News on VSCO, Sony, Canon, and Nikon And Why GNDs are DEAD
We’re bringing the conversation to the website in long-form because it keeps the episode searchable, skimmable, and emotionally engaging for readers who want the key arguments without missing the personality behind them.Welcome back to The Tripod Podcast, the show where we cover the latest news from the photography world, mix in a few hot takes, and let the debates unfold in real time.In this episode, Matt, Talor, and DT kick things off with a recap of listener feedback from the first episode before jumping into a lively roundtable on industry news, gear decisions, and a few deeply opinionated photography hot takes. Along the way, the hosts share stories from the field, compare workflows, and invite listeners to join the conversation with their own rebuttals and counterarguments.
Episode Highlights
A hilarious listener comment about a tripod “accessory” involving a bowling ball
Matt’s backpacking and landscape photography adventures in Colorado
A discussion about whether photographers should submit work for billboard exposure without clear compensation
Canon’s development of a fluorine-free lens coating and what that means for sustainability
Nikon’s firmware updates for aging DSLRs and the case for extending the life of older gear
A debate about whether graduated neutral density filters still make sense in modern photography
The great tripod debate: rubber feet vs. spikes
A hot take on whether photographs need titles at all
Listener feedback on camera straps and when they actually make sense
Intro: Listener Feedback and a Tripod Bowling Ball
The episode opens with the hosts reacting to feedback from episode one, including one especially memorable comment about a tripod setup that involved a bowling ball hanging from a cloth polisher. The group leans into the absurdity of it, joking about the lengths photographers go to for stability and inventive rigging.It’s a light, funny start that sets the tone for the episode: this is a show that takes photography seriously, but not itself too seriously.
News Story 1: Visco’s Billboard Photography Campaign
The first news item covers Visco’s call for photographers to submit work for a nationwide billboard campaign called “The 50.”
The idea is to select one photographer from each state and feature their work on a large billboard in their home state.The hosts break down:
the free submission process
the requirement to post three to five images in the app
the use of hashtags
the deadline
and, most importantly, the vague wording around compensation
The main discussion point is whether photographers should submit when the term “compensated” is used but no payment structure is disclosed. The hosts debate whether exposure and billboard placement are worthwhile or whether the lack of clarity is a red flag.The conversation lands on a nuanced but firm takeaway: photographers need to understand the terms they are agreeing to and make informed decisions about the value of their work.
News Story 2: Canon’s Fluorine-Free Lens Coating
Next, Taylor brings in a story about Canon developing a fluorine-free optical coating with the same water-repelling benefits as current fluorine coatings, but without the same PFAS concerns.The discussion turns into a broader conversation about:
PFAS and their environmental persistence
how camera gear can be part of the larger sustainability conversation
the role of manufacturers in designing greener products
whether consumers should expect more transparency about what’s inside the gear they use
Matt adds a pragmatic business angle, pointing out that regulation and supply chain pressure may be driving the change as much as environmental responsibility. Even so, the group agrees that if the result is a safer, more sustainable product, that’s a win.They also talk about other possible green improvements in photography gear, including:
better packaging
repair programs
reuse and resale
and reducing unnecessary replacement of functional equipment
News Story 3: Nikon’s Firmware Updates for DSLRs
DT’s story focuses on Nikon releasing firmware updates for its D6 and D780 DSLRs years after their original release.The conversation covers:
bug fixes in exposure behavior
improved functionality for burst shooting
the surprising fact that Nikon is still supporting older DSLR bodies
and what that says about the long tail of legacy gear
This leads into a larger conversation about firmware as a missed opportunity. Matt argues that camera brands could do much more through software updates, especially when the hardware is already capable of more than the current firmware allows.The hosts debate whether photographers would pay for meaningful feature upgrades through firmware, such as:
more shutter speed options
better in-camera functionality
improved focus stacking
or niche tools like built-in interval changes or multiple exposure options
The group doesn’t fully agree on subscription-style features, but they do agree that firmware can extend the life and usefulness of older gear.
