Innholdsfortegnelse for 29-nov-2014 i Amateur Photographer

TO SOME, photography is a tool for observing and documenting the world, highlighting aspects of life to inform, inspire or surprise us, to make us question the nature of things, or challenge us to see them from a different perspective. On the other hand, photography can be used to create flights of fantasy that exist only in the minds of their creators, and which feed our imagination. This week we showcase some great examples of both types. In the documentary corner we take a fascinating look at North Korea, a country we know little about, and see some wonderful wildlife photography from Richard Peters that reminds us what a beautiful world we live in. In the fantasy corner we have Benjamin Von Wong’s exquisite, dreamlike images, while Sjoerd Stellingwerf’s humorous…

If you enjoy taking portraits, but have run out of willing subjects to photograph, why not try turning the camera around and using yourself as the model for a change? Generally, most photographers prefer to be behind the camera rather than in front of it, but there are many skills to be learned from taking a self-portrait. Just to make things clear, we aren’t talking about joining in on the unabashed seflie craze that is currently in full throttle across social media. On the contrary, this project involves creating a professional self-portrait image. Just as you would when you shoot a regular portrait, good lighting and composition are key factors to be considered when attempting a successful self-portrait, as well as a little bit of patience into the bargain. Being…

A SPACE camera that changed the way the Earth was viewed’ more than 50 years ago has been sold to a UK collector for nearly three times its top estimate at an auction in the United States. The Hasselblad 500C space camera was used by astronaut Wally Schirra, a camera enthusiast who bought it at a camera shop in Houston, Texas, in 1962, complete with an 80mm Zeiss Planar f/2.8 lens. It sold to an unnamed space artefacts collector for $281,250 (around £180,000), sending its presale auction estimate of $50,000-$100,000 into orbit. Schirra (pictured above centre) is said to have carried the kit into orbit aboard the Mercury-Atlas 8 rocket mission in 1962. Its previous owner had paid less than $15,000 for the camera in 1994.…

Camera sales have declined sharply recently and I find myself wondering why. Smartphones have been gently eroding the market for the past four years, but why the sudden plunge? I believe that hobbyists have come to the conclusion that, after years of pursuing some sort of competence in the craft, they have reached a dead end. There’s no real cheese at the end of the imaging tunnel. Pros take pictures to sell. Their motivation comes from trying to please clients – and getting paid. But hobbyists mostly have one feedback loop: to share images with like-minded souls and to bask in the glory of positive feedback. In the early days, when images were being uploaded only in the low millions per day, there was a chance to stand out. But…

Most DSLRs, in their standard set-up, will always try to produce an average exposure that has both shadow and highlight detail. Virtually all DSLRs feature a variation of metering modes, which essentially help in exposing for a variety of lighting. Depending on the camera system you shoot with these will go by different names, but the basic three modes are: Matrix/evaluative This is the standard mode on all cameras, where the metering will read the entire image and try to get a balanced exposure. It’s good when the entire frame is evenly lit, but less so when trying to get creative. Centreweighted With centreweighted, the camera will read the light across the entire frame but will bias the exposure for the middle of the frame. More feature-packed models will also…

1 Buy a waterproof camera housing A waterproof camera housing needn’t be expensive. Try DiCAPac, which will house a full-frame DSLR and lens. 2 Understand how water affects light The deeper you go, the less light you will have available and the more blue your images will appear as water filters out the red spectrum. Stay close to the surface for the best skin tones. 3 Plan for time Everything is more complicated underwater, such as framing, focusing, breathing, directing, changing settings and moving lighting. Allow for everything to take three times longer.…

‘The culture section of North Korea: Anonymous Country covers the DPRK’s annual extravaganza – the Arirang Festival,’ says Julia. ‘This year’s festival has been cancelled due to unknown reasons [official word is that it is because 2014 is not a year with any major anniversary]. It’s the most elusive event I’ve ever seen in my life. More than 100,000 people participate and I don’t know how they organise it. Most people don’t use cars or buses – they just walk. [When you’re watching it] you don’t know if you are dreaming or awake. It’s difficult to describe. You zoom in on hundreds of thousands of people, each carrying a card. The precise mass choreography depicts symbols of the state’s Juche ideology, which stands for political sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency and military…

Ladybird Hayri Kodal Canon EOS 550D, 57mm with extension tube, 1/60sec, ISO 800 WE PROBABLY all have, somewhere on our hard drives, pictures of a ladybird walking across someone’s hand – usually a child’s. However, this image is, I think, an exceptional example. It is still ‘ladybird walks over thumb’ as so many of these shots are, but it is the combination of soft lighting, the catchlight on the wings, the mercifully moderate colour saturation and, above all, the sweeping curve of the finger in the background that make this shot stand out from the rest of the world’s. I’ve simplified the image to monochrome so we can all see just how that curve works, how the dome of the ladybird is echoed in the dome of the end of…

It is a little over four years since Fujifilm first showed off the X100 premium compact camera, which marked a distinct change in direction (and fortune) for the company. With its unique hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, traditional control dials and classy good looks, not to mention excellent image quality, the X100 quickly established itself as a favourite among enthusiast photographers. In its original incarnation, the X100 was distinctly quirky and buggy, but Fujifilm applied its kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement, releasing a series of major firmware updates that transformed its usability. The second version – the X100S – added Fujifilm’s unique X-Trans CMOS sensor, along with much-needed improvements in speed and operational performance. The X100T (T for ‘Third’) continues the process, with a range of control refinements to improve the shooting…

WITH the same lens, sensor and image processor as its predecessor, it might be tempting to dismiss the X100T as a mere cosmetic update, designed as much to allow retailers to place a ‘new’ tag on an old product as anything else. At first glance it does little to dispel that impression, as it looks very much like the X100S and the X100 before it, but if you did think this, you’d be missing the point entirely. To my mind, the X100T is as significant an update as the X100S was over the original model. Fujifilm has applied everything that it has learned from its X-system compact system cameras and ironed out all the handling quirks that beset the previous models. The result is a camera that just works, and…

Email your questions to: apanswers@timeinc.com, via Twitter @AP_Magazine and #AskAP, or Facebook. Or write to Technical Support, Amateur Photographer Magazine, Time Inc (UK), Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU Swirly bokeh effects QI recently saw that a friend from a forum I frequently visit was posting pictures in her online portfolio of a lovely portrait featuring some kind of swirling background effect. Has she achieved this using Photoshop or some kind of filter, perhaps? I have sent her a private message, but as yet have not had a response, so I thought I’d write in. Courtney Mark A We reviewed a lens from Lomography in conjunction with Russian manufacturer Zenit that can produce the effect you describe (see AP 15 November). Called the Lomography Petzval Art lens,…

