Photography News Issue 41

This issue kicks off an exciting new series, PN’s Ultimate Guide to Lenses, and we’ll be starting with telephoto glass. So if you want sharper, more expressive long lens pictures, take a look. Elsewhere, our huge Camera Club of the Year competition continues and there’s the chance to vote for your favourite kit in the PN Awards 2016. Plus loads more news, tests, interviews and techniques.

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography news Photography Produced by Issue 41 13 Feb – 9 Mar News Tests Reviews Interviews Techniques Competitions Exhibitions Clubs Fujifilmgets off to a flyer With 2017 barely into its second month, Fujifilm comes flying out of the traps with not one, but four exciting product launches. So we have an addition to the premium compact range, a whole new medium- format system and new products in the X-series mirrorless system. And that’s where we’ll start, with the X-T20

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The FujifilmX-T20 at a glance

FujifilmX-T20body only £799, X-T20 andXC16-50mmf/3.5-5.6OIS II £899, theXF16-55mmf/2.8-4RLMOIS £1099. Available from23 February 24.3-megapixel APS-CX-Trans CMOS III sensor X-Processor Pro image processing engine 4Kvideo shooting ISO200-12,800, expandable to ISO 100- 51,200 91 autofocus points, up to 325 possible Customsettings for continuous autofocus 3in tilting touchscreenmonitor Mechanical and electronic shutter up to 1/32,000sec

Fujifilm’s X-series of mirrorless cameras is headed by the flagship pairing of the X-Pro2 and X-T2. The latest arrival in the family is the X-T20, an enthusiast-level model that shares many features with its higher spec brothers. The X-T20 has a compact bodyform and lookslikeascaled-downX-T2,withitscentrally located pentaprism housing and retro styling. Dig a little under its elegant skin and you find a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor working in partnership with Fujifilm’s impressive X-Processor Pro. Between the two you get a high speed performance – up to four times faster than the previous model – so you can take great pictures unhindered by a sluggish camera. Start time is a mere 0.4sec, shutter lag a trifling 0.05sec, continuous shooting up to 8fps is possible and autofocus is impressively responsive. Pivotal to the X-T20’s ability to produce images of stunning clarity and low noise is the X-Trans CMOS III sensor. This is optical low-pass filter (OLPF) free, made possible without the risk of false colours and moiré patterns by Fujifilm’s innovative sensor design. The X-Trans concept means that the three individual colour pixels – red, green and blue – are laid out in a 6x6 grid rather than a conventional 2x2 grid which means the sensor layout is effectively random, not regular. It is the regular pattern of traditional sensors that can lead to artefact problems that can ruin photographs, which is why an OLPF is needed to prevent them. Dispensing with it means there is one fewer piece of glass in front of the sensor so picture quality is the best possible and that is fully exploited with

Fujifilm X-series lenses. Where, incidentally, there is a new addition, the XF50mm f/2 R WR that you can read about over the page. TheX-T20’s native ISO range is from200 to 12,800. There’s the option of expanding to ISO 100 at the low end, 51,200 at the other. Image quality is impressive with rich colours, deep blacks and low noise even at high ISO settings so if you want to shoot available light candids indoors that’s perfectly feasible without compromising the quality of your shots. And sharp shooting in low light is made easily possible by the camera’s autofocusing system. Its advanced design means it is very capable at dealing with low-contrast, low-light and high-frequency subjects like bird feathers or animal fur. Autofocusing is reliable, fast and accurate, and there are plenty of auto options too. If you want face or eye detection focusing, you can select it and you have the choice of using 91 AF points arranged in a 13x7 grid with the central 49 points working on phase detection, but you can go for 325 points that work over the same area but each point is made much smaller. Many photographers like to work with a single AF point, but if you prefer, theX-T20 can be set up towork in a 3x3, 5x5 or 7x7 AF point grid or just to wide mode. Simply put, the AF is supremely versatile and massively capable. The very exciting X-T20 is available from 23 February at a body only price of £799. A kit with the XC16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II costs £899 and it’s £1099 for the camera and the XF16-55mm f/2.8-4 R LMOIS.

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Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

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The holy trinity Fujifilm’s family of X-series lenses and optical accessories now numbers 24 products with the arrival of the latest XF50mm f/2 R WR, a short telephoto that offers a fast aperture and high performance in a very compact package

Fujifilm XF50mm f/2 RWR

Specs

Price £449, available in black or silver Construction 9 elements in 7 groups, 1x aspherical lens Filter size 46mm Aperture range f/2-16 in 0.3EV steps 35mmformat equivalent focal length 76mm Minimumfocus 39cm Lens diaphragm Nine blades Dimensions 60x59.4mm Weight 200g

