Digital Camera - August 2022

Image Rescue 3

How to fix a summery shot bedevilled by strong sunlight 2
14
Shot in bright conditions with the Highlights slider 2 to the left so
strong sunlight bouncing off the that we can tame the bright sand
sand, there is plenty of contrast area; while we’re there, we’re also
between the highlights and the going to lift the shadows in the cliffs
shadows in this image, and it is by boosting the Shadows slider.
therefore going to need quite
a lot of editing to improve it. The tighter crop and extra detail
mean that the footsteps in the
The figure of the little boy and foreground sand have become
his red bucket is important to the distracting, as has a family sitting
composition of the photograph, by the rocks behind the boy. So
but it is going to need a drastic let’s clone them all out.
crop to bring him more into play.
Lightroom isn’t the best bet for
Working in Lightroom’s Develop cloning, so we’ll take the image into
module, we can use the Transform Photoshop and use the Clone
panel to scale and then slightly Stamp tool 3 , making sure we
rotate 1 the image to get the clone to a separate layer.
balance right. With that step
out of the way, we now need to Back in Lightroom, we can finish
go up to the Basic panel and drag off by warming up the image using
the White Balance slider. 4

Dual-format capture? Let there be light Andrew James

I shoot Raw + JPEG. I have just bought a You can brighten or darken shots taken with
flash by adjusting the power of the flash unit
Q Is it necessary? Q second-hand flash or by changing the aperture of the lens.

Kit Ponting studio kit, but have curtain hasn’t had time to clear the frame
Personally I don’t think it is, before the flash is extinguished.
never tried using studio light.
A unless perhaps you are a sports Once set up, take a test shot at your
photographer sending JPEGs So the first thing I need to camera’s sync speed with the aperture
direct from the touchline and at f/8. You can brighten or darken the shot
want to have a set of raws for later use. I know is what do I have to do by increasing or decreasing the power of
know it’s been a practice for lots of people, the flash or changing aperture.
but if you don’t need to send a JPEG file to set up my camera for it?
immediately there’s no real advantage
and you’re just using up space on your Louis Bradley
memory card. If you feel it gives you some
reassurance there’s no real harm to it, When it comes to studio flash,
but since you can output to JPEG quickly
from the raw, it makes sense to do that. A the first thing to remember is
you need to work in Manual
Do you really need to shoot jpegs alongside mode so you have total control
raw files? If you’re not a professional sports over the shutter speed and aperture.
or news photographer, then probably not. The next important thing is to know the
flash sync speed for your camera. It’s
normally either 1/200 sec or 1/250 sec, but
you need to check what it is for your camera
model. You can always shoot at a shutter
speed that’s slower than your sync speed,
but you can’t shoot faster, or you’ll run into
problems with black bars across the image.
These occur simply because the shutter

www.digitalcameraworld.com

In Focus Focal point
The latest photography news from around the globe
Rounding up
1 FULL-WIDTH 2 REASSURING 3 REAR 3 what’s new
4K VIDEO… HAND GRIP TOUCHSCREEN ƏȇƳ‫ژ‬ƺɴƬǣɎǣȇǕ
… and the Z 30’s There’s a deep No EVF on the Z
20.9MP APS-C grip for securing 30, but there is a Z 9 FIRMWARE
sensor captures the camera while fully vari-angle UPDATE
stills at 11fps. hand-holding. rear screen.
New firmware update
4 for Nikon flagship
1 Update 2.10 for the
Z 9 introduces a new
2 High-Frequency Flicker
Reduction function and
4 EASY-TO-USE CONTROLS improvements to AF
The top control dial features tracking performance,
eight positions, including three particularly when
user-definable custom modes. shooting small subjects.
www.nikon.co.uk
Z 30 unveiled by Nikon
New GPS unit for
Latest Z series camera is pitched firmly at vloggers and content creators Pentax DSLRs
Succeeding the O-GPS1,
he brand’s newest – and cheapest – The Z 30 packs pretty extensive video features for the O-GPS2 goes further
the price, with continuous recording for up to 35 than other GPS add-ons,
T mirrorless camera, the Z 30 targets minutes in 4K UHD or 125 minutes for full HD, and as it can calculate the
vloggers, content creators and anyone there are 20 in-camera filter effects for both stills movement of celestial
looking to upgrade from a camera phone to a and video. Interestingly, there’s no electronic objects using the latitude
camera. The Z 30’s 20.9MP APS-C sensor is the viewfinder on the Z 30, which isn’t ideal for stills obtained from the
same one used in Nikon’s Z 50 and Z fc, offering photography, but there is a fully vari-angle rear location data and the
stills shooters 11fps image capture with autofocus screen and a deep grip for secure handling. camera’s alignment data.
and auto-exposure, plus full-time video AF with www.nikon.co.uk; £699/$707 (body only) www.ricoh-imaging.eu;
eye and animal detection for both stills and video. £249.99/$179.95

Z 400mm f/4.5

Nikon’s new lightweight and compact
prime includes optical stabilisation

eighing 1,245g – just under half the

W weight of the Z 400mm f/2.8 – the
Z 400mm f/4.5 will make it easier
to track and pan with moving subjects. The Z
400mm f/4.5 uses Super ED, ED and SR glass
elements for aberration control, Nikon’s Nano Crystal
Coat to control flare and a fluorine front element
for easier cleaning. Optical stabilisation features,
and the lens also has a silent control ring and
memory-set button to save focus distances.
www.nikon.co.uk; £3,299/$3,247

102 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022

Go to www.digitalcameraworld.com ǔȒȸ Ɏǝƺ ǼƏɎƺɀɎ ȇƺɯɀً ȸƺɮǣƺɯɀ ۭ ɎƺƬǝȇǣȷɖƺɀ In Focus

Sustainability All eneloop batteries are available in AA and AAA sizes, and the
boost for eneloop ‘pro’ variant is a popular option for powering camera flashguns.

New plastic-free packaging for
brand’s battery and charger packs

popular choice for photographers,

A eneloop batteries are now more
sustainable than before, thanks to
new and improved packaging and enhanced
performance. Pre-charged using solar energy,
eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 2,100
times, according to the manufacturer, even
keeping 70% of their charge for up to 10 years.
The latest generation of eneloop batteries
and chargers come in a new, fully cardboard
and 100% plastic-free wrap, and the best-
selling standard eneloop battery gets upgraded
capacities. Offering up to 500 recharges and
able to retain 85% of their capacity after one
year in storage, eneloop pro batteries are
popular for powering energy-hungry flashguns,
while standard eneloop batteries can be used
for compact cameras and other accessories.
www.panasonic.com; from £9.99 (4-pack)

TEONDTAEYR!cowlowrpwro.b-icto.lmy/p

ViewSonic

Win a ViewSonic VP2776 monitor worth £386!

