What Digital Camera’S Technical Team Is Put Through a Series of Tests

AUGUST 2016 Panasonic WHAT DIGITAL TZ100 • 1in sensor • 10x Camera zoom p68 WHAT TO BUY & HOW TO USE IT

Technique Focus stacking, for ultra-sharp shots p33

Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens p72

Full test

Canon EOS 80D How to shoot underwater 24.2MP CMOS sensor • 45 AF points • ISO 100-16,000 • Fully articulated screen p17 Technique The fi ve best Summer DSLRs under loving The hardest £1000 season to shoot? Not any more!

Technique Technique Make depth of fi eld work for you p40

The UK’s most comprehensive listings Wondering about the latest gear? Find out how we rate 536 cameras and lenses

WELCOME AUGUST 2016 WELCOME

p50 Summer loving Tests you can trust

To ensure the camera you buy doesn’t disappoint, every camera that passes through the hands of What Digital Camera’s technical team is put through a series of tests. From high-spec DSLRs through to entry-level compacts, they are p17 Essential guide to underwater subjected to a series of rigorous tests in our lab, with results analysed by the very best industry software. This makes our reviews the most authoritative in the UK. We test for colour – different sensors and camera image processors can interpret colour differently. We then get down to the nitty-gritty of resolution, with our lab tests showing us exactly how much detail each camera can resolve. Then we look at Image Noise. Finally, we get out and shoot with every camera and lens in real- world conditions just as you will, to ﬁ nd out how they perform.

p40 Technique: depth of fi eld ISO 100 In this issue COLOUR 4 50 ON THE COVER Subjecting each camera to our Incoming Summer loving colour chart test reveals any Opening Shot and the latest photography products Is this the most difﬁ cult season to shoot? Not any more! variation and differences in colour between Raw and JPEG ﬁ le formats. 10 57 Things to try… Top 5: DSLRs under £1,000 ON THE Photographic inspiration for the coming month The best cameras to give you change from a grand COVER ISO 100 17 Essential guide: Underwater 62 Accessories Snorkel? Tick. Flippers? Tick. Camera? Tick ON THE COVER The latest kit for you and your camera

22 Portfolio 64 Canon EOS 80D ON THE COVER Graphic designer Paul Mitchell on the things that inspire him Will the 70D’s upgrade impress as much as its predecessor? 22

25 Master your Canon 68 Panasonic TZ100 ON THE COVER RESOLUTION Our resolution chart reveals exactly Essential accessories for the wedding photographer Is this the best pocket travel camera money can buy? how much detail a sensor can resolve and it’s measured in lines per 29 Master your Nikon 70 Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM picture height, abbreviated to l/ph.

How to get to grips with pre-focusing The new portrait lens for Sony Alpha 7 cameras ISO 100

33 Master your Olympus ON THE 72 Fuji XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R Try focus-stacking for ultra-sharp images COVER Will this long-awaited zoom meet expectations? ON THE COVER 36 Expert guide: Canon EOS 1200D 76 Buying advice A good ﬁ rst purchase for the budget-conscious beginner What to look for when buying your next camera 40 Technique: depth of fi eld 78 Buyer’s guide & listings ON THE COVER NOISE How to use this essential tool for creative photography Your guide to what kit is best for you The diorama is used to ascertain how image noise is handled through an ISO range. Some cameras 46 Help 98 7 things produce cleaner results than others. All the gear-related advice you’ll ever need Gadgets guaranteed to make your photography more fun

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 3 OPENING SHOT

The Photographer Shot in Iceland, ‘The Photographer’, by Austria’s Nicholas Roemmelt, won second place in the Beauty category of the 2016 International Earth & Sky competition, organised by The World at Night. The contest aims to raise awareness of the world’s last remaining natural night environments and night skies. ‘It wasn’t easy for my buddy Nikki Haselwanter to “freeze” for 15 seconds for the shot on the top of that sand dune,’ says Roemmelt. ‘Blizzards were hitting the coastline and it was a challenge not to be blown away. But during the clear gaps, which lasted a few minutes, we were able to witness the wonderful northern lights behind the Vestrahorn.’ TO SEE ALL THE WINNERS’ IMAGES, VISIT WWW.TWANIGHT.ORG

4 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 5 INCOMING © BRIAN HARRIS 1 2

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1 DxO Optics Pro 11 3 Fujifi lm 2x teleconverter pledged to replace pre-modifi cation EN-EL15 £79 (ESSENTIAL EDITION) www.dxo.com £349 www.fujifi lm.co.uk batteries free of charge for D500 users. OpticsPro 11 boasts an enhanced version Fujifi lm has added the XF2X TC WR to its of DxO Prime, which also introduces new range of teleconverters and it’s compatible 5 Rogue 32in refl ector automated tools such as spot-weighted with the company’s XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM £30 www.xpdistribution.com correction and auto red-eye. It’s claimed to OIS WR and XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6R LM The Rogue 32in 2-in-1 refl ector features white process Raw fi les up to four times faster and OIS WR lenses. It’s both weather and dust- and silver sides and collapses down to a third offers a new full screen mode that allows you resistant, like the Fujifi lm X-Pro2 and X-T1. of its open size. A handy accessory for those to focus on selecting and rating your images. starting out in the world of portraiture. 4 Nikon D500 battery life 2 Brian Harris book www.nikon.co.uk 6 Sony Xperia XA Ultra £68 www.impress-publishing.com Nikon has warned D500 users that some www.sony.co.uk The endlessly fascinating ‘...and then the older EN-EL15 batteries may not be capable The new Xperia XA Ultra features a 16MP Prime Minister hit me...’ looks back at the of the maximum number of shots as indicated front-facing camera, low-light sensor, image career of press photographer Brian Harris. in the camera’s documentation. Nikon has stabilisation and battery life that lasts 2 days.

6 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM THE PICK OF THE BEST NEW KIT RELEASED THIS MONTH

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7 Lensbaby Circular 180+ 9 Food photography 11 Voking waterproof cases £TBC www.lensbaby.com pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com £350 www.amazon.co.uk The Lensbaby Circular 180+ is designed to Foodies will be glad to know that this year’s Waterproof case manufacturer Voking attach to GoPro Hero action cameras. It Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year has produced a range of housings to creates a 185-degree fi eld of view and a fully results are now online. Mark Benham took the accommodate Sony Alpha cameras, including circular image in 16:9 wide recording mode. If overall winning shot, ‘Flour Frenzy’. the A6000, A6300, A7, A7II, A7S and A7SII. its Kickstarter campaign is successful, it should The houses are made from aluminium and can be available to purchase in August this year. 10 Pentax K-70 be used underwater up to a depth of 100m. FROM £559 www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk 8 Olympus TG-Tracker The K-70 is a new advanced entry-level DSLR. 12 Pentax 55-300mm £279 www.olympus.co.uk With an AA-fi lterless 24MP APS-C sensor, £399 www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk The Tough TG-Tracker is a rugged camera weather-resistant design, a maximum ISO of The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED featuring a 7.2MP 1/2.3in sensor, 204° f/2.0 102,400 and an 11-point AF system it looks PLM WR RE features a new pulse motor ultra-wideangle lens and 1.5in tilting screen. promising on paper. It also becomes the fi rst (PLM) and rear-focus system to improve AF It’s waterproof to 100ft and has GPS/Wi-fi . Pentax DSLR to offer Hybrid AF in Live View. speed. It weighs just 442g too.

