The clocks have gone forward, the daffs have been and gone, and the cricket season has started – spring is in the air! Will
ISSUE 98 12 April-9 May 2022 photographynews.co.uk
Pg32 Big test: Canon EOS R3 / Range-topping Canon mirrorless trialled and rated
Pg14 Prize word search / Win a Samsung 256GBmicroSD memory card
Lens giant’s latest high-speed arrival is a perfect all-rounder Samyang raises the standard
Sony powers on Meet Sony’s 66th E-mount lens. It’s light, compact and motorised The compact Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G has a newly designed power zoom, driven by responsive XD linear motors, to give precise control. On compatible bodies, it is possible to remotely adjust the zoom. Construction includes two advanced aspherical (AA), one standard aspherical and one Super ED element, to control chromatic and spherical aberrations. Thanks to this sophisticated design, performance is excellent throughout the aperture and focal length ranges – and close focusing distances, too. It can focus to 28cm at 16mm, and 24cm at 35mm, so there’s potential for close shooting. This comes in a lens that weighs 353g, is 88mm long and has a 72mm filter thread. It’s dust and moisture resistant, and the front element is fluorine-coated. The FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G is due for release in May, and the estimated guide price is £1299. sony.co.uk
It’s weatherproofed, focuses to 29cm, there’s a 67mm filter thread and its nine-bladed diaphragm makes beautiful bokeh. At £636, it’s available in Sony E. Pre-order now. Samyang currently has a cashback offer of up to £100 if you buy a selected lens, running until 29 April. See page 9 for more. holdan.co.uk
These add to an impressive set of skills. Focusing is super-slick, responsive and quiet, thanks to Samyang’s Linear Stepping Motor (STM). Tracking is great, and the lens maximises advanced focusing features in the latest Sony cameras. Optically, it has 11 elements in nine groups, for outstanding contrast and sharpness.
THE SAMYANG AF 35mm f/1.4 FE II is an update of its popular standard lens, with two additional features. It has a focus hold button; pressing this keeps the lens at that distance, and further features can be assigned to it via the body. Next, a custom switch gives the option of silent aperture adjustment with the focusing barrel.
Nikon’s super-longwonder
Awesome pulling power in a handholdable lens make this telephoto a sure-fire winner
Featuring whisper-quiet and fast AF, integral VR for a benefit of 5.5EV on a Z 9, weather sealing and teleconverter compatibility, the lens can be pre-ordered now at a price of £6299. nikon.co.uk
The latest in a spate of super telephotos, the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S weighs 2.39kg. It’s the first Nikon Z system lens to sport a Phase Fresnel lens element – keeping the size down, without limiting optical performance.
GET YOUR COPY OF PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS Copies of PN are once again being bulk-delivered to camera clubs. To ensure your club receives copies, please email: philipgray@bright-publishing.com
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Laowa’s dynamic duo A regular on PN’s news pages, Laowa products are almost always different, sometimes quirky and often innovative. Its latest two lenses are typical of the brand
EDITOR’S LETTER WILLCHEUNG
SPRING HAS SPRUNG – well, kind of ! One day, I was out in short sleeves shooting cherry blossom and chasing (in vain!) a brimstone butterfly with my macro lens; the next, temperatures plummeted and it hailed and snowed. I guess it’s typical spring fare. There’s plenty more worrying stuff happening in the world, so I am going to bury my head in the sand and talk about April. What a great month it is to get out with the camera! With warmer, longer days, interesting weather, decent light and colour appearing in the landscape, what’s not to love about being outside? In a word, nothing. But it is perhaps odd – if not downright bizarre – that my recent work has been mostly indoors. One shoot was a press event, where I was lucky enough to try two new Rotolights – the Neo 3 and AEOS 2 – shooting models in a big house location. You can read what I thought about them on page 39. Plus, I have been playing with my light pad – something I bought during the first lockdown – shooting dried leaves, flowers, feathers and shells. I have been collecting shells for a while. Not off exotic beaches, but from markets and shops. I thought they would make nice
LAOWA’S NEWEST OFFERINGS give speed and shift correction. Starting with speed, the Laowa 25mm f/0.95 MFT APO is the latest in its Argus range. An apochromatic lens with 14 elements in eight groups, including special glass elements, to deliver top-notch optical performance and minimal chromatic aberrations. Other noteworthy features include internal focusing with a long focus throw for greater accuracy, 25cm minimum focus, 62mm filter thread and a fully metal construction. This Micro Four Thirds mount lens is £399 and available now. Laowa’s second new optic is a 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift lens. It has 11mm shift for the 35mm format, and 8mm for medium format cameras. This helps to minimise converging verticals, so is ideal for architecture and interior photographers. Optically, this lens sports 16 elements in an 11-group construction, with two aspherical and two ED elements to help deliver a high level of sharpness and zero distortion. It has 14 aperture blades, can focus as close as 25cm, with an 82mm filter thread. Available in Canon EF and RF, Fujifilm GFX, L-Mount, Nikon F and Z and Sony E, this 20mm lens is available to pre-order at £1139. venuslens.net
subjects for macro and focus stacking. So, with the camera and macro lens on a tripod, I lit the shells from above and below, capturing anything from six frames up to 24 – I used Affinity Photo rather than a specialist stacking software. It passed a leisurely two evenings, and all I have to do now is present them in a creative way. Watch this space. Finally this month, don’t forget to sign up for Photo 24, if you can join us in London on 25 and 26 June. If you can’t make it in person, join the fun virtually via Instagram, where we will be announcing the themes for our Super 24 Challenge, which takes place during Photo 24. With prizes to be won and events to attend, it’s not to miss. See pages 11 and 12 for more on our big summer event. Meanwhile, until the next time, stay safe and keep shooting.
