ISSUE 124
46 / GEAR
TESTED: LOWEPRO PROTACTIC BP 450 AW III All-terrain backpack improved
TESTED: SIGMA 12MM F/1.4 DC CONTEMPORARY
The fast side to APS-C
£519
sigmauk.com
Sigma’s latest ultra-wide f/1.4 prime brings high performance to compact mirrorless cameras As the world covets full-frame sensors, APS-C users could be forgiven for feeling overlooked. Sigma’s 12mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary changes that, delivering an ultra-wide field of view and bright aperture. Part of Sigma’s fast APS-C prime line-up, alongside the 16mm, 23mm, 30mm and 56mm, this new 12mm is available for Sony E, Fujifilm X and Canon RF mounts. Its 18mm full-frame equivalent field of view is perfect for landscapes, interiors, astrophotography and video. Weighing just 225g and measuring under 70mm, it pairs beautifully with compact mirrorless bodies such as the Sony A6700 or new Fujifilm X-T30 III. It feels premium despite its size, with solid build quality, full weather sealing and a tactile focus ring. Sony users also get a dedicated aperture ring. Inside, a 14-element, 12-group optical design includes three double- sided aspherical and two SLD (special low dispersion) elements. These cooperate to minimise distortion, chromatic aberration and flare. Even wide open, images are sharp in the centre and crisp by f/2, with the edges improving further when stopped down. In use, the 12mm lens delivers impressive results. Landscapes look
£237
lowepro.com
For image makers and filmmakers who always have their backpack on, the Lowepro Protactic BP 450 AW III will be a trusted companion, as this third-generation model brings smart refinements, greater comfort and a greener footprint. This 28L hybrid backpack is made from 86% recycled materials, but remains every bit as tough as its predecessors. The structured shell stands upright for easy access, while the EVA-moulded back panel and dual-density harness provide good airflow and load distribution. Also, a padded waist belt and sternum strap add stability, but under heavy loads the shoulder harness can feel stiff for narrower frames. Access is where the BP 450 AW III really shines. You get four entry points – dual side doors, a wide top flap and full back-panel access – meaning your camera is always within reach. Inside, Lowepro’s customisable divider system lets you configure compartments for mirrorless kits, lenses, drones, gimbals or whatever else you need. The dividers are firmer and more precise than before, staying perfectly in place once adjusted. There’s also a 16in laptop sleeve and zipped pouches for accessories. On the outside, large stretch pockets can hold tripods or bottles, while hybrid webbing accepts Molle and Sliplock accessories for endless expansion. And the included All Weather Cover keeps your kit dry. The Protactic BP 450 AW III remains one of the most versatile, thoughtfully engineered camera bags available and it’s now more sustainable, adaptable and durable. Verdict Overall rating: 8/10 A customisable bag that swallows up kit and a large laptop, but the straps can become uncomfortable
stabilisation although, given the fast aperture and most modern cameras’ IBIS systems, it’s not an issue. Fast, compact and beautifully made, the Sigma 12mm f/1.4 is the wide-angle APS-C that shooters have been waiting for. Verdict Overall rating: 9/10 A great-value APS-C super wide, but no image stabilisation
immersive and three-dimensional, while interiors benefit from the bright aperture without needing high ISO settings. There’s some vignetting at f/1.4 and mild distortion typical of ultra wides, but both are easily corrected. Chromatic aberration is modest and well controlled. Autofocus is driven by a stepping motor, which is fast, accurate and silent. Focus breathing is minimal, and the short focus throw enables precise manual adjustments. Close focusing to 20cm enables creative foreground emphasis and dynamic compositions. There’s no optical
SHARP SHOOTER This slick optic matches an APS-C body perfectly for impressive results
TESTED: WESTERN DIGITAL G-RAID MIRROR 48TB
Raising the bar for storage
£2140
westerndigital.com
The G-RAID runs whisper-quiet, stays cool and, in our standard tests, transferred 50GB of images in just over three minutes. It’s not the cheapest way to get 48TB of RAID 1 desktop storage, but with its build quality, speed and reliability, the G-RAID Mirror is a professional solution. If you want secure, high-performance storage with room to grow, this won’t let you down.
Western Digital’s G-RAID Mirror is a serious upgrade from the 24TB G-Drive we tested recently. Built around the same premium aluminium chassis, it houses two enterprise-grade Ultrastar 7200rpm HDDs and comes configured in RAID 1 for instant data protection. Connectivity’s taken a step forward, with dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports that support daisy-chaining and full backward compatibility with USB-C systems. There’s also a front slot for Sandisk Pro-Blade SSD Mags, offering up to 4TB of fast, removable storage, which is ideal for quick offloads. Performance is excellent. In RAID 1, read/write speeds reach 260/250MB/s, while RAID 0 or JBOD mode doubles that to around 500MB/s. For most users, RAID 1 offers the best balance as every file is mirrored for instant
redundancy, giving peace of mind for valuable work. Set-up couldn’t be simpler. It’s formatted for Mac and, once connected via the included Thunderbolt cable, it mounts immediately – no drivers or configuration required. It can also be reformatted for Windows.
DRIVE TIME The rugged
Verdict
WD RAID’s pro-grade features are built to deliver
Overall rating: 9/10 Rugged yet stylish and compact desktop RAID with large capacity, but not the cheapest solution
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