Hot Take 1: Graduated Neutral Density Filters Are Overrated
Matt’s first major hot take is that graduated ND filters are mostly unnecessary now.
His argument:
modern cameras have enough dynamic range to handle many contrasty scenes
bracketing and blending are more flexible
physical grad filters can create ugly horizon lines and color casts
once you use one, the effect is baked into the RAW file
The debate gets lively as the group considers real-world situations where grads still help, especially in difficult waterfall or foliage scenes where motion makes blending harder. Still, the consensus leans toward Matt’s position: modern editing workflows often make grads more trouble than they’re worth.
Hot Take 2: Rubber Feet vs. Spikes on Tripods
DT brings the next debate: rubber feet or spikes?
The group mostly lands on rubber feet as the default option, with spikes reserved for specific environments like:
ice
deep snow
bogs
and some shoreline or sandy conditions
The real issue isn’t just convenience — it’s also respect for the environment. The hosts talk about how spikes can scratch sandstone and damage delicate terrain over time.So while spikes still have a place, the discussion makes it clear: they’re a specialized tool, not a universal solution.
Hot Take 3: Photos Don’t Need Titles
Talor’s hot take is the one most likely to divide listeners: not every photo needs a title.
She argues that too many image titles feel overly poetic, distracting, or forced. The group debates whether titles are:
an unnecessary layer of pretension
an essential part of creative expression
useful for SEO and website discovery
or just something photographers do because they think they’re supposed to
Matt and DT defend titles as part of the creative process, especially for exhibitions, portfolios, and websites. They point out that titles can help guide interpretation and create a stronger connection between photographer and viewer.The discussion ends with a friendly disagreement: titles may not be necessary for everyone, but for some photographers they are an important part of how the work is presented and understood.
Concession Confession: Camera Straps Revisited
The episode closes with a follow-up on a previous hot take: camera straps suck.
Listener feedback points out that straps are useful for:
fast-moving, run-and-gun shooting
people with physical limitations
and photographers who need a camera immediately accessible
Matt acknowledges those points while still standing by his preference to work without straps most of the time. DT shares a funny moment from using an infrared camera body with no strap, which made even simple handling feel awkward.The conclusion is characteristically open-minded: straps are valid, just not for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Episode 2 is a strong mix of:
photography industry commentary
gear and workflow debates
environmental awareness
and personal stories from the field
It’s also a great example of what makes the podcast work: the hosts don’t just report on photography — they challenge assumptions, share practical experience, and invite listeners to think critically about the tools and norms in the industry.If you have thoughts on any of the hot takes, the hosts want to hear them.
Join the Conversation
Have a rebuttal, counterargument, or hot take of your own? Share it on social media or send us a note.
Episode 2 takeaways:
Photographer value should be clearly defined and respected.
Sustainability in gear design matters more than most users realize.
Legacy gear can still benefit from smarter firmware support.
Some “classic” photography tools are more useful than others in today’s workflows.
Strong opinions make for better photography conversations.
Sony Eyes Tamron, Drone Laws Get Tested, and Why Camera Straps Might Be Dead Weight
Matt Payne, David Thompson (DT), and Talor Stone launched the show this week: The Tripod Podcast. Three landscape and nature photographers, three perspectives, one recurring structure of stories, news, and hot takes. Here's what happened in episode one.
The Setup
Matt (Sony, Muench Workshops instructor, host of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen), David Thompson (Nikon, also full-time with Muench Workshops), and Talor (Canon and Fuji, PhD researcher) trade off hosting duties each episode. Episode one opened with field stories before moving into news and hot takes.
Field Stories
Talor spent nearly a month in the Azores teaching a drone workshop, then stayed on for shark diving with a snorkel sized for a five year old. DT recounted a tense confrontation on a South African beach where a stranger demanded to see his passport over US foreign policy. Matt topped it with a story about a truck full of armed, drunk campers driving through his family's campsite in the middle of the night. Not exactly the calm-lake-at-sunrise version of landscape photography, but a good reminder that fieldwork carries real risk beyond wildlife.
