Table of contents for July 2020 in Digital Camera Magazine

For this project, you will need Photoshop (or any imageediting program where you can work in layers, like Affinity Photo), a close-up image of an eye (the closer, the better!) and a silhouetted scene. The scenic image could be of anything, so don’t restrict yourself in terms of genre; just take into account that the result works best if the scene has some kind of silhouette outline. That way you can blend the top of the eye down into the scene, to make it look as though it is the eyelashes. When it comes to blending two images together, you need to ensure your images match in tone and style. I’ve started this step-by-step guide at the combining stage in Photoshop; before this, however, I stylised both the raw files…

Last issue, we asked Marc Newton to offer an insight into how he comes up with ideas for his photo projects, then develops and executes them. This month, he concludes with advice on staying focused and seeing the project through, plus what to do with the body of work once it’s completed. “The most interesting thing to me about working on these projects is that you’ve seen what others haven’t. If I go for a photo walk with a fellow photographer, I want to see what they’ve noticed that I haven’t. We live in a chocolate-box, prettypicture world: apps like Instagram and 500px are proof of that. But let’s face it, one pretty landscape is as nice as the next. All you need is knowledge of photography, planning and some…

There are many ways you can approach a still-life setup, like studying objects found around your house or in the garden, such as the cutlery in your kitchen or the tools in your shed. You may even want to go one step further and build a bespoke sculpture out of pretty much anything that doesn’t move, like fruit! The still-life photography genre is a great way to unwind and lose yourself in a creative project that requires only your ideas and a few simple props. When it comes to shooting your still-life, it is best to take a slow approach. After all, your subject isn’t going anywhere! Think about how you want to light it, whether you want to use natural or flash light, and which lens you are going…

Lockdown restrictions are easing in many countries now, but whatever shape the ‘new normal’ takes, it’s likely that life will be more homecentric than it was before Covid-19. So why not use this time wisely, catching up on photo housekeeping tasks or learning some new skills? This month’s project selections cover a range of areas, including tethering your camera like a pro to capture still-life; how to sanitise your kit; and making an informed decision about building a photo website: go DIY or use a site builder? We’re here to help… NEW SECTION Projects to do in the comfort of your own home! PA RT 3 OF 5 Photo website building 101! PLUS! Visit our website for more home-focused inspiration www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/homephotography www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/homeworking…

PART 3 OF 5 Photo website building 101 If you’ve always liked the idea of having your own website but been put off by the thought of hiring a web designer to build it for you, here’s the good news. It’s easier than ever to create your own site using a website builder service. These drag-and-drop editors allow the complete novice to craft their own online space without ever having to touch a line of code. Website builder services mostly follow the same basic workflow. Those mentioned here – as well as the many similarly capable options out there – will get you up and running by letting you choose a template. This is like a pre-made website full of placeholder text and photos that you simply replace with your…

With over a decade as a writer and photographer behind him, James knows exactly which Photoshop and Lightroom tools and techniques matter most. As far as cutouts go, it doesn’t get much more daunting than this. The Eiffel Tower is about as complex a shape as you can imagine. The iconic outline is simple, but it’s all the little gaps and spaces in between that pose a challenge for anyone wishing to make a selection. The bare tree branches on the right of this particular photo make things even harder. So how can you cut out an object like this? You can forget using the freehand or simple selection tools: it would probably take a week. Even the Quick Selection Tool or the Magic Wand are likely to struggle. Instead,…

When you’re exposing for a particular scene, you’re actually carrying out a balancing act. The aim is to get just the right amount of light coming through the lens to hit the camera’s sensor, by adjusting three core variables: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. If you’ve only ever used Auto and semi-automatic modes before, you might not have noticed that when you change a setting, the camera is automatically changing the other variables to create a balanced shot. Close the aperture and the camera will need to extend the shutter speed to let in more light, or boost the ISO to make the sensor more sensitive to light; and so on. There’s always a bit of a compromise to be made, so to get the best creative results you want…

