Innholdsfortegnelse for 11/10/2022 i Amateur Photographer

We had a great summer, by UK standards, but all good things come to an end. But the silver lining for photographers is that we’re now entering the most photogenic season of the year. So charge those camera batteries, format those memory cards and read our guide to making the most of autumn. Also this week, as we enter the key gear buying season, we present our pick of the top 10 cameras and lenses from every major system in one of our biggest ever buyer’s guides. If you’re looking to upgrade or expand your kit, your next purchase is probably within these pages. With Christmas coming I’d also like to suggest an AP subscription for the photographer in your life – which may well be you. A whole year’s…

7days All the Fun of the Fair by Daniel Sands Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS L, 4 sec at f/20, ISO 50 ‘Taken at Weymouth seafront, I’d had the idea to shoot the carousel for a long time, but had to wait for the right opportunity. A long exposure was used to blur the lines, and I opted to shoot during blue hour to introduce the contrast of yellow and blue in the frame. The long exposure also helped to blur the figures walking around the frame to help emphasise the main focal point – the carousel itself. In post-processing I’ve mirrored one side of the frame to the other (a technique that I call “twofold”) to help to exaggerate the symmetry.’ www.danielsandsphotography.co.ukTwitter: @sndsphotographyVero: @danielsands Facebook:…

In her teens, like so many young women of that age, Yolanda Kingdon was very much into makeup. So much so, that she regularly uploaded her creations – which often involved a lot of feathers, glitter and the like – to the social network MySpace (remember that?). She gained quite a following, and soon people were asking her how much she charged for a photo shoot. By the time she was 18, she was studying at college, working in her local branch of Topshop, and squeezing in an increasing number of shoots, working from her grandmother’s converted attic and charging ‘minuscule amounts’. Eventually, one of her college tutors told her she was taking on too much, and she’d need to decide between college and her burgeoning photography career. Yolanda chose…

EISA MAESTRO WINNERS 2022 3rd Happy Mukherjee India Happy is a professional freelance travel, people and documentary photographer and photography mentor. She has worked as an economics teacher for over ten years, which she left to pursue photography full time. She says, ‘I have been honoured with AFIP and AFIAP distinctions. My work has been published widely, has been awarded and exhibited in more than 60 countries and I have been judged best photographer in 16 national and international photo competitions. My photograph won a Lalitkala National Academy award along with many competitions like the prestigious World Photographer Club contest. My image was selected as a finalist in the Siena Awards Contest and I have also received the prestigious FIAP Blue Pin from Georgia. ‘I love to interact with…

There’s a reason that Nikon is one of the best-known names in photography. With decades of history, through the years of film and on into the digital transition, the company has launched excellent cameras year after year. Selecting the top ten was no small task, and we’ve done our best to balance cameras like the futuristic Z 9 with Nikon’s more niche and beginner-friendly offerings in DSLRs and compacts. And with the vlogger-focused Z30 soon to be released, Nikon is showing no signs of resting on its laurels… Nikon Z 9 ● Street price around £5,299 ● www.nikon.co.uk If you’ve got a healthy budget and you want the best, then the Nikon Z 9 is it. It’s particularly good for sports and action shooters; you can shoot at 20fps in…

Pentax became a household name in the 1970s and a decade later more than ten million Pentax SLRs had been produced, with the K1000 becoming one of the best-selling cameras of all time over its 20-plus years of production. The Pentax brand is now owned by Ricoh Imaging, and the company has iterated its commitment to DSLRs. Ricoh itself also produces some popular compact cameras, so we’ve selected the top ten Pentax and Ricoh digital cameras, including new models and second-hand bargains. Pentax K-1 II ● Street price around £1,899 ● www.ricoh-imaging.eu If you want a full-frame DSLR, then the choice is simple. There is only one Pentax series of full-frame DSLRs, consisting of two cameras. The most recent Pentax K-1 II represented a modest upgrade from its predecessor, with…

In the ten years since the Fujifilm X-Pro1 was announced, the firm has built up a superb range of lenses for its X-Series mirrorless cameras. Fujifilm has very high optical standards, meaning even its starter kit zooms tend to be a cut above the average. Fujifilm’s foray into mirrorless medium format with the GFX series has been very well received too, and the GF lenses are perfectly pitched to make the most of those lovely big sensors. We’ve included both types here, as they are some of the best in the business. Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R OIS WR ● Street price around £979 ● www.fujifilm.com/uk/en While the cheaper XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS makes a great first lens, covering an effective focal length range of 27-82.5mm, the XF…

