Innholdsfortegnelse for 6-Feb-2016 i Amateur Photographer

When Olympus introduced its first Pen (the E-P1) in 2009, we all admired the retro design, but when I was asked whether I’d buy one the answer, sadly, was no. Furthermore, I questioned how many people would be prepared to part with the best part of a grand for a camera with no viewfinder. The answer, as time later showed, was not very many. A succession of Pens struggled to resonate with the public and it wasn’t until Olympus launched its OM2-inspired OM-D system, complete with electronic viewfinder, that the company’s CSCs won the public acclaim and commercial success it sought. Now Olympus has returned to the Pen and added an EVF to that too, to create the spectacular looking Pen-F. It took a while but it looks like the…

SONY has stated that some of its RX1R II cameras may have a fault. On 19 January, Sony US issued a statement which read: ‘In rare bright conditions, some of our DSC-RX1RM2 cameras may produce image files with unwanted light.' The potential glitch only affects certain serial numbers and Sony has pledged to provide a free inspection and service. It urges customers to check if their camera's serial number falls between 6310198 and 6311127. It is not clear whether cameras shipped to the UK have been affected and Sony UK was not able to comment on the number of affected units. A spokesperson added: ‘When shooting with extremely bright light, certain shooting scenes may cause unwanted light to appear in the bottom right corner of an image.' Visit http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/support-contacts. pl?mdl=DSCRX1RM2.…

‘Few devices make it through an entire day of intense use without charging’ Smartphone cameras have improved vastly over the past few years and image-quality differences between high-end models are becoming more and more marginal. Innovative imaging features as well as camera usability and ergonomics are still important differentiators, but photographers using mobiles should consider a few non-imaging criteria when choosing a new device. Characteristics such as battery life, GPS precision and environmental protection can all be essential for capturing the decisive moment. Battery life is still one of the most glaring weaknesses of smartphones and few devices make it through an entire day of intense use without charging, especially if you are shooting, reviewing and editing a lot of images. Precision of the GPS module is key if you…

You answered A Yes, and it’s my main camera 48% B Yes, and it’s secondary to my DSLR system 17% C No, and I’ve no interest in buying a CSC 21% D No, but I’m planning to buy one as my main camera 8% E No, but I’m planning to buy one as a secondary camera 6% What you said ‘I’m a year into my Canon EOS M and it travels with me everywhere’ ‘I own a CSC but it’s secondary to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 bridge camera, which is more versatile’ ‘In two years or so, no one will even want to buy a DSLR. There’s no reason to now, but the penny would have dropped by then’ ‘I sold my Canon EOS 6D and 70D plus six EOS…

1 Get down low for impact It may not be the most comfortable way to work, but images taken from ground level tend to have a greater impact. This is particularly the case with shots taken with a telephoto lens. To make life easier, use the camera's articulated LCD screen, or attach a right-angle viewing attachment. 2 Use live view for accurate focusing Live view has to be one of the best features of a digital camera for close-up photography. Don't rely on your camera's AF, as depth of field at close quarters is minimal. Switch the camera to MF, activate live view and zoom in on the area you want to appear sharp, then focus manually. 3 Shoot into the sun Through working at either end of the day…

Mark Bauer Mark has been a full-time landscape photographer for more than ten years. Based in Dorset, he takes his inspiration from the beauty of the landscapes in South-West England. www.markbauerphotography.com LOCATED about four miles west of Swanage in Dorset, Dancing Ledge is a flat area of rock at the base of a cliff. It gets its name from the patterns the waves sometimes make when they wash over its flat surface. It takes a bit of effort to get there, as you have to climb down and then back up a steep hill, and to reach some of the best spots involves a bit of scrambling, but it's more than worth it. To get to the nearest parking spot (about a mile from Dancing Ledge), drive to the village…

