Welcome to the January edition of Photography News. The issue is the last chance to vote in our Awards 2020 where it's your opportunity to recognise the best kit and services in the imaging market. We’ve drawn up shortlists in a huge range of categories and the rest is up to you. Please cast your votes by going to photyography.co.uk Tests in the issue include two tripods, a dual purpose case and an impressive ultra-wide lens, plus the latest camera from Fujifilm, the X-S10, a compact fully featured system camera designed to attract the unconverted to the brand. Until the next time, stay safe.
Photography News Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories Prize word search / Win a Samsung 256GB microSDmemory card Super- zooms / Time to trim your outfit? Big test: Fujifilm X-S10 / The first of a new dynasty
ISSUE 84 14 Jan-8 Feb 2021 photographynews.co.uk
Aworldfirst for Tamron Tamron’s 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is the first high- speed standard zoom of this range for Sony APS-C cameras
The Photography News 2020 Awards give everyone the chance to vote for the best imaging equipment on the market in a huge range of product categories Make your vote count Equipment and services are core to Photography News and that’s why we have our awards, which give our readers the chance to vote for what they consider to be the best available. The PN editorial team has shortlisted kit and service providers in a massive range of categories covering all aspects of modern imaging, so we have categories for cameras and lenses as well as for colour management devices, monitors and printing papers. All you have to do is vote for what you think deserves to win, and you can also vote in as many or as few categories as you want. To get your votes in before the closing date of 25 January, go to our website. See page 13 for the full nominations listing. • photographynews.co.uk
THE 17-70MM F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXDmarks a first for Tamron, as it’s the first high-speed 4.1x zoom lens in the world for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras. This versatile offering, giving a 25-105mm focal length range in 35mm format terms, has a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout. Despite its range and fast speed, the 17-70mm remains fairly compact at 119.3mm in length and 525g in weight. Elsewhere on the construction, the lens offers further versatility with moisture resistance. Tamron assures strong optical performance with a construction of 16 elements in 12 groups, with two glass moulded aspherical elements and one hybrid aspherical element. Other key features include a close focusing distance of 19cm and 39cm at the 17mm and 70mm ends respectively, Tamron’s proprietary Vibration Compensation mechanism, and support for Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF features.
KEYFEATURES › 16 elements in 12 groups construction › Sony E-mount fit › F/2.8-16 aperture range › 67mm filter size › Upgraded Vibration Compensation mechanism › 1:4.8 magnification at the wide end, 1:5.2 at the long end › 119.3mm length › Weighs 525g › Supplied with hood and caps
The Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is backed by a five-year warranty and is now available for pre-order at the Tamron dealers in UK and Ireland, with stock expected mid-January. It’s priced at £779. • transcontinenta.co.uk
2 Photography News | Issue 84
photographynews.co.uk
Read FREE online
News
Get the latest issue FREE to your inbox when you sign up for our newsletter at photographynews.co.uk
If you prefer a print copy delivered to your door, a yearly subscription costs just £19.99 . See our website for details.
Tokina supports Fujifilm-X Leading independent lens brand Tokina has announced two great-value, fast aperture primes for Fujifilm X Series cameras
HAPPY 2021 AND good riddance to 2020 – fingers crossed this year will be kinder to us all. For millions of people, 2020 was a complete write-off and the repercussions of the pandemic will be with us for some while yet, but let’s park all that depressing stuff for now and look forward to what awaits you and your camera. So, in terms of your photography, what are your ambitions for 2021? Traditionally, the new year is a time for planning ahead and booking trips, shoots and maybe thinking of new kit, as well as pushing back creative horizons. My usual thing at the start of a new year is to make a few resolutions only for most of them to get broken a short while later. The thing is, I have been on the earth long enough to know that new year’s resolutions are a total waste of time, yet I persist. Why? Well, for me a resolution is the start of a plan and I have had several great ideas for photo projects come to me because I resolved to do something or other. My self-set project on the London Docklands Light Railway came about just because I resolved to get out of the house every Saturday, rather than spend the day in front of the horse racing on TV or editing pictures. Yes, I know it’s sad that I had to almost force myself out of the house, but the end result was exploring a part of London I knew little about, and I’ve got a whole bunch of decent pictures. By the way, I was going to wind the DLR project up last year on the simple premise that I was getting bored, so the enforced break might have helped and I might find my ‘seeing’ has been revitalised in the time away fromworking on it. We’ll see, so finishing that project is on my to-do list. Top of my to-do list, however, is to use the movie features of my cameras and actually create a few videos for my website and perhaps to use in my camera club talks. I create in stills and that’s how I see the world, so I figured it is perhaps about time I explored moving pictures. I already have the editing software, so all I have to do now is do some filming and put it together in an entertaining fashion with some appropriately moody music. Say it quickly and it sounds really easy, but of course it isn’t. I mean,
EDITOR’S LETTER WILLCHEUNG
for instance, what do I film in the first place? The other day I watched an incredible, simply jaw-dropping video of mountain biker hurtling down the side of a mountain. It was brilliant and you’ve probably seen similar examples. Thing is, I don’t do adventure sports of any sort and I don’t know anybody who does, and besides, there aren’t any mountains in Cambridgeshire. So at least to get me going I’ll probably start by joining the millions of people who are into vlogging and just video myself doing something. Then there are all the technical and hardware issues to sort. What resolution, frame rate, compression rate and file type to use? For lighting stills I have flashguns, but they are no use for video. And what about sound? Because on-board microphones aren’t great. There’s a buyers’ guide to essential vlogging kit in this issue, which helped me, so should help you, too. Then there’s how to shoot. I’m used to capturing a moment in time, not a series of events that come together in editing to make something enjoyable to watch. You probably know all this stuff, which is probably why you haven’t touched the camera’s video record button either, but I think there is every reason to mesh the two mediums together and enjoy them both. Many of you will be on this particular journey already, so have been through these early learning stages, but it’s new to me – and exciting, too, so let’s see how long this resolution lasts. If you have any thoughts on all this, please email me or use podcast@photographynews.co.uk and we can feature your hints and tips on The Photography News Podcast, which is now fortnightly. Well, I’m off to video my walk to Morrisons! Ridley Scott, eat your heart out! See you next month.
