Keenly priced Nikon Z superzoom lens
IT’S been another good week for competitively priced lenses – hot on the heels of the £1,299 Sigma 50mm f/1.2 Ar t lens comes the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR, for just £100 more.
This new superzoom lens for Z mount packs a 14.2x zoom into a compact and lightweight body that weighs just 725g, making it the lightest Z-series lens to go as far as 400mm (the focal length ranges from 28mm at the wideangle end to 400mm at the super-telephoto end). In addition, the lens features 5 stops of image stabilisation/ vibration reduction, which increases to 5.5 stops when the lens is attached to a Nikon Z camera with Synchro VR capability.
Nikon is also stressing the lens’s close-up versatility, with a minimum focus distance of 0.2m at the wide end, and 1.2m at 400mm. The maximum reproduction ratio of 0.35x fur ther facilitates close-up and macro shooting.
Other features
The Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR weighs just 725g include a stepping motor for finding focus quickly and quietly, a customisable control ring and dust and water sealing around the mount and moving par ts. The lens hood is interesting too – its squared design can be inver ted to save space when storing the lens, and it’s possible to shoot with the hood still inver ted. ‘(The lens) is perfect for people who want to carr y just one lens and be ready for any photo oppor tunity, near or far,’ said Nikon Europe product manager Zurab Kiknadze.
The Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is available mid-April for £1,399.
Music photographers honoured
THE SO.CO Image of Music Awards 2024, designed to ‘celebrate the unsung heroes behind the lens,’ have been announced, with Fearghal McGlinchey winning top prize for a dramatic shot of Greta Van Fleet’s Josh Kiszka. Greta Van Fleet are famed for their on-stage pyrotechnics, and as Fearghal recalls: ‘As soon as I saw their pyros go off, I thought to myself, I have to be in the perfect position for these later on. Josh’s harmonica even looks like it could be a lighter!’
New York-based photographer Grace Prachthauser was Young Music Photographer of the Year, a categor y designed to reward emerging talent under the age of 23. AP’s Lifetime Achievement winner, Jill Furmanovsky, was named the So.co Legend, in recognition of her sterling 50-year career. Innovation of the Year went to the Canon EOS R50, selected by the judges for squeezing high-end tech into an entr y-level camera. So.co was set up to connect photographers, musicians and fans with images and stories from concer ts, festivals and events. Visit so.co/awards
Fearghal McGlinchey’s overall winning image
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Affinity’s Ashley Hewson (left) with Canva’s Duncan Clark
Af finity sold to Canva
WEB-BASED design platform Canva has bought the Affinity creative software suite, which includes the Affinity Photo editing software. Back in Januar y, Canva repor ted that it had around 170 million monthly users worldwide. ‘The one thing Canva don’t do is actually produce any tools for creative professionals – and that’s really why they ended up contacting us now,’ said Affinity CEO Ashley Hewson in a video. ‘And the great thing with this is that really nothing changes. All of our team is still here, there are no layoffs.’ Affinity is based in Nottingham, while Canva is a Canadian company which opened a European HQ in London last year.
Paulo Sousa won last year’s competition with his image, ‘Glacier Requiem’
Scientific approach
THE ROYAL Society of Biology’s annual photography contest is now open, with the theme, Transforming Life. ‘We invite submissions that explore the profound changes occurring across our planet, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of life in response to environmental changes, human inter vention, and scientific innovation,’ said the society. There is a £1,000 prize for the over 18s categor y winner, while the under 18s winner gets a £500 prize. Entries close on 20 June. Visit: rsb.org.uk/get-involved/rsb-competitions www.amateurphotographer.com