Nick Watson, Newcastle upon Tyne ‘For as long as I can remember my dad has had cameras, and I spent lots of time with him in the Lake District when I was younger,' says Nick. ‘I saved for months to buy my first DSLR, a Canon EOS 550D, and it spiralled from there.' Nick is especially fond of shooting landscapes, as you never find the same conditions twice. Even if he has visited a location several times, he always finds something new and beautiful to shoot. If you'd like to see more of Nick's work, visit www.njw-images.co.uk. The Fairy Pools 1 The strong light of the day has lit up the rocks at the bottom of the pool, giving this image a solid foreground interest Canon EOS 6D, 17-40mm, 25secs…

‘The latest Nikon second-tier model, the D810, has a plastic mirror box, unlike its predecessor’ Practically every DSLR that you can buy is based on the same basic structure. The central and most critical part is the mirror box. The reason that it is critical is that this part defines the optical alignment of the camera. The lens fits on the front and the sensor fits on the back, and it is the role of the mirror box to keep them precisely the right distance apart (to ensure sharp focus) and exactly plane parallel (to ensure that sharp focus extends right across the frame). In addition, the mirror box must hold the mirror-flipping mechanism and resist vibration and movement as those parts move to do their job. As camera resolutions…

Canon EOS 5D,28-105mm, 1/125sec at f/9, ISO160 Brian Haslam uploaded this beautiful example of flower photography to our Facebook page. ‘I visited Lanhydrock, a National Trust property in Cornwall, one spring looking for photos,' says Brian. ‘Making my way through the estate, a magnolia tree stood out from the top of a hill. After locating it, I held down the front petal of one flower with one hand to show the centre parts. It did have a black background, but I painted it with a tone taken from one of the petals.' If you'd like to see your images in print, upload your work to our Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and online gallery pages. Win! Each week we choose our favourite picture on Facebook, Flickr or the reader gallery using #appicoftheweek.…

Email amateurphotographer@timeinc.com and include your full postal address Write to Inbox, Amateur Photographer, Time Inc. (UK), Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU Art of movement Thanks for the informative piece by John Wright (AP 16 January) on The Art Of Movement as applied to shooting movies. It was refreshing to read that a filmmaker only moves the camera when it adds something to the narrative, and to see some examples of the equipment that might be used to achieve this. I spent many years on the technical side of broadcast television and am probably more aware than some why many amateur films don't really work, with cameras waved around and shots too short, making editing almost impossible. Keeping the camera locked off and letting the subject move…

HOW IT WORKS ENTRY: A SET OF PICTURES MADE UP OF 5-8 PHOTOGRAPHS. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE IN DIGITAL FORMAT (FROM DIGITAL CAMERA OR SCANNED FILM ORIGINALS). FIRST ROUND: NATIONAL DEADLINE – FRIDAY 13 MAY 2016* Send a set of pictures of 5-8 images relating to the theme ‘landscape’ to apcompetitions@timeinc.com, with the word ‘landscape’ and your name as the subject heading, by Friday 13 may 2016. Images should be in JPEG format and no bigger than 800 pixels on the longest edge. Include your name, address and a contact number in the email. Images from the first-prize winner will go forward to the international round of the competition (see below). First, second and third-prize winners will be chosen by the editorial staff of Amateur photographer. the results will be…

Beanbag This will get you much lower than a tripod. It creates a more stable platform and will enable you to work between plants without causing damage to other foliage. Polarising filter The leaves of snowdrops are surprisingly shiny and can be distracting. A polarising filter will help to reduce the glare and make the colour of the leaves more vibrant. Reflector This is a necessity when shooting flowers as it will provide fill into those otherwise dark areas. A piece of A5 card with foil attached is ideal.…

Walking boots It’s often tempting to wear wellies on coastal shoots, but good grip is essential on the slippery surface of the ledge. With quality boots you’ll also appreciate the ankle support on the walk down. Lenses With so much excellent foreground interest, wideangle lenses are the order of the day. Get in close to foreground interest, making it loom large in the frame and creating a sense of depth in your composition. ND filters With waves washing over the ledge and crashing on the rocks below, neutral density filters allow you to extend your shutter speeds to record the water movement as an ethereal mist.…

