Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/11/25 i Amateur Photographer

The cost of living crisis shows no sign of abating, which means that many of us have to make compromises as to how we spend our resources. Photography can be expensive but it doesn’t need to be. Cameras have been great for many years now, which means you don’t have to save up for the latest kit, and there are millions of used lenses floating around. Photography also offers opportunities to make money too, enough to further subsidise the cost of our hobby. This issue is dedicated to pursuing photography on a budget, and is filled with tips and suggestions to help you save money. We also test Fujifilm’s latest mini camera and take a first look at a stonking new model from OM System. Connect with us @ EMAIL…

LOMOGRAPHY has revealed two new Lomo’Instant Square Glass instant camera editions, named Pemberley and The Blues. These foldable dual-format cameras take both Instax Square and Instax Mini film, and feature a 95mm glass lens with a fixed f/10 aperture, interchangeable Instax Mini and Square backs, and close-up and Splitzer lens attachments. More advanced settings include unlimited multiple exposures, zone-focusing and exposure compensation. The new cameras also offer built-in flash and a 30.5mm filter thread. Both cost £139. See shop.lomography.com…

In recent years, there’s been an absolute glut of smartphone manufacturers offering better and better devices at prices which are temptingly lower than those produced by the biggest names on the market (Samsung and Apple). But, what if I were to tell you, that these ‘cheap’ devices may just set you back more cash in the long run? Nobody is trying to claim that the latest flagships from Samsung and Apple are cheap. They’re not. Let’s take a look at the two most recent devices – the Samsung S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. They’re available at a variety of price points depending on how much memory you want, but for the sake of argument let’s look at the 256GB option. ● Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: £1,249 ●…

WIN! The AP Pic of the Week winner will receive a beautifully framed print of their winning image worth up to £100. If you Love it, Frame it! ThisPicture.com is an experienced, high-quality framing company with a unique, easy-to-use website. Build single or multi-image frames with a few clicks of your mouse and select from a wide range of frames, window mounts and glazing options. Each frame comes with a three-year guarantee and FREE P&P within the UK. Visit thispicture.co.uk Low Light, Slow Flight by Sarah Michelle Wyer Nikon Z7II, Nikon Z 100-400mm VR S, 1/20sec at f/5.6, ISO 640 ‘By using a slow shutter speed, I was able to achieve a different perspective on a starling murmuration in low-light conditions. I had not tried this method before with starlings…

This year’s prizewinner Lynn Fraser, Scottish Highlands Lynn Fraser is a former solicitor and until a couple of years ago also worked as an archaeologist. She now runs a fruit farm, farm shop and accommodation with her husband. Lynn first appeared in the APOY top ten in round two, and moved up and down the leaderboard over the ensuing rounds – right up until the final round, where her fifth-placed image earned her enough points to pip Sara Jazbar at the post by a mere ten points. Lynn came fifth in round one, Black & White, second in round nine, Travel, and was shortlisted in every other category. As has been demonstrated in previous years, it’s this kind of consistency that can get you to the top. Lynn Fraser tells…

I read a quote recently that stuck with me. I can’t quite remember who said it – either Confucius or some guy on Reddit – but the thrust of it was as follows: ‘If the camera was good enough then, it’s good enough now.’ About a decade ago, full-frame DSLRs ruled the roost. Professionals loved them, enthusiasts coveted them. And while these days they have been eclipsed by the rise of mirrorless, full-frame DSLRs are enjoying a spirited second life on the used market. After all, they took great pictures back then, and it’s not like they’ve mysteriously lost the ability to take great pictures now. Today, you can pick up a professional-grade full-frame DSLR for a fraction of what it would have originally cost, if you’re willing to do…

