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t he worl d’s bes t-sel l ing digi tal photo mag a z ine 30 december-6 ja nua ry
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seasonal bokeh stocking stuffers try this simple workflow
wither samsung? christmas portraits company exits camera market try this simple flash set-up t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 10-16 december
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practical ideas for your camera
t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e
inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews
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best led Panel? shoot first, focus later toP constant lighting tested
Panasonic’s clever new firmware 3-9 december
inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews
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inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews
besT dsLrs uNder $1000
the best
10 top c amer as that won’t break the bank
p h o t o g r a p h y
cold case 5 ways to shoot through the holidays
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2015 n e w
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slow and steady
discover how to tame the waves
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JOIN THE CLUB... 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
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CONTENTS Find out what’s inside this issue
THE BEST
2015 P H O T O g R a P H Y
GallEry
O f
I N S p I r aT I O N
bEST
mOmENTS Of 2015
The most popular viral images and photo stories of the year pHOTOS
BEST Of 2015 gallERY
This year’s top award-winning photography of all genres wOrST
mOmENTS Of 2015
Get ready to cringe at the worst photo blunders of the year I N S p I r aT I O N
IT’S COOl, THaT…
The first ever human in a photo was not who you might think... SKIllS
CRaSH COURSE
How to use a simple sparkler to capture golden trails of light pHOTOSHOp
lIgHTROOm
Sync lightroom to your mobile devices and edit on the go
SKIllS
lIGHTrOOm GEar
BEST ENTRY lEvEl CamERaS
Save hours of research and find out which camera is right for you
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The 8 BeS T momenT S in phoTogr aphy
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What a year it’s been! Here are eight things we’ll remember long after we’ve sung Auld Lang Syne and toasted to the new year
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pirelli’s new direcTion
The day a weasel Took a ride on The back of a woodpecker
Another Leibovitz hit - she really smashed it this year. With her unairbrushed photos of women known for their professional achievements, Leibovitz caused a stir by taking the Pirelli calendar in a whole new direction. We love the portrait of comedian Amy Schumer looking towards the viewer with a surprised expression, as if she were the only person who didn’t received the memo about wearing clothes. http://ow.ly/VXQwD
Talk about decisive moments! The #weaselpecker picture (left), photographed by Martin Le-May in a park in London, was the talk of social media in March. It fostered some fantastic Photoshop responses too - who doesn’t remember the picture of a barechested Russian president Vladimir Putin riding on the back of the poor bird. We’re hoping for an #owlkitten or a #magpieferret moment in the new year! http://ow.ly/VXPic
Instagram trends of the summer, to the delight of ‘grammers’ worldwide (and the dismay of their cats, presumably). http://ow.ly/VXPIS
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If you, like us, are sick of the constant pop-up message on your phone saying ’storage almost full’, but too stingy to fork out and pay for more storage, then this was your lucky year; Google Photos, introduced at Google’s developer conference in May, allows you to store as many photos as you want - for free! http://ow.ly/VXRxg
Your memorable moments don’t all happen within the boundaries of a square, and neither should your pictures - unless you want them to of course. This year, Instagram finally thought outside the square box and allowed us to use other formats. It saves us having to use external third-party apps for the same purpose and means we can get on with taking pictures - in all aspect ratios. http://ow.ly/VXRaT
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The blood moon
On 29 September this year photographers were given a gift from above: a bright, blood-red supermoon lunar eclipse, the first of its kind since 1982 and the last we’ll see until 2033. Those who had the stamina to wake up in the middle of the night to capture it were rewarded with some absolutely stunning photos. http://ow.ly/VXPzP
caTs wiTh Trump hair
There are technically accomplished pictures and then there are pictures that deserve to be remembered purely for the giggles they gave us. Pictures of cats with the same hairdos as US presidential candidate Donald Trump belong in the latter category. Styling your feline with mini toupees of cat hair became one of the biggest
unlimiTed phoTo sTorage
a smile amid Tragedy
In the last few months, the world has witnessed some brilliant but mostly heart-breaking photography of refugees struggling on their journey to safety. But there were also a few happy moments in-between, and photographer Claus Fisker’s photo series of a Danish police officer playing a game with a young refugee girl will be remembered. http://ow.ly/VXR2h
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beyond The square
firsT-ever phoTos of pluTo’s surface
Over the last few months, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has been flying by Pluto taking continuously more revealing photos of the planet’s surface. The latest picture is so detailed that you can see craters, glacial terrains and what looks like ripples left in sand as the tide goes out. http://ow.ly/VXRDl
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the best
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How do you pick a handful of favourites from a whole year’s worth of photos? It’s nearly an impossible task. Some sources estimate that we take over 800 billion pictures a year worldwide - you couldn’t even view them all in a year if looking at photographs was all you did 24/7. But thankfully, some of the world’s most popular international photography competitions have done most of the work for us. With awards such as the World Press Photo, Landscape Photographer of the year, Wildlife Photographer of the year and the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, the cream of every genre of photography is skimmed annually for the benefit of us all.
