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50 Articles

Welcome to the Spring 2017 edition of Camera Shopper! Here you’ll find all the best camera, lens and accessory reviews from our sister title Digital Camera Magazine, with jargon busting hints and tips on choosing your next photographic purchase . We start out by answering one of the first questions any new photographer will ask – what’s the best camera for beginners? The choice is wider than ever thanks to the boom in mirrorless cameras, but digital SLRs are still terrific value for money, and both types take interchangeable lenses for tackling any kind of subject. We’ve included our ever-popular head-to-head comparisons, too. We find out how the new highspeed Nikon D500 compares against Canon’s EOS 7D Mark II, and can the new full-frame Pentax K-1 topple the legendary Nikon…

RIGOROUS / ACCURATE / INDEPENDENT / FAIR CAMERA Shopper is brought to you by the UK’s most experienced team of photography journalists, which means you can trust everything you read on these pages and can buy your next piece of photography equipment with total confidence. In case you need any further convincing, here’s why our tests are the best: Depth At Camera Shopper, we take great pride in the rigorous nature of our testing process. Every product and service is tested in appropriate circumstances, and a combination of real world and objective tests are performed to ensure all products and services are credibly graded. Take a look at the opposite page for more details. Passion We believe the best way to test a product is to use it as it…

CSC or SLR? What’s the difference?

Single-lens-reflex or SLR cameras have a mirror that bounces light from the lens up into an optical viewfinder. It’s a tried-and-tested design that’s much loved by enthusiast and professional photographers alike. Like SLRs, compact system or mirrorless cameras can accept interchangeable lenses, but they don’t have a mirror inside; and if there is a viewfinder, it’s an electronic device that shows the image that’s formed on the sensor. The advantage of this approach is that you can see the impact of camera settings before you take a shot, so you know if you’ve set the correct exposure or if you’re in black-and-white mode. However, autofocusing tends to be a little slower, especially in low light – although the technology is improving all the time. Another advantage of omitting the mirror…

CSC VS SLR 10 KEY DIFFERENCES

So you want a decent camera that takes interchangeable lenses? A few years ago that was easy – you had to buy a DSLR. But then in 2009 Olympus launched its first mirrorless camera, the Pen E-P1, and everything changed. Though it didn’t change overnight. Mirrorless cameras are great in principle because they’re smaller, lighter and mechanically simpler. They’re also just like supersized compact cameras to use, whereas DSLRs are a bit of a jump from a regular compact. Enthusiasts and pros, however, have taken a bit of convincing – first, that the image quality is good enough to match a DSLRs; second, that the features and handling are comparable; third and most important, that these cameras will have a proper range of lenses to match those already available for DSLRs.…

CSC VS SLR 10 KEY DIFFERENCES

BEGINNERS’ CAMERAS

FOR most beginners, choosing their first ‘proper’ camera is an important step. While any camera is only really a tool, or a means to an end, the right one can have the power to fascinate, delight and inspire us. Unlike most simple pointand- shoot compact cameras, or even a smartphone, an SLR or CSC (compact system camera) offers a great deal of versatility. Interchangeable lenses enable you to shoot a wide range of subjects. We’ve chosen models with viewfinders. Beginners’ cameras should be easy to use, with intuitive controls, and effective auto and scene modes. But they should also be sophisticated enough to grow with you as you learn new skills and advanced techniques. THE CONTENDERS Canon EOS 1300D with 18-55mm IS II lens £320/$450 It’s the cheapest, but is it…

BEGINNERS’ CAMERAS

Canon EOS 760D £579/$849

SLR www.canon.co.uk SPECIFICATIONS Sensor_24.2MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9mm) CMOS sensor Focal Length conversion_1.6x Memory_SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder_Optical viewfinder, 95% coverage, 0.82x magnification Video resolution_Full HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) at 30, 25 or 24fps ISO range_ISO 100-12,800 (expandable to 25,600) Autofocus points_19 Max burst rate_5fps LCD Screen size_3-inch; 1,040,000 dots Shutter speeds_1/4,000-30 sec, Bulb Weight_565g (inc battery and memory card) Dimensions_131.9 x 100.9 x 77.8mm Power supply_LP-E17 Li-ion battery (supplied with camera) The new metering system in the cameras produces good results even in very tricky conditions WITH three cameras in its entry-level range Canon already had plenty to interest novices and enthusiast photographers on a budget. Now the company has replaced the 700D with two models, the EOS 760D and 750D, rather than one. As the 700D continues in the line-up (for now…

Canon EOS 760D £579/$849

Canon EOS 80D £770/$1,100

SLR www.canon.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor_APS-C format with 24.2 million effective pixels Focal length conversion_1.6x Memory_SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-1) Viewfinder_Optical covering 100% Max video resolution_Full HD (1920 x 10800 ISO range_100-16,000, expandable to 25,600 Autofocus points_45, all cross-type Max burst rate_7fps Screen_Three-inch 1,040,000-dot Clear View II TFT Shutter speeds_30-1/8,000sec, Bulb Weight_650g (body only) Dimensions_139 x 105 x 79mm Power supply_Lithium-ion LP-E6N The 8oD’s screen is very good, but the viewfinder is still the most natural option for photographers to use when shooting stills THE EOS 80D is aimed at dedicated enthusiast photographers, a demanding group of people who want to be able to shoot a huge range of subjects in a variety of conditions. Inside is a new 24-million-pixel sensor along with a Digic 6 processing engine; a combination that brings a native sensitivity…

