Text by Dan Richards Photos by Travis Rathbone Gear Now All year, we put photo gear through its paces: we test it, Beuse it, manhandle it. When st we’re through, we make a list of the top items we’ve tried and tested. Then we cross off most of the list. The remaining items receive top honors: The POP Award for ’s Outstanding Products. Here’s what made the cut in 2012.

LOOKS SHARP, SHOOTS SHARP Olympus OM-D EM-5 The OM-D nicely reprises the jewel-like looks of Olympus’s legendary OM-series of compact 35mm SLRS. We’re pleased to report that the OM-D’s performance in lab and field tests was also evocative of the OM film . It tested with Excellent overall image quality in PHOTOGRAPHY’S the Pop Photo lab and earned kudos from every tester for its rugged, OUTSTANDING weather-sealed body and fine handling. While it may look very much PRODUCTS like a little pro DSLR, the OM-D is actually an interchangeable- compact with an electronic in place of a prism finder. It accepts from the growing Micro Four Thirds optical catalog, plus POPPHOTO.COM DECEMBER 2012 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY 71 a neat accessory vertical grip. $999, street, body only FIENDISHLY FAST FOCUS Alpha 99 It’s getting to be almost de rigueur for Sony to change the technology landscape. This time, it created the first full-frame DSLR using a fixed PHOTOGRAPHY’S transmissive mirror. And that’s not the OUTSTANDING 24MP Alpha 99’s only innovation: Its PRODUCTS Dual Hybrid AF system uses phase detection and contrast detection on the for almost scary-fast AF and tracking during video and live view. A range-limiter system lets you restrict AF to a settable fore-and-aft depth. And an array of fancy video accessories—including a hot-shoe mount mic with symmetrical stereo inputs—boosts the 1920x1080p60 video capability to near-pro levels. $2,798, street, body only

LONG, FAST ONE LUKE SKYWALKER’S LED Sigma 180MM Westcott Ice Light F/2.8 APO MACRO EX DG No, it’s not a light saber, but an LED light OS HSM When we wrote up the wand powered by rechargeable test report for this massive macro battery. At 20 inches long and 1.3 lens, we griped that it was big, heavy, lb., it’s easily handheld for quick and expensive. We also said it was localized fill lighting, and can well worth the bulk, weight, and cost. be stand-mounted. It’s daylight- Its excellent optical performance balanced (5300–5400K), fully across all criteria—it actually dimmable, and includes gel clips performs even better when for balancing acetate filters. focusing in the macro range—and It can work continuously at high superb weather-sealed construction power for 60 minutes on one should have serious nature shooters charge. Keep in mind, though, lining up to buy this lens. $1,699, street that even at max output, the Ice Light is dim (equivalent to a 150-watt tungsten source), so in most cases, it won’t RESOLUTION MONSTER be suitable as a main light. $500, street D800 With the highest resolution we’ve yet MULTI TASKER A STRAIGHTENER OUTER tested in a DSLR (more than 3500 lines), uncompressed HD video out, and Really Right Stuff DxO ViewPoint a well-designed, customizable control WPF-QR2 BRACKET Bugged by that edge distortion system, the 36.3MP D800 sets the With DSLR video gaining in popularity, (anamorphosis) at the sides of your wide- performance bar for prosumer DSLRs photographers are looking to attach angle photos? DxO’s new software uses its several notches higher. And we’re glad more and more stuff to their cameras. lens know-how to fix that, as well COLORFUL PANEL DISCUSSION Nikon wasn’t embarrassed to put an This RRS flat-folding bracket can be as keystoning and tilted “amateur” pop-up flash on the D800—it tricked out with various accessory horizons, recropping iKan IB500 Dual Color lets you control multiple TTL flash units extensions to hold a mic, LED light, as needed and LED STUDIO LIGHT Blown fuses from hot lights wirelessly. Big counts, though, audio recorder, and off- LCD showing you side-by- causing you to blow a fuse? It may be time to try an LED make for big file sizes (you’ll need screen—simultaneously. Oh, it can side before and after light panel, and this 500-watt iKan unit is one of the most more card and backup storage), and hold a flash, too. $240, direct versions. Works as a flexible around. Continuously dimmable output and adjustable smaller mean images noise up standalone or a plug-in color temps (3200–5600K) can be set via the rear touch more at high ISOs than in competitive for Adobe Photoshop or screen or remote control. It can be powered by optional models. $3,000, street, body only Lightroom. $79, direct batteries and stand-mounted horizontally or vertically, and its barn doors are built-in. It’s also heavy (nearly 6 lbs.), but the 72 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY DECEMBER 2012 all-metal unit is durably made. $475, street POPPHOTO.COM POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY 73 TOUCHING ABILITY UPS filter.) controls are utterly and delightfully logical. Wacom Intuos5 $1,699, street, body only TABLET Wacom’s top-of-the-line pro model works with both pen and fingers, so BACON SAVER you can alternate between using the pen and multi-finger touch gestures. Available in small, medium, and large sizes, its Drobo Mini PHOTOGRAPHY’S This superfast portable RAID drive OUTSTANDING 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity make PRODUCTS it practically essential for fine retouching. is for serious shooters who can’t You can configure ExpressKeys to risk losing their images while on minimize use of your computer the road. It uses both USB 3.0 and keyboard for retouching, and a $39 Thunderbolt connectors, and even kit will convert it to wireless. $210 to comes with its own Thunderbolt $434, street, according to size cable. It can hold four hot- swappable 2.5-inch drives, plus an SSD (in its own slot on the bottom) PRIME PANCAKE to help speed up your data. $649, street, drives not included Canon 40MM F/2.8 EF STM While this may be the smallest full-frame AF lens, its real claim to glory is that it is one of the first two Canon lenses with a stepping AF motor, allowing truly silent during video. It SMARTEST SLAVES enables smooth Movie Servo AF with the newest Canon DSLRs. Optically strong, too, with excellent SQF PocketWizard numbers combined with negligible PLUS III Another product that distortion and light falloff. And the dominates its market becase it’s price is right. $199, street the best out there. The Plus III can operate either as a transmitter or receiver, automatically assuming either role depending on how the remote unit is set. The new version mounts sideways for a thinner profile that’s less likely to block your view, and has 32 channels and four zones that let you turn flashes on or off from the camera. The backlit LCD panel is easy to navigate and read, and the antenna TWO FINDERS IN ONE is housed internally, so it can’t snag on Fujifilm X-Pro1 anything. $149, street For all those photographers who have pined for an interchangeable-lens UN-CAMERA BAG with classic lines and traditional dial-and-ring controls (and who aren’t quite ready to drop Timbuk2 Sleuth WORKHORSE III $7,000 or so for an M-series Leica), may we BACKPACK Pop Photo editors are please present the X-Pro1? Its classic looks fans of this pack because it has room Canon EOS 5D MARK III combine with technological showstoppers, for a camera body, a flash, a lens (or When we named the first-generation 5D our Camera of such as the hybrid viewfinder that can two), and a real laptop, not just a tablet. the Year in 2005, we had more than an inkling that this first switch from an EVF to a bright-frame optical Daypack styling doesn’t advertise that “affordable” full-frame DSLR would prove a workhorse for both finder with full information overlays. The you’re carrying camera gear. Back pros and amateur enthusiasts. With the Mark III, the 5D becomes 16.3MP APS-C-size sensor delivered 2400 padding has effective venting, straps are the workhorse that acts like a thoroughbred. The newest version lines of resolution, just shy of an Excellent comfortable, zippers are sturdy, and the speeds up to 6 fps bursts (from the 3.9 fps of the Mark II), rating. (We’re anticipating Fujifilm making nylon is splash-resistant. A big camera quadruples ISO sensitivity to 102,400 (from 25,600), and speeds up autofocus considerably from that of its predecessor. refinements to the sensor, which uses a with a battery grip will be a really tight Its noise control is awesome: It was rated Low in our lab tests unique pixel array and foregoes a low-pass squeeze, though. $139, direct at ISO 12,800, and was still acceptable at ISO 25,600. Video capture is exceptional, and the fit, finish, and sealing of the solid 74 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY DECEMBER 2012 body cannot be faulted. $3,459, street, body only POPPHOTO.COM POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY 75 A STEADY FIRST TOP STARTER DSLR Tamron 24 –70MM Nikon D3200 F/2.8 DI VC USD This a lens that This year it was Nikon’s turn to stretch “couldn’t be done,” a 24–70mm f/2.8 constant- the term “entry-level” the length of the zoom with image stabilization. But continental divide. A whopping 24.2 Tamron did it, and so, despite some optical megapixels produced the highest flaws, it well deserves a POP Award. The not- resolution we’ve seen yet in a sub- PHOTOGRAPHY’S so-hots: Visible barrel distortion at 24mm, OUTSTANDING and persistent light falloff at every aperture at $1,000 camera. The D3200 held PRODUCTS 24mm. But the lens proved sharp throughout noise to acceptable levels through the range in our SQF tests, and the ISO 1600, and showed Excellent VC proved very effective. $1,299, street color accuracy. Video capture is a full 1920x1080p30, and burst BRIGHT-EYED TELE shooting is 4 fps—pretty good for this class. Controls are annoyingly MM menu-centric, and there’s only Samsung 85 one command wheel, but at this With its Excellent SQF scores, F/1.4 price, it’s hard to complain. virtually nonexistent distortion, and no— repeat, no—light falloff at any aperture, this $697, street, with 18–55mm superfast tele ranks as the most awesome f/3.5–5.6G AF-S Nikkor VR lens optic Samsung has yet produced for its NX series of ILCs, and may help draw serious EASY WIDER shooters to the marque. It’s big, heavy, and expensive, but that comes with the territory for super like this. $999, street Tokina 17-35MM F/4 AT-X PRO FX Tokina’s version this lightweight bracket arm that mounts to your camera’s socket and holds HIGH-CLASS GLASS of the constant-aperture wide-angle zoom carries a price about $150 to $500 less bounce reflectors of various and spectral qualities. Only one is MM than comparable zooms from camera Carl Zeiss 25 makers. But that’s not the only reason to included, though. Boo! Still, this is a neat F/2 DISTAGON T* ZE gadget. $134, street Still photographers owe a great debt to video commend this full-framer: It put up very solid enthusiasts, for whom companies like the numbers across all our lab tests—in fact, venerable Carl Zeiss make super-quality beating the more expensive optics in several NEW CARD TRICK manual-focus lenses. While videographers will criteria. Fit and finish are excellent, and it appreciate the silent, smooth, precise focusing has good weather sealing, too. $669, street Sony XQD Card action, still shooters will dig the fine optical quality our lab found across all criteria. Both will AND READER This new standard in love the creamy defocus at f/2. $1,699, street THE I’S HAVE IT memory card format has a spec allowing for much higher throughput than with a SUPER KIT ZOOM iPhoto for iPad standard CF or SD card—which will be A neat little app that lets your fingers do beneficial as DSLR video capabilities Nikon 24–85MM the edits on your photos. Drag a digit up or advance. So far, only the new Nikon down on your iPad’s screen to increase or D4 supports it, and SanDisk is backing F/3.5–4.5 AF-S VR another standard. We shall see. Reader, An affordable alternative to the pricey, fast decrease, say, exposure or saturation, or $45, street; cards from $130 24–70mm f/2.8G, this full-framer proved a use your finger to brush on fixes such as sharp shooter in our lab tests (see page 100 sharpening. You can also for the full report), although distortion was a apply a bunch of effects, FASHION PLATE little higher than we’d like. Nikon’s stalwart share directly to Facebook Vibration Reduction II has automatic tripod or Twitter, and flag your detection, and, in this lens, can provide VR favorites. $4.99, direct Litepanels Croma optimized specifically for video. $597, street SHOE-MOUNT LED LIGHT Let’s face it: Most LED panels are ONE CRAZY BABY GO OFF THE WALL utilitarian-looking, if not outright ugly. The Croma bucks the trend with its Lensbaby Sunbounce Jetsons styling. This shoe-mounter (via EDGE 80 OPTIC Call it the poor BOUNCE-WALL No wall built-in ballhead) provides light with man’s (or woman’s) lens. An 80mm f/2.8 to bounce your flash off of? continuously variable color temps of with to f/22, it can be fitted to any of Or the wall that’s there 3200–5600K, and can be powered by 6 the the Lensbaby bendable bodies (Composer, is some weird color? AA batteries or AC current. It’s relatively Muse, etc.) for use on any film or digital SLR. Bring your own wall dim, though, so stay close to your As a flat-field lens, it behaves normally when with you with subject. $584, street aimed straight ahead, but depending on tilt, it can dramatically decrease or increase 76 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY DECEMBER 2012 apparent . $300, street POPPHOTO.COM POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY 77 THE NON-KIT LENS A SPECIAL K Sony 16–55MM K-30 F/2.8 DT SSM The K-30 is a worthy heir to the Pentax tradition of tough While we love 18–55mm kit but user-friendly SLRs. The 16MP camera is loaded with lenses for the optical quality they weather seals typical of more expensive bodies, has a glass pentaprism rather than a pentamirror, and an impressive- provide for the price, they are slow, for-its-class 6 fps burst rate. Not to mention Excellent tested feel plasticky, and focus noisily. image quality, and compatibility with the literally millions of PHOTOGRAPHY’S OUTSTANDING This beauty, designed for Sony K-mount lenses sold since 1975. $847, street, body only APS-C bodies (it is a 24–75mm PRODUCTS equivalent), has a fast f/2.8 constant aperture, lovely metal A NEW SLANT construction, and very strong optical A GEM FOR POST performance with the exception of a Novoflex VR little more distortion at 16mm than Adobe SYSTEM SLANT we’d like. Manual focus is smooth Photoshop Designed for the most efficient production of 360-degree and precise, and autofocus on spherical panoramas with a 180-degree , this bodies such as the Alpha 77 body is Lightroom 4 head tilts the camera and lens at 60 degrees so that the virtually silent. $798, street The latest Lightroom may put the sensor’s diagonal length is deployed vertically. This lets your copy of Photoshop in cold you capture a full-field 360-degree virtual-tour view in as storage. It adds Curves adjustments—in few as three overlapping exposures. $427, street SEND MORE SUPERLATIVES RAW—and more targeted fixes, such as one for selective white balance. New Canon EOS Rebel T4i RAW processing recovers more shadow That’s right—it’s The Best Rebel Ever! We and highlight detail than ever before. For keep trying to retire that headline, but Canon printing, it allows soft proofing. $149, direct just won’t let us. This latest Best Ever wowed us with Excellent overall Image Quality, MICRO 4/3 MASTERPIECE noise kept to acceptable levels through ISO 12,800—quite a feat—and fast, sensitive AF. For moviemakers, this Reb gives you virtually Panasonic the same video capabilities as Canon's GX1 EOS 5D Mark III, including stereo mic input The sole rangefinder-style Micro with audio levels adjustable in the camera. Four Thirds ILC to garner an Excellent Plus a trick the 5D doesn’t have: Hybrid AF, image quality rating to date, the GX1 using phase-detection points on the sensor, also wooed us with its user-friendly that provides smooth continuous AF during personality. Panasonic’s touchscreen video shooting. We wonder what they’ll do and touch controls could convert with the T5i... $842, street, with 18–55mm even confirmed touchscreen haters. f/3.5–5.6 EF-S IS II lens The unconverted will happily make do with the GX1’s many-buttoned, logical exterior controls. Images get HANDHELD STUDIO noisy at ISO 1600 and above, and the body lacks an eye-level finder, Lastolight Brolly although you can opt for a shoe- GRIP Yep, this is exactly what it looks mount EVF. $469, body only like: an umbrella handle with a flash shoe and a socket for an umbrella shaft. A tad silly, perhaps, but it lets an unassisted SHOULDER HOLDER photographer handhold an umbrella for on- Vanguard Xcenior the-run portrait SERIES SHOULDER BAG or product-shot Available in three sizes, even the smallest illumination. For the Xcenior has a laptop sleeve and tripod weak of wrist, there’s harness. Plus shock--absorbing feet, a a standard lightstand reverse-opening lid for easy access to socket in its base. The contents, and a trolley sleeve that zips kit includes a 20-inch both top and bottom to become an shoot-through umbrella. additional pocket. $220–300, street, $49, street depending on size

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