Homai Vyarawalla (1913-2012) arguably achieved more with her own talents than either of her subjects here. She was ‘only’ a photographer, and almost 50 when she took this picture. But look at the two people in the photo. One was a trophy bride (twice over - remember Onassis), while the other was a carefully constructed political creature of the Congress Party. Indira-ji was the daughter of Pandit Nehru, but clad herself in the name of the father of free India, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. She was no relation to the Mahatma: she married a man called Feroze Gandhi. Her political legacy is at best controversial. When she ordered the attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar in June 1984 to oust Sri Bhindranwale, whom she had backed as an excuse to…

WHILE the Nikon D3300 retains the class-leading 24.2-millionpixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor of its D3200 predecessor, the anti-aliasing filter has been removed to improve sharpness. A new Expeed 4 image processor inside the D3300 increases the maximum ISO to 25,600 and boosts continuous shooting from 4fps to 5fps. On the back, the D3300 has the same fixed 3in, 920,000-dot LCD as the D3200,aswellas the same 420-pixel RGB sensor and 11-point AF system. The optical viewfinder has been improved, and now delivers 0.85x magnification compared to 0.78x previously. Autofocus performance is decent, with the 11 AF points well spread out across the frame. At a glance ● 24.2-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor ● ISO 100-25,600 (extended) ● Expeed 4 image processor ● 3in, 920,000-dot LCD screen ● 11-point AF system ● £380 body…

WITH the D4S, Nikon has taken the best features from its D4 predecessor and built on them to produce a premium-grade DSLR for professional photographers. Continuous shooting of 11fps can be maintained for up to 104 consecutive 14-bit raw images or 200 fine large JPEG files, while a new Hi4 extended mode offers the equivalent of an incredible ISO 409,600. In addition to the 30p,25p and 24p full HD video-recording options offered by the D4, the D4S also offers 60p and 50p capture options. The D4S utilises the same Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX system used in the D4 and its 51-point 3D tracking system is able to cope with fast-moving subjects. The colours produced by the D4S are realistic, while sensitivity performance retains pretty much the same amount of detail at…

AT ￡6,800 body only, the Pentax 645Z may be expensive in comparison to full-frame DSLRs like the Nikon D810, but it is good value compared to the likes of Hasselblad or Leica S (below) The 51.4-millionpixel, medium-format CMOS sensor measures 44 x 33mm, giving a focal-length multiplier of 0.8x. It offers a sensitivity range of ISO 100-204,800, compared to just ISO 1600 from the older 645D’s CCD chip. It also allows full HD video capture (1920 x 1080 pixels) at 60i, 30p or 24p. The 645Z uses a tilting 3.2in, 1.04-million-dot LCD screen, and the large optical viewfinder offers a 98% field of view. The camera takes Flucards and SD-sized cards that offer Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling not only image transfer to a smartphone or tablet, but also remote control. The…

At a glance • 16.3-miLLion-pixeL. APS-C-sized CMOS sensor • 3.7in, 16:9 ratio, 1.3-miLLion-dot touchscreen LCD • IS0100-12,500 • 16GB internal memory • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom included • ￡1,350 body only • Tested: AP 7 June THE LEICA T (Type 701) is the company’s first compact system camera. Based around a new T mount, it comes with a sleek aluminium body design. There are very few physical controls - just a shutter button, a couple of control dials for changing exposure settings and a combined power/flash button. The back of the camera is mainly home to the large 3.7in touchscreen, and this is used to change most settings via a highly customisable menu interface. A16.3-millionpixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor offers a sensitivity range of ISO 100-12,500. Images can be saved as JPEGs…

At a glance ●14.2-million-pixel, CX-format CMOS sensor ●Hybrid autofocus system ●20fps shooting ●3in, 460,000-dot LCD screen ●£340 with 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens ●Not yet tested THE NIKON 1 S2 sits at the bottom of the company’s compact system camera range. It uses a 14.2-million-pixel, CX-format imaging sensor, with an ISO 200-12,800 sensitivity range. As with the rest of the Nikon 1 series, the S2 has a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system, with 73 phase-detection points and 135 contrast-detection points. However, it’s the continuous shooting speed that really stands out, with the S2’s Expeed 4A dual-engine image processor enabling 20 frames per second with autofocus and a buffer of 10 raw images. Nikon has designed the camera for people wanting to make the step up from smartphones and compact cameras, but who aren’t…

THE OLYMPUS Pen E-PL7 may not look much like the OM-D E-M10 on the outside, but internally it's pretty much exactly the same camera. The E-PL7 lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder and flash, and only has a single control dial, but this makes it smaller and more portable - and significantly cheaper. A small flash unit is provided in the box, and the camera can accept an optional electronic viewfinder. The I articulated screen can be rotated downwards to face forward underneath the camera for arm's-length selfies, and built-in Wi-Fi allows image I sharing and remote control of the camera from a smartphone. Olympus is very conspicuously marketing the E-PL7 at young women, based on research that suggests male enthusiast photographers tend to prefer cameras with viewfinders like the E-M10.…

At a glance • 20.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor • ISO 100-25,600 • 3in, 1.04-million-dot tiltable Super AMOLED swivel touchscreen LCD • 2.4-million-dot electronic viewfinder with 80° tiltable eyepiece • NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity • ￡570 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens • Tested: AP 29 March THE SAMSUNG NX30 is a DSLR-styled CSC, based around a 20.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor, which is the same as that used in previous Samsung cameras. With its DRIMe IV processor, it allows continuous shooting at 9fps. Externally, the NX30’s standout feature is its unusual tilting electronic viewfinder, which can be rotated 80° upwards for shooting at awkward angles. The rear 3in Super AMOLED screen is also fully articulated, so it can be set to face upwards, downwards or even forwards. Both displays are of excellent…

At a glance • 20.5-million-pixel 1in CMOS sensor • ISO 100-12,800 (extended) • 3in, 460,800-dot tilting touchscreen • Takes Samsung NX-M lenses • ￡270 with 9mm lens • Tested: AP 31 May WITH A 20.5-million-pixel, 1 in sensor, the NX mini is designed as a small, simple interchangeablelens camera in a similar fashion to the Nikon 1 S2. Only three lenses are available to fit the NX mini’s new NX-M mount - a 9-27mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom (24-70mm equivalent), 9mm f/3.5 wideangle prime (24mm equivalent) and 17mm f/1.8 standard prime (46mm equivalent). NX-mount lenses can be used with an optional adapter. Viewing is via a 3in, 460,800-dot tilting touchscreen, which can be hinged upwards to face forwards, putting the camera into selfie mode (complete with wink and smile shot shutter trigger…

