Camera Camera Handbook 2021 Edition

Welcome to our annual compilation of imaging product tests from Australian Camera magazine, which includes cameras, lenses, printers and photo monitors. We’ve selected these particular products for a variety reasons… innovation, new technologies, value for money or just because they really tick the box marked ‘desirability’. Above all though, we’ve selected these products because they all represent the opportunity to do more with your photography from capture to presentation. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everybody to some extent, but photography is something we’ve still be able to do, even if it was still -based such as finally organising your archive or making those prints that you’d been thinking about for ages. In general, however, it appears the pause has only served to increase everybody’s enthusiasm for their hobby – we…

Samyang’s design philosophy for its lenses is simple – put everything into the optical elements and key physical components, and don’t worry too much about the frills. This has resulted in a line of high-performance prime lenses with manual focusing that represent huge value for money as there’s no autofocusing and no zooming. Optical quality is king. Prime lenses are still Samyang’s sole (ahem) focus, but it has ventured into autofocus, specifically for the lenses designed from the ground up for mirrorless cameras. In the days when it was considering an autofocus 35mm SLR system, Leica decided not to bother because it would have compromised the optical performance of its much-lauded R series lenses. And prime lenses are still Leica’s thing too, so Samyang is in very good company here……

Format: Full-frame format digital sensors. The focal length is equivalent to 21mm on an APS-C format sensor (with a 1.5x focal length magnification factor). Equivalent to 28mm on a Micro Four Thirds format sensor. Angle-of-View: 115.7 degrees (diagonal on 35mm). Construction: 14 elements/10 groups. Minimum Focus: 28cm. Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 1:12.5 Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22. Overall Length: 96.1mm (Canon EF mount). Maximum Diameter: 87.0mm. Filter Diameter: No screwthread filter fitting. Gel filter holder at rear. Weight: 649g (Canon EF mount). Lens Mount(s): Canon EF, Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Nikon F, Sony and Micro Four Thirds. Features: Focus ring lock, switchable click-stopped/stepless aperture collar, manual focus, metal barrel tubes, weather-sealed external construction, one H-ASP hybrid aspherical element, one ASP aspherical element, two extra-low dispersion glass elements, three high-refractive index glass…

Wow, you’re thinking, that X-T3 didn’t hang around for very long, did it? Look, here’s the X-T4 already. Rest assured the X-T3 remains very much alive and well in Fujifilm’s X mount line-up and, no, we’re not returning to the bad old days early in the digital era of model lifespans measured in months rather than years. Fujifilm is essentially taking a page out of Sony’s book and adding new models that simply expand the choice. So the X-T4 joins the X-T3 instead of replacing it, offering an expanded feature set at, of course, a higher price point. Nor, incidentally, is it the replacement for the X-H1, with Fujifilm giving assurances there will be an X-H2. The X-T3 is already a pretty capable camera and has to be high on…

With first the X-H1 and then the X-T3, Fujifilm made its X mount mirrorless camera system much more appealing to video-makers and this was backed up by the introduction of Fujinon cinema lenses. The X-T4 carries on the good work as it inherits the X-T3’s video goodies unchanged, but with a few upgrades, and all the operational benefits of the in-body image stabilisation, the fully-articulating monitor screen (with its increased resolution) and the higher-capacity battery. None of the X-T4’s new video features are major items, but add to the overall versatility and operational convenience. Chief among these is the retention of separate and dedicated video and stills camera setups with easy switching between the two via a selector positioned beneath the shutter speed dial and including a dedicated Quick Menu…

body only, recommended retail Type: Professional digital mirrorless camera with Fujifilm X bayonet lens mount. Focusing: TTL automatic hybrid system using phase-difference detection and contrast-detection measurements. 425 measuring points (in 25x17 or 13x9 patterns). Single-point (six sizes), zone (7x7, 5x5 or 3x3 point clusters selected from 91 points) and wide/tracking modes. Five AF-C Custom settings for optimising tracking plus a user-definable setting for Tracking Sensitivity, Speed Tracking Sensitivity and Zone Area Switching. Face/ eye detection with left/right priority. Focus frame adjustable to five sizes. Range is 10cm to infinity (Auto Macro mode). Focus range limiter. Face/eye detection with left/right priority. Manual switching between one-shot and continuous AF modes. AF+MF mode. Low-light assist via built-in illuminator. Manual focus assist via magnified image, Digital Split Image display (colour or B&W), Digital Microprism…