Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Smart Photography

Most imaging publications tend to ignore fixed lens compact cameras since the market for such cameras is declining worldwide. To prove all the doomsayers wrong, Fujifilm has launched the new X 100 VI to rave reviews throughout the world. The X 100 VI faces a backlog of orders that is unprecedented and which Fujifilm is struggling to fulfil. What does this teach us? Ignore a segment in the market at your peril. Fujifilm led the world with the Instax series and now the X 100 VI is already the best selling camera in the US. Customers want something innovative, iconic and hand holdable. Fujifilm read customer preferences before anyone else. Congratulations, Fujifilm!…

Sony is poised to make photographic history with the imminent announcement of the world’s first 24-70mm f/2.0 lens for full frame E-mount cameras. Reports from reliable sources indicate that Sony is preparing to introduce this groundbreaking lens, marking a significant milestone in photography. With no precedent in photographic history, Sony’s offering stands out for its remarkable specifications. While the current Canon 28-70mm f/2.0 lens comes close, Sony’s lens surpasses it with an additional 4mm at the wide end, enhancing its versatility for photographers. Its expansive focal range caters to capturing stunning landscapes and exquisite portraits, catering to a wide range of photographic needs. Initial insights suggest that despite its impressive specifications, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.0 lens will maintain a comparable size to the Canon counterpart, ensuring practicality and portability without…

Nikon has introduced a groundbreaking full-frame superzoom lens, the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR, for its Z-mount mirrorless cameras. With an exceptional 14.2x zoom ratio, this lens sets a new standard for all-in-one zoom lenses, surpassing its competitors in reach. Designed primarily for full-frame cameras, the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is also compatible with Nikon’s APS-C DX cameras like the Z50 and Zfc, providing an effective focal range of 42-600mm on these models. This versatile lens caters to a wide range of photography and filmmaking needs, offering both wide-angle and telephoto focal lengths in a single zoom. Its compact and lightweight design makes it perfect for travel and everyday use, ensuring users can capture stunning details and distant subjects effortlessly. Equipped with a stepping motor for fast autofocus and…

Sony has introduced its latest lens innovation, the SEL2450G standard zoom lens, compatible with 35mm full-frame cameras in the Alpha series. This compact lens, boasting a maximum aperture of F2.8 across its entire zoom range, promises high-resolution performance and impressive bokeh, reflecting the hallmark quality of Sony’s G Lens series. Despite its small and lightweight build, the SEL2450G delivers exceptional image quality, covering a focal length range from 24mm to 50mm. This versatility enables users to capture a wide array of subjects, from everyday snapshots to portraits and video content, all while maintaining high quality. Key to its performance are the four aspherical lenses and two ED (Extralow Dispersion) glass elements, which work together to minimize aberrations and ensure sharpness from the center to the corners of the frame. The…

Sony introduces the latest addition to its full-frame α™ (Alpha™) E-mount lens lineup with the launch of the FE 16-25mm F2.8 G lens. This large-aperture wide-angle zoom lens maintains an impressive F2.8 maximum aperture across the entire zoom range from 16mm to 25mm, offering photographers and videographers supreme image quality in a compact and lightweight design. Key Features • Compact and lightweight design with a filter diameter of φ67mm, maximum diameter of 74.8mm, length of 91.4mm, and weighing approximately 409g. • High-resolution performance achieved through the effective arrangement of three ED (Extralow Dispersion) glasses and four aspherical lenses, including one ED aspherical lens, reducing various aberrations such as chromatic aberration. • 11-blade circular aperture and optimized spherical aberration for beautiful bokeh characteristic of Sony G lenses. • High close-up shooting…

Sivanantham Govindan Sivanantham Govindan from Salem, Tamilnadu, is an accountant by profession, photographer by passion, and a traveller by obsession. He is a self-taught photographer. His work has been published on several platforms. Says Sivanantham “I believe photography allows me to capture precious moments of life as frames, portraying each frame with different emotions and feelings.”…

Rajiv Ranjan Sinha Rajiv Ranjan Sinha is an electrical engineer based in Kolkata, specialising in the power sector. His passions include bike rides, exploring new destinations, and capturing moments through photography. He’s particularly drawn to the serene beauty of mountains and beaches. Says Ranjan “Photography not only fuels my wanderlust but also inspires me to seek out exotic locales”.…

Ashok Kandimalla Ashok Kandimalla has been in the photographic field for over three decades and has extensive experience in both film and digital photography. Being an electronics engineer by profession and a photographer, he possesses a unique and deep insight into the technical aspects of digital photography and equipment. He has published more than a 100 articles on photography and some of his writings have also been published in the well-known international magazine Popular Photography. An avid collector of photographic books and vintage cameras, Ashok has a keen interest in the history of photography and a passion for sharing his knowledge on photography through teaching and writing. He is the only Indian photographer to be featured on the Nikon Centenary website. He is presently working as a Management and Engineering…

Inside the Box ✓ Camera body + Body cap✓ Battery (NP-FZ100)✓ Battery charger (BC-QZ1)✓ Shoulder strap✓ Accessory shoe cap✓ Eyepiece cup✓ Power cord✓ Cable protector The Alpha 9 III is the world’s first global shutter system 35 mm full frame camera introduced by Sony. Sony claims that the global shutter ensures that there is absolutely no image distortion when photographing fast-moving subjects. The A9 III offers blackout-free viewing at 120 frames per second speed with full AF/AE tracking using an AI processing unit. Let’s see how this beauty performs on our testbench. Design & Build Quality The Sony A9 III is a mirrorless full frame interchangeable lens camera. The camera body is sleek as well as sturdy; it uses magnesium alloy for strength and durability. The body is dust and…

Inside the Box ✓ Snap-on front lens cap ✓ Rear lens cap ✓ Square-shaped lens hood ✓ User manual ✓ Soft pouch ✓ Warranty card Nikon has a long history of making zooms with long focal lengths and large zoom ratios right from the 1980s. Later in the digital era, it introduced its first and highly successful ‘carry only one’ lens, the DX 18-200 mm in F mount. That trend continued with Nikon introducing the 24-200 mm lens, its first super-zoom, all-in-one type lens with the Z mount. Not to rest on its laurels, Nikon has now released the 28-400 mm ‘hyper-zoom’ with a mind-boggling zoom ratio of greater than 14 which is by far the largest for full-frame cameras from any manufacturer. Design & Build Quality The lens feels…

1 Which camera won the SP Camera of the year Award in 2024? a) Nikon Z 8b) Sony Alpha 6700 c) Panasonic S 5 II d) Canon R 8 2 When did the SP Awards start? a) 2005 b) 2006 c) 2007 d) 2008 3 Who was the first winner of the SP Awards? a) Canon b) Olympusc) Nikon d) Sony 4 Which company has won the SP Camera of the Year Award the most number of times? a) Canon b) Nikon c) Sony d) Canon and Nikon in a tie 5 How many times has Olympus won the award in the past? a) Never b) Once c) Twice d) Thrice 6 One company has never won the SP Camera of the Year Award. Which one? a) Fujifilm b) OM…

Venus Optics has introduced its latest lens, the Laowa 10mm F2.8 ‘Zero-D’ FF, marking the company’s first autofocus lens. However, autofocus functionality is limited to Sony E-mount or Nikon Z-mount cameras, while Canon RF or Leica L-mount users will rely on manual focus. Promising the world’s widest rectilinear lens with a 130° angle-of-view, Venus Optics’ 10mm F2.8 boasts 15 elements, including 3 ED and 2 aspherical elements. The lens will be offered with a choice of either 5 or 14-blade apertures, although the latter will require manual focus. With a minimum focus distance of 12cm (4.7”) from the sensor and a maximum magnification of 0.24x, the lens accommodates standard 77mm threaded filters. Available next month, the Venus Optics Laowa 10mm F2.8 Zero-D FF comes with a price tag of $799.…

Yodobashi, a prominent name in Japan’s electronics retail landscape, has unveiled its highly anticipated ranking of best-selling cameras for March 2024. Topping the list is the Nikon Z f 40mm f2 kit, showcasing Nikon’s continued popularity among photographers. Following closely behind are offerings from Sony, with the A7C II zoom lens kit and A7C II body securing prominent positions on the chart. Sony further solidifies its presence with the A7 IV body and FX 3 body making notable appearances. Nikon’s Z 8 body and Canon’s EOS R 6 II body also find themselves among the best sellers, reflecting the diverse preferences of camera enthusiasts in the Japanese market. Interestingly, while Japan favours these high-performance mirrorless and DSLR cameras, the best-selling camera in the United States during the same period was…