Canon EOS 80D £770/$1,100

CANON 7D Mk II VS NIKON D500

FOR absolutely ages, Canon was the only company to offer a really high-end APS-C format SLR that was designed to appeal to dedicated enthusiast photographers, or to pros who wanted a lighter body with a smaller sensor to give their lenses extra reach. That’s changed recently, however, with the introduction of the Nikon D500, which means that the Canon 7D Mark II now has a direct competitor. Our mission here is to see how they compare… Features Although the 7D Mark II dates from September 2014, it has a very similar pixel count to the recently launched D500; we’re talking 20.2 million versus 20.9 million respectively. The D500 doesn’t have an optical low-pass filter, which could give it a slight edge for detail resolution, albeit at enhanced risk of moire…

CANON 7D Mk II VS NIKON D500

CANON EOS 6D VS NIKON D750

WANT the very best enthusiastlevel digital SLR without blowing your budget on a fully professional body? There are two main contenders– the Canon EOS 6D and the Nikon D750. Canon and Nikon’s range of ‘professional’ digital SLRs kick off with the 5D Mk III and D810, both of which cost roughly £1,000/$1,000 more than their rangetopping consumer-class cameras. The Canon 6D feels like it’s been around for yonks, having been announced back in September 2012. The Nikon D750 is two years newer and fresher, and outguns the Canon for features and specifications. It has a newly designed image sensor and the same Expeed 4 image processor as the very latest D810A and D7200. By contrast, the 6D looks a bit of a poor relation, especially compared with Canon’s latest APS-C…

CANON EOS 6D VS NIKON D750

www.blackrapid.com BlackRapid Sport Breathe £79/$82 This updated Sport strap now has breathable foam to keep you cool, while an extra-wide pad and under-arm strap ensure top comfort. A super-smooth slide action seals the deal. www.bgrip.com CP Tech B-Glider £32/$50 The B-Glider’s soft, supple strap feels great, and it’ll clip to a backpack. Camera attachment and release is easy, although the mounting plate is bulky and the slide action isn’t the smoothest. ka i s e r- fototechnik.de/en Kaiser Action Strap £40/$52 Kaiser’s contender is almost identical to Matin’s design (below), with the same soft shoulder pad and pivoting joints. It edges ahead thanks to smoother strap material that enables slicker sliding. www.cameraclean.co. u k Matin Neoprene Fast-Access Strap 5 £43/$47 There’s a lot to like here, with superbly supple padding…

CANON EOS 5D MARK IV £3,600/$3,500

SL R www.canon.co.uk SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 36 x 24mm 30.4MP CMOS Focal length conversion 1x (full-frame) Memory One CompactFlash; one SD/ SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) Viewfinder Optical pentaprism with approx 100% coverage Max video resolution 4K (4,096 x 2,160) at 30fps ISO range 100-32,000 (50-102,400 expansion) Autofocus points 61 points. Max of 41 cross-type AF points inc 5 dual cross-type at f/2.8 and 21 cross-type AF points at f/8. The number of cross-type AF points will differ depending on the lens Max burst rate 7fps Screen 3.2in Clear View II touchscreen LCD; approx 1,620,000 dots Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec plus Bulb Weight 890g Dimensions 151 x 116 x 76mm Power supply LP-E6N rechargeable lithium-ion battery CANON’S 5D series has a rich heritage – the original EOS 5D camera bought full-frame photography to the…

CANON EOS 5D MARK IV £3,600/$3,500

Canon EOS 5DS/5DS R £2,800/$3,500

SLR www.canon.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 50.6 million effective pixel full-frame (36 x 24mm) CMOS Focal length 1.0x conversion Memory CompactFlash and SD/SDHC/ SDXC Viewfinder Optical with pentaprism covering 100% Video Full-HD (1,920 x 1,080) at 30 / 25 / 24fps ISO range 100-6,400 expandable to 10-12,800 Autofocus points 61, all cross-type; phase detection in reflex mode Max burst rate 5fps Screen 3-inch 1,040k-dot LCD Shutter speeds 1/8,000-30 sec + Bulb Weight 845g without lens Dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm Power supply Rechargeable LP-E6N lithium-ion battery CANON’S 5D line of SLRs was the first to bridge the gap between professional and amateur photography, giving enthusiasts an affordable route to full-frame shooting and pros a smaller, lighter back-up camera. Now we have the 5DS and the 5DS R, both of which have…

Canon EOS 5DS/5DS R £2,800/$3,500

PORTABLE DRIVES

www.delkindevices.com Delkin Devices 1TB RhinoDrive £399/$380 With its rubberised casing and silicone bumper, the RhinoDrive offers ultimate shock protection. It’s far from sleek, though, and the SSD within can’t match the cheaper Samsung drive for speed. www.g-technology.com G-Technology 1TB G-Drive ev AT C £118/$130 This toughened drive is protected by a crush-, dust- and shock-resistant compartment that also has a built-in USB cable. Using a conventional hard drive keeps the cost down, but it’s no slouch. www.samsung.com Samsung Portable SSD T3 500GB £160/$177 At 74 x 58 x 10.5mm, this svelte metalshelled SSD is the smallest and lightest drive here. It also boasts winning performance, outpacing the Delkin SSD while still being shock-resistant. www.seagate.com Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim 2TB £90/$90 Seagate claims that this 9.6mm design is the world’s…

