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Volume 15 • Issue 12 • March 2020

Volume 19 • Issue 04 • July 2023

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Photo Feature
Monsoon Woes
S P E C I A L Photographing Butterflies

To Wild
Printing & Beyond
Fine Art Printing
Tutorial

and Beyond
SMART
Lightroom orPHOTOGRAPHY
Photoshop?
AWARDS
Also Reviewed
2020
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Tutorials
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Saurav Sarkar Vaibhav Jaguste Wildlife Photography

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 Editor
Welcome
Hoshang S. Billimoria
tEchnical Editor
Rohinton Mehta
assistant Editor
Sujith Gopinath
PhotograPhy

I
Mahesh Reddy
t appears that the race by smartphone
hEad-dEsign & Production
makers to increase sensor size may have
Ravi Parmar
hit a temporary roadblock. According
asst art dirEctor to Digital chat Station, smartphone makers
Prathmesh Vichare were keen on enhancing sensor size to the
Production suPErvisor micro Four Thirds format. However, size
Dinesh Bhajnik constraints have put a temporary halt to
PublishEr these efforts. Smartphones makers are
Girish Mallya therefore focussing on making improvements
associatE PublishEr & to their one inch sensors until a further
gEnEral ManagEr (north & East) breakthrough is made.
Ellora Dasgupta (Mob No. +98710 48666)
meanwhile, cIPA has revealed that in January
gEnEral ManagEr (south)
2023, mirrorless cameras took 78.5% of the
Girish Shet market in units and 89.7% in value. china
Product ManagEr continues to be the largest buyer with 20.5%
Perseus Master of the market in units and 22% in value.
hEad officE - MuMbai
An interesting statistic from cIPA reveals that camera prices doubled in three years
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Next Gen Publishing does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited material sent without
adequate postal stamps for return postage. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in part or
full without the prior express written permission of the publisher. Printed by Girish Mallya, Next Gen
Publishing Pvt. Ltd., 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills compound, Senapati Bapat
Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400013. Published by Girish Mallya on behalf of Next Gen
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Mumbai - 400013. Copyright 2014 SMART PHOTOGRAPHY
All readers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries before sending money,
incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement appearing in
the publication. Smart Photography does not vouch for any claims made by advertisers for their
products and services. The editor, publisher, printer and employees of the publication shall not
be held liable for any consequence in the events of such claims not being honoured by the
advertisers. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in
Mumbai only. Editor – Hoshang S Billimoria

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 7

 Issue 220 / july 2023

26 Hues of Life
Biswajit Mukherjee’s images depict human life in its basic form

34
Monsoon Woes
Mumbai’s annual date with the
monsoons opens a myriad of
perennial problems. Here is a visual
depiction of the mess.
44
Photographing Butterflies
Prasad Navale shares some beautiful
images of butterflies from his portfolio
52
Product Photography
Shari Academy alumnus Vishesh Kanani
shares some images and details in this
edition of our series in association with the
photography institute

8 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

Contents
REVIEWS
NIKON
Z8
XIAOMI
13 PRO
REALME
11 PRO+
INDIA’S NUMBER 1 IMAGING MAGAZINE! `200

Volume 19 • Issue 04 • July 2023

ReguLaRs RevieWs Biswajit Mukherjee

Profile

10 Mailbag 70 Nikon Z8
Photo Feature
Monsoon Woes
Photographing Butterflies
Printing & Beyond
Fine Art Printing

Bouquets, brickbats...we have a place for A more affordable version of the flagship
Tutorial
Lightroom or Photoshop?
Also Reviewed

your valuable feedback Z9, this camera impresses all Google Pixel 7a

12 Newswatch
the oven
News from the industry, fresh from 74 Xiaomi 13 Pro
A phone with a Leica camera. Need we
say more?
Photographer: Biswajit Mukherjee

24 Picture of the Month 78 Realme 11 Pro+

REVIEWS
NIKKOR Z 800MM
F/6.3 VR S
SIGMA 16MM
F/1.4 DC DN | C
SONY FE
20�70MM F/4 G
INDIA’S NUMBER 1 IMAGING MAGAZINE! `150

Volume 19 • Issue 03 • June 2023

It’s time for rewards and here it is... This mid-priced stunner looks straight
out of Paris Fashion Show

PRiNtiNg aNd BeyoNd 80 google Pixel 7a

EISA
Maestro
National
Results

Time to welcome the micro Pixel, 2023

17 exploring the World of Fine

art Printing
FiRst LooK
Interview
Ujwal Puri

Vimal Parmar shares some insights about this Photo Feature

Kenya

82
highly specialised area in printing
Printing & Beyond

samsung t7 shield
Printing Photographs
Tutorial
Flash and Shutter Speed

A portable SSD for your on-field

Also Reviewed
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C
Lenovo Yoga 9i

LeaRNiNg escapades

62 Lightroom or Photoshop?
Ashok Kandimalla helps you decide QuiZ REVIEWS
NIKKOR Z INSTA360 INDIA’S NUMBER 1 IMAGING MAGAZINE! `150

83 test your Photo Knowledge

85 MM F/1.2 S FLOW

which image editing application you should use

Volume 19 • Issue 02 • May 2023

in various situations A few questions to test your knowledge

in photography Robert Capa
Exhibition

Profile
Jagjit Singh

70 BuyeRs guide
Special Feature
Fashion Photography
Printing & Beyond
Fun with Printing
Tutorial

84 Mirrorless Lens guide

Exposure Compensation

Here is a comprehensive list of

mirrorless camera lenses in the market

SubScribe
78 NoW
PAGE 06
80

74

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 9

Mailbag

REVIEWS
NIKKOR Z 800MM
F/6.3 VR S
SIGMA 16MM
F/1.4 DC DN | C
SONY FE
20�70MM F/4 G
INDIA’S NUMBER 1 IMAGING MAGAZINE! `150

Volume 19 • Issue 03 • June 2023

Write to us at:
EISA
Maestro
National
Results

Smart Photography,
Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Interview
Ujwal Puri
Photo Feature

608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing,

Kenya
Printing & Beyond
Printing Photographs
Tutorial

Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg,

Flash and Shutter Speed
Also Reviewed
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C
Lenovo Yoga 9i

Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400 013

E-mail: sp@nextgenpublishing.net

Dear Editor,
Spectacular June issue! The cover page shot was fantastic. I really want a
drone now. Absolutely loved the product photography section - the lighting
on the wine glass was spectacular and so were the spectacles. Very jealous of
the 800 mm Nikon lens...and read the mail bag, particularly about someone
wanting to go to Bhigwan and wondering if their photos would be accepted...
That prodded me in to asking you - my recent trip to Arunachal was
mind blowing. The breath-taking mountains and portraits of the very few
remaining tattooed ladies at Ziro and the lush green paddy fields along with
a few birds have filled my SD card. I was wondering if they would be worth
featuring in Smart Photography, especially as Arunachal is not really tourist
friendly, but oh it was so worth it...
Thank you,
Dr. Deepa Ravichandran, New Mumbai

Thank you for your appreciation.

Feel free to send us your images of Arunachal. We will take a call. Remember
to send the images in low resolution only.
Regards,
The Editorial Team, Smart Photography

Dear Editor,
I have very recently bought a mirrorless camera and a friend tells me that
lenses do catch fungus during monsoons. I am worried. What is the best
solution to avoid fungus on the lens?
Regards,
S. D. Sharma, Mumbai

Please invest in a dry-cabinet (humidity control cabinet). Set the Relative

Humidity to around 40-45%. You may check online for the cabinet.
Regards,
The Editorial Team, Smart Photography

10 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

InternatIonal news

Pro Macs Get

Apple Silicon
A pple has introduced the new Mac
Studio and Mac Pro. Mac Studio
features M2 Max and M2 Ultra, while
the Mac Pro features M2 Ultra.

The new Mac Studio features a 12-core

CPU, up to a 38-core GPU, and up to
96GB of unified memory. Mac Studio
with M2 Ultra is up to 3x faster than
the previous-generation Mac Studio. It
features a 24-core CPU, up to a 76-core
GPU, and up to 192GB of memory.
The new Mac Studio now has higher-
bandwidth HDMI, and supports up
to six Pro Display XDRs. The device
includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a
10Gb Ethernet port, an enhanced HDMI
port, and two USB-A ports at the back
along with two USB-C ports and an SD
card slot at the front.
The Mac Pro has Apple’s most
powerful 24-core CPU, an up to 76-
core GPU, and can be configured with
up to 192GB of memory. Both the Mac
Pro and Mac Studio with M2 Ultra can
play an unprecedented 22 streams of
8K ProRes video.
Mac Pro features seven PCle expansion
slots, with six open expansion slots
that support gen 4. The Mac Pro offers
eight built-in Thunderbolt 4 ports —
six on the back and two on the top. It
supports up to six Pro Display XDRs,
along with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth
5.3. Additionally, the Mac Pro includes
three USB-A ports, two higher-
bandwidth HDMI ports, two 10Gb
Ethernet ports, and
a headphone jack
that enables the use
of high-impedance
headphones.
Mac Studio price
starts at INR
2,09,900. Available
in both tower and
rack-mounted
enclosures,
Mac Pro starts at
INR 7,29,900.
Broncolor Unveils Pro
Lighting Equipment
S wiss lighting innovator Broncolor
has announced the launch of the
next generation of professional lighting
equipment. The new Satos power pack
series offers unprecedented flexibility
in terms of power and operation.
Combined with the latest lamp, Pulso L,
it provides the highest level of comfort
and convenience to professionals in the
image industry.
The Satos features an innovative dual-
power concept. Its power slots can be
equipped with power supplies, high-
performance batteries or a combination,
depending on the application. This not
only allows the same system to be used
in the studio and on-location but also
significantly improves performance,
especially in regions with low mains
voltages (e.g., 110 V) or fragile power
grids. The best energy composition
for each shot can be set with a flick of
the wrist. Settings can be made on an
industrial-grade 5.7-inch multi-touch
screen via a rotary/push encoder, by
classic buttons or an app interface,
or even through a Python API. Every
parameter can be adjusted to the
smallest detail with the help of an
intuitive user interface. The patented
broncolor technology allows the fastest
flash times together with the highest
consistency in colour temperature
over the entire control range of up to
12 f-stops. Satos offers up to full 3200
joules of flash energy. This enormous
power can be distributed between
one to three channels completely
independent of each other, and the
colour temperature, delay or a sequence
function can be set individually for
each channel. Previously, to trigger
alternating flashes, multiple power
packs were necessary. However, with
Satos, the alternating function can be
accomplished using the three channels
of a single power pack, eliminating the
need for multiple power packs.
The Pulso L lamp is the perfect sparring
partner for Satos and enables the highest
level of operating convenience through
bidirectional communication between
the lamp and power pack. All regular
settings can be made on the lamp and
are synchronised with the system in
real time. The Pulso L modelling and
continuous light comes from a calibrated
array of bi-coloured LEDs with a variable
green/magenta mix and an adjustable
colour temperature from 2800 K to
6800 K in continuous light mode. For the
finest adjustment within the light shaper,
the position of the flash tube can be
modified by a rotary wheel.

