

You can get this awesome piece of photo/video equipment for $50 on Amazon.

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Photography gear shown above not included, obviously.

As time goes on and smartphone cameras keep getting better than ever, it’s getting harder to find reasons to carry a large DSLR or even a mirrorless camera anymore. However, if you’re of the mindset that they’ll have to pry the camera out of your cold, dead fingers — or you need a bigger camera/photography setup for professional reasons — you’ll be happy to know there are still companies out here who have your back(pack).

The ProTactic 350 AW II by Lowepro — which was updated in 2022 to be more eco-friendly than the original version — has all the room you need to fit all your photography gear, including a DSLR camera (with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens attached), a spare camera body, a 13″ laptop, up to 6 lenses, and a high-end drone like the DJI Mavic 2 Pro.

On top of that, you get four access points for getting at that gear: top turret, dual side access, and back panel:

Even fully packed, this bag is compact enough to fit under an airplane seat — handy for those particularly remote jobs that come your way. It’s also quite rugged and durable, and should keep your stuff well protected from impacts, wherever you go.

Get this pro photographer backpack for $245 on Amazon.

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A few months ago — almost exactly 50 years after the last time humans stepped foot on the moon — British photographer, science writer, and imaging specialist Andy Saunders released his coffee table book, Apollo Remastered: The Ultimate Photographic Record, which collects over 400 digitally remastered, full-page photographs that were taken during NASA’s Apollo missions to the Moon:

In Houston, Texas, there is a frozen vault that preserves the original NASA photographic film of the Apollo missions. For half a century, almost every image of the Moon landings publicly available was produced from a lower-quality copy of these frozen originals. Over the last few years, NASA image restorer Andy Saunders has been working hard. Taking newly available digital scans and applying pain-staking care and cutting-edge enhancement techniques, he has created the highest quality Apollo photographs ever produced. Never-before-seen spacewalks and crystal-clear portraits of astronauts in their spacecraft, along with startling new visions of the Earth and the Moon, offer astounding new insight into one of our greatest endeavors.

This is the definitive record of all Apollo missions and a mesmerizing, high-definition journey into the unknown.

Covering every mission from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17, the wonderful photos in this extraordinary treasure trove of a collection are unprecedented in their detail and clarity. Each image is accompanied by a caption detailing what you’re looking at, the camera equipment used to take it, and quotes from the astronauts at the moment of capture (pulled directly from the mission transcripts).

If you’re interested in the actual process of space photography or how the book was made, there are also chapters covering the history of the artform itself along with details on the equipment and scanning/processing techniques used.

This is easily one of the coolest photo books any space nerd could own.

Get the book in these formats:

• Hardcover ($56) ← recommended
• Kindle ($55)
• Apple Books ($55)

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Some of our more eidetic readers may recall last summer’s post about ElevationLab’s TagVault, a waterproof keychain case for the Apple AirTag designed to protect the location-tracking gizmo on multiple fronts without hindering its functionality.

They’ve since gone on to release a series of other AirTag solutions under the “TagVault” label, including a pet collar mount, a wallet insert, a bike mount, and more. The latest of the bunch is the new bag strap mount, which lets you attach the AirTag directly to a backpack, gym bag, camera strap, soft cooler, etc.

Like the previous iterations, the TagVault strap mount is waterproof and virtually indestructible to keep your AirTag secure in the event of an accident, sudden downpour, or whatever else the world might throw at you.

And because it securely installs through the strap via self-piercing screws (and yes, a driver is included), you can use it with straps of any width — just so long as they’re no more than 0.2″ thick compressed. This design also keeps it from dangling around as you move, so it’s altogether quite discreet.

Get a single TagVault: Strap for $20 on Amazon. You can also pick up a two-pack for $35, or a pack of four for $60.

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Yeah, I know, it’s a little weird to write about an accessory for iPhone models that are about to become old news in just a few days, but the ProGrip kit from ShiftCam is definitely worth your attention if you’re planning to hold onto any size iPhone 13 (or 12 or 11) and photography/videography is a big part of what you use that device for.

With a design inspired by DSLR cameras, the ProGrip adds a comfortable and ergonomic photo-shooting grip to your iPhone, complete with a wireless shutter button that seamlessly pairs with your camera app and allows you to take photos with your index finger, just like the real thing.

The grip and shutter button alone are cool enough, but then you discover that the device also acts as a 6,400-mAh wireless (Qi) power bank that keeps your iPhone topped up through longer shooting sessions. You can even hook up a second small device via USB-C and charge it up as well.

Moreover, the ProGrip includes industry-standard tripod and hotshoe mounts that allow for expansion of your shooting setup in various ways, plus you can use the thing as a freestanding dock when it suits you.