Fujifilm’s ever-expanding collection of optics for its X-series cameras features lenses for all budgets, needs and preferences. The system’s early focus was, broadly, on high spec, superfast prime lenses such as the award- winning XF56mm f/1.2 R and that was then followed by cutting edge zooms to give X-users an enviable choice of great options. Recently we have witnessed the arrival of compact primes that offer superb image quality in an elegant and portable bodyform, so we have seen the introduction of the XF23mm f/2 R WR and XF35mm f/2 R WR lenses. These high-performing optics are perfect for general use and also when weight and bulk are important considerations. The launch of the XF50mm f/2 R WR means there isnowa trioof compact primes in the X-series lens system covering a popular range of focal lengths – equivalent to 35mm, 53mm and 76mm focal lengths in the 35mm format. The 50mm focal length on Fujifilm’s APS-C format camera gives a short telephoto effect, ideal for shooting portraits (see image), street candids and general scenic work. Its advanced lens coating helps to keep flare down and deliver high contrast, saturated pictures even in strong back-lighting. With an optical construction of nine elements in seven groups including one aspherical extra-low dispersion element, the XF50mm f/2 R WR gives high optical quality throughout the aperture range with minimal distortion, chromatic aberration

and flare. Used at its wider apertures, you also get lovely smooth background bokeh, and allowing a more comfortable working distance, it makes this new lens ideal for lovely portraits. The lens couples perfectly on X-series cameras to give very swift, accurate and responsive autofocusing in all sorts of lighting. An internal focusing mechanism driven by a stepping motor means that AF is silent and the lens’s external dimensions are constant regardless of subject distance.

Mechanically, the lens is sealed to be weather- anddust-resistant andwill continue to function perfectly in temperatures as low as -10°C. The XF50mm f/2 R WR is the ideal partner for the X-Pro2 and X-T2, both also featuring dust and weather resistant seals, for shooting in adverse conditions. As with many other X-series lenses, the XF50mm f/2 R WR has a smooth, click- stopped aperture ring in 0.3EV steps for precise exposure control with an A position for auto aperture control from the camera.

FujifilmXF23mm f/2 RWR

FujifilmXF35mm f/2 RWR

The Fujifilm XF23mm f/2 R WR gives a moderate wide-angle (equivalent to 35mm in the 35mm format) that is ideal for people photography, general scenes and in crowds where there is limited room or it’s impractical to take a step backwards. An advanced optical design featuring ten elements in six groups includes two aspherical lenses positioned in the focusing group to give edge-to-edge sharpness regardless of the subject distance. This elegant, metal-bodied lens is weather sealed for a reliable performance in poor shooting conditions and will continue working flawlessly in temperatures as low as -10°C. Handling is first class with a smooth manual focus barrel if you prefer to take control and the refined aperture ring is firmly click-stopped in 0.3EV steps to enable very precise control of exposure and depth-of-field too.

Completing the triumvirate of elegant, portable primes is this Fujifilm XF35mm f/2 R WR, a lens giving an equivalent view of 53mm in the 35mm focal length. Its view is roughly similar to that of the human eye so this focal length is massively versatile in terms of suitable subject matter. Indeed, if you had the choice of only focal length to take out, this would be it and the compact proportions of the XF35mm f/2 R WR makes this the ideal take-everywhere lens. Its finish, design and handling are similar to the two other f/2 primes in this collection, so you get a weather-resistant design, a smooth aperture ring that is click-stopped in 0.3EV steps and silent internal focusing. The optical essentials are advanced too. Fujifilmhas used an optical construction of nine elements in six groups including two aspherical lenses to minimise optical aberrations and ensure excellent sharpness at wide lens apertures and make the most of the Fujifilm X-Trans CMOS sensor.

Specs

Price £419, available in black or silver Construction 10 elements in 6 groups, 2x aspherical lenses Filter size 43mm Aperture range f/2-16 in 0.3EV steps 35mmformat equivalent focal length 35mm Minimumfocus 22cm Lens diaphragm Nine blades Dimensions 60x51.9mm Weight 180g

Price £349, available in black or silver Construction 9 elements in 6 groups, 2x aspherical lenses Filter size 43mm Aperture range f/2-16 in 0.3EV steps 35mmformat equivalent focal length 53mm Minimumfocus 35cm Lens diaphragm Nine blades Dimensions 60x45.9mm Weight 170g

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography news Photography Issue 41 13 Feb – 9 Mar News Tests Reviews Interviews Techniques Competitions Exhibitions Clubs Produced by

DIGITAL EDITION every month* *at absolutephoto.com FREE GET YOUR

A Samsung 64GB Pro memory card Enter the competition on page 60 WIN!

First tests A veritable potpourri of great kit reviewed page 50

Vote in our 2016 Awards Your last chance to vote for the best imaging gear page 35

Be a winter winner One shot couldwin you £200worth of prints page 4

Leica’s milestone The Leica M10 is a slim 24-megapixel rangefinder camera and has a guide price of £5600 body only. The CMOS sensor is full-frame 35mm format, and the camera has an ISO range from ISO100 to 50,000and canaccept Leica M-fit and R-bayonet (with an optional adapter) lenses. It is

A premium compact, an X-series camera and lens and a whole new system are destined for the dealers’ shelves Fantastic four fromFujifilm

available to buy now. Continue reading on page 4

The Fujifilm GFX medium-format was announced last September but with no news of its pricing or availability. Now, we know both. But not content with launching awhole newsystem, Fujifilmalso launched two cameras and an X-series lens. A new service scheme aimed at professional photographers was also unveiled. Let’s start with the GFX 50S. This 51.4-megapixel medium-format camera will be available fromMarch at £6199 body only with the GF63mm f/2.8 standard lens at £1399. Two other lenses will also be available, the GF32-64mm f/4 wide-

angle zoom and the GF120mm f/4 macro telephoto at £1399 and £2599 respectively. We have a detailed hands-on report on the GFX 50S in this issue. The X-series gained a new member in the form of the X-T20. This 24.3-megapixel camera will be in the shops from late Februarywith a body price of £799 and in a kit with the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 for £1099. It’s essentially a smaller, lighter, cheaper and slightly less well specified X-T2. A new lens for the X-series is the XF50mm f/2 R WR. Giving a 35mm format equivalent of 76mm, this is a short

telephoto in the style of the existing 23mm f/2 and 35mm f/2 giving users the option of a smaller, more portable but still fast lens. The XF50mm f/2 will be in the shops from late February at a price of £449. Last, but by no means least, is the Fujifilm X100F, a premium compact with a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor that offers high-quality still and video capture together with great handling. The X100F will be available from 16 February and the guide price is £1249.

