www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 51
52 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in TECHNOLOGY & IMAGING Powered by Presents INNOVATION awardS 2023
THE SMART PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023 www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 53 2022will go down as an important year in the history of the Japanese camera industry. 14 new cameras were launched during the year. Only 2 of them were full frame, the rest being APS-C and micro four thirds. 48 new lenses were announced , 27 for full frame, 13 for APS-C and 4 for Micro Four Thirds. What is however more important is that for the first time since 2012, the decline in the industry was arrested. Figures from CIPA, Japan show that production of cameras in 2022 increased by 10.8% over 2021 to 5.927 million units. Although this is a far cry from the peak achieved in 2012 of 20.16 million, this is the first year to register an increase after 2012. Mirrorless has taken 86% of the market in 2022. Sales of mirrorless cameras also increased by 31%. The market for DSLRs and compact cameras declined by 17% and 31% respectively. Sale of lenses for 35mm cameras increased by a modest 3% perhaps reflecting the inroads made by Chinese lenses. In 2022, Fujifilm recorded record sales of their Instax camera range. Instagram crossed 2 billion active users. Konica Minolta wound up their repair and service centres for Minolta cameras. Auction sales of Leica cameras broke all records. Pentax continued with their existing range of DSLRs. Finally, US gallery owner Wendy Halsted Beard was accused by the FBI of passing off copies of Ansel Adams’ pictures as originals! Like before, the SP Awards are awarded only to products that have been reviewed by the magazine. We list below the previous winners of the awards dating back to 2006. The MosT PresTigious CaMera of The Year so far Year Winner 2006 Nikon D200 2007 Canon EOS 400D 2008 Nikon D300 2009 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 2010 Canon EOS 5D Mark II 2011 Canon EOS 60D 2012 Olympus PEN E-P3 2013 Nikon D600 2014 Olympus OM-D E-M1 2015 Sony Alpha 7 2016 Canon EOS 5Ds 2017 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 2018 Sony Alpha 7 III 2019 Sony Alpha 7R IV 2020 Canon R6 2021 Nikon Z9
InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 54 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in Accessory of the year The Qubo smartphone gimbal offers a foldable design and advanced features at an affordable price tag WINNER Qubo handheld giMbal
www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 55 InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 PhotogrAPhy Monitor of the year WINNER ViewsoniC VP2785-4K N O M i NAT i ONS BenQ PD2705U Viewsonic VP2768a This monitor comes factory calibrated and offers 100 percent Adobe RGB support and extensive presets
56 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 N O M i NAT i ONS Best cAMerA In a mId-prIced smartphone The OnePlus 10R houses a 50MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP Macro camera that deliver impressive images Google Pixel 6A Realme GT Neo 3 WINNER onePlus 10r
www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 57 InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 Google continues their AI and imaging brilliance with the triple cameras on this device along with an impressive editing feature Best cAMerA In a premIum smartphone WINNER google Pixel 7 Pro iPhone 14 Pro OnePlus 10 Pro N O M i NAT i ONS
58 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 This ultra-portable laptop surprised us with its impressive display and powerful hardware WINNER lenoVo Yoga sliM 7i Pro 12Th gen LAPtoP of the year storAge soLution of the year WINNER SandiSK G-driVe An enterprise-class hard drive, the Sandisk G-Drive can store massive amounts of data and comes in a rugged and stackable design
www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 59 InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 PriMe Lens of the year WINNER sonY e 11 MM f/1.8 The Sony super-wide 11 mm f/1.8 APS-C lens, is compact, lightweight and makes an ideal lens for architecture, landscapes, and interiors. The lens is also, very useful for Vloggers in creating video content. Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 Nikkor Z 400 mm f/4.5 VR S N O M i NAT i ONS
60 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 Nikkor Z DX 18-140 mm f/3.5-6.3 VR A compact, lightweight standard zoom lens for APS-C Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras, available in Sony E-mount, Fujifilm X-mount and also in L-mount. stAndArd ZooM Lens of the year (aps-c) N O M i NAT i ONS WINNER sigMa 18-50mm F/ 2.8 dC dn C
www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 61 InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 Nikkor Z 28-75 mm f/2.8 N O M i NAT i ONS stAndArd ZooM Lens of the year (full frame) The Nikkor Z 24-120 mm F/4 S lens is a great all-rounder! It offers excellent sharpness even when used wide open at f/4 and though not a macro lens, provides a decent 0.39x maximum magnification. WINNER niKKor Z 24- 120 MM f/4 s
62 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 teLePhoto ZooM Lens of the year suPer teLePhoto Lens of the year WINNER TaMron 70-300 mm F/4.5-6.3 di iii rxd A lightweight, mid-range telephoto zoom lens for full frame Sony & Nikon Mirrorless cameras (can also be used on APS-C models), this lens is ideal for sports, wildlife as well as landscapes. WINNER niKKor Z 400 MM f/4.5 Vr s An extremely sharp, lightweight super telephoto lens for the Nikon Z-series camera bodies. Accepts Z 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. A great lens for wildlife and sports photographers.
www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 63 InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 Wide-AngLe ZooM Lens of the year Nikkor Z 17-28 mm f/2.8 Sony E 4/PZ 10-20 G N O M i NAT i ONS WINNER niKKor Z 14-24 mm f/2.8 s The full frame Nikkor Z 14-24 mm F/2.8 S is one of the sharpest Nikon Z-mount lens. It weighs a mere 650 g and makes is ideal for anyone interested in architecture, landscapes, weddings, nature, interiors, time-lapse and astro-photography.