With the expansion of the EOS R series featuring models like the Canon EOS R8 and Canon EOS R100, along with the introduction of the Canon PowerShot V10 vlogging camera, attention turns to what the industry giant has in store for this year. Canon EOS R1 Amidst the absence of any announcements at CES, CP+, and The Photography Show, speculations are rife regarding the unveiling of the EOS R1 in April, potentially alongside another headline product. Previous rumours hinted at features like 85MP resolution and a global shutter sensor, but recent reports suggest otherwise. Sources now suggest the R1 will sport a 30MP stacked sensor, boasting capabilities of shooting up to 240fps bursts and 6.7K 60p video, with a 1/1,250 sec flash sync time and a fully electronic shutter, possibly…

Theyyam is the Hindu religious art performance of northern part (Malabar) of Kerala including the districts of Kannur, Kasargod, Kozhikkod and Wayanad. Historically this part of the costal belt and hill area is known as Thulunad. Theyyam is also the ritual art of Thulunad. There are more than 450 Theyyams and they vary as per customs, traditions, the area, performance, myths and beliefs. Theyyam is also known as Kaliyattam. Some Hindus believe Theyyam is the way to God and by performing this we get Gods blessings. Theyyam season starts in malayalam month of Thulam and ends in Edavam, October to May-June. Puthiya Bhagavathy Theyyam is also known as Pothi theyyam or Puthiyothi theyyam. Kannur Alakkode Poovanchal Bhavavathi theyyam is very peculiar for the hill area of Kannur. There is a…

BenQ has unveiled its latest addition to the Pro-Designer series, the PD3225U. This 32-inch 4K UHD designer monitor is specifically tailored for Mac users, aiming to enhance graphic designing and editing workflows with its exceptional features. One of the standout features of the PD3225U is its use of IPS Black technology, which ensures high contrast ratios and deeper blacks, contributing to an immersive visual experience. This technology complements the monitor’s 2000:1 contrast ratio, providing enhanced clarity and detail in both bright and dark scenes. Designed to meet the demands of professional graphic designers and editors, the PD3225U boasts BenQ’s AQCOLOR technology, delivering outstanding image quality with a 98% Display P3 colour gamut coverage and Delta E≤2 colour accuracy. This ensures that users can achieve precise colour reproduction, essential for accurate…

Panasonic has announced a significant firmware update for its acclaimed Lumix S5II and S5IIX cameras, enhancing their capabilities and cementing their position as top choices for hybrid mirrorless cameras in the market. Released in January and June 2023 respectively, the Lumix S5II and S5IIX have quickly gained recognition for their outstanding video production capabilities. The upcoming firmware update promises a plethora of new features, including Frame.io integration, proxy recording, improved electronic stabilisation, enhanced autofocus, and pre-burst shooting. Let’s delve into these enhancements: Proxy Recording: Proxy recording allows users to capture smaller versions of video files simultaneously with full-resolution files, facilitating quicker offloading onto the cloud for remote editing teams. The Lumix S5II and S5IIX support proxy recording with certain limitations on the main video file, ensuring efficient workflow management. Frame.io…

SG-Image, a new player in the lens market, recently announced its second offering, the SG-Image 35mm f/0.95 APS-C lens. This release follows the company’s introduction of the budget-friendly 25mm f/1.8 prime lens for APS-C cameras in February, priced at just $40. While details on pricing for the new 35mm f/0.95 lens are yet to be disclosed, it’s unlikely to match the $40 mark of its predecessor. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the lens features a complex optical design with 12 lens elements in nine groups and twelve aperture blades, promising excellent image quality and smooth bokeh. Designed for close-up photography, the lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 0.35 meters (approximately 13.8 inches). Crafted with an all-metal body, it includes a focus scale, depth of field markers, and an aperture…

Nikon has rolled out firmware update version 1.60 for its flagship D6 DSLR camera in early April, bringing several enhancements to the device. Here are the key changes included in the update: GNSS module firmware update is now available, improving performance. Note: The second update is not required if the GNSS module’s firmware “G” is already 0.17. Refer to “GNSS Module Firmware Update” for updating procedures. Firmware for the GNSS module has been updated, enhancing acquisition performance in certain areas where the quasi-zenith satellite “QZSS” can be acquired. Default values for encryption keys and the password displayed after the camera’s default settings are restored have been changed when connecting wirelessly. Despite the update, the Nikon D6 has maintained its original price of $6,497, with no price drop observed over the…

