Leica used its recent time at Photokina, the huge annual photography trade show in Germany, to unveil four new cameras across its digital rangefinder, medium format and compact camera lines.

The much-anticipated successor to the hugely popular M9 digital rangefinder also signalled a change in naming scheme for the company as it lifted the curtain on the Leica M.

The camera features a newly developed 24-megapixel, full 35mm Leica Max CMOS sensor, Leica Maestro processor, Live View and the ability to record 1080p full HD video – firsts for the rangefinder line.

The Leica M also introduces two additional focusing methods, Live View Zoom and Live View Peaking, which can be activated quickly and easily with a new focus button. (more…)

Palmerston North’s UCOL is offering an intensive two-day Photoshop Masterclass in November for serious photographers looking to take their image creation to a new level, taught by acclaimed photographer Paul Gummer.

A senior lecturer and New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year 2009, Gummer says the programme is a comprehensive course to develop methods and workflow to enhance the stylistic qualities of images to give them a visual edge.

The class runs from November 3 to 4 at UCOL’s Palmerston North Campus on Queen Street, it costs $585 including coffee and lunch on both days, a hundred-page course manual and a CD with images to use for the exercises during and after the course.

Through a combination of information sheets, demonstration, hands-on examples, one-on-one tuition and audio-visuals Gummer will cover the following topics during the programme: (more…)

Pentax has revealed three new additions to its digital camera family at Photokina in Germany this year, including a new DSLR flagship that comes in two different flavours and an updated compact mirrorless model.

At the massive photography trade show the company lifted the curtain on the new Pentax K-5 II DSLR, it’s slightly modified sister model the K-5 IIs and the Pentax Q-10, part of the extremely compact mirrorless line.

The 16-megapixel Pentax K-5 II is the company’s new flagship camera, built around a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body and Safox X autofocus sensor and is supposed to work in lower light than its rivals (down to -3EV) with greater accuracy when working with f/2.8 and fast lenses. (more…)

Prolific local photographer Harvey Benge currently has a new exhibition showing at Auckland’s Pah Homestead , TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, entitled Harvey’s Point.

Benge, whose work often subjectively examines the minutiae of the urban landscape, describes the new exhibition as being a sort of photo book put up on the gallery walls.

“I present some images that ostensibly oppose one another and others that appear banally neutral,” explains the artist.

“I’m asking you – and myself – exactly what is Harvey’s point?”

Benge says the exhibition, which runs until November 18, was inspired by an image sent to him by New York-based British artist Paul Graham, bringing to mind ideas of place, time and universality.

The two had been together in New York a few days earlier and Benge had moved on to Auckland, Graham off to Ireland.

“Harvey’s Point has opened up for me questions regarding the nature of perception, and temporality, how we evaluate the underlying meaning of images that confront us, and those we attempt to read.

“This is the purpose of this show.”

For more information about the exhibition and the Hillsbourough gallery visit the Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace ...full story

Canon’s new standard fixed 40mm lens is so slim and light (just under 3cm protruding from camera body to lens cap edge and weighing 130g) it can slip into a gear bag or pocket with little bother.

The company already has a healthy stack of 50mm lenses on their books, each with wide apertures, like f/1.8, f/1.4 and f/1.2, which might leave one wondering why introduce a 40mm f/2.8 STM lens — what’s its point of difference? The STM signifies it has ‘stepping motor’ technology, designed to smoothly and silently autofocus with cameras constructed with the Movie Servo AF feature, like Canon’s new entry-level EOS 650D, to eliminate ugly whirring sounds generated by autofocus. Canon has also recently produced another STM lens, the 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS. (more…)

Sony has showed off a slew of new cameras, including three very different full-frame models, at the huge Photokina photography trade show currently taking place in Germany.

Amongst the newly announced cameras are the mirrorless Alpha A99, compact Cyber-shot RX-1 and Handycam NEX-VG900, all featuring 35mm full-frame sensors.

With the Cyber-shot RX-1 Sony officially becomes the first company to launch a 35mm full-frame compact camera, with an 24.3-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor packed into a body significantly smaller and lighter than a DSLR camera.

As well as full-frame imaging the RX-1 is capable of shooting full HD video, features a sensitivity range from ISO 100 to 25600 and a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 prime lens with Macro mode for a 20cm minimum focusing distance.

(more…)

This Saturday the public is invited to take a free peek at the exciting goings on at New Zealand’s annual professional photography conference, Infocus, this year held in Christchurch.

Come along to Riccarton’s Chateau on the Park on Saturday, September 22 for the Infocus Open Day, a free event where the public can view all the latest photography gear, see how professional photography judging happens and check out award-winning prints.

The industry exhibition gathers all the leading photographic suppliers in one room to showcase all the latest and greatest products to hit the market at the event organised by the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP).

During the day the Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Print Awards 2012 will be being judged by some of the top photographers from here and Australia and the public is invited witness the process in action.

The open day is part of the four-day Infocus conference upon which the country’s professional photographers converge to hear an array of guest speakers, participate in workshops and socialise and celebrate with peers.

For more on the conference head to the NZIPP website and pick up D-Photo 51 ...full story