64 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 VALue-for-Money Lens of the year innoVAtion of the year WINNER TT arTisan 32 MM f/2.8 WINNER real TiMe reCogniTion af froM sonY The AI based Subject Recognition System in the Sony A7R V, using deep learning, can easily recognise human faces, eyes, ears, nose, and several other parts of the human body. It also recognises animals, birds, insects, car/train and airplanes. Available in five different mounts (Canon EF-M, Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z and Sony E mount) the low-budget ‘made in China’ TT Artisan 32 mm F/2.8 lens is a decent performer for the price. The lens is compact, lightweight and uses a metal lens mount.
www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 65 InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 APs-c cAMerA of the year The 40.2 megapixel, APS-C sensor Fujifilm X-H2 offers excellent features along with very good ‘stills’ and video quality. Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R10 N O M i NAT i ONS WINNER FujiFilm X-H2
66 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in InnovatIon, technology & ImagIng awards 2023 awards 2023 Most Prestigious cAMerA of the year WINNER sonY alPha 7r V N O M i NAT i ONS Sony Alpha 7 IV Fujifilm X-H2 Canon EOS R3 The full frame 61 MP Sony A7R V with its Artificial Learning and Real-Time Recognition AF makes it an ideal camera for professionals and amateurs alike.
Aphotograph whether displayed on a monitor or printed on paper is flat without any depth and hence is two dimensional (2D). Contrary to this, the world we live in is in three dimensions (3D). Thus, whenever we take a photograph, we ‘project’ (transform) a 3D scene into a 2D image. There are many types of projections but the one that occurs when we take a photograph is called the ‘perspective projection’. The important characteristic of this is that objects that are close to us (in the foreground) look bigger while those that are far away (in the middle or background) look smaller. This property is used by all good photographers to create a sense of depth that is otherwise absent in a flat 2D photograph (Picture 1). In addition, a high quality landscape picture must be sharp from foreground to background. It is now time to recap the concept of depth of field or DOF. When you focus on a point, only one plane (that is, all the items that are at the same distance as the point) will be in precise focus. However, the human eye will find that there is a zone of acceptable sharpness that extends from the front of the point to beyond it. This zone is called the DOF. So, as mentioned, to get a good ‘sharp all through’ landscape photograph we need to maximize DOF to get all the objects in focus. DOF depends mainly on three factors, magnification, aperture, and circle of confusion (COC). The first factor, magnification in turn depends on the focal length and the subject distance. It increases when focal length increases and/or subject distance decreases. We can make DOF larger, that is deeper when we decrease the magnification. Likewise, DOF can be made larger by narrowing the aperture (bigger f/ numbers) and smaller with wider apertures. COC is an empirically derived number that was put forth by the venerable optical company, Zeiss. This considers factors like the sensor size, the size of the print, and the viewing distance of the print and is based on the acuity of human eyes. Hence, you can see that COC is not under the active control of the photographer. Also, note that the smaller sensors give deeper DOF for the same field of view. With that as the background let us see how we can maximize DOF. For every focal length and aperture, there is a number called ‘hyperfocal distance’ (HFD). If the lens is focused at HFD, then the DOF will be at its maximum. More precisely, when you set the lens to HFD, everything thing from half of HFD to infinity will be acceptably sharp (Picture 2). Half of HFD will be our near focus limit where the foreground object is positioned. HFD will depend on focal length and aperture and one needs to calculate it using a formula. Do not worry! We have done that for you! Table I and Table II give HFD for several useful focal lengths. Note that if you are using zoom lenses you need to refer to the table for the specific focal length that you are using! April 2023 www.smartphotography.in www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 69 learning Maximising DOF Ashok Kandimalla Ashok Kandimalla has been in the photographic field for over three decades and has extensive experience in both film and digital photography. Being an electronics engineer by profession and a photographer, he possesses a unique and deep insight into the technical aspects of digital photography and equipment. He has published more than a 100 articles on photography and some of his writings have also been published in the well-known international magazine Popular Photography. An avid collector of photographic books and vintage cameras, Ashok has a keen interest in the history of photography and a passion for sharing his knowledge on photography through teaching and writing. He is the only Indian photographer to be featured on the Nikon Centenary website. He is presently working as a Management and Engineering consutant. He can be reached at [email protected]. Picture 1: Here the small flower plants close to the camera look big when compared to the building at a distance, thus creating a sense of depth. Picture 2: Everything in the yellow zone will be acceptably sharp. The green dot shows the near focus limit. Table I - HFD for cameras using APS-C size sensors in metres, COC = 0.020 mm Focal Length in mm f/ # 10 mm 14 mm 18 mm 24 mm 35 mm 55 mm 70 mm 2.8 1.8 3.5 5.8 10.3 21.9 54.0 87.5 4 1.3 2.5 4.1 7.2 15.3 37.8 61.3 5.6 0.9 1.8 2.9 5.1 10.9 27.0 43.8 8 0.6 1.2 2.0 3.6 7.7 18.9 30.6 11 0.5 0.9 1.5 2.6 5.6 13.8 22.3 16 0.3 0.6 1.0 1.8 3.8 9.5 15.3 22 0.2 0.4 0.7 1.3 2.8 6.9 11.1 Table I - HFD for cameras using full frame size sensors in metres, COC = 0.030 mm Focal Length in mm f/ # 14 mm 21 mm 24 mm 28 mm 35 mm 50 mm 70 mm 2.8 2.3 5.3 6.9 9.3 14.6 29.8 58.3 4 1.6 3.7 4.8 6.5 10.2 20.8 40.8 5.6 1.2 2.6 3.4 4.7 7.3 14.9 29.2 8 0.8 1.8 2.4 3.3 5.1 10.4 20.4 11 0.6 1.3 1.7 2.4 3.7 7.6 14.8 16 0.4 0.9 1.2 1.6 2.6 5.2 10.2 22 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.9 3.8 7.4 68
Aphotograph whether displayed on a monitor or printed on paper is flat without any depth and hence is two dimensional (2D). Contrary to this, the world we live in is in three dimensions (3D). Thus, whenever we take a photograph, we ‘project’ (transform) a 3D scene into a 2D image. There are many types of projections but the one that occurs when we take a photograph is called the ‘perspective projection’. The important characteristic of this is that objects that are close to us (in the foreground) look bigger while those that are far away (in the middle or background) look smaller. This property is used by all good photographers to create a sense of depth that is otherwise absent in a flat 2D photograph (Picture 1). In addition, a high quality landscape picture must be sharp from foreground to background. It is now time to recap the concept of depth of field or DOF. When you focus on a point, only one plane (that is, all the items that are at the same distance as the point) will be in precise focus. However, the human eye will find that there is a zone of acceptable sharpness that extends from the front of the point to beyond it. This zone is called the DOF. So, as mentioned, to get a good ‘sharp all through’ landscape photograph we need to maximize DOF to get all the objects in focus. DOF depends mainly on three factors, 68 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in learning Maximising DOF Ashok Kandimalla Ashok Kandimalla has been in the photographic field for over three decades and has extensive experience in both film and digital photography. Being an electronics engineer by profession and a photographer, he possesses a unique and deep insight into the technical aspects of digital photography and equipment. He has published more than a 100 articles on photography and some of his writings have also been published in the well-known international magazine Popular Photography. An avid collector of photographic books and vintage cameras, Ashok has a keen interest in the history of photography and a passion for sharing his knowledge on photography through teaching and writing. He is the only Indian photographer to be featured on the Nikon Centenary website. He is presently working as a Management and Engineering consutant. He can be reached at [email protected]. Picture 1: Here the small flower plants close to the camera look big when compared to the building at a distance, thus creating a sense of depth.
