Photography News Issue 37

In this issue, we put the Fujifilm X-T2 and Sigma’s sd Quattro to the test, and give you all the filter advice you could ever need, alongside our Lighting Academy and Camera School, of course! We also have three fantastic interviews with some stunning photographs of wolves from Annie Marie Musselman's book, Wolf Haven.

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography news Photography Produced by Issue 37 26 Sept – 20 Oct News Tests Reviews Interviews Techniques Competitions Exhibitions Clubs

SPECIAL EDITION

Advertisement feature

Profoto breaks all speed records

Leading lighting brand Profoto has announced two flash systems that set performance standards never seen before in the world of studio flash and offer amazing opportunities for creative photographers

Profoto’s new D2 monolight and Pro-10 power pack offer very, very brief flash durations for stopping the fastest action, incredibly rapid recycling for fast burst shooting and the flexibility of TTL lighting control, plus muchmore. The D2 monolight is available in two outputs, 500Ws and 1000Ws. The D2 500 offers a remarkable minimum flash duration of 1/63,000sec in freeze mode while by comparison the D2 1000’s minimum flash duration is 1/50,000sec in both cases this has been achieved without sacrificing high output levels. The speed theme is continued with recycling where burst shooting of 20 flashes per second is possible so you can shoot a high speed sequence and pick the best result.

well as an ultra-brief burst of light to stop the fastest action. The pack has two outputs and 11 different Profoto flash heads are compatible with thePro-10. Output through the two outlets is fully asymmetrical 0-100% so you have full control over your lighting set-up. Profoto’s spate of new products is completed with the Air Remote TTL-S. This is the Sony compatible trigger and joins those already available for Canon and Nikon. It means Sony users can now enjoy the great features of Profoto Air flash units including TTL flash, high speed sync flash and remote wireless control fromup to 300m from the light. Turn the page for even information about Profoto’s latest products.

The two units are user-friendly, robust and share many practical features including a power range of 10EV adjustable in 0.1EV steps, TTL shooting with a Profoto Air Remote TTL trigger and high speed flash sync up to 1/8000sec. Of course, both heads mesh perfectly into the Profoto systemwith over 120 light shaping modifiers available. If greater power and an even shorter flash duration are what you need, then look no further than the Pro-10 power pack. This has a 2400Ws output with energy adjustable from 2.4Ws to full power in 0.1EV steps. In freeze mode flash durations as brief as 1/80,000sec are achievable making the Pro-10 the world’s fastest studio flash unit with TTL and you get this with plenty of output too so you can achieve the required depth-of-field as

Above The D2 monolight and Pro-10 power pack from Profoto are set to revolutionise the world of studio flash

If greater power and an even shorter flash duration are what you’re after, look no further than the Pro-10

profoto.com

Look inside this cover wrap for the latest issue of Photography News

Photography News Issue 37 absolutephoto.com

Advertisement feature Always up to speed with the Profoto D2 The newProfoto D2 is the world’s fastest monolight with TTL, with incredibly quick recycling for continuous burst shooting and amazingly brief flash durations to freeze the most frantic action. Add easy to use TTL flash, high speed sync and compatibility with over 120 light shaping tools and you have the ideal mains flash head for today’s demanding photographer

Specs

D2 500AirTTL Max energy 500Ws Energy range 10 f/stops (1-500Ws) Energy control increments 1/10 or full f/stops Recycling time 0.03-0.6sec (quick burst up to 20 flashes per second) Shortest flash duration (in freezemode) 1/63,000sec Longest flash duration 1/2600sec

Speed was top of the agenda when the Profoto design team started work on its latest mains monolight, the incredible D2. Its briefest flash duration is a stupendous 1/63,000sec, it can recharge so rapidly that it can handle bursts of 20 images per second and it will synchronise with cameras at shutter speeds as brief as 1/8000sec. Of course, speed means different things to different photographers and the D2 has the skill set to deliver whatever is required including the ability to provide ample power. The D2 is available with two outputs, 500Ws and 1000Ws, and over a power output range of ten f/stops. In the case of the D2 500, thatmeans a selectable output range of 1 to 500Ws. The ability to capture the fastest action with total detail is important to many and both D2 models allow incredibly brief flash durations. The D2 500 has a flash duration of 1/63,000sec in freeze mode, while the D2 1000 is only slightly longer at 1/50,000sec. The really exciting thing is that these very short flash durations are not just available at very low power settings, but across the entire 10EV output range so power and super-short flashdurations canbe combined to make the most of challenging subjects. Add to the very brief flash duration the ability to recharge incredibly rapidly and evenmore creative opportunities are opened up. The D2 500 recycles in 0.03-0.6sec in quick burst mode and means you can shoot up to 20 flash-lit images in a second. Being able to shoot somany shots so quicklymeans you’re sure to capture the decisive moment with a sequence of near-identical pictures. All these innovations have been packed into a compact unit very familiar to D1 owners and exhibits the same robust build quality and slick user-friendly handling. Indeed, the D2 meshes seamlessly into the Profoto system and is fully compatible with more than 120 light-shaping tools. The D2’s functions are adjustable using the rear panel and the large, high resolution display. Here power output, the modelling lamp, sync mode and mode can all be adjusted. Power output in manual, TTL or freeze mode is adjustable in a 10EV range in 1/10 stop increments, from full output of 500 down to 1Ws. How you use the D2 is up to you. If you prefer to take control and know how much light each unit is delivering fully manual operation is available using the Profoto Air Remote that lets you wirelessly trigger and adjust light output from up to 300m away. If you prefer to use the sophistication of the D2’s TTL circuitry and still enjoy wireless operation from up to 300m that is just as simple. In this case you need an Air Remote TTL trigger and Canon, Nikon and now Sony compatible models are available. Want to try it for yourself? You can with Try Before You Buy. Find exactly how on the website, or ask your nearest Profoto dealer.

