Archive for category: News

Seven new ambassadors have joined Manfrotto’s educational platform, specialising in a range of photography genres including food, videography, music, sport and commercial.

Adam Duckworth’s work varies from portrait to commercial work but he is known best for his magazine editorial photography. He is a winner of the SWPP Commercial Photographer of the Year and has also won a national Canon-sponsored photographic award, exhibiting his winning entry in the V&A Museum in London.

Adam Plowden is a videographer and motion graphics artist from Surrey. He studied Television and Video Technology BSc, after realising his creative passion for media. Adam takes his camera wherever he goes. He believes that ‘a great photo or video can happen anywhere at any time – you just have to add your creative touch to bring out your interpretation of the image’.

After 15 successful years in the music industry, Eddie MacDonald’s growing love and fascination with imagery inspired him to enrol in Nescott Art College and retrain as a photographer. During that time, he assisted many talented photographers. He considered himself fortunate to be at the birth of the digital photography era and was an early adapter.

James Cannon is a North London based photographer with a passion for photographing people, sport, commercial and reportage assignments. He works with sport brands, agencies and creative houses on various creative editorial and commercial briefs. His style ranges from documentary to styled portraits on location or in the studio.

John McMurtrie is a leading music photographer and official photographer for Iron Maiden. After graduating from art school, he worked for Nikon UK before becoming a full time music photographer in 1999. His clients include most major record labels, including Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Rolling Stone, Q and many other publications.

Karen Thomas is a food and still life photographer and studied photography at Nottingham Trent University. In 1995 she moved to London and spent around four years assisting photographers before breaking out on her own. Karen has been shooting for fourteen years, from editorial to advertising; she has worked with some of the biggest names in the food industry.

Bjorn Thomassen is an accomplished photographer, leading trainer and photographic judge. He has won a multitude of prestigious awards and holds a Fellowship in Illustrative Photography as well as a QEP through the Federation of European Professional Photographers. Bjorn’s work has been showcased quite extensively in numerous publications, journals and books.

To read more about all of the new ambassadors, take a look at the Manfrotto Ambassadors page.

Nikon has announced a new FX format DSLR, the Nikon D610, and update to the Nikon D600, it features quicker continuous shooting at 6fps, and a new quiet shutter mode. The Nikon D610 will be available from 18th October 2013, priced at £1799 body only or £2299 with 24-85mm kit lens.

From Nikon: An exciting option for those who are ready to take the next step in their photographic journey, this 24.3-megapixel D-SLR allows keen photographers to develop their skills and define their style whilst enjoying the superiour image quality that comes with the FX-format sensor.

Full frame, full detail, full freedom: The 24.3-megapixel FX-format image sensor captures every detail with lifelike sharpness, and continuous shooting speeds have increased to 6 frames-per-second (as compared to the camera’s predecessor, the Nikon D600). Nikon’s new Quiet Release burst mode allows you to shoot in near-silence at 3 fps, and a robust, lightweight build allows photographers to explore the advantages of full-frame in any environment. Combined with the optical prowess of NIKKOR lenses, the Nikon D610 is a superb option to explore new realms of creativity.

Hiro Sebata, Product Manager for Professional Products, Nikon UK, said: “We’re excited about the creative possibilities this camera has to offer thanks to its fast, powerful processing and impressive feature set that includes ‘quiet shooting’ for when you need it most. Plus, its solid yet lightweight design and stunning image quality makes this camera a serious choice for photographers looking to step into full-frame photography.”

For those ready to take their photography to the next level, the D610’s 24.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor will open up new worlds of photographic depth and detail. From true wide-angle to super telephoto, the sensor captures every element with lifelike sharpness at up to 6 fps. Offering outstanding levels of detail and tonal range, plus superb low-light capability, the Nikon D610 captures images that are sharp, and video quality is impressive even at higher ISO settings. The ISO range goes from 100–6400, and is extendable up to 25,600 (equivalent) or down to 50 (equivalent) for maximum flexibility in all lighting conditions, whether shooting still images or video.