magnification, aperture, and circle of confusion (COC). The first factor, magnification in turn depends on the focal length and the subject distance. It increases when focal length increases and/or subject distance decreases. We can make DOF larger, that is deeper when we decrease the magnification. Likewise, DOF can be made larger by narrowing the aperture (bigger f/ numbers) and smaller with wider apertures. COC is an empirically derived number that was put forth by the venerable optical company, Zeiss. This considers factors like the sensor size, the size of the print, and the viewing distance of the print and is based on the acuity of human eyes. Hence, you can see that COC is not under the active control of the photographer. Also, note that the smaller sensors give deeper DOF for the same field of view. With that as the background let us see how we can maximize DOF. For every focal length and aperture, there is a number called ‘hyperfocal distance’ (HFD). If the lens is focused at HFD, then the DOF will be at its maximum. More precisely, when you set the lens to HFD, everything thing from half of HFD to infinity will be acceptably sharp (Picture 2). Half of HFD will be our near focus limit where the foreground object is positioned. HFD will depend on focal length and aperture and one needs to calculate it using a formula. Do not worry! We have done that for you! Table I and Table II give HFD for several useful focal lengths. Note that if you are using zoom lenses you need to refer to the table for the specific focal length that you are using! www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 69 Picture 2: Everything in the yellow zone will be acceptably sharp. The green dot shows the near focus limit. Table I - HFD for cameras using APS-C size sensors in metres, COC = 0.020 mm Focal Length in mm f/ # 10 mm 14 mm 18 mm 24 mm 35 mm 55 mm 70 mm 2.8 1.8 3.5 5.8 10.3 21.9 54.0 87.5 4 1.3 2.5 4.1 7.2 15.3 37.8 61.3 5.6 0.9 1.8 2.9 5.1 10.9 27.0 43.8 8 0.6 1.2 2.0 3.6 7.7 18.9 30.6 11 0.5 0.9 1.5 2.6 5.6 13.8 22.3 16 0.3 0.6 1.0 1.8 3.8 9.5 15.3 22 0.2 0.4 0.7 1.3 2.8 6.9 11.1 Table I - HFD for cameras using full frame size sensors in metres, COC = 0.030 mm Focal Length in mm f/ # 14 mm 21 mm 24 mm 28 mm 35 mm 50 mm 70 mm 2.8 2.3 5.3 6.9 9.3 14.6 29.8 58.3 4 1.6 3.7 4.8 6.5 10.2 20.8 40.8 5.6 1.2 2.6 3.4 4.7 7.3 14.9 29.2 8 0.8 1.8 2.4 3.3 5.1 10.4 20.4 11 0.6 1.3 1.7 2.4 3.7 7.6 14.8 16 0.4 0.9 1.2 1.6 2.6 5.2 10.2 22 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.9 3.8 7.4
Picture 3: DOF screen of the Photopills app. Another way to get the HFD is to use an app on your smartphone. Several are available. Here is a partial list – Photopills (Picture 3), DOF, DOF Calc, DOF Calculator, etc. Please check the compatibility with your phone and be aware that some of these might be priced. Both tables and apps give the relationship between the three parameters viz., focal length, aperture, and HFD. Hence, knowing any two of these will help you to get the third one. One interesting point. From the tables, you can observe that at lesser focal lengths and narrower f/ numbers, the HFD decreases. Many photographers mistakenly think that this is counterintuitive (as they feel that DOF is decreasing) but it is not. Since the far end of the DOF is always infinity, a decrease in HFD means that the near focus limit, being half of that is also decreasing and thus the DOF is increasing. After we get the HFD, we need to know where it is located in the scene, as it is the point where we need to focus. Let us call it the HFD point. There are several ways of finding it and these also depend on the design of your lens. Let us assume as it is normally the case, that the foreground object is not more than about 5 m (about 16 ft) away. Method 1: This is the easiest way, but your lens needs to have DOF scales (Picture 4). The nice thing about this is that you need not refer to any DOF tables of apps. This is how you do it, step by step. 1. Choose the focal length based on the composition. 2. Choose a moderately narrow aperture like f/8 for a full frame camera. 3. Focus on the closest object in the scene that must be in focus. 4. Switch to manual focus (if you were using AF). 5. Read the distance from the distance scale (Picture 4-B). 6. To set the lens to HFD, turn the focusing ring (Picture 4- A) so that the infinity symbol, on the distance scale (Picture 4-B), is against the chosen f/ number on the DOF scale (Picture 4-C). Now, the near focus limit, which is half the HFD is shown on the focusing scale opposite to the same f/ number on the other side of the DOF scale. 7. The DOF, as explained extends from the near focus limit to infinity. If the distance of the closest object (measured in Step 5) is within this, that is, if it is equal to or more than the near focus limit, then you are safe. If not, narrow the aperture, and repeat Step 6. 8. Release the shutter. Here is an example to make the steps clearer: Let us say that the aperture ring is set to f/8 (Picture 4-D) and the closest object is at 5 m. Turn the focus ring so that the infinity mark should be positioned at the ‘8’ that is on the right side of the DOF scale (Picture 4-E). The near focus limit can be read against the ‘8’ mark on the left side of the DOF scale (Picture 4-F). This is at 4 m (between 3 and 5 m). Hence, in this example, DOF extends from 4 m to infinity (∞). Note that the point of actual focus is at approx. 8 m (between 5 and 10 m) which is exactly twice that of the near focus limit which is 4 m. Since 5 m is the closest point that must be in sharp focus, it will fall within the DOF zone that extends from 4 m to infinity. Picture 4: A - Focusing ring. B - Distance scale in feet (above) and metres (below). C – DOF Scale. D – Aperture ring with f numbers. It is set to f/8 here. E & F – See text. 70 | Smart Photography | April 2023 learning www.smartphotography.in
