Review Digital Camera World 04-08-2014

Digital Camera World

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5 ways to compose an image for supreme impact: easy tips to train your creative eye Apr 7th 2014, 23:01, by jmeyer It's all too easy to get into the habit of taking every shot from eye-level, and using the same type of lens. Here are five sure-fire ways to find a fresh perspective and compose an image with supreme impact. We all do it: we see a scene we want to shoot, raise the camera up to our eye and take a shot. But if that's how you take every shot, you're missing out on a whole range of possible viewpoints and perspectives. Why not try getting up higher, shooting from ground level or even just using a completely different focal length? Any one of these simple steps can help give you a whole new outlook on your subject, and that's often the first step to making your shots stand out. So, here are five great ways to get a new take on a familiar subject, and you don't have to stop there – next time you get your camera out to take a shot, just ask yourself: what if I shot this from down on the ground or from higher up? You never know, you might just like what you find. SEE MORE: Camera angles – 5 ways to add impact with unusual perspectives Compose an image with impact: 01 Shoot low for portraits Get a new perspective on your portrait shots by getting low and looking up at your subject What’s the angle? Rather than shoot at eye level, you need to get down low. This will normally mean that you'll have to lie on the floor, unless you can find a vantage point such as steps or stairs where the model can get higher than you. Angling the subject in the frame can also help make the portrait composition more dynamic – just make sure your subject is looking straight down into the camera lens or out to the horizon. Anything else is likely to look distinctly unflattering. SEE MORE: The 10 Rules of Photo Composition (and why they work) When it works Your subject needs to look confident to carry off this style of portrait, but it can work really well for moody portraits. It's also a great way to give your portraits a more dynamic, stylish look. It works especially well for full-length portraits set against a dramatic background, as in our example image. Why it works A low viewpoint can give your portraits a fresh, vibrant feel, as it's not one that you normally see. It also makes your subject more dominant, as they appear much higher than the viewer, so can give them a much stronger look than shooting at eye level. Things to watch out for Using a low viewpoint and a wide-angle lens can lead to some distortion, which isn't always the most flattering look. How to compose an image with impact: 01 Shoot low for portraits How to compose an image with impact: 02 Shoot high for cityscapes How to compose an image with impact: 03 Shoot close for sports How to compose an image with impact: 04 Shoot upwards for abstracts How to compose an image with impact: 05 Shoot long for landscapes READ MORE Crop photos the right way: classic mistakes and how to avoid them 10 common camera mistakes every photographer makes Flash Portraits: creative off-camera lighting techniques you have to try Shoot Like A Pro: outdoor portrait photography made easy How to compose a photograph – start seeing images where you never saw them before Download 5 free issues of our magazines! Apr 7th 2014, 13:30, by jmeyer For a very limited time we’re giving readers the opportunity to download five of our digital photo magazines for free! No catches, no obligations, simply download copies of Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Photography Week and Practical Photoshop for free and get a taste of what each has to offer. Below we’ve provided some details of what’s in each of the issues we’re giving away for free. Click here to get started Don’t miss out! Offer ends 11th April. PhotoPlus (issue 85) We preview the new Canon budget/beginner EOS 1200D, help you master your Canon camera and learn all the essentials in just one weekend, our Apprentice learns how to take beautiful boudoir portraits, and we have projects on how to use a polariser, how to take candid portraits, how to create a mono montage, and how to take close-ups of water droplets, complete with free videos. In our 8-page guide we explain all you need to know about HDR, from shooting Raw images to using Photoshop, while in Workshop we delve into the in-camera HDR mode. We put the new Sigma 24-105mm against Canon's 24-105mm L-series lens, test eight great macro lenses, and try five home studio lighting kits. Digital Camera (issue 149) Highlights include a great cover feature on creative macro skills for your house and garden, an interview with top author Michael Freeman, a round-up of the best system cameras and some great free gifts! We're talking about a free mini-mag on core SLR skills (disc only), handy wallet-sized tips cards on cool 'slow' waterfalls, portraits and more, and a packed video disc. N-Photo (issue 30) In this issue of the multi-award-winning Nikon