Author: Richard

Friday I had a little time to spare so popped into the High Street location of London Camera Exchange.

The Fuji X-Pro1 is now a real bargain, and they are even throwing in a couple of lens.  I was more interested to look at the compacts in my never ending search for the perfect compact.

The most interesting cameras as usual are the Fuji and Sony, The X100T makes a great compact but possibly the best Sony RX1 (and the RX1R).  These while great cameras do lack a little flexibility and if your willing to allow a small drop in quality then cameras like the RX100 IV with its Nikon Series 1 like one inch sensor offer much more flexilibity.

Am I any closer to deciding, well not yet.  At the moment camera funds are being put towards a new Leica M, likely the M-P (240), I am expecting prices to drop soon as we approach the release date of the new M likely to be announced either just before or after Christmas.

Some interesting announcements from Nikon this week, and if your into long lens the most interesting was the new Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Zoom.  Now f/5.6 may not sound fast and at 200mm its not but its typically what a consumer zoom reaches, but at 500mm its another ball game.  f/5.6 is only a stop slower then a serious fast 500mm telephoto.

A very flexible lens and one I am sure will attract a lot of interest.

When it comes to cameras, Special Editions generally run into two camps. Colourful with Leppard print designs or generally interesting, useful, and new but limit appeal features. 

Last year we had the Nikon D810A a camera targeting astronomical uses. Yesterday the new Fuji X-T1 IR was announced. A camera sensitive to a wider spectrum then the human eye. Lots of useful scientific uses for cameras like these but I am sure in the hands of Artists we will lots of exciting images.

When the GX7 was released I was very excited, up to that point cameras with viewfinders were few and far between.  Now of course there much more common, from the Olympus OM micro four thirds range right up to high end compacts like the new Leica Q.

A few weekends I spent a day with the OM-D M10 a very accomplished little camera, now that the Panasonic GX8 has been announced i’ll be looking at that put also revisiting the GX7, how does it stand up to the modern opposition, if it will do what I want and I can put up with any issues it might have then it might be an option now that prices are sure to drop.

Over the last twenty years I have worked with a lot of models, and I have heard some photographers and many of the general public refer to models as dump blonds, but what is the truth in my experience.

Well for the start 99.9% of models are very hardworking.  No matter if their degree students studying to become doctor’s (as was one of my models) or simply modelling for a little extra cash, or want to be a professional model as there long term career; modelling is not easy.

Try standing in front of bright studio lights, producing an expression that the photographer or director has asked for and maintaining it while the studio lights pump kilo-watts of light into your face.

Its challenging work and does require skill.  As far as brightness, well models typify the general public some are very intelligent and retire at twenty five after establishing a model agency and selling up to the highest bidder and others are just girls trying to make a living.

All are hard working and in general I think models are above average in intelligence, they certainly tend to have good heads for business, and know what they are doing, where they want to get to and how they are going to get there.