Canon’s EF 50mm f1.8 Mark II is an ideal choice for portrait and low-light photography on a budget. The 50mm focal length is a little short for classic portrait work on a full-frame camera, but mount it on a cropped-frame model and it becomes equivalent to 80mm, a perfect length for portraits. Meanwhile, the f1.8 aperture can deliver a blurred background and gathers more than eight times as much light as the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens when zoomed-in. Truly the thrifty-fifty.…
The Canon EF 40mm f2.8 STM is the company’s first ‘pancake’ lens, designed to be as small and light as possible. Measuring just 22.8mm thick, it protrudes to roughly the same degree as the grip on many DSLRs, and at 130g you’ll hardly notice it when mounted. This in turn makes even larger DSLRs feel…
The Panasonic Lumix TZ40, or ZS30 as it’s known in North America, is the latest version of the company’s hugely popular travel zoom camera. Announced in January 2013, it comes exactly one year after its predecessor, the best-selling TZ30 / ZS20, and like that model the TZ40 / ZS30 becomes the first of the new…
The Sony Cyber-shot RX1 is the world’s first compact camera with a fixed lens and full-frame sensor. Announced in September 2012, it brings the low light, high dynamic range and shallow depth of field benefits of a full-frame camera to a much smaller form factor than DSLRs like the Canon 5D Mark III and Nikon…
The Sony E 10-18mm f4 OSS is an ultra-wide zoom for Sony’s cropped-frame / APSC mirrorless cameras, upon which it delivers coverage equivalent to 15-27mm; it also features a constant f4 focal ratio and optical stabilisation. In my review-so-far, check out a selection of sample images!…
The Nikon D600 is a ‘budget’ full-frame DSLR aimed at enthusiasts upgrading from mid-range models or pros looking for an affordable backup for a higher-end body. Announced in September 2012, it’s positioned roughly between the full-frame D800 and crop-format D7000 and combines many aspects of both models. Along with a new 24 Megapixel full-frame FX-format…
Newer version available! See my Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 review! The Manfrotto 190XPROB is a relatively compact and affordable tripod designed for general-purpose use. It’s one of the best-selling models in Manfrotto’s X range, striking a great balance between price and performance. Like most higher-end tripods, the 190XPROB does not come with a head as a…
Newer version available! See my Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 review! The Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 is a light and relatively compact tripod designed for general-purpose use. It’s based on the best-selling 190XPROB, but built from carbon fiber to minimise weight – indeed it’s the lightest tripod in Manfrotto’s X range. Like most higher-end tripods, the 190CXPRO3 does not…
Newer version available! See my Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 review! The Manfrotto 055XPROB is a large but affordable professional tripod designed for general-purpose use. It’s one of the tallest models in the range, and feels the part with its aluminium construction. Like most higher-end tripods, the 055XPROB does not come with a head as a standard.…
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