12 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

CEWE Photo Award 2023
T he CEWE Photo Award 2023 has
received more than half a million
photos from photography enthusiasts
in 147 countries. Most of the photos
come from Europe, but photos in the
ten possible categories were also
submitted from Papa New Guinea, Chile
or Nepal under the motto “Our World
is beautiful”. The category “Nature”
was the most popular with 104,753
uploaded motifs. CEWE donates 10
cents per uploaded photo to the SOS
Children’s Villages worldwide, and it
totals 50,961 euros now.

“Today is a day of joy for CEWE,

because we have once again succeeded
in declaring the CEWE Photo Award,
which we created, the world’s largest
photo competition,” said Thomas Mehls,
CEWE Board Member. “People around
the world are turning to photography
with unabated enthusiasm, and CEWE obligation to society and has been a
sees it as its heartfelt duty to continue close partner of SOS Children’s Villages
to strongly promote the topic of photo worldwide for ten years. This year’s
culture at all levels. In addition, we are donations from the CEWE Photo Award
particularly pleased to actively support will benefit an educational project of the
the SOS Children’s Villages worldwide children’s relief organisation in Somalia.
with our high donation sum of over
50,000 euros.” As a successful company, The awards will be declared on July
CEWE sees itself as having a particular 12, 2023.

Apple Unveils New Macbook Air

A pple has introduced the 15-inch
MacBook Air, featuring an expansive
15.3-inch Liquid Retina display along
with the incredible performance of M2.
With up to 18 hours of battery life and a
silent, fanless design, the new MacBook
Air brings power and portability. With
an all-new six-speaker sound system, the
15-inch MacBook Air delivers immersive
Spatial Audio, along with a 1080p
FaceTime HD camera, MagSafe charging,
and the power and ease of macOS
Ventura for an unrivalled experience.
The new MacBook Air features a
spacious, high-resolution 15.3-inch
Liquid Retina display, so users can see
even more content. With up to 500 nits
of brightness and support for 1 billion
colours, the Liquid Retina display makes
content look rich and vibrant, and text
razor sharp.
The new MacBook Air is 11.5mm thick,
making it the world’s thinnest 15-inch
laptop according to Apple. It weighs just
3.3 pounds. MacBook Air also features
MagSafe charging, two Thunderbolt
ports and up to a 6K external display,
along with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
It comes in four finishes — midnight,
starlight, space grey, and silver. With
the M2 chip, the 15-inch MacBook
Air is up to 12x faster than the fastest
Intel-based MacBook Air. The 15-inch
MacBook Air features an 8-core CPU
with four performance cores and four
efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU, and a
16-core Neural Engine. M2 also delivers
100GB/s of memory bandwidth and
supports up to 24GB of fast unified
memory. It also sports a 1080p
FaceTime HD camera, a three-mic array,
and a new six-speaker sound system
with two tweeters and two sets of force-
cancelling woofers. The price
of the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2
starts at INR 1,34,900 and INR 1,24,900
for education.

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 13

natIonal news
Lenovo’s Legion
Slim for Creators
L enovo has launched the latest
generation of its Legion Slim
laptops, empowering players to achieve
their gaming goals while also chasing
their creative pursuits. The lineup
includes the Legion Slim 7i and 7, and
Legion Slim 5i and 5 which are powered
with the Intel 13th Gen and AMD Ryzen
7000 series mobile processors and the
latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series
Laptop GPUs.
The Legion Slim series is designed to
answer the demands of the gamer who
needs a laptop that can run AAA titles
with ease while still being agile enough
to handle other tasks such as streaming,
content creation, or work computing.
The latter makes the series ideal for the
creators’ community as well. The Legion
Slim series also has certain services
designed to enhance PC performance,
including the Legion Ultimate Support.
Available with Windows 11, these
AI-tuned gaming laptops offer users
an option of up to 13th Gen Intel Core
i9-13900H processors or up to an AMD
Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, both with
up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU,
that bring worlds both created and
explored to crisp, vibrant life on their
Lenovo PureSight gaming display. This
Infinitesimal to Infinity
T ao Art Gallery, in collaboration with
RAD Art Media, has organised a
unique exhibition titled ‘Infinitesimal
to Infinity: Stone Stories by Shrinivas
Gadre’. The core behind Gadre’s
artistic practice is the concept of Stone
Photography, which showcases a
world contained within a stone while
reflecting the majestic visuals of the
entire universe.
Utilising the technical knowledge and
skills acquired over his journey as
an industrialist, Gadre self-designed
a uniquely crafted artisanal tool - an
14 | Smart Photography | July 2023
display showcases mind-blowing
visuals and hard-hitting set
pieces, elevating the
gaming and
content creation
experience. This
is fitting for creators
who require high resolutions and
exceptional colour gamut for
their workflow.
The Legion Slim series best serves
the requirements of creators on the
move. With an up-to-1080p webcam
with e-shutter and SD card reader, it is
easy to capture and share memories.
Creators who frequently work with
large files like photos and videos will
find the expanded storage capacity
particularly useful. Additionally,
this allows the easy transfer of files
between their laptop and other devices,
such as cameras or smartphones
which is quite convenient to better
manage data.
Equipped with Lenovo AI Engine+
which is powered by the Lenovo LA1
AI chips, these smart and intuitive
devices deliver supercharged gaming
performance. The Legion Slim 5/5i
and 7/7i use Lenovo Legion ColdFront
5.0 thermals, eliminating chances of
incredible yet rare combination
of a microscope and a camera. His
dedication towards collecting and
learning about stones has enriched his
device overheating. These laptops offer
up to 32GB of 5600MHz DDR5 RAM,
creating vibrant worlds on the 16-inch
IPS 500nits anti-glare display and 100%
DCI-P3 panel. The Legion Slim 5/5i
and Slim 7/7i also feature a full-sized
Lenovo Legion TrueStrike keyboard
designed for smooth typing over long
sessions, and it’s customizable with
replaceable WASD keycaps as well as
Legion Spectrum 4-zone RGB lighting
that immerses the user even further
into action.
Lenovo continues to offer the ‘Custom
to Order’ (CTO) option with the new
Legion Slim series laptops, which
permits customers to tailor the features
as per their requirements and build
up the base model setup to a dynamic
machine. The Legion Slim series laptops
will be available from a starting price of
INR 1,61,990.
expertise in finding the best frames by
amalgamating colours, textures, and
abstractions, invoking deeper layers of
the Soul, Heart, and Mind. Stone Stories
open a window to the natural world
for audiences, serving as a gateway to
unfiltered natural photography. This
surreal experience resembles art on
canvas and sparks wonder in viewers
as they contemplate how abstract art is
naturally formed within these stones,
drawing a parallel with fine art created
by humans. The exhibition will be open
daily till Saturday, the 15th of July, 2023,
from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm.
www.smartphotography.in
Sigma Debuts New 14mm Lens
S igma has announced their fastest
ultra-wide-angle lens, the 14mm f/1.4
DG DN Art. This lens is the world’s widest
f/1.4 single focal length lens according to
Sigma. The lens has been designed with
focus on shooting starscapes. It achieves
high optical performance with thorough
correction of sagittal coma flare,
specialised functions to support starry
landscape photography, and high-speed
AF with HLA (High-response Linear
Actuator) linear motor.
The 14mm f/1.4 Art lens is constructed
with 19 elements in 15 groups, including
one SLD glass element, three FLD glass
elements, and four aspherical lens
elements. This allows for advanced
aberration correction and a high degree
of precision in the lens construction.
In particular, sagittal coma flare, which
distorts the shape of stars, has been
carefully corrected, and even at the
widest aperture, the lens delivers
high image reproducibility right to the
www.smartphotography.in
periphery of the image. Ghosting and
flare are also thoroughly addressed
through both optical design and coatings.
Optimised for starscapes, which require
extremely high performance, this lens
delivers images that exceed expectations
in any scene, including landscapes,
architecture snapshots, portraits, and
indoor photography.
The 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art lens includes
a detachable tripod mount compatible
with Arca-Swiss type, a switch to lock
the manual focus at a desired position,
and lens heater retainers to prevent the
lens heater from protruding into the
front of the lens and causing vignetting.
The lens also includes a rear filter holder
and a cover-type front cap with locking
mechanism. It also has a newly developed
filter slot that can hold two rear filters
depending on the application. The body
is dust and splash resistant, and the
front surface of the lens is coated with a
water- and stain-repellent coating. The
HLA (High-response Linear Actuator)
enables high-speed, quiet, and highly
accurate autofocusing.
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 15
natIonal news
Nikon’s Super-
Telephoto Lens
for Z Mount
N ikon India has introduced their
latest super-telephoto zoom lens
in the full-frame/FX-format line-
up. Encased in a compact body, the
Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is
designed to capture impressive stills
and high-quality videos.
The Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3
VR is designed for wildlife, sports
action and planes in the distance
with its wide focal length range
of 180mm to 600mm. Users can
shift from 180mm to 600mm with
a 70-degree turn of the zoom ring.
The focal length can be extended
to 840mm and 1200mm with 1.4x
or 2.0x teleconverter, respectively.
With a minimum focus distance of
1.3m (at the wide-angle position)
and a maximum reproduction ratio
of 0.25x (at the telephoto end), the
lens provides more opportunities to
capture subjects up close.
The Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-
6.3 VR is portable and weighs
approximately 1955g, helping to
reduce fatigue during transportation
and shooting – making it an
ideal companion during wildlife
expeditions or sports events. Enjoy
the creative freedom to capture
sharp and clear stills and videos
with a VR effect of up to 5.5 stops.
Take the stress out of capturing fast-
moving subjects like flying
birds with Auto subject detection
and 3D tracking when you pair the
lens with the Z 9 or the Z 8. With
the VR Sport mode, users can enjoy
stable EVF viewing when panning
and tracking fast-moving subjects,
enabling them to track subjects
with a clear sight of vision when
doing continuous burst high-speed
shooting. The lens is dust-and-drip
resistant.
The Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-
6.3 VR would be available at Rs.
169,995.00 by August 2023.
16 | Smart Photography | July 2023
Nikon India Unveils
Z 70-180mm f/2.8
N ikon India has introduced the
Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8. Housed
in a lightweight body, the Nikkor Z 70-
180mm f/2.8 is the latest telephoto zoom
lens optimised to capture both stills and
video in a compact design.
Capture sharp images of moving subjects
in low-light situations due to the Nikkor
Z 70-180mm f/2.8’s ability to take in a
large volume of light, simply by setting
a faster shutter speed with minimal
increase of ISO sensitivity. If you need to
go even further, attach a teleconverter
to extend the focal length up to 252mm
with TC-1.4x and 360mm with TC-2.0x,
respectively. Combined with the large
bokeh and telephoto compression effect,
users can capture portraits that stand
out, even in situations where the subject
is at a distance, with the bright f/2.8
maximum aperture.
Shoot diverse scenes, from majestic
landscapes to detailed portraits and
adorable pets, with the Nikkor Z 70-
180mm f/2.8 broad focal length of
70-180mm. With the lens, shooting
portraits (at the 180mm end) makes all
the difference, as its maximum aperture
isolates the subject with a shallow depth
of field and soft bokeh. Users who love
capturing landscape photos (at the
70mm end) will appreciate the ability
to stop down the lens’ aperture, which
creates high-resolution images with
clear details.
Small in size yet big on performance,
the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8 weighs
approximately 795g with a total length
of approximately 151mm, making it an
ideal everyday companion during travels
and for capturing daily snapshots. The
lens features a compact design that lends
itself to easy transportation and helps
to reduce fatigue during longer shoots,
despite being a fast telephoto zoom lens.
Ideal for both indoor and outdoor
photography, the lens features a zoom
lock switch that allows easy operation
with one’s left hand while holding the
lens. Furthermore, its dust-and-drip
resistant design helps to prevent dust
and liquid from entering the lens.
Users who love capturing the finer
things in life, such as close-ups of pets
and flowers, will appreciate the Nikkor
Z 70-180mm f/2.8 AF for close-up
photography at minimum focus distance
of just 0.27m (at the maximum wide-
angle position). The finer AF drive
enables focusing at the minimum focus
distance. With the maximum aperture,
users can achieve a unique soft depiction.
Users can get closer and comfortably
photograph their subjects with the lens’
maximum reproduction ratio of 0.48x.
And with the TC-2.0x teleconverter,
the maximum reproduction ratio is
0.96x – achieving images that are close
to life-size reproduction. The Nikkor Z
70-180mm f/2.8 joins the Nikkor Z 17-
28mm f/2.8 and the Nikkor Z 28-75mm
f/2.8 in a series of zoom lenses that
provide f/2.8 maximum aperture options
to photographers looking to expand
their imaging expression. The product
would be available at Rs. 119,995.00
from mid of July.
www.smartphotography.in
 printing
and beyond

Vimal Parmar
Digital print evangelist

Kedar Bhide harminder

Kumar (harry)
sreeKumar KB ashoK K Poddar
printing and beyond
Exploring the World of Fine Art Printing
A Gateway to Lasting Masterpieces
Dear Readers,
In this and the upcoming issues, let us explore the
captivating world of fine art printing. These are
museum-grade prints on archival media with a
lifespan of over a century. Museum-grade prints
cannot be created on home printers, hence services of
professional print studios will have to be utilised.
Archival prints play a significant role in the realm of
fine art printing. These prints are meticulously crafted
on high-end inkjet printers using pigment-based
inks. The papers used are of museum grade, typically
made of 100% cotton or alpha-cellulose base. They
adhere to the highest standards of resistance to
ageing, meeting the requirements set by ISO standard
9706. Certain archival papers even go to the extent
of excluding optical brighteners (OBA). These
papers come in a range of surface textures, from
luxuriously smooth to delightfully textured, catering
to the preferences of photographers and artists.
Photographers often favour the smooth surface, while
artists find the textured surface a perfect complement
to their brush strokes.
Archival prints are sought after by photographers and
artists, both traditional and digital, who aim to create
exceptional and long-lasting prints. These prints offer
unparalleled quality, whether for exhibitions, art
reproductions, wall décor, or portfolio folders.
18 | smart Photography | July 2023
Vimal Parmar
An independent marketing
consultant and digital print
evangelist with over 36
years of experience in the
imaging industry.
If you have not experienced the creation of an archival
print, I suggest you select two or three of your most
cherished images and visit an archival printer.
Request a few prints to be created in at least A3 size
(297 x 420 mm), using archival paper or canvas. Once
you display them on your wall, prepare to bask in the
praise and admiration they evoke.
For those new to the subject, it would be beneficial to
consult a print studio before organising your images
and working on them. Their wealth of knowledge
enables them to provide guidance on image selection,
file preparation, substrate choices, and framing
options, ultimately helping you achieve the finest
result possible.
I have compiled a list of select fine art printers who
specialise in catering to the needs of photographers
and artists. These dedicated print studios offer
museum-grade fine art printing services and quality
framing. I will share their details in the current and
upcoming issues of this magazine. Let us now focus on
their insights and expertise.
Happy Reading!
Vimal Parmar
@vimalparmar
www.smartphotography.in
Elevating Artistic Vision through Custom Fine Art Printing
I n 2017, I founded Nature Works, a
custom fine art studio, with a clear
mission to prioritise the artist’s vision
in the printing process. As a
photographer myself, I recognised
the limitations of existing printers in
capturing the true essence of an image.
This realisation inspired me to launch a
Custom Print Studio.
Nature Works offers a comprehensive
range of services tailored to the needs of
artists and photographers. Our expertise
lies in custom museum-grade printing,
using archival media and employing
superior mounting and framing
techniques. Recently, we expanded our
offerings to include fine art metal prints.
To achieve exceptional results, we have
invested in equipment from trusted
brands like Epson and HP. Additionally,
we rely on accessories such as Eizo, EFI
Fiery, and Apple to enhance our printing
capabilities. To ensure the best possible
outcome, we collaborate with renowned
brands including Hahnemühle,
www.smartphotography.in
Kedar Bhide
Nature Works, Thane, Maharashtra
@natureworksindia
Website: www.natureworksindia.com
Felix Schoeller, Canson, Permajet, and
TechNova, for archival papers, canvases,
and Chromaluxe for metal prints.
As a passionate fine art printer, my goal
is to encourage photographers and
artists to embark on the transformative
journey of printing their creations. I
firmly believe that prints should be
the ultimate destination of a good
image. I also emphasise the enhanced
commercial value of selling prints when
printed on archival media.
Our clientele consists of artists,
including photographers from
various genres, painters, illustrators,
digital and AI artists, architects,
interior designers, art galleries, and
online platforms. For marketing, we
primarily rely on client referrals and
social media. The positive Google
reviews we have received have also
played a significant role in establishing
Nature Works as the go-to place for
archival prints.
We also offer comprehensive exhibition
support, including curating, printing,
framing, and transportation services.
We also provide worldwide drop-ship
services for artists selling their work
online. Through our extensive network
of vendors, we also help artists with
various branding collaterals.
Fine art printing offers the advantage
of archival preservation, ensuring
artwork’s longevity for future
generations. Unlike digital or non-
archival prints, fine art prints guarantee
durability. I encourage photographers
and artists to print their best creations.
Whether it is for preservation,
exhibition, or selling, printing adds value
and significance to their artistic journey.
With the rise of digital photography,
the value of printed photographs as
tangible objects has increased and
at Nature Works, we take pride in
employing the finest resources available
to address this need.
July 2023 | smart Photography | 19
printing and beyond
Uplifting Artistic Vision through Bespoke Fine Art Printing
SreeKumar KB
Honeycomb Creative Support, Bengaluru and Mumbai
@photostopofficial
Website: www.photostop.in and wwww.honeycombindia.net
P hotostop, the Fine-Art-Printing division of Honeycomb
Creative Support, is a leading provider of printing
services in Bengaluru and Mumbai. We specialise in printing
on Archival papers and acid-free Canvases, catering to the
exclusive world of fine art. With more than a decade of
experience, we have established a strong reputation through
our collaborations with artists and photographers.
In addition to fine art printing, we also offer services that
include Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, Video Production,
and Retainership. To ensure exceptional quality, we utilize
cutting-edge printers such as the Epson SureColor P9000
and Epson SureColor P20000. Our selection of substrates
includes Museum grade canvases and archival papers from
renowned brands like Hahnemühle, Felix Schoeller, Ilford,
TechNova and Epson.
Additionally, we offer framing and drop shipping services
across India and overseas, ensuring a comprehensive
solution for our customers. Furthermore, we provide
supplementary services like digital marketing, graphic
design, and video production.
Our services have attracted photographers and artists who
depend on us as their one-stop printing hub. This trust
is evident through our partnerships with renowned art
and photography exhibitions, including having played a
20 | smart Photography | July 2023
prominent role in exhibitions held at prestigious
venues like Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bengaluru,
Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, and State Gallery of Fine Art
in Hyderabad.
Our clientele is diverse, ranging from artists, photographers,
and interior designers, to architects. We employ various
social media platforms to promote our services, alongside
participating in exhibitions and collaborating with galleries.
The primary advantage of fine art printing for photographers
and artists is the precise reproduction of colours in their
creations. These prints, preserved as art pieces, maintain
their vibrancy for over a century without fading. For those
hesitant to invest in printing their work, we emphasise the
importance of accurate colours combined with archival
media. This aspect is crucial for exhibition display, selling
printed images, and submitting images for judging in salons.
In the era of digital photography, printed photographs
possess a distinct and timeless allure as physical
objects. Only a printed image can genuinely showcase
the beauty and intricacies of artwork or photographs,
offering a tangible representation of the artist’s vision.
The trend toward digitalisation has heightened the value
of printed photographs, enhancing their sentimental and
monetary worth.
www.smartphotography.in
 Enriching Artistic Vision to New Heights
harminder Kumar (harry)
Siddharth Photographix, New Delhi
@Siddharthphotographix
Website: www.siddharthphotographix.com

I n 1996, I founded
my firm with a
primary focus on
be overstated.
A satisfied
photographer, artist
processing and or client often leads
developing analogue to further referrals.
films. As time passed,
we expanded into The most significant
digital printing, and advantage of fine art
today, we are one printing, compared
of the finest print to solely storing
service providers, images digitally
equipped with state- or printing them
of-the-art gear. on non-archival
substrates, lies
At Siddharth in long-term
Photographix, we preservation.
provide a wide Archival prints
array of services, can endure for
making us a one-stop 100 years without
shop for all image compromising
processing and fine quality, while non-
art printing needs. archival alternatives
Our offerings include cannot provide the
giclee printing, drum same level
scanning, flatbed of longevity.
scanning, film
processing, colour For hesitant
correction, image photographers and
editing, high-quality artists, I urge them to
archival printing, consider the long-
museum-grade term advantages
mounting of printing their
and framing. artists, painters, photobook work. Archival
makers, and art enthusiasts. prints are crucial for creating a
To ensure the utmost quality, Additionally, we collaborate with lasting impact and preserving
we use equipment from brands research institutes seeking to the integrity of their creations.
such as Epson for printers and preserve their files in printed In fact, using archival substrates
Hasselblad for scanners. When it archival form, as well as corporate is almost mandatory for selling
comes to substrates, we source clients with specific wall décor photographs or art reproductions.
the finest materials available. requirements. In addition to fine Digital artists, in particular, will
Brands like Hahnemühle, Felix art prints, we also specialise in fully appreciate the splendour of
Schoeller, Canson, and Epson. restoring old photographs. their creations when they witness
them in print.
We cater to artists across various In terms of marketing, we
categories, offering options that leverage Instagram and Google Undoubtedly, the rise of digital
align with their preferences Ads. However, the significant photography has made printed
and budgets. Our clientele role played by word-of-mouth photographs even more special
encompasses photographers, recommendations cannot and valuable.