News Round-Up
Sony's reported move on Tamron.Sony has made a non-binding offer to acquire Tamron at roughly 200 billion yen. The hosts split on what it means: Talor flagged the anti-competitive angle, since Tamron makes affordable third-party glass for Canon and Nikon as well as Sony, and a Sony-owned Tamron might quietly scale back the budget lenses that made the Sony ecosystem accessible in the first place. Matt pointed to Sony's same-day announcement of a new ultralight 100-400mm as evidence the affordable end of the lineup isn't going anywhere yet.
Compact cameras are back. DT's 18-year-old son wanted a "small camera," which sent DT down a rabbit hole into resurgent compact camera sales. Talor brought her Fuji X100VI to the table as exhibit A: a fixed 23mm lens on a crop sensor that fits in a jacket pocket. Matt argued the trend is generational: younger photographers raised entirely on phones are chasing something that feels more deliberate than tapping a screen, hence the used-camera-store gold rush on old digital point-and-shoots.
Drone enforcement after the World Cup. The FAA's one-mile no-fly zone around World Cup events led to a Houston videographer facing federal charges and up to a year in prison for flying two minutes over his own church, blocks from a fan festival, with no match happening that day. DT and Matt argued the rules are too black-and-white and prosecutorial discretion is where the real problem lives. Talor, drawing on a prior career in federal law enforcement, made the case that the rules themselves are reasonable and the issue is enforcement failing to distinguish threats from ignorance.
Hot Takes
Three opinions, three levels of agreement:
Camera straps are unnecessary for landscape work (Matt and Talor agree, DT does not). Matt's case: straps flap in wind, tangle in bags, and get in the way on a tripod. Talor agreed entirely except for boat and Zodiac work, where a strap is the only thing keeping a camera out of the water. DT held the line for his stock camera strap, citing quick lens changes in the field.
Bags hanging off tripod center columns are pointless (unanimous). All three agreed that hanging a bag off the center column hook to "weigh down" a tripod just adds a pendulum that swings in the wind. The fix is spreading the legs, not adding mass.
L-brackets should be mandatory (unanimous, with receipts). Both DT and Matt described watching cameras nearly hit the ground because a client tried to shoot vertical without one. Talor made the case that a $30 to $35 L-bracket is cheap insurance against a multi-thousand dollar repair, and nobody on the show pushed back.
What's Next
DT is off for roughly a month, including workshops in Ireland, Sweden, and Spain, after seeing his son off to college. Talor heads to Iceland and Greenland to teach. Matt has a Colorado Fall Colors workshop, a platinum palladium and silver gelatin printing workshop at Michael Strickland's lab in Liberal, Kansas, and a drone workshop in southeast Utah.
Gear and Product Moments
Tamron lenses generally, plus the teased 12-20mm for Sony e-mount and Nikon Z-mount
Sony's new 100-400mm (announced day-of, roughly 23 oz)
Sony A7CR paired with a Voigtländer 21mm f/3.5 lens (Matt's compact combo, roughly $400 for the lens)
Fuji X100VI (Talor's compact, fixed 23mm lens)
Canon RF 100-500mm (Talor's reference point for comparison)
Canon R5 with Nauticam underwater housing (Talor's shark diving setup)
Camp Snap camera (Matt's stripped-down digital "disposable," sent by National Geographic)
Peak Design strap/clip system (Talor's setup, referenced by DT and Matt)
Black Rapid strap (Matt's boat/water setup)
L-brackets: Really Right Stuff (Matt's setup), Kirk, and Sunway Photo ($30 to $35 range, Talor and DT's setup)
Nikon Z8 (DT's camera, referenced in the strap logo joke)
Workshop Shout-Outs
Muench Workshops (Matt, Talor, and DT are all full-time instructors)
Talor's upcoming Iceland and Greenland workshops
Matt's platinum palladium and silver gelatin printing workshop at Michael Strickland's lab, Liberal, Kansas
Contact: thetripodpodcastshow@gmail.com