The big news this month is of Olympus’s OM-D E-M5 Mark II and we put the camera through a first look test. Also in kit: we bring you a hard drive round-up. In Camera class this month, we teach you how to use spot metering and how to recover detail in Lightroom. Finally, our interview with Peter Phillips has some mono landscapes you won’t want to miss.
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Olympus unveils OM-D E-M5Mark II Photography news NEWS PREVIEWS TESTS CAMERACLUBS INTERVIEWS ADVICE COMPETITIONS SPECIAL ISSUE 17 OLYMPUS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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Updated model features across the board improvements
a number of changes to buttons and dials, which improve handling. The main top-plate dials are deeper and have locks to prevent accidental movement, the On/Off switch has moved to the left of the pentaprism and there are now four top-plate function buttons, two of which feature switchable dual functions. The front of the camera, meanwhile, has gained an electronic depth-of-field preview button and a PC socket for studio flash. Further specification changes see the E-M5Mark II sporting a number of features from the range-topping E-M1, including a ten frames-per-second maximum frame rate, TruePic VII image processor and an improved electronic viewfinder
The Olympus OM-D range has a new addition: the E-M5 Mark II. Available from the end of the month, this latest model in the company’s award-winning mirrorless range boasts some significant performance enhancements, which include the world’s most powerful image stabilisation, a new 40-megapixel still image feature and an updated design. While the new model offers the familiar compact dimensions and light weight of the original E-M5, it’s not too difficult to spot the external changes between old and new models. The Mark II offers the same dust, splash and freeze resistance as its predecessor, but now the rear LCD is vari- angle offering greater compositional freedom, plus there are
boasting 2.36 million dots for impressive sharpness and colour accuracy. Pre-order an E-M5 Mark II before 1 March 2015 and you’ll receive a 3½ year extension to the standard two-year warranty and an OM-D Messenger bag with a combined value of £230. For more details, visit www.olympus.co.uk/promotions. Enhancements include theworld’s most powerful image stabilisation
Look inside this coverwrap for the latest issue of PhotographyNews
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Canon DSLRs break 50MP barrier Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography Photography news NEWS PREVIEWS TESTS CAMERACLUBS INTERVIEWS ADVICE COMPETITIONS Latest launches confirm the rumours as Canon announces EOS 5DS and 5DS R Turn to page 10 for more on the EOS 5DS and 5DS R. INDETAIL
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All the launches fromNikon, Pentax andOlympus, plus dates for your diary
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Hands-onwith the latest Olympus: the E-M5Mark II Revealed: Round 4 theme for Camera Club of the Year Has your club signed up to the challenge yet?
Whether you’re a dedicated follower of online rumour sites or treat them with more disdain than playground games of Chinese whispers, recently you can’t fail to have realised that something was afoot at Canon. And finally, all was revealed last week. Not ones to do things by halves, Canon announced not one but five new EOS cameras plus an EF lens. The real headline grabbers are the full-frame, 50-megapixel EOS 5DS and 5DS R – that’s the highest number of megapixels in a full-frame sensor to date. Offering medium-format performance in traditional 35mm bodyform, they
both feature top of the line specification, and the difference is the addition of a low-pass cancellation filter in the R version. Also added to the EOS line-up are the entry-level EOS 760D and 750D, featuring 24 megapixels and DIGIC 6 processors. Finally, the smallest addition is the EOS M3, the successor (in Europe at least) to the EOS M – the company’s first foray into the mirrorless market. And last but not least there’s the EF 11-24mm f/4L USM zoom.
π To find out more, go to www.canon.co.uk.
Plus which hard drive should you buy
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More fromCanon Canon’s full-frame DSLRs were not the only new products thismonth. Here’s news of evenmore
As well as the EOS additions, Canon also added to its PowerShot and IXUS camera ranges. The PowerShot SX410 IS is a bridge camera due next month, priced£249.99. It features a40xoptical zoom, 20-megapixel resolution and a DIGIC 4+ processor. The IXUS range is joined by the stylish 275 HS. This 20.2-megapixel compact with a 12x optical zoomwill be in the shops fromMay onwards. Two A3+ printers have also been launched. The Pixma Pro-100S and Pro-10S
Alongside the 50-megapixel headline grabbers, Canon also announced a ground-breaking lens: the world’swidest angle rectilinear zoom, the EF 11-24mm f/4L USM (£2799.99). Its newly designed optical construction, with three aspherical lenses including a ground aspherical element, keeps distortion to a minimum and it’ll stand up to all-weather shooting. It’ll be available fromMarch. The other new additions to the EOS range, all due in April, include two new entry-level DSLRs: the 760D (£649.99) and 750D (£599.99). Both feature a 24.2-megapixel sensor and a DIGIC 6 processor, whilst also benefitting from an impressive ISO range of 100-12,800. They have a powerful 19 cross-type point AF system, Wi-Fi connectivity and can record videos in Full HD. The 760D’s edge is its flexibility when it comes to recording video. The smallest of the new releases, the EOS M3 (£599.99) is still a mighty camera with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 6 processor. It has a new Hybrid CMOS AF III and 49-point AF system and lets you shoot intuitively with its DSLR controls.
are both available now, priced at £499.99 and £599.99 respectively. The Pixma Pro-100S uses an eight-colour dye ink system, while the Pro-10S uses pigments and a ten- ink system complete with Chroma Optimizer. Turn to page 10 for the low-down on the full-frame, 50-megapixel EOS 5DS and 5DS R.
π To find out more, go to www.canon.co.uk.
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Latest photography news
Thenext generation Olympus OM-DE-M5Mark II hits the streets – and this issue
NEWS INBRIEF CANON FIRMWARE UPGRADES With the new firmware upgrade for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, you’ll get improved AF controllability as well as a string of fixes. There’s also a firmware upgrade for the EOS- 1D X that includes removing the vertical lines that appear when shooting long exposures. www.canon.co.uk TOOLS DxO has announced the latest update to its image processing software, OpticsPro v10.2 as well as new versions of FilmPack v5.1 and ViewPoint v2.5.2. Updates support Sony A7 II, Panasonic LX100, Pentax K-S1 and Samsung Galaxy S5, and are available to purchase now. Prices range from £59 to £159. www.dxo.com OPTIMISE YOUR
capable of spectacular 40-megapixel composite stills. The Mark II is much more movie friendly and offers more flexibility in
The wait is over as Olympus announces the release in late February of the new OM-D E-M5 Mark II, which builds on the award-winning credentials of its predecessor. Its biggest boast comes in the form of its world-leading image stabilisation technology, which compensates camera shake to the equivalent of a shutter speed five stops faster – excellent news for handheld moviemaking and low-light shooting. The Mark II is lightweight but still has a sturdy build that is fit for all-weather shooting, being dust and splash resistant as well as being able to withstand freezing temperatures. There’s been further tweaking with modified finger controls but as with the original E-M5, the Mark II features a vari-angle screen. On the inside, there’s a TruePic VII image processor – the same as in the top-of-the-range E-M1 – and a new 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor that’s
and it has a high-speed AF with the ability to focus in as close as just 50cm. The 14-150mm f/4-5.6 will also be available at the end of month for £549.99. Anewaction camhas also been released, the Tough TG-860. It features all the usual Tough stats, including being waterproof, shockproof and crushproof, plus it boasts an ultra-wide-angle lens – the widest you’ll come across in any compact camera. There’s more shutter release buttons so you can shoot videos and take pictures with either hand. A tilting LCD screen makes action selfies easy and the camera itself will be on sale in mid-March for £269.99.
terms of frame rates when shooting in full HD. Built-in Wi-Fi means you can remotely control the Mark II and share your images using the OI.Share app. The body only price is £899.99 and kits with an interchangeable lens will start at £1099.99. In other Olympus news, the firm has refined its M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 telephoto lens, creating a second gen version that now also includes weatherproofing to keep it in stride with the likes of the new E-M5 Mark II. This all-rounder is lighter than you might expect, weighing in at just 285g and is also surprisingly compact. You’ll get edge-to-edge clarity
π To find out more, go to www.olympus-europa.com.
Fit your full-frame camera with Samyang’s new 135mm f/2 ED UMC telephoto lens, which is on the market at a suggested retail price of £419.99 for Nikon AE and £389.99 for Canon, Sony A, Pentax and Sony E fittings. It has 11 elements in seven groups and it uses Ultra Multi Coating to minimise ghosting and flare and to the same end there’s also a detachable lens hood, whilst spherical aberration and distortion are kept to a minimum thanks to the floating element design. Focus on Samyang
Basedaround the core functionalityof theNX1, Samsung’s newNX500combines industry-leading technology with a portable size and advanced creative features and functions. Low-light scenes are easily captured thanks to its 28-megapixel Back Side Illumination APS-C sensor. Powered by a DRIMeV processor, the NX500 promises to achieve superior colour reproduction, improved noise reduction and enhanced image quality. For videographers, you can record in either 4K or UHD and the built-in HEVC Codec compresses high-quality videos to half the size and bit rate for efficient storage without compromise on quality. It comes in three colours – black, white and brown – and will be released from March, price to be announced. Big power, small size
π To find out more, go to www.samsung.com.
Two lens announcements from Pentax this month, both telezooms. The HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6ED DC AW covers an equivalent range from 230mm to 690mm in APS-C format. This lens is dust and weatherproof, sealed in 21 places, and has three ED (extra-low dispersion) and a super-low dispersion glass elements to minimise spherical and chromatic aberrations. It’s equipped with a Quick-Shift Focus System, allowing you to instantly switch to manual focus after the subject is captured in focus by the AF system. The HD Pentax-D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW produces the highest image quality of all Pentax interchangeable lenses. It Extending the range Top spec lenses and a full-frame DSLR announced by Pentax
maintains a maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range and also has a dust and weatherproof construction. It too benefits from a Quick-Shift Focus System. Prices and release dates are yet to be announced. Full-frame lenses means there’s a full-frame camera on the horizon. What we know is that it’ll be a K-mount DSLR with a 35mm full-frame image sensor and is also compatible with DA-series APS-C lenses. Launch is likely to be by the end of 2015.
π To find out more, go to www.syopt.com.
π To find out more, go to www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk.
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Flashing lights
NEWS INBRIEF MAKE IT BIG The new Perfect Resize 9 is now out, letting you easily enlarge photos taken on your mobile giving you high- quality images ready to print. Get it as part of Perfect Photo Suite 9 and you can even take advantage of a 30-day trial period. www.on1.com FUJIFILMADD-ONS A new plug-in for Photoshop and Lightroom released by Fujifilm enables PC tethered shooting with the X-T1 and X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition; it’s available to download now. In addition, Fujifilm has software, Raw File Converter Ex 2.0, which is available to download now for free. www.fujifilm.com POSITIVE RESULTS Interested in finding out more about the people who use and buy film, Harman Technology surveyed thousands of Ilford Photo film users from more than 70 countries and the results have landed. Confirming Harman’s belief that use of film is on the up, 30% of respondents were aged under 35 and 60% had been using film for less than five years. Over 84% of those surveyed said they were self-taught and just less than half develop and print their pictures in the darkroom. Seems as though film really is enjoying a renaissance. www.harman technology.com also launched Film Simulation capable Raw conversion
full-power flashes. Or if you’re in the studio, plug it into the mains for a one-second recharge. The head-only price is £699.99; £929.99 with the AC adapter kit; and £999.99 with a rechargeable battery pack.
A new portable studio flash is now available from Phottix, the 500 TTL. As the name hints, it’s a 500 watt flash light featuring high-speed sync with eight stops of power adjustment, from full power to 1/128. Take it out on location with the portable battery pack and it’ll deliver a recharge time of two seconds and 360
π To find out more, go to www.phottix.co.uk.
Hot on the heels of Panasonic’s recent launch of three new compacts, the company’s saved the best till last with the release of a brand-new interchangeable lens camera, the GF7 (£429 with a 12-32mm lens). Tipping its hat to the classic stylings of analogue models before it, the GF7 is indisputably handsome (choose from either brown or silver) with intelligently placed buttons and a fancy leather-touch grip. It’s fitted with a 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor and a Venus Engine for clear, smooth results even in low light. Its advanced Contrast AF system is good enough to compete, in terms of accuracy, with those found in high-end DSLRs. That isn’t all it does well, the GF7 can record full HD video; its 180° tiltable screen activates Self Shot Mode when flipped; and Wi-Fi means you can share images and shoot remotely using your smartphone. Amodern classic
π To find out more, go to www.panasonic.co.uk.
Get packing Stylish camera bags for the outdoor adventurer
Canon updates cloud
Those using the Canon irista image management service will be pleased to hear that Canon has tweaked and improved the service to make it even more user-friendly. You will now be able to edit images directly in Lightroom whilst storing and syncing all versions to your irista account, keeping your shots in one place. If you use irista on your tablet or smartphone, you’ll see an improvement in usability and you can now also order photo books directly from irista. To accompany the updates, there’s a new pricing structure for subscribers, which sees storage increase at every level. There’s no cost for using up to 15GB; up to 200GB is £4.49 per month or £45 per year and up to 500GB can be purchased for £10.99 per month or £99 for the year.
three sizes within the Hiker shoulder bag range: 10 (£49.99); 20 (£59.99); and 30 (£69.99), each with dual access through either the top or side. Hiker shoulder bags include internal pockets and a rain cover.
Just in time for your next adventure, bagmakers Nest has released a new line of backpacks and shoulder bags, the Hiker range. The Hiker 100 (£99.99) and Hiker 200 (£119.99) backpacks feature pocketed insides to keep your kit in order and padded straps with lumber support to keep you comfy. There are
π To find out more, go to www.nest-style.com.
π To find out more, go to www.irista.com.
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Latest photography news
Hole in one
speedlights. It’s easy to set up and take down and with a deep 32in profile it’s great for on-location portraits or group shots. Deck out your Rapid Box duo with a 40° grid (£420), giving you more control over the output of the box with cells that control off-axis light in four directions whilst still maintaining a soft quality. For the ultimate in portable lighting accessories, the Pocket Pack 340 (£24) is just that. Included is a one-stop diffuser and reflector which open out to a full 12in diameter but fold away into a tiny six-inch travel case.
Yes it might look a little unusual, but Westcott’s Omega Reflector (£120) is worth getting excited about. Use it as a standard reflector or convert it into a shoot-through unit by detaching the centre 2:3 frame. A ten-in-one design – including reflective white, silver, sunlight and black block fabrics – makes it worth the price tag. It comes with suction cups for mounting onto glass but the Illuminator Arm Extreme (£95) makes for much easier mounting. Westcott has also extended its umbrella- style Rapid Box range to include the Duo (£320) which lets you mount up to two After much anticipation, Tamron has announced the release date and pricing for its new 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD wide-angle zoom. The good news is that it’s available as of now. The suggested retail price is £949.99 and for that you’ll get an outstanding lens with an optical construction of 18 elements in 13 groups, including an XGM (expanded glass moulded aspherical) element and a number of Low Dispersion elements delivering amazing quality from corner to corner. The VC system has been fine-tuned to keep up with the fast f/2.8 lens and the nine-blade curved aperture produces beautiful bokeh effects. We’ll be testing it as soon as samples permit. Adate for thecalendar π To find out more, go to www.fjwestcott.com.
Showyour true colours
Get an almost spot-on colour representation of your work using BenQ’s new and impressive colour critical monitor, the PG2401PT monitor, which reproduces 99% Adobe RGB colour space. The 24in monitor has been put through its paces in the factory, tested for brightness uniformity and hardware calibration so all you have to do is get it out of the box and set it up. Its rotating display means you can view in landscape or portrait mode and there’s a five-year warranty with zero pixel defect for the first six months. It’s currently retailing at £675.
π To find out more, go to www.intro2020.co.uk.
π To find out more, go to www.colourconfidence.com.
The countdown begins
Indulge your passion for photography at the NEC
Bigger and better than ever before, the Photography Show is now a little over a month away. From 21 until 24 March, all the big names in photography – including for the first time Leica, Ricoh and Sony – will set up in the NEC, Birmingham, to give you a chance to get hands on with the gear and get your questions answered by experts in the know. Test out your macro skills at the impressive International Garden Photographer of the Year garden; book yourself in for a Lomography workshop; or learn how to improve your street photography – there’ll be plenty going on. Asa PhotographyNews reader, youcanget yourself adiscounted ticket: buy in advance online using the code PHNWSTPS15 (£10.95 instead of £19). Whilst you’re at the show, keep your eye out for PN and pick up your free copy of the latest issue.
π To find out more, go to www.photographyshow.com .
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The tracks to success
The winner of the inaugural Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) photo competition has now been announced. Rita Testa took home the winning accolade along with £3000 worth of camera equipment thanks to her image Double Travel, which stood out from 300 competing photos. The competition was launched to champion the importance of major infrastructure projects in British society and all shortlisted images will be showcased in a two-week exhibition in RICS London offices.
π To find out more, go to www.rics.org/us/footer/rics-infrastructure-photographer-of-the-year.
Stave off the signs of ageing and keep your prints looking as good as new by storing your photos in Hahnemühle Archival and Portfolio boxes. They’re acid free and age resistant, protecting from light, dust and atmospheric impact. Coming in A4 (£5.50), A3 (£9.70), A3+ (£12) and A2 (£17.50) sizes, if you buy before 31 March you’ll receive a 10% discount. Store like apro
The Royal Photographic Society operates in the upper echelons of the photographic industry, so winning a Gold Award as Luton-based specialist horse photographer Steve Jones has done in the RPS’s Members Biennial exhibition is quite the achievement. His image of a Lusitano stallion titled Joie de vivre was the one that caught the attention of the judges, and his along with other winning images can be seen in a touring exhibition throughout the year. UKphotographerwins topaward
π To find out more, go to www.hahnemuehle.com.
π To find out more, go to www.rps.org/biennial.
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Latest photography news
FIRST LOOK
EOS5DSdelivers ‘a revolution in resolution’ NewCanon bodies deliver pixel counts to rival medium-format models
SPECS
PRICE TBC (expected around £3000) CONTACT www.canon.co.uk SENSOR 50.6 megapixels (total: 53), CMOS, 36x24mm, 8688x5792 pixels PROCESSOR 100-6400 (expandable down to 50 and up to 12,800) SHUTTER 30secs-1/8000sec, plus B MAX FRAME RATE 5fps for up to 510 JPEGs or 14 Raw files METERING SYSTEM 150,000 pixel RGB+IR Dual DIGIC 6 ISORANGE (1.3%), centre-weighted EXPOSURE MODES Scene Intelligent Auto, program AE, shutter- priority AE, aperture- priority AE, manual, Custom x3 EXPOSURE COMPENSATION +/-5EV in 0.3 or 0.5EV stops, AEB 2, 3, 5 or 7 shots, +/-3EV in 0.3 or 0.5EV stops AUTOFOCUSMODES AI focus, one shot, predictive aI servo FOCUSING POINTS 61 MONITOR Fixed 3.2in, 1040k dot resolution VIDEO Full HD at 30p STORAGEMEDIA Dual card slots: CompactFlash (UDMA 7 compatible), SD, SDHC, SDXC DIMENSIONS (WXHXD) 152x116.4x76.4mm WEIGHT 845g (body only) sensor. Evaluative, partial (6.1%), spot
Words by Roger Payne
Canon has put the megapixel race firmly back on the agenda with the launch of two 50.6-megapixel bodies. The EOS 5DS and 5DS R are described as revolutionising what’s possible with a full-frame product and look set to be digital SLR game changers in the same way as the original EOS 5D was back in 2005 and the 5D Mark II in 2010. Photography News was at the official launch of both models in London where Kieran Magee, marketing director for professional imaging in Canon Europe described the new cameras as: “Moving imaging to another level. Canon is proving there are a lot of opportunities to bring new technology to digital SLR photography, despite the maturation of the market.” Aside from the number-grabbing headlines of the Canon-developed sensor’s resolution, both the 5DS and 5DS R also feature a new Mirror Vibration Control System, dual DIGIC 6 processors to help the cameras deliver up to five frames-per-second continuous shooting and a new Fine Detail Picture Style mode that maximises the sensor output. The only difference between the two models is that the 5DS features a low-pass filter, whereas the 5DS R has a low-pass cancellation filter. This means there’s still a filter in front of the sensor, which Canon says is important for protection, but its effect is cancelled out so image quality is higher. See below for details on the technologies and the panel opposite for an exclusive interview with Mike Owen, professional imaging communications manager for Canon Europe. EOS 5DS in detail While other models in Canon EOS line-up may grab headlines for blistering performance, the EOS 5D range has become synonymous with innovation over the years. The original 5D raised eyebrows for managing to cram a full-frame sensor into a remarkably small body, the Mark II version proved to be the definitive model for DSLR moviemakers, while the Mark III model offered a ground-breaking autofocusing system. Now the 5DS (the S stands for ‘superior’, in case you’re wondering) has redefined the resolution achievable from a full-frame sensor. But while the 50.6-megapixel sensor will undoubtedly grab the headlines and have serious landscape, architecture, portrait and fashion
Magnesium alloy shell The whole of the EOS 5DS’s body is constructed from magnesium alloy, not just the top and base plates. What’s more, the panels are interlocked to offer better protection and durability, while the baseplate has also been re-engineered to cut down on vibrations. As a result, the body is weather- resistant so photographers can keep shooting regardless of the conditions. Design your own LCD While some may be surprised by the fixed LCD on the back of the EOS 5DS, the information on the screen can be customised. The Custom Quick Control screen can be changed so it only features
photographers reaching for their wallets, there are a number of other ‘under the bonnet’ alterations:
Mirror Vibration Control system With such a high resolution sensor, camera shake can be a problem, so in-camera vibrations need to minimised. The mirror box is where most vibrations occur so Canon has developed a Mirror Vibration Control System that uses cams to drive the mirror up and down.
TheEOS 5D rangehas become synonymous withinnovation
This provides more control over mirror movement, avoids any sudden stops and softens the sound of the shutter release.
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New Picture Style mode Existing Canon users will be familiar with the Picture Style modes, which modify sharpness and colour output according to certain preset or personal preferences. The EOS 5DS offers a new Fine Detail Picture Style, which delivers maximum possible detail from the sensor. Three sharpening parameters can be applied to JPEG files so great results are possible straight out of camera. Low-pass cancellation filter (EOS 5DS R only) Rather than removing a filter altogether from the front of the sensor, the 5DS R offers a low-pass cancellation filter, which cancels the effect. This means moiré and false colours are reduced to ensure the R version delivers the sharpest possible images.
the functions that you want to quickly access. Similarly, you can also customise information in the viewfinder, so you can instantly see the status of selected camera functions while the camera is up to your eye. Something borrowed Both the 61-point autofocusing system and 150,000 pixel RGB+IR metering sensor are taken from existing EOS models. The AF system features 41 cross-type points and uses EOS Intelligent Tracking and Recognition AF (iTR) to follow both faces and colour. The metering system, meanwhile, has built-in flicker detection, which ensures consistent exposures under artificial lighting by recognising the point when the light is at its brightest. Cropped sensor options Most users will want to realise every one of the 5DS’s 50.6 megapixels, but there are also 1.3x and 1.6x cropped shooting modes provided. These deliver 30.5 and 19.6 megapixels respectively. The camera also features dual DIGIC 6 processors to crunch through all the data and deliver a continuous shooting performance of up to five frames-per-second for over 500 JPEG files or 14 Raw files.
EOS 5DS sample images So what does a 50.6-megapixel image look like from the Canon EOS 5DS? In a word, excellent. Sharpness, colour and detail are all mightily impressive from a sensor that can deliver A0 size prints without an obvious drop in quality. We also ran a quick ISO test using the native 100-6400 settings. Again, very impressive. These JPEG images were taken using pre- production samples at the official launch and, as such, should not be taken as being indicative of what the EOS 5DS will ultimately be capable of.
ABOVE While the EOS 5DS may not look much different to the EOS 5D Mark III, the insides are new, and they’re not just about the high megapixel count either.
Interview: MikeOwen, professional imaging communicationsmanager, CanonEurope and DavidNoton, CanonAmbassador
At the launch, we had chance to catch up with Canon’s Mike Owen and Canon Ambassador David Noton. Here’s what they had to say about the camera: Photography News: No 4K, why? Mike Owen: This is a tool that’s designed for stills photographers, it’s not a multipurpose device, it’s designed to do a specific job. When you look at the resolution of the camera and the technology behind it, we wanted to make sure that was its primary focus and we didn’t want to detract from that by adding extra video functions. We wanted photographers to be confident that they had a tool to produce the best possible still images. MO: A vari-angle LCD is a weakness. Durability will drop because of it and knowing how photographers treat the cameras we didn’t want to put a weak spot in – it’s the same with the 1D X, photographers asked the same question then. It’s designed to be a hard-working tool and any form of weakness will be found out by professional photographers, it’s the same reason why it doesn’t have touchscreen controls. PN: What about the other features that people may have expected to see, such as a tilting or vari-angle LCD?
the same body; the buttons are in the same place, the dials work in the same way, it’s the same battery. David Noton : One little thing I’ve noticed is the viewfinder display is 100%, whereas it was 98% in the 5D Mark III. You may think 2% isn’t a very big deal, but when you’re composing shots in such high resolution, you’re looking right to the edges of the frame. Live view is a useful tool for doing that kind of thing, but I really like looking into the eyepiece. I’ve used the EOS 5D Mark III for three years now and you get to a stage where you no longer need to think about functionality because you know the camera so well. That’s true in the field, but it’s true also with what you do with the pictures afterwards in post-production; I know exactly what I can do with the 5D Mark III files. That continuity has continued in the 5DS. I was handed the camera, got on a flight to Cape Town and was out using it the very next day without having to think about the camera controls. There are a few differences, but nothing that causes any problems. PN: When you launched the EOS 7D Mark II you explained that it was partly a result of extensive consultations with customers, does this also apply here? MO: Absolutely. We have a lot of incredible photographers who work with us on a regular basis, which is one of the pillars of our Ambassador programme – we have the ability to talk to photographers about what they want and what they
don’t want in terms of resolution, file sizes, button positioning etc. We bring in the top management from Canon Inc. so they hear directly from photographers, it’s a critical part of our development cycle. In this case, we sat down with the 22-megapixel EOS 5D Mark III and asked professionals where theywanted it tobe. In the endwe decided that 50megapixels offered the best resolution from this sensor, so that’s what we have delivered. Every step of the way, photographers were validating the technology decisions we were making. MO: We spent time looking at how the pixels work. If you take the resolution of this model and compare it to the 7D MkII on an APS-C sensor, the pixel size is roughly the same and the extra DIGIC processing means we get the 5fps. But it’s all about the sensitivity of the pixels. The technology is there to go higher, but the current processing speed and data rate is where we felt the next ‘sweet spot’ was for sensor technology. PN: What are the practical issues of squeezing 50megapixels on to a full-frame sensor?
PN: Is the form factor the same as the EOS 5D Mark III? MO: There are a couple of little tweaks but fundamentally it’s
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Latest photography news Photo 24 is back
Have you got what it takes towin?
and the winner, alongside a trophy and the kudos of being crowned Best Panoramic Photographer 2015, will also see their images printed in Landscape Photography Magazine . The closing date for entries is 3 March so act fast to throw your hat in the ring.
If you’ve got room in your awards cabinet for a new addition and you are a panoramic photographer extraordinaire, well you might just be in with a chance of taking home a shiny new trophy as entries are now open for the 2015 Kolor Panobook contest. It’s free to enter
many photographers carried on shooting literally all day long. Details on how to reserve your place will be announced in Advanced Photographer and here in Photography News very soon. Places are limited so when registration details are announced: book immediately!
Advanced Photographer ’s third Photo 24 event in London is taking place from noon 20 June to the same time the following day. Exact details are still being finalised, but reserve the date in your diary right now. It’s basically a free photo experience (with the option of some paid-for events) with a bunch of like-minded people and in previous years
π To find out more, go to www.absolutephoto.com.
Two-daymasterclass
π To find out more, go to www.panobook.org.
Exhibition extended
Normally you’d visit London Waterloo to catch a train, but now there’s another reason to swing by the famous station. The Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibition has been stationed at Waterloo’s mezzanine and it’ll be staying for a little longer than initially planned, remaining in situ until the end of February. Amongst the images on display is the winner of the Network Rail sponsored Lines in the Landscape award.
Hannah Webster’s client list is undoubtedly impressive, with the likes of Asda, Harvey Nichols, The Tate Galleries and Google all featuring on there, covering a gamut of genres from food and portraits to events and interiors. With all that know-how and experience under her belt, she’s sharing her pro tips and tricks with photographers at a masterclass held at The Hepworth Wakefield on 28 and 29 March. It costs £100 to attend and there are limited places. To book or for more info email learning@ hepworthwakefield.org.
π To find out more, go to www.hannahwebsterphotography.co.uk.
π To find out more, go to www.take-a-view.co.uk.
Photography News | Issue 17
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Latest photography news
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Pentax’s latest DSLR, the K-S2 (£549.99 body only), has been developed with the adventurous in mind. It’s the smallest dust proof and weather-resistant camera of its kind and includes an AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator that works to reduce moiré as well an optical viewfinder with nearly 100% field of view. A perfect pairing with the K-S2 is the newly developed HD Pentax-DA 18-50mm f/4- 5.6 DC WR RE standard zoom lens, which also has a weatherproof construction and is retailing at £229.99, or £649.99 with the K-S2. Anadventure- ready Pentax
Out of this world photography Nikon’s launches first-ever full-frame astro camera
NEWS INBRIEF HOLSTER YOUR CAMERA It might not be the most fashion-forward solution to keeping your camera safe, but a holster certainly is practical. CPtech has designed a camera holster for mirrorless, bridge and compact cameras, the UNO (£36.95). It has a quick-release plate and can be securely fixed to belts, bags and backpacks. www.camera clean.co.uk LIGHT IMPROVEMENTS ExpoImaging has revamped its range of lighting accessories, including the Rogue FlashBender 2 lighter and comes with improved attachments and new softer fabrics. The FlashBender 2 XL Pro reflector is also lighter and includes a stop grid diffuser. www.color confidence.com FUJI ROADMAP UPDATED X-mount shooters have a lot to look forward to with a number of new releases planned over the next year or so. Amongst those is the XF 120mm f/2.8 R Macro f/1; the XF 35mm f/2 R; and the 1.4x teleconverter for XF 50-140mm, XF 120mm, and XF 100mm lenses. www.fujifilm.eu NEXT ISSUE Issue 18 of PN goes on sale w/c 16 March – just in time for The Photography Show. See you there! Reflector, which is now considerably
The new AF201FG flash (£129.99) is dust proof and weather-resistant
so also makes a fine match with the K-S2. In the compact range, the hardy WG-5 GPS (£259.99) has a bright f/2 lens and back-illuminated sensor, plus it’ll keep shooting down to 14m underwater.
π To find out more, go to www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk.
String of releases fromSigma
Coralie
Smith,
senior
product
You know the old saying, you wait for a new Nikon release and they all arrive at once. Well that’s exactly the story here, as the photo firm announces eight new cameras. The launch that’s made the most noise is a specially modified version of the much-loved D810, the D810A (£2999.99 body only). The A in its name is a hint at the camera’s newly incorporated technological talents, it’s been modified especially for astrophotography. Come the end of May, you’ll be able to take 36.3-megapixel photos of the cosmos with this DSLR. Tweaks include a modified optical filter to enable the true red colour of particular nebulae to be captured on camera, it’ll also improve shots of star fields and star landscapes. Shoot for up to 900 seconds with the new Long Exposure Manual mode whilst keeping vibrations to a minimum by activating the camera’s electronic front-curtain shutter. The COOLPIX S9900 (£279.99) and S7000 (£169.99) are big zoom compacts; the S9900 featuring a vari-angle LCD screen and a 30x optical zoom compared to the S7000’s slimline build and 20x optical zoom. Also boasting big on the zoom power are the COOLPIX P610 (£339.99) with 60x optical zoom; the L840 (£209.99) featuring a 38x optical zoom lens; and the L340 (Argos exclusive) with a 28x optical zoom – all released this month. The 16-megapixel AW130 (£279.99) adventure cam will be on sale as of 26 February. It’ll keep shooting down to 30m underwater and it has built-in Wi-Fi. The new S33 (£89.99) is also happy to take a dip, down to 10m, and it can operate down to -10°. It’ll be released as of 5 March.
