We’ve been sent the latest gimbal from Hohem, the iSteady M7. It’s an ‘Ai Tracking’ gimbal that you can use with your mobile phone to capture video of your work, and after a couple of weeks of using the gimbal for various little projects, here’s what we think! (Tldr; great tool to add to your toolbox!)

When I say ‘video of your work’ I’m specifically talking about that stuff that people seem to love to see in Facebook groups and online in various places, the “BTS” or “Behind The Scenes” from your photo shoots, the footage that people seldom get to experience.

I’ve used all manner of tools to capture behind the scenes of me setting up for a shoot or during a shoot, be it a timelapse of a large group (think team sports) setting up, from when I arrive at the venue to the pressing of the shutter release on the frame that I’m after, to packing away the chairs – I’ve found it’s a nice little extra to share with the team when they get their images for the season! Or another example was when I was photographing a new menu for a client, the experience of setting up the area I was shooting, then the food coming in and out of the set – it was handy for the client (a marketing agency) that they could then use to send to prospective businesses to get more work – There are all kinds of reasons that you might want to maybe catch a bit of video or a cheeky timelapse, and it’s also often the case when you’re starting out that you’re there on your own and don’t have someone to run around capturing that footage…

Well! This is why we thought it might be cool to try out a gimbal like the Hohem iSteady M7, you can use it like a normal gimbal (What’s a gimbal, Simon? : A gimbal is a device that stabilizes a camera or other object, allowing it to remain level and steady despite movement or shaking ) but you can also put it on a tripod and with the Ai follow capabilities, you can have it follow you around your set (It doesn’t walk, no!) and capture that BTS for you, or start a motion timelapse from point A to point B, taking in a whole scene…

The M7 mentions FOLLOW capabilities and Ai in the same sentence, the ability as a solo creator to place your camera phone on the gimbal and have it follow you around the space you’re working in is great! Even with my Pro Max sized iPhone, the gimbal movements were precise and quick, it easily kept track of me – I captured a quick video of the iSteady M7 keeping up with my jerky movements, check this out.

Use-Cases for creating video on your next shoot.

Showcase the creative process – Demonstrates the thought, planning, and techniques that go into a shoot, making the final images more impressive.

Build client trust – Helps potential clients see professionalism, preparation, and problem-solving skills in action.

Create extra marketing content – BTS clips can be repurposed for social media, reels, stories, or blog posts alongside the final images.

Educate and inspire – Provides teaching moments for other photographers or enthusiasts who want to learn from your workflow.

Capture candid, human moments – Shows genuine interactions with clients, models, or crew, which adds relatability and personality to your brand.

Features of the Hohem iSteady M7 Gimbal

• 360 Degree Infinite Pan Rotation
• 360 RGB Lighting Colours
• Detachable 1.4″ LCD Touchscreen controller
• 500gm Payload
• Ability to charge / power connected phone
• Built-in extension pole / selfy stick (it’s about 20cm long)
• 3 axis stabilisation
• Live-view via detachable remote

The M7 isn’t the most compact or the most lightweight gimbal you’ll find on the market today, Hohem also have a smaller brother, the iSteady V3 Ultra (Which we’ll also be taking a look at) The M7 weighs in at about 630gm which is actually pretty light! The M7 is never going to fit in your pocket, I found it fit in the laptop sleeve of my new camera bag – small isn’t always better though, the motor strength on the M7 is impressive, easily propels my iPhone 14 Pro Max around like it’s nothing, keeping up with all my shaky handed movement easily ? (I’m a coffee drinker, gimme a break!)

What are our thoughts?

Between the tracking, stabilisation and the live view via the detachable remote, this gimbal is a well-priced option for many of you looking to add a little motion to your photography offerings. You do need to spend a couple of minutes balancing your phone after you put it in the gimbal, but I had no trouble balancing mine, even leaving it in the case was fine. There are MANY controls, but they’re easy to navigate once you get the hang of what they all are, also very easy to install and control the Hohem app if you prefer that. You don’t NEED to install the app, even to use the Ai tracking, you can use it without the app, just using the native camera app on your phone, as the tracking is all done via the little module atop the gimbal – great!

We think this is a great mid-sized gimbal option to use in your creating content, vlogs, making short films with your friends, capturing the holidays or just filming unboxings with a bit of Ai powered dynamic follow-along!