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Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

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Fujifilmgo bigger

Fujifilm’s intention to launch its GFX medium-format camera system in 2017 was announced last year at Photokina and, right on cue, here it is. The 51.4-megapixel GFX 50S is the first camera in the systemand it will be available fromMarch together with three lenses. Specific price details were unavailable last year. “At Photokina we said that the price would be well under $10K,” says Adrian Clarke, managing director, Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Europe. “In the UK the GFX 50S with 63mm standard lens, EVF, and other accessories will sell at £7600 which we think is very reasonable in the medium-format market.” He continues to explain the thinking behind the new product: “Some people have asked why we have taken this route, and the big question has been: why not full-frame format? We thought immediately that those who bought our X-series cameras and lenses would be mightily upset if we brought out a full-frame camera system, a betrayal of our APS-C customers. “We also didn’t think the leap in quality fromAPS-C to 35mm full-frame would be that great given the strength of our X-lenses and X-Trans sensor. “So that is why we thought we should do something different, something that performs at a much, much

higher level in terms of resolution and dynamic range but that is roughly the same size as a full-frame DSLR. That is why we went the medium-format route.” The camera sensor measures 43.8x32.9mm and is a conventional Beyer 2x2 array unit, not the random 6x6 pixel array of the company’s X-Trans sensor, and there is no optical low-pass filter. The sensor works with the X-Processor Pro image processing engine that features film simulation modes, including a new Color Chrome option, and gives an ISO range that tops out at 102,400, with ISO 12,800 being the top native ISO. The sensor’s size means it is very versatile too. You get 51.4 megapixels with the default 4:3 format but other formats are selectable. You may prefer to crop images in post-processing but the GFX 50S gives the option of using different formats at the time of capture and you still get large file sizes. So, for example, if you fancied shooting the 1:1 square format portraits the file sizewould still be 38-megapixels or if youwant to shoot 35mm ratio, ie 3:2, the files would be 45 megapixels. We will be testing the GFX 50S soon but meanwhile there is a detailed hands-on report that includes discussion on the camera’s key features in this issue.

fujifilm.eu/uk

Building on the DSLR-style viewfinder and dial-based operation design of the X-T10, Fujifilm has launched the X-T20; it’s a 24.3-megapixel mirrorless camera that can shoot great stills as well as both Full HD and 4K video. It is due in stores from 23 February. The camera is centred on an X-Trans CMOS III sensor with a native ISO range of 200 to 12,800 and that is expandable to ISO 51,200 at the high-speed end. Ideal whether you are shooting static or fast-moving subjects the X-T20 has an improved AF algorithm offering better accuracy especially with finely textured subjects. Also an AF-C custom settings option lets you choose one of five AF-C presets to suit the movement of your subject. The AF boasts 91 focusing points in a 13x7 array, 42 more than the X-T10, and if you prefer there is the option to use 325 AF points. To suit different subjects, situations and personal preferences, the AF system be set to use a single zone, a small number of zones or all 91 leaving the camera to decide what to focus on. Versatility is increased further with options for face detection. The X-T20 is available in black or silver for £799 body only, or you can purchase it with the XC16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II lens for £899, or with the XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS lens for £1099. Fujifilm’s latest mirrorlessmodel

Premiumquality in apremiumcompact

Prime time for Fujifilm The Fujifilm XF50mm f/2 R WR is the 24th member of the X-series optical collection and joins the existing XF23mm f/2 and XF35mm f/2 to offer a trio of compact, fast aperture primes that are ideal for travel and general photography. The XF50mm f/2 R WR offers the 35mm equivalent focal length of 76mm so it is a short telephoto and weighs just 200g. Weather and dust resistant the lens can operate in temperatures down to -10°C thanks to its robust design. Optically it promises much too. Featuring nine lens elements in seven groups, as well as an aspherical ED lens both spherical and chromatic aberrations are eliminated. This lens will be available from 23 February in black and silver for £449.

Fujifilm has added the X100F to its range of premium compacts. Improving on the X100S released in 2013 and the X100T in 2014, the X100F features a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor with no low-pass filter and a high-speed processing engine, the X-Processor Pro. With an approximate start-up time of just 0.5 seconds, a shutter release time lag of 0.01 seconds and an autofocus that works at 0.08 seconds Fujifilm’s X100F is a speedy compact. With Fujifilm’s AdvancedHybrid Viewfinder the X100F gives you the option of switching between an optical or electronic viewfinder as you please. The X100F also features Film Stimulation modes which have been developed with Fujifilm’s philosophy of colour reproduction; new is the addition of an Acros mode which offers deep blacks and textures for monochrome images with a distinctive style. Design-wise the X100F includes a built-in ISO dial, as well as a focus lever allowing you to change the focus area without having to remove your eye from the viewfinder. The AF system uses 91 AF points with the option of going to 325 smaller

points. The central 49 AF points, covering around 40% of the image area, feature phase detection pixels for precise, very swift AF. Its high-performance Fujinon 23mm f/2 lens has a built-in ND filter, a new Control Ring and an aperture ring. The Control Ring lets you assign functions, such as ISO or Film Simulation, so you can access your most-used shooting modes with ease. When used with the Fujifilm Camera Remote app you can transfer your images and Full HD videos to your smartphone or tablet thanks to Wi-Fi and shoot remotely. The X100F is available from 16 February inblack or silver for £1249.