⚫ The Nikon Z 9 and Z 8 are two of your most sought-after mirrorless cameras, used by professionals as well as enthusiasts. What are the features that set them apart from the others? The Nikon Z 9 and Z 8 are indeed exceptional mirrorless cameras, offering a plethora of features that set them apart from the competition. Both cameras boast an impressive 8.3K/60p capable 45.7-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor, ensuring unparalleled image quality and detail. This sensor, combined with the world’s fastest scanning speed*, ensures swift and accurate image capture even in challenging conditions. Moreover, the wide range of AF Subject Detection Types, comprising of 9 variations with the help of AI based algorithm, contributes to enhancing the autofocus performance, enabling precise subject tracking and focusing. This is further complemented…

Tanmoy Das Karmakar Tanmoy Das Karmakar from Kolkata, West Bengal, started with wildlife photography in 2018 and his passion soon turned into capturing ‘action moments’ of birds and animals. He started following some photographers on Facebook and Instagram and also started participating in photography contests. In 2019 he enrolled with Light & Shadow, a reputable photography institute in Kolkata, followed by subscribing to a well-known wildlife photographer Sudhir Shivaram. He rightly believes that there is no end to learning and consistently tries to improve his photography skills. ■ Your wildlife photos are excellent. How did you develop your interest in wildlife photography? Thank you for your valuable comments and appreciation. I started my photography journey in 2018. Later on I found my passion and interest in birds and wildlife photography,…

Vimal Parmar  An independent marketing consultant and digital print evangelist with over 40 years of experience in the imaging industry. @vimalparmar A Journey of Thrills, Adventures, and Unforgettable Memories captured in a photo book Dear Readers, For years, I have advocated for the printing of photographs since it benefits us all. Over the last few issues of this magazine, I have highlighted individuals who have created a photo book for themselves. By delving into their backgrounds and motivations, I aim to inspire you, dear readers, to liberate your images from your smartphones and embrace printing as a means of cherishing memories. This time, we have Bijoy Kumar Y. While adept at creating lavish photo books for his organization, this one is solely for his family and close friends. Recognizing my…

Anuj Jain Ideally, photographs should convey a story. This is the way I would explain it – a tiger, for example, standing in front of a camera is a ‘record shot’; but the same tiger doing something -- like snarling, yawning, showing its large canines to show its displeasure at the photographer getting too close to it, crouching to leap on to its prey – such pictures are story-telling pictures. Photos of your pet dog, running, trying to catch the Frisby for example, can also convey a story. In other words, photos that don’t need an explanation. Smart Photography reader Anuj Jain from Chandigarh has sent us a series of story-telling photographs of a fierce monkey biting a dog’s leg and the subsequent grouping up of dogs that chased away…

CAMERA Fujifilm Instax Pal ₹ 13,999 Instax.in Inside the Box ✓ Instax Pal✓ USB Type C charger for charging ✓ User Guide The Fujifilm Instax Pal, a compact digital camera that seamlessly blends nostalgia with modern convenience, perfect for capturing and sharing cherished moments on the go. With its sleek design and versatile features, the Instax Pal is poised to become your favorite travel companion. One of the standout features of the Instax Pal is its customizable pre-shutter sounds, allowing users to add a personal touch to their photography experience. Paired with the INSTAX Pal App, users can unlock even more fun features and customization options, making each photo truly unique. The ability to select specific photos for printing and edit them directly within the app offers a level of control…

This is an interesting and unusual product from Nikon, the first of its kind. Think of a Nikon mirrorless camera and then cut away the grip portion of it, along with the dials and buttons associated with that section. The result is a unique device that is a hybrid of both a grip and a remote-control unit, hence its name, the ‘Remote Grip’. The MC-N10 features the main-command dial, the sub-selector (commonly known as the joystick), AF-ON, Menu, and playback buttons on its rear side. On the top and front, you’ll find the sub-command dial, On/Off switch, and shutter release. Additionally, there are recording, ISO, and exposure compensation buttons. Two function buttons, Fn1 and Fn2, located on the inner side of the grip, can be customized. Essentially, all controls accessible…