Nikon has launched its new full frame flagship mirrorless camera body: The Z9
The Nikon Z9 combines high resolution, high speed and high performance video in a robust body which exceeds the specification of the flagship DSLR the Nikon D6.
Nikon Z9 the new flagship Nikon digital camera.The Nikon Z9: £5,299
Our sales team are taking pre-orders. To put your name down or to talk through more details call us on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com
High Resolution plus High Speed
The sensor in the Nikon Z9 is a stacked 45.7 megapixel full frame CMOS chip protected with a dual anti-dust coating and a sensor shield which drops down to cover the sensor when the camera is off.
Nikon Z9 features dual CFexpress type B card slots which are back compatible with XQD cards.
For speed the camera can shoot up to 20fps at full resolution RAW to capture over 1000 shots in a continuous burst. That’s over 50 seconds of your finger held down on the shutter button. To facilitate shifting such high-res files at high speed the Z9 has an Expeed7 imaging processor which writes to a Dual CFexpress type B card slot.
If 20fps is not enough you can shoot faster with a compromise in resolution: 30fps is possible at 45 megapixels. An astonishing full frame 120fps is also an option however the resolution is cut to 11 megapixels but it could help you catch a fleeting once in a lifetime moment.
Filing your images fast is also essential for photographers working to a deadline so the Nikon Z9 has Ethernet connection and USB typeC output for high speed file transfer. A USB cable can be connected direct to a mobile phone to help you file images without a laptop – ideal for events where you are always on the move.
Autofocus tracking for ultra high speed shooting
Nikon tracking AF is remarkable and focusing directly on the imaging sensor gives the Z series mirrorless cameras an edge in reliability. The Nikon Z9 offers 9 programmed subjects and can switch between them automatically depending on the scene or can be set to look out for and lock on to a specific subject.
The Nikon AF deep learning algorithm can detect: People, Dogs, Cats, Birds, Motorcycles, Cars, Trains and Aeroplanes. Nikon Eye-AF has been enhanced to lock onto smaller eyes in the frame than ever before to lock on to and track subjects within a scene. If the system loses a lock on an eye it will default to head and torso tracing until it can detect a face again, ideal for tracking subjects with erratic movement such as football, rugby or dance.
Nikon 3D tracking AF program is available in a mirrorless camera for the first time. The Z9 adds 3D subject tracking which uses colour, contrast and subject distance to improve subject acquisition. This flagship feature has been a feature of the D4, D5 and D6 and will be a great asset in the mirrorless Z9.
Video Specifications: 8K recording for hours
The Nikon Z9 has been designed with advanced heat dissipation to allow 8K UHD video at 30p to be recorded for 125 minutes recording in camera.
4K UHD, the current accessible video standard, can be recorded at 120p, 60p or 30p and as there is no frame cropping you can switch between frame rates and maintain the same angle of view for consistent cuts into and out of slow-motion footage.
Video can be recorded in Nikon proprietary N-Log, HLG in 10bit. The Z9 also supports ProRes 422 HQ.
With a firmware update the 8K video potential is further increased to 8k 60p 12bit RAW in-camera.
The Nikon Z9: £5,299
Our sales team are taking pre-orders. To put your name down or to talk through more details call us on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com
Sony has launched a new full camera body in their full frame alpha 7 mirrorless range: The A7 IV.
This body is the successor to the Sony A7 mark III. It boasts a healthy 33 megapixels, high speed shooting, 4k 60p video and Face, Eye and animal AF. The Sony a7 IV is a strong new professional camera from the manufacturer. We’ve picked out some highlights from the spec below, and explore where the A7 IV fits in the alpha mirrorless range. Let us know your thought in the comments.
The Sony A7 IV with its variable angle LCD.
The Sony A7 IV body only: £2399 Sony model number ILCE-7M4
Our sales team are taking pre-orders. To put your name down or to talk through more details call us on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com
Image Quality 33 megapixels
33 megapixels on a full frame sensor deliver images that can be printed, withstand generous cropping and with excellent sensor technology from Sony can deliver great performances at high ISO for use in low light environments.
The key technology is the Sony Exmor R back-illuminated sensor. Back illumination places the pixel wiring behind the pixel so that the (microscopic) wires do not block the path of light into the sensor this enhances the light-gathering power of each pixel as there is a clear path for the light to enter the sensor.