At a glance • 12.2-million-pixel, full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor • ISO 50-409,600 • 3in, 921,600-dot tilting LCD • 2.36-million-dot OLED EVF • 5fps continuous shooting • ￡2,050 body only • Tested: AP 26 July THE ALPHA 7S is the third model in Sony's series of full-frame compact system cameras. Sharing the same external design as the older Alpha 7 and Alpha 7R, the Alpha 7S differs primarily in its sensor, which is a 12.2-million-pixel CMOS unit. The relatively low resolution compared to its 24.3-million- pixel (Alpha 7) and 36.4-millionpixel (Alpha 7R) siblings brings two primary advantages: extraordinary low-light performance, with an ISO 409,600 setting on offer; and the ability to record 4K video (although only via an external recorder). The Alpha 7S uses the same tough magnesium-alloy body shell as…

At a glance • 20.2-million-pixel, 1 in CMOS sensor • Digic 6 processor • 24-100mm (equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 lens • IS0125-12,800 • 3-in, 1.04-million-dot tilting touchscreen • ￡580 • Tested: AP1 November THE CANON PowerShot G7 X is a compact camera for enthusiast photographers that features a 20.2-million-pixel, 1 in sensor, which sits behind an ultra-fast 24-1 00mm (equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens. As such, it’s not only very stiff competition for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III, but it also makes Canon’s own PowerShot G1X Mark II look a little outdated. With an exposure-compensation dial underneath the mode dial, and a customisable control ring around the lens that gives firm clicks when settings are changed, the G7 X’s control layout is well considered for stills photographers. The tilting rear touchscreen allows the…

THE FUJIFILM X100T is a fixed-lens premium compact that hides bang up-to-date technology within its distinctly retro-styled body. It retains the key imaging components of its predecessor, the X100S, including the triedand-tested 16.3-million-pixel, X-Trans CMOS II sensor, Fujinon 23mm f/2 lens and EXR Processor II. The main changes are an updated viewfinder and a raft of usability improvements. The XI00T adds an 'electronic rangefinder’ view to the unique optical/electronic hybrid viewfinder. This blanks off the k lower-right corner of the optical viewfinder, and projects into it a magnified EVF display of the subject for precise focusing. The area of interest can even be moved around the frame to cover off-centre subjects. The controls have been improved compared to the XI00S, with the aperture ring now working in te-stop increments rather…

At a glance ● 18.1-million-pixel, 1/2.3in BSI CMOS sensor ● 24-720mm (equivalent) f/3.3-6.4 lens ● 3in, 920,000-dot LCD screen ● 200,000-dot EVF ● 10fps shooting ● £300 ● Tested: AP 22 March PANASONIC'S TZ'travel zoom’ pocket cameras have long been favourites of casual photographers, but the Lumix DMC-TZ60 adds several features that make it of greater interest to enthusiast photographers. Most importantly, it gains a built-in electronic viewfmder, a control ring around the lens and raw-format recording. TheTZ60’s Leica-branded zoom offers a 24-720mm (equivalent) range, which should cover most eventualities. Less impressive is its f/3.3-6.4 maximum aperture, but this is a necessary compromise for the camera’s compact size. The 18.1-million-pixel sensor is small, being of the 1/2.3in type, but it still offers an ISO range of 100-3200 (extended to ISO…

At a glance • 19.6-million-pixel, APS-C-sized Foveon X3 Quattro sensor • 45mm (equivalent) f/2.8 lens (dp2 Quattro) • 28mm (equivalent) f/2.8 lens (dpi Quattro) • 3in, 920,000-dot screen • IS0100-6400 • ￡750 • Tested: AP16 August (dp2) SIGMA’S latest enthusiast compact cameras are odd-shaped devices that house a radically reworked Foveon sensor in a strikingly unconventional body design. The only difference between the two is the lens - the dp2 Quattro has a 30mm f/2.8 optic giving a 45mm equivalent angle of view, while the newer dp1’s 19mm f/2.8 lens gives a 28mm equivalent wideangle view. The two share the same physical design, using a wide, low, slim body, with the lens offset towards the right. The most striking feature is the handgrip, which is an oddlooking affair that sticks…

Untitled by Envija Collins Shot and edited using an iPhone 6 THIS image of a dancer at the Hispanic Cultural Festival in Florida, USA, was uploaded to our Flickr page. ‘I’ve been using a Canon DSLR for years and until now had never appreciated the images that I’d taken using a smartphone,’ says Envija. ‘I’d always seen them as snapshots of so-so quality. However, this image was actually taken using an iPhone 6. ‘When the offi cial festivities of the Hispanic culture festival in Coral Gables, Florida, were done, the ladies from Belly2abs studio were still having fun just dancing around. I didn’t want to show too many merchant tents and garbage cans all over the place, so I chose the setting sun and sky as a background. The photo…

Starling murmurations can offer photographers stunning shots, as we can see here in this image by AP reader Paul Cooper. ‘I took this shot in Aberystwyth in Ceredigion,’ says Paul. ‘My daughter had mentioned the murmuration of starlings that roost under the pier every evening, so I specifically walked along the sea front looking for them and found a good vantage point on a small jetty opposite the pier. ‘I decided to use the man in the composition to give some scale to the murmuration. I was particularly pleased to see how the man seems completely oblivious to the activity around him. I shot handheld, pushed the ISO to 2500 and opened the lens to f/5.6 to give me a speed of 1/500sec.’ Words & numbers The whole point of…

A BRITISH photographer’s portrait of his baby son being introduced to a dog has won the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2014. Musician-turned-fashion-photographer David Titlow was presented with his £12,000 prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The Taylor Wessing awards aim to recognise some of the most exciting contemporary work, emerging talent, established professionals, students and ‘gifted amateurs’. Titlow captured his winning shot after a midsummer party in Sweden – beating more than 4,000 other entries to the top spot. Describing his winning portrait, entitled ‘Konrad Lars Hastings Titlow’, the photographer said: ‘Everyone was a bit hazy from the previous day’s excess. ‘My girlfriend passed our son to the subdued revellers on the sofa – the composition and backlight were so perfect that I had to capture the…