The D2 has the skill set to deliver what is required, including ample power

Specs

D2 1000AirTTL Max energy 1000Ws Energy range 10 f/stops (2-1000Ws) Energy control increments 1/10 or full f/stops Recycling time 0.03-1.2s (quick burst up to 20 flashes per second) Shortest flash duration (in freezemode) 1/50,000sec Longest flash duration 1/1600sec

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography news Photography Issue 37 26 Sept – 20 Oct News Tests Reviews Interviews Techniques Competitions Exhibitions Clubs Produced by

DIGITAL EDITION every month* *at absolutephoto.com FREE GET YOUR

A Samsung 64GB Pro memory card Enter the competition on page 60 WIN!

Filter tips See page 34 for which filters your landscapes need

It’s all around… Your guide to great 360 ˚ photography on page 20

Fujifilm’s range topper Read our verdict on the X-T2 on page 42

Photokina takes place in Germany every two years and is attended by all the key names in the business. It’s often used as a launch platform for new products, systems and technologies, and this year the exhibition was full of exciting innovations for photographers of all interest areas and skill level. For many the highlight was the announcement of the Fujifilm GFX medium-format camera system. The system kicks off with the 50S, a camera with a 43.8x32.9mmsensor and a resolution of 51.4megapixels. Initially, two lenses will be available, with four more by the end of 2017. Intriguingly, the price of the 50S with the 63mm standard lens was said to be ‘well under $10,000’. If that level of pricing materialises, many full- frame users might be giving it a look. Turn to page 3 to find out more. For Micro Four Thirds users, the announcements of new Panasonic and Olympus top-of-the-range models, the Lumix GH5 and OM-D E-M1 Mark II respectively, will be of great interest. Both will arrive early in 2017. See page 4 for much more on the Olympus flagship. Finally, lighting specialist Profoto has introduced a mains flash system, the Pro-10, where flash durations of 1/80,000sec are possible and that is backed up with power too. Not quite as quick but pretty close is the D2 500 where the shortest flash duration is 1/63,000sec. Turn the page to enjoy nine pages of Photokina news coverage. The PN news machine has gone into overdrive to bring you all the latest news from Photokina, the world’s biggest imaging exhibition Show stoppers

S P E C I A L

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

3

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Fuji goes large Fujifilm has a rich heritage in medium-format photography and at this year’s Photokina it has announced the development of the GFX medium-format camera that will be available from 2017

Words by Will Cheung

Five years after its last system introduction, the successful X-series, we have another totally new camera system from Fujifilm and this time it is medium-format. At Photokina, Fujifilm made a development announcement and its intention to launch the GFX system early in 2017. No exact date has yet been set for the launch but the aim is to have the camera and six lenses on sale by the end of 2017. Customer demand, and the recognition that APS-C and 35mm formats have their limitations, are the motivations behind the new system. Plus, Fujifilm, as a leading photography brand, saw that this was a fresh challenge for the company not to be turned down. The Fujifilm GFX is a compact, mirrorless medium-format system based around a 43.8x32.9mm sensor – 1.7x bigger than 35mm or full- frame. The first model, the GFX 50S, has a 51.4-megapixel chip and the sensor is optical low-pass filter free. The body design has a familiar look to the company’s X-series with the top-plate’s lockable shutter and ISO speed dials being good examples of this. The rear monitor is adjustable, with a functionality similar to the X-T2’s, including the ability to swing out for comfortable low-level or upright format shooting. To keep size and weight down an EVF that sits in the hotshoe is removable so you can use the monitor on its own, plug in an external monitor or buy the optional tilt monitor that can be set for waist- level or low viewpoint shooting. The body is weather and dust resistant, and the shutter is designed to be quiet with minimal 'shutter shock' vibration and therefore optimal sharpness. There is the option to shoot at different aspect ratios and with the sensor’s high resolution file

First look We got plenty of

time to look over the newly annouced GFX 50S and its lenses at Photokina. Like Fujifilm's X-series it features all the manual inputs you're likely to need in an elegantly designed, sturdy package.

Will Cheung on the Fuji GFX 50S

I've attended many press conferences, but I can’t think of many (if any) where there was much so much delight greeting a new camera as its core features were unveiled and demonstrated. Not this time. And yes, I was clapping, too. Personally, the prospect of a mirrorless medium-format camera has huge appeal and Fujifilm has done what looks to be an amazing job on the GFX 50S. Of course, things could change by the time this camera comes out and we don’t know what its true potential is right now, but it’s incredibly promising. I got time for a proper feel of the camera, equipped with the 63mm and standard zoom lenses. I have to say it all felt excellent. Yes, the body is quite deep, but the contoured handgrip was a perfect fit for my average-sized paws. The body with the standard zoom didn’t feel much heavier than a full- frame DSLR with an f/2.8 standard zoom, and I think I could carry and use the combination for extended periods with no problem. Handling was very good and the buttons and controls had a robustness which inspired confidence. Of course, image quality is key, and untested, but if it matches the handling, and the GFX 50S's price is competitive, then medium-format photography the Fujifilm way is a very real possibility. As you can tell, I'm pretty excited!

sizes are still big. The standard 4:3 aspect ratio gives 51.4 megapixels while setting 1:1 or 16:9 still gives 38 megapixels. A lens roadmap was also announced, the plan being to have six lenses available by the end of 2017 covering a range from 18mm to 95mm in 35mm format terms. Two lenses will be launched with the camera, the GF63mm f/2.8 R WR and the GF32-64mm f/4 R LM WR. The 63mm is a 50mm equivalent, while the zoom is a 25- 51mm equivalent in 35mm terms. Future lenses include a macro, fast telephoto and two wide-angles, one zoom and one fixed focal length. GF lenses do not have a built- in shutter and optically they have been designed to perform well with future sensors of 100 megapixels. Pre-production samples were available at the launch to handle but not to shoot with. The GFX 50S body feels solid and with positive controls while the contoured hand- grip is excellent allowing a secure and comfortable hold. Weight-wise the 50S is similar to something like the Canon EOS 5D Mk IV at around 800g and with the GF32-63mm f/4 made for a portable medium- format package. The removable EVF concept works well and the optional

tilt monitor is a very neat piece of design that will appeal to many photographers. At this early development announcement stage, more detailed specification of the GFX 50S was not available but the headline features are certainly impressive. The price could be too – it is going to be ‘well under US$10,000’ for the camera body and 63mm standard lens. How that translates to theUK come launch time in 2017 we will have to wait and see, but for those thinking of moving up to medium-format, the GFX system could be a compelling option.

Sensor The GFX 50S will have a 51.4-megapixel medium format sensor measuring 43.8x32.9mm – 1.7x larger than a full-frame DSLR's.

fujifilm.eu

4

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Next-gen Olympus OM-D For the latest top-of-the-range OM-D, Olympus had to go back to scratch and develop whole new systems to enable it to fulfil its lofty ambitions, including shooting at 18fps

New lenses, too!

Also new from Olympus is a fleet of fast aperture lenses; the M.Zuiko 30mm f/3.5 Macro, M.Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro and M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 Pro. Starting with the 25mm f/1.2, this (equivalent 50mm) lens should produce some jaw-dropping bokeh and, as a Pro lens, it’s also dust-, splash- and freezeproof. It'll be available in October 2016 with a guide price of £1099.99. Also weather sealed is the 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro (equivalent 24-200mm). This versatile and fast optic has an IS feature that twins with in-camera IS for an effective 6.5 stop shutter speed advantage. Also priced £1099.99 it’ll be available in November. Finally the small, light 30mm f/3.5 Macro boasts a powerful 2.5x magnification, and a class- leading close-focus of 9.5cm. This, combined with its fast and near- silent focus mechanism should make it a top pick for wildlife and nature photographers. Available now, it’s priced £249.99.

Olympus users, the wait is finally over. Ending months of fevered speculation, the new OM-D E-M1 Mark II was officially announced at Photokina, and piles more high spec features onto an already successful body. The OM-D E-M1 Mark II ramps up the speed and performance, to meet the demands of sports, wildlife, action and travel photographers, both in terms of AF performance and burst shooting, while improving image quality, from its 20.4-megapixel chip and TruePic VIII processor, too. The focusing features a brand new, super-fast all cross-type on-chip phase-detection autofocus system, so locking onto moving subjects and those in low- light should be a cinch. It’s precise and versatile, too, with 121 points at your disposal and a high-speed algorithm powered by the new TruePic VIII AF processor, while a separate moving-subject algorithm aids tracking performance. Backing this up is an eye-watering 18fps burst mode in C-AF mode, rising to a phenomenal 60fps in when focus is locked in S-AF mode. What’s more, shutter lag should be eliminated thanks to a 14 frame buffer that starts recording when the shutter button is half-pressed. It all boils down to a camera that’ll stop you frommissing the moment. Developments in the OM-D E-M1 Mark II’s design also means it’s ready to go anywhere with you, no matter the conditions. The body is splashproof, freezeproof and dustproof, with tough metal exterior, but, like it’s predecessor, it’s still compact enough to fit in a bag or a large pocket. The camera’s grip has also been tweaked to offer the maximum shooting comfort, and, as before an optional battery grip with matching controls can be added for increased power and easier vertical framing. Battery life is also improved, with Olympus stating the increase at up to 40% and the charging time of only two hours is around twice as quick as its predecessor, while there’s also a

Ending months of fevered speculation, the new OM-D E-M1

Mark II was announced

handy new battery display, showing the percentage of juice left. To keep you shooting the OM-D E-M1 Mark II is also the first in the series to offer dual SD card slots, one of which is UHS-II compatible, emphasising OM-D’s growing appeal to professional users. The dual card slots mean you can use a second card as an overflow, or split file types between them, such as Raw files to one and JPEGs to the other. As you’d expect, there’s a full suite of video modes, too, with ultra- high definition 4K at 30fps and 102Mbps bit rate. Movie buffs will also welcome the addition of a 24p frame rate and a 237Mbps bit rate to the OM-D repertoire, meaning footage can be shown in authentic widescreen 4K format. Finally, the in-body Image Stabilisation has also been improved and the E-M1 Mark II’s 5-axis IS mechanism now compensates for the equivalent of up to 6.5 stops, at a focal length of 100mm (with the M.ZUIKO 12- 100mm f/4 Pro lens). The images We got the chance to get hands-on with an early sample of the OM-D E-M1 Mark II at Photokina, and to chat through some its cutting technologies with Toshiyuki Terada, general manager, Imaging Global Marketing Division, Olympus Corp (pictured right). olympus.co.uk

Will Cheung

at Photokina

The new OM-D flagship has a great, very solid feel and even though the handgrip is deeper by 3mm compared with the previous model the benefit is clear – at least for my hands – and the result is a lovely camera to hold. I didn’t get a chance to try shooting at 18fps or 60fps with the electronic shutter but there is no doubt of the AF system’s speed and sensitivity. With 121 focus points, all cross-type, and coverage of over 75% of the image area, my sample camera zipped into focus in the low light of an exhibition hall with no problem. The EVF has a refresh rate of 120fps so just panning the camera around the hall meant there was barely any perceptible lag. The OM-D E-M1 Mark II has the potential to be a stunning camera and my money is on Micro Four Thirds users being in a for a treat if they commit to this new body.

5

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Sigma’s global family

All actionNikon Nikon announced the

12-megapixel stills and Full HD video). The 80 is waterproof to 1m and shockproof from 1.5m and is controlled by a 1.7in touchscreen. Each KeyMission model will be available from the end of October with the 360 costing £419.99, the 170 £329.99 and the 80 £249.99. The KeyMission 360 and the 170 both support the SnapBridge 360/170 app, which enables remote shooting and editing. Meanwhile, the KeyMission 80 supports the SnapBridge app so can be left connected to a smart device.

KeyMission 360 earlier this year and this camera has now been joined by the KeyMission 170 and the KeyMission 80. The shock- and waterproof KeyMission 170 has a 170° wide view and it can record 4K UHD video. The rear monitor is intuitive to use and creative shooting modes like slow motion, superlapse movie and time-lapse movie are available. The KeyMission 80 is an ultra- slim, wearable camera. It features amain4.5mmVRwide-angle lens on the front and a second 1.8mm lens on the rear for 4.9-megapixel selfies (the main lens delivers

Sigma’s Global Vision lens line- up has been forging a path of high quality and adaptability for several years now, and the family now greets three new members, the 12- 24mm f/4 DG HSMArt, 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art and 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sport. As part of the Art range the 12- 24mm f/4 Art is uncompromising on image quality and sports the largest molded glass aspherical element in its class as well as FLD (F Low Dispersion) glass, which together minimise distortion, chromatic aberration and flare. As a result, image quality is claimed to be outstanding from edge to edge. The lens has a minimum focus distance

nikon.co.uk

of 24cm at the long end, rising slightly to 25.8cm at its widest view. A new design Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) improves AF stability and the lens is also dust and splash resistant. Release date is TBC, but the price is £1649.99 and Canon, Nikon and Sigma fittings will be available. Next is the 85mm f/1.4, another Art lens coming soon in Canon,

Nikon and Sigma mounts. The construction features 14 elements in 12 groups, incorporating two SLD (Special Low Dispersion Glass) elements to remove flare and ensure smooth gradation of focus even when shooting wide open. The HSM motor has been upgraded from previous designs and full-time manual focus override is available. Again launch is TBC, and the retail price is £1199.99. The 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM is Sigma’s flagship in the Sport line. The lens has a magnesium alloy barrel, a carbon-fibre hood and

enhanced dust and splash-proof construction as well as a water- and oil-repellent coating on the front element. Optically, it uses one SLD glass and two FLD elements, and accepts drop-in filters. There’s an Optical Stabilizer (OS) onboard with a new Intelligent OS algorithm that combines with an acceleration sensor to deliver 4EV benefit. The lens’s AF system is also intelligent enough to remember your choice of AF position. Availability is TBC, but price is set to be £5999.99.

sigma-imaging-uk.com

UltraHDprints fromWhiteWall

There great photography on show at Photokina and for print quality the offerings on display from WhiteWall were difficult to beat. The enlargements illustrating the company’s ultraHD Photo Print service were amazing. Thanks to a new technology, ultraHD prints have twice the resolutionofconventionalprintsand show incredible sharpness, richness and detail rendition. was plenty of

UltraHD prints are made on Fujifilm Crystal DP II paper and sizes are available from 9x9cm to 248x122cm. Another option is prints under acrylic glass with thickness options of 2mm and 4mm to accentuate image depth and colour. The examples we saw at Photokina were awesome and we will be testing the service soon.

whitewall.com

Newgeneration fromBowens Lighting expert Bowens has

Sony flagship ahoy Sony looks set to build on the success of the A99, with its successor, theA99 II. This is Sony’s flagship model and therefore features some mouthwatering new updates alongside the now familiar Translucent Mirror AF system equipped with 79 hybrid cross-type AF points. In combination with its new BIONZ X processor, speed of focus is very high and also allows a burst mode of up to 12fps.

a wide dynamic range. The actual ISO range spans 100-25,600 and is expandable to 50-102,400. All this without an optical low-pass filter to improve sharpness. The A99 II also features a 5-axis SteadyShot image stabilisation system giving a 4.5-stop benefit.

The XMS system is available in 500, 750 and 1000Ws outputs priced at £799, £899 and £999 respectively. All are controllable with the XMSR 2.4GHz radio trigger. The XMSR has a sync offset feature to enable high-speed flash sync with any brand of camera.

launched two new systems, the XMT and the XMS. The XMT 500 is a portable battery pack flash system with TTL and high-speed flash sync functions and is fully compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony products. The lithium battery is capable of 500 full power flashes. The XMT 500 has a price of £1199.

Then there’s the high-resolution 42.4-megapixel full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor, which promises low noise at high sensitivities and

Technology (TMT). These include Full-frame 4D Focus, which is an innovative hybrid phase-detection

sony.co.uk

bowens.co.uk

6

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Canon adds to itsmirrorless and EF systems

The EOS M5 is a 24.2-megapixel mirrorless camera and the first EOS to use Canon’s DIGIC 7 image processor for lower noise, more detail and richer tones. The APS-C sized sensor also features Dual Pixel CMOS AF for responsive and accurate autofocusing in still and movie modes. As you might expect, the EOS M5 is rich in user-friendly features, but there's plenty of creative control, too. There's a high-quality EVF with a 120fps refresh rate and an LCD monitor with touchscreen functionality that includes the option of mimicking the joystick function of a DSLR, so you have total control with your thumb. Shooting rate is 7fps or 9fps with fixed focus and the top native ISO is 25,600. The EOS M5 boasts Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth for constant connection between your camera and smartphone. In fact, the Bluetooth mode lets you view and transfer images without even taking the camera out of the bag. Also joining the EOS M system is the EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, an 8.3x zoom including an Image Stabilizer with a 4EV benefit and dynamic IS for steady movie shooting.

The EOS M5 body costs £1049 and will be available from late November. The camera with the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STMwill be £1149. Available from mid-December will be a kit with the EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens costing £1399. That lens on its own is £429. At the launch, buy any version of the EOSM5 and an EF-EOSMmount adaptor will be included free. Canon’s EF lens system has also gained a new member, the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM telephoto. Designed for use on full-frame and APS-C format DSLRs, the new lens features an enhanced optical configuration that includes an ultra-low dispersion element to deliver sharp, contrasty images with vibrant colours. The AF features Nano USM technology for fast and quiet operation so no noise is picked up when shooting video. This lens is the first to feature an electronic information display so you can check focus distance, depth-of-field and focal length – and the amount of camera shake. The EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 will be available from November at £499.

canon.co.uk

Profoto at very, very high speed

Leading flash brand, Profoto, has announced two mains flash systems with incredibly brief flash durations available, the D2 monolight and the Pro-10 power pack. Let’s start with the D2. It is available in two outputs, 500Ws and 1000Ws, and speed is very much top of its agenda. The D2 500 has a flash duration as short as 1/63,000sec in freeze mode (1/50,000sec on the D2 1000) so if you like shooting water droplets, for example, it will ‘stop’ every

detail and with plenty of power on tap, too. Furthermore, super-fast recharging allows a quick burst mode which lets you capture 20 images a second so it's ideal for fast-paced action. The D2 also has the option of TTL shooting, full manual, high-speed flash sync with shutter speeds up to 1/8000sec and it is compatible with over 120 light shaping tools in the Profoto system, making it an incredibly powerful tool for the keen photographer.

The D2 500Ws head costs £1194 with the 1000Ws priced at £1554. Kits are available too: the D2 Duo Kit 500/500 at £2394; and the D2 Duo 1000/1000 kit at £3114. We’ll be testing the D2 in due course, but we did get the chance to get our hands on a pre-production sample, and very impressive it is, too. Build quality is up to Profoto’s very high standards and the quick burst mode is remarkable. Its freeze mode is something we will be experimenting with as soon as a sample arrives.

If you thoughtD2was fast, check out the Pro-10. It is the fastest studio flash ever made with flash durations as brief as 1/80,000sec in freeze mode possible and with plenty of power to match. The unit’s top output is 2400Ws and that is adjustable down to 2.4Ws, a range of 11EV. If you want to shoot a sequence of fast action that's also possible, with the Pro-10 capable of up to 50 flashes per second. High speed sync up to 1/8000sec is also available and you can shoot

in manual or TTL modes. Finally, the Pro-10 is compatible with 11 different flash heads and over 120 light shaping tools. Sony users will be pleased with Profoto’s final piece of news. Its Air Remote TTL is now available for Sony (a7 II, a7R II, a7S II) giving full wireless TTL control with compatible Profoto units. Working range is up to 300m with three groups and eight channels available.

profoto.com

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

8

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Laowa hits an optic treble

Shoot great British landscapes towin

Photography News has teamed up with expert photographic printers Lumejet to bring you this chance to win £200 to spend on Lumejet products. Lumejet is passionate about printing great photographs and uses its own specially developed S200 printer for high-end photographic and commercial print use. This high-resolution printer features the Lumejet RGB Digital Print Head and Fujifilm professional grade Crystal Archive materials to achieve a unique, ultra-high quality finish and really extraordinary colour fidelity.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is upload your entry the competition's Flickr gallery at bit.ly/2bPuEWR. Any image type is eligible (mono, HDR, multi-image) but only one shot per person can be submitted and the subject must be a British landscape. Entrants must also be UK based. For full terms and conditions see absolutephoto.com The closing date for entries is 17 October and the winner will be announced in PN issue 38, out the week beginning 24 October 2016. Go for it!

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D is the world’s fastest rectilinear ultra wide-angle lens designed for full-frame cameras. Optical construction comprises 16 elements in 10 groups which includes three extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements to give a high quality, edge-to-edge optical performance free of chromatic aberration and exceptional sharpness even at maximum aperture. The innovative optical design also overcomes barrel distortion, a common problem with ultra-wide lenses, and does so in a compact form in a lens weighing in at just 609g. This lens will be available in Canon EF, Nikon AI, Sony A, Pentax K and Sony E lens fittings will be in the shops from the end of November at the price of £899.99. Going on sale in early 2017 will be a 15mm f/2 Zero D and 7.5mm f/2. Like the 12mm f/2.8, both lenses are manual focus, fast aperture, ultra- wide models; the 15mm for Sony FE fit cameras and the 7.5mm f/2 for

lumejet.com

Micro Four Thirds bodies. The 15mm f/2 is the fastest rectilinear lens of that focal length for full-frame cameras and it is designed to give close to zero optical distortion, so ideal for critical applications like architecture. Lightweight and compact, the 7.5mm f/2 is suitable for use on drones, but also makes a great partner for land-based shooting with its fast aperture making it perfect for low-light situations. Prices of both lenses will be confirmed in due course.

laowalens.co.uk

Panasonic powers on

Panasonic’s Lumix series is 15 years old and going strong. Now it's been swelled with three new high-spec additions, the LX15, the DMC-G80 and the TZ2000. The Lumix LX15 is a 20.1-megapixel 1in sensor premium compact sporting the fastest zoom in its class, a 3x 24- 72mm (35mm equivalent) with a maximum aperture of f/1.4-2.8. A macro mode enables it to focus as close as 3cm from the lens at the wide-angle end for great close-ups and its AF system features Depth from Defocus (DFD) technology to improve speed and precision

as focal length increases. DFD calculates distance by evaluating two images at different sharpness levels at 240fps. The LX15 also has a Post Focus mode that uses 4K video to let you set in-focus areas after shooting using the touch screen. The camera will be out in November at £599.99. The DMC-G80 is a Micro Four Thirds 16-megapixel camera with an updated image stabilisation system. The Dual IS Mk II incorporates gyro technology, two axis Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) and five-axis Body Image Stabilizer (BIS) to give a claimed 5EV benefit.

The sensor is low-pass filter- free and the new Venus Engine processor makes the most of whatever you shoot. The G80 has 4K video recording with live cropping and real-time HDMI image output, too. It’ll also accept the new DMW-BGG1 Battery Grip that takes an extra battery for enhanced shooting capacity. Prices of the G80 and grip and availability have yet to be confirmed. The TZ2000 is premium feature-rich bridge camera. Highlights include a 20-megapixel 1in MOS sensor, creative focusing features and a 20x f/2.8-4.5 zoom.

The latter is equivalent to 24- 480mm and once switched on, the internal zoomdesignmeans it stays a constant size as you zoom. Extra features include 4k Photo where you can shoot at 30fps and save the best frame as an 8-megapixel file. Post Focus is also available as on the LX15. The TZ2000 will also appeal to video shooters of all levels with unlimited 4K video recording in MOV/MP4 and Full HD video at the ultra-high bit rate of 200Mbps. Output in real-time can be made to an external drive via its HDMI connection and an optional V-Log

upgrade available, too. Other pro video features include Dolly Zoom, variable frame rate and Stop Motion Animation. Availability of the Lumix TZ2000 will be from mid November and the price is £1099.99. Panasonic has also announced that it's working on the GH5 for release in early 2017. The GH5 will offer several world-first innovations such as 4K 60p/50p video and a 6K photo mode where an 18-megapixel image is extracted from high-quality video.

panasonic.co.uk

9

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

BlackRapid’s strapping stuff

News in brief

New from the camera strap connoisseurs at BlackRapid is the ‘Breathe’ range. These straps, which come in a range of sizes and styles have been created to deliver high performance and comfort with the shoulder pad allowing better weight distribution and positioning across the body. As part of BlackRapid’s commitment to comfort, the shoulder pad

also has an air-mesh grip layer, fixing its position and increasing ventilation, so you can wear it for longer. Like other BlackRapid straps, it features Duraflex Buckles, Hypalon hook up points and springloaded bumper locks. It’s out now with BlackRapid prices starting at £40.

Sigma gets into movie lenses

Eddy lands in theUK Eddycam straps are now

blackrapid.com

available in the UK. These straps are handmade in Germany from super-soft elk skin so they're comfortable and durable, too. With straps available inmain variety of widths, lengths and configurations, your choice can be very individual, too. eddycam.com eight colours, 17 different colour combinations and a

Sigma is entering the world of video lenses with a range of fixed focal length and zoom lenses suitable for ultra megapixel shooting in Canon EF and Sony E mounts, and with PL fittings coming later. The High Speed Zoom range includes an 18-35mm T2 and a 50- 100mm T2 while in the FF Zoom line there’s a 24-35mm T2.2. Five

options are available in the FF High Speed Prime series and these include a 20mm T1.5, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and an 85mm T1.5 model. Prices are to be confirmed and the lens will start to be available from the end of 2016.

sigma-global.com/en/cine-lenses/

Zeiss 85mm

Paxis pack There are backpacks and

then there's the Paxis range of photo backpacks; these are cleverly designed so you can get at your kit without having to take the backpack off. Pull the cable attached to the shoulder harness and this releases the lower section of the backpack so that it can swing around to the front. Two sizes are available, the Paxis Mt Picket 18 and 20 priced at £180 and £200 respectively. The 18 is grey/ black and the 20 black only. johnsons-photopia.co.uk Apartner for LumeJet LumeJet, a producer of top- quality photographic and fine-art prints, has teamed up with online photo community, Photocrowd. Members can now enjoy LumeJet prints at attractive prices thanks to the deal. See this issue’s Profile section on LumeJet’s Deputy Chairman, Paul Anson, for more on the advanced printing technology they use. photocrowd.com lumejet.com

The Zeiss Loxia family of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras has gained a new member, the 85mm f/2.4. It’s a manual focus lens with a focusing ring that rotates through 220 ˚ for very precise focusing and has aminimum focus distance of 80cm. Stocks will be available from this December and the lens is priced at £1199.

