Issue 992

2018

ISSUE NO. 992

ZEISS:

STEALING THE SHOW WITH THE ZX1 CAMERA ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: SIGMA

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SONY

PANASONIC

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TENBA

MANFROTTO |

RED

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FUJIFILM |

& MORE www.pixel.co.uk 1 www.pixel.co.uk

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OFF THE NEWS PRESS

WELCOME To Pixel Magazine

We often say that it’s an exciting time to be in our industry and that’s never been so true as it is now. In the following pages you will see what excited us the most.

We hope you’re excited as us about the coming months. If you’re not, you’re in the wrong trade!

Welcome to issue 992, our Photokina special issue.

It’s a crazy time! Photokina 2018 saw a plethora of new announcements and releases.

It was of course, also an end of an era as Photokina will now be yearly as of 2019.

RED

LEICA, PANASONIC, SIGMA:

ANNOUNCE L-MOUNT ALLIANCE IN MIRRORLESS WARS The mirrorless war is getting bigger than most of us imagined. Three top brands are teaming up to sway buyers to their systems.

Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma announced that they’ll all use the same lens mount format for full-frame and APS-C cameras, allowing lenses purchased for one company’s cameras to work on each

other’s cameras. This news in our eyes, is arguably the most noteworthy of the month as this opens up a whole new avenue in battle. Will will see other brands team up in the months to come or is it too late for the brands that have already entered the market?

This is no doubt, a very clever move and the battle field is wide open!

Thank you to everyone on your continued support of our publication. Enjoy 992!

Luke & Mandy, Co.Editor in Chief

FACEBOOK & RED UNVEIL MANIFOLD, A 3D AND 360° VR CAMERA RED and Facebook have unveiled Manifold, a new VR camera for shooting 3D and 360° imagery.

Facebook say - “Manifold is a single product that redefines immersive cinematography with an all-in-one capture and distribution framework, giving creative professionals complete ownership of their 3D video projects, from conception to curtain call,” Facebook writes.

“What this means for audiences is total narrative immersion in anything shot on the new camera system and viewed through 6DoF VR headsets. It’s nothing short of a paradigm shift in our ability to tell stories.”

For more information visit www.red.com

Works with both i-Type and 600 film:

Speak to your Swains Regional Sales Manager for the latest offers on Polaroid.

OneStep2 VF • • • • •

Iconic Instant Camera design Fixed-focus lens Powerful built-in flash Easy USB charging and a self-timer Focus as close as 2 feet to infinity

N.A.S £79.99

Guide £119.99

www.pixel.co.uk 3 For more information

www.swains.co.uk

sales@swains.co.uk

01485 536200

OFF THE PRESS

ZEISS:

STEALING THE SHOW WITH THE ZX1 MIRRORLESS CAMERA

ZEISS took the global press by surprise with the announcment of the ZX1 camera at Photokina 2018. This will be the iconic brands first camera in over 13 years. In a soon to be, saturated mirrorless market, ZEISS are sure to stand out with this release. Luke Woodford tells us his thoughts...

T

he ZX1 was presented at an exclusive press conference in Cologne. Thanks to the ZEISS lens and a sensor developed in-house at ZEISS, the camera delivers firstclass image quality combined with an operational concept and user experience that make the photographer’s jobs-tobe-done as intuitive as on a smartphone.

The ZEISS camera concept is just the first step to opening up a new world of possibilities for ambitious photographers – from taking the shot to editing the image and sharing it on the web. The 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is Sigma’s first lens developed originally to live up to the sought-after angle of view and performance standard for a benchmark cine lens. This lens effectively arranges three FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to correct axial chromatic aberration and magnification chromatic aberration.

SHOOT: the ZEISS ZX1 features a newly designed, integrated ZEISS Distagon 35 mm f/2 T* lens with autofocus that has been perfectly matched to the 37.4 megapixel full-frame sensor developed in-house at ZEISS. The interplay between the lens and sensor ensures first-class picture quality with that typical ZEISS look.

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EDIT: The ZEISS ZX1 enables photographers to professionally process RAW images directly on the camera thanks to fully integrated Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC. Moreover, the ZEISS ZX1’s unique user interface supports the user’s particular workflow without any interruption – providing direct access to the most frequently used functions via a 4.3” multi-touch display.

SHARE: when the networked fullframe camera is connected, the user can upload selected images directly to the internet – without the intermediate transfer to memory cards or other external devices.

512 GB of internal memory provide sufficient space for approximately 6,800 RAW files (DNG) or over 50,000 JPGs – more than enough to handle photos, even during a longer trip, and giving the photographer the chance to let their creativity flow. Versatile connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB-C ensure that various peripherals can be connected. Over-the-air software updates keep the camera up to date without requiring a computer connection.