You can check out the Hohem iSteady M7 HERE (There’s a great back to school sale event happening right now)

The post Add Motion! The Hohem iSteady M7 Gimbal can help! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

In the age of portable technology, having a reliable, high-quality external monitor can significantly enhance productivity and creative work. The Espresso Displays ‘espresso 17 Pro’ is a prime example of this! Offering a sleek, high-resolution solution for photography professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. Here’s my review of this beautiful, Australian designed and engineered portable display.

Design and Build Quality

The first thing that struck me about the Espresso Displays 17 Pro 4K display is its design. At just 9mm thin, it is one of the slimmest monitors on the market. The display weighs in at just 1.1kg, so that combined with the ultra-thin profile makes it easily portable, perfect for those who need to travel or work from various locations. The aluminum frame and scratch resistant (level 6) glass not only add to the aesthetic appeal but also ensure durability. (aka my 10yo hasn’t damaged it yet!)

This pro series monitor comes with a super sturdy magnetic stand, aptly named ‘Espresso Stand Pro’ which folds down into a compact travel partner for your display. It allows for easy attachment and detachment, no fiddly lining up, you open the stand and then position your display in front of it and after a decently reassuring thunk, you’re attached and good to go. The stand is pretty much infinitely adjustable, providing multiple viewing angles to suit different needs, whether you’re working, presenting, or watching a video. You can pretty much set the stand from flat to 18 degrees (for drawing) with the handy in-built foot right up to pretty much vertical and everywhere between.

Display Quality

The display measures in at 17.3″ and has a 4k resolution. It can achieve 450 nits brightness, which isn’t as bright as most current day Mac laptops, my 16″ Macbook Pro hovers around 1000 Nits, and honestly I thought this might be a bit of a show-stopper, but in actual real-world use, the displays brightness has been absolutely fine. I’ve used it a variety of environments from my home office to a cafe and for a mixture tasks including photo editing, both in Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as in my 9-5 as a social media manager, having my work and post schedule all spread out on the Espresso Displays 17 Pro 4K wherever I am is a total god-send!

Technical Notes from espresso here:

• “espresso 17 Pro screen shows 1.07 billion colours, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space”
• The espresso 17 Pro screen has a resolution of 3840 x 2160, commonly known as 4k. This results in a Pixels Per Inch (PPI) of 257.6. In comparison, the Apple retina display is 227 PPI, and the Apple Pro XDR display is 245.

In short, it’s a stunner!

Performance and Connectivity

This was a big eye opener, it’s so very simple! A single (included) USB-C cable runs your power and signal to the display, you don’t need anything else. Now, you can use an external battery pack if you’re away from power and want to save a little laptop battery power, the Espresso Displays 17 Pro 4K has two USB-C ports, and while you connect your laptop to one, you can connect an external battery to the other to add some external juice. Espresso Displays also have their own ‘Espresso Charge’ external battery, which is a 32,000 mAh gargantuan external battery, it magnets itself perfectly to the Espresso stand and doubles your run time. Note, some airlines may give you a sideways glance when you mention 32,000mAh, so make sure you check before you fly. (I don’t have the battery and wasn’t able to test battery life with it, I’m sorry) Just a note here: It can be taken on flights with carry-on but with permission from the airline. i.e. it’s designed to support as close to a full day of power when combined with a full battery charge on the laptop.

Portability and Versatility

For my everyday carry, I’m currently using my thinkTank Venturing Observer 20L backpack, its a sleek, no mess, no fuss EDC Backpack and the 17 Pro 4K slots into the laptop section of the backpack with not so much as a MM to spare. I can take the display, my 16″ Macbook Pro as well as the stand, any cables, my pen, headphones, water bottle and a notepad (yes, actual real paper, that stuff is so good – try it haha) with relative ease. The display is lighter than my Macbook Pro, and really hasn’t added any heft to my EDC.

