iJourneys

John Gough Photography

Mirrorless Full Frame Cameras. The Race is On.

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Start / John Gough / Sony a6300

A couple of YouTube videos have described the state of the interchangeable lens camera market as ‘Mirrorless Wars’. However, this is a misnomer it is not a war but a race, and the big players have yet to start.

The Race

To recap. The Sony launch of the Sony a7III was a gamechanger. A mirrorless full frame camera for £2000 packed with technology. It has been hailed as stunning by all who reviewed it. At a time when sales of DSLR’s are steadily declining, the a7III is now the best selling camera in the United States. Sony has taken on the goliaths of the pro/enthusiast market: Nikon and Canon and made deep inroads into a territory, they thought was theirs by divine right.

Sony is throwing down the gauntlet, challenging both Nikon and Canon to have a go. Nikon has responded. This week they will announce two mirrorless full frame cameras to challenge Sony. Commentators think a war will break out, with creaky old Nikon pulling a fast one and suddenly bettering the Sony offer.

What we have is no war, it is not even a battle, a fight or a skirmish. It is a race. If it were a Grand Prix, Sony would be laps ahead with a range of brilliant mirrorless full frame cameras and lenses.  Nikon would have a car that is ready to go, but must be sensationally fast to beat the best. We will see on Thursday. Canon is meanwhile working in the pits, but no one knows on what. Olympus and Fujifilm are chatting in the stands, keeping a safe distance, waiting and hoping that their loyal supporters will stick with their micro four thirds, and APS-C offerings. Click here to make sense of that statement.

Talking Flanges

Continuing on this racing analogy, beware I am now going to talk flanges because this is the handicap, that both Nikon and Canon must overcome.

In a DSLR camera, there has to be room for the mirror mechanism. In mirrorless cameras, there is obviously no mirror. This means that the camera can be a lot less heavy and less bulky. The result is that the lens is now much closer to the sensor. Consequently, the flange distance has changed which means that a new mount is required. The last time Nikon introduced a new mount was in 1959!

This is key to understanding the dilemma Nikon and Canon are in. They have for years made money on lenses developed in the past and sold today. It is their biggest profit stream, and it is going to slowly fade away. They will no doubt create adaptors so that old lenses can be used on these new cameras, but they will not work as well as a lens designed for a mirrorless camera.  That is because DSLRs use phase detection autofocus vs contrast detection in mirrorless. This means that lenses have to be capable of micro movements, which enables the clever technology around focus tracking and eye detection, which makes the Sony mirrorless full frame camera so versatile.

On the Starting Grid

So Nikon and Canon have a lot of catching up to do, which means that what they offer in this marketplace will have to be truly amazing. This is a race, in which we the consumers are the winners.

 

The Mirrorless War Video

From Kevin Raber at Luminous Landscape

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

This Image was Taken on a Sony

Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless Announcement

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An intriguing video has just been posted on the Nikon Europe website. It is a teaser about the new Nikon Full Fram Mirrorless Camera we covered a week or so ago.

Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

At least we now have a hint of what the camera will look like. Nikon Rumours have gone further and produced a paper mock up.

Is the Nikon Mirrorless Full Frame Camera?

 

Nikon Announcement

There seems to be a date for an announcement. 23rd August 5am UK time there will be a livestream event from Nikon Japan

Photographing Dorset

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Old Hary Rocks / John Gough / Canon 6D

Yes, you could take the well worn path to Durdle Door and take the photograph that every other landscape photographer has taken. Or you could look for a different location. If you are photographing Dorset, then a similar scene with a different perspective can be found at Old Harry Rocks.

Photographing Dorset – Studland Bay

Head to Studland Bay, a terrific location for photographing Dorset and park at the South Beach car park. The path is signposted to Old Harry Rocks

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There is then a gorgeous walk out to the headland. This has photo opportunities all along the path until you emerge on the coastline. The vista is just magnificent. These pictures were taken in June this year, and I was so lucky with cloud formations which complemented both the sea and the sky.

Paddling in Dorset / John Gough / Canon 6D

 

Photographing Dorset: Reference

I used this book for my jaunt photographing Dorset, it was very useful giving precise details of how to access many locations. If you don’t know the area and have limited time a book like this is essential. I have used similar books for most of my location visits.

 

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex. I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

This Image was Taken on a Canon

Street Photography Standing Still

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End of the Pier Show / John Gough / Sony a6300

Norfolk is a photography location with beautiful beaches, wonderful seascapes, the Norfolk Broads and seaside resorts. However, I headed for Great Yarmouth with street photography in mind.

Street Photography

I went there to add to my Square Nation portfolio. This is street photography in Great Yarmouth with my Sony a6300.