PORTABLE DRIVES

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II £4,799/$5,999

SLR www.canon.com SPECIFICATIONS Full-frame (35.9 x 23.9mm) CMOS with 20.2 million effective pixels Focal length conversion 1x Memory One CF, one CFast Viewfinder Optical with pentaprism and 100% coverage Max video resolution 4K (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) ISO range 100-51,200; expandable to 50-409,600 Autofocus points 61; 41 cross-type including five dual cross-type Max burst rate 14fps (16fps in Live View mode with focus and metering set at start) Screen 3.2-inch 1,620,000-dot Clear View II TFT Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec plus Bulb Weight 1,340g (body only) Dimensions 158 x 168 x 83mm Power supply LP-E19 rechargeable battery (supplied); LP-E4N, LP-E4 Provided sensitivity is kept to ISO 25,600 or lower, the 1D X Mark II produces superb images THE 1D X Mark II is Canon’s replacement for the 1D X, so it…

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II £4,799/$5,999

Fujifilm X-T2 £1,399/$1,599 (body only)

CSC www.fujifilm.co.uk SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor (23.6x15.6mm) Focal length conversion on lens 1.5x Memory 2 x SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Electronic viewfinder, 2,360,000-dot OLED Max video resolution 4K (3,840 x 2,160) ISO range 200-12,800, expandable to 100-51,200 Autofocus Intelligent Hybrid AF, 325 points Max burst rate 14fps (electronic shutter mode) Screen 3-inch, 1,040,000 dots, vertical/horizontal tilt Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec, Bulb Weight 507g (body only, with battery) Dimensions 132.5 x 49.2 x 91.8mm Power supply NP-W126S lithium-ion battery (supplied) The SLR-like X-T2 is designed for the brand’s growing range of fast zooms The X-T2 sits alongside the X-Pro2 as the joint flagship camera of the brand, and Fujifilm believes it now offers two distinct options for photographers. The X-Pro2, with its rangefinder design, is less obtrusive and better suited to…

Fujifilm X-T2 £1,399/$1,599 (body only)

GoPro Hero5 Black £349/$399

ACT ION CAMER A www.gopro.com It’s no secret that GoPro as a company has been struggling – and no wonder with all the jumping, crashing and extreme sports it’s been backing. As the company faltered, the copycats moved in, with a swathe of action cameras that have been as good, if not better than the Hero4. GoPro needed to do something big in response – and that has arrived in the form of the GoPro Hero5 Black. It’s not just a refinement of the Hero4: it’s a revolution in the action camera market. Spec-wise it appears much the same as the Hero4, but what it lacks in upgraded video specifications, it more than makes up for elsewhere. Features such as voice activation, manual exposure control and a two-inch touchscreen really…

GoPro Hero5 Black £349/$399

Fujifilm X-E2S £549/$699 (body only)

CSC www.fujifilm.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II Focal length conversion 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC (inc support for UHS-I) Viewfinder 0.5 inch organic EL Real Time Viewfinder, 2.36 million dots Max video resolution Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) up to 60p ISO range 200-6,400 (expandable to 100-51,200) Autofocus points 49 points (expandable to 77 points) Max burst rate 7fps Screen 3 inch LCD, 1.04 million dots Shutter speeds 30-1/4,000 sec (1/32,000 sec using electronic shutter), Bulb Weight 350g (including battery and memory card) Dimension 129 x 75 x 37mm Power supply Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NP-W126) Noise is well controlled throughout the ISO range and detail is generally good The Fujifilm X-E2S updates the wellregarded X-E2 with a modest collection of improvements. Many of these concern focus, with the inclusion of…

Fujifilm X-E2S £549/$699 (body only)

Fujifilm X-Pro2 £1,349/$1,699 (body only)

CSC www.fujifilm.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.3MP APS-C XTrans CMOS III Crop factor 1.5x Memory SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II in slot 1) Viewfinder 0.48in Advanced Hybrid Multi Viewfinder, 2.36million dots Max video resolution Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) up to 60p ISO range 200-12,800; expandable to 100-51,200 Autofocus points 77 points (expandable to 273 points) Max burst rate 8fps Screen 3in LCD, 1.62 million dots Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec (to 1/32,000 sec in electronic shutter mode), Bulb Weight 445g (body only) Dimensions 141 x 83 x 46mm Power supply Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NP-W126) A new three-inch LCD screen offers an impressive 1,620k-dot resolution FUJIFILM’S X-Pro1 provided the firm with a solid start to its X-series range of interchangeable-lens cameras – but in the face of technological progress, its winning formula could only keep the…

