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THE IMAGING RESOURCE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWSLETTER
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Volume 16, Number 14 - 11 July 2014
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Copyright 2014, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved.
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Welcome to the 391st edition of The Imaging Resource Newsletter!
Welcome to your regularly scheduled Imaging Resource Newsletter for July 11th! As always, we've got another issue filled to the brim with all sorts of camera reviews, lens reviews and photo news! To start things off, we've got a triple play of Shooter's Reports, the first two being our second installments of the high-ISO, speed demon Nikon D4S, as well as the popular, advanced compact camera, the Sony RX100 III. The third shooter's report is a full report on the updated Canon G1X Mark II enthusiast compact camera.
Also in the review section is a lens review on a unique Micro Four Third telephoto zoom lens -- the Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8. This fast, compact tele-zoom fills the 70-200mm-equivalent gap in the M43 lens arsenal, and based on our results, does it rather well.
In the Quick Hits section, it's a grand slam of sample gallery images. Four hot cameras have gone out in the field for some real-world shooting: the Sony A7S, the Panasonic FZ1000, the Nikon V3 and the Nikon P340. We've got full-frame, superzoom, compact mirrorless and advanced pocket cam all covered with this batch of gallery photos!
And finally, we also take some time to answer a few reader questions, as well as share some of the most popular news stories from this past week.
Happy reading!
TOPICS
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- Get Social with IR
- Sponsors
- Reviews:
- Nikon D4S Shooter's Report Part II
- Sony RX1000 III Shooter's Report Part II
- Canon G1 X Mark II Shooter's Report
- Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 Lens Review
- Quick Hits:
- Sony A7S Sample Gallery Images
- Panasonic FZ1000 Sample Gallery Images
- Nikon V3 Sample Gallery Images
- Nikon P340 Sample Gallery Images
- Reader Mail
- Popular News
- Next Issue
- Signoff
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SPONSORS
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Camera Review: Nikon D4S Shooter�s Report II
The flagship DSLR is back in its element, shooting sports of all sorts
by�Mike Tomkins
When we kicked off our�Nikon D4S review�recently, we looked at this flagship professional DSLR�from the point of view of a well-to-do enthusiast who might be looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest, in search of a more responsive, pro-grade experience. Now, Imaging Resource reviewer Eamon Hickey is back with�Part II of his Nikon D4S Shooter's Report, and he's taken the mighty shooter back into its element.
Where the first part of the Shooter's Report saw Eamon shooting relatively static subjects -- landscapes,�predominantly -- for the second part it's all action and event photography. The D4S goes back to its natural environment shooting a variety of different sports, and Eamon also replicates the experience of shooting a wedding reception at a somewhat-similar event. (Except, that is, for a greater predominance of Nobel laureates than the typical wedding!)
And how did the Nikon D4S take to these more challenging subjects? Find out now in�Part II of our Nikon D4S Shooter's Report, and check in�the gallery�for an expanded selection of photos including both raws and out-of-camera JPEGs. And if you've not already seen Eamon's first thoughts on the camera, take a look at�Part I of the Shooter's Report, as well!)
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Camera Review: Sony RX1000 III Shooter's Report Part II
Time for a road trip! A change of scenery in coastal Virginia
by�Mike Tomkins
For my�first Shooter's Report�with the�Sony RX100 III�enthusiast compact, I took to the skies in a 1920s Ford Trimotor airliner. Pretty cool, but how to follow that up? Well, dreary weather was in the forecast here in Knoxville last week, so I decided to head to the coast for a change of pace and some new scenery.
Specifically, I drove eight-plus hours to Norfolk, Virginia, the nearest seaside town with sunny weather. And with lots of driving to do in each direction, I stopped over in two other towns en-route: sleepy little Marion, and handsome, pedestrian-friendly Roanoke. And it wasn't just the Sony RX100 III along for the ride, either. I brought both of its earlier siblings -- the�Sony RX100 and�RX100 II�-- for some side-by-side shooting both in the daytime, and in low light. My goal: To answer which of the trio offered the best shooting companion out in the real world.
Want to see what I thought of the Sony RX100 III, and how it compared to the earlier models on my whirlwind Virginia vacation? Read�Part II of my Sony RX100 III Shooter's Report, and take a look at the latest additions to my�Sony RX100 III sample photo gallery.
(And if you're considering one of the earlier models as an alternative -- or considering upgrading -- check out the updates to the�RX100�and�RX100 II galleries, as well.) Spoiler alert: I am liking this new model a lot, and you're probably going to as well!
Click here for Part II of the Shooter's Report, or if you've not already read the first part of the Sony RX100 III Shooter's Report,�start there instead!
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Camera Review: Canon G1 X Mark II Shooter's Report
Big and beautiful, but is it better?
Article by William Brawley | Review by Tim Barribeau
Two years ago, Canon announced its first -- and until now, only -- entry in the large-sensor, fixed-lens camera market, the PowerShot G1 X. And what an entry it was -- until the G1 X, no manufacturer had introduced a large-sensor compact with a zoom lens. While impressive on some fronts, there where a few rough edges here and there. Now, the Canon G1 X Mark II offers a response to those criticisms, and looks to be an altogether more well-rounded camera all in all.
Our reviewer, Tim Barribeau, spent some time with the G1 X Mark II, and the camera does indeed address some of the shortcomings of the earlier model, such as size -- it's smaller and sleeker -- and the new lens is wider, longer and brighter. However, given todays market of more affordable, large sensor compacts and mirrorless cameras, the $800 super-solid and heavy G1 X Mark II may give potential buyers more reason to pause and consider alternatives.
From Tim himself:
"For many people, the Canon G-series (and perhaps the Panasonic LX series) were the first name in point-and-shoot cameras for more advanced photographers. Professionals, journalists, and serious hobbyists kept them in their bags, at the ready, as a smaller alternative to an SLR. While the G1X II is a notable improvement from its predecessor, both externally and internally, with the explosion in other high-end compacts, I'm just not sure that it can retain that position."
Head on over to read Tim's�Canon G1 X Mark II Shooter's Report�to see for yourself how Canon's latest large-sensor, enthusiast compact camera handles and performs.
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12.5mm (24mm eq.), f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO 100 |
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12.5mm (24mm eq.), f/2.8, 1/60s, ISO 400 |
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12.5mm (24mm eq.), f/4, 1/80s, ISO 125, Vivid |
[Quick Links:�Canon G1 X Mark II���Lab Shots���Sample Gallery���Shooter's Report]
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Lens Review: Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8
The only 70-200mm-eq. lens for Micro Four Thirds hits the sweet spot
by Andrew Alexander
Probably the most frequently-used lens in any professional photographer's bag is a 70-200mm �/2.8, and Panasonic has created a product that fills this gap in its Micro Four-Thirds series (and Olympus's for that matter): the�35-100mm �/2.8 POWER OIS LUMIX G X VARIO HD.
The lens produces an effective 70-200mm field of view, when you consider the 2x crop factor of the Micro Four-Thirds sensor; it's also equipped with all the bells and whistles, including optical image stabilization, a nano-surface coating to reduce ghosting and flaring, and a near-silent autofocus motor designed to work seamlessly with HD movie capture.
Results are impressive with this relatively-lightweight tele-zoom. Images are very sharp, even wide open, and CA and vignetting are hardly of any concern. Distortion is also extremely low. With great optical qualities, built-in optical image stabilization and a lightweight-yet-high-quality build, the Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 lens seems like no-brainer for Micro Four Thirds photographers looking for a fast, telephoto zoom lens.
Head on over to SLRgear to read the full�Panasonic�35-100mm �/2.8 POWER OIS LUMIX G X VARIO HD review, complete with our in-depth report, final conclusion as well as our full range of test results and sample images.
The Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 lens is currently available for just shy of $1,500. You can purchase this lens from one of our trusted affiliates:�Amazon,�Adorama, and�B&H. [Purchasing this lens, or any other product from one of our trusted affiliates helps support this site and keeps these reviews coming!]