Portraits can be quite tricky to take. This image of our model Claudia was no different, as she was totally lit by this neon sign in a shop window. I locked off the white balance and set it to Fluorescent so that I would consistently get a vibrant red colour from the neon; then I went into Manual mode to take control of the exposure, too. The neon sign was quite bright, so with my aperture opened all the way to f/1.4, I only needed to boost the ISO to 200 to get a shutter speed of 1/100 sec – fast enough to shoot handheld without camera-shake. I also made sure that the focus was on Claudia’s nearer eye to the camera so that it would be pin-sharp with such…

About the competition The German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) recently announced the winners of its Nature Photographer of the Year awards. Due to restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, voting took place online – for the first time in the society’s 50-year history – and the participation rate was high. www.gdefoto.de OVERALL WINNER (Original category: Mammals) A Hare’s Dream Peter Lindel “Months of searching for a suitable location led me to a dirt road, which offered the most beautiful morning light, lovely vegetation and… three hares,” recalls Peter. “Since at least two of them were not disturbed by my presence and followed their routine as usual, a series of photos with different light situations was created, and I was able to capture these striking heads once more with my…

Covid Street was founded by Tanya, Digital Camera contributor Adam Juniper and photographer Tom Clabots. The project invites street photographers from around the world to share images produced within lockdown restrictions to an Instagram feed; a book of images will be published later this year, with the proceeds going to charitable causes. Was there a particular moment that moved you and the co-founders to take action and launch the project? With the world changing so drastically almost overnight, we collectively came to a speedy conclusion that creating a platform showcasing the wonderful images from around the world would be not just purposeful for us, but also to all the people submitting images. We’ve had photographers tell us it’s given them a reason to continue being creative, which has warmed our…

£1,549/$1,699 www.fujifilm.co.uk Specifications Sensor: 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor Image processor: X Processor 4 AF points: 117/425/91 point hybrid contrast/phase AF ISO range: 160 to 12,800 (exp 80-51,200) Max image size: 6,240 x 4,160 Metering modes: 256-zone multi-pattern, centre-weighted, spot Video: C4K & UHD at 60/50/30/25/24p Viewfinder: EVF, 3.69m dots Memory card: Two SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) LCD: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62m dots Max burst: 30fps (electronic shutter, 1.25x crop mode) 15fps (mechanical shutter) Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Size: 135 x 93 x 64mm Weight: 607g (body only) The Fujifilm X-T4 is the new flagship camera in the Fujifilm APS-C X-mount mirrorless camera range. It takes over from the X-T3, adding a series of key features that make the X-T4 perhaps the most advanced, most desirable and most powerful APS-C camera on…

£589/$449 www.venuslens.net Specifications Mount: Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony FE, Canon EF, Nikon F Full-frame: Yes Autofocus: No Image stabilisation: No Lens construction: 12 elements in 10 groups Angle of view: 24.4 degrees Diaphragm blades: 13 (9 in Canon EF, 7 in Nikon F) Minimum aperture: f/22 Minimum focusing distance: 0.25m Maximum magnification ratio: 2.0x Filter size: 67mm Dimensions: 72 x 155mm (72 x 125mm for Canon EF & Nikon F) Weight: 650g (638g for Canon EF & Nikon F) This remarkable lens from Venus Optics (sold as the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2x in some countries) gives twice the maximum magnification of most macro lenses. The original was made for full-frame DSLRs, and is available in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts; but a more recent mirrorless version…

£195/$279 If you’re trekking through challenging terrain, the last thing you need is a bag of heavyweight camera kit. Remarkably compact for an ultra-wide zoom, this lens is much smaller and lighter than Canon’s older EF-S 10-22mm ultra-wide zoom, while adding four-stop image stabilisation. Whereas the 10-22mm lens has a conventional ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system, the 10-18mm switches to STM (Stepping Motor) autofocus. This brings the same benefits as in the similar Nikon lens, but with the same lack of a focus distance scale. Performance This little Canon punches above its weight. The slick autofocus and effective stabiliser combine with good image quality. Sharpness across most of the frame is impressive even when you shoot at the widest apertures. Sharpness It’s not quite as sharp as the Nikon at the…