Buying a Panasonic lens can mean either getting a Micro Four Thirds lens for the Lumix G cameras, or a full-frame lens for the Lumix S mirrorless series. Panasonic has had a long, fruitful partnership with Leica – reflected in the Leica branding on many MFT lenses, and on the L-mount that the Lumix S cameras share with Leica. The smaller sensor of MFT means lenses have an effective crop factor of 2x, so the focal length you get is double the one on the box. The full-frame lenses deliver exactly the focal length advertised. Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH Power OIS ● Street price around £1,149 ● panasonic.com/uk The Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH Power OIS lens gives you an impressive short telephoto portrait lens. With…

Camera smartphone technology has come on leaps and bounds and it seems like there’s no stopping the tech development. For this list though, we haven’t just picked the newest, flashiest phones possible, but instead have opted for a broad range of handsets we believe provide exceptional value for money in terms of their camera capabilities. This includes brand-new camera phones like the iPhone 14, but also older models that are only available second-hand. Whichever you pick, you’re getting a quality pocket snapper. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra ● Street price around £1,149 ● samsung.com/uk The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is Samsung’s flagship smartphone, and blends the Galaxy and Note range into one smartphone – with an included stylus making this an appealing choice for both business and fun. In terms of…

Write to the Editor at ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk and include your full postal address. Please don’t send letters in the post as there is no one in the office to receive them. Replies are from the Editor unless otherwise stated LETTER OF THE WEEK Never too late to change your life l have been a keen amateur photographer since graduating from Hull School Of Art in 1989 and have had many images published over the years. At the beginning of the first lockdown I suffered a mental breakdown and as part of my recovery, l was encouraged to reconnect with my interest in photography. I began making work in my hometown of Bolsover and, when restrictions eased, l decided to go out and visit places like Hardwick Hall, Chatsworth House and Renishaw…

Southwold beach huts Because of the recent pandemic and this year’s foreign travel disruption, more of us, myself included, are choosing to spend our holiday time in this country. This summer, my family visited the beautiful seaside town of Southwold on the Suffolk coast. The photograph I have selected here was shot one morning just after sunrise. I wanted to be there to capture the early-morning light, but also wanted to be there before all my fellow tourists descended upon the beach front. I took this photo using a long telephoto lens that was roughly equivalent to using a 300mm lens on a full-frame camera. I liked the way this compressed the perspective and emphasised the large number of beach huts as well as the wide variety of colours. Get…

There’s a Canon camera for everyone. From cutting-edge EOS R mirrorless cameras to slim vlogger-friendly PowerShot compacts, from lightweight EOS M travel cameras to the good old EOS DSLRs, Canon has arguably the most complete camera portfolio in the world of imaging. We’ve had the mammoth task of whittling this incredible catalogue down to the ten key cameras that we reckon are the best. Our list spans the whole gamut, every digital camera type and lens mount. Canon EOS R3 ● Street price around £5,879 ● www.canon.co.uk The EOS R3 is Canon’s mirrorless flagship. If speed is your main concern, you can’t go far wrong with the R3 – so long as you’ve got the budget. Its spec includes 30fps shooting (using the electronic shutter) and a world-record top shutter…

Olympus has an interesting history, and has always been at the forefront of lightweight camera design and compact styling. Of course, we shouldn’t really say Olympus, the range is now under the jurisdiction of OM Digital Solutions Corporation following a sale of the imaging division in 2021, and will be OM System from here on out. Mostly based around the Micro Four Thirds standard, Olympus cameras are small, stylish and versatile, capable of producing high-quality images with models for all skill levels. OM System Olympus OM-1 ● Street price around £1,999 ● www.olympus.co.uk The OM System OM-1 is the best Micro Four Thirds camera currently available, and exceeds what you would expect from a £2,000 camera. This includes subject detection AF, high-speed performance, and any number of useful shooting features.…