Method 2 This method is useful if your lens does not have DOF scales, but has distance scales with a focus index (usually a small vertical line) as is the case for most zoom lenses (Picture 5). In this case, proceed as follows: 1. Choose the focal length based on the composition. 2. Focus on the closest object in the scene that must be in focus. 3. Switch to manual focus (if you were using AF). 4. Read the distance from the distance scale and double it. This is the HFD. 5. Rotate the focusing ring so that the HFD value on the distance scale is opposite to the focus index on the lens. 6. Based on the focal length and HFD, use the table (or app) and get the corresponding aperture (f/ number). 7. Set your aperture to this value. 8. Release the shutter. Method 3 Unfortunately, manufacturers are cutting corners these days, and often you will find lenses (Picture 6) that do not even have a distance scale and a focus mark! So, even if you know the HFD, you will not be able to set it on your lens. However, if you can locate the HFD point in the scene, then you can focus the lens at that point looking through the viewfinder thus setting the lens at HFD. So, the trick is to locate the HFD point or in other words, determine its distance from the camera. Let us look at a few ways of measuring it. We can start by using a reference measure. One that is always available at no cost is your ‘step’ (also called a ‘stride’). This is usually between 2.1 to 2.5 feet but will largely depend on a person’s height and the style of walking. So, just take some 10 steps on even ground and then measure the distance. Dividing it by the number of steps will give your step length. Remember that number or note it on your smartphone. Now, let’s see how you can set the lens to HFD. Here is the step-by-step procedure. 1. Decide on the focal length to use based on the composition. 2. Walk to the closest object that must be in focus, counting the number of steps. 3. Walk past the object for the same number of steps beyond the foreground object. 4. This is the HFD point. Remember HFD is double the near focus limit. 5. Multiply the total number of steps by your step length to get the distance. 6. This is the HFD distance. 7. Mark this point with a marker. A stone or something like that would do. Picture 5: A lens with distance scales and a focus index (arrow mark) but without DOF scales. Picture 6: Many modern lenses, even expensive ones do not even have any distance markings!! www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 71
8. Focus on the marker and lock focus or switch to manual focus. 9. Based on the focal length and HFD, use the table (or app) and get the corresponding aperture (f/ number). 10.Set your aperture to this value. 11.Release the shutter. This method where you directly focus on the HFD point is more accurate than the earlier methods where we set the distances using distance scales. The latter is also difficult as you will have to interpolate the in between numbers. A further complication arises since the distance scales are not uniform in progression (Picture 4-B). For example, the spacing between 5 m and 10 m will be less than that of 3 m and 5 m. This in turn will be less than the spacing between 3 m and 1 m and so on. Also, if HFD is large, then the distance scales get cramped and it may be difficult to set the distance you want precisely. For example, you can see from Picture 4-B that the 10 m and infinity are very close. On the negative side, though this is a simple and no cost method it is not always possible to take steps to reach the foreground object. For, example it could be in water or you may not want to leave footprints on the soil. Also, your steps may not be uniform, especially if you are walking on inclined or uneven ground. This may give erroneous HFD. So, can we improve it? Yes! Method 4 This is the same as Method 3, except we will use a more accurate method for measurement. A simple and accurate way to make a measurement is to use good sturdy metal tape of 5 m or longer but many times you have the same problem as just described, that is you may not have access to the foreground object. You also need to carry a tape measure and things will get worse if the object is situated at a point beyond what the tape can measure. The best way to accurately measure distances is to use an electronic rangefinder that is based on laser technology. This device is also called a laser distance measure or a laser measuring tape. If you are a serious landscape photographer this is one to find a point behind the foreground which is at HFD. 6. This is the HFD point. 7. Focus on the laser dot, when it is at the HFD point. 8. Lock focus or switch to manual focus. 9. Based on the focal length and HFD, use the table (or app) and get the corresponding aperture (f/ number). 10.Set your aperture to that value. 11.Release the shutter. Do not forget! Whichever method you use, if you change the focal length by zooming (or changing the lens) or alter the aperture, or change your position, then you must find the new HFD and refocus the lens to the new HFD. One important point. After setting the lens at HFD, if you look through the viewfinder, the scene may look out of focus— that is, blurry! This is because the viewing aperture may not be the same as the aperture at which the picture is taken. However, the resulting picture will be sharp so long as the HFD was set correctly for the aperture and focal length you have chosen. You can check this by pressing the DOF preview button, if your camera has one. The ability to determine and use HFD is important for every photographer. Though we have concentrated here on landscape photography, HFD can be very useful in all situations where you are unlikely to have time to focus. While the number of steps may look too many, they are simple and you can easily set the lens to HFD with some practice. In this article, we have discussed perspective, DOF, and some apps briefly as these topics were covered in depth earlier in Smart Photography. In case you would like to have a relook at them, here are the references. • Article “Perplexing Perspective,” August 2013 issue. • Article “DOF in Depth,” February 2014 issue. • Article “Photopills – The Right Medicine,” October 2021 issue. |SP All text, diagrams, and images © Ashok Kandimalla nless otherwise noted. accessory you should consider as these are highly accurate, easy to use, small, and reasonably priced (a few thousand Rupees). There are several brands and models available including those from the reputed company Bosch (Picture 7). The procedure is similar to the one already described before, except that you get the HFD distance directly from the laser device. Here are the steps: 1. Decide on the focal length to use based on the composition. 2. Measure the distance to the closest object that must be in focus using the laser rangefinder. 3. Note the value and double it. 4. This is the HFD. 5. Scan the scene with the rangefinder Picture 7: A laser rangefinder. 72 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in learning