“Special glass elements deliver top-notch optical performance”
Followus:
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What’s inside 03 News It’s a quiet month for new camera announcements, but it’s nice to take a breath. There’s still plenty going on, with lenses and software being launched 11 Photo 24 Sign up to be in with a chance of joining us on 25-26 June, for 24 hours of photo fun in the capital – with photo walks, taster classes and competitions galore 14 Vanguard contest and Samsung word search Test your wits and you could win some fab prizes – a Samsung 256GB microSD card, or your pick from the Vanguard Alta Sky bag collection
17 Club news Beckenham PS enjoys its 100th, while Molesey PC gets the gold 21 Buyers’ guide: Supporting roles A good tripod is worth its weight in gold, and a bad one only fit for the skip. Check out our guide to avoid disappointment 25 Buyers’ guide: Sound affects Quality audio for videos is really important. To achieve it, you need to look beyond your camera’s built-in mic 28 Used corner: Canon EOS 7D Mark II There will always be demand for crop sensor cameras. This DSLR, introduced in 2014, was much loved by action and nature shooters – and it remains a popular used buy
32 Big test: Canon EOS R3 So far, 2022 has been dominated by top-end cameras. The EOS R3 is Canon’s first – and much-anticipated – deep-bodied pro mirrorless model. Does it justify all the hype, as well as a £5879 price tag, or is it a damp squib? PN puts it to the test to find out 38 First tests l Joby Wavo Air l Rotolight Neo 3 & AEOS 2 l Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD l Vanguard VEO Active 53 l Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE l Kenro Smart Lites: RGB Video Light KSLP102 & Bi-Colour Video Light KSLP101
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News Purer and faster fromDxO DxO has reacted to feedback and supercharged its PureRaw software. Version 2 is quicker and even more user-friendly – and works with files from Fujifilm X-Trans cameras
Digital noise is not an issue, unless you are shooting at very high ISO speeds. But even then, most recent cameras capture superb quality at ISO 1600, 3200 and beyond – especially with editing in post. DxO PureRaw is a software for denoising and demosaicing digital files, particularly its DeepPrime function. Version 2 offers the same features, only it meshes more intuitively and smoothly with Lightroom Classic. Now, you may right-click on Raws for PureRaw to process, and return to the same folder. This functionality is possible with Windows File Explorer and the MacOS Finder. Fujifilm X-Trans camera users can also enjoy PureRaw 2’s benefits. A beta version of DeepPrime was available in DxO PhotoLab 5, but the full version is available on this new software. So, if you have files from the Fujifilm X-T1 and X-Pro1, PureRaw 2 will inject a new lease of life into them. And, of course, the same also applies to a host of older camera models from other brands.
Update your viewing optics – and get the bonus of a 10% cashback Save with Vanguard
For more committed birders, the VEO HD 60A 15-45x spotting scope is worth a look; or the VEO HD 80A 20-60x for even more pulling power. If your preference is portability, look no further than the VEO HD2 monocular, sold in a smartphone digiscoping kit at £179.99. The offer runs to the end of June. For details and T&Cs, go to ‘promotions’ and then ‘optics’ on
Buy any Vanguard VEO monocular, binocular or spotting scope from any authorised UK dealer this spring, and you can claim 10% cashback. A selection of optical products is covered under the scheme. You could go for a pair of VEO ED 8x42 that usually costs £199.99; or for more magnifying power, opt for the VEO HD2 10x42 binoculars that usually sell at £349.99. Both feature carbon composite bodies – for durability and lightness.
WORK SMARTER PureRaw has three clean-up options, with DeepPrime the most effective. You get an indication of the time it will take for processing and final file size – and can save to DNG or JPEG
Speed is also something that DxO has significantly improved, now 1.5 times faster on Windows and up to four times faster on Apple M1 Macs. In addition, putting Raws through PureRaw means you can benefit from DxO Optics Modules, making the most of your lenses and correcting
distortion, vignetting and aberrations automatically. Over 70,000 camera/ lens combinations are in the DxO database, and you get the option of using the profiles before processing. DxO PureRaw costs £115; the upgrade from the original is £69. shop.dxo.com
the Vanguard website. vanguardworld.co.uk
USERTEST WILL CHEUNG, PN EDITOR I did some testing with PureRaw 2, using Raws shot at a range of ISO settings, and from a wide variety of cameras – including Fujifilm X models. Processing speed is much
removing noise and enhancing detail, and this applies to old Raws, as well as those from contemporary cameras. It also gave a benefit with Raws shot at lower ISOs, but that could be minimal, and not worth the effort given the increase in file size. In fact, I did one test with a Z 9 Raw and thought that the PureRaw 2 result was actually marginally worse than the native file, with detail looking less crisp. This was the one exception in all the files I tested – and in general, there was a tangible quality boost. PureRaw 2 is excellent, and will probably become an integral part of my workflow.
faster compared to the original version. Using an M1 Mac Mini, a Fujifilm GFX100S Raw (105MB) took 30secs in version 2, and 104secs in the old software. A Nikon Z 7II Raw went through in 20secs and 47secs, respectively. It’s worth noting that processed DNG files are much bigger than the original Raw. In the case of the 105MB Raw processed here, the final file was 365MB. There’s no doubt that PureRaw 2 does a great job
FEEL THE NOISE The original was shot on a Nikon D800 at ISO 25,600. Top right is the image through Lightroom and bottom right is the PureRaw 2 DeepPrime version. Improvements are massive – blacks are deep, detail looks great and the noise has gone
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.