to A and the f/stop can be adjusted from the camera body. The atx-m 23mm f/1.4 X has a construction of 11 elements in ten groups, with two super-low dispersion (SD) lenses used to minimise aberrations and help maximise edge-to-edge sharpness, even at the wider lens apertures. Other key features are a 52mm filter thread, 30cm minimum focus and multi-coating, and it weighs 276g. The atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X boasts a similar feature set, with the same focus motor, filter size and aperture ring. The optical make-up is slightly different, with ten elements in nine groups with two SD lenses, and the minimum focus is 40cm. 13 Photography News Awards 2020 Your last chance to vote for the year’s best imaging kit 18 Make the Switch Mary Matthews tells us why she’s so happy having moved to Fujifilm 23 Superzoom lenses Is one lens for every occasion and subject a reality? Well, definitely maybe 26 Filters buyers’ guide Make the most of scenes with the help of camera filters. Here’s a few names to check out
Japanese lens brand Tokina has an extensive selection of high-quality lenses for full-frame and APS-C format cameras, but its new atx-m 23mm f/1.4 X and atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X are its first offerings for Fujifilm X Series cameras. Both are compact and lightweight, so are ideal as take-everywhere lenses and feature a fast and responsive ST-M AF motor that meshes fully with the camera it is fitted to, so you can use face detect and other advanced focusing features. That applies to image stabilisation, too, with Fujifilm cameras that have IBIS. Lens aperture can be controlled in 0.3EV steps using the lens ring, but set this
The 23mm f/1.4 and 33mm f/1.4 lenses are in store now priced at £449.99 and £399.99 respectively. It looks like Tokina is going to have a busy 2021 too, with its roadmap showing some exciting products due. For Fujifilm X and Sony APS-C E-mount, there’s a 56mm f/1.4 short telephoto. And for full-frame Sony E-mount, a 35mm f/1.8 E and 50mm f/1.8 E are on the way. tokinalens.co.uk
3 News Catch up with all the new year’s breaking news from the world of photography 6 Word search Your chance to win a Samsung 256GB microSD card 8 Software update Want to tweak your images? Read our round-up from the world of editing software 9 Club news What’s happening in the world of camera clubs
29 Vlogging buyers’ guide Get geared up and join the millions who are into vlogging 30 Big test: Fujifilm X-S10 Fujifilm’s latest camera launch targets non-Fujifilm users – and very impressive it is, too 35 First tests l Think Tank Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack l K&F TC2535 tripod l Laowa 11mm f/4.5 FF RL lens l Benro Rhino 34C+VX30 tripod
Followus:
@photonewsPN @photonewsPN
@photonewsPN
Issue 84 | Photography News 3
photographynews.co.uk
News
It’s amazing! Amazing Internet, the website platform designed for creatives, launches new blogging system
The K&F TC2535 tripod is perfect for travel and for walking around town. It’s carbon fibre, so it’s lightweight and easily worth £120. Enter our free contest and you could be the proud owner of one. For more on the K&F TC2535 tripod, there’s a review in this issue. To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to answer the following question correctly: How much do the K&F TC2535 tripod legs weigh? A 11grams, B 1105g, C 11.05kg. To enter, go to photographynews.co.uk and follow the link. The closing date for entries is 7 February 2021 and one correct answer drawn at random after that date shall win a TC2535 tripod. Win a K&F carbon- fibre tripod
AMAZING INTERNET IS one of the go-to website hosts for photographers and visual artists, offering a range of customisable options specifically for creatives. Now, the brand has added an all-new blogging system within its Portfolio Series. The series provides template-based websites in a range of striking designs. For photographers, galleries are at the forefront of Amazing Internet’s online offerings, ensuring work is showcased as desired. Other easy-to-use features include an online store for prints, dedicated pages for video and audio and a newly added blogging capability. Any of the provider’s three Portfolio Series packages can now be used for multiple blogs within a single website, if desired. Like the other features that the host offers, layout is customisable and easy to change and use. Sidebar widgets are also included for more customisation, with categories, comments and a search tool available among others. On these fronts, posts can be tagged and organised within categories, and comments – which are withheld until approved, or can be turned off for individual posts entirely – offer immediate communication with visitors. Attention has also been paid to social media: optional sharing buttons allow users to post to social media streams with ease. Combining the resulting websites’ good looks, functionality and ease of use, there’s certainly a lot that impresses, especially in light of the new
Good luck! swains.co.uk
annually. The feature-heavy gold package is priced at £30 a month or £300 annually. For more information, please visit the Amazing Internet website. portfolioseries.uk
additions. So, if you’re looking to branch out with your photography, Amazing Internet’s product range may well be worth a look. A free trial is available and, subsequently, the most basic package costs £5 a month or £50
Pocket rocket The Laowa 10mm f/2 Zero D MFT gives an angle of view equivalent to a 20mm lens in the 35mm format, so this new lens can be classed as an ultra-wide and, with a maximum lens weighs just 125g, takes 46mm filters and is 41mm long, making it truly pocketable. Despite its small stature, this Laowa’s latest lens for the Micro Four Thirds format is a really tiny high-speed ultra-wide
This lens also features a built-in chip that offers auto aperture, as well as aperture control from the camera body, a focus magnifier when the focus ring is rotated and it records EXIF data. The lens is available for pre-order now and costs £399. laowalens.co.uk
lens houses 11 elements, including three extra-low dispersion lenses. It belongs to Laowa’s Zero D lineup, so wide-angle distortion is said to be very well controlled.