The final ratings given in the reviews are not an indication of the performance or features of the reviewed device in isolation. It is a combination of all parameters including the price of the product. FInal RaTIng lens Review Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8 Monitor Review BenQ DesignVue PD3205UA 80 Mirrorless Review Sony A7R V 74 78
Rohinton Mehta The 61 megapixel Sony A7R V was introduced in India on March 15, 2023. Sony started the A7R series with 36.4 MP; the A7R II and III were 42.4 MP; the A7R IV as well as V are 61 MP. Let’s see how the A7R V fares in our tests… Design & Build Quality The Sony A7R V body is built tough and is dust and moisture resistant; it incorporates a lightweight but strong magnesium alloy chassis, with the top/front/rear cover also made with magnesium alloy. The body is made in Thailand, Indonesia. Key Features The A7R V, the successor to the A7R IV, is a full frame 61 megapixel Interchangeable Lens Mirrorless Camera from Sony. It uses a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor and the latest BIONZ XR image processor to deliver amazing resolution and subject detail. Additionally, the A7R V uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) with deep learning to dramatically improve subject-recognition accuracy and make full use of its potential resolution. Overall, the new A7R V is superior to the A7R IV in every way. The camera’s high resolution sensor is backed by an updated high-precision 5-axis image stabilisation system that uses advanced gyro-sensors and image ✓Camera body ✓Battery Pack NP-FZ100 ✓Battery charger BC-QZ1 ✓Power cord ✓Cable Protector ✓Shoulder strap ✓Body cap ✓Eyepiece cup ✓USB-A to USB-C cable Inside the Box `3,53,990 (body only) Sony A7R V The Resolution King stabilising algorithms to precisely detect and correct camera shake during exposure. The camera body alone can provide up to an eight-stop advantage for the first time in the Alpha series (conditions apply). The A7R V allows the user to select Raw image sizes and quality. You can shoot in Raw with lossless compression and Medium (M – 26 MP) or Small (S –15 MB) size in full frame as well as APS-C mode while maintaining the same image resolution. The AF system has been further improved. 79% of the image area is covered by 693 phase-detection points, allowing greater freedom in composing. The AF works in light as low as -4 EV in AF-S mode. The camera can use Real-time Recognition AF for movements of people, and thereby provide approximately 60% improvement in recognizing human eyes when compared to the A7R IV. The human pose estimation technology used here can recognize not only the eyes but can accurately recognise also the body and head position, thus allowing it to track a subject that is facing away from the camera or even when wearing a mask. Further, the Real-time Recognition AF on the A7R V can recognize animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and airplanes. The animal recognition has been expanded to cover some grazing and small animals including dogs and cats with up to 40% greater precision. The A7R V can shoot up to 10 fps in full resolution, with Autofocus/ 74 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in MIRRORLESS review
Rohinton Mehta Camera: Sony A7R V Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec Focal Length: 24.0 mm ISO: 50 Auto exposure tracking when using the mechanical shutter. Up to 583 Compressed Raw images can be shot continuously at 10 fps in continuous shooting mode. The A7R IV by the way could shoot only 68 compressed Raw images in continuous shooting mode. Approximately 547 images can be shot in Lossless Compressed Raw Besides this, the A7R V can perform Focus Bracketing; Up to 299 images with focus shift, using interval and sequence as set by the user, can be shot and later combined in Photoshop or any dedicated software to produce extended depth of field which is otherwise not possible under several circumstances. The camera offers shutter speeds ranging from 30 seconds to 1/8000 sec, plus Bulb when in ‘Stills’ mode; 1/4 sec to 1/8000 sec when shooting movies in PAL mode. The shutter is tested for over 500,000 actuations. The camera has two memory card slots – both support CFexpress Type A as well as UHS-1 and UHS II SDHC and SDXC cards. You can record simultaneously to both cards or choose to record JPEG (HEIF) in one and Raw in the other. You can also record ‘stills’ in one and movies in the other. A ‘Relay Mode’ is also provided where the still/movie recording will automatically switch to the other card. The A7R V uses a 1.6 cm electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 9, 437, 184 million dots OLED. Video: Around 45 video recording options – meaning resolution, frame rate and bit rate combinations are available. The lowest starts at 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps (Full HD) and goes up to 7680 x 4320 @ 25p / 400 Mbps (UHD 8K video). When the latter is being recorded, a crop factor of 1.24 is applied. However, there is no such limitation at other resolutions. The fastest frame rate provided is 4K video at 60 FPS. Slow motion to a very high rate of 120 fps is provided in Full-HD. This will allow even 5x slow motion. A wide variety of formats like MPEG4, H.264, H.265 and XAVC types are supported. A7R V can record internally up to UHD 8K video at 4:2:2 (10-bit). You can also record externally via HDMI 16-bit raw output but this is restricted to UHD 4K up to 60 FPS. Some important enhancements have also been introduced in the area of AF for video recording. To start, subject detection and tracking of the eye is now supported for humans, animals, and birds. A visual called Focus Map shows the DOF using concepts of focus peaking. Focus breathing is something unwanted in lenses and here the A7R V tries to compensate for it by cropping slightly and then adjusting for any changes in focal length. The A7R V allows for extensive colour control. The S-Cinetone allows colour compatibility with the full line of Sony cameras right up to the Venice model to allow for mixing of footage. HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), S-Log2 and S-Log3 are also available giving a huge 15 stop dynamic range to facilitate colour grading. Ergonomics We reviewed the Sony A7R V using a Sony 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens. The body www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 75
