This year has seen a wealth of new cameras, lenses and accessories and some real innovation in technology.
Every year we hold the Amateur Photographer Awards, where we highlight the photographic equipment that excited and impressed us the most during the past year. This year the Amateur Photographer Awards will take place in February 2015, showcasing the best kit from 2014.
This year we’re pleased to announce the opening of the ‘Amateur Photographer Reader Product of the Year award’, giving all our readers the chance to nominate and vote on the piece of photography equipment they feel has stood out this year.
Ten products have been nominated by readers and we are now asking people to vote for their favourite from the shortlist in the voting poll.
Vote now!
The shortlisted products:
1. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
Canon’s wideangle zoom for APS-C SLRs offers a 16-29mm equivalent angle of view, optical image stabilisation, and a stepper motor for silent autofocus during movie shooting. Its excellent optics belie its budget price.
2. Fotospeed Panorama Paper
Fotospeed’s Panoramic paper allows you to make widescreen prints – 210 x 594mm, or approx 8” x 23” – using an A4 inkjet printer. There’s even a test pack to try out different paper finishes and create custom colour profiles for free.
3. Fujifilm X-T1
Undoubtedly one of the star cameras of the year, Fujifilm’s X-T1 is an APS-C compact system camera that uses a 16MP X-Trans CMOS sensor, and bristles with external controls. The icing on the cake is one of the best electronic viewfinders we’ve yet seen.
4. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6R LM OIS WR
A natural companion to the X-T1, this weathersealed optic offers a 27-200mm equivalent zoom range, along with fast autofocus and extremely effective image stabilisation. The optics are a cut above your average superzoom too.
5. Nikon D750
Nikon’s 24MP full frame SLR is a consummate all-rounder, combining excellent image quality with a class-leading autofocus system. A tilting rear screen and built-in Wi-Fi round off a comprehensive feature set.
6. Olympus m.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO
Compact system cameras are getting ever more ambitious, and this 80-300mm equivalent optic is one of a trio of fast zooms to show up in the last couple of months. Weathersealed, with fast autofocus and excellent in-the-field handling, this is the perfect companion to the OM-D E-M1.
7. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000
With its 25-400mm equivalent zoom range, 20MP 1” sensor, 2.36-M dot OLED viewfinder and 4K video recording, the FZ1000 offers a class-leading specification. Couple this with fast operation and excellent image quality, and the result is one of the best superzoom bridge cameras we’ve ever seen.
8. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
The LX100 combines a Four Thirds sensor with 12MP effective resolution, a super-fast 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 lens, and a built-in electronic viewfinder. With a excellent image quality and a comprehensive set of external analogue controls, it’s a hugely engaging camera to use.
9. Pentax 645Z
The 645Z uses a new 51.4 MP CMOS medium format sensor to deliver absolutely spectacular image quality. Extremely well-made and with handling similar to a conventional SLR, it’s the next step up from 36MP full frame cameras.
10. Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD
The first reasonably portable 600mm zoom for full frame SLRs incorporates a silent, fast ultrasonic type focus motor and optical image stabilisation. It’s a large and heavy lens, and with decent image quality given its extended range, a great choice for sports and wildlife shooting.
The final results will be announced at our annual awards event, and online on February 5, so bookmark this page, or follow our hashag #APawards2015 to keep up to date with news.
