Innehållsförteckning för No. 464 från Photography Week

Welcome to the world’s No.1 weekly digital photography magazine. If you’re already a reader, thanks for your continued support and involvement; if you’re new to Photography Week, you’ve come to the right place! In addition to expert advice, brilliant tips and step-by-step tutorials, every issue features interactive galleries of the best new photos, how-to videos on essential shooting and editing techniques, and in-depth reviews of the latest camera kit. But that’s not the whole story. Photography Week is more than a magazine – it’s a community of like-minded people who are passionate about photography. To get involved, just follow any of the links below and share your shots and comments – your photo might even appear on our cover! JOIN THE PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK COMMUNITY AND START SHARING! FACEBOOK http://bit.ly/39py9lg TWITTER…

AVAILABLE ON YOUR DEVICE NOW! https://apple.co/2RjoI0a http://bit.ly/2txbB2B http://bit.ly/36kQ7TC *Available for a limited time only. Standard subscription offer varies across platforms/devices – please refer to specific store for the most up-to-date offer…

30 MINS Many motorsport photographers swear by shooting handheld, and there’s no denying it offers you greater freedom of movement. But racedays are long and often involve a good deal of walking, and hours of holding lenses can take its toll. Practise using a monopod though, and you’ll have a viable solution if you feel fatigued. We visited the Castle Combe Circuit in south-west England with a Nikon D800 and Sigma Sports 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM. The lens’s excellent Optical Stabilizer meant hand-holding was a cinch, but a combined weight of over 3.5kg is a lot to manage over the course of a long event. This is where monopods come into their own. The Manfrotto XPRO we were using retracts to just 56cm, making it easy to carry when…

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM has long been a favourite with Canon DSLR shooters, with the Mk II edition having a twist-ring zoom mechanism, rather than a push-pull arrangement. The RF 100-500mm for EOS R-series mirrorless cameras follows suit, also inheriting the smooth control ring. Handling is refined, with a triple-mode, five-stop image stabiliser, a customisable control ring and an auto-focusrange limiter switch. Performance Helped by the inclusion of six UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements, one Super UD element and Air Sphere Coating, image quality is excellent. The image stabiliser lives up to its claims on EOS R and RP cameras, and its effectiveness is further boosted when combined with the in-body stabilisation systems of newer EOS R-series cameras. SHARPNESS Levels of sharpness are fabulous throughout the entire…

Like the Fujinon 100-400mm lens on test, this Panasonic is designed for crop-sensor cameras, but this time of the Micro Four Thirds variety. As such, the size of the image sensor enables an even smaller, lighter construction, along with a 2x focal length multiplier that boosts the effective zoom range to a humungous 200-800mm. Credentials include Leica backing, aspherical elements and optical image stabilisation, which can work in tandem with the in-body stabilisers of various MFT cameras. The optical path includes two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, one aspherical ED element and one Ultra ED element. Performance Autofocus is fast and accurate and image stabilisation works well, although it lacks a switchable panning mode. Optical performance is highly impressive all round. SHARPNESS Sharpness tends to be most impressive while you’re shooting…

We’ve been impressed by the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS super-tele zoom for E-mount mirrorless cameras, but the newer 200-600mm really boosts telephoto reach, with only a minimal narrowing of the aperture rating. It’s also considerably less expensive. Handling is excellent, with a switchable triple-mode optical stabiliser, an autofocus range limiter and customisable AF-on/AF-lock buttons. Unusually for this type of lens, the overall physical length remains fixed throughout the zoom range. Performance The Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor autofocus system is fast, accurate and ultra-quiet. The optical stabiliser works best in conjunction with the in-body stabilisers featured in recent Sony cameras, and sharpness is both scintillating and consistent throughout the zoom range. SHARPNESS Sharpness is superb and impressively consistent throughout the zoom range. FRINGING SHORT 1.19 LONG 1.38…

