Issue 18 goes big on testing – we have the Fujifilm X100T, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Profoto B2 light on the bench this week, as well as taking a first look at the Canon EOS 5DS. Our Camera class teaches you how to read a histogram and we talk to Dr Marek Kukula ahead of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
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The results are in! World’s best photo equipment – as voted for by you
Changes have also been made to the camera’s buffer capacity, which was criticised in the previous model. Thanks to the inclusion of the EXPEED 4 image processor, the D7200 can record 27 Raw files or 100 JPEGs before pausing for breath. Along with the D7200, Nikon has also unveiled the COOLPIX P900 bridge camera with a whopping 83x optical zoom, and has released details of its Spring cashback promotions. To find out more about all these announcements, turn to page 6.
Nikon has launched a new range-topping model in its DX format line-up. The D7200, which will be available from 19 March, replaces the D7100 at the top of the tree of models with an APS-C sized sensor and, while it may look very similar to its predecessor, some substantial changes lurk within. These include features taken from the company’s FX full-frame models, the most notable of which is the inclusion of a 51-point autofocusing system that operates in light levels as low as -3EV. This means it can focus in near-darkness.
Roll out the red carpet as we salute the best
First look at the EOS 5DS plus E-M5MkII andX100Ton test Trees company: R5 of Camera Club of the Year kicks off Don’t leaf it to the last minute to root out your shots
π To find out more about the D7200 and the COOLPIX P900, go to www.nikon.co.uk.
Latest from Canon, Olympus & Fujifilm rated
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OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5MARK II What the pros thought Read the reviews from the professional photographers, who’ve already put the E-M5 Mark II through its paces
JohnNassari Professional photographer ★★★★★
“The most impressive feature is the stellar 5-axis stabiliser, not only givingmeoptions inmoviemodebut in low-light handheld photography. I can confidently shoot a low-light church scene at shutter speeds of 1/15sec and not see camera shake. With a true whisper mode on top of that, I can now shoot silently in almost dark conditions! “And with the Wi-Fi function and my phone, I can send a high-res image straight to a client.”
“My first impression is that this camera offers a lot of strength. Its one-shot mode that allows you to takehigh-res images (40-megapixel) rivals some medium-format and heavy DSLR studio cameras. The inbuilt keystone correction (a verticals correction) gives me a tiny architecture kit. “It’s fast for reportage and with the focus peaking function I can manually focus on an eyelid for studio portraits, which is a joy.
π To find out more about John, go to www.johnnassari.co.uk.
Edmond Terakopian Professional photographer and film-maker ★★★★★
for handheld shooting, nothing else I’ve tried comes close. “The headphone socket, live monitoring of audio during shooting as well as touchscreen silent control during shooting of ISO, aperture, shutter speed and audio gain, along with the variable frame rates, slow motion and an ALL-I quality setting means my work is of the highest quality and can accommodate a wide variety of client briefs as well as my creative ideas.”
“The inbuilt stabiliser makes the Mark II probably the most able video shooting stills camera around. I shot themajority of my short film London Taxi (https://vimeo.com/118739910) completely handheld, something I would never do with a DSLR. In the past I’ve used various other rigs and systems but this built-in stabiliser is the best solution I’ve ever used; it’s much easier to master, making this a smooth and easy camera to shoot with. It’s quite literally liberating and
π To find out more about Edmond, go to www.terakopian.com.
Nicholas Goodden Professional photographer ★★★★★
speeds, silent shutter – and the list goes on. “The rotating screen allows me to shoot from otherwise tricky angles. The silent electronic shutter is key to my street photography and the mechanical shutter is otherwise quieter than ever. It’s a perfect camera for the urban environment, it’s not obtrusive nor is it intimidating, and it’s easy to carry around all day. I can see great applications for the Live Composite function in my urban work too.”
“The Mark II is a fantastic camera, a perfect successor to the E-M5. Olympus has pretty much packed an E-M1 into a smaller and even better looking E-M5 and improved on so many aspects including the ergonomics and numerous customisable buttons. For anyone already using the E-M5 and still wondering if they should make the jump look at it this way: added Wi-Fi, a much better viewfinder, improved ergonomics and more buttons that can be customised, faster shutter
π To find out more, go to www.nicholasgooddenphotography.co.uk.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
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Latest photography news Nikon launches faster, smarter,more powerful D7200 It may look the same as a D7100, but some major upgrades lurk beneath the surface
tablet. Communication is achieved by touching the two devices together after which the image displayed on the camera’s 3.2in rear LCD will be transferred to the device. If you don’t have an NFC device, Wi-Fi is offered as a wireless alternative – just download Nikon’s free Wireless Mobile Utility app to get started. TheD7200alsoprovides a suite of video functions, accessed through the dedicated Movie menu. It captures Full HD movies at 25p or 30p and can offer 50p and 60p recording, but only in the 1.3x crop mode. Dual SD card slots should ensure you don’t run out of storage space while shooting, plus there’s also an HDMI output for an external recorder or monitor. Proving that Nikon takes audio capture just as seriously, the D7200 is compatible with Nikon’s new ME-W1 wireless microphone and also offers a range of built-in audio controls. If you’re looking for new creative functions, the D7200 boasts new Picture Controls including Flat and Clarity. The former retains more detail and tone in highlights and shadows, while the latter allows precise control over fine detail. A time- lapse movie function has also been added, along with the capability to shoot continuously with exposures of four seconds or longer to record star trails.
