Author

Mark Bailey

Photography Showcase

Your Top Photo Editing Software in 2017 Revealed

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

Do you simply take photos with your smartphone or are you a professional photographer that works in the studio? Everyone these days require a picture editor that helps you organize and edit your best photos in order to make them look more beautiful. With the invention of many photo editing software today, photoshopping a photo isn’t enough anymore especially for professional photographers who aim at bringing at the best effects in their photos. Editing a photo do not require any great skill particularly if you are using a photo editing software that has a simple user-friendly interface and below is a list of the top photo editing software in 2017 that not only offer incredible tools that help you make the best out of your photos but also are very affordable and simple to use.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

It’s a photo editing software that is more suitable for amateur and enthusiastic photographer because of its lack of certain features such as the ability to add, remove or alter image appearance and also file management features. Nevertheless, it is a photo processor and organizer that is perfect for enhancing and improving the appearance of digital photographs. It supports Windows and Mac OS and with its excellent user interface that contains a lot of tools, it tops the list of one of the best editing software.

ACD See Ultimate

Ultimate is the photo editing software that supports Windows, MacOS and IOS. It has a ton of tools that will do better in the hands of a professional photographer. Its quick adjustment layers, organizing tools, raw photo editing tools make ACD See Ultimate the perfect photo editing software for you to create fast and incredible photos. It allows easy manipulation of photos with its filter, adjustment and effect tools. Among all others, its digital asset management allows you to easily find, sort, organize and share your photos after work.

Optics Pro11

This is another professional photo editor that was developed by DxO Labs. It is majorly identified for its amazing optical corrections in photos. It’s easy user interface makes it one of the best choices of the finest photographers alongside with its ability to process raw files from the camera. It supports Microsoft Windows and IOS and has certain other features like a haze removal, noise reduction, highlight recovery and a lot of others that are known for their specific trademarked names.

Capture One Pro

This is the photo editing software that was developed by Phase One Company. It is very useful in professional situations because of its rather complicated features. Its raw file supporting feature makes it possible for you to tweak the images on your camera without causing any destructive damage to the files. It has a broad range of interesting tools that allows a photographer take complete control and advantage of the sorting, preserving and recovering processes involved in editing large amounts of photos in order to bring out the best in the photos.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Reviews

Off the Beaten Track Photography destinations for 2017

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

Are you a travel photographer? It’s a beautiful sight to capture skylines and city landscapes with random passers-by and commuting vehicles against the backdrop of an approaching twilight.

But suppose you do something different for a change? Like focus your lens on the vista of an off-the-beaten track location. Sometimes the most beautiful pictures are the ones you spend alone with nature.

Use your travel camera to tell the story of the power of solitude; a setting sun in the Swedish Lapland, the sun-kissed plains of New Zealand or the pyramidal building atop a sentinel mountain, overlooking the quiet village in Myanmar.

These are 5 amazing off the beaten track destinations for travel photographers in 2017.

Swedish Lapland

If you want a beautiful holiday with lots of opportunities to whet your photography appetite, Swedish Lapland is you go-to destination. Excite your inner explorer with this safari-style camping location and admire the beauty of the elusive Northern Lights from the perched comfort of a tree house.

From your vantage position in one the numerous camps, capture the natural vista of snow-blanketed landscapes and a setting sun behind a fir tree. It is a view that will inspire heavenly thoughts of nature for years to come.

New Zealand

They don’t call this place the “Land of the Long White Cloud” for nothing. Fans of Lord of the Rings trilogy will remember it as the shooting location for all three parts of the box office hit. Which makes it an amazing destination for your next photo shoot. Its gritty roads and remote paths are an ideal off-the-beaten path destination.

The soaring mountains, unique wildlife and ancient glaciers are perfect for the silver corners of a wall photo frame. However, you want to be careful as you sidle towards the edge of the mountain, because anything can happen. Get insurance that covers you. If you are in New Zealand, get a State New Zealand insurance policy to cover you.  If you are in the French Alps, make sure you get the right policy. Some photographers get caught up in the lure of the perfect picture and experience unfortunate accidents.