Not only is the Sensor capable of gathering light better but it is paired with a new Bionz XR imaging processor which delivers outstanding professional image quality even in low light.
Don’t miss a moment – the processing power of the A7 IV Bionz imaging processor facilitates burst shooting rates up to 10 frames per second with fast buffer clearance to capture the action.
The resolution and price point makes the Sony a7 IV an ideal wedding camera as it has the resolution for high quality edits and printing, plus the low light performance needed for covering events, all without the higher cost of more specialist Sony alpha bodies.
Exceptional Autofocus
Mirrorless cameras offer the unique advantage over DSLR bodies that the image focuses on the imaging sensor so that when focus locks on you are guaranteed sharp shots. With real-time Tracking and Eye AF technology with algorithms to identify and lock onto the eyes of humans, animals, and birds the Sony A7 mk4 will track your subject while shooting photos or recording videos.
There are 759 phase detection AF points across the frame.
The fast and accurate autofocus will keep sampling during high speed continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second making it a powerful wildlife camera as it can keep focus on the eyes while the action unfolds. The tracking autofocus also locks on and stays with the subject while recording video, more detail on the video spec below.
A close up of the controls available on the Sony A7 IV top and back covers.
Fast Connectivity: USB type C 3.2 plus Wifi and Bluetooth
Dual high speed memory card slots deliver high speed image transfer with we via the Fixation preferred method: a separate card reader. Also via USB, built in ultrafast WiFi and Bluetooth.
With USB-C gen 3.2 compatibility wired image transfer is super fast straight out of the camera. There is an automatic Bluetooth image backup mode that allows you to save, transfer and share images instantly.
The dual card slot can be used to double the camera’s recording capacity by loading in extra GBs of space. We recommend using the dual slot as a backup which offers you more security in the case of a corrupted memory card.
The Alpha 7 IV connectivity enables live streaming options up to 4K15p or Full HD 60p without the need for a capture card making it a high quality streaming camera whenever you need to go live.
Vital stats for the dual memory card slot:
Slot 1 can take CFexpress type A cards, UHS I or UHS II SD cards.
Slot 2 is UHS I/II compliant for SD cards only.
Video specifications
The Sony a7 IV has a wide range of features including video and in the roaring twenties that means its a 4k camera. We know that not all 4k is created equal so let’s bust some jargon on the video spec.
Video Resolution
Record 4K video at up to 60p with full pixel readout. No image information is skipped or binned during video recording which delivers a more accurate video file.
Colour bit depth and chroma subsampling
The a7 IV can record in 4:2:2 10 bits. 4.2.2 refers to the amount of colour data recorded, twice as much colour pixel information as 4.2.0. 10 bits refers to the bit depth of each colour recorded offering a wider gamut of colours for increased subtlety in colour variations, this opens the door to producing HDR video content.
These settings may not be apparent straight out of the camera, or when viewed on standard screens, but they offer much greater latitude in post production for example if you were sending work to a colourist for grading. It is also essential for smooth chroma key or green-screen effects as the extra colour information helps create a smooth smooth isolation of your subject.
Picture profiles for Video
S-CINETONE or S-LOG 3 picture profiles offer a cinematic look and ease of editing with all the colour advantages above.
Additional Video features
The camera features a digital audio interface to attach professional audio microphones. The built in microphone, as good as it may be, will never replace the clarity of a dedicated mic and a good audio interface gets the best out of the microphone you choose.
A heat dissipation structure is built into the camera to prevent overheating during long recording sessions.
Breathing compensation is a setting to counter the effect of “breathing” – a slight focal length shift which occurs when moving the focus of some lenses.
The Sony A7 IV body only: £2399 Sony model number ILCE-7M4
Our sales team are taking pre-orders. To put your name down or to talk through more details call us on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com
The new A7 IV in the Sony Alpha mirrorless lineup
Sony have a wide array of camera lines within the world of full frame mirrorless cameras (and even more in its APS-C crop sensor cameras) so you may well wonder – hasn’t there been a mark IV Sony camera before?
You are here! The A7 IV above is the latest Alpha or “a” 7 series camera body. Sony Alpha 7, or a7 cameras are all full frame mirrorless bodies now up to the fourth iteration these combine the best tech with a standard resolution sensor for a good all round photography performance.
