Posts by Author: John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
The Manfrotto ONE Hybrid Replaces Two of My Favourite Tripods
Apr 24, 2026
John Aldred
Like most photographers who’ve been doing this for a few years, I have quite the selection of tripods, and I’m quite partial to certain tripods…
Meiki’s New Air f/1.7 Primes Could Be a Cheap, Lightweight Hit for APS-C Shooters
Apr 21, 2026
John Aldred
Third-party lens makers have been getting more and more interesting over the last few years, and Meike looks like it wants a bigger slice of…
The Best Wearable Action Cameras of 2026 Compared: Xtra Atto vs Insta360 GO vs DJI Osmo Nano
Apr 20, 2026
John Aldred
Tiny wearable first-person action cameras have become huge over the last few years. Of course, I don’t mean physically, I mean in popularity. And it’s…
DJI Avata 360 shoots 8K 360° video with 1/1.1″ sensors and “real” controller
Mar 26, 2026
John Aldred
DJI has announced the new Avata 360, a 360° FPV drone that aims to combine immersive flying with full spherical capture. It’s essentially DJI taking…
Saramonic Air SE Wireless Mic comes with “Deep Learning” AI noise reduction
Mar 24, 2026
John Aldred
Saramonic has been steadily expanding its wireless audio lineup over the last few years, particularly in the budget-friendly space for mobile creators. Now, they’ve announced…
Use DIYP’s Free Online Tools for Photographers And Filmmakers
Jan 7, 2026
John Aldred
These calculators cover common photographic calculations, from print preparation and focus control to long exposures and pinhole cameras. They’re intended as practical references you can…
FREE TOOL: Use Our Free Hyperfocal Distance Calculator for Sharper Landscapes
Jan 7, 2026
John Aldred
Struggling to keep everything sharp from foreground to background? That’s a depth-of-field problem. This calculator lets you enter your camera, focal length, aperture, and subject…
FREE TOOL: Get Reliable Pinhole Exposures – Try Our Free Pinhole Camera Exposure Calculator
Jan 7, 2026
John Aldred
Pinhole cameras don’t behave like standard lenses, and exposure times can quickly become unpredictable. But it’s a pursuit so popular that there’s an annual celebration…
FREE TOOL: Dial In the Perfect ND Exposure – Try Our Free Long Exposure (ND) Calculator
Jan 7, 2026
John Aldred
Adding a Neutral Density filter (ND) changes your exposure time – typically by several stops. This calculator takes your base shutter speed and ND strength…
FREE TOOL: Nail Your Focus Every Time – Try Our Free Depth of Field Calculator
Jan 7, 2026
John Aldred
Not sure how much of your image will actually be in focus? Depth of field depends on aperture, focal length, sensor size, and distance to…