Asian Photography 201208

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CAMERA REVIEW Canon EOS M CF & SD MEMORY CARD SHOOTOUT Sony α 65 Samsung WB150F TIPS & TECHS Creative Strips Blur is Beautiful Understanding Zoom Measurement Things to keep in mind before buying A Digital Camera Corporate Photography 5 things to shoot on an overcast day EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW Vol. 24 - No.8 JOIN US ON AUGUST 2012 ` 100 US$9 www.asianphotographyindia.com Subscribe To the e-version on the magazine’s website

Transcript of Asian Photography 201208

Camera review

Canon EOS M

CF & SD MeMory CarD Shootout

Sony α 65Samsung WB150F

Tips & TeChs

Creative Strips Blur is Beautiful Understanding Zoom Measurement Things to keep in mind before buying A Digital Camera

Corporate Photography 5 things to shoot on an overcast day

exClusive preview

Vol. 24 - No.8

JoiN us oN

August 2012 ` 100 us$9

www.asianphotographyindia.com

Subscribe To the

e-version on the magazine’s

website

The EOS M is Here

w w w. a s i a n p h o t o g r a p h y i n d i a . c o m

Published by TRILOK DESAI on behalf of Special Audience Publications Pvt. Ltd., 509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053. InDIA Printed by TRILOK DESAI on behalf of Special Audience Publications Pvt. Ltd., 509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053. InDIA Printed at Rajhans Enterprises, H.O. no. 134, 4th Main Road, Industrial Town, Rajajinagar, Bangalore -44, Published at 509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053. InDIA Editor - TRILOK DESAI.

All material covered by copyright; no part of the contents of this journal may be published or reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinons expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the editorial staff.Special Audience Publications Pvt. Ltd. and ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING is not responsible and liable for any comments and articles published by its contributors and will not be liable for any damages. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai, India.

All speculation on whether Canon would take the plunge into the mirrorless world has finally been put to rest with the recent announcement of their first mirrorless camera, the EOS M. Whether Canon’s strategy to retain the larger sensor in a more compact body will prove to be successful or not remains to be seen, but their foray into this segment will surely heat things up.

Officially the product is expected to launch at the end of September this year, but we got a preview via a prototype that was sent over by Canon to our office. And I must say that the camera looks super interesting! So make sure that you catch the first and exclusive preview of the Canon EOS M in the pages of our magazine and our website.

Continuing from the shootouts last month, this month we feature the Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD) card shootouts in the magazine. For all who were expecting the AAA rechargeable battery shootout this month will have to wait until next month since we wanted to change things a bit.

In our Pro-Profile section we have featured Nisha Kutty, whose work as a fashion photographer has won her much acclaim and we spoke to her at length about her work. In the Tips and Techs section we have once again managed to provide a good mix of articles that focus on amateurs as well as professionals.

So Until Next Time…Happy Reading!!!

EDITOR / PublIshER Trilok Desai

GROuP hEADBhavya Desai

NEw DElhI buREAuAmitabh Joshi

sENIOR CORREsPONDENTsMithila JariwalaFred ShippieLester Ledesma

EDITORIAl TEAMRojita Padhy Ajay SinghGeorge KurienTapshi DhandaSteve D’SouzaHimanshu SharmaYashnashree sPECIAl CORREsPONDENT Lopamudra Ganguly (Delhi)

DIRECTOR MARkETINGAruna Desai ([email protected])

DEsIGNGoraksh Kokate Rajendra Gaikwad

MANAGER ADvERTIsINGLaila Rupawalla

Dy. MANAGER ADvERTIsINGKora Ganguly

MARkETING ExECuTIvERagini DesaiWayne OliverSudeshna ChakravartyNivedita HegdeVatsala Dimri (Delhi)Navin Tanwar (Delhi)

COPy DEskSameer Gadkari

PRODuCTION MANAGERManoj Surve

MuMbAI OFFICE:509 & 511, Dilkap Chambers, Fun Republic Street, Off Veera Desai Road,Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053.Tel: 91-22-40401919Fax: 91-22-40401927E-mail: [email protected]

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sINGAPORE OFFICE:SAP Media Singapore Pte. Ltd.E-mail: [email protected]: 0065-90625120 Cover Image: Todd Anthony Tyler

Cover Design: Goraksh Kokate

EDITORIAL

August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[03]

follow us on Twitter@Asian_Photo @Bhavya _Desai

10 News• CanonLaunchesEOS650D• EpsonLaunchesEco-SolventPrinter• SwedenEmbassyInvitesEntriesforPhotoCompetition• FujifilmIntroducesLineofXFLensesforitsX-Pro1• NikontoReleaseSuper-TelephotoLensforProfessionals• PanasonicIntroducesLumixLX7andG5Compact Cameras• Fujifilmannouncesitslatestcompactzoom,F800EXR

ContentsAUGUst 2012

20 shootout20CFMemoryCard

24SDMemoryCard

38 Pro- Profile•NishaKutty

28 exclusive review•CanonEOSM

46 shoot My city•England

80 caMera review80CanonPowerShotSX260HS

84SamsungWB150F

87Sonyα65

62

68

78

Sonyα65

57 tiPs and techs57CreativeStrips

62BlurisBeautiful

68CorporatePhotography

74Thingstokeepinmindbefore

buyingaDigitalCamera

76UnderstandingZoomMeasurement

785Thingstoshootonanovercastday

CanonPowerShotSX260HS

SamsungWB150F

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[6]august 2012

Feed

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Readers

’ Comments

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ions.

..Respected Sir,

First let me take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank you for your contribution to my photography skills. Your magazine has played an important role in improving my style. The magazine became my Bible and every little thing that I know, I have learnt through its issues. It explained me in detail what I needed to know about photography. With each issue priced at just `75, I got the lessons that a lot of aspiring photographers pay thousands of rupees for.

I thank your team and you for being my inspiration. Because of your hard work and your creative lessons I can proudly say that I am the President of the Photography Club in my college. Dhruvin PatelVapi, Gujarat

Dear Dhruvin,

Thanks for your message. It really satisfies our heart to know readers like you have benefitted from our hardwork. But the credit is not only ours to take, I am sure you have always had it in you to become who you are today, we have just provided a small thrust to your goal.

We wish you the best in your future endeavours in photography and hope that someday you are able to achieve everything that you want. We promise to be there to guide you through your journey.

Respected Sir,

I am an amateur photographer and a big fan of your magazine as well as the photographs you publish in it. I am waiting for a good opportunity to display my skills in photography, and I was hoping if you could kindly give me one opportunity to do so. If could send you some of my images to give you a better idea of my skills as a photographer.

Even the smallest help from you could be a milestone in my photography journey.

Gokul KrishnanTamil Nadu

Dear Gokul,

Thanks for your letter and it is good to know that you are a reader of our magazine. I am happy to know that you would like for us to provide an opportunity to start your photography career. However, unfortunately at this time we don’t have any openings in our company.

Incase you would like to contribute to our magazine, you can get in touch with us with some ideas and we will evaluate them and see if they can be incorporated in one of the issues. That might just turn out to be the start you’re looking for.

Recently, I was travelling from Visakhapatnam to Chennai. I was feeling bored and went to the nearby bookshop in the station to get a couple of magazines. I picked up a copy of Asian Photography and I don’t regret my decision. It is a amazing magazine with great insights about various photography concepts. The magazine is very well organised and the articles too are extremely helpful. I have been buying the magazine every month ever since.

I recently upgraded to a DSLR and I am looking forward to more articles in that genre. I have sent you some of my pictures shot with a Canon SD600 (6MP) and Canon Rebel T3i. I would like your feedback on the same.

All the best and continue the amazing work.

Sarath KuchiChennai

January 2011 asian PhotograPhy and imaging[6]

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’ Comments

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..

The Letter

of the month will receive a gift from Uniross

Dear Editor,

I want to convey my thanks and regards to you for reviewing my photos in the link that I provided. I express my gratitude for providing me with your most valuable feedback and reviews on my photos. I promise that I will practice more on shooting techniques and try to improve my compositions. Following your advice I have already started to experiment on different subjects and I am getting better results.

However, I want to improve my compositional skills and give my pictures a more professional touch. I am currently using a Nikon Coolpix L110 camera and looking forward to buy a DSLR after I pass Class 12. It would be very kind of you to provide me, as well as the readers, tips on composition. Hope you take up the subject.

Regards,,Sabyasachi TalukdarNagaon, Assam

Dear Sabya,

It is good to know that our feedback has helped you in improving your photography skills and that you would like to learn more and more from the magazine. I will discuss this in our upcoming edit meet and we will ensure that we do something comprehensive on the Composition side so that the readers can benefit from it.

Dear Editor,

I have been reading your magazine for a while now and must comment that your team and you have been doing a great job. I have seen the simple and subtle changes that you have brought to the content and the fine balance that the magazine has been achieving lately.

I also like the reader columns like My Story, Ask Your Expert and Shoot My City. I am happy that you are looking at sections in the magazine that make them more reader interactive and I think that is the way forward for any magazine. From the December issue I loved the interview of Dabboo Ratnani. The DSLR shootout also provided a lot of valuable feedback on the cameras and their performances. Wish the AP team renewed success and great year ahead.

Regards,Vishal ShahAhemdabad,Gujarat.

Dear Vishal,

We are always happy to know that the readers are appreciating our work since it takes a lot of effort to put all the things together. Apart from the same I also have a great team that works really hard to ensure that we keep that fine balance in our content going.

In the months to come you will see some more initiatives that are reader driven so that we can engage more of the readers and also interact with them on a regular basis.

The Letter

of the month will receive a gift from Uniross

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[8]august 2012

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..Dear Sarath,

It is always good to know through our readers that the content and ideas that we are presenting to them are being appreciated. If you felt that the past issues you read were good then you are in for a big surprise in the coming months. Because from what we have planned, we are only going to get better.

I have looked at the images that you have sent and I must say that they look very interesting. Infact I would recommend you to send in your pictures to our Photo Montage section. Although your pictures need a little more improvement, they seem very appealing in terms of composition.

The Letter

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I was an avid reader of Better Photography, and I must admit that I owe much of my skills to them. But for some months now my interest in their content has gone down. And after assessing I have finally settled down for Asian Photography. I feel lucky as I found the exact topics I was looking for, discussed in detail. I must congratulate your team and you for it.

AP has rich content which can make an amateur feel confident and urge them to do better. Thank you AP.

Rahil S. Janbaz Srinagar

Dear Rahil,

I am happy to know that you have found our magazine’s content interesting and one that satisfies your hunger for photography. We have made a continuous effort to speak to our readers in order to understand what is it that they are exactly looking for, which has really made all the difference. We hope that we are able to continue the same quality of service in the years to come.

Vol. 24 - No.7

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TRENDS S P E C I A L

August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[10]

Canon Launches EOS 650D W ith the industry abuzz about Canon’s foray into the mirrorless category

with the EOS M, Canon India hosted a select media round table with Masaya Maeda, MD and Chief Executive, Canon’s Imaging Communication Products (ICP) division a few days ahead of the same announcement. Naturally, most of the questions focused around Canon’s entry into the mirrorless category. Maeda san emphasised that Canon’s strength has been its image quality and performance, which will continue to be of core focus for its products.

This move comes close on the heels of the recent visit from the worldwide Chairman and CEO, Fujio Mitarai san’s visit to India in February. At the meeting, Mr. Maeda announced the launch of the much awaited EOS 650D in India, which features the new 18MP CMOS Sensor with Gapless Microlens Array, a hybrid AF system and probably the first DSLR to feature a fully functional touch-screen LCD. Mr. Maeda emphasized on the importance of the Indian market in Canon’s global plans. At the occasion, the company also announced three products, which included the Cinema EOS 300 along with 11 lenses in the same category.

The 650D is available in two kits currently, the first of which comes combined with the 18-135 IS STM for `79,995 and second with the EF S18-55IS II for `59,995. Also present at the occasion was Kensaku Konishi, President and CEO, Canon Singapore who stated that the camera business in the company’s portfolio in the Asian region was contributing more that 50% of the overall business which was a very positive sign for the things to come. Apart from China and India the other countries that have showed promising growth in the region include Vietnam and Indonesia among the developing markets whereas developed markets like Singapore and Malaysia have shown a growth rate of around 10% in the current year.