Stormbelt By Robert Leslie, Dewi Lewis, £30, hardback, 120 pages, ISBN 978-1-90789-347-6 THIS book represents either a serious blip in the West’s economic history or it marks the unravelling of the fabric of the structures that underpin our society. The fact that Leslie is able to do this through a series of hauntingly beautiful landscapes is pretty miraculous. How exactly does one chart such an event? In the hands of a less skilled practitioner, we might be faced with something more heavy-handed – perhaps treading the beaten ground of works gone by. The obvious emulation would be the work produced by Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. But the success of Stormbelt is that Leslie has avoided producing a book that beats us across the head with end-of-times prophecies and melancholic…

The effects of directional light, and where you place yourself relative to that, can transform any subject from dull and boring into a more interesting and evocative subject. This is immediately obvious when comparing the two images below. In the first shot, the sun is behind a thin covering of cloud, lighting the image evenly. It has produced a nice image, but one that lacks any punch or visual interest. The second image was taken with the sun unobstructed by clouds. It’s low in the sky and coming in from the left of the frame. The camera wants to try to even out the exposure in situations like this, which would result in a higher ISO and overexposed subject in order to balance out the background. However, by applying some…

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 The magic of film photography We know that in an overcrowded photomagazine market, AP holds a unique place. And Andrew Sanderson’s excellent article on processing film (AP 1 November) is just one of the reasons why. With AP’s championing of classic film cameras and analogue photography as a whole, I can’t think of another publication that still values the use – not to mention the skills – of processing and printing black & white photos under the cosy glow of a darkroom safelight. It’s a pastime I’m loath to abandon as there’s simply no digital equivalent to seeing an image magically appear in a dish…

From a simple sketch comes a surreal idea. Sjoerd Stellingwerf reveals the process behind this image There are a lot of discussions about the merits of Photoshop. Some people hate it and some love it, but I agree with the latter view. While it can produce some horrible results in the wrong hands, it’s an incredibly powerful tool for creating images that you can’t make with your camera alone. I like to think of my manipulations as surrealistic with a touch of humour. I only make use of my own images, not those from stock libraries. Concept Before I even pick up a camera and start taking pictures, I like to make a sketch of the idea I want to create. In this case, I envisaged a shot of a…

Sirui K-10X ball head Sirui’s K-10X ball head promises professional features at a relatively aff ordable price. Andy Westlake tries it out At a glance ● 20kg max load ● Friction-adjustment control ● Arca Swiss-compatible quick release SIRUI is a Chinese photographic equipment maker seeking to establish a reputation for quality products, rather than just low price, and which makes photographic and video tripods and heads. The K-10X is the smallest in Sirui’s premium ‘K’ range of ball heads. Like its stablemates, the K-10X has separate locking knobs for the main ball and the independent panning base, with an embedded friction-setting control on the main locking knob. A single slot in the ball casing allows the camera to be rotated into portrait orientation. The quick-release platform has three bubble levels,…

Built-in Wi-Fi You can connect to a smartphone or tablet using the Fujifilm Camera Remote app, for image sharing and remote control. This is easy to set up and works well. Battery The NP-95 battery is rated for 330 shots per charge, and can be topped-up either in-camera via USB or with the supplied AC charger. Raw conversion Raw images can be converted to JPEGs in-camera, with extensive control over colour mode, contrast, white balance and so on.…

Cactus is a wireless studio lighting equipment designer and manufacturer based in Hong Kong. it specialises in products such as wireless flash triggers, wireless portable flashes laser triggers, and other lighting and camera accessories. One of these is the new Cactus V6. While it may have started life as a humble flash trigger, the sixth generation of the Cactus offers something no other device does. It can fire a multitude of flash brands from almost any camera with a standard ISO hotshoe or PC sync port, while being able to adjust the power output remotely. Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus or Panasonic cameras can be used to fire Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax-fit flashes. The V6 has a variety of uses for all sorts of different photographers, particularly those who…

I AM AN aspherical lens element and I have helped to improve the optical quality of camera lenses in recent years. You may have seen Asph’ or Aspheric’ marked on a camera lens or in lens specifications. It’s now widely regarded as a mark of excellence. In a perfect world, all lenses would work like a pinhole camera lens. This would mean there would be no distortion, and focus would be uniform across the frame. However, pinhole lenses are completely impractical because they are very dark and you can’t use them to enjoy effects such as selective focus and blurring for creative effect. This is why a combination of glass lenses and lenses of other materials -including optical plastics - are used in modern camera lens designs Lens elements, whether…

THE CANON EOS1200D uses an 18-million-pixel, APS-C-format CMOS sensor, which is a significant increase in resolution over the 12.2-million-pixel chip found in its predecessor, the EOS1100D. This sensor is paired with a Canon Digic 4 image processor to facilitate a burst speed of 3fps up to a maximum of 69 consecutive JPEG files or six raw images. The EOS1200D is bundled with an18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens that has a newly developed image stabilisation (IS) system. Features include a fixed 3in, 460,000-dot TFT LCD screen and 1080p full HD video at 30, 25 or 24fps. Battery life is around 500 shots per charge, though – 200 shots fewer than the EOS1100D. With a 63-area, colour-sensitive metering system, the EOS1200D delivers accurate exposures with the camera striking a good balance between shadow…

At a glance ● 24.3-million-pixel, full-frame CMOS sensor ● Built-in Wi-Fi ● 3.2in, 1.3-million-dot tiltable LCD screen ● ISO 50-51,200 (extended) ● Multi-CAM 3500FX II autofocus sensor module ● £1,800 body only ● Tested: AP 25 October TAILORED for enthusiasts, while catering for both the hobbyist and aspiring professional, the D750 features a redesigned version of the 24.3-million-pixel sensor found in the D610. The presence of an optical low-pass filter distinguishes the D750 from the D810 and helps to prevent moiré patterning, although it does so at the expense of some finer detail reproduction. The D750 is the first full-frame Nikon DSLR to feature the monocoque design – a one-piece body previously seen on the D5300. The main benefit is a smaller size, measuring just 140.5 x 113 x 78mm.…

At a glance • 20.1-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor • ISO 100-51,200 • 30-1/6000sec shutter speed • 3in, 921,000-dot LCD screen • ￡550 body only • Not yet tested THE PENTAX K-S1 is an entry-level DSLR featuring a 20.1-million-pixel, APS-C-sized imaging sensor. The camera’s most visible standout feature is an ‘illumination interface’, which includes a number of LEDs on the handgrip that flash a countdown during self-timer shooting. The power switch also has an LED that lights green during still-image shooting, and changes colour to red during movie operation, while the rear mode dial is also illuminated. The camera comes in a range of 15 colours, including ‘fabric’ and ‘sweets’ collections, alongside a more conservative black option. Behind its quirky design, the K-S1 hides an impressive specification for its class. The…