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The besT phoTos of 2015
tale of two foxes Don Gutoski
The red fox has just won a struggle for life and is eating his fill of the prey, a northern arctic fox. This unusual portrait was taken by Don Gutoski, an amateur photographer who won this year’s Wildlife photographer of the Year award. Jury member and National Geographic magazine’s senior editor for natural history projects, Kathy Moran said: “The immediate impact of this photograph is that it appears as if the red fox is slipping out of its winter coat. What might simply be a straightforward interaction between predator and prey struck the jury as a stark example of climate change, with red foxes encroaching on Arctic fox territory. This image works on multiple levels: it is graphic, it captures behaviour and it is one of the strongest single storytelling photographs I have seen.”
http://ow.ly/w57my
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The besT phoTos of 2015
bat’s head, dorset AnDy FArrer
behold mighty Jurassic coast in its winter coat! photographer Andy farrer won this year’s Landscape photographer of the Year prize with this breathtaking image capturing the contrasting elements of warm-coloured sand and frosty cliffs. Charlie Waite, founder of the LpoTY awards and one of britain’s leading landscape photographers said: “Andy’s winning photograph of this beautiful area of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is a gentle image with a simple, effective composition that reflects the mood of a cold, winter’s morning. It is believable and appealing, with the snow adding an interesting dimension to a classic scene.”
http://ow.ly/w588d
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The besT phoTos of 2015
five girls 2014 DAviD stewArt
This photo by David stewart tells a story that all of us can relate to in the age of smartphones and social media - the girls, although wearing very similar clothes to indicate that they’re part of the same group, aren’t interacting. There’s a sense of distance between them, even though they’re sat very close to each other. stewart’s photograph, which won the Taylor Wessing photographic portrait prize 2015, is actually a repeat of a photo that stewart took of the same girls five years ago when they started their GCses - and that photo was also exhibited in the Taylor Wessing portrait prize exhibition in 2008.
http://ow.ly/w58hb
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The besT phoTos of 2015
the ballerinas MAGDAlenA wAsiczek
flowers are naturally beautiful, but it takes skill to convey that beauty creatively. Magdalena Wasiczek achieved that with her winter portrait of hydrangea petiolaris, which won the International Garden photographer of the Year 2015 competition. IGpoTY judge Clive Nichols said: “What I particularly like about the shot is the way the photographer has melted the rich purples and oranges of the hydrangea into the out of focus background, creating a delicious melange of colours. The focus on the delicate hydrangea flower is spot on, creating a striking winter portrait.�
http://ow.ly/w58wt
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The besT phoTos of 2015
eclipse totality over sassendalen luc JAnet
This solar eclipse of 20 March 2015 was photographed from svalbard in Norway, but the serenity of the shot makes it look like a scene from another planet. It’s no wonder that photographer Luc Janet was named Insight Astronomy photographer of the Year 2015 for his efforts. pete Lawrence, competition judge and world class astrophotographer, said: “This is just a supremely beautiful image, which got joint admiration from all of the judges. The colours are perfect and the blend of the isolated snowy landscape frames the surreal majesty of the totally eclipsed sun perfectly. It’s an incredibly peaceful image.”