Myanmar

Hop into a time machine and encounter Myanmar at its best. This unique country with its ancient cities, rich culture and magnificent monuments is a treasure trove of picturesque landscapes. It is undeniably a vision fest for a photographer with an eager eye.

Meet the Shan people who live by the Inle Lake, and from Mandalay, cruise down the Irrawaddy River and see the grandiose temple-strewn grasslands of Bagan. All perfect features for a spot behind your flashlight. No photographer has ever left Myanmar with any feeling short of breath-taken.

Sumba Island

What is an island without its hermit wildlife and solitary beach spots? It doesn’t come more off-the-beaten tracks than Sumba Island. Tucked away in one of the almost-forgotten regions of Indonesia, the Sumba Island is an hour’s flight from Bali.

The island is home to a resort with 21 villas, and a sworn policy to protect and preserve Sumba’s unique culture. Each villa has been artfully built by local craftsmen to provide a panoramic view worth preserving by your DSLR camera.

Oman

This country is renowned for its rolling sand dunes, rocky mountain ranges and breezy beaches. A sojourner once described Oman as the overlooked jewel of the Crown of the Middle East. Nevertheless, its plains off the best views as you meander through Muscats busy souks.

Don’t miss the Sultan’s stunning palace; a place that will leave you spellbound in wonder. Visit the Wahiba Sands and be hosted for a day at a traditional Bedouin camp. Then, venture into the mountains and take a leisurely stroll through time-honoured Arabic hamlets. bulkingstore

Every square foot in any of these destinations is a piece of history begging to be captured and preserved by your lens. Even nature wants its story to be told. The off-the-beaten track is indeed one of my favourite subjects for landscape photography. And after visiting these places, it will no doubt become yours too.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Advice

A Guide To Photography in Las Vegas Casinos

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

Much like urban exploring Las Vegas Casinos present rich vista of stunning visual opportunities. WARNING: be prepared to be escorted off the casinos premises or barred by unfriendly security personal as Nevada gambling establishments take a dim view of budding photographers.

Is it legal to take photos in a casino’s gaming area?

All casinos have a no photography policy for the gaming area; so you need to go into this knowing you’re going to be breaking the rules.  However, it is not illegal, contrary to what casino staff will sometimes say so don’t worry about it from that perspective; the worst thing that can happen is they ask you to stop, to leave and/or to see and delete the photo(s) you just took.

Note that I said “ask”, not “require,” because they have no legal right to take your camera, inspect your camera or ask/make you delete any photos.  Keep in mind that most of the time you’ll only get hassled if the cashier cage is in the direction your lens is pointing; so avoid that and you’ll typically avoid trouble.

Do not ask if you can take pictures; just do it!  Since you already know it’s not allowed, no reason to ask; if you ask, they’ll often tell you no and it’s a lot less likely to cause problems if you just do it versus being told no and then doing it anyway.

Some of the most exciting moments captured on camera are when we win prizes and big money, so you’d imagine that pictures on a casino floor would be brimming with personality. Unfortunately, most bricks and mortar casinos take a dim view of photography on the casino floor.

On the strip In Las Vegas, for example, it is not technically illegal or against the rules to do so, but you will find that many pit bosses will be very quick to tell you to put away cameras and any other photography equipment if they see that you’re getting snap-happy in the gaming areas.

So how do you get around this? It’s important to note that in Vegas, they can’t physically confiscate your camera, nor are they legally allowed to demand that they check the pictures you’ve already taken on your phone of the gaming areas. Put simply, with a little subtlety and planning you should be able to get away with it by adhering to the following tips:

Top tips for taking photos in Vegas casinos

  • Use the smallest, most discrete camera equipment possible
    It goes without saying that if you head straight into a casino with your biggest camera lens and equipment draped over you, you’re likely to arouse suspicion from the moment you walk through the casino entrance. Take your smallest camera possible in order to keep a low profile.
  • Snap stills but don’t push your luck with video!
    Photo stills tend to be less of an issue with casino pit bosses than lengthy videos – probably because a video showcases more of the casino and its gaming action than a single still could possibly manage. However, it’s frowned upon to even take photo stills of your casino winnings.
  • Get rid of the flash
    Another sure-fire way to be detected taking pics in a casino is to use a booming flash. Most casinos have light enough anyway for a good shot, so switch off the flash from the first snap and you’ll be good to go.
  • Stay on the move at all times
    You’ll be surprised just how easy it is to discretely take some photos of the casino action, providing you move around the pit floor briskly. Linger too long and spend too much time photographing a particular area and you’re likely to be caught on the casino CCTV and accosted by the pit staff.
  • Don’t arouse suspicion by snapping other players and guests
    Worse still than lingering, you’ll drag too much attention to yourself if you opt to take pictures with other players and guests at the casino. Don’t try and involve table dealers etc as this won’t go down well with the pit bosses who want the games to run smoothly!

Of course, if you’re not close enough to a land-based casino to take some decent shots of the action, you can always get a friend to head online to play that type of game at home or on mobile, so you can take some snaps of their reactions mid-game! There’s a list from here that you can use to find a casino that accepts Canada-based casino players as well as those based in the UK and Europe.

Most of the sites offer free bonus money upon sign-up so your friend can find a site that allows them some free game time whilst allowing you to take snaps of today’s state-of-the-art 3D slot games developed by pioneering iGaming developers such as Microgaming, Playtech and NetEnt.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Advice

Colour: Should Your Photography Have One True Shade or a Mix?

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

When starting out as a budding photographer, experimenting with shots is essential to discovering what your preferred style is. Photos can promote different feelings in their audiences based on the angle, focus or topic involved. Yet, whilst you might get to the stage of realising your photographic style, there is at least one more question that still needs to be addressed. What about colour?

Of course, colour is an integral part of any photographer’s work, but the palette you choose may develop from what you find yourself photographing. Once you have entered the world of photography and practised with your camera, you will soon be able to tell where your innate flair lies. That may be nature, architecture, portraits or whatever subject best showcases you and your photography.

Depending on the theme you are drawn to, you will come to encounter certain colours that frequent that environment. In nature, greens and browns are a common occurrence, whereas buildings may have reddish tones from brickwork or grey from concrete. Deciding how best to represent colours is not easy, as different shades can symbolise different emotions, and these feelings can change depending on what combination of colours are used.

So how does colour affect your photography?

An important thing to remember is that when your photography is starting to obtain a recognisable style, will it appeal to potential clients? It is all well and good liking particular shades, but if the colour suggests something negative to customers, then the photos are less likely to sell. If your business is in the early stages, then your marketing strategy is key. Advertising your images online or on flyers will only bring interest if people feel something positive towards your photos, so getting a feel for how colours are being used by businesses is vital.

Look to the modern age

These days, you can increasingly find what you want online, whether that is on your phone, tablet or laptop. It is worth paying attention to both the colours used for the gadgets which allow you to have online access and for successful bands on the internet. The likes of Apple and Samsung employ whites and metallics as primary colours on their devices. White is long associated with purity and wholeness, therefore satisfying customers, whilst metallic shades are thought of as very futuristic and sophisticated at the moment.

Colour in marketing such as the logos and branding for a business is interesting to look at, especially if you sell stock photographs or want your photography to be used for a website. A case in point can be made by the ever-rising gaming industry, where the number of brands competing ensures that at least the leading brands have been giving palette choice a lot of thought. Comparing different brand logos for the same industry will give you some insight not only into the choice of colours the industry tends to go for, but also what sets the leading brands apart in terms of palette choices. For example, you can look at how new bingo sites approach branding in a very competitive industry, or do the same for online payment methods or e-commerce websites.

You’ll find that pink is considering calming and reassuring, but also a sign of hope, ideal for playing games of chance. Pink, which is calming and reassuring has been used across the world to signify hope and femininity, for causes such as fighting cancer. Pastel shades have also recently been brought into the limelight through online ventures like blogging, being deemed stylish and minimalist. Some brands will choose to go for more vibrant colours, which signify a bolder statement. In colour psychology, blue shows trustworthiness, whilst orange is friendly and yellow is positive. In this case, the shades chosen create a good mixture of feelings, ideal for online gaming.