AT PHOTOKINA 2014, Leica announced a new version of its flagship S camera (Type 007) for a 2015 launch. The S has a new Leica-designed, 37.5-million-pixel CMOS sensor that supports 4K video capture, plus sensitivities up to ISO 6400. At 30 x 45mm in size, it offers a 0.8x crop compared to full frame. The Maestro II processor enables a faster 3.5-frames-per-second still-image burst rate, and the camera promises quicker autofocusing and predictive AF. The S also includes a built-in GPS module, new dual-axis spirit level, built-in Wi-Fi and a 3in, 921,600-dot screen. The OLED display on the top-plate has been redesigned to be easier to read, but otherwise the body is very similar in looks to the previous model. The new S is due out in spring 2015, priced…

NIKON’S compact system cameras have never quite taken off with camera enthusiasts, and the Nikon 1 V3 is the company’s third attempt to tap into the top end of this market. It is based around an 18.4-million-pixel,1in-type sensor, which does away with an optical low-pass filter for greater resolving power. The ISO range runs from 160-12,800, and Nikon’s Expeed 4A image engine incorporates two processors for enhanced performance, allowing the V3 to shoot at up to 60fps at full resolution. Images are recorded to MicroSD cards. The Nikon1V3 is bundled with a 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD-Zoom lens that offers a 27-81mm equivalent range. It has a compact design and a power-driven zoom designed to deliver smooth transitions during movie recording. The V3’s handling is better than its predecessors, but still not…

At a glance • 12.4-million-pixel, 1/1.7in backlit CMOS sensor • 3in, 460,000-dot LCD screen with AR coating • In-body image-stabilisation system • Pentax Q mount • In-camera raw processing and HDR mode • ￡280 body only • Tested: AP 1 November THE LATEST Q-series model from Pentax is one of the smallest interchangeable-lens cameras that money can buy, measuring 105 x 58 x 34mm and weighing just 200g (with battery and card). This latest version features a 12.4-million-pixel, 1/1.7in backlit CMOS sensor and Pentax Q engine image processor, capable of 5fps bursts, raw and JPEG shooting, and sensitivity up to ISO 12,800. It sports a tough plastic frame and aluminium grip. On paper, the Q-S1 is almost identical to the Q7, although a makeover gives it a more refined look.…

At a glance • 16.05-million-pixel, four thirds Live MOS sensor • Venus Engine IX • ISO 100-25,600 (extended) • 4K video recording • 2.36-million-dot OLED EVF • ￡1,200 body only or ￡1,650 with 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 lens • Tested: AP 24 May PANASONIC’S GH-series models have always been strongly video-focused, and the fourth iteration in the shape of the Lumix DMC-GH4 emphasises this by being the first compact system camera to include 4K video recording. However, with its revised 16.05-million-pixel, four thirds sensor and DSLR-like styling and control layout, it’s an excellent camera for stills photography too. The GH4 is capable of 7.5 frames per second shooting with continuous AF and as fast as 12fps with focus fixed, for 40 raw images or 100 JPEGs at full resolution. Autofocus is exceptionally…

At a glance • 28-million-pixel, APS-C-sized BSI CMOS sensor • 15fps continuous shooting • 4K video recording • ISO 100-51,200 (extended) • ￡1, 300 body only • Not yet tested ONE OF the stars of Photokina 2014 was Samsung’s NX1. It is the company’s latest top-end compact system camera and features an extraordinary specification, including a 28-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor with a hybrid autofocus system that includes phase-detection elements arrayed across almost the entire frame. This is the first APS-C sensor to use backside illumination technology, promising improved image quality at high sensitivities right up to the maximum of ISO 51,200. The NX1 can shoot at 15 frames per second with continuous autofocus, and with a 70-frame JPEG buffer.lt also joins a select group of cameras that offer video recording…

THE ALPHA 5000 and 5100 twins are small cameras that pack a powerful punch. Externally, they’re almost indistinguishable, but the newer Alpha 5100 gains significant updates inside. For one, the Alpha 5000 has a 20.1-million-pixel sensor, while the Alpha 5100 borrows the excellent 24.3-millionpixel unit from the Alpha 6000, complete with its sophisticated on-chip hybrid AF system with 179 points across 84% of the frame. At a glance Alpha 5000 • 20.1-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor • 3in, 460,000-dot tilting LCD screen • ￡300 with 16-50mm zoom • Tested: AP 22 February Alpha 5100 • 24.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor • 3in, 921,600-dot tilting touchscreen LCD • ￡530 with 16-50mm zoom • Tested: AP 27 September Both cameras have lightweight plastic bodies, identical control layouts, and a 3in tilting screen that can…

SONY has probably been the most consistently innovative camera company of the past few years, constantly trying to find new niches for its products, but the QX1 may well be its most idiosyncratic camera yet. The QX1 is an evolution of Sony’s lens-style camera’ concept, only now without a lens. Instead, it has a 20.1-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor, and a Sony E mount to accept interchangeable lenses. There’s no rear screen, and only minimal physical controls. Instead, the camera is designed to be controlled from a smart device over Wi-Fi, using the Sony PlayMemories Mobile app. This offers a decent level of manual control, including the ability to set aperture, ISO and exposure compensation. Set-up is made easier by the inclusion of NFC. Images are recorded to a MicroSD card…

At a glance • 16.1-million-pixel, 1/2.3in BSI CMOS sensor • 21-1,365mm (equivalent) f/3.4-6.5 lens • ISO 100-3200 • 3in, 922,000-dot vari-angLe LCD • 1920 x 1080-pixel video at 60fps or 30fps • ￡450 • Tested: AP15 November THE CANON PowerShot SX60 HS is the successor to last year’s SX50 HS and is distinguished by its vast 65x optical zoom, which is as notable for its 21 mm-equivalent wideangle setting as it is for its 1,365mm (equivalent) telephoto. The SX60 HS uses a 16.1 -millionpixel, 1/2.3in back-illuminated CMOS sensor and Canon’s latest Digic 6 processor, and offers a maximum sensitivity of ISO 3200. Most notably, though, the camera offers raw-format recording, which is unusual in this class. However, that super-long lens isn’t entirely practical in reality, as it’s difficult to use…