Exclusive UK reader competition – enter today to win this 27-inch monitor for pro photo and video editing

inished in matte black with an ergonomic workstand as parameters found in editing software – for example, display
zoom settings, brush sizes, brightness, opacity and more.
F and integrated lighting on the rear of the unit, the
ColorPro VP2776’s 98% DCI-P3 capability is the To enable users to see their workspace when editing in
same colour gamut as an Apple Retina Display, and ViewSonic’s darkroom conditions, the ColorPro VP2776’s Backstage light
ICC Bridge technology guarantees that the ICC profiles offers a choice of three illumination settings: white, warm white
automatically match for identical colour on the monitor. and yellow. Plus, to keep workspaces clear and clutter-free,
VESA-verified HDR400 with Nano IPS Color Gamut combine ViewSonic’s proprietary Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) Switch
to offer a Hollywood-style viewing experience, while Delta technology uses USB-C connectivity for single cable management
E < 2 colour accuracy offers flawless colour reproduction. to let both Windows and macOS users flip between applications
The ColorPro VP2776’s multi-function Color Pro wheel on multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse.
allows the user to colour-calibrate the monitor quickly,
accurately and easily. It can also make simple and As every ColorPro VP2776 unit is calibrated before it leaves
intuitive adjustments to on-screen menus, as well the factory, it’s ready to go right out of the box. Full specs at:
www.viewsonic.com/eu/products/lcd/VP2776

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 103

Arnfinn Johnsen © Jonas Bendiksen / Magnum Photos
Behind
the lens castofinterestingcharacterswhoare
involved in the business of producing NORTH MACEDONIA. 2020. Veles.
fake news. So far, so good – but The On the hillsides above Veles.
Book Of Veles is a work of fiction: the
with these synthetic imaging
images were faked by Bendiksen and technologies with telling and exploring
the fascinating story about what
JONAS BENDIKSEN the introductory chapter was produced actually had happened in Veles.
by software that was fed media content
Another ‘eureka’ moment came
Documentary relating to the fake news industry in when I was, around the same time,
Veles. Ingenious and audacious in equal reading up on the town of Veles. I came
across these other layers of the god
photographer measure, The Book of Veles fooled a lot named Veles, and the ‘ancient’ forged
of people when it first surfaced, so who manuscripts that were called The Book
of Veles. But even with these thrilling
www.jonas better than Bendiksen to reveal more moments, there were many parts of the
about the whole enterprise… project that were conceived much later,
as the story and project itself unfolded
bendiksen.com When did you first know what you – like the social media character Chloe
Miskin, or the idea of having artificial
wanted to do with this project? intelligence write all the text in the
book; I only got to those parts as
he Book Of Veles was The first moment came when I had I fell further into the rabbit hole.

T published in 2021 and downloaded some software to try out What did you think other people’s
recounts a visit to the North how easy one could create photo- reaction to this work might be?
Macedonian city of Veles realistic 3D characters, and I basically This was obviously one of the big
question marks for me throughout the
– the world’s capital of fake learned enough to get started in a few process. On the one hand I really had a
knot in my belly for large parts of spring
news – by the Magnum days, looking at YouTube tutorials and and summer 2021, when I realised that
the experiment was going much further
photographer, Jonas Bendiksen. The just trying things out. That is when I than I had thought. Originally I was sure
that people would become suspicious
book chronicles his meetings with a realised I could merge my fascination of the project within a few weeks of the
book’s launch in April 2021, and also
© Jonas Bendiksen / Magnum Photos when I started sharing the materials
widely on my social media channels.

The original timeline planned for a
quick discovery of the project’s truth
and an early admission of guilt, then
the conversation about synthetic
photography would start within weeks,
almost as part of the book’s launch.

While I was worried about how it
would be received, especially in the
volatile social media world, I had hopes
that people would see that the intention

104 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 NORTH MACEDONIA. 2020. Veles.
Apartment building at dusk.

www.digitalcameraworld.com

© Jonas Bendiksen / Magnum Photos
© Jonas Bendiksen / Magnum Photos

all along was for the truth to come out be legitimate American news portals – ABOVE LEFT: NORTH MACEDONIA.
– the book is full of hints and clues and I would say if packaged correctly there 2020. Veles. Veles street scene
downright admissions – that this book is no reason why it wouldn’t work there at night. ABOVE RIGHT: 2020.
should be treated with suspicion. It’s all as well. I mean, the original raw material Evening in the streets of Veles.
there for those who wanted to see it. of the project – teenagers making
low-cost, amateur fake news sites that and a sense of transparency about the
But when no one at all came to me get spread to millions of Americans, processes. I can think of many bodies
with any critical questions or remarks full of the most outrageous clickbait, of work with a very distinct visual style,
whatsoever, and I just received all these sensationalist conspiracies and that perhaps augments the purely
compliments for my great investigative outright fake news – shows that visual components in one way or
reporting, I realised we were in trouble, this can happen anywhere. the other, that feels more honest and
that I was in trouble, and that I had to dedicated than another body of work
find ways to somehow get out of my AI text-generation systems like GPT-3 that has a more ‘natural’ sky, for
lies. The longer it was floating around and even AI photograph generators like example. There are so many ways
there as a ‘real’ documentary, the OpenAI Dall-E show that within a few to deceive and manipulate with
more worried I became. years, the tech tools of automated photography – it doesn’t come down
disinformation will be so sophisticated to one element. It’s all about context,
Luckily, it seems I landed on my that I think people everywhere will be and in our digital world the context of
feet, and while there have been plenty facing these issues head-on. It’s going information is becoming as important
of critics of the project, most people to get complicated. In just 5-10 years as the information itself.
have taken it as it was intended – as we will look at The Book Of Veles as
a wake-up call to how vulnerable we a very crude and naïve prototype of
all are to disinformation, and how something we see in much more
technology is making it easier and sophisticated form all around us.
easier to mass-produce synthetic
photography and text. What defines something as
being ‘real’ or ‘fake’ to you?
Would this project have worked I think it all comes down to when the
if undertaken in the UK or US? intention of the photographer gels
It’s difficult to predict, but seeing the with the subject. It’s maybe not so
success of the original Veles fake news much about real and fake, but more
– the hundreds of websites that local about the intention of the photographer,
Macedonian youth set up, pretending to

“While there have been plenty of • The Book Of Veles by Jonas
critics, most people have taken it as Bendiksen is published
it was intended – as a wake-up call” by Gost Books (ISBN 978-
1-910401-61-3) and is
priced at £30/$29.99.
www.gostbooks.com

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 105

Scanning Karen X Cheng
ahead…
Jon Devo

instagram.com/gadgetsjon
Jon is a professional photographer,
videographer and technology journalist.

Jon Devo on how Canon is leading the way videos for future-proof immersive
in blazing a trail towards the metaverse content. We’re already beginning to
see some of the most prolific digital
he future of yourself with to ensure you can content creators embrace the
capitalise and not be left behind? technology. Instagram pioneer Karen
metaverse content X Cheng recently used the Canon 3D
This month, we’re looking at Canon. lens to create a music video for Oculus.
T creation looks set Synonymous with photography and com’s MetaQuest platform. Cheng’s
to be dominated by filmmaking, it has dominated most six-minute-long video, which can be
waves of imaging technology evolution, viewed via her website, karenx.com/vr,
a select number of from the transition of SLRs to digital explores depth and immersion through
SLRs and the introduction of motion fun, creative choreography that gives
companies, some video capabilities in the 5D Mark II, to viewers a feel for the type of at-home
the creation of the Canon ‘Cinema’ VR experiences we’ll be able to enjoy.
of which I’m sure you’ll expect, but EOS range that helped define the
standard for run-and-gun, dedicated At CES 2022, Canon also announced
others may surprise you. In the coming filmmaking cameras. Canon stuttered a new virtual reality video calling
when it came to embracing mirrorless platform it’s developing called
months, I’m going to be focusing on camera technology, but it’s back on Kokomo. Although details are scarce,
track with the EOS R series. No longer Canon stated via press release that
different companies at the bleeding insistent on releasing frustratingly Kokomo will allow users to see
iterative (and outdated) DSLRs, each other’s “live appearance and
edge of metaverse-related imaging Canon is back at the forefront of expressions” through a combination
innovation when it comes to virtual of VR headset, Canon camera and
tech and content tools. reality, high-resolution mirrorless smartphone, with calls taking place
and intelligent camera systems. in photo-realistic locations.
Virtual reality in the form of a
But the most interesting of its recent While I’m yet to be convinced about
metaverse is beginning to feel like releases is the Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Kokomo, I’m impressed to see Canon
Dual Fisheye lens, its first 3D virtual shake off its cobwebs and get back
an unavoidable future that society is reality lens. Designed for use with the to making bold innovations that are
EOS R5, Canon’s EOS VR can capture driving the creative world forward.
speeding towards. As creative people, 180° stereoscopic stills and up to 8K I’m excited to see what they do next,
which is something I haven’t been
if we can embrace the technology able to say about Canon in years.