“We know that we exploring new ways and initially addressing a special target group with the ZEISS ZX1. With our concept we are focusing on ambitious, professional creatives who want to produce their photographic experiences quickly and efficiently, and inspire as many people on the Internet as possible.

This requires a streamlined workflow in addition to high-end features. This is exactly what the concept of the ZEISS ZX1 offers,” - Jörg Schmitz, Head of the Consumer Products business group at ZEISS. The ZX1 is one of the least leaked releases in history. ZEISS did an incredible job of keeping this under wraps. What we love most about the ZX1 so far, is that it’s very different from the other mirrorless announcements we have seen in recent months. The 512gb hard drive is a gigantic plus, eliminating the need to have to think about memory cards is absolutely fantastic. Also, having Lightroom built in on a 4.3” multitouch is pretty incredible. We are so happy to see such innovation from ZEISS and look forward to testing the finished product when it’s released in 2019.

OFF THE PRESS

COMPLETING THE FAMILY WITH THE BATIS 2/40 CF!

Photo by Luke & Mandy using the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF

ZEISS’ second announcement at Photokina fills the gap in their renowned Batis lens family with what’s also their most versatile lens which enables close focus.

W

ith a 40 millimeter fixed focal length, the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF (Close Focus) is the latest addition to the product family. This standard lens in the ZEISS Batis family features a quick autofocus and an extremely short minimum focus distance.

Deliver of the lens is due to start in November 2018. “The focal length on the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, something customerhave been eagerly awaiting. The lens bridges the current gap between the ZEISS Batis 2/25 and the ZEISS Batis 1.8/85,” says Dr. Michael Pollmann, Category Manager for Imaging at ZEISS. “With the launch of the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF, we now offer a focal length that falls between the standard 35 and 50 millimeter lenses people love to use. We have made the entire ZEISS Batis lens

family even more attractive by offering the complete range of focal lengths,” says Pollmann.

We have been lucky enough to use this lens and we can’t fault it. We love to shoot around the 35-50mm range so this was naturally a great fir for us. Having a 40mm really completes the Batis family.

The quality is incredible, but that’s no shock as its a ZEISS lens. What we actually loved the most was the Close Focus option which we actually found inspired us to photograph things that we usually wouldn’t.

The price of the new ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF is £1,129.99. For more information on ZEISS new visit www.zeiss.com/newsroom

www.pixel.co.uk 5

OFFNEWS THE PRESS

FUJIFILM:

THE WORLDS FIRST 100 MEGAPIXEL MIRRORLESS CAMERA Fujifilm dropped two bombshells at Photokina. The first was that the brand was developing a new flagship model equipped with 100MP+ image sensor to join the GFX system of mirrorless cameras. This was one of our favourite announcments of the show and cannot wait to get our hands on one upon it’s release.

T

.

he new model will be the world’s first medium format mirrorless digital camera to feature an image sensor that has phase detection pixels across the entire sensor, outperforming contrast detection autofocus in tracking a moving subject and delivering greater accuracy in continuous autofocus. This model will also become the first medium format digital camera to feature in-body image stabilization mechanism, to significantly broaden the scope of achieving ultra-high resolution handheld images. The camera boasts substantially improved video recording capability compared to that of the GFX 50S and GFX 50R. It will be the first mirrorless digital camera equipped with an image sensor with the size of 43.8mmx32.9mm to support 4K video recording (4K/30P). This model will be Fujifilm’s highest performance camera.

KEY FEATURES FUJIFILM G Format image sensor with over 100MP resolution The camera is equipped with a 102MP “FUJIFILM G Format (“G Format”) image sensor, specifically developed for this model. It delivers the highest image quality in the history of Fujifilm when combined with the fourth-generation “X-Processor 4” image processing engine that delivers superb color reproduction Fujifilm is famous for, and FUJINON GF lenses that offers ultra-high resolving power. Phase detection AF coverage on the entire sensor (approx. 100% coverage) enables fast and highly accurate autofocus regardless of your subject’s position within the frame, providing a level of performance that defies the current standards of medium format digital cameras.

World’s first medium format camera to feature in-body stabilization

digital image

In general, the higher the number of pixels that an image sensor has, the greater the

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likelihood of producing images out of focus from camera shakes. This is why Fujifilm has developed a new in-body image stabilization system for the G Format. This is also a world’s first for medium-format digital cameras. This has dramatically expanded the scope of achieving ultra-high resolution images (100MP+) hand-held, allowing users to explore new photographic opportunities.

World’s first medium format mirrorless digital camera capable of recording 4K video The combination of X-Processor 4’s advanced processing capability and the new image sensor with fast read speed has enabled 4K video recording (4K/30P, 10bit), the world’s first for a medium format

mirrorless digital camera. The use of the larger image sensor facilitates a shallower depth of field, broader tone reproduction and advanced sensitivity characteristics.

