Last week I reviewed the Sunwayfoto GH-Pro 2 Plus geared tripod head. While trawling through online presentations I noticed several positive reviews of the Leofoto G2, an even lighter and more compact geared head. So I bought one and have been running initial tests with it.

Geared tripod heads have been used by studio photographers for many years. But those studio heads are large, heavy, expensive and not really suitable for photography on the go.

Hence the popularity of compact three way heads and in recent years ball heads for landscape and location photography.

Although the total number of cameras sold each year has declined dramatically since 2010 there are still many makes, models and types of camera available. This can make the process of deciding what to buy quite challenging.

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Canon introduced the RF-S 10-18mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM ultrawide zoom for APSC RF mount cameras in 2023. This is a nice compact stabilised lens but is constrained by the small and variable aperture which limit its appeal indoors and in low light.

One of the main complaints by users and reviewers about the Canon RF mount crop sensor system has been the paucity of lens offerings.

When the EOS R7 and R10 were announced in 2022 only two zooms were made available. Since then Canon has added two more zooms.

The most versatile type of photographic device in my experience is a top-of-the-range bridge camera with a built-in EVF and a full set of controls for an enthusiast user.

But this camera type has been almost completely abandoned by camera makers.

I was an early adopter of the Micro Four Thirds [MFT] camera system starting in 2009 with the Panasonic Lumix G1. I abandoned Canon DSLRs of the time because of their woefully unreliable autofocus.

In recent times the number of fully featured, enthusiast level compact cameras available new has declined remarkably.

The unique selling point of the Leica DL8 and its precursors,  the DL7, LX100 and LX100.2 is the Leica DC Vario-Summilux f1.7-2.8,  10.9-34mm  Asph zoom lens.   

Designed by Leica in collaboration with Panasonic, the lens first appeared on the LX100 in 2014.

This post summarises my preferences for setting up the DL8  for still photography.

In keeping with Leica tradition there is no mode dial and no beginner modes on the DL8.

In Part 1 of this rolling review  I reported some negative impressions of my early experience with the D-Lux 8. Fortunately none of these is a deal breaker.

This will be  a multi part review with material being added as I gain experience with the camera. Nobody lends me cameras to review. I am not beholden to any entity that makes or sells photographic equipment or services.

The Lumix FZ80D  is an entry level bridge camera which came onto the market in July 2024. It is a mild upgrade of the FZ80 introduced in 2017 which was a mild upgrade of the FZ70 of 2013.

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As I write this in  early August 2024 the Panasonic Lumix FZ300 is listed on B&H Photo in New York as “discontinued” and is either not listed or selling at run-out prices elsewhere.

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Canon announced the EOS R50 APSC crop sensor model in February 2023.

The R50 is a close match in dimensions and main specifications to the M50 model introduced in 2018.

Fixed lens compact and bridge type cameras were pushed almost to the point of extinction when smartphones captured the point-and-shoot market in the period 2010 to 2022.

But in 2024 there appears to have been a mini revival in fixed lens compacts.

In 2010 camera makers sold 120million units. 108 million of these were fixed lens models, a category which includes small compact cameras and bridge cameras which are generally larger and have a superzoom lens.

Some stretches of the rocky coastline of South East Tasmania are inaccessible by road. The only way to experience their grandeur is from the sea.

The Royal Easter Show is Sydney’s annual multi-mode extravaganza which brings the country to the city for 12 days of events, competitions and fun for young and old.

Last year I took the Canon EOS R5 with the little RF 50mm f1.8 nifty-fifty prime lens.

Those who make, market and sell camera gear are very motivated to encourage us consumers to buy the latest and greatest full frame bodies and lenses.

The reason for this is clear enough. There is more profit per unit on high price gear than budget equipment.

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