was fairly easy to understand and use once the features were known. At a combined weight of 1609 g, it does feel a bit heavy after long hours of use but then, the body is actually lighter (723 g) than the f/2.8 lens! Performance A full mark to the overall performance of the A7R V. Autofocus was very fast and accurate. I did not have the A7R IV body to make a direct comparison on the performance but the A7R V was a pleasure to use. Still images were very sharp (credit also goes to the lens), punchy and with good colours and contrast. White Balance performance, including Auto White Balance, was very good. I shoot mainly using Center-weighted metering, but the other metering modes – Multi-segment, Spot (Standard/ Large), Entire Screen Average, as well as Highlight metering provided very satisfactory exposures. For the purpose of the noise test, images were shot in JPG best quality. The native image size of images from the Sony A7R V is 31.68 x 21.12 inches at 300 ppi. This allowed us to crop (when needed) without much worry about loss of image quality for medium size prints. On the other hand, the extremely large files generated by the A7R V means you’ll need additional storage space sooner than later. At 12.5% and 25% print size, images were relatively free of digital noise over the entire ISO range (ISO 50 – 51,200). At 50% print size, traces of noise could be seen from ISO 1600 onwards but could be used till ISO 25,600. Considering the modern standards for digital noise, I would place ISO 51,200 at 50% screen size, on the noisier side. At 100% screen size, images were relatively noise free up to ISO 800 but I would use up to ISO 6400 in a pinch (may be with an external noise-reduction software). ISOs higher than this, at 100% screen size, in my opinion, were noisy. Camera: Sony A7R V Aperture: f/2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/800 sec Focal Length: 25.0 mm ISO: 50 Rohinton Mehta 76 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in MIRRORLESS review
The Sony A7R V is a formidable camera. It surpassed our expectations in every which way. With the Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Deep Learning Technology and the Real-time Recognition AF embedded in the A7R V, the camera can detect subjects that other cameras may not be able to or find it difficult to detect. The camera can accurately recognise and autofocus on humans, cars, trains, airplanes, insects, animals and birds, – even when most subjects are not directly looking at the camera – thus dramatically reducing the number of poorly focussed shots. The Sony A7R V offers Image Stabilisation of up to 8 stops (under CIPA standards. Pitch/yaw shake only. Using a Planar T* FE 50mm F1.2 GM lens). I have no scientific means of confirming this but I was able to pull off several sharp shots under very low lighting conditions. As far as digital noise levels are concerned – and with the currently available technology – any camera with a resolution such as this is bound to show comparatively more noise at very high ISO sensitivities. I cannot say what future technology will bring in this regard but at lower ISOs, the performance of the A7R V was excellent to say the least – the details it captured were superb. In my opinion, a definite Best Buy! Design and Build Quality Key Features Ergonomics Performance Value for Money Overall KEy SPECIFICATIOnS Sensor type/size: Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor/35.7x23.8mm Effective pixels: approx. 61-million Lens mount: E-mount Recording format: Stills: JPEG, HEIF, Raw, Movies: XAVC S, XAVC HS Memory card slot: Slot 1 and 2: SD (UHS I/ II compliant), CFexpress Type A Focus type: Fast Hybrid AF (Phase-detect/ Contrast-detect AF) Focus point: Full frame: 693 points (phasedetect)/APS-C with FF lens: 693 points (phase-deduct)/ with APS-C lens: 567 points (phase-deduct)/25 points: Contrast detect AF Focus mode: AF-A, AF-S, AF-C, DMF, Manual focus Focus area: Wide/Zone/Center-fix/Spot/ Expand spot/Tracking, Eye/Subject Recognition AF: Human (Right/Left eye select), Animal (Right/Left eye select), Bird, Insect, Car, Train, Airplane Metering type: 1200-zone Evaluative metering Metering mode: Multi-segment, Centerweighted, Spot (Standard/Large), Entire Screen Average, Highlight Viewfinder: 1.6 cm EVF, 9, 437, 184 dots LCD monitor: 8.0 cm type TFT, 2, 095, 104 dots, Touch panel Shutter: Electrically controlled, vertical travel, focal plane, Mechanical/Electronic Shutter speeds: Stills: 30 s – 1/8000 sec, Bulb, Movies: PAL: 1/4 s – 1/8000 sec Image Stabilisation: Image sensor-shift with 5-axis compensation, (Compensation depends on lens specifications) Drive modes: Single, Continuous (Hi+/Hi/ Mid/Lo selectable); Self-timer, Self-timer (cont.), Bracket: Single, Cont., Focus bracket, White Balance & DRO bracket Cont. Drive Speed: Hi+: 10 fps, Hi: 8 fps, Mid: 6 fps, Lo; 3 fps Recordable frames: JPEGs: Extra Fine L, Fine L & Std. L : Over 1000 frames; Raw: 583 frames; Raw + JPEG: 184 frames; Raw lossless compressed: 547 frames; Raw lossless compresses +JPEG: 159 frames; Raw uncompressed: 135 frames; Raw uncompressed +JPEG: 88 frames Battery Pack: Rechargeable NP-FZ100 W x H x D: 131.3 x 96.9 x 82.4 mm Body weight: 723 g with battery and card FInAL SCORE PLUS • Captures exceptional fine details at lower ISOs • Great ability to crop • Superb video quality • On the expensive side Sony has a formidable reputation as a provider of video equipment catering to the needs of amateurs and going right up to broadcast and Hollywood level! So, it was expected that the A7R V will have the best video recording features. We are happy to say that not only did it perform as per our high expectations but it even surprised us many times. Hence, full marks on the video performance. Value for Money The Sony A7R V is available at an MRP of `353,990. The price, for my pockets, seems high but then, this is a gem of a camera! |SP VERDICT MInUS www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 77