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

News

Leica’smilestone

The Photography Show

The Leica M3 came out in 1954 and the M dynasty continues to be in robust health and digital capture has been fully embraced. The M10 is a great example of this and it is the slimmest digital M to date, referring to the traditions of the classic film Ms when fast-handling, unobtrusiveness and compactness were key benefits. The M10 has a full-frame CMOS 24-megapixel sensor designed specifically for this camera. The sensor is low pass filter free to help deliver maximum detail and sharpness while its special pixel and micro-lens structure ensures that light even from oblique angles is precisely captured. Impressive dynamic range and contrast are also claimed for this sensor. The sensor is combined with the Leica Maestro-II processor that enables an ISO range of 100 to 6400 with expansion to 50,000 possible and features a 2GB buffer to give a continuous shooting rate of five frames-per-second. Five fps is pedestrian in this day and age but the M10 is still the fastest M to date. The M10 has rangefinder focusingand that has been improved upon compared with previous

models. Spectacle wearers will find using the viewfinder much more comfortable thanks to an increased eye distance while field of view has been enlarged by 30% and the magnification increased to 0.73. Exposure is can be manual or with aperture-priority AE mode with the latter operating with a shutter range from 125secs to 1/4000sec. The longest shutter speed in manual is 8secs although the top speed is the same. Connectivity is important nowadays and the M10 does have Wi-Fi for wireless transfer of images to smart devices. The camera can also be controlled wirelessly from a smart device. For maximum image file size, capture in Raw and here you get DNG files so the files are verywidely compatible with editing softwares and there is the option of three JPEG files sizes too. The Leica M10 is available at a body price of £5600. Check your local Leica dealer for the stock situation – there is usually an early rush. If you have to wait, that’ll give you the chance to save your pennies.

Back for its fourth year at Birmingham’s NEC, The Photography Show 2017 will take place from 18 to 21 March, 10am to 5pm: and we’ll be there too! With a variety of seminars, demos, workshops and conferences there’s something to suit all levels of photographers; plus, there’s also the chance to visit manufacturer stands to check out their products and new releases, as well as chat to the expert staff. Tickets are £13.95, or £10.95 for concessions, pro and trade passes are free and students can attend the show for free on the special student day, which is Tuesday 21 March. For the Super Stage, masterclasses or conferences you will need to purchase a separate ticket for each event you wish to attend. As a Photography News reader, you can save £3 on adult entry (pay only £10.95) to The Photography Show – use promo code PNTPS17 to claimwhen you purchase tickets through photographyshow.com You’ll find the Photography News stand within the food gallery, where you can come and meet the team and grab yourself a copy of the latest issue. We look forward to seeing you there!

Yes, we know it is only February and defrosting the car is still a daily chore but we at Photography News have more than half an eye on June – yes, we are already thinking about Photo 24. If you'veneverheardofPhoto24, it is a Photography News reader event that happens around the longest day of the year, 21 June. We invite photographers of all levels of expertise to come along and spend the day with enthusiastic and like-minded fellow shooters. It's fun, inspiring and there are chances to win prizes with your images. It is also free, and whether your aim is to shoot for the whole 24 hours or just come along for the evening, all are welcome. The only stipulation, as we can only cope with limited numbers and the event is very popular, is that we ask for interested photographers to register for the event by a certain date and we’ll have a ballot. It's the only fair way of deciding who attends. At this time, we have a proposed date and that is Friday 23 June, noon start. This is still to be Photo 24, version2017

uk.leica-camera.com

confirmed but if you are keen and need to book time off work or want to avoid a clash with your holiday to Benidorm, then that is the date for your diary, subject to final confirmation. Details of how you register your interest, the deadline for the ballot itself and what we have planned will be revealed on our news pages over the next few issues of PN . So, once again, the date is Friday 23 June 2017 (subject to final confirmation): put it in your diary, but maybe just in pencil!

Winprintsworth £200

Photography News has teamed up with expert photo printers Lumejet to bring you the chance of seeing your favourite photographs in glorious print. Win this free- to-enter contest and you will have £200 to spend on the Lumejet website; that’s enough for large blow-ups of your very best pictures to hang on your wall or put in your portfolio. With brilliant colours, superb tonality and great light-fast qualities, your Lumejet prints will impress everyone who sees them. Lumejet is passionate about printing great photographs and uses its own developed S200 printer for high-end photographic and commercial print use. This high-resolution printer features the Lumejet RGB Digital Print Head and Fujifilm professional-grade Crystal Archive materials to achieve a unique, ultra-high quality with extraordinary colour fidelity. To be in with the chance of winning £200-worth of your pictures printed by Lumejet all you have to do is sum up winter in one great image. Your entry could be

a landscape, a close-up of frost or motorists struggling through snow – the only limit is your imagination. The picture just has to shout ‘winter’ to be in with a chance. Upload images to flickr.com/groups/3347670@N22. There is no fee to enter but you will have to join flickr. com, which is free. Only one photograph per person can submitted and the entrant must be UK-based. Images should be 1500 pixels across and we will contact you if we need higher resolution files to judge or publish. The editor’s decision in this contest is final – for full terms and conditions please see absolutephoto.com The closing date for entries is 5 March 2017 and the winner will be announced in PN issue 42, out the week beginning 13 March 2017. The winner of last month’s close-up contest is Gary Collyer for his superb water droplet shot; so congratulations and well done to him. Go to flickr.com/ groups/3085147@N24/ to see last month's entries.

