Many great developments have been introduced by the photographic industry this year. Mirrorless technology continues to lighten our camera bags, and aerial imaging has taken flight with professional 4K DJI drones at an affordable consumer price. We have compiled a list of our favorite products engineered in 2015, take a look!
Top Selling Camera Bodies
Sony has been racing to build a competitive full frame mirrorless body and lens lineup to rival traditional DSLRs. In June 2015, the Sony A7R II hit the market - a 42MP, 4K recording, compact, mirrorless body. With no low-pass filter, light collection efficiency is dramatically improved. It also features built-in wifi, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, silent shooting, and an advanced autofocus system.
Nikon's D750
full frame professional body has been pictureline's #1 selling camera body of 2015! The Nikon D750 responds to the desire of active photo hobbyists to be ever more creative while providing professional photographers the ability to continue creating high-quality imagery. These user-friendly features make it difficult to pass up: 51 autofocus points (improved from the D810), i-TTL flash control, built-in wifi, 6.5 frames per second, dual SD card slots, and more!
Stabilized Handheld and Aerial Video
The OSMO's perfectly stabilized 4K video recording brings power to your palm!DJI has reinvented the meaning of stable video footage this year with handheld devices, as well as aerial equipment. Early this year, they released the Ronin-M – a compact DSLR stabilization gimbal. To alleviate even more weight in action scenarios, the one-handed OSMO was announced in October for smooth, handheld 4K footage. This product bridges the gap between handheld and aerial technology by operating with the same Zenmuse cameras as the Inspire drones, including the new Inspire 1 V2.0. Keep in mind, if you hope to pair it with the Zenmuse X5 micro four-thirds camera, an adapter is required. This adapter will be available soon.
The newly released DJI Inspire 1 - V2.0 (image from DJI inc.)New and Award-Winning Lenses
We have seen some phenomenal glass produced in 2015 by our most trusted photographic experts. Nikon released their 200-500mm in August. The maximum aperture is f/5.6 throughout the range of the lens. The lens is equipped with VR (vibration reduction) which "exhibits the highest level of camera shake compensation available with a NIKKOR lens" according to Nikon. This feature allows you to take shots of moving subjects with or without your tripod! Sony's 55mm f/1.8 lens is compact to complement their new mirrorless camera line. It is built with spectacular Zeiss® glass and a durable metal frame. The autofocus is ideally silent for undisturbed recording. Its aspherical elements reduce the lens' size, weight, and spherical aberration. Reviewers agree that this allows you to shoot wide open and maintain edge-to-edge sharpness. The Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR was recognized by Imaging Resource as the Best Prime Lens of 2015; it was deemed both "the new king of sharpness," and "unequivocally the best lens" by their lens critics.
Shot at f/2 with the new Sony 55mm f/1.8 (image from Sony)Top All-Purpose Equipment Cases
Th
e Everyday Messenger from Peak Design is a beautiful, intelligent and adaptable messenger bag designed around the workflows of photographers, creatives, travelers and commuters. It's more than a camera bag, it's your day-to-day essential carry workhorse, and it does things other camera bags can't. It may also be the most efficient tripod-carrying shoulder bag on the market. Slip your tripod leg through the sleeve in the main flap, fold the flap over, and place the silicone band (included) around your tripod legs. Carry a tripod will full access to the rest of your bag.
The protective soft shell structure of the Lowepro Pro Tactic 350 AW made it pictureline's top-selling backpack in 2015! It features secure back-entry, as well as camera access on each side so you can capture those unexpected moments in a flash! The larger Lowepro Pro Tactic 450 AW is assembled identically, and supports a laptop up to 15", as well as 1-2 camera bodies with up to 8 lenses. This model is long enough to carry your DSLR with a 70-200mm lens attached, reducing your setup time on the go!