aperture of f/2, it’s really fast, too. Both qualities are seriously powerful selling points, but perhaps even more attractive is that this
Editorial team Editorial director Roger Payne Editor Will Cheung FRPS 01223 499469 willcheung@bright-publishing.com Digital content writer Lee Renwick leerenwick@bright-publishing.com Chief sub editor Beth Fletcher Sub editor Elisha Young Junior sub editor Jack Nason
Advertising team Group admanager Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright-publishing.com Senior sales executive Jemma Farrell-Shaw jemmafarrell-shaw@bright-publishing.com Key accounts Mike Elliott mikeelliott@bright-publishing.com
Design team Design director Andy Jennings Senior designer Laura Bryant Design & ad production Man-Wai Wong Distribution Distribution and subscriptionmanager Phil Gray philipgray@bright-publishing.com Publishing team Managing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck As well as your local camera club, you can pick up Photography News in-store from: Cameraworld, Castle Cameras, Jessops, London Camera Exchange, Park Cameras, Wex Photo Video, Wilkinson Cameras
Photography News is published 11 times a year by Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3HJ. No part of this magazine can be used without prior written permission of Bright Publishing Ltd. Photography News is a registered trademark of Bright Publishing Ltd. The advertisements published in Photography News that have been written, designed or produced by employees of Bright Publishing Ltd remain the copyright of Bright Publishing Ltd and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. While Bright Publishing makes every effort to ensure accuracy, it can’t be guaranteed. Street pricing at the time of writing is quoted for products.
Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ www.bright-publishing.com
ISSN 2059-7584
When you have finished with this newspaper, please recycle it
4 Photography News | Issue 84
photographynews.co.uk
News
Get free Vanguard stuff Vanguard kicks off 2021 with the offer of free kit when you buy one of its popular products
Buy Vanguard kit before 31 March 2021 from participating dealers and you can claim something nice for free. So, buy a new Alta Sky backpack and you can claim a VEO 2S AM-234TR aluminium monopod with tri-feet worth £69.99. Go for a new VEO 3GO 265HCB tripod and you can claim a free VEO Select 41GR backpack worth £99.99. Finally, buy a pair of
DxO supports Apple M1 chip DxO PhotoLab software has been updated to v4.1 to make the most of Apple’s M1 chip. This means DeepPRIME technology can be used more quickly. The latest version has an improved HSL tool and includes support for five new cameras. dxo.com
Please see the website for the full terms and conditions of these offers. • vanguardworld.co.uk
new Endeavour binoculars and you can claim a free pair of white Vesta compact binoculars worth £39.99.
Sigma has triplets Three lenses make up Sigma’s I series, designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras
Samyang firmware
and 405g respectively, the 65mm is still compact for a lens of its length and fast aperture. Users can expect plenty of quality from its 12 elements in nine groups, with one SLD element and two aspherical elements. The 35mm f/2 DG DN and the 65mm f/2 DG DN are available now. The two lenses are priced at £549.99 and £649.99, respectively. The 24mm f/3.5 DG DN is available from late January 2021 and costs £479.99. All three of the lenses are offered in Leica L-Mount and Sony E-Mount. sigma-imaging-uk.com
The 35mm f/2 offers many of the same features. It’s slightly longer and heavier than its wider sibling, but only reaches 65.4mm in length and weighs 325g. Also like its siblings, it features a focus mode switch and magnetic lens cap. Even at its maximum f/2 aperture, Sigma promises images are sharp from edge to edge, thanks to its ten elements in nine groups, with one SLD element and three aspherical elements. The 65mm follows suit with the same features, but it offers them in a focal length that approaches short telephoto. Longer and slightly heavier at 74.7mm
SIGMA’S I SERIES introduces three new lenses aimed at full-frame mirrorless users, with the 24mm f/3.5 DG DN, the 35mm f/2 DG DN and the 65mm f/2 DG DN adding to the brand’s impressive line of contemporary optics. The 24mm f/3.5 measures 48.8mm in length and weighs 225g, featuring ten elements in eight groups, with one SLD element and three aspherical elements. Other features include high-speed autofocus capabilities, minimum focusing of 10.8cmwith a 1:2 magnification ratio, a dust- and splash- proof construction and an aperture ring.
Updated firmware for four Samyang lenses is now available. The four lenses are: AF 18mm f/2.8 FE, AF 24mm f/2.8 FE, AF 35mm f/2.8 FE and AF 45mm f/1.8 FE. Firmware can be downloaded at the address below and can be uploaded using the separate Samyang Lens Station. bit.ly/3mDaQuc
Leica introduces SL2-S The new mirrorless is Leica’s most versatile camera to date, for stills and video shooters alike
Tenba launches BYOB inserts The refreshed Bring Your Own Bag inserts let users turn any bag into an organised and secure camera holder
At its heart, the Leica SL2-S features a full-frame 24-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor, functioning alongside a Maestro-III processor and a 4GB buffer. For stills shooters, the image stabiliser facilitates multishot capture and eight shots can be combined to frame a huge fourfold resolution of 96 megapixels. The SL2-S is more of a hybrid than we’ve seen from Leica in the past. There’s a separate recording mode for video, where key spec points include 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording in L-Log gamma up to 60fps. Another pro touch are extensive recording times, limited only by the internal or external media.
