Table of contents for Computer Shopper Special 15 in Camera Shopper Special

I’M always being asked, “Which is the best camera?” And while it’s tempting to reply, “The one you have with you,” the answer I usually come back with is: “It depends what you want to photograph, how much you want to spend, and how much you know about photography.” With a pixel count of 100 million on its mediumformat sensor, for example, Hasselblad’s H6D-100 is a phenomenal camera, but it weighs over 5lbs and sells for more than £27,000/$32,000 – without a lens! And while its autofocus system is good for such a monster, it’s not the camera that pros will be taking to the Olympics this summer. It really is a case of horses for courses. If you’re a beginner, you are better off with a camera that has…

LET’S have some fun! We’ve rounded up a bunch of cameras that are stylish, easy to use and reasonably priced. There’s a mix of digital SLRs and CSCs (compact system cameras), each of which weigh in at under £600/$800, complete with a kit zoom lens. Some of them cost considerably less. Whether you’re buying a camera as a present for someone who’s new to photography or are just treating yourself, there are some little treasures to choose from. Even if you already own an expensive outfit, there’s a lot to be said for having one you can take anywhere without feeling too precious about it or that act as a second body to save swapping lenses at an event. THE CONTENDERS 1 Canon EOS 100D with 18-55mm IS STM lens…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 18MP APS-C (22.3x14.9mm) CMOS sensor Focal Length conversion 1.6x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Optical viewfinder, 95% coverage, 0.8x magnification Video resolution Full HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) at 30, 25 or 24fps ISO range ISO 200-6,400 (expandable to 12,800) Autofocus points 9 Max burst rate 3fps LCD Screen size 3-inch; 460,000 dots Shutter speeds 1/4,000-30 sec Weight 480g (inc battery and memory card) Dimensions 129.6x99.7x77.9mm Power supply BLS-5 Li-Ion battery The 1200D is less a major overhaul of its predecessor than a gentle upgrade THE new Canon EOS 1200D replaces the 12-million-pixel EOS 1100D, which is now three years old, and sits just below the ultra-small 100D as the first camera in Canon’s line-up. The 1200D is less a major overhaul of its predecessor than a gentle upgrade. In terms of…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor APS-C format 20.2MP CMOS Focal Length conversion 1.6x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC and CF Viewfinder Pentaprism with 100% coverage Video resolution 1,920 x 1,080 pixels ISO range 100-16,000 (expandable to ISO 51,200) Autofocus points 65 Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000 sec plus Bulb LCD Screen size 3-inch 1,040k-dot LCD Weight 820g (body only) Dimensions 148.8 x 112.4 x 78.2mm Power supply Rechargeable Li-ion LP-E6N battery (supplied) “The images and video the 7D Mark II produces look great straight from the camera” AS you might guess from its name, the new Canon EOS 7D Mark II replaces the Canon 7D. It therefore assumes its place above the APS-C format Canon 70D and below the full-frame Canon 5D Mark III in the Canon SLR line-up. Inside is a new 20.2-million-effective-pixel sensor with redesigned microlenses…

AN ultra-high-resolution camera has always been a notable absence from the Canon stable. Indeed, while many were lamenting the relatively low pixel count of the 22.3MP 5D Mark III, Nikon was forging ahead with the 36.3MP D800 and D800E. Both Nikon cameras have now been superseded by the D810, which retains the same 36.3MP pixel count, but omits an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) to optimise image sharpness. Canon has finally struck back with the 50.6MP 5DS and 5DS R, the latter of which has anti-alias cancellation. Both Canon cameras have a megapixel count that’s almost 40 per cent higher than the Nikon D810, enabling 300ppi prints that measure 73.6x49.1cm rather than the Nikon’s 62.3x41.6cm. However, as with so many other things in life, size isn’t everything, and a larger number…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.3 million effective pixels APS-C format X-Trans CMOS II Focal length conversion 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder 0.39-inch 2,360k-dot OLED Max video resolution Full HD (1,920x 1,080) at up to 60p ISO range 200-6,400, expandable to ISO 100-51,200 for JPEGs Autofocus points 15–77 depending upon mode Max Burst rate 8fps Screen Tilting three-inch LCD with 920,000 dots Shutter speeds 30–1/4,000 sec with mechanical shutter, plus Bulb; or 1–1/32,000 sec with electronic shutter Weight 331g (body only) Dimensions 118x83x41mm Power supply NP-W126 lithium-ion battery (supplied) Fujifilm hasn’t compromised with the X-T10’s hybrid autofocus system – it’s the updated version of the X-T1’s system Because of its solid build, retro styling, traditional controls and excellent image quality, the Fujifilm X-T1 is one of my favourite cameras. It’s also proved very popular…

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

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

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16 million effective pixels Four Thirds type (17.3x13mm) Live MOS Focal length conversion 2x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder 2,360k-dot OLED Max video resolution 4K (3,840x2,160) at 30p 100Mbps ISO range 200-25,600, expandable to ISO 100-25,600 Autofocus points 49 Max Burst rate 8fps in S-AF at full resolution Screen Vari-angle touch-sensitive three-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots Shutter speeds 30-1/4,000 sec with mechanical shutter, plus bulb or 1–1/32,000 with electronic shutter Weight 520g (body only) Dimensions 125x86x77mm Power supply Lithium-ion battery (supplied) The Panasonic G7 produces high-quality 16MP images, and offers a really wellrounded feature set Replacing the Panasonic G6, the G7 sits beneath the Panasonic GH4 in the company’s line-up of compact system cameras. It has the same 16MP sensor as the GX7, with the processor from the GH4. A…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.3 million pixel, APS-C (23.5 x 15.6mm) CMOS Focal length conversion 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Pentaprism 100% optical viewfinder, 0.95x magnification Max video resolution Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) ISO range 100-51,200 Autofocus points 27 points (25 cross type in sensor) Max burst rate 8.3fps Screen 3.2 inch TFT colour LCD with AR coating Shutter speeds 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb Weight 785g (including battery and SD card) Dimensions 103 x 132 x 78mm Power supply D-L190 rechargeable lithium-ion battery (supplied) Pixel Shift Resolution mode is designed to overcome the limitations of normal sensor technology Designed to steal the thunder of market leaders Canon and Nikon, the K-3 II is Pentax’s latest top-of-the-line digital SLR. It competes most closely with mid-range or enthusiast cameras such as the Nikon…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor Full-frame (23.8 x 35.9mm) Exmor CMOS sensor with 12.2 million effective pixels Crop factor 1x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Viewfinder 0.5-inch EVF with 2,359,296 dots Max video resolution 4K (3,840 x 2,160), 30fps ISO range 100-102,400; expandable to 50-409,600 Autofocus points 169 Max burst rate 5fps (AF locked at start) 2.5fps with AF Screen Tilting 3-inch 1,228,800-dot LCD Shutter speeds 60-1/8,000 sec plus Bulb Weight 584g (body only) Dimensions 127 x 96 x 60mm Power supply Lithium-ion NP-FW50 One significant A7 first scored by the A7S II is the ability to record Full-HD footage at up to 120 frames per second ALTHOUGH the new Alpha 7S II nominally has the same 12.2MP full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor and processing engine as the original A7S, there have been changes for this…

COMPLETE studio flash kits with two heads, lighting stands and accessories can cost less than the price of a decent flashgun. They are easy to use: at the most basic level, you simply turn the power setting up or down to adjust the intensity of the flash. All the kits on test here have pretty much everything you need to get going. The only thing you might need to buy as an essential extra, if your camera doesn’t have a sync terminal, is a hotshoe adaptor so you can plug in the sync cable that runs to the primary flash head. Alternatively, some of the latest flash kits come complete with wireless triggering systems, including a transmitter that simply slots into your camera’s hotshoe. THE CONTENDERS 1 Bowens Gemini 400RX…

NIKON’S pro-grade 24-70mm standard zoom has been replaced by a new model. It’s certainly bigger and heavier, looking and feeling more like a telephoto zoom. An improved feature set includes the addition of an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm, which gives more consistent control in continuous drive mode, plus four-stop VR (Vibration Reduction), which was absent in the older lens. The new model also claims to be faster than its predecessor, at least when it comes to autofocus – and, of course, it’s more expensive. Build & handling Build quality is everything you’d expect from a top-flight Nikon lens that’s designed to withstand the rigours of hard daily use. Along with weather-seals, the front and rear elements have fluorine coatings to repel dirt and moisture, while aiding easy cleaning. There’s an aspherical…

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

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

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 24.2MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9mm) CMOS sensor Focal Length conversion 1.6x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Optical viewfinder, 95% coverage, 0.82x magnification Video resolution Full HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) at 30, 25 or 24fps ISO range ISO 100-12,800 (expandable to 25,600) Autofocus points 19 Max burst rate 5fps LCD Screen size 3-inch; 1,040,000 dots Shutter speeds 1/4,000-30 sec, Bulb Weight 565g (inc battery and memory card) Dimensions 131.9 x 100.9 x 77.8mm Power supply LP-E17 Li-ion battery (supplied with camera) The new metering system in the cameras produces good results even in very tricky conditions WITH three cameras in its entry-level range Canon already had plenty to interest novices and enthusiast photographers on a budget. Now the company has replaced the 700D with two models, the EOS 760D and 750D, rather…

SHOULD you ‘stick’ with tradition and settle on the somewhat antiquated design of an SLR, or ‘twist’ with a more revolutionary mirrorless compact system camera? There are highly attractive ‘all-rounders’ in both camps: cameras that don’t go overboard on megapixel count, yet aim to take everything from portraiture to landscape photography in their stride. Two of our current favourites are the Canon 5D Mk III SLR, and the mirrorless Sony A7 II from Sony’s ‘ILC’ (interchangeable-lens camera) stable. A major factor in choosing any ‘system’ camera is the depth and breadth of the system itself. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to lenses and other accessories for the long-established line of Canon SLRs. Sony’s mirrorless cameras are a much newer proposition, especially when it comes to full-frame models, but…

www.canon.co.uk Canon Remote Switch RS-80N3 £39/$42 Canon’s remote feels much like cheaper rivals, but its shutter lock mechanism is marginally more precise. An 80cm cable length is nothing special, suggesting the extra cash is going on the branding. http://uk.hama.com Hama DCC Base Cable Remote Release £15 This remote is almost identical to Hähnel’s offering, but the cord is tiny and doesn’t plug into your camera. Instead you choose an additional cable to suit your camera model, adding versatility, but also £10 to the price. www.fujifilm.eu/uk Fuji Remote Release RR-90 £36/$40 Apart from cost, all our remotes are closely matched, although Fujifilm’s version has an especially accurate – if loud – shutter button. It lines up with the Canon as average yet overpriced. www.nikon.co.uk Nikon MC-DC2 Remote Control £25/$27 This is…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 36.3MP full-frame format (35.9 x 24mm) Focal Length conversion 1x Memory CF and SD / SDHC / SDXC Viewfinder Optical pentaprism (approx 100% cover) Video resolution Full HD (1080p) at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p ISO range 64 to 12,800, expandable to ISO 32-51,200 equivalent Autofocus points 51 phase detection points (15 cross-type); contrast detection in Live View and video modes Max Burst Rate 5fps at full resolution Shutter speeds 1/8000 to 30 sec plus Bulb and Time LCD Screen size 3.2-inch, 1,229,000-dot TFT Weight 880g (body only) Dimensions 146 x 123 x 81.5mm Power supply EN-EL15 rechargeable lithium-ion battery “The changes to the grips make the D810 feel a fraction more comfortable and secure” THE Nikon D810 has a lot to live up to. It replaces…

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

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 20.3-million-effective-pixel Four Thirds type (17.3 x 13mm) CMOS Focal length conversion 2x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder 2,360,000-dot OLED Max video resolution 4K (3,840 x 2,160) ISO range 200-25,600; expandable to 200-25,600 Autofocus points 49 areas Max burst rate 8fps in S-AF at full resolution Screen Vari-angle touch-sensitive 3-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots Shutter speeds 60-1/8,000 sec with mechanical shutter; 1-1/16,000 with electronic shutter, plus Bulb Weight 435g (body only) Dimensions 133 x 78 x 62mm Power supply Lithium-ion battery (supplied) Panasonic claims the Four thirds sensor enables the GX8 to produce the highest image quality of any G-series camera Panasonic hopes the new Lumix GX8 will be as popular as its GX7 was – and it makes a good start by featuring the company’s first Four Thirds type sensor…

www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk Gloxy Power Blade £145 GREAT for light painting or portraiture, the Power Blade emits a strong yet soft glow at a decent price. Power comes from a removable rechargeable battery, and you even get a remote control. www.maglite.com Mini Maglite LED Pro £28/$37 MAGLITE’s iconic style and top quality impresses, but this model trails the LED Lenser for light output and beam distance. There’s also considerable fall-off and no power control, although the beam can be focused. www.ledlenser.com LED Lenser P7.2 £35/$56 TORCHES are ideal for long-exposure light painting, and this one is a real beauty. Build quality is flawless, as is the even spread of light that’s easily focused and features a low-power setting. www.theicelight.com Westcott Ice Light 2 £449/$500 THE no-compromise Ice Light is now 50% brighter,…

THE famed landscape photographer Ansel Adams once said: “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print the performance.” Nowadays, the digital darkroom is where the magic happens, whether you’re creating photo prints on paper or enhancing digital images for on-screen viewing. Traditionally, digital photographers tended to rely on multiple software programs. You might use Canon’s Digital Photo Professional or Nikon’s ViewNX to process your raw files and convert them to JPEGs. Another image-editing program, like Photoshop, would then take over, with a bigger toolset for adding drama to landscapes, beautifying portraits and making pictures look their best. Separate cataloguing software to keep photo collections organised was also needed. What we’re seeing now is a convergence of technologies. Many programs have built-in raw converters and wideranging editing…

THE prime lenses we’ve chosen for this group test are all capable of delivering a full 1.0x or 1:1 reproduction ratio at their closest focus settings. This means that small objects are projected at full life size onto the camera’s image sensor, which enables enormous enlargement when images are printed. Focal lengths of around 90mm to 105mm are historically popular for 35mm film and full-frame SLRs. Those with crop-sensor cameras also often stick with this focal length, as it enables a comfortable macro working distance of about 30cm. The 60mm macro lenses on test have a shorter minimum focus distance of around 20cm. Either way, it’s good that all lenses here have fully internal focusing, so the front element doesn’t extend and encroach on the subject. THE CONTENDERS 1 Canon…

WHEN image quality is paramount, a fast, constant-aperture telephoto zoom is preferable to a budget 70-300mm. The own-brand f/2.8 models from the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony are designed and built as strong workhorses, with prices to match. Then there are independents from Sigma and Tamron that take the fight to the big boys, while offering considerable cost-savings. A big attraction of 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses is that you can fit a 2x teleconverter on them for 400mm super-telephoto reach, still with a reasonably fast f/5.6 aperture. This maintains full autofocus facilities with all AF points, on any camera. However, we’ve also included 70-200mm f/4 lenses from Canon and Nikon in the test group, which offer a relatively compact and lightweight build. THE CONTENDERS 1 Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS…

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

www.delkin.com Delkin SD Memory Tote £8/$10 THE Delkin’s hard outer shell gives great protection to eight SD cards stored in easily accessible individual slots. These could do with being slightly tighter, though, as cards can work loose. www.lenscoat.com LensCoat Memory Wallet Combo 66 £18/$20 DON’T fancy a bulky hard case? This wallet design is easily pocketable, yet you can stash six CF cards and another six SD cards. The only downside is the time needed to roll it closed. www.hama.com Hama Outdoor Memory Card Case £13 IT’S tough and compact, but Hama’s strange internal design means cards are stored on one side behind an awkward panel. There’s room for five SD cards, but they don’t get individual slots. www.lowepro.co.uk Lowepro Compact Media Case 20 £14/$20 THIS is the largest case…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 20.2 million pixel APS-C CMOS sensor (22.5mm x 15.00mm) Focal Length conversion 1.6x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Optical pentaprism, 98% overage, 0.95x magnification Video resolution Full HD (1920 x 1080) ISO range ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600) Autofocus points 19 Max burst rate 7fps LCD Screen size 3 inch, 1040k dots, touchscreen Weight 755g Dimensions 139.0 x 104.3 x 78.5mm Power supply LP-E6 Li-ion battery “The touchscreen is particularly useful for setting the AF point quickly in Live View” CANON’S doubledigit SLR line is aimed squarely at enthusiast photographers, providing a good breadth of features along with a healthy array of control buttons and dials. And while the 70D might have recently been replaced by the 80D, it still has plenty to offer, making a significant upgrade on the…

Building on the success of Epson’s Stylus Pro 3880 A2 printer, the SC-P800 uses a new generation of UltraChrome HD inks, giving richer blacks, a wider dynamic range and a reduction in bronzing (apparent colour inaccuracies due to differences in glossiness between ink colours). Other new features include Wi-Fi, mobile and cloud printing services and a full-colour touchscreen. Build & handling The new model is compatible with a roll feeder, but you have to buy it separately for around £195/ $200. It’s great for maintaining your preferred aspect ratios in largeformat prints. As featured in the smaller SC-P600 A3+ printer, nine pigment-based inks include cyan, light cyan, vivid magenta, light vivid magenta, yellow, photo black, light black, light light black and matte black. However, the SC-P800 uses larger-capacity cartridges containing…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.3MP APS-C CMOS Focal length conversion 1.5x Memory SD / SDHC / SDXC Viewfinder N/A Video 1,920 x 1,080 at 30p up to 14min ISO range ISO 200–6,400, expandable to ISO 100–25,600 for JPEGs Autofocus points 49 Max burst rate 5.6fps Screen Tilting three-inch, 920,000-dot TFT LCD Shutter speeds 1/4,000–30 sec plus Bulb to 60 min Weight 300g (body only) Dimensions 117 x 67 x 40mm Power supply NP-W126 rechargeable lithium ion battery (supplied) The X-A2 has a solidfeeling metal body, plus the understated design of other X-series cameras THE X-A2 replaces the X-A1 as Fujifilm’s most affordable compact system camera. It differs from other X-series CSCs in that it has a standard (and therefore lower-priced) APS-C format CMOS sensor. Features Many of the features of the X-A2…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.3 million pixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor (23.6x15.6 mm) Crop factor 1.5x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder 0.5 inch, 2,360k-dot OLED colour viewfinder, 100% coverage, 0.77x magnification Video resolution Full HD (1,920x1,080) ISO range ISO 200-6,400 (100-51,200 expandable) Autofocus points 49 Max burst rate 8fps Screen 3 inch, 1,040k-dot tilting LCD Shutter speeds 1/4,000-30 seconds Weight 440g (inc battery and memory card) Dimensions 129x89.8x46.7mm Power supply NP-W126 Li-Ion battery The X-T1 has the traditional exposure controls we would expect from Fujifilm’s X-series FUJIFILM has won many fans with its X-series compact system cameras, which manage to combine good looks with great performance and have a fantastic retro styling that appeals to today’s photographers. However, the firm’s latest compact system camera takes a slight departure from the other CSCs in…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor Full frame (24 x 36mm) CMOS sensor with 24 million effective pixels and no OLPF Focal length conversion 1x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder 0.66-inch EVF with 4.4 million dots Max video resolution 4K (4,096 x 2,160), 24fps ISO range 50-50,000 Autofocus points 49/Infinite Max burst rate 11fps Screen Touch-sensitive 2.95-inch 1,040,000-dot LCD Shutter speeds 60-1/8,000 sec plus Bulb to 30 mins Weight 771g (without battery) Dimensions 147 x 104 x 39mm Power supply Lithium-ion BP-SCL4 (supplied) The SL’s viewfinder is smooth, responsive and clear. The main screen is very good, showing lots of detail THE SL (Typ 601) is Leica’s second modern-style mirrorless system camera. And although it uses the same lens mount, it has a 24Mp full-frame sensor rather than the APS-C format device of the company’s first…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16 million effective pixel Four Thirds type (17.3 x 13mm) CMOS Focal length conversion 2x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder 2,360,000-dot OLED Max video resolution Full-HD at 60fps ISO range 100-25,600 Autofocus points 81 Max burst rate 8.5fps in S-AF at full resolution Screen Tilting touch-sensitive 3-inch LCD with 1,037,000 dots Shutter speeds 60-1/4,000 sec with mechanical shutter; up to 1/16,000 sec with electronic shutter; plus Bulb Weight 342g (body only) Dimensions 119.5 x 83.1 x 46.7mm Power supply Lithium-ion battery (supplied) Short video clips can be shot and then joined together in-camera to create more dynamic movies Thanks to its small size, durable-feeling body, extensive control and highquality images, the OM-D E-M10 has been very successful for Olympus, outselling the other OM-D models. Now we have the OM-D E-M10…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.3MP Micro Four Thirds format (17.3x13mm) Focal Length 2x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,360,000 dots (approx 100% cover) Video resolution Full HD (1,920x1,080) at 30fpss ISO range 200-5,000; expandable to 100-25,600 Autofocus points 81 Max burst rate 10fps (AF, exposure & white balance fixed at start) 6.5fps with continuous AF and exposure Screen Tilting three-inch, 1,037,000-dot touchscreen Shutter speeds 1/8,000-60 sec, plus Bulb to 30 mins Weight 443g (body only) Dimensions 113.4x93.5x63.1mm (without protrusions) Power supply LN-1 lithium-ion battery (supplied) battery The diminutive E-M1 feels nicely built and has seals to ensure it stays dust-free and splashproof UNTIL now, the OM-D E-M5 has largely been referred to as the Olympus OM-D, but it seems we will have to get used to calling it the E-M5:…

SPECIFICATIONS Sensor 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds format (17.3x13mm) Focal Length 2x Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC Viewfinder OLED Electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,359,000 dots (approx 100% cover) Video resolution 4K (4,096x2,160) and Full HD (1,920x1,080p) ISO range 200-25,600; expandable to 100-25,600 Autofocus points 49 Max burst rate 12fps Single AF, 7.5fps Continuous AF LCD Screen size 3-inch; 1,036,000 dots Shutter speeds 1/8,000-60 sec plus Bulb to 60 mins Weight 480g (body only) Dimensions 132.9x93.4x83.9mm Power supply Li-ion battery (included) The GH4 produces great-looking images with pleasing contrast, natural colours and lots of detail WHILE the Panasonic GH3 is widely regarded as a great compact system camera for shooting video, its stills capability has been rather overlooked. Panasonic is hoping that the GH4 will gain more respect as a stills camera –but its headline…

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

www.mindshiftgear.com 1 MindShift Gear UltraLight 20 £32/$35 THIS is actually a type of small, light bag that keeps your camera dry between shots, but you need to take out the camera for use. It’s essentially a lightly padded fabric cube where the top flap folds over your camera and fastens around the lens with a drawstring. This mid-sized version will wrap around a full-frame SLR with a modest zoom lens, and features an integrated waist belt that allows the cover to be worn like a holster bag. Unlike a traditional holster design, this cover can be collapsed and scrunched into its own compact pouch for ultimate portability. This means it’s just the ticket for stashing in your main camera bag, ready for a day when you want to travel light…

THE CONTENDERS 1 Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM, £400/$600 2 Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G ED, £430/$530 3 HD Pentax DA f/2.8 35mm Macro, £470/$500 4 Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC AE, £360/$450 5 Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A, £640/$900 6 Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*, £530/$800 7 Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD, £550/$600 8 Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2, £830/$1,120 Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM £400/$600 It can be your stable mate NOT quite as ‘fast’ as the f/1.4 and f/1.8 lenses on test, this Canon is nevertheless one of only two in the group to feature optical stabilisation, along with the Tamron. It’s not a pro-grade L-series lens, so there are no weather seals and you have to buy the…

THE Sigma Corporation is on a roll these days, with a string of Art-series prime and zoom lenses that have captured the interest and imagination of photographers, and scooped multiple awards from this magazine. The latest addition to the line is this ultra-wide recti-linear 20mm. It combines a mighty viewing angle of 94.5° (measured on the diagonal), with an impressively wide aperture of f/1.4. Build & handling It’s the large-diameter 59mm double aspherical lens element that enables such a short focal length with such a wide aperture. Other glassy attractions include two fluorite-grade FLD elements and a feast of five SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements, aiming to deliver excellent sharpness and contrast, with minimal colour fringing. Build quality is excellent but, as with other Art lenses we’ve seen recently, the…

NEW to Fujifilm’s growing range of XF prime lenses, this 35mm optic is ideally suited to upmarket X-series compact system cameras like the X-T1 and the X-Pro2. Like the more established XF35mm f/1.4 lens, it behaves like a ‘standard’ prime, with the 1.5x crop factor of X-series cameras giving an effective focal length of 52.5mm. The older 35mm f/1.4 was already remarkably small for a lens of its class, at 65 x 55mm and 187g – but the new f/2 is seriously tiny at 60 x 46mm and 170g. The filter thread is an indicator of this downsizing, shrinking from 52mm to just 43mm. Build & handling An advantage of the new f/2 lens over the older f/1.4 is that it’s weather-resistant, hence the WR suffix. There are eight seals…