Innholdsfortegnelse for 27-Jun-2020 i Amateur Photographer

It’s never been easier to get sharper shots for a reasonable outlay, but don’t assume that just because you’ve shelled out for a lens with great focusing performance, or have in-camera image stabilisation, that it’s the end of the story. To ensure your results are as sharp as possible, it’s important to ensure they are calibrated to your camera bodies, to iron out any AF errors. James Abbott explains the essentials. Other highlights include the world’s first printed review of the Tamron 28-200mm, an innovative new large-aperture superzoom for Sony mirrorless cameras, plus features on finding photo inspiration within your home, and getting great black & white images outdoors. We also reveal the winning black & white images from APOY Round Two.…

Tamron's latest offering for Sony full-frame is an all-in-one superzoom, the 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. Due on sale from 25 June for £799.99, it's the first lens of its type to feature a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture. Despite this, it's relatively compact and lightweight, at just 117mm long and 575g in weight, and uses the same 67mm diameter filters as Tamron's other recent E-mount lenses. Its minimum object distance ranges from 19cm at wideangle to 80cm at telephoto. The lens also includes an RXD stepping motor for fast, silent autofocus, moisture-resistant construction, and a fluorine coating on the front element to repel grease and water. It's compatible with Sony's latest AF technologies such as Eye AF, and the lens firmware can be updated via the camera. See page 47…

For the last of our looks at how retailers have been coping with the lockdown, we chat to Alister Bowie from Ffordes Photographic, a long-established new and used camera specialist based in Inverness. ‘We knew that we had to find ways to help and inspire customers, and we knew it was never going to be plain sailing – two of our senior management had to self-isolate for 12 weeks,' he explains. ‘Fortunately, most of the team live with couple of miles of the shop, so we managed to put in place three volunteers to go in. Other team members worked from home so we could keep dealing with customers and process orders. Apart from wanting to tear our hair out because of the slow internet speeds up in the highlands…

#appicoftheweek Contrast by Mohammad Abdul Zameer Pasha Vivo S1 Pro smartphone, 1/1200sec at f/1.8, ISO 50 Mohammad likes street photography as he enjoys capturing pictures of people, architecture and abstracts in monochrome. This picture was captured while he was wandering around Cardiff and was taken using a mobile phone under natural light conditions. He uploaded this using #appicoftheweek. See more of his images on Instagram @singlelens_photography_. Chosen by Nigel Atherton, Editor as our #appicoftheweek Win!  Each week we choose our favourite picture on Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Twitter or the reader gallery using #appicoftheweek. PermaJet proudly supports the online picture of the week winner, who will receive a top-quality print of their image on the finest PermaJet paper*. It is important to bring images to life outside the digital sphere, so…

1 Set up the chart & camera Set up the lens chart on a tripod or flat surface and make sure it's level using the built-in spirit level. Next, attach your camera to a tripod and use the Virtual Horizon in Live View to make sure the central line (horizontal axis) lines up with the centre of the chart and that the central focus point is over the centre of the chart. 2 Camera settings Go to www.whibalhost.com/lensalign/ldt/index.htmlto check the required lens distance from the chart: set camera to aperture priority at the widest/maximum aperture, ISO 100 and apply exposure compensation as required. Either use the self-timer or a shutter remote to avoid camera shake when firing the shutter. 3 Focus and shoot Make sure the central focus point is…

1 Attach lens to the dock To get started attach your compatible Sigma lens to the dock and the dock to your PC using the USB cable. Initiate the Sigma Optimization Pro software and when it opens you should see the attached lens listed on the left with buttons on the right. Click on Focus Setting at the top. 2 Focus settings When the Focus Setting window opens, there are four sections below different focus distances, and to adjust the focus in these you have to click on them individually to make them active. If adjusting a zoom lens there will be additional sections for different focal lengths. 3 Dial-in adjustments Based on the assessments you've made, dial in the desired adjustment according to whether the lens was front or…

Nobody’s going anywhere for a while. International travel is pretty much off the cards this year. It’ll be a while before the national parks and other areas of natural beauty will be opening their arms to visitors. However, this doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up your cameras and take it easy. No! This is the time to hone your photography skills, refine your craft, sharpen your sight and enlighten your vision. It’s time to be creative a little closer to home, or even in it. There are myriad fancy-pants techniques and home-projects to experiment with, but, for this feature, we will keep it simple. In the spirit of photographic adventure we’ll explore the great indoors. Taking inspiration from the 18th-century writer Xavier de Maistre we’re going on a journey closer to…

Round Two Monochrome Magic NGUYEN TAN TUAN from Vietnam is the winner of Round Two of APOY 2020. As category winner, he can choose products of up to £1,000 in value as his prize (based on Sigma's RRP), and if his choice of lens is above this price, he can choose to pay the difference. For those who shoot candid and street photography, the Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens is the ideal choice, while landscape photographers might want to consider the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art. 1 Nguyen Tan Tuan Vietnam 20pts Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 16-35mm at 16mm, 1/45sec at f/8, ISO 400 At first glance, this looks like a very simple image – and it is. However, spend a little more time…

Don’t forget interiors Just because it's summer and we spend a lot of time outdoors, don't forget to observe what's happening indoors. The sunlight streaming through the windows in this picture plants us fairly and squarely in the summer. The textures on the tiled floor and the tonal range offer a strong black & white image. Shapes and silhouettes The typical shapes that remind us of our summer holidays can look fantastic as black & white silhouettes. Make sure your camera meters off the brightest part of your scene (not your subject), to throw your subject into dark shadow. More forgiving than colour Black & white can be a lot more forgiving than colour, so don't be afraid to shoot in conditions that you wouldn't normally or to dismiss an…

Ricoh's GR III Street Edition Special Limited Kit embellishes the firm's APS-C sensor compact with a grey-metallic finish and an orange-yellow decorative lens ring. It also includes a matching optical viewfinder and leather handstrap, along with a much-needed spare battery. The camera is essentially the same as the stock GR III, but gains a Full Press Snap setting which takes a quick shot using the touchscreen. Limited to 3,500 units worldwide, the kit will be available from 17 July priced £1,099.…

THESE images show you what front, back and correct focus could look like when using the Spyder LensCal. When applying lens adjustments, you always apply the opposite figure to the lens test to correct the problem. So, if your lens is front focusing by -4, you apply +4 in-camera or using a USB dock. Once a new amount is dialled in, recheck your lens and keep adjusting and checking until focus is perfect. Some lenses will be perfect when you check them while others may have greater focusing drift and require much higher adjustment amounts.…

1 Meditate on your home environment, spend some quality time without a camera learning to see your space with fresh eyes. 2 Look for unusual angles and points of view. You'll most likely always tread the same path through your home; experiment with new routes. 3 Shadows can hold an enduring allure and can be a great part of the visual experience. Take the time to notice how they fall on surfaces and the interesting shapes and patterns they create. 4 On a cloudy day, try using artificial light, an on-camera flash can give a totally different feel to an image. 5 Think about creating a small body of work. Thinking in terms of multiple images and sequencing is another great way to add depth and meaning. 6 A diary-style…

Nguyen Tan Tuan, 1st and Crowd Winner I like to observe shapes, lines and contrast as well as the movement and soul of the characters in an image. For me, creating a successful black & white image means eliminating the influence of colour on the shot and concentrating entirely on composition and shape, while at the same time capturing character. Steve Cheetham, 11th and 16th Creating a successful monochrome image needs careful consideration at every stage, from subject choice, lighting, weather conditions and exposure through to post-processing. Try to previsualise the finished image while you are making the initial exposure. Look for contrast, shape and form, and minimise distractions in your composition. Sophia Spurgin, 17th I look for scenes that are all about tone and texture, and emphasise these elements…

Instead of the blue skies and warm tones we normally associate with shooting in summer, why not shake things up a bit this year and try something different. Your challenge is to shoot the summer in black & white. Shooting something we normally think about in colour in a different way is a great exercise in thinking more carefully about the form, shape and content in your images rather than relying on those summer colours. When I was approached with the idea to write about shooting in black & white in summer, my immediate impression was that the whole article could be done in one word. The more I have thought about it and the more I have written, I am convinced that my first idea was correct. That word…

This monochrome picture of glasses on a table contains all the elements essential for a good, strong picture: the diagonals, the black shadows, the lovely reflections through the glasses, the dappled highlights and the sense of a holiday. For me, the whole image simply screams ‘summer'. We'd all like to be sitting at that table with someone we love, waiting for some ice-cold rosé to be poured into those glasses, wouldn't we? But why does this picture work so well in black & white? Well, for me the monochrome takes away any distractions. For example, the chair in the picture was bright yellow, which took my eye away from the glasses. The image effortlessly conveys a sense of heat, holiday and summer. I have a simple rule as to whether…