Editorial team Editorial director Roger Payne Editor Will Cheung FRPS 01223 499469 willcheung@bright-publishing.com Chief sub editor Alex Bell Sub editors Matthew Winney, Harriet Williams Contributing editor Kingsley Singleton Contributingwriter Alex Fice
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Design team Design director Andy Jennings Design & ad production Hedzlynn Kamaruzzaman and 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
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Fujifilm
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
The proof is in the printing
Claim three free prints with Fujifilm
AS WE SPEND more time in the digital realm, there is less focus on the printing aspect of the photo journey. Yet, as the adage goes, an image is not a photograph until it is printed. So, surely the best way to show off your work is to move it from a digital file and turn it into a quality print on photographic paper? To help photographers enhance their offering with photographic printing, Fujifilm has teamed up with nine of its Professional Lab Partners, and three FUJIFILM X-Photographer professionals, to launch Print to Prove It. UK photographers can now approach their local expert Pro Lab and order three free prints of their favourite work on FUJIFILM professional photographic paper. Why take part? If a photographer’s skill is proven in their work, then a digital file on a screen isn’t showing the full potential of an image taken on a camera. For showcasing the best compositions, having photos printed by a Pro Lab can bring work to life for exhibiting – and showing to prospective clients. After consultations with a Pro Lab, photographers can explore how to get the best out of images when printing. Pro Labs work with professionals
“Print to Prove It is a chance to ‘try before you buy’ and see the power of high-quality paper for yourself ”
to determine which paper is best for their unique style, and calibrate computer screens and equipment so colour is printed correctly. This expertise is invaluable, as it helps create a partnership that enables professionals to deliver consistently high-quality pieces and establish stronger brand identity. It also allows you to add a printing service to your business, or even open a small e-commerce offering through platforms such as Etsy. Claim your three free prints The Print to Prove It offer is your chance to ‘try before you buy’ and truly see the power of printing on high-quality paper for yourself. Get in touch with your local participating Pro Lab using the Lab Locator on the dedicated web page, and prove that printing on professional photographic paper produces amazing results. Participants have a choice of lustre or gloss FUJIFILM professional photographic paper, and can bring to life three favourite compositions in print for free from a participating Professional Lab. To sign up, scan the QR code and go to the Print to Prove It page, or visit fujifilmprinttoproveit.com.
REACH YOUR POTENTIAL Print on lustre or gloss professional photo paper, and see the difference it makes to your images
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News It’s wild at art Heading into the second year of the hugely successful WildArt Photographer of the Year competition, here are the results of the first assignment in the 2022 contest, created around the theme ‘Wet’
Get creative For an injection of ideas, this book by John Humphrey FRPS may be for you. Entitled Creative and Experimental Photography: Art and Techniques , it’s packed with advice for creating distinctive photos. He specialises in art, abstract and macro photography – the perfect guide to a rewarding area. It’s due this spring for £18.99. crowood.com
Over one year, WildArt Photographer of the Year will hold ten contests. Prizes worth in excess of £18k are available – and gold, silver, bronze and founder’s choice winners from each round go into the grand final. The overall victor wins £3k and Swarovski Optik binos worth over £2600. The first theme was ‘Wet’, for which over 1000 images were sent. It was won by Vicki Santello from the US, with an image of a bobcat. See the website for the upcoming subject categories, entry details and galleries of previous winners. wildartpoty.com
GOLD AWARDWINNER Vicki took her shot on a trip to Yellowstone, spending four hours studying this bobcat. When it emerged from the water and climbed the riverbank with a mallard in its mouth, she snapped the image in seconds. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and 2x converter. Exposure was 1/400sec at f/9 and ISO 1600 (vsantellophotography.com)
Fast reader Manfrotto has introduced the Professional USB 3.2 CFexpress Type B card reader. It supports CFexpress Type B cards (but not XQD), has a USB-C 3.2 (10GB/s) interface and built-in storage with protective end cover. Build quality is typically Manfrotto. While it’s travel- friendly, it’s also rugged, with an anodised aluminium coating to withstand hard use and multiple heat sinks, for efficient cooling. Priced at £46.95, it comes with two cables: USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A. manfrotto.co.uk
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Photographica 2022 Calling all camera collectors! For the first time in two years, the biggest event in your diary is back in the capital
With impressive capacity, versatility and comfort, the feature-rich DNA 16 is Tenba’s most recent arrival Tenba adds to DNA Messenger family
Put on by the Photographic Collectors’ Club of Great Britain, Photographica 2022 is taking place on 22 May at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Hall, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PB. On Sundays, there’s free parking on surrounding streets. There will be over 120 tables of classic and antique cameras, with many dealers buying as well as selling. Admission is £8 from 10am to 12 noon, then £5 – please note, entry is cash only. It’s free for PCCGB members. pccgb.net
Key features include expandable rolltop design, water-repellent Tenba Helix all-weather fabric – coated for durability and weather resistance – an airflow harness for comfort, plus removable hip belt. The DNA 16 backpack is available in black or blue at £200. uk.tenba.com
The Tenba DNA 16 is an everyday backpack that features a removable padded camera insert to stow and protect kit. This can be removed, becoming an all-purpose daysack. For photo kit, it fits a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless cam, with four to six lenses plus speedlight, essential accessories and a 16in laptop.