Hähnel helpers The Captur Timer Kit builds on the success of the Giga T Pro II remote. It includes all the latter's features and improvements like a larger LCD, a built-in audio trigger alert, and a more powerful radio output signal. Also from Hähnel are new ProCube charger models that have a new look and additional battery plates, while the range of Extreme batteries has grown with the high capacity HLX-E6N and HLX-EL15HP.

zeiss.com/loxia

hahnel.ie

Classy print box Hahnemuhle’s new A3+ Portfolio Box offers an elegant storage solution for your most prized prints. Finished in black and made from acid-free archival materials the protective and stylish box features a textured cover of 100% cotton with acrylic coating. The limited edition includes 50 sheets of A3+ inkjet paper with the choice of Photo Rag 308, FineArt Baryta or FineArt Baryta Satin. You also get 50 interleaf sheets of acid-free glassine paper. Prices to be confirmed.

hahnemühle.com

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

11

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Plenty fromPhottix

News in brief

Lexar’smicroSD cards Lexar has introduced several microSD cards including a 256GB, high performance model. This 633x UHS-1 card has read speeds of up to 95MB/s. It comes with a USB3.0 reader for £246.99. lexar.com Samsung SSDs The Samsung 960 PRO and 960 EVO are new high performance SSD V-NAND based drives. samsung.com

Lighting specialist Phottix has announced a host of accessories including an easy to assemble, portable beauty dish, the Spartan. Available in 20in and 28in sizes priced at £99 and £129 respectively, the Spartan comes with a fabric grid, front diffuser panel and beauty dish deflector with fittings. The Spartan’s white lining and white deflector give a lovely light and it takes only a few seconds to turn it into a softbox

with the grid available, perfect for lighting smaller areas. Used with Phottix Speedrings (from £29 extra), the Spartan can fit Elinchrom, Profoto and S-bayonet heads. The Spartan can be used in conjunction with the new Cerberus Multi Mount system. This system allows the easy and secure fixing of speedlights to S-bayonet and Elinchrom light modifiers. Phottix Transfolders can also be fitted.

Various Cerebus kit options are available. The Multi Mount kit costs £99 and this includes the Griffin Universal Flash Mount, the Varos B and the S-bayonet and Elinchrom mounts. The Griffin alone is £25. Phottix Transfolders are fold-up softboxes in three sizes, 40x40cm, 60x60cm and 80x80cm priced at £69, £79 and £95 respectively. Kits including the Cereberus mount are available, and there is also a Deluxe

version of the 60x60cmTransfolder, which includes both a round grid and a mask. The Odin II trigger announced earlier this year for both Canon and Nikon cameras is now available for Sony users. It costs £160 and its feature-rich specification includes TTL flash, remote light ratio control and Overdrive Sync, which enables high-speed flash sync up to 1/8000sec depending on the camera gear in use. There's a test on the Odin II in this issue so please check that out.

eu.macgroupus.com

Macphun Aurora HDR 2017

Canon has added four new compact models to its PIXMA range of home printers – each model is available in different colour finishes hence they are called ‘series’. The TS5050 series is an entry-level model at £119.99 that can print from an SD card, over Wi-Fi and from the cloud. It can print up to A4 and has five individual ink tanks. Next up is the TS6050 series priced at £159.99 and this is a compact flatbed scanner and printer. Scanner resolution is 1200x2400 dpi and print output is up to A4. Again, printing can be done via Wi-Fi. Priced at £199.99 is the TS8050 series, which is also a printer/ scanner, this time using six individual ink tanks. The 9600x2400dpi resolution means it is capable of excellent photo quality output. Finally, there is the T9050 series, a specialist printer aimed at the discerning photo user. It’s priced at £279.99 and the large five-inch touchscreen makes it very easy to use. Printing can be done viaWi-Fi, NFC, Ethernet and SD card. Prints up to A4 can be made using the six individual tank ink system and there is the option of direct disc printing with the included software. Canon gets printing

The latest version of this Mac HDR software has some exciting new features added and it’s also 50% faster than the previous version. New features include a Polarize tool for even more vivid skies and to reduce glare; greatly improved noise reduction; an improved Top and Bottom Adjustment tool for more flexible control of exposure, contrast and vibrance. Add batch processing, Luminosity and Radial Masking tools and Advanced Tone Mapping and you have a powerful software. Pre-order price is £65 – a saving of a whopping £142 off its guide price.

Samyang’s top duo

canon.co.uk

Korean lens maker Samyang has announced two premium lenses, an 14mm f/2.4 and an 85mm f/1.8. Both these prime lenses are manual focus only and have amazing resolving power to suit shooting stills and video on high resolution cameras. The 85mm f/1.2 is for full-frame cameras and features ten elements in seven groups with one aspherical lens and two high refractive lenses.

With 18 elements in 14 groups, the 14mm f/2.4 is Samyang’s most advanced lens yet. Among its list of special lens elements are two aspherical lenses, one hybrid aspherical lens, two extra-low dispersion lenses and one high refractive lens. Prices and availability of both lenses have yet to be confirmed.

macphun.com

intro2020.co.uk

12

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Thebody shop: Pro

Anthropics Technology, makers of PortraitPro software, recently launched a landscape improving software (tested in the last issue). Now both have been joined by a dedicated body retouching software. PortraitPro Body is available as a stand-alone Standard version and the Studio version, priced at £29.95 and £49.95 respectively. The Studio version canbeused stand-alone or as a plug-in for Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom. It also has Raw support, different colour space

options and JPEG and TIFF output. Both Mac and Windows versions are available. Key features include body reshaping such as build and height adjustment; posture correction; skin and face editing controls; and picture control tools. It’s said to be a simple to use software with as much manual control as you want. Download the free demo version before buying.

