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B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y J AN UA RY 2 01 3

6

ED I TOR IAL Which Is The Best Camera?

Photographyis all about

previsualisationand knowing what

you want to dowith the image.

After years of lugging around several hundred kilos of photographic

gear all over the world for his commercial asignments, Chase Jarvis

says, the best camera is the one thats with you, referring to

his iPhone. A cell phone camera may not be your immediate

preference. Yet, almost all the biggest photographers I have met so

far expressed how they want to leave their top-of-the-line cameras

behind once the day is done, and simply have fun with photography.

While hobbyists aspire to buy the very best equipment, professionals seem to prefer tiny,

no-nonsense compact or mirrorless cameras to record moments closest to them.

Firstly, remember that photography is all about previsualisation. Apart from making

the picture in your mind before you release the shutter, you need to know what you will

eventually do with the image. This again depends on the type of photography you do and

its purpose. Do you imagine an exhibition of your work, with huge prints on display?Or is it for capturing your familys most important moments for posterity? The set of

features and functions you need in your new camera will depend on how you see your

photographs being used in the future.

Secondly, with digital cameras, there is always a trade off between size (lower weight

and greater portability), speed (faster processing speeds, frame rates and AF), resolution

(larger images with more detail), image quality (optics, sensor size, low light shooting

capability, colours, and dynamic range) construction (stronger, weather-sealed bodies),

and other features (zoom range, customisability and fun features). Depending on what

you intend to do with the photographs, you need to decide which one of these is most

important. The moment you add a second set of functionality to the first, the price of the

camera is bound to increase substantially.

The Top 30 listing in this issue contains the very best of what is currently available in

India, categorised by price. Once you know what kind of a photographer you are, simply

make a choice from this list. Rest assured that you will not go wrong.

Happy shooting and may you have a great year ahead!

K Madhavan [email protected]

Hungry floodvictims awaitingrelief, Gaforgoan,Bangladesh, 1988by Shahidul AlamA love for humanity makes

Shahiduls camera apotent weapon for social

and ideological change.

Photography is not

something I worship. I am

very fond of the medium,

but if tomorrow, it ceases

to be effective, I would

have no qualms giving it up

and picking up any other

tool, be it picking up a

gun, he says.

To read moreabout Shahidul Alamsextraordinary struggle,

Great MastersTurn to page 110

W o r l d M a g s . n e t W o r l d M a g s . n e t

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8

B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y JA NU AR Y 1 3

Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are notnecessarily those of Network18 Media & InvestmentsLtd (Network18)*, its publisher and/or editors. We atNetwork18 do our best to verify the information published

but do not take any responsibility for the absoluteaccuracy of the information. No part of this magazinecan be reproduced without prior written permission ofthe publisher. Printed by Mohan Gajria and published byLakshmi Narasimhan on behalf of Infomedia18 Limitedand printed at Network18 Media & Investments LtdPlot No. 3, Sector No. 7, Off Sion Panvel Road, Nerul,Mumbai - 400 706, and published at Network18 Limited,Ruby House, A Wing, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W),Mumbai - 400 028. Readers are recommended to makeappropriate enquiries before sending money, incurringexpenses or entering into commitments in relation toany advertisment appearing in this publication. BetterPhotography does not vouch for any claims madeby advertisers, products or services. The printer,publisher, editor or members of the publication shall notbe held liable for any consequences in the event of suchclaims not being honoured by the advertisers.

Editor K Madhavan Pillai

Published by Network18 Media & Investments Ltd

V O L U M E 1 6 I S S U E 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

GET PUBLISHED IN BETTER PHOTOGRAPHYShare your best images, tips and techniqueswith us and get your work noticed. Follow thesesimple guidelines:

For PhotoCritique and Your Pictures: Digital files should be a minimum of 1800 x 2700

pixels at 300dpi and prints should be of 6 x 9-inches

Include a 100-word note on how and why you shot

the image with the following information:

Your name, address, and contact details.

Title for the Image.

Name of the section for which you are sending the image

Details: camera, lens, aperture & shutterspeed used.

Send in a synopsis, with low-resolution imagesfor viewing, to contribute articles to the followingsections:On Assignment, Step-by-Step, PhotoFeature, Tips & Tricks,

Shooting Technique, History, Story Behind the Picture

Get in Touch with us: To have your images reviewed by our panel of experts:[email protected]

To showcase your best photographs:[email protected]

To contribute articles and for questionson photography: [email protected] your suggestions, appreciation and criticismon the magazine: [email protected]

To send any of the above by post, send us a CD orprints to our Head Office in Mumbai.

Founder & Editor, Network18Raghav Bahl

President & Editorial Director, TV18Senthil Chengalvarayan

EDITORIALEditor

K Madhavan Pillai

Executive EditorGurjender Singh Virdi

Deputy Editor - TechnicalShridhar Kunte

Senior Features WriterRaj Lalwani

Features WriterAmbarin Afsar, Supriya Joshi,

Chandni Gajria, Priyanka Chharia,Ketan Kundargi, Conchita Fernandes

ContributorGabriel Fuchs

DESIGN & PRODUCTIONAssistant Art Director

Santosh D Kamble

Senior DesignerBhavna Bastav

Junior DesignerUttam Kumar

Chief PhotographerMexy Xavier

Senior PhotographerNeha Mithbawkar

PhotographerJoshua Navalkar

MARKETING & SALESSenior Vice President-Sales

Siddhartha Chatterjee

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WestAmit Dhotre, Mehul BajajBengaluru Krishnendu Mukherjee

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CoordinatorsPercy Palkhiwala, Anand Shirke

PRINTINGExecutive Vice PresidentAnanth R Iyer

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Production TeamDnyaneshwar Goythale, Surekha Karmarkar,Ravikumar Potdar, Ravi Salian

NEWSSTAND & SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESFor newsstand and trade queries, please wr ite toManoj at [email protected]

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HEAD OFFICENetwork18 Media & Investments Ltd,A Wing, Ruby House, J K Sawant Marg,Dadar (W), Mumbai 400 028,

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*Ownership of this magazine stands transferred from Infomedia18

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SnapShots

January 2013

26 Book ReviewCircus Girl bySaibal Das

34 Look Whos ShootingSudipto Das

35 Visual Musingsby David de Souza

GearGuide

52

62 TESTSony Alpha 99Is the worlds first fullframe SLT differentsimply for the sake ofbeing so?

68 Fujifilm X-E1The best image qualitythat you will get at thisprice point

74Olympus PEN E-PL5

Fine tuning the PENconcept, but at a price

78 BenQ G1Held a lot of promise onpaper, but then the storytook a different twist

80 Olympus 17mm f/1.8The most practical primelens for the Micro FourThirds system yet

82 FEATURECamera Featuresto Improve YourPhotography InstantlyHave you explored yourcamera completely?

SpecialBP EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2012 ..... ............... ........... 40

DO I REALLY NEED THIS CAMERA NOW?......................50

TOP 30 CAMERAS ..................... .............. .............. 52

BP Exellence Awards

2012

BUYERS

SPECIAL

ON THE COVER

DESIGN: SANTOSH D KAMBLE

DaviddeSouza onperception,society,artand pornography

ShahidulAlamon hiscrusadeforsocial& politicalchange

RediscoverSyria throughthe eyes ofJaber Al Azmeh

10womenwhohavemadeahugeimpacton photography

VISUAL MUSINGS GREAT MASTERS PROFILE HISTORY

EXCLUSIVE TESTSSony Alpha 99

BenQ G1Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus 17mm f/1.8

YOU CAN BUY TODAY!

Celebrating the best gearto grace our test bench

How to shoot stunning infraredphotos & make them digitally too

BP Excellence Awards

BUYERS

SPECIAL

Better Technique. Better Insight. Better Pictures

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.

.

i 'www.betterphotography.in

PLUS

100-PAGEPOCKETGUIDESECRETS

OFSHOOTINGGREATPHOTOSOFCHILDREN

10 FEATURESTO IMPROVE YOURPHOTOGRAPHY INSTANTLYWHAT CAMERA DO YOUNEED?

January2013Rs.150SpecialPrice

ISTHISTHEMOS

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InFocus

104 PROFILEJaber Al AzmehLeads you into hisexploration of Syria

110GREAT MASTERS

Shahidul AlamExplains his relentlessdrive for social justivethrough his images

118 PHOTOFEATUREFurqan Khan tells usexactly why he thinksLadakh is extraordinary

181 DIFFERENT STROKESAll-in-onePhotography

182 HISTORY10 Women WhoChanged The Way

We PhotographSaluting thosewho have made asignificant contribution

184 STORY BEHIND THE PICTUREThe Controlled Crashes

ShowCase PhotoFinish

RegularsFEEDBACK ............................................................12

PHOTOCRITIQUE .............. ............... ............... ...... 92

Q & A .................................................................100

1000 WORDS ....................................................... 116

YOUR PICTURES ............... ............... ............... ..... 122

BP BUYERS GUIDE .............. ............... .............. ... 174

BetterPictures

86 ON ASSIGNMENTA Surreal GlowDiscover the magic ofshooting beautifulinfrared in camera

90 DIGITAL TECHNIQUEInfrared Made VisibleLearn how to recreate

this effect in software

96 TIPS & TRICKSLearn how to shootbutterflies, vacations andspecial occasions

104 110

INDIAS BIGGESTPHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS!For more details, turn to page no 46

INDIAS BIGGEST WEDDINGPHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS RETURN!For more details, turn to page no 36



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FeedbackSend your feedback toThe Editor, Better Photography, Network 18 Publishing,Ruby House, A Wing, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W),Mumbai-400 028, India

Email: [email protected]

Portraits with a StoryThe moment I saw the cover of the

December 2012 issue of BP, I was curious

about how the photographer had captured

such a stunning image. The images in the

series offer an interesting perspective of the

attachment people share with places and

things around them. Inspired by the images

of Aneta Ivanova in the On Assignment

article, Spaces Within People, I attempted

to try out something similar. I used a self

portrait of myself and an abstract image of a

painting to create this multiple exposure in

Adobe Photoshop.

Neha Mithbawkar, Mumbai, via email

For the ProfessionalWith reducing costs of digital cameras,

there has been a tremendous increase

in the number of people interested in

photography lately. Everywhere you go,

you see people with DSLRs clicking away

on their camera. While a lot of them startphotography as a hobby, many of them

eventually turn it into their profession.

However, due to lack of knowledge,

they are often lost on how to handle

photography as a business.

I think that BPneeds to address this issue.

Currently, Market Sense is the only section

in the magazine which deals with it. A lot of

hobbyist photographers owe their skills and

learning of photography to BP. Hence, it

only makes sense that your magazine

is the one to help them understand the

business side of photography. I think that itis high time that you come up with an issue

dedicated to help amateur photographers

turn professional.

Rohan Dasgupta, Kolkata, via email

Excellent Customer ServiceI renewed my subscription to BPin

early October 2012. In spite of that, I had

not received the November edition of

the magazine. I sent an email to the

subscription department and to my

surprise, I received a reply the very next

day. Within four days, I had a copy of

the November edition in my hands.

The excellent service, prompt reply and

efficiency has ensured that I am now a

lifetime loyalist.Anurag Pandey, via email

Where is the Buyers Guide?Better Photography magazinehas served as

a key tool for comparing equipment and

a great guide to keep track of technology.

Unfortunately, I have noticed that the

Buyers Guide does not include the lens

section anymore. With the wide range of

lenses that are available in the market, the

BPratings, specifications and details in

the lens, this section was a great help in

comparing multiple lenses across different

companies. I am looking forward to seeing

the lens catalogue back in the magazine

soon and urge you to keep updating

itregularly.

When it comes to buying, I must say that

I am a little tired of seeing photographers

around me buying DSLRs costing more

than a lakh, but with no idea or inclination

on using them. Has a camera become a

status symbol, I sometimes wonder.

Kantilal Shah, Ahmedabad, via Facebook

Hobbyistphotographers

might learn theskills, but they

often get lost inthe business ofphotography.

The Buyers Guide is acomprehensive list of allphotography equipment

that is available inthe Indian market.

The photographerwas inspired by AnetaIvanovas images tocreate multiple exposureself portraits of her own.

Anjali Shetkar

NehaM

ithbawkar

B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H Y

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JA N U A R Y 2 0 13W o r l d M a g s . n e t W o r l d M a g s . n e t

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FEEDBACK

I was touched when I read the editorial in the

December 2012 issue of Better Photography

magazine. Most photographers shoot a few

pictures and immediately decide what kind of

photographer they are. The editorial shows a new

and unique way of understanding who you are as a

photographer and what really amuses you.

It is interesting how by defining photography in a

few words, you can define your own self. The exercise

of creating a diary seems to be an excellent way to

document your own photography journey. And only

when we identify who we are ourselves as people, will

we be really able to figure out where we are headed in

our photographic journey.

Ashok Saxena, Chandigarh, via email

Defining Photos, Defining Yourself Write in toBetter Photography

with your feedback, andif your letter wins the

Letter of the Month,

you will get a EnvieSpeedster charger!

Twitter: twitter.com/betterphotoFacebook: facebook.com/betterphotography

Flickr: flickr.com/groups/betterphotography

Forum: betterphotography.in/forum

FIND US ONLINE!

Black and White MagicThe last time Better Photographycame up

with an exclusive Black & White special

was in August 2010. I still have a copyof that magazine on my work desk and

cherish the beautiful matte cover of the

issue. I think that another B&W special

edition is now highly due.

Nowadays especially, we do not seem

to value the black and white medium

anymore. A friend of mine dismissed it,

saying that B&W is too easy. Another trend

I observe is that photographers resort to

black and white only because the colour

photograph lacks impact. Maybe that is

because of digital... when we use black and

white film, our mind is striving to see theworld in shades of grey. A digital sensor

Do we go backto nostalgia

and enter thedarkroom?

records colour photos and from a technical

standpoint, one is not advised to shoot

Monochrome within the camera.

So how does one get out of this?

Do we go back to nostalgia and enter the

darkroom? Or should we tune our minds

and force them to see?

Karuna Jadhav, Pune, via email

Buying Older Pocket Guides?I found the Street Photography Pocket

Guide very informative. The concept of a

small-sized book is so cool... it fit into my

camera bag! I have missed previous Pocket

Guides and look forward to finding, or

even buying older versions separately.

Ayush Rai, Bengaluru, via email

The Secrets ofShooting pocket guide onstreet photography that

was bundled with theNovember 2012 issue.

SECRETSOFSHOOT

ING

STREETSAROUNDY

OU

Capturing the beauty andvigorous spirit of street life

Interviewswith Gaurav Sawn, SanjayHadkar and Kaushal Parikh

Gearand lenses you will needHowto make a spy lensLearnto deal with the lawHandlinga mix of locationsShoot the decisive moment

16PAGESTIPS&TRICKS

PocketGuideSupplement with Better Photography November 2012 issue

The August 2010special edition of

Better Photographywas completely

dedicated to black andwhite photography.

Photography is being awake for the first time.Photography is feeling it. Photography is me.

14

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Carbon One MiniIn terms of looks, the

new digital camera

from Carbon is based

on the iconic Polaroid

SX-70. The 5MP

Carbon One Mini

is a pocket-sized

camera that allows users to shoot Polaroid-like

images, without the cumbersome process of using

film. It consists of a prefocused lens that makes

sharp images of everything beyond 1.2 metre. It is

compatible with the PictBridge Printer and can be

used for both Mac and Windows.

Nikon Digiscoping AdapterDigiscoping is a technique that is popular amongst

nature and wildlife photographers, and allows

telescopes to make pictures. Nikons DSA-N1

Bracket and DSB-N1 Adapter are designed to make

shooting with a super telephoto lens, a much simpler

process. Both these accessories are compatible

with Nikon 1 System cameras with interchangeable

lenses. While, the DSA-N1 will be available for

USD 219 (approx. Rs. 12,000). The DSB-N1 will cost

USD 169 (approx. Rs. 9,000).