A special Eventer
New to Billingham’s photo bag range is the Eventer MKII, designed for carrying and protecting the latest DSLR and mirrorless systems. Key aspects include a slip-in laptop sleeve, removable padded insert and SP50 shoulder pad. Improved features over the original include a redesigned top handle, weatherproof zips and a luggage strap. The removable insert has also gained extra padding on the base for greater protection, and a TukTop feature is provided to keep zips tucked away when taking cameras in and out of the bag. Five colour/material combinations are available: khaki canvas/tan leather; navy canvas/chocolate leather; sage FibreNyte/chocolate leather; black FibreNyte/black leather; and khaki FibreNyte/chocolate leather. The Billingham Eventer MKII is available now, costing £560. billingham.co.uk
Print to Prove It campaign launched Fujifilm has teamed up with nine leading pro labs countrywide to offer free prints
Samyang spring offer
must register interest on the website below, and will then be directed to one of the nine labs in the scheme. bit.ly/3qVZrdZ
Fujifilm’s Print to Prove It campaign is offering three free 10x8in or 12x8in prints on Gloss or Lustre Fujifilm pro photo paper. To claim, photographers
Buy a Samyang optic from an authorised retailer and claim up to £100 cashback. Over 30 auto and manual focus lenses are in the offer, with models available in Canon EF, Fujifilm X, Nikon F and Sony E-mounts. For participating dealers and terms and conditions, go to the website below. bit.ly/3LLshpt
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Photo 24 The Photo 24 box office is open for business. Get your name down if you want to be in with a chance of joining us for our 24-hour creative adventure
Everyone’s photography has been impacted over the past two years, but it’s time to get out again, all cameras blazing. Photo 24 is a great opportunity for this – a 24-hour photography festival in the capital, on one of the longest days of the year. In terms of subject matter, that is entirely up to you and we will be offering free photo walks
and other events, but London is a massive canvas with all sorts of opportunities. Street, people, architecture of all sorts, icons, abstracts... the list goes on. Your imagination is the only limit. Photo 24 is a free event, but places are limited. Applications are open now on our website. It’s a simple process, and because we want to
IT'S A PHOTOMARATHON London offers endless snapping opportunities – and our day-long event gives you ample time to sample the capital's many delights, whatever your subject preference
storytellers worldwide, MPB makes kit more accessible and sustainable, recirculating 300,000 cameras and lenses every year. mpb.com Photo 24 sponsors: MPB MPB offers opportunity for free hands-on kit experience at Photo 24
register to attend this year’s Photo 24 event and more information will be sent to you with the confirmation of your place. In the meantime, to find out what your existing tech is worth, visit mpb.com and get a free, instant quote. You can sell to MPB or trade-in. MPB offers free, insured pick-up and superfast payment, plus free delivery on any kit you buy. Give your old gear the lease of life it deserves. MPB is the world’s largest platform to buy, sell and trade used photography and videography kit. Trusted by more than 250,000 visual
At this year’s Photo 24, main sponsor MPB is offering 50 photographers the opportunity to try out kit of their choice – free of charge – with an exclusive hands-on experience. MPB will lend equipment to 50 ticketholders a few days before the event, with the lucky 50 selected at random. With all the biggest brands – like Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm – available, each photographer can take their pick from MPB’s huge range. If you want to upgrade your camera body, or get your hands on a lens to try, you cannot miss this unique opportunity. To enter,
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be as fair as possible, the closing date is not until 17 May 2022. Only after that time will we hold a ballot for places. Successful applicants will be emailed with confirmation of their place and specific details of the events, photo competitions and walks on the schedule. Most are free, but we’re offering optional paid-for activities. During Photo 24, we will be setting hourly photo assignments in our Super 24 Challenge, announced to attendees by social media. The great news is we will also be announcing the Super 24 Challenge themes on
Instagram, so everyone can take part, wherever you are. As an incentive, we will have prizes of three £500 MPB vouchers for our favourite pictures taken in the Super 24 Challenge. This is open to everyone, whether you are with us in person or virtually. Look out for more details of the Super 24 Challenge and Photo 24 in forthcoming issues of PN , on the website and on our podcast. Meanwhile, if you want to come along, please go to the website and apply for a place. photographynews.co.uk
Shoot the street Catching fleeting moments on the street is a challenging and rewarding subject. And the founder of Streetsnappers – Brian Lloyd Duckett – is very good at it.
Our photo walks will last around an hour or so, long enough to get a feel for street shooting. If you enjoy our free sampler, Brian offers a range of workshops and masterclasses – including one-to- ones and private groups in London, Lisbon, Prague and Venice. There’s an online option, too, so check out the website. streetsnappers.com
Readers attending Photo 24 will have the chance to join Brian and his son, Alex Duckett, for free photo walks around some of London’s hotspots, while learning from experts at the same time.
GET GEARED UP FOR A FAB DAY AND NIGHT When endurance shooting, like Photo 24, it’s important to pack a camera outfit to suit. A slimmed-down kit with, say, a couple of zoom lenses and a carbon tripod is a good starting point
Podcast insight for more Photo 24 Photography News has its own podcast, with the team of editor
behind the scenes of one of the most popular used gear retailers. Each episode is free and available on our website, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. photographynews.co.uk
The team will start building up to the event with special episodes, as well as providing advice on shooting street and urban subjects. We’ll also host a special, recorded at MPB’s Brighton facility, where PN goes
The crew chat through its photo adventures, look at the latest kit launches and answer reader questions. If you have any queries, please email us on podcast@ photographynews.co.uk.
Will Cheung, editorial director Roger Payne and contributing editor Kingsley Singleton taking a close look at the exciting world of imaging.
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A Samsung memory card! WIN!
B R W J B T K E R T J R J P U S U D Q I W S E I D K Y L G D N W P E S P R A I N B O W R Z D D S R P M H S Q I Y D R X R L M A A B N P F G G E P G T E Z G O S D E R O T S S Y Q O J S J D Z Y A F R H G G S T V Q W E E E U N G A U H A T U O T N B E R K K G L W Y S X W D G E N B I D K A P O D N G S H V L W E S T E Z B T R E W O H S U P Y Y D U O L C J B J X H V E X C T C N D N Q B O O T S J O J N With the need for superfast, high-capacity memory greater than ever, the new Samsung 256GB Pro Plus microSD card could be just the ticket – and here’s your chance to win one. Boasting up to 160MB/s read and 120MB/s write speeds, the card is ideal for expanded mobile device storage and capturing high-quality photos or 4K UHD video. 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 that word in the subject box by 8 May 2022, and the winner will be drawn at random from all correct entries received. The answer to PN 96’s word search was ‘magnetic’, and the Samsung 256GB Evo Plus card was won by K Saunders, West Sussex. samsung.com/uk/memory-cards
The sky’s the limit Win this month’s contest and you can take your pick from the Vanguard Alta Sky backpack range, with five great products to choose from
If you need the ultimate kit-carrying solution, the Vanguard Alta Sky collection has the bag for you. Five models are on offer, from the Alta Sky 45D at £209.99, to the Alta Sky 53 and Alta Sky 68, both selling for £259.99. Which model suits you best depends on the size of your outfit and how you want to work. For example, if you like to carry your long lens attached to the camera, that’s possible. With rugged build and quality fittings, the Alta Sky bags are made to handle the most arduous environments. Versatility is very much a keyword, with plenty of storage options and methods of accessing the contents. Also, an ergonomic Air System back, harness and waist
belt help make a heavy load comfortable to carry all day long. To have your pick from the range, all you need to do is answer this question: how many models are there in the current Alta Sky range? A) Four B) Five C) Six To enter, go to photographynews.co.uk and follow the link. The closing date for entries is 8 May – the first correct answer drawn at random after that date, wins. The winner of the VEO 3T+ 264CB contest from PN 96 was I Clements from Plymouth. vanguardworld.co.uk
Light moves from Nanlite Make more of your lighting skills, thanks to this duo of exciting illuminating gadgets
selectable, and its CRI rating is 96. The PavoTube T8-7X is £95; the four-unit kit is £370. nanlite.co.uk
via its USB-C port. The working colour temperature range is 2700-7500K, up to 36,000 colours are
LIGHTING SPECIALIST NANLITE has introduced a projection attachment, the FZPJBM. It has a Bowens S mount fitting, so is compatible with a wide range of flash heads, including a selection of Forza heads. The projector comes in either 19° or 36° lens options, costing £610 and £588, respectively. The 19° or 36° lenses are available separately, too, at £294 and £272, respectively. With a coated optical system, high light transmission and colour accuracy, you can get some great lighting effects with this device. The same can be said for Nanlite’s second new product this month, the PavoTube T8-7X. This slim LED tube light measures one metre long, weighs just 280g, and its internal battery can be recharged
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SUCCESS + EXHIBITIONS + PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS + OUTINGS News Camera club
Beckenham 100 not out Postponed from 2021, Beckenham PS finally got to enjoy its centenary
Beckenham PS celebrated its 100th birthday at the County Ground in Beckenham in late March. Guests enjoyed a programme of four speakers. These included Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, while photographers Tammy Marler and Mike Curry talked about nature and reflections. PN editor Will Cheung was also in attendance. “The team had worked hard on its centenary celebrations for 2021, but, of course, almost everything was postponed,” says Cheung. “I was delighted the event finally happened. The organisers did a grand job, I enjoyed my day out.” bps9.beckenhamphotosoc.org.uk
HAPPY PEOPLE Beckenham PR president Lesley Rees ARPS with Mike Curry, one of the four presenters on the day. Mike’s talk was entitled Fleeting Reflections. Below: Nature photographer Tammy Marler
Molesey triumphs The Surrey Advertiser Rosebowl competition was a huge success
to our team for organising an extremely well-run competition, and congratulations to Molesey PC.” Woking PS meets every Tuesday from 8pm, usually at the Parkview Centre for the Community in Sheerwater, with an online stream. Some meetings are online only. wokingps.uk
HOSTED BY WOKING PS, over 100 members from 15 clubs logged in to enjoy the competition for the Surrey Advertiser Rosebowl. Each club submitted five PDIs, taken by five different photographers, that combined to make a theme. Individual images were critiqued and the overall panel assessed for balance
and style, with Clive Tanner FRPS doing the judging. Molesey PC won with its set of images entitled Seascapes. Woking was runner-up. The winner of best individual image was Andrew Webster ARPS from Dorking CC. Woking PS president Richard Sheldrake said: “My thanks go
Clacton CC
From 15-20 May, Clacton is holding its end-of-year
exhibition at the Naze Discovery Centre, CO14 8LE. Open 10am and 4pm, admission is free. clactoncameraclub.co.uk
If your club has news to share with PN, please send your contribution to clubnews@ photography-news.co.uk with the text document and image attached. Contribution deadlines for the next two issues of PN . Make the news ISSUE 99, out from 10 May, deadline 28 April ISSUE 100 out from 14 June, deadline 1 June
Well done, Harwich
Victory at the double Tonbridge takes out MIPS Challenge
Harwich & Dovercourt CC took on Felixstowe PS for the annual Colbourn Cup Challenge and won 266 points to 253. The judge was Roy Essery. Image of the challenge was awarded to Harwich’s Naomi Foster with A Sea of Pink. harwichcameraclub. co.uk
Co-chairman Denys Clarke of Tonbridge said, “I am delighted that we triumphed again in this prestigious competition. Great credit to the members.” The club meets weekly at the Weald of Kent Grammar School. tonbridgecameraclub.org.uk
For the second time in three years, Tonbridge CC triumphed in the MIPS Challenge trophy organised by the Mersea Island PS. Clubs from Camborne in Cornwall to Dingwall in the Highlands rate the photos, with an independent judge at each club.
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Atomos
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Stills tomovie: a pro’s story Chris Frazer Smith is an award-winning people photographer, with a long and impressive client list. His passion for imagemaking has led to non-commissionedwork in stills and, increasingly, video. Chris shares his journey tomoviemaking, focusing specifically on the hardware he relies on
CHRIS FRAZER SMITH chrisfrazersmith.com
MY PRIMARY CHALLENGE as an environmental portrait photographer is to shoot clear, graphic portraits that resonate with the audience. I have to grab their attention and pretty much tell them what the subject does and where they might be in the world, then capture a moment that I feel needs to be shared as best as I can. So, essentially, my main influence comes from wanting to share a story via the narrative of my visuals. With the arrival of digital and, in particular, mid-generation DSLRs – the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, for example – filmmaking was put into the hands of stills photographers, whether they liked it or not, and in an entirely new technical way. I shoot a great deal of non- commissioned photography, and my desire to tell a story through stills has opened up the canvas of moving images, largely thanks to progress in the camera world. For me, it’s been a very natural progression from stills to film. I am passionate about photography, video, painting and typography; I know my strengths as a stills photographer, and my approach to filmmaking has been for the most part driven by the aesthetic of my stills compositions, allowing the subjects I film to play out in front of the camera. There’s often very little movement from the camera, although
AWORLD-BEATER The NINJA V+ (right) is the world’s first 8K RAW HDR monitor/ recorder enabling continuous recording in Apple ProRes RAW. Its bright 5.2in monitor is fully featured, including focus peaking, zoom and vectorscopes
that is evolving as I utilise gimbals, tracks and a drone. Strangely, as I think about this, I have been on projects in the past few months where going from motion, back to stills, was more challenging. Some subjects work better in the medium of moving images. I make my living predominately as an advertising photographer, so my background comes from being involved with big productions, and I have a wealth of pre-production
experience, as well as creative collaboration with art directors. I plan carefully, and recce as much as possible, but allow the subject matter to play out with minimal direction. My most recent short, The Residency , was the realisation that I could film a young, talented painter on the journey of her parting residency at a gallery, capturing a portrait at this time in her life. (Check out the short film on Chris’ website.) The challenge was to be invisible and still have the ability to move very quickly with the technical set-up, capturing shots in one take. Using the Canon EOS R5, with the ATOMOS NINJA V+ and Azden mics, allows me that freedom to anticipate, while not worrying too much about equipment. Keeping the kit really tight means that I can control these personal
projects by myself, to an extremely high-quality standard. The NINJA V+ is my canvas first and foremost. The features within it simply provide me more assistance compositionally than the camera’s rear monitor on its own, although running the screen live on the EOS R5 is also very important. Without the NINJA V+, I would be running from shot to shot at a slower rate, and there would be a danger I would miss crucial moments. I allow the action to take place naturally without interference, although will
direct certain scenes that I feel are crucial elements to the work that’s being created. The EOS R5 was a game-changer for me. No single camera system is perfect, but my move in recent years as a stills photographer from medium format to only Canon 35mm kit has been a great experience. I went from a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, then onto the Mark III and EOS 5DS, and now to the EOS R5 – my first mirrorless camera. What it offers both in RAW stills and 8K and 5K video capture with the NINJA V+ is remarkable.
“Keeping the kit really tight means that I can control these personal projects by myself, to an extremely high-quality standard”
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Atomos
ESSENTIAL NINJA With its large, high-quality screen, the support of SSD and extensive feature set, the NINJA V+ is an essential device for moviemakers wanting to take their work to the next level
I am quite patient when it comes to gear, and had waited for another groundbreaking camera to emerge from the fog of kit. This came to me in the form of the mirrorless EOS R5. The NINJA V+ lets me take that camera to another level of image quality. I can, of course, film incredible 4K to a memory card – but why would you, if you can produce an even higher standard using a bigger monitor, and have the support of SSD?
The monitor playback is superb, helping me make sure the framing is right. Seeing what should be (and shouldn’t be!) in shot is so much easier on the larger screen. Tutorials on the ATOMOS site are a must – and there are many out there on YouTube; some are more helpful than others, so the online community is a big help for sure. My main tip is to test, test, test. It’s best to go into any filming situation without worrying about the camera, lens choice, and how that all feeds into your recording device: in my case the NINJA V+. All other technical, logistical and creative choices are done in pre-production, plus on-the-ground shooting. If plan A doesn’t work, plan B needs to kick in. Advance testing and taking time to triple-check your technical set-up is what it should be on the day of filming is an absolute essential. The NINJA V+ can run dirtily off your hotshoe, a camera cage, or even
For me, the NINJA V+ is essential equipment, not a luxury add-on. It’s as important as the lens on the camera. Some add-ons I do cherish include the SmallRig cage and shotgun/stereo Azden SMX-30V mic. I run a separate Azden SGM-250 shotgun mic into a Zoom recorder too, and have the PRO-XRe lav set available. I will build on kit to wrap around the camera in the coming months, just so long as it adds to my craft.
My workflow from camera to final edit starts with the format and resolution. I record in Apple ProRes RAW and take footage into Apple Final Cut Pro X, knowing that I will edit in 4K. The NINJA V+ is at the centre of it all. It has features any filmmaker or photographer could use in their own unique way. Monitor image quality is stunning, and I shoot with assist, focus peaking and vectorscopes. Having the safe area and runtime on-screen with an LUT are my go-to features. All this gives me greater confidence in the set-up, leaving me to worry about cinematography and sound. Knowing I can deliver 8K ProRes RAW up to 30fps is just incredible, albeit memory-hungry. I was known for shooting and framing with no cropping in editing, but this has changed. Now, I can shoot in 8K and crop into the frame for any 4K edit with no quality loss.
the camera itself when it needs to be placed in a tricky situation, and running a longer HDMI lead is allowing that to happen. Keep the kit as light and tight as possible – that is part of the beauty of filming to such high levels using something like a Canon EOS R5. Don’t update software the night before a shoot. Be patient and check it out when you have time to see what it offers, then test after. Finally, the most important tip is to continually learn. I am always asking myself: ‘Is this best it can be with the constraints of my kit versus the budget?’ Getting out of your comfort zone is an important reminder of what can be achieved.
TOP GUN Ideal for mounting on the camera, Azden’s SGM-250CX comes complete with a shock mount
holdan.co.uk/ambassadors
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Buyers’ guide
Buyers’ guide
Supporting roles
A good tripod can improve your images, letting you create pictures that would be otherwise impossible. But take care, because the market can catch out the unwary – however, PN is here to help
Manfrotto › manfrotto.co.uk
Perhaps one of the most familiar tripod brands, its first model was launched in 1974. Today’s Manfrotto range is extensive, and one of our favourites is the Befree collection, which now includes aluminium and carbon models – as well as versions for stills and video. The Befree name is a clue to the thinking behind the range, and these nicely priced tripods are portable, compact and very versatile – ideal for urban or on-location use. At the top of the Befree range sits the GT XPro carbon pod that sells at £438. It extends up to 1.62m, but the ace up its sleeve is an ability to set the centre column horizontally for shooting flatlays. There are plenty of Befree models to check out.
Gitzo › gitzo.com
With its Traveler, Mini Traveler, Mountaineer and Systematic collections, Gitzo carbon tripods are world-renowned and widely used by pro image makers. The pods are beautifully made and perform impeccably, but come with premium price tags. One of the very best travel pods around is the ultra-compact, five-section Traveler series 1 GT1555T. This, with the GH1382TQD, sells at £599. If ultimate stability is your goal, you’ll find it in the Gitzo Systematic range. The series 3 four-section GT3543LS weighs just over 2kg and extends to 1.46m, and the guide price is £873 without a head.
using weighty lenses, the support matters even more – and so does the head that connects the camera to the tripod legs. With such subjects, a gimbal or panning head is the more practical option. If you’re a photographer who enjoys different subject areas, don’t be surprised to find that one tripod is not enough – you’ll need several to make the most of each situation. For example, a lightweight model for urban photo walks and travel, a weightier pod for extreme exposures and long lenses, and a mini tripod to keep in the bag, just in case. Then, if you are getting into video, the ball head that does a great job for your stills might not be ideal for movie shooting – so that’s another item for the shopping list. Our guide has suggestions for a range of photo activities, but check out the brand websites for more details. Once you have a shortlist, nothing beats getting hands-on. A trip to the photo dealers is a good idea, although not straightforward. Some brands have more stockists than others, and not every model will be available to check out in-store. Conducting research beforehand always helps.
CAMERA AND LENS makers have put huge resources into refining image stabilisation systems, so that shooting pin-sharp pictures handheld at one or two seconds is now a reality. The fact remains, however, that a tripod is an essential tool in a photographer’s armoury. If you don’t have a decent one, then it’s about time you take the plunge and invest. But what defines ‘decent’? The thing to remember is this: with cameras, there aren’t really any poor options. That is not the case in the world of tripods, where some models are fit only for recycling, and where spending more can pay dividends. The type of pod you need may be defined by what and where you shoot. Generally speaking, an enthusiast captures outdoors, mostly scenics, and uses a tripod to slow down and consider compositions more intently. Perhaps they use filters to get the shot right in-camera. Some might deploy extreme NDs for exposures running into several minutes. And many get their kicks working in urban settings, possibly shooting light trails or even floodlit buildings. Then, of course, there are the dedicated long lens shooters tackling action, aviation and nature. Often
Benro › uk.benroeu.com
There’s no lack of choice in the Benro range. Check out its Slim, Mach3 and Travel Angel models. If you want to make the most of the latest innovations, look at the Bat, Rhino and Tortoise collections. The Bat series, in carbon and alloy, has legs with five preset angles, to give the camera great support in the most awkward situations. The carbon five- section FBAT05C with VX20 head is £270, weighs just 1.16kg and extends to 1.4m. It’s a great model for carrying around all day. The aluminium version is £205 and weighs a trifle more at 1.27kg. Finally, the Benro Hydra 2 is worth a mention. This has waterproofed leg joints, so is perfect for outdoor shooters. It sells for £450.
