GROUP TEST 101 OM System OM-5 The mighty OM-5 proves there’s still life in the Micro Four-Thirds format PRICE: £1,199/$1,099 As with the Fujifilm X system, Micro FourThirds has an illustrious heritage, amassing prime and zoom lenses along the way to suit every occasion and budget. The comparatively large 2.0x crop factor has its pros and cons but the OM-5 makes the most of the format, cramming a respectable 20.4 megapixels into its Live MOS image sensor, working in tandem with a late-generation TruePic IX processor. Despite being the lightest camera in the group (just 414g including battery and memory card) the OM-5 has much to shout about. Feature highlights include 5-axis in-body stabilisation worth up to 7.5 stops, a 0.39-inch OLED viewfinder, vari-angle touchscreen and hybrid phase/contrast detection autofocus system. Like in the Nikon Z fc, there’s only one SDXC memory card slot rather than dual slots, but it’s UHS-II compatible rather than the Nikon’s slower UHS-I. It is the only camera in the group not to feature a USB 3 C-type port. Attractions include a 1/8,000th mechanical shutter speed, ramped up to 1/32,000th in electronic mode, whereas the Z fc tops out at 1/4000th. The 10fps frame rate rises to 30fps in electronic shutter mode, with a deep buffer equating to 149 RAW quality shots at 10fps. The OM-5’s stills RAW files are only 12-bit, whereas the others all support 14-bit RAW depth. As with the other contenders, 4K video is on tap, although the X-T5 tops out at 6.2K. At 1080p, the OM-5 matches the Canon and Nikon with 120p slow-mo, whereas the X-T5 wins out again with 240p up for grabs. Build quality feels typically solid, although it’s the only one in the group to feature a fully polycarbonate shell rather than magnesium alloy. Weather-seals are more plentiful and effective than in previous Olympus cameras, equalling that of the flagship OM-1, which costs nearly twice the price. Handling is good, with a neat range of customisable buttons, although there’s no joystick for quick and easy AF point placement. Overall performance is satisfying, with a typical warmth in colour rendition for which Olympus is renowned. CONTROL LAYOUT The control interface strikes a reasonable balance between the provision of customisable dials and buttons for adjusting shooting settings, and avoiding having too much clutter MONITOR SCREEN As with the viewfinder, the 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen has a fairly modest resolution, this time of 1.04 megapixels, which matches that of the Nikon Z fc VIEWFINDER Unlike in the more costly OM-1, the viewfinder is smaller with a more typical 0.39-inch OLED serving up a 2.36 million-dot resolution Camera specs 100 200 400 800 1600 3200 6400 12800 25600 10 0 20 30 40 50 60 Signal to noise Dynamic range Resolution The OM-5 closely matches the Z fc for resolution throughout the ISO range and does similarly well for signal-to-noise and dynamic range, which is impressive given the size of the image sensor. BEST VALUE AWARDS
Backed up by an enviable range of high-grade lenses, this is an absolutely fabulous X system camera. Overall Fujifilm X-T5 PERFORMANCE With great retention of fine detail and a blistering turn of speed, there’s no shortage of performance. BUILD QUALITY The weather-sealed magnesium alloy based construction feels solid and robust yet slim and lightweight. Price (body only) £1,699/$1,699 Image sensor 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 Crop factor 1.5x (APS-C) IBIS 5-axis, up to 7 stops Max resolution 7728 x 5152 Video (max res) 6.2K at 30p, 25p, 24p Viewfinder 0.5” OLED 3.69M LCD 3.0”, 1.84M, touch, tilt Autofocus Hybrid phase/ contrast Shutter speed 15 to 1/8000 Stills ISO range ISO 125-12,800 (64-51,200) Max burst rate (mech/elec) 15/20 fps Raw buffer Up to 39 shots, 15fps Storage 2x SDXC UHS-II USB/Wireless USB 3 C/Wi-Fi, BLE Battery life 580 shots Dimensions (WHD) 130 x 91 x 64mm Weight (+battery) 557g FEATURES The high megapixel count for an APS-C camera is harnessed by effective IBIS and high-end features. HANDLING The rotary dials add refinement and the X-T5 handles really nicely for such a small camera. VALUE FOR MONEY It’s the most expensive camera in the group but you get what you pay for and more. www.canon.co.uk The Canon EOS R7 is a worthy mirrorless successor to the 7D Mark II with a boost in overall performance. Overall Canon EOS R7 PERFORMANCE The autofocus and stabilisation systems live up to their bold claims and image quality is rather impressive too. BUILD QUALITY The Canon feels robust and it is weather-sealed, but it lacks a bit of refinement in the overall construction. Price (body only) £1,349/$1,499 