Other features include high sensitivity up to ISO 100,000, strong autofocus performance and a sub-display. The Leica SL2-S is on sale now and costs £3975. uk.leica-camera.com
Backpack Insert is £38, the BYOB 9 DSLR Backpack Insert at £40 and the BYOB 10 DSLR Backpack Insert at £42. The inserts feature a shoulder strap that enables photographers to use the insert itself as a smaller bag, when there’s no requirement to carry it within anything larger. In either case, contents can be configured to suit a broad range of DSLR and mirrorless bodies, lenses and other accessories. All inserts are durable and weatherproof with a quality look and feel, thanks to a water- repellent 300D herringbone polyester exterior, reliable YKK zippers, a nylon-webbed strap and sturdy D-rings. All inserts are available in blue or black, both with a dark grey interior. tenba.com
Turn your own bag into a camera bag with Tenba’s BYOB inserts. In an update to the range, Tenba has added inserts for shoulder bags and backpacks of all shapes and sizes. The full new range has three
options and they are available now: the BYOB 9 Slim
Issue 84 | Photography News 5
photographynews.co.uk
News
Capture life’s magical moments across all devices with the Samsung Evo Plus 256GB microSDXC memory card with SD adapter, offering read speeds of up to 100MB/s and write speeds of up to 90MB/s. Samsung’s latest cards are also ultra-reliable and are water, temperature, X-ray and magnet proof, so shooting in the most challenging conditions isn’t an issue. We have one 256GB Samsung Evo Plus microSDXC card with SD adapter worth £51.99 for one eagle-eyed winner. Complete the word search below, and you’ll find one word in the list that’s not in the grid. Email us on puzzle@photographynews.co.uk with the word in the subject box by 7 February 2021. The correct answer to PN82’s word search was ‘smile’, and the Samsung 256GB Evo Plus card was won by L Emery from Southampton. Congratulations! • samsung.com/uk/memory-cards A Samsung memory card! WIN!
Profoto OCF Adapter is here The OCF Adapter brings dozens of Profoto light shapers and a world of creative potential to its A-series lights
Launched in 2017, the Profoto A1 was touted as the world’s smallest studio light from the beginning and the speedlight- sized flashgun had the credentials for creative imaging with its magnetic fit modifiers, specially designed round head and full compatibility with its studio light systems. The range has offered the A1, A1X, A10 and now Profoto has launched the OCF Adapter, which opens up all sorts of
creative opportunities. The adapter fits all A-series lights, accepts all OCF light-shaping tools, features an integrated lighting brolly fitting and a mount. This means it can be fixed directly on all standard lighting stands. It’s solidly made and easy to use, making it the ideal accessory for all Profoto A-series owners. The Profoto OCF Adapter is now on sale for £269. profoto.com
R J L E F C I
B W B V
H Y F S M L R I
P E N
Take better pictures with your ears JoinThe Photography News Podcast every fortnight for the latest news, views and advice from the PN team and special guests
P C A E B E R R I
E S
S M I
V F I
L L A F S
I
Q D A I
W E S U O M
T I M E L A P S E Y R S G U L G H M A A S O E Q Z A P W M I C E T V D F R U I T F U L S R S H S P J K N I P L A L E R R I U Q S P Y H U K R A B N T R A N X E F R P M A C Y P N E U J M X B B N H T U H B I Q L P O L M A M E W R E U A F D E R R Y F T S T S I M M D D G S G A L E S W I P E
Every fortnight, the Photography News team, comprising editor Will Cheung, contributing editor Kingsley Singleton and editorial director Roger Payne, gets together and chews the photographic cud with picture- taking advice, the latest hardware developments and what the team has been photographing themselves.
The team is open to feedback, opinions and questions, so if you have an idea of what they can discuss, a view about the current state of image making or have a question for the PN team, please drop them an email on podcast@photographynews.co.uk photographynews.co.uk
HERE’S HOWTOTUNE IN Every podcast is on the Photography News website photographynews.co.uk/podcast-library . Or you can go to our YouTube channel using the bit.ly address below. Subscribe and hit the bell if you want to be notified when a new episode is posted bit.ly/2Kz5By4
EPISODE 6 Landscape special including an exclusive interview with master landscaper, Charlie Waite EPISODE 5 Advice for astrophotography and long exposures, plus why to use back-button focusing EPISODE 4 The team reveal their self portraits, plus why contests are worth the effort EPISODE 3 Inspiration for lockdown and the team’s choices for their best-ever DSLRs EPISODE 2 Shooting at home special with product photography in the bath and astrophotography EPISODE 1 Inaugural episode with advice for at-home shooting and the team’s favourite cameras
EPISODE 11 The PN ’s team musings on autumn, including locations, techniques and what kit to have to make the most of this glorious season EPISODE 10 The world of lenses is mulled over, plus special guest expert insect photographer, Ann Healey ARPS EPISODE 9 PN shoots big sky landscapes, bugs and drooling dogs, plus an interview with Dom Gurney of Epson EPISODE 8 The team pick their Desert Island Kit, explain their choices and invite you to get your ideas in, too EPISODE 7 The team name their best- ever lenses, past and present, discussing their worthiness
EPISODE 16 The final episode of 2020 takes a look back at the year and the team dream about what Santa has in store for them EPISODE 15 In the depths of winter, bad weather is part of life, and the team talk through their techniques for dealing with the difficult conditions EPISODE 14 The dark arts episode and the team’s advice for enjoying night photography EPISODE 13 Indoor portraits and the best lighting techniques to use are discussed. Plus, there are tips to get your photo mojo back EPISODE 12 PN has an exclusive chat with Matt Barker, the founder of the hugely successful MPB online used photo retailer
SQUIRREL STORMS SWIPE TABLET TIMELAPSE
MOUSE PINCH RAMBLE RED RIPEN
FUNGI GALES HARVEST LEAVES MISTS
APPLES BARK BERRIES FALL FRUITFUL
If you do not want to receive any marketing information from Bright Publishing or our partners, please type NO INFO in your email entry.
