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2013-05-20 18:37:46 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 17 +1s)

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS pocket super-zoom review!

Hi everyone, I've just finished my in-depth review of Canon's latest pocket-superzoom camera, the PowerShot SX280 HS! This camera packs a 20x optical zoom, 1080p video, Wifi and GPS into a camera you can just about squeeze into your pocket. Canon's also taken a sensible approach to resolution, sticking to 12 Megapixel when its rivals are pushing 18 or even 20. So is it any good? Find out in my review where I'll compare it closely against the king of the pocket super-zooms, Panasonic's Lumix ZS30 / TZ40.

PS - while testing the SX280 HS I noticed an issue regarding the battery life meter when filming video, which would foten start flashing once you started filming even if it previously showed two or three bars for stills. Canon has since been in touch with me and assures me there's a firmware update fix... more »

2013-05-19 20:21:55 (13 comments, 2 reshares, 45 +1s)

Hi +Trey Ratcliff , just testing the commenting system myself. I'm thinking of adding something similar to Cameralabs, so it's cool the get a preview!

BTW, concerning RAW files, every digital camera effectively starts with RAW data from the sensor before then applying various styles, white balance and sharpening etc, then finally compressing and exporting it as a JPEG. So in theory, someone could hack any camera to get it to record RAW files, regard;ess of the hardware behind the imaging. I would be very surprised if someone doesn't do this with your cyber-specs soon.

2013-05-14 22:35:52 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)

Zeiss Touit 32mm f1.8 - a top-end standard lens for mirrorless!

I wouldn't just tease you with sample images, results and hands-on reports on one of the two brand new Zeiss Touit lenses, would I? So here's my report on the other model, the Touit 32mm f1.8. Like the 12mm f2.8, it's only available for Fujifilm X-mount and Sony NEX mounts, but it carries a more affordable price tag of around $900 USD. Remember this is top-end glass we're talking about here, so see for yourself how it measures-up in my review-in-progress!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Carl_Zeiss_Touit_32mm_f1-8/

2013-05-14 22:31:40 (16 comments, 2 reshares, 22 +1s)

Zeiss Touit 12mm f2.8 - a top-end wide angle for mirrorless!

I'm proud to unveil some of the first sample images, results and hands-on reports you'll see for the fabulous new Zeiss Touit 12mm f2.8 lens! I had a chance to try one out on a Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and took enough sample images to know this is one high quality lens. 

Touit (pronounced 'do-it') is a new series from Zeiss, designed for APS-C mirror-less cameras, and right now, only available in either Sony NEX or Fujifilm X-mounts; sadly there's no immediate plans for a Micro Four Thirds version, but they're not ruling it out. Right now there's two models: the 12mm f2.8 and the 32mm f1.8. 

Touit is also the first 'pure' series from Zeiss with autofocus - by pure I mean not a collaboration like the Sony / Zeiss 24mm f1.8 for NEX, the Touit lenses are 100% Zeiss productions. (Inc... more »

2013-05-13 20:43:55 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 41 +1s)

Regenerate me, please!

Here's a photo I took earlier today in Liverpool's old docks using the brand new Canon PowerShot SX280 HS pocket super-zoom. There's some fantastic old buildings around the docks area, many of which are tragically empty, at least officially speaking. Walking or driving around these areas fills me with inspiration and depression in equal measures: the wonderful architecture and promise of these majestic towers and the reality or urban decay.

To be fair, the two buildings seen here are actually in the process of being turned into trendy apartments, and the buildings themselves look great up close, but I'm not sure about the immediate surroundings. There's definitely room for improvement here. But what if it saw another boom? Imagine this place full of residents, parks and local stores. Maybe it's worth buying into now… no hang on,I... more »

2013-05-13 20:34:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS sample images!

Hi everyone, I'm well underway on my review of the Canon PowerShot SX280 HS pocket super-zoom camera, and as always I like to share a bunch of sample images with you sooner rather than later! So here they are at the link below, taken at a variety of focal lengths from 25-500mm equivalent. I also have a short video demonstrating the zoom range in action. So if you're looking for a pocket super-zoom with a 20x range and built-in Wifi and GPS, check it out!

PS - oh and for the record, the SX270 HS, sold in some regions, is identical other than not having the GPS.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_SX280_HS/

2013-05-12 21:25:32 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 31 +1s)

Samsung Galaxy S4 resolution and noise versus Galaxy S3!

Hi everyone, this weekend I've been comparing the resolution and noise of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 against its predecessor, the Galaxy S3, and you can find my full results at the link below! As you'll see, there's quite a bit more difference than you'd think, with the higher resolution of the S4 genuinely recording more detail with no apparent compromise in noise, once their respective processing strategies were taken into account. 

The S4 also enjoys a slightly brighter lens, allowing it to deploy lower ISOs under the same conditions, although something I haven't seen reported so far is the coverage of each model - the newer Galaxy S4 captures a slightly narrower field of view than the S3, so its lens has a slightly longer effective focal length. In addition to my resolution and noise results... more »

2013-05-11 20:26:43 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

Samsung Galaxy S4 sample images!

Hi everyone, I've owned a Samsung Galaxy S4 for a week now and have been furiously taking photos every day. During the past week I've roamed through fields in Somerset, climbed Glastonbury Tor, enjoyed lunch at River Cottage Canteen and driven the entire coast of Wales, stopping off at beautiful Tenby and Portmeirion en-route. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram (@cameralabs) you'll already have seen many of my photos from the GS4, but of course they're reduced in size and often processed too. So I've gathered a bunch of the original files together and posted a gallery of sample images at Cameralabs. It's my intention to add more samples along with quality comparisons and a report on how I'm finding the phone compared to the GS3 in the near future, but for now I hope you enjoy these images!
... more »

2013-05-10 08:01:27 (11 comments, 3 reshares, 29 +1s)

Olympus launches new flagship PEN camera, the EP5!

The Olympus PEN E-P5 is a mirror-less camera based on the Micro Four Thirds standard. It's the successor to the two year-old E-P3 which makes it the new flagship in the Olympus PEN series. The E-P5 inherits the 16 Megapixel sensor of the OM-D E-M5 along with its built-in five-axis stabilization which works with any lens you attach. There's built-in Wifi for wireless remote control or image transfer, a top shutter speed of 1/8000 (the first for a compact system camera), and the touch-screen can now tilt vertically. Complementing the body are the new optional VF4 electronic viewfinder, and black versions of the 75mm, 45mm and 17mm f1.8 lenses. 

Find out more in my Olympus EP5 preview!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Olympus_PEN_E-P5/

2013-05-09 21:32:06 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

Nikon AF-S 18-35mm f3.5-4.5G ED review-in-progress!

Hi everyone, Cameralabs' lens tester +Thomas Rubach has been hard at work again trying out a brand new Nikkor lens, the AF-S 18-35mm f3.5-4.5G ED! This is an 'affordable' wide-angle zoom primarily aimed at owners of the lower priced full-frame bodies like the D600, but you could of course mount it on a D800 or a cropped-frame body. Thomas did the former, testing it on the demanding D800 to really see how it performed. You can find out in his review-in-progress which includes full optical results and a bunch of sample images!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_18-35mm_f3-5-4-5G_ED/

2013-05-07 19:21:19 (7 comments, 3 reshares, 14 +1s)

Canon EOS SL1 / 100D - Miniature movie mode

I had fun testing the new miniature movie mode on the Canon EOS SL1 / 100D atop Glastonbury Tor yesterday! This sample isn't strictly the most traditional use of tilt-shift effects, but I kinda like the way it turned out!

What's that? You'd like to read a hugely in-depth review of this new tiny DSLR? Why of course! Please check out: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_Rebel_SL1_100D/

https://vimeo.com/65581955

2013-05-06 20:51:39 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

Canon EOS SL1 / 100D review - one of the first and most detailed reviews!

Hi everyone, after working solid over the UK bank holiday weekend I've finished my review of Canon's new teeny tiny DSLR, the EOS SL1 / 100D! I believe it's one of the first reviews out there, and also one of the most detailed you'll read at almost 14,000 words (that's roughly 20 pages of a typical camera magazine)! But like all my reviews you can skip right to the verdict if you want a quicker opinion before delving in later. 

But I would encourage you to look through it all as there's some really interesting stuff going on, including the best consumer movie experience I've had with a DSLR, along with a body which may be small, but remains very usable. The new kit lens is also a triumph, focusing in virtual silence while keeping the barrel static and filter-friendly. I've... more »

2013-05-05 18:39:32 (14 comments, 4 reshares, 137 +1s)

Follow the yellow flower path - my first shot with the Samsung Galaxy S4!

Hi everyone, just a quickie for today! I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 this weekend and I'm already planning some tests which I'll hopefully publish soon. But I know there's lots of folk who are looking for sample images, so that's my first priority.

I'm gathering a bunch together this week, but wanted to share the very first one I took with the camera, earlier today in a field full of Rape Seed in Somerset, Southwest England. Just in case Picasa / G+ does something with the original image, you can download the file from flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameralabs/8710081919/

#Samsung   #Galaxy   #S4   #GS4  

2013-05-03 19:23:07 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 28 +1s)

Canon EOS SL1 / 100D full results: detail and noise for JPEG and RAW!

Phew, I've been hard at work with Canon's new teeny tiny DSLR, the EOS SL1 / 100D and am pleased to share my complete results for it ahead of my full review! As always I've tested the camera for real-life detail and noise for both in-camera JPEGs and RAW files processed with Adobe Camera RAW for high sharpness and zero noise reduction to reveal exactly what's going on behind the scenes. 

I've also added ten more sample images for your perusal, and every single image has been taken with the brand new EF-S 18-55mm STM kit lens which is shaping up nicely. I'm not seeing any of the sharpness uniformity issues I experienced on multiple samples of the old EF-S 18-55mm IS kit lens, and the focusing on the new model is eerily silent - indeed there's bene more than one occasion when... more »

2013-05-02 22:44:14 (10 comments, 12 reshares, 192 +1s)

Go large or go home!

The Sun may look large, but it's actually really, really small when viewed from the Earth - just half a degree in diameter. By a happy coincidence for Eclipse lovers, the Moon shares roughly the same apparent diameter from the surface of our planet. They only look so big because they're so bright. 

But their tiny apparent size poses a problem for photographers who want them to appear nice and big on the frame. If you were to point a telephoto lens in their direction - with the safety of a solar filter or the natural dimming of Sunrise or Sunset in the case of the Sun - then you'd know straightaway that you're dealing with very small objects, at least in relative terms.

Many photographers would consider a 300mm lens fairly long, but mounted on a full-frame body, it'll actually capture a field of view measuring just under seven... more »

2013-05-01 20:32:39 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 131 +1s)

One day I'll leave this place...

What makes a great photo? A great subject, right? But often it's the lighting, the angle or the surroundings that really makes the difference. I'm always on the lookout for this in my compositions to transform a mundane subject into a satisfying photo. 

Take this garden path for example. I was visiting Montacute House, an Elizabethan mansion owned by the National Trust in Somerset, Southwest England, and immediately noticed the long path upon arrival; indeed I spotted the mansion from the other end of the path while driving past towards the parking area. I walked up and down the path, enjoying the view of the gardens and the house itself, but just couldn't find a decent angle on it.

Later while exploring the house from an upper floor, I noticed the path again through a window, the angle now causing it to bend nicely... more »

2013-05-01 18:55:18 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Canon EF 40mm pancake lens review - quality and bokeh tested!

Just under a year ago, Canon released its first pancake lens, the EF 40mm f2.8 STM. Measuring just 22.8mm thick, it protrudes to roughly the same degree as the grip on many DSLRs, and at 130g you'll hardly notice it when mounted. Pop it on one of Canon's smaller DSLRs like the new EOS SL1 / 100D and it'll almost become a pocketable combination.

The 40mm caused quite a stir when it was released, not just for the cute factor, but also because it actually delivered pretty good optical quality. I couldn't wait to test it out, but my travels conspired to delay the process, so I hatched a cunning plan: I'd ask my old pal +Jason Law  in Queenstown to photograph my old elevated test view of the lake and mountains, and send me the files for processing and analysis. It's taken a while, but I'm... more »

2013-04-30 12:16:54 (25 comments, 9 reshares, 196 +1s)

The Tulips and the Pudding House

We all go through lazy phases with our photography, and for me the telltale signs are boring angles or the lack of a defined subject. Rather than explore the scene I'll stand with the camera held at head-height and capture a picture that looks okay but lacks any real impact or point of interest. Laziness can creep up on any of us at any time, even when the conditions are great, but the trick is to recognize the signs and correct them immediately!

So there I was at beautiful Montecute House, a National Trust property in Somerset, in England's Southwest. The gardens looked magnificent with endless swathes of tulips in full bloom, basking in the glorious Sunlight. I found a spot looking along one of the garden walls towards a small building with gorgeous tulips lining the path. As an interesting aside, the building is one of four in the... more »

2013-04-29 19:24:48 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Nikon AF-S 80-400mm VR review complete!

Of all the lenses we've tested recently, few have generated as much interest as Nikon's update to one of its most popular telephoto zooms. It's amazing to think the new AF-S 80-400mm VR comes a whopping 12 years after its predecessor, and that the original model was in fact the first Nikkor lens to sport Vibration reduction! A lot has happened over the past dozen years, with VR technology improving significantly and the demands of much higher resolution bodies pushing optics to their limits. Which is where the new AF-S 80-400mm VR comes in, with enhanced stabilisation and optics designed to work with the most demanding bodies.

So is it any good? Cameralabs lens tester +Thomas Rubach has already teased us with his initial results, but now his in-depth review is complete, you can find out if this is the high-end telephoto lensfo... more »

2013-04-29 19:09:48 (19 comments, 8 reshares, 79 +1s)

Official Cameralabs Strap back on sale - only $30 USD, shipping included!

Hi everyone, the official Cameralabs Strap is back on sale, but I only have a few left! It's designed for smaller DSLRs, mirrorless cameras or super-zoom models and is a sling-style design which means it attaches to one side of your camera with the strap worn diagonally across your body. The camera then hangs to the side of your waist, allowing you to quickly and easily bring it up for a photo before letting it down again. It's much more comfortable than a round-the-neck design! 

The price? $30 USD which includes postage and packing to anywhere in the World (posted from the UK).

(Note this strap is not suitable for very heavy cameras like semi-pro or pro DSLRs - if there's sufficient demand I may produce another batch of bigger straps for this purpose)
more »

2013-04-28 18:58:54 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 46 +1s)

The Dalek's Eye

This is the eye of the Dalek. The vision system of a heartless, unsympathetic being which cares only of the extermination of other lifeforms. It's looking at you right now. Actually I made all that up. It’s just a cup of coffee. No! I made that up too! This is in fact the view through a Canon EF 500mm f4L IS USM super-telephoto lens with an EOS T5i / 700D on the end. Only it's the other way round and you're looking down the front of the lens and out through the DSLR's viewfinder at the other end. 

I was at Canon event the other evening for the EOS SL1 / 100D where they'd provided access to various bodies and lenses for evaluation. They know we're all lens geeks at heart, so always ensure there's a few exotic optics available to play with, so I found myself on a balcony outside King's College London next to a 400mm f2.8,50... more »

2013-04-27 19:51:04 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 59 +1s)

Panorama-rama

To think we used to manually stitch photos together to produce a panorama… Well, many of us still do for the greatest control and best results, but I defy anyone not to be impressed by the automatic stitch panorama modes on the latest cameras. Sony kicked it all off with their Stitch Panorama modes, but now several other companies have followed-suit, allowing you to grab a 180 degree (or more) field of view with a single handheld pan.

Here's one I made earlier with the Panasonic Lumix ZS30 / TZ40 pocket super-zoom, or should I say, here's one the ZS30 / TZ40 made earlier, as all I did was swing the camera around me and gather curious looks. It shows the beautiful Cathedral Square in Exeter, a city in the Southwest of England. I'd gone for a brief visit just over a week ago to meet with some lovely local photographers and grabbed this just beforeh... more »

2013-04-26 19:08:56 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 61 +1s)

Cool! I finally made a top photo list!

I'm really happy right now as I just discovered one of my photos made a top list on Photo Extract! This is the first time any of my photos have made it onto a list like this, to my knowledge anyway, so I'm really chuffed! Thanks +Jarek Klimek for including me on http://www.photoextract.com/plus-extract/2013/4/24 - I'm also genuinely humbled to be featured on a page alongside six fantastic photos, one of which was taken by my good friend - and no stranger to commendandations - +Karen Hutton .

The thing that's really interesting to me is my photo of the two horses (hopefully linked below) is not the typical shot I'd take, and I thought twice about sharing it too. As anyone who follows me knows, I tend to take landscape and architectural travel shots and occasional abstracts, but hardly ever any people or animal shots.Th... more »

2013-04-25 20:15:08 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Canon EOS SL1 / 100D sample images with new EF-S 18-55mm STM

Hi everyone, I was playing with the new teeny tiny Canon EOS SL1 / 100D DSLR last night, so here's a bunch of sample images for you taken with the new EF-S 18-55mm STM (both the body and lens were final production samples). My first impressions of the camera were good - it's clearly very small, but you can hold it fairly comfortably so long as your hands aren't too big. In terms of the controls and menus, it feels and operates like any other Canon consumer DSLR, so will be intuitive to someone who'd used one before. The viewfinder image is understandably small, but still usable. The AF felt similar to other recent Canon consumer DSLRs, so fairly swift in terms of phase-detect through the viewfinder, and fairly leisurely in terms of contrast-based in Live View.

For me, the really interesting comparison... more »

2013-04-24 20:09:01 (15 comments, 21 reshares, 172 +1s)

You're 'avin a laugh!

I love these horses: the Morecombe and Wise of the Equine World. One truly was the straight man while the other was simply having a laugh. Imagine being one of them, having to share a stable with the other - they must drive each other mad. 

These aren't any old nags though: as members of the elite 440 year old Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, they're literally at the top of their game. During a trip to Vienna, we were lucky enough to witness both an exhibition display and the horses relaxing in their nearby stables, and for me the latter was full of photo opportunities.

The horses were all relaxing in their own ways: some nonchalantly gazing into the distance, some focusing on their next show and at least one horsing around. I was immediately drawn to the chemistry, or lack of, between this pair and how every time the... more »

2013-04-24 00:04:30 (14 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

Panasonic Lumix G6 announced - and my hands-on preview!

The Lumix G6 is Panasonic's latest mid-range mirror-less camera. Styled like a DSLR but based on the Micro Four Thirds standard, it employs the same 16 Megapixel sensor as the G5, but couples it with a significantly improved electronic viewfinder employing an OLED panel for a clearer and more stable image, along with built-in Wifi and NFC for easy wireless communications. There's also 1080p video at 24p in addition to 50p or 60p, 7fps shooting, focus peaking, interval shooting and a newly-styled body that looks more professional. The G6 is also joined by a new 14-140mm zoom that's smaller, lighter and a tad brighter than before. I had a chance to shoot with the G6 and 14-140mm for several hours- find out more in my Panasonic Lumix G6 hands-on preview!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_G6/

2013-04-24 00:04:07 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

Panasonic Lumix LF1 announced - and my hands-on preview!

Panasonic's Lumix LF1 is a new pocket-sized camera aimed at enthusiasts. Looking like a cross between the Lumix LX7 and Sony's Cyber-shot RX100 it's one of the smallest cameras to feature both a screen and an electronic viewfinder for composition. Despite the small size, Panasonic has also squeezed-in a 7.1x 28-200mm equivalent zoom along with Wifi and NFC for easy wireless communications. Sadly there's no room for a sensor that's bigger than the LX7's, but the combination of a tiny body with a viewfinder will already be whetting the appetites of many. Find out more in my Panasonic Lumix LF1 hands-on preview!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_LF1/

2013-04-22 18:08:24 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Panasonic Lumix ZS30 / TZ40 review - 20x superzoom with Wifi and NFC!

Hi everyone, I'm really excited to share my brand new review of the Panasonic Lumix ZS30 / TZ40. It's the 2013 model of Panasonic's best-selling travel zoom which packs a huge optical range into a pocket-sized body. Like its predecessor there's 1080p video, a 3in touchscreen and built-in GPS with mapping, but new to the ZS30 / TZ40 is Wifi and Near Field Communications, or NFC for short; indeed it's one of the first cameras to be equipped with NFC and once you've seen it in action, you'll be hooked!

Like other cameras with Wifi, the ZS30 / TZ40 can transfer its images wirelessly to phones, tablets or computers or even directly to sharing services straight from the camera. You can also remote control it using a free app on an iOS or Android device. But what makes it really special is the... more »

2013-04-21 20:42:16 (10 comments, 4 reshares, 109 +1s)

Juxtaposition, or naff photo, you decide.

One of my favourite photographic techniques is to shoot the reflection of one building in the windows of another. Yes it's contrived, but who cares?! Even better if it's an old building reflected in a modern one, or vice versa - you can't beat that for juxtaposition. So with that in mind, here's one I made earlier in Liverpool outside the Museum of Liverpool with the dome of the classically-styled Docks of Liverpool building reflected in the windows. Three times. And you've got the word Liverpool on there too, really, what's not to like?

Okay, you're right, it is a bit naff, but it's Sunday evening and I do have an agenda before I shut down (my computer) for the night. This is actually my entry to April's Assignment in the Cameralabs forum, the theme of course being Juxtaposition. If you have an image taken... more »

2013-04-20 19:58:59 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 74 +1s)

Make like a tree… and leaf.

I love the look of leafs from behind when the Sun is shining through them - even more so if there's Autumnal colours present. You get to see all the veins and inner workings of the leaf, and backlit light always looks so much better to me for this sort of thing. This particular leaf was shot in the botanical gardens at Tatton Park in Cheshire, UK, although during Spring, not Autumn months. Indeed it was only the other week.

In this kind of shot I want to see fine detail and lots of it, so you might be expecting me to describe a setup with a tripod and carefully optimized macro lens. But like most photographers I rarely carry a dedicated macro lens. So my close-up shots have to be taken from, ahem, not so close. This in turn means if the subject is to fill the frame from a reasonable distance, then it's going to have to be pretty big to start with.S... more »

2013-04-16 17:42:26 (4 comments, 6 reshares, 36 +1s)

Nikon D7100 review - compared with D5200 and D7000!

Hi everyone, this is the review many of you have been waiting for: Nikon's brand new upper mid-range DSLR, the D7100! Nikon describes the D7100 as being the best the DX-format can offer. It inherits the 100% viewfinder, 6fps shooting and twin SD card slots of the D7000, but increases the resolution to 24.1 Megapixels, boosts the AF system from 39 to 51-points, offers 1080p at 24, 25 and 30fps, boasts full weather-sealing and introduces a new 1.3x crop mode resulting in an overall field-reduction of two times at a resolution of 15.4 Megapixels and boosted speed of 7fps. 

Arguably the most interesting development though is the decision to dispense with the Optical Low Pass Filter, or OLPF for short. Almost every digital camera employs an OLPF to deliberately blur the finest details to avoid undesirable moire effects, but as... more »

2013-04-14 19:51:51 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 84 +1s)

The Mixer

My good friend Scott Kennedy once told me if everyone was pointing their cameras one way, he'd point his the other. We were chatting during a photowalk in picturesque Queenstown New Zealand, where some might consider him slightly perverse for concentrating on industrial details around a wharf when the group was reveling in the beautiful snow-capped mountain scenery behind him. To be fair Scott could get away with such behaviour as he's a Queenstown resident who can photograph the scenery at any time, but his thought process is one I've shared for a while and found valuable on a number of occasions.

The basic rule is this: by all means take a photo of the thing you came to see, but don't forget to also look around as you may end up finding something more interesting to you. Which brings me to this photo which I've cunningly titled 'The Mixer', based... more »

2013-04-13 18:44:47 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 26 +1s)

Nikon D7100 sample images!

Hi everyone, I'm confident the #Nikon #D7100 will become one of the most popular cameras this year - certainly I've received more requests for this DSLR than any other camera in 2013! We're actually well underway on the full review, but I wanted to share a selection of sample images sooner rather than later. As always I've started with the kit lens, in this case the DX 18-105mm, but by popular request I've also included some samples taken with a decent prime, the AF-S 28mm f1.8. We've also used this prime for some of our upcoming comparative tests to really see what the camera's capable of. Anyway, that's enough talk! Now check out some examples taken with one of the hottest cameras around and let me know what you think!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_D7100/sample_images.shtml

2013-04-12 19:06:45 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 33 +1s)

Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 VC review complete! Is it a contender?

I teased you earlier this week with some results for Tamron's first stabilised 70-200mm f2.8 zoom, and now I can bring you the complete review with long and short range optical results, sample images and in-depth analysis by our lens tester +Thomas Rubach  who's thoroughly benchmarked no fewer than three alternative 70-200 lenses over the past few weeks. Find out if the new Tamron is a contender in his review!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Tamron_SP_70-200mm_f2-8_Di_VC_USD/

2013-04-11 20:03:26 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 104 +1s)

I feel a little light-headed…

Sorry for the terrible pun, but when the Chandelier lined-up so perfectly with the neck of the Mannequin as I walked by, I simply couldn't help myself. I didn’t even need to crouch or stand on tip-toes. Then the title popped into my mind and made me giggle and I hope it does the same for you!

Location? Tatton Hall in Cheshire, Northwest England. Tatton Hall is a stately home, modeled in the neo-classical style and built in the 1700 and 1800s for the Egerton Family. The outfit pictured here was in one of the first rooms visitors get to see after the library as I recall. I thought it rather fetching myself.

Camera? A Panasonic Lumix G3 equipped with an Olympus 45mm f1.8, which as many of you know is one of my favourites for the Micro Four Thirds system. I used a typical portrait technique, opening the aperture almost fully to f2 inApe... more »

2013-04-09 04:13:36 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 31 +1s)

Panasonic Lumix GF6 launched - and I've got a video preview for you!

Panasonic has just announced the Lumix GF6, its latest mirror-less camera aimed at consumers. It officially replaces the GF5, but contains sufficient upgrades to tempt many GX1 owners, although that model remains in the range for now. The GF6 appears to inherit the 16 Megapixel sensor of the GX1, although couples it with a new image processor. Inside there's now built-in NFC and Wifi for easy wireless transfer of images along with remote control via a smartphone. The other major new feature is a tilting touch-screen which can flip up by 180 degrees to face the subject. 

I'm at the official Panasonic European press event where I've filmed an exclusive video interview which reveals all the new features! I'll also be shooting with the camera today so will update my preview with more hands on comments... more »

2013-04-08 16:38:56 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Nikon COOLPIX A review - a very classy little camera!

I've just published our review of the Nikon COOLPIX A, the smallest camera to pack the same APS-C sized sensor you'll find in most consumer DSLRs including Nikon's own DX models! Only it's not the same sensor as Nikon's removed the low pass filter to deliver potentially sharper results. Couple it with a fixed but high quality prime lens equivalent to 28mm f2.8 and squeeze it all into a very compact body and you've got the COOLPIX A. The image quality is superb, but is 28mm the ideal choice as your only lens? Find out in our Nikon COOLPIX A review!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_COOLPIX_A/

2013-04-07 22:04:56 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 VC sneak preview! Tested with D800.

Hi everyone, I've got a quick treat for you this Sunday: some optical results for the new Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 Di VC USD zoom lens! +Thomas Rubach waited for the brand new Nikon version so he could test it out on the extra-demanding D800, so ahead of his full review, here's how it looks! The big question is what's going on in the middle of the frame at 200mm?

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Tamron_SP_70-200mm_f2-8_Di_VC_USD/

2013-04-05 19:16:20 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 22 +1s)

Nikon AF-S 80-400mm results ready!

Hi everyone, +Thomas Rubach is hard at work finishing his in-depth review of the brand new Nikon AF-S 80-400mm zoom for Cameralabs, but when we saw his optical results for the lens, both at close and long range, we knew you'd want to see them sooner rather than later! So his page of sample images is now joined by his detailed results revealing the performance of this hot lens at close and long range and for both FX and DX format systems. I've linked to both pages from the intro below.

It's turning into one of the best-looking big telephoto zooms we've seen for a long while!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_80-400mm_f4-5-5-6G_ED_VR/

2013-04-04 20:00:29 (22 comments, 16 reshares, 78 +1s)

The best Micro Four Thirds lenses for Panasonic and Olympus cameras!

Hi everyone, I'm pleased to unveil my new Micro Four Thirds lens buyer's guide, the first I've compiled for a mirror-less camera system! Micro Four Thirds is the most established of the mirror-less formats. Jointly developed by Panasonic and Olympus, it brought mirror-less bodies and native lenses to the market at least one year before its first rival arrived. Being first to market along with having not one but two major manufacturers behind it are two major advantages Micro Four Thirds enjoys over the competition, and it really shows when you compare their respective native lens catalogues. As of early 2013, Micro Four Thirds had over 40 lenses available from Panasonic and Olympus along with third parties including Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, Voigtlander and others.

But with such a choice available, where... more »

2013-04-02 20:27:24 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 112 +1s)

The inviting building

Photography teachers are often fond of urging their students to tell a story with their pictures. "What do you want this photo to say?" they ask, and encourage you to ask yourself the same as you're considering a scene and framing a shot. Me? I don't over-think things - I just enjoy playing with cameras and taking photos. I simply like the process of pressing the button and hearing the mechanics whir into action. If you ask what story I'm trying to tell with most of my photos the answer will be 'somewhere nice I visited on holiday'. I can imagine the somewhat repetitive titles should I ever talk anyone into letting me exhibit: "Ah, so this one is another nice place you visited on holiday Mr Laing?"

This photo was taken in #Iceland , which even in the depths of Winter is very much a nice place I've visited on holiday. But... more »

2013-04-01 20:45:14 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 19 +1s)

Nikon AF-S 80-400mm sample images!

Sometimes you wait so long for a classic lens to be updated that you think it'll never happen. I have a feeling many Nikon owners felt this way about the 80-400mm zoom, but last month after a wait of only 12 years Nikon finally announced an updated version. 

As an AF model, the original #Nikon #80-400mm required a motor to be built into the camera body for autofocus. It was also amazingly the first Nikkor lens to feature vibration reduction and it's fair to say the company has learnt a lot about stabilisation in the past dozen years. So it's not surprising to discover the new 80-400mm has both SWM focusing (to become an AF-S model) and a significantly updated VR system. Indeed Nikon has revamped the entire optical construction.

So is it any good, and crucially is it worth paying almost double over the original (and now heavily... more »

2013-03-31 15:05:32 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

...and carry a big stick
No, I'm not alluding to Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy but to the rules you need to obey when you want to reach 400mm focal length (or there-abouts). I'm currently testing the new #Nikon  AF-S 80-400/4.5-5.6 VR II and trying to compare it to the Nikon AF-S 70-200/2.8G VR II with a Nikon AF-S TC-20E III 2x tele-converter.
Interestingly the first comparison (at 400mm f5.6 and 10m shooting distance) was a draw. See my images here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasrubach/8603251511/in/photostream
and there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasrubach/8603245855/in/photostream
But I'll be digging deeper to find out all about the new lens, +Gordon Laing !

2013-03-26 20:57:07 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Nikon COOLPIX A sample images

Hi everyone, ahead of our in-depth review, I thought you might enjoy perusing a gallery of #Nikon COOLPIX A sample images! The COOLPIX A is the World's smallest camera with an APSC sensor, and interestingly it dispenses with the optical low pass filter to deliver sharper images than traditional 16 Megapixel models. Check them out to see what you think...

I'll add some more images over the next few days...

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_COOLPIX_A/sample_images.shtml

2013-03-25 19:07:16 (14 comments, 2 reshares, 22 +1s)

Fujifilm X-E1 review - classy mirrorless camera!

Fujifilm's X-E1 is a mirrorless system camera that employs the same 16 Megapixel X-Trans CMOS sensor and X-mount introduced with the X-Pro1, allowing it to exploit the same lenses and deliver the same quality as this popular model. 

The X-E1 also shares retro styling and analogue controls, but dispenses with the hybrid viewfinder for a smaller and more affordable body. In its place though is a very capable electronic viewfinder in addition to a screen for composition, and while it lacks the X-Pro1's PC Sync port, it does feature a popup flash and a microphone input. 

There's also a new stabilized 18-55mm kit lens with a brighter than average f2.8-4 aperture. It all adds up to a highly compelling camera as you'll discover in our #Fujifilm X-E1 review!
more »

2013-03-21 20:09:15 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 39 +1s)

Canon announces arguably pointless new DSLR!

Hi everyone, today Canon announced two new DSLRs, the tiny EOS SL1 / 100D and the upper entry-level EOS T5i / 700D. The former is an interesting option for people who long for the size of mirror-less but, well, don't want to lose the mirror. The SL1 / 100D gives you the small size of a mirror-less camera (at least one with a viewfinder anyway), but keeps the mirror, the optical viewfinder and native compatibility with the entire EF lens catalogue. Kerching!

The EOS T5i / 700D is a bit of a harder sell though as it's virtually no different to the T4i / 650D it replaces. What was Canon thinking? Did they simply want the easiest way to create an upper entry-level DSLR for 2013 to remain relevant against newer rivals? Is it simply a trojan for the new kit lens? Or is something else going on?

We can't be too tough on itas ... more »

2013-03-21 14:20:54 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 / 100D - World's smallest DSLR announced!

The Canon EOS Rebel SL1, or 100D as it's known outside North America, is the company's latest entry-level DSLR and the smallest and lightest model with an APS-C sensor to date. It's around 1cm smaller in every dimension than Canon's next smallest DSLR yet manages not to compromise on control, composition or connectivity.

It may sport the same 18 Megapixels as earlier DSLRs but features an improved hybrid AF system with phase detect points spread over 80% of the sensor. Does a tiny DSLR with an optical viewfinder and native access to the full EF catalogue render mirror-less cameras redundant?

Find out in my Canon EOS SL1 / 100D preview which includes my analysis of the launch. I'd love to hear what you think of this new camera...
... more »

2013-03-20 20:24:14 (13 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

Are you interested in fun photo assignments? Can you help me?!

Hi everyone, I'd like your advice on how to improve a photo contest on the Cameralabs website. Every month in the Cameralabs forum we have an informal photo competition based on a theme suggested by a previous winner. To enter all you need to do is take a new photo that month based on the theme and post the image in the forum. At the end of the month we all vote on it in a poll and the winner gets to choose the next theme. It was a fun way to encourage people to go out and take different photos every month.

In the early days this monthly assignment was very popular with up to 80 entries for each theme, but over the past couple of years it's become steadily quieter until now we only have a handful of entries. I'd like to see what we can do to revitalize this fun contest and wanted your advice.

I think... more »

2013-03-18 20:38:27 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Looking for a great deal on a new mirrorless camera?

How about the excellent Panasonic Lumix G5 with the 14-42mm and 40-150mm kit lenses plus a 16GB card thrown-in for good measure for just $599 USD at Adorama? That's 40% off and a superb deal for anyone looking for a new mirrorless camera!

For anyone outside the US, Adorama will ship globally, but depending on your country, you may have to pay import tax and duty when it arrives. That said, depending on the exchange rate and local pricing it may still end up being cheaper, but do check your customs rates before ordering.

See: http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCG5BKB.html?emailprice=t&KBID=61856

2013-03-18 20:05:58 (5 comments, 4 reshares, 24 +1s)

Canon EOS 6D review - it's better than you think!

Hi everyone, we've finished our review of the #EOS #6D, Canon's 'affordable' full-frame DSLR, and there may be a few surprises for anyone who disregarded it based on initial specifications alone. When the EOS 6D was launched, it couldn't help but look a little disappointing compared to Nikon's D600. The D600 beat it on resolution, viewfinder coverage, shooting speed and number of AF points, along with boasting twin memory card slots, clean HDMI output, on-demand viewfinder guidelines and more besides. How on Earth could the EOS 6D compete?

When I compared these specs for myself though I had a feeling of déjà vu. I remembered how the earlier Nikon D7000 sounded far more impressive than the EOS 60D on paper, but in practice how the Canon actually out-performed it in many respects. I wondered if there'd bea... more »