Photography News 109 - Web

Buyers’ guide

WE LIVE IN a visual age, particularly with the all-pervading nature of social media. So it makes perfect sense that companies often enlist the aid of photographers and, increasingly, videographers – often referred to by marketers as ambassadors – to legitimise and ultimately sell their goods. Who better to make sense of new products and show them off than those that use them? And who better to showcase the images they’ve created while utilising their follower bases? These pictures, in turn, offer inspiration and something for the viewer to aim towards; if we purchase the same kit, the hope is that we can achieve similar results. While that’s not all there is to it, of course, we present the following recommendations to hear what real users find so alluring about their kit. Purveyors of excellence

We round up the latest and greatest imaging kit on the market. With a bit of inspiration from each brand’s photographer ambassadors, the rest of us should be emboldened to up our creative game

WORDS BY GAVIN STOKER

Fujifilm › fujifilm-x.com

Last month, we spoke with Mr Whisper, aka Balwinder Bhatla, street photographer and Fujifilm ambassador, who has recently upgraded to the manufacturer’s compact X-T5 workhorse. This APS-C mirrorless camera is perfectly suited to street scenes. “With a 40.2-megapixel sensor, you can crop in as much needed without losing image quality.” Another aspect of the camera he rates highly is its IBIS system. Providing the equivalent of seven stops, this increases photographers’ hit rate, as does the flexibility of the articulated LCD touchscreen. Bhatla told us he can now get low- angle shots that used to be impossible. A further advantage is that the classic design of the X-T5 often breaks the ice with Bhatla’s subjects. Once they’ve requested a quick rundown on how the camera works, he enjoys a much more natural rapport. Plus, when engaging with people, he can quickly glance down and adjust the rangefinder-like dials without checking the screen. Telling us that he’d been using the camera since last August, it seems this is a love affair that’s still blossoming – comments echoed by fellow Fujifilm ambassador and freelance photographer Emily Endean. She adds: “My favourite combo is the X-T5 paired with the XF30mm f/2.8 Macro. It’s quick, sharp, precise and works efficiently for many of the different ways in which I work – not just for macro but product, lifestyle and landscape, too. Other than that, my go-to lens for landscapes is the XF16-80mm f/4, as it’s such a nice, varied focal length for all sorts of subjects.

A FINE VINTAGE The X-T5’s retro styling is a head- turner, but old-school dials come in handy

Tamron › tamron.eu

Opposite, we speak to Tamron ambassador and live music photographer Nathan Whittaker, aka Manc Wanderer, a convert to the brand’s mirrorless-compatible lenses after investing in the Sony A7 IV and, before that, the A7 III. While these optics are typically more affordable than the nearest equivalent lens from Sony itself, Tamron’s lenses achieve that sweet spot of excellent quality alongside good value for money. A case in point is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, a second-generation lens available for Sony E-mount that’s had both operation and ergonomics enhanced while maintaining its ability to deliver a high-resolution performance. So it’s quite unsurprising that this high-speed zoom lens optimised for full-frame mirrorless cameras is a bestseller for the company. Whittaker also rates the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD as the lens he uses most often, the just-wide-enough, just-close-enough 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD as the smallest and handiest lens in his kitbag, as well as the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD as the optic that gives him an edge over the competition when shooting front-of-stage at a music festival.

OM Digital Solutions › om-digitalsolutions.com

Leading UK wildlife photographer Tesni Ward acts as an ambassador for OM System – formerly Olympus – with a focus on landscapes and nature. She shoots on the OM System OM-1 body, with her go-to lenses typically including the likes of the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25X IS Pro, the 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro and 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro. Also, for close-up detail, she wields the 7-14mm f/2.8 Pro and 60mm f/2.8 Macro. Asked for her favourite, Ward heaps praise on the all-weather super- telephoto 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25X IS Pro in particular when used in tandem with a red-dot sight – the shoe-mounted EE-1 – from the same manufacturer. Speaking about this combination, the photographer explains: “Birds in flight can be challenging at the best of times; they are particularly unpredictable subjects. Paired with the long focal lengths this lens is capable of achieving, the challenge is greater still. The red-dot sight is small, easy to set up and can be a complete game changer – not only for erratic birds but also slow-shutter- speed photography!”

Issue 109 | Photography News 31

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