At a glance • 16.2-million-pixel, APS-C CMOS sensor • ISO100-12,500 • 5fps continuous shooting • 2.4-million-dot clip-on EVF (available separately, priced ￡400) • ￡1,550 • Not yet tested THE LEICA X (Type 113) is the manufacturer’s latest flagship fixed-lens compact. It sits above the newly announced X-E, which is a cosmetically refreshed version of the two-year-old Leica X2. The X has a fixed Summilux 23mm f/1.7 Asph optic (equivalent to 35mm), which is 1 1⁄2 stops faster than the X2’s. The lens has a dedicated manual-focus ring, which is also used to turn the camera to AF mode by twisting it past the infinity position. The APS-C-sized CMOS sensor gives an effective resolution of 16.2 million pixels, and supports an ISO range of 100-12,500. The 3in screenhasa921,000-dot resolution, and the…

At a glance ● 12.8-million-pixel, four thirds sensor ●24-75mm (equivalent) f/1.7-2.8 lens ●ISO 100-25,600 (extended) ●Built-in EVF ●3in, 921,000-dot LCD screen ●£700 ●Tested: AP 8 November PANASONIC’S LX range of enthusiast compacts has always been popular, but the Lumix DMC-LX100 promises to move it into an altogether different league. It places a 24-75mm (equivalent) lens with a fast f/1.7-2.8 aperture in front of a four thirds sensor with an effective resolution of 12.8 million pixels. A clever multi-aspect-ratio design means that the diagonal angle of view is maintained across the16:9, 3:2 and 4:3 image formats, which are accessed by a switch on the lens barrel. The LX100 features analogue control dials for aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation, and the ring around the lens can be used for manual focus…

SONY turned the enthusiast compact camera class on its head with the RXlOO-a pocketable camera with a large 1 in sensor. The third model in the line, the RX100 III, comes with several new standout features. The first is a much more consistently fast lens in the form of a 24-70mm (equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 optic. Second is a hinged LCD that can rotate 180° to face forwards for selfies. However, the most striking feature is a built-in EVF that pops up out of the top-plate. Impressively, these all add little to the size, and whilethe RXlOO III isa little thicker than previous versions, it's still quite pocketable. The camera uses the same 1 in, 20-million-pixel sensor as its predecessor, which offers excellent image quality. However, video quality has been dramatically improved…

Jessops trading Start-up costs drove Jessops to a £2.1m loss for the 15 months to 30 April 2014. Jessops said: ‘Significant investment was necessary to re-establish a nationwide retail business’. But as previously reported, once trading began on 28 March 2013, Jessops recorded an operating profit of £280,000 on sales of over £56m for the year to 30 April. For the six months to 30 April 2014, operating profit was £1.8m. Canon lens Canon has unveiled the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, trumpeted as a high-performance zoom lens that is ideal for sports and wildlife photographers. The ‘lightweight’, redesigned zoom includes Canon’s Air Sphere Coating (ASC) and a traditional twist-action zoom. The 21-element lens also features a ‘4-stop’ optical image stabiliser, to help reduce camera shake. The lens costs…

PRINCE Harry joined rock-starturned-photographer Bryan Adams to pay tribute to war wounded at the opening of an exhibition in London recently. More than 30 portraits are on display at Somerset House, depicting British servicemen and women who have suffered life-changing injuries on military duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prince Harry met war veterans before being given a private tour of the exhibition, called Wounded: The Legacy of War, a year after a book of the same name was published. The intimate portraits are striking and unsettling, since they do not shy away from the atrocities and aftermath of war,’ said a spokesperson for Somerset House, where the show runs until 25 January 2015. ‘In them, the inspiring individuals show the same spirit of resolve, courageousness and camaraderie in civilian life…

Durham Christmas Festival For the first weekend of December, the picturesque city of Durham comes alive with festivity. With a lantern procession, falconry displays and a tour of the castle on the offering, there will be no shortage of snap-worthy sights. 5-7 December. www.durhamchristmasfestival.com Shoot winter scenes Winter is nearly here, and the country is coming alive with shooting opportunities. Don’t miss our 13 December issue, where photographers will be giving their best winter landscape tips. Also, visit our website and search for ‘53 projects’. www.amateurphotographer. co.uk Photofusion SALON/14 This year’s Photofusion SALON exhibition showcases work from 140 artists, whittled down from the 1200 images originally entered. There’s no theme or principle – the only agenda is showing off good photography. Can’t argue with that. Until 30 January 2015 www.photofusion.org…

Richard Peters Richard Peters is a UK-based wildlife photographer whose passion stems from watching natural-history documentaries as a youngster. Now his photos and writing are published regularly, and his images have won awards in numerous worldwide competitions. www.richardpeters.co.uk As a photographer, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking to yourself that the light isn’t very good. However, the truth .is that all light is good for something. But putting that thought aside, even when the sun is out and everything is bathed in light, it’s just as easy to miss beautiful shots that are staring you in the face as it is to pack up because the light is dull. Simply put, get the sun off your back. What do I mean by that? Well, when the…

Benjamin Von Wong explains how he created a series of breathtakingly beautiful underwater shots at a Bali shipwreck. He talks to Jade Severs My trip to the Indonesian island of Bali, to shoot at the Tulamben shipwreck, actually started off as a family holiday. My mum had been badgering me to take some time off, so I finally said I would – with the proviso that she would allow me to do a diving class and get my open water divers’ licence. Of course, being a photographer, I couldn’t let the opportunity to do a photo shoot slip by. I had shot underwater before, but only within the confines of a swimming pool. This had already prepared me for the fact that everything is more complicated underwater. Knowing this, it…

Through western eyes, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) can seem like an almost alien land, one defined by stories of dictatorship, moribund economy, labour camps and irrationality. Yet according to Andrei Lankov, author of The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia, our perception of North Korea is one warped by overheated rhetoric. Lankov suggests that North Korea is anything but irrational. This is, after all, the last standing Stalinist regime and it is one that has survived against all the odds. What may appear to us in the West to be a country overseen by a mad and unpredictable regime is, in fact, a land that remains in absolute possession of its faculties. A political fossil it may be, but through a careful…