Canon Wireless Photo PrintersWith the initiation of wireless photo printing, Canon

has redefined digital imaging. Canon added threewireless Prixma Photo Printers to its line up of

imaging products. While the Pixma MG6320 and

MG5420 are

two-in-one scanners

and printers, the

Pixma iP7220 is a

standalone wireless

photo printer. All the

printers are compatible with wireless Canon DSLRs

and will be launched later this year.

Microsoft Camera Codec PackThe upgraded Camera Codec Pack is compatible

with Windows Vista, 7, 8 and RT. It is specifically

designed to handle RAW files. However, the pack

only caters to 34 cameras, and it will prove to be oflittle help to especially those who have older DSLRs

or compacts.

Richard Avedon was an American photographer who became synonymous with portraiture and fashion photography since the 1960s.He began photographing his parents clothing store with a brownie camera, since the age of 12. He worked as a staff photographer for

reputed magazines such as Vogueand The New Yorker, and photographed Hollywood celebrities like Charlie Chaplin to Marilyn Monroe.

WHATS NEW

If a day goes by without my doing something related tophotography, it is as though I have neglected something essential to

my existence; as though I had forgotten to wake up.

RICHARD AVEDON (19232004)

This book was edited by photographer Shahidul Alam.

Raghu Rai

Image source:

www.tumblr.com

Drik Photo Agency Wins Asia Publishing Awardwho tells the story. But the visual record is

a testament to the resilience, the powerful

spirit of the people who were caught in this,

said Shahidul Alam, editor of the book.

Bangladesh-based Drik Photo Agencywon the Asia Publishing Award forThe Birth Pangs of a Nation, a book which

celebrates four decades of Bangladeshs

unyielding history. The book

was shortlisted in the

Best Insights into Asian

Societies category.

The Birth Pangs of a Nation

is a valuable visual record.

It features works of a number

of veteran photojournalists,

such as Raghu Rai, Kishore

Parekh and Marc Riboud.

The Bangladeshi War

of Liberation, like all other

wars, has a contested history.

The number killed, thenumber raped, the number

displaced, are all figures that

change depending upon

Better PhotographyCelebrates Excellence!cameras, that can give bulky DSLRs a run

for their money? Well, as the world becomes

smaller and smaller; perhaps even the

cameras will. We can only guess!

To read the complete coverage of the Excellence

Awards, turn to page 40.

The annualBPExcellence awardsapplaud the very best camera equimentthat managed to constantly score well in our

equiment tests during the past one year.

We meticulously rate and review a number

of cameras, lenses and accessories to finally

reach a unanimous decision.

The Camera of the Year and Advanced

Compact Camera of the Year were both

awarded to Sony RX100. Coincidentally, it

was another compact camera which won theCamera of the Year category in 2011.

Is this a growing trend towards leading

camera manufacturers making smaller


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Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Asph IFThe Samyang 85mm f/1.4 isa welcome addition and a

convenient alternative for

the comparatively costlier

Nikkor lens of the same focal

range. With an international

market price of GBP 399

(approx Rs. 26,500), the lens

can be available for even less

at select online websites. It is a high quality portrait

lens that makes shooting closeups fairly easy for

any amateur photographer. In terms of handling,

the lens consists of a rubberoid grip and hence

provides a staple and secure grip. Additionally, the

lens is covered with an anti-reflection coating, thus

enabling sharp images. It is compatible with Nikon,

Pentax, Sony, Four Thirds, Samsung NX and Canon

EOS mounts.

Lytro Living FiltersThe tube-shaped

Lytro camera

updated its function

set by introducing

Perspective Shift.

This option allows

the users to change

and manipulate the

standpoints of an image, after it has been shot.

Moreover, the company also launched nine new

Living Filters, including Film Noir Filter, Carnival Filter

and so on. Both the features are available as a free

update for Lytro users, and can be used to work

with already existing images.

Adobe Creative Cloud UpgradesAdobe has opened access to a dozen new features

of Adobe Photoshop for the users of Adobe

Creative Cloud. The new features that will be now

be available for Creative Cloud members include

support for Retina display for Apple MacBook Pro,

Crop Tool refinements, 3D enhancements including

live OpenGL,

and so on.

Additionally, Adobe

introduced the

Creative Cloud

service for teams

that will make

collaboration easy

for groups.

Google+ CommunitiesGoogle+ is increasingly replacing photo sharing

websites such as Flickr and Facebook, and vying

for the photographic database of these social

networks. In its latest announcement, Google+

launched interest specific communities or groups.

The service will allow users to join a group either

privately or publicly, and encourage discussion

divided by topical categories. For instance,

The Photo Community, Street Photographyand

Photo Tipshave already begun to attract thousands

of members from around the world.

WHATS NEW

For the last five years, Gabriel Fuchs,a Switzerland-based IT consultant,

has been contributing toBPby writing a

column called Different Strokes. However,

Gabriel has decided to take a break from

writing for the time being. We wish him the

very best for all future endeavours!

Having said that,BPwould like to take

this opportunity to highlight Gabriels

achivements of the past five years.

His distinctive sense of humour has made

us laugh, cry out in disbelief, ignite our

curiosities. and much more. In more ways

than one, Gabriel managed to change our

perspectives about photography itself.Thanks to him, we can all laugh about it;

while still making some great photos.

Additionally, we would like to

mention that Gabriel has generously

contributed his magazine earnings, a sum

of approximately 2.5 lakhs to a charity

in Mumbai.

We have thoroughly enjoyed Gabriels

writings. His efforts to understand

and decipher the mad community of

photography are truly appreciated.

Indeed, the escapdes of Gabriel and his

friend Anita will be missed.

Adieu, Gabriel Fuchs!

Sipa, the leading French Photo Agency,announced its plans to file forbankruptcy. While, the companys future

plan is unclear at this moment, it has been

speculated that it will be either liquidated

or reorganised.

The companys 127 employees, which

include at least 30 photojournalists,

were told to quit work in December, and

received only half of the months pay.

Additionally, the two sister companies of

Sipa News and FLS Ltd, which are part of the

Sipa group, filed for bankruptcy as well.

Sipa was founded by Turkish

photojournalist Gkin Sipahiolu in

1973. Sipahiolu launched the careers of

many photographers, such as Abbas, Luc

Delahaye, Alexandra Boulat and Patrick

Chauve. He had intended Sipa Press to rival

agencies such as the Agence France-Presse.

Sipa Press Files for Bankruptcy

The first iconic photograph of theEarth was captured by NASA in1972, and was called The Blue Marble.

After almost three decades, NASA

has once again photographed the

Earth from space and created a set

of jaw-dropping photographs called

The Black Marble. However, unlike the

previous set of images, these showcase

the planet at night.

These are not your average nighttime

shots of the Earth. In fact, these are

amongst the most detailed night time

images of the Earth that we have ever

seen! says Rebecca Roth of the NASA

Goddard Space Flight Center.

These highly detailed photographs

were recorded by the Suomi National

Polar-orbiting Partnership Satellite,

between April and October 2012.

Ittook the satellite three weeks and 312

orbits to collate 2.5 terabytes of imagery!

NASA Photographs Earth at Night!

Parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, such as Cairo and Italywere reported to be the brightest by NASA.

ImageSource:NASA

SNAPSHOTS


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Stopping Downis theprocess of changing

the aperture froma larger to a smallerf-stop. It increases

the depth-of-fieldand reduces the lightentering the lens.

PRO TALK

Look On The Bright SideUNHATE Foundation, United Colours of Benetton

and the Salaam Baalak Trust organised a 10-day

long photography workshop and exhibition in New

Delhi from 21 November11 December 2012. It was

dedicated to street children living in the capital and

was an attempt to celebrate their efforts. The theme

of the exhibition, Home, explored the idea of a home

for street children living on the streets and in various

Salaam Baalak Trust shelters in the city.

The City ImprobablePhotographs by Delhi-based Amit Bhatia were

displayed at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi from

131 December 2012. The images portrayed thecity of Delhi through Bhatias unique perspective.

Moreover, the exhibition brought to life the historical

richness of the capital. Bhatia explored the city spaces

in totalityfrom the narrow lanes of Old Delhi to the

modern spaces of Delhis industrial zones.