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 7 INCOMING / TECH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FROM

Sony Xperia X

SONY.CO.UK £459 s is typical with Sony, targets and not losing focus. It’s a wideangle lens, so you Athe headline of its new We tested it out shooting can cram lots of faces in and fl agship phone is the sports and fast-moving it matches skin tones well. camera. But in a year of vehicles, and it does an On the inside you’ve got the fantastic cameraphones, excellent job. Blur mid-range Snapdragon 650 it has a tough mountain is reduced and CPU, 3GB RAM and 32GB of to climb to become detail is kept. storage. These aren’t overly our pocket snapper The aperture high-end components, but Garmin of choice. isn’t quite as wide they do get the job done Sony has kitted the as the Galaxy S7, and we didn’t run into any Vivosmart Xperia X out with so the depth of slowdown when we were HR Plus a 23MP camera, fi eld isn’t quite as editing Raw photos. complete with f/2 good but it still The 5in display is superb, as GARMIN.COM £170 aperture and a new allows for some you’d expect from Sony. It’s Garmin’s latest Vivosmart focusing system nice-looking bokeh 1080p, as opposed to quad- fi tness band is one of the best that does a shots. On the front is HD, but it’s bright and vivid we’ve ever tested, and we’ve fantastic job of a 13MP selfi e camera with accurate colours and ace used plenty. locking on to that does a great job. viewing angles. MP Considering it’s a manageable size, it packs a lot of tech inside. GPS is the best addition, accurately tracking your runs without the need for Huawei MediaPad M2 Premium any phone attached. If you’re HUAWEI.CO.UK FROM £249 serious about tracking your Huawei still isn’t a household colour representation. runs, you need GPS. Fitness name in Britain, but it’s The design will be familiar tracking here on the whole is hugely popular around the to anyone who has ever used very accurate and it’ll monitor world and it’s been churning a Huawei device before. It’s your sleep too. out some fantastic products constructed from metal and On the back is the heart-rate of late. The latest is the glass and feels solid and monitor, which again is MediaPad M2, an affordable outguns it price-tag. There’s a accurate and automatically slate that looks to go up fast fi ngerprint scanner that kicks into gear when it sees against Apple’s iPad Pro. unlocks the tablet almost really good for a tablet, an upturn in movement. It’s a 10in tablet, with a instantly, but Huawei’s version capturing 13MP shots with It’s water-resistant, too, bright 1080p display and of Android is still a little on an f/2 aperture. Shots are down to 5m, and the rugged Huawei even throws in a the overbearing side. detailed and the shutter is design means you won’t be stylus. That pen is accurate The battery will easily get fast, but you still might look worrying about damaging it on for drawing and doodling, you through the day, which a little silly walking around your travels. The monochrome and feels great, too, while isn’t too much of a surprise, and taking pictures with a display isn’t the best, but it’s the display is accurate in its but the camera is. It’s actually tablet. MP easy to read even in poor light which is what’s important. MP

it’s the amateur images that hold the ever-so-slightly different angles, SONY WORLD true appeal. Many of the amateur ANIMAL KINGDOM, then place them beside each other. PHOTOGRAPHY entrants are unbound by the self- STEREOSCOPIC When viewed through a viewﬁ nder, conscious photography education the images combine in your eyes to AWARDS 2016 IMAGES OF form a three-dimensional view. This WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY that can mar so many photographers ORGANISATION in their career, and as a result we NATURAL HISTORY book contains 50 images of marine The Sony World Photography Awards have a collection that is not only By Jim Naughten life, reptiles, mammals, birds and are a true hotbed of emerging and unafraid to be experimental, but PRESTEL £24.99 primates. The photos are all by Jim established talent. also one that is thoroughly Stereoscopy was invented in 1839 as Naughten, who is passionate about Every year, the inspirational. This year was a means to study binocular vision, the natural world and has turned his competition plays no different and features that feat of evolution talents to photographing host to images that perhaps some of the that allows many of the these incredible make many of us competition’s strongest creatures of earth to specimens that have green with envy. images to date. If you’d determine distance and been drawn from some While the professional like to purchase a copy depth. Essentially, you of the world’s ﬁ nest categories are of course of the book, visit www. take two photographs museums. This is a truly

BOOK REVIEWS consistently fantastic, worldphoto.org. OA of the same object at beautiful book. OA

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THINGS TO TRY THIS MONTH

Try this… Shoot a typical British scene

As of this issue of What Digital Camera going to press, there has been very little summer to speak of. However, there are always photographic opportunities to be had, as this image by Paul Anthony Wilson from the Brits On Holiday category of the British Life Photography Awards ably demonstrates. Why not make a list of quirks and characteristics that are considered typically British, and set yourself a project to shoot them in what remains of the ‘summer’…? TOP TIP Be careful when metering a scene such as this one, as the bright highlights in the reﬂ ections might fool the camera into underexposing. Use spotmeter mode to take a reading from a midtone area. Nikon D2X, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 78mm, 1/13sec @ f/8, ISO 200 www.blpawards.org

10 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM

THINGSXXXXXXXXXXXX TO TRY THIS MONTH

Try this… Direct your model

Asking someone to stand in front of the camera can make them feel uncomfortable, so try to bring elements of the background into play. If your subject has something to hold on to or lean against, you’ll soon fi nd that their poses look a lot more relaxed and natural. Don’t be afraid to direct them, either, telling them how you want them to pose, what you want them to do with their hands, how to angle their head, and in what direction you want their eyes to be looking. You’ll give them confi dence, and you’ll get the shots you want. TOP TIP Flat, even light is particularly fl attering when shooting portraits. But if it’s looking a little too dull, introduce a refl ector out of shot to introduce a catchlight in your model’s eyes. Fuji X-Pro2, XF 90mm F/2 R LM WR, 1/250sec @ f/2, ISO 200 www.philhallphotos.com

12 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 13 THINGSXXXXXXXXXXXX TO TRY THIS MONTH

Try this… Capture avocets in fl ight TOP TIP

With its piebald plumage and upturned bill, the avocet is one of Britain’s Avocets aggressively defend their territories, even most photogenic birds. Once extinct, they now number some 1,600 pairs in against harmless ducklings. So if your camera is the UK. Photographer David Tipling recommends photographing avocets focused on a breeding avocet, be ready if another from public hides on RSPB reserves, with Minsmere in Suffolk a particularly bird approaches, as it is likely the avocet will chase strong location. ‘Avocet fl ocks in fl ight can be quite tightly packed when it off, making for a good photo opportunity. fl ushed by a predator,’ he says. ‘When they wheel round, it is the patterning Nikon D7100, 400mm f/2.8, 1/1000sec @ f/11, ISO 400 on the upper wing that makes for a very attractive image.’ www.davidtipling.com

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UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY ESSENTIAL GUIDE © WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.CO.UK

Beneath the waves Whether you’re setting out to capture lush coral formations deep underwater or looking for a simple waterproof compact you can take snorkelling, our guide to underwater photography has you covered…

WORDS O AUDLEY JARVIS

t some point we’ve all waterproof compacts on the shooting underwater also thumbed through a copy market that are perfectly adequate provides a different type of Aof National Geographic for snorkelling in the shallows with. physical challenge to shooting magazine or tuned into Likewise, while some of the best on dry land. Suffi ce to say that if a marine biology documentary on underwater housing units can cost you’re going to take a camera into the Discovery Channel and stared as much as the DSLRs they are open water then at the very least in wonder at life beneath the sea. designed to keep dry, there are you’ll need to be a strong and From eye-popping coral formations more cost-effective ways to take confi dent swimmer. And if you to rusting shipwrecks, and from pictures underwater. Put simply, want to go deeper than you can schooling fi sh in the open ocean while your budget will largely while holding your breath then to your kids splashing about in dictate the quality of the you’ll need to learn to dive. the hotel pool, the ability to use equipment you can afford, it Over the next few pages, we’ll your camera underwater provides won’t exclude you from shooting look at all these issues in more you with an unlimited supply of underwater altogether. detail and aim to provide you with interesting things to photograph. Of course, underwater a basic understanding of how to In common with many other photography comes with its own deal with them. We’ll also point specialist genres of photography set of technical challenges and you towards some of the better the transition from fi lm to digital even with the best equipment specialist underwater photography has made underwater photography money can buy, you’ll still need to brands, as well as some of the best considerably cheaper and more know a thing or two to get good waterproof compacts. Obviously, accessible than it once was. Sure, results. For example, understanding we can’t hope to cover absolutely you can still spend huge amounts how water affects ambient light You’ll need to everything in the space we have, overcome the of money on professional-grade and colour temperature are two technical challenges however, there are plenty of underwater rigs, but there are also critical things that stand between that come with excellent online resources where plenty of relatively inexpensive you and a decent image. Likewise, shooting underwater you can learn more.

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 17 ESSENTIAL GUIDE © WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.CO.UK Swimming, snorkelling and diving While taking pictures underwater presents its own set of unique technical issues, by far the biggest hurdle for most photographers is the physical challenge of shooting while suspended in water. Obviously, you’ll need to be a good swimmer in order to manoeuvre yourself about and take underwater photographs safely. In addition, you need to familiarise yourself with local conditions beforehand, taking things like tides, currents and swell conditions into account. If you’re swimming or snorkelling somewhere unfamiliar then try to seek out local advice, too, to ensure you’re not inadvertently putting yourself in any danger. And if you’re lucky enough to be snorkelling somewhere with strong sun, do apply plenty of high-factor sunscreen, or better still To take decent There are numerous PADI diving a strong dull blue/grey tint and invest in a UV-blocking rash vest or underwater images like centres in the UK where you can do contain very little colour. There are this one, you’ll need to snorkel suit – there’s nothing worse ensure your subject is the course, with international PADI plenty of specialist underwater than getting horribly sunburnt on sufficiently illuminated centres also found near recognised strobes available at a wide range your first day in the water! diving sites worldwide. You’ll need of price points. Which type is right If the conditions are right, then to pass some medical checks before for you will depend primarily on snorkelling and shallow freediving is you can enrol and you can expect whether you want to concentrate on a great way to view life underwater, it to cost about £400 should you capturing still images or video. You especially in calm, clear water. There choose to do it in the UK. In theory can, of course, use the continuous are numerous beach resorts around all PADI-affiliated dive centres have light generated by video lights to the world that have coral reefs or to conform to the same rigorous capture still images with, however rock shelves located just offshore, safety practices, but if you plan to strobes of a similar size will and snorkelling is by far the easiest tak the course abroad then you generally produce more power. way to see them, though you should might want to research your options In order to attach a strobe – or always be mindful of any local beforehand and check out feedback better still, twin strobes – to your conservation issues. Arm yourself from previous participants. camera you’ll need to invest in a set with a decent pair of diving fins, of specialist cables or a wireless a snorkel vest and a half-decent Underwater lighting slave device. While most underwater waterproof compact and you’ll be One of the biggest technical issues housing systems designed for CSCs able to capture everything you can that you’ll need to overcome is and DSLRs can use electronic sync see underwater too. creating enough light to illuminate cables to connect the strobe If you’re looking to shoot at your subjects properly. This is directly to the camera’s hotshoe via deeper depths than you can basically because water blocks out a watertight connection to provide manage with a mask and snorkel sunlight. As you might expect, the full TTL flash metering, this isn’t then you’ll need to be able to use amount of sunlight decreases the always possible with compacts. If scuba equipment, which entails deeper you go. If you’re snorkelling you want to connect a camera attending a course and gaining in bright sunlight in shallow, clear without a hotshoe to an external a certificate. There are a number water then this isn’t likely to be strobe, then a wireless optical slave of recognised diving bodies who much of an issue. You might still arrangement is your best option. award the required certification, have to raise your ISO settings to You can, of course, use an optical and the best known of these is the compensate for the loss of light, but slave system with a CSC or DSLR, Professional Association of Diving your camera should be able to cope too. Many of the better underwater Instructors (PADI). The Open Water without utilising an artificial light strobes have optical sensors built-in, Diver Course is PADI’s most basic source. Once you start diving although if required you can buy diving qualification and completing deeper than five or six metres, a standalone sensor and connect it it will allow you to rent scuba however, you will probably need to to the strobe. Either way, once in equipment from affiliated PADI dive employ an underwater strobe or place the strobe will be triggered centres. Holding a PADI certificate video light. If you don’t then your by the flash on your camera – in will also enable you to access images are likely to come out with much the same way that Nikon’s specialist diving holidays where everything is put into place for you. “Once you start diving deeper than 5m or 6m, you may The Open Water Diver Course can be completed in four to seven days. need to employ an underwater strobe or video light ”

18 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

Creative Lighting System works. counter this effect, then depending processing, however if you are Whichever lighting system you on the kind of water you are in, your shooting JPEGs you’ll ideally want decide on, one common problem underwater images will display to get it as close as possible at the faced by divers using strobes is that either a deep blue/grey cast time of shooting. If your camera of backscatter. This is when the light (tropical blue seas) or a green cast allows you to set a manual white from your strobe illuminates (temperate waters). In addition, balance and you are shooting in particles in the sea, which show up colours will be washed out and ambient light without flash, then in your image as unsightly small lacking in punch. There are three this is a good practice to follow. Just white dots – a bit like dust particles main ways you can fix this to get remember to switch your camera on the sensor. While the amount of more vibrant and realistic colour back to its AWB setting if you want backscatter is ultimately dictated by from your images: using a custom to use flash at any point – otherwise sea conditions and therefore out of White Balance setting, using a your images will look very red! your control, there are some steps specialist underwater filter, and The use of specialist underwater you can take to minimise its post-processing your images in colour correction filters is another appearance in your underwater Lightroom or suchlike. Professional way to boost the vibrancy of your images. The most common way to underwater photographers often images. Most of these are red in do this is to position your strobes to use a combination of them, or even appearance and are designed to the side of your camera. If you’ve all three. Ideally you should shoot filter out the blues and greens that invested in a decent waterproof in Raw as this will give you more become dominant as you go deeper housing for your CSC or DSLR then control when post processing. While underwater. Because they block it should have attachment points Raw capture comes as standard on green and blue light (rather than that allow you to place the strobes CSCs and DSLRs, the Olympus TG-4 add red) you will lose between one on external arms that can often be is the only off-the-shelf waterproof and 1.5 stops of light with one repositioned on the fly to allow for compact to offer Raw capture, with attached, which may require you to more creative lighting techniques. the rest being JPEG-only. raise your camera’s sensitivity. Used In terms of white balance, some at depths of below 3m they will help Colour issues waterproof compacts have a range to restore lost colour and will make In addition to blocking out sunlight, of useful underwater presets. Failing images of colourful reefs pop with Using specialist water also filters out certain colours underwater this, the ‘cloudy’ setting is a useful the same colours your eyes can see. – with red being the biggest victim, colour-correction filters alternative. Of course, if you are Just be careful not to use flash with followed closely by orange and will boost the vibrancy shooting Raw then white balance red underwater filters as this will yellow. If you don’t take any steps to of your images can be easily adjusted at post- produce a strong red tint in your image. The effect is not so pronounced when shooting at distance, but close up and reds will dominate the image. Composition and general advice Being able to hold your breath and freedive a metre or two will allow you to get closer to your subjects, which will often help you to get better images. One rule of shooting underwater is that subjects will look closer than they actually are. Even so, it’s generally advisable to get as close as possible to your subject as this will reduce the amount of water between you and the subject, which in turn will increase the intensity of the ambient light (or the power of your strobe). Also, getting closer reduces the red-filtering effect of water, meaning your images will be more vibrant with truer colour. Most professional underwater photographers tend to prefer using wideangle lenses as these enable them to get closer to their subjects and still fit them all into the frame. As a rule you should try to keep the sun behind you when you shoot too, to help illuminate your subject. That said, rules are there to be broken, so