Colour Symbolism

This philosophy about the symbolism of colours can be seen further afield too. From health organisations like the NHS and Nuffield, the latter having a green colour scheme to represent health, to supermarkets being trustworthy and friendly through their branding, it is easy to see why colours are so important in not only the photos you take, but how you market your photography business. Whilst using more than one colour or shade is accepted, just try not to go over the top. Three or four colours can be used together very effectively, but once you keep adding new colours, your photos and branding might get to busy for people to cope with. Do not worry if you make these misjudgments early on in your photography career, as there will be room for improvement.

The fruits of such research will allow you to not only see which colours appeal to people and why, but also develop an understanding of the feelings associated with each. All you need to do is look at the world around you to get the answers. With such knowledge, you’ll be able to find the right balance, if that’s what you’re going for, or challenge expectations and perceptions if you prefer. At the end of the day, practice makes perfect.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Tips and Techniques

How To Capture The Best Property Photography

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

Property photography goes beyond point-and-shoot actions. Proper care and planning goes into other photography niches. The property niche is not different. Your shots are supposed to impress your target audience by highlighting all the underlying attraction elements. Here are some top tips on how you can capture the best property photography.

Use the Right Equipment

To get the best results with your property photography, you need to have the basics in place. Most of top real estate photographers that supply magnificent images to top property websites, such as Spot Blue, will swear by these.

Wide-angle lens: Some of the best you can find in the market for general cropped frame shots are Nikon’s 10-24mm and Canon’s 10-22mm or 10-18mm. On the full-frame front, the Canon 17-40mm, Nikon 16-35mm lenses and Nikon 14-24mm are great options. Don’t want to shell out on those? Look for equivalents from Tamron and Sigma. These lenses allow powerful zoom out to capture large spaces without any unrealistic distortions.

Tripod: You can’t hold your camera by hand with serious interior photography. The results will look unprofessional. A tripod combined with a remote shutter eliminates the possibility of shakes during shoots.

Flash: Your camera’s standard flash is for leisurely shots. Experts invest in high quality flash to deliver truly robust shots.

Keep Flash and Ambient Light under Control

The lighting inside a room can be more than seven times darker than the outdoors even during the daytime. To get quality shots, you need to properly balance light coming in and light inside the room. You need to first of all understand how your camera’s shutter speeds affects the ambient light and how the ISO affect ambient and flash power.

Clear the Space

If there is a wide range of clutter around the property, your images will look unprofessional. Clear all clutter, arrange sofas, straighten beddings and turn on the lights for an invitingly warm shot. If there are locked doors that block light sources then get them unlocked, even if it means calling a reliable local locksmith!

Effective Composition is Vital

What are the best view points for your shot? Walk around the room to find them. In many cases, however, the best points are from corners of the room or positions that communicate the space or flow from one room to another. Take several shots from several viewpoints so you can review your images later and make more informed decisions on the perspective that works best.

Understand Your Settings

Taking your shots with ISO set on Auto will yield subpar shots. Keep it on 100 or 200 if you need shots that are devoid or noise or grain. You consider increasing your ISO from these levels if you need more power to illuminate the space. Your aperture should be set at f/8 as well for two main reasons. Firstly, that setting is the sharpest for your lens and secondly, the depth offered is wide enough to make the entire room the focus while allowing enough light for short shutter speeds.

These tips are bound to transform your property photography. Get practicing today!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Advice

An Amateur’s Guide to Candid Photography

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

Candid photography is all about capturing the beauty of a spontaneous moment within a relaxed, casual environment. The subject is shown in their most natural state. The goal is for someone to be filled with emotions as they look at the pictures of people happy, laughing, and having fun – or the opposite, but making sure all these emotions are genuine and not staged.