manager for Coolpix andNikon 1 “Connectivity is one of the key messages that we want to put across with these new cameras. Many of them now come with NFC, Wi-Fi, GPS and World Maps, and that’s something we know that our audience is asking for. It also likes cameras that come in more than one shade, which is why many of the models we’re announcing come in a choice of colours, the most popular being black, red and plum. “Nikon has seen phenomenal success in the bridge camera sector, and we currently account for 23% of all sales in this area in the UK and are the number one brand. The new top of the range model is the Coolpix P610, and its key features are a 60x zoom and a five-stop VR, so that you can still hand-hold the camera even when it’s at full stretch. The built-in tilt screen is also designed to make it easy to use. “Superzooms meanwhile make up one of the most important parts of the Nikon compact range, and our models now account for 21% of the UK market. As a brand manager I’m not supposed to have favourites, but I’ve taken a particular shine to the S9900. It feels solid and well made, but although it’s still really beautiful and small, it’s got the ability to optically zoom 30x, this extends to 60x using Dynamic Fine Zoom, which is quite incredible.”
Sigma has unveiled the wide-angle 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens (part of the Art line), which claims to have the highest optical performance in its class with almost no aberration or distortion. Right at the other end of the scale, the 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens joins the Contemporary range, providing enhanced functionality with a lighter weight construction and improved optical performance with the inclusion of one FLD and three SLD glass elements. Adding to its range of compact cameras, the dp0 Quattro and the dp3 Quattro, each incorporate a newly developed Foveon X3 direct image sensor. Release dates and prices are to be announced.
π To find out more, go to www.sigma-global.com.
π To find out more, go to .
π To find out more, go to www.nikon.co.uk.
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Issue 17 | Photography News
14
Camera clubs Tell us your club’s latest news, email: clubnews@photography-news.co.uk Camera club news If your club has any news that you want to share with the rest of Allow plenty of time. Photography News comes out around the third week of the month. For the next issue, which comes out 16 March, we need words and pictures by 5 March. HOWTO SUBMIT
Write your story on a Word document (400 words maximum) and attach it to an email to clubnews@photography-news.co.uk. In the story please include contact details of the club, exhibition or event – website, meeting time, opening times, whatever is relevant to the story. Images: Yes please, and attach these to the email too. Images should be JPEGs, 2000 pixels on the longest dimension and any colour space. If the story is an exhibition or event, please send a picture from the exhibition (not the publicity poster), the winning image or one of the event. If the picture includes people please identify them on the Word document. Deadline for the next issue: 5March 2015
the world, this is the page for it. Your story might be about your club’s success in a contest, or a member’s personal achievement; it could be about a group outing you had recently or when the annual exhibition is on show. Any news is eligible for inclusion, so club publicity officers please take note of the submission guidelines and get your stories in
EdmontonCamera Club celebrates
Enter now
Martin Parr helps mark camera club’s anniversary
from September to June at Millfield House in London’s Silver Street. Membership is open to all, from those taking up the hobby or picking it up again through to those who have enjoyed making and taking images for years. Visitors are always made very welcome.
Marking Club’s 70th anniversary, renowned Magnum photographer Martin Parr is giving a talk, entitled Photobiography, looking at his long career, almost exactly 70 years after the club’s inaugural meeting. That first meeting happened on 5 March 1945 and the talk is on 6 March 2015, at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £11 or £9 for concessions and are available from Millfield Theatre (020 8807 6680). Also among the club’s anniversary celebrations is a public exhibition of members’ work at Forty Hall, Forty Hill, Enfield EN2 9HA. It runs 3-29 March, excluding Mondays (Tuesdays to Fridays 11am-4pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12-4pm). Edmonton Camera Club meets weekly on Monday evenings from 7.45 to 10pm, Edmonton Camera
To celebrate its 20th year, Cotswold Salon, the National Exhibition of Monochrome Photography presented by Cotswold Monochrome, is inviting photographers to submit a monochrome print entry by 29 May 2015. The selectors for the 2015 exhibition are: Barbie Lindsay MPAGB EFIAP FBPE, Russell Lindsay MPAGB EFIAP FBPE and Leigh Preston FRPS MPAGB EFIAP. This is a qualifying exhibition for the British Photographic Exhibition Crown Awards Scheme and has patronage of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain.
π To find out more, go to www.edmontoncameraclub.co.uk, email info@ edmontoncameraclub.co.uk or call the membership/publicity secretary, John McAndrew on 020 8920 6651.
π To find out more and get the entry form, go to cotswold-monochrome.co.uk.
Nantwich Camera Club SPOTLIGHT
bringing in a professional photographer from outside the area, and non-members are very welcome to join us for this. This year we have invited landscape professional Sarah Howard of Image Seen to visit on 31 March (sarahhowardphotography.com). “NCC meets from September to the end of April, weekly at 7.30pm on Tuesday evenings, at Regent’s Park, 129 London Road, Nantwich CW5 6LW. Details can be found at nantwichcameraclub.org.uk.”
“Nantwich CC is a member of the Lancs & Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU),” explains Alison Wood, club secretary. “Our members have a wide range of photographic experience and we have a varied membership, both in age group and subject matter. We aim to be friendly, welcoming and helpful. Our programme includes an excellent range of speakers, competitions and a variety of self-help sessions. We now include a special lecture in the programme,
If you want your club featured in Club Spotlight, write 200 words about your club and why it’s going places, then send the Word document and up to five JPEG images frommembers to clubnews@photography-news.co.uk.