The high resolution range A7R is also up to its fourth version. These “R series” cameras focus on the highest pixel count possible to render fine detail for high resolution printing. The current A7R IV has a 61 megapixel sensor and is a popular landscape cameras, it is also used for product, fashion and commercial photography.
For video and extreme low-light the A7S line is up to the third model. These cameras have comparatively low 12 megapixel full frame sensors but get the maximum readout possible from each pixel for superior high ISO performance and high bitrate full frame 4k video; find out about the A7S III.
The A7C is a compact A7 body, if small and light is your main aim the A7C packs A7 tech into a remarkably bijoux package. The A7C is the first of its kind and launched in September 2020.
The a9 and a9 II are full frame high speed camera bodies with features for press and sports photographers such as built in ethernet port for filing images over FTP direct to a picture desk. These cameras have high maximum frame rates and fast autofocus tracking. Find out more here.
Last but by no means least the Sony a1 combines high resolution with high speed for phenomenal 50.1 megapixel images record at 30 frames per second with no blackout in the viewfinder. This considerable chunk of tech is the new Sony flagship camera body which launched in March this year. Find out more about the Sony alpha One.
Canon has revealed the full specification of the the highly anticipated EOS R3. A high-speed mirrorless camera built for professional photography that lets you photograph sport, wildlife and news at a remarkable 30fps. To keep up with the high shooting rate the EOS R3 has an improved autofocus engine for enhanced low light AF performance and vehicle tracking in addition to eye, face and body detection AF which will be a great benefit for photographers covering motorsports.
The Canon EOS R3 £5879 including VAT. Latest offers are featured on our sales page. Our sales team are taking orders call us on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com
Canon EOS R3 features
Canon promise speed, reliability and sensitivity from this new digital camera which will be compatible with all RF lenses.
24 megapixel Stacked, back illuminated (BSI), CMOS sensor
The EOS R3 will be the first camera to contain a newly developed stacked full-frame sensor with faster output speeds, combined with a Canon DIGIC X imaging processor, to enable 30fps continuous shooting while retaining full AF/AE tracking and electronic shutter speeds up to 1/64000th second. Back illumination in the sensor offers greater sensitivity with an ISO range of 100 to 102,400 (extendable to 204,800).
AF improvements
Low light improvements will help the EOS R3 lock on in the most challenging lighting: Sensitive to -7.5 EV Vehicle AF has been added to the Autofocus algorithm in the EOS R3 to help locking on to and tracking vehicles across the frame. Ideal for the motorsport photographer, especially if face and eye tracking modes could pull the focus to the crowds beyond the track. The AF subject in the frame can be selected based on the camera detecting your eye movement. Change focus area by simply looking to another part of the frame, or at a new subject then half-press the shutter button to lock on to the new subject. The intellegent tracking mode from Canon recognises people, animals and vehicles.
Built-in vertical grip – compatible with the LP-E19 batteries
Canon have positioned the EOS R3 between the flagship EOS 1DX mark III released in February 2020 and the EOS R5 which launched in July 2020. The EOS R3 will be the first Canon EOS R camera to feature built in vertical and horizontal grips seen in the EOS 1D series, it also takes the same LP-E19 battery making it easier for 1DX mark III users to try the new body and switch across. The body will be dust and weather sealed using methods developed with each iteration of the EOS 1D series however at 1015g with card and battery, the body is significantly lighter than the DSLR equivalent. We picked up a pre-release body at the BPPA hands on event and there is a noticeable reduction in weight compared to the EOS 1DX mark III.
New Digital Hot Shoe
The hot shoe on the Canon EOS R3 looks a little deeper than we are used to seeing. A new array of contacts have been added to enable digital connections with a new microphone the Canon DM-E1D and a new wireless flash transmitter Canon ST-E10 compatible with the EL-1. The traditional 6 points of flash contact are still present so the EOS R3 will be compatible with all previous Canon flash, third-party speedlights and triggers.
EOS R3 top cover with longer hot shoe (L). Close up from rear showing row of gold contacts within the hot shoe unit (R)
Canon EOS R3 Availability
First shipments are expected in November, our sales team are taking pre-orders call us on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com.
