Camera July - August 2015

MY ENGLISH PHOTO magazine colleagues in TIPA tell me that letters from readers – or, these days, emails – are a very regular occurrence after the publication of a new issue. Everybody has an opinion. One of my favourite UK classic car magazines has a ‘Pedant Of The Month’ column in which readers helpfully point out errors, however minor, in articles… it must be something to do with those long, cold winter nights. However, this isn’t the Australian way. Of course we make mistakes (on rare occasions), but our readers tend to spot them, note them and leave it at that. So, when we suddenly get a deluge – well, a heavy shower at least – of emails about a particular issue, then we know it has to be something…

NO DOUBT BUOYED by the huge success of its X-T1 mirrorless camera, Fujifilm has introduced a “little brother” model called the X-T10. It has the same 16.7 megapixels ‘X-Trans CMOS II’ sensor and ‘EXR Processor II’ as the X-T1, but a smaller and lighter magnesium alloy bodyshell, a smaller EVF and a lower-res LCD monitor screen. If anything, the X-T10’s design is even more retro with Fujifilm referencing the 1970s-vintage Fujica ST801 35mm SLR as a source of the main styling cues. However, unlike the X-T1, the X-T10’s bodyshell isn’t sealed against the intrusion of moisture or dust. The control layout is still mainly dial-based, but an important difference is the provision of a lever which engages fully automatic exposure control in one hit (i.e. instead of turning the shutter…

Olympus has introduced firmware updates for its E-M1 and E-M5 Mark II OM-D mirrorless cameras. Version 3.1 for the E-M1 and Version 1.2 for the E-M5 II add a unified underwater ‘Picture Mode’ preset (replacing the previous and separate Wide and Macro options) which allows for adjustment of apertures and shutter speeds in the PASM modes. Additionally, the E-M1’s upgrade provides an “LV Boost II” setting to the live view capabilities for improved visibility using either the EVF or the monitor screen for night sky or starscape photography. The E-M5 II already has this feature. For more information visit www.olympus.com.au…

FUJIFILM HAS BEEN diligent with its firmware upgrades for the X Series cameras, including no fewer than 14 for the X-Pro1… exactly what should happen to keep a model as current as possible. Now Fujifilm has introduced perhaps one of the most significant firmware upgrades ever – this time for the X-T1 – and it gives the camera’s AF system a significant overhaul. Firmware Version 4.0 for the X-T1 adds a ‘Zone’ mode to the single-shot and continuous AF operations, and also a ‘Wide’ mode for the latter. The ‘Zone’ mode allows for the selection of clusters of focusing points – 3x3, 5x3 or 5x5 – for enhanced tracking with smaller-sized moving subjects and when panning. The ‘Wide’ mode enables tracking of a subject across the camera’s full 77 focusing…

SMALL VIDEO CAMERAS are big business at the moment and Panasonic is the latest to join the actioncam market that’s been popularised by GoPro. The Panasonic HX-A1 is a ‘lipstick’ style camera with a fully weatherised body so it doesn’t require an extra housing. It can also operate in temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. The HX-A1 weighs just 45 grams and Panasonic has created a wide selection of mounting options for helmets (or heads), bicycle handlebars, straps, flat surfaces and tripods. There’s also an adaptor for using GoPro accessories. Available in either black or orange, the HX-A1 shoots Full HD video footage at 30 fps (using MPEG 4 AVC/H.264 compression) with the option of shooting at 720p and 60 fps. The built-in battery is good for 75 minutes, but…

IF YOU LIKE to see the words ‘Made In Germany’ stamped on your photo gear, then you’ll be pleased to know that Heliopan filters are now distributed directly in Australia. The Heliopan range is extensive and new distributor Mainline Photographics is stocking the filters in all popular screwthread diameter sizes from 39 mm to 82 mm. Heliopan’s filters for digital photography include UV, skylight (1A), polarising and neutral density (ND) types. The ND filters are available from 0.3 with a 2x filter factor to 4.0 with a filter factor of 10,000 (or -13 stops). These ND filters are made from colour neutral Schott glass which is designed to minimise any colour casts. For more information about Heliopan filters (or to purchase online) visit www.mainlinephoto.com.au or call (02) 9437 5800. Mainline…