In the meantime, check out some sample photos shot by our senior lens technician Rob Murray using this lens on the Panasonic GX1. You can view more sample photos, plus download the full-resolution files, over at�our Flickr page.
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GX1: 70mm, f/2.8, 1/2500s, ISO 160 |
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GX1: 70mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 160 |
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GX1: 80mm, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 160 |
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QUICK HITS
Sony A7S sample gallery images: The low-res, high-ISO sibling in the �A7 trio� goes out in the real world
by�William Brawley
Not long after Sony introduced the�A7�and�A7R�full-frame mirrorless cameras, the company had photographers scratching their heads, as it prepared to announce a�third�A7-series camera, the�Sony A7S. It couldn't be a replacement so soon, so what was the purpose of this third model?
The Sony A7S, it turned out, rounded out a trio of cameras nicely tuned to fit the specific needs of different photographers. The A7 is the all-rounder with on-chip phase detect autofocus, the A7R is the high-resolution monster, and the A7S is the high-ISO powerhouse that also doubles as a 4K video camera.
Eschewing the megapixel race, the A7S opts for an all-new 12.2-megapixel sensor with huge pixels -- by current standards, at least -- as well as some unique tweaks aimed at increasing dynamic range. The combination promises unprecedented low-light performance. By default, the Sony A7S has a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 102,400 equivalents for still imaging or video. This range can be expanded to encompass everything from ISO 50 to 409,600 equivalents in still shooting, and ISO 100 to 409,600 equivalents for video.
We've run the A7S through�the gauntlet�in our test lab, and now it's time to see how the Sony A7S does with�some real-world shooting. Over the holiday weekend, I had a chance to see how this new Sony camera handled, particularly with high ISO shots. This is the first time I've shot with a camera that has the ability to use these ludicrously high ISO sensitivities. Shooting on RAW+JPEG and setting the Auto ISO to the maximum range -- 100 to 409,600 -- I set out ready to shoot in any condition, well-lit or otherwise.
(Note: The Sony A7S, as with other A7-series cameras, cannot currently shoot in RAW and "Extra fine" quality JPEG simultaneously. Knowing that a lot our readers appreciate RAW files for sample images, I shot these current samples in RAW+JPEG mode, which means these JPEGs were saved using the cameras "Fine" quality setting. In subsequent sample images with the A7S, I will provide a number of them in "Extra Fine" quality.)
While the super-high ISO shots, unsurprisingly, display noticeable noise, they still retain a lot of fine detail, which is quite an impressive feat, given the sensitivity levels we're talking about here. As expected from a full-frame camera, the low ISO shots also look very good with lots of fine detail and nice colors. Head over the�Sony A7S gallery page�for a look at all the new real-world sample images.�
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A7S + Sony Zeiss FE 24-70mm f/4: 24mm, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 100�
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A7S + Sony FE 70-200mm f/4: 116mm, f/4, 1/125s, ISO 20,000 |
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Impressive detail for ISO 160,000! Shot in a very dimly-lit living room on a very dark bookshelf.
A7S + Sony Zeiss FE 24-70 f/4: 54mm, f/4, 1/60s, ISO 160,000 |
[Quick Links:�Sony A7S Preview���First Shots���Gallery Images]
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Other quick hits:
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Reader Mail
Hello IR,
I recently "downgraded" from a Fuji S2500HD to a Panasonic ZS20. In a phase of nostalgia I repeatedly find myself bringing the camera to my eye, only to sadly remember that it lacks a viewfinder. The screen is fine in most cases, but should I decide to shoot in bright sun or a darkened theater, it's not at all convenient.
So I was quite excited when I stumbled upon this "screen-to-viewfinder" accessory on Amazon.
Apparently these things attach to your screen and make it into one big viewfinder. Goofy appearance aside, I'm seriously interested in buying one of these.
Do you guys have any experience with this kind of accessory? Are they any good? I'd appreciate any comments that you have.
Sincerely,
Roma Khudoleyev
� � � Hi Roma,
I've used a similar viewfinder device like this with a couple Canon DSLRs, primary for video recording and manual focusing. If it works like the one I used -- mine was a different brand than the one you linked to ("LCDVF" brand)-- then, overall, it's quite nice. The magnetic rim is thin and unobtrusive when you're not using the accessory viewfinder, and the external VF gadget itself clicks on strongly. The view inside is nice and dark, and the enlarged view of the rear LCD is crisp. Note: on this particular viewfinder, there's no diopter adjustment, which could be an issue if you wear eyeglasses.
Like you said, it does look a bit on the goofy side, but the main downside I found is it can fog up inside the eyecup when using it humid climates -- being in the Southeastern United States as we are, you tend run in to that problem. ;-)
For $24, I'd say give it a try (plus with Amazon, you can always return it). It should do nicely to block out the glare of the sun or work in darker locations without disturbing others with a bright LCD screen. Oh, and be careful not to angle the camera up toward the sun with the viewfinder attached -- as it's basically a magnifying glass on the back of your camera -- you could run the risk of burning or melting part of your camera!
-William B.
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Greetings Dave,
Really appreciate the excellent reviews of various new cameras & lens!
My question is "Can 35mm film camera Zeiss T* 28mm F2.8; 50mm F1.7& 135mm F2.8 lens for CONTAX SLRs be used for SONY or any brand of DSLR at all?"
Look forward to your reply. Many thanks!
Regards,
Henry
� � � Hi Henry,
I have good news. Yes, with the proper adapter, you can use old Zeiss Contax/Yashica lenses for Sony A-mount cameras, as well as Canon EOS, Nikon and Pentax cameras. Check out the mount converter/adapter maker Leitax for more information (here's the main Contax-to-Sony page: http://www.leitax.com/Zeiss-Contax-lens-for-Sony-cameras.html). Looks to be a bit of a DIY solution, but they provide nice step-by-step instructions. There are other adapters out there, from makers like Fotodiox, for example, and various ones on Amazon/eBay that look like involve less disassembly.
-William B.
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DJ1156@xxxxxxx,
I have am Olympus OM-D EM-5; is there a way to do double exposures or split frame pics with this system.
� � � Hi there,
You can do multiple exposures with the E-M5. To do this, go to Shooting Menu 2, scroll down to Multiple Exposure, select "2F" in the Frame Menu. Now, go back to shooting and take your first shot. This photo will then be transparently overlaid on the screen to help you compose the second exposure. Then take the second shot and the camera will combine the shots for a double exposure image.
As for split frame pictures, there is a new "Photo Story" mode that lets you take various shots and combine them into a multi-framed/split image composition, however this was introduced after the E-M5 was released -- this mode is currently only available on the E-P5, E-M1, E-M10 and Stylus 1, Stylus SH-1, and TG-3.
-William B.
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POPULAR ON THE SITE
At http://www.imaging-resource.com/news you can keep track of the photo news on our main site. Among the most popular stories over the last couple of weeks:
- Sony RX10 vs. Panasonic FZ1000: We pit the camera that had no equal against Panasonic�s 4K challenger
- Ultra-sensitive Sony A7S gets better denoising with DxO Optics Pro; RX100 III and more also supported
- Dream job: being the official photographer of the US Air Force Thunderbirds squad
- Fireworks flight lands drone flier in FAA fracas
- Olympus UK introduces the PEN E-PL6, a slightly refreshed E-PL5
- See the striking impact that lighting, make-up and post-processing have on a model�s looks in this video
- Sony A77 II �bursts� onto the scene at a fraction of the price of pro SLRs (Video)
NEXT ISSUE
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We'll see you next on July 25, with a regularly scheduled edition (and lots more news and analysis to share)!
SIGNOFF
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Happy snapping!
Dave Etchells & the IR Editorial Team
nleditor@imaging-resource.com
(Please use this email address for any questions or other correspondence; it's the only one we're checking these days for Newsletter-related reader emails.)
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