User Experience and Software

The espresso 17 Pro comes with a couple of pieces of software, notably espressoFlow which is the engine room of screen management if you will, allowing you to manage workspaces, you can use your display as a semi-touchpad, you can rotate the screen and there’s also a great ‘snap’ feature. Oddly, there was one thing I missed when I left the ‘Windows’ computing world, that was the ability to SNAP a screen into a certain place – the espressoFlow software allows you to use a quick set of key combos to shift your active windows from one display to the other, to the left, to the right etc – it’s SUPER handy, even when I’m on my iMac with my traditional second screen, I can use espressoFlow there, and flick windows around my two main screens like I’m dealing cards – it’s a great piece of software!

There’s also JOT, Jot is kinda like a notepad that allows you to draw, as well as implement many various shapes and sizes, think graphs etc. You can draw something, copy and paste it into many various other apps – it’s great for noting stuff down in meetings, kind of like a scribble pade for big kids (But my 10yo also says it’s his favourite thing)

Speaking of Jot, let’s talk about the pen experience for just a minute. The espresso 17 Pro isn’t a replacement for your high end graphics tablet, it’s not coming after your Wacom (in its current form, though I guess they could at some point?) the resolution of the pen isn’t up to scratch with what you can do on a dedicated graphics tablet, but for run and gun edits in photo applications (as opposed to fine detail work) it’s completely fine and really enjoyable to use.

Using the espresso 17 Pro without the pen, with the ‘LiveTouch’ gesture movements and scrolling are silky! Even with my clumsy fingers, the display is very easy to navigate, using similar gestures to those you might be used to using on your Mac.

Battery Life and Power Consumption

One aspect to consider is power consumption. While the monitor does not have an internal battery, it draws power through the USB-C connection. This can impact the battery life of the connected device, especially if you’re using a laptop. However, the power draw is relatively low, and the convenience of a single-cable connection often outweighs this drawback. Keep in mind that for higher brightness levels, you might need to employ that extra external USB-C battery or the espressoCharge.

My Conclusion

The Espresso Displays 17 Pro 4K display is an excellent choice for anyone in need of a portable, high-quality external display. Its sleek design, stunning 4K resolution, and easy connectivity options make it a valuable tool for professionals and creatives. While it may have some minor drawbacks, such as power consumption with prolonged use, the overall performance and portability make it a standout product in the portable monitor market.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, a remote worker, or someone who simply values high-quality displays, the Espresso Displays 17 Pro 4K display is worth considering. It combines form and function in a way that enhances productivity and delivers a superior visual experience.

The post Review: Espresso Displays 17 Pro 4K display for Photographers and creators! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

The team at Godox have released the version two of their well loved AD400 Pro series of portable studio lights, or as they like to call them, the All-in-One Outdoor Flash.

400 Ws & 1/8000 Ws HSS ?

With 400 Ws of output and up to 460 full-power flashes per charge, the AD400ProII delivers sustained, studio-grade performance on location. High-speed sync up to 1/8000 Ws lets you freeze action and balance flash in bright conditions. Whether you’re shooting high-dynamic sports or ultra-short exposures in daylight, every detail comes through with stunning clarity.

Ultra-Fast Freeze Mode

The AD400ProII can freeze even the quickest motions with an ultra-short flash duration of up to 1/27770 second (t0.1). This lets you capture razor-sharp images of flying water droplets, speeding vehicles, or any fast-moving subject. Coupled with a lightning-fast recycle time (as quick as 0.01 s), the AD400Pro II keeps pace with your creativity without missing a beat.

1/512 Fine Power Control

AD400 Pro II offers 10 power settings from 1/512 to full power, allowing pinpoint adjustment of flash output for consistent, repeatable exposures.

30?W Bi-Color Modeling Lamp

The built-in 30?W bi-color LED offers Constant mode for manual brightness (10?%–100?%) and color temperature (2800?K–6000?K), plus Prop mode, where brightness follows flash output. Stable, flicker-free illumination also doubles as a continuous video light.

2.4?GHz Wireless X System

Equipped with Godox’s 2.4?GHz Wireless X system, the AD400ProII ensures fast and stable multi-light communication. With the X3 trigger, one-tap sync connects all units instantly—no manual group or channel setup needed. It also works seamlessly with Xpro II, X2T, X1, and other X-series transmitters. For expanded triggering options, the USB-C port supports the optional FR433 433?MHz receiver.

Group Indicator Lights

16 distinct lights assign each group a unique color, so you can identify and adjust any unit at a glance—even in low light or from a distance. Just select the group’s color on screen and tweak power or sync settings instantly, keeping your shoot running smoothly.