being developed then we’ll be

perfectly positioned to thrive. So

which company’s tech should you

be investing in and familiarising

“A metaverse is
beginning to look like
an unavoidable future”

106 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com

108 Canon EOS R7 _ Hands-on review 112 Fujifilm X-H2S_ Powerhouse KitZone
of this 32.5MP APS-C camera performance for stills and video
New gear, buying tips and the world’s toughest tests
115 Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE II_ 116 Help me buy... a macro lens _ Top
New standard prime for Sony FE picks for close-ups on a budget

eading camera reviews and wildlife and some of its specifications Plus
genuinely raise the bar for what’s possible. 111 Irix 21mm f/1.4
R in recent years, you’ll find Also pushing the boat out is Fujifilm with its Dragonfly
repeated mentions of some new X-H2S. Another APS-C camera, it offers
manufacturers being late buyers blistering performance and opens
to certain parties, but as we up new market segments to the brand –
all know, early-mover advantage doesn’t it’s a seriously impressive piece of kit.
necessarily reap the biggest rewards.
There’s a lot to be said for taking time and Also this month, we test an updated
making sure that the product is right, and Samyang standard prime for Sony’s
whether or not that was Canon’s strategy E-mount and an affordable super-fast Irix
when making mirrorless equivalents of its wide-angle prime for Canon, Nikon and
APS-C DSLRs, the EOS R7 has made quite Pentax DSLR owners. Plus, we round up
an entrance. It’s a body that will be of great the best-buy options for anyone shopping
interest to photographers who shoot action for a macro lens on a budget. Rod Lawton

The awards bestowed by the Digital Camera lab… Ratings explained

Given to the top For products Given to products Best in class All products reviewed
product in a that receive five that offer superb Excellent in KitZone are tested
group test stars overall value for money Good independently by
So-so photographers with years
Poor of experience, using lab
and real-world testing

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 107

KitZone Mirrorless Canon EOS R7

HPARNEDVSIE-OWN 3 1
2
1

The EOS R7 is fitted
with the new multi-
function hot shoe that
debuted on the EOS R3.

2

The 32.5MP sensor has
the highest resolution
of any cropped sensor
camera available.

3

The mode dial can’t
be locked, but it’s
stiff enough to not be
accidentally knocked.

Canon EOS R7

£1,349/$1,499 (body only)

An APS-C powerhouse for Canon’s RF mount

www.canon.co.uk

Specifications his is a camera we’ve Key features

Sensor: 32.5MP APS-C T been waiting for since The R7 is built around a 32.5MP APS-C
Image processor: Digic X the launch of the R sensor, which packs more resolution
system back in 2018. than any cropped sensor camera on
Mount: Canon RF The long-awaited first the market – something that will
AF zones: 651 Dual Pixel CMOS AF II divisions APS-C member of the EOS R family, come as music to the ears of wildlife
it asks questions of the much smaller photographers and birders, always
ISO range: 100 to 32,000 (exp to 51,200) and more compact EOS M system, keen for more freedom to crop in.
Image stabilisation: 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops but gives Canon the most powerful
APS-C camera on the market. While it’s not a totally new sensor
(lens dependent) Offering speed that matches (and, (built on the same architecture as the
Max image size: 6.960 x 4,640 mechanically, beats) the Canon EOS 32.5MP sensor in the 90D and Canon
Max video resolution: 4K 60p, 4K 30p R3, and resolution second only to the EOS M6 Mark II), it features optimised
(oversampled 7K), 1080p 120p Canon EOS R5, the Canon EOS R7 is wiring layer and microlens technology
Viewfinder: 2.36m dot, 120fps a technical marvel. Following in the to deliver improved signal readout.
Memory cards: 2 x SD/SDHC/SDXC, UHS-II footsteps of the Canon EOS 90D
LCD: Articulating touchscreen, 1.62m dots and Canon EOS 7D Mark II, shooters It also packs staggering shooting
Max burst: 30fps electronic, 15fps mechanical will leverage its 1.6x crop factor speeds of 15 frames per second
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth, USB-C, to amplify the effective focal mechanically – faster than any other
headphone jack, microphone jack length of full-frame lenses. Canon EOS camera, including the R3,
As such, this could become the R5 and R6 – and 30 frames per second
Size: 132 x 90.4 x 91.7mm best camera for wildlife photography electronically – which matches the R3,
Weight: 612g (with battery thanks to its unique combination of Sony A1 and Nikon Z 9 (unless you
resolution, crop factor and speed. factor in the latter’s 11MP crop mode).
and memory cards)
This is Canon’s first-ever APS-C
camera to feature in-body image

108 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com

Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless

6 4 5 6
5
The articulating The viewfinder The control
4 touchscreen’s has 2.36 million wheel’s new
resolution is dots refreshed location might
1.62 million dots. at 120fps. divide opinion.

7 8 James Artaius

Following the familiar PASM The EOS R7 can record 4K at This photo was taken with the Canon RF-S 18-150mm
layout, the top dial also offers up to 60p or oversampled F/3.5-6.3 IS STM, one of the two new RF APS-C optics
three user-definable modes. from 7K capture at 30p. (the other is the RF-S 18-45mm F/4.5-6.3 IS STM).

