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Sony’s full-frame minimarvel Sony strengthens its full-frame line-up with the A7C, the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame camera
EDITOR’S LETTER WILL CHEUNG
The Sony A7C is a richly featured full-frame camera with a 24.2-megapixel resolution, five-axis image stabilisation, 4K video and advanced AI-drive autofocusing with real-time tracking, and it’s all packed into a body that weighs 509g and is a similar size to the brand’s popular APS-C format offerings. The autofocus system uses a 693-point phase detect system that covers 93% of the image area and that’s supplemented by 425 contrast detect points. Key benefits include real- time eye AF for humans and animals, real-time tracking and touch tracking for stills and video shooting. The camera’s native ISO range is
We’ve seen some fascinating lens developments in recent times, many of them fuelled by the move to mirrorless cameras and the opportunities offered by lens mounts that are wider and have shorter flange depths. To be fair, this was something promised by the camera and lens manufacturers, so they are delivering on this. We have seen exotic lenses like the Nikon 58mm f/0.95, which show what’s possible, but they’re not going to be big sellers, and others, such as Canon’s RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM 10x superzoom lens, have a mass market focus. I’ve always been a slow adopter. It took years for zoom lenses to usurp primes in my camera bag but, of course, times change and now I couldn’t imagine life without zooms. But I always struggled with superzooms, even though I have tested more than my fair share. Early examples had no appeal, with their modest maximum apertures, not very useful minimum focusing distances at the wide end and average at best optical skills. But just like every lens type, superzooms have progressed and now they offer a decent performance, hence they are big on my horizon right now. I’m keen to travel lighter, so I’m rapidly approaching a crossroads where the options are going prime, staying with zooms but going for slower options, or taking a scalpel to my zoom collection and investing in a superzoom. I’ve spent the past few weeks testing the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for this issue and it has impressed me greatly. But the Tamron superzoom is not the only lens that crossed my desk in the past month. I had an Olympus ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS telezoom
to test and got some time to enjoy a pre- production sample of a FujifilmXF 50mm f/1.0 RWR lens. The Olympus 100-400mm is equivalent to a 200-800mm zoom in the 35mm format, so it’s seriously long, yet remarkably compact for such a lens. It’s great fun to use, although it needs care and I can see it having great appeal among nature/action photographers. Easier to use in terms of shutter speed selection is the Fujifilm 50mm, because f/1.0 is so fast. If anything, the struggle is at the high speed end, so it’s just as well FujifilmX Series cameras have electronic shutter speeds up to 1/32,000sec. Fast lens apertures have preoccupied photographers since time immemorial and, of course, howmuch light you get on to the sensor/film is really important. On SLRs, it also means you have the benefit of a brighter viewing image, which makes manual focusing easier. Buying a new lens is not like buying a pair of socks – it’s a serious business. In normal years, a good time to check out a prospective purchase (of all things imaging related) is at The Photography Show, which usually takes place at the NEC. This year, TPS is a virtual festival taking place 20-21 September – and registration is free at photographyshow.com We’re getting used to chatting, meeting and eating virtually, but I’ve not been to a virtual show before, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to see talks and demos that I can’t usually get to because I amworking on the PN stand, so at least that’s a benefit. What’s more, it’s all free, too! For your diary, next year’s TPS returns to the NEC on 18-21 September 2021.
100 to 51,200 with expansion to ISO 50-204,800 and Raws are captured in 14-bit.
Sony has also announced a new zoom lens that is the perfect partner for the A7C: the FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 standard zoom. This retractable design zoom is dust and moisture resistant, focuses as close as 30cm and, with its linear motor, is fully compatible with the camera’s advanced focus- tracking features. The A7C is available this October at £1900, while the FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 is expected in January at a guide price of £450. sony.co.uk 17 Buyers’ guide to lenses The choice of lenses has never been greater. We take you through some of the more interesting options 20 Big test: Nikon Z 5 Nikon’s attack on the entry-level
3 News Panasonic launches the S5, a high-spec, 35mm mirrorless camera with great hybrid credentials. Plus, a hands-on report on Fujifilm’s amazing XF50mm f/1.0 lens 6 Word search Your chance to win a Samsung 256GB microSD card 9 Club news In normal years, September is the month when camera clubs start meeting up after the summer break, but 2020 is no normal year…
10 Ultimate kit: for portraits Improve your people pictures with our guide to what you should have in your bag 14 Make the Switch Reader Pat Barbour’s journey to mirrorless began on a holiday to Cuba, and she hasn’t looked back since
full-frame mirrorless
camera market
comes in the form of its Z 5 24 First tests
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Issue 81 | Photography News 3
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