N-PHOTO N-Photo is a monthly magazine for Nikon photographers, and is packed with technique and Photoshop video lessons every month. http://bit.ly/3atHLfO https://apple.co/2TNE26T DIGITAL CAMERA WORLD A monthly magazine that aims to improve your photography with an inspirational mix of amazing images and how-to articles. http://bit.ly/2RER7g6 https://apple.co/2RBrZqG PHOTOPLUS PhotoPlus is a monthly magazine for Canon photographers that features expert advice, tips and video tutorials on all things Canon. http://bit.ly/30FoOlQ https://apple.co/2vaIdzw DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER The monthly kitbag essential for enthusiast and pro photographers, packed with tutorials, exclusive interviews and the latest reviews. https://bit.ly/3lH4ucX https://apple.co/2SJf6ff…

Sigma has announced the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports for E-mount and L-mount cameras – a mirrorless version of the existing Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S for Canon, Nikon and Sigma DSLRs. The new lens is available for full-frame Sony, Panasonic, Leica and Sigma camera bodies. Like the exceptional DSLR version, this ultra-telephoto lens is ideal for wildlife, sports, motorsports and other action photography. However, it’s been designed specifically for mirrorless cameras (including high-resolution models such as the 61MP Sony A7R IV and the manufacturer’s own Sigma fp L), and is 760g and 26.6mm shorter. The new lens can be used with Sigma’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters for L-Mount bodies, delivering effective autofocus up to an enormous 1200mm. In addition it boasts optical stabilisation for…

GAIA - GREEK GODESS GEORGE MARINAKIS “In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of the Earth. The model is Louiza Orianou.” https://bit.ly/3kqUibx SPLIT DECISION SCOTT BALDOCK “I shot this image near Birchington-on-Sea in Kent, UK on my Canon EOS 5D Mk III.” https://bit.ly/3qPpphR RIPENING IN THE SUN TOM MORTENSON “I shot this photo at Sister Bay, a village on Green Bay in the Great Lakes in Wisconsin, using my Canon EOS 6D and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.” https://bit.ly/32IySN1 DESERTED VILLAGE OF SAILEAN (SALEN) JULIE RUTHERFORD “Sailean was once a busy port on Lismore, an island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. There’s a large and well-preserved stone lime kiln here, close to old limestone quarries and with a boat landing stage nearby.” https://bit.ly/3ranuou FACEBOOK http://bit.ly/39py9lg FLICKR http://bit.ly/2VIgsJO PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK WANTS YOUR…

This is the only lens in this group that’s designed exclusively for APS-C format cameras, on which it gives an ‘effective’ maximum focal length of 600mm. The string of letters in its name denote the inclusion of a physical aperture ring, a linear motor autofocus system, optical image stabilisation and a weather-resistant construction – in other words, this is a lens that ticks pretty much all the boxes on a Fujifilm photographer’s wishlist. The lens is beautifully engineered, with a high-precision feel to all its controls, and no hint of zoom creep. The optical path includes five ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, plus a Super ED element. Performance The autofocus system’s dual linear stepping motors enable very fast performance, and the five-stop stabiliser proved highly effective in our testing. SHARPNESS Sharpness…

Pentax designed this full-frame compatible lens at a time when the company only made APS-C format DSLRs, and the decision has come good with the subsequent launch of Pentax’s full-frame DSLRs. There’s plentiful autofocus finery on offer with both auto and manual priority ‘Quick Shift’ modes, plus an AF preset facility and four customisable buttons around the middle of the lens. Other attractions include a tough, weather-sealed construction, HD coatings to reduce ghosting and flare, and a ‘super protect’ coating on the front element. Performance Autofocus speed is a little pedestrian compared with other lenses on test, and sharpness drops off rather noticeably at the long end of the zoom range – a situation that isn’t helped by the lens’s reliance on in-camera stabilisation. SHARPNESS Levels of sharpness are a…

Tamron’s original 150-600mm was a good lens, but the newer G2 edition is a major upgrade. Two additional Low Dispersion elements are fitted, and secondary nano-structure coatings are applied, along with improved weather seals and a fluorine coating on the front element. The new and improved VC (Vibration Compensation) is rated at 4.5 stops, with three operating modes instead of just one. These include static and panning options, plus a mode for tracking erratically moving subjects, The autofocus system is faster, and a new flex zoom lock can be engaged at any focal length. Performance Everything works well, especially the revamped autofocus and stabilisation systems, and handling is very refined. Outright sharpness is a little lacking in the short to medium zoom sector. SHARPNESS Unusually for this class of lens,…

