Innholdsfortegnelse for 18-Jun-2016 i Amateur Photographer

Surely no category of camera has been so transformed in recent years than the bridge camera, as exemplified by the subject of this week’s big test, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III. I used to hate them – masquerading as DSLRs, they conned the unwary buyer into thinking they were getting superior image quality when they had the same small, noisy sensors as cheap point and shoots. Their tiny, laggy, electronic viewfinders made them awful to use, and their only positive attribute – a big zoom – was undermined by small maximum apertures that made camera shake inevitable. The RX10 III gives you a one-inch sensor, a fast lens, stunning EVF and 4K video. It’s as far from the ghastly bridge cameras of old as a Ferrari is to a dustcart.…

QUEEN guitarist Brian May has announced the launch of a stereo image viewer, designed for a smartphone audience. May has adapted the OWL Stereo Viewer, used by stereoscopic enthusiasts since 2009 to view Victorian stereo cards, to accept any type of smartphone. The kit will rival the Google Cardboard and Facebook's recently announced Oculus Rift headset. May said: ‘Virtual reality has taken the consumer-electronics world by storm over recent months and masses of content is now rapidly becoming available… ‘However, until now, users have had the choice of an expensive VR viewer that puts it out of reach of many people or a very low-cost alternative that just doesn't do the format justice.' The OWL VR Kit costs £25. Visit www.londonstereo.com. Subscribe to Amateur Photographer SAVE 35%* Visit amateurphotographer subs.co.uk/15W…

Someone once told me that when people say, ‘Britain is beautiful, but it’s a shame about the weather’, they always replied that Britain is beautiful because of the weather. How right they are. All the images in the nine years of the Take a view Landscape Photographer of the Year awards have reflected Britain’s weather, be it haze rising from a summer beach or a wind-lashed tree clinging to a rock face. There’s still enough time to send in your entries for this year’s competition, as the closing date for LPOTY 2016 is 10 July. The competition is divided into the adult Landscape Photographer of the Year Award and the Young Landscape Photographer of the Year Award, with four categories (Classic View, Living the View, Urban View and Your View)…

How to enhance detail YOU CAN tell that Ivan Galic has put a lot of thought into the preparation for this photograph. By combining a high-ISO setting with a long exposure, Ivan was able to capture more detail in the starry sky than one would see normally, and the Milky Way is clearly visible on the right. More than that, however, he has included a lot of interesting detail in the foreground, which really makes this photograph stand out. He has chosen a great location to shoot from and the young man in the foreground adds a human dimension to the scene. The backlighting adds drama, too, but when I looked at the photo close-up I could see the feet of the person who was holding the light in the…

Early start For me, Glastonbury Tor is an early morning location. Owing to its proximity to the low-lying and very damp Somerset Levels, if there is mist to be had it will be at this time of day. Try to work out your angles so that you are shooting into the sun with the Tor silhouetted. Backlit, the mist will look much better. The church and the hill can look a bit ordinary if you are not careful. This is one of those subjects that works by being a part of the overall landscape, rather than the main subject. Of course, there are close-ups to be had, with perhaps a long lens. I also think that a moon rising from the unique Somerset landscape plays an important part in placing…

At a glance •  Price £1,249• 20.1MP, 1in sensor• 24-600mm equivalent f/2.4-4 lens• ISO 64-25,600 (extended)• 3in, 1.23-million-dot LCD• 2.36-million-dot EVF With relatively small sensors and often over-ambitious lenses, superzoom bridge cameras have usually been overlooked by discerning photographers. Most people appreciate that a camera that tries to offer everything will not succeed on all fronts, but since releasing the Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 back in 2013, Sony has been doing impressively well to alter this idea. With a Mark II update to that camera released only last year, the arrival of a third iteration so soon may seem somewhat premature, although Sony has stated that this new model will sit alongside the RX10 II rather than replace it. The only significant difference between the two models highlights why this is the case: while the Mark II…