Photography News | Issue 17
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Camera clubs
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Celebrating 125years Exhibition and lecture for 125-year old Croydon
NEWS INBRIEF
DAVYHULME CC
Having first met on 10 March 1890, Croydon Camera Club is celebrating its 125th birthday this year. The celebrations coincide with the club’s annual exhibition, which is at the Click- Clock Gallery in Katharine Street, 2-28 March (shut Sundays). More than 130 prints and projected images will be on display. The club is also holding the 2015 Wratten Lecture on 11 March. Author of more than 60 titles, Michael Freeman is giving the talk, The Photographer’s Eye: On Travel. He’ll draw on his 40-year career shooting principally for magazines and books, advising on how to meet the increasing challenge for photographers, particularly travel shooters: how to get photos we can think of as our own, that no one else has shot. The Wratten Lecture is open to non-members. Tickets cost £5 and can be ordered by post; send a cheque payable to Croydon Camera Club to Wratten, 12 Wickham Road, Croydon CR0 8BA, with a standard size SAE.
ON THE MOVE Davyhulme CC has moved venue after more than 30 years in Flixton, Manchester – but only by a few hundred metres. They now meet at Brook Road Methodist Church, Urmston M41 5RQ and still on Wednesdays at 7.45pm. As always, visitors are sure of a warm welcome. www.davyhulme.org.uk or follow @davyhulmecc
LEFT Mohamed the fisherman by Dave Newman. RIGHT End of the day by Michael Hope.
π To find out more, go to www.croydoncameraclub.org.uk or phone 020 8654 3041.
Upminster’sOpenPanel Commemorating much-loved member and judge, Dennis Mickleburgh
a workshop. Then the afternoon is dedicated to a critique of the selected panels and the final selection of winners, including PAGB gold, silver and bronze medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, plus PAGB ribbons for the highly commended panels. This year the contest takes place on Saturday 11 April. Richard Walton FRPS is judging and again the competition has been awarded PAGB Patronage. The morning workshop is being run by PW Academy.
When respected Upminster CC member, Dennis Mickleburgh died in 2000, the club wanted to do something in his memory. A leading judge and enthusiastic promoter of amateur photography and club membership, Dennis was also twice president of the East Anglian Federation so it seemed fitting that the club established the Dennis Mickleburgh Open Panel. The competition, which first took place in 2011, is held on one day, with pre-selection in themorningwhile the audience enjoys
ABOVE Ken Scott ARPS was the presiding judge in 2013 when some 77 panels of six prints were entered from individuals from across the south east of England.
π To find out more and to enter, go to www.upminstercameraclub.org.uk or email Dave Wilcox chairman@upminstercameraclub.co.uk.
Club outing
The City of London and Cripplegate Photographic Society recently enjoyed a trip of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands. This is Jean Jameson’s story of the trip
threat from too many visitors and too much modernisation, so the whole area is a protected national park and there are restrictions as to where you can go. “Despite this, we had a most fantastic time, climbing volcanoes in the mists of the tropical rains, snorkelling from boats to see basking sharks and green turtles and trekking across the sand to see the blue- footed boobies, huge land iguanas and the great frigate birds with their red balloon mating sacs. Without many predators, the creatures are fairly tame and wait patiently for their portraits to be taken. The nature of the guided tours meant that we were often shooting in full sun, with a tight timetable and warnings not to stray from the paths. “Olympus had lent us a couple of underwater cameras and that was, for me, the best experience ever; at one point, when I had mastered my fear but not the camera technique, a small penguin shot past my screen to the right, just as the sleek torpedo of a brown seal glided deep in the other direction, all against the background of vivid blue and yellow fish swishing backwards and forwards like a kaleidoscope. I remember thinking it can’t get better than this. “Once home, club competitions were flooded, to the bemusement of some judges, by blue-footed boobies, troupes of prehistoric, black marine iguanas, huge, brightly coloured land ones and unique landscapes. Even macro images of the volcanic black sand have figured – and succeeded. No pictures, of course, of lonesome George, the famous last giant tortoise who died a few years ago – a symbol of what is feared about the future of the Galapagos.”
“City of London and Cripplegate PS is not in the habit of group outings on this scale. It all came about because one of our members, Julie Calvert of Shutterspeedtravel, is also a trustee of the Book Bus project and they were planning a visit to the archipelago. They needed volunteers to work with schoolchildren in the mornings for a minimum of two weeks. This would leave the afternoons, evenings and weekends, plus an optional, additional week, free for exciting photography, so five of us signed up. “We had chosen to spend a day and night in Guayaquil on the mainland. For most of us, it was our first time in South America and certainly our first time in Ecuador and the street photography in Guayaquil was fascinatingly different and yet similar in some ways, to other big cities. “Between us, we had several Olympus CSCs, Leicas, Nikon and Canon DSLRs and disparate styles, experience and interests. By the time we’d boarded the plane to Barras and taken the ferry to the island of Santa Cruz, we had a considerable body of images from the centre of Guayaquil. “The reality of the volunteer teaching with the Book Bus and also of the photographic opportunities of the islands were slightly different from our expectations. We were able to photograph the children and their school in the highlands of Santa Cruz, but we needed much more time than we expected just for basic living and preparing our lessons. When we did have free time, we explored the nearby town and signed up for various excursions, including trips to other islands. There is a real concern that the amazingly unique nature of the islands and their natural flora and fauna are under
Has your club been on a photo trip or club shoot recently and now wants to share its adventures with fellow photographers? The images can be as exotic or as local as you like, but this is your chance to show off the results. Email brief details (when, where, how many members attended etc) in the first instance to clubnews@photography- news.co.uk and we can go from there. Wherehaveyoubeen?
π To find out more, go to www.cityandcripplegate-ps.org.
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Issue 17 | Photography News
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