Future CitiesStudio X in Mumbai organised an exhibition by John

Gollings, Australias leading architectural photographer

on 11 December 2012. Gollings showcased the past,

present and future of global cities. He photographed

these images by using stereoscopic photographic

techniques. The exhibition was titled Now & When:

Australian Urbanism and was part of Studio Xs event

that explored the art of 3D photography and mapping.

The Heritage

A collection of 32 photographs by Bhawana Jaiswalwere exhibited from 1214 December 2012 in Bhopal,

Madhya Pradesh. Jaiswals work is eclectic which

includes a variety of themes such as nature, culture,

people, and places and so on. The Heritagewas her

12th photographic exhibition and focused on her most

recent work called the Chhaya Kumbh.

The Nikon Photo Contest International55 selected photographs were exhibited at the Piramal

Art Gallery, NCPA in Mumbai from 1224 December

2012. The images were selected from a number

of countries from all around the world, including

India, Japan, Iran, Portugal and so on. Some of the

photographers whose work was showcased in the

12-day long exhibition include Marlies Plank, Mar tin

Stranka and Debarshi Duttagupta.

EVENTS

This image waspart of a collection

of 53 award-winningphotographsat the Nikon

Photo Exhibition. Kenji Yamanaka

The New York PostPublishes Controversial Image

The photograph of 58-year-old KiSun Han, merely meters away from

an approaching train in a New York

underground, has once again stirred a

debate regarding ethics of photojournalism.

The photograph was made by photographer

R Umar Abbasi, and published on the front

page of The New York Post.

Abbasi, along with the paper, have been

severely criticised in a number of online

forums. In fact, many have likened Abbasi

to Kevin Carter, who became infamous for

photographing a strarving child next to avulture. However, after the incident, Abbasi

defended himself by claiming to alert the

train by using his

camera flash.

While Ki Sun

Hans family mourns

his death, The New

York Post struggles

to publicly clarify

its actions and

editorial decisions.

716 January

HikariKolkata

A selection of

images by Japanese

photographers that

explore the notion of

hikari or light. Some of

the photographers

featured in this unique

exhibition include Yuji

Obata, Tokihiro Sato,

Shiho Kito and Ken

Kitano. The exhibition

is travelling throughout

India and has already

been exhibited in Delhi

and Mumbai.

814 January

63rd All IndiaExhibition ofPhotographyJehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai

The Photographic

Society of India is

going to organise

the All India Salon of

Photography 2013.

The exhibition will

showcase an eclectic

mix of imagesfrom

monochrome,

colour and nature

prints to sports andphotojournalism.

17 January

Film andPhotographyFestivalTFAC Studio, Mumbai

The 10-day long festival

explores a variety of

themes within the visual

arts. It will includeworkshops, artist talks

and presentations

by amateur and

established

photographers.

31 January3 February

India Art FairNew Delhi

It will provide a

platform to upcoming

contemporary art.

The 5th edition of the

India Art Fair will bring

together 105 galleries

from 24 countries,

and showcase around1000artists.

Kim

okoYoshida

Source:TFAC

Happy 25th, Graphic Interchangeable Format!being developed as an alternative for JPEG,

to being originally termed as 87a.If you

want lossless, compressed graphics, there

is nothing better than GIF, said Alexander

Trevor, Former Chief of CompuServe.

Additionally, GIF was declared Oxford USAs

word of the year in 2012. It beat words such

as superstorm, and Eurogeddon.

The year 2012 marked the 25thanniversary of the GraphicInterchangeable Format or GIF, as it

popularly called. GIF was introduced in

1987 by Steve Wilhite of CompuServe and

was one of the first two file formats to be

used on the Internet. In 25 years, GIF has

undergone a number of changesfrom

ImageSource:www.thespec.com


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26

The year 2012 was a

growth year for Sandisk

and we witnessed a

considerable growth

in the demand for

flash memory.

However, we

witnessed a particularly

disappointing growth of

pointandshoot

cameras. The increasing

growth of high

performance mobile

phones has intensified the competition against

compact cameras. As a result, we noticed thatthe overall growth of compact cameras was

less than 10% in 2012. Nonetheless, the growth

of Sandisks high-performance quality products

was robust, and 2012 was a good year for

the company.

A lot has changed in a period of six years

since Sandisk entered the market of flash

memory in India. Today, the Indian market is

far more organised. However, this organisation

can be seen only in the top 1415 cities in the

country. There is a lot of work still to be done in

the smaller towns and cities, as there is a lack of

awareness about authorised products.

Sandisk is present in more than 400 cities in

India. In 2013, we are planning to increase our

presence in Tier II and Tier III cities. For instance,Sandisk introduced the Memory Yatra, which is

geared towards promoting the concept of flash

memory in smaller towns. Additionally, we are

going to strengthen our the companys online

activities. We are geared to specifically design

promotions targeted for Tier II and Tier III cities.

As told to Priyanka Chharia

INDUSTRY VOICE

In 2013, we are planning to icnrease ourpresence in Tier II and Tier III cities.

The Backyard of MagicCircus Girlwas borne out of Saibal Das year long project of the same name.

Das travelled for a year, visiting and working with a number of well-knowncircuses in India. From the illustrious Gemini Circus in Kerala to the

formidable Samrat Circus in West BengalSaibals extensive ground

work for the book makes it a thoroughly researched piece of work.

In fact, before I even began reading the book, I was curious

about its contents. I anticipated an informed perspective along with

photographs that would be sensitive to the chosen theme. Needless to

say, I was not disappointed. Saibals B&W photographs are composed with

meticulous perfection. He manages to capture the little moments from the lives

of his subjects, which eventually come to define his work. Moreover, his focus on

the circus girls makes this book and his perspective distinct from others who have

photographed the circus.

Additionally, corresponding text by Nola Rae, a renowned mime artist, lends a magic to

this book that would have been impossible otherwise. The combination of Raes experience

as an insider with Saibals dexterity as an outsiderthe Circus Girltruly unlocks a universe of magic.

Priyanka Chharia

Title: Circus GirlAuthor: Saibal DasISBN:978-1-906-49733-0

Publisher:Seagull BooksPrice:Rs. 1595

BOOK REVIEW

Manisha SoodCountry Manager & DirectorIndia & SAARC, SanDiskCorporation

The year 2012 was more than justdisastrous for the 132-year-oldcompany, Eastman Kodak. However, the

company seems to be in the process of

recovery and reorganisation, with the hope

to exit the state of bankruptcy by early 2013.

It revealed its plans to completely change

its focus from photography to enterprise

services and functional printing.

Meanwhile, rival companies Apple and

Google have reportedly teamed up to buy

Kodaks patents. The 1100 imaging patents

will be sold for more than USD 50 0 million

(approx. Rs. 5000 lakhs).

Google and AppleBuy Kodaks Patents

Father of Digital Imaging Passes Away

Bryce Bayer, the inventor of the iconicBayer Filter died at the ripe age of 83

in Bath, United Kingdom. Bayer was an

ex-Kodak employee who worked with

the company for more than two decades.

In 1974, he completed the design for a

device that enabled capturing detailed

colour images. His invention came to be

known as the Bayer Filter hence.

Without his invention we would still

be getting only B&W images from our

digital cameras. In fact, 99.9% of all digital

camerascellphones, pocket cameras,

webcams and consumer digital videocameras use the Bayer pattern to produce

colour photographs, said Larry Scarff,

a former chairman of the Camera Phone

Image Quality Standards Group.

Eye-Fi, the SD card maker company,announced its brand new photostorage app called Circ. Unlike other such

apps, Circ provides unlimited free storage

space to users. The app is compatible with

iOS, Android, Windows and Mac, and

allows users to sync more than one device.

We did not want to build just another

cloud service, said Yuval Koren, CEO of

Eye-Fi. We did not want the customer

to have to think about the technology

behind it, or worry about how much

storage space they had left before needing

to upgrade or dump photos.

CircOffers UnlimitedFree Storage!

Bryce Bayer created the Bayer Filter while still at Kodak.



