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Sigmaexpands with28-70mm
THERE'S A BIGANNIVERSARY thismonth, but it’s not one to celebrate. On 11March last year, theWHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic – and you know the rest. It’s been challenging, to put it mildly, but I’m thankful for being a keen photographer. For months, likemillions of others, I’ve stayed at home. If I didn’t have a camera, mymarbles would’ve rolled away a long time ago! My kitchen and living roomwere transformed into makeshift studios, while the hill, a ten-minute walk away, becamemy favourite location. Since then, I’ve taken thousands upon thousands of pictures, andmymacro lens has been very busy. Most shots aren’t keepers – or evenworth a second look – but I’m really happy with some, including a series of self-portraits (my homage to Andreas Feininger displayed above) that proved fun and rewarding. But, hey, things are looking up. There’s a plan to ease us out of lockdown andmillions have been vaccinated already. Recently, as the rain hammered on the window, I began to wonder what summer would look like this year, andwhether life would be anything like ‘normal’. Couldwe just jump into the car, or get on a bus or train, and go somewhere to take a few photographs? Just over a year ago, we took such freedom for granted. In terms of new cameras, the year is off to a flyer with Fujifilm’s GFX100S and Sony’s A1. Both are surely great bets to scoop future awards. Speaking of which, this issue contains the eagerly anticipated results of the Photography News 2020
EDITOR’SLETTER WILLCHEUNG
The 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN adds to the brand’s Contemporary line and offers versatile shooting for L-Mount and E-mount bodies BASED AROUND THE existing 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN lens in the brand’s Art line, Sigma’s new 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN standard zoom in the Contemporary line shares the same optical quality, but has a refined construction, making this lens the smallest and lightest in its class. This comes at the rather negligible loss of 4mm at the short end of the focal length range. At just over 10cm in length and 470g in weight, the lens is ideal for photographers travelling light. Useful focal length coverage and constant fast aperture render the lens versatile for use with a wide range of subjects. It also protects against dust and splash around the mount. High-quality performance is down to the supreme optical construction, with three aspherical, two FLD and two SLD elements, amounting to 16 elements in 12
Awards. Thank you to every reader who voted. This year, we’ve added Editor’s Choice awards, and I’ve used the privilege to recognise products that didn’t win the reader vote. I have to say, and I make no excuse for repeating this constantly, we photographers are truly blessed. I was thinking back to the time (in 2001) I took the Canon EOS D30, a 3-megapixel APS-C format DSLR, out on test. It wrote images to a painfully slow and unreliable CF Microdrive card – the body alone cost about £3000 and the images didn’t hold a candle to the full-frame FujifilmVelvia slides that I shot at the same time. In a single generation, we’ve gone from3-megapixel cameras tomodels that deliver 102-megapixel files, or rattle off (silently) 50-megapixel files at 30fps. However you cut it, we have come an incredibly long way in a remarkably short time. And, of course, that doesn’t just apply to cameras, but many aspects of life. I wonder what the next generation is going to bring.. See you in April.
groups overall. The inclusion of Super Multi-Layer Coating and Nano Porous Coating means flare is also well-controlled, along with distortions and aberrations. Part of the 28-70mm’s compact design is down to a small AF unit, containing a single focusing element. Sigma assures AF performance is responsive and quiet. There’s also a focus mode switch on the barrel of the lens for easy operation. Available now in L-Mount and Sony E-mount, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN is priced at £759.99. sigma-imaging-uk.com
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What’s inside 03 News Catch up with the latest happenings in the world of imaging gear. Plus, we have books to give away and it’s your latest chance to win a K&F carbon-fibre travel tripod worth £120 in our simple-to-enter contest 11 Word search Find the missing word and you could win a Samsung Evo Plus 256GB microSDXC card 12 Club news More virtual exhibitions and meetings – clubs are still enjoying photography in lockdown
15 Photography News 2020 Awards It’s time to reveal the best imaging kit and services, as voted for by PN readers 30 Travel Photographer of the Year 2020 Travel was a challenge in 2020, but the standard of TPOTY winners was as high as ever. Get inspired by our showcase 36 Make the Switch: Lowie Bingham LRPS The keen street and travel photographer picked Fujifilm cameras as her creative partners. She explains precisely why 39 Guiding light Exclusive excerpts from leading pro Richard Bradbury’s latest book, where he explains all you need to know about the use of lighting to achieve great results time after time
45 Lighting buyers’ guide We all need a helping hand, so having light you can control is ideal. This is our pick of the best speedlights, LED lights and flash – mains and battery powered – that money can buy 52 Big test: Nikon Z 6II Nikon’s update of the popular Z 6 sees the arrival of two card slots and dual processors, but is it enough to lure discerning content creators to the Nikon Z 6II? 55 First tests Our monthly look at some of the latest kit to reach the shelves: l Rode Wireless Go microphone system and Vlogging Kit l Laowa 65mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro l Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S l Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM& RF 800mm f/11 IS STM
Issue 86 | Photography News 3
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