Nikon has unveiled the D7200, a 24.2-megapixel range-topping DX format DSLR. Although not a huge resolution upgrade over the 24.1-megapixel D7100, the new model has a number of specification tweaks compared to its predecessor and uses features taken from the full-frame FX format range, most notably the autofocus system. It’s also the first Nikon DSLR to offer Near Field Communication (NFC). The 51-point AF system is sensitive down to -3EV, making it possible to achieve focus virtually in the dark. The system features 15 cross-type sensors around the centre of the frame and one central point that works down to f/8. Images can be captured at a maximum of 6fps in the DX format and 7fps in the 1.3x crop mode. Keep your finger on the shutter release and you’ll get up to 27 Raw files or 100 JPEGs at these speeds. While this frame rate is the same as the D7100, the buffer capacity has been improved thanks to the inclusion of the EXPEED 4 processor. This also has a positive effect on ISO sensitivity with the native range now running from 100 to 25,600. Expanded, sensitivity on the D7200 stretches to 102,400 on the Hi2 setting. NFC on the D7200 makes for simple wireless image transfers if you have an NFC-compatible smartphone or
RIGHT With native ISO up to 25,600, improved buffering and new creative functions, the D7200 is Nikon’s range- topping DX format DSLR.
Simon Iddon, group product manager, DSLR lenses and accessories, Nikon UK, said: “The D7200 is a class breed of camera that inspires excellence and creativity. Its advanced features make it an ideal camera for both experienced photographers and people looking to get started with a top-of- the range camera. Nikon’s superb ergonomics and extensive range of DX and FX format lenses offer the freedom to shoot subjects with ease and without limitations. It’s now also simpler than ever to share your images using the sophisticated NFC or Wi-Fi function. The outstanding ISO performance and excellent AF system make the D7200 a cut above the rest and ensure outstanding image quality in any situation.” Available frommid-March, the D7200 has a body only price of £939.99 or a kit price of £1119.99 with an 18-105mm.
π To find out more, go to www.nikon.co.uk.
Nikon springs cashbackdeals
UP TO £275 CASHBACK
P900 zooms to 2000mm!
Alongside the launch of the D7200, Nikon also introduced the COOLPIX P900 bridge camera, which offers an 83x optical zoom extending from 24-2000mm (35mm equivalent). The 16-megapixel P900 can also shoot Full HD video, comes with a Vibration Reduction system that claims up to five stops of compensation, has a vari-angle three-inch rear LCD and offers a Dynamic Fine Zoom that digitally extends the focal length to a monstrous 4000mm! Available from mid-March, the P900 will retail at £499.99.
Up to £275 can be claimed on Nikon’s Spring lens cashback promotion, which also has a bonus offer for customers buying selected digital SLRs at the same time. Buy one of 13 DX and FX lenses before 31 May and you’ll receive between £20 and £275 cashback, but if you also buy a D7100, D610 or D750 in body only or kit form at the same time you can claim additional cash, a compatible battery grip or a London-based training course. Cashback is fulfilled with Visa pre-paid cards and claims must be made by 28 June.
π To find out more, go to nikon.co.uk.
π To find out more, go to www.nikon.co.uk/promotions.
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Latest photography news
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On-location photographers have been spoiled this month with two new portable flash lighting kits launched. Profoto’s B2 is an entirely new product, whereas Elinchrom’s ELB400 is an upgrade to the existing Ranger Quadra line-up. The B2 is a compact and lightweight offering with a head weighing 0.7kg and the battery pack 1.6kg. This makes it highly portable and, if you own a Canon or Nikon camera, it can be fired wirelessly with full TTL control via the optional Air Remote TTL-C/N unit. Available in one- and two-head kits, the B2 offers up to 250 watt seconds of power, a nine-stop range and can recycle in as little as 0.03 seconds. A modelling light is also provided, with the battery providing up to 215 full power flashes on a single charge. Check out our test in this issue. Elinchrom’s ELB400 is also available in one- and two-head kits and offers 424 watt seconds of power, a 6.9-stop range and can provide up to 350 full power flashes on a single charge – 25% more than the original system. In addition to being more powerful than the original Ranger Quadra kit, the design now offers an OLED screen on the battery pack, 20% faster recycling, plus it’s compatible with existing Elinchrom accessories. Profoto and Elinchrom in sync with newon-location systems Portable flash kits are go!
NEWS INBRIEF GREATWESTERN Western Digital’s latest NAS (network attached storage) products – the My Cloud EX2100 and EX4100 – provide up to 12 and 24TB of storage respectively for sharing, back up and streaming. The drives can be accessed from anywhere and they’re both PC and Mac compatible. The two-bay EX2100 costs £239 for the unit and £399 for 4TB, the four- bay EX4100 costs £359 and £699 for 8TB. www.wd.com The 100 Mile Radius landscape photography competition is open to all amateurs and pros. Photograph a landscape/seascape within 100 miles of your home in any style you choose and submit it before 31 July 2015 to win prizes including a one photo book deal with Brown Owl Press. £10 entry fee. 100mileradius.info COMPETITION
π To find out more, go to www.profoto.com and www.pscdistribution.co.uk.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
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Latest photography news
And the winners are…
The votes have been counted in the Advanced Photographer Awards. So which products and manufacturers are being honoured?