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | smart Photography | 21

printing and beyond
Enriching Creative Expression
with Customised Fine Art Prints
aShoK K Poddar
Rajlaxmi Marketing, Kolkata
Email: ashok@rajlaxmi.org
R ajlaxmi Marketing, based in Kolkata, is a leading
provider of fine art print services in the Eastern
region. With 13 years of experience, we cater to diverse
printing needs. Our services include fine art printing,
Latex printing, offset printing, and corporate gifting.
To ensure the highest quality, we have state-of-the-art
printers like the EPSON 9900 and HP Latex. We also
use premium printing substrates from Felix Schoeller,
Canson, TechNova, LG, 3M, and Avery for a variety of
print requirements.
Our clientele consists of artists, art students,
photographers, art galleries, corporates, hotels, and
art enthusiasts.
Our main goal is to educate photographers and artists
about the importance of using archival media for
printing their creations. We help artists market their
work better and connect with discerning audiences by
emphasising the benefits of long-lasting, high-quality
substrates. As the demand for fine art prints and
reproductions increases, seizing this opportunity is
crucial for every artist and photographer.
Our reputation is built on recommendations from
satisfied customers who have experienced our
services firsthand. We proactively reach out to
potential buyers, personally showcasing our samples.
22 | smart Photography | July 2023
We also create printed sample kits to raise awareness
about our print quality and media types. Furthermore,
we also promote our fine art services to our existing
corporate customers.
In addition to fine art prints for wall décor, we provide
Wall Graphics with installation services, Indoor Prints,
signage, general commercial printing, customised
New Year diaries, calendars, and Corporate Gifting
solutions. While non-archival printing serves specific
applications, it is essential to print images on archival
media when selling or exhibiting them. Digital storage
cannot be relied upon for long-term preservation. Even
for personal use, printing cherished images is a must.
To photographers and artists hesitant about investing
in printing their work, I suggest trying it at least once.
Seeing the difference and experiencing the process
firsthand is the only way to truly understand the value
of print. Printing opens up a vast market for artists and
photographers to sell their work in various print sizes
and price points.
A photograph stored in a folder is easily forgotten and
seldom revisited. Yet, in print or a photobook, accessing
those images becomes effortless. Prints are more
significant in today’s digital age. Personally, I regularly
print my family pictures because of the emotional bond
that physical prints offer. |SP
www.smartphotography.in
Photograph by

Subhendu
Debnath
We are sure that all of you have
a few pictures that you think are
prize worthy. It happens very
often that you don’t know where
to send the image that could
put a feather in your cap. If you
have such images (we’re sure you
have many!), send us ONE such
horizontal image. If it qualifies, we
shall publish it as a double-spread.
a. You have to guarantee that the
picture was shot by you
b. If there are people in the picture
who can be identified, we’ll need
a model release
c. The picture should not have
been printed elsewhere
(magazine, newspaper, or
offered to any publication)
d. Mark the entry as “Picture of
the Month” and rename the file
using your name
e. You may send images via e-mail
to: sphoto.india@gmail.com

A note to our readers

1. The picture has to be horizontal.
2. Kindly ensure that the shorter
side measures at least 10 inches
at 300 ppi (approximately 3000
pixels).
3. Low resolution images will not
be accepted.
4. We do not check images on
online galleries.
5. Kindly ensure complete
contact/address details are
provided.
6. Please make sure that your
picture does not have your
name/logo on it.
 Carefree

showcase

Hues of Life
Biswajit
Mukherjee
was a freelance
journalist and
a copywriter in
an advertising
agency before
joining Steel
Authority Biswajit
of India as a
Public Relations
Mukherjee
Manager. He quit the job on his own
and became a full time volunteer in the
spiritual and charitable organization,
YSS of India.

Though he was interested in still

photography in his earlier years, it was
only in 2018 that he could become
a serious amateur. His passion for
photography has propelled him to
attempt and capture those fleeting
moments of people engaged in various
walks of life which go to create enduring
images in the human timescape. An
avid nature and wildlife photographer,
Biswajit uses the Nikon gear and has
recently switched over to the Nikon Z6ii.

Village boys

26 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 A day in a Purulia village

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 27

showcase

Life goes on

28 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Hair

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 29

showcase

30 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 The haunted house

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 31

showcase

Penance

Marriage

32 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

PHOTO FEATURE

Monsoon
Woes!
By the time you get your hands on this issue of Smart Photography, the rainy season would have
started. Monsoons offer great photo opportunities to everyone. In this photo feature, we showcase
the works of photojournalists from Mumbai. Irrespective of the weather, these stalwarts brave all
sorts of difficulties to bring to us the plight of Mumbaikars during the rains.

These photos, and more, will be the highlights at an exhibition at the newly renovated Dilip
Piramal Art Gallery at the National Center of Performing Arts, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The show
will be on from the 3rd – 16th July 2023. The fully air-conditioned art gallery is now 36 years old.

Pot-holes Victim, Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri (E)

Date: 17th June 2001 Photographer: Ashish Rane (Mid-day)

34 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 During a cyclone, due to extremely strong wind, the ship ‘Pavit’ was lifted out of the Arabian Sea and landed on the coast near the Godrej bungalow at Juhu.
Date: 2nd August 2011 Photographer: Ashish Rane (Mid-day)

Helping Hands. Thane subway.

Date: August 1988 Photographer: Mukesh Parpiani (Formerly with Mid-Day)

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 35

PHOTO FEATURE

Traffic Jam at Mahim Causeway near river Mithi

Date: 1st June 2006 Photographer: Mukesh Parpiani (Formerly with Mid-Day)

Girls enjoying a game of football at Dahisar

Date: 27th July 2019 Photographer: Hanif Tadvi (Freelancer)

36 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 High tide at Worli Seaface
Date: 24th July 2009 Photographer: Ashish Rane (Mid-day)

Expensive cars also get stuck! Below Vakola Flyover, Santacruz

Date: 7th June 2017 Photographer: Nimesh Dave (Mid-Day)

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 37

PHOTO FEATURE

Firemen extracting a person

from a house collapse at Girgaon
after heavy rains
Date: August 1990
Photographer:
Vivek Bendre (Indian Express)

Flooding at Vakola, Santacruz

Date: 26th July 2005 Photographer: (Late) Mahindra Parikh (Hindustan Times)

38 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Stranded. CSMT Rly. Stn.
Date: 26 July 2005 Photographer: Dr. Nitin Sonawane (The Economic Times)

Helping a lady. Lower Parel.

Date: 26 July 2005 Photographer: (Late) Prashant Nadkar (The Indian Express)

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 39

PHOTO FEATURE

Children enjoying in rains, Five Gardens, Dadar (E)

Date: 11th June 2021 Photographer: Pradeep Dhivar (Mid-Day)

Where there is a wheel, there is a way! JVPD Scheme

Date: June 2017 Photographer: Moulik Kotak (Chitralekha Magazine)

40 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Father’s love. W. E. Highway, Kandivali
Date: N. A. Photographer: Swapnil Agaskar (Freelancer)

A scene at Wadala.
Date: 4th September 2019 Photographer: Rajesh Jadhav (The Asian Age)

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 41

PHOTO FEATURE

Wading through water near Hind Mata, Parel

Date: 4th August 2020 Photographer: Sailesh Mule (Foto Corp)

Bogged down after heavy rains. Domestic Airport

Date: 2nd July 2019 Photographer: Sanjay Hadkar (The Times of India)

42 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

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PHOTO FEATURE
PhotograPhing
Grass Jewel
Butterflies
Not so many years ago
Prasad was featured here in
our magazine for his efforts
with Bird Photography. Years
passed, Covid happened,
and like it changed life of the
many, Prasad too had a mega
shift in his subject of passion. Prasad Navale
Due to prolonged travel restrictions, going outside/
far in search of birds was not an option, so he started
searching for the wildlife in immediate vicinity. And
these dazzling beauties in the form of butterflies were
available so close, in his own house garden.
With inputs and inspiration from Dr. Milind Bhakare,
Prasad developed his Pune house garden by choosing
select few nectering and host plants to attract more
butterflies. He continued his new interest strongly
ahead exploring across geographies and currently
recording close to 180 (and counting) butterfly
species on citizen science portal inaturalist.
44 | Smart Photography | July 2023
M • The subject’s habitat and
acro’ photography ideally means
showcasing something larger
than its original size. This calls
for the lens to be very close to the subject
– merely a few Centimeters away. Getting
that close has its own problems. Every
living critter – be it bugs, butterflies,
scorpions, or similar subjects – have
what is known as the ‘fear circle’. As
soon as you enter the fear circle, it will
flee/fly away. Some, like the scorpion or
a tarantula may even attack you. Hence
the first requirement is to approach your
subject without scarring it.
In this short write-up are some general
tips on photographing butterflies. To be
a successful photographer in this genre,
one needs to understand:
behavior. Some elusive butterflies
like the ‘Tinsel’ and the ‘Red Helen’
are seen around lush green forested
patches only, while some un-common
butterflies like the ‘Joker’ are found
in dry deciduous areas. Interestingly,
the very uncommon ‘Anomalous
Nawab’ and the ‘Black Rajah’ are seen
in urban areas.
•
The subject’s preferred activity
time. During the day when the sun is
shining and the temperature rises,
the beautiful ‘Silver-lines’ show up.
Elusive butterflies like the ‘Orange
Awlet’ are seen during dark hours of
dawn or dusk.
• The conditions under which they
will let us approach them. The State
www.smartphotography.in
 Transparent
Six Lineblue

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 45

PHOTO FEATURE

Zebra Blue

butterfly of Maharashtra, the ‘Blue

Mormon’ can be seen while collecting
nectar (nectaring) or while sapping
on alkaloids from moist soil (known
as ‘mud puddling’). But getting them
to pose steadily for a good close-up
photograph is generally possible
during puddling. The same is true for
the highly-difficult-to-capture ‘Narrow
Banded Blue-bottle’. On the other
hand, the large-sized ‘Redspot Duke’,
and ‘Blue Oakleaf’ give better photo-
opportunities when busy sapping
juices from rotten fruits!

Years of field experience and studying

good field guides can season you well
for this joyful activity. ‘A Guide to The
Butterflies of Western Ghats, India,’ – a
book by Dr. Milind Bhakare and Hemant
Ogale is highly recommended.

Suppose by luck or effort, one manages

to be close enough to the subject…
then there plays the next factor which
differentiates a good photographer from
Norrow-banded Blue-bottle

46 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

Pale Grass Blue, mating

Plains Cupid

Plumbeous Silverline

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 47

PHOTO FEATURE

an average one: Passion and Patience!

Passion – for capturing unique, rare,
illusive species. All ‘Pierrots’, ‘Flats’ and
‘Dartlets’ look almost similar. But with a
minute difference of a half dot-line here
& there, the sub-species changes from a
commonly seen ‘Common Pierrot’ to very
un-common ‘Dark Pierrot’. The same goes
with ‘Sailers’ and ‘Crows’.

Passion for clicking unique behaviours

like mating, egg-laying, and life-cycle
stages. Eye-pleasing ‘Tamil Yeoman’ lays
its eggs one over the other to form a tall
tower of eggs. Capturing such an image
would be a dream for many!!

Patience can lead one to get the most

stand-out poses like the one here in
the image of ‘Plumbeous Silverline’
showing its picturesque ‘upperwings’.
One of my pictures, a banner image for
a coveted Facebook group ‘Butterflies of
India’, portrays two largest of the Indian
butterflies and very elusive ‘Blue Mormon’
and ‘Red Helen’ together sharing space for
mud-puddling.

Only with Patience, could I get some

of the images featured here showing
amazing shades of turquoise on their
‘upper wings’. ‘Blue’ family butterflies have
a habit of keeping their wings normally
closed, giving opportunity to click only
their ‘under wings’. However, I had to wait
patiently for hours for them to settle and
Lesser Grass Blue
finally give a chance of few seconds to click
them with their wings open.

Finally about some photography

technicalities:
1. Use of a Macro lens, with ISO less
than 400 can get good detailing and
colours. For exceptional angles, lying
down flat to get below eye level
shooting is best technique.

2. Use of apertures like f/11 and narrower

to get more depth of field is necessary
to ensure most part of the subject is
well-in-focus. Narrow apertures makes
it mandatory to either shoot in bright
sunlight or use of flash with a diffuser.

I trust my small write-up will encourage

you to try your hand at photographing
butterflies. Enjoy these butterflies’ beauty,
and do take care not to disturb them or
their habitat while photographing these
magical creatures. |SP Double-banded Judy

48 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Pale Grass Blue

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 49

PHOTO FEATURE

Blue Mormon

50 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Commom
Seargent

Common Gulf, mating

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 51

sPECIAL FEAturE

Product PhotograPhy

Vishesh Kanani
Hi, I am Vishesh Kanani,
an accomplished
photographer and
videographer with a focus
on commercial and travel
projects. My portfolio
includes diverse subject
matter such as products,
food, interiors, industrial,
fashion, documentaries,
and corporate
photography.

I earned my photography
diploma from the
esteemed Shari
Academy of Professional
Photography, where I
received the Best Splash
Photography award
and the Dean’s Award.
My work has also been
recognized and featured
Image 1
in various news articles,
magazines, and blogs. As a photographer, I find myself drawn to the The water surrounding the glasses acts as a
captivating combination of cool and warm reflective surface, mirroring the surrounding
For me, simplicity and
efficiency are the keys to
colours often seen during sunset. Inspired by environment. This mirror-like effect not only adds
success. With over 8 years this, I decided to explore a similar play of colours depth to the image but also enhances its overall
of experience in all aspects in my product photography. In this image, the visual appeal.
of photography, I have
developed a reputation
predominant colour palette is a serene and cool
for delivering exceptional blue, reminiscent of a peaceful sky. Furthermore, the presence of two water droplets
results. Based in Mumbai, on the surface creates subtle ripples, adding a
India, I continue to push Against this backdrop, I strategically placed dynamic and captivating element to the scene.
the boundaries of this craft
and create stunning visual a standing glass in the foreground, holding a These ripples contribute to the image’s aesthetic,
content. mesmerizing red wine. The vibrant and warm further engaging the viewer’s senses.
hues of the wine create a striking contrast against
the cool blues, immediately drawing the viewer’s In summary, this image captures the juxtaposition
attention. Adding to the visual allure, there is of a standing glass filled with red wine against a
a fallen glass nearby, providing an element of fallen glass, incorporating reflections in the water
curiosity and visual interest. Despite being on its and an interplay of colours and textures. The
side, the glass remains intact, adding a sense of overall composition is visually compelling, evoking
intrigue to the composition. thoughts and emotions in the viewer.

52 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Image 2
Indulging the child within me, I embarked
on a studio photography project capturing
beverages. However, finding glass bottles
proved to be a challenge in a world
dominated by plastic. Nevertheless, after an
extensive search, I managed to procure two
precious glass bottles that became the focal
point of my shoot.
Initially, I focused on capturing the bottle
filled with the delightful drink. Seeking to
elevate the visual impact, inspiration struck,
and I decided to incorporate splashes into
the composition. With determination,
I set out to photograph a series of
www.smartphotography.in
splashes, aiming for perfection. Through
perseverance, I was fortunate enough to
capture two impeccable splashes.
The image before you is a result of merging
two distinct shots, skilfully blended to
create a final composite. It showcases the
bottle filled with the beverage, frozen in
time amidst the captivating splashes.
This photograph represents a convergence
of creativity, patience, and technical
proficiency. It preserves the essence of the
glass bottle tradition, evoking nostalgia
while celebrating the joy of beverages.
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 53
sPECIAL FEAturE
Image 3
Inspired by the vibrant and fiery
nature of chili peppers, I sought to
bring a unique concept to my food
photography in a studio setting.
Drawing from the imagery often
seen in advertisements, where
smoke emerges from someone’s
mouth after consuming chili, I aimed
to recreate that captivating effect.
To make the shot truly engaging,
I decided to employ artificial
smoke. The method I employed
involved shooting the entire setup
underwater within a fish tank. I
securely fastened a chili pepper
onto a fork, which was positioned at
the bottom of the tank. Behind the
chili, I carefully injected acrylic paint
54 | Smart Photography | July 2023
into the water, creating a swirling
and smoky effect upon injection.
Capturing the shot was a precise
endeavour, requiring accuracy in
lighting and the injection’s timing.
To enhance the overall ambiance
and impact of the image, I
utilized a canvas backdrop with a
smoky texture. This background
choice further immerses the
viewer in the captivating
atmosphere of the composition.
The resulting photograph
encapsulates the dynamic and
tantalizing nature of chili peppers,
bringing to life the concept of
smoky spiciness.
www.smartphotography.in
 Image 4
One day, while driving to a photoshoot location, I came
across an advertisement for pocket perfumes that sparked
an idea in my mind. The advertisement failed to convey
the true scale and size of the perfume, prompting me to
capture an image that would showcase the practicality of
a pocket-sized fragrance. I wanted to portray the entire
product inside a pocket, revealing its true purpose.
To bring this concept to life, I employed a creative lighting
technique using staggered lighting and long exposure.
Fortunately, my camera offered the capability of shooting
multiple exposures, simplifying the process. I set my
camera to multiple exposure mode and configured it
to capture two frames. In the first frame, I positioned
the perfume bottle inside the jeans pocket, carefully
considering its placement. Then, in the second frame, I
removed the jeans but maintained the same position for
the perfume bottle to ensure a seamless match.
www.smartphotography.in
The entire shoot took place in darkness, allowing me to
control the lighting precisely. Throughout the process,
I triggered multiple flashes while keeping the camera
shutter open. This technique enabled me to achieve the
desired effect and capture the essence of the pocket
perfume concept.
The resulting image portrays the perfume bottle snugly
fit within the pocket, emphasizing its compact size
and convenience. The strategic use of lighting and long
exposure adds depth and drama to the composition,
elevating its visual impact.
This photograph captures the essence of the pocket
perfume concept and showcases the ingenuity of the
creative lighting technique employed. It is a testament to
the thought and technical prowess involved in translating
an idea into a compelling visual narrative.
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 55
sPECIAL FEAturE
Image 5
When we think of glamour,
it’s often accompanied by
thoughts of lights, camera,
and action. That’s precisely
the effect I aimed to achieve
with this image. Drawn
to the captivating design
and vibrant colours of the
product, I wanted to
capture its allure in a
glamorous manner.
To put the product in the
spotlight, I created a stage or
platform on which I placed
it, symbolizing its role as the
centre of attention. To add an
extra dimension to the shot,
I incorporated bokeh effects
in the background, evoking
56 | Smart Photography | July 2023
a sense of being under the
spotlight. I positioned a
paper background at a
distance from the subject and
created small holes in the
paper to allow light to pass
through, resulting in beautiful
bokeh patterns.
To further enhance the
overall aesthetic, I employed
a speed filter in front of the
lens, introducing streaks of
movement within the bokeh.
This technique imparted a
shimmering quality to the
image, adding an extra touch
of glamour.
The resulting photograph
encapsulates the essence of
glamour, with the product
taking centre stage amidst
a backdrop of captivating
bokeh and shimmering
effects. It conveys a sense
of elegance and draws the Girish
viewer’s attention to the Mistry’s Shari
product’s exquisite design
and vibrant colours. Academy of
Professional
In summary, this image Photography
showcases the product’s and Digital
inherent glamour through
strategic staging, bokeh Imaging,
effects, and the use of a Mumbai.
speed filter. It aims to evoke
the excitement and allure Email: info@shariacademy.com
associated with lights, www.shariacademy.com
camera, and action.
www.smartphotography.in
 THE EISA PHOTOGRAPHY
MAESTRO CONTEST 2023
1ST PRIZE
This year’s theme: €1500 & EISA
The Animal Maestro Trophy
2ND PRIZE
Kingdom €1000 & EISA
Maestro Trophy
3RD PRIZE
Scope and Contest Rules: €750 & EISA
Entrants should provide 5-8 Maestro Trophy
photographs on the theme of ‘The
Animal Kingdom’. Your subject matter
may include wild and urban wildlife in
addition to pets and farm animals, etc.
All entries must be in digital format
(camera or scanned film originals)
and must be taken by you for
the purposes of this competition.
Existing portfolios are excluded.
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

NATIONAL DEADLINE: MAY 1ST 2023 INTERNATIONAL JUDGING: JUNE 2023

All entries must be received by this date. The winning entries from each of the
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes will be chosen by 16 participating EISA countries will then
the editorial staff of Smart Photography be judged together at the Association’s
and the National results will be published General Meeting in June 2023. The final
in the June issue. results of the International Maestro
contest will be revealed at the EISA
rs will also be
National Maestro winne the end of June Awards Gala in Sept 2023 or, if
oo k at
published on Faceb circumstances are less favourable,
oice competition.
for the EISA Public’s Ch 0. online alongside the EISA product
winne r: €1 00
Prize for the Awards on Aug 15th 2023

The winning photographs will be published in the Sept/Oct issues of all 16 EISA photo magazines/websites.
Circumstances permitting, winners will be invited to the EISA Awards ceremony in Sept 2023

For further details, terms and conditions visit www.eisa.eu/maestro and www.smartphotography.in/maestro2023
 Photo tours with
Milestone enterPrise
Explore the Himalayas with Milestone Enterprise. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, has been
one of the most sought after destinations for photographers all over the world. Here is
an opportunity for you to explore and photograph these Himalayan valleys. These tours
are specially designed for photographers, keeping in mind the time required to capture
magical landscapes, rich cultural festivals and indigenous tribes of the region.

