5 Tips for Small Sensor Photography - TDS Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,041, March 3, 2026. Today's theme is, "5 Tips for Small Sensor Photography." I'm Derrick Story. I just returned from a trip where my large-sensor camera was an OM-3 Micro Four Thirds, and it got smaller from there with a TG-7 and iPhone 17 Pro. And I love the pictures! So I thought it would be fun to talk about techniques for shooting confidently with a small sensor camera. All of that, plus industry news, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1041 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In 5 Tips for Small Sensor Photography I just returned from a trip to the coast where the only cameras I had were the OM System OM-3 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless, the OM System TG-7 compact, and the iPhone 17 Pro. We all know that the MFT sensor is quite a bit smaller than an APS-C or Full Frame chip. And the 1/2.3" sensor in the TG-7 is even smaller. Why would anyone endeavor the capture the beautiful California Coast with this gear? Well you can. The shots will look great for sharing and printing. And unless you're a pixel-peeper, you'll probably be thrilled with the shoot. That being said, there are a few tricks to maximizing image quality and beauty from your photos. Here are 5 things that I do when working with smaller sensors. Pay Attention to Shutter Speed and Aperture - Even though all my cameras have built-in image stabilization, I try not to over-depend on it. For handheld photography I keep my speed at 1/30th or faster and aperture stopped down 1-2 stops. Use Good Shooting Technique - Holding the camera with a steady grip and lightly pressing the shutter does make a difference. Record in RAW+Jpeg - Sometimes the Jpegs are absolutely amazing, and other shots require my working the RAW file. Of the 15 images gallery I'm sharing in the Show Notes, 12 shots were processed as RAW, and 3 were Jpegs. That ratio varies from shoot to shoot, but I'm always glad to have both. Photomator Super Resolution and Denoise - Once I've cropped and edited the image, I run my favorites through Photomator Super Resolution to increase pixel count, and if necessary, Denoise to clean things up. There are many other apps that do this as well. Take advantage of the technology that's available. Image Enhancing Filters - My favorite filter for small sensor cameras is the K&F Concept Diffuser 1/4 & Circular Polarizing in-1 for $22.99. This filter on a small sensor camera renders the images more photographically without the digital look that sometimes appears. Plus, quite frankly, there is less image editing in post. Simple techniques, yes. But together they can help you travel super light and come home with satisfying images that will impress those who see them. Creative Photography Techniques with Rob Knight Rob's Becoming a More Creative Photographer Online Workshop begins this Thursday, March 5th. For those of you who haven't signed up yet, you might be interested in this conversation with Rob about this very cool workshop. Listen in to hear what he has to say. This Week in the News The 8 best cameras for travel in 2026 as featured on DPReview.com The Best New Photo Gear Announced at CP+ 2026 as featured on PetaPixel.com The Leica Leitzphone is back - and this time it's going global as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com Why Physical Media Is Making a Comeback Among Younger Generations as featured on FStoppers.com Virtual Camera Club News Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. We now have the dates set for the Hot Air Balloon Classic and Micro Brewery Photography Workshop that begins on July 17th and ends on July 20th. We'll go behind the scenes at the Balloon Classic for an inside look at how these beautiful aircraft are designed, maintained, and piloted. We'll photograph the Dawn Patrol launch, the big bash, and even rise up in a balloon if you want. We'll also explore the vibrant Micro Brewery culture in Sonoma County, home for Russian River Brewery, Lagunitas, and more. And if you add on to your adventure, there are days and days of photographic opportunities from majestic redwoods, to rugged coasts, to hillside vineyards. What a wonderful getaway. Place your deposit today!. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate ...