Pro Photo

outsmarting the smartphone

I saw an observation recently that stated that the difference between a smartphone and a camera was involvement… to which I would add the words “and commitment”. Then there’s the online promotional campaign currently being run by Ted’s Cameras under the banner “a real moment deserves a real camera”. On the hardware side, the smartphone has virtually put paid to the compact camera business. Total camera sales globally in 2020 were 10% of what was being sold 10 years ago. Ten percent! The vast majority of those losses were, of course, compact fixed-lens cameras. This has forced the industry to move from a volume model to a value model. The thing is that the march of the smartphone continues into the market that was once the exclusive domain of traditional cameras… ever…

nikon promises pro z camera this year

Nikon has confirmed it has a professional-level Z-series full-frame mirrorless camera in the pipeline, with a launch date scheduled for some time later this year. The camera gets a model number – the Z 9 – and we know it will have a stacked backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, but that’s about it at the moment. However, the stacked sensor design suggests that the Z 9 will be built for speed, with a key audience being the many sports and press photographers who currently use Nikon’s top-end DSLRs. Nikon has also revealed that the Z 9 will be able to record 8K video, which implies it’ll likely also be able to do 4K at 50/60fps and the 100/120fps speeds for super slow-mo effects. The faster read-outs made possible by the stacked…

fujifilm adds fast wide-angle to xf system

The 39th lens in Fujifilm’s X-mount APS-C mirrorless system is the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR wide-angle prime, which has an effective resolution of 27mm. The new lens features a weather-sealed construction using metal alloy barrel tubes, and is also insulated to enable shooting in subzero temperatures down to -10º Celsius. The optical construction comprises 15 elements in nine groups, and includes three aspherical types and one with extra-low dispersion (ED) characteristics. The focusing group comprises six elements that move in unison and has a travel of just 2.5mm to give faster operation, which Fujifilm quotes at 0.04 seconds. This also helps optimise sharpness across the focusing range. The minimum focusing distance is 20cm. Despite the fast maximum aperture of f1/1.4, the new XF 18mm still has a comparatively compact and…

and there’s a pro-level canon eos r coming too

Not long after Nikon made its announcement, Canon revealed that it’s planning a pro-level EOS R series mirrorless camera, called the EOS R3. It obviously sits above the R5 in Canon’s fullframe mirrorless camera system, but appears to still slot in below the flagship EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR (leaving room, presumably, for an EOS R1). However, Canon says that the EOS R3 will have the same level of weather protection and durability. As can be seen from the product picture, the R3 also has an integrated vertical grip. The EOS R3 is primarily built for speed with its target audience being sports and press photographers. It will use Canon’s first ‘in-house’ backside-illuminated (BSI) and stacked CMOS sensor, enabling a top shooting speed of 30fps with full AF/AE tracking when using…

sun studios launches limited edition print marketplace

SUN Editions is a new online fine-art print marketplace, created by SUNSTUDIOS to directly connect art buyers with leading Australian artists. The SUN Editions platform offers a diverse, curated range of limitededition photographic artworks available to purchase nationwide and internationally, with each piece prepared in close collaboration with the artist. SUN Editions also enables buyers to customise each piece of art according to their personal style by offering three print sizes to select from and premium framing options. These works are then printed at SUNSTUDIOS using its state-of-the-art Canon print facilities and fine-art printing expertise. Only 10 editions of each size print will be sold per artwork, making each piece a limited edition. SUN Editions has been created in response to a challenging year for Australia’s creative industries, with thousands of commercial…

sony fe mount turns 60… lenses that is.

In fact, such is the rate of Sony’s expansion of its FE-mount system that we’re now up to 63 lenses (see the separate news item), but the 60 mark is still worth noting as it’s quite an achievement. Back in October 2013, when Sony launched its Alpha full-frame mirrorless camera system, there was precisely one FE-mount lens – a Zeiss-badged 35mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime. This state of affairs didn’t last long, and Sony has had the pedal to the metal ever since. Seven-and-ahalf years later, it’s launched its 60th FE lens and has just kept on going. It’s also worth noting here that Sony’s FE-mount system pretty well ticks all the boxes in terms of its scope and variety – from ultra-wides to supertelephotos, the high-performance G Master line-up and…