6 Photography News | Issue 84
photographynews.co.uk
Tokina
Top of the class ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Tokina has an outstanding optical manufacturing track record that goes back 70 years, but its eyes are fixed firmly on the future, with a family of excellent, high-performing lenses for photographers and video content creators of all levels
opera Tokina’s opera range comprises top- of-the line premium lenses, ideal for use on the latest high-resolution full-frame cameras, and are perfect for photographers who strive to get the utmost from their photography. There are two lenses in the opera series: the 16-28mm f/2.8 FF (£749) and 50mm f/1.4 FF (£899), available in Canon EF and Nikon F-mounts. The opera 16-28mm f/2.8 FF – with its super-wide field of view and fast, constant f/2.8 aperture – is ideal for scenic, interior and street photography as well as more specialist areas, like astrophotography. Its key features include a silent AF motor and one-touch clutch focus mechanism. This lens was recognised by the TIPA World Awards in 2019, when it was voted the Best DSLR Wide Angle Zoom Lens. You could say the opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is the ultimate standard lens for full-frame cameras. Available in Canon EF and Nikon F-mounts, its optical design includes three SD elements and one aspherical glass element to deliver a stunning edge-to- edge performance with minimal chromatic aberration, while the silent autofocus mechanism is swift and precise. FíRIN Designed specifically for Sony E-mount full-frame and APS-C cameras is the FíRIN lens series. FíRIN is a variation of ‘fírinne’, an Irish word denoting ‘truth’ that signifies ‘being true to someone or something’. In this context, the term represents a promise given by Tokina to photographers to help them capture the truth through their images. There are three FíRIN lenses available on the market: the 20mm f/2 FE is available in manual and autofocus versions (£729 and £849, respectively) and the 100mm f/2.8 FE Macro (£599).
LENS MAKERS NEED to offer great-value and capable solutions for the constantly evolving imaging market. This includes Tokina, with its ever-growing lens line-up for stills and movie image makers. With cutting-edge optical performance and innovative features, such as its exclusive focus clutch mechanism – all backed up with a four-year warranty – Tokina offers ideal products for the quality-conscious image maker. Tokina makes lenses for APS-C and full-frame cameras and there are several series within the family. atx-i There’s the atx-i series, with three lenses: the 11-16mm f/2.8 CF (£419) and 11-20mm f/2.8 CF (£529) for APS-C formats, and the full-frame 100mm f/2.8 FF Macro (£399). The ‘i’ in atx-i stands for interactive, denoting communication between the lens and the user. The one-touch focus clutch mechanismmeans it’s easy to switch between auto and manual focusing, the front element has a water-repellent coating and, optically, the lenses deliver edge-to- edge sharpness at every aperture. Meanwhile, the atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF won Best DSLR Wide Angle Zoom Lens in the TIPA World Awards 2020, and it’s the fastest aperture ultra-wide zoom available for APS-C format cameras.
NewTokina lenses Announced at the end of 2020 and in-store now are Tokina’s two new lenses for the Fujifilm X Series: the atx-m 23mm f/1.4 X (left) and atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X (right), which offer the 35mm focal length equivalent of 35mm and 50mm, meaning these optics are perfect as take-everywhere standard lenses. The superfast f/1.4 maximum aperture brings along all sorts of creative possibilities, whether that’s using bokeh imaginatively or just enabling
quality photography that’s impossible with slower zooms when light levels are extremely low. Both lenses are very compact and lightweight, so they mesh perfectly with Fujifilm X Series cameras. The lenses also integrate with cameras that feature in-body image stabilisation and advanced autofocusing systems. The new lenses are out now, with the atx-m 23mm f/1.4 X priced at £449.99 and the atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X at £399.99.
atx-m Tokina’s latest arrival is its atx-m series, which includes lenses that target the rapidly growing mirrorless camera market with products in Fujifilm X Mount and Sony E-mount fittings. There are currently three lenses in the atx-m series, but 2021 is going to be a year of growth, marking the arrival of several more. For full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, there’s the atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE (£489). Tokina dubs this medium telephoto lens the ‘bokeh monster’, so you know this lens is perfect for portraits when you want a nice, out-of-focus background. Of course, this lens is great for all sorts of other subject matter too, and its fast aperture and impressive optical skills make this lens a joy to use. Newly launched are Tokina’s first lenses that are suited to the Fujifilm XMount: the atx-m 23mm f/1.4 X and 33mm f/1.4 X. You can find out more on these two exciting optics in the panel above. Looking forward to 2021, Tokina has updated its lens road map. In the atx-m series, for the Fujifilm X Series, the two current lenses
The optical construction of the FíRIN 20mm f/2 FE AF and MF features two aspherical and three SD glass elements to minimise aberrations, while also ensuring excellent performance, even when used at widest f/2 aperture. Both lenses can communicate with the Sony camera they are fitted to, so you can enjoy the full benefit of the in-body image stabilisation system. The FíRIN 20mm f/2 FE AF uses a GMR autofocus sensor, so focusing is very responsive and accurate. It's also fully compatible with Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF system, so you get the benefit of the face/eye detect AF that Sony’s latest cameras feature. This is also the case with the FíRIN 100mm f/2.8 FE Macro lens. Its fast f/2.8 aperture, flattering perspective and beautiful bokeh make this lens ideal for portraits. But where this lens really excels is when you want to get close to your subject. At its 30cmminimum focus, the lens offers a 1:1 (life-size) magnification, so it’s ideal for nature and still-life photography, and its high optical performance delivers images with minimal distortion.