NEWS

More on the eoS 650DThe 650D is the first DSLR that features the hybrid CMOS sensor

with a continuous autofocus. Speaking on the product, Seiji Hamanishi, Asst. Director - Imaging Communication Products (ICP) division, Canon India, said “The EOS 650D is a revolutionary product developed from the ground up to offer unmatched performance particularly while shooting video. It is the first DSLR in the world to feature a highly intuitive and usable capacitive touchscreen interface. It is also the first EOS camera to feature a hybrid sensor based AF system, allowing continuous autofocus. This particular feature when combined with the new STM lenses allows for unbeatable performance while shooting video. With the 650D, we are targeting highly discerning users who demand professional still and motion imagery results at the most competitive price point.”

In addition to the EOS 650D, Canon also announced two new EF lenses to compliment the camera. Both of these lenses feature Canon’s new STM (Stepped Motor) for faster, improved, and virtually silent focusing - a huge boon for both still image and video shooters. With the new EOS 650D and its ultra-fast hybrid AF system, a new vista of expression is opened up to EOS users.

(L-R): Alok Bharadwaj, Masaya Maeda and Seiji Hamanishi speaking to a colleague

Kensaku Konishi looking through the Canon C300 Cinema EOS

August 2012 [12]

NEWS

Epson Launches Eco-Solvent PrinterEpson has introduced its next-generation 64 inch, eco-solvent, wide format printer, designed to offer a low cost for pay and in-house print service providers. The printer can be used for the production of posters, signs, banners, backlit panels, vehicle wraps, exhibition displays and more.

The Epson SureColor SC-S30670 is an eco-solvent-based printer which uses the proprietary Epson Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP) print head – that delivers double the nozzle density with 720 nozzles per colour.

With the new printer, Epson has also launched a new set of eco-solvent inks - the four-ink Epson UltraChrome GS2. The environmentally friendly eco-solvent ink set is odourless, nickel-free and has a significantly reduced amount of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC). Combined with Epson’s Look-Up Table (LUT) Technology and the Micro Piezo TFP print head, the printer produces prints that can be used for outdoor signage, wallpaper or advertising posters. The Epson UltraChrome GS2 ink used by the printer works on all standard coated or uncoated solvent media, including adhesive based vinyl, sign banner media and canvas media.

The printer is optimised for high speed production and is capable of achieving an output of 720 x 720 dpi (banner quality) at a speed of 29.4 m2 per hour. If a higher print quality is required, the printer is also able to deliver a 720 x 1440 dpi output (vinyl quality) at a speed of 9.9 m2 per hour.

Sweden Embassy Invites Entries for Photo Competition

Fujifilm Introduces Line of XF Lenses for its X-Pro1

The Embassy of Sweden is inviting individuals to participate in a photo competition titled: Swedish Innovations, Indian Interpretations.

A multitude of Swedish Innovations are a part of our day-to-day lives like the zipper, the safety match, the three-point safety belt, the pacemaker, the bluetooth, the spanner to Skype and Spotify.

As a part of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week 2012, Swedish Innovations – Indian Interpretation encourages Indian nationals to capture Swedish innovations through their cameras, be it professional photo equipment, point and shoot cameras or simply their mobile phone.

A jury consisting of eminent Indian culture personalities will select the best entries, which will be exhibited at art galleries and get published in a photo book.

Up to 10 entries per photographer are allowed. Entries are welcome till August 20 2012. The competition finalist will be awarded a one-week trip to Sweden for two. For further details regarding the guidelines, you can log onto www.swedenabroad.com/newdelhi.

Fujifilm Corporation recently announced its expansion plan in the newly carved interchangeable mirrorless camera category with the new line of Fujinon XF lenses.

The lenses are being introduced after the Positive response to Fujifilm’s recently launched X-Pro1 digital cameras, and consumers’ demand for more options in lenses for specialised photography.

The company has globally introduced two lenses, a bright F2.8 super wide 14mm (21mm in 35mm equivalent) single focal length lens and a bright F2.8-4 zoom lens that covers the shooting range of 18mm to 55mm (27-83mm in 35mm equivalent), in addition to the three single focal length lenses in the first series of Fujinon XF Lenses. In India, the lenses will be made available by Fujifilm India Pvt. Ltd., the wholly owned subsidiary of

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Japan.

Another line of five lenses will be added to the collection by early 2013, raising the total to 10 lenses.

Designed especially for X-Pro1, the Fujinon XF Lens series promises enhanced resolution and light volume in image edge areas as well as reduced chromatic aberration for good image quality. From super wide to telephoto, users will be able to choose lenses which match their shooting style.

Featuring an all-glass aspherical lens and other elements, the lens is treated with Super EBC coating. According to Rohit Pandit, Executive Vice President, Fujifilm India, “The new line of interchangeable lenses will enable users to enjoy the high resolution feature of Fujifilm X-Pro1.”

August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[14]

Nikon Corporation will add the super-telephoto 800-mm, fixed local length

lens to its lineup of NIKKOR lenses. This lens will offer a fixed focal length of 800 mm, a maximum aperture of f/5.6, and will be fully compatible with all the Nikon FX-format cameras.

This lens has been developed in order to strengthen the NIKKOR lineup of super-telephoto lenses. It will boast of the longest focal length of any NIKKOR autofocus lens, and will be best suited to capture a wide variety of outdoor scenes, from sporting events to wildlife. In 2012, Nikon released three new FX-format digital-SLR cameras—the D4, the new flagship digital SLR, and the D800 and D800E.

Nikon has been an official sponsor for The Open Championship since 1993, which

is the oldest of the world’s four major golf tournaments. the lens was scheduled to be on display at this year’s Open tournament at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf club, Lancashire, England; at a service depot set

up by Nikon for professional photographers. Furthermore, this lens is also scheduled to be on display at Photokina 2012, to be held in Cologne, Germany from September 18–23, 2012.

NEWS

Nikon to Release Super-Telephoto Lens for Professionals

Fujifilm recently announced the F800EXR, a 16 megapixel compact zoom with smartphone integration and WiFi. The camera is made

keeping device-to-device photo sharing in mind; one can directly upload photographs to any device working on the Android or the iOS platform directly and wirelessly from the camera.

The camera has a 20X zoom with a 25-500 mm focal length and aperture range of f/3.5– f/5.3. From the camera, one can upload photographs to social media like Facebook and Instagram too, with a choice of adding six different types of filters to enhance the photographs according to requirements. There is a built in GPS to tag the photographs geographically.

As of now, the F800EXR has been only announced in the US, and no information on when it will be released in India has been announced yet.

Panasonic recently unveiled two powerful

compact cameras: the 10 megapixel (MP) Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 pocket model and the 16 MP Lumix DMC-G5, a mirrorless compact system camera.

The Lumix LX7 is the follow up to the popular LX5. It adds a 3.8x (24-90mm equivalent) lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 and f/2.3 at tele-end. It also offers full 1080p HD video at 60p and a maximum of 11 frames per second shooting.The Panasonic Lumix G5 comes with a 3x, 14-42mm (24-84mm equivalent) kit lens and an improved autofocus system. The G5’s 16MP Live MOS image sensor and its Venus Engine image processor have both, reportedly, been revamped to captured crisper photos and video.

The LX7 will be available in black and white while the G5 will come in black, white and silver in various kit options. Pricing and availability of both the cameras will be announced 30 days prior to shipping.

FujiFilm announces its latest compact zoom, F800eXR

Panasonic Introduces Lumix LX7 and G5 Compact Cameras

NEWS

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The ‘Ask Your Expert’ column where your SanDisk expert will answer all your queries on photography

I am interested in upgrading myself from film to digital photography. I find it difficult to compare film quality with digital quality. I currently own a Nikon FM10. Should I purchase a DSLR or a high range semi professional fixed lens camera? My choices include Nikon D3100 and Nikon P510.Amit MukherjeeLucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Since you own a film based SLR, it would be logical to get a DSLR – consider a compact camera only if portability is important – the image quality, and accessory range, really doesn’t compare. You should find it relatively easy to adjust to the nuances of digital technology and methods, especially since it uses familiar terms from film techniques.

Yes, the D3100 is a fine entry level camera, but consider the recently introduced 24 megapixel D3200. You can use legacy lenses from your FM10 (you did not specify) with some restrictions (as to AF, metering etc) on the D3200 – and with rather more facility on the D7000 (if that camera is in your budget).

Instead of comparing digital v/s film for image quality, concentrate on exploiting the two mediums for their unique abilities – both have their plus points.

Do continue shooting film, it’s a great way to bring a fresh perspective to your photography.

Photography is my passion and I certainly want to make it my profession. Before I begin taking photography classes, I want to buy a DSLR camera. Should it be a Nikon or a Canon and which model do you advise I buy, as I am just starting in photography?- Jayant UppalGurgaon,Haryana

Photography is our passion as much as it is yous! Entry level DSLR cameras from the major manufacturers are fairly similar in price, performance and features. There are differences in the range of optics and accessories offered, but again, this is usually not a constraint for the budding enthusiast. It is best to handle the camera models in the showroom – often minor differences in ergonomics and that elusive thing called ‘feel’ – may help you make the right choice.

Some models to shortlist would be Nikon’s D3100, D3200 or even the D5000. And from Canon look at the EOS 550D and the latest 650D. If your budget allows, opt for a longer range lens than the usual 18-55 kit lens.

I want to be a wildlife photographer and currently own a Tamron 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 lens. Is this compatible with, and also the right lens for wildlife photography? MadhanChennai, Tamil Nadu

August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[16]

Answered by Manisha Sood

Country Manager, India & SAARC, SanDisk

Send in your Questions [email protected]

Questionof the Month

AP

Well yes, any lens is compatible and useable for wildlife – much depends on your creative idea, the desired composition, the nature of the terrain, (shy animals may need longer lenses) etc. Your 75-300, on, I assume, a crop-sensor camera is a fairly decent long tele-zoom – and for an economical way to gain even more reach, you could try using a tele-converter.

I’m at the point in life where I need to decide on a career. I have the option of pursuing engineering but since I love photography and enjoy it, I want to know the career prospects in this field and possible job opportunities that I could explore in the future.Also, I want to buy a DSLR. I had a Sony CyberShot W320 but I lost it. Could you tell me which DSLR to buy and what career to pursue.Kavya RastogiMeerut, Uttar Pradesh

It is hard to advice on becoming a professional photographer. You must first acquire the requisite skills and demonstrate an ability to create images on demand – that’s the big difference between professionals and amateurs. A pro shoots for money day in and day out – an amateur shoots for the love of the art, when he feels like it.

Frankly, photography as a profession is a risky business and something you should choose only if that is the best skill you have. You are still very young and giving up your formal education, that too in a field like engineering – may not be a smart career move. Do consider your options carefully before making irrevocable decisions that will affect your entire life.

I have been using a DSLR since March 2011. At the moment, I have one 32 GB and two 16 GB SanDisk memory cards. One of my 16 GB Extreme Pro SanDisk, however, failed within a few months of its use but it was promptly replaced free of charge and my lost images were also retrieved to the extent possible. I would like to know about the possible reasons for its failure. What are the precautions I can take while using and storing SanDisk memory cards so as to ensure their best performance? Also, could you tell me what the optimum size SanDisk memory card is for storage and editing of pictures? Dr Avinash Kumar Srivastav

Memory cards today are very reliable and durable technology masterpieces – and it is unfortunate that you experienced a rare failure. Happily, all your files were recovered.

Some basic care in the use of memory cards:

1. Always format the card in your camera, and not on the computer. Remember, the camera processor writes to the memory card; the computer merely reads the data.

2. Avoid deleting files in camera – it is best to simply format the card once you have downloaded and backed up the data.

3. Always power-down the camera before removing/inserting the memory card.

4. Avoid sharing the same card in different cameras, unless they are reformatted each time.

5. Store the cards in hard plastic cases, and avoid dust, grime and moisture from contaminating the electronic contacts.

6. Since significant plastics are used in manufacturing the cards – avoid exposing it to corrosive chemicals and extreme heat.

The optimum size of memory cards depends on the file size being created by your camera, your average shooting session (or sessions if on a holiday/trip) and your willingness to frequently change cards. Your combination of one 32GB plus two 16GB cards seem fine for general use.

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[17]August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging

Trade Talk

“A personal and professional challenge”With their foot firmly set through their subsidiary in the indian imaging market, fujifilm is all set to take the next step toWards brand deVelopment. Rohit Pandit, executiVe Vice president, digital camera business, fujifilm india, Who belieVes that the digital camera is a consumer electronic deVice today spoke to Bhavya desai about the company’s roadmap for the future.

From working with lG to handling the camera business for Fuji now, rohit Pandit finds a lot of synergy between consumer electronics

and camera business, which considerably reduces his homework on the industry. “If you look around you will find that all the stores that sell panels and other consumer electronic products today are selling cameras too. So for me a digital camera is more of a consumer electronic device than an imaging one.” It is the challenge and the company’s transition from the traditional film business to digital products today that excited and prompted Pandit to take up this offer. He feels that the digital camera business in India is growing and the notice that this segment has been able to generate has been phenomenal.

But is the situation the same in the currently going on rupee versus dollar scenario? “I can’t say that we are placed differently on the dollar appreciation front. The dollar appreciation of around 10-12% in the last two to three months has impacted the bottom line.” What surprises Pandit is that the imaging industry per se has not witnessed any considerable increase in the prices of the products, which he finds is oddly unique to this industry. “I was surprised since a panel manufacturer that offers a more expensive product is able to increase the prices immediately after the dollar appreciation. Why should our industry shy away?”

The immediate objective for Pandit in this fiscal year is to increase Fuji’s market share by a couple of points. last year the company managed to clock close to 7% as per the import data. This year he anticipates an increase of around 10-11%. He also wants to change the perception of the consumers that Fuji as a company offers products at lower price-points, especially when their product portfolio has a wide range of categories. This means that in the coming months, consumers and the industry can expect to see quite a lot of Fuji products in the market.

Speaking about the perception of the Indian consumer, Fuji is not seen as a strictly- camera manufacturer due to their strong legacy in India for their minilab and paper businesses. Pandit says that this might not be the case

anymore. although he is aware that they might have been slow in the beginning, but because of their core competency in the lens and processor business, things are set to change.

Service features is a very important aspect in a VP’s scheme of plans. “If you look at camera companies like Canon and Nikon, the model that they currently follow is has 5-7 company owned service centres across major cities, followed by authorised service centres and some collection points. This module is adopted by most of the camera manufacturers in the country to service the market.” Currently Fuji has company owned showrooms in all the four metros, along with nationwide collection points where consumers can get their products from.

“looking at the size of the country and the business expectation, we will probably open service centres in lucknow. The one in Bangalore is almost up and running. We hope to keep augmenting our service network constantly,” added rohit Pandit.

“i can’t say that we are placed differently on the dollar appreciation front. the dollar appreciation of around 10-12 per cent in the last two to three months has impacted the bottom line.”

- rohit pandit

August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[18]

Shootout

CF Memory Card

Shootout

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With the array of Compact Flash (CF) cards flooding the market, making an informed decision for what best suits your needs is a difficult task. Even though the widespread

use of Secure Digital (SD) cards in the market has increased in gigantic proportions, CF cards have been around for a longer time and are used in most professional DSLRs today. With the sheer number of options and choices in the market, there are quite a few things to consider before buying one. Whether it’s a pocket friendly card you’re looking for or simply the best performer, we hope this month’s shootout helps you make the right decision.

The ConTendersLexar and SanDisk, the participants for this year’s shootout sent in their best CF cards in the 8GB capacity category. Lexar sent in their ‘Professional’ 8GB CF card (`3299), with proclaimed speed of 600X, where 1X=150 KB/sec and a read/write speed of 90 MB/sec. SanDisk sent us their 8GB ‘Extreme’ CF card (`3747), which based on SanDisk’s internal testing has a read/write speed of up to 60 MB/sec and a speed of 400X. Both Lexar and SanDisk come with the advanced uDMA (ultra Direct Memory Access) technology, which is rapidly becoming the new standard for the latest generation high-speed CF cards. Both cards were tested using an uDMA card reader.

81.22

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Crystal Disk Mark test

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Lexar Professional (600X)SanDisk Extreme (400X)

parameTersLike every year we assess the cards using the following benchmark tests:• Crystal Disk Mark test• Folder transfer test• In-camera performance

Computer configuration used for the test

Manufacturer Dell Studio

Processor Intel Core i5 CPU M250 2.40GHz

RAM 4.00 GB

System type 32 bit operating System

CrysTal disk mark 3.0.1Lexar’s Professional 600X CF card, being the highest rated of the two, came out with top honours in the sequential benchmark tests we performed. It clocked a read speed of 92.03 MB/sec and a write speed of 80.77 MB/sec. the SanDisk Extreme CF card clocked a read speed of 81.22 MB/sec and a write speed of 68.07 MB/sec, which we thought was good considering SanDisk was the lower rated card.

unfortunately Kingston and transcend couldn’t make it for the shootout this month, which meant that we had two contenders dishing it out for the top spot. At the face of it Lexar seemed to have a natural edge since it was the faster card between the two. We find out the results when we put them through the benchmark tests.

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CONCLUSIONFolder TransFer TesTto test folder transfer speeds, we made a folder with 1 GB (1024MB) worth of data and clocked both the time required to transfer the data from the CF card to the computer and from the computer to the CF card. Lexar performed better once again, with the write speed of 24 seconds while SanDisk recorded 40 seconds. Whereas in the read speed test, SanDisk came in first with a recorded speed of 19 seconds and Lexar came in a close second with a read speed of 22 seconds.

in-Camera perFormanCeWe tested the cards with the Nikon D4 to see how they performed in-camera. Clicking photos at 1/4000 sec and an f-stop value of 5.0 in-camera NEF image format, we shot in the continuous shooting or burst mode using complete manual settings. Lexar’s Professional 8GB CF card recorded 44 shots in 6seconds and SanDisk’s Extreme recorded 33 shots in 6 seconds. Lexar recorded 7.3 frames per second as against 5.5 frames per second by SanDisk.

noTeAll the cards were tested with uDMA card readers. While uDMA technology might be unparalleled in terms of speed, it still has a long way to go in terms of accessibility. A lot of PC and laptop users don’t have the pre-requisite ExpressCard slot for the uDMA card reader. But the only way to get the best out of these cards is to combine them with uDMA card readers.

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Camera test

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sandisk exTreme 400x 8GB CF Card Despite being the lower rated card in the shootout, SanDisk Extreme stood second in the benchmark and the folder transfer tests we performed. however the results it churned out in the Crystal Disk Mark test were impressive, especially if you take into account the X speeds of both the cards.

lexar proFessional 600x 8GB CF CardWith a claimed sustained write speed of 600X, as expected, the Lexar Professional 600X CF card surpassed its contender with better performance. on the flipside, it didn’t perform well in the folder transfer test as compared to SanDisk which had a lower transfer speed. Costing `3299, the Lexar Professional 600X 8GB card gives excellent value for money and is the winner of our CF card shootout this year.

TexT & IMaGes: sTeve D’soUza

World’s 3rd Largest Consumer Electronic & Imaging Show

3rd to 6th January 2013, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Formerly known as Photofair I Stall Bookings Opening Shortly

Organised By: Co-Organised By:

IndIa’s no.1 PhotograPhy MagazIne

Shootout

SD MEMORY caRD

ShOOtOut

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The Secure Digital (SD) format is an important development in the camera industry, especially since it allows for storage in a more compact design, and is extremely popular with equipment

manufacturers. today, it is believed that SD technologies are used in over 400 brands across dozens of product categories.

the Secure Digital format includes four card families available in three different form factors. the four families are the Standard Capacity (SDSC), the high Capacity (SDhC), the Extended Capacity (SDXC), and the SDIo, which combines input/output functions with data storage. the form factors are the original size, the mini size and the micro size.

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class unlike the earlier ‘x’ speed ratings, and can warn the user if the card reports a speed class that falls below an application’s minimum requirement. unlike card write speeds that measure maximum performance, class ratings measure the minimum sustained speed required for recording an even rate of video onto the card. the class rating number corresponds to the transfer rate measured in megabytes per second. Class 10 cards for example are designed for a minimum sustained transfer rate of 10MB/s. While a Class 6 card is fast enough to handle full hD video recording, the Class 10 cards are better in terms of performance for full hD video recording and hD still consecutive recording.

ContendersFor the SD card shootout this month we increased the capacity to 8GB as compared to 4GB last year since the industry as well as consumer preferences have changed. owing to a decrease in prices, the 8GB capacity card, are now the most common cards that come bundled with cameras as more and more consumers prefer them over the lower capacity 4GB cards. the contenders for this month’s shootout are the Lexar Platinum II SDhC 8GB 100X card and the SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB SDhC 633X card. Kingston as well as transcend couldn’t make it for the shootout like in the Compact Flash (CF) category.

the Lexar Platinum 8GB card is a class 6 card while the SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB card is a class 10 card. these Speed Class Ratings are defined by the SD Association indicating a minimum performance to record video. host devices can read a card’s speed

SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB 633X SDhC `2330Lexar Platinum II 8GB 100X `659

ParametersWe performed the following tests to review the cards.

• Crystal Disk Mark 3.0.1

• Folder transfer test

• In-camera performance

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SanDisk Extreme Pro (633X) Lexar Platinum II (100X)

Crystal Disk Mark test

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transfer test where a folder with 1GB data was transferred to and from the card, and the cards were also tested for their in-camera performance.

Crystal disk mark 3.0.1Both the SanDisk Extreme Pro as well as the Lexar card performed surprisingly inconsistenly in the benchmark tests. In order to find out more, we ran the tests on three different machines, and took the best results out of the three tests we conducted on each of the cards so as to be consistent. the SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB 633X SDhC which has a maximum transfer speed for reading and writing images to and from a memory card of 95 MB/sec recorded a read speed of 34.81 MB/sec and write speed of 27 MB/sec. the Lexar Platinum II 8GB 100X which has a claimed maximum read speed of 15 MB/sec and lower write speed recorded a read speed of 21.44 MB/sec and a write speed of 10.56 MB/sec, a slight improvement from their claimed speed.

the BenChmark teststhe SD cards were tested with specialised software (Crystal Disk Mark 3.0.1) to accurately measure read and write speeds, a folder

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Folder transFer testthe idea behind this test is to check the read/write speeds of the cards by transferring a fixed amount of data to, and from the card. For this test, we created a folder with 1GB (1024 MB) of data and transferred the same to and from the cards. We timed the transfers using a stopwatch. Needless to say, SanDisk aced this test clocking a read speed of just 37 seconds and a write speed of 54 seconds. the Lexar Platinum II clocked a read speed of 56 seconds and a write speed of 134 seconds.

in-Camera PerFormanCeIn-camera performance is an important parameter, one that is crucial while considering the most appropriate card for photography your money can buy. For this test, we used the Nikon D7000 and shot RAW images files in the continuous shooting mode with a fixed shutter speed of 1/4000 sec at an aperture of f/5.0. the Lexar Platinum II 100X clocked an impressive 3.2 frames per second, but the SanDisk Extreme won this test as well, clocking 5.4 frames per second.

ConClusionConsidering that our contenders for the shootout were differently rated cards, we also took into account the prices of the SD cards. But despite the major differences even in the prices, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB 633X emerged as a clear winner in our shootout.

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Camera test

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lexar Platinum ii 100x 8GBthe Lexar Platinum II 100X did perform surprisingly well, considering it was up against a 633X card. Also at a price of just `659, the Lexar Platinum II is a good buy, especially since it does an above average job with most applications.

sandisk extreme Pro 8GB 633x sdhCDespite being the higher priced of the two cards, the advantage of the card’s much faster read/write speeds couldn’t be discounted, and we think SanDisk delivers great performance at a fairly reasonable price. the SanDisk Extreme Pro 8GB SDhC undoubtedly trumps our shootout for 2012.

tEXt AND IMAGES: GEoRGE KuRIEN AND StEvE D’SouzA

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exclusive preview

Canon EOS M

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After years of sitting out of the mirrorless battle, canon has finally announced the arrival of the much-awaited eOs M, its first mirrorless camera. we had a firsthand look at the product at our

office, and we give you a quick rundown of the concept it was designed with. canon has engineered the eOs M with the intention of providing the users with the same image quality as its Dslrs, but in a compact size. The eOs M fits into the existing canon eOs family smoothly, as all the accessories available for the other eOs Dslrs are perfectly compatible with it. canon has kept in mind the ease-of-use its products offer, and has kept the generic body layout essentially the same as all of its eOs Dslrs.

The eOs M is equipped with an easy to operate touch screen interface and an 18Mp sensor; just like the newly launched eOs 650D, canon’s latest offering in the Dslr segment. The eOs M comes with a new, highly compact eF-M lens mount especially designed for its mirrorless products, though canon does plan to offer an adapter along with the camera that allows users to mount any lens on the eOs M compatible with the eOs family. This means that existing canon Dslr owners need not invest in a new set of lenses and can breathe easy!