We present the stunning top 30 images from APOY round 8, The World in Black & White Pawel Pentlinowski from Co Wicklow in Ireland is the winner of round 8, The World in Black & White, of APOY 2014. Pawel will receive an Olympus OM-D E-M10 with a 14-42mm EZ Pancake zoom, a 45mm f/1.8 portrait lens, a 40-150mm zoom, a 9mm fisheye lens, a macro adaptor and a street case in which to carry it all. That’s a total retail price of ￡1,200 The E-M10 has a 16.1-millionpixel, four thirds-sized CMOS sensor and a TruePic VII image-processing system. The 1.44-million-dot EVF displays a 100% field of view and has a 120fps refresh rate. The 14-42mm EZ Pancake zoom lens is a slim and compact optic that is equivalent to…

Lexar Professional Workflow DD256 USB 3.0 Drive ● £119 ● www.lexar.com NOT content with providing photographers with some of the best memor cards available, Lexar has added high-capacity USB 3.0 drives and a workstation hub to its product line-up. The Lexar Professional Workflow USB 3.0 solid state drive is available in 256GB and 512GB capacities, and can be used as a standalone storage solution or as part of the Lexar Professional HR2 drive hub that is compatible with Thunderbolt 2. It offers super-fast write speeds of up to a stated 245MB/s, and using a USB 3.0-compatible computer I managed to transfer images from a full 8GB SDHC card to the Workflow DD256 Data Storage Drive in around 30secs. The drive includes an LED capacity meter, indicating available storage in five…

THE X-Trans CMOS sensor does away with an optical low-pass filter, and can resolve an impressive amount of detail without being prone to unpleasant artefacts. This is shown in our tests, with the camera making full use of its 16.3-million-pixel resolution, recording impressive amounts of detail even at high ISOs. Indeed, settings up to ISO 3200 are very usable indeed, although some fine low-contrast detail will be lost. Dynamic range is pretty good at low ISOs, and the sensor continues to perform well as the sensitivity is increased. The camera’s dynamic range settings are on hand to make best use of this, by helping the user avoid highlight clipping in highcontrast lighting. One area where the X100T excels is in its JPEG colour rendition. In the default ‘Provia/Standard’ mode it…

WITH technology moving on so quickly, and photographers themselves always exploring new areas and styles of working, it’s increasingly commonplace for them to change cameras or own a number of different types. While some photographers stick to the same brand, it’s not always possible to do so. For those who shoot with a variety of different brands, the Cactus V6 offers an inexpensive way to build an off-camera flash kit for all your cameras. Recently, a lot of photographers who use Fujifilm compact system cameras have adopted this as their off-camera triggering system for that very reason. The more expensive flash triggers on the market usually have the ability to shoot with flashes in TTL mode. In short, this is like having flashes in auto mode. That’s fantastic for situations…

TO CELEBRATE AP’s130th anniversary, we are giving you the chance to win a Leica M, along with a Leica Summarit-M 50mm f/2.5 lens. To enter the Amateur Photographer/Leica prize draw, collect six differently numbered tokens and fill in one of the forms published in either AP11October (includes token1) or AP18 October (includes token 2). It can also be downloaded online at www. amateurphotographer.co.uk/apis130. The final token, number 8, is printed here. Send your completed coupon and six tokens in an envelope to: Amateur Photographer/Leica Competition, 9th Floor, Blue Fin Building,110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU. The closing date for receipt of the completed form is Friday 5 December 2014.…

THE EOS 7D Mark II boasts two Digic 6 image processors, allowing shooting at up to lOfps, maintaining this speed indefinitely when shooting J PEGs or for up to 32 raw files. Its 20.2-millionpixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor is borrowed from the EOS 70D. A brand-new AF system uses 65 focus points (all cross-type) with the centre point offering dual cross-type focusing at f/2.8. The latest generation I Al Servo II is inherited from the EOS-1D X, 1 as are the six autofocus 'case-study’ settings for easier set-up. The EOS 7D Mark II uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology for video focusing, as seen in the EOS 70D, and can record full HD video at up to 60fps. At a glance • 20.2-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor • Dual Digic 6 processors…

WHAT makes the Nikon D810 notable is the fact that it is the first full-frame DSLR not to have an optical low-pass filter at all. It also features a new 36.3-million-pixel sensor design and a 3.2in LCD monitor with a1.23-million-dot RGBW display. The D810 has a wider range of image-capture formats too, including the new S Raw that captures uncompressed files at 9 million pixels. Despite the large file sizes it produces, it can shoot continuously at up to 5fps, or 6fps in DX crop mode. There are several button-placement refinements on the D810, while the grip has a larger indentation for the middle finger and there’s a larger thumb rest. The hefty magnesium-alloy body weighs in at 980g with battery and card, although the improved weather-sealing means it’s built…

THE ALPHA 77 II is Sony’s latest SLT (single-lens translucent) model, which uses a ‘translucent’ mirror to direct light to its autofocus module while using an electronic viewfinder for composition. The camera features a 24.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized Exmor CMOS sensor and BionzX processor, which together deliver an impressive continuous shooting performance of 12fpsfor64 fine J PEGs or 25 consecutive JPEG + raw images before the buffer is full. The remarkable 79-point autofocus system enhances the camera's ability to track subjects, and in-body image stabilisation works with all lenses. The Alpha 77 II has a weather-sealed, magnesiumalloy body with a wealth of external controls. The 3in LCD is fully articulated, and the 2.36-milliondot OLED EVF one of the best we’ve seen. The camera also features NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity, and can be…

At a glance ● 16.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized X-Trans CMOS II sensor ● EXR Processor II ● ISO 100-51,200 (extended) ● 2.36-million-dot OLED EVF ● 3in, 1.04-million-dot LCD ● £950 body only ● Tested: AP 15 March THE FUJIFILM X-T1is a high-end compact system camera with a distinctly DSLR-like design. Its body is covered in control dials for most of the major settings, including shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO and drive mode, resulting in very intuitive operation. Many of the buttons can be customised too, while the weather-sealed, magnesium-alloy body feels reassuringly solid. Inside the X-T1is a16.3-millionpixel, APS-C-sized X-Trans CMOS II sensor, which includes on-chip phase-detection pixels for fast autofocus, even at the maximum continuous shooting speed of 8fps. The camera delivers attractive images with excellent colour rendition in a range of…

THE NIKON 1J4 sits in the middle of the company's CSC range, and looks pretty impressive on paper. Improvements over the J3 include a better battery life, up to 300 shots per charge compared to 220 previously, touchscreen control, an 18.4-million-pixel CX-format sensor (14.2 million pixels in the J3) and an sensitivity range of ISO 160-12,800 (ISO 160-6400 in the J3). The J4 is available in a kit with the compact VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 I PD-Zoom lens. With an intelligent hybrid AF system and Nikon’s Expeed 4A image processor, the J4 is capable of continuous autofocus during a 20fps burst mode, which is undoubtedly its most impressive feature. It can also shoot at up to 60fps with fixed focus, giving it a clear edge over its peers if speed is…

