Gear of the Month | February 2023

Canon, if you couldn’t tell, is extremely keen to get new users on-board with its mirrorless EOS R system. Hence the release of the Canon EOS R50, the most affordable RF-mount camera yet, and one of the easiest for new photographers to get to grips with. 

With a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, it bears a fair resemblance to the EOS R10, however, the EOS R50 is even lighter, weighing just 328g body-only and coming packed with a kit lens weighing just 130g. This makes it an easy camera to take basically everywhere with you (one of the fastest ways to improve anyone’s photography), and it still finds room for a raft of cutting-edge features. There’s Canon’s class-leading Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system, which locks onto subjects and has been trained to recognise specific subjects like humans, animals and vehicles. And the video spec hasn’t been forgotten, with native 4K UHD 30p video recording

The Canon EOS R8 packs in a lot of the same features as the EOS R50, including that sophisticated subject-recognition autofocus system. However, it also adds in a lot more, not least of which is the beautiful full-frame sensor with 24.2MP of resolution. This makes the EOS R8 a superb performer in low-light, aided by its ISO ceiling of 102,400, and its ability to focus in conditions as dim as -6.5EV (think half-moonlight).

The EOS R8 is a quintessential enthusiast’s camera, so it does a bit of everything and does it well. Need fast burst speeds for action subjects? Sure – the electronic shutter goes up to 40fps, and you can capture full-resolution RAWs at 30fps. Looking to shoot high-grade video? The EOS R8 can capture 4K 60p footage, and just as importantly, can shoot in the Canon Log3 flat colour profile for the ultimate flexibility in colour grading. It’s a superb do-it-all camera.

A simple, wide-to-standard 2x zoom for full-frame RF cameras, the Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens uses a high-quality optical design to deliver tack-sharp images. Weighing just 210g, it’s an easily transportable lens that works exceptionally well for walk-around photography. Also, with 4.5 stops of native stabilisation technology that can be upgraded to 7 stops when paired with an EOS R camera that boasts optical stabilisation, it gives you more latitude to use slow shutter speeds when the light gets low.

It’s great to see Canon filling out its catalogue of native RF lenses for the growing range of APS-C EOS R cameras. When mounted on such a camera, it’ll deliver an equivalent focal range of 88-336mm, which makes it useful for a host of subjects and puts wildlife photography in play. It’s got the same stabilisation capability as the RF 24-50mm, and can focus at a minimum distance of 73cm.

We’re moving into Nikon Z territory now, and first up we’ve got Nikon’s take on a classic lens type – the premium portrait prime. The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens comes at the short telephoto focal length favoured by portrait shooters, and provides a wide enough aperture to get a beautiful separation of subject and background. The S in the name denotes Nikon’s S-line – lenses with premium optics that are particularly adept at reproducing skin tones, patterns and textures.

This is the lightest, slimmest lens ever produced for the Nikon Z system. The Nikon Z 26mm f2.8 S Lens protrudes about 2.5cm out from the front of the camera, but don’t let this fool you – it’s a robust and fully featured lens with plenty to offer. We love that the 20cm minimum focus distance lets you get super-close to your subject, and the 79° angle of view provides a gorgeously wide perspective. Also, don’t forget that it’s an S-line lens, so you can be assured it’ll deliver premium optical quality.

OM SYSTEM, a.k.a. The Brand Formerly Known As Olympus, continues to expand its lens line-up apace. This month it brings us the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f3.5 Macro IS PRO lens, a short-telephoto lens that’s optimised for close-ups, but will also substitute well for other general-purpose photography. Like all OM SYSTEM gear, it’s comprehensively weatherproof, and delivers a certified IP53 waterproof rating when paired with a similarly specced OM SYSTEM camera. Remember the 2x crop factor on Micro Four Thirds cameras means it’ll function as a 180mm lens, giving you a good amount of telephoto reach. It’ll sub in nicely as a portrait lens if you don’t mind a closer crop than you’d get from an 85mm, and should also do pretty well as a wildlife lens.

It’s always a good month when we get a new G Master lens, and the Sony FE 50mm f1.4 G Master Lens has arrived to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness in a nifty-fifty format. Its 11-blade aperture diaphragm is set up to make the most of that big aperture, delivering beautiful bokeh and silky defocused areas in an image.

As is always the case with G Master lenses, the optical design is class-leading. The construction of 14 elements in 11 groups includes one Extra Low Dispersion Aspherical, two Extreme Aspherical, and one Aspherical element, ensuring you get that tack-sharp look the series is famous for. And it’s aided further by Sony's Nano AR Coating II for controlling ghosting and flare.

Get a little more distance from your flash with the Profoto Clic Magnum. This flash head reflector narrows the beam from your unit in order to throw it further. You can narrow the beam from 62°  to 37°, or even further to 20° using the included grid attachment. All this means that 1.8 f-stops of effective light output from your flash will reach further, with no extra power output required.

This portable softbox from Profoto is a great way to get a flattering light without having to tote around anything too heavy or bulky. The portability and quick-snap magnetic setup of the Profoto Clic Softbox Octa make it especially useful for weddings, allowing you to get quick candid shots that look fantastic. If you’re working at a slower pace, it also has a stand adapter that’ll let you position it where you want to.

This grid pairs with a Clic softbox, allowing you to reduce the light spread for a longer-range, more focused beam. The Profoto Clic Softgrid Octa is easy to attach – you simply pull it over your softbox – and it’s portable and durable enough to take everywhere with you.

This wasn’t all that was released in February – just a selection of our favourites. It’s looking like there will be a few more exciting releases in March, so make sure to follow us on Twitter and YouTube to stay up to date.