Usually, I stride about a location looking for scenes to photograph. However, I am learning that rather than walking about looking for opportunities, find a location, stop wait and let the opportunities come to you. This is street photography standing still. It is all about some planning in advance and exploring the space around you.  Finding a location where the action is, and having enough confidence to stay put even though you may think it is kicking off somewhere else.

Standing Still

Being stationary does not draw attention like going up to a stranger and poking a camera in their face. The photograph above, I love because it is natural, and up close. I would normally never dare to invade space so intrusively. However, I sat on the pier at Great Yarmouth and tried to blend into the background.  This is ambush photography. I have seen wildlife photographers do the same, but they sit in a hide on the banks of a watering hole in the Serengeti, waiting for a crocodile to lunge forward and grab a wildebeest. Street photography standing still is less dramatic but requires the same stealthy skills.

I was on a workshop with Matt Hart earlier in the summer. Matt was on a frenetic search moving quickly through the streets of London, and this approach worked well, we found some terrific situations. However, I wonder whether Martin Parr’s Last Resort included some street photography standing still because there is in his photography, that sense of our inclusion in the scene.

I am excited and off to try this technique again. Watch this space.

 

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

This Image was Taken on a Sony

 

 

 

Kathy Brown’s Garden: Photography Location

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Red Flower / John Gough / Canon 6D

Yesterday I attended a flower photography workshop at Kathy Brown’s Garden in north Bedfordshire. The garden is gorgeous especially this time of year, with endless blooms to photograph. We were led by Sue Bishop, author, renowned photographer and founder of Light and Land.

Flower Photography

Sue demonstrated how she would set up a flower shot. What impressed me, was that she usually spent twenty minutes looking for the ideal bloom. She used a 100mm macro lens mounted on a Nikon DSLR on a Gitzo (I think) tripod and triggered the exposure with a remote.

She recommended:

  • Focussing on either the front edge petals or the stamens of the flower.
  • Approaching the flower from the side rather than flat and head on.
  • A big aperture to create a dreamy out of focus background.
  • Watch the background for highlights and colours that would detract from the subject.

It was a windy day and that is my excuse, but thank you to Bruce Deacon for setting up the day.

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

This Image was Taken on a Canon

Peterborough Cathedral Photographic Location

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Direct Line to God /John Gough / Canon 6D

Thank you to Peterborough Cathedral for allowing a group of us to photograph Peterborough Cathedral.

In the Middle Ages, these magnificent buildings emerged like pyramids, brick by brick out of the pastoral English landscape. We still do not fully understand how they were built.

We were lucky enough to have a full tour of the building, including the triforium and tower. Many thanks to Bruce Deacon and Adrian Stone for setting this up.

It was an awesome experience but on a very hot day. I was pleased to eventually down a pint of Stella. It was an Ice Cold in Alex experience.

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

This Image was Taken on a Canon

Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless

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Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless

A Nikon Full Frame Mirrorless System

It is official, Nikon is working on a Nikon full frame mirrorless system. It will require a new mount to maintain the form factor that they want to achieve. A little of what that may look like can be glimpsed in this teaser video from Nikon Europe.

The press release from Nikon makes reference to a new mount. Nikkor lenses and the new mount adaptor will work with Nikon F mount lenses, making that investment in DSLR glass safe. We were recently discussing the Canon developments and surmised that this might be the route that Canon might follow. The new Nikon mount is rumoured to be called a Z mount.

The rumoured specifications are outlined by  Nikon Rumours and include two cameras, a 45MP model priced at around $4000 and a 25MP priced at around $3000 both with a lens.

Nikon says additional details, including a release date and a definite price, will be shared at a later date. We don’t know when. So, for people who have been waiting for this camera from Nikon, they will either have to continue waiting or switch to Sony.

Nikon maintains that they will continue with the development of DSLRs, but this announcement is very significant because it sounds the death knell for this type of camera system. What has been the backbone of the professional and enthusiast market for many years, will likely in the future become as niche as medium format cameras. Like with other changes in the industry, e.g the switch to smartphones and the demise of compact cameras, we may be surprised at just how quickly this happens.

Nikon is calling the Nikon full frame mirrorless system, the ‘next generation’ and very much confirms the direction of travel which has been led by Sony. It also underlines the enormous amount of work that both Nikon and Canon must put in just to catch up. Meanwhile, Sony is not standing still. Sony has both companies in their sights to achieve their objective of world domination.

 

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

The London Salon

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London Salon

The London Salon

Last Friday I visited The London Salon of Photography Exhibition. If you are a bit vague about what a salon is then this beginners guide is a good place to start. Essentially it is an open competition usually organised by a photography club, that is followed by an exhibition of the photographs that have been ‘accepted’. The London Salon is one of the most prestigious, with thousands of entries, and about one hundred and seventy acceptances, including nine salon medals.