monthly we show you how to sell your shots, we interview legendary Magnum travel photographer Steve McCurry, discover the best way to get great shots of steam trains, and test out eight Nikon-fit flashguns. And there are eight free Nikon Skills videos too! Photography Week (issue 78) Never been on a dawn photoshoot before…? Then you don’t know what you’re missing! This issue’s feature explains why, and takes you step-by-step through the skills you need to make the most of any early morning shoot, and to transform your landscape photography in the process. Plus, we talk to photographer and author Steve Davey about what it takes to make it as a fulPhotoPlus (issue 85) We preview the new Canon budget/beginner EOS 1200D, help you master your Canon camera and learn all the essentials in just one weekend, our Apprentice learns how to take beautiful boudoir portraits, and we have projects on how to use a polariser, how to take candid portraits, how to create a mono montage, and how to take close-ups of water droplets, complete with free videos. In our 8-page guide we explain all you need to know about HDR, from shooting Raw images to using Photoshop, while in Workshop we delve into the in-camera HDR mode. We put the new Sigma 24-105mm against Canon's 24-105mm L-series lens, test eight great macro lenses, and try five home studio lighting kits. Practical Photoshop (issue 36) Discover how to get great results with Lightroom, tweak tones to perfection, boost colours and extract detail. We also show you how to get creative with brushes and add split-tone effects on the go using Photoshop Touch on a tablet or smart phone. READ MORE 32 things photographers say… and what they actually mean Banish bad pictures: 9 quick fixes for common camera complaints 44 essential digital camera tips and tricks 10 ways to drive a photography snob mad Sony A7s: new full-frame compact adds 4K video recording, ISO 409,600 Apr 7th 2014, 09:50, by jmeyer The Sony A7s announced today adds a slew of new professional features to the company’s popular full-frame compact camera. Chief among the new Sony camera’s features are 4K video capture, making it a serious option for DSLR / CSC film makers, as well as a direct rival to Panasonics GH4. The Sony A7s enables uncompressed video capture at 4K by reading every pixel on its 12.2-megapixel, full-frame sensor, which the A7s’ BIONZ X processing engine then converts to QFHD 3840 x 2160 footage with selectable 30p and 24p frame rates. However, the Sony A7s cannot record this 4K footage internally. The A7s will export the footage to an external recorder plugged into the camera’s HDMI port. Of course while 4K video is the buzz, you still need to record in HD and without the ties of external recorders, so when it comes to capturing video on memory card the Sony A7s is capable of using the XAVC S format which enables Full HD recording at 50 mbs. The Sony A7s also offers a number of other features that make it a serious option for video makers, including the S-Log2 gamma setting, which is common in commercial video equipment and no doubt a direct link to Sony's broadcast heritage. This enables better colour grading in post-production by creating a claimed 1300% wider dynamic range to reduce whiteout and blackout. SEE MORE: Nikon Df vs Sony A7R – which full-frame camera should you buy? When it comes to styling your own footage Sony has added the ability to adjust gradation (Black level, gamma and black gamma) along with colour adjustment (colour tone and depth). Once the look you want has been created it can then be saved and used as a profile which is extremely useful. Like the Sony A7r, the A7s features audio in and out, as well monitoring. SEE MORE: Sony A7r vs Nikon D800 – which full-frame camera should you buy? Meanwhile, the ‘s’ in the A7s stands for ‘sensitivity’, and Sony has added a native ISO range of ISO 100-102,400 for both still images and movies – and both of these expandable up to ISO 409,600, or down to ISO 50. Sony has used fewer pixels in the A7s than in its siblings, the Sony A7 and A7r, but its 12.2-million-pixel sensor uses larger pixels which Sony says allow for the greater sensitivity, as well as dynamic range and colour rendition. The Sony A7s comes in a magnesium alloy body with a 7.5cm, 1.2-million-dot, tiltable LCD screen. A Sony A7s price and release date were not announced at the time of writing. SEE MORE: Sony A7 / A7r review Sony A7s Specs Sheet Size & Weight Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 126.9 x 94.4 x 48.2mm (approx. 5 x 3 3/4 x 1 15/16 in.) Weight Body Only: Approx. 446g (approx. 15.7 oz), With battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo: Approx. 489g (approx. 1 lb 1.2 oz) Lens Lens Mount Sony E-mount lenses Lens Compatibility Sony E-mount lenses Sensor Sensor Type 35mm full frame (35.6 x 23.8mm), Exmor CMOS sensor Image Sensor Aspect Ratio 3:2 Recording (still images) Image Size (pixels), 3:2 35mm full frame L: 4240 x 2832 (12M), M: 2768 x 1848 (5.1M), S: 2128 x 1416 (3.0M), APS-C L: 2768 x 1848 (5.1M), M: 2128 x 1416 (3.0M), S: 1376 x 920 (1.3M) Image Size (pixels), 16:9 35mm full frame L: 4240 x 2384 (10M), M: 2768 x 1560 (4.3M), S: 2128 x 1200 (2.6M), APS-C L: 2768 x 1560 (4.3M), M: 2128 x 1200 (2.6M), S: 1376 x 776 (1.1M) Image Quality Modes RAW, RAW & JPEG, JPEG Extra fine, JPEG Fine, JPEG Standard Recording (movie) Recording Format (Movie) XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4 Video Compression AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MP4: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Image Size (pixels), PAL* AVCHD: 1920 x 1080 (50p/28Mbps/PS, 50i/24Mbps/FX, 50i/17Mbps/FH, 25p/24Mbps/FX, 25p/17Mbps/FH), MP4: 1440 x 1080 (25fps/12Mbps), 640 x 480 (25fps/3Mbps) Other Movie Functions Audio Level Display, Audio Rec Level, Auto Slow Shutter, HDMI info. Display (On/Off selectable), Time Code/User Bit, Clean HDMI output for 4K, Picture Profile, Creative Style, Picture Effect, Rec Control, Dual Video Rec, Marker Setting Shooting Clear Image Zoom Still / Movie: Approx. 2x Lens Compensation Peripheral shading, chromatic aberration, distortion Storage Media Compatible Recording Media Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick XC-HG Duo, SD memory card, SDHC memory card (UHS-I compliant), SDXC memory card (UHS-I compliant) Storage Media Slot Multi slot for Memory Stick Duo / SD Memory card White balance White Balance Modes Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm White / Cool White / Day White / Daylight), Flash, Color Temperature (2500 to 9900K) & Color Filter (G7 to M7: 15 steps, A7 to B7: 15 steps), Custom, Underwater AWB Micro Adjustment G7 to M7 (15 steps), A7 to B7 (15 steps) Focus Focus Type Contrast-detection AF Focus Point 25 points Sensitivity Range EV -4 to EV 20 (at ISO 100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached) AF Mode Single-shot AF (AF-S), Continuous AF (AF-C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus Focus Area Wide (25 points) / Center-weighted / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Zone Exposure Metering Type 1200-zone evaluative metering Metering Sensitivity EV -3 to EV 20 (at ISO 100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached) Metering Mode Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot Exposure Modes AUTO (iAUTO, Superior Auto), Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter-speed priority (S), Manual (M), Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, Movie ISO Sensitivity Still images: ISO 100-102400, Movies: ISO 200-102400 equivalent (both expandable to 409600, for still: expandable down to 50) Viewfinder Viewfinder Type XGA OLED, 1.3cm (0.5 type) electronic viewfinder (colour) Magnification Approx. 0.71x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m) LCD Screen Type 7.5cm (3.0-type) wide type TFT Total Number of Dots 921,600 dots Brightness Control (LCD) Manual ( 5 steps between -2 and +2 ), Sunny Weather mode Focus Magnifier 35mm full frame: 4.2x, 8.3x, APS-C: 2.7x, 5.4x Peaking MF Yes (Level setting: High/Mid/Low/Off, colour: White/Red/Yellow) Shutter Shutter Type Electronically controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type Shutter Speed Movies: 1/8000 to 1/4 (1/3 step), Up to 1/50 in AUTO mode (up to 1/25 in Auto Slow Shutter mode), Still images: 1/8000 to 30 sec., Bulb Electronic Front Shutter Curtain Yes Image Stabilization Steadyshot Not supported (image stabilization supported on lens) Drive Drive Modes 3/5 exposures selectable), Bracketing (Cont., Single, White Balance, DRO), Single shooting, Continuous shooting, Speed Priority Continuous shooting, Self-timer (10/2 sec. delay selectable), Self-timer (Cont.) (10 sec. delay Continues Shooting Continuous shooting: Max. 2.5fps, Speed Priority Continuous shooting: Max. 5.0fps Interface PC Interface Mass-storage, MTP, PC remote HD Output HDMI micro connector (Type-D), BRAVIA Sync (link menu), PhotoTV HD, 4K still image playback Multi Interface Shoe Yes Auto-lock Accessory Shoe Auto-lock Accessory Shoe compatible with supplied shoe adaptor Others Microphone terminal (3.5mm Stereo minijack), Headphone terminal (3.5mm Stereo minijack), Vertical Grip Connector Audio Microphone Built-in stereo microphone or ECM-XYST1M / XLR-K1M (sold separately) Speaker Built-in, monaural Power Supplied Battery Rechargeable battery pack NP-FW50 Battery Life (CIPA, Still Images) Approx. 320 shots (viewfinder) / approx. 380 shots (LCD screen) (CIPA standard) Battery Life (CIPA, Movies) Actual: Approx. 55 min. with viewfinder, approx. 60 min. with LCD screen (CIPA standard), Continuous: Approx. 90 min. with viewfinder, approx. 90 min. with LCD screen (CIPA standard) External Power AC Adaptor AC-PW20 (optional) Operating temperature Range 32°-104°F / 0-40°C READ MORE 32 things photographers say… and what they actually mean Banish bad pictures: 9 quick fixes for common camera complaints 44 essential digital camera tips and tricks 10 ways to drive a photography snob mad 10 common exposure problems every photographer faces (and how to overcome them)

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