Image sensor 32.5MP Dual Pixel CMOS AF II Crop factor 1.6x (APS-C) IBIS 5-axis, up to 8 stops Max resolution 6960 x 4640 Video (max res) 4K at 30p, 25p, 24p Viewfinder 0.39” OLED 2.36M LCD 3”, 1.62M, touch, pivot Autofocus Hybrid phase/ contrast Shutter speed 30 to 1/8000 Stills ISO range ISO 100-32,000 (51,200) Max burst rate (mech/elec) 15/30 fps Raw buffer Up to 51 shots, 15fps Storage 2x SDXC UHS-II USB/Wireless USB 3 C/Wi-Fi, BLE Battery life 500 shots Dimensions (WHD) 132 x 90 x 92mm Weight (+battery) 612g FEATURES There’s no shortage of features, with IBIS, a 32.5MP sensor and deep-learned AI autofocus. HANDLING The chunky handgrip makes for assured handheld shooting but direct-access controls are limited. VALUE FOR MONEY The body is good value for money and a mount adapter gives access to legacy EF and EF-S lenses. Olympus has grown a solid fan base over the decades, and they will be richly rewarded by this camera. Overall OM System OM-5 PERFORMANCE Although it has a physically small image sensor, the OM-5 punches well above its weight for image quality. BUILD QUALITY Although it lacks a magnesium alloy chassis, it feels nicely crafted and is particularly well weather-sealed. Price (body only) £1,199/$1,099 Image sensor 20.4MP Live MOS Crop factor 2.0x (MFT) IBIS 5-axis, to 7.5 stops Max resolution 5184 x 3888 Video (max res) 4K at 30p, 25p, 24p Viewfinder 0.39” OLED 2.36M LCD 3.0-inch, 1.04M, touch, pivot Autofocus Hybrid phase/ contrast Shutter speed 60 to 1/8000 Stills ISO range ISO 200-6400 (64-102,400) Max burst rate (mech/elec) 10/30 fps Raw buffer Up to 149 shots, 10fps Storage 1x SDXC UHS-II USB/Wireless USB 2/Wi-Fi, BLE Battery life 310 shots Dimensions (WHD) 125 x 85 x 50mm Weight (+battery) 414g FEATURES The OM-5 ticks all the right boxes in terms of features for shooting both stills and video. HANDLING There aren’t too many direct-access controls for shooting parameters but the essentials are covered. VALUE FOR MONEY Considering the highly effective IBIS and other features, the OM-5 is great value for money. A retro delight, the Nikon Z fc looks and feels the business and will particularly suit old-school photographers. Overall Nikon Z fc PERFORMANCE Image quality is impressive but the 1/4000th maximum shutter speed is slower than in competing cameras. BUILD QUALITY The Z fc feels well-engineered and robust, and it also features a good scattering of weather-seals. Price (body only) £899/$857 Image sensor 20.9MP DX CMOS Crop factor 1.5x (APS-C) IBIS None Max resolution 5568 x 3712 Video (max res) 4K at 30p, 25p, 24p Viewfinder 0.39” OLED 2.36M LCD 3.0”, 1.04M, touch, pivot Autofocus Hybrid phase/ contrast Shutter speed 30 to 1/4000 Stills ISO range ISO 100-51,200 (204,800) Max burst rate (mech/elec) 11 fps Raw buffer Up to 44 shots, 11fps Storage 1x SDXC UHS-I USB/Wireless USB 3 C/Wi-Fi, BLE Battery life 300 shots Dimensions (WHD) 135 x 94 x 44mm Weight (+battery) 445g FEATURES The vari-angle screen is well made but there’s no IBIS nor auto sensor cleaning. HANDLING With no sculpted hand grip, the camera feels slippery but handling benefits from rotary dials. VALUE FOR MONEY It’s the least expensive camera in the group but lacks a few high-end features of its rivals. EDITOR'S CHOICE BEST VALUE AWARDS www.fujifilm.com www.nikon.co.uk explore.omsystem.com 102 REVIEWS
Or get it from selected supermarkets & newsagents Ordering is easy. Go online at: Every month in Digital Photographer we bring you all of the essential pro advice, top-level techniques and inspirational insight you need to make it as a pro. Don’t miss this exclusive collection of the best DP content! EXPLORE THE BEST OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER ON SALE NOW
Canon EOS R8 Price: £1,699/$1,499 The Canon EOS R8 is a remarkably light and powerful full-frame camera, but has some ergonomic compromises. Gareth Bevan tries it out for size The Canon EOS R8 reminds us just how far Canon has come since launching the original EOS R nearly four years ago – and just how many cameras, for all different types of consumers, the R system now encompasses. The R8, despite being one numerical value below the APS-C-equipped Canon EOS R7, actually sports a full-frame sensor. Canon says that the R8 sits between the Canon EOS RP, its entry-level full-frame camera, and the Canon EOS R6 Mark II for serious enthusiasts and professionals. And the EOS R8 is certainly something of a Frankenstein’s monster out of the two, whether you see it is an upgraded RP or a down-specced R6 Mark II. In Canon’s DSLR ecosystem, the full-frame range doesn’t go any lower than the Canon EOS 6D Mark II. However, Canon is showing a keenness with its mirrorless range to hit every different type of camera at a much wider range of price points. The EOS R8 uses the same 24.2MP sensor as the R6 Mark II, and also offers the same ISO range (which is expandable up to a whopping 102,400). The R8 can autofocus down to -6.5EV. That’s thanks to the same Digic X processor as the R6 II. While 24.2MP might seem a little tame compared with some big numbers coming from other brands (or even smartphones), a 24.2MP full frame The body design is a close replica of the EOS RP, with a similar size and weight sensor will give you superb image quality for almost all common shooting scenarios, while being more manageable to organise and edit. The pictures the EOS R8 produces are excellent. Images are sharp, with a good level of clarity, exhibiting Canon’s popular colour science to provide JPEGs that are ready to share immediately. Or for those wanting a bit more space to play with their images, the RAW photos from this Canon sensor provide a fantastic level of dynamic range and colour to manipulate, I found I could regain a lot of detail in the shadows and highlights. The R8 also shares the latest upgrades to Canon’s autofocus and tracking system, with eye- and head-detection for humans, dogs, cats and birds, as well as tracking for horses and vehicles, including bikes, cars, trains and planes. The autofocus tracking in previous models has been nothing short of spectacular, 104 REVIEWS
DIGIC X PROCESSOR The EOS R8 shares a processing engine with the higher-end EOS R6 Mark II, allowing good dynamic range and a top ISO of 102,400, while keeping image noise to a minimum. FULL-FRAME SENSOR With the EOS R8, Canon fills a gap in its range, bridging the markets for the EOS RP and EOS R6 Mark II. This opens up enthusiast full-frame photography to photographers on a budget. ELECTRONIC SHUTTER Another feature shared with the EOS R6 line is the rolling electronic shutter with up to 40 frames per second, making it one of Canon’s fastest cameras. This is useful for capturing action shots and handheld HDR sequences. VIDEO FEATURES The R8 records up to 4K 60p (6K oversampled) or up to 180fps in FullHD, all using Canon C-Log3 or HDR PQ, and 4:2:2 10-bit recording. MISSING IBIS SYSTEM There is no in-body image stabilisation system in the EOS R8. However, it is the logical choice of a feature to omit and Canon’s lens-based IS system is still capable for everyday shooting. RF-MOUNT The EOS R8 features the standard Canon RF mount, allowing access to the full range of RF lenses and EF optics via an adaptor. FEATURES RF-MOUNT with only a few stumbles on some animals that are more tricky to recognise. In practice, the EOS R8 autofocus is incredibly fast and accurate. Using the full sensor for focusing the R8 consistently picked up the correct subjects automatically without any prompts or input. Human recognition, including faces and eyes, was no issue, with the camera nailing the focus each and every time. When it came to animals, the results were a little more mixed, with the camera finding the shape of animals quite easily, but struggling on occasion to pinpoint their eyes or head, often choosing to focus on another area. Putting it through its paces on a range of more exotic animals at a zoo, the EOS R8 did exceptionally well in recognising a huge range of birds and cat/dog family animals. The autofocus even managed to pick up the eyes on some subjects that aren’t strictly supported, such as monkeys and certain reptiles and amphibians, suggesting this might be the next frontier for Canon’s everexpanding number of recognised subjects. When it comes to sheer speed, this is another thing that the EOS R8 has in common with its bigger sibling. It is able to shoot at 40 frames per second with the electronic shutter, and with the same DigicX processing power, the processing is quick. This is incredible for a camera of this size and price – speeds like that were once reserved for the best sports cameras, such as the Canon EOS 1D-X Mark III. Regarding handling, the body is a close replica of the EOS RP, with a similar size and weight. While the omission of a joystick is unfortunate – with the recent entry-level EOS R10 having a joystick, this feels more like obvious handicapping – Canon’s reduced layout is still incredibly functional. With the Below Fewer slots Disappointingly, there is just a single SD card slot and a poor battery life Left Joy less There’s no joystick, but Canon’s reduced layout is still incredibly functional Opposite Mid-range The R8 sits between the entry-level EOS RP, and the EOS R6 Mark II 105
Top right Clear images The EOS R8’s images are sharp and clear and feature Canon’s colour science technology Left Swords drawn The Canon sensor offers great dynamic range and colour detail in both shadows and highlights Above Train tracking Canon’s autofocus system can also track vehicles, including bikes, cars, trains and planes touchscreen controls and the latest autofocus system in the EOS R cameras being near flawless, this is easily worked around. Where this camera really falls down is with its single SD card slot – some similarly priced cameras from other brands include a second slot. The R8 is also heavily compromised by Canon’s battery choice. The smaller and less powerful LP-E17 battery saves space, but battery life is disappointing, rated at just 220 shots using the viewfinder. If you like the features of the EOS R6 Mark II, but your budget cannot stretch that far, then this is the camera to consider. There are compromises, but for online content creators, the R8 pretty much ticks all the boxes. TALKING POINT… Understand the range The EOS R series of cameras has naturally been compared and contrasted with Canon’s line of DSLRs from the start, but the two ranges don’t perfectly align. The EOS 6D Mark II was the lowest-end full-frame DSLR Canon provided, whereas the EOS RP and now the EOS R8 seem to straddle this equivalent position. In many ways, the R8 is an updated RP but Canon is choosing to keep the older camera in the range, offering some higher-end features in the EOS R8. The RP shoots at a maximum of 4fps, while 40fps is available in the R8, for example. The R8 also features more diverse video options (the RP offers just 4K in 25p) a higher-resolution screen (1.62m dots over 1.04 million) and a more advanced AF system. This mirrors rival Sony’s strategy of replacing an older camera and re-purposing it as a lower-end entry point to the range at a more affordable price. The EOS RP currently retails for £1,049/$999, the EOS R8 for £1,699/$1,499 and EOS R6 Mark II for £2,779/$2,499, making the R8 the camera for enthusiasts with slightly bigger budgets. KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST CAMERA RELEASES AT: @DPhotographer facebook.com/DigitalPhotographerUK 106 REVIEWS
FEATURES With a wide range of tools, the R8 will keep both stills and video shooters happy across many genres BUILD QUALITY There’s no weathersealing but the build is what you would expect at this price QUALITY OF RESULTS Images and video are fantastic, offering prograde quality for an entry-level budget HANDLING The lack of joystick and SD slot placement are both unfortunate VALUE FOR MONEY If you can spend a little more, the R8 is a more up-to-date option than the older EOS RP model Megapixels 24.2MP Max resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels Sensor information Full-frame CMOS (35.9 x 23.9mm) Shutter speed 30 – 1/16,000sec (electronic) ISO sensitivity 100-102,400 (native) , 50-204,800 (expanded) Exposure modes P, A, S, M, Bulb, C1/2, Auto+, Scene Metering options Evaluative, Spot, Partial, Centre-weighted Flash modes ETTL II Manual, Stroboscopic, Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI (Type D), Remote, Mic, Headphone Batteries Rechargeable Li-ion (LP-E17) Storage 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II LCD 3-inch 1.62 million dot Clear View LCD II vari-angle touchscreen Viewfinder 0.39 inch OLED colour EVF (2.36 million dots) Weight 414g approx (body only) Dimensions 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0 mm Canon EOS R8 Overall RP SIMILARITIES The body is almost identical to the EOS RP but with some size and weight advantages CONTROL LAYOUT It’s a shame the joystick has gone missing, but the touchscreen helps mitigate the loss REAR LCD Compared with the EOS RP, this screen has a higher resolution of 1.62m dots MEMORY CARD PLACEMENT Frustratingly, the single SD card slot is located in the battery compartment 1 3 2 4 Whatever your photographic medium, the EOS R8 can shoot it. It doesn’t scrimp on the technology, but has some ergonomic compromises The sheer speed of the Canon EOS R8 is another thing that it has in common with its bigger sibling, the EOS R6 Mark II 1 3 4 © Jon Devo x4 2 100% x5 © Gareth Bevan 107 CANON EOS R8
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M2 Max (2023) All hail the newly-crowned king of 16-inch laptops. Gareth Bevan takes the latest MacBook for a test drive Larger laptops, with their increased screen size, often make the best photo-editing and video-editing laptops. For the past few years, Apple’s top entry in this category has been the MacBook Pro 16 and now it’s back, having had a refresh with an all-new and all-powerful chip. Apple has designed what it calls the most powerful chip yet in its just over two-year-old endeavours into making its own in-house processors and, on paper, the M2 Max is a beast. Able to be configured up to an absolutely monstrous 38-core GPU, 96GB of unified memory and 400GB/s memory bandwidth, Apple claims that the new 16-inch M2 Max can be up to 2.5x faster in photo editing in Adobe Photoshop and 6.5x faster in video editing in Final Cut Pro than the previous Intel i9 model with a Radeon Pro 5600M graphics card from AMD. We ran a series of benchmarking tests on the new MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max. It has slight gains on the M2 Pro in the CPU tasks, which will offer slightly faster speeds over the cheaper chip on normal processing tasks, although you can see huge gains when it comes to graphical processing power. We performed our usual content creator tests, exporting a batch of 200 edited RAW files to JPEG in Adobe Lightroom, exporting a ten-minute 4K video in Apple ProRes using iMovie, and opening ten RAW files at once in Price: £3,499-£3,749/$3,299-$3,499 Website: www.apple.com Adobe Photoshop. The M2 Max performed all of these with unbelievable ease. On my Intel i7 MacBook, exporting photos or videos usually dominates the processing power so much that you can do nothing else except walk away until it is finished. However, on the MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max, I could carry on working as if it wasn’t even exporting files. When using the M2 Max, you can feel its power. After using Intel-powered MacBook Pros as my daily driver for the past few years, it was immediately noticeable how fast these new chips are. Performing simple tasks, such as opening Safari or Pages, which would usually take a few seconds, are almost instantaneous on the M2 Max. 108 REVIEWS
The speakers on the MacBook Pro 16 blew me away, they are the best speakers I have heard on a laptop. The webcam is also a huge improvement over the terrible webcams that Apple continues to put in its 13-inch MacBook Pro, with a sharp, clear and well-lit picture that no longer smudges and smooths all my features in Meet calls. I had no complaints about the audio quality from anyone I spoke to on a call, but on the other hand, it came across no better than anyone else’s device. Apple overhauled the look of its top-end MacBook Pros last year and it has stuck with those design principles. Although the design still looks and feels nice, it is noticeably bulkier when placed next to the older 16-inch model. The return of the ports on MacBook Pros might be just as important as the new all-powerful processors. The MacBook Pro 16 still sports three Thunderbolt 4-capable USB-C slots, while the addition of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a huge boon for audiophiles and audio editors, who connect headphones via a dedicated wire. Most exciting for content creators, and in one of Apple’s smartest moves, the MacBook Pro 16 welcomes back the full-sized SD card slot, which will free a lot of camera users from their dongle nightmares. The touch bar has been banished (hopefully, forever) with the standard function keys of MacBooks past returning to the top row, which seems like a much better solution. The fingerprint reader and power button combo have remained, which has proved to be a fast and easy method to sign in. The MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max is an absolute monster of a laptop – it will tear through anything you can throw at it and still be ready for more. Unfortunately, it also comes with a similarly monstrous price, with the M2 Pro Max starting at £3,499/$3,299 for the 30-core GPU version and £3,749/$3,499 for the maxed-out 38-core GPU. As good as the M2 Max is, it really is difficult to recommend spending those kinds of figures. What the M2 Max gives you in terms of raw power for content creation is amazing, but I am reluctant to say that it’s a worthy upgrade over what can be achieved with Apple’s M2 or M2 Pro chip. Both of these can save you a lot of money and therefore offer better value. Summary Ease of use Value for money Features Quality of results The MacBook Pro 16 is a fantastic laptop with a lot going for it, from the beautiful colour-accurate screen, booming speakers, sharp webcams, and excellent keyboard and trackpad. It’s just too expensive for most. Overall Design quirks and practicality Apple’s design philosophy brings both pros and cons The notch at the top of the screen on recent MacBooks has proved pretty divisive, but it is still around. Other manufacturers, including Dell with its XPS 13 range of laptops, have demonstrated that a webcam can be squeezed into the tiniest of bezels, so it really does feel like this MacBook Pro has a notch simply because it is an Apple design ‘thing’. Meanwhile, although USB-C ports are featured, one has been replaced with a MagSafe magnetic connector for charging. This makes sense to me as a heavy editor, I spend so much of my time with my MacBook connected to power that I always had a dedicated USB-C port for charging anyway. At a pinch, you can still charge the latest MacBooks with any USB-C charger, with varying results based on its power. x4 © Gareth Bevan Opposite Rapid editing The M2 Max could allow up to 2.5x faster photo editing in Photoshop Above Port returns The return of some ports, including the SD card, is particularly useful Below Bulk buy The M2 Max is bulkier than the older model, but has a bigger price too 109
Build and handling Long gone are the days when a 500mm lens weighed enough to sink a cruise ship. While superzooms have been around for some time, they have really found their place in the mirrorless era. This Canon RF mount lens is still on the large side but can easily be held with one arm and, in its retracted state, fits into most backpacks. The controls are a breeze to operate, especially with the zoom ring being wide and easy to grip. We also appreciated the Smooth-Tight ring switch, which allows the user to customise zoom rotation. The overall construction is excellent and it feels like a serious piece of pro kit. Performance Being an L-Series zoom, the quality doesn’t disappoint and the resolution is excellent, even when viewing images at 100 percent magnification. This is maintained throughout the aperture range, but is at its highest around f/11 in our images, with a notable fall-off at f/22. Image stabilisation is fantastic and we could shoot handheld images at exposures equivalent to half the focal length with detail unaffected, though results will vary on a nonIS equipped camera body such as the EOS R. Verdict The RF100-500mm is a hugely likeable optic. It offers tremendous range and image quality, with fast AF, great IS and a good build. There is some much cheaper competition, albeit for the EF mount, such as the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C but this is also heavier. If you are an RF devotee and shoot sports or wildlife, this Canon should be on your wishlist. Peter Fenech asks if this mirrorless supertelephoto zoom is worth the price Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Overall Left Long and close For a telephoto zoom, this optic can also focus quite closely, allowing frame-filling shots of smaller subjects, such as these snowdrops Below left From a distance The long zoom range allows shots of wildlife to be captured from afar, while the aperture is still wide enough to blur backgrounds nicely Technical specs Manufacturer Canon Model RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Web www.canon.co.uk Elements/construction 20 elements in 14 groups Angle of view (Horizontal) 20° - 4° Max aperture F/4.5 Min aperture F/32 Min focus distance 0.90m Mount Canon RF Filter size 77mm Length 208mm Diameter 94mm Weight 1,365g FEATURES IMAGE QUALITY VALUE FOR MONEY BUILD QUALITY Image sharpness Excellent IS system Rapid autofocus Build quality Images by Peter Fenech Comparatively expensive PRICE: £2,979/$2,899 FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.90m WEIGHT: 1,365g https://bit.ly/3TvyuL0 DOWNLOAD TEST SHOTS 110 REVIEWS
Build and handling Sony has introduced the new FE 50mm f/1.4 as a replacement for the ageing Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA, which is known for its clinical sharpness, bokeh capabilities and solid, high-quality build. The FE 50mm f/1.4 is a significant improvement in both size and weight over its predecessor – at just 516g, it is a third lighter. The lens is made of a hybrid of metal and plastic, a great design that is both compact and manageable. The focus ring is large and has a nice grippy texture. The aperture ring also has the option to turn clicking on or off with a separate switch, which is especially useful for videographers. Performance The autofocus on this lens is exceptional and, when paired with the Sony A7R V, was both instantaneous and completely silent. The image quality is spectacular too – the sharpness in the centre of the image is perfect, and this was using all 61MP of the A7R V’s sensor. Sharpness falls off slightly towards the edges of the photo but not severely enough for this to be an issue. The detail captured in faces especially was really good, although not overly clinical, which is key for portrait work. Bokeh and fall-off are both beautiful for a smooth creamy background. The biggest issue was vignetting, which was quite significant when the lens was wide open. Verdict The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM is an exceptional lens for anyone who enjoys the 50mm perspective but doesn’t want the added size or weight. The downside is that it’s expensive. Can this lens match up to its Zeiss predecessor? Gareth Bevan finds out Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Overall Below left Prime example In keeping with many professional fixed focal length lenses, the FE 50mm f/1.4 GM offers superior clarity and colour fidelity, with minimal distortion and fringing Left Beautiful blur The wide f/1.4 maximum aperture allows tight control over the depth-of-field, with attractive background blur. However, strong vignetting is visible Technical specs Manufacturer Sony Model FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Web www.sony.co.uk Elements/construction 14 elements in 11 groups Angle of view 46.8° Max aperture f/1.4 Min aperture f/16 Min focus distance 0.38m Mounts Sony FE Filter size 67mm Length 96mm Diameter 80.6mm Weight 516g FEATURES IMAGE QUALITY VALUE FOR MONEY BUILD QUALITY Sharpness Autofocus speed/noise Handling Significant vignetting Images by Gareth Bevan Pricey RRP PRICE: £1,499/$1,298 FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.38m WEIGHT: 516g 111 LENSES
A collection of ten fun yet functional products out there for photographers ACCESS RIES If you’re looking for affordable portable storage and don’t need the fastest data transfer speeds available, the Toshiba Canvio Slim could be a good choice. It’s available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, with the 2TB version costing just £76/$90. Unusually these days, it uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 technology and comes with a cable that connects to a USB-Type port and enables transfer speeds of up to 625MB/s. It is pre-formatted for Windows machines but can also be formatted for Macs. The latest version of ON1 Photo RAW 2023.1 builds on the previous version of the editing software with new functionality for the Healing Brush, including better transformations and the ability to move objects. There are six new Crop overlays and a new AI model for Sky Swap Ai for images with buildings or where the sky and foreground are similar colours. Left TOSHIBA CANVIO SLIM Website:www.toshiba-storage.com Price: From £60/$72 Like the SanDisk Professional Pro-Blade Transport, the SanDisk Professional Pro-Blade Station is an enclosure that accepts interchangeable Pro-Blade SSD Mags, available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities. It has four slots, enabling up to 16TB capacity at any time and features read speeds of up to 3,000MB/s and write speeds up to 2,600MB/s. Above SANDISK PROFESSIONAL PRO-BLADE STATION Website:www.westerndigital.com Price: £595/$450 (enclosure only) Left ON1 PHOTO RAW 2023 Website:www.on1.com Price: £103/$123 This Vanguard smartphone holder has an Arca Swiss-type base that can be mounted on compatible tripod head clamps or rested on a tabletop. The screw-tight phone holder is capable of holding smartphones of up to 90mm in width in either portrait or landscape orientation. Meanwhile, the cold shoe on the top is useful for mounting a light or an external microphone. This hand strap was inspired by high-end climbing equipment. It mounts via a plate that’s compatible with Peak Design’s tripod and Capture Clip, and the camera’s strap lug – with or without the supplied triangular split ring. The strap can be loosened for easy shooting or tightened quickly for extra security between shots. Left PEAK DESIGN CLUTCH Website:www.peakdesign.com Price: £37/$45 Above VANGUARD VEO SPH UNIVERSAL SMARTPHONE HOLDER Website:www.vanguardworld.com Price: £70/$80 112 REVIEWS
The latest AI-powered version of Anthropics Technology’s PortraitPro enables photographers to edit their portrait images faster than before. As well as featuring a new Stray Hair Removal Tool, Art Effects and a Backlighting Brush, it now supports M1/M2 Mac computers. Above ANTHROPICS TECHNOLOGY PORTRAITPRO 23 Website:www.anthropics.com Price: £100/$119 Above ROTOLIGHT AEOS 2 SMARTSOFT BOX Website:www.rotolight.com Price: £449/$500 Lensbaby’s Double Glass II is part of the company’s optic swap system and is used in housing such as the Composer Pro II or Spark 2.0 (it can be bought alone or in a kit with the Composer Pro II for £399/$370). It improves on the original Double Glass optic with an all-metal construction and a 12-blade adjustable internal aperture that can be used with drop-in magnetic aperture disks to create attractive bokeh effects. Left LENSBABY DOUBLE GLASS II Website:www.lensbaby.com Price: £219/$200 This kit