‘If we were there, our eyes would be able to adjust to the different brightness levels’ Caveman cooking Callan Stroud Pentax K-52, 50mm, 1/15sec, ISO 3,200 WHEN working in the dark by torchlight, lamp light or by any small light source, there seems to be a great temptation for photographers to increase the contrast of their images. This certainly gives them punch and impact, but it often hides masses of detail and thus critical parts of the story. Callan has gone to some lengths to get this picture of what looks like a caver heating some beans, and has cleverly spotted that there was a good shot to be had in the situation. I expect that the scene was pretty atmospheric, and the light from the head lamp in the…

New Metz flash The 44 AF-2 mecablitz flashgun from Metz features a new LED video light, aimed at videographers using DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. The 44 AF-2 features a control panel on the back and a motorised zoom for illumination coverage of 24-105mm. The £179.99 device also has a flip-out reflector card. Visit www.metzflash.co.uk. FinePix XP90 debuts Billed as a rugged camera for outdoor pursuits, the Fujifilm FinePix XP90 sports a 28-140mm equivalent lens and is claimed to withstand temperatures down to -10°C. Built to be dustproof, and waterproof to a depth of 15m, the 16.4-million-pixel XP90 delivers a 10fps burst rate at full resolution, according to Fuji. It is due in February, priced £179. Manfrotto lights Manfrotto has launched three new portable LED lights. The on-camera Manfrotto Croma2, Micropro2…

THE RED Arrows has warned photographers they are taking unnecessary risks after Air Traffic Control was forced to abort pilot training when people were spotted directly under the flight path recently. The scare occurred on15 January at the Red Arrows base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, according to a message posted by the supervisor of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team on Twitter. The message, posted by @rafred10, read: ‘It has come to the point where people are taking unnecessary risks to get those photographs'. The tweet also warned: ‘Air Traffic Control had to stop our pilots performing circuits as there were people on the centreline of each runway, directly under the flight paths of the aircraft taking off and landing. ‘By doing so people are endangering themselves and others,…

LAST year's Christmas cover competition saw us inundated with a stunning and varied selection of winter images that were all in contention to grace the front page as the cover image for our Amateur Photographer Christmas Special issue (19-26 December). Having the tricky task of only being able to pick one winning image, we felt it was a shame to let so many great pictures not have a chance to shine as well, so we've gathered our favourites together here for you. Not only that, but we've also spoken with each photographer featured to get some details about their shots, and asked them to pass on their own winter shooting tips that they've found indispensable in these colder months. Ed Rhodes View across the Cheshire Plains www.edrhodesphotography.co.uk I DISCOVERED this…

Robert Canis An award-winning nature photographer with 20-plus years’ experience, Robert is represented by three international agencies. He holds regular workshops on wildlife and landscape photography. www.robertcanis.com Snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom in the new year and are often referred to as the harbingers of spring. They’re described as ‘three drops of milk hanging from a stem’ and are certainly one of our most photogenic and widespread flowers, making them the perfect subject to help shake off the winter blues. Even on a cold gloomy day, the sight of snowdrops is enough to lift your spirits. More often than not, snowdrops are seen in large numbers and in some places form swathes of nodding white heads. It’s a wonderful sight, particularly on a bright sunny day, but…

On a sunny day, it’s natural for most photographers to head out into the countryside. A short drive can get you to a beautiful stretch of coastline or a sweeping landscape here in the UK. However, in your rush, you probably passed another location bursting with photographic potential: the urban landscape. Your town, along with every other town and city in the country, is a fabulous subject, no matter how boring or dull it may seem at first. All towns have a mixture of old and new architecture, both of which are worthy subjects. At first glance, you might think of a newly built office block as a monstrosity, but look more closely and you will see it is a work of art, designed by architects with an acute eye…

