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Sigma’s new lens for APS-C mirrorless The 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is compatible with L-Mount and Sony E-mount cameras
EDITOR’S LETTER WILLCHEUNG
THE PANDEMIC AND its after-effects are set to go on for a while, but let’s hope 2022 will be more normal than 2020 and 2021. When it comes to new cameras, it has been anything but usual, with several incredible full-frame machines. The Nikon Z 9 most recently joined the Canon EOS R3 and Sony A1 in redefining the market with some amazing tech. And that’s not forgetting the camera tested in this issue, the Fujifilm GFX 50S II – a price- busting, digital medium format. Of course, none of these products are what you would call cheap, with those three mirrorless full-frame models costing over £5k – body only. But they do offer awesome focusing and shooting skills. If you’re a pro, such investment can be more easily justified. We all know it’s the person behind the camera that counts, but the right kit certainly helps. For the rest of us with more modest budgets, hopefully some of those cutting-edge technologies – especially autofocus – cascade down to cheaper products soon. But don’t hold your breath. By the time you read this, Black Friday will have been and gone. You might have already spent the
pennies set aside for your hobby – assuming that stocks were available. Checking several photo retailers’ websites, the words ‘awaiting stock’, ‘pre-order’ and ‘limited’ appeared often. If you have any cash left, then check out this month’s festive buyers’ guide, starting on page 35. Latterly, I packed my cameras and headed to Wales for a short holiday. Aberystwyth’s Royal Pier was top of my to-shoot list. I am getting towards the end of my pier project, with only a few left, all a long way from home. The weather wasn’t kind, but I got something. I am now planning an excursion to Scotland, to cover the three surviving piers there. Until next time, season’s greetings from the PN team. Stay safe and see you in 2022.
SIGMA HAS ANNOUNCED its first zoom lens for mirrorless L-Mount and Sony E-mount crop sensor cameras. The 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary offers a full-frame equivalent focal range of 27-75mm, with a wide f/2.8 constant aperture, it delivers high optical performance across the entire zoom range. The Sigma caters for a wide range of photographic styles, including landscape, portrait, street, architecture and event. It is also capable of recording high- quality video, with a maximum magnification of 1:2.8, and a minimum focus of just 12.1cm. Providing an f/2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range, it is easy to achieve blurry backgrounds and soft bokeh effects when shooting portraits and close-ups.
High optical performance is guaranteed, with the carefully arranged lens elements – including three high-precision, glass-moulded aspherical elements. Optical imperfections, such as distortion and vignetting, are kept to a minimum by in-camera aberration correction, ensuring images are crisp and clear. The lens uses a stepping motor as the AF actuator, in order to achieve fast and silent AF. This makes it well-suited to shooting in low-noise environments. It’s also a good option for capturing video with audio, due to minimal noise from the AF. Finally, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is extremely portable, resulting in a great option for day-to-day use – ideal for vlogging and creating content on the go. The lens is on sale now, at £429.99. sigma-imaging-uk.com
FEATURES ATAGLANCE › Construction 13 elements in ten groups › Dust and splash resistant Yes › Coating Super Multi-Layer › Special glass One SLD and three aspherical elements › Aperture range F/2.8 to f/22 › Minimum focus 12.1cm › Diaphragm Seven blades › F ilter size 55mm › Dimensions (dxl) 65.4x74.5mm › W eight 290g
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What’s inside 03 News Nikon is making headlines, with the Z 9 finally unveiled – and it was joined by several lenses, too. Also, Sony and Canon have added cameras, Sigma and Samyang have revealed lenses, and DxO has delivered two new editing softwares 13 Vanguard contest and Samsung word search Find the missing word and you could win a Samsung 256GB microSD card, while our monthly Vanguard contest has no fewer than four VEO Adaptor bags up for grabs 14 Club news Clubs and societies are in full swing, with members meeting in person, virtually, or a combination of the two. Here’s what a few clubs are up to right now. If your group is hosting events and exhibitions, please get in touch with us
17 The Photography News Awards 2021 It’s your last chance to vote for what you consider the best imaging kit on sale right now. We’re not just recognising hardware; dealers, insurance companies, website providers and printing services all have their own categories. The closing date for voting is 5 January 2022, so please visit photographynews.co.uk and follow the link to register your votes 30 Make the Switch Live: Carol Felton & Ken Underhay PN readers were invited to spend the day photographing London, with a selection of the latest Fujifilm kit. See how they got on with the challenge of using the cameras for the first time 35 Christmas buyers’ guide Treat yourself to something nice and twinkly this festive season with our help – and five pages of fabulous pressie ideas.
Whatever the budget and photo interests, there’s definitely something here for you and your photography 44 Big test: Fujifilm GFX 50S II On the shelves for £3899 with a standard zoom, this new product brings medium format digital within reach of more shooters. Price is just one of its attractions, as it proved to be a very capable camera, too. Check out our full review
52 First tests l Bexin BX285C+K36 l Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM l Vanguard VEO Adaptor S41 & R48 l Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD l H&Y Revoring 67-82mm VND+CPL l Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L l Fujifilm XF70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Issue 94 | Photography News 3
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