Intuitive Color Display & Controls

Adjust settings instantly using the bright, full-color TFT display, where all key functions are laid out clearly and intuitively. A single press-and-hold of the modeling-lamp button toggles the lamp on or off, putting control at your fingertips and speeding up your workflow.

Universal Modifier Compatibility

The AD400ProII features both a Godox mount and an included Bowens adapter. Swap between them to use a wider range of modifiers from either ecosystem, unlocking more creative versatility.
*Bowens adapter installs without blocking the Godox mount.

And much more! You can head over to the Godox website for the full list of features.

Learn more about the Godox AD400ProII on their website here.

The post Introducing the Godox AD400 Pro II Studio Light appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

A quick press release for those of you that like to take to the skies! (I know I do) but this time, we’re talking about a 360 camera!

The team at Insta360’s new independent drone brand, Antigravity, have unveiled their new drone the Antigravity A1, the world’s first drone with built-in 8K 360 capture. That sounds impressive and like a whole lot of memory card is going to be needed! ?

Key Features

• 8K 360 capture with top-and-bottom lens configuration.
• 360 immersive live view and head tracking via the Vision goggles.
• Invisible drone effect through advanced image stitching.
• Intuitive point-to-fly controls with the Grip controller.
• Never miss a shot with easy post-flight reframing and editing.
• Compact and lightweight at 249g for license-free flying in most countries and regions.
• Safety features including return-to-home and a payload detection system.

This is also the first product from Antigravity, the new drone brand incubated by Insta360 in collaboration with third parties. A1 combines immersive flight in 360 degrees, an exceptionally accessible flying experience, and limitless creative possibilities.

The Antigravity A1 uses a dual-lens 360° camera to capture its surroundings in every direction. Its advanced stitching technology seamlessly removes the drone from both live view and recorded footage, delivering an immersive, distraction-free experience that puts pilots right inside the scene.

With every angle recorded in ultra-sharp 8K, pilots no longer need to worry about framing shots mid-flight. Instead, they can reframe their footage freely during editing—making flying simpler and reducing the chance of missing key moments. In post, creators can export in any aspect ratio without sacrificing quality and experiment with effects like Tiny Planet or horizon flips. Those familiar with the Insta360 X Series will feel right at home shooting and editing 360° footage with the Antigravity A1.

“The Antigravity A1 is unlike anything we’ve ever brought to market, and it’s poised to transform drone flight in multiple ways,” says Max Richter, Co-Founder and VP of Marketing at Insta360. “It makes immersive drone flying accessible to more people, while giving both hobbyists and professionals a powerful new way to capture and share their stories.”

You can find the full release over on the Insta360 blog, we hope to get hold of one to test for you dPS drone pilots!

The post Insta360’s Antigravity A1 8K 360º Drone Takes off! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

Introducing iT20/iT22 iFlash Camera Flash. 45g Ultra-compact body with TTL function, perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, easily fits in your pocket for anytime creativity. Innovative magnetic accessories for quick light effect switching, creating unique atmospheres and creative possibilities.

Smart TTL, Effortless Results
Say goodbye to complex setups. Our mini TTL flash delivers perfect lighting instantly, empowering you to shoot faster and smarter.

45g Ultra-Compact Design
Its featherlight build takes up minimal space, ensuring you’re always prepared to seize life’s precious moments.

One-Touch M/TTL Mode Switching
Toggle between manual and TTL modes instantly via a dedicated button. The high-definition display shows clear, real-time settings for rapid adjustments.

Magnetic Accessories: Creativity Unleashed
Equipped with magnetic snap-on diffusers, color filters (CTO/CTB), creative gels, and honeycomb grids, the iT20/iT22 transforms light in seconds. Experiment with atmospheric effects and craft distinctive visual stories.

700+ Flashes & 1.5s Recycling
Shoot uninterrupted with 1.5-second recycle times at full power and a remarkable 700-flash battery endurance.

Precise Power Control
Adjust flash intensity across 6 stops (1/32 to 1/1 power) in precise ±1/3-step increments for total command over your lighting.

Lightweight Lithium Battery

The built-in lithium battery charges swiftly via USB-C—keeping your creativity powered through extended shoots.