Pentax Z-1 1 Superb film camera with fast single AF. Average used price £150 SMC Pentax-FA K AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 1 The fitted lens is a power zoom which can zoom with something moving towards, or away from, the camera. Average used price £70 SMC Pentax A 50mm f/1.4 2 My only nifty fifty from the days when lenses were all manual focus. Average used price £50 Pentax AF-330FTZ flashgun 3 Does what it needs to do, and well. Average used price £110 SMC Pentax F 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 4 A good all-round zoom and surprisingly sharp. Average used price £70 Canon 600 flashgun 5 An effective flashgun for my Canon gear. Average used price £70 Canon ring flash 6 I use this with the Canon 100 L Macro lens. Average…

Environmental awareness is everywhere these days. From planes and cars to food and boilers, there's practically no area of life that's exempt from eco anxiety. It makes you wonder what an environmentally friendly camera might look like. The obvious and flippant answer would be something with a body made out of bamboo or recycled coffee cups, and lenses carved from salvaged spectacles. However, after a bit of conspicuous eco virtue signalling, it would be tossed to the back of the cupboard, a useless waste of time, effort and resources. You might argue that photography went through its environmental revolution years ago with the shift from analogue to digital. The decline of mass market film has meant fewer chemicals sloshing around, no imminent silver shortages, less waste from film packaging and…

Datacolor Spyder LensCal This is a calibration chart/target that provides accurate information about autofocus performance, specifically whether a lens is front or back focusing. At just £47, it’s a reasonably inexpensive accessory if you’re serious about making lens calibration quick and easy. Sigma USB Dock The dock allows you to update firmware and control lens settings, but most importantly to adjust autofocus parameters. Adjustments to AF can be applied across the entire focus range or to specific sections to provide an incredible amount of control with compatible lenses. Tripod A tripod is an essential tool for keeping your camera completely still during exposures to avoid camera shake. With a process that’s all about testing lens sharpness, it’s imperative that you don’t inadvertently introduce blur to test shots. Also, a fixed…

I'VE NEVER really kept cut flowers at home, but my local supermarket keeps a modest stock and so I took a floral plunge. As a consequence, I've introduced a vase of tulips into my space. They too have played a role in my explorations. Observing them unfurl, wither and wilt has also become a part of my visual experience. The glass vase filled with water creates interesting patterns as the light passes through. I enjoy seeing how the flowers interact and connect with the space adding a focal point. Perhaps the tulips can even add an additional layer of meaning, metaphor and relevance to these confined times.…

Lens cover Lenses are designed with a shade – the number of people I see without one always amazes me. It eliminates flare in strong sunlight and helps protect our expensive glass from sea spray and dust. Cloth and puffer brush It’s always a good idea to carry a soft lint-free cloth. During summer, there may be sand, salt water or suntan lotion around. If possible, take a little puffer brush along with you as well. Smartphone Easy, simple always with you. There is one proviso when using a smartphone: give it the respect you’d give a camera. Pick one processing app and learn how to use it properly. A clean sensor You will be shooting a lot with your lens stopped down in the bright light of summer, so…

1 One of the most important bits of advice for any photographer, but especially so in summer, is to wake up and get out early. This article's opening picture of light coming through the pine trees (pages 12-13) was taken at 5.45 on a July morning. 2 Don't be afraid of white tones and blacks. Let the shadows fill in and let the highlights blow out. Be bold and you'll capture some superbly graphic images. 3 Think of the shapes of things that remind you of summer: palm trees, beach umbrellas, wine glasses and stripy t-shirts. 4 And once you've thought about those shapes, think about the silhouettes. And once you've done that, let them go black. 5 Don't look at your histograms. Let your eye be the judge of…

REVIEWING the new Tamron 28-200mm has got me thinking about how mirrorless technology has changed the landscape of lens design. Ten years ago, the firm's equivalent DSLR offerings were decidedly compromised, but this lens is much better in almost every way. It produces sharper, cleaner images by integrating optical and software compensation, while providing rapid, silent autofocus. The fact that it offers a significantly larger aperture than its main rival, while managing to be smaller and lighter, is the icing on the cake. However, two drawbacks bring pause for thought. First is the 28mm wide setting, which feels restrictive now we've got used to using 24mm as standard. You could pair it up with a wideangle zoom or prime, but that negates the point of an all-in-one zoom. The second…

I am, I will admit, a lucky man. I have been a professional photographer all my working life, but when I am not working, I have a hobby about which I am passionate, and that hobby is photography. However, passionate as I am about photography, and a great and enthusiastic student of photographic history, there are distinct gaps in my knowledge. Chasms down which slip some wonderful photographers and their work. For some reason they don’t feature in my thoughts and are often, in most cases quite wrongly, overlooked. One of them is, for no explicable reason, Ernst Haas, and having chosen this picture and done some more research on him I feel extremely embarrassed that I’d let him slip away, especially as, for a while it meant so much…