Time to visit Winter is definitely the best time for shooting at Dancing Ledge. From early October through to the end of February the sun rises over the sea, and from mid-November until the end of January it also sets over the sea. Daytime shots are possible all-year round, but the most atmospheric images are definitely to be had at the end of the day – especially in low light with long exposures turning the waves misty as they wash up over the ledge. There is a small tidal swimming pool in the ledge, which was blasted out of the rock in Victorian times. It makes excellent foreground interest for both sunrise and sunset shots, especially at high tide. There are also lots of fossils in the ledge, some of…

Rain-resistant The bag is designed so all pockets and pouches are totally covered by flaps, fastenings and weather-proofing to prevent rain getting in without the need for an additional cover. Adjustable strap The strap is made of a material similar to a car seatbelt and is fully adjustable. Waterproof zips Zips at the back and front of the bag are waterproof. • Around £136 • www.redlabel-artisanandartist.com At a glance • Grey checked fabric • Fits a DSLR kit with two additional lenses • Space for a 15in laptop ARTISAN & Artist Red Label produces camera bags (including shoulder bags, sling bags, backpacks and messenger bags), pouches and straps. The RDB-SD100 is a multi-purpose messenger designed to be used for both camera kit and as an everyday bag. This is reflected…

Resolution Examining the MTF readings from our Applied Imaging tests, we see that the lens gives sharp results in the centre of the frame at 14mm, although the corners are weak. Zoom in to 50mm and sharpness is still very acceptable, becoming more even across the frame. However, at 150mm, images are noticeably softer. Best results are generally obtained at f/5.6-8. Shading Not surprisingly for a complex lens in a compact package, the 14-150mm gives noticeable vignetting at the extremes of its zoom range. But it’s not overly intrusive and in effect disappears when the aperture is closed down a stop. Overall, there’s little to worry about. Curvilinear distortion Thanks to Micro Four Thirds’ integration of software distortion correction, users should see perfectly corrected images at 14mm, with no visible…

When you switch your camera to video mode for the first time, it can be difficult to know exactly how to get the sorts of shots we're used to seeing on television and in films. We're not talking about expensive aerial shots from helicopters, or things that are filmed at thousands of frames a second, just those simple, light movements that can add character and emotion to an otherwise simple scene. There's an almost unlimited supply of accessories you can buy that will help you move your camera, but you can forget all those. When you're starting out, a simple tripod – the very same one you use for your photography – is all you need. On these pages, we'll explain how to perform four very simple-to-use tripod tricks to…

LAUNCHED: 1963 PRICE: £79 19s 8d with 50mm f/1.9 GUIDE PRICE TODAY: £73-£100 with f/1.9 lens THE ALL-METAL Miranda F is a completely mechanical 35mm SLR with a plain pentaprism viewfinder that can be interchanged with a waist-level finder, or with a TTL metered prism supplied for the Miranda FvT. Unusually, the Miranda F has both bayonet and 44mm screw-lens mounts, and the Miranda Camera Company supplied accessories, such as bellows and extension tubes, to fit the screw mount. Bayonet-mount lenses were available, but only the 28mm, 35mm and135mm were available with automatic diaphragms, under the name Miranda Auto. The rest, up to 800mm f/8, had preset diaphragms, under the name Miranda Soligor. The 5cm f/1.9 Miranda Auto lens (bayonet mount) delivered high resolution with lower contrast than most Japanese…

It is very easy to identify immediately with some scenes – been there, seen that. This is an undoubted example. The rain-streaked window, the slightly unfamiliar buildings, the bus stop – we’ve all seen something similar countless times. That’s the immediate reaction. But why does it work? Why isn’t it just a snapshot? In a sense, it is: the probability that it was set up can safely be discounted. In another sense, it is a magnificent illustration of two sayings. One that is not normally related to photography is French: ‘Life is like a Spanish inn. You only get from it what you bring to it.’ The other comes from the Wild West: ‘Shoot first, ask questions later.’ Everyone brings an immense amount to this picture: we’ve all been there,…