£449/$499 Even though many photographers only tend to use ultra-wide zooms at or near their shortest focal length, there’s still something to be said for a generous zoom range. There’s quite a lot of overlap with a standard zoom lens, so you won’t need to swap between lenses too often. A major upgrade over Tamron’s original 10-24mm lens, this lens has an HLD (High/Low torque-modulated Drive) autofocus system. It’s faster, quieter and improves handling, as the focus ring no longer rotates during autofocus. Image stabilisation is added and build quality is improved, adding weather seals and a fluorine coating on the front element. Performance Lab results proved lacklustre, but it was a different story in our real-world tests, with excellent sharpness and minimal colour fringing. Sharpness The lab results look…

£1,129/$1,199 We’ve long been fans of Sigma’s ultra-wide 12-24mm lens, with its extreme maximum viewing angle. This newer addition to the Art line-up is more modest in its ultra-wide coverage, but an f-stop faster. The weather-sealed construction is of excellent quality. Optical prowess benefits from a large-diameter, ultra-high-precision moulded glass aspherical front element, which teams up with three top-grade FLD (‘Fluorite’ Low Dispersion) elements and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements. Ring-type ultrasonic autofocus is speedy and quiet. Performance Levels of sharpness are excellent across the whole image frame, even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8. Colour fringing is absolutely negligible, and it’s effectively a distortion-free lens in real-world shooting. Sharpness Sharpness is superb across the entire image frame, even when shooting wide-open. Fringing 0.5 Levels of colour fringing are absolutely…

With the need for tripods, filters and some understanding of your camera’s Manual mode, long exposures can seem confusing. There’s a lot to get to grips with, and understanding the basics is only a small part of the journey, with composition and location making up the remainder of the challenge. If you are new to long exposures, keeping things simple is best. Think minimalist! Heading to a river or lake is advised: by comparison, long exposures on coastlines are far more challenging as you must contend with tide times, sand, pebbles and mud, which can complicate the experience. Here are some helpful tips to get you on your way… 1 Keep it clean By slowing down your shutter speed, you will be able to smooth out water or cloud movement.…

Overwhelmed by the beauty of Ireland, I started my landscape photography journey around five years ago. I thought I would start bringing a camera with me to capture the most memorable scenes. Since then I travelled to the furthest corners of this magnificent country. Ireland has everything you could possibly want in landscape photography: amazing mountains, thousands of lakes, and rugged shorelines with massive cliffs, sea stacks and caves. Some of these spots are just on the doorstep; others require tough hikes to the middle of nowhere. Some of these places are well-known; others are still mysterious and intriguing. What else would you need? When I am getting bored with local scenery, I travel to my two other favourite locations: Scotland and the Faroe Islands. I try to have a…

Way back in 1597, Sir Francis Bacon supposedly coined the phrase “Knowledge is power”, and it remains true to this day. Sir Francis probably didn’t have Instagram in mind back then, but the idea very much still applies. Instagram gives you insights into key pieces of information, such as how popular your posts are, and who the people viewing them are. Let’s take a look at how you can use this knowledge to steer more people to your feed and keep them engaged. 1 Use hashtags to help people find you Using the right Instagram hashtag is an important way to get more eyes on your image. Aim to use relevant, targeted hashtags on your posts: these will help non-followers find your work amid the millions posted on the platform.…

www.benedictbrain.com Camera: Fujifilm GFX 50R Lens: Fujinon GF45mm f/2.8 R WR Exposure: 1/40 sec at f/6.3, ISO 1,000 The sense of excitement and anticipation of finally arriving in the mountains after a long drive never fails to exhilarate me. I made this image a week or so before lockdown, en route to Snowdonia in Wales, where I was running a workshop for the Royal Photographic Society. It shows one of my favourite stretches of road in one of my favourite parts of the world. After months in lockdown, I dream of the day I can head for the hills and again drive down this road, invigorate my soul and fuel my creative spirit. For many of us, our initial connection with the landscape will be through the window of a…

Tethering your camera used to be something you’d only witness in a professional photo studio, but thanks to the democratising effect of affordable digital cameras, it’s now well and truly available to the masses. So what is tethering, and why would you want to do it? As the name suggests, tethering your camera means attaching it to a computer and using the computer to select the desired camera settings and fire the shutter. You can then review the images in real time on a larger screen than that on the rear of your camera. This process became a cornerstone of commercial studio photography as photographers could invite art directors or commissioning editors along to see how shoots were progressing – very useful for fashion photography where the look is critical.…

With over a decade as a writer and photographer behind him, James knows exactly which Photoshop and Lightroom tools and techniques matter most. Love them or hate them, filters are one way to give photographs a specific look. There are two types of filter: those that let you add effects, like turning your photo into a sketch; and those with more practical uses, such as sharpening and blur. In Affinity Photo there are more of the latter than the former. You’ll find powerful sharpening tools; a range of blur tools for crafting depth-of-field effects; and a Haze Removal tool that outperforms Photoshop’s similar option. When it comes to applying filters in Affinity Photo, you have two options: either add the effect directly to a pixel layer, or use the clever…

Take back control and capture your best-ever photos: ✓ Scenics ✓ Portraits ✓ Macro ✓ And more! Step away from Auto and semi-automatic modes to take back total control of your exposures. Dan Mold shows you how to get the best from Manual mode One of the greatest features of modern digital cameras is their creative modes, namely the semi-automatic Aperture Priority (A or Av on a camera’s mode dial) and Shutter Priority (S or Tv) modes. These are great for most situations, as you can take control of some of the exposure, while the camera takes care of the rest to produce a well-exposed shot. This can be great when you’re starting out as it allows you to concentrate on focusing and composition, but your camera also features a…

In your camera’s semiautomatic modes like Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority, you are able to input some of the exposure data such as aperture, ISO and shutter speed. The camera will then use its built-in metering algorithms to work out the rest of the exposure to try to deliver a wellexposed shot. How the camera does this is affected by the metering mode. You have metering modes that scan the whole frame and try to work out the best exposure for a well-lit shot across the frame, or modes like spot metering, which only take into account a very small part of the frame. It’s worth noting that metering modes will affect your camera’s built-in light meter while you’re using Manual mode, but it’ll be up to you to dial…

Roving photographer Quintin is on a multi-year photo walk, circumnavigating the whole of the UK coast. www.theperimeter.uk This month’s route Scarborough to Spurn Point 5 days, 74 miles; 5,969 miles total This stage was completed before non-essential travel in the UK was restricted due to Covid-19 It’s dawn. I’m photographing the moon reflected in the waves at Scarborough when I notice the heads of what look like seals bobbing close to shore. Then they start to take human form, and I realise they are Scarborough’s hardy wild swimmers, emerging from the icy waves at first light. The day soon becomes wetter and colder as Storm Brendan takes hold. By the time I reach the 120-metre chalk cliffs of Flamborough, the storm is in full force, and I struggle to make…

£869 / $849 www.canon.co.uk Specifications Sensor: 32.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor Image processor: Digic 8 AF points: Dual Pixel CMOS phase-detect, 143 / 99 points (depending on lens) ISO range: 100 to 25,600 (exp to 51,200) Max image size: 6,960 x 4,640 Viewfinder: N/A Metering modes: Evaluative, partial, centre-weighted, spot Video: 4K UHD up to 30fps, 1080p Full HD up to 120fps Memory card: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) LCD: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.04m dots Max burst: 14fps continuous, 30fps raw burst mode Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C, Micro HDMI Size: 120 x 70 x 49mm Weight: 398g (body only, with battery and SD card) Much like the EOS M line as a whole, the original Canon EOS M6 was easy to like, but difficult to love. With Canon’s APS-C mirrorless camera range having seemingly…

£1,699/$1,999 www.sony.co.uk Specifications Mount: Sony E Elements/groups: 24/17 Angle of view: 12.5-4 degrees Diaphragm blades: 11 Minimum aperture: f/32-36 Minimum focusing distance: 2.4m Maximum magnification ratio: 0.2x Filter size: 95mm Dimensions: 112 x 318mm Weight: 2,115g Tamron and Sigma make high-performance 150-600mm zooms for Canon and Nikon DSLRs. The Tamron is also available in a Sony A-mount option, whereas Sigma’s MC-11 mount adapter enables use of its 150-600mm Contemporary and Sports lenses on Sony E-mount bodies. Designed specifically for E-mount cameras, this new lens from Sony is a more ideal fit. The 200-600mm lens looks entirely like a supersized FE 100-400mm G Master zoom, and has a very similar control layout and feature set. The smaller zoom measures 94 x 205mm and weighs in at 1,395g. The upscaled sibling is…