Thanks to everyone who voted in our sister title, Advanced Photographer ’s inaugural kit awards. The Advanced Photographer Awards 2014 seek to recognise the best kit, retailers, services and trainers of last year, as chosen by readers. Inmany categories, it was a close-run thing, and only in a few was there a runaway winner. Regardless, in every case the winners thoroughly deserve their accolades. So without further ado, let’s reveal the Advanced Photographer Award winners of 2014. n ADVANCEDDSLRCAMERA Nominations: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Nikon D810, Nikon Df, Pentax K3, Sony A77 II Winner: CanonEOS5DMark III n PROFESSIONALDSLRCAMERA Nominations: Canon EOS-1D X, Nikon D4 s Winner: NikonD4 s n BRIDGECAMERA Nominations: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, Fujifilm Finepix S1, Nikon COOLPIX P600, Panasonic FZ1000, Samsung WB2200F, Song Cyber-shot HX400 Winner: NikonCoolpixP600 n PREMIUMCOMPACT Nominations: Canon PowerShot G7 X, Fujifilm X30, Nikon COOLPIX A, Panasonic Lumix LX100, Sigma DP2 Quattro, Sony RX100 III Winner: Panasonic LumixLX100
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n ADVANCED CSC Nominations: Nikon 1 V3, Olympus OM-D E-M10, Olympus PEN E-P5, Panasonic Lumix GX7, Samsung NX30, Sony A6000 Winner: Olympus OM-D E-M10 n PROFESSIONAL CSC Nominations: Fujifilm X-T1, Leica M-P, Olympus OM-D E-M1, Panasonic Lumix GH4, Samsung NX1, Sony A7 s Winner: Fujifilm X-T1
n TRIPOD: CARBON-FIBRE Nominations: 3 Legged thing X1.1 Brian Evolution 2, Giottos Silk Road YTL8353 3D, Gitzo Mountaineer GT2532, Induro CT113, Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3, Slik Pro 723 AF Winner: Manfrotto MT055CXPR03
n CONTINUOUSLIGHTING Nominations: Bowens Mosaic Daylight LED Panel, Elinchrom Scanlite Halogen 300-650W, Interfit Stellar Fluo600, Lastolite RayD8 C5600, Rotolight RL48-B Stealth, Westcott Ice Light Winner: BowensMosaicDaylight LEDPanel n STUDIOACCESSORY Nominations: Gossen DIGISKY, Lastolite Urban Backgrounds, Profoto Deep Umbrella family, Sekonic L-308S Flashmate, Studio Décor Roll Easy n INKJETPRINTER Nominations: Canon PIXMA MG5650, Canon PIXMA Pro-100, Canon PIXMA Pro-1, Epson Stylus Photo 1500W, Epson Stylus Photo R2000, Epson Surecolor SC-P600 Winner: Epson Stylus PhotoR2000 n INKJETMEDIA Nominations: Canson Baryta Photographique 310, Chau Da Vinci Fibre Gloss 300gsm, Fotospeed PF Lustre 275gsm, Hahnemühle Photo Silk Baryta 310, Harman Photo Baryta FB, Permajet Distinction 360 Winner: Hahnemühle PhotoSilkBaryta 310 n MEMORYCARD Nominations: Delkin Cinema SDHC UHS-II Class 3, Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II, PNY Elite Performance, Samsung SDXC Pro Memory, SanDisk Extreme PRO, Transcend UHS-I Class 3 Winner: SanDisk Extreme PRO n EXTERNALSTORAGEDEVICE Nominations: Drobo Mini, G-Technology G Dock ev, Lacie d2 Thunderbolt 2, Seagate Central, Toshiba Canvio Desk, Western Digital My Book Duo Winner: G-TechnologyGDock ev background system, Westcott Zeppelin Winner: Sekonic L-308S Flashmate
n MEDIUM-FORMAT BEST VALUE Nominations: Hasselblad H5D-40, Pentax 645Z Winner: Pentax 645Z
n TRIPOD: ALUMINIUM Nominations: Benro A0570T, Manfrotto 190X, MeFoto RoadTrip A1350QIB, Nest Traveller NT- 6294AK, Sirui N-2004X, Velbon UT 53D Winner: Benro A0570T n FILTEROF THEYEAR Nominations: B+W True-Match Vari-ND, Cokin Pure Harmonie family, Hoya ProND 1000x, Lee Filters Little Stopper, Marumi DHG Super Circular Polariser, NiSi UV370 Winner: Lee Filters Little Stopper n CAMERAACCESSORY Nominations: Black Rapid Sport strap, CamRanger, Hähnel Captur, Hüfa lens cap retainer, LensPen lens cleaner, PocketWizard PlusX Winner: Black Rapid Sport strap n SHOULDERBAG Nominations: Billingham Hadley Large, Lowepro Urban Reporter 250, Manfrotto Advanced Shoulder Bag VIII, Nest Explorer 100L, Tamrac Pro 8, Tenba P415 Winner: Tenba P415 n PHOTOBACKPACK Nominations: Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW, Manfrotto Pro Light Camera Backpack: Revolver-8 PL, Nest Explorer 200L, Tamrac Expedition 6X, Tenba Shootout Sling LE Medium, Think Tank StreetWalker Pro Winner: Lowepro ProTactic 350AW n ON-CAMERAFLASHGUNS Nominations: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT, iLux V850 Speedlite, Metz 64 AF-1, Nikon Speedlight SB-910, Nissin MG8000 Extreme, Phottix Mitros+ Winner: iLux V850 Speedlite n PORTABLE FLASH Nominations: Elinchrom Quadra Hybrid RX, iLux Summit 600c, Lencarta Atom 360, Profoto B1, Quantum QFlash X5DR, Strobies Pro-Flash 180 Winner: Profoto B1 n MAINS FLASH: MONOBLOCS Nominations: Bowens Gemini 500Pro, Broncolor Siros 400, Elinchrom ELC Pro HD 500, iLux Quattro 500Pro, Lencarta Superfast 600, Profoto D1 Air 500 Winner: Lencarta SuperFast 600 n MAINS FLASH: GENERATOR Nominations: Bowens Creo 1200, Broncolor Scoro S 3200 RFS 2, Elinchrom Digital 1200 RX, Profoto Acute2R 1200 Winner: ElinchromDigital 1200 RX
n MEDIUM-FORMAT Nominations: Hasselblad H5D-50c, Hasselblad H5D-60, Leica S, Leica S-E, Mamiya 645DF+ with Leaf Credo 80 back Winner: Hasselblad H5D-50c n STANDARD ZOOM Nominations: Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12-40mm f/2.8, Pentax DA 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM, Samsung NX 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S ED OIS, Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM A, Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Winner: Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM A n WIDE-ANGLE ZOOM Nominations: Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED (IF), Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 II DG HSM, Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II LD (IF), Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro FX Winner: Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
n LAUNCH OFTHEYEAR Nominations: Nikon D810, Pentax 645Z, Profoto B1 system, Samsung NX1, Sony Alpha A7 s , Tamron SP 150-600mm Winner: SamsungNX1
n TELEPHOTO ZOOM Nominations: Canon EF 200- 400mm f/4 IS USM Extender x1.4, Olympus M.Zuiko 40- 150mm f/2.8, Samsung NX 50-150mm f/2.8 S ED OIS, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, Tokina AT-X 70- 200mm f/4 FX VCM-S Winner: Tamron SP 150- 600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD
n INNOVATION Nominations: Fujifilm’s 1/32,000sec shutter speed, Lytro Illum, Profoto B1, Samsung NX1, Sigma DP2 Quattro design Winner: Lytro Illum n WEBSITEPROVIDER Nominations: Amazing Internet, Clikpic, Layerspace, PhotoShelter, SmugMug, Zenfolio Winner: Zenfolio
n FIXED FOCAL LENGTH LENS Nominations: Fujifilm XF56mm f/1.2 R APD, Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED, Panasonic DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH , Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A, Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 Winner: Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 n SUPERZOOM Nominations: Fujifilm XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R OIS WR, Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR, Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6, Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C, Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro, Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD Winner: Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro n VIDEO LENS Nominations: Canon CN-E 50mm T1.3LF, Samyang 50mm T1.5 AS UMC, SLR Magic APO HyperPrime 50mm T2.1, Tokina Cinema AT-X 16-28mm T3.0, Tokina Cinema AT-X 50-135mm T3.0, Zeiss CZ.2 70-200mm T2.9 Winner: Samyang 50mm T1.5 AS UMC
n RETAILER: HIGH STREET Winner: Jessops
n RETAILER: ONLINE Winner: WEX Photographic n TRAINING PROVIDER Winner: Jessops Academy n PRINTINGSERVICESPROVIDER Winner: Loxley Colour
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Issue 18 | Photography News
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Latest photography news
Manfrotto gets ingear
Canonoffers up to £250cash
UP TO £250 CASHBACK
NEWS INBRIEF SHOOT SHELLFIES Braun has introduced two selfie sticks: the Fun and Underwater. Selfie Stick Fun is available in various bright colours with or without Bluetooth remote shooting and accepts devices up to 500g. The standard version is £14.28, the Bluetooth version is £24.84. The Underwater stick supports up to 2kg and costs £30.78. www.kenro.co.uk HIT THE STREETS A programme of street photography courses has been launched by London-based trainers StreetSnappers. Courses are available in London, Liverpool and Oxford. Founder Bryan Lloyd Duckett told PN : “What makes us different is our element of photojournalistic training. Participants work to a brief and a deadline.” Numbers are limited to six or eight Be the envy of your friends (and popular with your bank manager) with the limited edition Leica M-P Safari set. Just 1500 sets will be available worldwide featuring an engraved olive green Leica M-P, a chrome Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH lens, leather strap and business card holder. On sale for £7850. uk.leica-camera.com GO ONE TO ONE Club judge, lecturer and this month’s Before the Judge columnist, Huw Alban runs a range of 1-2-1 workshops at locations on the Dorset coast all year round. Each workshop is tailored to you, so you can focus on whatever aspect you wish. Available dates and locations are on the Workshops page of his website. He also regularly gives club talks, giving back to the camera club movement that so helped his photography. He’s fully booked for 2015 and is already taking bookings for 2016. www.huwalban.com participants. Prices from £125 to £165. www.street snappers.com GREENWITH ENVY
Buy selected Canon products before 6 May and you could claim up to £250 cashback under the company’s Spring scheme. Digital SLRs, lenses, flashguns, compact cameras, video cameras and printers are all included in the scheme with £250 being offered against the Canon EOS 5D MkIII body. Other highlights include £80 cashback on an EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM and £100 off a PIXMA Pro-1 printer. If you buy any two products in the cashback offer you’ll also receive a free HD photo book worth £99.
π To find out more, go to www.canon.co.uk/springcashback.
Full UK launch for LumixCM1 The Panasonic that’s part phone, part camera soon to be available all over the country
Inaccurate framing could be a thing of the past thanks to Manfrotto’s new XPRO tripod head. It features a geared action that enables photographers to move the head one step at a time in all three axes, which makes it easier to frame images precisely. Manfrotto anticipates that the XPRO head will be most popular among macro and architecture photographers, but in reality it’ll be suitable for anyone looking for precise framing control. It weighs 750g, but will support up to 4kg of camera equipment, and it also uses the 200PL quick release plate that will be familiar to existing Manfrotto tripod users. The XPRO is available now for £169.95.
π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto.co.uk.
Nissin has introduced a wireless version of its Di700 flashgun. The Di700A features its own radio receiver that works with the new Nissin Commander Air1 for wireless shooting up to 30m away. The Commander is capable of triggering up to 21 compatible Nissingoes wireless with Di700A
The Panasonic Lumix CM1 is going to be made available in the UK and Ireland following a successful trial launch. The CM1 – the world’s only camera with a one-inch sensor, Android operating system and smartphone functionality – will be available from mid- April and is likely to offer the best image quality yet from a smartphone device. In addition to the one-inch, 20.1-megapixel sensor, the CM1 also offers a fixed wide- angle Leica lens (28mm equivalent in 3:2 ratio), a 4.7in LCD, 4K video capture and has all the features you’d expect from a top-end compact camera, including a Raw file format and focus peaking. NFC (Near Field Communication), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are also all available. The camera will come pre-loaded with Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, but this will be upgradeable to 5.0 Lollipop when it comes out in May. Prices are to be confirmed with a list of stockists already confirmed including Jessops, Warehouse Express, Cameraworld, LCE, Park Cameras, Wilkinsons Cameras and Harrods.
flashguns and can also be used to change flashgun settings including power output, zoom coverage and first or second curtain synchronisation. The Di700A flashgun has a guide number of 48, covers lenses from 24mm to 200mm and has high-speed synchronisation up to 1/8000sec. Canon and Nikon fits are available now with a Sony variant arriving in May. The Di700A costs £209.94, the Commander Air1 £59.94, or the two can be bought in a kit for £239.94.
π To find out more, go to www.panasonic.co.uk.
π To find out more, go to www.kenro.co.uk.
Photography News | Issue 18
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11 Advertisement feature Great for on the go! MANFROTTOTRIPODS The latest in Manfrotto’s 190 line-up of pro tripods is lighter and more compact to take you and your photography even further
If a tripod is an essential part of your kit, it doesn’t matter whether you’ll be carrying it on a day trip to the Lakes or a holiday to Yosemite National Park. Wherever you decide to set up, you’ll want it to be equal to the job in all ways. Manfrotto has long been associated with top-end tripods and its 190 range, in particular, has gained a reputation for being easy to use and high performing. Adding to that impressive heritage, there’s a brand-new tripod released in the 190 series: the new 190 go!. It takes lightweight to another level and as for being easy to use, setting up will take you no time at all; this latest 190 tripod really delivers on all fronts, for unlimited and totally spontaneous creativity. The 190 go! is available from the end of March with an SRP of £159.95. Slimline stats If you are going to be carrying around a tripod, the lighter the better. Shed the pounds with the 190 go! which is the most portable tripod in the 190 series. Weighing in at just 1.7kg, the 190 go! is a truly lightweight option which, depending on how you see it, either saves your back the extra work or frees up some kilos for even more gear in your bag. Even more impressive, it folds down to just 45cm in length. You still get plenty of height with the 190 go! though, as it extends out to a maximum of 146cm, offering you even more portability but giving just as much scope for shooting. Spontaneous shooting Yes, it builds on the design heritage of the prestigious 190 series, but in terms of innovations, it’s got plenty, not least of which is a new twist locking system. There’s no juggling of kit whilst you try and wrangle your tripod open: all it takes is one hand to open and close the go! for an ultra-fast set‑up time, so next time you spot a great photo opportunity you can be ready to shoot in no time. The twist lock system takes up less room than a traditional lever too, adding to the 190 go!’s slimline profile. Once you’ve got your tripod open, setting the angle you want for its legs is no hassle either – in fact it’s easy and intuitive to do, leaving you even more time for photographing.
Endless creativity The 90° column means that as well as getting great height from this tripod, you can also take things low to the ground. The column doesn’t get in the way when you’re not using it, only coming into its own when you need a new, lower perspective. The 190 go! also includes an Easy Link attachment which can hold your accessories, from LED lights to reflectors, giving you even greater versatility. Good looks Its distinct but subtle style makes it undeniably from the Manfrotto family of tripods. As with all Manfrotto tripods, you can expect quality like no other. Designed and manufactured in Italy, the 190 go! is made from premium materials and comes with up to a ten-year warranty. Reliable, flexible and incredibly compact, the 190 go! tripod is the perfect travel companion for any photographer wanting portability and high performance. No compromise necessary. Reliable, flexible and compact, the 190 go! is the perfect travel companion
π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto.co.uk.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
12
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CameraClubof theYear 2014-15
The last round’s theme is trees, andwith that announced it’s time to think about finalising your club’s entry for our first Camera Club of the Year competition. Great prizes and fame await thewinners
Your camera club might have been entering month by month, or you might have decided to hang on until after Round 5’s theme was announced and then enter all 25 pictures. If you have been entering round by round, there is still time to switch images if you prefer, so long as everything is in by 5 May 2015 ready for judging.
Of course, the crucial thing is to have 25 strong photographs that each interpret the relevant theme, as creatively as possible. Technical proficiency we’d expect anyway and that means correct exposure, right colours and sharp where it matters – so tight depth-of-field control. Speaking of tight control, this also applies to highlights and shadows, so skilled use of editing software to get details in the right place. Images should also be cropped to maximise picture impact. The adage ‘ less is more ’ is worth bearing in mind, so don’t be afraid to try different options before submitting your entry. With those final thoughts, we look forward to your club’s entry. Remember, the closing date is 5 May 2015. Good luck everyone.
First, your club’s competition secretary (or whoever is going to enter eachmonth) must sign up at www.absolutephoto.com . Next, click on Members’ Area in the menu bar, then choose Camera Club of the Year 2014-15 from the drop-down list. Simply register your camera club and follow the upload instructions. How to enter
Thewinning club gets… ... a brilliant CanonXEEDWUX450multimedia projector worth over £3000 to showoff their winning shots and 25 subscriptions to irista, plus an exclusive experience day with international landscape and travel pro, DavidNoton!
CanonEOS5DS Canon has really put the cat among the pigeons with its two latest full-frame DSLRs launches. The EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R both boast 50.6-megapixel resolutions, making them the highest resolution 35mmDSLRs on the market. And all in a traditional-sized camera body. The twomodels are mostly identical, with the R variant having a low-pass cancellation filter for the ultimate resolution from the 50.6-megapixel sensor. Neither camera will be in the shops until later this spring, and body prices have to be confirmed but are expected to be around £3000 each. That’s incredible value, because they offer medium-format resolution at a fraction of the price, and with the support of Canon’s massive collection of top-flight lenses. Canon has set the bar very high indeed with these two game-changing DSLRs.
SPECS
PRICE To be confirmed SENSOR 36x24mm CMOS, 50.6 megapixels, 8688x5792 pixels PROCESSOR Dual DIGIC 6 ISORANGE 100-6400 (exp. ISO 50 to 12,800) SHUTTER 30secs to 1/8000sec plus B SHOOTING RATE Up to 5fps (up to 14 Raws or 50 JPEGs) METERING SYSTEM 150,000 pixel RGB-IR sensor with Evaluative, measurement methods AUTOFOCUS POINTS 61, with AI focus, one- shot and predictive servo AF DIMENSIONS 152x116.4x76.4mm WEIGHT 845g body only partial, spot and centre‑weighted
CANON XEEDWUX450 PROJECTOR
David Noton EXPERIENCE DAY!
CANONXEEDWUX450PROJECTOR+ANEXCLUSIVEDAYWITHDAVIDNOTON The Canon XEEDWUX450multimedia projector, worth over £3000, is Canon’s most compact WUXGA projector. WUXGA stands for Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array, so you get a 16:10 screen aspect ratio and a huge display resolution of up to 1920x1200 pixels. www.canon.co.uk David Noton is one of the world’s top photographers specialising in landscape and travel work. The winning club gets an exclusive day with David where he’ll be hosting a workshop and then providing an illustrated talk on his amazing images. www.davidnoton.com 25SUBSCRIPTIONSTOIRISTA The newway tomanage, organise and share your image files online, irista supports JPEGs and Raws frommost manufacturers and 10GB of storage space is available free on sign-up. The winning club, though, will get 25 free Value subscriptions that have 50GB storage capacity – which is normally £45 for a year’s subscription. www.irista.com
π To find out more, go to www.canon.co.uk.
