Fuji S4500

fuji-s4500
February 29, 2012 By In Bridge Cameras

The Fuji S4500 is a middle of the range superzoom bridge camera released in Spring 2012. It features 30x zoom lens that is equivalent to an impressive 24-720mm. The lens features CCD Shift image stabilisation while the ISO can go all the way up to 6400; both features are in theory ensuring sharp images even at low light and higher zoom.

The sensor on the Fuji S4500 is a 1/2.3-inch 14MP CCD with an ISO range of 64 to 6400. The camera can shoot images at 1.2fps continuous or video at 30fps in both 1280 x 720 and 640 x 480 resolutions.

At just over 500g weight and compact dimensions, the Fuji S4500 is a camera that can easily be carried around. The versatile lens, packs of features and handy power option (four AA batteries that can be picked anywhere) make this cameras a good choice for travel photography. One minor issue is that Fuji’s S-series cameras do not have flash hot-shoes, but that may or may not be a deal breaker depending on the way you shoot. For this feature see the Fuji SL range.

Nikon AW100

Nikon-AW100
January 31, 2012 By In Digital Compact

Nikon’s new All Weather compact camera is here to wow all outdoor and sports fanatics. Clever electronics, including a built-in GPS system, electronic compass and maps, are housed in super strong casing that can withstand the harshest of conditions. The body is waterproof, shockproof and freeze-proof – you can take it up to 10 metres under the sea, drop it from a height of 1.5m and freeze it to -10C and this Nikon will still click along happily.

The Coolpix AW100 features a 16MP CMOS sensor and a built-in 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equiv.), making it a serious photographic tool. There is a 7fps high-speed shooting mode to capture all the action, high ISO up to 3200 for when it gets dark and scary, and anti-blur technology to eliminate shake. Apart from the physical vibration reduction system, the AW100 features the BSS mode – Best Shot Selector. This is quite a simple but handy feature that automatically pics the best shot out of a 10-shot sequence. No need to zoom in and squint your eyes any more!

The AW100 is definitely the one to take along to the next trip in the country.

Canned Candies: The Nudes of Jean Clemmer

December 7, 2010 By In Photography Exhibitions London
November 26, 2010 to December 18, 2010

Vintage photographs by Parisian photographer Jean Clemmer are now on display at Flash Projects until December 18. The exhibition presents for the first time in London the stunningly original collaboration of the photographer with French fashion icon Paco Rabanne. The duo explore fantasy, sensuality and haute couture in 1960s Paris.

Jean Clemmer died in 2001, leaving behind a legacy steeped in sexual intrigue and artistic innovation. Clemmer was Salvador Dali’s personal photographer and Jean Cocteau’s friend and muse. He was a painter, a violinist, a surrealist, and, most notably, a photographer of rich and erotically charged nudes that were banned in parts of France even amidst its sexual revolution.

This exhibition celebrates the 40th anniversary of Canned Candies, first published in Paris in 1969 as Nues, with ‘Canned Candies’ presented alongside a wider range of Clemmer’s photographic studies of the female form.

Canned Candies: The Nudes of Jean Clemmer is on view at Flash Projects, 8 Kingly Street, London, until 18 December.

Nikon D3100

November 23, 2010 By In Digital SLR


Nikon D3100, the latest entry-level digital SLR from Nikon, is out now and gives more pricey models a run for their money. Not unlike D3100’s predecessors – the excellent D3000 and the D60 and D40x before it – Nikon has packed this new camera full of features. You do get quite a lot of camera for your money – a 14 megapixel sensor with self-cleaning, 11 autofocus points with 3D tracking, a good ISO range of 100-3200, and the ability to shoot HD movies.

So what has Nikon done with the D3100 to improve on the D3000? Well, the sensor was overdue for an upgrade and the new 14MP one does produce professional-quality photos. You can now opt for RAW + JPEG shooting, which is handy. There is Live View and 1080 HD video output. There is no wireless remote option on the D3100, but then you can plug a wired one via the new GPS socket.

All in all, Nikon has produced yet another great budget DSLR that, kitted with the versitile 18-55mm VR Nikkor lens, will satisfy the needs and wants of most photography enthusiasts.

Mamiya RZ33

June 4, 2010 By In Digital Medium Format Cameras

Mamiya RZ33
Mamiya has announced its new digital medium format camera, the RZ33. Expected to cost around £15,000, it features a 33MP CCD sensor measuring 48x36mm and exporting TIFF files of up to 190MB. The Mamiya RZ33 incorporates fully integrated electronics for direct communication with the digital back. It also boosts a built-in rotating sensor, ISO range of 50-800, up to 1.1 fps shooting rate and is compatible with all RZ system lenses and most accessories. UK launch date TBA.

Canon EOS 550D

June 1, 2010 By In Digital SLR

Canon 550D
Canon’s new entry-level DSLR camera is quite a well-rounded package. The feature list is impressive, as is the handling, build quality and the supplied software. The improvements over the 500D are not game changing but are nonetheless significant – there’s a new 18MP sensor, improved metering and the buttons are redesigned.

Canon 550D’s main strengths are its impressive picture quality, strong body with an excellent new LCD screen, fast autofocus and reliable light metering. In practice it performs on par, if not better, than the Nikon D5000 and Pentax K-x, which are excellent cameras in their own right. To add a competitive edge to the package, however, Canon have made the 550D a capable video camera too with an external mic sockets and numerous controls for quality and frame rate settings. The 550D is great effort by Canon and an excellent introduction for enthusiasts to the world of DSLR photography.

Olympus Mju Tough 3000

January 14, 2010 By In Digital Compact

Olympus Mju Touch 3000

Olympus has announced the latest digital camera model to join its durable Tough range – it’s the new Olympus Mju Tough 3000. It is waterproof to 3m, shockproof enough to drop from 1.5m and works happily down to temperatures of -10°C. Behind the tough exterior lie sophisticated electronics, including a 12MP CCD sensor, image stabilisation, HD movie mode and even a 1GB internal memory. The camera can also be charged through USB which is very handy. It features a 3.6x (28-102mm equiv.) zoom lens that is perfectly versatile for the outdoors.

Olympus μ TOUGH 3000 is out now and comes in four bright colours – Hot Pink, Emerald (above), Turquoise Blue, and Oxide Red. Click on the link below to check them out.

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Pentax K-x

December 29, 2009 By In Digital SLR

Pentax K-x

Pentax has announced yet another brilliantly-spec’d entry-level DSLR. It features a 12MP CMOS sensor with ISO 100-12,800, 11-point autofocus, anti-shake, Live View and HD video shooting mode. All this is available at a price much lower than competitors such Nikon D5000 and Canon EOS 500D.

On top of the impressive interior, Pentax K-x also comes in small light body that is available in a range of colours. You can choose between Red, Blue, White and Black.

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Nikon D3000

December 29, 2009 By In Digital SLR

Nikon D3000 UK

The long awaited update to the excellent but aging Nikon D40 is the new Nikon D3000 and it’s finally hitting the shops. It looks very much like the D5000 however it has more in common with the D60 when it comes to features. That said, there are several areas of vast improvement, one being the impressive autofocus on the D3000. It uses an 11-area TTL sensor that behaves quite well under low light and with moving objects. There’s even a 3D Tracking option. The standard 18-55 kit lens doesn’t show off the autofocus system’s capabilities to their full extent, but the potential is there for when you try higher spec lenses.

The Nikon D3000 features 10-megapixel DX-format sensor, ISO 100-3200 sensitivity and a large 3″ LCD screen. All this is packed in a neat 485g camera body that handles well, quite alike the rest of the Nikon range.

On the downside, Nikon are still not including Live View in their entry-level modells, unlike competitors like Canon’s EOS 1000D. It also lacks some specialist features like exposure bracketing, lens control dials and depth-of-field preview, however these are not that important for most photographers.

In conclusion, Nikon does not surprise us but builds on previous models to make D3000 a very good reliable bit of kit that can satisfy the needs of enthusiasts.

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Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2009

December 17, 2009 By In Photography Exhibitions London
November 6, 2009 to February 14, 2010
Taylor Wessing Portrait Awards 2009

Taylor Wessing Portrait Awards 2009

Following the success of last year’s competition, the 2009 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize showcases the very best in contemporary portrait photography once again. This year’s awards attracted over 2,400 photographers and 6,300 images with only 60 of those making it to the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Through editorial, advertising and fine art images, the mix of international entrants have explored a range of themes, styles and approaches to the contemporary photographic portrait, from formal commissioned portraits to more spontaneous and intimate moments capturing friends and family. Featuring many images previously unexhibited, the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 represents a unique opportunity to see some of the most exciting contemporary portrait photographers working today.