Better mobile photography and videography with Freewell Sherpa
3 min read

Better mobile photography and videography with Freewell Sherpa

Mobile photography and videography have steadily improved and matured over the past few years, to the point where an iPhone 14 Pro (the smartphone I use) can produce a 48 megapixel, Apple ProRAW image with comparable image quality to many mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras.

Granted, the latter still wins overall, but Apple, Google, Samsung and others have done incredible things with the underlying software of their smartphone cameras to programatically replicate the look and feel of professional cameras and lenses. As a result, more people are taking smartphones seriously in their photography, videography, and even filmmaking.

To help take smartphone photos and videos to even greater creative heights, Freewell has released a new "Sherpa" line of mobile accessories. This collection of five magnetized filters includes two hard-stop variable NDs (one with diffusion, one without), two diffusion mist filters ("glow" and "snow"), and a circular polarizer. All of the aforementioned filters magnetically snap onto Freewell's specially designed MagSafe case without annoying adapters or clips that block the iPhone screen.

The Sherpa line also includes a 1.55x anamorphic lens kit. This lens produces video using an ultra-wide 2.79:1 aspect ratio, just like your favorite Hollywood films. The kit also comes with four solid NDs, plus the option of gold or blue flares.

Lastly, Sherpa also includes a multifunctional Bluetooth phone mount that may be used as a pistol grip, an Arca tripod mount, camera rig, or selfie-stick.

I've been experimenting with the Sherpa accessories over the past few weeks, and have published a written review and YouTube video covering all the pros and cons of each accessory (plus example photos and videos).

Sneak peak: Canon PRO-300 photo printer

Unopened Canon PRO-300 box on my desk

Excited to pick up a new Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 inkjet photo printer! This model is an upgrade to the now discontinued Canon PRO-10, which I've been using the past few years to print my photography.

The PRO-300 uses the same high quality, archival ink found in the Canon PRO-1000, provides an improved black and white printing mode that creates true black and white prints (without color cast), and has an onboard menu system and screen to check print status and configure settings. It's also smaller, lighter, and reportedly uses less ink (which means less money spent replacing cartridges).

New video coming later this week where I'll print the same image on the same paper using the PRO-300 and PRO-10, then share with you the results. Super curious to see if newer truly is better!

🖤 Favorite things this week

  • After my recent video about Dehancer, I started researching ORWO film, for I knew nothing about the film's history. During that hunt I stumbled across a film photographer who has buried rolls of film around Bulgaria in places he loves to photograph for other photographers to dig up and use. What a crazy, wonderful idea.
  • Playing Stray on the Valve Steam Deck. Adventure game through the eyes of a short-haired orange tabby cat set in a dark, wet, Blade Runner style world. More adventure than game, I'd say, but still enjoyable and relaxing.
  • National Park posters featuring one-star Yelp reviews. Hilarious!
  • Air by Sault (Spotify) feels like stepping into a movie. Gorgeous.
  • Madison makes me feel like I'm riding around in my mom's Chevrolet woodie wagon back in 1978.

👋 Thanks for reading! Find me elsewhere on Glass / Vero / Instagram / YouTube.

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