The GFX50S II is the latest addition to the GFX Series of mirrorless digital cameras range from Fuji which is equipped with a 51 megapixel medium format sensor. As well as the new camera body Fujifilm adds a GF 35-70mm zoom lens for medium format and two XF lenses for the APS-C Crop sensor X series camera bodies.
For more information or to place an order contact our sales team on 0207 582 3294 or email sales@fixationuk.com
Fujifilm GFX50S II
The GFX range from Fujifilm are mirrorless cameras with a sensor larger than those found in many full-frame 35mm DSLR or mirrorless digital cameras. The GFX 50S II has the same tried and tested 51.4 megapixel sensor as it’s predecessor GFX50S with some significant improvements to key features:
The GFX 50S II camera body with a lens attached.
Lighter, weather sealed camera body
The GFX50S II weighs only 900g, the electronic viewfinder is now built into the camera body and weather sealed buttons and controls allow the camera to be used in tough conditions.
5 Axis IBIS image stabilisation
The high resolution sensor sits on a powerful five-axis in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) mechanism to smooth out camera shake. The gyro sensor that detects movement has been designed to boost its detection accuracy for precise image stabilization. That provides up to 6.5 stops of anti-shake advantage, when mounted with the FUJINON Lens GF63mmF2.8 R WR and will enhance the ease of using all lenses shooting handheld.
Pixel Shift
For ultra-high resolution the GFX50S II can produce up to 200 megapixel images by combining multiple shots. As well as increasing the available file size, image reproduction or cropping options the combined image processing can help to reduce lens artifacts such as chromatic aberration.
Improved AF
The Focus performance has been improved on the GFX50S II: The image processing and on-sensor phase detection AF runs through the “X-processor 4″ processing engine with an improved algorithm which gives a faster sample rate. The new IBIS stabilizes the during focusing to improve the lock-on speed for more reliable focus results.
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FUJINON Lens GF35-70mm F4.5-5.6 WR
Fujinon GF 35-70mm f4.5-5.6 WR Lens
This palm-size GF zoom lens boasts of being the smallest and lightest in the GF zoom series. A compact and lightweight zoom lens, weighing approximately 390g, with outstanding image-resolving performance and focal length range covering from the most frequently-used 35mm in wide angle to the standard 70mm. The lens offers the minimum working distance of 35cm across its zoom range, enabling a close-up shot of a subject approximately 25cm from the front-most element of the lens. This gives the lens the ability to cater to a variety of situations at a preferred angle of view. The lens has a dust- and moisture-resistant construction and can operate at temperatures as low as -10℃ and is unaffected by rain.
FUJINON Lens XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR
Fujinon XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR Lens
The new addition to the line-up of interchangeable XF lenses designed for the X Series of mirrorless digital cameras, known for their outstanding image quality based on Fujifilm’s proprietary colour reproduction technology.
The XF33mmF1.4 is a highly versatile standard prime lens with the focal length equivalent to 50mm in the 35mm film format, making it an essential new-generation lens for all X Mount users. The X Mount format has undergone continuous development in pursuit for advanced image quality. This lens has been designed to support camera sensors of even greater resolution to be developed in the future, offering exceptional image sharpness and advanced image-resolving performance even when wide open. It also offers impressive mobility and is equipped with a silent, fast and highly accurate AF system driven by a linear motor, enabling tack-sharp focus in stills and smooth focusing in video recording. The ruggedized dust- and moisture-resistant design comes in X Mount’s signature portability, weighing approximately 360g and measuring 73.5mm in length and 58mm in filter thread.
FUJINON Lens XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR
Fujinon XF 23mm f1.4 R LM WR Lens
The XF23mmF1.4 is a new-generation prime lens, designed with a view to support future camera sensors of even greater resolution, which features a fast and highly-accurate AF in compact, lightweight and ruggedized construction to take advantage of the fully overhauled optical performance in stills, video and all shooting situations. With the highly-versatile wide focal length of 23mm (equivalent to 35mm in the 35mm film format), the lens boasts uncompromising optical performance to deliver incredible sharpness even when wide open at F1.4. It controls camera shake and digital noise in low light, giving users flexibility on when to shoot. Its shallow-depth of field renders the background out-of-focus for creamy bokeh, adding three-dimensional definitions to the main subject. The use of nine aperture blades ensures nearly round shape bokeh effect even around the maximum aperture. The lens is easy to handle despite being a large-aperture prime, weighing approximately 375g and measuring 77.8mm long with the filter thread size of 58mm. The XF23mmF1.4 rewrites the existing benchmark to drive the evolution of the X Series for the next decade and beyond.