£259/$279 Remarkably similar to the Canon EF-S lens on test, this compact zoom weighs just 230g. Unlike Nikon’s older and heavier AF-S DX 10-24mm lenses, it adds 3.5-stop Vibration Reduction, potentially avoiding the need to lug a tripod around. Autofocus is based on a stepping motor that gives quick performance for stills and smooth, near-silent transitions while shooting movies. Manual override and manual focusing are available via an electronically coupled focus ring. Three aspherical elements are included in the optical path, which features 14 elements. Performance Sharpness is very good at the centre of the frame, but drops off noticeably towards the edges and corners. Colour fringing and distortion are reasonably restrained, but not quite as well as in the Canon 10-18mm lens. Sharpness Levels of centre-sharpness are very good,…

Impeccable finish and handling £574/$675 The Irix 15mm f/2.4 manualfocus prime is available in Firefly and Blackstone editions. The optical path is identical in both, but the pricier Blackstone has better build quality, with a metal rather than plastic barrel and an extra weather seal. Built-in electronics enable full communication with the host camera body. Quality optics include three aspherical elements, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and four HR (High Refractive) elements, along with neutrino coatings. There’s a large 95mm filter thread at the front, plus a gel filter slot at the rear. Performance It’s the sharpest lens in the whole group at the centre of the frame, although sharpness is mediocre in the extreme corners. Colour fringing and distortion are minimal, and there’s good resistance to ghosting and flare.…

£1,199/$1,199 Building on the success of Tamron’s original 15-30mm zoom for full-frame DSLRs, this ‘Generation 2’ edition is a significant upgrade. The optical path still includes the same mix of high-quality elements, including an XGM (eXpanded Glass Moulded) aspherical element and multiple LD (Low Dispersion) elements. However, new AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) coating is applied, developed to reduce ghosting and flare in ultra-wide lenses. The upgraded stabilisation system has enhanced 4.5-stop effectiveness. Weather seals are applied to the mounting plate and other areas. Performance Naturally, the maximum viewing angle isn’t quite as wide as in the competing Sigma 14-24mm lens, but it comes pretty close. Stabilisation is a bonus, but outright image quality isn’t as impressive as that of the Sigma lens. Sharpness It’s great at the centre, but merely mediocre…

Creating and using digital backdrops is a very rewarding creative project you can try from home. It is great as it requires very little setting up. Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to digital backdrops, as you really can create anything with the power of Photoshop. For Clare, this has given her a chance to be creative with her children while everyone has been on lockdown at home. The images represent how the children imagine themselves and their surroundings while they play ‘pretend’ at home. The most important part of creating composite images is consistency. You do not need the most amazing kit, but it is important to use the same settings and keep the same perspective and lighting. This will keep your images as believable as…

Hairy dogs can capture all sorts of undergrowth in their fur. While Bruce Malcolm was taking some ‘sticky beak’ (bidens pilosa) burrs off his dog one day, with the TV news playing in the background, he made a visual connection with the idea of a virus, and a new photo project was born. “The TV was showing images of the coronavirus, so I thought I’d try to emulate them with the burr,” he says. “As the virus has no colour, what we see is an artistic interpretation, so I decided to emulate the TV station’s dramatic approach and used deep-red cellophane paper over the flash units.” Although the results are certainly eye-catching, the photo shoot turned out not to last as long as Bruce had expected. “I was going to…

Whether it’s hanging on our wall, sitting in pride of place in our photography portfolio, or being used to share online with loved ones, a photo triptych is a wonderful way to present your best photography. You might already be using Lightroom, but did you know it offers the option to create beautiful triptychs in a quick and simple way? The theme of your triptych is important in making the composition work visually. You should also use Lightroom’s editing tools to make sure all the images in the design have a similar style or treatment. Get a handful of your favourite edited images open in Lightroom, then select the Print Module in the top-right corner… 1 Create your space By default your image layout will be set to a portrait…