It’s no secret that people are put off digital photography due to perceptions surrounding the cost. More and more expensive cameras and lenses seem to arrive every year, even while many people are struggling to afford the basics of living, never mind hobbies and luxuries. And what’s more, the unstoppable rise of the smartphone photographer has caused many manufacturers to all but give up on producing affordable entry-level cameras, instead focusing solely on the expensive stuff. But all hope need not be lost! It’s still perfectly possible to find a great camera for less than £300 – and we do mean a great camera, not a cheap plastic compact with a tiny sensor. You just have to look on the second-hand market. We’ve provided plenty of bargains for you in…

I have been working with the archive of the one-of-a-kind Chris Killip, since I was asked in August 2021, with my husband Ken Grant, to produce a large retrospective of his work. It would include a touring exhibition and a monograph and would mark the first anniversary of his death the previous October. The development of this retrospective consumed Ken and I and would lead to an award-winning exhibition at The Photographers’ Gallery in October 2022. A follow-on tour saw us exhibit it at Newcastle’s Baltic Arts Centre, and travel with it to venues in Frankfurt and the Netherlands. It has been a whirlwind three years so at this stage of its final show I felt it was time to produce one of the key images from the tour for…

ANDY WESTLAKE Technical Editor Andy takes a first look at the new OM System OM-3; and tests a cheap Viltrox lens ANDREW FUSEK PETERS Nature pro Andrew reveals his secrets for how to get your pictures published in the press JON STAPLEY Bag a bargain – AP regular Jon shares tips for finding great secondhand deals on full-frame DSLRs AMY DAVIES Features Editor Amy advises on the best ways to get rid of unwanted kit to raise cash; and tests the X-M5 MIKE CRAWFORD Budget-friendly film photography: photographer and expert printer Mike explores options to save costs AILSA MCWHINNIE It’s the final round of APOY! Our APOY co-ordinator reveals the R10 results and the overall winners…

CANON has released its latest results for the financial year ending 31 December 2024, with total sales in its Imaging Business Unit increasing by a sizeable 8.8% year-on-year to ¥937.4 billion (around £4.9 billion) and income before income taxes growing by 5.4% to ¥154.3 billion (about £897,606 million). Going forward, Canon revealed it wants to achieve an 8.2% sales growth for cameras overall, with the focus on increasing its shipments of full-frame cameras – particularly the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II – and expanding sales of RF lenses. While this is hardly big news, the firm also said it intended to increase production of compact cameras in order to hit its sales target: ‘With the spread of social media, compact cameras – which can easily capture images different…

ENTRIES are now open for the 2025 Unpublished Photo competition (UP25). Entrants to the free contest must have been born between 1995 and 2007 and are asked to submit a previously unpublished project of ten images that have a ‘thematic and stylistic unity.’ The first prize is 3,500 Swiss francs (£3,099) and the four chosen finalists will also get their work exhibited at the Villa Malpensata gallery in Lugano, Switzerland. Entries close on 3 March and you can find more information at www.fcmusei.ch/contest…

Reader Portfolio winners receive a one-year subscription to a Gold Portfolio Series website worth £300. UK domain name included. Amazing Internet designs, builds and hosts amazing websites for creative people and companies. It has specialised in creating websites for photographers since 1999 and has services to suit all budgets. Whether you need a simple template-based site for £60 per year or a fully bespoke site, they’ve got you covered. www.amazinginternet.com Submit your images See page 3 for details of how to submit. You could see your photos here in a future issue! Please note: the prize is subject to change. Debbie Todd, Co Durham About Debbie Debbie works full-time in social care, but is also a photographer who belongs to the RPS Women in Photography group. How did you get…

LETTER OF THE WEEK Simplify My photographic journey has been a whirlwind of camera acquisitions since 1970, spanning Olympus, Lumix, Leica, Nikon, Canon, and culminating in a 61-megapixel Sony behemoth. Yet, after sifting through 270,000 images in Lightroom, a surprising truth emerged: my most cherished photos often originated from much humbler beginnings. Many of my favourite shots were captured on a modest 12-megapixel Olympus from over a decade ago. The reality, I’ve eventually accepted, is that the best imagery lies not in the camera’s specifications, but in the photographer’s artistry. Furthermore, the advanced features of modern cameras can sometimes hinder rather than help, getting in the way of the photographer’s artistic vision. In light of these realisations, I’ve simplified my setup. I’ve parted ways with my high-end gear and embraced…