are to be joined by a 56mm f/1.4 X, while for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras, there are going to be three additions: the 23mm f/1.4 E, 33mm f/1.4 E and 56mm f/1.4 E lenses. For the full-frame Sony E-mount, we can expect the 35mm f/1.8 E and 50mm f/1.8 E lenses. The opera series is also seeing a new member: the 17-35mm f/4, alongside the sale of the SZX Super Tele 400mm f/8 Reflex MF lens. This fixed aperture, compact mirror lens can fit on a very wide range of cameras via an adapter system based on the 42mm screw thread. So, Tokina is well placed to serve the needs of demanding image makers with its huge range of existing lenses, which is soon to be bolstered by many more. If you want to know more about the current Tokina lens range, please visit the website, where you can also find details of stockists in the UK and Ireland. tokinalens.co.uk
Issue 84 | Photography News 7
photographynews.co.uk
Technique – software
Cameras are perfectly able to produce great images without any help, but it’s only when you put those images into software, does the magic really happen. Here’s our rundown of the best software out there to check out Software update
DXOPHOTOLAB4 › Prices Essential £115, Elite £179 › Compatible with Mac and Windows
NIKCOLLECTION 3 BYDXO › Price £129 › Compatible with Mac and Windows
LUMINAR4 › Prices Luminar 4 £54 Luminar AI £79 › Compatible with Mac and Windows
AFFINITY PHOTO › Prices £48.99 Mac and Windows, £19.99 iPad › Compatible with Mac, iPad and Windows
DxO offers the much-loved Nik Collection, a series of plug-ins for use with the brand’s own software or third-party software, such as Adobe Lightroom. There are now eight plug-ins, including Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro for finely tuning colour and mono images respectively, HDR and the new Perspective Efex for controlling distortion. Users can now enjoy a non-destructive environment, combining plug-in edits with original edits in platforms such as Lightroom. The Nik Collection 3 includes more than 200 presets. These offer many creative possibilities with an extremely simple approach, including emulation of classic film stocks and looks designed for landscapes, portraits, street photography and much more. nikcollection.dxo.com
With Affinity Photo, Serif has managed to combine the best of professional photo- editing tools with additional creative touches when they’re needed. From a technical perspective, live, real-time editing with smooth motion at full resolution is a significant draw, even when using big files. When it comes to editing, Affinity offers an innovative means of working with live filter layers, meaning effects can be applied in such a way that they can be masked, adjusted and reordered non-destructively. In addition to traditional edits, graphic design elements can be added in the same way. Tools like 32-bit image HDR merging, focus stacking and panoramic stitching offer a wealth of opportunity. affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo
DXO’s PhotoLab 4 is a powerful editing software and its impressive optical correction capabilities are a functional cornerstone, but there’s plenty more to be had, too. All the adjustments you would expect are present and can be applied to specific areas – in addition to more typical masking – thanks to the brand’s U Point technology. The most recent update has seen several new and exciting features added to the software’s list of powerful creative tools, like DeepPRIME, which uses AI to de-noise and de-mosaic images marvellously. Usability has also been improved, with an entirely customisable workspace and an advanced editing history. dxo.com
Luminar 4 by Skylum can be used as a standalone editing software with full Raw support or as a plug-in for Lightroom Classic, among others. It’s a powerful software that makes basic and creative effects simple. The intelligent AI Sky Replacement tool, for example, allows a complete sky change in seconds, even with fine foreground details. The AI Structure slider adds detail only where it’s needed, and the AI Accent tool will apply dozens of adjustments at a toggle. The new Luminar AI takes this even further, shortening more intensive tasks by adding advanced portrait corrections, realistic mist and composition corrections automatically. skylum.com/luminar
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP AND LIGHTROOMCLASSIC › Prices Photography plan (20GB cloud storage) £9.98/mo, Photography plan (1TB) £19.97/mo, Lightroom plan (1TB) £9.98/mo
ZONER PHOTO STUDIOX › Prices $49 (£36.60)/year, $4.99 (£3.67)/mo › Compatible with Windows
PORTRAITPRO21 › Prices PortraitPro 21 £79.90, Studio Max 21 £279.90 › Compatible with Mac and Windows
CAPTUREONE 21 › Prices Capture One Pro 21 licence £299, Capture One Pro 21 subscription £180, £20/£24 monthly › Compatible with Mac and Windows
› Compatible with Mac and Windows
Anthropics’ PortraitPro 21 caters for people photographers (LandscapePro is available for scenic fans) and what it does, it does very well. Using AI, the software can detect facial features and offer an automatic selection of skin, hair and background, or apply automatic but fully adjustable corrections. Expected features like skin smoothing and cloning are present, but so are some more surprising options. Skies can be replaced, shoot lighting can be altered with relighting and brush tools, realistic digital makeup can be applied and expressions can even be enhanced. anthropics.com/portraitpro
Zoner Photo Studio X is one of the most capable bits of photo-editing software on the market with world- class features like full Raw processing and a Photoshop-like editor for layer and masking work. Its interface is straightforward in use, both in the edit and in cataloguing, with images discoverable by date, location, keyword or through a folder system. Zoner Photo Studio has been flying under the radar for a while, and for a program to combine the functionality of both Photoshop and Lightroom, along with an extensive module dedicated to bringing your photographs to life, is no small feat. It
The recently announced Capture One 21 offers support for editing abilities of all levels. One draw is the advanced suite of colour control options, which can even match the colour science of certain cameras. In addition to control over levels and curves within individual channels, advanced layer options are there to be used alongside automatic tools like HDR. Capture One comes with three style packs of presets, with more available. When making tweaks, or editing from scratch, adjustments can be made simply using keyboard shortcuts, all within a customisable workspace. A split screen slider lets you see a before and after side by side. captureone.com
Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic are built for photographers and available on monthly subscriptions. Photoshop is the industry standard editing software and has been for years. There’s a whole array of brushes and tools to add flair to your images – filters and adjustments can be applied via layers and masks, and objects can be selected and removed, or others added in. Lightroom, meanwhile, is a brilliant workflow software with a skill set very different compared with Photoshop, so they complement each other very nicely. Its cataloguing skills are very powerful. The £9.98/mo plan includes 20GB of cloud storage in addition to access to the software. If you want 1TB of storage, the sub is £19.97. adobe.com/uk/products/photoshop-lightroom.html
includes a video editor, too. zoner.to/phonewsguidetext
8 Photography News | Issue 84
photographynews.co.uk
SUCCESS + EXHIBITIONS + PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS + OUTINGS News Camera club Gallery Photogroup As the nation finds itself in a Yateley CC Please send us your news The deadline for submissions for the next issue of Photography News is 31 January 2021
“ PN has highlighted reports from several clubs about the success they’ve had with online meetings. We were excited by the potential Zoom could open for us,” says Francis Annett, the group’s chair. “But we knew that,
to be a success, our members needed to be totally on board, so we devised a plan, first to gauge how much members knew about these communication platforms and, secondly, to see how we could help all our members – regardless of skill level – to feel comfortable with virtual meetings.” The club used an online tutorial to provide members with the basic skills to join their first Zoom meeting and this was followed up with one-on-one sessions. The aim was to encourage full involvement from all members. Francis elaborates: “However, we didn’t anticipate a whole new world of presentations from places we could never previously have considered. Our speakers have come fromMichigan, Northern Ireland, Dartmoor, Chester, Wales, and Wakefield, not to mention the great evenings we’ve had with more local speakers.”
Competitions have continued, and the club made the decision not to close over the summer. Instead, there were e-salons, socially distanced outdoor photo shoots and a full close season programme of Zoom presentations. “Members stepped up, applying their creative minds and technical skills to ensure events ran smoothly and saw active participation,” says Francis. For 2021, following members’ suggestions, the club is adding a social evening that initially follows a theme before offering an open- mic opportunity for members to have a discussion. “All in all, we have been stimulated by the difficult and painful events of 2020 into developing new approaches that have enriched our experience and encouraged new members to join Gallery PG,” Francis concludes. galleryphotogroup.co.uk
third national lockdown, it’s great to hear how clubs and societies have coped with the pandemic. Middlesbrough-based Gallery Photogroup is one club trying to make the best of lockdown.
Yateley CC is delighted to announce the launch of its virtual exhibition that runs until 31 January 2021. The show is set in a 3D museum space, allowing visitors to explore more than 300 images, covering a huge range of styles and subjects at their own pace – or by taking the guided tour option, you may select Enter Exhibition or Virtual Tour when you arrive. There is an opportunity to vote for a favourite photograph, purchase images and leave comments. Visitors can also find a small supplementary gallery that showcases the efforts of the Wells for Uganda charity, which Yateley CC supports. For those who wish to donate to WFU, there is a Just Giving link over at the gallery or directly below. Access themain exhibition at: bit.ly/3hVI7Ab TheWells for Uganda display at: bit.ly/2XAaKJT WFU Just Giving: bit.ly/3q29riM
TynemouthPS
Thanet PS
Like most clubs, Heswall PS has embraced new technology to thrive in the current situation. The club now enjoys twice weekly Zoom meetings, online lectures and talks and continues to host digital competitions. “We have noticed unexpected benefits in our new format,” explains Dave Newby, the club’s equipment officer. “Online meetings have enabled us to offer lots of ‘how to’ advice, tailored to the specific requests from our Heswall PS
Jim and Margaret Welsh, the president and general secretary of the Northern Counties PS respectively, joined Tynemouth PS last December to give a special award to Howard Wilson APAGB. Jim presented Howard with the NCPF Meritorious Service Award and added his
Tynemouth PS as well as the NCPF. Howard was absolutely delighted and honoured to receive the award, which has only been presented on ten previous occasions. He remarked: “I’ve been caught completely on the hop – I didn’t know anything about it. What an honour this is, not just for me but for the club, too. I just can’t believe I’m on the Roll of Honour alongside the names of the people who are already on it.”
newer members. We can also access virtual speakers from far and wide, meaning we are never constrained by our location. Our club and Facebook membership continues to grow and we welcome anyone thinking of joining us,” Dave says. heswallphotosoc.co.uk
Tynemouth PS congratulates Howard on this prestigious award and thanks him for more than 50 years of dedicated service to Tynemouth PS. tynemouthps.org
name to the NCPF Roll of Honour. Jim explained that this
Thanet offered a strong virtual programme in 2020 and this is due to continue this year as the club continues to adapt given the circumstances. “We’ve planned an online programme until June, with competitions and excellent speakers to look forward to,” says club secretary, Rod Giddins. “The joy of photography is that it can be done anywhere, so we are encouraging members to take images from their own homes and gardens or to continue to safely explore their local area.” The club is blessed with a wonderful coastline and historic towns and villages locally, meaning great images are never far away. Rod adds: “We are a club with broad interests and always welcome new members, whether experienced or novice, to share their passion for photography.” The membership fee has been held at the previous year’s rate of £35. Non-members can attend virtual meetings for £5 per session. isleofthanetphotographicsociety.co.uk
special award was made in recognition of over 50 years outstanding service Howard has given to
Dave Coates ARPS has been honoured with the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain’s highest award, the JS Lancaster Medal. “One of the most satisfying duties for the PAGB president is that of bestowing awards upon deserving individuals,” says Howard Northallerton CC
for service to photography. It is something to be proud of and be very grateful to receive,” comments Dave, clearly a delighted recipient of this rare honour. Northallerton CC joins with the
Tate ARPS, PAGB president. “It gives me great pleasure to bestow the JS Lancaster medal and the Meritorious Service Award of Hon PAGB to Dave Coates, PAGB FIAP liaison Officer. Congratulations, Dave.” “This is the highest award that PAGB can make to anyone
PAGB to congratulate Dave. northallertoncameraclub.
