Top 5 Gift Ideas Series: Part 7 - DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras

Top 5 Interchangeable Lens Cameras Ideas This Christmas

An interchangeable lens camera such as a DSLR or Mirrorless represents the cream of the crop in the world of camera technology. Regardless of whether you’re a beginner looking to step up from your smartphone or compact, or an experienced shooter seeking the right tool to break through your creative boundaries, this Christmas we’ve got suggestions across all photographic levels. 

1- Canon EOS 200D Twin Lens Kit

The Canon EOS Twin Lens Kit represents the perfect platform for students and those new to photography. Its 24 Megapixel sensor and dual pixel AF technology ensure it’s capable at both stills and video. The twin lenses ensure zoom coverage up to 250mm, perfect for that next overseas holiday or family vacation – Save $235. Limited Time only. 

• 24 Megapixel CMOS Sensor 
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF + DIGIC 7 Processor 
• 3.0” Clear View Vari-Angle LCD Touch Screen 
• Full HD Video Recording 
• Guided Display Mode 
• Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + NFC Connectivity 
• Compact and Lightweight Design 
• Includes Canon 18-55mm + 55-250mm IS STM Lenses 

2- Olympus OM-D E-M10 III Twin Lens Kit

The Olympus E-M10 III twin kit is the perfect travelling companion. Its lightweight retro styled design is a delicate fusion of fashion and function. With a 5-axis in-body image stabiliser and 4K video recording capabilities, it can handle a broad range of shooting scenarios, while maintaining a discreet profile – Includes $150 Visa Giftcard. Ending Soon. 

• 16.3 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor 
• Fast TruPic VIII Image Processor 
• 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilisation 
• 4K Video Recording 
• High Speed 121-Point Autofocus 
• 3-Inch Tilting Touchscreen 
• Built-In WiFi for Wireless Camera Control 
• Includes M.Zuiko 14-42mm III EZ + 40-150mm R Lens 

3- Canon EOS R Body with Control Ring Mount Adapter

The Canon EOS R was one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2018. Combining a compact, lightweight mirrorless body with their Dual Pixel autofocus technology, plus excellent backwards compatibility with their EF range of lenses has ensured early success for this popular release. 

30.3 Megapixel Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
DIGIC8 Image Processor
4K Video Recording at 30fps
Dual Pixel AF with 5655 AF Points
Dual Pixel RAW Image File Compatibility
Top Mount LCD Panel
Intuitive Multi-Function Touch Bar
Built-in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Connectivity
Includes Canon Lens Control Ring Mount Adapter - EF-EOSR

4- Sony A7 III

The Sony A7 III ticked enough boxes for enough people for it to win the coveted EISA 2018-2019 Camera Of The Year award. So popular was its debut that there was a global shortage while manufacturing worked to keep up with demand. With a 24 Megapixel sensor, 5-axis image stabilisation, 4K video recording and an amazing 693 autofocus points, it’s easy to see why. We’ve secured limited stock for Christmas, so get in quick to avoid disappointment. 

24.2 Megapixel Back-Illuminated Full Frame CMOS Sensor
5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilisation
2.36 Million-dot OLED EVF and Tilt Touchscreen
10 fps Burst Shooting with Silent or Mechanical Shutter
693 Phase Detection AF Points & Eye AF
Dust/Moisture Resistant Body Construction
4K HDR Video & Full HD 120p
High Capacity Battery, Joystick Control and Dual SD Slots


5- Fujifilm GFX 50R + GF 32-64mm f/4 Lens

The Fujifilm GFX 50R is revolutionising the medium format category. The 50R crams a massive 51.4 Megapixel medium format sensor into a rangefinder style body, enticing photographers who would not traditionally consider medium format because of its size to make the switch. To sweeten the deal this Christmas, we’re offering a $1000 discount with all GFX 50R Camera and Lens combos, plus claim up to $750 Cashback from Fujifilm via redemption. 

• 51.4 Megapixel Medium Format CMOS Sensor 
• X-Processor Pro Image Processor 
• 14-Bit RAW with 14 Stops of Dynamic Range 
• Rangefinder-style 3.69M OLED EVF 
• Lightweight Mirrorless System Design 
• Weather Resistant Body 
• 2-Direction Tilting 2.36M-Dot Rear LCD 
• Dual UHS-II SD Card Slots & Bluetooth Connectivity 

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Danny Campbell BMX

Words and photos by Daniel Smith

We hooked up with Danny Campbell to shoot some BMX at Castle Cove trails in the northern beaches area of Sydney. The trails were suffering a bit of neglect but after a sweep and water down they were ready to go.

We have a few days left of our Spring Into Action Catalogue so if you have not seen it yet, then have a look at some of the excellent products. All action cam shots were taken using the Sony Action Cameras, a sponsor of Danny.



Check out Danny on Instagram and Facebook.

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Owning Multiple Cameras – Part 2

…different cameras for different uses

By Marc B

Owning Multiple Cameras – Part 1 explored street photography and special occasion photography. Below are some suggestions of camera types that are suitable for specific situations. Remember, any camera is better than no camera at all!

Landscape Photography
Landscape photography is all about wide open spaces, detail, sharpness and rugged equipment. You can use a few different cameras for this type of photography.  The only essential would be a camera that can use filters as landscape photographers have a need for a few different types of filters (ND, ND Grads, circular polarisers etc.).  A Compact System Camera (CSC) is ideal for this as they are light, some are weather resistant and have some high quality lenses that can take a filter.  Another advantage of a CSC is that they are compact enough to go in a backpack if you are hiking, but good enough quality to get awesome results.  The lens selection is great and there are plenty of cameras to choose from.

Everyday Photography

There are times when the phone camera just doesn’t cut it (indoors, low light, if you need to zoom) and you need a camera that can far outdo the results from what your phone can do but you don’t want to lug around a big DSLR.  For this there is a range of small but high quality cameras available with built in Wi-Fi so you can still share those moments instantly.  But now you can do it with awesome quality.  Some cameras that fit this category are the Canon S120, the latest in a long line of ‘S’ series cameras that are known for their low light performance, the new Fujifilm XQ1 which is the smallest Fuji camera yet to feature their very well respected X-Trans sensor and it also features no low pass filter for extra sharpness.  Other cameras are the Sony RX100 II which is very small but with a larger sensor size than most other compacts for exceptional image quality.  All of these cameras feature Wi-Fi and all have apps available to stream your images to your smart device for uploading to your social networking site of choice.  The main difference being that your photos will be of a much higher quality than your friends’ photos.

Travel Photography

Travel photography encompasses such a wide range of photography styles (architecture, portrait, landscape, street and general photography) that it is impossible to find one camera to do it all.  The best option here is to take two cameras (this article assumes photography will be a major interest when you go on holidays), one of them should be your DSLR or CSC with appropriate lenses, and the other should be a good compact super-zoom camera.

The DSLR is the go-to camera that you use for the majority of the trip, these photos are unrepeatable events and you should use your best gear to capture them.

The compact is your back-up camera and is the camera to take with you if you find yourself going to events that do not allow (or you simply don’t want to take) a DSLR.  The compact should have a big zoom for those times when you need to get in close and Wi-Fi for transferring to your smart device to share the moment with friends and family.  Some good options here are the Panasonic TZ40 with a 20X optical zoom, Wi-Fi and NFC.  This comes from a long line of very successful travel zoom cameras from Panasonic.  The Olympus SH-50 also features a slightly bigger 24X zoom lens with an advanced 5 axis image stabilisation feature when using video to really steady those hands.  It also uses a 16 MP BSI CMOS sensor for great low light ability.  Nikon also has the popular S9500 travel zoom which features a 22X zoom, 18MP sensor, Wi-Fi, GPS for tracking where you took the photo and full HD video recording.

These are just a few options of cameras available for these photographic styles, there are plenty more in-store so come on in, call us or check out our website to see what else we have on offer!

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Owning Multiple Cameras – Part 1

…different cameras for different uses

By Marc B

If only a one-size-fits-all camera existed, one that had the optical and sensor quality of a high end DSLR but in the size of a compact, with a massive zoom range but also wide open apertures.  Such a camera doesn’t exist yet so it’s left to us to pick and choose the right camera for the right situation.  This is great news for us cameraholics who love an excuse to buy yet another cool camera.  But which camera suits which situation?

Most photographers find themselves in a variety of situations that call for different lenses and sometimes completely different systems.  Below are some suggestions of camera types that are suitable for specific situations although any camera is better than no camera at all.

Street Photography

Street photography calls for a small, unobtrusive camera that still produces high quality images.  There are two popular choices for this area.  The first is a compact, fixed lens camera like the Fuji X100s or X20, Canon G16, Nikon Coolpix A or the Sony RX1 R at the high end.  These cameras are relatively small in size but give an outstanding result in challenging conditions.  The advantage of them being so small is the ability to take photos unobtrusively and candidly in a street situation or even a social occasion like a wedding (if you aren’t the primary photographer) where you might want a more relaxed and less posed photo. 

Another option would be a full size DSLR but with a small prime lens attached, like a 50mm or 24mm large aperture lens.  These are cheaper than a high quality zoom lens but can be of similar or better optical quality and in a much smaller form factor.  These cameras can be set up easily for pre focusing (a technique that involves pre focusing a known distance from the camera so you can shoot instantly without waiting for the camera to focus) so you don’t miss that vital moment.

Special Occasion Photography

This refers to things like professional wedding or portrait photography where the image quality is of absolute importance.  For this you want to have the best quality you can afford and ideally this would be professional quality glass with a full frame DSLR.  Size and weight factors are less important here than in other types of photography as the final result needs to be of the upmost quality.  The lens selection is basically the ‘three amigos’; 16-35mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses (or very similar focal lengths).  This gives the range required for almost any situation you are likely to be in.  Here is a link to our lenses page.

As an extension of this, the cameras listed in the street photography section would also be appropriate as a second camera as long as you understand the limits of the cameras.

Next blog, I’ll be exploring cameras to use for landscape photography, everyday photography and travel photography.

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A Call to Action!

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock-climber for the last few years you’ve likely heard of action cameras or at the very least “GoPro”.   These tiny wearable video cameras have taken the sports/recreation scene by storm and now account for an enormous (and still growing) slice of the video camera market pie.  If you’ve yet to pick up an action camera for yourself or know someone who has it high on their want list, it might pay to brush up on your facts and figures. Let us help with the below information. 

Grab your helmet and strap yourself in as we give you the run down on what’s available and who it’s likely to appeal to.

GoPro Hero 3 Range

The big name in Action Cameras for many years, GoPro was once sought after only by extreme sports people and hardcore divers looking to record their unique past-times.   Thanks to some excellent footage captured by these top users, demand for GoPro among the wider public has soared.  Attach the camera to your head, car, bike, surf board, skate board… press record and do your thing.  Today GoPro is available in 3 different flavours, and a couple of very recent revisions.

GoPro White Edition:
Entry point to the GoPro range, the White Edition packs all the fun and waterproof ruggedness into a low cost package, ideally suited to casual/family use.  GoPro White is compatible with all of the GoPro mounts and accessories and still features built in Wi-Fi connectivity for Smartphone/Tablet remote control.  Full 1080 HD video capture is present with 5MP stills and the same 60m waterproof housing as higher models in the range.

GoPro Silver and Silver+ Edition:
Middle child of the GoPro set, the Silver Edition builds on the specs of the White Edition increasing the still photo resolution to 11MP, time lapse and adding a 10 frame per second burst shooting, advanced recording modes such as looping video, manual white balance and ProTune aimed at cinematic colour grading.  The new Silver+ improvements include reduced size and weight, 30% better battery life, faster Wi-Fi access and better lens optics for even sharper footage.

GoPro Black+ Edition:
Feature packed and among the most wanted, the GoPro Black+ Edition crams so much into its tiny form factor to easily please even the most discerning video adventurer.  Used by professionals in the sports broadcasting, documentary filmmaking and news/journalism fields and loved by enthusiasts the world over.  The GoPro Black+ Edition comes bundled with its own wireless waterproof remote, ability to record higher than Full HD at 4K and 2.7K resolutions, slow motion capture of up to 120fps as well as improvements to low light capabilities and still image capture and a better lens, smaller (by 30%) form factor and better battery life than the recently replaced Black Edition.

Competitive Spirit

While GoPro are the undisputed kings of action cameras, there are still two places on the podium.  Contour and Sony both have enviable reputations in the marketplace.

Contour
Contour, one of the original action camera manufacturers has two cameras in their current range, the ROAM2 and the +2.

ROAM2:

This is the entry level Contour camera and features a 270 degree f2.8 lens projecting onto a high quality 5 megapixel sensor.  This camera records at full high definition at 30fps and high definition at 60fps and is waterproof without a case down to 1 metre with an optional housing that goes down to 60 metres.   The lens rotates 270 degrees for level mounting on any angle surface and has an easy to activate record button.

+2:

The +2 has a lot of the same features as the ROAM2 but with a better quality lens and better low light performance. It also features built in GPS functionality and Bluetooth connectivity.  It also does full high definition video and 120fps slow motion video at 480p.

Sony

Sony has just announced its all-new Action Cam HDR-AS100V (as detailed in our blog below) – it’s a new splash proof wearable video camera that records high-quality Full HD pictures. Due in Australia in March.

Currently available, the Sony HDRAS30V is an awesome action camera from the electronics giant.  It is almost the same as far as sensor and lens (170° Ultra-Wide Angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens) as the previous version but with a few new tricks added to keep it very current.   This video camera uses the excellent Exmor R Back-Illuminated CMOS sensor for great colour reproduction and very good low light performance.  The recording options go up to 60fps at full high definition or high definition at 120fps.  You can also record slow motion video at 120fps or 60fps at a resolution of 1280 x 720p.  Still images can be captured at 11.9 megapixels.  Connectivity options are ample with the camera featuring Wi-Fi and NFC compatibility.  It also has GPS built in, of course.  You can buy this with an LCD housing to give it an LCD screen so it can be used as a normal camcorder and it also has a universal mount adapter included to fit all of your existing GoPro mounts.  This camera is excellent value for money.

So, when looking around for cameras to capture your adventures don’t just limit yourself to the GoPro range.   There are a lot of options out there for recording high quality video footage of you and your friends crashing/jumping/winning/riding your favourite extreme sports.

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Shooting Haunted Houses and Kids (for Halloween)

We like to turn any event, celebration, gathering, holiday and weekend into a reason to take photos. And with Halloween coming up and the potential for lots of ghouly and gruesome night shots, we thought some hints and tips would be useful.

Capturing special effects and lighting

When photographing houses to capture special effects and lighting, long exposure photography is a great option. You will be able to capture the decorations and special Halloween lighting on houses.

In terms of equipment, use a sturdy tripod to keep your camera steady and your photos sharp - some exposures can be as long as 30 seconds which is impossible to hand hold.  

To get the best results, shoot with a moderately low ISO in the range of 100-400, to keep sensor noise to a minimum.  This will give a much cleaner result to your shot.  

Shoot in RAW to give yourself the ability to recover detail in bright and dark areas in your post processing flow.  When taking the photo use a cable release, either a wired or wireless one; this will prevent camera shake if you accidentally move the camera when pressing the shutter button at the start of your exposure.  

Experiment with your exposure to get the best result, overexpose by a couple of stops to see what the results looks like. No need to follow the rules, just have fun!

Capturing the creepy kids!

It’s not just decorations and lighting you will want to capture. Taking photos of your kids in costume can be great fun.  Using some off-camera flash with gels can add awesome light to your image.  A good trick is to fire the flash from behind your child-zombie who is facing toward the camera. This will give a backlit silhouette effect that looks great.  Try with any colour gel (a green or orange one looks great).  
 

Placing the flash in different places around your kids to change the effect and using a slower shutter (approximately 1/8 of a second) will also capture any lights or decorations in the background.  This is great for ambience and to help set the scene.  For this type of shoot you will need a DSLR, an off-camera flash, flash trigger and some gels.  If you hand hold the camera, be sure to increase your ISO to capture the background lights.  

This should be a fun shoot. Experiment with anything you can think of - there are no limits to what you can try!

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Sony A7 and A7R Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Sony have just announced their brand new range of Mirrorless cameras with a catch - they're FULL FRAME! The exciting release of the A7 and A7R will be a sweet aroma to Sony fans and photographers seeking DSLR quality images in a much smaller and lighter form. It will also act as a call-to-action challenge for the rest of the industry to play catch up as Sony paves the way by introducing the first full-frame of its kind in the photographic market.



Key Features -

 

A7 -

• 24.3MP Full Frame
• Dust & Moisture proof
• 50P AVCHD Video
• 5fps Shooting
• 2.4MP Viewfinder
• WiFi & NFC
• Camera Apps

A7R -

• 36.4MP Full Frame
• Dust & Moisture proof
• 50P AVCHD Video
• 4fps Shooting
• 2.4MP Viewfinder
• WiFi & NFC
• No Low-pass Filter

 

 

Alongside this release, several new full-frame Zeiss E-Mount Lenses will also be released including a 35mm f/2.8 (available late 2013), 55mm f/1.8 and 24-70mm (available early 2014). Just like the recent Olympus OM-D E-M1 announcement, the Sony A7 and A7R models will be much sought after this Christmas so register your interest today to receive the latest news update for pre-ordering this compact masterpiece.

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Compact Cameras

Compact cameras are increasingly getting better with each new generation.  Even with improvements across-the-board there are some that still have an additional level of quality coupled with a better feature set. 

The high end compact is home to several models that approach the quality and usability of DSLR cameras without the added weight. They aren't cheap but the trade-off is its superior build and photographic quality.  

There are a number of compacts aimed at the advanced amateur or professional photographer seeking high image quality and performance in a compact sized body.

 

The Sony RX1R is a full frame, 24.3MP camera equipped with a 35mm Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* f2 lens and has no optical low pass filter for improved detail in the final photograph. It has a high quality magnesium alloy body and a manual aperture ring which can be adjusted in 1/3 stops to obtain the optimal setting. A +/-3 stop compensation dial located on the top for quick access to exposure compensation while in auto mode. While the ISO range extends to 25600 for extreme low light shooting. This camera also features Sony’s excellent WhiteMagic LCD screen and is currently the smallest compact digital camera with a full frame sensor available in the market.

 

The Canon G1X has a 28mm (35mm equivalent) 4x optical zoom with an aperture range of f2.8 - 5.8.  The camera packs a 14.3MP CMOS Sensor which is about 20% smaller than an APS-C Sensor.  The G1X has full manual control with an exposure compensation dial on the top with a +/- 3 stop range.  It also features a HDR mode for photographs with a high dynamic range. It will shoot 14 bit RAW images for smooth colour gradation and even shoots in different aspect ratios if you prefer 1:1 or 3:4.  This camera is also compatible with a range of Canon Speedlite Flash Units.

 

The Fujifilm X100s is a classically styled compact camera that is the successor to the ever popular, if a little flawed, X100.  It features Fujifilm’s new 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor which also has no optical low pass filter to unleash extra sharpness and detail. The camera’s updated processor speed is now doubled and substantially increases the autofocus speed over its predecessor (this was a widely discussed issue with the original X100).  The fixed lens sports a 35mm focal length and a fast f/2 maximum aperture for brilliant low-light photography or beautifully blurred backgrounds for those up-close portraits.  The lens also has a very high level of optical sharpness, making it an ideal street photography tool.  The leaf-type shutter is near silent and the menus are very easy to navigate.  It also features filters that recreate classic Fuji films such as the ‘Velvia’ which was highly favoured by landscape and wedding photographers seeking vibrantly saturated properties.

 

 

The Nikon Coolpix A has a 28mm (35mm equivalent) f /2.8 lens and a DX sized (same size as their crop frame DSLR cameras) 16.2MP Sensor.  Similar to the other cameras mentioned above, the Coolpix A also has no optical low pass filter for ultimate image quality. It is the smallest camera in this round up and is very easy to carry around in your pocket for quick access, making it great for street and spontaneous photographic moments.  The Coolpix A may also be paired with an iOS or Android device with the optional mobile adapter for convenient image sharing with your family, friends and favourite social media site. Additionally, manual focus is available by using the manual focus adjustment ring around the lens.

This is not an exhaustive list of high-end compacts and there are a few more that are definitely considering if you’re in search of one.  Come in to one of our stores, give us a call on 1300 365 220 or check out our website if you want further info. on these camera types.  As always, we are happy to talk about all things photography!

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Documentary and Photojournalist Tips and Techniques

Shooting in a documentary or journalistic style is a really good way to produce a strong and coherent body of work on a subject you are passionate about.  Unfortunately it’s not always easy to get the results you want.  We have a few preparation tips for events or assignments which you wish to photograph as a story. This could range from your kids first soccer match to a harder hitting subject.  Whatever the story is, there are some key things that will enable you to be capture-ready when that perfect moment occurs.  To get a head start on telling your story, read on....

 

The most important thing is to be prepared with batteries fully charged (both primary and spares), testing them in-camera to ensure all necessary gear is in good working order. Triple-check your camera settings before you begin to confirm everything is a-ok. Don’t forget to also obtain permission to shoot the event if required.  

Have a pre-determined idea of the story you wish to tell and think about the type of shots needed to tell that story effectively. An example might be a wide-angle shot of a factory to set the stage, a few portraits of factory workers and some candid photos of their day-to-day experiences.  Remember to be patient as you may not always get the shot on day one. The photographic style you choose can say a lot about the subject and the aim should be to always show the reality of the subject’s situation. The challenge is to capture the humanity in the scene and this only comes from practice, patience and experience.

Keep in mind you may need to do some homework before you start.  Check with the organisers (if applicable) of the event to see if there are any restricted subjects or areas and if you need a permit to shoot in a specific location. If it's a public event held on public property then you should generally be fine to simply show up and shoot.  If you do have a meeting with anyone in the lead up to an event make sure you are punctual and act in a professional manner.  This will give you credibility and shows that you have respect for them as well.

Some factors to consider during your project is – ‘How will you present the finished folio?’ ‘Will it be in colour or black and white (or both)?’ ‘Are you going to print them or will it only be viewable online?’ Also take note of locations, dates, times and names as you shoot because the photos will need to be given context with a few words attached to each image.  People need to know what they are seeing and their significance as it pertains to the overall portfolio.  Documentary photos rarely speak for themselves.

The equipment required is very personal and also dependent on the story type.  For some stories, being unobtrusive and ‘under-the-radar’ is essential so therefore using a compact but high-quality camera is important.  Some suggestions would be the Fujifilm X100s , Sony RX1, Leica X2 or Olympus OM-D-E5 . These are all compact cameras with serious sensors and high quality optics yet they are hard to notice and whisper quiet when shooting with them.

If there is no need for a low-profile then feel free to equip yourself with what you think will be needed and that you can deal with carrying around all-day.  For me it would be the Canon 16-35, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f 2.8 (or equivalent lengths in your chosen brand) or a combination of two of these depending on the situation.  Also, two strobes may come in handy with two Gorillapods to hold them in position should an opportunity arise to set up some posed portraits. A small tripod with an adapter can work as a light stand or a tripod when required.

Check out these links to get inspired by some talented photojournalists.

*Please note that the following links are to external sites and may contain photos of a mature nature so reader discretion is advised.

Verve Photo - photos and links to some of the best photographers in this field.

The New York Times Lens blog - excellent photography with each entry telling a story from The New York Times.

Tatiana Cardeal - a mixture of travel and photojournalist work.

Sanjit Das - some great reportage stories and great photography.

Once you're feeling inspired why not give it a go and enter the Sydney Morning Herald Photos1440 Challenge!  Great prizes are on offer for the best of the best including a Canon 5D Mk3 Pro kit (includes a 24-70 f2.8 II Lens), an internship with The Sydney Morning Herald and prizes from Digital Camera Warehouse!  The challenge is 'Capturing the minutes of the day' and the winning entrants will be displayed as part of The Sydney Morning Herald exhibition - Photos1440 capturing the minutes of the day.  The exhibition is proudly presented by Canon Australia.

Good luck and don't forget to share with us your results on our Facebook page or right here on this blog.

 

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Prime Lenses - A Quick Guide

Canon 50mm EF f/1.8 II aka 'Nifty Fifty' 


A prime lens is a lens with only one focal length, like a 50mm or 100mm lens.  They are different from zooms which have a varying focal length such as an 18-55mm 'kit' lens most people buy with their first DSLR.  Shooting with a prime lens is one of the quickest ways to improve your photography.  It makes you think about your image more and forces you to get out of the zoom lens habit.  If you think that you've hit the creative wall and are looking for something to kick start your passion again or are looking for a different angle with your photography than read on to find out how a prime lens can help.

Advantages of a prime lens over a zoom -
Optical quality for even entry level prime lenses is usually better than or equal to all but the most expensive zoom lenses.  This is due to the fact that fixed focal length lenses are less likely to suffer from excessive chromatic aberration (colour fringing near the edge of the frame), barrel or pincushion distortion than a lot of zoom lenses.  A prime is also lighter and more compact than a zoom and is easier to carry around all day.

Disadvantages of a prime lens over a zoom -
You will need to carry around several prime lenses to cover the same range of a single zoom lens.  Changing focal length is sometimes the only way to get a shot if you can't physically move your position.  Changing lenses less often with a zoom can keep more dust out of your sensor area.  A professional level zoom can have very high quality optics but at a much higher cost (you get what you pay for). 

I carry around 24mm, 50mm and 100mm lenses in my kit bag for when I go out for a day’s shooting.  I also have a 24-70mm Canon L series lens for professional work as the optics are very good and there is no time to change lenses on a fast paced shoot.  For street and architecture I almost always use a prime lens as the situation is a bit more predictable, particularly architecture as buildings don't tend to move much.  The 50mm is my favorite for portraits as the shallow depth of field is very effective at isolating my subject and I find the perspective to be quite natural. 


Olympus Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 'Pancake'

A Few Tips -
With a bit of practice you can become quite quick at changing lenses on the fly.  Keep your surroundings in mind while changing lenses, keep an eye on things like rain, high dust environments and always face the camera in a downwards direction as this helps stop things falling inside the mirror box.

You can get a prime lens for a surprisingly small amount of money and it can be a great way to get inspired again, plus, isn't it always nice to buy some new glass?

Check out our wide range of lenses HERE. 

- Marc Busoli @ DCW

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The Compact System Camera (CSC)

To begin with, what exactly is a Compact System Camera (CSC)?  A compact system camera is a cross between a Digital SLR and a point-and-shoot camera.  They also have interchangeable lenses but unlike a traditional SLR they have no internal mirror. This makes them a lot smaller in size but maintains the image quality of a crop-frame DSLR.  This camera type is a good alternative to a full-size DSLR kit due to the high quality results housed within a much smaller and lighter set up. All the major manufacturers have released at least one CSC model - Canon have the EOS M, Nikon have the 1-Series and Fujifilm have the X-Series.  Panasonic and Olympus both use the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) standard which enables these two companies' lenses to be interchangeable. 







Fujifilm XE-1



We find two main purchases of compact system cameras with the first being the point-and-shoot upgrader who are looking to step-up to a better camera system with potentially much better results.  The second is the DSLR owner who seeks similar image quality as their current kit but in a smaller form factor and without the added bulk.

 

 

Advantages over full-frame DSLR cameras -

 

Smaller (more discrete), lighter and a shorter flange focal distance allows almost any lens ever made to be adapted to a CSC body. This allows you to adapt all your existing lenses to many CSC bodies.  Greater depth of field can be achieved due to smaller sensor size but shallow depth of field can be harder to achieve.

 

Disadvantages over full-frame DSLR cameras -

 

The sensor size is 35% smaller than an APS-C sensor (with the exception of the Canon EOS M series which utilizes an APS-C sensor) and 75% smaller than a full-frame camera. Generally, a digital SLR is easier to keep clean due to the mirror and shutter mechanisms offering basic dust protection.







Sony NEX-6



More and more people are discovering the advantages of a smaller system that still has all the functionality of a DSLR system. The weight advantage means it’s a breeze for photographers to travel with a full focal range of lenses and still be able to comfortably lift their camera bag. The lens selection is really starting to grow to a point where a lot of focal lengths and lens types found in a DSLR range are now available to the CSC photographer without compromise on quality.  Fujifilm have released a 14mm X-Series lens which is an excellent piece of glass while the Panasonic 25mm Leica lens is arguably one of the best lenses available in the CSC category. The focal lengths available range from 14mm wide all the way up to 600mm in 35mm equivalents.   



Metabones Nikon F to Sony E-mount Adapter

Additionally, this doesn't include all the lenses that can be adapted to the CSC format via a range of third party adapters that are fast becoming more widely available. This is great news as it means you’re now able to mount a majority of old lenses you may have in storage (such as any old Nikon or Canon FD lenses) to your new compact camera. Bear in mind that the focal multiplier for CSC systems vary from 1.6x to 2x depending on which system you adopt. Therefore your old 50mm lens could potentially become a 75mm or even 100mm in focal length!  



Lenses such as the Nikkor D-Series are popular due to its manual aperture ring and functions. If a manual aperture ring is absent, the lens will still function but will remain locked to the aperture’s setting when unattached to a body. E.g. Canon EF lenses will always remain at their widest aperture.



Olympus OM-D E5

The compact system camera is definitely here to stay. It's not for everyone but it does fill a void in the market for a high quality yet compact camera with interchangeable lenses and is becoming quite regular for amateurs and even advanced enthusiasts to sell their DSLR kit in order to set themselves up with a compact camera that is easier to use and more convenient to carry.  

 

 

Drop in to one of our stores and check out our range of compact system cameras including the three listed below to see if it’s the right move for you!

Fujifilm X-E1  |  Olympus OM-D E5  |  Sony NEX-6

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