8

7 James Artaius

stabilisation – a 5-axis system Build and handling The amplification of focal lengths courtesy of the R7’s
that delivers up to eight stops of crop sensor will provide benefits for various types of
compensation, depending on the The R7 is smaller and lighter than user, including photographers who shoot wildlife.
lens (it offers seven on the new Canon the 90D, offering a compact chassis
RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM). that’s still somehow reassuringly rear, and now encircles the joystick at the
chunky thanks to its thick grip. It top next to the electronic viewfinder.
It also boasts the R system’s also features the same weather
newest, most sophisticated autofocus sealing as the 90D, along with The control wheel is smaller and more delicate
developments: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, dual UHS-II SD memory card slots. than on other EOS bodies, and may threaten to
with human, animal and vehicle feel a bit fiddly if you have large thumbs. You’ll also
subject recognition, case studies Perhaps more than any other R need to adjust your muscle memory if you’re used
and AF acquisition down to -5EV. system camera, the R7 feels most like to spinning the wheel to adjust settings mid-shoot.
the EF body it’s replacing when held
In terms of video, the R7 is quite the and used, with the familiar grammar Once your hands are used to the new layout
powerhouse, capable of uncropped 4K of the EOS menu system making this though, it actually feels logical and sensible to
60p, 4K 30p oversampled from 7K, feel like an old friend – and a natural have the wheel and the joystick in the same
and 1080p up to 120p – and Canon way to graduate from a Canon DSLR. place – and it’s a very efficient way to
tells us that you can record around 60 maximise space on the smaller body.
minutes of video before overheating Something that’s going to take
and record limits come into play. The a little getting used to is the new Obviously the body is smaller thanks to
camera features Canon Log-3, clean arrangement of joystick and control the smaller sensor, and to accommodate
HDMI out, as well as a microphone wheel – the latter of which has
input and a headphone jack. moved from its familiar position “The EOS R7 gives
to the lower-right of the camera Canon the most
powerful APS-C
body on the market”

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 109

Mirrorless Canon EOS R7

James Artaius

When it comes to eye, head and body detection, the Canon EOS R7’s autofocus system The EOS R7 features
proves to be very adaptive, not only for portraiture but also for action shots. a pair of SD UHS-II
memory card slots.
the smaller sensor, Canon has Performance
introduced a new line of lenses with Where this camera comes into its own is in
the APS-C format in mind: RF-S lenses. In a lot of ways, shooting with the its amplification of focal lengths, and how this
R7 really feels like shooting with a benefits wildlife shooters. Mount the Canon RF
The reduced sensor size and throw mirrorless (sleeker and smaller) 90D, 800mm f/11 on this and you’ve got an effective
of the APS-C format means that only with more bells and whistles. 1280mm lens with 32MP of resolution to crop
smaller, lighter lenses – such as the in further – all powered by killer Animal AF.
new Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS The camera really feels tailor-made
STM – can be mounted on the system. for the RF-S 18-150mm lens (or rather, The subject detection and tracking are,
However, the Canon EOS R7 uses the the lens for it), and the pair make as you would expect of the brilliant Dual Pixel
same RF mount as its full-frame a formidable combination for AF II technology, superb. We shot a range of
counterparts, which means that run-and-gun, travel and everyday subjects, from fast-moving ice skaters to
existing full-frame RF lenses can photography – and even videography. static models to a variety of waterfowl,
be used natively, while EF and EF-S This is a great tandem for all-purpose and the autofocus never let us down.
lenses can also be used via the shooting and content creation.
Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. It was sticky and adaptive when flitting
However, if you want to get serious, between eye, head and body detection while
Do note, however, that EF-M lenses the R7 has the speed and resolution to shooting skaters doing tricks, and incredibly
(APS-C optics designed for Canon’s make the most of premium full-frame instinctive when shooting all manner of birds
other APS-C line, the EOS M system), glass like the Canon RF 85mm f/1.8L waddling and swimming through the frame.
will not work with the R7, despite them USM. Certainly the bigger L-series The AF also performs brilliantly when shooting
sharing the same sensor format. glass is oversized for the svelte APS-C video, not even being fooled by subjects
body, but you can’t fault the results. disappearing behind foreground obstructions.

Whatever the subject, While it possesses fast shooting speeds, the
we found the EOS buffer is limited by the choice of SD cards over
R7’s autofocus to CFexpress, with maximum bursts hitting 46
be very reliable. raws and 184 jpegs. But that’s enough to
get controlled salvos of shots, and we didn’t
110 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 miss anything we aimed for. James Artaius

Digital Camera early verdict

The Canon EOS R7 is the first camera you will reach
for if you want the advantages of APS-C combined
with pro-level speed and autofocus, with big-time
image resolution. It’s a fantastic addition to the EOS R
ecosystem and a worthy successor to the 90D and
7D DSLRs, making it a great proposition for wildlife
enthusiasts and anyone who wants to get the
most out of their photography.

www.digitalcameraworld.com

Xȸǣɴ ‫׏א‬ȅȅ ǔٖ‫( גِ׏‬ȸƏǕȒȇˢɵ Prime lens

2 Specifications

1 Mount: Nikon F (FX), Canon EF, Pentax K
Full-frame: Yes
3
Lens construction: 15 elements in 11 groups
GOLD Angle of view: 89.7º
AWARD Autofocus: No

Irix 21mm f/1.4 Dragonˢy Image stabilisation: No
Max aperture: f/1.4
£691.65/$699 Min aperture: f/16

A quality lens that performs brilliantly Diaphragm blades: 11
Min focusing distance: 0.3m
www.irixlens.com
Filter size: N/A
Dimensions (L x D): 101x95mm (Canon),

99x95mm (Nikon)
Weight: 830g (Canon), 816g (Nikon)

ombining Swiss precision, Korean ingenuity and 1 Sharpness

C Japanese glass, the Irix 21mm f/1.4 Dragonfly is All versions of the Centre-frame sharpness becomes superb by f/2.8.
built for professional use and promises to deliver lens come with a Even more impressive is sharpness in the corners. This
sharp images with minimal distortion or aberrations. scratch-free resistant is often softer than at the centre, but the Irix handles
This super-fast, wide-angle prime is ideal for anything coating on the this difference in depth of field particularly well for
from astrophotography to interiors, landscapes, architecture or front element. a lens of this focal length, retaining great sharpness
even weddings. It benefits from internal focusing, a weather-sealed across the whole image frame.
design and a rigid, durable casing. 15 lens elements in 11 groups 2
include four ultra-low dispersion elements, four high refractive Fringing -0.46
elements and two aspherical elements. The focus ring, like
The lens has full-frame sensor coverage and comes in Canon pretty much every Fringing in the mid-frame and at the corners
EF, Nikon F (FX) and Pentax K mount options. All versions of the component of the
lens feature a scratch-resistant coating on the front element, an lens, feels solid and is apparent if you look closely, although it’s
anti-slip focus ring for precision focusing, EXIF data recording well constructed.
capabilities, and an 11-blade diaphragm promising silky-smooth not distracting.
bokeh. Irix even includes a high-quality rigid carrying case. 3
Everything about the construction feels solid. The ring turns Distortion -1.16
with the right amount of resistance and the metal lens mount The ring has the right
rounds off a professional handling experience. It’s not level of resistance, Unsurprisingly for such a wide lens, there’s a little
lightweight, but feels at home on a full-frame DSLR. allowing for easy
yet precise barrel distortion, but it’s not particularly noticeable.
Performance microadjustments.
Verdict
The glass turns in an excellent performance, with high levels of
sharpness throughout the frame. At f/1.4, results are more than 5.0 A best-in-class product
acceptable, which is great news since this is where this lens will
often be used. Stopping down to f/2 gives a dramatic reduction 4.5 5.0 4.5 5.0
in softness, though, so if you can spare the stop of light where
possible, the jump in sharpness is worth it. Bokeh is beautifully Features Build & Performance Value
smooth, which is good to see from an optic this wide. There was handling
minimal cats-eye distortion in our samples and onion-rings
seemed mostly absent. Geometric distortions ware also With a great combination of wide perspective
impressively low for a wide-angle. Peter Fenech and shallow depth-of-field, the Irix 21mm f/1.4
Dragonfly is a superb option for portrait and travel
photographers. The manual focus is always going
to be a challenge at such wide apertures, but with
practice, this can be a powerful tool in your arsenal.