OLYMPUS has won many fans since reverting to the classic film SLR design aesthetic for its OM-D cameras. The E-M10 continues in the same vein, being an attractive lightweight alternative to tempt advanced enthusiasts who don’t want bulkier and heavier DSLRs. The E-M10 has a 16.1-million-pixel, four thirds sensor, and uses the popular micro four thirds mount, giving compatibility with a wide range of lenses. An in-body image-stabilisation system works with practically all these lenses. The E-M10 has a 1.44-milliondot electronic viewfinder, and is the first OM-D camera to include a built-in flash, which is nestled below a hotshoe that can be used to attach an external flash. A tilting 3in, 1.04-million-dot LCD touchscreen, three-axis image stabilisation, twin control dials, focus peaking and wireless capabilities complete a comprehensive feature set.…

At a glance • 16-million-pixel, four thirds Live MOS sensor • 98.5 x 59.5 x 36.1mm size • ISO 100-25,600 (extended) • 1.17-million-dot EVF • 3in, 921,000-dot touchscreen • ￡770 with 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 lens • Tested: AP 15 November PANASONIC’S tiny Lumix DMC-GM1 was one of our favourite cameras of last year, and the company has followed it up this year with the GM5, which adds an electronic viewfinder in a body that is only slightly larger than the previous model. Aside from that, the GM5 gains a hotshoe in lieu of a built-in flash, and features a revised control layout. With its 16-million pixel, Live MOS sensor and micro four thirds lens mount, the GM5 offers decent image quality and access to a large range of lenses. Autofocus is…

SAMSUNG’S NX3000 is an entry-level compact system camera designed for novice photographers. It comes with a decent specification, including a 20.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor offering a sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600, and a hinged 3in LCD that can be tilted upwards and fully forwards for slfies. However, at 460,000 dots, the LCD has a low resolution by current standards. Built-in Wi-Fi allows easy image sharing to smartphones. The NX3000 can shoot at up to 5fps, saving imagestoaMicroSD card rather than the commonly used SD format. The bundled 16-50mmf/3.5-5.6PZlensis nice and compact, and includes Samsung's useful i-Function button that can be used to | quickly change settings such as ISO, white balance and exposure compensation. There is no built-in flash, but a small external one is included in the box. With…

THE ALPHA 6000 is a fully featured compact system camera for enthusiast photographers. It uses a 24.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized Exmor CMOS sensor alongside Sony’s latest Bionz X image processor. The sensor has phasedetection elements across most of its area, resulting in a fast hybrid AF system that uses 25 contrast-detect and 179 phase-detect points. The Alpha 6000 can shoot at 11fps for up to 49 frames in JPEG, or 21 frames when shooting raw + JPEG. A sensitivity range of ISO100-25,600 is on offer, or ISO 100-12,800 in movie mode. For viewing, the Alpha 6000 features a 1.44-million-dot EVF that, with its 0.7x magnification, is as large as the viewfinders of full-frame DSLRs. On the back there's a tilting 3in, 921,600-dot LCD display, although unlike on many of its competitors this…

THE POWERSHOT G1 X Mark II is an update of the two-year-old G1 X, using the same 1.5in-type sensor, but with a new 24-120mm (equivalent) lens with a very respectable maximum aperture off/2-3.9. This offers a muchimproved minimum focusing distance of 5cm, too. The G1X Mark II drops the optical viewfinder found in its predecessor, although it can accept an accessory electronic finder. The screen is now tilt-only, rather than fully articulated, but it is touchsensitive. Build quality is sturdy and robust, and a new handgrip transforms the handling. Two customisable control rings encircle the lens, allowing control of exposure settings. Metering tends to err on the side of giving bright images, so it often needs to be toned down with a touch of exposure compensation. This is aided by…

THE FUJIFILM X30 is a premium compact camera for enthusiast photographers. It stands out from the crowd for its use of a mechanical zoom ring to operate its 28-112mm (equivalent) f/2-2.8 lens. It also has probably the best built-in electronic viewfinder of any zoom compact camera - a 2.36-million-dot OLED unit with 0.65x magnification. Images are recorded using Fujifilm’s 12-millionpixel, X-Trans CMOS II sensor, which is of the 2/3in type, meaning it’s a little smaller than those in other recent premium compacts. Aside from its zoom ring, the X30 has plenty of other external controls, including an exposurecompensation dial and an additional control dial around the lens behind the zoom ring. A 3in, 920,000-dot tilting screen on the back aids shooting at unusual angles, and the camera has built-in Wi-Fi…

THE LUMIX DMC-CM1 sees a resurgent Panasonic producing a product that defies simple categorisation. Essentially, it’s a camera phone, but one where far more attention has been paid to camera design, usability and image quality than ever before. From the back, the CM 1 looks just like a smartphone, with a large touchscreen and three-button set typical of an Android device. From the front, though, it's clear that this is something different in camera terms, with a prominent lens surrounded by a control dial that’s used to change camera settings. In fact, the CM1 uses the same1 in-type backlit CMOS sensor as several current enthusiast compacts, and a 28mm (equivalent) f/2.8 Leica Elmarit lens. At a glance ● 20.1-million-pixel, 1in backlit CMOS sensor ● 28mm (equivalent) f/2.8 lens ● 4.7in…

At a glance ●20.1-million-pixel, 1in BSI CMOS sensor ●25-400mm (equivalent) f/2.8-4 lens ● 3in, 921,000-dot fully articulated LCD screen ● 2.36-million-dot EVF ● 4K video recording ● £750 ● Tested: AP 8 November THE LUMIX DMC-FZ1000 is arguably the best bridge-type camera yet made, with only Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 offering serious competition. The inclusion of a 1in, 20.1-million-pixel BSI CMOS sensor and impressive 16x 25-400mm (equivalent) optical zoom lens puts it a cut above most other bridge cameras. The Leica DC optic is nice and bright (f/2.8-4), and offers fast and snappy autofocus. The camera’s built-in OLED EVF is superb, offering a 2.36-milliondot resolution. The fully articulated 921,000-dot LCD is also excellent, although unfortunately it lacks touch functionality. Build quality is pretty good, with a metal lens barrel and plastic…