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 19 ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Waterproof cameras and housings

Most of the major manufacturers now offer a waterproof compact as part of Nauticam their ‘rugged’ compact range. These waterproof Ikelite waterproof cost between £200 and £350 and are usually waterproof to a depth of between housings housings 10 and 30 metres. There are a couple of WWW.NAUTICAM.COM WWW.IKELITE.COM exceptions, but most waterproof compacts are built around small 1/2.3in sensors. This Based in Hong Kong, Nauticam is considered by many Based in Indianapolis, USA, Ikelite is another company does limit their performance somewhat, to be the Rolls Royce of underwater camera housing that specialises in underwater housing units for digital especially at higher sensitivity settings. manufacturers. It makes waterproof housings to fi t all cameras. The company offers polycarbonate housings Compact System Cameras and DSLRs types of camera – from advanced compacts to CSCs for all the major camera manufacturers, covering with larger sensors will invariably get and DSLRs. Prices vary, though as a rule the bigger the everything from cheap compacts to professional- better results at higher ISOs, however, camera, the more expensive the housing will be. For grade DSLRs. Prices are much cheaper than for example, a Nauticam housing for the Sony RX100 VI equivalent Nauticam housings: a Canon 5D Mk III you will need to invest in a waterproof will currently set you back £860, while one for the housing, for example, costs £1,400. Note that when housing unit (as well as a bespoke lens Canon EOS 5D Mk III will cost £3,543 – more than the 5D choosing a housing for CSCs or DSLRs you will need to port to protect the lens) and these can be Mk III itself! In return you can expect a premium-grade add a dedicated Lens Port that’s compatible with the quite expensive. Ultimately, if you just want aluminium housing that is water resistant to a depth lens you intend to use, which will cost you extra. The a camera to take into the sea, or for a bit of 100-150m and neutrally buoyant for easier handling depth rating of Ikelite housings is 60m, which is of light snorkelling then a waterproof underwater. Since each housing is tailor-made, you slightly lower than Nauticam ones. That said, for most compact is the most cost-effective option. can also expect to operate all of the main external divers 60m is likely to be more than ample. Ikelite also On this page are some of the best buttons on your camera while underwater. For more offers a generous range of underwater fl ash lighting specialist underwater photography brands, information on the Nauticam range check out its UK rigs. For more detail on the full list of cameras covered and opposite are some of the fi nest distributor at www.nauticam.co.uk and UK prices go to www.camerasunderwater.co.uk waterproof cameras.

Sea Fourth & Sea Element YS-01 Underwater Magic Hydroskin UV Strobe £360 Filters Rash Suit £75 WWW.SEAANDSEA.COM WWW.MAGIC-FILTERS.COM HTTP://FOURTHELEMENT.COM

Sea and Sea specialises in underwater photography While your camera’s white balance settings can be While swimming and snorkelling in warm seas as equipment. It offers a limited range of waterproof used to correct underwater colour temperature to a the sun beats down is undeniably pleasant, it’s also housings for DSLRs, as well as underwater strobes that degree, at depths deeper than 2-3m you may benefi t a surefi re way of getting yourself horribly sunburnt come highly recommended. Chief among these is the from using a lens fi lter. Generally red in appearance, if you don’t take precautions. This is because the salt YS-01 (£360), which features a circular beam angle of underwater fi lters accentuate colour in things like in seawater refl ects the sun’s harmful UVB rays, 100° and a maximum guide number of 20. The YS-01 is coral reefs; and can also help turn washed out open essentially focusing them back onto your skin. Using triggered by built-in wireless optical slave technology ocean backgrounds into a pleasing deep blue. Magic a high factor sunscreen (SPF 50+) certainly helps to which makes it compatible with compact cameras that Filters is a respected brand set up by two experienced reduce the effects, however the sea combined with lack a hotshoe. It can be operated in Digital Slave TTL underwater photographers that produces fi lters for the sweat from swimming can soon wash it off, mode, TTL mode or in a fully manual mode that offers use with compact cameras and DSLRs. Most of these leaving you exposed. The Hydroskin UV rash suit ten graduated power settings. In addition to the main are supplied as internally mounted gels that attach covers the whole body and offers a SPF of 30 when strobe, the YS-01 comes with a single LED target light to the rear of the lens, though there are also some dry and over 30 when wet. Constructed from high that’s useful for night diving or lighting up darker front-mounted acrylic fi lters that will fi t 77mm fi lter quality lycra, the suit allows for easy movement and reefs. Sea and Sea also has the YS-03 (£270) that is TTL threads. For best results you should ideally shoot at also acts as a barrier to some stingers. The Hydroskin only, but delivers the same power and comes with all a depth of 3-10m with the sun on your back. Also, suit is available in a range of colours and in all sizes for the accessories you need. Sea and Sea products are don’t use a strobe and a Magic underwater fi lter both men and women. distributed in the UK by www.sea-sea.com together as this can affect colour temperature.

20 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

Olympus Nikon Panasonic TG-4 £264 AW130 £200 Lumix FT-5 £200 WWW.OLYMPUS.CO.UK WWW.NIKON.CO.UK WWW.PANASONIC.COM Waterproof to a depth of 15 metres, the excellent With a depth rating of 30m the AW130 is ideal for Launched in 2013, the FT-5 remains Panasonic’s TG-4 is ideal for general snorkelling as well as snorkelling, swimming and shallow water dives. It has fl agship waterproof compact. With a depth rating of 13 freediving in shallow water. With a 16MP CMOS sensor a 16MP CMOS sensor and a 5x optical zoom with a metres the FT-5 isn’t designed for deep water diving, the TG-4 features a 4x optical zoom lens (25-100mm 35mm focal range equivalent of 24-120mm. The 3in, but is ideal for snorkelling, swimming and splashing equivalent), and a 3in 460k-dot LCD display. The TG-4 921k-dot OLED display on the rear is one of the sharper around in the hotel pool with. It has a 16.1MP CMOS offers a host of automatic shooting modes including displays found on this type of camera. There’s built-in sensor and a 4.6x optical zoom (28-128mm equiv.). At fi ve distinct Underwater modes. Better still, it can also Wi-fi and NFC connectivity that enable you to transfer f/3.3 the FT-5’s maximum aperture is a little on the capture Raw images, which gives you greater images to a compatible smartphone or tablet, as well slow side though. It boasts a built-in GPS module that post-processing potential. Olympus sells a range of as control the camera remotely. The AW130 also has a records location data as well as altitude/depth data, accessories that can be used with the TG-4, such as the built-in GPS and altimeter module that writes location along with built-in Wi-fi and NFC connectivity so you FCON-T01 fi sheye attachment (£130) and the LG-1 Macro and depth data directly to your images. Keeping this can pair the camera with your smartphone or tablet to ring light fl ash (£30). permanently switched on affects battery life, though. either transfer images or control the camera remotely.

SENSOR 1/2.3in, 16MP CMOS SENSOR 1/2.3in, 16MP CMOS SENSOR 1/2.3in, 16.1MP back-illuminated MOS LENS 25-100mm f/2-4.9 LENS 24-120mm f/2.8-4.9 LENS 28-128mm f/3.3-5.9 SENSITIVITY ISO 100-6400 SENSITIVITY ISO 125-6400 SENSITIVITY ISO 100-3200 WATERPROOF DEPTH 15m WATERPROOF DEPTH 30m WATERPROOF DEPTH 13m DIMENSIONS 112 x 66 x 31mm DIMENSIONS 110.4 x 66 x 26.8mm DIMENSIONS 109.2 x 67.4 x 28.9 mm WEIGHT 247g incl. battery and card WEIGHT 221g incl. battery and card WEIGHT 188g without battery and card KEY KEY SPECS KEY SPECS KEY SPECS

Canon D30 Nikon 1 AW1 GoPro Hero4 £180 £550 Silver £330 WWW.NIKON.CO.UK HTTP://SHOP.GOPRO.COM WWW.CANON.CO.UK Released in 2014, the D30 remains a competent little Released in 2014, the Nikon 1 AW1 was the fi rst As regular readers will know we like to throw a bit of waterproof camera that, with a depth rating of 25 Compact System Camera designed to withstand a curveball in, and this month it’s GoPro’s Hero4 Silver. metres, can easily handle shallower dives as well as being fully submerged in water and is still the only We’ve chosen the Hero4 Silver over the more expensive snorkelling and swimming. While there’s no built-in waterproof CSC. Nikon offers two fully waterproofed Hero4 Black because it has a built-in touchscreen that Wi-fi or NFC connectivity, the D30 does have a basic lenses for it: a 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 (30-74mm equiv.), allows you to be much more precise when composing GPS module that can tag images with location data. and a 10mm f/2.8 (27mm equiv.). The lens mount can still images. If you want the more advanced video Unlike more modern waterproof compacts, its GPS also take all the non-waterproofed Nikon 1 lenses. The options of the Black edition, GoPro makes an optional functionality does not extend to recording depth or AW1 has a 1in CX-format CMOS sensor – which is much LCD Touch BacPac display for around £65. The Hero4 altitude data. The D30 benefi ts from large buttons for larger than the sensors used in most waterproof Silver can capture 12MP still images and is waterproof easy handling and a large – if not particularly sharp compacts – and can record Raw as well as JPEGs. It down to 40m when placed in its protective housing. – 3in, 460k-dot LCD display. Overall, while it’s starting also has built-in Wi-fi and NFC, plus a GPS module that GoPro also offers accessories for its Hero4 cameras, to show its age, the D30 is still good value for money. measures depth/altitude as well as positional data. including specialist underwater fi lters.

SENSOR 1/2.3in, 12.1MP back-illuminated CMOS SENSOR 14.2MP CX-format (1in) CMOS SENSOR 1/2.3in, 12MP CMOS LENS 28-140mm f/3.9-4.8 LENS 30-74mm f/3.5-5.6 LENS 14/21/28mm, f/2.8 SENSITIVITY ISO 100-3200 SENSITIVITY ISO 160-6400 SENSITIVITY ISO 100-6400 WATERPROOF DEPTH 25m WATERPROOF DEPTH 15m WATERPROOF DEPTH 40m DIMENSIONS 109.4 x 68 x 27.5mm DIMENSIONS 113.3 x 71.5 x 37.5mm DIMENSIONS 71 x 71 x 39mm inside housing WEIGHT 218g incl. battery and card WEIGHT 356g incl. battery and card WEIGHT 147g including housing KEY KEY SPECS KEY SPECS KEY SPECS

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 21 PORTFOLIO

Paul Mitchell 1 BURNHAM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE eing a full-time graphic B designer, I have been associated with photography in one way or another for over 30 years. It is only in the last 13 years or so that I have concentrated on my own photographic journey. I suppose it all started with my fi rst DSLR (a Fuji S2 Pro) which freed me from buying fi lm and having it processed and scanned etc. Being a lover of the outdoors and the landscape, light is my biggest inspiration, be it the spectacular light at the beginning 1 starting at West Bay. Strong winds 2 and end of the day, or even a Vale of Pewsey combined with a high tide made for One of my favourite locations is drizzly, grey day in a wood. The a dramatic result! looking down on this wonderful gentle nuances created by light part of Wiltshire from Martinsell Hill. Nikon D810, 24-70mm, 0.6sec @ is my artist’s palette. Other This was my third early morning trip f/22, ISO 64, Lee 0.9 hard grad sources of inspiration come from there, ever hoping that I would fi nd the likes of Peter Dombrovskis, mist… third time lucky as they say! 4 Whitby Evening Christopher Burkett, Shinzo Nikon D7100, 70-200mm, 1/60sec An image made in 2011 while on Maeda and Joe Cornish. @ f/11, ISO 100, Lee 0.6 soft grad a visit to Whitby. I only had my Some of my future plans compact camera with me but on refl ection it did a sterling job. include a couple of books, one 2 Floating Copper featuring my other passion, While walking in my local woods, Panasonic GF1, 20mm 1/13sec @f/9, ISO 100, Lee 0.6 Soft grad which is pinhole photography, I spotted this tableau of two tree trunks accentuated by the dying and a long-term project bracken and copper leaves, which 5 Dovercourt documenting the changing seemed to be fl oating in mid air. I decided to visit one of my favourite seasons in Burnham Beeches Nikon D7100, 70-200mm, 1/10sec haunts on the Essex/Suffolk coast in Buckinghamshire, which is on @ f/10, ISO 100 to try out my new Nikon D810. My my doorstep. I am also hoping hoped-for colourful dawn didn’t to start running workshops 3 materialise, so I decided a long West Bay exposure would be the best option. this year with a A cold January morning saw me view to passing travelling down to Dorset to meet Nikon D810, 24-70mm, on some of my my good friend and current LPOTY 129 seconds @ f/9, ISO 64, Lee holder Andy Farrer. He suggested 0.6 hard grad, Big Stopper passion and expertise. 3 WWW.PAULMITCHELLPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

PAUL USES A Nikon D810

My equipment consists of a Nikon D810 with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/4, plus a Nikon D7100 with the Tokina 11-16 mm f/2.8 and Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8. I have a full set of both the hard & soft Lee ND grads along with the Lee Polariser, and the Big and Little stopper. My favoured tripod is a Gitzo GT 3542 XLS.

22 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM THE READER selected for ‘Portfolio’ will receive an ultra-reliable Samsung SDHC PRO 32GB Class 10 memory card. It has transfer speeds of up to 90MB/s and will withstand the harshest conditions. Visit: www.samsung.com

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 23

SHOOTING WEDDINGS MASTER YOUR CANON

Shooting weddings with your Canon DSLR

Photographing a wedding can be an intimidating camera, then don’t worry, as a prospect, but as long as you’re prepared, you mid-range APS-C sized D-SLR, such as the 80D (£999 body only), will should be able to capture some memorable shots still be able to cope with the fast WORDS AND PICTURES TOM CALTON pace of a busy wedding day. All of these cameras are able to or some, just hearing entered into lightly. As a wedding create 20-megapixel (or higher) the words ‘wedding photographer it’s your responsibility resolution images, which means Fphotography’ is enough to to ensure that every aspect of the they are ideal for creating up to A3 bring them out in a cold day is captured immaculately – after sized prints without the need to sweat. It’s certainly not a job for all, there are no re-dos! interpolate the images in post the faint of heart, as it requires a To give yourself the best chance production – handy for any clients multitude of skills, a fair amount of capturing some impressive who are looking to order large of patience and the correct imagery, it’s firstly important to prints of your work. photographic equipment in order ensure that you have the correct The lenses in your camera bag are to do the job right. But just ask any equipment for the job. Starting with just as important as the camera seasoned wedding snapper and the obvious, you’re going to need itself. If you don’t have a lens long they’ll tell you that there’s no other a camera that’s up to the task of enough to reach the action at a photographic genre that’s quite as shooting hundreds, if not thousands, distance, or you’re without a wide exhilarating and rewarding. Being of photos across the day. A angle in order to fit everyone into granted the privilege of capturing full-frame DSLR, such as the Canon the group shot then you’re soon the happiest day of two people’s 6D (£1,119 body only) and 5D Mark going to find yourself in hot water. lives is something that offers a buzz III (£2,178 body only), is often the Having a variety of lenses that cover unlike any other and for those with preferred choice for professional most focal lengths is always the the ambition and the creativity, it wedding photographers as the safest bet, though whether you can be an opportunity to capture larger sensor provides greater decide to favour zoom lenses over some truly stunning imagery along amounts of detail for the highest Interaction with the primes, or visa versa, or both, is with crafting a longstanding and quality images. However, if your couple is key to ensure entirely down to your own personal profitable career. That said, it’s also budget can’t quite stretch to the they feel comfortable preference. A medium zoom lens something that shouldn’t be glitz and glam of a full-frame having their photo taken like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 25 MASTER YOUR CANON

USM (£1,400) is a fantastic wonderfully with the Prime lenses are perfect workhorse as not only does it aforementioned 24-70mm lens, for super-shallow provide a wide angle for group meaning that between these two depth-of-fi eld effects shots, the 70mm end is a perfect lenses you’re covered for most focal length for portraits. When types of photography. opened up fully to the wide f/2.8 Aside from zooms there’s also maximum aperture, this lens is able the option to opt for prime lenses to let in much more light than most instead. Obviously the fi xed focal standard zooms, which is great for length of a prime lens means that in shooting dingy church interiors order to get closer or further away without having to crank the from the action you’ll need to camera’s ISO to a higher sensitivity physically move the camera, which and run the risk of having shots some may fi nd limiting compared to riddled with digital noise. a zoom. However, on the plus side, Sometimes the best shots are prime lenses are notably lighter in those that have been taken without weight and offer a much wider the person even knowing, and the maximum aperture. best way of doing this is by taking Changing back and forth between them at a distance with a telephoto lenses can be a fi ddly and time- zoom, such as the Canon 70- consuming chore, especially at 200mm f/2.8 L USM (£945). The a wedding where seconds often 70-200mm focal length pairs mean the difference between capturing the shot or not. One solution to this problem is to purchase a second camera body. If your pockets are deep enough to cover the expense, owning two c era bodies grants a er of benefi ts; fi rstly The Canon EF 70-200 F2.8L IS II USM i h t you can attach a

If bad weather is stiﬂ ing your location choices, use off-camera ﬂ ash for studio-quality portraits indoors

26 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM SHOOTING WEDDINGS

Shoot with the sun behind the couple to Organisation is key avoid squinting eyes and harsh shadows The night before the big day, spare a few moments to make sure that you have packed everything you may need for the day ahead. You could always write a checklist of essential equipment you think you’ll need and then go through it item by item to make sure that you have packed everything you require. As you’re working your way through the list, it’s also important to test each of the items to ensure that they are in full working order so that you don’t get any nasty surprises when you come to use them on the day. Stock up on fresh AA batteries (you can never have too many!) and make sure that all of your camera batteries are fully charged and ready to go. If you have a lens cloth, give your glass a quick once-over to remove any dust or dirt build-up, too. The secret to good preparation is to give yourself ample time to go through and pack everything instead of rushing it at the last minute and risk forgetting something. It’s also vital not to over pack – it’s good to cover yourself for every eventuality, but taking too much stuff may end up slowing you down.

different lens to each body and be far larger in size than a standard beam of light at your target to have them available at all times. JPEG, meaning you will need larger illuminate them without relying Also, the second body will mean memory cards (or multiple smaller on the ambient light. cards) to store them. It’s also worth mentioning that that you always have a back up BACK-UP AS should the worst happen and one of YOU SHOOT If you’ve been booked to the ‘RT’ in the 430EX III’s name your cameras ceases to function. photograph the wedding reception stands for Radio Transmitter, which It’s often the case that smaller It’s better to be as well as the ceremony, then you’ll means that the fl ash is able to be accessories are quickly overlooked, safe than sorry. also need to make sure that you’re fi red remotely off-camera via but are actually vital pieces of gear If you happen well prepared for capturing images compatible DSLRs or with the aid of that will make the entire shooting to own a laptop in low light. Once the the Canon ST-E3-RT Wireless process a much smoother operation. and an external music starts blaring TTL Flash Controller Investing in a handful of additional and the lights go (£239). This means that hard drive, be camera batteries will ensure that down, it’ll be up to you if you want to boost your sure to pack it your camera never runs out of juice to create your own creativity even further at a vital moment. If you want to with the rest source of light or be you could also look further reduce the time spent of your camera faced with noisy images to invest in one or swapping over camera batteries gear as you can created by using a high ISO. more light stands then you could always look to use it to back up Investing in a fl ashgun, such and fl ash brackets in purchase a battery grip for your your images on as the Canon Speedlite order to fi re the fl ash camera. This unit slots on to the the day. Usually 430EX III-RT (£219), will off camera for studio- base of your camera and allows there will be a allow you fi re a powerful style lighting effects. you to store multiple batteries at lull period while one time, dramatically extending the bride and the battery life of your camera. groom enjoy Over the course of a wedding their wedding day it’s not uncommon to take breakfast, so this upwards of a few thousand images is a good time (depending on how snap happy to back up your you are), so you’re going to need shots onto your somewhere to store all of that laptop for safe data. Purchasing half a dozen keeping. It’ll also high-capacity, high-speed memory allow you to free cards will not only ensure that you up some space have ample space for all those on your memory images, but will also keep your cards for further camera’s buffer clear when shooting Shoot with in continuous burst mode for photos during the evening’s a wideangle lens to uninterrupted shooting. Do bear in pack large groups of mind, however, that if you decide to celebrations. people into the shot shoot in Raw then your images will