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KitZone Mirrorless IɖǴǣˡǼȅ æ‫ٮ‬R‫א‬³

1

1

The on/off switch
encircles the shutter
button, and the grip
is pleasingly sturdy.

2

Some 35 XF lenses are
compatible with the
Fujifilm X-H2S, as well
2 as third-party options.

33

While it has a bigger
battery, the X-H2S
is slightly smaller
than the X-H1.

RP RzE(V³IE‫…ٮ‬Wz

Fujiˡlm æ-H2S

£2,499/$2,499 (body only)

Could this be the best X Series camera ever?

w w w. fuji f ilm -x .com

Specifications hanks to the rumour mill wildlife, sports or action, the X-H2S
is designed to pack all the features
Sensor: 26.1MP 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C) T surrounding Fujifilm’s that a photographer could want or
X-Trans CMOS 5 HS May 2022 X-Summit need when shooting at a race track
event, we thought we or tucked away in a bird hide. It’s also
Image processor: X-Processor 5 were getting a Fujifilm a powerful machine, catering to the
Mount: Fujifilm X-mount X-H2, but the X-H2S surpasses our diverse needs of the modern content
ISO range: 80 to 51,200 expectations, especially when it creator as well as hybrid shooters.
comes to its impressive video specs.
Shutter: 30 sec to 1/8000 sec Fujifilm is a bit late to the high-speed At the heart of the camera is a
Image stabilisation: 5-axis IBIS party, having traditionally aimed its brand-new X-Trans CMOS 5 HS sensor.
Max image size: 6,240 x 4,160 cameras squarely at the lifestyle end It has a signal readout speed that’s
Max video resolution: 6.2K 30p, 4K 120p, 1080 240p of photography – think food, portrait roughly four times faster than the
Viewfinder: 5.76-million-dot OLED and travel. However, the manufacturer Fujifilm X-T4, but the same 26.1MP
Memory card: 2 x CFexpress Type B/SD UHS-II cards might now have done enough to be resolution. The sensor has a stacked-
LCD: Vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62m dots considered a serious contender layer structure, and this is what
Max burst: 40fps electronic, 15fps mechanical among those who rate speed as a enables the photographer to achieve
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB-C priority when it comes to choosing blackout-free continuous shooting up
a camera. And to be honest, speed to a sort-of-ridiculous 40 frames per
Size: 136.3 x 92.9 x 84.6mm aside, the Fujifilm X-H2S is a brilliant second. By comparison, the flagship
Weight: 579g (body only) camera in its own right. Nikon Z 9 and Sony A1 both max out at
30fps continuous shooting when using
Key features the electronic shutter. You’ll actually
get over 1,000 frames when setting
Aimed at pro photographers who need the high-speed burst shooting mode
high-speed performance for tracking

112 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com

IɖǴǣˡǼȅ æ‫ٮ‬R‫א‬³ Mirrorless

456

6 The articulated Camera menus The AF-area

LCD touchscreen are accessed via joystick is

has a 1.62m dot this four-way located next to

resolution. controller. the AF-On button.

4
5

7 8 Lauren Scott

Seven user-customisable The top display screen shows Fujifilm cameras are renowned for how they render colour,
modes are available on the essential exposure settings especially for portrait shots. So the X-H2S looks to be a
X-H2S’s exposure mode dial. and is clear and easy to read. capable all-rounder, not just a sports and video specialist.

78

Lauren Scott

The sensor offers the same 26.1MP resolution as previous
models, but its new stacked sensor design means that it
delivers high shooting speeds as well as plenty of detail.

to 30 frames per second in JPEG, or photographers whose subjects often which will allow fast-moving subjects – birds,
20 frames per second in RAW mode. move erratically, and the processor planes, runners – to be captured in slow-motion.
now features subject-detection AF
To keep up with such speed, the that’s been developed with Deep What’s more, the X-H2S supports three Apple
camera features dual memory card Learning technology to improve ProRes codecs; ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 422 and
slots that support CFexpress Type B tracking in Continuous AF mode. ProRes 422 LT. If you’re not familiar with Apple
and SD UHS-II cards, as CFexpress ProRes and why it’s important for many pros, it
Type B can process high-speed data This autofocus system can lock essentially streamlines the overall workflow from
– allowing the H2S’s fast continuous onto myriad subjects. The aim is shooting to editing, as it’s a more efficient codec.
shooting and video performance to that the photographer can focus F-Log2 capability is another new video feature
reach its full potential. The Fujifilm on the creativity of the shot and the on the camera, which preserves up to 14+ stops
X-H2S also shoots 10bit HEIF (High composition while the AF system of dynamic range from the camera sensor.
Efficiency File Format) files, which will keep things sharp. With the AI
are more efficient than JPGs in learning, the camera uses information In recent years the phenomenon of mirrorless
terms of storage and colour depth. from a massive database and doesn’t cameras overheating and limiting video
learn from the user, but obviously
In terms of autofocus, Fujifilm says that’s something that Fujifilm has “The X-H2S is designed
that an “improved prediction algorithm the potential to update over time. to pack all the features
for AF” has led to a big boost in the for shooting at a race
X-H2S’s ability to track a moving When it comes to video, the Fujifilm track or a bird hide”
subject. The camera uses an X-H2S represents a potentially
Intelligent Hybrid AF system (a mix of massive upgrade for pros. The new
through the lens contrast and phase sensor/processor combo enables
detection). Continuous autofocus is recording of 10bit video at 6.2K 30p,
imperative for sports and wildlife as well as high-speed 4K/120P video,

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Mirrorless IɖǴǣˡǼȅ æ‫ٮ‬R‫א‬³

Niall Hampton

The X-H2S can capture HEIF images, which have smaller file sizes than JPGs thanks to superior The versatility of the
compression. This frame was underexposed by one stop and the shadows boosted during editing. X-H2S’s articulating
rear LCD will appeal
LEFT: Detail is well resolved in this shot, captured on a Fujinon XF33mm F1.4 lens. RIGHT: The to both stills shooters
X-H2S has continuous AF modes for tracking a range of subjects, including vehicles. This
frame was taken using touch-shutter functionality on the camera’s articulating rear screen. and video makers.

recording has been a source of economy mode – a full day, in other One obvious change is the addition of
contention, so what about maximum words. It features a chunky and a dedicated record button on the top of
recording times? Well, the Fujifilm pleasing grip that works well to give the camera plate next to the shutter. This
X-H2S has been designed with a built-in you a secure hold even in smaller – alongside the 1.62-million-dot vari-angle
heat-dissipating structure, which hands. Just like its predecessor, it has LCD touchscreen – could cement the X-H2S
increases maximum video recording a monochrome LCD display on the top as a more than decent hybrid camera.
time to 240 minutes of 4K/60P video. panel that displays at a glance the key
This is only the quote for reasonable exposure settings and camera modes. Performance
temperature climates, and to ensure
longer video recording in high- Fujifilm has made some welcome The first thing you notice about the X-H2S is
temperature conditions, photographers changes that enhance handling, how tactile it is. The slightly larger grip allows
will probably have to buy and attach refining the modes and dials to improve you to grab onto it comfortably even when
Fujifilm’s new optional cooling fan operability. Some of the switches and using it with very long lenses, such as the
(FAN-001), which extends the video dials from the X-H1 have been removed new Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 lens.
recording further – priced at £169. so that you’re more reliant on the
custom buttons for control, but this Although we didn’t get to test performance
Build and handling leads to a less cluttered design. on the high-speed subjects it has been
designed for, a quick romp around London’s
In many ways the X-H2S feels similar to For example, the focus select switch Covent Garden gave some idea as to how
the X-H1. However, it is slightly smaller, has gone, and a function button is in its effect the autofocus tracking is and could be.
even though it uses a bigger battery place. The dials themselves feel more
with a capacity up to 720 frames in robust, and half-pressing the shutter That said, it’s the phenomenal burst speed
button is smoother. that wows most. We’d like to test it with a CF
express card, but even with our standard SD
114 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 card it fired off frames at magnificent speed,
and the shots were sharp and clear.