http://ow.ly/w597q
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The besT phoTos of 2015
xyclops
oscAr riAlubin The facial expression, the details, the fascinating tools - this photo of a watch repairman in Doha perfectly captures a moment in the day of a tradesman applying his universal craft. The photo, taken by oscar Rialubin, won this year’s Urban photographer of the Year competition where the brief was ‘cities at work.’ Martin samworth, Chief executive officer at CbRe which sponsors the competition, said: “The competition constantly provides us with new perspectives on working environments within cities.”
http://ow.ly/w59ob
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The besT phoTos of 2015
Jon and alex MADs nissen
This intimate photo of a couple in st petersburg highlights the plight of gay couples in Russia, where sexual minorities are facing discrimination, harassment and violent hate crime attacks from conservative religious and nationalistic groups. Taken by Mads Nissen and commissioned by the Danish broadsheet berlingske, the photo was awarded World press photo of the Year 2015.
http://ow.ly/w59ed
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The besT phoTos of 2015
still life 2014 vAlérie belin
french photographer Valérie belin won the sixth prix pictet photography prize with her memento mori of cheap plastic goods depicting this year’s competition theme, disorder. belin said: “These still lifes offer a jarring commentary on the effects of our obsession with cheap objects, for not only is their material, plastic, emblematic of the wasteful use of raw materials, but it also represents a grotesque kind of immortality because of its non-biodegradable nature – an immortality that, one could say, is slowly killing the planet.”
http://ow.ly/w59ye
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The besT phoTos of 2015
impalas locking horns bArbArA stAnley
everything, from the triangle composition of the two fighting impalas and the third approaching, to the graphic lines made by their interlocked horns and the look in the eyes of the right-hand-side impala, conspires to make this a great photo. The photographer, barbara stanley, was named Royal society of biology photographer of the Year for this striking image taken in Namibia.
http://ow.ly/wamQm
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smoked wings DAviD GriFFen
What’s a little cigarette smoke next to the smoke of the coal smoke of the barbecue? You can almost feel the heat in the kitchen in this atmospheric shot, taken by David Griffen in Kuala Lumpur. Chairman of the Judges, food writer Jay Rayner said, “This man is supremely comfortable in this kitchen. he knows what he’s doing and that’s why he can basically multitask. he’s smoking two things at once - and one of them is himself.”
http://ow.ly/w5arg
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The besT phoTos of 2015
fog in germany skypro
here’s a view you don’t see often. The image of calm windmills looming out of the fog in Germany was taken by skypro, a user of Dronestagram which, as its name suggests, is an Instagram-like platform for aerial photography. As well as being unusual and visually stunning, it carries an important message about the climate. It was awarded first prize in Dronestagram’s small Drones big Changes photo contest where the challenge was to illustrate climate change and its possible solutions.
http://ow.ly/w5ayo
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The 8 wors T momenT s in phoTogr aphy
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While 2015 was generally a fantastic year for photography, we also witnessed some sad, outrageous and cringeworthy moments
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PhotoshoP boo boo
Photoshop is great, but ya gotta know how to use it - especially if you’re planning to deceive a nation. In a recent tweet, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, had a clear view of the devastation caused by the recent floods in Tamil Nadu as he surveyed the damage in a helicopter. But not many were fooled by the shoddy Photoshop job that replaced a distant view the city of Chennai in Modi’s helicopter window with a close-up of flooded buildings. The tweet was deleted, but not before it had been screengrabbed and gone viral. http://ow.ly/VY0AZ
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PoPPygate
Modi is not the only prime minister to have been the centre of a dodgy Photoshop scandal in 2015; UK prime minister David Cameron recently came under fire after it was discovered that his Facebook profile picture had had a remembrance poppy Photoshopped onto his jacket. Oops. http://ow.ly/VY0Qs
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dangerous selfies
Earlier this year it was revealed that more people die of stupid selfie attempts than of shark attacks. A group of people at Matlock Bath Station, which included small children, could have easily become part of that statistic as CCTV caught them taking pictures on the tracks. http://ow.ly/VY9MG
management free and unlimited use of the work. It’s interesting, coming from an artist who is known for speaking out against the repressive royalty deals streaming services give musicians. http://ow.ly/VYajF
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something for notting
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schoolboy died taking ‘extreme selfie’
In September, a 17-year old schoolboy reportedly fell to his death after apparently trying to stage an extreme selfie from a ninth-floor rooftop in Russia. http://ow.ly/VYb8c
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north korea blocked access to instagram
Since social media was made accessible to foreign visitors in North Korea in 2013, Instagram has been an outlet for visiting photographers wanting to share glimpses of life in the secretive state. Not anymore. Eric Talmadge, Pyongyang Bureau Chief for AP, posted a screen grab in June showing the message that popped up when he tried to access the app in North Korea: “Warning! You can’t connect to this website because it’s in blacklist site.” http://ow.ly/VY9Gk
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a swift rights grab
This summer it became known that if a photographer wants to cover a Taylor Swift world tour concert, they first have to sign a form granting Swift’s
In a move that would impress Taylor Swift’s management, the Notting Hill Carnival now charges £100 for photographers wanting press accreditation - and you have to share your coverage with the organisers. John Toner of the National Union of Journalists told the News Media Association: “It is not acceptable that the media are expected to pay to cover a genuine news event [and] that organisers expect pictures to be supplied free for their commercial purposes.” http://ow.ly/VYapx
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the dress that broke the internet
Was it white and gold or blue and black? Nobody could agree on the colour of #TheDress until experts revealed that it was a bad photograph; well, actually, your perception of colour depends on whether your eyes are wired to gauge the quality of the lighting and recalibrate accordingly. But if only the photographer had sorted out their white balance before snapping, none of our lives would have been put on hold for two days in February. Cheers for that! http://ow.ly/VY14T
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SubScr ibe today and enjoy Photogr aPhy week For juS t 39 c /39 P an iSSue *
seasonal bokeh stocking stuffers try this simple workflow
practical ideas for your camera
t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e
wither samsung? christmas portraits company exits camera market try this simple flash set-up
24-30 december
t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 10-16 december
i s s ue 16 8
i s s ue 170
t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a gbest a z i nled e Panel? shoot first, focus later
t he worl d’s bes t-sel l ing digi tal photo mag a z ine
toP constant lighting tested
17-23 december
Panasonic’s clever new firmware
i s s ue 169 3-9 december
i s s ue 167
inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews
inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews
cold case
besT dsLrs uNder $1000
5 ways to shoot through the holidays
try these pro tips for shooting your dinner in style
10 top c amer as that won’t break the bank
NikoN school
we visit nikon’s new training centre to see what we can learn
What’s the Best GimBal head?
slow and steady
discover how to tame the waves
we put four of the best options to the test
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I T ’ S C O O L , T H AT The besT Thing we’ ve seen This week
The firsT phoTograph of a human being
Before it was possible to photograph moving subjects, one pioneer got lucky ver wondered who the first person was to be included in a photograph? Nope, it wasn’t some starchy 19th century pillar of society sitting in a chair, it was a ‘boulevardier’ having his shoes shined. In 1838, French photography pioneer Louis Daguerre took this image of the Boulevard de Temple in Paris, and if you look bottom left of the photograph, on
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the pavement you can see the fellow getting his shoes serviced. The exposure time would have taken about seven seconds, which is why the street looks deserted; in reality it would have been full of pedestrians and carriages, but moving objects were too fast to register on the plate. Take a look at the close-ups in the gallery - you might be able to spot more movement...
see T he g a l l ery h t t p : //o w. l y/ W 1v 5s
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Crash Course ESSENTIAL PHOTO SKILLS MADE EASY
Sketch in SparkleS Siân Lewis shows you how to create golden trails of light with a few sparklers If you’re struggling to find creative photography ideas to keep you busy on dark min nights, we’ve got the perfect thing for you. sparklers allow you to create golden light trails and shapes, and they’re cheap to buy and easy to use.
