Photography News Issue 37

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

Powered by