Peak Design › transcontinenta.co.uk
Peak Design has brought a breath of fresh air to its accessory range, and that includes its Travel Tripod, available in carbon fibre and aluminium, priced at £549 and £329, respectively. Four years of engineering brought a tripod designed for full-frame cameras and long lenses. Its super-slim profile with no wasted space makes it easy to grip in one hand. Setting up and taking down is rapid, too – a process helped by leg lever locks. An Arca-Swiss-compatible ball head is included in the aforementioned price.
Bexin › namgrip.tv
Bexin is probably a new name to many, but when we tested its BX285C+K36 tripod in issue 94, we were left seriously impressed. For £169, you get a travel-sized carbon tripod with a high-quality ball head, that weighs 1.7kg in total and has a max load of 10kg. Despite its compact dimensions, the BX285C – with its five-section, twist-grip legs – can reach up to 1.7m with the help of an extendable centre column. No complaints about build quality, either. This pod is certainly worth a look.
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Buyers’ guide
Vanguard › vanguardworld.co.uk
Novo › ukdigital.co.uk While Novo’s Explora T10 carbon-fibre tripod has been around a few years now, it remains an excellent product, and its price has dropped to an even more attractive £199 from its previous guide price of £249. That includes an Arca- Swiss-compatible
Vanguard has been very active updating its tripod offerings in recent months, and the VEO 3+ 263 is one of the leading lights. It’s available in aluminium (263 AB) and carbon (263 CB), priced at £249.99 and £339.99, respectively. These come with the VEO 2 BH-160S dual-axis ball head. The two tripods have a very similar set of great features, including a 15kg load capacity, twist-grip locks and three easy-set leg angles. Both also have MACC, or Multi-Angle Central Column. Simple and fast to bring into play, the MACC means the centre column can be retracted from the tripod shoulder, to manipulate the camera into almost any position.
ball head and both rubber and spiked feet. Plus, one leg detaches to act as a monopod. from eight-layer carbon fibre and full extension gets you a shooting height of 1.72m – impressive for a unit that folds down to 49.5cm. The legs are made
Leofoto › leofoto.eu
Leofoto has ten collections to consider, including the Poseidon, which features an innovative pair of waterproof tripods. One of our favourites is the LS-324C from the Ranger series – and it comes with the LH-40 ball head at a price of £359. The LS-324C is a four-section, carbon-fibre travel tripod that weighs just 1.88kg, yet can deal with loads up to 15kg. With no centre column, the pod’s profile is slim and you can get as low as 16.5cm off the ground, with a maximum height of 1.39m. A supplied carbon-fibre extension gets you up to 1.7m.
Joby › joby.com/uk-en
Joby came to prominence thanks to the GorillaPod, a mini tripod featuring legs with flexible aluminium joints. It meant you could use it as a table tripod for one shot and wrap the legs around a railing or fence for the next, then just have it as a grip. Very practical and compact, too. There’s a huge collection of GorillaPods in Joby’s range now, for phones, compacts, mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. Shown here is the 3K Pro designed for mirrorless cameras. It can accept a 3kg load and is priced at £99.
3LT › 3leggedthing.com
interchangeable feet and multi-section telescopic centre columns with parallel leg locking. On many tripods, one of the legs can be detached to be used as a monopod. In the Pro Series 2.0 tripods, all three legs are detachable and employable as monopods or boom arms, and adding different legs transforms full-size supports to table-top tripods. The Leo 2.0 is £319.99, the Albert £379.99, with the Winston £399.99 – all prices are with an AirHed.
3 Legged Thing has brought plenty of innovation to the market. That starts with the marketing of its products that are given names (Ray, Mike and Patti, for example) rather than quickly forgettable product codes. It doesn’t stop there, and 3LT employs colour and innovative design to set its products apart from rivals. 3LT’s Pro Series 2.0 comprises three models: Albert 2.0, Leo 2.0 and Winston 2.0. Key features include the use of eight-layer carbon fibre,
Kenro › kenro.co.uk
Slik › holdan.co.uk
K&F Concept › swains.co.uk When you want to travel light, but still need a three-legged support, the K&F TC2535 could be the tripod for you. It’s a five-section carbon model that folds down to 35cm, but can open up to a height of 1.42m. It’s sturdy enough to have a load capacity
Kenro doesn’t offer a huge tripod range, but what’s there is worth a look. The Karoo Ultimate Travel Tripod (carbon fibre) sells for £209.99, which is a great price for a quality carbon pod. It weighs in at 1.93kg and extends up to 1.76m, but can get as low as 22cm. With twist-grip locks, a leg that detaches for a monopod and three leg angles, this offers fantastic value.
grip locks that have a special Slik anti-rotation system. It weighs 1.35kg and stretches up to 1.65m, but can get as low as 18cm. Price is competitive at £348.
With over 60 years of tripod manufacture, Slik knows what makes a great camera support. The Pro CF-734 is a set of four- section carbon legs, with twist-
of 10kg. Expect to pay around £120.
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