Reviews

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 Review: The best portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds

09/05/2013 By Mathieu

The Micro Four Thirds system offers a wide range of lenses but when it comes to portrait lenses, the choice is more limited. Without a hint of doubt, I can say that the M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 is the best choice. It is a very affordable lens but performs like a pro!

Fuji x20 Review: X-Pro1 technology in a compact body

27/04/2013 By Heather

N.B.: This article is the complete review of the Fujifilm x20. To see our series of mini-reviews dealing with specific aspects of the camera, go here: Macro Test, Low-Light Test, Advanced Mode Test, B&W Gallery, and Photoshow Gallery.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you put X-Pro1 technology into a small point-and-shoot body? Well, the result would be the new Fujifilm x20. Contained within its compact shell is a smaller updated version of the X-Trans CMOS sensor found in the X-Pro1 and X-E1, making this camera one of the highest-performing compacts on the market in terms of image quality.

Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 Review: the best wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds

24/04/2013 By Mathieu

I’ll admit it. I have a huge thing for wide angle lenses. I’ve always been fascinated by the way you can represent the vastness of a place, using the lens’ natural distortion to make interesting compositions, and playing with perspective or tri-dimensionality. Since I first began photographing with DSLRs, I have always made a point to invest in good wide angle lenses. My favourites are the Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 and the Nikkor 24mm f/1.4.

So, when I started to switch to the Micro Four Thirds system with the Olympus OM-D E-M5, the first lens I looked for was, of course, a wide angle. I had already tried the excellent Panasonic Lumix 7-14 f/4, but it is a little too extreme for my tastes, not to mention I was looking for a lens with a faster aperture. The Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm was, as such, my only option, and I was really curious to see if I would miss my big fat (Greek?) DSLR wide angle lens. Well surprisingly, the anwser was a big fat ‘no’!

National Geographic Earth Explorer Medium Pouch Review

16/04/2013 By Heather

The conversion we’ve been making from DSLR to mirrorless has necessitated a (very welcome) change in the accessories we own. No longer do we need to lug around massive camera bags filled with what could be baseball-sized rocks. No siree, to carry around a mirrorless camera and two lenses, we realised that all we require is a small pouch. In the end, we went for the highly-rated National Geographic Earth Explorer Pouch – the subject of this review!

A Journey Through Venice: The Fuji X100s Review

06/04/2013 By Mathieu

Update: also check out our Mirrorless on the Job – Episode 2 about using the X100s for work.

I finally received my Fujifilm X100s last week, two days before leaving for Venice where Heather and I joined her parents for a quick Easter holiday.

After following all the fanfare surrounding the x100s on the Internet and reading a number of very good reviews, I was very curious to try the camera out for myself to see if all this enthusiasm really bore fruit. To try it out in Venice was an added bonus, as it is probably my favourite Italian city. I have decided to write this review in the form of a journal of our trip there, describing how I became increasingly confident with the camera and why I am enjoying it more and more each day.

I am aware that 5 days aren’t enough to write a complete and in-depth review, but since I’m planning to use it frequently, I will post more thought about it in the weeks to come. Ready? Time to chase down some gondolas!