Amateur Photographer Our cameras and lenses are tested using the industry-standard Image Engineering IQ-Analyser software. Visit www.image-engineering.de for more details The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III makes use of a 20.1MP, 1in CMOS sensor of the kind that has been employed in Sony's recent RX models. Although Sony hasn't explicitly made any claims regarding improvements over the performance of the RX10 II, there appear to be (very) slight changes for the better here with regards to dynamic range and resolution - although the latter will be a reflection of the lens as well as the sensor. Dynamic range at the lower end of the ISO scale is perfectly respectable, and while considerably lower later on, the drop isn't any deeper than expected. The impressive resolution may please those using the camera…

In this dramatic and compositionally dynamic image taken by Getty photographer Jean-Philippe Ksiazek, we see a man holding a bouquet of flowers and a flare as he faces riot police during a demonstration in Lyon, France, against the government's planned labour reform. The French government's labour-market proposals have sparked a series of protests and strikes over the past three months. The image itself is a wonderful example of how, even in the most intense atmosphere, a photographer's instincts can result in capturing captivating imagery. The contradiction of the flowers in one hand and the flare in the other is a symbolism-heavy element that adds depth to the image and opens the scene up to multiple interpretations. Words & numbers “Anything more than 500 yards from the car just isn’t photogenic”…

I was chatting to a chap recently who runs a film-processing and printing outfit. ‘I get to see an awful lot of pictures of trains' he complained. He was obviously implying that too many photographers looking for subjects on which to try out their cameras take the easy option and readily trot along to the nearest heritage railway to expose their rolls of film. I countered by saying he was being a little harsh. One of the problems for busy people trying to squeeze in a little photography is a shortage of subjects available at the precise moment they have some spare time. It's hardly surprising that the steam trains of yesteryear attract so much attention, whether on film or digital. But do subjects need to be in such short…

Paul Sanders Professional photographer Paul joined The Times in 2002, becoming its picture editor in 2004. In this prestigious role, he oversaw the entire visual look and feel of the newspaper. He left in 2011 to pursue his passion for fine-art landscape photography. Visit www.paulsanders.biz. Telephoto lens I often like to shoot wide open on a longish lens. The 56mm f/1.2 lens on my Fujifilm is perfect as it allows me to isolate the subject and create nice bokeh. Graduated filters Graduated filters are not just for landscapes. I often use a set of Lee graduated filters just to hold certain areas of detail. Also, I can reverse them to allow areas to bleed to white if the effect is pleasing to the eye. Kenko extension tubes These tubes get…

1 Subject Find a subject with strong horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines. 2 Choose your lens In my opinion, a longer lens works best for this style, as you don't get the distortion at the edges of the frame that you may see with some wideangles. Don't let that stop you from experimenting, though! 3 Movement With your camera mounted on a tripod, practise the amount and speed of movement you need to create for the effect you want. Your tripod will help minimise camera shake and moving off line if you are looking to create parallel lines. 4 Shutter speed Find a shutter speed that maximises the abstract nature of the images you are creating. 5 Experiment Experiment either by putting a little flash into the image to add…

The article on back-to-basics photography (AP 14 May) is interesting, but gives one side of the tale. The essence of going back to basics is speed and cost: not something that can be said of laser-cut pinholes. So, here's my latest ‘lens' (right) – painstakingly constructed from an old body cap and extension tubes, with the aid of a drill bit and piece of aluminium foil from the kitchen, attached with Evo Stick. The pinhole was a cheat, though – a needle has a finer tip. I do realise that a perfect-sized pinhole will work better and give sharper results. The point I want to make is that something very basic will do a half-decent job, and takes10 minutes to construct. To me, it makes more sense to spend little…

EISA Maestro Competition winners The theme of the 2016 EISA Maestro competition was landscape. The top three international winners selected from 16 countries will be chosen at the end of this month, and each will be invited to Berlin to receive a cash prize and trophy. The overall winner from the UK, as selected by AP, is Grzegorz Piechowicz and we see his work here, as well as that of the two runners-up. 1st Grzegorz Piechowicz, Glasgow Grzegorz Piechowicz's educational background is actually in architecture, which has successfully complemented his other studies in art and design. He found himself spending a lot of time drawing and sketching, so it was a natural and logical progression for him to move into photography. In the future he would like to explore Norway…