Register your club today at absolutephoto.com
Photography News | Issue 18
13
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Round 5: Trees It seems only five minutes ago that we launched our first Camera Club of the Year contest, but here we are announcing the final round and we want your best tree images
Everyone, whether you live in the city centre or in the woolly wilds, has access to this round’s subject, trees. The challenge is how you can produce something creative and eye-catchingly different that will score well with the judges. You may decide to get in close and explore the patterns of tree bark, perhaps side-lit for strong texture effects. At this time of year, when buds are just starting to appear, perhaps it is this aspect of a tree that appeals to your macro lens. Getting in close and looking for detail can pay dividends, but the challenge will be looking for visually arresting images that are original and brilliantly observed. Getting in close to the trunk and looking straight up with a wide-angle lens can create a striking and very effective image, but it will have to be a special shot to earn high marks because it’s not a novel approach. That is not to say you should rule out tried-and-tested ideas, but seek out fresh, unusual views, something that will make the judges sit up.
RIGHT The sky’s the limit with this theme. This shot was taken with a 15mmwide-angle from head height – this approach needs colour or drama in the sky. offers opportunities for intriguing close- ups, and don’t be afraid to try turning the image sepia in your image editor. BELOWRIGHT Interesting bark
well, while front-lighting is probably best avoided unless you’ve got an interesting sky or unusual weather. And speaking of weather, you don’t need bright sun for effective pictures. Mist, fog and even rain can all make for powerful pictures packed with mood. If it’s raining, watch for a rainbow because that can add a dash of magic to your picture and elevate it above the opposition’s efforts. As it is the final round, that little bit of extra effort could pay dividends. And of course, if your club is going to enter all five rounds in one go, remember to get it all done before the ultimate closing date, Tuesday 5 May 2015.
You might prefer to take a few steps back and consider a tree in its entirety, showing it in its environment. This could be a tree dwarfed by shiny tall office buildings or against a background of dereliction and urban decay. Both ideas could work well but make sure composition works and that the right aperture is chosen for the most effective depth-of-field to suit your picture. If you are in doubt, shoot at a variety of apertures and decide later during editing. Whether you go for a singleton, a copse or a forest, good light is essential. A low sun either side- or back-lighting the subject can work really
IMAGEOFTHEMONTH
Wayne Churchill Derby City Photographic Club Round 3, close-ups, attracted a feast of stunning imagery, from portraits and natural history to abstract and a great many water droplet images. “Now if I had a penny for every water droplet image I’ve been presented with, I’d be lying on some tropical island supping cocktails,” says PN’ s editor Will Cheung. “The thing is they are fun to shoot and technically challenging and the results, when everything falls into place, can be marvellous to behold. Like this shot from Wayne Churchill from Derby City Photographic Club – this is the best water-droplet shot I have seen for absolutely ages so it is my Image of the Month. Simply, I think it is beautiful, so well done Wayne.” Other shots that made it to the final shortlist and deserve a shout out this month include: Agave by Ruth Wiseman, Halstead & District PS; Horse raspberry by Martin Smart, Wisbech & District CC; and New life by Bill Ryder, Ayr PS.
Register your club today at absolutephoto.com
Issue 18 | Photography News
14
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
MASTERCLASS: TREES David Noton It’s the final instalment in our series of masterclasses withDavidNoton, and to finish on a highwe get David’s expert advice on how to photograph one of themost popular subjects in landscape photography: trees
David’s top tips
A GENTLE BREEZE “Using movement is very powerful. If you’ve got a wind blowing, the branches will express this motion whilst the trunks remain strong, sharp, graphic shapes.” STILL AND STEADY “Generally speaking, you’d be working on a tripod, particularly if you’re going to use the movement of the trees blowing in the wind. In the woods it gets quite dark and exposures tend to be much longer because of the lack of light, particularly in the summer when the trees are full. A tripod is a must in those situations.” INTO THEWOODS “When you walk into the woods, to use that old cliché, sometimes you can’t see the woods for the trees. It takes a while to really zone your eye in to what the possibilities are in the woods, but that’s a very fun challenge to do; to go into the woods and then walk out after several hours having produced an interesting picture.”
One of the most universally accessible, and certainly one of the most diverse subjects for any photographer to explore has to be trees. Being both a landscape and a travel photographer himself, David Noton’s photos feature more than a few trees, but what’s the key to doing such grand subjects justice? Trees can often be captured as a by-product of shooting outdoors, not really the main feature of a photograph but still adding interest, perhaps in the background, but those kind of shots don’t celebrate the breadth of photographic options that can be explored when you choose to make trees your focus. “I think trees can serve all sorts of different purposes within pictures,” David begins. “They can give scale: for example, a mountain on its own will look like rock and ice. A distant peak is difficult to give any kind of scale to, but a tree dwarfed by the size of a mountain rising above it will serve to emphasise that scale.”
In thewoods it gets quite dark and exposures tend to bemuch longer because of the lack of light. A tripod is amust in those situations
most challenging locations in which to achieve a first-class shot. “Woods and forests are very difficult to shoot in because of contrast,” David explains. “The best lighting situation is very flat, low‑contrast light, the opposite of what we normally look for in landscape photography.” Although it may take time for your eye to adjust to the environment and pick out photo-worthy compositions, spending time doing so can be rewarding. Shooting on his Canon EOS 5D Mark III, David finds that he often uses the live view LCD screen when photographing this kind of subject. “I find live view really useful for double‑checking my composition after I’ve composed a frame through the eyepiece,” he says. In terms of lenses, the choice is huge: from a wide-angle lens, such as the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM (pictured left), to a short telephoto like the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, which is ideal for homing in on details like tree roots.
