📷 Ricoh GR III & Fujifilm X100VI: Compact Comeback

Compact cams make a splash 📷, TikTok's reality check 🕒, Daniels delivers deep-dive thrills 🎬.

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Compact Cameras Return: Goodbye Phone Photography? Let’s find out if the Ricoh GR III & Fujifilm X100VI can revive the era of pocketable shooters.

In today's rundown:

  • 📷 Ricoh GR III & Fujifilm X100VI: Compact Comeback

  • 🎬 Daniels Deep-Dive A.I. Terror

  • 🕒 TikTok's Growth Slows: Real Life Intrudes

  • 🔥 Press Worthy Stories

  • 📚 Learn & Grow

Read time: 3 minutes

VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.

Ricoh / Fujifilm

Ricoh's GR III camera is so popular they've had to stop taking orders. The compact camera, over five years old, has been a hit with photographers thanks to its high-quality images and pocket-friendly size.

It's not just a local shortage either – the GR III is on back-order at major retailers like B&H Photo.

This comes in stark contrast to the industry's move away from compact cameras, assuming smartphone tech made them obsolete. But photographers still want a dedicated camera that's not a bad cheapo version of their phone.

It's a lesson that every camera maker could learn: don't skimp on quality and creativity. Cameras should be fun, not just features.

To be fair, consumers didn’t stop wanting compact cameras, they just didn’t want the cheap, low-quality ones that flooded electronics stores pre-smartphone. The opportunity is there for camera makers to make a splash in the compact market again—with a focus on quality and fun.

Is the era of the smartphone camera dominance over?

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Is Film Making a Comeback?
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🏢 Yes, it's a nostalgic renaissance
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🤔 Some genres, but not a full return
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💻 No, digital's king now

TOGETHER WITH RECUT

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Nick D. says, “I’m incredibly happy with Recut. I haven’t found a software that does a better job. I literally couldn’t produce my videos once per week without it.

It fits into your editing process as the first step. Recut's cuts are a mere suggestion: you can tweak them, keep some parts, and remove mistakes. Export super fast (and lossless) to your usual editor as a project (or as a video). It works with Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, CapCut, and ScreenFlow.

From Dave, the creator: “I'm so tired of subscriptions! So I made Recut a one-time purchase with a useful free trial.

PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Daniel Kwan, half of the duo lovingly dubbed “The Daniels,” is “terrified” of AI.

At SXSW, he and partner Daniel Scheinert reminisced about their journey from YouTube fame to the Oscar podium (their 2022 debut feature Everything Everywhere All at Once, boasted the most-nominated doc of 2022), and in a sharp turn, Kwan told the crowd he’s genuinely concerned about our, ahem, digital assist-ants.

It’s magic, it’s going to solve cancer and bring solutions, it’s a powerful thing, but I’m really terrified of this new story,” he said. Kwan didn’t elaborate much, but his fears echoed sentiments of folks like David Bowie.

Are you spooked by AI like The Daniels are?

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Should artists be compensated for training AI?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🎨 Definitely
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤖 No, it's fair use
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤷‍♀️ Case-by-case basis

CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.

TikTok: @brielleybelly123

TikTok's growth is slowing, and it's not because of a potential US ban. The app that once trampled its rivals now lags behind Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and even Facebook in the race for new daily users.

So, what’s the reason? Well, it seems that the young 'uns who fell in love with TikTok's scene are now adults with jobs, bills, and responsibilities. And it turns out, adulting isn't great for app engagement.

In fact, TikTok’s audience of 18- to 24-year-olds dropped nearly 9% last year, WSJ reports.

Maybe the problem isn't the algorithm; it's just that former users can't fit a thriving social life, career, and clean laundry into 24 hours.

Is TikTok peaking with Gen Z?

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YouTube for photographers: Worth the effort?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🌍 Globally Rewarding
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 📸 Only BTS Value
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 👎 Too Many Trolls

FEATURED

Talent:
Anna Baronius
(Set Designer)

Equipment Rental:
Sony PXW-FS7 II Kit

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🔥 Press Worthy

VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.

  1. Study: People find AI-generated food images more appetizing than real photos, citing better lighting and a lack of "threatening" angles.

  2. $50 vintage lens steals the show in “Dune: Part Two’s” visual splendour. IronGlass’s 60s Helios delivers that iconic swirly bokeh on a grand, modern stage.

  3. Capture One now supports Nikon Zf, it's a Leica-like experience with manual lenses. Fuji, take notes.

  4. Leica Women Foto Project unveils its 2024 awardees, spotlighting four powerful perspectives from around the globe.

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PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.

  1. In a post-Warhol world, a photographer wins a 4-year battle over a Creative Commons image used by Independent Journal Review without proper credit.

  2. Tippett Studio sells majority stake to India's PhantomFX, retains name and Hollywood ops; expands into Canada, Dubai & UK.

  3. The live-action "Avatar: The Last Airbender" adaptation splashes into Netflix, bending minds with 3,400 VFX shots and a focus on character fidelity.

  4. Midjourney AI now lets users create "Character Reference", maintaining a consistent AI face across different settings.

CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.

  1. Subscriptions reshape influencer economics: As the creator economy matures, more influencers are launching subscription offerings on platforms like Substack, Gumroad, and Patreon.

  2. Influencers flip the script, start 'de-influencing' campaigns to steer followers away from overhyped or wasteful products.

  3. Photography Show partners with Creativity Hub, promises unique sets.

  4. Contextual targeting tools from startups like Cognitiv and RTB House are jazzing up ad strategies with generative AI, making campaign placements more precise than a keyword search.

📚 Learn & Grow

VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.

Sponsored
TubefilterMust-Read Creator Economy News. Every. Day.

PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.

CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.

Sponsored
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