While they may not look as refined compared to still portraits, taking candid photographs is not as easy as it may seem. It takes a lot of patience and skilled technique to seize the perfect shot. It also is much easier to start with happy subjects, as they’re more likely to react positively to you taking their pictures. If you are an amateur photographer seeking ways to successfully take inspiring photos of people during joyous moments, here are a few tips:

Get to Know Your Subjects Well

It is important to know your subjects well enough that you are able to anticipate their next move. Watch them carefully and always have your camera ready. Set the ISO, aperture and shutter speed ahead of time so you won’t have to stop in the middle of shooting.

Blend in with the Crowd

If you want to capture genuine smiles and laughter in your photos, you need to go unnoticed. Be quiet, blend in, and try not to draw attention to yourself. For practice, choose a setting that allows for subjects who don’t move often and have frequent emotional reactions. Visit gaming spot like a local bingo hall where you can capture the different reactions of people as they win – excitement, surprise, and accomplishment.

Don’t Hesitate to Get Closer

There will be times when you might feel that you are intruding the personal space of those you are photographing – don’t. The most amazing shots are those where you are close enough to capture the emotions that looking at the picture would make you feel like you are actually there. If you need to, you can practise with a friend at home. The trick is to give them something to do so they forget they’re being photographed. For example, you can invite them to play online bingo and document their reactions as they play. Similar to the bingo hall idea above, the unpredictable nature of the online game will mean that their facial expressions will change with the action. Or you can try having them watch some viral videos online, trying to capture the slight changes in their face as they respond – think “Elders react” series, only with a photo camera instead of a video camera.

Seize the Moment

It is not just about taking pictures of people laughing. It is about clicking that camera at the right time – when a woman tries to hold back her tears as she sees the love of her life get down on his knee with a ring or as the father of the bride lovingly smiles at her daughter as they dance. Photos that capture the emotions so when your subjects looks at them, they are taken back to that time and feel the exact sentiments all over again.

Find a Flattering Angle

One of the challenges of taking candid photos is being able to get the right angle so your subject would look great while you capture their emotion. Timing is also crucial. For instance, when you subject bursts into laughter, there are a few seconds when they would look great and beaming with happiness while the rest of it would simply be awkward. Of course, you would not know when the awkward and the glorious stages will happen, so it will be best to shoot throughout the entire laugh.

Keep Moving

During candid photography, your subjects cannot be manipulated into moving for you to get a better shot. The point is to capture them in their most genuine happy disposition and so it will be you who will need to move to get a good composition. So, get up and walk around your subjects so you can get them in the right position then start shooting and keep on moving as you shoot.

Shoot in Burst Mode

You only get one chance to capture the moment and you can never predict what happens next, so go ahead and shoot in burst mode to increase your chance of getting that perfect shot. Burst or continuous high speed is a shooting mode in still cameras that allows you to shoot ten frames or more per second. After you have shot a bunch of photos in burst mode, you can then choose the best ones.

As mentioned earlier, candid photography is not easy. These tips are here to help amateur photographers take better shots of people enjoying life, but to be really good at this, it will take lots and lots of practice. So, get started and don’t forget to have fun while doing it!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Camera BagReviews

Nikon D810 Review

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

The D810 came on the heels of the well received and critically acclaimed Nikon D800 and D800E cameras. It has 36.3 megapixels, like its predecessors, but Nikon does more by combining the functions of the preceding two into one camera body, the Nikon D810.

The Nikon810 possesses a new sensor with an expanded native ISO range and also comes with better improvements generally.

This full frame camera is all you need a DSLR to be and a delight to camera enthusiasts.

Features

The D810’s ISO 64 mode is an improvement on the D800 and D800E’s impressive RAW dynamic range. The mirror mechanism is redesigned to reduce image softening mirror slap and the continuous auto focus algorithms are also redefined. The D810 is also made with an electronic front curtain shutter which makes its images sharp when in MUP mode.

The D810 offers quite a number of lens options on the Nikon F mount. You may get a Depth of field preview and also get to customise the function buttons. There is an assist lamp that works for when the light is low. Also present are stereo mics, lever to choose between auto focus and manual focus and remote terminals. In addition, there is a button to open the flash and another that allows for several shots to be taken in quick succession using different settings.

It might not be the most delicately beautiful camera but the D810 does take breathtaking pictures. The grip is also impressive as there is space for even those with large hands. It has a two layer dial that has keys that is used to control white balance, quality, metering and ISO. The ISO range is 32 to 51,200.The D810 uses the EXPEED 4 processor and takes faster shots than its predecessors. It has a built in flash, an advanced Multi Cam 3500FX with a Group area Auto Focus system and an AF detection of up to f/8 with 9 focus points.

The 36.3 Megapixels Nikkon D810 supports RAW, JPEG and TIFF files and also has a 3D colour Matrix Meter III. It possesses a self-diagnostic shutter and you may record videos in full 1080p HD @60fps max.

With a dimension of 146x123x82mm, the Nikkon D810 is built with magnesium alloy and has a weight of 880g. It is well protected against the rain, dust and weather generally. The LCD screen is 3.2 inch diagonal with 1,229 dots.

It has a standard USB port, two memory card slot ports. It uses the EN-EL15 battery and you can enjoy up to 1200 shots on a single charge.

Overview

The Nikon D810 comes up strong in a number of different places such as making it possible to shoot under difficult weather conditions and the viewfinder making it very easy to focus on what one wants to shoot. The absence of anti-aliasing filter also makes it possible for it to take impressively sharp images. Another lovely feature is the presence of the LiveView option like in most cameras of the same calibre; it is however disappointing that there is no built in WIFI option which would have made remote picture sharing much easier. It also doesn’t have a built in GPS which would have helped with keeping tags on the places where images where taken.

The WiFi and GPS can be attached externally if you don’t care that the Nikon D810 is already bulky on its own.

On the whole, if you are serious photographer that is about taking beautiful sharp images under whatever weather condition, the Nikon D810 is perfect for you; highly rugged and customisable to  shoot landscapes, adventures and portraits.

It costs around £2,5590 at MSRP to get one, and once you get familiar with all the buttons, you wouldn’t regret your purchase.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Camera BagReviews

Canon EOS 5DS R

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

The Canon EOS 5DS R is an addition to the EOS 5D range. It is one of the two 50MP cameras- the 5DS and 5DSR launched by Canon in 2015. It is a high resolution full frame model that is such a delight for stills photographers.

It possesses a self-cancelling filter which is what differentiates it from the ‘S’ model- the ‘S’ model possesses an optical low pass.

The Canon EOS 5DS R has a  50MP CMOS sensor, dual Digic 6 processors, minimum ISO 100(50ext), Maximum ISO 6400(12,800 ext),a self-cancelling filter, a 3.0 USB port, a maximum frame rate of 5fps, 61 point AF module with input from  150k metering sensor, a built in intervalometer capable of creating a 1080/30p video.

The Optical viewfinder is clear and bright. The brightness of the LCD can be controlled automatically or manually. You may never have to use the manual option except you are in an extreme light condition.

There is also the flicker detection that allows the camera’s continuous shooting to be synchronized and only takes a picture at the brightest moments, making the images have consistent exposure.

The Cannon 5DS R produces 65-70MB of M RAW and S RAW files at full resolution. This makes it consume a lot of data, making it absolutely necessary to get extra memory space. Don’t despair yet, It can also capture 28MP MRAW and 12MP SRAW files, and JPEGS, or crop into the sensor for x1.6 and x1.3 crop styles.

The Canon 5DS R has 61-point autofocus with 41 cross-type points and 5 double-cross-type points which makes it more accurate when used with fast lenses. It also uses clever algorithms to recognise objects and faces, for extra accuracy.

You can also pick groups of either five or nine focus points rather than a single one, just adding to what is a terrific AF system.

The secondary autofocus is also reasonably fast when you switch to the Live View but it isn’t as quick as the standard focus style. The Canon 5DS R still finds its mark within a second while being used under really poor light.

There is no space for headphones or HDMIs clearly sending the message that this camera isn’t aimed at video shoots. Its 5fps also makes it not suited for shooting action. Wi-Fi and NFC are also absent compared to similar products made by Sony or Samsung.