Ladakh Festival
l
eh, the capital of Ladakh, has
been one of the most sought after
destinations for photographers
all over the world. Considered to be
remote, this land has the most attractive
features of the landscapes at the serene
Pangong lake. The mosques, castles,
monasteries and stupas and the variety
of faces beat all other places in sheer
architectural grandeur.
Another attraction for photographers in
this Land of high passes are the festivals
of Ladakh celebrated by each monastery.
These festivals take place according to
the Tibetan Calendar and are a great way
to understand the culture of Buddhism
in India. The rich cultural heritage of
Leh-Ladakh along with the pompously
celebrated monastic festivals of Ladakh
attract visitors from all over the world
to come and experience these unique
and joyous celebrations. The festivals
of Ladakh are a living testament to the
enclosed and solitary life of the monks,
but when they celebrate the whole
village and region is decorated and set
up to welcome the festivities. Monks
and priests perform the sacred masked
dances and offer prayers to the deities,
sometimes with sacrifices and food
offerings to the Gods.
The festivals include Hemis Festival,
Losar Festival, Sindhu Darshan, Phyang
Tsedup Festival, Dosmoche Festival, Saka
Dawa Festival, Tak Tok Festival, Matho
Nagrang Festival, Aryan Valley, Matho
Festival Ladakh Festival and many more.
The Ladakh festival is a major celebration
and an international event with people
from all over the world attending this and passes through the market
festival with lots of enthusiasm. with singing and dancing on traditional
tunes. The performers adorn
Held from the 1st to the 15th of themselves in traditional Ladakhi
September in the town of Leh, tribes attire and showcase some wonderful
from various far off villages of the union performances. The procession ends at
territory participate in this festival. the Polo ground. During all the 15 days
This is a large scale celebration where of the festival, programs from different
the locals showcase their zeal and villages of Ladakh continue. Mask
enthusiasm. The inaugural ceremony dances, Polo and Archery along with
of the festivals starts with a procession traditional dances from monitories are
that sees participation from a number some of the highlights. Musical concert
of cultural troupes from various parts of and dance programs take place all
Ladakh. The procession begins from Leh, around Leh.

Participation charges include Participate

why Milestone? accommodation for participant for a chance to
• 35 years of experience organising photo tours on twin sharing basis. Interstate get your images
• Familiarity with terrain and local weather travel, Jeep Safari, vegetarian featured in
Smart
• Only 4 participants per batch meals will be provided during
Photography
• Ample time for photography the tour. All tours start and end
at Leh airport.

For detailed itinerary and details, contact Mohini at +91 9967992905 Media Partners
or email at mephototours@gmail.com
Please visit www.metours.in for applicable Terms & Conditions
learning
Lightroom or Photoshop
Which to use when?
Ashok
Kandimalla
Ashok Kandimalla has been in the
photographic field for over three
decades and has extensive experience
in both film and digital photography.
Being an electronics engineer by
profession and a photographer, he
possesses a unique and deep insight
into the technical aspects of digital
photography and equipment. He has
published more than a 100 articles
on photography and some of his
writings have also been published in
the well-known international magazine
Popular Photography. An avid collector
of photographic books and vintage
cameras, Ashok has a keen interest
in the history of photography and a
passion for sharing his knowledge
on photography through teaching
and writing. He is the only Indian
photographer to be featured on
the Nikon Centenary website. He is
presently working as a Management
and Engineering consutant. He can be
reached at kashokk@gmail.com.
62
July 2023
V
irtually every image these days is
post-processed. By that we mean
it is corrected for errors, and
aesthetically enhanced after capture.
Some users even go beyond and combine
images to create something that did not
exist, though that is more in the realm
of digital art. Even those who use JPEG
image files straight out of the camera
without any post-processing, need to be
aware that in this case, the processing is
done in-camera based on the parameters
(saturation, contrast, sharpening, etc.)
the user has set.
If you are post-processing on a computer
as most of us do, you may recall that
there are several software programs
(also called apps) available to do the
task. However, Adobe Inc.’s products are
the most popular and are also regarded
as the gold standard. While that is still
the case, Adobe itself sells multiple
products, some with many overlapping
features. This confuses the minds of even
experienced photographers.
Adobe Inc. has three main products
for still image post-processing. These
Picture 1: The architecture of Lightroom Classic.
are Lightroom, Lightroom Classic,
and the very well-known Photoshop.
Interestingly Photoshop was not
designed as a photo-processing
software. Thus, it has many features
that photographers do not need and
hence the consensus is that it is a
complex software that is difficult to
use. As a response, Adobe started an
internal project and at the same time
tried to create a product to compete
with the now defunct Apple Aperture.
These efforts resulted in Lightroom.
Somewhere down the line (a few years
ago) Adobe changed the business model
and at the same time also recognized
the need for mobile image processing.
So, they introduced a new product
that for good or bad, was again called
Lightroom! To avoid confusion with
the new Lightroom, the old one was
renamed Lightroom Classic. Thus, we
now have Lightroom meant for mobile
image processing (hence images will
be on the cloud), and Lightroom Classic
which is for images stored locally on the
computer. In this article, we concentrate
only on the Lightroom Classic, and for
brevity, we will call it LrC.
www.smartphotography.in
Both LrC and Photoshop can be used for
image processing but take very different
approaches. To understand that better,
let us look at the architecture of LrC
(Picture 1). Though we refer to LrC as a
single app, it is seven modules (colored
in magenta), each an app performing a
specific function but all are very tightly
and seamlessly integrated.
Before we see how these apps function
and interact, we must also know about
the two other blocks that are shown in
Picture 1. These are the image library
and Catalog. The former is nothing but a
collective name given to all your images
put together. Simple as that. Since you
will be having some images currently
with you, that means you already have
an image library, whether you have or
use LrC or not!
The concept of Catalog is unique to
LrC and needs an explanation. It is
a database file that contains details
regarding your library. It stores the
following information, for each of your
image files in the library:
• The location where the image file is
stored (disk name, folder name, etc.)
• The editing information
• Metadata (including EXIF data)
• Some other inputs that you might give
like labels, keywords, geotags, etc.
The Catalog is created by LrC under
your command through a process
called import. It is the backbone of the
www.smartphotography.in
Picture 2: The screen of the Develop module.
LrC operation as it contains critical
information for each image file as
explained. It is also the ‘glue’ that binds
all the modules. Unless an image file is
imported, the LrC does not recognize its
very existence and cannot be processed
by any module! This last point is
important as Photoshop, (or commonly
used apps like MS Word or MS Excel) do
not have any such restriction. That is, in
these you can pick up any compatible
file and start editing. The concept of a
catalog is also an issue that confuses and
puts off many people from using LrC.
However, this is also the overarching
feature from which LrC derives all its
power and flexibility!
Let us look at each of the LrC modules
in brief:
Library module
This is the DAM or digital asset manager
which manages, organizes, and keeps
track of your image library. It has a
powerful search engine to locate a
specific image (or a group of them)
in your library. This is an important
function as locating your images is not
an easy task when your library builds
up to hundreds of thousands of images.
The Library module also creates and
manages small sized ‘preview’ files of
the images. These are useful when you
want to scroll or review images rapidly.
Lastly, do not get confused between
Library module which is a DAM, and
your image library!
Develop module
Processing in LrC is called developing.
This is the most important module of
LrC and is the one that helps you to
process (that is develop) the images
(Picture 2). All image formats from JPEG
to proprietary raw files are supported.
The Develop module is nearly identical
to the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) plug-in
of Photoshop. The processing is fully
non-destructive meaning that you can
go back to any processing step and redo
it any number of times. All the steps are
stored centrally for all the images in the
Catalog file and the original image file
is never altered. This is so regardless of
the file format – i.e., Raw, JPEG, TIFF, etc.
If you want to create an image file that
incorporates the development you have
done then, you can do so by creating an
exported version of the file.
Map module
The purpose of this module is to identify
images photographed at a particular
location and conversely identify the
location where a photograph was
captured (Picture 3). The LrC uses
Google Maps under license to accomplish
this. You need to geotag the images first,
for the Map Module to work.
Book module
The selected images can be converted
into a single pdf file with captions
and notes that can be printed as a
book. The pdf file will also be useful for
sharing or distribution.
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 63
learning
Lightroom or Photoshop
Which to use when?
Ashok
Kandimalla
Ashok Kandimalla has been in the
photographic field for over three
decades and has extensive experience
in both film and digital photography.
Being an electronics engineer by
profession and a photographer, he
possesses a unique and deep insight
into the technical aspects of digital
photography and equipment. He has
published more than a 100 articles
on photography and some of his
writings have also been published in
the well-known international magazine
Popular Photography. An avid collector
of photographic books and vintage
cameras, Ashok has a keen interest
in the history of photography and a
passion for sharing his knowledge
on photography through teaching
and writing. He is the only Indian
photographer to be featured on
the Nikon Centenary website. He is
presently working as a Management
and Engineering consutant. He can be
reached at kashokk@gmail.com.
62 | Smart Photography | July 2023
V
irtually every image these days is
post-processed. By that we mean
it is corrected for errors, and
aesthetically enhanced after capture.
Some users even go beyond and combine
images to create something that did not
exist, though that is more in the realm
of digital art. Even those who use JPEG
image files straight out of the camera
without any post-processing, need to be
aware that in this case, the processing is
done in-camera based on the parameters
(saturation, contrast, sharpening, etc.)
the user has set.
If you are post-processing on a computer
as most of us do, you may recall that
there are several software programs
(also called apps) available to do the
task. However, Adobe Inc.’s products are
the most popular and are also regarded
as the gold standard. While that is still
the case, Adobe itself sells multiple
products, some with many overlapping
features. This confuses the minds of even
experienced photographers.
Adobe Inc. has three main products
for still image post-processing. These
Picture 1: The architecture of Lightroom Classic.
are Lightroom, Lightroom Classic,
and the very well-known Photoshop.
Interestingly Photoshop was not
designed as a photo-processing
software. Thus, it has many features
that photographers do not need and
hence the consensus is that it is a
complex software that is difficult to
use. As a response, Adobe started an
internal project and at the same time
tried to create a product to compete
with the now defunct Apple Aperture.
These efforts resulted in Lightroom.
Somewhere down the line (a few years
ago) Adobe changed the business model
and at the same time also recognized
the need for mobile image processing.
So, they introduced a new product
that for good or bad, was again called
Lightroom! To avoid confusion with
the new Lightroom, the old one was
renamed Lightroom Classic. Thus, we
now have Lightroom meant for mobile
image processing (hence images will
be on the cloud), and Lightroom Classic
which is for images stored locally on the
computer. In this article, we concentrate
only on the Lightroom Classic, and for
brevity, we will call it LrC.
www.smartphotography.in