Fujifilm X-Pro2 £1,349/$1,699 (body only)

www.canon.co. u k Canon Remote Switch RS -80N3 £43/$47 Canon’s remote feels much like cheaper rivals, but its shutter lock mechanism is marginally more precise. An 80cm cable length is nothing special, suggesting the extra cash is going on the branding. www.fujifilm.eu/uk Fuji Remote Release RR-90 £36/$30 Apart from cost, all our remotes are closely matched, although Fujifilm’s version has an especially accurate – if loud – shutter button. It lines up with the Canon as average yet overpriced. www.hahnel.ie Hähnel Remote Shutter Release HRC 280 £20/$30 As with all our contenders, the Hähnel remote has a two-stage shutter release with lock-out for long exposures. But this option also has an interchangeable cable system and a two-metre extension cord. h t t p : / /uk.hama.com Hama DCC Base Cable…

Instant cameras

www.fujifilm.eu/uk/ 1 Fujifilm instax mini 70 £99/$99 Cheap and cheerful, the instax mini 70 is a cost-effective way to get into instant photography. Ours came in canary yellow, but you can also get it in passion red, stardust gold, midnight black, moon white and island blue. As these names suggest, it’s a party camera, but it’s really easy to use – you just turn it on and start shooting. The only thing you need to be careful of is that you don’t obscure the flash with your finger when you’re taking shots vertically. Everything else is taken care of – focusing, exposure and flash are all fully automatic. The inability to control the flash manually can be a bit of an annoyance – you’d need the more expensive mini 90…

Instant cameras

Leica M-D (Typ 262) £4,650/$5,995

CSC http://uk.leica-camera.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor (23.9 x 35.8mm) Focal length conversion on lens 1x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC card Viewfinder Direct vision with framing guides Max video resolution N/A ISO range 200-6,400 Autofocus Manual, via rangefinder Max burst rate 3fps Screen N/A Shutter speeds 60-1/4,000 sec, Bulb Weight 680g (body only, with battery) Dimensions 139 x 42 x 80mm Power supply BP-SCL2 lithium-ion battery (supplied) This camera has caused a great deal of controversy in the Digital Camera office Yes, it’s true: the Leica M-D really doesn’t have a rear display. The back of the camera is taken up instead by a large ISO setting dial. The direct-vision optical viewfinder shows you nothing but the scene in front of the camera, a set of frame guides for your current…

Leica M-D (Typ 262) £4,650/$5,995

PANORAMIC HEADS

www.amazon.com Fotga Pro 360° Swivel Panoramic Tripod Head £25 This shoestring-budget head will help you shoot spherical panoramas, but it’s riddled with build-quality bugbears and lacks precision. Even so, you can get acceptable results with patience. www.gigapan.com GigaPan Epic Pro £900/$995 The Epic Pro pans your camera in precise increments and across multiple rows, letting you create huge gigapixel panoramas. It’s easy to use and works a treat, although portability is not its forte. www.gitzo.com Gitzo Panoramic Disc Series 3 £249/$310 The Panoramic Disc is a basic singleaxis pan head, yet it oozes quality, smoothness and precision. Two bubble levels add to the convenience, but this head falls short on value and versatility. www.manfrotto.com Manfrotto 303SPH £409/$550 Adjustment is king with the 303SPH: it’s packed with positioning options to help…

PANORAMIC HEADS

Nikon D7200 £849, $997 (body only)

SLR www.nikon.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.2-million-pixel Focal Length 1.5x Memory 2 x SD / SDHC / SDXC Viewfinder Eye-level pentaprism viewfinder; 100% field of view Video resolution Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) at 60, 50 (1.3x crop mode), 30, 25 or 24p ISO range 100-25,600 (expandable to 102,400 equivalent, monochrome only) Autofocus points 51 Max burst rate 6fps (DX), 7fps (1.3x crop) Screen 3.2 inch, 1,229k-dot fixed TFT LCD Shutter speeds 1/8,000–30 sec Weight 443g 765g (body only, with battery and memory card) Dimensions 136 x 107 x 76mm Power supply EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery The optical viewfinder is bright and clear. It’s great to see a 100% offering on a camera at this level ROUGHLY two years after the introduction of the D7100, the new D7200 which replaces it seems…

Nikon D7200 £849, $997 (body only)

Nikon D500 £1,729/$1,999

SLR www.nikon.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor DX-format CMOS, 20.9MP Crop factor 1.5x Memory 1 x SD, 1 x XQD Viewfinder Optical pentaprism, 1x magnification, 100% coverage Video resolution 4K (UHD) 3,840 x 2,160 pixels at 30/25/24fps, Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 60/50/30/25/24fps ISO range 100-51,200, expands to 50-1,640,000 Autofocus points 153, including 99 cross-type; 15 points sensitive down to f/8 Burst rate 10fps Max buffer capacity 200 shots LCD screen Tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen, 2,359,000 dots Shutter speeds 1/8,000 sec to 30 sec, Bulb, timer, sync 1/250 sec Weight (body only) 760g Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm Power supply EN-EL15 battery NIKON is one of the world’s top digital SLR makers, but for some time it’s had a big gap in its camera line-up. Canon has an affordable highspeed, professional-quality…

Nikon D500 £1,729/$1,999

NIKON D810 VS PENTAX K-1

PHOTOGRAPHERS looking for a full-frame digital SLR have had to choose between two brands – Canon and Nikon – until now. Pentax has been making APS-C format digital SLRs for years, but this is the company’s first foray into full-frame photography. These two cameras come with very different approaches, however. The D810 is a ‘classic’ Nikon, with a sturdy build, carefully honed control layout and the backing of a huge range of professional lenses and photographic accessories. The K-1 arrives with a new approach to camera ergonomics and, thanks to Pentax’s powerful SR II lens-shift system, an intriguing collection of features. Features The big technical story with the K-1 is this sensor-shift system, which is used for a variety of functions. The most obvious is its five-axis image stabilisation, which…