Rohinton Mehta Weighing just 125 g, the Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8 pancake lens was introduced in India towards end February 2023. The letter ‘Z’ identifies it as a lens designed for the Z-mount mirrorless camera bodies. Let us see how it fares on our test bench… Design & Build Quality The lens is compact and cute. Though not an ‘S’ lens, it appears well made. Measured from the flange, the lens is just 34 mm, inclusive of the 12 mm thick lens hood. The hood has a thread for 52 mm filters. The front lens cap can be attached to the lens with or without the hood. The lens is dust and drip resistant and has a rubberized ring at the rear to prevent dust or water splashes from entering the lens. The lens mount is made of metal and the lens is made in Thailand. Key Features The lens is constructed with eight elements in six groups that include three aspherical elements that help to improve sharpness as well as minimize certain lens aberrations. Autofocus speed and accuracy is controlled via a stepping motor. Accuracy of aperture blades control during continuous shooting is enhanced using an Electromagnetic Diaphragm Control mechanism. The aperture range is from f/2.8 to f/16. The control ring on the lens can be programmed to manually focus the lens, adjust the ISO sensitivity or set exposure compensation. The inner barrel extends as you focus the lens but the extension does not exceed the lens hood. This protects the lens barrel from damage. The lens can be used on Nikon Z-series FX format (full frame) cameras as well as Nikon Z-series APS-C (DX format) cameras. The minimum focus distance is approx. 20.3 cm (8”). Ergonomics The Nikkor Z 26 mm lens was reviewed on a Z6 camera body. The lens is super light (125 g) and easy to use. Performance The image sharpness of the lens was phenomenal. Wide open at f/2.8 central sharpness was very good, though the sides/corners were, comparatively, just a teeny-weeny bit softer. Stopping down the lens provided better sharpness throughout the frame. I felt that f/4 and f/5.6 gave the sharpest results, while f/16 showed some traces of softness due to diffraction of light at such a narrow aperture. The wide f/2.8 aperture allowed me to throw the background out of focus when used close to the subject. The lens exhibited some colour fringing (CA) when used to shoot against the light, but was easy to eliminate in post processing. My gripe was the whirring noise when the lens focused, during autofocus as well as manual focus. This is not an issue when the lens is used outdoors as there is always some ambient noise but when used for video in silent surroundings, the in-built microphone does pick up some noise. Darkening of corners was noticed at the wider apertures. Value for Money The Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8 is available at an MRP of `46,495. At first, the price seems high but one has to remember that it is a ‘fast’ f/2.8 lens that provides very sharp images. |SP Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8 Pancake 26 `46,495 ✓Lens ✓Front lens cap (LCK108) ✓Rear lens cap (LF-N1) ✓Lens hood (HB-111) Inside the Box VERDIct the compact and ultra-lightweight Z 26 mm f/2.8 lens might make you doubt whether you have attached the lens to the body or not! the Z 26 mm makes a great travel companion and is ideal for use in street photography, vlogging, landscapes, day-to-day general photography and in low light situations. On the price front, I see it to be on the pricier side, though users with deep pockets may not feel so. the performance is, no doubt, excellent for ‘stills’ as well as videos and I have no reservations in awarding it a Best Buy! 78 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in lens review
Design and Build Quality Key Features Ergonomics Performance Value for Money Overall FINal ScORE KEy SPEcIFIcatIONS Mount type: Z mount Focal length: 26 mm Format: Full frame (FX) aperture range: F/2.8-16 lens construction: 8 elements in 6 groups (includes 3 Asp. elements) angle of view: 79° FX; 57° DX Max. Reproduction Ratio: 0.19x Diaphragm blades: 7 (rounded) Filter size: 52 mm Dimensions: Approx. 70 (D) x 23.5 mm (L) Weight: 125 g PluS MINuS • Pricey • Noisy focus motor • compact and ‘featherweight’ • Extremely sharp ‘still’ images as well as video • ‘attach it and forget it’ lens • ‘Fast’ f/2.8 maximum aperture helps in low light shooting camera: Nikon Z 6 lens: Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8 aperture: f/2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/1000 sec Focal length: 26.0 mm ISO: 100 Rohinton Mehta www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 79
Sujith Gopinath BenQ’s DesignVue series monitors, as the name indicates, are created for graphic designers who need a reliable display for colour-critical applications. Since graphic design and photography are closely related, the roles and means are often shared, and hence this review. Please note that since the monitor has only been launched in the market recently, the detailed specifications were not made available to Smart Photography, and so this review is based on our experience and the limited data available. Design and Build Quality The 32-inch PD3205UA and its smallersized sibling, the 27-inch PD2705UA, are not your ordinary desktop monitors with flat bases. These are made for professional designer studios with fixed muti-display setups. The monitor BenQ DesignVue PD3205UA `79,990 Design Studio Specialist has to be attached to the desk with the sturdy metal clamp at the base with the help of an ‘ergo arm’. The device has a three-side bezel-less design with a thick frame, curved at the rear. The stand has concealed channels for cable organisation. Apart from the base, all other parts are made of sturdy polycarbonate materials. Key Features The PD3205UA is a 31.5-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) monitor. The IPS display supports HDR10 and is stated to reproduce 99 percent sRGB and Rec.709 colour spaces, capable of delivering up to 1.07 billion colours. The monitor offers 5ms response time and provides 250 nits of brightness along with 1000:1 contrast ratio. The monitor offers near-accurate colours with a deviation of Delta E <=3. The monitor boasts corner-to-corner uniformity in brightness and colour reproduction with BenQ’s AQColor technology, and the company claims that the display is divided into hundreds of sub-regions and fine-tuned for precision. The display comes Calman Verified and Pantone Validated along with Pantone SkinTone Validated certification for accurate reproduction of skin tonnes. The monitor offers an extensive array of colour modes including Darkroom mode, Animation mode, CAD/CAM mode, along with the usual modes such as Low Blue Light, DICOM, sRGB and REC.709. Further, there is a DualView mode that lets you display your artwork in two modes side-by-side. The monitor houses a KVM Switch that auto-pairs with input signals via the HDMI or DP connected parallel with the designated USB port. This helps you to connect a PC and a Mac seamlessly with the PD3205UAThe device offers two USB Type-B ports, two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, an HDMI port and a Display Port at ✓ Monitor ✓Ergo Arm ✓Stand with clamp ✓Hotkey Puck G2 ✓HDMI cable ✓ Mini DP to DP cable ✓USB 3.2 cable ✓Quick Start Guide ✓Factory Calibration Report Inside the Box 80 | Smart Photography | April 2023 www.smartphotography.in Monitor review
