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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Poseidon adventurers
Corrosion-resistant, sand proof and waterproof, Leofoto’s latest carbon-fibre tripods are designed to survive the most challenging watery assignments
a wipe-down and that’s it – no need to disassemble leg locks to clean them before packing the tripod away. The LP-284C has a 10kg maximum load rating and extends to 1.29m, while with no centre column, a camera viewpoint as low as 16cm is achievable without having to modify the tripod. The LP-284C comes with the LH-30 ball head that takes a15kg payload, and you get all this great performance from a tripod and head that weighs a mere 1.55kg. The LH-30
is compatible with Arca-Swiss quick- release plates, allows quick switching to and from upright and horizontal shooting, and ball head friction is easily adjusted with a handy dial. Sporting a similar features list is the LP-324C, which is slightly heavier at 1.95kg, can safely take
a 15kg payload, and gives a maximum height of 1.395m. All Leofoto tripods come with a ten-year warranty. leofoto.eu
LEOFOTO’S POSEIDON TRIPODS are blessed with unique properties that make them ideally suited to regular use at the coast and in other watery environments, withminimal aftercare needed to keep them in tip- top condition. Two newmodels – the
LP-284C+LH-30 and LP-324C+LH-40 – are available, retailing at £429.99 and £529.99, respectively. Both have legs made from ten-layer woven carbon fibre, so they are lightweight, sturdy and give excellent support, with impressive maximumpayload ratings. The no-centre-column design helps keep weight down and delivers a slimline profile, too. But what sets the Poseidon tripods apart from the rest is not just the distinctive blue finish, but the fact titanium is used in the parts of the tripods that come into contact with water. Titanium is known for its corrosion-resistant qualities, even against seawater. In combination with a new-design TwistLock system, the legs are sand-, grit- and waterproof, and keeping such nasties at bay means low post-shoot maintenance. A quick rinse under a running tap and
SPECS › Prices
Poseidon LP-284C+LH-30 £429.99 Poseidon LP-324C+LH-40 £529.99 › Leg sections Four/four › Leg angles Three/three › Folded length 54cm/58cm › Max height 1.29cm/1.395m › Min height 16cm/16.5cm › Weight 1.55kg/1.95kg › Contact leofoto.eu
BEAUTIFULLY RUGGED Leofoto Poseidon tripods have sealed leg joints and use titanium fittings
It’s done with mirrors Tokina’s new 400mm mirror lens gives incredible telephoto power in a tiny and light body form
SPECS › Price £250 › Optical construction Six elements in five groups › Lens hood BH-673 (screw type) supplied partner for the latest cameras – especially mirrorless models – because of its compact stature. It measures just 74mm and weighs 355g – ideal for photographers on the move. It’s even small enough to be left in your camera bag at all times, ready in case a long MIRROR LENSES USE a catadioptric design that ‘folds’ light paths, so you get a long focal length in a short and lightweight body form. They used to be popular with film cameras, but fell out of favour, because their small, fixed maximum apertures – usually f/8 – meant unless it was very bright, you needed high ISO film to get sharp shots, impacting image quality. The situation now is very different, and digital cameras are capable of critically good image quality at very high ISOs. There’s potentially a huge market just waiting for a mirror lens like the Tokina SZX SUPER TELE 400mm f/8 Reflex MF. This manual focus lens is the perfect
lens is needed – for instance, to capture a distant bird during a country walk. The lens has a smooth-action focus barrel, with a 270° travel from infinity to the minimum focus distance of 1.15m, where it gives a magnification of 1:2.5, meaning close-up subjects can be enjoyed. Mirrorless cameras with high- resolution electronic viewfinders, and features like magnifier focus check and focus peaking, mean manual focusing is much easier, and the risk of camera shake is minimised on cameras with in-body image stabilisation. Amirror lens not only gives amazing reach, but a creative benefit, too. The SZX SUPER TELE 400mm f/8 Reflex MF is designed for smooth bokeh and, with bright out-of-focus highlights, you get ‘doughnut ring’ effects that give your shots a signature look. Photographers of all brand loyalties can exploit Tokina’s latest lens, because it uses the inexpensive T2 mount system, so you can quickly switch it between different cameras with suitable mounts. The SZX SUPER TELE 400mm f/8 Reflex MF’s diminutive stature, light weight and high optical quality are all positives you’d expect from a Tokina product, but there’s a final surprise. It retails for an inexpensive £250, so you get super telephoto pulling power at a bargain price. tokinalens.co.uk
› Filter size 67mm › Focusing Manual › Minimum focus 1.15m › Macro ratio 1:2.5 › Dimensions 74x77mm › Weight 355g › Contact tokinalens.co.uk
LONG, YETVERY SHORT Mirrors and lenses are used in mirror optics, so they are physically compact and lightweight, too
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Issue 91 | Photography News 11
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