Innehållsförteckning för July 2021 från Smart Photography

The world camera industry is currently in the midst of a structural shift. Not so long ago, industry pundits had scoffed at the possibility of phones being able to take decent pictures. But phones did improve and today smartphones feature cameras that have virtually knocked the bottom off the compact camera market. Along with the smartphone, came new brands like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, One Plus, Oppo, Vivo and Realme. Let’s not forget that in the middle of the twentieth century, the camera industry was dominated by Germany with brands like Leica, Zeiss, Exakta and Praktica. Soon however, the Japanese took over and the golden age of photography commenced. Japanese brands like Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta and Olympus became household names all over the world. Are we about to experience another…

Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S and Nikkor Z MC 50 mm f/2.8, the latest additions to the Nikkor Z lens line-up for its Z series mirrorless cameras. These lenses feature a 1:1 reproduction ratio. The Nikkor Z MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S is constructed with an optical formula designed for macro photography and features a larger rear aspherical lens element to reduce field curvature from infinity to close-up. Additionally, the lens’ minimum focussing distance of 0.29 m allows for sharp images with a heavily blurred background. The lens includes a limiter switch to reduce the working range to a maximum of 0.5 m and is equipped with 4.5 stops of Vibration Reduction. The lens is also compatible with the in-body stabilisation feature…

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab S7 FE and Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, the latest additions to its tablet portfolio. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE features a 12.4-inch display, an S Pen (included in-box), Samsung Notes, Intelligent Search and App Pair. It comes with Samsung DeX and a Book Cover Keyboard, enabling users to use their tablet like a laptop. It also comes with features such as Second screen, Clip Studio Paint, Canva work and Noteshelf. The tablet comes in four colours i.e. Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, Mystic Green, and Mystic Pink. It boasts a thin and light profile, and features a powerful battery. The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite features an 8.7–inch screen housed in a sleek metal cover, with slim bezels around the display and dual speakers with Dolby…

Venus Optics, more widely known by their brand Laowa, is now taking an aggressive stand in the world optical market with their increasing range of prime lenses for mirrorless cameras and D-SLRs. At a recent event, Kevin, Export Sales Director of Venus Optics, launched four new lenses. The first launch was the 15 mm f/ 4.5 Zero D Shift lens for D-SLR cameras. This lens has a 110 degree angle of view, gives close to zero distortion and comes with a minimum focussing distance of 20 cm. Second is the 9 mm f/5.6 FF RL ultra wide angle lens for mirrorless cameras. The lens sports a 135 degree angle of view and a 12 cm minimum focussing distance. Mounts available include Sony FE, Nikon Z and Panasonic L. Third is…

Venus Optics has recently announced the availability of Laowa 15 mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift lens for Leica L and Pentax K mount cameras. The lens was initially compatible with Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon F, Nikon Z and Sony E mount camera systems. According to Venus Optics, the lens does not offer the tilt option for the new mount options (as with other models) as the lens is specially targeted for architecture photography. It is made of seventeen elements in eleven groups, which include two aspherical elements. Other key features include a five-blade aperture, a minimum focussing distance of 20 cm and a 360-degree rotation function. The lens also sports a lens support that locks the front of the lens to its tripod. The Leica L mount and Pentax K…

Zenit has released four new full-frame manual prime lenses, two of which are for Sony E-mount cameras, while the other two are for Canon EF- and Nikon F-mount cameras. The Zenitar 35 mm f/2 lens is constructed of 7 elements in 5 groups. It has an aperture range of f/2 through f/22, uses a nine-blade aperture diaphragm and has a 50 cm minimum focussing distance. The lens measures 6.1 cm in length, 4.7 cm in diameter and weighs 300 g. The Zenitar 50 mm f/1.5 lens is constructed from 7 elements in 3 groups. It sports an aperture range of f/1.5 through f/22 and uses a 13-blade aperture diaphragm. It has a minimum focussing distance of 70 cm and measures 6.1 cm in length, 4.7 cm in diameter and weighs…

Zhong Yi has announced that it has launched the Mitakon Speedmaster 50 mm f/0.95 III lens for Leica L-mount cameras. The Canon RF, Leica M, Nikon Z and Sony E mount versions of the lens are already available in the market. The lens is made up of 11 elements in eight groups, which includes five high-refractive index elements, two extra-low dispersion elements and one ‘Ultra High Refraction’ element. It comes with an aperture range of f/0.95 -16, uses a nine-blade aperture diaphragm and has a minimum focussing distance of 50 cm. This manual lens uses a 67 mm front filter thread, measures 75 mm (diameter) by 88 mm (length) and weighs 675 g. The Mitakon Speedmaster 50 mm f/0.95 III for Leica L mount cameras is available for purchase on…

APAC has announced its 10th international level Photofry contest. Participants are invited to submit their entries by July 31, 2021. The subjects for the upcoming contest include Fruits and Vegetables, Landscapes and Vehicles. A maximum of 3 entries per photographer will be allowed for the Mobile Photography contest. The subject for the same is Emotion. All contestants have been requested to mail their photographs (original work only) in a 12 x 18 inch format with a resolution of 300 DPI to apacinstitute@gmail.com.…

The world is dealing with a pandemic without an ending in sight and businesses have been seriously affected. How has Fujifilm consumer imaging division dealt with this situation so far? At Fujifilm, we have always believed in offering a holistic customer experience strategy. However, due to the onset of the Covid-19 situation, the consumer behaviour has drastically changed from what they value, how and where they shop, and how they live and work. In response to the pandemic, we have been continuously adapting our business practices in order to safeguard our people, as well as continue to serve our customers, many of which are powering critical operations in the fields of healthcare and technology. With the world staying connected digitally, we at Fujifilm have also been leveraging the digital platforms…

This write-up is designed for newcomers and intermediate users. We have, in the past, done similar write-ups but, since human memory is short and since there are always newcomers to photography, what’s mentioned here will be of help to one and all. A newbie photographer has a lot on his mind – he has to worry about AF modes, AF-area modes, Release modes, what ISO to set, what aperture to use, what shutter speed to set and some more. This writeup, done with simplicity in mind, will ‘talk’ only about ‘exposure’. So, to start with, what is exposure? It is the right dosage (quantity) of light that gives you an image that has the correct tones. If the tones are too dark, you say that the image is under-exposed and…

Oppo Reno 5 Pro 5G ₹35,990 Inside the Box ✓ Phone ✓ Earphones ✓ USB Cable ✓ Charger ✓ SIM Ejector tool ✓ Protective Case ✓ Quick Start Guide ✓ Safety Guide Rarely do we see phone manufacturers battling out to flood the market with devices with features that are yet to be rolled out, yet 5G seems to be the buzzword in smartphone market today. We don’t remember witnessing the same frenzy during 3G and 4G rollouts, but certainly the smartphone landscape has changed considerably between then and now. Oppo Reno 5 Pro joins the crowd, promising powerful performance and power efficiency. Design & Build Quality The Reno 5 Pro 5G has a beautiful design with what Oppo calls Reno Glow technique, which provides a textured glow to the…

WE ARE GLUED TO THE GLOBAL IMAGING INDUSTRY Our team is updated with all the benchmarks and road blocks that the field of photography and imaging across the globe experiences. This helps us record the changes in the global perspective, thus making us the first to predict which products will be a rage in the Indian markets. WE’RE IMPARTIAL Loyalty towards our readers is a given, and their best interests are always on our mind. Every verdict is honest and not influenced by advertisers or personal favourites. So when we say a product is a ‘BEST BUY’, then, it is just that! OUR TESTS ARE CONDUCTED BY EXPERTS All equipment go through a series of tests at the hands of our experts. Our reviewers are experts in the field of…

Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 7.5 mm f/2 MFT (auto aperture) lens. The Laowa 7.5 mm f/2 MFT is reportedly, the company’s widest prime lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) in the market for the time being, with a 35 mm equivalent focal length of around 15 mm. The addition of the control chip provides metadata in EXIF and allows aperture control over the camera. It comes with a 110° ultra-wide angle of view, a 46 mm filter thread, 12 cm minimum focussing distance and consists of 13 elements of 9 groups optical design. The standard version of this lens weighs approx. 170 g and measures 55 mm long while the auto aperture version weighs approx. 150 g. The Laowa 7.5 mm f/2 MFT automatic aperture version is available…

Tokina has announced the release of its 25-75 mm T2.9 cinema lens. This is the third addition to the company’s cinema zoom lens series, following the 11-20 mm T2.9 and 50-135 mm T2.9 lenses. The new lens weighs 2 kg and measures 174 mm long (PL mount) and 95 mm front diameter. The lens is constructed of 18 elements in 15 groups and comes with a range of T2.9 through T22. It features a 74 cm minimum focussing distance and uses a nine-blade aperture diaphragm. It is made of aluminium and sports a 0.8 minimum object distance (MOD) geared rings. The 25-75 mm T2.9 cinema lens is available for purchase for PL, E, EF, MFT and Nikon F mount cameras at a price of USD 4,999 and is expected to…

