Pro Photo 238

A side from the football itself, an interesting sideline at the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been to check out the sidelines… specifically at what the sports photographers covering the matches are shooting with. The DSLR has, of course, reigned supreme in sports photography, but for the first time I could see quite a lot of mirrorless cameras in action. In particular, the distinctively chunky shape of the Canon EOS R3 was very evident and, on one occasion, I spotted a camera that looked very like the R3, but had all its badges blacked out so it could have been an R1 being given a workout. It’s funny how taping up the brand name and model number actually has the effect of attracting more attention… or maybe it’s just that…

As expected, the 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor from the fl agship Fujifi lm X-H2 has arrived in a more compact X-T series body. The X-T5 also has the next-gen X Processor 5 engine, the seven-stop IBIS and the three-way tilting monitor screen (which bypassed the X-T4 and so was last seen on the X-T3). On the video side, the X-T5 can record at up to 6.2K internally at 30fps with 10-bit 4:2:2 colour at the 16:9 aspect ratio (but with a 1.23x crop). It has the X-H2’s 4K DCI HQ and 4K UHD HQ modes that oversample at the 6.2K res for enhanced image quality. The X-T5 inherits the classic dial control layout that has been a feature of the X-T series cameras since the original X-T1. The styling…

The Easiframe Curved is a patented Australian-design created specifically for photographers and cinematographers shooting portraits – people or products. It is a changeable fabric cyclorama backdrop – claimed to be a world first – which enables the creation of a professional shooting space in any environment or workspace, and gives a smooth wall-to-floor transition via an extruded frame. The fabric skins are machine washable and stretch tight, eliminating the need to deal with creases during and after a shoot. It can be used in portrait and people photography or as a green screen for video productions, and it can be customised to the required size. Both the Easiframe Curved and the standard Easiframe backdrop are manufactured in Australia by Printaly Pty Ltd, which is based in Castle Hill, Sydney. The…

The Fujinon XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro is a new addition to Fujifilm’s X-mount lens system and joins the two existing 60mm f/2.4 and 80mm f/2.8 macro lenses. The effective focal length is 46mm and the lens’s minimum focusing distance of 10cm delivers a 1:1 life size reproduction (equivalent to 1.5x larger in the full-frame format). The optical construction comprises 11 elements in nine groups, including three aspherical types and two with extra-low dispersion (ED) characteristics to help minimise both chromatic and spherical aberrations. Weighing in at 195g, the 30mm macro employs a linear motor to drive its internal focusing group, and optimise both speed and accuracy. The external construction employs metal alloy barrel tubes with sealing at nine points to protect against dust and moisture, plus insulation…

Canon Australia says it is still selling DSLRs, but the split with mirrorless cameras in the company’s ILC business is now 80/20 with reflex sales continuing to decline. This is as Canon introduces the first upgraded model since the launch of its EOS R full-frame mirrorless system back in October 2018. The EOS R6 Mark II takes over from the R6, which is discontinued despite only being around two-and-a-half years old. Canon obviously thought there was room for improvement because, although the Mark II camera is physically virtually identical to its predecessor, quite a lot has changed on the inside. It starts with the sensor, which is an all-new 24.4MP CMOS made by Canon, but not the same BSI-type stacked imager used in the EOS R3. In comparison, it’s pretty…

Inspired by Los Angeles’s famous Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the recently opened Standard Studios in Brisbane is a purpose-built production studio comprising two separate studios for photography, film-making, eCommerce and product content production. Located at 109 Robertson Street in Fortitude Valley, Standard Studios hopes to set a new standard for high-end production spaces in Queensland. Both studios are fully accessible by a van or car, meaning there’s no need to lug heavy products or equipment. A dedicated studio manager is provided to take care of all clients’ needs in the lead up to, and on the day of use, including sourcing lunch from nearby venues and ensuring everything runs as smoothly as possible. Standard Studios manager, Isabella Jelander, says the facility is designed to fill a much-needed gap in the Queensland…