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You’ll need a tripod to allow for a long enough shutter speed for this project. You’ll also need an assistant to create sparkler shapes and words for you. Make sure everyone is wearing gloves and have a bucket of water on hand for used-up sparklers to be on the safe side.
You’ll need to shoot in Manual mode so that you have complete control over your camera settings. You’ll find that it’s easiest to focus manually on your assistant first and ask them to stay in the same place while they draw sparkler creations for you to photograph.
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STEP bY STEP: ALL THAT gLIT TErS
1 Find your SettingS
In Manual, turn off flash, then pick an aperture of f/8. You’ll need a low Iso, such as Iso200, to compensate for the long shutter speed – we started off with five seconds. When you’re ready, ask your assistant to slowly trace shapes in front of them. hearts, circles and stars all look great.
2 WordS and SymbolS When you’ve got some simple shapes in the bag, increase your shutter speed to ten or 20 seconds and get your assistant to try some words. They’ll need to write backwards for the words to read correctly, but you can cheat and flip images horizontally in Photoshop if they’re struggling.
3 include a perSon
If you want to include a ghostly version of your friend as well as their sparkler creations in your picture, simply switch to a wider f-stop, such as f/3.5. Your friend will need to keep their face as still as possible for the entire exposure, though, or they’ll end up being a blur.
All you need to make your best photos even better Read the book
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lightroom LEARN ESSENTIAL EDITING SKILLS FAST!
W AT cH T He V iDeO h t t p : // t i n y. c c /px7g7x
HOW TO...
SyncHrOniSe L igHTrOOm mObiLe Get ready to edit on the go by connecting Lightroom to your devices ightroom mobile is an app that runs on an iPad or smartphone. it’s a companion app to the full version of lightroom CC that runs on your mac or PC. the mobile and desktop versions of lightroom work seamlessly to enable you to organise, edit and share your photos from your home or on the go. to use lightroom mobile you’ll need to sign up for an Adobe id so that
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you can access the Adobe Creative Cloud. this enables you to create a collection of photos on your desktop copy of lightroom and sync them via the Creative Cloud to lightroom mobile on your portable devices. You can then use lightroom mobile while on the go to add ratings to your photos and adjust their colour, tone and composition. once you hook up your iPad to a WiFi connection, the changes you’ve made
will be synced via the Creative Cloud to the photos in your lightroom library. You can also snap shots using your iPad or smartphone’s camera and get them to sync automatically to a collection in your desktop copy of lightroom. Before we show you lightroom mobile’s sorting, editing and sharing tricks, this video will show you how to get both versions of lightroom to talk to each other.
WANT TO LeArN hOW TO use LighTrOOm fAsTer? geT The WhOLe cOurse NOW! if you don’t want to wait a whole year to learn how to use Lightroom, you can download our whole course from the Photography Week app for just $19.99/£11.99. We’ll be including one part of the course every week until the end of the year in the magazine, so the choice is yours: wait and take the course for free, or buy it now and learn faster, with all the videos in one place! http://tiny.cc/0bxaqx
BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015 Picking your first ‘serious’ camera can be difficult, but this list of the best entry-level cameras on the market will save you hours of research f you’ve never bought a camera before but you want to start taking your photography more seriously, there’s a good chance you may not know quite which option will best satisfy your needs. Do you go for a DSLR from one of the esteemed photographic manufacturers or perhaps a mirrorless system from a company with its roots in electronics? And how do the specs of current models compare with one another? The good news is that even many basic models now offer plenty to play with, and with so many capable options it’s unlikely
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you’ll end up with a ‘bad’ camera. The vast majority of these produce images that can withstand substantial enlargements, and with advanced AF systems, high-resolution displays and wireless connectivity becoming the norm, shooting with today’s models is more enjoyable and convenient than it’s ever been. We’ve hand-picked ten of the finest cameras currently available that would fit the needs of the entry-level user, and looked at not only where they shine but what you may want to consider before parting with your cash.
C Anon EoS 100d / rEBEl Sl1 $400 ($500 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS) £255 (£320 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS)
aunched at the same time as the EOS 700D, the EOS 100D equals most of that camera’s functionality in a cheaper and significantly smaller body. Despite being Canon’s smallest and lightest DSLR, it offers everything you’d expect, such as a DSLRstyle grip, a mode dial and full compatibility with Canon’s EF and EF-S optics. There’s also a useful touchscreen LCD that can be used for focusing, selecting menu options and reviewing images, along with a 4fps burst mode and Full HD video recording with continuous focusing.
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Furthermore, for the benefit of first-time users, Canon has also found space for a guide mode to teach you about the camera’s various settings, meaning you can leave the manual at home. Overall, definitely one of the best-value DSLRs currently available.
BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
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Pros - Small and lightweight - Very well specified for the price Cons - 4fps a little on the low side No articulating LCD
SEnSor: APS-C, 18MP lEnSES: CAnon EF, EF-S moniTor: 3-inCh, 1,040K dotS viEwfindEr: oPtiCAl conTinuouS ShooTing: 4FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
C Anon EoS 750d / rEBEl t6i $750 ($750 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS) £480 (£520 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS)
he EOS 750D ramps things up from Canon’s more junior DSLR offerings, but still manages to squeeze in under £500. Not only do you benefit from a 24.2MP APS-C sensor – contrasted with an 18MP alternative in the EOS 100D and 1200D – you also gain a faster 5fps burst mode, the latest DIGIC 6 processing engine and an advanced 19-point AF system, each point being cross type for enhanced sensitivity. Other benefits that make it a finer competitor to the likes of the Nikon D5500 include built-in Wi-Fi and an articulating LCD
touchscreen. Furthermore, not only do you get Full HD video with continuous focusing as you record, but you can even use an external microphone if video becomes your thing and you want more professional audio.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - LCD is Vari-angle and touch sensitive - All-cross-type AF system bodes well for focus sensitivity Cons - 5fps good but bettered by some other models - Viewfinder only offers 95% coverage
aSEnSor: APS-C, 24.2MP lEnSES: CAnon EF, EF-S moniTor: 3-inCh ArtiCulAting, 1,040K dotS viEwfindEr: oPtiCAl conTinuouS ShooTing: 5FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
niKon d3300 $nA ($400 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS) £280 (£300 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS)
ver since the D40 released back in 2006, Nikon has tweaked and honed its entrylevel DSLR formula – and the D3300 is a culmination of all of these achievements. Among a largely expected feature set it boasts a handful of interesting additions. It’s one of only a handful of entry-level models to lack an anti-aliasing filter in front of its sensor, which theoretically means it delivers sharper images. The D3300 is bundled with a battery that claims to deliver 700 images on a full charge, a figure that’s higher than most rivals.
The camera’s 5fps burst mode is perfectly respectable for a DSLR of its class, while Full HD recording to 50/60p and a 3in, 921k-dot LCD screen deliver what’s expected. Sadly there’s no Wi-Fi and the LCD is fixed in place (and not sensitive to touch) but at this price you can’t really argue.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - No anti-aliasing filter - Excellent value for money Cons - No Wi-Fi - LCD not articulated or touch-sensitive
SEnSor: APS-C, 24.2MP lEnSES: niKon dX, FX moniTor: 3-inCh, 921K dotS viEwfindEr: oPtiCAl conTinuouS ShooTing: 5FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
FujiFilM X-M1 $300 ($535 w i t h 16-50MM K i t l EnS) £nA (£340 w i t h 16-50MM K i t l EnS)
ntry-level mirrorless cameras tend to prioritise simplicity over the more refined stylings of models higher up, but the X-M1 proves that you can still have a smart, retro-styled compact that’s designed specifically with the first-time user in mind. Crucially, it inherits the acclaimed X-Trans CMOS 16.3MP sensor from Fujifilm’s more advanced models, while Wi-Fi, 5.6fps burst shooting, Full HD video recording and a tiltable LCD screen are also all on board. Its analogue dials on the top plate and a leather-like covering around the front improve
handling, while the provision of a hotshoe allows you to mount an external accessory such as a flashgun to broaden shooting possibilities. It may not be the newest camera around, but its age helps push its asking price down.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Same or similar features to higher-end X-series models - Great value for money Cons - No electronic level - Lower pixel count than much of the competition
SEnSor: APS-C, 16.3MP lEnSES: FujiFilM X-Mount moniTor: 3-inCh tilting, 921K dotS viEwfindEr: no conTinuouS ShooTing: 5.6FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
Sony A6000 $400 ($550 w i t h 16-50MM K i t l EnS) £425 (£485 w i t h 16-50MM K i t l EnS)
hile Sony’s a5000 and a5100 duo appear more designed for first-time users than the a6000, the latter camera still wins a place on our list on account of a more impressive set of specs for not much more than the a5100. As with the a5100 it offers a 24.3MP APS-C sensor and a hybrid AF system that impressed us for both speed and accuracy, while a tilting touchscreen, Wi-Fi and NFC control all make it easier and more fun to use. Where it surpasses its sibling, however, is with a built-in, high-resolution electronic viewfinder that’s
particularly useful in brighter conditions, as well as an 11fps burst rate which races past the a5000’s 5fps. With the further provisions of a hotshoe for flashguns, and an app-based method of expanding the camera’s functionality, it provides plenty of growing room.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Great AF system - Very fast burst mode Cons - LCD not as big as on some other cameras - 360-shot battery life could be better
SEnSor: APS-C, 24.3MP lEnSES: Sony E-Mount moniTor: 3-inCh tilting, 920K dotS viEwfindEr: EVF, 1.44Million dotS conTinuouS ShooTing: 11FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr-EnthuSiASt
olyMPuS E-Pl7 $400 ($500 w i t h 14-42MM K i t l EnS) £315 (£400 w i t h 14-42MM K i t l EnS)
ith a touchscreen LCD than can be flipped 180 degrees to face the front, the E-PL7 is perhaps an ideal fit for those frequently capturing self-portraits or group shots. Of course, to delivers far more than just this – in fact, its 8fps burst mode is faster than what most of its peers manage, and with the same 16.1MP sensor and processor as its more advanced OM-D siblings, Olympus isn’t skimping on image quality. To further sweeten the deal, the camera boasts a 3-axis image stabilisation system and a 81-point AF system for speedy focus, together with
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Wi-Fi so you can easily share your creations. All of this is wrapped up inside a sturdy metal body with a retro design, complete with a leather-like front plate and analogue dials to make it stand out against its more modern rivals.
BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Fast 8fps burst rate - Sturdy body Cons - Flash unit not built into camera - No viewfinder (although hotshoe permits the use of one)
SEnSor: MiCro Four thirdS, 16.1MP lEnSES: MiCro Four thirdS moniTor: 3-inCh tilting, 1,037K dotS viEwfindEr: no conTinuouS ShooTing: 8FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
niKon d5300 $600 ($580 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS) £390 (£450 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS)
s capable as the latest Nikon D5500 is, it serves as only a minor update on an already competent and cheaper D5300 – so it’s the latter that gets our vote here. In fact, the highlight specs are pretty much the same between the two, with a 24.2MP DX-format sensor without an anti-aliasing filter and 5fps burst shooting, together with a 3.2in LCD that can be articulated around a joint at its side and an advanced 39-point AF system. Both cameras offer wireless control, but it’s the older D5300 that goes one further by also
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incorporating a GPS system. Next to most other models here, it’s only really touchscreen functionality which is notable by its absence. So, unless you feel you need this and fancy a slightly smaller and lighter body, go for the D5300.
BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Relatively large LCD screen - GPS system Cons - No touchscreen - No option to record ‘clean’ Raw images alongside JPEGs when treated with Effects
SEnSor: APS-C, 24.2MP lEnSES: niKon dX, FX moniTor: 3.2-inCh, 1,037K dotS viEwfindEr: oPtiCAl conTinuouS ShooTing: 5FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
PEntA X K-50 $290 ($350 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS) £300 (£330 w i t h 18-55MM K i t l EnS)
entax has a habit of releasing cameras with class-leading specs, and the K-50 manages to continue this by bringing a handful of enthusiast-level specs into an entry-level proposition. It’s one of the only entry-level cameras to sport a weather-sealed body, and no other beginner DSLR matches its optical pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage too, this being a feature usually reserved for enthusiast and professional models. It complements the above with a respectable 6fps burst mode, a 16MP sensor that offers images
stabilisation with all mounted lenses and a fuss-free body that boasts large, clearly marked buttons. True, there’s no Wi-Fi and the rear display is fixed in place, but for the photographer frequently finding themselves outdoors in varying conditions it makes perfect sense.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Weather-sealed body - 100% pentaprism viewfinder Cons - LCD fixed in positon - No Wi-Fi
SEnSor: APS-C, 16.28MP lEnSES: PEntAX K moniTor: 3-inCh, 921K dotS viEwfindEr: oPtiCAl conTinuouS ShooTing: 6FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
PAnASoniC gF7 $350 ($460 w i t h 12-32MM K i t l EnS) £nA (£320 w i t h 12-32MM K i t l EnS)
he tiny GF7 is not only one of the most recent cameras here but it also happens to be one of the most affordable too. Not only that, but it has the significant advantage of being light and very small. Despite its compact proportions, it packs a 16.1MP Micro Four Thirds sensor – the same sort used by almost all of Panasonic’s more expensive models – together with a touch-sensitive display that can be pulled up above the top plate to face the front for selfies. There’s also Full HD video recording up to 50/60p and Wi-Fi that lets you not only send images
wireless but control the camera remotely from smartphones or tablets. The only real let down is the battery life of around 230 shots on a full charge, so you may want to grab an additional one if the GF7 does take your fancy.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Tiny body and compact, retractable kit lens - Touch-sensitive, tilting, high-res display Cons - Poor battery life - Not hotshoe
SEnSor: MiCro Four thirdS, 16.1MP lEnSES: MiCro Four thirdS moniTor: 3-inCh tilting, 1,040K dotS viEwfindEr: no conTinuouS ShooTing: 5.8FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
Sony A5000 $265 ($400 w i t h 16-50MM K i t l EnS) £nA (£250 w i t h 16-50MM K i t l EnS)
hile the a5000’s rock-bottom price tag and simple design suggests a no-frills affair, its spec sheet shows it to surpass expectations in many key areas. You get, for example, a capable 20MP APS-C sensor and the same Bionz X processing engine that’s employed in some of Sony’s professional models, together with an LCD screen that tilts up and swings all the way around to face the front. Wi-Fi and NFC, features that are still missing from many other models at this price, are also on board, as is Full HD video and full manual exposure
control to continue catering for your needs as your develop your technical abilities. Naturally, Sony has made some concessions to make the a5000 affordable (such as a mediocre 460k dot display) but considering its age and price it fares well against more recent arrivals.
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BEST EnTry lEvEl camEraS
2015
Pros - Excellent value for money - Simple, non-intimidating design Cons - Low-resolution LCD - No hotshoe
SEnSor: APS-C, 20MP lEnSES: Sony E-Mount moniTor: 3-inCh, 460K dotS viEwfindEr: no conTinuouS ShooTing: 3.5FPS moviES: 1080P uSEr lEvEl: BEginnEr
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