Photography News 86 Newsletter

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Movie magic at your fingertips

Nikon has released a Z 6II Essential Movie Kit, alongside video-based firmware updates for the Z 6II and Z 7II

Canon reveals EOS M50 Mark II The compact mirrorless from imaging giants Canon is designed for content creators, with video and connectivity as key features

Targeting filmmakers and strengthening the camera’s claim as a strong stills/ video hybrid, Nikon has released a Z 6II Essential Movie Kit, containing a number of key accessories (see image above). So the Z 6II is joined by an Atomos Ninja V monitor/recorder, a SmallRig quick-release camera cage, the Nikon FTZ mount adapter and spare batteries. The kit offers a better equipped filmmaking set- up than the Z 6II and lens alone, and the body in this kit has its Raw video output fucntion already enabled.

Priced at £2909, the

Essential Movie Kit is available this March. In other video news, firmware v1.10 has been released. The update improves the performance of face detect autofocus on the Z 7II and Z 6II, and is now able to work even when the subject's face is smaller in the frame. The update also enables additional recording formats, including 4KUHD/60p, when shooting with the Z 6II. There’s a review of the Nikon Z 6II in this issue, starting on page 52. nikon.co.uk

THE CANON EOS M50 MARK II has landed, designed to meet the needs of content creators. Built around a 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor, the EOS M50 Mark II offers quality stills up to 10fps and 4K video. The latter can be streamed directly over HDMI and a USB output is also available. Elsewhere on the connectivity front, a 3.5mmmic jack is featured, while the M50 Mark II’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities have seen some

improvements. Canon assures control from a mobile device, along with the direct upload of media to social channels, is easier than ever before. This includes an automatic video transcoding feature for use across various platforms. Other key features for a content creation audience are Canon’s Intelligent Auto modes, eye detection autofocus and AF down to -4EV, a vari-angle touchscreen and compatibility

with native EF-M lenses or EF lenses with an adapter. Weighing in at 387g, it’s a lightweight camera that’s highly suitable for carrying around in daily life, or placing within a space-effective streaming set-up. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is available for pre-order now at a price of £589.99, with shipping from the end of March 2021. canon.co.uk

The wonder of pinhole

In your element with S-system Panasonic has launched a new telephoto zoom, expanding its optical offerings for its full-frame mirrorless Lumix S series

Justin Quinnell is a world-leading expert on pinhole photography, and has used his 30 years of experience in this field to create a new website. It’s the place to go if you want to learn how to make a pinhole camera from a breakfast cereal box or beer can, to enjoy six-month-long exposures of the sun. “Many of the experiments and designs are my own inventions, often a result of looking at my recycling box,” says Quinnell. “Many of my designs, for a few pence, can introduce people to the wonder of light, time,

Panasonic’s Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS is a highly versatile offering on a number of fronts. The wide focal length range appeals to a variety of photographic pursuits, from travel and street, to sports and nature. Image stabilisation also aids shooting of all kinds and, when combined with S Series cameras’ in-built stabilisation, offers up to 5.5EV benefit.

When it comes to construction, Panasonic assures impressive sharpness and fewer artefacts, with 17 lens elements in 11 groups, including one UED (ultra extra-low dispersion) lens, two ED lenses and one UHR (ultra-high refractive index) element. Rounding out a strong design, the 70-300mm is dust- and splash- resistant, capable of functioning

down to -10°C and it’s compact, too. The Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS will be available from the beginning of May, priced at £1259.99. panasonic.co.uk

photography, science, astronomy and creativity. At a time when finding wonder (and something to do) is getting trickier!” pinholephotography.org

Editorial team Editorial director Roger Payne Editor Will Cheung FRPS 01223 499469 willcheung@bright-publishing.com Features writer Lee Renwick leerenwick@bright-publishing.com

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Design team Design director Andy Jennings Senior designer Laura Bryant Design & ad production Lucy Woolcomb, Man-Wai Wong and Emma Di’luorio Distribution Distribution and subscriptionmanager Phil Gray philipgray@bright-publishing.com Publishing team Managing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck As well as your local camera club, you can pick up Photography News in-store from: Cameraworld, Castle Cameras, Jessops, London Camera Exchange, Park Cameras, Wex Photo Video, Wilkinson Cameras

Photography News is published 11 times a year by Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3HJ. No part of this magazine can be used without prior written permission of Bright Publishing Ltd. Photography News is a registered trademark of Bright Publishing Ltd. The advertisements published in Photography News that have been written, designed or produced by employees of Bright Publishing Ltd remain the copyright of Bright Publishing Ltd and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. While Bright Publishing makes every effort to ensure accuracy, it can’t be guaranteed. Street pricing at the time of writing is quoted for products.

Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ www.bright-publishing.com

Chief sub editor Alex Bell Sub editor Elisha Young Junior sub editor Jack Nason

ISSN 2059-7584

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4 Photography News | Issue 86

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