can either be mounted on a camera via the hot shoe or used remotely to shine light onto macro subjects that are close to the lens. The bendy arms allow the flash units to be positioned where they are needed and extra lights can be added if required. Above ADAPTALUX XENON FLASH MACRO LIGHTING STARTER PACK Website:www.adaptalux.com Price: From £480/$495 This soft box uses electronic diffusion that can be adjusted using the controls on the Aeos 2 LED light or Rotolight’s app rather than on the diffuser itself, which means you can keep all the lighting controls together. It fits over the body of the Aeos 2 instead of a standard diffuser and draws its power via a cable connection. Rode’s excellent NTH-100 headphones are perfect for monitoring audio recording and are now available as part of the NTH-100M kit, which includes the NTH-Mic. The mic can plug into either side of the headphones depending upon which socket is the camera connection. The NTH-Mic can also be purchased separately (£63/$59) and, along with the NTH-100, is ideal for video calls. Left RODE NTH-100M Website:www.rode.com Price: £215/$189 113 ACCESSORIES
M odernisation, such as the building of roads to formerly inaccessible areas, is influencing tribal dress and customs – and not in a good way. I set out to highlight the diversity of these tribes, in the hope that raising awareness may help to protect their cultures. My trips took me off the beaten track to small villages in Kenya, Angola, Ethiopia, South Sudan and India, camping in remote regions and travelling along barely used tracks or dry river beds to visit the tribes. I initiated each visit without my camera, so I could get to know my subjects first and once the connection was made, it was easier to introduce the camera. I travelled with an interpreter, although for portrait work, it was easier to make a personal connection without this added distraction. Without a common language, portraiture was often challenging. However, I found such interactions to be rewarding, often emotionally moving. Showing the subjects their image on the back of the camera invariably created a positive reaction. I love using my Nikon mirrorless kit (Z6 and Z7ii). With tribal dancing or ceremonies, I use 24mm or wider, which allows me to keep the horizon low, get close to the action and let the subject dominate the frame. Environmental portraits also benefit from getting close and keeping the horizon low. However, for fine-art portraits, I use my go-to 70-200mm lens at the long end, stopped down to f/4.0, shooting early morning or late in the day, with low sun. I position my subject with the background far enough away to create pleasing bokeh. If I’m shooting with the harsh overhead sun, I look for a shaded area. There were many firsts on my Ethiopian trip: the first time I danced with a man waving a Kalashnikov, the first time I had to sprint, carrying heavy kit, in front of a group of 50 hyped-up naked men thrashing foliage in their path and a first time sitting inside a village hut sipping salty coffee made from bean husks. With my images, I want to share the emotional connection I had with these people, their beauty and dignity, their hospitality and friendliness. I feel privileged to have spent time getting to know them all, and my enduring impression is how cheerful they are. Tribal Colour: Vanishing Cultures exhibition is at the People’s Gallery at The Forum in © Terry Mendoza Southend in May and the Leigh Art Trail in July. CULTURAL APPRECIATION Terry Mendoza is on a mission to record tribal traditions before they disappear PRO BIO Terry Mendoza discovered his passion for portrait photography when shooting his wife’s vintage clothing business. He recently launched Terry’s Headshots, specialising in actor and commercial headshots. retrophotostudio.co.uk terrysheadshots.co.uk 114 PRO COLUMN
Learn these or throw out your gear! HIDDEN CAMERA FEATURES PRO SECRETS The digital photography magazine for enthusiasts and pros Issue 265 Digital Photographer Practical advice for enthusiasts and pros www.digitalcameraworld.com www.digitalcameraworld.com Issue 265 NEW SKILLS FOR AMAZING EARN BIG Key skills for extra income SELL YOUR WORK Great value smaller-sensor cameras reviewed AFFORDABLE MIRRORLESS Bespoke lens control NEW CANON Full frame for less EOS R8 REVIEWED CREATIVE SKILLS Astrophotography tips SURREAL NIGHT LANDSCAPES Shutter position Composition tips Find subjects Best gear Creative exposures COASTAL MASTERPIECES SHARP SHOOTING TECHNIQUES TRAVEL PHOTO STORIES CANON RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM ISSUE 265 UK £5.90 US $14.99 CAN $14.99 DISPLAY UNTIL 06/13/23 PRINTED IN THE UK 9000 9021