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

News

Two new lighting kits have been added to the NanGuang range, which is available from Kenro. The NanGuang CNT2240C is a ‘bi-colour’ studio light, the largest in the range. This 200WLED uses SMT LEDs to give soft and diffused light, and features dimmer controls allowing you to adjust brightness, colour and temperature from 3200 to 5600K. Priced at £658.20, this kit includes a light head, light stand clamp, diffuser cloth and a 240V AC power adapter. The second kit is the NanGuang Professional Photo/ Video CN900DSP LED Portable Lighting Head Kit, which features a stepless dimming option that can be controlled manually or via DMX. This kit comes with the light head, barn doors, an orange filter, diffuser, extra soft diffuser, power adapter and a fitted carry case and costs £639.96. It has a power output of 54Wvia 900 LEDs and has the same colour temperature variation of the previous kit. Light it upwith NanGuang

News in brief

PentaxKP Ricoh Imaging has announced details of the Pentax KP. It features a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sized sensor and boasts a top ISO of 819,200. It also comes with a grip replacement system, which allows you to comfortably hold the camera to suit your shooting style. Available late February the Pentax KP has a price of £1099.99, body only and comes in black or silver. ricoh-imaging.co.uk Samyang Samyang has launched the XEEN 16mmT2.6 Cine lens. Offering full-frame coverage this manual focus lens features X-Coating technology to offer exceptional image quality. Its aluminiumhousingmakes it durable and keeps its weight minimal. Available now the XEEN 16mmT2.6 is priced at £1799.99. samyang-lens.co.uk or intro2020.co.uk? NikonMINI Nikon has joined forces with MINI to deliver 360° immersive footage with its Keymission line, for the launch of the newMINI Countryman. A collection of real-life experiences, enabled by the MINI Countryman have been documented with the KeyMission 360. The aimof the partnership is to inspire exploration and the sharing of experiences. nikon.co.uk

kenro.co.uk

Novo has launched a new range of photo products. The premium ABS hard-shell cases offer protection for your gear with stainless steel hinges, silicone rubber sealing and dice foam inside. Each case features an automatic pressurised air valve release and a click lock closing system. The range features five modules; the Dura 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500, with prices starting from £79. Also recently launched is a selection of tripods, heads and monopods. The T-Series starts from £199.99 and features three four-section tripod kits made from 8x New fromNovo

layered carbon fibre. The legs can be reversed by 180° making it compact for transporting and you can remove oneof the legs andadda centre column tocreateamonopod. The four-section monopods feature soft rubber fast- release twist locks. The Novo MP-10 has a maximum height of 165cm; the Novo MP-20, 182cm. There’s also a universal monopod stand, the Novo VD-01, with a folding feature; it can attach to both monopod models.

novo-photo.com

Two from Tamron The Tamron SP70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 is for full-frame and APS-C formats. Tamron went back to the drawing board with this popular focal length zoom and looked at the optical, mechanical and electronic aspects of the lens. It features Tamron VC (Vibration Compensation) technology to minimise camera shakeand this lens offers a 5EV benefit. Construction is weather-resistant and it features eBAND coating to defeat flare. It will be available from the end of February in Canon and Nikon fits and the price is to be confirmed. The second lens is a wide-angle zoom for APS-C format cameras. The Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5Di II VC HLD will be available from the end of March at a price to be confirmed. This compact zoom lens features Tamron’s HLD motor for smooth, fast autofocusing with full- time manual override. It also houses Tamron's VC for sharp shooting at slow shutter speeds.

Kenro has announced an upgraded version of its panoramic ball head, the Sevenoak Panoramic Ball Head Pro. By mounting your camera to the rotating ball head you can capture panoramic photos and time- lapse videos with ease. The rotation of the ball head can be set in times of 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes and you can also set the rotation angle from 15- 360°. The ball head has a battery life of six hours and it can be connected to tripods or sliders. The Sevenoak Panoramic Ball HeadPro is available to buy now for £69.99. Powerful Panoramics

The SureColor SC-P5000 from Epson features UltraChrome HDX 10-colour pigment and has a 2880x1440dpi resolution output. Designed for professional and fine-art photographic printing it has high-capacity 200ml ink cartridge which supports Light Light Black (LLK) or Violet ink configurations. The SC-P5000 can hold up to 100 sheets of premium paper and can print sizes A2, A2+, A3+, A3, A4 and 17in. Available now the SureColor SC-P5000 is priced at £2154. Inprint withEpson