NEED inspiration for this year’s travels? This charming portrait appears in Tropics and Traditions: Tales of Indonesia, a new book by photographer Manolo Ty which captures the diversity and dazzling colour of this fast-changing nation. Ty uses a range of approaches, including aerial and underwater shots, as well as conventional travel portraiture and landscape techniques. The book is published by TeNeues and is available now for £32.…

The Use of Photography by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie £12.99, Fitzcarraldo Editions, softback, 136 pages, ISBN: 9781804271148 This extraordinary book recounts a passionate love affair between Nobel Prize-winning author Annie Ernaux and the journalist and author Marc Marie, after the two met in January 2003. At the time, Ernaux had been receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer and had lost all of her hair. Shortly after their affair began, she become drawn to photograph the sights of disarray in the different locations where it took place – chairs out of place, clothes strewn about and the remnants of meals still on the table. When she told Marie how she felt, he said he was compelled to do the same. In the chapters that follow, the two analyse the photographs taking…

Round Ten Open For the first time, this year we decided to have a round that was completely open, in which there were no restrictions whatsoever on subject matter. The entries were as varied and creative as we had hoped they would be, and as it had the potential to be a tricky category to judge, given the wide-ranging nature of the styles and subjects, we called upon two guest judges to help us. We hope you enjoy the results of this round, and that you have been as inspired by this year’s APOY as much as we have. 1 Andrew Robertson UK 100pts Canon EOS R5, 24-240mm at 47mm, 1/40sec at f/8, ISO 200 With this clever image, Andrew has played with our sense of perspective. Although logic tells…

This is the final article in my series on depth-of-field (DOF), inspired by AP reader Richard Sharp. Richard asked some quite technical questions, so the previous articles have been a deep dive into the technicalities. But it is likely that many people would like a simple summary of how those technicalities inform photographic practice, so that is the theme of this article. Rule 1. Focus on the main subject of your composition. Traditional DOF practice suggests focusing on the hyperfocal distance to maximise depth of field. The problem with this practice is that only objects in the plane of focus are critically sharp. Given that in most images there is a ‘subject’, and that is what the viewer is likely to spend the most time looking at, it makes sense…

Shaun Bradbury Do your research properly, get the best you can afford for your chosen genre and avoid upgrades later. Simon Kimpton @SimonKimpton If you’re doing this as a hobby, don’t be lured into the temptations of owning the latest gear. Steve Denny Don’t go buying expensive cameras. End of the day, no one really cares which camera you used to get a great image. João Abm Yordanov Serralheiro Fuel/expenses to go out and actually use the gear you have > New gear! and something nowadays everyone seems to have forgotten... read! like from paper magazines and books! YT is nice but... meshal @Q8linux Don’t spend thousands on a tripod, any cheap carbon fiber tripod will do it. Eric Hands Use an ad blocker. Chris Andrews If you aren’t happy…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH OM System Tough TG-7 ● £499 ● explore.omsystem.com This latest model in a long line of class-leading rugged cameras is waterproof to 15m, shockproof against a 2.1m drop, crushproof and freezeproof. The 25-100mm equivalent lens is paired with a 12MP sensor, with in-body stabilisation to combat shake. Viewing is via a 3in LCD. The TG-7 is also one of the few cameras of its type that can record raw files. Reviewed 2 Apr 2024 Ricoh GR III ● £949 ● ricohgr.eu/en-gb A favourite of street photographers, the GR III combines a 24MP APS-C sensor and a sharp 28mm equivalent f/2.8 lens in a slim, pocketable body. It offers sensitivities up to ISO 102,400 and 4fps shooting, while in-body image stabilisation helps keeps image sharp. Viewing is via…