Full Stack Creator

John Gruber joins Tyler and David to talk about Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro, what touch and pen input could mean for creative work, and the display technology behind CMF 2026. They also get into photography, the character of the Ricoh GR, and Chromagraph Camera—the new iPhone app connected to filmmaker Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin.

Special Guest: John Gruber.

Tyler flew out to Apple's event in California and got hands-on time with the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it has an OLED touchscreen. We get into what Apple actually announced, why Steve Jobs said touchscreen Macs don't work, the Dynamic Island, the weight drop, and whether the roughly $400 upgrade is worth it. Plus the pro workflow demos from the event, a quick buyer's guide, the new Creator Studio updates for Final Cut Pro, and Tyler's iPhone Duo follow-up.

Hands on with the iPhone Duo

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Custom AI-built tools are starting to solve the everyday problems that off-the-shelf software leaves behind. A Final Cut copy-and-paste helper, a client production app, and a thumbnail mockup tool show what photographers, filmmakers, and small teams can build around their own workflows. ChatGPT and Claude offer different ways to get started, while AI-assisted Blender animation keeps cameras, lighting, and assets editable. There’s also a look at agents that manage email and create personal podcast feeds, where they still fall short, and why creative judgment matters as software gets easier to make.

Why add a variable aperture to the iPhone now? Apple’s camera team explains the thinking behind the iPhone 18 Pro, from manual focus and automatic ISO to film grain, halation, and Apple Reference Image. The conversation also covers the iPhone Duo and the creative possibilities of its folding design.

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop
David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/

A closer look at the iPhone 18 Pro cameras after the review: what variable aperture really changes, where Apple’s film styles fall short, and how the new Pro Controls feel in everyday use. Plus, viewer questions about AI reframing, lens flare, telephoto quality, and whether it’s worth upgrading.

What creatives got out of the iPhone 17 Pro and how they plan to use the Duo & 18 Pro
Austin Mann's photography https://www.austinmann.com
Andy To's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@andyto
Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop
David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/

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Tyler went hands-on with Apple’s new iPhones at Apple Park. Now he joins David to unpack the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, and what Apple’s announcements mean for photographers, filmmakers, and solo creators.

We explore the camera upgrades, variable aperture, photographic styles, folding design, and real-world shooting workflows—with footage from the event and Tyler’s own photo examples. Which features will actually help you create, and which iPhone makes sense for your work?

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop
David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/

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Apple’s surprise Mac Mini and Mac Studio updates arrive just before iPhone season, accompanied by a casual social-first launch video. The M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini options make a strong case for creators who want a compact desktop for video editing, while aftermarket SSD upgrades offer a way around Apple’s expensive storage tiers. The M5 Ultra Mac Studio pushes further into visual effects, AI-assisted photo and video editing, and private local AI, with high-memory configurations and the option to cluster machines for larger models. USB-C genlock adds a specialized but genuinely useful tool for frame-perfect sync in m...

Now the initial hype has died down, here's what we really think of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P
Everyone should follow Kai https://www.youtube.com/@kaimanwong
Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop
David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/

Follow us
Website http//www.fullstackcreatorshow.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fullstackcreatorshow
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@fullstackcreatorshow

Special Guest: Kai W.

Most camera companies make something great in 2026, which is why choosing one has become so hard. After covering Sony, Nikon, and Canon in part one, we looked at the brands taking less obvious paths.

Fujis are cameras people actually want to carry. Great JPEGs, fun film simulations, and a commitment to APS-C and GFX instead of full frame. Lumix offers some of the best value in hybrid cameras now that its autofocus has caught up. Leica is having incredible sucess with the Q series. OM System keeps the original promise of Micro Four Thirds alive with small...

Breaking down the modern camera landscape now that nearly every major system now has a strong option, but each excels in different ways. Canon’s reliability and professional reach vs Sony’s lens lineup, Nikon’s ergonomics RED acquisition.

Based on early reviews rather than hands-on use, this episode assesses how the Sony FX5 moves beyond the FX3 with internal RAW, Open Gate, CineAlta tools, a larger articulating display, and a detachable EVF. It also weighs important trade-offs: no internal ND filters, Open Gate initially limited to RAW, 32-bit float tied to the handle, and incomplete anamorphic support. The result is a strong fit for Sony-based freelance cinema shooters and crews, but a less natural choice for hybrid photographers, wedding shooters, and solo creators who need a single all-purpose body.

The Canon R6 V is a capable camera that raises some questions about how much form factor maters and how much should your existing gear ecosystem shape the decision. Where does Canon's R6 V sit in the video and photo lineup, and most of all, who is this camera for?

Recorded at Apple Park with Adam Lisagor, this conversation gets into what stood out from WWDC26 beyond just the feature list. It covers the looser, more human feel of this year’s keynote, what it’s like shooting in Apple Immersive Video, and why Apple’s new Photos tools feel both exciting and a little uncomfortable. Spatial Recompose, Expand, and Cleanup open up a bigger discussion about AI, photography, memory, and how much a photo can change before it stops feeling real. The conversation also touches on the “Snow Leopard” vibe of the release, and why vibe coding might really mat...

Apple’s latest Photos app updates bring a new level of AI powered editing directly into the iPhone experience, including tools for spatial reframing, extending the edges of an image, and removing more complex distractions with Cleanup. In this interview, Apple’s camera team explains how these features use depth estimation, Gaussian splatting, private cloud compute, and new image models to make advanced edits feel simple while still preserving the original photo as much as possible. The conversation also covers Apple’s approach to privacy, its collaboration with Google on model foundations, and the use of metadata and SynthID waterm...

Frame rates are one of those video settings that can seem more complicated than they need to be, partly because different creative worlds use them differently. Movies are still usually associated with 24fps, which comes from the history of film and the minimum frame rate needed to create convincing motion without wasting film stock. Over time, that look also became tied to narrative filmmaking, because we are used to seeing scripted stories presented that way.

For online video, 30fps often makes practical sense, especially when the goal is to clearly show real products, screens, interfaces, or everyday...

The real reason influencers hold their mics like that

We're joined by special guest David Imel to rank and debate the most popular compact and everyday carry cameras, including the Fujifilm X100VI, Ricoh GR series, Leica Q3, Sigma BF, Lumix S9, OM-3, Osmo Pocket, and more. They break down which cameras genuinely deserve the hype, which are overrated, and why compact cameras have become one of the biggest trends in photography and filmmaking again.

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Special Guest: David Imel.

AI is everywhere right now and so is the hype, so we built a tier list of AI use cases for creators.

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Breaking down when and why to actually use ProRes, Apple Log, and Pro Raw on iPhone for professional photos and videos

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Building a creative career, from early experimentation and portfolio strategy to balancing client work and maintaining long-term creative freedom.

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop
David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/

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A closer look at the Lumix S1 II as a primary hybrid camera. What it gets right, including stabilization, open gate, resolution, and overall usability, plus how it fits into a modern workflow with features like ARRI Log C and 32-bit float audio. Also breaking down where it still falls short, how it compares to Sony and Canon, and whether it actually delivers on being a “complete” camera.

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A conversation with Google’s C2PA and Pixel Camera leads explaining how content credentials work as a “digital passport” for media, tracking how images, video, and audio are created and edited. How this system could become a standard for verifying authenticity in an AI-driven world, what it looks like in real products today, and why widespread adoption across cameras, apps, and platforms is critical. 

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Which apps actually matter for creative professionals?

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The first episode of Full Stack Creator and a breakdown of the essential skills modern creatives need to build a sustainable career, and why becoming a full stack creator gives you more control, opportunities, and creative freedom.

Tyler's presets and LUTs
David's thumbnail training
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Tyler and Jordan Drake of PetaPixel catch up on the year with the best in tech, cameras, apps and more in the 11th annual Gear of the Year episode

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Special Guest: Jordan Drake.

The vital role of a digitech in ensuring seamless photo shoots. George Brooks (aka Digibrooks) shares his expertise on camera technology, data management, and offers practical advice for photographers

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The iPhone camera team discusses selfies on the iPhone 17, with Apple's Jon McCormack & Megan Nash

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Breaking down the huge Apple redesign announced at WWDC with guests Sebastian de With and Ben Sandofsky, developers of award winning apps Halide and Kino https://www.lux.camera

Special Guests: Ben Sandofsky and Sebastiaan de With.

There is a ton of tech to help you gain muscle, lose weigh and get fit. But does any of it matter? Shervin Shares has tried them all.

Check out Shervin's channel

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Special Guest: Shervin Shares.

We got to tour Apple's top secret audio & video labs, this what Brian Tong and I saw

Watch Brian's video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riv1IAEBk9M

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Sponsored By:

In this episode, Tyler and Jordan Drake celebrate the 10th annual Gear of the Year, covering 2024’s top tech, including audio devices, JPEG XL’s impact on photography, and the best photo and video cameras. They dive into gaming, AI’s role in single-player experiences, health optimization, and evolving camera technology. The discussion wraps with predictions for photography, videography, better HDR standards, and iPhone filmmaking’s rise.

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Special Guest: Jordan Drake.

Final Cut Final took it up a notch and Thomas Grove Carter created the release trailer for Apple.

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Special Guest: Thomas Grove Carter.

Sponsored By:

The rest of the world is getting to test Apple Vision and we talk with Gregory Wieber about what it can do for photographers, filmmakers and developers.

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Final Cut Camera, new cameras from Lumix and how far are cameras from peaking?

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Special Guests: Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake.

Photographers & camera app developers breakdown the Apple Intelligence announcement
With guests Sebastian de With and Ben Sandofsky, developers of the apps Halide and Kino https://www.lux.camera

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Special Guest: Sebastiaan de With.

A complete guide to street photography from New York Times street style photographer, Simbarashe Cha. How he got started in the industry, tips for shooting and we debate if Fuji or Leica make the best cameras for street photos.

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Special Guest: Simbarashe Cha.

How I designed the Stalman Clam. the first vertical iPhone clamp with Kondor Blue

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The 9th Annual Gear of the Year Awards, with Jordan Drake of Petapixel

Best Tech Product
Jordan: SmallRig V-mount battery
Tyler: iPhone 15 Pro

Best App
Jordan: Blackmagic Camera
Tyler: Photoshop Generative Fill

Best Photo Camera
Jordan: Leica Q3
Tyler: Fuji GFX 100 II

Best Hybrid Camera
Jordan: Nikon Z8
Tyler: Lumix S5II X

Best Video Camera
Jordan: Ronin 4D 8K
Tyler:

Best Podcast
Jordan: The Big Picture Podcast
Tyler: The Rest is History

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