THE DEHAZE slider is a relatively new addition to Camera Raw and Lightroom. As the name suggests, it can be used to remove haze from a photograph. A Dehaze adjustment can compensate for atmospheric haze in photographs, as well as mist, fog or anything that contributes to the softening of detail contrast in a scene. You can drag this slider to the right to apply a positive value to remove haze, or you can drag the slider to the left to add haze to an image. It is particularly effective when added as a Graduated Filter adjustment. As shown here, you can also use the Dehaze slider contrast to reduce the effects of light pollution and improve the contrast in photographs taken of the night sky. Martin Evening is a…

Accessory shoe We attached a small Manfrotto LED light that provided fill-in light for video. Tripod mounts The Studio features two tripod mounts for landscape or portrait-oriented photography. Tough case The Studio’s case is tough and hardwearing, and wraps around the phone to protect it, as well providing accessory attachment points. Olloclip Studio • £79.99 • www.olloclip.com/shop/shop/iphone6-6s-studio The Studio claims to release the potential in your iPhone. Richard Sibley tries it out At a glance • Suitable for Apple iPhone 6 and 6s• Hard case protects phone and screen• Features tripod and accessory mounts ALTHOUGH smartphones make for great point-and-shoot cameras, the processing power and connectivity they possess make them capable of so much more. The latest accessory from Olloclip aims to maximise what an iPhone 6 or 6s can do. The Studio…

Canon PowerShot G3 X Price £599 Sensor 20.2MP, 1in ISO 125-12,800 (extended) Half the price of the RX100 III, the PowerShot G3 X doesn’t offer a viewfinder nor 4K video, but with a 20.2MP, 1in sensor and 24-600mm-equivalent focal lens – although with a slower f/2.8-5.6 aperture – it’s a capable alternative. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000EB Price £549 Sensor 20.1MP, 1in ISO 80-25,600 (extended) Despite being older than its peers, Panasonic’s flagship bridge camera compares well. It combines a 20.1MP, 1in sensor with a 25-400mm f/2.8-4 lens, and matches the RX10 III in offering 4K video and a 2.39-million-dot EVF. Sony Cyber-shot RX10 Mark II Price £1,038 Sensor 20.2MP, 1in ISO 100-25,600 (extended) Essentially, this includes much of what the RX10 III offers but with a 24-200mm f/2.8 lens in place…

Resolution The graph tells us this lens is at its sharpest in the centre at 70mm, with corner sharpness improving as the aperture is stopped down to f/5.6. Centre sharpness isn’t quite as high at the wide or tele ends. Optimum sharpness at the wide end of the zoom is found between f/4 and f/5.6, whereas at 70mm and 100mm it’s located closer to f/5.6-f/8. Shading The lens displays most vignetting at 100mm, but it’s not severe and is quickly dealt with by stopping the lens down to f/2.8. It’s a similar story at the wide end of the zoom, with the corners appearing approximately 0.7EV darker than at the centre of the image. Closing down to f/2 sees an improvement, and by f/2.8 vignetting is no longer noticeable. Curvilinear…

‘Short exposure times are relatively easily achieved’ Modern cameras often have some electronic shutter facility, be it an ‘electronic first curtain' to eliminate so-called ‘shutter shock, ultra-high shutter speeds or global shutters for video. In this article I will discuss the working of electronic shutters. To understand an electronic shutter, we first need to look at how a CMOS sensor works. The diagram (below) shows the normal circuit of a CMOS pixel. It has four transistors, three of which effectively operate as switches. I have labelled them reset transistor, transfer transistor, pixel amplifier and enable transistor. The operation of electron capture goes as follows. First, the reset and transfer transistors are turned on. This clears the accumulated charge from the pixel transistor and the photodiode, readying the pixel for a…