NIKON D810 VS PENTAX K-1

Nikon D5 £5,099/$6,499

SLR www.nikon.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor Full-frame (35.9 x 23.9mm) with 20.8 million effective pixels Focal length conversion 1 Memory Dual XQD or Dual CF Viewfinder Optical covering 100% Max video resolution 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) ISO range 100-102,400 expandable to ISO 3,280,000 Autofocus points 153 and 99 cross-type Max burst rate 12fps with AF and metering, 14fps without and in live view mode Screen Touch-sensitive 3.2-inch 2,359,000-dot Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec, Bulb Weight 1,235g (body only) Dimensions 60 x 158.5 x 92mm Power supply Rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL18a Real-world images look cleaner and sharper than those from the D4S THE D5 takes the top spot from the D4S in Nikon’s SLR line-up. It’s aimed primarily at professional news and sports photographers, and is designed to take photographs in challenging conditions. It…

Nikon D5 £5,099/$6,499

www.calphoto.co.uk 1 Calumet WT3434 Watertight Hard Case £199 Calumet hard cases range from the dinky 31 x 27 x 14cm, 1.8kg WT411 up to the monster WT9263, which weighs in at 12.2kg – although thankfully that model has wheels. This WT3434 case is hardly petite at 65 x 51 x 24cm, but you don’t get wheels to suspend its hefty 8.2kg mass. Even its chunky rubber-coated handle isn’t enough to lighten this load, although extra handles on each end mean both arms – or a friend – can help take the strain. Inside is space for serious gear, including an exotic super-tele lens, all nestled in diced foam. Four rugged catches secure the lockable lid, ensuring the neoprene seal is clamped tightly to keep out water and dust. Top-notch material…

Olympus Pen-F £899/$999

CSC www.olympus-global.com/en SPECIFICATIONS Sensor Four Thirds (17.4 x 13mm) LiveMOS sensor with 20.3 million effective pixels Focal length conversion or lens 2x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Electronic viewfinder with 2,3600,000 dots Max video resolution Full HD (1,920 x 1,080), 30fps ISO range 200-25,600 (expandable to 80-25,600) Autofocus points 81 Max Burst rate 5fps with AF (10fps with AF locked at start) Screen 3-inch 1,037,000-dot TFT Shutter speeds 1/8,000-60 sec plus Bulb Weight 373g (body only) Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm Power supply Lithium-ion BLN-1 (supplied) The Pen-F integrates an OLED electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million dots into its body OLYMPUS has two lines of Micro Four Thirds compact system camera: Pen and OM-D, with the latter the more ‘serious’ of the pair. The Pen-F comes in at the top of…

Olympus Pen-F £899/$999

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II £749/$899 (body only)

CSC www.olympus.co.uk SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.1MP Micro Four Thirds format (17.3 x 13mm) Focal Length 2.0x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,360,000 dots (approx 100% cover) Video resolution 1080 ISO range 100–25,600 Autofocus points 81 Max burst rate 10fps (AF, white balance and exposure locked at start) Screen Vari-angle three-inch, 1,037,000-dot touchscreen Shutter speeds Mechanical shutter, 1/8,000-60 sec plus Bulb; electronic shutter, 1/1,6000-60 sec Weight 417g (body only) Dimensions 124 x 85 x 38mm Power supply BLN-1 rechargeable lithium ion battery (supplied) “It may be small, but the OM-D E-M5 Mark II feels nicely constructed. Its magnesium body is solid and comfortable” THE Olympus OM-D E-M5 was the first camera in Olympus’s OM-D line of Micro Four Thirds compact system cameras, and is sometimes referred to as the original…

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II £749/$899 (body only)

Olympus OM-D E-M1 II £1,850/$1,999 (body only)

CSC www.olympus.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor (17.3 x 13mm) Focal length conversion on lens 2x Memory 2x SD/SDHC/SDXC (1x UHS-1, 1x UHS-II) Viewfinder EVF, 2,360k dots Max video resolution 4K (4,096 x 2,160) ISO range ‘Low’-25,600 Autofocus Hybrid phase/contrast detection, 121 points, all cross-type Max burst rate 60fps AF locked, 18fps with AF Screen 3-inch vari-angle, 1,037k dots Shutter speeds 60-1/8000 sec, Bulb Weight 574g, body only, with battery and memory card Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm Power supply BLH?1 lithium?Ion battery (supplied), 440 shots The E-M1 II’s 60fps burst mode is a spectacular leap forward in highspeed shooting OLYMPUS has played two aces with the E-M1 II. Its 60fps burst mode is a spectacular leap forward in high-speed shooting, and even though you…

Olympus OM-D E-M1 II £1,850/$1,999 (body only)

www.mindshiftgear.com 1 MindShift Gear UltraLight 20 £27/$35 THIS is actually a type of small, light bag that keeps your camera dry between shots, but you need to take out the camera for use. It’s essentially a lightly padded fabric cube where the top flap folds over your camera and fastens around the lens with a drawstring. This mid-sized version will wrap around a full-frame SLR with a modest zoom lens, and features an integrated waist belt that allows the cover to be worn like a holster bag. Unlike a traditional holster design, this cover can be collapsed and scrunched into its own compact pouch for ultimate portability. This means it’s just the ticket for stashing in your main camera bag, ready for a day when you want to travel light…

Pentax K-70 £799/$897 with 18-135mm lens

CSC www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk Sp ecifications Sensor APS-C CMOS sensor, 23.5 x 15.6mm, 24.2MP Lenses Pentax KAF2 Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, UHS-I Viewfinder Optical pentaprism, 0.95x, 100% Max video resolution 1,920 x 1,080 ISO range 100-102,400 Autofocus points 11 (9 cross-type) Max burst rate 6fps Screen 3-inch vari-angle, 921,000 dots Shutter speeds 1/6,000 sec to 30 sec, Bulb Weight 688g Dimensions 126 x 93 x 74mm (body only) Power supply D-LI109 lithium-ion battery, 410 shots The kit lens has a long focal range, is weather-resistant and has a non-rotating front element – perfect for use with filters PENTAX is pitching the dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant K-70 at the outdoor photography market. However, the K-70’s specs suggest it’s an all-rounder suited to a much wider range of subjects. Its 24-megapixel APS-C sensor has no anti-aliasing…

Pentax K-70 £799/$897 with 18-135mm lens

Sigma sd Quattro £699/$799

CSC www.sigma-imaging-uk.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor Foveon X3 direct image CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.5mm); 29.5MP on three layers, max image size 39.3MP Lens mount Sigma SA Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Electronic viewfinder, 2,360,000 dots Max video resolution N/A ISO range 100-6,400 Autofocus points 9 Max burst rate 3.7fps Screen 3-inch TFT, 1,620,000 dots Shutter speeds 1/4,000 sec to 30 sec, Bulb Weight 625g Dimensions 147 x 95 x 91mm Power supply BP-61 lithium-ion battery (supplied) The sd Quattro’s fine detail rendition is exceptional. Sadly, its high-ISO performance is startling in a very different way SIGMA’S Quattro sensor mimics traditional film, recording colour using different layers of silicon rather than with the mosaic or red, green and blue photosites used by regular sensors. The top layer records luminance and blue data at 19.6MP…

Sigma sd Quattro £699/$799

www.benroeu.com 1 Benro GoPlus Classic TGP27C & IB2 head £309 + £94 This new no-compromise design makes a big impression. With an IB2 ball head attached, it’ll top out at an imposing 178cm and pack down to a still-unwieldy 73.5cm. That’s due to the use of threesection legs, which should be more rigid than four-section designs, even if portability does take a hit. Factor the extra-large diameter carbon tubing, capable of supporting a whopping 12kg, and you get a solid-feeling set-up here. A monopod conversion feature enhances the GoPlus’ appeal, as does the versatile Quick Flip centre column, which easily pivots to almost any angle. Benro also throws in interchangeable spiked feet, while the optional IB2 head impresses with its large, frictionadjustable ball and sound ergonomics. www.gitzo.com 2 Gitzo Mountaineer…

Sony Alpha 6300 £849/$999 (body only)

CSC www.sony.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.2MP APS-C Exmor Focal length conversion 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC(inc UHS-I)/ Memory Stick Pro Duo Viewfinder 0.39-inch OLED EVF; 2.36 million dots Max video resolution 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) up to 60p ISO range expandable to 51,200 Autofocus points 425 points (phase-detect AF); 169 (contrast-detect AF) Max burst rate 11fps Screen 3-inch LCD, 921k dots, tiltable Shutter speeds 30-1/4,000 sec, Bulb Weight 404g (including battery and memory card) Dimensions 120 x 67 x 49mm Power supply Rechargeable Li-Ion battery (NP-FW50) The new 24.2MP Exmor CMOS sensor is more efficient at gathering light and reading out info than the A6000 Sony has done a stellar job to get its Alpha line of compact system cameras and lenses firmly established in the mirrorless camera market, with everyone from…

Sony Alpha 6300 £849/$999 (body only)

Sony Alpha 68 £513/$599 (body only)

SLT www.sony.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Crop Factor 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC (inc UHS-I), Memory Stick Pro Duo Viewfinder 0.39 inch OLED Tru-Finder, 1.44 million dots Max video resolution Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) up to 60p ISO range 100-12,800 (expandable to 25,600) Autofocus points 79 points Max Burst rate 8fps Screen 2.7 inch LCD, 461k dots Shutter speeds 30-1/4,000 sec, Bulb Weight 596g (body only) Dimensions 143 x 105 x 83mm Power supply Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NP-FM500H) A plethora of physical controls provide direct access to many shooting parameters Sony’s Alpha 77 II made quite the impression when it was launched in 2014, and proved that there was plenty of life left in the company’s SLT systems, despite the popularity of Sony’s full-frame CSCs. That camera remains in…

Sony Alpha 68 £513/$599 (body only)

www.kingston.com Kingston SDXC UHS-I U3 64GB £23/$34 Kingston’s fastest SD card managed a whopping 84.1MB/s when writing video, though transferring multiple image files resulted in a mediocre 42.8MB/s, with lots of speed fluctuations. www.lexar.com Lexar Professional 633x SDXC UHS-I 64GB £23.50/$30 It may only have a UHS Class 1 speed rating, but this card’s read rates are a match for the competition. Write speeds of 53MB/s with video and 36.7MB/s with images trail the pack, though. www.samsung.com Samsung Pro+ 32GB £25/$25 The Pro+ turned in the fastest outright image write rate of 58.2MB/s, but not without some minor speed fluctuations. Read performance is faultless, however, as is video write speed. www.sandisk.com SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB £25/$20 SanDisk’s contender produced a blistering 83.3MB/s video write rate, and it wrote images at…

Sony Alpha 77 II £999/$999 (Body only)

CSC www.sony.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.3MP APS-C format (23.5 x 15.6mm) Exmor CMOS Focal length conversion 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony Memory Stick Viewfinder Electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 dots (100% cover) Video Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) at 60p ISO range 100 to 25,600; expandable to ISO 50-25,600 for stills, ISO 100-12,800 for movies Autofocus points Phase-detection with 79 points (15 cross-type) Max burst rate 12fps (aperture locked at start) Screen 3.2-inch, 1,229k-dot TFT Weight 647g (body only) Dimensions 142.6 x 104.2 x 80.9mm Almost all of Sony’s A-mount lenses are compatible with the A77 II’s 79 AF points After the announcement of the full-frame E-mount Sony A7, A7R and A7S compact system cameras and the demise of the NEX brand, you could be forgiven for thinking that Sony might not…

Sony Alpha 77 II £999/$999 (Body only)

Sony Alpha 7R II £2,899/$3,198

CSC www.sony.com SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 42.4 million effective pixel full-frame (35.9 x 24mm) Exmor R CMOS Focal length conversion 1x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC and various Memory Stick options Viewfinder 2,359,296-dot OLED Max video resolution 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at 30p ISO range 100-25,600; expandable to ISO 50-102,400 for stills Autofocus points 399 Max burst rate 5fps at full resolution Screen 3-inch LCD with 1,228,800 dots Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec for stills Weight 582g (body only) Dimensions 126.9 x 95.7 x 60.3mm Power supply NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery (supplied) The front grip is more pronounced, making it more comfortable and secure in use Sony has had ambitious plans for the camera market ever since it bought Konica Minolta’s camera business in 2006, but after the initial excitement there were only sporadic periods of activity,…

Sony Alpha 7R II £2,899/$3,198

www.apple.com Apple iPhone 7 Plus From £719/$769 The 7 Plus stands out from its smaller sibling not only because of its 5.5-inch, 1,080 x 1,920 display, but also thanks to the inclusion of two cameras. Both have 12MP sensors; one has a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle f/1.8 lens with optical image stabilsation, and the other camera gets a 56mm-equivalent telephoto lens to effectively provide 2x optical zoom in a smartphone that’s just 7.3mm thick. It’s all great on paper, but the image quality is less impressive. Although colour accuracy is first class, phones like the Galaxy S7 and the Google Pixel use slightly larger sensors and resolve much more fine detail. The 7 Plus’ low-light quality is another disappointment, and Apple’s native camera app is short on manual control and lacks raw…

Which lens? Expert advice

A camera is just a starting point in photography; a new lens can help you take a big step forward. There are lots of possibilities to choose from. A fast telephoto zoom lens, for example, is a great investment. It’s usually associated with shooting sport and action, but it can also make a great portrait lens, especially for shooting active families. A macro lens will also let you get much closer to your subject for 1:1 (life-size) replication and dramatic shots. But don’t overlook manual focus prime lenses, which usually have large maximum apertures to allow fast shutter speeds: they make great walkabout optics.…

Which lens? Expert advice

9 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT USING PRIME LENSES

ZOOM lenses are undeniably great when it comes to convenience and versatility, delivering a range of focal lengths at the flick of a wrist. However, they demand a compromise in terms of outright image quality. With complex arrangements of large groups of lens elements moving back and forth to enable the zoom action, the optical purity suffers. Sharpness is often the first casualty, and barrel and pin-cushion distortions often appear at the wide-angle and telephoto ends of the zoom range respectively. You can also expect an increase in chromatic aberration (colour fringing around highcontrast edges in a scene) and vignetting. The latter effect is most commonly seen when you’re using large apertures at the wide-angle end. Zoom lenses are also often more prone to ghosting and flare. With a high-quality…

9 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT USING PRIME LENSES

MANUAL-FOCUS LENSES

WHAT’S so good about autofocus anyway? Those who like being in control often shy away from multi-point AF, where the camera decides which parts of a scene it’s going to focus on, often in a seemingly arbitrary process. Instead, they’ll single out the central AF point. This invariably means choosing an object in the scene that’s our preferred distance away, autofocusing, then maintaining a light press on the shutter button while they swivel the camera and compose the shot. For landscapes, street photography, reportage and action sports, manual focusing is a viable alternative. These manual lenses have a very particular advantage for manual focusing. They have longer, more accurate focus scales and most have depth of field index markings. With these lenses you can manage depth of field and hyperfocal…

MANUAL-FOCUS LENSES

Laowa 105mm f/2 STF £735/$700

TELEPHOTO PRIME LENS www.venuslens.net PHOTOGRAPHERS can be a fussy lot, demanding sharp lenses that also deliver very smooth bokeh (the quality of defocused areas within images). The conventional route is to use a fast lens with a wide aperture, enabling a small depth of field. This new Laowa Soft Trans Focus lens from Venus Optics employs an apodisation element in an effort to take bokeh to a creamier, dreamier level. It’s essentially a built-in radial graduated neutral-density filter that reduces light transmission towards the perimeter of the frame. It’s like having a secondary, smoothly graduated iris that works in conjunction with the main aperture (actually two apertures, as we’ll see later) to produce a softer bokeh. Build & handling The Chinese-made lens feels solid and sturdy, with its metal barrel…

Laowa 105mm f/2 STF £735/$700

THERE’S big news in the small world of photographing tiny objects. A redesign of Tamron’s 90mm lens is aiming for new heights of excellence, while a price drop in Sigma’s 105mm lens makes it look great value for money, especially in the UK. Samyang puts its own twist on macro photography with its manual lens, while Tokina sticks to a veteran design. So how do all these independently manufactured lenses stack up against own-brand competition? The Canon 100mm L-series and Nikon’s 105mm represent both companies’ most high-tech macro optics. While they’re costly, Sony’s new E-mount 90mm has an even heftier price tag. The Micro Four Thirds 60mm lens is Olympus’s finest offering, but is much more affordable. Let’s take a look... THE CONTENDERS Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM…

Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro £500/$500

MACRO PRIME L ENS www.sony.co.uk THERE have been 50mm ‘macro’ lenses from the likes of Canon and Zeiss that, while giving a natural perspective with a full-frame SLR, don’t deliver the full macro benefit. Instead they only offer a maximum magnification ratio of 0.5x at their closest focus distances. Like Sony’s older A-mount 50mm macro, this new E-mount optic boasts 1.0x magnification, reproducing small objects at full life-size on the image sensor. Build & handling Although the lens is compact and light, it feels well-built and fairly robust. It lacks a weather-sealed mount but is dust- and moistureresistant. The inner barrel doesn’t rotate during focusing but does extend at shorter focusing distances, revealing calibrated markings for focus distance and magnification. No lens hood is supplied, but the front element is…

Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro £500/$500

Budget telephoto zooms

or many of us, the purchase of our first compact system or SLR camera kit will be closely followed by buying a telephoto zoom lens. It’s an obvious addition, enabling extra telescopic reach that’s ideal for shooting anything from family fun to action sports and wildlife. Budget-friendly options are plentiful, but there’s been a shift in the market lately. Many of the latest ownbrand offerings from camera manufacturers are designed for ‘crop sensor’ rather than full-frame bodies. It makes sense, because reducing the size of the image circle that a lens delivers enables a more compact and lightweight build. The physical size and purchase price are therefore more in keeping with entry-level APS-C format and Micro Four Thirds cameras. Meanwhile, Sigma and Tamron (the two main independent manufacturers) are bucking…

Budget telephoto zooms

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN | C £240/$340

STANDARD PRIME L ENS www.sigma-imaging-uk.com SIGMA’S 30mm Art-line lens for Canon and Nikon APS-C format SLRs has excellent build quality and handling and good optical performance. This new sibling offers the same effective 45mm focal length and f/1.4 aperture rating for Sony E-mount cameras, or 60mm in Micro Four Thirds fit. It’s from the Contemporary line, which is more budgetfriendly than the Art series. It’s also only a third of the weight of the 30mm Art lens, at just 140g, making it a well-balanced optic for small compact system cameras. Build & handling The optical design includes two aspherical elements to boost image quality and compactness. Sigma claims the new lens rivals its Art-line optics for image quality. The built-in stepping motor enables quick and virtually silent autofocusing, with smooth…

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN | C £240/$340

WHETHER you’re shooting birds in the garden or planes at an airshow, you’ll need long telephoto reach. This month we’re focusing on zoom lenses for leading SLRs that go large on focal length, without going overly large on price. We’re therefore not including monster prime and zoom lenses that cost a fortune, and have set ourselves a price limit of under £2,000 (or a little over $2,000). With competing lenses starting at £740/$1,000 and giving extravagant reach of up to 600mm, there are plenty of options to choose from. There are some appealing own-brand Canon and Nikon lenses to choose from, but they face stiff competition from the likes of Sigma and Tamron, especially when it comes to telephoto reach. Let’s go wild! THE CONTENDERS Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS…

Fujifilm Fujinon XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR £1,500/$1,900

TELEPHOTO LENS www.fujifilm.co.uk Fujifilm has been manufacturing professionalgrade lenses for the photographic, TV and movie industries for decades. The relatively recent XF mount lenses have earned an excellent reputation for build quality and image quality. This new 100-400mm super-telephoto zoom is an ‘R’ lens with a built-in aperture ring; it has an LM (Linear Motor) autofocus system, OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) and a WR (Weather-Resistant) construction as standard. Build & handling Fujifilm says the lens has a compact and lightweight design; however, despite being an APS-C format lens that produces a small image circle, it’s about the same size as the latest Canon 100- 400mm and Nikon 80-400mm full-frame compatible lenses. It’s a little lighter, and the crop factor of Fujifilm’s compact system cameras give the lens a monstrous ‘effective’…

Fujifilm Fujinon XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR £1,500/$1,900

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