My photography journey started rather late in life. In 2012, when I was 48, I did an Open University photography course, and it ignited a passion that continues to grow. To develop my skills after that course, I have attended numerous workshops of different genres and entered competitions, which continually feeds the learning. I am currently a Master Craftsman with the Guild of Photographers, and have been their Photographer Of The Year for the last three years. In my early years, I was shooting everything and anything, but my main genres now are modern military aircraft and wildlife. For me they work perfectly together: I predominantly shoot wildlife in the spring and autumn, when it’s at its busiest, and then shoot aviation during the summer season. The past couple of…

Get this great Vanguard shoulder bag by subscribing today at: myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/dcm/vra1 Subscribe to Digital Camera for a year and get this brilliant bag to store your camera gear Editor, Digital Camera Great features of the Vanguard Veo Range 38 NV Shoulder bag • Fits a DSLR or mirrorless camera with lens attached, 2-3 lenses, a flashgun and accessories • Double-decker system that allows you to add extra lenses or a travel tripod • Plus 15-inch laptop and travel tripod inside (up to 42cm long) Top reasons to subscribe now! ✓ Great savings Subscribe for 12 months and get your issues delivered to your door, plus choose between three options below starting at only £27 ✓ Vanguard Veo Range 38 NV shoulder bag A contemporary shoulder bag for your DSLR or…

With new cases of Covid-19 still being reported, it’s more important than ever to keep all your equipment sanitised. Canon recently released a quick, helpful video on how to clean your camera and printer setup. Whether you’re the only one using your kit or you’re sharing it with your family or household, it’s crucial to keep everything that you handle clean and sanitised – especially since your camera comes up and makes direct contact with your face, as well as your eye area. Although Canon’s guide is a video produced with Canon cameras and printers in mind, its cleaning tips can be applied to any similar equipment. Canon emphasises that these sanitisation measures are no guarantee of eliminating Covid-19. But they are great ways of safely cleaning and keeping your…

TOP KIT Camera remote To capture light trail images like this, your camera will need to be completely still. Invest in a remote camera release to avoid camera shake, or use the built-in timer. We’re working hard every issue to include the best possible variety of projects, tips, tricks and inspirational photography within our pages. But in recent weeks we’ve also been delighted to see our readers attempting some of the techniques we’ve been showcasing in the magazine – so we’ve decided to share more of these images with everyone. Photography is such a great diversion from the pressures of everyday life, and more so than usual in these unpredecented times. Whatever kind of images you like shooting, we’d like to see them – why not try a new genre,…

Jason is a photographer, educator and writer based in Frome, UK. He shoots in a number of genres, from fashion and portraiture to landscape and wildlife. No photographer nails the shot perfectly every time. There are inevitably going to be times when our images are underexposed, or perhaps they’re overly bright. And the same can be true for our in-camera framing and composition – despite all the care and attention you put into it, sometimes it’s just a little bit off. This is one of the many areas where shooting digitally has an advantage over traditional film, since you can crop an image after you’ve taken it. You should be aware that cropping into your images removes the number of pixels in the shot – and thus reduces the size…

Colour is an important part of photography and plays a substantial role in the mood of your images. Your camera’s white balance can make an image appear warmer or cooler to correct for colour casts and make sure that neutral hues in the shot, such as grey, look natural. Most cameras are set to automatically determine the white balance, but in any of the semi-automatic or Manual modes you can select it, or even set your own custom value. This can be handy when you want consistent results in a series of images, like a time-lapse or a focus stack. We’d also highly recommend shooting raw format files, as this makes it much easier to change your white balance during editing. It’s also worth experimenting with your white balance when…