The nine medal winners can be seen here.

Why Visit the Exhibition

For me, it is interesting to pick up the trends on how judges are interpreting the entries. What type of genre is on the way up? What type of images are they looking for? What is missing?. What is emerging and what the trends are.

What are the Trends.

This is my unscientific analysis of what is up and what is down.

  • Of the one hundred and seventy acceptances, over half are monochrome.
  • The colour images are usually heavily desaturated. There is a move to just include a hint of colour.
  • Nearly half feature people either individually or in groups. Most seem posed rather than candid. There is some street photography.
  • There are more fantasy images than one might expect.
  • There is a little wildlife. Probably about half a dozen.
  • There are a few traditional travel pictures again about half a dozen.
  • The traditional landscape is completely missing. There are more urban than rural.
  • Abstract images are trending. Especially landscape which has been layered.
  • There is a definite minimalist trend. A monochrome park bench in a bleached landscape. A lone figure against a desaturated background. A black railing on a white background.

However, all the images are wonderful, I wish I had taken any one of them. Congratulations to all who managed to get accepted. I loved Heather Woodhams, Wayside Flowers which deservedly won a medal. Congratulations to my friend Cliff Harvey with Into the Light.

 

 

Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras

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Canon EOS 6D Mark II

 

Sony lead in full frame mirrorless cameras. The Sony a7iii has been continually out of stock since the launch in March. However, there are a bunch of Nikon and Canon DSLR users who would like to make the switch to mirrorless but have so much invested in lenses, that they worry that the switch will be expensive and cumbersome.  As a result, they are clinging to their cameras in the hope that mirrorless full frame offerings from these manufacturers will come soon.

For Canon users, the wait was going to be until next year, but the latest rumours put release before the end of 2018. Perhaps even at Photokina before the end of September. So what do we know about Canon Full Frame Mirrorless cameras so far:

Canon are Committed to Full Frame Mirrorless

Canon are serious about this market because their traditional DSLR camera sales are bombing. Although the company is well diversified, changeable lens cameras are still an important segment, because they drive the sale of very profitable lenses. CEO Fujio Mitarai has said that Canon is committed and will “go on the offensive” to take a bigger share of the mirrorless market.

What about Canon EF Lenses

There is a question mark regarding how existing Canon DSLR lenses with an EF mount, will fit a full frame mirrorless Canon camera. The biggest challenge is flange distance, which may mean an adapter. When Canon launched the M range of APS-C mirrorless cameras they did offer an adapter for EF lenses. This may well be the direction of travel for full frame. Otherwise, the camera will have a relatively thick body compared to Sony.

What are the Rumours about Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras

It looks like there are two cameras in the pipeline according to Canon Rumors.  One a ‘flagship’ version which will mimic the 5D Mkiii with a 30.4mp sensor. The other is a 24mp version which may be based on the 6D2 sensor. However, considering the stick that this sensor received at launch, it will have to be seriously modified. Launching two cameras is both a good thing and worrying at the same time. One of the big criticisms of Canon in the past has been that they have tried to differentiate their products by ensuring that the more expensive cameras have key features which are omitted from less expensive siblings e.g. the 5Diii has 4k but the 6D2 does not. Users feel short changed by this kind of strategy.

Canon Work to Get it Right

When the M series of mirrorless cameras was launched in 2012 they received a lot of criticism. Sony is the elephant in the room now. Their FF mirrorless cameras are now so advanced and popular, that if Canon go just for catchup it will be a big disappointment. Word is that  Canon has turned to their professional community, Explorers of Light to ensure they get it right.

Summary

This is make or break for Canon, therefore they have to get potential customers onside. I would hope that they engage with users prior to the launch. Watch this space.

 

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

 

Wex Walkabout in London’s East End

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On High / John Gough / Sony a6300

Wex Walkabout

I went on a Wex Walkabout yesterday with Matt Hart the street photographer’s, street photographer. He led us around the City and London’s East End for a very hot, but enjoyable couple of hours of street photography, finishing up in Brick Lane. The area is so vibrant that there are photographic opportunities everywhere. However, I noticed that Matt was very much more discerning than the twelve of us, who were in more point and shoot mode. He had succeeded in his mission to take away the fear of pointing a camera at people we do not know, which is what street photography is all about.  Matt said before the shoot that a good picture requires light, composition, interesting subject and emotion, and a great picture will have all those elements.

The image above was taken in the City which was also included on the walk.

Wex Walkabouts are amazing value considering Light and Land charge hundreds of pounds for similar workshops. I encourage you to have a go.

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

This Image was Taken on a Sony