It’s not just in epic landscapes that trees can be captured creatively. Even right up close there are plenty of inspirational shots to be had, as David found when he was last in Sequoia National Park in California, home to some of the biggest trees in the world. “Trying to show the scale of those trees was very difficult photographically, because you move backwards to get it all in and they just soar skyward,” he recalls. “I just photographed up close, showing the girth of their trunks, which goes a long way to suggesting the vast size of the trees themselves.” One of the most obvious places to shoot trees is most likely the woods, but it is actually one of the
π To find out more, go to www.davidnoton.com.
ABOVE LEFT Aspen trees in the snow near Muleshoe, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. ABOVE RIGHT The Canal du Midi near Castelnaudary, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. RIGHT The autumn colouring of a tree blowing in the Mistral wind, Pays Du Gard, Languedoc, France.
Watch and learn For more tips, David’s DVD Photography in the Raw offers practical
advice on all kinds of subjects, from how to read the light to how to capture the best picture in any situation. Copies can be purchased from his website, at prices starting from £24 and going up to £32.40 for a Full HD edition.
Register your club today at absolutephoto.com
Photography News | Issue 18
Latest photography news
15
Photo 24 2015 Advanced Photographer’s third Photo 24 in London is scheduled for 20-21 June and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before
In association with
What will you shoot in your 24 hours in London? Go solo with a project of your own, or enjoy our range of inspiring photo opportunities? Themed challenges and competitions will get you thinking creatively.
So if you, and perhaps a few like-minded friends, fancy a photographic experience with a difference, make a note of 20-21 June in your diary. We look forward to your registration, and seeing you in London for the summer solstice. Visit the brand-new interactive Nikon stand at The Photography Show to see the latest camera line-up, including the acclaimed Nikon D750, the new Nikon D5500, D7200 and a selection of COOLPIX compact cameras.
Our sister title, Advanced Photographer is hosting the event. They’ve planned some interesting experiences and workshops, which will involve a charge and places will be limited, but the main event itself is free to every participant. Details will be announced in PN issue 19, which is out on 20 April. But, if you can’t wait that long, look out for the next issue of AP (out on 9 April), or keep an eye on our Twitter feed @Photo24London and website at www.absolutephoto.com.
Sponsored by Nikon and Nikon School, this year’s Advanced Photographer Photo 24 is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday 20 June and finish at 12pm the following day. It’s a 24-hour festival of photography centred on one of the world’s most photogenic and historic cities. What’s more you can enjoy the experience of spending 24 hours out shooting with your camera in the company of a load of like-minded and very enthusiastic photographers.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
Photography News | Issue 18
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Camera clubs
17
Tell us your club’s latest news, email: clubnews@photography-news.co.uk
Camera club news If your club has any news that you want to share with the rest of the world, this is the page for it. Your story might be about your club’s success in a contest, or a member’s personal achievement; it could be about a group outing you had recently or when the annual exhibition is on show. Any news is eligible for inclusion, so club publicity officers please take note of the submission guidelines and get your stories in
HOWTO SUBMIT
Allow plenty of time. Photography News comes out around the third week of the month. For the next issue, which comes out 20 April, we need words and pictures by 7 April. Write your story in a Word document (400 words maximum) and attach it to an email to clubnews@photography-news.co.uk. In the story please include contact details of the club, exhibition or event – website, meeting time, opening times, whatever is relevant to the story. Images: yes please, and attach these to the email too. Images should be JPEGs, 2000 pixels on the longest dimension and any colour space. If the story is an exhibition or event, please send a picture from the exhibition (not the publicity poster), the winning image or one of the event. If the picture includes people please identify them in the Word document. Deadline for the next issue: 7 April 2015
Reason to celebrate
Newent & District Camera Club have the perfect reason to celebrate: the club marked its 50th year last month. They celebrated the occasion with a dinner on 3 February, exactly half a century after the club’s founding, which was masterminded by the local milkman. Guest of honour at the dinner was Jack Smith, a founder member and now club president. After- dinner entertainment was an enjoyable talk from Brian Swinyard MA, ARPS. Five decades after its foundation, the club has almost 40 members (it began with 20) and its bank balance has increased a bit too – it was £19.65 in 1970. Newent & District Camera Club meets on Tuesdays, from September to April at Newent Library.
Open for entry Submit to L&LPS this month and your image could be on show inMay There’s still (just!) time to enter Leicester and Leicestershire Photographic Society’s Annual Open Exhibition. You have until 28 March to get your submission into one of the categories: General Colour, Sports, Great Central Railway and Monochrome. Members can also enter images in a fifth category: Nature. Entries will be selected on 15 April by Bob Rowe ARPS, CPAGB, and the exhibition takes place on 15 and 16 May at Christchurch, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester.
π To find out more, go to www.newentdcc.com.
Smallest clubwins big f8 Image Group lands the top prize at WCPF Inter-club DPI competition The seven member strong f8 Image Group beat off 46 other clubs to be named overall winner at the recent Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF) Inter-Club DPI Competition in Exeter. It’s unusual for a small club to win the event outright, so they were exceptionally pleased. As they’d walked off with the top prize, the Small Club trophy went to Zen Photo Group. The second placed club was Bristol PS. f8 and Bristol now go forward to the PAGB Inter-Club competition, held in Warwick later this summer. In third and four places were Dorchester CC and Newton Abbot PC respectively. Individual awards went to Zen Group’s Pam Sherren (gold medal), Exmouth PS’s John Perriam (silver medal) and Bristol’s Greg Duncan (bronze medal), and six ribbons as well as 17 highly commended certificates were also awarded. Judges were Jay Charnock FRPS, David Gibbins ARPS, APAGB, EFIAP, BPE4* and PAGB President Leo Rich ARPS, EFIAP/g, APAGB, DPAGB, BPE3*. The annual competition is one of the main events in the WCPF calendar. This year, it was attended by more than 200 photographers from the region.