Faster than its predecessor, the Nikon D610 shoots up to 6 frames-per-second (6 fps) in both FX and DX formats, making it easier than ever to capture fast-moving subjects. For situations when silence is key, Nikon’s new Quiet Release burst mode reduces the sound of the camera’s mirror return mechanism, so it’s easier to capture elusive subjects, such as wildlife, at up to 3 fps.

Nikon D610 Key Features:

Highly sensitive autofocus system: The Nikon D610’s Multi-CAM 4800 39-point AF system boasts AF sensitivity inherited from Nikon’s flagship D4, enabling superior subject acquisition in any light. Compatible with lenses up to f/8 combined open aperture, and sensitive down to -2 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F), the AF system achieves sharp shots even under moonlight. Coverage is individually selectable or configurable 9-, 21-, and 39-point settings, and AF modes such as dynamic-area AF and 3D-tracking maintain focus on even the smallest subjects, however unpredictable their movements may be. Simplified selection of AF modes such as AF-A, AF-S, and AF-C is possible without taking your eye away from the viewfinder.

Advanced Scene Recognition with 2,016-pixel RGB sensor: The Nikon D610’s Advanced Scene Recognition system incorporates Nikon’s renowned 2,016-pixel RGB metering sensor that meticulously analyses each scene for outstanding accuracy. It can detect human faces with startling exactness through the optical viewfinder, and recognise a scene’s colours and brightness with unprecedented precision. This level of detailed scene analysis is also utilised to support more accurate autofocus; auto exposure and i-TTL flash exposure results in a diverse range of compositional and lighting situations.

EXPEED 3 image processing: Equipped with the same image-processing engine as Nikon’s flagship D4, the Nikon D610 makes light work of data-rich tasks without sacrificing speed and quality. The 16-bit image processing offers richer colours and tones than ever before, delivering smooth gradations with abundant detail and tone all the way up the scale to pure white, even when shooting in JPEG.

Full-frame D-Movies: Broadcast quality video – Designed to ensure large-format movie shooting at its best, the Nikon D610 features the same multi-area Full HD D-Movie as found in Nikon’s acclaimed D800. Since the camera offers a wide variety of movie applications, a comprehensive variety of frame rates, and convenient custom controls—which enable full control over live view operation when filming—photographers can move from inspiring stills to broadcast quality video with ease.

Frame rates: Full HD (1080p) movies can be recorded in 30p, 25p, and 24p, with 60p, 50p, and 25p options at 720p. Full HD movie clips can be up to approximately 29 minutes 59 seconds long.

Multi-area mode: Full HD (1080p) recording is possible in both FX and DX formats, enabling exceptional freedom of expression.

High-fidelity audio control: With the Nikon D610, movies sound as good as they look. A microphone jack allows use of an external stereo microphone for crisp sound recording, and there is an audio out for external headphones.

Uncompressed HDMI output: The Nikon D610 offers the possibility to transmit an uncompressed live video stream at 1080p to external recorders, and output will automatically drop to 1080i if an external monitor is detected. The uncompressed data is output at the designated image size and frame rate, and is clean of the information overlay that can be simultaneously displayed on the camera’s TFT monitor.

In-camera creative tools – A range of creative and practical in-camera tools enable photographers to make the most of every shooting opportunity and take full advantage of the creative freedom that full-frame FX-format photography affords. They include:

Time-lapse shooting: Create time-lapse photography through simple menu operations, with no need for elaborate calculations and editing. Easily save images as movie files and view slow action in fast playback, with playback rates from 24 to 36,000 times faster than normal.  Use interval timer shooting to trigger the shutter at preset intervals.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode: shoots one overexposed and one underexposed frame in a single shutter release. The range can be widened by up to ±3 EV for different looks, full of saturation and tonal gradation, while the smoothness of the edg­e where the two exposures meet can be adjusted for a more natural appearance.