portraitprobody.com

TheMeFotoAirisarangeofcompact, lightweight and very colourful support products including two tripods and one monopod. The two tripods include the Backpacker Air that can support up to 4kg, extends to 151cm and sells for £100. If you want something more substantial, the RoadTrip Air can take a load of 6kg, extends to 155cm and sells for £140. The WalkAbout Air monopod has a maximum height of 150cm and retails at £50. Each tripod includes a smartphone adaptor and rechargeable Bluetooth remote with a clamp to attach it to the handle. The centre column can be removed and used as a selfie stick. The MeFoto Air range features Arca Swiss compatible heads and a choice of seven colours. Mefoto takes to the Air

Hasselblad has announced the 4116 Collection of products and collaborations to mark its 75th anniversary. The company has teamed up with Motorola to produce the Hasselblad True Zoom, a 10x optical zoomMoto Mod compatible with Moto Z smartphones. They have also collaborated with Alpa so its technical cameras will integrate with Hasselblad H and CFV digital backs as well as HC/HCD lenses. Hasselblad celebrates its 75th in style Sony has added the FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens to its E-mount system. It focuses close enough to give a 1:1 life-size magnification while physical features include focus range limiter, focus mode switch and focus- hold button. It is also dust and moisture resistant. Optical components include extra-low dispersion glass to minimise chromatic aberration. This lens is available from October priced at around £500. Sony has also launched the E PZ 18-110mm f/4 G OSS zoom for moviemakers and A-series camera users. This 6.1x zoom features an 18 elements in 15 group construction that includes six aspherical and three extra-low dispersion elements. This lens is expected in December with a price of around €4000. Sony has also announced an action cam, the FDR-X3000R. Available from November, it is priced at £500. Sony gets close hasselblad.com

eu.macgroupus.com

sony.co.uk

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

15

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

News in brief

Benro filters Benro is launching a new

range of screw-in and drop-in filters in a range of sizes for cameras frommirrorless to full-frame. More details will be released soon, but the range will comprise NDs, ND graduates, UV and polarisers. eu.macgroupus.com Viewsonic photomonitor Co-developed with X-rite, the ViewSonic VP2468 is a 24in Full HD 1080pmonitor, which suits colour critical use. The screen is an edge-to-edge SuperClear IPS panel and the thin bezels give a frameless viewing experience. Monitors are colour calibrated in the factory to preset colour spaces and the software lets you fine-tine hue, saturation and gamma. Interfaces include dual HDMI, four USB 3.0 ports and DisplayPort and the stand offers tilt, swivel and height adjustment. The ViewSonic VP2468 is available now and in the shops at £229. viewsonic.com Avery connectedCSC The YI M1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that features Bluetooth 20-megapixel sensor for stills and 4K recording at 30fps and a top ISO speed of 25,600. The three-inch LCD is touch sensitive with an intuitive layout. Two lenses will be available, a 12-40mm f/3.5-5.6 and a 42.5mm f/1.8. The camera uses the Micro Four Thirds mount so plenty of other lens options are available. yitechnology.com Action stations fromGoPro GoPro has launched a range of newHERO5 products. The HER05 Black, which costs £349.99, features a two-inch touch display and shoots 4K video at 30fps and 12-megapixel stills. Raw andWDR photomodes are available. GPS is built in and the camera is waterproof without a housing. Stereo audio recording is available with advanced wind noise reduction. The HERO5 Session is priced at £249.99. This shoots 4K video at 30fps and 10-megapixel quality stills. It has simple one-button control and is waterproof to 10mwithout a housing. gopro.com connectivity and a simple app interface. It features a

Tamron’s next generation

Tamron’s SP 150-600mm brought high class telephoto performance at a very competitive price and in a compact bodyformand it has proved a big hit. Never one to rest on its laurels, Tamron has innovated and brought out the new generation of the lens, the SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2.

There’s a host of improved features that are sure to attract buyers. Optical construction has been enhanced to deliver even better overall performance, autofocus is more responsive and faster and Tamron’s Vibration Compensation has three modes giving a claimed 4.5EV benefit.

Handling benefits from a zoom lock mechanism usable at any focal length position, minimum focusing distance is a mere 2.2m for great telephoto macro shooting and the supplied tripod mount has an Arca- Swiss compatible plate. Two high-quality teleconverters have also been introduced to

complement this lens, 1.4x and 2x models. The 1.4x version enables autofocus with the new zoom. Canon and Nikon fits will be available immediately with a Sony version to come at a later date. Prices have yet to be confirmed.

intro2020.co.uk

Leica gets closer Leica has added the APO Macro Elmarit TL 60mm f/2.8 ASPH to its TL lens family, bringing the range available for T and SL owners up to six. This is priced at £1800 with the lens hood an extra £80. Its optical construction features ten elements in nine groups and can focus down to 16cm to give 1:1 magnification. Black and silver finishes will be available. For Leica collectors, the LeicaM-P Titanium is a limited edition kit with only 333 units available globally. The camera comes kitted with two lenses, the Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH and the Apo-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH.

If you fancy one, you’ll need £17,500. Stocks will be available frommid-October.

leica-camera.com

Innova innovate The Innova Editions range of inkjet media is about tradition, quality and durability. Six products are available in the Editions family, four are existing papers rebranded and two are totally new. The new papers are the Fabriano Artistico Watercolour Rad 310gsm and the Fabriano Printmaking Rag 310gsm. The four rebranded papers are Photo Cotton Rag 315gsm, Etching Cotton Rag 315gsm, Exhibition Cotton Gloss 335gsm and Exhibition Photo Baryta 310gsm (formerly called Smooth Cotton Natural White 100% Cotton, Soft Textured Natural White 100% Cotton, FibaPrint Warm Cotton Gloss and FibaPrint Baryta respectively).

innovaart.com

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 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64

www.photographynews.co.uk

Powered by