Pro Photo V75 Issue 2

forget the format

WE’VE ALL BEEN HERE BEFORE, OF COURSE. Many times. I’m talking about the format size debate that’s been re-ignited (again) by the dramatic upturn in the choice of mirrorless cameras with 35mm-size sensors. The list of proponents is now impressive – Sony, Leica, Canon, Nikon, Pentax/Ricoh and Panasonic. Panasonic is particularly interesting because it’s been one of the main players behind the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless format with its Lumix G system, but now has the full-35mm Lumix S line. Partner in M43, Olympus, has upped the ante, launching a new OM-D series flagship that leverages all the benefits of a smaller sensor size. The E-M1X is undoubtedly a pro-level camera, as is Panasonic’s Lumix G9, but not everybody seems to think an M43 sensor is up to the job. Well,…

lee filters debuts modular holder

British filter manufacturer Lee has launched a new holder and filter system, Compatible with its existing Lee 100mm filters and adapter rings, the new LEE100 system holder is manufactured from injection-moulded composite materials to combine strength and durability with a lighter weight. It features a new three-way locking system with Neutral, Half-Lock and Full-Lock settings which regulate the holder’s rotation and locking on the adapter ring. Modular filter-guide blocks are available in one-, two- and three-slot configurations, and have a simplified design so they simply snap on to the holder and remain securely in place. A new tapered profile gives improved resistance when positioning filters. The LEE100 system can be used with up to three slot-in filters without the risk of vignetting, making it compatible with many of today’s ultra wide-angle lenses.…

canon launches first rf lens with ‘br’ optics

At the time it unveiled its second RF mount mirrorless camera body, the EOS RP, Canon also revealed its plans for six new lenses all scheduled for launch sometime this year. The first of these, the RF 85mm f1.2L USM, arrives on the market about now, and is the first additional lens since Canon’s full-35mm mirrorless system made its debut in September 2018. The new 85mm f1.2 L series prime is designed to make the most of the mirrorless camera configuration, so its optical construction employs Canon’s new ‘Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics’ (BR) element – as introduced with the EF 35mm f1.4L II USM – which is designed to deliver, among other things, superior correction for chromatic aberrations. The BR optical element is located in the lens so that it refracts…

make a date

Current to 21 July: Exhibition. Street Photography 1930s – 1960s. Photographs drawn from private collections documenting Sydney’s busy streets shown alongside contemporary street photography by photo-media artist Anne Zahalka. At the Museum Of Sydney, corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney, NSW 2000. Gallery hours are 10.00am to 5.00pm daily. Admission fees apply. . For more information call (02) 9251 5988 or visit wwwsydneylivingmuseums.com.au Current to 25 August: Exhibition. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year. One hundred images from the finalists and winners in the 2018 edition of the world’s biggest wildlife photography competition. At the Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW 2000. Entry is $20 which includes admission to the museum’s permanent galleries. Museum hours are 9.30am to 5.00pm daily. For more information telephone (02) 9298 3777…

sigma plans 11 l-mount art series lenses

Lens maker Sigma has begun fleshing out its participation in the L-Mount Alliance, of which it is a member along with Leica and Panasonic. The latter, of course, has just released its first L-Mount full-frame mirrorless camera bodies, the Lumix S1 and S1R. Sigma is giving the L-Mount a further boost by announcing that 11 of its much-awarded Art series lenses will be available in the L-Mount over the rest of the year. Also coming is the MC-21 mount adapter which will allow the fitting of selected Sigma lenses – in either the Sigma SA or Canon EF mounts – to L-Mount camera bodies, and these include Art, Contemporary and Sports series primes and zooms. The Sigma L-Mount lenses fully utilise the functions of the L-Mount so support continuous autofocusing, in-body image…

two up… new leica q2 has more mp and 4k video

The original Q has proved to be a big seller for Leica, combining many of the traditional values of a classic M camera with modern amenities such as autofocusing, an electronic viewfinder and programmed exposure control. The new Q2 model has the same Smilax 28mm f1.7 ASPH fixed wide-angle lens, but has a higher-resolution sensor, weather sealing, an OLED-type viewfinder and 4K video recording. The new full-35mm CMOS sensor has a total pixel count of 50.4 million (47.3 MP effective) and is claimed to deliver 13 stops of dynamic range. The maximum image size for both JPEGs and RAW files is 8368x5584 pixels. The sensitivity range is equivalent to ISO 50 to 50,000. The Q2 captures JPEGs in three sizes and RAW files in the DNG format with 14-bit RGB colour.…