Fresh editing software Xara has updated its Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 365 photo-editing software, adding features such as new photo-filter presets and two types of photo grids. Also new are cross-process photo effects that allow users to create ‘dramatic contrast and saturation effects’. The software costs £49.99, and upgrades are £24.99, as part of an introductory offer. Visit www.xara.com/us. 2017 Sony contest The 10th Sony World Photography Awards is now open for entries, offering $25,000 for the grand prizewinner and $5,000 for the Open category winner. Last year the contest had 230,000 entries. For details, see www.worldphoto.org. Unseen celeb footage Fashion photographer Nick Knight (pictured) revealed that he has previously unseen celebrity footage featuring unguarded moments of his subjects. Knight has stashed the footage in a ‘safe’ art storage…

A BUDDING photojournalist has won an expenses-paid overseas assignment with his moving portrait of an elderly nursing-home resident and charity worker in Belarus (right). Andy Coupe from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, triumphed in the Little Hearts Photography Competition, organised by humanitarian charity Muntada Aid. Entrants were challenged to submit images on the subject ‘An Act of Kindness'. Andy, 38, explained that the woman in his photo was unable to move from her bed without assistance. ‘None of the staff know her name, and like most of the residents, she never receives visitors or has contact with the outside world,' he added. He captured the image using a Voigtländer Bessa III, on Ilford XP2 film. Coupe will accompany photographer Owen Humphreys on an assignment for the Little Hearts charity project. For the latest…

Light As with most forms of photography, light is your friend. However, you don't need the ‘golden hour'; just watch how the light works over your subject, how it emphasises areas, adds texture and gives the form life. Work with the light available, as well as against it. Lines and curves Lines and curves lead your viewer around the image. You have that power in your hands, but pay attention to composition when shooting lines and curves. Be aware of the distances between the lines, pay attention to the details, and give lines and curves a purpose. Colour Look for variations in colour: tonal colour changes are beautiful, whereas contrasting colours can be breathtaking. Also, think how the colours might translate in black & white. Try to envisage the final…

1 Don’t rush Invest a little time exploring a subject. Try to work through your subject – walk around it and look at how the angles and lines change as you move. 2 Start small Often the best subjects can be found in a very small area – perhaps a small circular walk, in your garden or even on a table in a coffee shop. 3 Less is more Aim to see more and shoot less. It's a difficult thing to do in the digital age, but discipline yourself to only shoot when you feel the image has come together without the camera. 4 Repetition Look for repeating patterns. These will help direct the viewer around your images. 5 Experiment Don't be afraid to try new things: multiple exposure, defocused…

You answered… A A bag 21% B A tripod/support 27% C A filter 6% D A flash/light 7% E A software application 20% F Something else 19% What you said ‘I thought about this for some time. What, I wondered, might be the accessory I use most without even thinking about it? Then I realised. It’s a camera strap’ ‘I’d put right-angle finder as an accessory to an SLR on a tripod – so much easier to use’ ‘SD memory – without it I have no resource to store my photos’ ‘Probably my macro ringflash’ This week we ask Do you watermark the images you post online? Vote online www.amateurphotographer.co.uk…

Jeremy Walker Jeremy is an award-winning professional photographer and Nikon Ambassador specialising in location photography. Visit www.jeremywalker.co.uk KIT LIST Lenses A moderate wideangle lens, 28mm or 35mm, is useful for misty morning images. Alternatively, a good-quality, mid-range zoom, such as a 24-70mm f/2.8, will give you excellent results. However, for a bit of drama in the mist, especially with a rising sun, you may wish to go for something a bit longer, such as a 70-200mm zoom. Wellies The Somerset Levels is a low-lying and very damp landscape. Wellies will be essential, but if you are in the market for a new pair, don’t skimp. Good-quality thermal wellies will keep you and your feet happy. Cold, damp feet are not ideal for a morning spent shooting the Tor. Maps An…