The term content creator has become almost as ubiquitous as the term photographer. No longer are we defined by a one-word definition that conjures up images of darkrooms and tripod carrying. Rather, we’re explorers of the world, using our camera, lenses and social platforms to share stories of the people and places that we experience. In this feature 10 professional content creators share advice from their respective fields, from modelling to drone flying to planning landscape shoots. There’s nothing quite like finding out how the pros hone their craft, expand their career opportunities and collaborate with others first-hand. So sit back, and soak up 50 expert tips from some of the world’s leading social media movers and shakers, all of whom share their advice on a new education platform called…

The UK’s Royal Observatory has announced the shortlist for this year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest, the world’s largest Astrophotography competition. This year’s competition received more than 4,500 entries from amateur and professional photographers from 75 countries. There are nine main categories, including Skyscapes, Aurorae, People and Space, Stars and Nebulae, Galaxies, and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year, plus two special awards. The winners of this year’s contest, which is run in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, will be announced on September 16, with an exhibition of photos opening on September 18. Click the link to see more shortlisted images at the competition website, where you can also view last year’s exhibition, and pick up astrophotography tips from winning photographers. SEE MORE IMAGES https://bit.ly/3yoDLZK…

Spectator sports are back on track, and with actual spectators in attendance, so it’s time to rediscover the joy of nailing the action and capturing definitive moments – or maybe trying something completely new if you’ve never been into sports photography before. Pretty much any DSLR or mirrorless body will suffice for sports, but when it comes to a suitable lens, it pays to choose wisely. One thing that practically always holds true is that, if you’re not fortunate enough to have a media pass, you’ll be shooting from a spectators’ enclosure, and probably won’t be able to get as close to the action as you might like. To cover the distance, super-telephoto lenses are the order of the day. They’re typically big, heavy and expensive lenses, but they don’t…

Nikon has long made an 80-400mm VR lens, but, while it delivers excellent image quality, the focal length is relatively limited, and it’s pricey at around £2,000/$2,300. This newer 200-500mm zoom is more affordable, and packs in smart additional features. These include a constant-aperture design, and an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm that ensures greater exposure consistency in rapid-fire shooting scenarios. The uprated VR (Vibration Reduction) is good for 4.5 stops and adds a ‘Sport’ mode for improved stability while tracking moving subjects. Performance Good levels of sharpness remain impressively consistent throughout the entire zoom range, and overall image quality is of a high standard. Autofocus and stabilisation systems work quickly and effectively. SHARPNESS Sharpness is both very good and pleasingly consistent throughout the zoom range. FRINGING SHORT 0.3 LONG 2.21 It’s…

This Sigma Sports lens tips the scales at nearly 3kg. Sigma makes a smaller and lighter Contemporary 150-600mm lens, but this one is better built – the barrel and hood are metal rather than plastic, and there’s a full set of weather seals. Optical highlights include two FLD (Fluorite Low Dispersion) elements and fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements. Advanced features include dual autofocus modes, one of which gives priority to manual override, plus dual-mode stabilisation for static and panning shots. Performance All aspects of image quality are excellent, throughout the entire zoom range. Autofocus is very fast, and the stabiliser works very well in both static and panning modes. It’s a fabulous super-telephoto zoom that offers suitably ‘sporty’ performance. SHARPNESS Even at the extra-long 600mm mark, sharpness…

Sony has come up trumps with its FE 200-600mm. Building on the success of the FE 100-400mm G Master, the newer, bigger lens adds a third stabilisation mode and a more effective autofocus limiter switch that can lock out both short and long sectors of the range. Image quality and all-round performance are superb, as are handling and build quality. For Canon and Nikon DSLRs, as well as = full-frame mirrorless cameras via adapters, the Sigma 150-600mm Sports is our top choice for solid performance at a reasonable price. The Canon RF 100-500mm is a strong contender, but relatively poor value for money. The Nikkor 200-500mm is an excellent and more affordable own-brand buy. The Tamron G2 is an appealing alternative if you want maximum telephoto reach in a smaller,…