the base along with a Mini USB for the hotkey puck (OSD controller). There is one Type-A and one Type-C port at the side along with a 3.5mm audio output jack. The USB Type-C port provides 65W power delivery in addition to fast data transfer. You can use the hotkey puck G2 to switch between inputs. The monitor supports PIP (Picture In Picture) and PBP (Picture By Picture) modes to easily manage your workflow. Designers can make use of BenQ’s Display Pilot software, which gives access to various customisation option for colour mode, display and more, and to set up advanced features like ICC Sync, which automatically sets ICC profiles to match the colour mode selected. The monitor features an extensive menu that offers all advanced settings for precise colour management. The monitor also features eye care technologies like Low Blue Light and Flicker free display to reduce eye fatigue and ensure greater user comfort. Ergonomics As mentioned earlier, this is not a portable monitor. Once clamped to the desk, it is difficult to move it around. But the flexible ‘Ergo Arm’ provides a greater degree of movement than normal monitors and hence the freedom to position the monitor precisely where you want it. This makes it easier to avoid reflections and highlights. The monitor itself allows -5 to 20 degrees tilt, -15 to 15 degrees swivel, 90 degrees pivot, and 150 mm height adjustment. With Design and Build Quality Key Features Ergonomics Performance Value for Money Overall KEy SPEcIFIcAtIOnS Panel type: IPS Screen size: 31.5 inches (80.01 cm) Resolution: 3840 x 2160 colour gamut: 99% sRGB, 99% Rec.709 colour depth: 1.07 billion colours (10 bits) Response time: 5 ms HDR: HDR10 Brightness: 250 nits Built-in speaker: 2.5Wx2 Height adjustment: 150 mm connectivity: 2 x HDMI, 1 x DP, USB-C (90W/65W, DP Alt mode), USB 3.2 FInAl ScORE VERDIct the BenQ PD3205UA is a great buy if you are a design professional looking for a factory calibrated 4K monitor with good colour accuracy and feature-rich support software to use in a fixed studio environment. However, we would desist from recommending this for purely photo and video editing needs since you would be better off with a similarly priced model offering close to 100 percent Adobe RGB or DcI P3 gamut coverage. PlUS MInUS • Good colour accuracy • Uniform illumination • Flexible Ergo Arm • Built-in speakers • no shading hood • not a photography monitor concealed cable management channel on the stand, the setup looks professional and less messy. The part of the base that sits atop your desk is small and flat, hence it occupies less space. The Hotkey Puck G2 makes OSD control a snap. The device neither includes a shading hood nor has grooves to fit one. Performance The PD3205UA is not built for photo editing but is capable of accurate colour reproduction, and hence it can be used for the purpose. We found the panel to deliver uniform illumination across the display area as BenQ claims. We measured the native colour reproduction, and could verify the claims of 99 percent sRGB reproduction (97.3 percent coverage, 118.7 percent gamut volume). The monitor can reproduce up to 77.9 percent Adobe RGB gamut with 81.8 percent volumetric coverage, while the figures for DCI P3 was found to be 83.8 percent and 84.1 percent respectively. The monitor offers very precise RGB gain controls, which greatly helps in achieving the best hardware calibration results. The monitor has two 2.5W speakers, but we found it practically useless as in most built-in speakers. Value for Money The BenQ PD3205UA retails at an MRP of Rs.79,990, while the 27-inch model (PD2705UA) carries a price tag of Rs.65,000. This is good value for money for a 4K design specialist monitor. |SP www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 81
1 When shooting light trails, which of the following is not necessary? a) Flashlight b) Tripod c) ND filter d) Aperture setting of f/ 8 2 When shooting flowers, which of the following can you live without? a) A macro lens b) Manual focusing c) Tripod d) Autofocus 3 What is dioptre correction used for? a) Correcting exposure b) Maximising depth of field c) Adjusting a camera’s viewfinder to your eyesight d) Making the viewfinder brighter 4 What is the principle reason for fungus in your lens? a) Not using the camera b) Excess humidity in the air c) Drop in oxygen in the air d) Pollution 5 When buying a photo printer, what factor is most important? a) Cost of the printer b) Print size c) Cost of ink d) LCD screen 6 Name the famous Italian actress, also a photographer, who died recently. a) Sophia Loren b) Gina Lollobrigida c) Vicki Myron d) Claudia Cardinale 7 Give another name for a mirror lens. a) Fresnel b) Anamorphic c) Super Telephoto d) Catadioptric 8 A 1.4 x teleconverter increases the focal length by 40%. What does it do to exposure? a) Reduces maximum aperture by one stop b) Increases maximum aperture by one stop c) Increases maximum aperture by two stops d) Reduces maximum aperture by two stops 9 What was Ansel Adam’s middle name? a) He did not have one b) Easton c) George d) Timothy 10What is the main difference between the Fujifilm X-H2 and X-H2S? a) X-H2 has a 40.2 MP sensor whereas X-H2S has a 26.1 MP sensor b) X-H2 has 8K video recording; X-H2S does not reach 8K c) With the electronic shutter, X-H2S can take pics upto 40 fps; the X-H2 does 20 fps d) X-H2S has a stacked sensor design Photo www.smartphotography.in April 2023 | Smart Photography | 82 1 (a), 2 (d), 3 (c), 4 (b), : NSWERS A 5 (c), 6 (b), 7 (d), 8 (b), 9 (b), 10 (a) Quiz
162 Volume 19 • Issue 01 • April 2023 217 INDIA’S NUMBER 1 IMAGING MAGAZINE! `150 REVIEWS SONY ALPHA 7R V NIKKOR Z 26 MM F/2.8 BENQ PD3205UA Inkjet Printers Printing & Beyond Uday Agashe Interview Special Gudi Padwa Tutorial Maximising Depth of Field Smart Photography Awards 2023 TH ANNIVERSARY Now read your favourite magazine wherever you go... Available on PC... Mac... Tablet... or any other handheld device! www.zinio.com/smartphotography Available on Digital Platform Partners
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