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Astronaut Conducts

Ultimate Gear Test!Did you know that there are 12Hasselblad cameras left on the surfaceof the moon? Moreover, did you know that

one of these cameras was left there, just to

test the durability of the camera?

I left my Hasselblad camera there

with the lens pointing up at the zenith,

the idea being someday someone would

come back and find out how much

deterioration solar cosmic radiation

had on the glass, said Eugene Cernan,

ex-Apollo 17 Commander and the lastman to have walked on the surface of

the moon.

Flickr, Yahoos popular photo sharingsite has once again gone through

a makeover. The website recently

announced and released a new interface

called Liquid Layout. XX XXXXXXXX

Sudiptos imageshows peoplecelebrating theChhath Puja in Agra,

Uttar Pradesh.

Sudipto Das Photographer Awarded by The Royal Photographic SocietyLOOK WHOS SHOOTING

Genuineacknowledgementof this kind helpsone to evaluate hisor her work in apositive way.

Kolkata-based photographer Sudipto Das is an

avid street photographer. He is constantly driven

to photograph people and culture. His photograph,

titled Prayer, was shortlisted amongst 60,000

entries, and eventually was awarded The Royal

Photographic Societys Jubilee Time Capsule Award.

I came to know about the contest from oneof my friends living in the United Kingdom. I think

that awards of this nature are always encouraging

for photographers living in developing countries,

such as India. It is important to gather sound

feedback from time to time because genuine

acknowledgement of this kind helps one to evaluate

his or her work in a positive way, he says.

Sudipto is currently documenting the Anglo-Indian

population in his hometown Kolkata, for a thematic

project called Connecting Cultures. The project is

called Connect: UK-Indiaand will be on display in the

United Kingdom in 2013.

I want to establish a cross-cultural essence,

as it is the central focus of my project. During mystay in the United Kingdom, I documented Indians

living in the continent. I was able to carry out this

project with support from The Royal Commonwealth

Society and The Royal Photographic Society of

England, he says.

Written by Priyanka Chharia

Sudipto Das

500px Introduces Creative Commons Licensing

The ever increasing pool of images andtheir consequent circulation on the

internet had led 500px, a photo sharing

website, to include Creative Commons

licensing. Users of the photo sharing

website can now share their i mages for

non-commercial use with credit, and

not worry about the misuse of their

creative work. Conversely, researchers,

students and fellow imagemakers can

make use of the content without being

hassled over infringing copyright laws

or illegal sharing.

Copyright is often a challenge forartists and creators. Creative Commons

licensing gives our photographers more

options to let others share and reuse theirwork. It provides the 50 0px community

with greater flexibility on usage and

photo attribution, said an official

statement by the company.

Creative Commons licensing safeguards artists rights.

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At What Stage Does Art

Become Pornography?

David enjoys making photographs of subjects of special interest to him, entirely for his own delectation. Many ask him what he intends to do with these photos and he mostoften only manages an incoherent answer. An active educationist with a unique teaching style, his recent interests have been as varied as mythology, dreams and 3D.

V I S U A L M U S I N G S

Have you wondered at what point can nude photography

be considered art, as opposed to pornography?

Pornography in the pejorative, is associated with

explicit depictions of the sexual act. Alice Walker had once

said, Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesnt

matter. Im not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art

doesnt make us better, then what on earth is it for. Having said

that, there have been terrible people whove made great art.

So that, in essence, is the polarity. All of us have resident within

us, the human, the animal and the divine or sacred. Individual or

mob violence is a tendency that comes out of our animal side,compassion from the sacred, staying non committal, neutral is

perhaps our human, sitting on the fence, side.

Thedifference and similarity would be akin to love and lust.

If we can remove morality for a minute, it might get a little

simpler to understand. Human beings have a heritage of making

judgments and often what has been handed down as good and bad

remain our sacred tenets. Friedrich Nietzsche in Twilight of the Idols

exhorts us to examine our values and see if they ring true.

A lot has to do with motives. Why are you making the photograph

to start with? So even at the concept, ideological, wish level, it is

crucial to know ones motives. Before anyone else has seen the

photograph, it could be art or vulgarity depending on that single

test. But that is not the end of the line, just the start. A photograph

when it becomes public has to fit into a sensibility. One culture

would consider a photograph vulgar or pornographic, while

another may not. Subjectivity comes with its own filters, morality,

social mores and prejudice.

The point at which the photograph shifts from art to pornography

could be several depending on who is viewing it. A general rule

of societal thumb is when a group of people at a certain space

and time become offended, the object of their disdain, for them,

becomes vulgar. If a photograph is exploitative, it veers towards the

pornographic, regardless of space, time or society.

The recent Aseem Trivedi cartoon controversy seems to

have highlighted a few aspects of how we can subvert themain issue depending on our own pomposity. At that point

in time, it was not up to the TV channels and their experts to

ordain whether the cartoon was art or porn. That was not the

issue of contentionwhat wasdid it merit being seditious?

There seemed to have been total agreement that it didnt.

At another point in time when debating what is art and what is

not, the cartoon could have come up for scrutiny then.

M F Husains Saraswatiand Bharatmataalong with Andreas

Serranos Piss Christhave a common element. The museum

in Melbourne was vandalised by right-wing fundamentalist

Christians, in protest of a not-too-brilliant image of a crucifix in

an amber liquid. But go beyond the obvious, what if Serrano did

not have a title to his photograph, some devout Christian might

even have thought it worthy of veneration in their home, what

if the image was called Honey Christ? What if it was dipped in

honey and called Piss Christ?

Many what ifs and as the answer oscillates from art to

offensive, notice that the image has not changed at all... only

ones perception. It might be crucial to check on Sorennos

antecedents and his track record, would it change things to

discover that he might be a devout and practising Christian?

If you saw a pair of perfect, sensuous breasts in a magazine, halfthe population could swing either way, but what if you then

discover a sign at the bottom that reads, Early examination

prevents cancer, would the context change the content?

Eventually art is not necessarily to be liked, art and artists

roles are to challenge our perceptions of the world and

ourselves. It holds a mirror to us and often, our warts and our

insecurities show up. Shall we be content to be unaware of our

isness and bury our heads in the sand?

Most often historically, it is politics and those vested interests that

create schisms and intolerance of one set of people over another.

If we could borrow the sensibilities of the other, would our world

view be that much more enhanced or diminished?

The nude human form is the most challenging subject there

is. Because its all to do with perception. The human form laid

bare of time and space, suddenly becomes eternal, divested

of pretensions and fashions. Its got the emotional quotient

that anyone from anywhere can relate to and identify with.

The photograph does not need a title and explanation. It might

be difficult to get emotional or attached to a pressure cooker,

but the human form is quite another issue. How one deals from

behind that eyepiece with ones humanity is the process to

greater potential.

There are several countries in Europe and South America and

even some in Asia that have pornographic channels along with

porno magazines and DVDs that are free to view and buy, if youare above legal age. Pornography has become so undeniable that

reputed universities offer a study of the subject. It is such a far

cry from our country where mere sex education is such a hotly

debated subject in the Parliament, where the objectors to the

education outnumber those who are for it. If a proper scientific,

sexual survey was done in our country it would then expose

what everyone sort of surmises, that our sexual misconduct and

crimes would then show us up and dent our ersatz pride for who

we truly are, and that would not b e acceptable. Hypocrisy is one

of our many legacies.

Hypocrisy can be pornographic.

David de Souza

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BP Excellence Awards2012



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B E T T E R P H O T O G R A P H YJAN UARY 2010

41

Camera of the Year41

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

And The Award Goes to...M

onth after month, the BPteam

tests, inspects and introspects

how the latest technology will

help you chronicle the most

important moments in your

life. We appreciate some of this equipment,

despise others and occasionally, test camerasthat make us fall in love. With these awards,

we recognise the gear that has scored the

highest ratings in our tests. For the Camera

of the Yearand Innovative Product of the Year

awards, we weigh the pros and cons of each

gadget, and then decide the best.

Like last year, the most exciting camera

we tested in 2012 was not a high-end DSLR,

but actually a compact camera! That just

goes to show that an expensive camera isnot necessarily the best one... with the way

technology is racing, there has never been a

better time to be a photographer.