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In the latest installment of “let’s name cool tripods after suitable animals”, we have the FROGPOD, a cleverly designed and pocketable tripod with three flexible legs that end in neodymium magnet discs.

Simply mount your camera (or smartphone, if you use the included phone clamp) on top of it and slap that froggy boi onto just about any metal surface you come across.

Designed by Thomas Baisch (aka @InfiniteCraftsman), the FROGPOD can be mounted with the legs splayed out on a flat surface (either vertically or horizontally) or wrapped around the object as needed, whether it’s a street pole, a park bench armwrest, a bit of railing/fencing, the corner/edge of a mailbox, or what-have-you.

Useful for freeing your hands for selfies and family photos, or getting shots you might have a hard time with otherwise.

Basically, this thing turns the world itself into your tripod. You could ostensibly use it for setting up makeshift photo lighting fixtures, even. Just a super neat idea.

As of this writing (July 24th, 2022) the Kickstarter project has far exceeded its humble funding goal and has 10 days to go. Back it at the $40 level or higher to receive a FROGPOD of your own sometime around December 2022.

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Whether you’re working from home, a vlogger or streamer, a student taking online lessons, or you’re the one teaching online lessons (even dance lessons, as my wife does), the “Tiny 4K” webcam from OBSBOT could be a great addition to your setup.

This smart little guy has a built-in gimbal and uses AI technology to automatically track and follow your movements — both side-to-side and up-and-down — and autofocusing all the while. It also allows for a couple of hand gestures that respectively allow you to 1) lock/unlock a target within the frame, and 2) zoom in or out.

As the “4K” in the name suggests, this camera offers top-notch image quality that remains crisp and clear even in low lighting conditions, so even those of you who prefer to work in a somewhat darker room (*raises hand*) will find it quite suitable. When you’re done with it, simply flip the camera straight downward to turn it off and maintain your privacy.

The only things that leave a little to be desired here are the camera’s dual microphones, which work okay as long as you’re sitting close enough, but aren’t going to win any audio awards or anything. Other than that, this device is pretty great.

The OBSBOT Tiny 4K webcam is $199 on Amazon and includes a couple of cables, a protective case, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, and a clip-on magnetic stand.

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As any photographer will tell you, taking proper care of your expensive camera lenses is of the utmost importance. The same is true for eyeglasses, binoculars, telescopes, and any other small glass surfaces that tend to pick up dust, smudges, and oily fingerprints.

With a lens cleaning pen (aka “lens pen”) in your kit, this little routine cleaning process becomes a cinch. See how to use one in this video:

The way it works is, you gently dust off the lens using the retractable natural-hair brush at one end of the pen, then take the cap off the other end to reveal a small, flexible rubber tip dusted with a carbon compound, which absorbs oils from the lens surface as you rub it around. (Don’t rub the tip on anything other than glass unless you want to leave a black residue behind!)

This compound is replenished by a little sponge-like ball inside the lid, so all you have to do is re-cap it and give it a little twist now and again whenever the rubber tip seems like it’s running low on the stuff.

For just $10 on Amazon, this is a no-brainer investment that can help keep your lenses in good working order for years to come.

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With KobraTech’s UltraGrip Pro smartphone camera cage, you can take your mobile filmmaking game to the next level. Just by itself, it’s great for keeping your shots steady thanks to the two ergonomic grip handles. But it gets even better when you start using any of its fourteen ¼” screw threads and/or the included cold shoe mounts to attach lighting accessories, microphones, and more.

What’s extra neat is that either of those handles can used separately as a single-handed grip with the phone mount piece attached to the top:

That way, when you’re not working on an actual film project, you can still use the UltraGrip Pro for vlogging, selfies, and other basic shooting tasks. There’s even a Bluetooth remote shutter in the box that can activate your phone’s camera from up to 30 feet away.

Pick up this well-thought-out smartphone camera rig for $45 on Amazon.

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Birds is an aptly titled coffee table book by London-based animal photographer Tim Flach that features over 180 stunning photos of exquisite avian creatures from across the animal kingdom:

Radiating grace, intelligence, and humor, and always in motion, birds tantalize the human imagination. Working for years in his studio and the field, Tim Flach has portrayed nature’s most exquisite creatures alertly at rest or dramatically in flight, capturing intricate feather patterns and subtle coloration invisible to the naked eye.

From familiar friends to marvelous rarities, Flach’s birds convey the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Here are all manner of songbirds, parrots, and birds of paradise; birds of prey, water birds, and theatrical domestic breeds.