But what makes the eOs M stand out from the rest? The camera works on a slightly different concept from the rest of the products in the market. The other brands, like Olympus and panasonic (the original inventors of the technology) or for that matter even sony, have concentrated on getting the compact camera technology up to the level of a Dslr minus the bulk. canon has designed the eOs M in an attempt to reduce a Dslr to a more compact form, while at the same time delivering the exact photo quality, as they have not compromised on the sensor size at all.

Two new lenses have been introduced for the eF-M mount; an 18-55mm f/3.5-fs.6 is and a 22mm f/2.0. The lenses when held, much more compact than their Dslr counterparts. The quality of the shots taken by both was at par with the 650D. A lot of canon users have been eagerly awaiting the release of an adept mirrorless camera by the

Japanese imaging giants, and the eOs M seems perfectly poised to fill that void.¬

The camera is targeted at users who don’t want to bother with heavy equipment and also don’t want to compromise on the photo quality and ease of use, like street photographers, women, etc. The camera is equipped with a lot less buttons than canon Dslrs, which combined with the firm grip makes holding it a lot easier. The 1040k dot 3:2 clearview ii lcD on the back panel of the camera is a multi-touch interface that allows you to swipe through the photographs and menu functions just like a smartphone.

The camera however doesn’t feature a built-in flash, a small compromise in order to keep its size compact. But the company officials mentioned that an external flash unit will be supplied in the kit with the eOs M, which can be mounted on any Dslr in the eOs range too.

As seen in the images, the flash unit seems to be very compact, much more so than its competitors in the market. The camera’s sensor is an 18Mp Aps-c Hybrid cMOs, the same as the 650D; which, as we said before, is capable of delivering the same high resolution photographs and image quality as the existing canon Dslrs under the same price segment.

The camera’s body is an amalgam of magnesium alloy, stainless steel, and composite materials, though the final finish on each of the red, grey and black variants is done according to the colour. The eOs M is what we call the mirrorless version of the 650D; the sensor is exactly the same, which is expected to give the photos the required slr-like quality; the touchscreen functions are also almost identical, and it enters the market at about the same time. The tentative price of the camera is expected to be somewhere around `50,000, including the 18-55 kit lens, but as it is not released in india yet, the exact price will only be decided when it does. we will be doing a full performance review as soon as it arrives in the indian markets. considering canon’s prowess in the imaging industry, the eOs M sure has the potential to be the next best thing in the already thriving mirrorless market.

august 2012

column

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[30]AUgUst 2012

Shooting With a Single Flash

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Todd Anthony Tyler

apertures, shutter speeds and adjusting the ISo. I also hope you have practiced those skills by using the light source available to us in nature and tried to shape and direct natural light into beautiful natural light images. I think it is time now to go to the next level and begin to incorporate flash into your photographic repertoire.

A natural progression from using the sun is to keep it simple and start off with discovering what you can do and how a variety of images can be produced by using a single flash. You can do this either in a pro-studio space, a studio set up you have at home or even just simply on-location. Just like the sun, you can incorporate a variety of screens and reflectors to use in conjunction with the flash to bounce or block light. Also similar to the sun, you can choose to do anything from using the flash as a bare bulb or select from a whole number of attachments that can direct, focus, shape or soften the light emanating form the flash.

When it comes to the flash unit itself, what we are talking about here is a flash head that can be removed and used separately from the camera. This may be anything from an

external camera flash to a full professional studio flash. many people think that to achieve pro results you need a full size, top-of-the-line studio flash. Even though a flash of this type has several advantages such as a wide power range and fast recycling time, many great images can be created with a simple external camera flash. The first clear advantage of the external camera flash is the cost. If you are just getting started in photography or are on a budget, you might not want to spend a lot of money on a high end flash unit (though renting is an option). Also, an external camera flash can be more immediate for you as it is easily portable and can literally fit into your pocket.

If you do want to purchase studio lighting, take your time to do a bit of research on the various brands available. A very general statement to guide you is that price does somewhat represent the quality of the flash unit you are purchasing (certainly there is the argument that advertising costs can inflate the price). Be aware that there are two basic types of studio flash; first, a monoblock, which is a single self contained unit with a power cord and second, a box unit where the controls

I hope you have all been exploring the innumerable ways to use natural light to create fantastic fashion images by

controlling and modifying natures light source, the sun.

I hope my last couple of columns helped you to learn how to better control the outcome in your images by selecting

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and the flash head are separate. monoblock can be a good option if you are a beginner in photography as you can easily carry it around and plug in wherever you go, and it is less expensive. Second is the box units, which tend to be more robust with faster recycling time but are heavier and bulkier and definitely higher priced.

Regardless of you moving into flash lighting with an external camera flash or the latest, fastest studio flash head, the positioning of the light and the resulting look is basically the same. According to me, the best part about

the learning experience from starting out with a single flash is that even the slightest movement or adjustment of light can be easily seen in the image captured. There are two main ways that you can change the look of a single flash image; one is by the attachment or reflector (not to be confused with the bounce) you decide to use on the flash head and the other is the position you place the flash at.

A few choices for controlling the light emitted by the flash involves using the bare flash bulb which often simulates the look of hard sunlight; putting on a standard reflector

which brings more direction to the light; placing barn doors or a grid to the reflector for even more control in direction of the light and/or making the light source soft and diffused with a variety of soft boxes that come in various sizes and shapes such as square, rectangle or octagonal. It is definitely worth your time to try out as many flash light modifiers as you can.

no matter what way you decide to modify the flash lighting, there are four basic positions for placing the single flash light (excluding a light directly over the top which can also have

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a unique aesthetic). The first position I suggest you to try is by placing the light directly in front of your subject and lit from above with a slight angle down (about 45 degrees). a lighting position that is often best photographed with the model looking slightly up in the direction of the light. I usually refer to this position as the “beauty lighting” position. next try the light from below. A lighting direction that I personally like to use in fashion images along with a beauty dish because I feel that it lends a glamorous light to the image. You of course need to be careful with a small hard

flash source in this position as coming light too directly from below can then create the stereotypical horror movie lighting. The third basic light position is directly from the side which without supplementary (fill) flash or bounce will create a varying degree of hard shadow on the subject’s unlit side depending on whether the light being used is a hard light source or a soft one - soft light will tend to wrap more. The fourth position and the most common one is what I refer to as the “classic 45”. This lighting position is most common as it is generally best for creating a catch light in the

eyes and favourable shadows for producing a nice face shape. With the “classic 45” light position you place the flash unit at 45 degrees from the subject (or model) who is looking directly ahead. You usually want to see the light catching the top of the model’s eyes at either the 10 or 2 o’clock position depending, of course, on which side of the model you have positioned the light. The downward angle of the light is also at a 45 degree angle.

For convenience and ease I would suggest you have lighting stands to hold and position the flash unit, especially if you are using studio

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lighting heads. I prefer to use boom stands if I can since I like to have the additional ability to fine tune the adjustment of the flash position. However, straight stands work just as well. That said if you don’t have access to lighting stands and are using small external camera flash you can achieve these four basic light positions by simply having someone hold the flash for you.

once you have the set up to start shooting and are ready to experience how the different single flash positions look in your images, you still have a couple more considerations to make.

one is how you will trigger the flash. You can either use a sync cord that is directly attached to the flash and camera like a static line or perhaps, more convenient but more

expensive, use a wireless flash trigger which mounts to your camera. This enables you to move more freely without any worries of being tangled up in the sync line.

You will also need to place your camera into manual mode- perhaps for the first time unless you have been practicing with natural light shots. cameras will have different flash shutter sync speeds. You can check your manual to confirm. You will know if you have set a speed beyond your camera’s sync capabilities as you will see one side of your image going black. most cameras are able to sync at 1/125 of a second. This doesn’t mean you cannot shoot slower than this speed, but you cannot shoot faster. So with your camera set to manual and the shutter speed at 1/125 of a second, you now need to decide what

aperture you would like to shoot at. Quick note: with flash I generally shoot at 100 ISo. For beginning purposes you can stick with this setting on your camera. As a rough guide, I usually shoot commercial work around f/8 to f/11, at times f/16. But generally, I take a woman’s portrait at f/4 to f/2.8 and a man’s at f/5.6. These numbers for correct exposures when combined with 1/125th of a second shutter speed can be achieved by adjusting the power output of the flash.

This brings me to the final basic instruction to give before you embark on your journey into flash lighting; reading the light. If you are on a tight budget you can just set up the flash and trigger it followed by checking the preview screen on the back of your camera to see if the exposure is correct. Personally, I prefer to

use an incident-light meter to read the light. With the bulb up and pointed towards the camera, I read the flash output to see whether adjustments need to be made in the power output of the flash unit.

Take the directions and advice I have given you here as basic instruction and a simple starting point to explore the use of one flash in creating your images. As I always encourage, don’t be afraid to experiment. move the flash around and take shots to see how it looks and what effect can be created, all the while keeping in mind that you must control the flash and not let the flash lighting control you.

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Pro-Profile

Fashion FetesFashion Fetes

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her love for clothes, mythology, fairy tales and “everything beautiful” made fashion photography an obvious career choice; giving her the opportunity to combine everything she loves to create something ethereal. over the 15 years in her profession, she has experienced the photography industry in new york and india and worked with renowned fashion and lifestyle magazines like vogue, elle, cosmopolitan and l’officiel. Nisha Kutty tells asian photography how one thing led to another and, with her perseverance, shaped her life as a photographer.

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o: V

ogue

Fashion FetesFashion Fetes

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As a child, she had a simple ambition; to be well known. She studied painting and art direction as ways to get there but found painting to be too

solitary for her liking, and as an art director “luckily” no one hired her. How did photography happen, you ask? it was at an interview for the post of a visualiser, where her portfolio impressed the Creative Director and he suggested she pursue photography. “i just stuck to that,” she says and over the decade that she spent in the profession, she gradually fell in love with the medium.

exposure beyond studiesShe was officially enrolled at Sir JJ School of Arts,

Mumbai to study Applied Arts but instead, ended up spending five years in the college canteen drinking tea and discussing existentialism, Kandinsky, Tarkovsky and many such ideas and personalities.

engaging in intellectual discussions with friends, going to watch art movies at the NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) and art shows at Jehangir Art Gallery helped her immensely. She picked it all up in college and attributes her creativity and way of thinking to the atmosphere at JJ. Spending time with a bunch of extremely talented students and the exposure to some great painters and their works helped her understand composition and lighting better.

Photo: Vogue

Photo: Verve

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o: M

arie

Claire

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She first sits with the Art Director to understand the basic concept of the shoot and then does a careful and thorough research of the props, make up and lighting that she can use. There is usually a meeting with the make-up artist to decide the look for the models.

Next step ideally involves casting of appropriate models for the shoot but that may or may not happen, as Kutty says, “That concept is still alien in India.”

She always draws a rough storyboard for the shoot so she knows what she’s doing and it goes faster. “Then I arrive at the shoot and bully everyone to do it my way,” she confesses.

Summed up: Her typical faSHion SHoot

knowledge as an apprenticeShe apprenticed with Beat Presser from

Switzerland for six months and took away from the apprenticeship his passion to work, his energy and his minimalist approach to life and living. “He had a bare, sparse apartment and the amazing ability to just get up and go to another country or climb some mountain to shoot!”

times in new york Amongst the many fortunate opportunities

in her photography career, New York (NY) was one. She met a photographer from NY at a Thomson reuters’ workshop in india and she convinced Kutty to visit her in New York.

Kutty had initially planned to go to NY for just two months in 2000, but as it turned out, she returned eight years later. “i got married and had a baby within the first two years, plus i was working, so there were many experiences all happening at once. New York is a lovely place, like a shop of beautiful things; you can walk around for days on end just taking in everything. There is so much happening there and a lot of fresh energy.”

However, the energy and fast pace of New York, after a point began to get tiring and that’s when Kutty decided to return home, to india.

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o: F

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a Er

a

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o: V

ogue

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Know more new york v/s indian work culture“The New York photography industry has nearly

a two decade headstart over the indian industry, which makes it much more organised and professional, and all the bookings there are done via agencies,” Kutty explains. in india, the concept of agencies has only recently taken root and there are very few agencies representing photographers, but Kutty is hopeful and says, “it is only a matter of time before india gets there.”

She feels there is something both industries could learn from the other. “indian photographers need to learn to be original and New York needs to learn to be more humane,” she concludes.

her weapons of choiceKutty’s gear includes her Mamiya rZ67 with a P 45+

Phase one digital back.

advice for beginners in fashionShe keeps it short and simple, “Study art, watch films

and don’t objectify Women.”