NEWS INBRIEF GOINTERNATIONAL WITHHOYLAKE With a target acceptance rate of 30%, Hoylake Photographic Society is inviting entries to its International Photographic Exhibition 2015. Entry is already open and closes on Monday 20 April. Judging takes place over the weekend of 2 and 3 May. As well as the six sections – Colour Open, Monochrome Open, Nature, Photojournalism, Photo Travel: The Western World and Photo Travel: Rest of the World, the exhibition this year is also offering a new award for the most successful club entry. This award will recognise the four highest scores from the six highest scoring
π To find out more about the exhibition, go to www.landlps.org.uk.
Competition time
Show off your images with Neath & District Photographic Society’s Annual UK Salon. With four categories – Colour Open, Monochrome Open, Industry and Nature, the competition is digital only, but you can enter by post. Entry closes on 11 April and selection takes place on 25 and 26 April. If you’re successful, you’ll hear in May, but the date for the presentation is yet to be confirmed, so no need to get the glad rags ready yet.
IMAGE Last year’s winner:
Liquid Lunch by Jamie MacArthur.
ABOVE European Roller Food Pass by David Morton. RIGHT The Pink Hat by Pam Sherren, gold medal winner.
members in a club. www.hoylakephoto. org.uk
π To find out more about the salon, go to www.neathphotographicsociety.co.uk.
π To find out more about the competition, go to www.wcpf.org.uk.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
18
Opinion
BEFORE THE JUDGE HuwAlban Each issue, a respected judge or exhibition selector shares their thoughts and experiences. This month, HuwAlban tells us how he took matters into his own hands
MEET THE JUDGE HuwAlban: Huw qualified as a judge in 2013, having become disenchanted with the judges plying their views at his local club. He decided it made sense to ‘get out there and do it better yourself’ rather than grumble about it. Home club: Warminster Camera Club in Wiltshire Favourite camera: Canon EOS 5D Favourite photographers: The two that have influenced me the most, Steve Gosling and David Tarn Favourite subjects: Reaction is important to me, whatever the subject. As long as I react to the subject I will try to create an image that encapsulates that reaction. Awardswon: None. I had a go at an RPS but after attending an assessment day where almost everyone who showed work got slated, I figured what was the point? I prefer my images and my camera club lectures to stand for themselves.
Words by Huw Alban
actually ignored in the real world. I still have, and still constantly refer to, the notes that I made on the seminar day. They have very much become the bible from which I work when constructing the commentary for the club competitions that I assess. My approach to a competition night is firstly to remind the audience that what they are about to hear is simply my opinion. As an opinion it isn’t wrong, and it isn’t necessarily right either, it is just an opinion. It is an opinion shaped by my own artistic experience and knowledge, and my own photographic approach. Currently, I always ask for the images up front in order to have some preparation time. I use that time carefully to ensure that each and every opinion expressed is backed up with a ‘why’ statement. I firmly believe that a competition night should be as much of a learning experience as any other club night, and unless the audience understands why the opinion has been expressed (whether they agree with it or not), nothing will be gained. I include this fact in my opening statement: that I always hope that everyone will grasp the rationale behind my commentary and go home having learned something that they will add into their ownmethod or approach. Prior to delivering the commentary, I review it multiple times to ensure that there are no gaps, that all criticism is constructive, and that I am completely comfortable and confident with the winners. I still choose to have typed notes in my hand on the evening, not that I really need to refer to them; by now the commentary has been run through so many times that I could do it almost with my eyes closed. But I find that it is a great memory jogger, and a great way for me to be able to check that I’ve said everything and, most importantly, that all my reasoning has been mentioned. On multiple occasions, I’ve been asked whether club members can actually take these typed notes home with them. This implies to me that there must be some value in what I’m saying, for clubs to want to hold on to them.
When I first joined a camera club, in 2005 in Northamptonshire, it was one that did not hold competitions. It was a conscious choice by the club, as they felt that competitions were too pressured and would put off newer, shyer members from getting involved. At the time I was happy with this approach, and it wasn’t until 2010 when my family moved to Dorset that I got my first taste of camera club competitions… and oh boy was I in for a shock! I should make the point that at the time I was quite confident in my own ability. I’d had work appear in magazines and books, had entered and gained recognition in some of the more well- known photographic magazine competitions, and even had work in an art gallery, but all of that did not prepare me for the wide range of opinions and ability of the people who were going to comment on my pictures. My tipping point came in the only club evening that I have ever walked out of, and I mean properly stood up and just left the room in disgust. I can’t even remember who was judging that evening, but one of my images was amongst the first in the digital section. It was an image that had come seventh in one of the larger photographic magazine competitions (round one of APOY 2009) and that I’d also sold on numerous occasions as a framed print through the art gallery. It was a successful image.
The opening statement from the judge, however, was (and you’ll need to imagine a broad West Country accent): “I don’t likes blurry water.” After which the judge in question went on to comment that his wife felt that this was the winner but he disagreed, and if the author was in the audience could he see them in the break in order to get a copy of the file, so he could print it for his wife to frame. I’d entered three images that evening, all containing an element of blurry water. The evening went downhill from there, and not only for me but for every member of the club, until I just couldn’t listen any longer. So I left. At home that evening Mary-Louise, my wife, endured the full effect of my competition frustrations. I was fuming. But she patiently listened and when I had got it all off my chest suggested that I take up a long-standing offer from the then Warminster Camera Club chairperson to attend the next Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF) judging seminar. Her rationale was that if I felt the standard of judging was really that bad, why didn’t I get out there and do something about it? The seminar was excellent and a real eye‑opener. In fact, it was Ken Holland (Issue 14) who mentored the group that I was in on the day. Having listened to the advice and guidelines that were shared during that day it really was (and to some extent still is) quite shocking how much is
Myapproach to a competition night is firstly to remind the audience that what they are about to hear is simplymy opinion
π To find out more, go to www.huwalban.com.
Have you seen a judge at work who you’d like to see profiled in Photography News ? Or perhaps you’ve been judged and don’t like what you heard? If so, write to opinion@photography-news.co.uk with the judge’s name and, if possible, their details. What do you think?
LEFT Huw Alban’s “successful image”.
Photography News | Issue 18
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