Although we know that the name of the game
with the Fujifilm X-H2S is speed, it also handled
portraits well. Fujifilm colour science and
colour profiles are highly rated, and the camera
rendered skin tones accurately and smoothly.

Thanks to the 5-axis in-body image
stabilisation, we found that we were able to
capture sharp handheld shoots indoors and as
the weather turned grim, so we’d likely have no
qualms about taking the camera on a low-light
shoot without a tripod – especially given the
ISO capabilities of up to 51,200. Lauren Scott

Digital Camera early verdict

The Fujifilm X-H2S boasts the highest performance
for stills and video in the history of the X Series. With
double the processing power of its predecessor, it offers a
class-leading 40fps continuous shooting with full autofocus
functions. At 6.2K 30p uncropped, the video specs are
spectacular and have the option of three Apple ProRes
codecs. For sports photographers, bird enthusiasts and
users who shoot a lot of on-location work and don’t want
the size or price of a full-frame sensor, the Fujifilm X-H2S
could be a terrifically powerful companion.

www.digitalcameraworld.com

Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 FE II Prime lens

2 Specifications
1
Mount: Sony E
3 Full-frame: Yes
Lens construction: 11 elements in 8 groups
Angle of view: 45.7º
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilisation: No
Max aperture: f/1.4
Min aperture: f/16
Diaphragm blades: 9
Min focusing distance: 0.4m
Max magnification ratio: 0.16x
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions (L x D): 89x80mm

Weight: 420g

Samyang AF 50mm
F1.4 FE II

£599/$699

A quality lens that performs brilliantly

www.samyanglens.com

he original edition of the Samyang AF 50mm F1.4 1 Sharpness

T FE II (badged Rokinon in the US) was Samyang’s The electronically Centre-frame sharpness is sensational up to f/8.
first-ever autofocus lens, launched in celebration coupled focus ring Move out to the midframe region and sharpness drops
of the company’s 50th year in the business. Five works with smooth a little, but not enough to notice in most scenarios. It’s
years down the road, the Mark II features a new and precision, enabling only once you get into the corners of frame that the
improved autofocus system, which is faster and more consistently very fine adjustments. sharpness takes a tumble. From wide open through
accurate. It’s only one third of an f/stop slower than the highly to f/5.6, corner sharpness is disappointingly low.
acclaimed Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master lens, but barely 2
more than half the weight and only half the price to buy. Fringing 0.2
Although compact and lightweight for a modern 50mm f/1.4 This custom switch
optic, the Samyang packs some impressive features. Its new enables alternative Lateral chromatic aberration in the mid-frame and
linear stepping motor-based autofocus system is super-fast uses for the focus
for stills capture and works well for Sony’s face- and eye-detection ring, such as stepless extreme corners is just enough to be noticable in
AF, complete with effective tracking. It also enables smooth aperture control.
autofocus transitions for movie capture, the latter with high-contrast scenes, but it’s nothing distracting.
minimal focus breathing, so the focus position doesn’t 3
change when you adjust the aperture. Distortion 0.31
The Samyang features
Performance a customisable focus There’s a trace of pincushion distortion, but
hold button, which
The speed and consistent accuracy of the Mark II lens’s new can be assigned to you wouldn’t notice any in real-world shooting.
autofocus system lives up to its billing, delivering excellent different functions.
performance. Image quality is superb, combining impressive Verdict
sharpness even when shooting wide-open at f/1.4 with
beautifully smooth bokeh. The quality of bokeh remains 4.5 Outstanding
very good when stopping down a little, helped by a
well-rounded 9-blade aperture diaphragm. 5.0 5.0 4.0 4.5

Fast lenses often suffer from noticeable axial (or longitudinal) Features Build & Performance Value
chromatic aberration, which causes colour fringing around high- handling
contrast transitions just in front of or behind the point of focus,
but the Samyang keeps this to very minimal levels. It also does With its classic focal length and fast aperture
well to minimise lateral chromatic aberration and distortion, for rating, this lens delivers superb image quality and
which in-camera corrections are available. Matthew Richards all-round performance. It’s a brilliant standard
prime for full-frame bodies and works equally
well as a short telephoto on APS-C format Sony
cameras, with a 75mm ‘effective’ focal length.

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 115

Help me buy a...

Budget macro lens

Buying pre-owned can be a great money-saving option.
Here are the best bargains that are available today

hen the delight is in the For shooting small bugs and insects, 3 Aperture rating
a longer focal length of around 150mm
W detail, a good macro enables you to keep more of a distance, The majority of macro primes have an
lens will bring it out. while a shorter focal length of around aperture rating of f/2.8. As such, they also
Zoom lenses and even 35-50mm is fine if you like to get tend to work well as short telephoto primes
really up close and personal. and can be useful in portraiture, wildlife,
some primes that wear sports photography and more. Bear in mind
2 Macro working distance that the ‘effective’ aperture narrows as you
a ‘macro’ badge only near the shortest focus distance. Given
The majority of modern macro lenses have that depth of field is miniscule in macro
deliver a maximum magnification ratio of a fully internal focusing mechanism. The shooting, sharpness and overall image
physical length of the lens therefore doesn’t quality towards the narrowest end of the
around 0.3x to 0.5x at their closest focus extend at shorter focusing distances. For aperture range is an important factor.
example, a typical 100mm 1.0x macro lens
distances. Powering on, a purpose-built has a minimum focus distance of about 4 Focus system
30cm, and the working distance between
macro prime will typically give you a full the front of the lens and the subject you’re Naturally, most current lenses feature
shooting is around 15cm. If the lens itself autofocus. Quick and quiet is always good.
1.0x or 1:1 ratio, reproducing small objects extends at close focusing distances, this Ring-type ultrasonic systems used to be
will eat into the available space. Due to favoured, but the stepping motors of most
at full life size on the camera’s image the shorter minimum focus distance of recent lenses for mirrorless cameras can
a 50mm macro lens, the working distance be better. The point of focus is so critical in
sensor. Some go further still, with an is only likely to be around 5cm, which macro photography that you’ll often want
can be a little close for comfort. to focus manually on a specific part of the
even larger magnification factor. The subject. Manual-focus lenses often enable
greater precision with a longer rotation
end result is eye-popping enlargement of the focus ring, while the electronically
coupled focus ring of stepping motor
of all things tiny when viewing your autofocus lenses can enable similarly
fine and precise adjustments.
images on screen or in print.
5 Focus range limiter
1 Focal length
Autofocus can be a challenge for the host
For most macro shooting, a focal length camera in macro photography, resulting in
of around 90-105mm is generally preferred. hunting back and forth through the entire
This gives a natural working distance focus distance range of the lens. You limit
when shooting most small objects. the frustration and time wasted if the lens
has a focus range limiter, which can lock
A level playing field out the short or long end of the range.