TexT: TAPSHi DHANDA

What she has learnt Lighting is everything. Always take an advance for your work.

Her biggest achievement To be in the Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) New York Top 50 beauty photographers

Big break When she started shooting with Elle magazine, India, the year it was launched. She consistently did a lot of work with them and that got her noticed.

Indian fashion photographer she admires Max Vadukul

International fashion photographer she admires Miles Aldridge

indian photographers need to learn to be original and new york needs to learn to be more humane

Phot

o: M

arie

Claire

Shoot My City

Shades of

England

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When i heard England was one of the shortlisted destinations

for Shoot My City for the month of August, i couldn’t help pushing for it during the edit meet. And my efforts didn’t go in vain. As much as anyone would hope to experience the rich English culture and landscapes, i was hoping for the same too. So, when England did get selected, needless to say, i was thrilled and began to look forward to the trip.

i have always dreamt about visiting England because i have heard so much from my maternal grandparents about the life and culture there. And because of my ancestral connection with the country, i felt even more excited about the trip. What has always been a dream, was about to turn into reality; i just knew this trip would be special.

i checked the likely weather conditions for the week i was going to be in England and ensured i had the right gear, and more importantly, the right things to keep it safe from the rains that were predicted in the forecast. England’s weather is typically defined as “highly unpredictable”. A piece of information you should take seriously. Even though it is summer in England now, i was prepared for a nip in the air and the occasional showers. And honestly i’d take an unpredictable weather over the Mumbai monsoons, any day. So the weather predictions were a relief that way.

When i reached the Mumbai airport to board the flight to London, i realised it still seemed unbelievable that i would soon be on my way to England. As the flight

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took off, i rest my head back and closed my eyes, eagerly waiting for the eight and a half hour flight to come to an end. i woke up to the captain’s announcement saying we’d be landing in London in a short while and it was then that it sunk in that i am just above the United Kingdom (UK).

i finally touched down at the London heathrow Airport at 7am in the morning.

Landing in heathrow, which is rated among the top 5 busiest airports in the world, was a thrill in itself. From there i made my way towards Camberley. through the one hour long drive, i got the first preview of what people back home were referring to as “unpredictable weather”. it was pleasantly sunny when i started from heathrow but on the way, there was a sudden shower. the country is famous for displaying

four seasons in a single day, so i knew i had to be extra careful about my equipment and to make the most of a good photo opportunity when i saw it, or the weather could play tricks with me.

As i entered Camberley, i was wonderstruck. the lush green country side of Camberley and the calm and quiet around, was a treat to my senses; someone who loves

to bond with nature. i was booked in a lovely English Bed and Breakfast and i had thought i’d be tired by the time i get there but i guess the pleasing and delightful surroundings of Camberly left me feeling fresh and i could not wait to take a walk around and hear my shutter go “click”. Before stepping out though, i had breakfast at the place i was staying. it was an early morning and the lady who runs the Bed and Breakfast served me an authentic English style breakfast, complete with eggs, bacon, cereal and toast.

i head out after my hearty breakfast and walked towards the Camberley town centre; the market place. it was a 10 minute walk from the Bed and Breakfast. i crossed cozy looking English houses with their some fancy, some vintage cars parked outside. it looked like it was going to rain so i carried my gear in a waterproof bag, just in case it rained. With my Nikon D4, i tried to make the best of the little time i had in hand. i noticed that most of the houses and shops there had their national flag incorporated in the decorations, mostly as ‘buntings’. English people know and respect their culture wholeheartedly, and their flag means a lot to them, especially post the irish Republican Army (iRA) issue in the UK. i saw families taking their morning walks, which included their pets too. i spent the day in Camberley and it felt immensely peaceful. it was around 7:30 in the evening when most people began to return to their homes. So i too bought dinner for myself and retired to the comfort of my cozy Bed and Breakfast.

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the next day i took a taxi to Farnborough, which is a 20 minute drive from Camberley. one of my friends had told me that Farnborough has a good display of aircraft, so i wanted to see the Farnborough air strip. i managed to get more than a glimpse of the air field and shot some of the aircrafts that were on display. i got to see and shoot my all time favorite vintage aircraft, ‘the StarDuster’. i shot

some other aircraft too and by evening, exhausted, i decided to head back to Camberley. Before getting back though, i found out about the train routes to London for the next day.

After a good night’s sleep it was time to wake up and pay a visit to the queen. i had to take a train from the Farnborough station since there is no direct train from Camberley to London. the journey was

way smoother compared to the train rides in Mumbai. it was fascinating to watch the lush green English country side pass by as i sat in the rail and looked outside the window. i got off at the last station on the route, the London Waterloo, and instantly i could feel the change in the pace compared to that i had experienced in the peaceful country side of Camberley. it was time to let London take over me.

Walking alongside the river thames, you get to see a lot of street performances by the locals. Walk along the South Bank and guaranteed you will be entertained. i loved watching some of the dancers freestyle to a groovy number. i could see the Palace of Westminster, which houses the Big Ben. i wanted to go on the London Eye but changed my mind when i saw the never-ending queue. i took a shot of it though so you could feel its magnificence. i grabbed a good supper at one of the most famous pubs on South Bank, the Dickens inn, which is known to have been a brewery once and is a restyled and reconstructed 18th century pub. its ambience will transport you to another era altogether. it sure did that to me.

Next, i walked to the Buckingham Palace. it was a great feeling and yes, the guards are stoic just as are shown in advertisements. i also visited the trafalgar Square and picked up souvenirs for family and friends. it felt good to walk the streets of London capturing images. it is more picturesque than i had imagined it to be.

By 9:30 pm, though still daylight, i headed to my hotel in London because next day i had an early start with a friend who stays there as we had decided to go to the little village of Lulworth. Lulworth is an area on the coast of Dorset, South West England. it is approximately a three hour drive from London, but by far, the most gorgeous three hour drive. the roads are a delight to drive on and the colours of everything around appear so fresh. As you approach Lulworth, you will actually see sheep and horses grazing in the meadows that surround you. the most famous spot near Lulworth is Durdle Door; a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast. We parked our car at the foot of the hill that you need to climb to get to the

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Photo: Abhinav Saxena

beach where Durdle Door is. it takes around half an hour to complete the climb and the downhill walk, all the way up to the beach. But considering i stopped more than a couple of times to capture the stunning landscape around, it took us a little less than an hour. once at the beach, i finally saw Durdle Door and shot a few photographs there. i realised as i sat at the beach that i was inhaling more consciously; more aware of my breath as i took in the fresh air. My ears loved the sound of the breeze and the waves as the two merged. We sat at the beach for a while and then started our hike back to the car park, to get to London in good time. it was beginning to get a little late.

i had my flight back to india the next morning, and as i made my way to the airport, i remember thinking how sometimes you just can’t get enough of something. the experience was exhilarating to say the least, but that left me wanting more. And maybe i will go back to the country again someday and explore it to my heart’s content.

tExt AND iMAgES: AJAy SiNgh

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Creative Strips

Tips & Techs

For this month’s photoshop tutorial, we thought of creating a beautiful photo strip. You can use this for package design or any website presentation. You can improvise using some of

the tips this tutorial offers by adding artwork or photos of your choice to make an interesting photo strip. Below we’ve listed down the basic involved in creating a photo strip.

Creative Strips

final image

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Step 1 Open a new worksheet in photoshop and use the pen Tool to create a shape. The shapes will be used as a guideline and for masking purposes.

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Step 2

Step 3

if you are utilising multiple shapes, then you can label them accordingly. For example, we have named them shape 1, shape 2 and shape 3 in the layers palette.

select images which you plan to use in the shapes.

NOTE

To make the workflow easier, organise the layers into groups (ie. strip 1, 2, 3, 4) in the layers palette. Load selection from the shapes you created in step 1 and add a layer mask for each group (so you get a perfect smooth curve).

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Step 4

Step 5

Using the Transform Tool (ctrl+T), resize and use the Warp Tool to place the image on the edge of the shape (Go to edit > Transform > Warp). Now you should see a grid and four anchor points in the corner. in order to bend the image, simply drag the anchor points, direction points, or grid lines.

Repeat this step for the rest of the strip till the entire shape is covered.

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Step 6

Step 7

To create a shadow to give it a more realistic feel, use the Gradient Tool on a masked group. create a new layer above the strip and drag the Gradient Tool from the top to bottom to create a black gradient. Keep repeating this step on other parts of the strip. Alternatively, you could create a new layer and use the Brush Tool to add shadow.

To make highlighted and glossy areas, create a round glowing circle, compress it, and rotate it in the angle according to your strip’s direction.

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If you have ever attended a photography course, lecture or workshop, read a book on photography or joined the many photography forums online, you are bound to believe that blur is the worst thing

that could happen to your images. But we are here to bust that myth because blurs, in fact, can be beautiful.

intentional, or as we like to know it, creative blur can be used to make images more artistic, make the subject stand out, and draw the attention of the viewer to a particular point in the frame. controlling and playing with depth of field can be used to create intriguing visual contrast between the foreground and the background.

Then there is of course the accidental blur, the kind of images we discard from the camera without giving so much of a second look. Analyse one such image next time and you will most likely than not, find a way to connect with it, either in nostalgia, or through the story behind the blur, or just what it discreetly conveys through the haze.

One way or the other we help you see the good in the blur.

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Selective focuSAnother application of shallow depth of field, selective

focus is used to direct the viewer’s interest to a small part of the image while softening the other parts.

portraits of people are a popular subject that benefit from selective focus, as are pictures of pets, taken indoors or outdoors, where the clutter in the background can spoil their portraits. Flowers and small art objects also make good props for selective focus treatment.

selective focus can be achieved both off-camera and in-camera.Off-camera: you can use the many blur tools available in various photo editing software to incorporate this feel in your images. in-camera: selective focus can be achieved using the tilt function of a tilt-shift lens.

BluriS Beautiful

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accidental BlurSThese are blurs we are all familiar with.

part of the clicks we consider waste. But just reconsider again. Do they all look bad? Or do you believe that because you have been taught to? Are all of the accidentally blurred images meaningless? if you go through the images that got blurred either because of the shake of the camera, or wrong exposure settings, you will notice some of them have a soft, mysterious appeal to them.

Background BlurS

As the name suggests, background blurs involve fading out the background of an image. This is usually done to keep the subject sharp by incorporating shallow depth of field and keeping the background out of focus. This technique of blurring backgrounds can be used to ignore bad backgrounds by keeping the attention on the subject. This can also be used to make an unpleasant background appear pleasant when blurred, and thus complement the subject.

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BokehAs Wiki describes it, “Bokeh is the aesthetic quality

of the blur in the out-of-focus areas of the image”. it is the way the lens of the camera interprets and presents out-of-focus points of light in the image. Bokeh is often deliberately incorporated in an image to give it a soft, surreal feel. Unlike background blurs and selective focus, where the out-of-focus regions are de-emphasised, boken makes use of shallow depth of field to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions.

The shape of the bokeh is determined by the shape of the aperture which usually is hexagonal or octagonal, rendering an almost circular bokeh. You can be creative and cut out your own shapes on paper, say a star or a heart, cover the lens with that paper and shoot through it to capture the light in out-of-focus areas in that shape. The shape of the aperture affects the abstract quality of the bokeh, so you can use that to your advantage to add character to your images.

instead of a regular, ordinary background that may not add to the image when intentionally blurred, you can choose a background that adds some colour to your image, say, a graffiti wall or bushes with different coloured flowers, or coloured lights.

Add colour to your bAckground

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Zoom BurStit is a technique achievable by zoom lenses with a manual zoom ring. An image shot

in zoom burst gives the impression of movement towards or away from the subject and is typically marked with blurred streaks emanating from the centre of the image.

This can be achieved by zooming into or out of your subject while clicking the photograph.

TexT: TApshi DhAnDA

1. Blur Tool – it gives the photographer the flexibility to select the areas in the image he wants to blur. The Blur Tool has the same proprieties as the Brush Tool, except there is no option of colour selection.

2. Blur Filter – There is a list of artistic blur filters available in photo editing software. On photoshop you can access the blur filters by choosing Blur in Filters on the Menu bar. some of the most common artistic blur filters include Gaussian blur, Radial blur and Motion blur.

Achieving blurs in post-production

motion BlurSit is natural to associate motion blur with sports photography for the ample

opportunities it provides to shoot blurs, but almost any kind of photography can gain from capturing and emphasising on the movement in a frame, no matter how slow or subtle. Depicting movement through blur makes images come alive.