Both LrC and Photoshop can be used for
image processing but take very different
approaches. To understand that better,
let us look at the architecture of LrC
(Picture 1). Though we refer to LrC as a
single app, it is seven modules (colored
in magenta), each an app performing a
specific function but all are very tightly
and seamlessly integrated.
Before we see how these apps function
and interact, we must also know about
the two other blocks that are shown in
Picture 1. These are the image library
and Catalog. The former is nothing but a
collective name given to all your images
put together. Simple as that. Since you
will be having some images currently
with you, that means you already have
an image library, whether you have or
use LrC or not!
The concept of Catalog is unique to
LrC and needs an explanation. It is
a database file that contains details
regarding your library. It stores the
following information, for each of your
image files in the library:
• The location where the image file is
stored (disk name, folder name, etc.)
• The editing information
• Metadata (including EXIF data)
• Some other inputs that you might give
like labels, keywords, geotags, etc.
The Catalog is created by LrC under
your command through a process
called import. It is the backbone of the
www.smartphotography.in
Picture 2: The screen of the Develop module.
LrC operation as it contains critical
information for each image file as
explained. It is also the ‘glue’ that binds
all the modules. Unless an image file is
imported, the LrC does not recognize its
very existence and cannot be processed
by any module! This last point is
important as Photoshop, (or commonly
used apps like MS Word or MS Excel) do
not have any such restriction. That is, in
these you can pick up any compatible
file and start editing. The concept of a
catalog is also an issue that confuses and
puts off many people from using LrC.
However, this is also the overarching
feature from which LrC derives all its
power and flexibility!
Let us look at each of the LrC modules
in brief:
Library module
This is the DAM or digital asset manager
which manages, organizes, and keeps
track of your image library. It has a
powerful search engine to locate a
specific image (or a group of them)
in your library. This is an important
function as locating your images is not
an easy task when your library builds
up to hundreds of thousands of images.
The Library module also creates and
manages small sized ‘preview’ files of
the images. These are useful when you
want to scroll or review images rapidly.
Lastly, do not get confused between
Library module which is a DAM, and
your image library!
Develop module
Processing in LrC is called developing.
This is the most important module of
LrC and is the one that helps you to
process (that is develop) the images
(Picture 2). All image formats from JPEG
to proprietary raw files are supported.
The Develop module is nearly identical
to the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) plug-in
of Photoshop. The processing is fully
non-destructive meaning that you can
go back to any processing step and redo
it any number of times. All the steps are
stored centrally for all the images in the
Catalog file and the original image file
is never altered. This is so regardless of
the file format – i.e., Raw, JPEG, TIFF, etc.
If you want to create an image file that
incorporates the development you have
done then, you can do so by creating an
exported version of the file.
Map module
The purpose of this module is to identify
images photographed at a particular
location and conversely identify the
location where a photograph was
captured (Picture 3). The LrC uses
Google Maps under license to accomplish
this. You need to geotag the images first,
for the Map Module to work.
Book module
The selected images can be converted
into a single pdf file with captions
and notes that can be printed as a
book. The pdf file will also be useful for
sharing or distribution.
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 63
learning
Slideshow module
The selected images can be made into
a professional looking slideshow with
music and attractive transitions for a
display on a device connected to the
computer running LrC.
Print module
This is a versatile module that
allows you to create print layouts
with borders, titles/captions,
Picture 5
64 | Smart Photography | July 2023
Picture 3: The screen of the Map module.
Picture 4: The screen of the Print module.
copyright messages, watermarks,
background colors, etc. Several layout
formats, viz, multiple images on a
single sheet, the same image repeated
several times, single image for
framing with matt, etc., are supported
(Picture 4).
Web module
Intended for creating a web-based
gallery with your photographs.
The switching between all modules is
seamless and you can move from one
to another very smoothly. Apart from
this, LrC allows a partly processed
image, to be transferred to Photoshop
for further processing. While this
is not as seamless as the intra-LrC
transfers, it is also quite doable.
However, the file returned will not be
a raw file but a Photoshop file with an
extension .PSD (Picture 5).
www.smartphotography.in

Now let us look at what Photoshop
does. Architecturally it has two main
parts – the first is for processing raw
images and the other is for remaining
operations. The former is handled by
what is called ACR (Adobe Camera Raw)
which is a plug-in for Photoshop. This
does exactly the same job as the Develop
module but for some strange reason,
Adobe chose to present the user with
a different user interface (Picture 6)!
Compare this with Picture 2.
Apart from this, there is another major
difference. Since Photoshop does not use
a catalog there is no import process and
each image is processed individually.
Whenever a raw file is processed, the
processing steps you have performed
are stored in an external file with the
same name as the raw file but with an
extension .XMP (Extensible Metadata
Platform). This is called a sidecar file.
There will be one such file for each
edited raw file. Once you exit ACR,
Photoshop will read the .XMP file and
show you the file with processing done
in ACR. It can now be processed with
the rest of the editing facilities available
in Photoshop. However, once you have
exited ACR, you cannot come back to
www.smartphotography.in
Picture 6: The screen of Photoshop’s ACR plug-in.
Picture 7: Process flows for
a raw image in Photoshop.
ACR (as a raw file) with the editing done
outside ACR (Picture 7)!
Now that you have an idea about the
essential features of LrC and Photoshop,
let us compare both to decide which to
use where. LrC was designed to be used
by photographers and uses terminology
that is familiar to them. It is also easier
to use than Photoshop, for both global
and local corrections. In many cases,
what can be done in a single step in LrC
will need multiple ones in Photoshop.
LrC has a very powerful DAM (the
Library module) which is essential to
all users who have a large image library
as it helps you to organize and retrieve
images with relative ease. Photoshop
does not have a DAM but can use
another Adobe product called ‘Bridge’.
However, this is not well integrated and
nowhere as powerful as the Library
module of LrC.
LrC has very powerful batch processing
capabilities. With this, you can edit
several files in one go. For example,
you can remove dust spots in
hundreds of files in a few seconds.
Photoshop too has some batch
processing ability but it is inflexible,
cumbersome, and not as powerful.
Features provided by Map, Book, and
Web modules are not available in
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 65
learning

Photoshop. You can simulate the results
of the Print module in Photoshop to a
certain extent but the process will be
tedious involving many steps.
The disk space requirements are
very less in LrC. For example, you
can develop an image in multiple
ways - one color version and another
in monochrome. Only one image file
is needed rather than two unlike
Photoshop, where two image files will
have to be created.
The masking feature of LrC is
analogous to the ‘selection’ process
in Photoshop. It allows confining
processing only to specific areas, for
example, only the sky can be made
darker or a face lighter but not the
entire image. Masking has been
greatly improved over the years with
technology borrowed from Photoshop.
Despite that Photoshop is vastly
superior as it allows very precise
selections (literally hair by hair).
The architecture of Photoshop supports
a powerful feature called Layers.
This allows images as well as editing
adjustments to be kept as independent
layers (think of them as separate sheets
in a single Excel file) thus greatly
simplifying the image file organization.
These layers can be combined or
blended in more than twenty ways.
This feature when combined with the
very precise selection and extraction
paves the way to compositing and
enables digital art which is impossible
with LrC. Several other features like
averaging several layers are possible
and these can be used to reduce or
even eliminate the need for ND filters
and for reducing noise.
Photoshop also has many filters which
can be used to modify images and
add special effects. Examples are blur,
adaptive-wide-angle, warping, etc.
Further, Adobe is rapidly expanding a
new class of filters called neural filters
that are (as you might have guessed)
AI-based! Some powerful commands
like Content address fill/scale, cloning,
etc. are also provided. Though some
near equivalent commands are there in
LrC we found performance to be more
efficient and effective in Photoshop.
Photoshop supports the entry of text,
drawing of lines, arrows, geometric
and even random shapes. You can even
create a painting. These features can
be used for annotation, dimensioning,
and for creating digital art. On the
surface, it might appear that Photoshop
is superior but as Adobe’s statistics
show, LrC is preferred by a majority of
photographers. Once the basic difficulty
of organizing images and the concept
of the catalog is understood, and if
this process is maintained always with
some discipline, LrC is vastly easier
to use and more versatile due to the
larger number of built-in apps. So, why
do we need Photoshop? As explained,
there are some features that only it
provides and you have no choice but to
use it when you need those.
Now, let us answer the main question
– which do you use and when? With
the background we now have, this is
not a difficult question to answer but
there can’t be a single ideal solution
since much depends on the workflow
of the user. So, to give you a better idea
I will give the workflow (sequence of
steps) that I follow, indicating which
app (LrC module or Photoshop) I use
for each step. However, this is not the
only workflow that you need to or can
follow. Have a look, and use this as a
baseline. More importantly, feel free to
modify it to suit your requirements.

Workflow
# Step App or LrC module used Brief description of the process step
1 Download images from the memory card/
Operating system camera to a suitable folder of your image library.
of your computer
2 Create a backup.
3 Import these images into your LrC Catalog.
You can also optionally rename them during import.
4 LrC Lib Identify images to be processed with color labels and star ratings.
5 Identify and remove images to be culled out from the catalog (or even disk).
6 Add keywords.
7 (Optional) Create collections based on subject, location, name, or other criteria.
8 LrC Map (Optional) Geotag images.
9 Look for dust spots and remove them.
LrC Dev
10 Perform lens corrections (distortion, chromatic aberration, etc.).
11 LrC Dev / Lib Steps # 9 and 10 can be applied to all the applicable images through batch processing.
12 Perform other corrections and transformations (like correcting perspective).
LrC Dev
13 Clean up unwanted elements like wires, water bottles, plastic, etc.
This can be done in LrC to a great extent.

66 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 14 Photoshop (Optional). If the desired results are not achieved in Step # 13,
then you can edit in Photoshop using ‘Content Aware Fill’ and ‘Patch’ tools.
Complete development in LrC. This includes cropping, alignment, red-eye reduction,
15 adjusting white balance, color, contrast, saturation, vignetting, etc.
LrC Dev The development can be done for the entire image or a part of the image
(like the sky, a face, etc.) that can be defined by masking.
(Optional) After images are developed, and if features like layer blending,
16 Photoshop averaging of layers, application of filters, etc. are required, then multiple
files can be sent to Photoshop as layers and edited.
17 Photoshop (Optional) Add text (annotation), symbols, lines, arrow marks, and shapes.
18 LrC Dev Apply noise reduction and sharpening as needed.
Export image(s): Set export parameters viz., file format (e.g., JPEG),
image dimensions (in pixels), resolution, color space, etc.
19 LrC Dev based on the end use in mind. Create Presets for batch export.

Multiple image files can be exported in a batch.

20 LrC Print Identify images to be printed and create print files with the needed pixel count
and correct print resolution. Add borders, captions, watermarks, etc., as needed.
21 LrC Lib Create a collection (a virtual folder) of the processed and/or selected images.
22 LrC Book (Optional) Create a book in pdf form, based on the collection created in Step # 21.
23 LrC Slideshow (Optional) Create a slideshow based on the collection created in Step # 21.

Note: After an image is sent to Photoshop
from LrC, the needed editing can be
completed and the file saved. The saved
file will be returned to LrC and added to
the catalog automatically.
A note on Adobe’s commercial policy.
The LrC, Lightroom, and Photoshop
(along with some other apps) are not
sold outright but are licensed yearly
but payable in monthly installments.
Not only that, they are available only
bundled that is, you cannot license
them individually. Thus, buying this or
that is not a decision that you can take
as you will have the whole bundle once
you subscribe.
As you can see from the workflow, most
of the post-processing can be completed
in LrC itself, where it is easier and less
time-consuming. Added to this are
powerful batch processing and lesser
disk space requirements. At the same
time, some specialized editing will need
Photoshop. The very fact that Adobe
offers both as a part of a bundle is an
indication and a tacit admission that
both are complementary.
If you are looking for a single-line
answer to ‘Where and when’ perhaps
there is none but the following line from
an expert might give you an indication –
Lightroom (Classic) is for development
and Photoshop is for editing!
Note: To make the article brief the
commands used to do specific tasks were
omitted. However, all of them have been
covered in detail earlier in various issues
of Smart Photography. |SP
All text, diagrams, and images © Ashok Kandimalla
nless otherwise noted.

