Newsletter: week of 5/19

Last week, I brought three cameras on my trip to China: a Lumix S1II, a Canon Optura 60 from my childhood, and a 35mm dubblefilm SHOW. The Lumix performed as you would expect-- focus was accurate 95% of the time, image was super sharp, and I had every damn setting and control right at my fingertips. The Canon, which shoots Mini DV tapes, was everyone's favorite to take a turn zooming in and out with, and the 35mm point-and-shoot always gets folks to make the funniest faces.

Case in point:

Tough (matching) guys!

I chose these three because I'm working on a video that argues you should prioritize bringing the fun camera more often.

Cool (matching) guys!

The camera that doesn't fit perfectly in your hand.

That doesn't always get the shot.

Whose name and "in-body image stabilization" have never been used in the same sentence.

The one that you have absolutely no fear of bringing to a nightclub in a foreign city.

Because when you bring the fun camera, there is no opportunity to be sucked into the "art." You get what you get and are, therefore, set free into the moment, not held back by continued attempts at perfection or crippled by the sheer number of choices. You get fun.

More on all of that in a few weeks! Here is everything else I thought about this week.

What I read:

Google teases an Android desktop mode, made with Samsung’s help
Are the "your phone will be your computer" days closer than we think?

Sam & Jony introduce io
Yes, this is some very important news (Apple great joins AI great), but holy hell, this PHOTO?! Why is it... so strange.

Development Announcement of RICOH GR IV
"a newly designed lens, a new image sensor and a new imaging engine, to further upgrade image quality." I cannot wait.

What I watched:

Mirrorless is Broken. This is What Fixed It for Me.
"If you're stuck, maybe it's not you, it's your camera."

The Fujifilm X half is Just Plain FUN!
I wasn't picked to receive a camera from the first round of review units, and I was really bummed at first because this camera seems so up my alley. But rest assured, I'm working to get one in, and for now, I'm living vicariously through my internet friends! As Chris says, this camera looks like plain fun.

FIRST LOOK: Jeff Bezos’ $20k Pick-Up Truck
I can't help but see this as a modern, American mini truck. I love it!

Catching Tuna Fish Just 1 Mile Off Miami Beach!
I'm not sure if I've posted about Emmanuel before, but holy hell, I've watched so many hours of him fishing.

Google Beam hands-on
As a video call hater, I can't wait to experience this.

What I listened to:
(Thank you to Alex for telling me about song.link last week! Now, everyone's music listening preferences should be represented <3)

No One's Gonna Love You Like I Can - Laura Marling

How Big Is The Rainbow and Limelight - Tune-Yards

Pretty. Odd. - Panic! At The Disco
Holy hell folks, listening to this transports me right back to my hometown, blasting this CD in my silver, Sony boombox <3 I still got every word.

Okay, that wraps up this week. I'm jamming on a 1,000-photo video with the S25 Edge. This phone is seriously slim, and the battery life has not been nearly as bad as I feared. But as impressed as I am, that $1,000 price tag feels tough to justify. More on that next week!

Hope you have a great weekend, bud <3
-becca