Telephoto + Wide-Angle + Macro 10x + CPL lens £99.99 This is a clip-on lens that converts your iPhone lens so it has a 10x macro lens, a wideangle lens and 2x teleconverter, as well as a Circular Polariser filter (CPL) to cut out glare and enhance colours. 4-in-1 lens £69.99 For those on a budget or just starting out, the 4-in-1 lens offers a fisheye adapter, 10x macro, 15x macro and a wideangle converter, all at a reasonable price. The only thing that is missing from this lens is a telephoto option. Active lens £89.99 If you like outdoor sports, this Active lens may be for you. For that first-person style perspective it has an ultra-wideangle lens similar to a GoPro, while the 2x telephoto lens will enable you…

Zoom assist This clever option keeps a lock on subjects that could be lost when composing images at a longer focal length. Once identified, releasing a button zooms the lens to the longer focal length. Anti-distortion shutter High-speed readout from the sensor can suppress the effects of rolling shutter (rendering moving subjects with distortions). This works to maximum shutter speeds. Battery The rechargeable battery is rated for up to 420 images when using the viewfinder screen and up to 370 frames when using the LCD, or around 65 minutes of best-quality video. Top-plate LCD This small LCD shows information on key exposure, battery life, shots remaining, white balance and drive modes; it can also be illuminated when it’s too dark. Mode dial Together with standard exposure settings, the mode dial…

THE Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III is an impressive achievement from Sony, and it is difficult to come away from using it feeling underwhelmed. Although it covers much the same territory as the RX10 II, the increase in focal range over previous models makes it far more viable as an alternative to a DSLR or mirrorless camera than its two predecessors. Is it fit as a replacement for such a model? In many respects, yes. Its sensor is clearly capable of capturing very good detail, even at higher sensitivities, while the expansive optic is sharp and blessed with effective image stabilisation. Those scrutinising images closely will appreciate that it can't always match the clarity offered by the combination of a camera with a larger sensor and a high-quality lens, but it does…

Small flash for Canon QI have a Canon PowerShot G5 X, and am looking for a small flash that balances well on the camera. I do have a Canon EOS Speedlite 270EX II, but it has no swivel head for portrait mode. Do you know of any similar-sized third-party ones that are good and reliable that fit the bill? Ian Davey A The Canon PowerShot G5 X is amazing. I love the camera. The perfect flash for it is the Nissin i40 flashgun. This is what many CSC shooters use with their cameras. They have a Canon fit; it is small and inexpensive, the head tilts and it is powerful enough for just about everything you’ll want to do with it. If you want more power, try the Cactus Wireless…

LAUNCHED 1947 (available 1951) PRICE AT LAUNCH £126 with 50mm f/2 TTH lens GUIDE PRICE TODAY £2,500 for a flash-synchronised Reid III with 50mm f/2 TTH lens THE REID was virtually a copy of a Leica IIIb. It was made by Reid and Sigrist Ltd of Leicester, with the help of drawings for the Leica IIIb found at Wetzlar, Germany, by British Intelligence. It was first announced in London in 1947, although was not on the market until1951 and not known as the Reid III until 1958. It was designed for the British market, which was starved of real Leicas by postwar import controls. However, it is not a copy as the manufacturer introduced improvements, and many of the parts are not interchangeable with those of a Leica IIIb. The…

Usually, for this column, I choose pictures that I like, and then try to explain why I like them. However, for a change, here’s a picture I don’t like, and here’s why. Arnold Genthe (1869-1942) was a remarkable photographer, and Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) was one of the most influential dancers of all time. The picture is striking: the pose, the lighting. So why don’t I like it more? First, a surprising number of Genthe’s pictures have a sickly green hue, presumably as a result of iron toning. This is one of the most impressively sickly, with particularly green shadows. Second, the pose is excessively Isadora. She was the first, widely admired advocate of free-form dance. Saccharine modern Disney The trouble was that Ms Duncan often exaggerated her own ideas of…