epson.co.uk

intro2020.co.uk

kenro.co.uk

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

News

Free photography festival

News in brief

OPOTY finalists revealed The finalists of the Outdoor Photographer of the Year 2016 awards have been announced. Over 17,000 images were entered frommore than 50 different countries. Those named as finalists include UK photographers Pete Hyde, Christopher Roche and Justin Garner. The overall winner will be announced live at the Photography Show in Birminghamon 18 March. opoty.co.uk HasselbladMasters 2018 The prestigious Hasselblad Masters competition is now open for entries until 10 June 2017. The 2018 competition sees the introduction of a new Aerial category. The winners will be announced in January 2018. hasselblad.com Color Confidence inspired by Colour The Color Confidence Inspired by Colour photography competition was launched in January 2016, with one image chosen by the public every month. Violeta Angel, one of the 12 monthly winners, was named as the overall winner with her image, Seagull, and won the grand prize of over £1000 worth of photographic equipment. facebook.com/ ColorConfidence Masterclasswith Joe Cornish Joe Cornish will be running three masterclasses with The Fotospeed Academy. Interpreting your print will see Joe sharing his experience to help you get the best from your prints. Tickets costs £275 and the dates are 21 or 24 April, at Lacock Abbey inWiltshire. fotospeed.com

FORMAT Festival is the leading international contemporary festival of photography and related media which takes place annually inDerby. With a different theme each year the 2017 festival explores the theme of ‘Habitat’, looking at images that document theworld and the changes aroundus.Celebratingphotography, the free festival, which takes place from 24 March to 23 April, presents a variety of international exhibitions, events, open calls, collaborations and much more.

formatfestival.com

British documentary photographer Martin Parr will be receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Photography title at the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards. The awards ceremony will take place in London on 20 April, and to coincide a collection of rarely seen black & white images taken by Martin Parr in the early stages of his career will be on show at Somerset House. The exhibition will run 21 April to 7 May and Martin will also be giving a talk at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences on 21 April. Tickets to the talk are £25, which also includes a ticket to the exhibition, which is otherwise priced at £8-£11 for adults, depending on which day you attend. MartinParr to receiveaward

worldphoto.org

Saatchi Gallery andHuawei have joined forces to launch a selfie competition asking photographers and artists to submit their creative self-portraits for the chance to have their work shown at the gallery. The competition closes on 12 March and the winner will be announced on 30 March. The winner will receive a special, money-can’t-buy photographic experience and ten shortlisted winners will receive a Huawei smartphone. The competition coincides with the Selfie to Self-Expression exhibition, which looks at the history of self-portraits right up to the selfies of the present day, and is the first exhibition worldwide to do so. The exhibition takes place at the Saatchi Gallery from 31 March to 30May 2017. SaatchiGallery shows selfies

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2017 opens for entries on 1 March. Entries shouldshowtheinteractionbetweenpeopleandtheirenvironment,andmust be submitted as a self-contained series of between ten and twelve images. The winner will receive a cash prize of €25,000, as well as a Leica M camera and lens, while the winner of the Newcomer Award (for photographers aged LeicaOskar BarnackAward2017

25 and under) will receive €10,000 and a Leica rangefinder. There will also be ten prizes of €2500. All of the finalists’ images will be published online and in a magazine. Closing date is 10 April.

leica-oskar-barnack-award.com

saatchigallery.com

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

Tell us your club’s latest news, email: clubnews@photography-news.co.uk

Clubs

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 achievements; 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

How to submit

Deadline for the next issue: 27 February 2017

We need words and pictures by 27 February 2017 for the next issue of Photography News , which will be available from 13 March 2017. Write your story in a Word document (400 words max). Please include contact details of the club, exhibition or event: website, meeting times, opening times, whatever is relevant. Images should be JPEGs, 2000 pixels on the longest dimension, any colour space, and image credits should be included. If the story is an exhibition or event, please send a picture from the exhibition (not the publicity poster) or one from the event. If it includes people, please identify them. Attach the Word document and JPEGs to an email and send to clubnews@photography-news.co.uk

Beaconhits the streets

75years for Farnborough

Beacon Camera Club is launching the 2017 Beacon Street Photography Competition to promote this popular genre of photography. “The Club believes street photography is a wonderful method of making social comment and encouraging social awareness,” says the club’s vice chairman Trevor Bell. “It’s also creatively and technically challenging and we hope that the competition will prove appealing to the great many excellent amateur street photographers around. We hope to make this an annual event.” The competition is open to amateur photographers only and online entry is open now at beaconcc.co.uk/streetcomp.htm

and closes 1 June 2017. Entry costs £1.50 per image and prizes include Panasonic cameras; the winner gets a Panasonic Lumix GH5 worth £1700. Martin Parr Hon FRPS has agreed to judge the competition and announce the winners at an event at The Swan Theatre, Worcester on 1 July 2017. Results will be published in Photography News later this year. Tickets for the Martin Parr event cost £15 from the theatre box office at worcesterlive.co.uk/ boxoffice.asp or direct from Beacon Camera Club.

Mark Hamblin is visiting Droitwich Camera Club on 25 March 2017 at 7pm at Droitwich High School with his illustrated talkWild Scotland: a photographic odyssey. Mark is a wildlife photographer, writer and guide who lives in the Cairngorms National Park. He spends much of his time photographing Scotland’s birdlife, nature and wildest places. In this illustrated talkMarkbrings together aportfolio of hiswonderful images and speaks about his work on a number of conservation media projects. Mark will be donating a copy of his book Tooth and Claw as a raffle prize on the night. Droitwich gets wild and Scottish!