Not only are the images a feast for the eye, they’re also given deeper context by Yale ornithology professor Richard O. Prum, who acts as the reader’s guide as they peruse every page:

Compelling text by prominent ornithologist Richard O. Prum takes the reader into the deep history of birds, ancestors of the dinosaurs living among us, and sheds light on the distinct behaviors of each species.

Discover how female guira cuckoos lay eggs in shared nests, distinguishing their own with unique markings, and why the Nicobar pigeon swallows small colorful stones. Learn of the vulturine guineafowl’s penchant for fallen fruit, the common ostrich’s rapid growth rate, and more as you navigate your way through these pages.

Just about every kind of bird you can imagine is in this book, and the photography will absolutely blow you away.

Get the book in these formats:

• Hardcover ($58) ← recommended
• Kindle ($17)
• Apple Books ($17)

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A few days ago, the folks at Realmac Software released Squash 3 for macOS, a powerful, fast, and easy-to-use tool for bulk-processing images — from batch resizing to compressing to filetype conversion to adding filters/effects and way beyond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u-5DMnW1xg

From their announcement post (published when the app was still in early access):

Squash 3 for Mac has been in development for over six months and has been rewritten from the ground-up using all the latest Apple technologies. The entire app has been re-imagined with a complete new user interface and tonnes of useful new features.

Built to be fast and easy to use, Squash 3 simply asks that you drag your photos or images onto it and select what you’d like it to do. That’s it. No complication, no fuss. And all in an app that’s right at home on modern Macs running macOS Big Sur [or newer —Ed.].

Speaking as a blogger who constantly deals with resizing and converting images for web usage, a tool like this is a no-brainer purchase. Realmac is a company that always pays attention to every detail too — all the way down to playful sound design! — so you know your images are in good hands, no matter the filetype or where they come from.

Even after resizing and compressing them and doing whatever else, the output quality is top-notch so you can share them anywhere without fear that they’ll look like crap.

Check out the Squash 3 page for more details on what it can do, or head to the purchase page to pick up a personal license for $29. Or, you can drop $50 to get the bundle that also includes extra filter packs and, of all things, Zen music tracks to help you focus (composed by sound designer Josh Mobley).

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Following a very successful Kickstarter campaign back in December, Just Mobile’s second-generation ShutterGrip is now available for purchase and ready to change your whole smartphone photography game.

The most obvious function of the ShutterGrip 2 is that it adds a camera-style grip to just about any iOS or Android phone, making it much more comfortable to shoot with. On top of the grip is a Bluetooth-connected shutter button, making it feel even more like the real deal.

Doesn’t matter if you’re left- or right-handed, the grip works for everyone.

Now this is where the real craziness starts: That shutter button is actually removable and can be used as a clicker remote up to 33 feet (10 meters) away from the phone! Also built into the grip is an extendable (~6″ / 15cm) selfie-stick arm, and when the SG2 is in this configuration, the shutter button is cleverly given another slot to slide into so it’s within thumb’s reach.

Other features include a standard tripod-thread mount, an integrated cold shoe mount for attaching accessories like microphones, and there’s even a tiny hex wrench hidden under the cold shoe cover so you can tighten the arm hinge as needed. They really thought of everything here, and I still haven’t covered it all.

Stand mode!

Check out Sarb Johal’s video review, which covers everything else about the grip:

https://youtu.be/yts8v87xZpY

Get the ShutterGrip 2 for $50 on Amazon in your choice of Silver, “Pink Sand”, or my favorite, Matte Black.

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Take a trip down memory lane and relive a simpler era of photography with the “Polaroid Now” analog instant camera, which takes clear design inspiration from the ’70s-era OneStep camera but with more modern features that make it even easier and more fun to capture life as you live it:

• Double-lens autofocus system: The camera is smart enough to decide which of its two lenses is more suitable for a given situation/subject, but either way produces that classic Polaroid photo “look.”
• Double exposures: Press the little white button on the front of the camera and activate the built-in double exposure mode, which blends two separate shots into one Polaroid photo frame. You can see an example of it around 3:30 of this lady’s review, it’s super cool and opens up a lot of doors for creativity.
• Self-timer: Tap a different button to activate a 9-second timer — just long enough to get in the shot with some friends before the flash goes off.

Unlike the original OneStep, the Polaroid Now is rechargeable via USB rather than relying on batteries within the film packs. Crazy how that used to work, huh? And speaking of film, the Now is compatible with both i-Type film and the older-style (meaning it does have a battery built in) 600 film.

One thing I love about the Now is that it comes in so many vibrant color options:

…although the classic pure white one shown at the top of this post is my favorite of all.

This $140 bundle includes the camera itself plus 8 exposures’ worth of i-Type color film, a transparent hanging album, a V-frame, and a paper frame.

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