There’s so much choice with Sony. It has done a good job of filling out its range of digital cameras, from beginner-friendly budget models to some of the most sophisticated professional tools in the industry. The focus is on mirrorless, with its flagship full-frame Alpha cameras leading the pack, but the company makes excellent compacts too. It hasn’t always been plain sailing, with lines like its A-mount DSLRs slowly but surely abandoned in favour of mirrorless, but now the streamlined range is stronger than ever. Sony Alpha 1 ● Street price around £6,499 ● www.sony.co.uk The Sony Alpha A1 is truly special, and one of the most technologically advanced cameras ever made. Its ability to shoot at 30 frames per second, maintaining that full 50MP resolution, while adjusting focus and…

With a history stretching back to the days of film SLRs, Nikon F-mount is a lens system with serious pedigree. While these days the limelight is hogged somewhat by Nikon’s flashy mirrorless Z-mount range, both systems have a lot to offer. Also, thanks to the FTZ mount adapter that lets you use F-mount glass on a Z-series body with full functionality, it doesn’t have to be ‘one or the other’. Here are our picks – from the highest-spec pro optics to nifty budget lenses that are really worth the money. Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ● Street price around £2,069 ● www.nikon.co.uk The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is a premium ‘standard’ zoom with an f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, weather-sealing and professional level build quality. Nikon has managed…

Buying lenses for a Pentax camera may seem like a relatively simple thing – it’s just DSLRs, after all – however there are a few things to be mindful of. Lens compatibility and behaviour will change depending on whether you’re using a full-frame DSLR like the K-1 II, or a more affordable APS-C model like the K-3 III. Then there are also Pentax’s own classifications to watch for – probably the most important is the star (*) designation, which indicates lenses of superior quality both inside and out. smc Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM ● Street price around £799 ● www.ricoh-imaging.eu Recreating the classic 85mm focal length associated with portraiture, the smc Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM is an excellent choice particularly for those with an APS-C Pentax body like the K-3…

● £37 ● kasefilters.com IF YOU buy a high-quality 100mm filter holder system, chances are it’ll come with a padded case for the holder, polariser, and lens rings. But when it comes to those all-important square filters, you’re usually expected to carry them separately in their individual protective cases, which can add up to considerable bulk. Thankfully Kase has realised that this isn’t an ideal solution and has done things differently. Its Soft Filter Bag 100mm offers a practical means of carrying your entire filter kit in one convenient package. I first came across it when reviewing Kase’s Wolverine K9 filter system, but it’s so good that it merits a standalone review. So what makes this design stand out from the crowd? Firstly, it holds everything you need in a…

Photo Critique I see this photograph every day. It’s propped up, unframed, on my wife’s dressing table among her perfumes, trinkets, mementos, jewellery box and other family photographs. It’s of her dad, John Price, who passed away over four years ago. It’s a dead dad photograph. There’s another of her stepfather David in the lounge. He’s sat with her mother, hands touching, both smiling widely, looks like they are somewhere hot, on holiday. You’ll probably have several dead dad photographs in your home. How does one particular image from one particular time come to define a life? The one selected for the mantelpiece or dressing table. I turned 50 this year and already morbidly reflect on what photograph will be selected by my daughter, if indeed she’ll want one. I…

Something needs to be done about the worldwide colour film shortage. Prices are stratospheric and some varieties, especially in 35mm format, are practically unobtainable. Enthusiastic participation in the burgeoning analogue revival, at least in colour, is getting frighteningly expensive. The problem seems to be that Kodak greatly underestimated future film demand when it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2013. It closed its plant in Guadalajara, Mexico where 35mm film was ‘confectioned’ – a delightful term that refers to the processes of slitting, cutting, edge marking, perforating and packing it – and shifted production to the company’s base in Rochester, New York. Only two out of 16 spoolers (expensive machines crucial to the manufacturing process) were saved and shipped to Rochester. Then, demand for film boomed unexpectedly. Now it…

1 Find order in chaos When you’re shooting woodland, it can be hard to make visual sense out of the chaos that surrounds you. To simplify the scene, look for groups of trees that are nicely separated, both across the frame and from front to back. Where possible, avoid shooting from angles that allow trunks to overlap, and choose one ‘hero’ tree around which the rest of the composition hinges. It can also be helpful to look for recurring shapes, lines and patterns. 2 Don’t be shy Some tree species exhibit behaviour known as ‘crown shyness’ where the tops don’t quite touch, creating photogenic gaps in the canopy – this often occurs in trees of the same species and has been observed in black mangroves, Japanese larch and some species…

