Reviews

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.

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).

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.

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

The Nikon D500 is the update of D300s, Nikon’s critically acclaimed professional calibre crop sensor DSLR from the last decade.

The camera occupies the top of APS-C tree for Nikon, and while some photographers ultimately aspire for a full-frame, there are other advantages of a crop sensor. For instance, smaller sensors indicate the ability to zoom into a subject with smaller, lighter (usually economical) lenses.

The camera also enjoys the numerous benefits of its full-framed siblings without being quite as expensive. However, this does not mean it is cheap. It shares the same focusing system and processor as the Nikon D5 targeted at professionals. It also has a pretty high ISO figure of ISO 1,640,000. Although it may not be on the same plain as the D5’s ISO figure of 3,000,000, it is more than adequate for what most ordinary users will usually expect.

The 500 goes particularly well with Nikon’s 16 – 80mm f/2.8 – 4 lens, but it also pairs nicely with Nikon’s wide range of DX-format lenses.

Key Features

• Sensor

The D500 has a sensor of 20.9 mega pixels, which is under the D7200’s 24mp but significantly higher than the D300 series (12mp). Still makes for a good catch when you are out and about in the woods.

• Autofocus

However, when compared to both series (D300S AND D7200), the D500 has significantly higher AF points; 153. It is 99 crossed, with -4EV, f/8 min.

• Metering

Metering has an impressive 180,000 pixels

• Shutter

200k rated, 1/8000 max, 1/250 sync and a maximum 10fps

• Memory cards and Buffer

Has dual memory card slots; XQD + SD slots, 200 NEF & JPEG formats

• Viewfinder

The D500 has a pentaprism 100% optical viewfinder,

1x 16mm eyepoint 3.2” 2.36m dot, with a touch-sensitive tilt LCD screen.

Autofocus (AF); attributes worth noting

1. The new autofocus sensor section pushes the spread of the autofocus sensors to its full limits in a mirrored system; this means the DX frame is almost completely filled.
2. With 153 detection areas, where 99 are cross points, we can only select 51 of those points. But the new sensors have middle points that are active in most modes and useful in focus discretion.
3. The autofocus sensor has its own dedicated CPU. All initial data streams are processed before being sent to the main system for final completion. The focus system utilises more data, and is quicker.
4. There is a reduction in the mirror blackout time, which indicates that the AF sensors can see what’s happening in front of the camera while you take fast snap-shots of photos.
5. The sensitivity of the actual detection areas is greatly improved (from the D300s). You can focus at -4EV at the central censor, and striking feat for a Nikon DSLR.

No doubt, the D500 is a pro’s camera. But is it all that?

It will interest you to know that the D500 is a bit lighter than the camera it replaces. Nikon applies the carbon fibre point and the shutter box technique they have established with previous DSLRs in recent times. This offers a significantly rigid front frame than the earlier metal versions.

So, what are the pros and cons?

It can be argued that the D500 pros outweigh the cons. It’s something you can easily work around.

Pros

• The camera shoots at 10 frames per second, and has a 200 frames buffer.
• It has a touchscreen which makes controls a faster and convenient. The screen tilts too.
• 100% optical viewfinder
• Has a 1.5 crop factor
• Comes with dual-memory card slot

Cons

• APS-C format sensor is not so high in ISO terms (you can get faster glass for this)
• Lacks a pop-up flash (buy a transmitter)
• Has less mega pixels (21 when compare to D750’s 24)
• Requires more expensive cards, but you can use the SD slots instead.

The Nikon D500 currently retails for £1,729 at Currys

Introduction

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a premium camera from the 5D series built for both professional photographers and advanced enthusiasts. It is a highly versatile camera offering high-performing features for a limitless list of applications from portraits and products to weddings and landscapes, whether it’s still photography or video production. Don’t let the close resemblance to its predecessor fool you, it comes with a plethora of new features and notable upgrades from the Mark III.

According to Canon, the company solicited the views of 5D series users when building the IV. From their findings, AF speed, AF precision, resolution, and dynamic range were the top aspects users wanted upgraded, all taken care of in the Mark IV.

The AF system and processor

The 61-point, High Density Reticular AF system gives up to 24% more vertical coverage than the Mark III system. This camera is the Canon’s first full frame DSLR able to persistently focus in Live View when you’re taking still photos. It does exceedingly well staying with the initial face or subject you originally focused on, and there’s a ‘Face Detect + Tracking’ mode that lets you tap on your subject to specify it. Among the numerous customisable buttons on the camera, there’s an unnamed one positioned below the mini joystick that lets you toggle through different focus area modes. There’s an option that lets you deactivate the autofocus function on the shutter release button and take it to the AF-ON button. The camera also comes with an improved DIGIC 6+ image processor that keeps the camera performing optimally even with the remarkable upgrade in pixel count.

Resolution and Dual Pixel Raw

The Mark IV is a boasts a 30.4 megapixel full frame CMOS imaging sensor. While this is not the only camera with this level of resolution, no other camera has this high a resolution and runs as fast as the Mark IV. For instance, the 5DS and 5DSR, which have a higher resolution but run markedly slower. There’s also the Nikon D810 which has a slightly higher resolution but only 5fps. The 5D Mark IV has a particularly useful Dual Pixel Raw option that you may find invaluable in certain shooting situations. This feature causes the camera to record two separate 30MP images from each pixel’s ‘right-looking’ and ‘left-looking’ photodiodes. While you’ll be left with files double the regular size, you’ll be able to ‘micro-adjust’ the image, shift the bokeh, and reduce ghosting.

Other specs

The Mark IV has a burst rate of 7fps which is fast enough for any shooting situation except exclusive full-time sports coverage. Certainly one of the best additions to the Mark IV, the 4K video capture feature lets users record in either 24 or 30p, but with a 1.64x crop. The camera captures footage in Motion JPEG and permits 4K Frame Grabs. The 5D Mark IV packs a number of other useful features including a full touch screen interface, GPS, built-in Wi-Fi/NFC, an interval timer, and improved weather sealing.

Pros

Superb ISO performance

Enhanced dynamic range

7fps burst rate with extensive JPEG buffer

Full-frame sensor

Solid 4K video recording

Advanced AF system

Superb sensor performance

Cons

Weighty

Costly

Continuous recording limit of 30 minutes

Cumbersome 4K video codec

Soft-looking JPEG files at default settings

Built-in flash and flipping LCD are missing

Price and lens size

When the Canon 5D mark IV hit the US market in September 2016, it costs around £2,700 for the body alone, £3,400 with the 24-70mm F4L IS USM lens and £3,530 with the 24-105mm F4L IS II USM lens.