Macro lenses are typically designed to be ‘flat field’ optics 6 Optical image stabilisation

Most lenses have some field curvature. Optical image stabilisation can work a treat
For any focus distance at the centre of in general shooting, but is of comparatively
the image, the focus distance can be little benefit in macro photography. Even so,
slightly different towards the edges some macro lenses feature ‘hybrid’ optical
and corners of the frame. By contrast, stabilisation, which corrects for x-y shift as
macro lenses aim for a ‘flat field’ well as angular vibration or wobble, making
design so that the focus distance handheld macro shooting more viable.
is the same across the entire frame.
It’s an important consideration if
you intend on photographing
two-dimensional objects like
stamps, so that everything is
sharp from corner to corner.

When shooting flat objects head-on,
like a watch face, a flat field design
enables more consistent sharpness
across the whole frame.

116 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com

Help me buy a… Macro lens

What to look for
in a macro lens

Some important features to consider

Minimum focus distance Focus distance scale
For full macro shooting, this is linked Most macro lenses primarily designed
to the focal length of the lens and for DSLRs have a focus distance scale
is generally a more important that includes markings for
consideration than the viewing angle. magnification factors.

Quality glass Optical stabiliser
This Sigma lens features two SLD (Special Often helpful when using a macro lens for
Low Dispersion) elements to enhance general shooting, optical stabilisation is
clarity and reduce chromatic aberrations. less effective for extreme close-ups.

Range limiter
The ability to lock out the
long end of the autofocus
range can speed things
up when using autofocus.

Manual focusing
Manual focusing is often
preferred for macro shooting,
so a focus ring that operates with
smooth precision is a big bonus.

Don’t forget… The ‘effective’ magnification FULL‫ٳ‬FRAME APS‫ٳ‬C
might be more than you bargained for
We’re aware that crop-sensor cameras This pair of photos taken at 1.0x shows the difference in ‘effective’ magnification
give you a boost in effective focal length. when shooting on full-frame and APS-C format camera bodies.
For APS-C format cameras, the multiplier
is usually 1.5x (1.6x for Canon) and for
Micro Four Thirds it’s 2.0x. The crop
factor has the effect of bumping up
the effective magnification factor
by the same amount.

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 117

KitZone Digital Camera recommends...

Here’s our top choice of pre-owned macro lens buys

Good Better
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2æ Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8
Di VC USD Macro ٢F017٣
Ultra Macro APO
£300/$360 £430/$540

(Used: Excellent condition) (Used: Excellent condition)

w w w.venu s l en s . ne t www.tamron.eu

here are two similar editions of this manual- amron’s highly popular line of 90mm macro

T focus, full-frame compatible Laowa lens, T lenses stretches all the way back to 1979. Now
available in a wide range of mount options obsolete, the latest F017 edition boasts a host
catering for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. of updates, including a revised and refined
Both give twice the maximum magnification of most macro optical layout that features two top-grade XLD (eXtra Low
primes, at 2.0x, but the mirrorless version is 30mm longer Dispersion) elements. Conventional and nano-structure
and has a more well-rounded aperture, based on 13 coatings team up to keep ghosting and flare to an absolute
diaphragm blades rather than seven. The manual effort minimum, and the lens also gains weather-seals and a
required pays dividends in terms of image quality. There’s fluorine coating on the front element. Another notable
pincushion distortion, but not enough to cause any concern. upgrade is the ‘hybrid’ optical stabiliser.

Fringing Sharpness Fringing Sharpness

Colour fringing is minimal wide Sharpness is not only excellent Levels of colour fringing creep Close-range sharpness in 1:1
open at f/2.8 and absolutely from the very widest aperture, up a bit at narrower apertures, macro photography is even
negligible at medium to better than our medium-range
narrow apertures. but also highly consistent but are still quite minimal.
across the whole frame. lab tests would imply.
Verdict Verdict

4.5 Outstanding 4.5 Outstanding

118 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com

Help me buy a… Macro lens

There is no shortage
of suitable macro

lenses to consider.

Getty

Best Also considerٌ
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Eæ
Here are a few more macro
DG Macro OS HSM lenses worth looking out for

£230/$300 ur top three are available in Canon EF and Nikon F mount,

(Used: Excellent condition) O but those certainly aren’t the only parties in town. The
manual Laowa 100mm F2.8 2:1 Ultra Macro APO in third
www.sigma-imaging-uk.com place is available in a huge array of Canon EF, Canon RF,
Leica L, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Pentax K and Sony E mount options. It’s
aunched in 2011, this full-frame compatible therefore a great second-hand option for many different cameras,
and is also available new for around £469/$399.
L macro lens predates Sigma’s ‘Global Vision’ For camera manufacturers’ own-brand options, naturally there’s
Art, Sports and Contemporary line-up by another barrage of choices. You’d be hard-pressed to find used versions
a year. Unlike the Tamron 90mm, this is fully of Canon RF and Nikon Z macro lenses, as they’re relatively recent
compatible with Canon EOS R and Nikon Z system cameras launches, but there are good EF and F mount lenses respectively.
via their mount adapters. With fast ring-type ultrasonic Sony’s own-brand 90mm macro is also an impressive lens.
autofocus and a fully internal focusing arrangement, For Micro Four Thirds, we’d go for the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm
the lens works well as a fast telephoto prime. It’s also f/2.8. It’s very compact and lightweight, but immaculately turned out
good for shooting sports and wildlife, with a 4-stop and, unusually for a lens that features stepping motor-based autofocus,
stabiliser that has static and panning modes. includes a useful distance/magnification factor scale.
Back in DSLR territory, the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 is a good buy
if you want a longer focal length. It’s a manual-focus lens that’s available
in Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mount options.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L
Macro IS USM
Used (Exc cond):
£600/$650
www.canon.co.uk

Fringing Sharpness Olympus M.Zuiko Digital
ED 60mm f/2.8
Levels of colour fringing are very Sharpness is excellent in the Used (Exc cond):
minimal and remain consistent central region of the frame and £330/$290
throughout the aperture range. still very good towards the edges. www.olympus.co.uk

Verdict Irix 150mm f/2.8
Macro 1:1
4.5 Outstanding Used (Exc cond):
£400/$450
https://irixlens.com

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 119

INTERVIEW RIght: Boy at the
naval academy, 2017.

Yelena YeYmelecnhauk
Yemchuk
The Ukraine-born and US-based photographer
Art photographer tells Niall Hampton about her long-form project

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Odesa, recently released as a hardback book
Yemchuk emigrated to
the United States with her visual ode to the city of Odessa Pasadena, California. Once I began at the ArtCenter,
parents when she was 11 I knew that telling stories was what I was meant to do.
years old. Receiving a 35mm in Ukraine, which Yemchuk
Minolta camera from her You describe your aesthetic as “immediately
father for her 14th birthday, A describes as “a place of jokes and recognisable”. What do you think defines it?
Yemchuk went on to study characters, populated by outlaws People say my work is cinematic and has a certain
at both Parsons in New York and intellectuals,” the project romanticism. For me, it is this feeling between
and ArtCenter in Pasadena. dreaming and reality; it’s in all my work, you
was photographed over four are not quite in one or the other.
With a style described as
surrealistic whimsy and dark years from 2015. Given the In the book you say that your photographic
romanticism,Yemchuk has language and ideas were born in Kyiv in the
exhibited both photographs recent events in Ukraine, the publication of Odesa is mid-1990s. Can you please expand on this?
and paintings in museums When I finally started going regularly to Kyiv, it was
and galleries around the particularly timely, and a donation of 20 per cent of also at the same time as I was finding my language
world, and her work has as an artist. As one is at that stage in life, you are wide
been published in ID, the proceeds from sales or pre-orders of the second open – everything makes you think, look and feel. For
Dazed & Confused, Another me, discovering my heritage and spending time as
Magazine and The New printing and Special Edition books purchased directly a young adult in this incredible place full of history
Yorker, as well as British, and folklore made me understand myself better.
Italian and Japanese Vogue. from the Gost website (https://gostbooks.com) will
I was already making a lot of work, but it somehow
Staging her first museum be donated to the Monstrov charity in Odessa. confused me. I was already starting to make images
exhibition in 2019 with in a certain way, but I wasn’t sure where all these
her project ‘Mabel, Betty It all started for you with a Minolta 35mm film
& Bette’ at the Dallas camera. What was your route into photography
Contemporary museum, as a career and becoming a visual artist?
Yemchuk went on to publish I think it was just destiny in many ways. It started with
a monograph of the same a photography class in my high school in Brooklyn,
title in February 2021. then I applied to Parsons School of Design in NY and
miraculously got accepted with a portfolio I made
Yemchuk’s latest book, over the summer. Then I went to continue to study
Odesa, is her fourth photography at the ArtCenter College of Design in
and follows other titles
including Gidropark (2011)
and Anna (2017).

https://yelena
yemchuk.com

120 D I G I TA L C A M E R A AUGUST 2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com

Julia Fullerton-Batten

Yelena Yemchuk



Yelena Yemchuk

emotions and thoughts were coming from. Once Above: Birds on the
I started spending time in Kyiv, it became clearer. beach, 2017.
It became evident to me that who I was as an
artist had so much to do with my birth place. Right: Brothers at the
summer camp, 2016.
What kind of influences do you draw on?
I am influenced by cinema, and a lot of my ideas come Opposite page: Girl at the
from my dreams, so that’s a big part of my process. military academy, 2015.

What did you use to shoot the images for Odesa, Yelena Yemchuk
and do you shoot with one lens most of the time?
I shot with a Nikon F3 with a 24-70mm lens using I didn’t want it to end. But at some point you have
Kodak Portra 400 NC film. Some of the low-light to say, “OK, this is it.” But the longer you work on
images were taken on a Leica Q with a 35mm lens. a project, the harder it is to edit it, of course.

Do you still use the same setup now? Do you spend much time with the people you
Yes, I love both these cameras. photograph before or after you take their pictures?
It depends. For the Odesa photos, I would stop
How do you decide when you have enough someone and ask to take their picture, or in
images to complete a project – is having other cases they were friends of friends.
more photos usually better? A lot of them became my friends and
With the Odesa project it was never enough. I just we would spend a lot of time together.
kept wanting to go back and take more pictures.
I was so happy there working on this project that Thinking back to when you were shooting the
images for Odesa in 2015, did you expect the
“I just kept wanting to go back to fighting in the east of Ukraine to escalate like
Odessa and take more pictures. it has done, if not necessarily straight away?
I didn’t want this project to end” No, not into anything like this. I never imagined
this war in my worst nightmares.

www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL CAMERA 123

Yelena Yemchuk

Yelena Yemchuk

What kind of creative response have you had How significant a role can photography and visual Above: Polina and
to the current situation in Ukraine? art play in maintaining a focus on Ukraine’s plight? Hanna, 2017.
Creatively, I don’t know. It has all been very emotional It’s very important to keep speaking about Ukraine.
and very hard. I have a lot of friends that are there, As the war continues, we tend to get used to things Below left: Esfir Serpinova
a lot who are refugees. The only thing I feel at the and they move away from being front-page news. It’s with her granddaughter Katya
moment is trying to help in as many ways as I can. important to not be silent and keep reminding the at the monastery, 2018.
So I’ve been fundraising and getting involved in world that these atrocities are happening. Visual
charity fundraisers, giving my art to raise money. art is the strongest tool we have for doing that.

You describe Odessa as a “secret place… an
enchanted city,” with a magic that needed to
be captured. What kind of magic does it possess,
and what was it that made you fall in love with it?
I can’t answer in words, so that’s why I took the
pictures. It’s a magical place.

People talk about the indomitable spirit of the Odesa by Yelena
Ukrainian people, and their sense of humour. Yemchuk, with poems
Will this be enough to see them through? by Ilya Kaminsky, is
Ukrainian people are incredibly strong and they published by Gost
are fighting for their freedom and protecting their Books and is on sale
country, so they are not going to give up. Their love now, priced £45/€55.
for life and the way they help each other and their It will go on sale in
sense of humour keeps them strong. the US in August,
priced $60.
Can you tell us what are you working on next? gostbooks.com
I am just finishing a film I shot in western Ukraine
called Malanka, and I’m working on a book of
images that I shot there in 2019 and 2020
under the same title. Also, I am starting
work on a new series of paintings.

124 www.digitalcameraworld.com

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Trivia quiz

What the f-stop?

with Chris George How much do you really know about
photography? Test yourself to the max
every issue with our tricky trivia quiz!

1 What is the English translation
of the French photographic

term, ‘un gros plan’?

A An enlargement

B Large format

C A close-up

D A lightbox

2 What is the nationality of fashion
photographer Mario Testino?

A Panamanian

B Peruvian

C Bolivian

D Brazilian

3 What is the aspect ratio of a
Micro Four Thirds camera?

A 3:2
Getty
GettyB 4:3

C 16:9

D 5:4 5 The film, I Am A Camera, was based 8 Which camera manufacturer
on the same story as another more introduced the first full-frame

4 Which Hollywood legend is successful film. Which one? mirrorless camera?
holding a twin-lens reflex
A Carousel A Canon

camera in this photo? B Cabaret B Panasonic

A Burt Lancaster C Chicago C Sony

B Gregory Peck D Casablanca D Contax

C James Stewart

D Rock Hudson 6 Which of these is the fastest lens? 9 Which of these companies
A 85mm f/1.2 doesn’t currently make

B 50mm f/1.4 instant print cameras?

C 85mm f/1.4 A Canon

D 58mm f/0.95 B Lomography

C HP

7 In June, a prototype Leica 0-series D Epson
camera set a world record for the

highest price fetched at an auction. 10 Where is Tokina’s home?
A USA
How much did it go for?

A £3 million B Japan

B £6 million C South Korea

C £9 million D China

D £12 million

How did you do?

10 points You’re a photo mastermind!
8-9 points Fantastic, you’re a brainiac
6-7 points Really good score
4-5 points Respectable, but no cigar
2-3 points We’ll keep your score secret
0-1 points Epic fail

ANSWERS 1C,2B,3B,4D,5B,6D,7D,8C,9D,10B

Leitz Photographic Auction

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So the camera doesn’t move between Start shooting – if the figures aren’t in Check the background for distractions,
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To combine trails from several shots Use your camera’s Black & White Place some tin foil at the base or
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