Panasonic has introduced a new large-aperture standard fixed focal length lens, the Lumix S 50 mm f/1.8 (S-S50), as the second addition to the series of four f/1.8 large-aperture lenses based on the L-Mount system standard. Owing to the consistent diameter, users can also apply the same filters across the Lumix S series set of lenses. The filter diameter is 67 mm, with a 9-blade circular aperture diaphragm. The new lens is comprised of nine lens elements in eight groups including three aspherical lenses, one ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lens and one UHR (Ultra-High Refractive Index) lens. The ED lens also suppresses chromatic aberration. According to Panasonic, the lens excels in video recording performance with a mechanism that suppresses focus breathing, previously a fatal problem of all interchangeable lenses designed for…

Sony has announced the launch of ‘Create Action’, a USD 1 million grant program designed to support ‘underserved and underrepresented’ communities by amplifying the efforts of local, non-profit organisations embedded within these communities. This program is reportedly, a part of Sony’s social justice efforts, with funding sourced from the company’s Global Social Justice Fund. The company has reported that it will select a total of 10 organisations to receive the Create Action grants, with one new grant being announced each month, from June, 2021 through March, 2022. The winners of the grant will receive USD 50,000 in cash (cheque) and USD 50,000 in Sony Electronics products. Additionally, the company has also reported that it will provide the winners with a custom short film promoting the organisation’s mission and efforts, created…

Canon has launched a regional ad campaign titled ‘Weddings by Canon’, in key markets of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the first phase. The campaign has been unveiled by Mammootty, who is reportedly, an avid Canon user himself. Through this campaign, Canon says that it aims at reaching out to the “Just Born Couples” who are in the midst of planning one of the most memorable days in their life. The campaign highlights the role of the wedding photographer in capturing the wedding moments. The ad film has been shot in Kerala, with its mist-clad mountains, beaches and serene backwaters. Speaking on the campaign, Manabu Yamazaki, President and CEO, Canon India said, “India is a diverse country with vibrant cultures and weddings are the perfect epitome of…

Canon has announced that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of its FD 55 mm f/1.2AL (released in 1971), the company’s first lens for interchangeable-lens SLR cameras that employs an aspherical lens element. Aspherical lens elements are not only used in the company’s interchangeable-lens SLR cameras, but also broadcast lenses, semiconductor lithography systems, telescope mirrors and a wide variety of optical products. To mass-produce aspherical lenses, Canon reportedly needed a processing technology that was precise to within less than 0.1 micrometres, as well as high-precision measuring devices that could measure to within 0.01 micrometres. In March 1971, Canon’s first interchangeable-lens SLR camera employing an aspherical lens was released, the FD 55 mm f/1.2AL. Then, in 1973, Canon developed the ALG-Z nanometre level ultra-high-precision aspherical lens grinder and…

The Instagram Photo Feature is for all you photographers and photography enthusiasts on Instagram who caught our eye! Follow @spmagazineofficialon Instagram and tag us in your posts to get a chance to be featured in Smart Photography. Swathy is a Bangalore based food photographer and videographer with an engineering background. “I have been doing food photography since June, 2020 and I started doing videography since March, 2021. My husband, Nijay Jayan is a cinematographer and is the one who taught me the basics of videography. We are now a team of 3 people including myself, Nijay and Jibin John, who is our mutual friend” says Swathy. Sudha is a Bangalore based photographer and Co-founder of PixelStory.in, a wedding photography brand, which she runs with her husband Mukesh. “I am an…

Sony 90 mm F/2.8 Macro G OSS ₹65,990 Inside the Box ✓ Lens ✓ Lens hood (ALC-SH138, bayonet type) ✓ Front & rear lens caps ✓ Soft pouch Macro and other specialist lenses are usually designed to stand the test of time for years to come. Sony’s 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS has been around for quite some time and cannot be considered new by any standards. However, this lens offers a focal length that is considered ideal for most macro lovers. Hence we felt it necessary to test this lens with one of the new generation, high-resolution Alpha bodies. Here is how it fared on a Sony Alpha 7R III body. Design & Build Quality As every other Sony G-series lens, the 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS…

Write to us at: Smart Photography, Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400 013 E-mail: sp@nextgenpublishing.net Improved my skills Dear SP, I really enjoy reading your magazine every month and try and pick up as many tips involving photography, as possible. I have really improved my skills reading the useful tips that you share every month and try and keep up with the latest trends in the market. I used to think that great photographs can only be achieved by using advanced cameras and equipments but this last couple of months have taught me that there is a lot more to it and great photographs can also be clicked without the best in…

TTartisan has announced the release of the 90 mm f/1.25 manual prime lens for Leica M-mount cameras. The lens is constructed of eleven elements in seven groups, which includes four high-refractive index elements. It comes with a ten-blade aperture diaphragm, a 77 mm front filter thread, a minimum focussing distance of 1 m and an aperture range of f/1.25 through f/16. The lens weighs 1013 g and measures 97 mm in length and 82 mm in diameter. It comes with a built-in tripod mount at the rear for even weight distribution when using a tripod. The lens also sports a reversible lens cap that can also be used as a lens hood. The TTartisan 90 mm f/1.25 M-mount lens is available for purchase via authorised TTartisan retailers at a price…

Tokina has announced the sales release of the SZX Super Tele 400 mm f/8 Reflex MF lens for Nikon Z and Canon RF camera mounts. Tokina has adopted a T-mount standard (pitch 0.75 mm, thread 42 mm), that allows this lens to be attached to various cameras by using different mount adapters, to provide photographers a chance to use the 400 mm f/8 lens with popular Nikon and Canon mirrorless cameras. The company has released 400 mm f/8 for Nikon Z and Canon RF mounts. New mount adapters for Nikon Z and Canon RF mirrorless cameras can be purchased separately as well. The Tokina SZX Super Tele 400 mm f/8 Reflex MF lens is available for purchase as a kit with Canon RF and Nikon Z mount adapters at a…

Fujifilm and Insight Group have come together for a strategic partnership to innovate and expand its solutions for the Graphic Arts portfolio. Fujifilm says that it has taken a lead in providing reliable and convenient solutions that raise productivity and quality with this partnership with Insight Group, which comes with 30 years of expertise in the field. Commenting on the partnership, Kentaro Imafuku, Head of Department, Graphic Arts, Fujifilm India stated that, “We are delighted to partner with Insight which aims to deliver highest quality standards in customer understanding and service support and provide world-class products and solutions to the printing industry in India. At Fujifilm India, our greatest strength lies in providing a total worldwide service from system configuration to strategy planning and technical support. This strength drives our…

Canon has announced the launch of new firmware updates for three Cinema EOS Cameras, EF – EOS R 0.71x adapter and two Cinema lenses. The EOS C500 Mark II, EOS C300 Mark III, EOS C70 cameras, EF – EOS R 0.71x adapter for the EOS C70 and Canon Compact Servo lenses will reportedly receive highly requested updates with the new firmware. Both the EOS C500 Mark II and EOS C300 Mark III will receive updates that will optimise on-set workflow and overall useability. The 12G-SDI output will support FullHD and 2K resolutions with the new update. Simultaneous MON.Out and HDMI outputs will also be supported, allowing for increased video outputs on set. Canon’s new “XC Protocol” that supports remote camera control usage with Canon’s RC-IP100 controller will also be added.…

• Epson printers – whether designed for home use or professional use - are known worldwide for their superb image quality. How is the just-introduced Epson EcoTank L8180 photo printer different from Epson’s other photo printers as far as image quality is concerned? Epson continues its tradition of superb image quality, as mentioned by you, with the introduction of the new L8180 photo printer. With the EcoTank L8180, our aim is to provide extremely high quality photo prints with powerful performance and affordability along with the advantages of an InkTank system. This product is designed uniquely to cater to photo studios, photo enthusiasts, commercial photo shops and graphic design house. This multifunction printer also meets the requirements of graphic printing by delivering a higher colour gamut for stunning quality prints.…

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 consutant. He…

Inside the Box ✓ Lens (model A057) ✓ Lens cap, front (CF82II) ✓ Lens cap, rear ✓ Lens hood (HA057) ✓ Tripod mount TAMRON 150-500 MM F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD ₹1,20,900 The Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD super telephoto zoom lens is designed exclusively for Sony full frame E-mount camera bodies, but can be used on certain Sony APS-C bodies to offer an equivalent focal length of 225 – 750 mm. The lens was released in India on June 10, 2021. The lens is compact and should make a great companion for wildlife/bird photographers and street photographers using Sony E-mount camera bodies. Let’s see how this latest lens from Tamron fares in our tests… Design & Build Quality The Tamron 150-500 mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC…

1 What is the technique called when you combine photographs together as in macrophotography or astrophotography? a) Photo Stacking b) Multiple Exposure c) Photo Layering d) Photo Overlapping 2 “I’ve finally figured out what’s wrong with photography. It’s a one eyed man looking through a little hole. Now, how much reality can there be in that?” Who said this? a) David Bailey b) Roger Hicks c) David Hockney d) Nick Nolte 3 Which of the following manufacturers does not make shift lenses? a) Nikon b) Canon c) Samyang d) Tokina 4 The RB 67 Pro S was one of the most successful medium format cameras launched by Mamiya. In which year was it launched? a) 1969 b) 1974 c) 1976 d) 1977 5 The Zenith 80 medium format camera was…