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Neath & District Photo Salon returns for 2025 The Neath & District Photographic Society UK Salon 2025 will open for entries in
February, inviting submissions from UK photographers of all genres and skill levels. Entrants can choose from four categories, submitting up to four images per category for the chance to win. The 2024 version of the contest attracted 5000 entries – all of a high standard – and this year’s edition promises the same level of popularity. Submissions will be accepted via the website and by post from 1 February to 20 April 2025. Entry fees range between £12 and £18 depending on the number of categories entered. neathphotographicsociety.org
Sony’s new partnership is set to go swimmingly World Aquatics and Sony have announced a four-year partnership to change how audiences view aquatic sports. This arrangement started in December at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest. Under the agreement, official photographers and videographers will use Sony equipment. Hawk-Eye Innovations will provide video replay services. A dedicated online platform called World Aquatics Moments launched in late December, featuring event highlights and special medal-winner portraits. World Aquatics and Sony say the partnership aims to enhance fan experiences and expand the reach of aquatic disciplines to a wider audience. sony.net The TZ99 includes several features designed for travel convenience, like a tiltable 1.8-million-dot touchscreen for shooting at creative angles and USB Type C charging for on-the-go power. Built-in Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity and a dedicated Send Image button also enable quick transfers to smartphones. The TZ99 will come in black and silver starting in February 2025 for £469. panasonic.com Latest Lumix compact boasts big optical zoom Panasonic has unveiled the Lumix TZ99, a compact travel zoom camera featuring a 24-720mm Leica DC lens with 30x optical zoom and up to 60x magnification via the iZoom function. This is complemented by the built-in five- axis stabilisation system. The camera also supports 4K recording at 30p and offers a 4K photo mode, capturing rapid bursts at 30fps. A 120fps HD high- speed video option adds further flexibility for creating slow-motion footage.
Sigma has announced the release of two new lenses for the Canon RF mount: the 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary and the 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. The 16mm f/1.4 lens is a wide-angle option priced at £389 and weighing just over 400g, combining portability with a large maximum aperture. The lens is intended for a range of uses, including street photography, events, landscapes and video content. Its f/1.4 aperture offers excellent low-light performance, so on paper it looks like a great option for interiors and astrophotography. The 23mm f/1.4 is a standard prime lens offering a versatile 35mm-equivalent focal length. Priced at £479 and weighing 340g, it is a lightweight and durable option for travel, portraiture and general-purpose photography. Sigma highlights its optical performance, claiming sharpness across the frame at all aperture settings, as well as its suitability for low-light shooting thanks to the f/1.4 aperture. Both lenses are available from 23 January. sigma-global.com Sigma extends RF prime range
Tilt-shift 1:1 macro from Laowa Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Laowa 55mm and 100mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 1x Macro lenses combine tilt-shift capabilities with 1:1 macro magnification.
13 elements in ten groups. Laowa says this delivers sharp, detailed images while minimising vignetting and optical distortion. Additional practical features include a 77mm filter thread for screw-in filters, a built-in lens support compatible with the Arca- Swiss system, as well as a dual-rotation system for flexible tilt and shift adjustments. Both lenses are now available for multiple mounts, including Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, L-Mount and Fujifilm GFX. venuslens.net
Both lenses provide a ±10° tilt and ±12mm shift, enabling users to manipulate the focal plane and correct perspective distortions. Both lenses are compatible with medium format cameras, though tilt is limited to ±10° and shift to ±8mm in such applications. The lenses offer a fast f/2.8 aperture – with the 55mm lens comprising 14 elements in 11 groups and the 100mm lens using
Issue 119 | Photography News 5
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