WAR PHOTOGRAPHY Martha Gellhorn is considered one of the great war correspondents of the 20th century and reported on virtually every major world conflict that took place during her 60-year career. Marguerite Higgins typed stories while riding in the front seat of an American jeep that was fleeing the North Korean Army, and Georgie Anne Geyer had to evade an assassin sent by the rightwing Mano Blanco, seeking revenge for her reports of their activities during the Guatemalan civil war. These are just three American women profiled in the book Reporting Under Fire: 16 Daring Women War Correspondents and Photojournalists (Chicago Review Press 2014) written by Kerrie Logan Hollihan. When Kerrie graduated journalism school in 1974 she was at a crossroads. ‘I realised I was too well behaved to be…

It’s a fantastic time to be a Fujifilm user. As we write this, the Fujifilm X-Summit in New York is drawing to a close, having given us a tantalising glimpse at upcoming lenses, as well as the X-H2 mirrorless camera. Fujifilm has carved out a distinctive niche, planting a foot either side of full frame. If you want a Fujifilm camera, your choices are between APS-C X-mount mirrorless, or medium format GFX. The reasoning being that full frame is too bulky and expensive for enthusiasts, not high-quality enough for fine-art professionals. Fujifilm X-H2S ● Street price around £2,499 ● www.fujifilm.com/uk/en Designed to be the premium, ambitious and enthusiast-friendly APS-C model in the X series, the X-H2S offers a new stacked version of the 26.1MP sensor seen so often elsewhere, as…

Panasonic’s Lumix G1 in 2008 was the first mirrorless camera and the company has since secured a reputation for producing highly competent and compact Micro Four Thirds models. The firm moved into the full-frame market with its Lumix S series cameras, which use the L lens mount developed by the Leica, Panasonic and Sigma alliance. Panasonic cameras have excellent video features, with 4K Photo mode producing high-quality stills from 4K footage. Picking just ten of the best was quite a challenge… Panasonic Lumix S5 ● Street price around £1,549 ● www.panasonic.com/uk The Panasonic Lumix S5 is the all-around best full-frame L-mount camera. It’s relatively small and has good DSLR-style handling. The S5 comes with in-body stabilisation, a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body and a range of options for videographers including HDR,…

The best camera isn’t worth much without an excellent lens – fortunately, Canon has these in spades. We’ve come up with ten of our favourite lenses for Canon systems; EF and EF-S lenses for DSLRs, EF-M glass for APS-C mirrorless, and RF lenses for the flagship EOS R cameras. These aren’t just the optically best lenses – instead, we’ve chosen ones that deliver real value for money. We believe each lens here is worth its price tag. Note that we haven’t factored in third-party lenses in these lists, or we’d be here all day! Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM ● Street price around £2,729 ● www.canon.co.uk It seems to be the rule that every full-frame camera has to offer a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, then a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, and…

The versatility of Micro Four Thirds means this isn’t just a guide for users of Olympus and OM-System branded cameras – Panasonic users can also reap the benefit of these excellent optics. The sale to OM Digital Solutions has seen the Olympus brand revitalised, and the new lenses that we’ve seen come out under the OM System are just as good as they’ve ever been. Pairing optical quality with rock-solid stabilisation, Olympus lenses offer dazzling versatility in the field – here are our top ten. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 PRO ● Street price around £899 ● www.olympus.co.uk The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO gives you a great wideangle range, from ultra-wide 16mm to 50mm equivalent on an MFT camera body. It offers superb optical quality throughout…

This list represents the best of Sony E-mount optics. The Sony mirrorless range is extensive – as such, we’ve included a range of lenses, with zooms and primes at all different focal lengths and prices. Most of the lenses here are Sony FE lenses, designed for full-frame systems. If you’re using an APS-C Sony mirrorless camera these lenses will work, but with a 1.5x crop factor. Also, with Sony having effectively consigned its A-mount DSLT line to the dustbin of history, we’ve kept this list to E-mount only. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II ● Street price around £2,599 ● www.sony.co.uk Sony’s G Master (GM) lenses are top-tier optics, and any lens with this branding is guaranteed to be of superior quality. The Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS…