Posts by Author: David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
Maximize Your Lomography DigitaLIZA Max
Jan 11, 2026
David Prochnow
While Lomography recommends the use of a smartphone with the DigitaLIZA Max, there are a couple of reasons why this selection isn’t the best option….
This Tiny Action Camera Will Seal Your Next Adventure and Steal All of Your Lunch Money
Jan 9, 2026
David Prochnow
Move over, blockbuster action cameras there’s a new thumb-sized terror in town, and it doesn’t even need charging breaks with 200 minutes of runtime. Meet…
Full-Frame Vignette or Full-Frame Crop: Which Is Better?
Jan 8, 2026
David Prochnow
Few debates in photography are as quietly dramatic as the showdown between the full-frame vignette Hatfields and the full-frame crop McCoys. It’s the kind of…
Move Over Kodak Charmera, Meet the New Trend in Town: Badgera!
Dec 29, 2025
David Prochnow
DIYP was the first to predict the rise of the keychain or charm camera which would sweep the world as the Kodak Charmera. We’re now…
This Tiny Camera is so Wild it Magnetically “Flicks” Your Photos into Existence
Dec 22, 2025
David Prochnow
Once upon a film roll, there existed a tiny camera so delightfully analog that it made smartphones weep in a corner. Enter the Chroma Click…
A DIY 50MP|Quad Pixel Camera: What Does That Mean and Is it Any Good?
Dec 20, 2025
David Prochnow
So, you’d like to dip your big toe into the sea of large megapixel cameras, but you don’t want to spend a fortune entertaining this…
Convert a RETO Ultra-Wide Camera into an Ultra-Wide-Wide Camera
Dec 16, 2025
David Prochnow
You’ve got to hand it to RETO Project, they certainly know how to accurately name a camera. Take the RETO Ultra Wide & Slim Camera,…
Lomography has a “FREE” Christmas Present Camera Hiding in Plain Sight Just for YOU!
Dec 15, 2025
David Prochnow
No need to panic, yet! There are still several shopping days until Christmas. Thankfully, those eccentric film lovers at Lomography have just done you a…
Alfie Cameras Enters the Second-Hand Camera Market
Dec 15, 2025
David Prochnow
Veteran readers of DIYP will recall that Alfie Cameras rose to fame on these pages with the release of a beautiful 35mm half frame camera…
Why Carry 6 Roll Film Backs for Your 4×5 Camera When You Can Have One Frankenstein-Back?
Dec 11, 2025
David Prochnow
Imagine a world where you walk into your darkroom, wave a magic wand, and poof your 4×5 camera turns into a shape-shifting medium-format beast. That’s…