This, in turn, makes it possible to record a subject’s texture, three-dimensional feel and even the atmosphere of the scene with an unprecedented level of ease.

Lightweight and robust magnesium alloy body with integrated vertical grip The new camera has the size and weight equivalent to a high-end DSLR despite featuring an image sensor which is about 1.7 times the size of a 35mm sensor. This will be the first GFX camera to feature an integrated vertical grip, making it more robust and comfortable to hold, especially when large telephoto lenses are used.

OFFNEWS THE PRESS

LAUNCHING THE GFX 50R! Fujifilms second piece of news was the launch of the GFX 50R, a medium format mirrorless digital camera which features the FUJIFILM G Format (medium format, 43.8x32.9mm) image sensor, which is approx. 1.7 times the size of a full frame 35mm image sensor.

The GFX 50R continues the compact, lightweight and superior image quality characteristics of Fujifilm’s GFX medium format mirrorless digital camera system, while weighing approx. 145g less and 25mm thinner than the FUJIFILM GFX 50S (GFX 50S). The GFX 50S has attracted high praise from professional photographers since its launch in January 2017. Yet, many field photographers who specialize in weddings, portraits and street photography have sought after an even more compact and lightweight camera, along the line of Fujifilm’s traditional medium format film cameras such as GA645 (*discontinued) and GF670 (*discontinued).

With this in mind, FUJIFILM is adding the new “GFX 50R” to the lineup.

KEY FEATURES Compact and lightweight (approx. 775g *2) medium format mirrorless digital camera in the rangefinder style The GFX 50R is approx. 145g lighter than the GFX 50S (weighing 920g with EVF). The camera body is just 66.4mm thick, 25.0mm thinner than the GFX 50S. The rangefinder style design allows you to keep your eye on a subject while looking through the viewfinder with the other eye. This enables checking and feeling the atmosphere of the scene around your subject matter, shown in the EVF. The GFX 50R is equipped with the 0.77x 3.69M-dot organic EL electronic viewfinder (EVF). This allows accurate focusing despite the large size of the medium format sensor, which has a shallower depth of field than that of a 35mm full frame sensor when shooting at the same angle of view.

51.4MP medium format CMOS sensor and X-Processor Pro image processing engine

Intuitive handling and rugged camera body that caters for the needs of all photographers

The medium format (43.8mm x 32.9mm) “G Format” sensor has better per pixel light reception capability than that of a 35mm full frame sensor of the same resolution.

Furthermore, the micro lenses have been designed to optimize the light gathering performance and image resolution as well as the handling of data from photodiodes are customized to achieve a superior level of image quality, surpassing that of existing cameras that use a sensor of the same size. As a result, the GFX 50R delivers images that precisely reproduce the subject’s texture, three-dimensional feel and even the atmosphere of each scene.

The GFX 50R features the X-Processor Pro image processing engine. Supporting FUJIFILM’s renowned Film Simulation modes, the camera allows you to opt for the tonality of photographic films such as Velvia, PROVIA and ACROS, used for many years in medium format film cameras by professional and enthusiast photographers alike.

The GFX 50R is equipped with the Focus Lever to allow quick adjustment of the focus point. The elimination of the selector buttons provides extra space to hold the camera better. The top panel sports two dials, one for shutter speed and the other for exposure compensation. The milled aluminum dials give the camera a premium feel and satisfying clicking touch.

The robust magnesium alloy body is weather-sealed in 64 places to provide dust and weather resistance and ability to operate at temperatures as low as -10℃.

Its durability caters to the needs of all photographers.

The GFX 50R will be released this October.

For more information on these announcements visit www.fujifilm.eu

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8 www.pixel.co.uk

OFF THE PRESS

PANASONIC:

REVEALING THE LUMIX S1R & S1 MIRRORLESS CAMERAS

Panasonic had one of the mont exciting announcements at Photokina 2018, with the impending debut of two mirrorless cameras which will be the brands first in the market.

P

anasonic has announced the development of its first two full frame mirrorless cameras: the Lumix S1R and S1. As part of the newly revealed L-Mount alliance, the two cameras will feature Leica’s L lens mount that we mentioned on page one.

Inside both the S1R and S1 will be 35mm full-frame sensors, and both cameras are designed to make an impact in the world of video: they’re set to be the first full-frame mirrorless cameras to offer 4K 60p video recording.

This will be very appealing to forward thinking videographers / filmmakers.

Both cameras also pack an in-body Dual I.S. image stabilization system, dual XQD/SD memory card slots, and a rugged triaxial tilt LCD. From the initial announcement of these features, it’s clear that the team at Panasonic have put a great deal of thought into what’s needed and what consumers want.

“In recent years, telecommunications lines have increased in speed while social media video-sharing has gained popularity and as a result, more and more people are enjoying a hybrid of photos and videos, widening the range

Barnaby Sykes, Category Manager Imaging, Panasonic UK “Everyone at Panasonic is incredibly excited about the development of the new LUMIX S Series full frame mirrorless cameras: the S1 and S1R. These new models, as well as our alliance with Leica and Sigma and launch of LUMIX PRO has all been established with the professional photographer in mind and we are eager to bring these long-awaited announcements to fruition early next year.

Through the additional release of the new Micro Four-Thirds 10-25mm zoom lens we also would like to highlight our continual commitment to developing and growing our range of Micro Four-Thirds cameras and lenses and are pleased to offer a range of cameras to the market to suit the needs and wants of the photographer.

2018 has been an important year at Panasonic, marking 100 years of the company and a decade of LUMIX Mirrorless, and we are very much looking forward to the future. “

of expression in content production,” Panasonic says. “This new field prompted the need for a new type of camera that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional photos and videos.”

The S1R and S1 are clearly designed to be geared toward still photographers and videographers fairly equally.

Panasonic says it’s planning to develop over 10 LUMIX S series lenses by 2020, including a 50 mm f/1.4 lens, a 24-105mm standard zoom lens, and a 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens.

This is one of the many Photokina announcements that got us most excited.

We believe Panasonic know exactly what their doing with the S Series and have every faith they will deliver above and beyond expectations. The L-Mount alliance is such a smart move and the brands market share is sure to rise is 2019.

www.panasonic.com/uk

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OFF THE PRESS

SIGMA:

FIVE GLOBAL VISION LENSES ARRIVE AT PHOTOKINA!

Sigma made their prescence felt at Photokina with the big announcement of five Global Vision lenses, all exhibited on their stand at the show. From wide-angle to hyper-telephoto, the new Sigma Global Vision introductions arrive as some of the most anticipated lenses in the industry, further facilitating artistic expression for photographers.

Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM Art The new Sigma wide-angle model stands out with its thoroughly corrected magnification chromatic aberration and sagittal coma flare, as well as completely minimized distortion thanks to its optical design. It features waterand oil-repellent coating on the front lens element and its overall dustand splash-proof structure ensures excellent performance even in the most challenging shooting conditions.

The high-speed AF, thanks to the HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) with an updated algorithm, captures the perfect moment instantly. Available in Sigma, Nikon, Canon and Sony E camera mounts, this lens is a great contender for street photography, as well as shooting landscapes and night skies.

Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art The 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is Sigma’s first lens developed originally to live up to the sought-after angle of view and performance standard for a benchmark cine lens. This lens effectively arranges three FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to correct axial chromatic aberration and magnification chromatic aberration.

Designed for exceptional sharpness at maximum aperture, this lens excels at available light photography. With less than 1% distortion and near nonexistent sagittal coma flare, this lens demonstrates consistent optical results featuring both 8K-compatible resolution and a beautiful bokeh.

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OFF THE PRESS Sigma 56mm Contemporary

F1.4

DC

DN

This lens completes the Sigma large aperture series of portable wide-angle, standard, and telephoto prime lenses in Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mounts.

Featuring compact design, light weight and outstanding image quality offered in Sigma’s Contemporary line, this lens stuns with a beautiful bokeh effect and the amount of brightness expected from F1.4 lenses even in the mid-telephoto range for cropped sensor cameras. In addition, this lens is characterized by smooth and quiet autofocus ideal for video shooting.

Compatible with the Sony E mount Fast Hybrid AF, it also achieves precise AF tracking. By using the face recognition or eye AF functions of the camera, focus will continuously be on the face or the eye even if the subject moves during the shoot.

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports

One of the most anticipated lenses from the Sigma Global Vision line, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports is the new flagship large-aperture telephoto zoom lens that meets the most stringent needs of professional photographers. Robust yet lightweight, the lens’ magnesium body ensures high mobility and its dust- and splashproof structure together with the waterand oil-repellent coating on the front element ensure safe use even in the most challenging shooting conditions.

It also incorporates Intelligent OS with an acceleration sensor and the latest algorithm capable of panning in all

directions. The lens’ optical design, incorporating 10 exclusive low-dispersion glass elements, allows for extremely high resolution, from the center to the corners.

By optimizing spherical aberration, a smooth and natural bokeh effect is achieved when using the Sigma 70200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports for portrait photography. The versatility of this lens is demonstrated in various customization options via an AF Function button either through the camera body or Sigma USB Dock. The newest F2.8 largeaperture zoom lens from Sigma comes in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts.

Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports The Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports is the world’s first 10x optical zoom telephoto lens with a tele end of 600mm. Incorporating 25 elements in 19 groups, excellent and consistent image quality can be achieved throughout the entire zoom range. This lens’ intelligent OS featuring the latest algorithm delivers an image stabilization effect of 4 stops. Its optical design ensures maximum correction of magnification chromatic aberration encountered in hyper-telephoto shooting.

This offers both high resolution and consistent edge-to-edge performance throughout the entire zoom range.

In addition, when shooting at the focal length of 200mm, the Sigma 60-600mm

F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports can also be used for telephoto macro photography, with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.3, thanks to its high rendering performance. Its multi-material build, which incorporates magnesium among other components, ensures durability and enhances portability, allowing for comfortable handling

of the 10x zoom lens. The zooming mechanism has been engineered to make both smooth rotation and straight zoom possible. Versatile and robust.

For more technical specifications and information on these lenses, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com

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OFF THE PRESS

VITEC:

CELEBRATING SUCCESS OF THE LIGHTING MASTERCLASS Befree COLLECTION WITH THREE th th with TRAVEL URS RECHER | 6 -7 November NEW TRIPODS

The Join BeeFree tripod collection been successful for Manfrotto, so it’s no suprise that they broncolor photographer Urshas Recher for extremely a master class on studio lighting and light shapers.

For over a decade, Recher has as There head photographer and consultant Switzerland, are once again, expanding theserved range. are three new additionsattobroncolor the range, designed for advanced playing a pivotal role in the products, content and imagery of the company. hobbyist photographers and independent content creators.

Befree N21 The Manfrotto Befree 2N1 is by far the most versatile model in the Befree range, with an all-in-one solution that allows the tripod to be converted into a robust monopod in just a few steps. The Befree 2N1 offers a secure, easy and fast solution to convert the tripod into a monopod, while retaining the same exceptional stability afforded throughout the Befree collection.

Secure and stable. The technology behind the safety and stability of the Befree 2N1 is a dedicated locking system that ensures the total absence of play when working both as a tripod and as a monopod. Furthermore, the conjunction

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

cap on the centre column of the Befree 2N1 firmly connects the tripod leg to the tripod column, giving shape to a solid travel monopod.

Simple and fast. The Befree 2N1 is made to enable quick and easy switching from a tripod to a monopod. After a halfturn anticlockwise, a red rubber ring will appear on the tripod leg, providing the user with visual feedback that the tube can be safely removed for use as a monopod.

The Befree 2N1 is available from 15th September in two versions that cater to all advanced hobbyist photographers: the Quick Power Lock version with PRESENTED BY: levers (RRP £199.95), and the M-Lock (RRP £199.95).

Urs Recher BRONCOLOR CONSULTANT/PHOTOGRAPHER

Befree Nerissimo

TICKETS: Manfrotto presents the Befree Nerissimo,£20

Take this opportunity to learn how expertly the most elegant travel tripodcan forbe Tickets control light in the studio, using theadvanced best hobbyist photographers with exchanged on arrival an eye for design and detail.

Made of the tools available to the industry.

Befree Live QPL

for aNerissimo voucher code of the finest aluminium, the Befree

We have more…. Be the first to getblends high-quality materials with new same value to spend on Dedicated to independent content creators. your hands on the latest products exclusive from matte black finishing. Befree broncolor and an intuitive tutorial.has never been so stylish.manfrotto.co.uk Following the great success of the Befree

BIRMINGHAM 6th November

TIME

5pm-8.30pm (seated by 5.30pm)

VENUE

Curzon Street Studios, Birmingham City University, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG Search on: Eventbrite or scan QR Code:

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Live in both aluminium and carbon versions, Manfrotto has designed the new Befree The Befree Nerissimo will be available Live with Quick Power Lock, dedicated to online exclusively at www.manfrotto. independent content creators who prefer co.uk from 1st October at RRP £174.95.

LONDON the lever lock system: the most intuitive 7th November - In Association theinAOP solution forwith users the videography world.

The Befree Live QPL Lever combines the TIME strongest tripod construction elements 1pm-5pm (seated by of 1.30pm) the Befree Advanced together with the fluidity of the Live head, to provide an VENUE increased level of stability. RRP £224.95.

Studio 5, Cherryduck Studios, 12-18 Sampson Street, These three new additions to the Befree London E1W 1NA collection complement the range of

Manfrotto travel tripods. Whether shooting Web: for leisure or business, every travel www.the-aop.org/aop50-image/ events/current-events photographer and videographer will find the most suitable photo support among the or Scan QR Code: Befree range.

OFF THE PRESS

SONY:

UNLEASHING THE TOUGHEST SD CARD ON PLANET EARTH!

Sony know what the people want, and that is reliable and ‘tough’ memory cards. Photographers want three things - Reliability, peace of mind & speed. This could be the best SD card on the market.

S

ony has announced a brand new innovation in storage media with the launch of the “SF-G series TOUGH specification” UHS-II SD card.

Addressing the needs of photographers who are reliant upon their photographs remaining safe when their SD cards are removed from the camera, the new TOUGH range combines the world’s fastest read and write speeds with an ultra-rugged design. For photographers who are fighting against the elements to get the perfect shot, the SF-G TOUGH range of SD cards are compliant to the very highest standard of waterproof and dustproof standards. During testing Sony submerged their TOUGH cards in 5 metres of water for 3 days, without any impact on performance!

In order to deliver this TOUGH SD card, Sony has developed a one-molding production process and the removal of all easy-to-break and unnecessary parts.

This one-mold process, or monolithic structure, completely secures the card.

Unlike current SD cards, the TOUGH series have no empty voids inside the card housing, avoiding any risk from dust, water, sand or other contaminants.

In addition to the monolithic features, Sony claims this is the toughest card in the world, especially with regards to bend forces, which has long been a potential weakness in heavily used SD cards. Sony’s SF-G TOUGH series, can sustain an 18KG pressure on the surface of the card (based on the SD association approved tests) putting this into context; this is 18 times greater than the current SD association standard.

Unleash the power of the camera In an industry trend, driven by Sony, fullframe mirrorless cameras such as the α9 and α7 series are packing in more and more performance in both stills and video performance. These high-end cameras rely on fast memory cards to maximise their performance and with professional photographers now using SD cards more frequently, users are demanding the levels of reliability and durability associated with other professional card

types. With the world’s fastest write speed of up to 299MB/s, buffer clearing time is minimised. This allows the photographer to shoot many frames per second and capture the action that they want. The SF-G series TOUGH specification range also supports V90, the highest standard of video speed class, making it an ideal companion for shooting high resolution video.

Furthermore, transferring high capacity photo and video files is made simple, thanks to a read speed of up to 300MB/s. This is another world’s fastest specification which dramatically enhances workflow efficiency. In a further acknowledgement of the practical needs

of photographers, the TOUGH cards feature bright yellow banding design, making the card easier to spot in dark shooting conditions.

Ultimate Assurance SF-G TOUGH SD cards offer a series of further features, designed to give photographers peace of mind. These include an ‘SD Scan Utility’ which allows the user to check that the card is in good condition and File Rescue Software [i*] which can recover data and photos that might have accidentally been deleted.

Furthermore, SF-G TOUGH SD cards are also X-ray proof, magnet proof, antistatic, temperature proof and feature UV Guard.

Next month, we’ll bring you an exclusive review of the TOUGH SD card. We’re going to give it some crazy challenges to see how tough it really is.

For more information visit www.sony.co.uk [i]Downloadable from the Sony Support site

www.pixel.co.uk 13

OFF THE PRESS

FUJIFILM:

SOLUTIONS UK ROADSHOWS PROVE TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS

As Photokina ended the Fujifilm UK Photo Imaging team along with Swains International plc were back on the road again for three weeks in October with the Fujifilm Solutions UK Roadshow.

S

ome 100 photo retailers attended the 5 Roadshow venues to catch up on the exciting products and promotions being shown for the peak pre-Xmas sales period. As expected 70% of visitors were existing Fujifilm Independent Photo Retail Partners.

However, Fujifilm say that it was encouraging that the other 30% of attendees were new prospects including retailers interested in finding out more about the membership benefits of the independent photo retailer marketing scheme.

The key focus for Roadshow was to show the profitable range of personalised print solutions that can be offered through the Fujifilm Imagine kiosk software through it’s instore, online and mobile platforms.

The range included: • • • • • • • • •

of

products

Fujifilm also had on show it’s DX100 drylab instore and self-service printer solutions as well as the new Epson Workforce Pro printer and 24” wide format printer.

A key aspect of the shows was to show new and inspiring ways of merchandising photo products in store using a range of

shown

Digital printing Schacolla Square Prints Stretched canvas Aluminium panels Posters Roll up banners Gifts Dyesublimation including Mugs, T-Shirts, Slates and Phone Covers

display furniture in the form of trestle tables, crates and ladders and createing visually exciting merchandised displays.

Existing Fujifilm Independent Photo Retail partners and other retailers were shown and demonstrated the wide range of wide format Fujifilm media and everyone took away a presentation box of the 10 most popular medias including poly cotton canvas, fine art canvas, repositionable adhesive vinyl, art board and metal panel. They also took away a presentation box with a set of four 8” Casbah canvas stretcher bars and a pre-printed and cut image on poly cotton media so they could make up the product for themselves.

Peter Wigington said “I’d like to thank every one of the retailers who came along to our Roadshows. Unlike at an exhibition, you get a chance to spend more time with each retailer and really talk about their business and how the solutions we are creating can help them meet the growing demand for personalised photo print.

They are all so positive. It’s a pleasure to meet them all.”

your print sales in 2018! Get in touch with Peter direct on 01234 572138 or via photoprintservices_UK@fujifilm.com 14Boost www.pixel.co.uk

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OFF THE PRESS

HUAWEI:

LAUNCHING THE MATE 20 PRO!

Huawei made their dedication to photography known at Photokina 2018. The brand exhibited for the first time, showing that they are here to stay in the photographic industry. Just two weeks after Photokina ended, they launched the Mate 20 Pro in London.

T

he Mate 20 Pro is one of the most feature packed products that we’ve seen released during our time at Pixel. It has an in-display fingerprint scanner, four cameras, can wirelessly charge other phones an]]=\’”’ more.

The Chinese company has had a very impressive run of devices and is continuing to impress consumers and the trade. This is a stacked phone, with three cameras on the back, an in-display fingerprint sensor and the new, highlyefficient Kirin 980 chipset.

Huawei phones have always looked good but this is definately the best one

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yet. It’s made from glass which looks stunning, although we do worry slightly about the cost of repair if it cracks! There is an etched pattern on the back which improves grip and handling. The screen also has a slight curve and a metal rim sits around the side. In our opinion it feels as good as an iPhone XS or Samsung Galaxy S9. There are multiple colours available including a dark green and twilight. It’s nice to see different colours from the usual black, silver, gold etc.

There’s no headphone jack, yet it’s IP68 rated for water-resistance, and the use of glass means wireless charging has been added. Huawei said it wasn’t ready to add this handy feature until it was fast enough and apparently this will charge wirelessly at 15w.

The Mate 20 Pro has a 6.39-inch 2960 x 1440 OLED panel which is stunning.

It’s HDR enabled with great colours and fantastic vibrancy.

The cameras are all in a square on the back. The Mate 20 Pro has a whopping 40-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel telephoto camera for zooming and a new 20-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera. We’re glad they replaced the monochrome camera because a wideangle is far more useful considering it’s very easy for most users to convert their images to black and white in a decent way. The long-exposure Night Mode from the P20 is back, along with the many aperture-shifting options. There is also got a new Macro mode to improve and inspire some close-up shots.

Our Antony Meadley went to the launch in London and had this to say “I’ve been in the photographic and technology industry for many years. To be honest, it’s extremely rare that I’m really impressed by something, but the Huawei Mate 20 Pro absolutely blew me away. The amount things it does is mind boggling. I could talk about many of the features but one that stood out the most was the 3D Scanning. The fact that you can make a 3D model out of something that’s in front of you and then animate it is impressive anyway, but to build this into a phone is just phenomenal.”

For more information on the Mate 20 Pro visit www.huawei.com/en The UK retail price is currently £899.

The New Standard of Full-frame The

brings together a collection of breakthrough technology to even more photographers, from its full-frame, back-illuminated CMOS sensor and incredible 693 phase detection autofocus points to its fast 10fps continuous shooting.

INTRODUCING THE

FROM SONY

Discover more at: www.sony.co.uk ‘Sony’, ‘

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‘ and their logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

OFF THE PRESS

DS-RX1HS

DS820

DS620

DP-SL620 II

ON-SITE DYE SUBLIMATION PRINTING ASK FOR PRINT SAMPLES

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Perforated and sticker media

18 www.pixel.co.uk

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OFF THE PRESS

TENBA:

INTRODUCING THE AXIS BACKPACKS!

In an competitive camera bag market, we’re convinced that Tenba won’t struggle to capture the attention of photographers with this release. The Tenba Axis is without a doubt, one of the best looking bags on the market and we’re sure Tenba live up to their reputation of of being designed incredibly well.

T

enba has just launched a brand new series of super-tough backpacks, inspired by their ultra-durable bags made for military maneuvers.

The new Axis range are designed to keep camera gear protected even in the most extreme conditions. These new super robust packs are ideal for seasoned pro photographers and videographers, as well as for those just starting to explore their creativity at a more adventurous level.

The Tenba Axis Backpacks are available in 3 sizes – 20L, 24L & 32L. A great range of sizes for adventurers.

The new backpacks are manufactured from uncompromising materials and hardware – featuring a specially-coated hydrophobic exterior for maximum water repellence, YKK ® zippers and clips, and heavily reinforced stitching. The Tenba Axis Tactical Backpacks even come with a 5-year warranty.

KEY FEATURES

For the ultimate in comfort, the Axis Tactical packs also feature a new and exclusive fully-adjustable airflow harness – allowing the pack to be fitted precisely to virtually any torso size.

Allows limitless expandability with Tenba Tools Lens Capsules, Battery Pouches and Memory Card Wallets, as well as military -standard pouches and accessories. Tenba’s MOLLE webbing

3-Point Camera Access

Exchange camera gear through the side, top or rear of the bag. Side Access for quick camera removal while wearing the bag, Top Access to work out of the bag within a small footprint, and Rear Access to get at all your gear at once.

includes a subtle thread that is highly reflective to ensure safety when walking or riding a bike near cars at night.

Tripod Compatible Dual MOLLE-compatible straps and a built-in reinforced cup allow the secure attachment of virtually any size tripod.

Height-Adjustable Airflow Harness

Capacity

Tenba’s specially-developed harness can be customised to fit virtually any torso size, and allows easy, micro adjustments to the strap height. Perforated foam and ventilated mesh combine to keep air flowing on hot days. Supportive hip belt is removable to streamline the bag.

Two mirrorless, DSLR or cine cameras with lenses as long as 300mm 2.8 in the 20L pack and 400mm 2.8 in the 24L and 32L packs. Also fits DJI Mavic and other compact drones.

Reflective MOLLE Webbing

PRICES AND AVAILABILITY 20L Backpack – UK SRP £180.00 24L Backpack– UK SRP £200.00 32L Backpack– UK SRP £225.00 The Tenba Axis Tactical backpacks are available now via selected Tenba stockists. Distributed by MAC Group Europe.

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Century Camera Bag Collection

Frame the extraordinary, use the extraordinary.

Outstanding photography has always lived on details professional eyes recognize. What a breathtaking picture never displays is the performance of accessories that make details come alive. But it’s always been there.

Gitzo Camera Bag Collection – the perfect carrying solution: genuine Italian leather, unique carbon fibre design, high-quality, wear-resistant Nylon, functional and distinctive elements. gitzo.co.uk

MANFROTTO:

TESTED

TESTING THE BEFREE ADVANCED ALPHA TRAVEL TRIPOD

This month, we tested one of Manfrottos dedicated Sony tripods in the south of France. Here’s what we thought...

W

e’ve been really excited to test this tripod. We went to an incredible viewpoint near our house in France, by a small town called Marciac, to capture the setting sun.

Manfrotto gets it. Creating a tripod specifically designed to cater to Sony Alpha users makes a lot of sense with the camera brands’ constantly raising popularity. Naturally, there’s not a great deal of differences between the Alpha and the standard Befree Advanced Tripods. The Alpha Version comes with the Sony Alpha trademark orange on the legs and base plate. It’s ascetically pleasing and sure to be appealing to Alpha users who enjoy repping their brand.

The baseplate is the main thing that separates the Befree Alpha from the other standard Manfrotto Advance tripods. We found that it really does make the camera feel more secure, and this is important, especially with travel tripods where you can be working in tricky conditions. We have read reports of people struggling to release the plate from the head. We did not experience this problem, however we are experienced with the Manfrotto systems so this could be a factor. We don’t feel this is something that should put people off making a purchase because if you do struggle and first, we’re sure it’s something that you would get used to. The dedicated plate really helped with overall stability in all the positions we tried.

The QPL Travel lever secures really helps with setup and helped with the stability of the tripod.

We tested the Befree Alpha Advanced with a Sony a7riii, Sony 24-70 2.8 G Master and various primes. We wouldn’t recommend anything heavier than a 24-70 mounted with your camera. It would likely get a bit top heavy.

The Centre Ball Head with three independent ergonomic controls works really well and was extremely smooth. We couldn’t fault it at all.

The weight of the tripod is 1590g and it’s made from aluminium. It’s light enough for a travel tripod. We carried it on the back of our Gitzo Century Backpack with ease and couldn’t really feel the added weight and definitely didn’t cause us any discomfort.

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The legs use a flip lock mechanism, which is a favourite of ours as you can’t get a simpler way of adjusting legs, in our opinion. We gave the legs extensive testing and the mechanism held up really well, as did the rest of the tripod.

When testing tripods you have to keep the retail price in mind.

This will not compete with the elite and expensive tripods on the market, however it’s good for the price which is currently £174.95 on Manfrotto’s website. www.manfrotto.co.uk

Image taken by Luke Woodford using the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Alpha Travel Tripod.

SWAINS:

CHRISTMAS IS COMING...

S

wains International Plc have launched their new Christmas Catalogue supplement. The 10 page catalogue features lots of new gifting ideas for the festive period as well as showcasing recently launched product ranges, including the new My Photo Frame Silver Plated frames.

Speak to your Swains Regional Sales Manager or Swains Sales Office to receive your copy.

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Mastering every situation.

ZEISS Batis Lenses

N ew

// INSPIRATION MADE BY ZEISS

A new era in mirrorless photography.

The ZEISS Batis lenses for Sony`s E-mount camera series raise professional photography to a new level. They have been adapted to work with the camera to form a compact, lightweight system that doesn’t compromise on performance. The autofocus lens family will impress you with its outstanding image quality, innovative design and an OLED display that allows you to optimally set the depth of field.

The legendary ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating, combined with more than 125 years of experience in lens development and the latest technologies, ensure that every moment captured with a ZEISS Batis lens provides that exceptional ZEISS look. www.zeiss.com/batis

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www.zeiss.com/photo/dealer