The BP Excellence Awardsare a stamp of quality, and our way of celebrating cameras andlenses that have earned the highest rating on our test bench, in the past one year.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100The Sony RX100 is not only rewriting history, but has also transcended categories andchanged the way we will see future cameras at this price point. After all, this is no ordinarycompact camera. For those who can live without the ability to change lenses, the Sony RX100,with its giant sensor and fast lens, is a far more versatile package than some higher-pricedmirrorless cameras and DSLRs as well. Just think about it... with fantastic quality at ISO 3200

and a fast f/1.8 lens, the RX100 is a better low-light machine than your regular entry-levelDSLR with its kit lens. Oh, and hey, it fits into your pocket!

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Advanced Compact Camera of the Year

Basic Compact Camera of the Year

Consumer DSLR Lens of the Year

Fujifilm FinePix F660EXRWith 15x zoom and complete manual control, this is a camera

you will want to carry, whether you are setting out for acasual vacation or starting photography as a serious hobby.Besides important photo features like a 1/2-inch EXR sensor,Film Simulation modes and the ability to shoot multipleexposures, the F660EXR also does well in terms of shootingFull HD video and capturing 360 Motion Panoramas.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100Why is the RX100 so revolutionary? Let us ponderover a simple fact. Sony has successfully taken theergonomic excellence of a tiny camera like the CanonS95 and managed to stick in a much faster lensand significantly larger sensor... in the same-sized,pocketable body! This is probably the only camera of itskind, which scores equally high marks in pocketability,stills quality, video capabilities and on-field handling.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6EX DG ASP HSM IIThe widest rectilinear full frame lens in the world strikesall the right boxes in terms of performance. It is sharp,not too expensive and has extraordinary control overdistortion. Do remember that a focal length this wide isnot for everyone... it is actually quite difficult to get close

enough to make a good frame at 12mm. But when doneright, the impact is spectacular.


42

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Consumer Mirrorless Lens of the Year

Pro DSLR Lens of the Year

Pro Mirrorless Lens of the Year

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Nikkor 16-35mm AF-Sf/4G ED VRThe 1635mm is one of the sharpest wide angles we haveseen, better than some of the best primes in the market.The lightweight nature of this lens makes it far better forlandscape, travel and street photography than its moreexpensive f/2.8 peers. The biggest highlight of this opticalmarvel is that the combination of a wide focal length andVR brings forth new possibilities that no other lens iscapable of. One can shoot handheld photos at one second,or experiment with ultrawide panning shots of slowmovement. Our best pro lens, this year, actually helps yousee the world in a new way.

Olympus M. Zuiko

Digital 17mm f/1.8The new 17mm f/1.8 may not be as small as the olderpancake lens, but it is a huge step forward in every otheraspect. It has a distance scale, is sharp at the widestaperture, and remarkably free of optical aberrations. At anaffordable price point, this is the best way for an Olympusor Panasonic user to get into the disciplined zone of using asmall camera with a fixed lens.

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4Normal lenses are usually very good in terms of optics,but this one i s even better. The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4gives Leica lenses a run for their money, at a merefraction of their price. Exemplary sharpness, beautiful

bokeh and distortion free, this is the lens that does mostjustice to the fantastic Fujifilm X-Trans sensor.


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Full Frame DSLR of the Year

Consumer Mirrorless Camera of the Year

Nikon D3200We were a little apprehensive about the D3200when we tested it. It is an excellent camera, nodoubt, but does an entry-level user really need24MP, we wondered. Since then though, we haveseen the same sensor in other, far more expensivecameras. Whether you are a first-time DSLRbuyer or a pro who needs a backup body for hisD800/D600, the D3200 gives you image quality that

has never been seen before at this price point.

Nikon D4The 36MP D800 almost won this crown, but theD4 has a bunch of small refinements that will beappreciated by a pro on field. Backlit buttons, theability to shoot lower resolution photos at 24fps,completely silent working, Ethernet connectivity,

top-of-the- line video features, several AFrefinements and a crazy buffer capacity of over 100frames (unmatched by any camera)... the D4 addsall this to the D3S, which probably was one of thebest cameras we have ever tested.

Olympus PEN E-PL5A tough fight between the Panasonic GX1 and the E-PL5,

the Olympus sneaked ahead with slightly better quality,due to the lack of an AA filter and a superior JPEG engine.The initial Indian pricing is higher than we expected, but

there is no doubt that the new sensor (borrowed and

tweaked from the OM-D E-M5) makes the Olympus E-PL5the best PEN, to date.

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Consumer DSLR of the YearAdvanced Mirrorless Camera of the Year

Innovative Product of the Year

Fujifilm X-E1We fell in love with the X-Pro 1, but surprisingly, it has beenbeaten by its younger sibling, the X-E1. The best quality everseen at less than a lakh... the X-E1 may not have a full framesensor, but it has better dynamic range, noise performanceand detail than several full frame DSLRs in the market.

Nokia 808 PureViewThe 808 is an ordinary smartphone if you compareit to the best iOS and Android devices around, butlets put it this way... it is the worlds best camera

that can also make calls and share picturesinstantly. Its massive 1/1.2-inch sensor ensures

that the stills and video quality exceeds mostcompact cameras! Most importantly, the ingenious

way in which Nokia has used its 41MP sensor canwell lead the way for future imaging technology.

EXCELLENCE AWARDS



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Cropped sensors nowadays are so good that

they match or surpass the pro full frame

cameras of yesteryears. Only some kind

of professionals actually do the kind of

photography that needs a full frame camera.

Im a Pro, But Do I Need to Change Lenses?If you are someone who has never bothered

with ultrawide or super telephoto focal

lengths, you can consider a pocketable

compact with a fast lens, or a camera that has

a fixed lens of a single focal length.

Zoom is What I WantIf you love shooting subjects that are really

far off, a superzoom compact camera is far

more affordable than trying to buy a DSLR

with equivalent lenses. A love for zoom

could also be the sole reason for you to

move beyond your smartphone.

Wait... Do I Even Need a Camera?Sure, if you want zoom, manual control

and all-round functionality, a compact

camera is still the answer. But today,

smartphone sensors have come a long way.

If most of your photography takes place

in the daytime (or at night, with flash) and

if you do not intend to print your photos,

do you really need anything more than aphone? Smartphones also make far more

sense for those who are heavily into social

media, photo sharing and wish to make use

of creative photo apps.

Is Film the Answer?You are disciplined enough to not shoot

a 100 frames in an hour. You also have

the curiosity, seriousness and patience to

appreciate what photography used to be

(and still is, for some). Go away from the

herd, pick up film camera from the second-

hand market (they barely cost anything).

Shoot analogue and learn to process it.

You will either fall in love, or just come away

with a richer mindset.

Does it really matter as to what camera you

use? Remember that the best camera is the

one that is in your hand, but gets out of the

way when you look, see and create.

DSLR or mirrorless? Is your cell phone good enough or should you invest in a real camera?but before that, lets see what kind of camera you need to look for. Raj Lalwani helps you choose.THIS CAMERA NOW?

Entry-level Mirrorless CameraIdeal for those who point and shoot,

but value image quality, they rarely

have viewfinders as they are targetted

at compact camera users who do not

mind using the LCD.

Entry-level DSLROne big reason to buy a DSLR over

a mirrorless is if you wish to get into

action photography. Most mirrorless

cameras are still not very good at

tracking fast moving subjects.

Full Frame DSLRIf you love crazy high ISOs or crave to

get the best possible dynamic range,

a full frame may make sense. But for

almost everyone else, a regular DSLR

or mirrorless is more than enough.

High-end Mirrorless CameraThese cameras are ideal for those who

value portabilty, but do not wish to give

up the experience of peering through

a viewfinder and the hands-on control

offered by a high-end DSLR.

In the analogue

world, hipsters

endorse cameras

like the Lomo andHolga because of

the crazy colours,

heavy vignettes and

attractive flaws they

produce. You could

use Instagram and do

this digitally, but there

is a certain charm

about the real thing.

Unique Photos withWeird Cameras

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RS. 20,00050,000

BUYERS SPECIAL

Who Should Buy It?Budget users who want the versatility of changing lenses.