©KathrynGraham

beaconcc.co.uk/summerlecture. htm

©KathrynGraham

Farnborough camera club held their annual exhibition on 28 and 29 January, celebrating the club’s 75th anniversary, with visitors voting for their favourite image. The winner was My Little World by Karl-Heinz Weber from Farnborough’s twinned club Photo-Cirkle in Oberursel , with Two Young Barn Owls by Terry Redman coming in second. As this is a special year, the club invited Leo Rich former president of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain to judge the entries and select the Best in Show. The winner was Get off my Pond by Mark Pirie. Leo said this was a great natural history shot: “It has everything,” he said, “Humour, storytelling, great exposure, fantastic sharpness throughout and still managed to capture the eye looking at you.” The club also included a display describing some of their history and previous images andwould like to thank the Princes Mead Shopping Centre for allowing them the space to hold the exhibition.

droitwichcamera.co.uk

Harpenden Photographic Society’s annual exhibition takes place this year on Saturday 11 March 2017 at High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden, from 10am to 4.30pm. Always one of the cultural highlights of Hertfordshire’s events calendar, the award-winning Harpenden Photographic Society warmly welcomes all to visit its exciting annual photographic exhibition, which will feature the work of local photographers. Chairman Peter Stevens comments: “HPS’s annual exhibition is a wonderful showcase of the work of local photographers, many of whom are award winning and critically acclaimed for their photography, and they will be displaying the finest examples from their portfolios. Whether you love landscape, portrait, macro street, sport or natural world photography, you will find it all in this exhibition!” HarpendenPS’s annual exhibition

Colchester victory Colchester Photographic Society maintained their winning streak by taking the North Essex PDI Inter-Club competition for the second straight year. 12 clubs took part, each entering five images with a sixth as a tie-breaker. Colchester took first place, Witham camera club second, with Clacton CC and Great Notley CC tied in third. Colin Westgate was awarded image of the evening with View over Stokksnes. Colchester PS meets every Tuesday evening at 19:30, Christ Church, Ireton Road Colchester CO3 3AT.

Farnboroughcameraclub. org

harpendenphotographicsociety.co.uk

colchesterphotosoc.co.uk

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

Profile

Before the judge MontyTrent Join us for our monthly chat with a photographic judge. Monty Trent took up judging as a challenge for his own photography and believes the most important people are the losers

many

photographers,

Some primarily judge a picture by its faults instead of looking at the image and asking what it is ‘saying’. Instead, they concentrate every effort detecting tiny areas of, for example, burnt out highlights or horses with three legs. They insist on the Holy Grail of 100% critical sharpness whether or not the image demands it. Of course, I can’t ignore technical faults but I want to play a small part by looking at pictures as a whole, adopting a constructive rather than a critical approach. I think the most important people in the competition world are not the gong and certificate winners but those whose ‘babies’ fail to make the grade. I want them to feel they have had a fair crack of the whip and come away with some ideas of how to improve their photography. However, it’s true that my most rewarding experience was seeing a club member burst into tears when I awarded her first ever win. Standards vary from club to club. Generally, standards are improving and, nowadays, most members are up to ‘club standard’. The best clubs have themore experiencedmembers and achieve higher standards. Like bridge or chess players we improve

I in photography during my teens. I developed my own film, made contact prints and later bought a home-made enlarger from a teacher for £4 and spent many a happy night stinking-out the bathroom. I was at Welwyn Garden City Photographic Club for over 16 years and it was there I got into judging. From time to time the East Anglia Federation ran a judges’ workshop to train putative judges and select new ones. I went along one day out of curiosity to see if I could hack it but also because I felt it was a new challenge for my photography. Now I’m a grade C judge. For four years I judged for the EAF at club level. Since moving to God’s own county, I have been placed on the Yorkshire Photographic Union supplementary list. I really enjoy looking at others’ photographs. They stimulate my passion for photography. Learning to comment and appraise (I feel the term ‘appraiser’ is so much better than ‘judge’) photographs is helpful in editing and reviewing my own. Judges come in all shapes and sizes and a few get a bad press. developed an interest

Biography

Howmany years in photography?

Like many photographers, I developed an interest in photography during my teens. Home club The first club I joined was Welwyn Garden City Photographic Club. I later joined the RPS and became a member of UPP (United Postal Portfolios). After retiring, I moved to Yorkshire and now enjoy membership of both Leeds and Harrogate Photographic Societies What is your favourite camera? An Olympus OM-D E-M1. I started using Micro Four Thirds a few years ago looking for a lighter second camera for trips. What is your favorite lens? The Olympus 17mm f/1.8 prime. It is equivalent to a 34mm focal length on a full frame DSLR and my go-to lens for street photography. What is your favourite photo accessory? This must be my Op/Tech sling strap system. Who is your favourite photographer? That’s a tough question. I have learnt much by looking at photographs and spending time with friends like Colin Westgate, Les Mclean and Hugh Milsom. But if you put a gun to my head it must be André Kertész. What is your own favourite photographic subject or technique? People pictures outside the studio followed by landscape. But, I have no favourites. I’m 71 years young: there’s no time to waste. I don’t want to limit myself. I am always trying out new techniques or embarking on a new journey of discovery. What awards/distinctions/ medals have youwon? LRPS.

by competing with people better and more experienced than ourselves. Of course, in a contest many pictures don’t make the grade for a variety of reasons. The first is the derivative or unexciting picture. Much of this is as a result of the drive to produce recognisable winning pictures with a high ‘wow’ factor but lack emotional or intellectual appeal. Many people rush to please judges; to imitate fashionable genres or revisit popular tripod holes without bringing anything original to them. I also see too many ‘nice’ pictures that come, un-cropped, straight out

of the camera without processing. There are only a handful of photographers with the technical skills to achieve perfection in- camera. For the rest of us, I am sorry but ‘nice’ is not good enough. It is as important to invest time learning how to post-process our pictures to make them potential prize winners. Software is improving and becoming easier to learn. Google Nik Efex is now available free while applications like Lightroom, Capture One and Topaz are tailor made for photographers. Being constructive when you see a snapshot in front of you is a big problem. The picture might be someone’s first ever entry and harsh criticism would be harmful. But, judges have a duty to be honest as well as constructive: to mark honestly to ensure that there is a real range of marks to distinguish the sheep from the goats. As I said, the most important person in the clubroom is the one who loses. Every entrant should be treated with respect, win or lose. My final piece of advice for club members is to believe in themselves; be bold, brave, daring and original and choreograph your pictures to force a judge’s eye on the vision you are expressing.

What do you think?

Have you seen a photographic judge at work who you’d like to see profiled in Photography News ? If so please drop us a line to opinion@photography-news. co.uk with the judge’s name and, if possible, their contact details.

montytrent.com

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

Advertisement feature 13

John Nassari Losing your gear is heartbreaking. Faced with that nightmare, John Nassari took the bold decision to switch system – and hasn’t looked back

At the age of 13 John Nassari was given his first camera by his stepfather. He went on to pursue photography both academically, gaining a PhD and teaching at university level, and professionally, establishing a career as an advertising photographer. His photography has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, and he was named as one of London’s Top 13 Wedding Photographers by the Evening Standard last year. Now focusing on weddings, John also shootsportraits,interiorsanddocumentary. One of his more recent projects saw him spend ten months photographing behind the scenes at theMandarin Oriental hotel in Hyde Park. The images were published in a book, 80 at 80, and exhibited in an exclusive private view in the hotel’s ballroom. Originally a Canon shooter, John switched to Olympus when his studio was broken into in 2013, and £36,000 worth of gear was stolen – a photographer’s worst nightmare. After receiving a cheque from his insurer, John realised that he had to start all over again and began to review what gear he actually needed and what it was that he wanted from it. “I realised that I was looking for smaller and lighter kit, a more compact system, a system that I could take around with me in a single medium bag, a bag that I could take on a plane as hand luggage,” John recalls. It was then that he also came to the conclusion that he had been ‘over gear-ing’ on a number of jobs. “I was taking enormous heavy cameras for PR jobs and the images were only being used online, or I was shooting a wedding and getting backache at the end of it, when the pictures were only going to be printed in an A3 book.” With all this in mind, John decided to move away from bulky DSLRs. Having heard good things about the Olympus OM-D E-M1, which was about to be released, he wanted to see what all the fuss was about. “I put the camera through a lot of tests; ISOandnoisetests,speedtests,trackingand flash tests, file testing, JPEG tests, macro etc. When I looked back at the images and analysed themI was shocked at the results,” he declares. “The files were smaller than those of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, but when making a print I realised that the OM-D E-M1 could deliver for 90% of my work.” Mainly shooting large-scale weddings John and his team now all use the Olympus system. John has an OM-D E-M5 Mark II as well as the OM-DE-M1 and a wide selection of lenses, which includes the M.ZUIKO 12- 40mm f/2.8 PRO, M.ZUIKO 25mm f/1.2 PRO, M.ZUIKO 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO and many more. “The cameras are remarkably robust. In three years some have been dropped and they always work fine. I’ve never had any problems with the electrics either and I get them serviced every year,” he says. As you’d expect when switching camera systems after a long period of loyalty, there

Images Ditching his DSLRs in favour of Olympus’s OM-D cameras has ensured John Nassari’s wedding kit is portable and flexible, and the results top notch.

was a short period of adjustment. The most challenging aspects for Johnwere getting used to the lack of mirror and the inclusion of an electric viewfinder, but he soon got the hang of things. “My first impression was that the OM-D E-M1 was small, quiet, beautiful and discreet!” he says. When it comes to features John highly rates the 5-axis image stabilisation. “It is amazing in low light, giving me five to six stops more light. I can hold and shoot a room at 1/20sec and it’s all sharp.” He also loves the peak focusing which allows you to zoom in really close to focus on a particular area; it’s great for focusing on a bride’s eyes, for example, when she is taking her vows. It’s not just hisweddingwork that Johnuses his Olympus kit for, he also shoots portraits and interiors. When shooting interiors he takes advantage of the high resmode, allowing him to produce a 40-megapixel file. As a photographer who regularly travels across

the globe, John doesn’t regret a thing and is delighted that he switched systems. “I can get on a plane and have all of my kit – two cameras, lenses, flashes – in my hand luggage and I don’t get anxious about whether my bag is too heavy or if it’ll fit.” What other effects has the change in system had on John’s work? “I am less conspicuous, I really can argue with great effect that my shooting approach is discreet, unobtrusive and quiet. I can’t imagine carrying two enormous DSLRs with huge lenses, making a loud mirror noise and putting my back out and banging my hip with bodies when I walk any more.” With the recent release of the Olympus flagship, OM-D E-M1 Mark II we asked John if he would be making the upgrade. His response: “Definitely, I used one at a pre- launch session and it blew me away. It’s a massive jump in so many ways!”

olympus.co.uk

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