Elevate your flash—literally

The Optional TR TTL Hot Shoe Riser lifts your flash by 30mm, ensuring better clearance from the frame edge when using wide or protruding lenses. Compatible with Canon E-TTL II, Nikon i-TTL, Sony, Fujifilm, OM System and Panasonic TTL systems, it supports both auto flash and High-Speed Sync (HSS) functions. A 0-90° tilt adjustment gives you the flexibility to shoot with direct or bounce flash. 

*Recommended for use with Godox camera flashes under 300g for optimal balance and stability.

What’s in the box

Optional

The post New Gear Alert: Mini Flash, Maxi Fun! iT20/22 from Godox appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

In this, the age of “I’ll just put a filter on it in post” are lens filters still relevant?

In the era of Lightroom presets, AI-enhanced editing, and Photoshop wizardry, it’s easy to assume that physical lens filters are obsolete. “I’ll just fix it in post” has become the battle cry of a generation of photographers—both amateurs and professionals alike.

But are we missing something?

Why Filters Still Matter

Let’s be clear: post-processing tools are more powerful than ever. You can simulate everything from graduated neutral density (ND) effects to polarisation with just a few sliders and layers. But the truth is, filters—especially high-quality ones—still offer something digital can’t quite replicate: real-world optical control.

Here’s where physical filters, like those from OKKO, come into their own.

What Makes OKKO Filters Worth Talking About?

OKKO are a Kiwi brand making a name for themselves in the world of affordable, premium lens filters. They offer a range of filters—UV, CPL (circular polariser), ND, and variable ND—built with solid materials, minimal colour cast, and modern coating tech. Their sweet spot? A solid balance of performance and price, without veering into the eye-watering territory of $300+ filters.

Get OKKO Filters on sale on Amazon

Here’s why OKKO Filters are still very much relevant:

1. You Can’t Post-Process What Was Never Captured

No amount of Photoshop can bring back detail in blown-out skies or remove glare from a car window. A CPL filter, like the OKKO Pro Circular Polariser, physically cuts out reflected light, saturates skies, and lets you shoot through glass or water without distracting reflections.

2. ND Filters = Creative Freedom

Neutral Density filters reduce the amount of light hitting your sensor, letting you drag the shutter and create silky waterfalls, smooth clouds, or isolate subjects with motion blur—even in broad daylight. OKKO’s variable ND filters offer flexible light control in a single filter, ideal for both photographers and video shooters.

3. Lens Protection Without Image Degradation

Sure, you can slap a $5 UV filter on your $2,000 lens, but why compromise image quality? OKKO’s UV filters use optical glass with nano-coatings to protect your front element from scratches, dust, and the occasional toddler fingerprint—without softening your shots.

4. They’re Lightweight, Rugged, and Affordable

OKKO filters are made with aircraft-grade aluminium and Japanese optical glass. The build feels premium, but the price tag doesn’t make your wallet cry. You get that “buy well, buy once” peace of mind without the premium-brand markup.

Real Filters for Real Shooters

Are lens filters still relevant in 2025? Absolutely—especially when you’re after better in-camera results, protection, or creative effects that editing alone can’t match.And if you’re in the market, OKKO Filters are a solid place to start. Whether you’re capturing landscapes, filming content on the go, or just protecting your glass, these filters quietly deliver. No hype. Just good gear.

The post Are Lens Filters Still Relevant in the Age of “Fix It in Post”? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

I think this sits firmly in the “make photography fun again” camp – not that it isn’t fun, but you know, it’s pretty easy to get into a proverbial slump sometimes.

So the team at Clickster Camera sent us across this little gem to have a play with! It’s a super-simple digital camera, but, it has NO screen! It comes with a memory card and you can shoot a couple of thousand frames before you need to empty the card. It’s kinda like a modern day point and shoot film camera, but you don’t need to send it off to be developed.

The fun, for me at least, is that you take it out for a day, you make all of your photographs, and then, when the time is right, you plug it into your computer and ‘see what you got!’ that anticipation of not knowing, you don’t get to review in camera, you don’t get to check it out via your phone – you have to wait!

It’s as simple as this, here’s pretty much everything in the instruction manual for the Clickster Camera – It has an off/on button, a shutter release button, a USB-C plug for charging and getting your photos off. Right next to the USB-C port you will find an ‘M’ button as well as a + and – They’re for setting the date on your camera. There’s a button on the back where the little digital display is, that is the mode button – you have three options, Mono, Retro and Classic, and if you hold that button in it turns the beepy sound off / on. On the front of the camera (the photo up the top) you can also see the LED flash on/off button.

All you have on the display is what mode you’re in, your battery life (around 500 frames, that’s a lot!) as well as how many frames you’ve taken and the sound on or off icon – again, simples!

It’s a dead simple camera, very easy to use in good light, less than ideal results in the dark unless you’re on a tripod, but then (for subjects in close) you use the flash and you’re cooking with gas, well, LED, but you get me…

Pretty much child-proof and only $120 – well worth a shot! Enough of my rambling! Check out this little video from our friend Andy on his time with the Clickster Camera! (Sub to his Youtube while you’re at it)

Do we think the Clickster is better than the Fujifilm? Well that all depends, doesn’t it? You could grab one and try it out for yourself!

We found them online in Australia for $119 at Teds, Camera House etc, a quick Google should have you up and running.

The post Light Machine Clickster 8MP Digital Camera appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been using the new lens for the last few days, thanks to Blonde Robot, Australia’s Tamron distributor ?? While I haven’t had a chance to take it out and spend some time with it yet (hope to over the next few days) I went to the EV Show here in Melbourne and took it along – It’s true of any wide lens, you can warp reality if you try just a little bit! So I had some fun being creative with fast electric cars.

I thought I’d share this video from Michael Ronin (I can confirm he did give the lens back haha) as he takes the ultra-wide and walks you through it in his video. Enjoy!

Do you think an ultra-wide has a place in your camera bag? Do you already have an ultra-wide? Tell us in the comments.

You can learn more about the new Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 G2 lens on the Tamron Australia website.

The post What’s the new Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 G2 like? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

The team over at ProGrade sent us their ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD to try out!

ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD

The ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD is a compact, high-speed external drive designed to fit seamlessly into ProGrade’s existing workflow system. It features USB 4.0 and suggests up to 4,000 MB/s read speeds and 3,500 MB/s write speeds, which, if you know much about file transfer speeds, is pretty darn quick! So even the largest files from the most modern digital cameras are no match… Super quick! I ran a quick test with the Black Magic disk speed test software and it did very well!

Real world? It’s much faster when connected to my little Mac Mini M4 than any other disk I currently own, including my other 2tb SSD. The USB 4.0 really does the trick.

What are the main features?

• Blazing Speeds: Well obviously speed is a big factor here, SSD via USB 4.0, if your computer can handle it, is going to be the driving force behind most people purchasing this little guy.
• Sustained Performance: An import via my ProGrade card readers directly into the ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD: certainly moved the regular bottle-neck of file import away from the saving to disk part of the process! 400 90mb RAW files from my Sony a7R imported smoothly and quickly. – USB 4.0 interface provides transfer rates of up to 40Gb/s (5GB/s)
• Compact Design: Big in performance, small in footprint? ProGrade PG10.5 is well about 3″ or 70mm square, oh, and it’s magnetic, so you can attach it to things (Like the Prograde Pro Hub) as well as the included stick-on metal plate that you adhere to (for example) your laptop lid so it can be fixed there while you’re working on the go.
• Durability: A sturdy little beastie, the Pro Mini SSD is X-Ray and Shock proof (I still won’t loan it to my 15yo…!) and also comes with a very sturd feeling, certified high-speed USB4 cable.
  
  

So who is it for?

• Beginner to Intermediate Photographers: If you’re transitioning from basic storage solutions and require faster, more reliable storage for larger files, the PG10.5 is a worthy investment.
• On-the-Go Professionals: Its compact size and rugged design make it perfect for photographers who frequently travel or work on location. If I was still a music photographer, this thing would LIVE in my bag – perfoect form factor, speed and damage resistant.
• Workflow Integration: Like me, if you already use the ProGrade readers (I use the SD and MicroSD for my drone) the PG10.5 is a no brainer to keep everything all in the one place.

Pros & Cons?

• Price Point: While offering top-tier performance, the PG10.5 comes at a premium price, which might be a consideration for those on a tight budget – After weeks of solid use, the SSD hasn’t skipped a beat and continually surprises me with its speed – you get what you pay for I guess!
• Platform Compatibility: Compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.2, and 3.1 Type-C ports

My final thoughts

The ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD is a high end solution for those wanting to “do it well, do it once” it isn’t cheap by comparison to some external storage solutions, but it does offer excellent speed, form factor and also has a 3 year warranty.

The post ProGrade PG10.5 Pro Mini SSD: A Compact Powerhouse for Photographers! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

We have posted many times on the benefits of backing up, external storage vs NAS etc, and we have also spoken many times on the benefit if the Synology NAS, and while it’s true, backing up and storage IS for everybody, not everybody wants or needs to get super complicated with it! A simple solution is something like a directly attached disk, but if you want to go one step better, allowing you much more freedom to backup multiple devices without having to get super-nerdy, maybe this Synology BEE Station Plus is a great option for you to consider?

Synology shipped us an 8TB BeeStation Plus to configure and use for the purpose of this review.

If you’re an amateur photographer shooting more than just the occasional weekend snap, your digital photo collection has probably already started ballooning! Whether you’re capturing RAW files with a mirrorless camera, shooting time-lapses, or backing up phone pics for your growing portfolio, managing your files becomes critical—and that’s where the Synology BeeStation Plus 8TB steps in.

Unlike general-purpose external hard drives, the BeeStation Plus is your own, private personal cloud storage device, giving photographers a reliable and private place to store, access, and share their images—without the monthly fees of cloud services like iCloud, Dropbox or Google Drive. But how exactly can photographers take advantage of it? Here’s how you can make the most of the BeeStation…

1. Easily Back Up Your Photos

The BeeStation Plus connects directly to your home network and runs 24/7. That means your photos can be automatically backed up from multiple devices—including your desktop, laptop, and even your phone.

For example:
You’re editing in Lightroom on your main computer, but you’re also snapping mobile shots with your phone. The BeeStation Plus can back up both sets of images automatically using Synology’s apps (like BeePhotos and BeeFiles). It’s especially handy if you’re on location a lot and want peace of mind knowing your files are being saved as soon as you connect to Wi-Fi.

2. Organise Your Library Like a Pro

The BeeStation Plus isn’t just about dumping files—it lets you organise your entire photo library. Tag images, sort them into albums, and search by date, keyword, or device.

Why it matters:
Over time, finding that one shot from a trip three years ago gets harder. BeePhotos’ AI-powered organisation makes image retrieval faster, so you spend less time searching and more time editing.

3. Share Albums with Clients or Family

You can share galleries or folders directly from your BeeStation Plus with a secure link, letting you control who sees what—and whether they can download, comment, or upload their own files.

Ideal for:
• Client proofs
• Family photo sessions
• Sharing event galleries (weddings, sports, travel)

It’s more professional than uploading to Facebook, and you’re not handing over any rights or quality to social media compression.

4. Edit from Anywhere

Because it’s cloud-connected, the BeeStation Plus lets you access your RAW or JPEG files from anywhere. Using apps like Lightroom or Affinity Photo, you can download files straight from your BeeStation Plus while you’re travelling or at a café.

Example Scenario:
You’re away on a weekend shoot and need to prep a few selects for social media or a blog post. You can grab them directly from your BeeStation Plus using Synology’s mobile app.

5. Free Up Space on Your Devices

Between massive RAW files and 4K video clips, storage fills up fast. Offloading older or completed projects to your BeeStation Plus means you can keep working efficiently without clogging your internal drive.

Extra Tip:
Use folders labelled by year, client, or project type to streamline your workflow.

Final Thoughts

For photographers looking to level up their file management, the Synology 8TB BeeStation Plus is more than just a digital shoebox. It’s a private cloud, gallery hub, backup tool, and workflow enhancer all in one. Best of all, it requires no advanced tech knowledge to get started. Synology designed the BeeStation to be beginner-friendly—making it perfect for photography enthusiasts who want to spend more time behind the camera, and less time worrying about file chaos.

Oh and By The Way!
Don’t forget to back up your BeeStation Plus itself! Use an external drive or cloud redundancy for critical files—no single solution is foolproof!

The post What Photographers Can Do with the Synology 8TB BeeStation Plus appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.