Issue 84 | Photography News 9
photographynews.co.uk
Profoto
Improve your photography skills by enrolling in the Profoto Academy, a dedicated and invaluable resource that benefits, helps and inspires photographers of all levels. Sign up to take your photography to the next level Profoto Academy ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Then there are the Profoto B10 and B10 Plus. These battery-powered flashlights offer impressive outputs – 250Ws and 500Ws, respectively – in amazingly compact body forms, comparable in size to a fast aperture camera zoom lens. Their rechargeable Li-ion batteries provide great shooting capacity and both units are fully compatible with Profoto’s collection of light-shaping tools. Their size, feature set and flexibility has transformed how photographers work on location and when time’s at a premium. Profoto products are designed to be easy and fast, allowing the photographer to concentrate on getting the perfect shot. The inspiration behind the Profoto Academy is not just to help Profoto owners get the most from their kit, but also to educate and inspire aspiring photographers of all brand loyalties to appreciate how to use and shape light for the ultimate result. Put simply, the academy aims to help you become a
PROFOTO IS Aworld leader in studio lighting, with an innovative product portfolio that’s second to none. It’s one of the reasons why Profoto kit is the first choice among discerning photography enthusiasts and professional image creators. For evidence of Profoto’s innovation, you need look no further than the A-Series flash system, which redefined portable lighting. The latest arrival is the A10, which, like its predecessors, features integrated Air TTL, is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery and accepts magnetic-fitting dedicated lighting shaping tools. The A10 has also gained Profoto AirX, which enables connection to your smartphone. The potential of the A-Series has beenmassively expanded by the launch of the OCF Adapter. This innovative device enables the whole Profoto range of OCF light-shaping tools to be used, so there’s now no limit to your creativity with the world’s smallest studio lights.
ABOVE Profoto ambassador, Hannah Couzens
ABOVE Location shooting with studio-quality lighting has been made super easy and quick with Profoto lighting kit
10 Photography News | Issue 84
photographynews.co.uk
Profoto
ABOVE Let the Profoto Academy help you create great pictures out of quite ordinary, real-life situations. Here, Profoto ambassador Hannah Couzens is in action
ABOVE The Profoto B10 flash is not much bigger than a telezoom lens, so it’s very portable ABOVE RIGHT The new OCF Adapter means Profoto modifiers can be used with A-Series lights
“The ProfotoAcademy aims tohelp youbecome a better photographer through the use and control of light”
Creator. However, if you score under 60, take on board the feedback you receive and try again. There is an extensive collection of courses and series on the Profoto Academy, some subject-led (such as Fashion Lighting or Family Portraits), while others are technique-focused, such as How toMix FlashWith Ambient Light or How to Light a Background. There are plenty of inspirational options to consider. From Blur to Bokeh is a series on creative fashion lighting, while Shape Light in Colour is all about how to use filter gels to get stunning results. Visit the Profoto website and hit the ‘Academy’ tab to learnmore about the teachers featured in the academy videos and which subjects are covered. There is a detailed description about each video course or series, so you can see the level of expertise they are aimed at and what equipment is featured. Finally, it’s worthmentioning that the Profoto Academy has a 100% satisfaction guarantee and if you’re not completely happy with it, your money will be refunded in full up to 14 days after purchase.
better photographer through the use and control of light. Profoto Academy offers online videos lasting up to an hour, focusing on four subject areas: weddings, fashion, portrait and light shaping. They are presented by Profoto teachers, who are expert imaging professionals, world-renowned in their respective fields. The images featured here are from videos featuring leading UK photographer, Hannah Couzens. When you sign up for the Profoto Academy, inmost cases you enrol on a course: a series of three or four structured videos featuring the same photographer. Every video is self- contained andmade to the highest production values, featuring real-life shoots with advice offered in a simple, readily digestible, step-by-step format.
After each video course, you can download a PDF guide to keep and refer to when you start applying your new-found skills. When you have completed all the courses in the series, there’s a set photo challenge for you to put into practice what you’ve learnt over the series. You have complete freedom in the setting up of your assignment, so you choose the subject and location, and all you have to do is apply what you have learnt over the series in your own unique style. Later, you can upload a finished image and get your work assessed and reviewed by the experts at Profoto. Within two weeks, you will receive a detailed review of your work, plus a score out of 100. If you score 60 or more, you become a Certified Image
If you need to know more about Profoto’s lighting products or the academy, please visit the profoto.com website. For any queries, you can contact the UK Profoto team via email at uk@profoto.com Profoto equipment is available to purchase online from certified dealers’ websites. To find an authorised dealer, visit: profoto.com/uk/find-dealer-or-rental For the Profoto Academy, visit: profoto.com/uk/academy PROFOTO
Issue 84 | Photography News 11
photographynews.co.uk
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40Powered by FlippingBook