It is perfect for shooting Landscapes, weddings and studio photographs.

The Custom Quick Control screen makes adjustments very easy and manageable. Giving the user the power to adjust type, dimensions and positions of pictograms. The Canon 5DS R presents the user with an option to have a personalised menu screen, giving you the opportunity to design a layout that fits you perfectly.

This option is one you will love as a photographer, giving you that itch to take even more amazing pictures. However if you are not much of a geek, you may do just fine with the standard Quick menu which is pretty amazing by itself.

PROS

Incredible resolution and sharpness

Optical low pass filter for sharper image

There is allowance for images with smaller megapixels to be taken depending on one’s need

Weather resistant body

CONS

No space provided for headphones jack, making it not suited for audio recordings and thus affecting the video shooting quality

AutoFocus speed is comparable to consumer-level DSLRs

No Wifi, NFC or GPS.

Impressive shooting speed

Energy Saving, it can take up to 700shots on a charge, add a battery grip and it doubles that.

The Canon 5DS R first became available for sale in June 2015, it has since been priced at an MSRP of around £3000 (body only).

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Camera BagReviews

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

Camera category

Announced in September 2014, the Canon EOS 7D Mark II is the long awaited upgraded version of the Canon EOS 7D. It’s from the APS-C sensor-sized DSLR range of Canon cameras, the best the company had ever produced at the time of its release. While the toughly built 7D Mark II has a body identical to the EOS 7D, it packs the power of the Canon EOS-1D X with a few added enhancements and some deleted ones. At less than half the price of the 1D model, the 7D Mark II is a semi-pro DSLR that could be the optimum step-up camera for serious photography enthusiasts and the ideal second camera for many professionals.

Sensor

The camera features a newly designed 20.2 Megapixel APSC sensor that produces high-resolution images with amazing detail and splendid clarity. The micro lenses are redesigned for better light transmission. The camera is particularly good for shooting in low light with an ISO of up to 16,000, expandable to ISO 51,200. Thanks to the enhanced, higher sensitivity design, there’s low noise even at ISO 16,000. While the Mark II is awesome for still photos, it does well for videos, providing Full HD capture at rates up to 60p.

Processor

The sensor is matched with Dual DIGIC 6 image processing engines for enhanced image processing. The more powerful processors allow a maximum continuous shooting speed of 10fps for 31 raw files or 1030 JPEGs using a UDMA 7 CF card. They help the camera capture up to 19 RAW + JPEG shots in a single burst, perfect for action photography. Additionally, the processors permit real time correction of image distortion, lens aberration, and discrepancies in peripheral illumination.

AF system

All 65 points of the AF system are cross-type sensors, which is a massive upgrade from the 19-point AF system of the 7D. This improved, highly customisable AF system makes for better precision at astonishing speed and ensures a degree of stability not affected by the subject’s colour or shape. The f/2.8 dual cross-type centre point is sensitive down to f/8, and functions even in dim lighting conditions as low as -3EV. The autofocus technology lets you have a selection of six shooting scenarios to choose from, allowing the AF system to keep moving subjects as sharp as possible.

Video

Videographers will be delighted to learn that they can record up to 50p in PAL or up to 60p in NTSC mode ( Mov or MP4 format). The camera’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor has two photodiodes per pixel unlike the traditional one photodiode per sensor. This allows each pixel to capture light and at the same time, perform phase-detection autofocus, letting the camera achieve natural and precise focus swiftly in both Live View and video shooting. Additionally, with the shallow depth-of-field permitted by EOS optics, the camera will produce videos with a cinematic ambience, unlike many other DSLRs.