Picture Controls: Customise the look of your stills and videos by fine-tuning parameters such as sharpness, saturation, and hue. This feature can be directly accessed via a dedicated button.

Scene modes: 19 scene modes optimise settings such as shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for superior results every time. An ideal way to quickly capture perfect shots.

In-camera editing: Menus include an array of useful features, encompassing options to correct red-eye and colour balance, as well as D-Lighting, RAW processing, and resize options. Filter effects include Skylight, Cross screen, Miniature, Colour outline, Colour sketch, and Selective colour. Quick retouch options include distortion control, perspective control, straighten, and fisheye. There is also an movie editing feature that enables the start and end point of movie clips to be designated in order to save them more efficiently.

Built to withstand severe conditions, the lightweight Nikon D610 boasts the same robust build and responsive handling as its predecessor. Durable magnesium alloy is used for the camera’s top and rear frames, and the camera is weather-sealed to the same degree as Nikon’s professional D800 SLR, ensuring enhanced resistance to moisture and dust. The camera’s fast response, reliable operation, and conveniently placed buttons and controls enable smooth, comfortable handling and the flexibility to respond quickly to even unexpected shooting opportunities.

For more information, take a look at the Nikon website.

Manfrotto have launched the 190 tripod series.

The new 190 tripod features exclusive and stylish additional features. Aimed mainly at hobbyists, the new 190 is a unique tripod that provides greater compactness and portability, plus offers versatile settings that help to release the imagination and creativity of every photographer.

One of the most innovative aspects of the new 190 is the mechanism to operate the new 90° column. It is accessed only when needed and with a quick ‘one finger’ operation at the bottom of the centre column, the mechanism appears from the main casting of the tripod allowing the column to tilt. Both the new column mechanism and 4 leg section models have a more compact closed dimension which allows for easier portability.

The new Quick Power Lock (QPL) system is a strong ultra fast and ergonomic locking system that allows for quick, complete extension of the legs with operation of all locks, on each leg, possible with one hand.

The new leg angle selectors are also easy to set up and prevent fingers from being trapped in the upper casing.

The entire shape of the tripod has been modified to be more manageable and stylish. The complete re-design of its functional elements shows a particular attention to aesthetics and detail: the two legwarmers (on the aluminium version only), are now made of comfortable but robust rubber to prevent the conduction of heat and cold in extreme weather conditions.

There are four models available in the 190 range at the following prices:

MT190XPRO3  – £184.95
MT190XPRO4 – £199.95
MT190CXPRO3 – £344.95
MT190CXPRO4 – £359.95

The new 190 is available in aluminium and carbon fibre versions. For more information about the new 190, visit the Manfrotto UK website.

Owners of full-format and APS-C DSLR cameras have a problem and Olympus has created a camera to solve it – the OM-D E-M1, the new pinnacle of Olympus’ digital imaging range. A DSLR is often too bulky to carry, which is why the new OM-D E-M1 is more compact than its main rivals – and the ideal size for shooting on the go. It combines the portable dimensions of the Micro Four Thirds format with image quality that matches DSLRs. Thanks to a new Live MOS sensor and next-generation TruePic VII image processor, it delivers the best images in the history of Olympus cameras. The E-M1 trumps the autofocus performance of its OM-D predecessor with DUAL FAST AF – one of the world’s fastest AF systems – now available for sequential as well as regular stills. It has an electronic viewfinder with the magnifying power of a high-end, full-frame DSLR and the unique 5-axis image stabilization system that made its OM-D debut on the E-M5. The E-M1 is splash-, dust- and freezeproof and – thanks to DUAL FAST AF – compatible with an ever-growing range of interchangeable lenses. It is available for pre-order in black with a special offer, and in the shops with an additional offer for E-System users from mid-October 2013. Prices start at £1299.99 for the body only, £1499.99 for the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 lens kit and £1949.99 for a kit that includes the new M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 12-40mm 1:2.8 lens.