The British Press Photographers’ Association is commemorating not one year of great photography, but two. With the world having temporarily been put on pause for much of 2020, the Assignments 2021 exhibition is covering stories from April 2019 onward. One hundred images have been selected, representing the best of the best reportage photography in the country.
One selected image is Samir Hussein’s transcendent shot of Stormzy performing at the 2019 Brit Awards – one of the last live music events to happen before lockdown. A moment of strange calm in the midst of a kinetic performance, Samir’s image captures the essence of one of the country’s most important artists of the moment.
As the exhibition prepares to open, we spoke to Samir to learn more about how he captured this incredible shot.
Jon Stapley: Congratulations on a fantastic exhibited image, Samir! How did it feel to learn that your image had been selected for Assignments 2021?
Samir Hussein: I was absolutely delighted. The BPPA have done a great job of bringing together the past two years’ worth of pictures – maybe more due to Covid – and they got so many great photographers from all over the industry, so to have a picture or two included is amazing. They must have had so much incredible imagery to go through.
JS: Tell us about capturing this image – do you remember the few seconds when you clicked the shutter?
SH: It was at the Brit Awards; it was the last music I shot before we went into lockdown. I shoot the Brits every year, and I’d shot Stormzy the year before and got a really great image. He’s just amazing live, and always seems to produce these incredible images with so much energy.
I remember it was quite a spectacular show, but there was this one point – which was when the picture was taken – where all these people came together as one, dancing like crazy. I remember thinking it would make a lovely moment. I could see all the people around him going crazy with so much energy, but what I really wanted was something from him to show his energy. Because a lot of the time, he had a mic to his mouth, and the energy wasn’t really translating.
But then there was just this one moment, and you can see it in the picture, where he had his arms to either side and was looking up. It did seem to capture something from him and really brought the picture together; it was just a second or two when he made this expression, and it all came together as a picture. I remember just trying to capture that amongst all the madness.
JS: That’s very interesting – because you’re right, it’s a beautiful expression and positioning from him, but probably wasn’t something he was doing very often during the performance.
SH: No, he wasn’t. And it wasn’t like I was getting bad pictures by any means, there were still great pictures because of everything going on, and the lighting looked amazing. But I was just looking for that moment from him that would really bring it all together, and that was the moment.
JS: You’ve photographed plenty of different artists live throughout your career – do you find you have to approach them differently? Does photographing Stormzy require a different approach to photographing, say, Taylor Swift?
SH: Well, you’re always looking for that same little moment of emotion, to help to translate to the viewer what it might be like to be there. Obviously someone like Taylor Swift is going to be quite different to Stormzy; it’s a very different kind of show. But all the same, you’re just looking for those little moments that mean the viewer can look at the picture and the energy of that show is translated. It can often be just a second or two.
With some artists, it’s a lot easier than others. Some artists, you know that every time you photograph them you’re likely to get a standout image, and Stormzy is definitely one of those artists. I’m actually going to be doing Reading Festival this weekend, and he’s one of the headliners so I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings along to that one.
JS: So Reading is your next job? Have you done it before?
SH: I haven’t, actually. I normally do Glastonbury every year, and a few of the big London gigs like Hyde Park. But because there’s no Glastonbury on this year, I think Reading is probably the biggest one that’s been able to go ahead, so I thought I’d give it a go. It’ll be great to be shooting live music again; I photographed Tom Jones a couple of weeks ago, and that was the first live music I’d shot for a long time because of Covid.
JS: It must be so nice to be back into it again.
SH: Definitely. I do a lot of events, showbiz and Royal photography and stuff like that, which was all largely shut down. Now all these things are coming back so it’s really exciting.
Samir Hussein is on Instagram as @samhussein1 his website is samirhussein.com. The BPPA Assignments 2021 exhibition runs at Bargehouse London, Oxo Tower Wharf, London SE1 9PH, from August 27th to September 5th.
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