Pros

Continuous shooting at 10fps

A myriad of customisation options

Excellent image quality

Reasonable burst performance

Reliable and fast AF

Cons

Screen is fixed and is not touch sensitive

Wi-Fi connectivity is missing

As a result of the SLR design, viewfinder can’t display images as they will be captured

Absence of 4K recording

Price and lens size

The 7D Mark IV will cost you around £1,150 for the body alone and £1,350 for the body and an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens. It’s compatible with an endless list of EF and EF-S lenses from 100mm macro lenses and 400mm telephoto prime lenses to 35mm prime lenses and 16mm wide-angle prime lenses.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Camera BagReviews

Pentax K-1 Review

by Mark Bailey
written by Mark Bailey

The first time I held the Pentax K-1, it was easy to see the changes that had been made. Pentax, for the first time, added a 35mm full-frame SLR camera to its range. Thankfully, Pentax fans can find in the K-1, what Canon and Nikon have been doing for some years now.

Before we dive into the full feature, here are some interesting things you need to know about the K-1, Pentax’s beauty upgrade.

  1. The value for money

Because Canon and Nikon are way up there in terms of quality and performance, Pentax marks its niche by compensating adequately with great value. The K-1 has a 35.9 X 24mm 36 mp sensor, magnesium alloy casing, weather-proof and a new 5 axis stabilisation system. This comes at a fair price, which I’ll say, is a good deal.

  1. Fine set of lenses

A digital camera is only as valuable as its lenses, so they make a valid point. With 14 full-frame compatible lenses available in the market, K-1 users are spoilt for choice. In addition, the K-1 is compatible with the earlier K-mount Pentax lens, although much older ones will only work in manual focus mode.

  1. The peculiar ‘Flextilt’ screen

Tilt screens are no strangers to the SLR categories; the Nikon D500 features one too. But what makes the K-1 stand out is the unusual angle tilt; some pundits have described it as stilts. But Pentax argues that they are strong and can support the K-1’s 3.2” screen. While this is great, design-wise the flexibility of a traditional hinge has more freedom.

  1. Absence of an AA filter

The K-1 lacks anti-aliasing (AA) filters. This is no surprise because most manufacturers are doing the same. After all, it produces sharper images. But you can work around it by simulating an AA filter. Just apply microscopic vibrations at the sub-pixel level; it has the effect of creating a moiré reduction in the same way an optical AA filter would.

  1. A smorgasbord of attractive features

The K-1 really strives to impress. It provides the user with a 100% view from its pentaprism optical finder. There is also a 4k video capture, weather-proof, magnesium alloy casing, GPS and Wi-Fi, just to mention a few. A special Astro Tracer feature makes the K-1 a capable camera for photographing night skies by allowing for the earth’s rotation. Talk about smart.

A snapshot of the Pentax K-1 Features

Body Type

  • Is mid-size SLR
  • Body material is magnesium alloy

Sensor

  • Max resolution: 7360 x 4912
  • Effective pixels: 36 mega pixels
  • Sensor photo detectors: 37 mega pixels
  • Full-frame (35.9 x 24 mm)

Image

  • ISO: Auto, 100 – 204800
  • Image stabilization: Sensor-shift
  • Uncompressed format is RAW
  • File format: JPEG (Exif v2.3)

Autofocus

  • Has assist lamp
  • Manual focus
  • 33 focus points
  • Lens mount Pentax KAF2

Viewfinder

  • 100% coverage
  • Articulated LCD is tilting
  • Screen size 3.2”
  • Screen-dots: 1,037,000

The K-1 has a distinctive LED lighting that is extremely useful in limited light or places with challenging lighting. The LED is located behind the LCD screen, in the memory card slot, the battery compartment and atop the lens mount.

What makes the Pentax K-1 tick?

Pros

  • Has an amazing sensor and image quality
  • Viewfinder has 100% coverage
  • High ISO which has been stepped up 2 levels
  • Compatible with previous FA lens which are easily available
  • Ergonomic and comfortable design
  • Has many features including tilt, GPS, LCD, Wi-Fi

Cons

  • DA lenses only offers 15 megapixel images, and you’ll have to use the crop overlay in the viewfinder
  • New full frame (DFA) lenses are limited
  • Top LCD is smaller
  • FPS is slower than the K-3 (4 as opposed to 8.3)

The Pentax K-1 retails for £1,783.49 on Amazon

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail