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Leica SL3 Reporter announced
High-end camera maker Leica has announced the Leica SL3 Reporter mirrorless camera. The new model is based on the existing Leica SL3 and has the same technical specs; however, it features a hard-wearing wearing scratch-resistant, dark green finish and attractive yet functional aramid body covering, which is said to improve grip. I don’t usually like special editions, but the Reporter versions are highly attractive and hugely popular. What’s more, they maintain high residuals should the time come to upgrade. The tough finish was used on earlier Reporter models (such as the M10, SL2-S and Q2 series) and the original Leica M11 camera, although the latter was available in a matte…
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Nikon PC Nikkor 19mm F4E ED tilt shift lens review
Key features +/- 12mm shift and +/- 7.5° tilt movements can be applied in parallel (same axis) or perpendicular 90° rotation left and right in 30° increments, tilt 90° left only with a 45° stop Shift movement operates without having to lock it Three extra-low dispersion elements reduce chromatic aberrations Two aspherical elements minimise coma, distortion and enhance sharpness Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings reduce reflections, lens flare, and ghosting Fluorine coatings protect front and rear elements from water drying marks, fingerprints Electromagnetic aperture mechanism ensures stable and accurate exposure control What is it? The Nikon PC Nikkor 19mm F4E ED is a F-mount retrofocus lens designed specifically to…
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Contax Zeiss PC-Distagon 2.8/35 T* lens review
Key features Highly versatile 35mm focal length +/- 10mm shift (no tilt) 90° rotation left and right in 15° increments Shift movement operates without locking Floating element design to reduce aberrations at close range T* coatings reduce reflections, lens flare, and ghosting Made by Zeiss in Germany (Oberkochen) Stopped-down operation only The Contax Zeiss PC-Distagon 2.8/35 T* is a shift lens manufactured by Zeiss for Contax C/Y mount SLR cameras, designed in the late 1970s or early 1980s. At that time, the 35mm focal length was a popular choice for shift lenses. Canon stood out for its tilt/shift model, but Minolta, Nikon, and Olympus all had 35mm shift lenses in…
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Leica SL3-S added to SL system
Leica has officially launched its latest mirrorless camera, the SL3, at a press event in Wetzlar, Germany. Building on the highly respected and robust design of its predecessors, the SL3-S features a 24.6-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, enhanced autofocus capabilities, and improved low-light performance, making it a capable and flexible tool for both professional photographers and filmmakers. Stills highlights: 24 MP CMOS enhanced low-light BSI-type sensor ISO range: 50 – 200,000 5-axis IBIS, up to 5 EV correction New high-speed Hybrid-AF system AF continuous shooting at up to 30 fps (12-bit) or up to 5fps (14-bit) 48 and 96 MP multishot mode, handheld or tripod Tamper-proof metadata with Content Credentials…
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Sony announces new ultra-wide FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM zoom
Sony has announced the Sony FE12-24mm F2.8 GM zoom. Specifications Sony E mount full-frame 35mm 17 elements in 14 groups, 3 XA (extreme aspherical), 2 Super ED, 3 ED elements, fluorine front coat, Nano AR II coating 122-84 degree angle of view (diagonal) F2.8 to F22, 9-aperture blades, rounded Floating mechanism for improved resolution at close distance 0.28m (0.92 ft) minimum focus Dust and moisture resistant Four XD Linear motors for quiet AF Customizable Focus Button Rear filter holder option 137 x 97.6mm long x diameter 847g (29.9 oz) £2,899 / US$2,998 includes case Announced 7 July, 2020 Please support this site and buy through our preferred retailers WEX Photo (UK) B&H Photo…
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Sony UK announce Summer Cashback
Sony UK has announced a Summer Cashback promotion. For example the Sony A7R IV has £300 cashback (see below). Terms and conditions apply. Wex Photo (UK) Park Cameras (UK) Sony are also offering a one year extended warranty, check eligibility here.
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Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens review: Excellent image quality at a reasonable price
Overview Announced in early 2017, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is a short-tele designed for the company’s mirrorless full-frame a9/a7 models. It will of course, also serve double duty on the APS-C a6000 series, where it’s more or less a 135mm equivalent. Although not a premium G-master model like the F1.4 version announced the year before, it’s a lot smaller and lighter and still has some features that might be considered “premium.” This includes ED glass, a near-silent, twin-focus drive system (using a stepping motor), a focus-hold button that can be customised, weather sealing and a nine-blade circular aperture. It’s also quite nicely made, with a mainly metal exterior and…
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Sony a9 II announced with new improved body design and enhanced connectivity features
Introduced today, the new Sony a9 II follows a familiar body design to its predecessor but includes some design cues from the Sony a7R IV, including a larger grip and improved button design, refined (larger) joystick design and a lock button for the exposure compensation dial. Other refinements include an upgraded Bionz x processor, improved IBIS up to 5.5-stops (from 5-stops), upgraded weatherproofing, a shutter mechanism tested in excess of 500k cycles (in line with Nikon and Canon pro-models) and an improvement in the burst rate to 10 fps when used mechanically, up from around 5 fps. Continuous shooting with the electronic shutter remains at 20 fps, however, the dual…
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Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4S lens review: Compact and capable performer
This is what you’ll get if you buy one of the mirrorless Nikon Z 6 or Z 7 cameras as part of a kit, but as one of Nikon’s S series of primes it’s meant as a ‘premium’ model. While we’ve yet to see what one of the ‘standard’ models is like build-wise, this sober-looking lens is a step or two above the DX equivalent zooms in the company’s range. It’s nicely made but it’s not quite up to the pro-oriented build of the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S (reviewed here). Still, with a part-plastic part-metal outer, this is intended as lightweight and compact design. It even has a retractable…
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Sigma fp announced: The world’s smallest full-frame camera
Sigma has announced the world’s smallest full-frame camera, the ‘fp’. Despite owning the Fovean sensor design company, the new fp model features a 24.6MP BSI-CMOS Bayer design. The body is highly compact, measuring just 113 x 70 x 45mm and weighs just 370g. However, it is intended as a modular camera – there will be a range of grips, a flash bracket and a viewfinder eyepiece available. In order to retain its compact dimensions, the new fp camera adopts only an electronic shutter – there is no mechanical shutter – a first for this type of camera. Naturally, the camera features an L-mount and the lenses announced earlier by Sigma…