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In order to work efﬁciently, AF systems need a reasonable amount of light; when levels are low it can help to prefocus the lens

as water), geometric patterns, overlapping elements, and off- centre subjects. So if you are a Prefocusing with landscape photographer shooting water in misty (low contrast) conditions you might be in trouble your Nikon DSLR if you fail to prefocus. How to prefocus Separating the focusing from the review the images you are bitterly using Focus Lock picture-taking allows you to be disappointed: the AF system Now you have seen the advantages couldn’t keep up with the bird, and of prefocusing, it’s time to look at ready for action in an instant your pictures are out of focus. If you how it’s done. There are a number WORDS AND PICTURES MARK HIGGINS had prefocused, however, the AF of ways to isolate the focusing from system would have carried out its the picture taking, but the main refocusing, as the word job in advance, leaving you with the ones are: Focus lock, Manual suggests, means focusing sole task of releasing the shutter at focusing, Back Button AF, and using Pthe lens in advance of taking the optimum moment. a computer to control the camera a picture. But in this And it’s not just wildlife and sports (see box). The method you choose instance we’re not talking about the photographers who benefit from will depend on the subject and, quick semi-depress of the shutter- this technique; it’s also popular with ultimately, your personal release button before you press it all landscape photographers, too. In preferences, but it’s important not the way down, we’re talking about order to work efficiently, AF systems to confuse things by trying all the separating the act of focusing from need contrast, detail, and a different options in one session. the act of picture-taking, allowing reasonable amount of light. When Let’s start with a method that you to be ready for action in an one or more of these features is most of us will be familiar with: instant. Imagine, for instance, that lacking, the lens whirs back and Focus Lock. When we compose a you’ve been waiting for a golden forward trying to ‘lock on’. This picture we don’t always want the eagle to return to its nest for hours. ‘hunting’ can slow you right down, subject to be in the centre of the As the bird approaches, you fire and stop you from taking a picture frame. In fact, sometimes we want away hoping at least one of the altogether. AF systems also struggle the subject so far off-centre that it shots will be sharp. But when you with highly reflective surfaces (such isn’t covered by any of the AF

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 29 MASTER YOUR NIKON

points. On these occasions we play a more active role in the can lock the focus by covering the process. If your lens features an subject with one of the AF points, A-M, M/A-M or A/M-M mode switch, Using Camera pressing and holding the shutter- slide it to the ‘M’ (Manual) position. Control Pro 2 release button down halfway, and If it doesn’t, press the Info button on then recomposing. Alternatively the camera, and scroll down the If you’re struggling to focus we can press and hold the shutter- options until you reach the Focus using the screen on your DSLR, release button halfway, press the Mode menu. Select MF (Manual how about using a bigger AE-L/AF-L button, and then remove Focus). At this point you need to screen? Nikon’s Camera Control our finger from the shutter-release decide whether to compose your Pro 2 software enables you to button, before recomposing. (Note pictures via the viewfinder or the link your computer and camera that AE-L/AF-L button will lock LCD screen (using live view). Unless via a USB cable or wireless focus and exposure unless you you happen to be shooting in technology. Once the devices change its function via the Custom extremely bright conditions where are connected you can activate Settings menu.) viewing the screen could be live view, zooming in and out, difficult, live view has the edge here. or making changes as required. How to prefocus Switching to Manual For one, composing in live view Using Camera Control Pro Focus allows you to be using Manual Focus extremely precise – allows you to enlarge an area of the you can also adjust the ISO, Another popular way of prefocusing perfect for close-up frame to ensure that your focusing shutter speed and aperture is to switch the lens and/or camera subjects where depth is spot on (this is known as Live remotely, which is great for to Manual Focus, allowing you to of field is limited View Zoom Preview). To select a wildlife photographers trying to keep a low profile. The program also allows you to view, select and delete pictures prior to transferring them to a computer, which saves time. Also by not touching the camera you can reduce the risk of internal vibration, which is great for close-up images (where depth of field is very limited) and landscapes (which often need a combination of small apertures and long shutter speeds). It’s also worth experimenting with Nikon’s SnapBridge app which allows for Bluetooth supported connection between your camera and a compatible smart device such as a mobile phone. Once the connection has been established, it’s permanent, so there’s no need to repeat the process.

Step by step ONE TWO Using Back Button AF for a moving

subject Handhold the camera. Adopt a solid stance with Press the Info button and scroll down the options one foot in front of the other (not on the same focal until you reach the Focus mode menu. Select AF-C plane). Keep most of the weight in the back foot. (Continuous-servo AF). Press OK.

30 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM PREFOCUSING

specific area you simply move a Using Back Button rectangle around the frame using AF enables you to the Multi selector, and then press switch between static and moving the Zoom button to magnify your ADJUSTING subjects without chosen section (up to 11x on the THE DIOPTER having to switch Nikon D5, but less on older models). between AF-S and Now all that’s left to do is to rotate Before using AF-C modes the focusing ring on the lens until the viewfinder the area appears sharp. (A for manual navigation window appears at the focusing, check bottom of the screen to help you that the screen see where you are in the frame.) is as clear as it Alternatively, if you decide to use can be for your the viewfinder to focus you will eyesight. If you’re need to look through the glass, shortsighted or adjust the diopter to suit your longsighted you eyesight (see box), and then turn can compensate the focusing ring until the clear matte field appears sharp. for this by looking If you need some help to through the lens determine whether or not your and rotating the subject is in focus via the viewfinder, Diopter control advanced prefocusing option. Back locking focus to initiating focus. To you can activate the electronic until the AF Button Autofocus enables you to do this you must open the Custom Rangefinder (located in the Custom brackets and text completely separate the focusing Settings menu and select AF-ON. Settings menu). This tool uses the at the bottom of from the picture taking (using a Alternatively, if your camera has a exposure indicator (the green lines the screen are different button for each job). It has dedicated AF-ON button you need along the bottom of the screen) to sharp. Most built- two main advantages: it allows you to go into the Custom Settings suggest whether or not the lens is in diopters can to focus the lens in advance of firing menu, select Autofocus, and choose correctly focused. When the lines correct eyesight the shutter (saving you time and AF activation. In the submenu you are to the left of the ‘0’ the focus from -1.7 to +0.5, improving accuracy), and it enables then select AF-ON only. With this point is in front of the subject; and but you can buy you to switch between static and done, the AF-ON button is now when the lines are to the right of the an Eyepiece moving subjects without having to entrusted with the sole job of ‘0’ the focus point is behind the Correction lens physically switch between AF-S focusing, and the shutter-release subject. When one line falls either with strengths (Auto Focus Single Servo) and AF-C button has the sole job of opening side of the ‘0’ the subject is in focus. from -5 to +3. (Auto Focus Continuous Servo) the shutter. You need to adjust the focusing ring You can also modes. Fewer buttons to push Let’s use the example of the on the lens until this last state has improve focusing means more time to concentrate golden eagle to demonstrate how been achieved. (To use the accuracy by using on framing and the like. Back Button AF can be helpful. As Rangefinder feature you need to But before you go looking for a the bird comes into view you can a Magnifier DG-2 attach a lens with an aperture of dedicated Back Button AF control hold down the AF-ON button and (with Eyepiece at least f/5.6.) on your camera, read on. In short, it follow its path. As soon as it arrives Adapter DK-22), doesn’t have one. What you will see at the nest you can lift your thumb How to prefocus which magnifies is an AE-L/AF-L button (on older off the AF-ON button to halt the using Back Button AF the central area of Nikon DSLRs) or an AF-ON button focusing and hold down the Once you’ve familiarised yourself the scene in the (on more recent models). If your shutter-release button to take a with Focus Lock and Manual Focus viewfinder. camera has an AE-L/AF-L button series of images. Seconds saved, you might like to try a more you need to change its role from shots secured. Simple.

THREE FOUR FIVE INTERVIEW BY TRACY HALLETT

Instruct the camera to shoot a burst of images by Place the focusing point over a part of the subject Continue to hold the AF-ON button down while you pressing the Release Mode button, and scrolling containing high contrast and/or ﬁne detail. Activate follow the action. When you want to stop focusing, through the options until you reach Continuous H. Back Button AF by pressing (and holding down) the remove your thumb. When you are ready to shoot a Press OK. AF-ON button. series of images hold down the shutter-release button.

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 31

FOCUS BRACKETING AND STACKING MASTER YOUR OLYMPUS

Using the Focus Stacking/Bracketing Mode on Olympus cameras

Taking stunning close-up images is challenging, but days of moderately high ISOs the Focus Stacking mode makes it much easier having a detrimental effect on image quality are behind us). The blurring induced by camera shake WORDS AND PICTURES STEVE GOSLING can also be countered by using a lose-up and macro improve our technical skills. tripod or relying on the camera/ photography opens up Managing the inter-relationship When working up close lenses image stabilisation function. access to a fascinating between all the variables involved there’s plenty to But all of these factors need to be C photograph without and interesting world not requires a good understanding of considered before firing the shutter. easily seen with the naked eye. By the relationship between aperture straying far from home, And furthermore when working in as household items can getting in close to our chosen selection (and its impact on depth become works of art. The close to the subject even a relatively subject, patterns, colours, textures of field), shutter speed and ISO and images above and below small aperture will require accurate and details can be revealed for the their contribution to the look of the have been Focus Stacked focusing and an understanding of first time. And interesting subject final image. For example, when to ensure precise focus depth of field and hyperfocal matter can be found pretty much working close with a macro lens, anywhere – items around the house often a small aperture is required to or garden can be transformed into maximise depth of field (assuming works of art once we move in close that the end result requires front to with our camera, add a measure of back sharpness as against a limited creativity and a sprinkling of plane of focus where only one small imagination (see Box Copy). part of the subject is sharp). A But this is also a challenging consequence of a small aperture is area of photography to tackle – of course a slower shutter speed, to any deficiencies in composition, allow enough light to reach the exposure or focus (particularly sensor for an adequate exposure. depth of field) will be immediately This in turn can lead to camera apparent. Potentially it is not only shake or blur from subject the subject that becomes magnified movement during the exposure. In but also all the flaws in our the digital era an increase in ISO can technique as well! Shooting only help to negate these problems – a close up and macro photographs higher ISO allowing for a faster for six months is a great way to shutter speed (and thankfully the

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 33 MASTER YOUR OLYMPUS

Step by step 1 STEP 1 STEP 2 Focus Bracketing

Access Shooting Menu 2 and turn on Bracketing. Select Focus Bracketing Mode from the options on Note that this will automatically change the shooting screen - Focus BKT. mode to High Burst/Silent; this will be cancelled again when you turn Bracketing off. distances to maximise sharpness. Focus bracketing So yet something else to take into Focus Bracketing was first account. It’s little wonder that many introduced to the OM-D range when photographers have been deterred the E-M10 II camera was launched, from undertaking close-up and and was subsequently added to the macro work. E-M1 and E-M5 II by way of a Those photographers who were firmware upgrade. not put off developed techniques to The Olympus Focus Bracketing get around some of these problems. mode allows the photographer to One of the solutions was focus take up to 999 consecutive shots at bracketing, i.e. taking several focus differentials between 1 and 10 exposures of the same subject at in a fast burst. The images still have different points of focus and then to be merged in the computer using blending these together in the software but the mode does remove computer using suitable software programmes (e.g. Adobe’s The Focus Bracketing/Stacking modes can stimulate creativity and are a boon to those users wanting to try Photoshop, Zerene Stacker and close-ups but were put off by the technical complexities Helicon Focus). But taking the shots at different focus points can be time the time-consuming manual, consuming (and not possible with multiple-shot approach that was subjects that might move or fly off previously required. during the process) and requires The Focus Bracketing mode does some expertise in judging just require some skill and experience, where to focus and how many shots however (gained through to take. Still not a simple solution. experimentation), to determine the But then Olympus came along number of shots required and which and introduced Focus Bracketing focus differential to choose. and Focus Stacking Modes to its The focus differential is the OM-D cameras. distance between in-focus areas in Step by step 2 STEP 1 STEP 2 Focus Stacking

Access Shooting Menu 2 on the camera and then turn Now, select the Focus Bracket option and turn it on. on Bracketing.

34 WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM FOCUS BRACKETING AND STACKING

STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5

Then you simply need to set the number of shots and Focus on the part of your subject nearest the camera Fire the shutter to take your shot (if you are using a focus steps required. (either by selecting the appropriate AF point or tripod this is best done by using a cable release to switching to Manual Focus). minimise camera vibration).

the shot. If you choose too low a areas of focus than the manual ● At the present time Focus number, the result will be a large approach) and does enable Bracketing is limited to the 60mm number of images with little handheld close-up photography to macro lens plus the 12-40mm and be done (great when photographing EXAMPLES difference between them; choose OF POSSIBLE 14-150mm Pro zooms too high a number and there may insects, for example). However for SUBJECTS ● Whilst separate Raw files can be gaps of blurred areas between more critical work or macro (i.e. life be shot and saved the merged the in-focus bands. size) photography I would advise • Simple photograph is a combination of The decisions about these using a tripod. household items JPEG images settings will be determined by the Flash can be used but with two like cutlery. ● The slowest shutter speed number of subjects in the shot, your limitations: • Objects from available is 1/8sec and the distance from the subject, how ● The flash must be attached to the home/office maximum ISO 3200 much of the subject you want to the camera’s hotshoe such as paper ● The merged image crops off capture, and your chosen f-stop. ● The maximum shutter speed is clips, pens and the edges of the composition so Generally more shots will be limited to 1/20sec. coloured pencils. an allowance for this must be made required if: • More exotic in the framing of the shot. ● There are many subjects However, in spite of any Focus stacking possessions such in the composition at varying With the firmware upgrade to the limitations, these modes are as jewellery. distances from the lens EM1, Olympus went one step further undoubtedly a boon to ● You are very close to your subject and added Focus Stacking – with • If you’re green- photographers wanting to try ● You are using a longer this mode the separate images are fingered, flowers their hand at close-up and macro focal length lens blended together in camera. Unlike and plants in your photography but who have ● You want to cover a wide the Focus Bracketing mode the garden make previously been deterred by depth of field photographer cannot choose the lovely and usually the technical complexities. By ● You are using a fast aperture. number of consecutive shots (the colourful subjects, opening up the world of close-up But trial and error is the key to camera automatically fires eight on their own or photography, encouraging success initially. frames) but can select the required as a background experimentation and being fun This mode speeds up the process focus differential. for the insects and easy to use into the bargain, considerably, increases the chances There are some limitations with they attract. these modes can provide a great of success (it’s less likely to miss this mode: stimulus to our creativity.

STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5

Press > and turn on Focus Stacking. Now you need to set the Focus Differential (in this Take the shot (preferably with the camera mounted on example 3 has been set). a tripod and by using a cable release) and then review the merged image on the LCD to check that the subject is sharp and in focus.

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 35 2(9

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