Why?Its features are not class leading and the Nikon D3200 has far superior imagequality, but the 1100D continues to offer a great bargain. No other DSLR or

mirrorless camera comes at this price (apart from a few that are at the end of

their life cycle). If you do not need the 24MP of the Nikons, it is best that you save

some money, get the 1100D and probably invest the remainer in a fast normal lens.

Sony Cyber-shot RX10020.2MP, Full HD video, Announced in May 2012

Who Should Buy It?Those who want pocketablity but do not wish to make any compromise in

terms of stills and video quality.

Why?The RX100 is an astonishing product that actually transcends categories. For a

lot of people who buy a DSLR or mirrorless camera and stick to just using its

kit lens, we would actually recommend the RX100 higher.

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS12.1MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2012

Who Should Buy It?Amateur wildlife enthusiasts who want the best reach possible.

Why?Does someone really need 50x zoom is, of course, debatable, but that doesnot stop the Canon from being a very good camera. A hot shoe, complete

manual control, RAW shooting, a tilt-and-swivel screen and 13fps shooting

make this a very high-end camera. And while it may seem pricey, a DSLR with

lenses that go up to 1200mm will cost lakhs more.

Nikon D320024.2MP, Full HD video, Announced in April 2012

Who Should Buy It?Budget resolution fanatics and anyone who is willing to invest in good lenses.

Why?Up to ISO 3200, the D3200 produces better image quality than any non-full frame

DSLR. Considering it is so cheap, it is an absolute bargain. If you are buying your

first DSLR though, remember that a camera of such a high resolution needs an

investment in optics, discipline and technique.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ20012.1MP, Full HD video, Announced in July 2012

Who Should Buy It?Zoom lovers who want to experiment in low light and use shallow DOF.

Why?The FZ200 is an engineering marvel. It is the worlds first and only camera that

has a large amount of zoom (24x, 25600mm) and a maximum aperture of

f/2.8... all throughout the zoom range! The sensor of this RAW-shooting camera

may not be as good as the price suggests, but the fast aperture reduces the

need for using high ISOs in most situations. If you do not need the 50x zoom of

the competition, this one is far more versatile.

Rs.29,995

Canon EOS 1100D12.2MP, 720p HD video, Announced in February 2011

Rs.26,990

(Kit)

Rs.30,750

(Bodyonly) Rs.3

4,990

Rs.34,990



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BUYERS SPECI AL

RS. 20,00050,000

Canon EOS M18MP, Full HD video, Announced in July 2012

Panasonic LUMIX G315.8MP, Full HD video, Announced in May 2011

Nikon D520024.1MP, Full HD video, Announced in November 2012

Who Should Buy It?Serious photographers who do not mind sacrificing build quality and hands-on

ergonomics to gain a fantastic AF system and excellent image quality.

Why?The amount of external control is not perfect, but the D5200 has definitely raised

the bar when it comes to entry-level DSLRs. It has inherited the 39-point AF system

from the D7000 (a version of which is also seen in the expensive full frame D600).

This makes it the first ever camera at this price point to have such sophisticated

autofocus functionality. An improved version of the D3200s sensor and a tilt-and-

swivel screen are the crowning glories of this value-for-money package.

Olympus PEN E-PL516.1MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2012

Who Should Buy It?Street and travel photographers who want a small and lightweight camera, but

want the flexibility of being able to change lenses.

Why?The E-PL5 is the first PEN camera to have the 16.1MP sensor that was seen

in the OM-D E-M5. The OM-D itself may seem overpriced, but this PENs cost

makes the sensor a lot more attractive. The one change from the OM-D is that

the E-PL5s sensor does not have an AA filter and so, it actually gives sharper

results with the excellent Micro Four Thirds lenses. Other than that, it has all

that we love about the PENsArt Filters, good handling and in-body IS.

Who Should Buy It?Video enthusiasts and serious filmmakers.

Why?Canons first foray into the mirrorless world shines when it comes to the

video capabilities. The quality of the footage, amount of video control and the

overall functionality are as good as DSLRs like the 650D, and the fact that the

M is a lot smaller (and cheaper) is a deal clincher. For still shooters, it is not

completely smooth sailing though. The ergonomics are a mixed bag, with no

buttons but an excellent touchscreen. Autofocus is a big disappointment, but

the APS-C sensors quality is better than its Micro Four Thirds counterparts.

Who Should Buy It?Travellers who want a budget mirrorless camera, but are too used to framing

photographs at eye level.

Why?Consider this. For a little more money than the E-PL5 and for far lesser

than the OM-D, you get a mirrorless camera that has an in-built viewfinder,

an excellent AF system and high quality sensor. The G3 may not have the

rangefinderesque body of the PEN, but it is still very small. Videographers will

appreciate the quality of the footage, but the lack of an external mic input is

something that may hinder serious filmmakers.

Rs.44,990

(Kit)

Rs.47,990

(Kit)

Rs.49,995

(Kit)

Rs.41,450(Body

only)



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RS. 50,0001,50,000

Who Should Buy It?Full frame aspirants who do not need 36MP.

Why?Its ergonomics are not perfect, but the image quality and photo-video features

are good enough for almost every kind of professional use.

Nikon D60024.3MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2012

Who Should Buy It?Those who want fantastic low light quality on the go, but do not need an OVF.

Why?The X-E1 produces the same high quality images as the more expensive X-Pro 1, and

also has a built-in flash. You lose out on a Hybrid finder, but the EVF is very sharp.

Fujifilm X-E116.3MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2012

Fujifilm X-Pro 116.3MP, Full HD video, Announced in January 2012

Who Should Buy It?Those who want full frame quality in a small package that has an optical eyepiece.

Why?After the X-E1s announcement, the Hybrid viewfinder remains the only reason to

spend extra money for the X-Pro 1, but considering the analogue philosophy of the

X cameras, an optical way of seeing the world just has a lot more charm.

Fujifilm X10012.3MP, 720p video, Announced in September 2010

Who Should Buy It?Street photographers and portraitists.

Why?If you enjoy the 35mm field of view, ignore the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro 1 and buy

the non-interchangeable lens X100 instead. The Hybrid viewfinder and old-school

controls are excellent and the image quality, quite good.

Nikon D700016.2MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2010

Who Should Buy It?Serious hobbyists or professionals who want the reach of an APS-C sensor.

Why?As long as you do not need 24MP, the D7000 is the best non-full frame DSLR in

terms of low light quality, ergonomics, speed and value.

BUYERS SPECIAL

Rs.64,45

0

(Bodyon

ly) Rs.70,000

(Bodyonly)

Rs.76,999

Who Should Buy It?Filmmakers who dont mind spending a premium for ease of use with pro video.

Why?Video fanatics will love the 14140mm kit lens, but the camera is very overpriced in

India. Stills are good, but if you are not into movies, invest this huge sum elsewhere.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH316.1MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2012

Rs.1,04,9

99

Rs.1,35,950 Rs.1,49,990

(Kit)



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BUYERS SPECIAL

ABOVE RS. 1,50,000

Nikon D80036.3MP, Full HD video, Announced in February 2012

Who Should Buy It?Professional photographers dealing with any genre as long as it does not involve

massive volumes of shooting.

Why?36 megapixels are not for everyone, but it is incredible that Nikon managed to fit in

so many, and yet maintain the lofty high ISO standards set by the D700. The D800 is

one of the most complete cameras in the market for both still and video pros, but

do remember that it needs a lot of investment in optics and storage.

Nikon D416.2MP, Full HD video, Announced in January 2012

Who Should Buy It?Action professionals who want the ultimate in low low light performance.

Why?Not only does the D4 match Canon in terms of video, it also has unique still features

like backlit buttons, Ethernet connectivity and silent shooting. The ability to shoot at

ISO 2,04,800 and 12fps shooting mean that you will get your shot, no matter what.

The buffer capacity is the best in the worldover 100 RAWs at one go!

Sony Alpha 9924.3MP, Full HD video, Announced in September 2012

Who Should Buy It?Professionals who want quick AF during video and wish to make use of the

advantages of a full frame sensor.

Why?If you are a stills photographer, the Alpha 99 is competent, but not as good as

the Nikon D600 that is far cheaper. Video professionals, though, can consider

this to be the pinnacle of video technologynot only is the video focusing

fast, the A99 is one of the only cameras to shoot 1080p60 with AVCHD 2.0.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III22.3MP, Full HD video, Announced in March 2012

Who Should Buy It?Pros who do not need a large body, but wish to shoot action.

Why?The dynamic range and resolution are not as good as the competition, but there

is no doubt that the 5D Mark III is a maestro in terms of autofocus, speed, low light

performance and video. The most all-round option for someone who has Canon

optics, it is the subtle handling changes that make this camera a joy to use.

Canon EOS 1D X18.1MP, Full HD video, Announced in October 2011

Who Should Buy It?Sports photographers and photojournalists who want a rugged camera that can

survive (and capture) any situation.

Why?The 1D X is one of Canons most significant DSLRs. It is the first time that the

company has decided to use a full frame sensor in a sports camera, thus enabling

them to catch up with Nikon in a market that the latter had dominated with the D3

and D3S. The 1D X matches the D4 in almost every aspect, falls behind in dynamic

range, but sneaks ahead in terms of burst rate (14fps) and AF speed.

Rs.1,6

3,950

(Bodyonly)

Rs.1,7

9,900

(Bodyonly)

Rs.2,06,0

95

(Bodyonly) Rs.3

,49,950

(Bodyonly)

Rs.4,29,9

95

(Bodyonly)



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TEST

Alpha 99 camera Li-ion battery Charger USB Cable AV cable Camera strap Body cap Accessory shoe cap USB cable clip Software CD-ROM

WHATS IN THE BOX

are usually seen in compact cameras? Or of

course, a full frame DSLR-style camera that

is not a DSLR... the camera adopts the SLTtechnology that Sony has been using for the

past few years.

The new Depth-map Continuous AF

function speeds up tracking AF, as long

as you tell the camera at what distance

you expect your subject to be. The 102

points seem impressive on paper, until

one realises that these are accessible only

while using six particular Sony lenses.

Its regular 19-point AF system is good, but

certainly not the best at this price point.

Moreover, even while using 102 focusing

points, the sensors are so packed in nearthe centre of the frame, that the practical

application seems rather restricted.

Like all SLTs, the cameras viewfinder

iselectronic. Unfortunately, Sony has

decided to exclude an onboard flash.

Like its peers, the camera allows you

to transfer uncompressed video via

HDMI. One can monitor sound using

headphones and the camera also has

Real-time and Lip-sync settings to furthercontrol the output.

It is, in a way, a unique set of video

features. The autofocus functionality

ensures that the camera can be used

efficiently by a video newbie as well, but

professionals will be more than happy in

terms of the amount of control they get.

HandlingLike the RX100 and NEX-7, the camera has

focus peaking, which is extremely useful

for manual focus. The overall handling

is decent, but with the sheer numberof buttons (some of which are weirdly

labelled), one needs to spend quite a bit of

time with the camera to fully understand it.

Once I got a little comfortable, I started

enjoying certain things. There is a useful

joystick and as many as five customisable

buttons! An innovative Silent Control

TEST

Fujifilm X-E1Good looks andexcellent quality

68

TEST

Olympus E-PL5OM-D quality ina cheaper package

74

TEST

Olympus 17mm f/1.8Another impressive lensfrom the MFT stable

80

When using the HighContrast Monochrome

Picture Effect, thehighest ISO settings look

really good.Exposure:1/60sec at f/16

(ISO 25,600)

AllphotographsbyRajLalwani


http://worldmags.net/http://worldmags.net/http://worldmags.net/http://worldmags.net/http://worldmags.net/http://worldmags.net/

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TEST

Ring is ideal for videographers as it allows

them to change settings without affecting

the audio of the footage. It can help adjuststill photo functions too, but in practice,

it is a little difficult to use since the ring is

quite loose.

Battery life is a serious problem with

the Alpha 99. It is better than the other

DSLT models, but when compared to

full frame DSLRs, the Sony falls short

significantly, probably due to the fact

that either Live View or the EVF are

continuously switched on. If you are a

professional, you would want to invest i n

extra power.

The camera may not score too highon looks, but it feels good. It is also quite

lightweight, despite a solid magnesium alloy

construction. The mode dial has a lock,

but unlike cameras like the D600, this lock

actually works quite well.

PerformanceMy problems started after I had customised

the camera. I decided to set one of the

shortcut buttons to Quality, to switch

between RAW and JPEG. I did this

because I wanted to use the High Contrast

Monochrome Picture Effect. Now, Picture

Effects get disabled while shooting RAW,

so customising a button to toggle between

RAW and JPEG was actually a neat trick to

switch between colour and B&W.

All this was perfect until the battery

levels fell. As a power conservation practice,

I started switching off the camera when

I wasnt using it. But whenever I would

switch it on, it would take a long time to

start up! Despite the fact that the camera

was set to RAW (and hence, colour), the

initial preview in the EVF showed a blackand white feed. After struggling for four

seconds, the camera identified the fact

that it was actually set to RAW and then

showed the colour feed! This was a quirk

that I experienced only while using Picture

Effects, but it is still shocking performance

from a pro camera.

The autofocus is pretty good, especially

when combined with the lenses that

allow you to use the Dual AF system.

However, one must remember that the 102

AF points do not cover a large part of the

frame though, a problem that is there evenwith the Nikon D600. So while it may sound



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ERGONOMICS

Excellent video Lightweight Usable images at

the highest ISOs

PLUS

Poor battery life Overpriced

MINUS

astounding on paper, it does have its caveats.That said, when the subject falls within the

AF sensors, the focusing is blindingly fast

and accurate.

Sonys excellent and often underrated

range of optics help capture fantastic,

sharp photos. Dynamic range is stunning

and the RAW files have a great amount of

latent detail.

I was relieved to see that unlike

previous Sony SLTs, the JPEG engine is a

lot more refined. After all, this is the first

Sony SLT that allows you to switch off

noise reduction, which was something

that badly affects the JPEG files of the

cheaper SLTs. However, I was surprised

to see that the high ISO photographs

consistently had more noise than the

D600. I am making the comparisonbecause the Nikon is said to have a very

similar sensor, and is lesser in price.

The light loss that takes place due to the

SLT technology, while minimal, does

seem to have affected the resultant quality

to a certain degree.

And that brings me to somethi ng that

I have been pondering about, ever since

I first read about the camera. Sonys SLTs

have charmed us in the past, but was it

necessary to have a translucent mirror

in their flagship camera? It may have the

best EVF in the world, but it still does

not even come close to the experience

of using a full frame optical viewfinder.

When we see SLT cameras like the A57

and A77, even purists would not mind

Nikon D800 Nikon D600 Canon EOS 6D

ALSO LOOK FOR

An Excellent Sensor, But Does It Reach Its Full Potential?

This ISO 6400 image retains detail well, but the noise in the shadows is more than

that seen in the D600surprising, considering they are said to have the same sensor.

Quick Response Time and Accurate FocusingIts startup time is nowhere close to ideal, but the A99s shot-to-shot time is admirably

quick. Autofocus is not as good as, say, the D800 or 5D Mark III but it is very accurate.

Test Shots

The Silent Control Ring can be accessed by

the left hand while shooting, and helps change

settings. Since there are no hard buttons to

press, it is invaluable while shooting video, buta little confusing to use for stills.

As a welcome change, Sony does not have the

same proprietary hot shoe as previous cameras.

Now, you can mount standard flashguns with

slightly limited control. The mode dial lock issmooth and useful, without being an irritant.

This is the only full frame camera in the market

that has an onboard Electronic Viewfinder.

It is definitely a different experience from

conventional OVFs, but an EVF can be veryuseful to gauge the final result of the photo.

Front Top Rear

Magnesium alloycamera body

Deep grip

AF-assist lamp

Customisable SilentControl Ring

Convenient modedial lock

Hot shoe

Light fortop LCD

High resolutiontilting LCD

Button to help

Documents

Photography 2011 12