You can try two kinds of motion blurs; one where the subject is stationary and there is movement behind or around it, and the other where the subject itself is in motion while everything around it is still. The impact and effect of both images is categorically different on the viewer. Both these cases involve using slow shutter speeds. in the first case, all you have to do is lock focus on the subject and use a slow shutter speed to capture your subject surrounded by movement behind or around it. in order that your subject remains sharp in the midst of the blur caused by movement around it, it’s important it remains stationary for the duration of the exposure. The second kind of motion blur involving a moving subject requires that you use a slow shutter speed while tracking your subject in the direction of the movement (for example 1/15th of a second and appropriate aperture depending on lighting).Ph

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Tips & Techs

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Deepak Talwar, Chairman of IDFS Tradings Pvt. Ltd.

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Corporate photography has always been an integral part of portrait photography. it is a genre that is used for promoting a company’s brand, individuals,

products and services. Over the years companies have become more aware about their corporate image and have realised the importance of visual communication. The idea of creating the appropriate visual identity for a company and the people working in it is of utmost importance to it, while indulging in any marketing or public relation activity. in addition, photographing people involved in the organisation adds a human dimension to what otherwise would only be a brand name to the consumers.

While shooting for a corporate, the main goal is to sell the brand which means photographers have to work with their business clients in mind. corporate photos can range from classic and environmental portraits to be used right in annual reports, newsletters and magazines, on company websites and press releases.

corporate photography in effect is as simple as portraiture of a business person, but doesn’t come without challenges. As a photographer one needs to know exactly what one is doing, which is to be prepared to work in any kind of conditions, within the time frame to achieve the objectives. There is very little scope for experimentation, which means you need to have everything planned along with contingency plans. in most cases, corporates opt for a business headshot, which is quite basic and fulfills the function of enhancing communication with customers, clients and other professionals. As for the company, the photographs of their employers and employees are representative of the company itself and aim to achieve an image that speaks about the brand as well as the individuals. To make sure that you perform and deliver during such a challenging shoot here are a few methods which can help you get a better idea.

Do your homeworkin most cases, you would have a major time and space constraint, which means you have to be well prepared. Alok Kejriwal, CEO and Co-founder of Games2win

Photography

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Get to know your subject, at least basic information about them so you know who you’re dealing with. Before the shoot, scout the location you will be using, and examine the available light, the space and what kind of shots can be created in it. if need be, visit the location a day in advance to plan things well. This will help you to determine which gear to bring and where to shoot. The second and most important part is talking to your client or the client representative. in this meeting, figure out exactly what the client needs and understand what it would take to achieve the shot, and explain to how you would be executing it. The exchange of ideas would enable you to figure out your doubts, and will eventually help the client and you to prepare himself/herself for the shoot.

Bring the right equipment Once you are done with the recce, it makes it easy

for you to decide and pack the appropriate gear for the shoot. its needless to say that having a right sort of camera like a DsLR is a must; if your client wishes use the image on a billboard you need to consider using a medium format or a full format type camera. Next is to get the right type of lens; that would depend on the type of photos you intend on shooting. There are times where it is not possible to shoot at a location with natural light; in such a case studio strobes or speedlights are lifesavers. There is a possibility that the subject that you are shooting is not very comfortable in front of the camera; in such a case mounting the camera on a tripod and using a wire/wireless trigger will help you while you can engage your subject and keep them at ease. it is also useful while shooting in low light conditions where you would need

Atul Nishar, Founder & Chairman of Hexaware Technologies

Ravi Jain, Promoter & CEO of Vallee de Vin Pvt. Ltd.

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Ashok Malik

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Be confident. Knowing what you are doing and explaining things to them will surely help earn their trust, which puts them at ease; which eventually makes your work easier.

Dress smart. Your dress code should be at par to the place you are shooting in. if you are taking portraits of a ceO of a company, you should dress as if you were an employee of the company. in the same logic, if you are shooting in a factory or at construction site, then you should wear something more suited to such environments.

ensure that you place your subject in front of an appropriate background. plain backgrounds work best as they distract less from the subject, with an exception of a working shot where the subject is photographed while they work. Avoid cluttering the frame, keep it simple.

carry the equipment you’ll need for the shoot. it could be quite embarrassing when you misplace important gear, or don’t have backup when things go south.

Keep the editing minimal. A corporate photo should be authentic, post processing should be kept to a minimum.

Do’s anD Don’ts to increase the shutter speed and yet get a steady shot. There may be times where you may not have an option of conducting a recce at a; here you need to carry most of your equipment, not knowing what you might need at any given time.

its time to shootOnce you’ve reached the location, in most cases it

would be the workspace of the company; avoid cluttering the space with equipment, wires etc. Depending on your clients’ needs, there are a lot of options while shooting corporate portraits. You can take some classic portraits with a plain background and diffused light. For more information refer to our previous articles in our september 2011 issue (Vol.23 – No.9) “Getting the most out of your B&W portraits for aesthetics of portrait photography and June2012 issue (Vol.24 No.6) studio portrait lighting patterns”.

Another idea is creating an environmental shot of the employees of the company. No one wants to put out a less flattering picture of themselves. Your subjects would like to appear friendly, approachable, intelligent, trusted, classy and presentable. When taking the photos, try to always talk to your subjects, try to get them to be more comfortable in front of the lens. if you don’t work on making your subjects feel relaxed, all you will get is a lot of tense shots. Don’t hesitate to take as many photos in the time

that you have. its always advisable to keep option. Many a times after you have shot individual portraits, the client may also need a group shots. For further information on how to shoot group images refer to our November 2011 issue (Vol.23 No.11) - Two’s company, three’s a group.

TexT & iMAGes - sTeVe D’sOuzA

Board of Directors, Hexaware Technologies

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Tips & Techs

PhotograPhy

1. What is pincushion distortionA. coloured fringes in high-contrast areas in the outer parts of the imageB. inward bending of lines that should be straight c. image appearing like it has been mapped around a sphereD. Outward bending of lines that should be straight

2. What affects the quality of the bokehA. No of blades that make the diaphragm B. Quality of available lightc. shutter speedD. White balance setting used

3. a zoom lens A. is faster than a regular lens B. is smaller than a regular lensc. has a variable focal length D. should never be used with a filter

4. an over-exposed image will A. Be too bright B. Be too dark c. Be orange coloured D. have a pronounced blue cast

5. Film speed refers toA. how long it takes to develop filmB. how fast film moves through film-transport systemc. how sensitive the film is to lightD. None of the above

6. Which aperture lets in the least amount of light

A. f/2.8B. f/5.6c. f/16D. f/11

7. In terms of shutter speed, in order to let in one stop more of light, you must

A. halve the shutter speedB. increase the shutter speed by one stopc. Decrease the shutter speed by one stopD. Decrease the duration for which the shutter remains open

8. Depth of field is controlled byA. Focal length of the lensB. controlling the size of the aperturec. Distance between the camera and lensD. None of these

9. Which device in a camera controls the amount of light falling onto the sensor?

A. sensorB. shutter dialc. ApertureD. LcD screen

10. What type of lens would give a greater depth of field?

A. 35mmB. 50mmc. 100mmD. 200mm

11. What does chromatic aberration lead to?A. coloured fringes around high contrast objectsB. inward bending of lines that should be straightD. Fading of image brightness and saturation around the edgesc. patterns of alternating light and dark lines or rings in the image

12. What filter would you use to make the sky darker and clouds stand out more?

A. Ultraviolet filterB. Blue filterc. infrared filterD. polarising filter

13. What does prime mean?A. Fixed focal lengthB. pro-grade lensc. Fixed apertureD. Manual focus only

(Q1) B, (Q2) A, (Q3) c, (Q4) A, (Q5) c, (Q6) c, (Q7) B, (Q8) B, (Q9) c, (Q10) A, (Q11) A, (Q12) D, (Q13) A

Answers

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Things to keep in mind before buying

a digital camera

tips & techs

Purchasing any gadget is an exciting task, and more so if it happens to be your first. But often as a novice or an industry outsider this task can be difficult if you are not aware of the

factors that must be considered while buying any gadget. it is one thing to want to own a technologically advanced digital camera, but quite another knowing exactly which one to buy. We list down a few basic points that will help you make a smarter, more informed choice (and maybe even sound insightful if a friend asks for advice regarding a camera buy).

With new cameras being launched in the market everyday, new features being added and advancements being made in the world of digital cameras, we understand that it can be tough and confusing task getting past all the lures and sitting down to examine the basics.

so we will not give you a low down on all the “new and improved”

features on the latest camera, or tell you which model is the for you; lets leave that for the sales executives. instead, we tell you about the most fundamental things to keep in mind while selecting a camera; things that make a difference.

there are many kinds of digital cameras in the market today, each different from the other and sporting various specifications and features.

Apart from the set of questions above, here are some more points you need to know before you go to pick up a new camera.

There is more To a camera Than jusT megapixelsit is a belief that more the megapixels the netter the camera is. though this is an intrinsic part, it is not the only feature that matters in the modern day. these days the megapixel count is one of the last features to be worried about, because with the innovation that manufacturers

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The besT Things To ask yourself before making ThaT purchase

august 2012 asian PhotograPhy and imaging

have made in some of the other departments today, the strife is to provide users with other interesting and user friendly features. the only question to ask when it comes to megapixel is if you will be printing your shots in large sizes. if yes, you might want to pay for a camera that offers you better resolution with a high megapixel rate. if not, the megapixel count will not affect your image so much as to render it pixilated.

DeciDe beTween Dslr anD poinT anD shooT cameraWith the entourage of entry-level DsLRs gaining popularity amongst photo enthusiasts, there is a growing trend of simply owning a DsLR. however, though digital sLRs are getting more affordable, they might not be the right choice for everyone. A compact digital camera today can give you good quality pictures too. if you feel that you will make use of all the features on the DsLR, then go ahead and get yourself one. But if you are buying one to keep pace with the trend, then think twice before you spend your money.

DsLR cameras are bigger, heavier, require greater maintenance and can be more complicated to operate than regular point and shoot cameras. so it is important to know what is it you wish to capture before you spend a bomb on a digital camera. Let us make it simple for you; a DsLR would support you with image quality, adaptability, speed, an optical viewfinder, wide isO range, manual controls, depth of field and quality optics, whereas a compact point and shoot camera today provides the user with good image quality, small size, less weight, quiet operation, auto mode, price, LcD framing and portability. the decision is yours. At the end of the day you should feel satisfied with your investment.

1. What kind of photography do you intend to do with the camera?2. Will you be photographing as a part of your job or for recreational purposes?3. Will you mostly keep the camera on auto mode or would you want to experiment using different modes?4. how much are you willing to spend?5. What are the main features you are looking for? 6. is the size and portability a consideration for you?

Answering these questions for yourself will put you in a better position to decide what you

want when you see what’s on display. Your sales person will probably

ask you some of these questions anyway, and if you have the

answers thought of beforehand, it will help him/her narrow down the selection and help you find the right digital camera.

iT’s all in The specsif you are aware of the technicalities involved in photography, the specification list would not be much of a problem to go through with. But if you feel lost looking at the specification list, just remember a few simple things to check like the image resolution/ the sensor size (which will be indicated as 4000x3000), the bigger the difference the better the image quality and the camera zoom (indicated as 5x or 10x). Other important aspects to check for could be the isO range, video recording feature, and the weight of the camera.

Do your research Once you decide how much you are willing to spend on a new camera and what purpose it will be used for, it would be a good idea to read a few reviews. Doing this would help you gauge how the features on the camera actually perform. Reading a review always helps gaining confidence in selecting a digital camera.

exTrasWhen buying a camera keep in mind the “extras” because the price quoted for your camera may not be the final outlay, since there maybe

a number of extras that you might need to complete your gear.these extras usually include memory cards, camera case, lenses, filters (if you are getting a DsLR), a tripod, external flashes and so on. A few retailers anyway bundle such extras with your camera. it is always better to pick up a few camera accessories while buying your digital camera especially the ones you know

you are sure to use in the kind of photography you choose to pursue. A good camera case should be on top of every photographer’s “extras list”.

When going through different models of digital cameras you will notice that their zooms are often mentioned under two categories;optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom is directly provided by the optics (lens) and does not lose image quality since it measures the actual increase in the focal length of the lens. Digital zoom works by magnifying a part of the captured image using digital manipulation. the process involves taking a certain number of pixels and creating a larger image, but because the new image is based on the original number of pixels, the image loses quality. We recommend you only take into consideration the optical zoom while buying a camera. the better the optical zoom on your camera the better the image quality when zoomed into your subject.

opTical zooms

text: AjAY singh

[75]

August 2012 [76]

Tips & Techs

When you hear the word zoom, what comes to your mind? Closing in on your subject, is it? You are right but there is a lot more to understanding zoom than just that. The lens on your camera is one component that is as important as the image sensor in the camera. A good lens offers clear, focused shots and the flexibility to creatively frame subjects.We all know what a lens is but not all of us know or understand what the 1x or 10x on the lens stand for. So this month, we explain you the basics of zoom measurements and tell you how and where you can apply that knowledge.

Manufacturers measure zoom capabilities of digital cameras in two configurations, digital and optical. The two types are very different and the unwary

buyer can get caught up if he does not understand how each works. Only once you understand digital and optical zoom, you will be able to grasp the basics of zoom measurements, or in simple words, the numbers on your lens. These numbers depict the zoom range on the lens and thus represent technical information.

DigiTAl zoom AnD opTiCAl zoomit’s common to see a large 100x emblazoned on the

side of a camera. But do not be fooled, because this could just be a marketing ploy to trap you. ignore the numbers under the heading ‘Digital Zoom’ in the specifications list and also the salesman when he tries to impress you with those, instead check the numbers under ‘Optical Zoom’ in the manual and tell the salesman you are interested to know what the camera’s optical zoom is, not digital. here’s why: digital zoom works by magnifying a part of the captured image using digital manipulation. The process involves taking a certain number of pixels and

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creating a larger image, but because the new image is based on the same number of pixels, the image loses quality. At small zooms up to 20x, the loss may not be noticeable. At larger zooms of upto 100x or more, the quality reduces drastically. The results using digital zoom on the camera are highly undesired and if at all you need to digitally zoom in to your image, you can use an image editing software to perform the same function.

if you want to get good quality images the optical zoom is what you need to be concerned about. Optical zoom is directly provided by the optics (lens) and does not lose image quality since it measures the actual increase in the focal length of the lens.

zoom levelSThe camera specifications for a digital camera, both

the optical and the digital zoom measurements, are listed as a number with an ‘x’ suffix, such as those mentioned previously in the article (3x or 4x or 10x). The larger number signifies a stronger magnification capability. The

trick to understanding the zoom measurement is to understand that not every 10x is the same. The multiplier (in this case 10x) is the difference between the smallest and the largest magnification measurement of the lens. For example, when looking at a camera with a 10x zoom, if the minimum magnification of the lens is 35mm, its maximum magnification will be 350mm.

it serves to understand zoom as a form of cropping. While zooming, what you are effectively doing is cropping the original image and taking a portion of it, as the new image. And yes, it is done optically so you don’t lose quality. The measure is simple, when you zoom in 2x you capture ½ the height and ½ the width of the original scene. hence 2x zoom means you can capture ¼ of the 1x image.

The most basic zoom lenses tend to be 3x which is the starting range in most point and shoot cameras today. This zoom range offers a wide angle to a telephoto equivalent, which typically equals the focal length of a 35 to 105mm lens on a 35mm camera.

ConCluSionAfter giving you a rough idea of what ‘x’ stands for,

we hope you have a better grasp of the zoom range on your point and shoot camera. But do remember, with a large optical zoom lens there is a risk of camera shake. so consider buying a camera that comes with an in-built mechanism to reduce shake or use a tripod to be on the safe side.maximum zoom can also cause pincushion distortion, which is when the left and right edges of the photo appear stretched. Once you have weighed the pros and cons of the zoom range, you can select the appropriate lens for your camera.

TexT AnD imAges: AjAy singh

• 4x 26-105mm, 27-108mm, 27.5-110mm, 28-112mm, 33-132mm

• 5x 24-120mm, 28-140mm, 35-175mm, 36-180mm

• 7x 28-196mm, 31-217mm, 34-238mm, 37-260mm

• 10x 24-240mm, 25-250mm, 30-300mm, 35-350mm, 36-360mm

• 15x 24-360mm, 28-420mm

• 20x 26-520mm, 28-560mm

List of a few focaL-Length equivaLents of typicaL point and shoot zoom Lenses

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tips & techs

What is it that, as a photographer, you would do on a rainy day? if you’ve been reading our magazine for a while now, you would know that every year we come up with tips and tricks to help budding photographers utilise the monsoon to their advantage. this year as well, we have done our best to help you make better use of your time than watch the rain gods dampen your spirits.

Shooting photographs on a rainy day can be the worst nightmare for a photographer, as the risk of water seeping into the equipment is huge. Many photographers tend to shy away from

shoots on days like these, but if you have a good eye, a dark, cloudy day in the monsoons can contribute towards some of the best photographs

in your portfolio. the frames you see around are fairly unique from those you get to see the rest of the year; there are a lot of clean greens around, the textures are warmer because of the shade, and you can experiment more with the left side of the exposure meter. in this piece we give you some tips on how to make the best of an overcast day.

Shoot the cloudSthis is probably as simple as it sounds; just go out and capture the clouds. On an overcast day, the patterns in the formation of clouds make amazing subjects. if it’s the monsoons, the best times to shoot clouds is just before and after the rain. if there is some amount of sunshine too, consider yourself lucky, as sunrays can do wonders to your picture.

things to shoot on an overcast day

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Go GreenDuring the rains, especially just after a downpour, try to spot frames in places with greenery, like parks. You can get a lot of greens and yellows, as they grow more pronounced immediately after the wash. Macros can be a good idea too; one can experiment quite a lot with droplets and leaves. As this time of the year brings out the most unique lighting conditions in nature, we advise you to head out to the green outskirts for some serious photography.

reflectionSthis is one of the best times to shoot photographs of reflections, as reflections off water puddles are potentially interesting subjects. A photograph of a building, for example, will look completely different if taken off a reflection than clicked the usual way.

Water Because of the abundance of water during this time, shooting droplets, waterfalls and the sea makes good sense, as these subjects have more life to them during this time of the year than any other. try experimenting with combining different techniques, like long exposures with panoramas, close up macros in low light, falling drops with a high shutter speed and so on, as there is a lot of room for trial and error here.

GloomDuring the monsoons, there are times when the natural light has a dark shade to it. this is when one can experiment with long exposures and low light photography, as that grey, slightly gloomy look is exclusive to the monsoons. especially during the evening time when the orange glow from the sunset fuses with the grey of the sky. Again, if you can, try heading out to the outskirts instead of shooting the city as nature often has a lot more to offer than cars and buildings.

text AnD iMAges: hiMAnshu shArMA

August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[80]

Camera review

Canon PowerShot SX260 HSCanon recently launched its latest compact camera,

the PowerShot SX260 HS, which is the successor to their last year’s SX230; one of the most

competent cameras in the category at that time. Canon has made minor tweaks and included some changes to come up with the SX260, and better zoom is just one of them. we give you a detailed review of the look and performance of the SX260, and how it fares against its predecessor.

Look, Body and FeeLat first glance the SX260 appears to be slightly

sleeker than the SX230. The body features a metallic finish, which provides for a more solid feel. The SX260 replaces the widescreen LCD on the rear panel of the SX230 with a 461k dot, 4:3 aspect ratio LCD, which is a good thing as photographs fit better in this ratio than the 16:9 offered by the SX230. However, we felt that the 461k dot resolution could have been worked upon as

Price

` 22,995

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there is a noticeable difference between what you see on screen and in the photographs.

The top of the camera features the flash, the stereo microphones, the shutter click with the ringed zoom, and the speaker. The GPS is now flattened into the top of the body, unlike the protruding one in the SX230, which facilitates a more firm hold. There’s also an added vertical bar on the front right side of the camera, to place your finger on while handling the camera with just one hand.

The mode dial is kept at the back of the camera, which fits smoothly into the body and provides for easy access. The back panel also includes a playback button and a scroll wheel with a four dimensional pad for shortcuts to functions like flash, exposure compensation, macro/manual focus, and self timer. The buttons are easily accessible with the thumb without compromising on the firm hold.

The hatch on the side opens to reveal a mini USB connector and a mini HDmi connector. The bottom of the camera has the SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card and battery holder. The SX260 comes in three colours, red, black and green.

Sample Image

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SpecificationsImage sensor 1/2.3-inch CMoS

effective pixels: 12.1 million

Processor: dIGIC 5

Image size: (L) 4000 x 3000, (M1) 2816 x 2112, (M2) 1600 x 200, (S) 640 x 480k

LCd type and specs: PureColor II TFT LCd, 3” in size with 431k dots.

optical zoom: 20X

Maximum aperture: F3.5 – F6.8

Shutter speed: 15 sec – 1/32000 sec

Flash Range: 3.5m

ISo: auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200

Connectivity: USB 2.0, mini HdMI

GPS: Built-in

FeaTUReS and PeRFoRManCeThe PowerShot SX260 HS is essentially a travel zoom

compact with an improved 20X, 25-500mm zoom lens. The zoom on the camera is very adept; the camera performed about the same at 500mm as compared to 25mm. That said, the camera could not perform as well at higher focal lengths in low light conditions.

The camera includes some very helpful functions. The Special Scene mode helps you pick a pre-defined setting, like Handheld Night Scene, Stitch assist (panoramas), Underwater, Beach, Snow, Fireworks etc. You have the option to control the colour saturation, brightness, and white balance in Live view. One can add interesting effects like fisheye, monochrome, soft focus and poster effect using the Creative Filters mode. The Smart auto mode selects the scene setting automatically, according to the frame, and the easy mode is the fully automatic mode for starters, with no user control whatsoever.

The SX260 HS is equipped with a 12.1 megapixel back illuminated CmOS sensor and a 3-inch LCD screen with 461k dot resolution. as we mentioned above, there is a difference in the resolution of what you see on screen and the resultant photograph; on live view, the frame is blurry and unclear, but the photographs are generally clear and in high resolution.

The iSO reaches upto 3200; noise starts to show at iSO 800 on a large medium and can become a problem at iSO 1600. There are three burst modes in the SX260 to choose from; Continuous, Continuous aF, and High Speed Burst HQ. The 20X zoom performs impressively and is capable of capturing subjects by the 25-500 mm lens without any visible loss of focus or clarity.

in terms of the flash settings, Canon has provided the user with a lot of control over the output. You can set the intensity of the flash on a scale of 1 to 10, as well as set the flash output as 1/3, 2/3, or Full Flash by Flash exposure Compensation. Canon has also introduced the Face iD technology in the SX260; one can add upto 12 faces with a name and a birthday, which will be recognised by the camera if they appear in the frame.

The camera has an in-built GPS, which sets the clock and adds the location stamp to the photographs when shot with the help of the GPS auto Track function. adding to the GPS, there is also a GPS Logger function, which when switched on tracks your position as you move, so you can make a track map tracing your footsteps back while travelling, though at the cost of battery life.

when shooting movies, the SX260 HS is pretty much the same as the SX230 HS. it can record full HD (1920x1080) at 24fps, which can be downgraded to 1280x720 and 640x480 at 30fps. The quality of the movies is fairly good.

ConCLUSIonThe PowerShot SX260 HS is a decent performer.

we’d rate it higher if the quality of its photographs in low light was better. The photo clarity is rather good in good lighting compared to the other cameras in the same segment. The body is certainly a plus, with smooth curves, comfortable buttons, and an almost full metallic frame.

The menu is easy to navigate with all the functions on the four-way dial. The camera is equipped with some interesting functions, which can be helpful for an amateur photographer. it is priced at `22,995, which we feel is a little too steep for its performance.

TeXT aND imaGeS: HimaNSHU SHarma

Sample Image

Full metallic frame and easily accesible buttons

with a steady grip

Look, Body & Feel Rating

Performs well in well lit conditions, suffers from

shake in low lighting.

Performance Rating

Good quality pictures, a decent performer

overall

Overall Rating

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August 2012 AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[84]

camera review

Price

` 12,900

Sample Image

Samsung WB150FWith the recent market expansion in the smart phones

and tablet segments, Samsung is keeping up with times with the launch of its new series of cameras.

with a wide range of cameras spread across various segments based on performance, simplicity and new sharing technology, the Samsung wB150F is a new entrant in the point and shoot segment of digital cameras. Loaded with an 18x optical zoom

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Sample Image

and wifi sharing compatibility packed into a pocket friendly body looks like Samsung has something new to offer to its consumers.

Look, Body and FeeLThe Samsung wB150F appears like most

cameras in the point and shoot segment. its Schneider-Kreuznach 18x zoom lens equivalent to a 24-432mm lens on a full frame camera is one of its selling points. The wB150F is slim and can be easily carried around. it has a matte finish smooth body with a sensibly designed plastic hand grip which makes handling the camera easy. However, the flash, placed very close to the hand grip, could easily get blocked by your fingers while shooting if you’re not careful.

The top of the camera houses a power button and a mode dial. in addition to the Smart auto, Program, video and Scene

modes, its hosts a new aSm mode in which shutter priority, aperture priority or manual exposure mode is selected via the LcD screen. it also has modes for wi-Fi and general camera settings. integrated with the swivel zoom lever is the shutter trigger. when zooming in or out, the zoom lever tends to stick to one side which causes the lens to extend and retract.

The camera’s 460k dots 3 inch LcD is bright and high contrast. To the right of the LcD display are buttons dedicated to video recording, self timer, macro mode and flash control. You can adjust exposure compensation, white Balance, iSO, and other camera settings through the menu. The right panel of the camera has a micro-USB port (similar to a Samsung Smartphone or a Blackberry charging port) for connecting to a computer and charging the camera’s battery.

Features and PerFormanceThe 14.2 megapixel camera delivers decent

image quality. The major issue with the camera is the noise; shooting with iSO 200 produced acceptable results but we could notice noise when shooting at iSO 400 and above. The images have a good tonal range and good colour reproduction. But on the flipside, the 1/2.3 inch ccD sensor fails to maintain the detail. You can expect a fair quality in images while shooting in daylight but shooting in low-light conditions or indoors, without a flash could be disappointing.

The HD video recording with 720p at 30fps looks good. You can zoom in and out and refocus while recording. The camera records in mP4 format which is ideal for uploading to the internet. if you zoom while recording a video, the lens is quiet and does not interfere

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with the sound in the recording.The wiFi feature in the wB150F is quite

impressive. it is easy to set up and use and has functions that enable sharing on social media. You can upload photos and videos on Facebook, Picasa, YouTube and Photobucket. Up to 20 files, of a total size of 10mB or less can be sent at a time. Keep in mind that photos must be 2 megapixels or smaller and videos limited to 30-second clips recorded at 320x240p resolution. Photos shot at higher resolutions are automatically resized before uploading, but movies are not. another function of the wifi mode lets you email photos directly from the camera, but has the same restrictions as mentioned above mention function.

The other two interesting functions in the wiFi mode include the remote viewfinder feature and the Tv Link feature. To use the remote viewfinder feature, you have to download a free app (available on both the apple iOS and android market) on your phone

using which you can control flash, timer, and the shutter release wirelessly. The Tv link allows you to wirelessly display your pictures on a large Tv screen. You can also save the images to your Pc by simply clicking the auto Backup feature. The wB150F also features a cloud service where you can upload and backup your photos and videos.

concLusionPriced at `12,900 the Samsung wB150F

is a basic point and shoot camera with the exception of the 18x zoom lens and wiFi mode which, clearly, are its USPs of this camera. Bundled with good HD video quality and decent photo quality, the camera is good to shoot in daylight. However, the introduction of a touch screen, a more user friendly interface (probably similar to that of the android or iOS) and an improved sensor would’ve sweetened the deal.

TexT anD imageS: STeve D’SOUza

Sample Image

Decent image quality with impressive connectivity options

Average performer, with a decent image quality at a fair price

Decently designed body, flash could have been placed better location

Look, Body & Feel Rating

Performance Rating

Overall Rating

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Price` 59,990

CAMERA REviEw

Sony α 65 Launched alongside the SLT-α77, the SLT-α65 owing to its

significantly lower price, quite possibly has a much greater market potential than the SLT-α77. Despite the similarities with

the SLT-α77, it’s easy to figure out that the α65 is segmented in the more pocket-friendly category as compared to the α77.

Statistics suggest that a lot more people buy consumer level DSLRs as opposed to the more professional DSLRs, and the α65 seems perfectly poised to be a more significant camera in the Single Lens

Translucent (SLT) lineup, primarily because it is aimed at a much more popular segment of the market. So we were particularly excited to review the α65 when it reached our office.

Look, Body and FeeLit’s difficult to tell that the α65 houses technology that is different as compared to regular DSLRs just by looking at it. The plastic body of the α65 lacks the α77’s magnesium alloy construction and seems a

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Sample Image

little flimsy, but makes the camera a lot lighter. The design and body looks comprehensive and the interface seems easy to understand, with a neat and well-spaced distribution of buttons and controls. Little has really changed in comparison to the α55 or for that matter the α33. in comparison to the α55, the only obvious change is that the iSO button has been replaced by a button to switch through the various creative

styles on the four-way navigation button housed on the rear panel beside the variable angle swivel LCD screen. The dual axis LCD screen makes composition from high and low angles very easy in both the video and still modes.

The right hand portion of the top panel has a swivel on/off switch with the shutter release button set about it, a button to alternate

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SpecificationsGeneralCamera Type Interchangeable lens digital camera with built-in flashLens Used Sony A-mount lens, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lensesImage CaptureSensor 23.5 x 15.6mm (APS-C type), Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with RGB primary colour filterNo. of Pixels Total: 24.7 megapixels; Effective: 24.3 megapixels Sensitivity Auto, ISO 100 to 16000 (in 1-stop increments, Recommended ExposureIndex)Recording (Still Image)Recording Media Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, SD Memory card, SDHC Memory card, SDXC memory cardFile Format JPEG (DCF2.0, Exif 2.3), RAW (ARW 2.3 format), RAW + JPEG, 3D still image MPOColour Modes sRGB, Adobe RGBImage Quality Modes Standard, Fine, RAW, RAW+JPEG Picture Effect Posterization (Color, B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R, G, B, Y), Soft High-key, High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, MiniatureCreative Style Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, B/W, Saturation, SharpnessAuto HDR Auto Exposure Diff., Adjustable Exposure Diff. (1 - 6EV in 1EV steps)D-Range Optimizer Off / AutoRecording (Movie)Recording Format AVCHD / MP4Image Size (AVCHD) 1920 x 1080 (50p/28Mbps/PS, 50i/24Mbps/FX, 50i/17Mbps/ FH, 25p/24Mbps/FX, 25p/17Mbps/FH)Image Size (MP4) 1,440 x 1,080 (25 fps / Average bit rate 12 Mbps), 640 x 480 (25 fps / Average bit rate 3 Mbps)DisplayLCD Monitor 3.0 (7.6 cms) (100% field of view), 921,600-dot TFT, Xtra Fine LCD withTruBlack technologyAE SystemExposure Modes AUTO, Flash Off, AUTO Advanced (AUTO+), Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama (2D/3D), Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE, Movie, Program AE, Aperture priority, Shutter- speed priority, ManualScene Selector Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night view / Night portrait, Hand-held TwilightMetering Type 1200-zone evaluative meteringMetering Sensor Exmor APS HD CMOS sensorMetering Range 2EV - 17EV, ISO 100 equivalent with F1.4 lensConnectivityPC Interface USB2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage mode / MTP mode)HDMI Out HDMI mini connectorSync. Terminal YesSizeDimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 132.1 x 97.5 x 80.7mm (excl. protrusions)Weight Approx. 543g (not including battery, memory card or accessories)Operating TemperatureRange 0° - 40° C

between the LCD/electronic viewfinder, and buttons to adjust iSO value and exposure compensation. A direct movie record button along with an AEL button and a button to zoom into pictures during playback are housed neatly for easy operability with the thumb.

The left panel houses connectivity ports under four hatches. One just houses a port that allows for remote operability. HDMi and USB ports are clubbed together and sit below the Mic/plug-in power ports.

Ergonomically, the α65 is a very satisfying camera to use, offering essentially the same interface as last generation Sony. The ‘Fn’ button quick menu makes on-screen operation extremely convenient.

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iSO 100 iSO 3200

iSO 400 iSO 6400

iSO 1600 iSO 16000

FeaturesThe α65 comes with a host of features that make user experience extremely intuitive. Thanks to translucent mirror technology, the α65 is capable of automatically focusing and shooting simultaneously, as both the image sensor and phase detection AF sensor receive light at the same time. The introduction of the high resolution XGA OLED viewfinder takes this class of SLT cameras’ ability to offer DSLR style autofocus in live view and video considerably further.

The new 24MP CMOS sensor makes for beautifully detailed enlarged images, offering what might well be the highest pixel count in APS-C sized sensors, quite like Nikon’s 24MP D3200, their latest in the entry-level segment.

Another significant feature is the camera’s ability to shoot at 10fps even at full 24.3MP resolution, a feature particularly useful not just for action and sports shots but also portraiture.

The α65 features built-in GPS which enables users to attach location information into the EXiF data of still and movie files, which can easily be read by a number of software platforms and photo-sharing websites, including Sony’s Picture Motion Browser bundled with the camera.

Another feature that’s today becoming commonplace with a lot of cameras is the sweep panorama feature that allows you to create large high resolution panoramas in-camera. The auto-stitch does a good job generally, hiding stitches and yielding panoramas with consistent tones.

PerFormanceThe α65 has three continuous shooting modes: Lo, Hi, and Continuous Advance Priority AE. The 3fps in the Lo mode increases to 8fps in Hi and 10fps in Continuous Advance Priority AE mode, however compromising on live view while attempting to achieve the higher frame rate. Sample Image

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Lightweight ergonomic design, build quality could’ve

been better

Look, Body & Feel Rating

Excellent EVF, brilliant colour reproduction and overall

performance

Performance Rating

Strong feature set, above average picture quality

Overall Rating

Sample Image

The camera performs above average in low light conditions, and the pictures have little or no noise up to iSO 3200. Pictures taken at iSO 6400 or beyond however exhibit a lot of noise but the colours still largely remain intact.

in the α65’s dedicated movie exposure mode found on the main exposure mode dial, full manual control of shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation is possible. To take advantage of the full time AF (Auto Focus) however, you have to shoot in Program AE mode, which only allows you to shoot at the lens’ maximum aperture, compromising on depth in the picture if you need it. The camera is capable of recording full 1080p video, and also has the ability to record at 60p. The horizontal/vertical level indicator comes in handy while shooting video.

concLusionwe like the viewfinder a lot, and it surely deserves a special mention. Extremely good results can be derived from processing RAw files, and people really interested in the 24MP this camera offers can make good use of it. The strong set of features that this camera offers, the 10fps, and the camera’s high resolution and above average picture quality makes it an attractive buy. TEXT AND iMAGES: GEORGE KURiEN

Sample Image Sample Image

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[92]august 2012

Picture by: Tuhin Kanti DasCamera: Panasonic DMC-FZ35 Shutter Speed: 1/160 secF-Number: f/4Focal Length: 22mmISO: 80

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Picture by: Rahil S. JanbazCamera: Nikon D5100 Shutter Speed: 1/640 secF-Number: f/13Focal Length: 32mmISO: 100

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Picture by: Sirsendu GayenCamera: Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/1250 secAperture: f/11Focal Length: 20mmISO: 100

Picture by: Reju VengaraCamera: Nikon D300

Shutter Speed: 1/250 secF-Number: f/7.1

Focal Length: 135mmISO: 200

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[94]august 2012

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Picture by: Promit MitraCamera: Nikon D3200 Shutter Speed: 1/125 secF-Number: f/5.6Focal Length: 105mmISO: 6400

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Picture by: Aakash GhoshCamera: Nikon D3100Shutter Speed: 1/25 secAperture: f/5.6Focal Length: 38mmISO: 200

Picture by: Srivatsan SankaranCamera: Canon EOS 500D Shutter Speed: 1/400sec

F-Number: f/11Focal Length: 250mm

ISO: 200

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[95]august 2012

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Picture by: Dr. Anupam Sen ChoudhuryCamera: Canon EOS 7D Shutter Speed: 1/500secF-Number: f/2.8 Focal Length: 50mmISO: 2000

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Picture by: Yashwant MahendranCamera: Canon EOS 550D Shutter Speed: 1/100 secF-Number: f/5.6Focal Length: 43mmISO: 200

Picture by: Sutirtha ChatterjeeCamera: Nikon D7000 Shutter Speed: 20 sec

F-Number: f/20Focal Length: 18mm

ISO: 160

AsiAn PhotogrAPhy And imAging[96]august 2012

Dear Editor,A software developer by profession and a regular reader of Asian Photography magazine, photography to me is my passion, way to relax and a kind of creative release. I like to capture day-to-day human activities, their emotions and hence street photography and candid portraiture are my favorite genres. This particular series is on people at work and is my attempt to portray the livelihood of these people.

Regards,Joy Acharyya

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