£6,299/$6,499 www.nikon.co.uk Specifications Sensor: 20.8MP full-frame CMOS Autofocus: Viewfinder: phase-detect AF with 105 focus points (all cross-type); Live View: contrast-detect AF at all points in frame ISO range: 100-102,400 (exp 50-3,280,000) Max image size: 5,568 x 3,712 Metering modes: Matrix, centre-weighted, spot (not available for movie), highlight-weighted Video: 4K (Ultra HD) 30/25/24p; 1080p (Full HD) 60/50/30/25/24p Viewfinder: Pentaprism Memory card: Two CFexpress (Type B) and XQD memory card Max burst: 14fps Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz), Bluetooth, USB-C, HDMI mini, Ethernet Size: 160 x 163 x 92 mm Weight: 1,270g body only; 1,450g with battery and two CFexpress cards The Nikon D6 faces a difficult challenge. Its two rivals in the professional full-frame camera space are absolute monsters: the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is the most advanced camera we’ve…

£1,299/$1,399 www.sigma-imaging-uk.com Specifications Mounts: Sony E, L-mount Full-frame: Yes Autofocus: Yes Lens construction: 18 elements in 13 groups Angle of view: 114-84 degrees Diaphragm blades: 11 Minimum aperture: f/22 Minimum focusing distance: 0.28m Maximum magnification ratio: 0.14x Filter size: Rear holder Dimensions: 85 x 131mm Weight: 795g Sigma’s 14-24mm Art lens for full-frame Canon and Nikon SLRs was well received on its launch in 2018 – not only for its exceptional build and image qualities, but also because it was remarkably free of distortions for a super-wide-angle zoom. Two years down the line, Sigma has reinvented the lens for full-frame Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount mirrorless cameras, the latter being an attractive option for Panasonic Lumix S-series shooters. A far cry from being the same lens with a different mount,…

fter so much time indoors, the sheer scale of a sweeping landscape can take on epic proportions. From open fields and rolling hills to huge dramatic skies, there’s a lot to take in. With a standard zoom lens, you’ll often struggle to squeeze as much of the scenery into the frame as you’d like. Mounting an ultra wide-angle lens on your camera is a truly liberating experience for landscape photography, like taking the blinkers off and pulling more of the vista onto the sensor. You can’t beat a zoom lens for versatility, but many photographers only tend to use ultra-wide zooms at or near their shortest focal length. With that in mind, there’s something to be said for buying a prime lens instead. There are some high-quality manual-focus primes that…

£379/$399 Ultra-wide prime lenses for crop-sensor cameras are very thin on the ground. This 10mm manual-focus lens from Samyang is a good option, combining a short 10mm focal length with a wide f/2.8 aperture rating. It’s available in a wide variety of mount options, but only the Nikon-fit version includes built-in electronics. This enables aperture control from the camera, and therefore unrestricted use of all shooting modes. Quality glass includes two aspherical elements and one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element. Build quality feels solid, although the lens lacks any weather seals. Performance Centre sharpness is good rather than great, with a sweet spot at f/5.6. Levels of sharpness are consistent across the whole image frame, with fairly little drop-off, even in the extreme corners. Sharpness Sharpness is pretty average overall, but…

£899/$999 Samyang’s XP range of manual-focus lenses aims for premium-grade optical design and construction. Compared with the Irix 15mm, the Samyang gives a slightly wider viewing angle on full-frame cameras, at 114 rather than 110 degrees. The Samyang has 18 optical elements, including two aspherical, one hybrid aspherical, two extra-low dispersion and three high-refractive index elements. Build quality feels solid, but there are no weather seals. Handling is excellent, with a really fluid feel to the action of the rubberised focus ring. Built-in electronics enable aperture control from the host camera. Performance Centre-sharpness isn’t as good as from the Irix at the widest aperture of f/2.4, but sharpness across the entire image frame and right into the corners is impressively consistent. Sharpness Sharpness drops off at f/2.4 but this isn’t…

For landscape photography with APS-C format Canon and Nikon DSLRs, the Tamron 10-24mm is the most sophisticated lens. It has advanced autofocus and stabilisation systems and the best construction. For full-frame cameras, our top choice is the Sigma 14-24mm, which combines fabulous image quality with pro-grade construction and handling, and superb all-round performance. However, its integral hood precludes the easy attachment of filters.…