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 67

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 FInal
RaTIng 70
The final ratings Mirrorless Review
given in the reviews
are not an indication
Nikon Z8
of the performance
or features of the
reviewed device
in isolation. It is a
combination of all
parameters including
the price of the
74
product.
smartphone Review
Xiaomi 13 Pro

78
smartphone Review
Realme 11 Pro+

80
smartphone Review
Google Pixel 7a
MIRRORLESS review
Nikon Z8 `3,43,999
Second to None
Rohinton Mehta
N
ikon’s flagship mirrorless
camera – the Z9 – was announced
worldwide in end October 2021
and reviewed by Smart Photography in
March 2022. The Z9 almost immediately
became the favourite of Nikon users and
several prospective buyers had to wait
for over a year to own one. In less than
19 months from that date, Nikon has
surprised us again with another high-
end mirrorless camera – the Z8. The Z8
embodies several features from the Z9,
but at a lower cost and a smaller form
factor. The question fervently asked these
days is “Is the Z8 as good as the Z9?”
Read all about it here…
Design & Build Quality
The Z8 is very well designed, having
a robust body and great ergonomics.
The exterior is made from an
environmentally-friendly material that is
tough and can withstand a temperature
of minus 10 degrees Celsius. The body
weighs approximately 910 g with the
battery and memory card. The Z8 body is
made in Thailand.
70 | Smart Photography | July 2023
Key Features
What are the key changes between the Z9
and the new, Z8?
1. Weight: The Z8 body weighs approx.
910 g; the Z9 is approx. 1340 g.
2. Size: The Z8 body is visibly smaller
(144 x 118.5 x 83 mm) than the Z9
body (149 x 149.5 x 90.5 mm)
3. Memory card slots: The Z8 has two
slots – one for CFexpress Type B/
XQD, the other for SD UHS II; the Z9
also has two slots, but both are for
CFexpress Type B/XQD.
4. Battery: The Z8 has a smaller battery
(EN-EL 15c); the Z9 uses a much
larger and more expensive EN-EL
18d.
5. Battery grip: Optional (MB-N12)
with the Z8; the Z9 has a built-in grip.
6. Video recording: The Z8 can record
8K 30p video for 1.5 hours and 4K
60p for about 2 hours; The Z9 does
8K 30p for 2 hours and 4K 60p
Inside the Box
✓ Z8 camera body
✓ Body cap
✓ Battery (En-EL 15c), with
terminal cover
✓ Battery charger (MH-25a)
with power cord
✓ HDMI/USB cable clip
✓ Camera strap (AN-DC26)
✓ Warranty card
✓ User’s Manual
endlessly. While both – the Z8 and
the Z9 – allow 8K video recording at
30 fps, the Z8 allows 4k recording at
60p, while the Z9 allows 4k recording
at 120p.
7. USB Ports: Two USB-C ports on the
Z8; only one on the Z9
8. HEIF option: The Z8 can also save
photos in 10-bit HEIF format; the Z9
cannot.
9. Additional features for portraits:
The Z8 has a feature – Skin Softening
– that can make the skin look
smoother and softer and another
feature called Portrait Impression
Balance that lets the user have
greater control over the colour
shades/brightness of the skin tones.
10. GPS: The Z8 does not offer GPS while
the Z9 does.
11. Cost: The MRP of the Z8 body is Rs.
343,999; the Z9 body has an MRP of
Rs. 475, 999.
Besides what is mentioned above, there
are some changes to the positioning of
some buttons on the camera body. As
soon as you start using the Z8, you’ll
notice those changes (that is, if you are
familiar with the Z9).
www.smartphotography.in
 Heavily cropped
Camera: Nikon Z8
Rohinton Mehta

Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
Focal Length: 500.0 mm
ISO: 2000

Camera: Nikon Z8
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
Focal Length: 500.0 mm
ISO: 900

Rohinton Mehta

Heavily cropped

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 71

MIRRORLESS review
Now let’s see what these differences
mean in real life shooting:
The Z8 being lighter in weight (lighter
by 430 g), is easier to use and carry for
longer periods of time as compared to
the much heavier Z9.
The smaller Z8 body requires less
space in a camera bag and feels more
comfortable (to most users).
Regarding the two CFexpress Type B /
XQD slots on the Z9 and one CFexpress
Type B + one SD card on the Z8,
well, people could argue on this ad
infinitum. There are advantages as well
as disadvantages. But there are lots of
digital camera users who have several SD
cards and this allows them to save money
on the very expensive CFexpress/XQD
cards – albeit at slowing down of the data
transfer speeds.
The smaller battery on the Z8 means
that you cannot get the same number of
frames/video lengths per charge as with
the Z9, but a single Z9 battery costs more
than two batteries for the Z8!
If needed, you can attach the optional
battery grip to the Z8 but that would
involve extra cost (plus weight) and you
still may not have all the features that the
built-in battery grip the Z9 offers.
Regarding video recording, it’s a no
brainer that a larger and more powerful
Z9 battery will allow recording for a
longer time. Also the larger Z9 body can
dissipate heat quicker than the smaller
Z8 body. I agree that the Z9 wins in this
case but still, hear me out. 8k 60p (12-bit
N-Raw) video recording on the Z8 is
43.35 GB of data each minute and hence
one hour of video recording at 8K 60p is
2.60TB of data. 4K 120p (12-bit N-Raw)
video is 28.8 GB of data each minute;
roughly 1.72 TB per hour of recording.
Under these conditions the smaller body
Z8 coupled with the smaller battery will
not perform like the Z9 does, but let’s
face it, are you really going to record
8K/4K video for hours? If the answer is
yes, the Z8 is not for you. In that case go
for the Z9. As for me, I don’t even own
a 4K television; hence the question of
shooting such high-resolution videos –
other than for testing purposes – does
72 | Smart Photography | July 2023
not arise. For me (and for thousands of
others like me), the Z8 will definitely
suffice. Also please note that under
ideal situation the Z8 can record video
continuously for 125 min in one go.
A Tip: When shooting high resolution
video with the Z8 (or any camera where
the screen can be pulled out), pull out
the monitor screen a bit so that there is
some space between the body and the
screen. This will allow some air circulation
between the body and the screen, thus
cooling it down a good bit.
Having two USB Type C ports on the Z8
is a good idea. One is used, for example,
to attach a Nikon Remote Grip while the
other could be used to prolong shooting
by attaching it to an external power
source, like a Power Bank.
The HEIF option does not exist on the
Z9. Besides the 14-bit Raw and the
8-bit JPEG, the Z8 also offers the HEIF
format but currently, to the best of my
knowledge, not every software is able to
open HEIF files.
The extra features for portraits are
self-explanatory and do not require any
clarification. As mentioned earlier, the Z8
does not include GPS but I believe
you can use Bluetooth and the
Snapbridge app on your mobile to get
around that omission.
The MRP for the Z8 is Rs. 343,999 and
that for the Z9 is Rs. 475,995. Hence,
going by the MRP, the Z8 is less expensive
by Rs. 131, 996 – which could be used to
purchase a good lens!
Now, for the record, several specifications
are common to both, the Z9 and the Z8.
The effective pixel rating for the Z8 is
the same (45.7 million) as that on the
Z9. That’s because they share the same
imaging sensor (stacked CMOS 35.9
x 23.9 mm). They also use the same
processor – EXPEED 7. The Nikon Z8, like
the Z9, has a 4-axis horizontal / vertical
tilting monitor. Both the cameras do not
have a mechanical shutter.
The VR (Vibration Reduction) lock on
the Z8 (and also on the Z9) minimizes
shaking of the image sensor when
travelling on rough bumpy roads. When
the camera goes into the sleep mode or
when you switch off the camera, the VR
lock activates automatically.
Both– the Z8 and the Z9– have shutter
speeds up to 1/32,000sec, with 20 fps
burst in Raw (with a buffer of over 1000
frames). Full-resolution JPEGs can be
recorded at 30fps, and 11MP files at 120
fps with either model.
The Z8 is powered by a Nikon EL-15c
battery but the camera is compatible
with the earlier versions of the EL-15
batteries (with lesser number of frames
per charge).
The Z8’s autofocus system can identify
nine types of subjects at a time.
Its subject-detect and 3D Tracking
technology allows you to easily capture
fast and erratically moving subjects
like small birds or table-tennis players
for example. Twenty custom options
are available when using its wide-area
autofocus feature that can respond to any
photo opportunity.
The Z8 body measures 144 x 118.5 x 83
mm and weighs approx. 910 g with the
battery and the memory card.
I have covered the most important
features of the Z8 in this review. For
detailed specifications and features, the
Z8 Reference Guide can be downloaded
from www.nikonimglib.com. It is 947
pages and referring to it on a regular
basis will help you to use the Z8 to the
optimum.
Ergonomics
Being lighter in weight compared to the
Z9, the Z8 feels more comfortable to me –
when using lighter lenses. In comparison,
the Z9 seems to offer a better balance
with heavy lenses, but after a while,
the weight gets you down (at least that
happens to me). Other than that the Z8
is a pleasure to use. And it goes without
saying, that to use any camera to its
optimum performance, one has to be
conversant with all (or at least, most) of
its features.
Performance
Since the Z8 appears to be the smaller
brother of the Z9, I’m sure every
www.smartphotography.in

reader wants to know how it performs,
compared to the tried and tested Z9.
• AF speed and accuracy: I compared
the AF speed and accuracy of the Z8 to
a Z9 that a friend of mine owns. Though
the Z9 had a Nikkor Z 400 mm f/2.8
TC VR S lens (totaling to 560 mm at
f/4) and I was using (most of the time)
an AF-S Nikkor 500 mm f/5.6E PF ED
VR lens with an FTZ adapter, I felt no
measurable difference in the AF speed
or accuracy between the two. The Z8
performed with the same speed and
accuracy as the Z9 – stunningly fast! I
also used a Nikkor Z 70-200 mm f/2.8
VR S and a Nikkor Z MC 105 mm f/2.8
VR S (Nikon’s Micro lens) and again, the
AF speed and accuracy was spot on. I
need to add here that both the cameras
– the Z8 and the Z9 – have several
options/combination of settings that
can finally decide how well the cameras
autofocus and behave in general.
The optimum settings for a wildlife
photographer will be different from
say, a landscape photographer. This can
take some time to understand and get
used to.
• Weight difference: The Z8 being
lighter in weight compared to the Z9,
I found it more comfortable to use for
long periods of time.
• Battery life: The Z8 uses an EN-
EL15c battery compared to the larger/
more powerful EN-EL18d used in the
Z9. During a birding trip – with constant
‘playing around’ with AF and taking
shots, the Z8 battery depleted much
faster than the Z9 battery. If you are into
VERDICt
I recommend the Z8 to any professional /
serious amateur / advanced photographer
who is willing to spend the money. It’s a
professional tool with excellent build quality
and great ergonomics. It’s easy to use
(once you get familiar with its features)
and used intelligently, can raise your
photography (stills as well as videos) to the
next higher level.
Our tests showed that in most departments,
the Z8 performed just as well as the Z9
(reviewed in March 2022). Autofocus speed
and accuracy was of the highest order; ‘still’
images as well as the video performance
www.smartphotography.in
FINAL
birding/wildlife photography, please SCORE
have fully charged spare batteries with
you. On a positive note, currently, the Z8
battery costs about 2.2 times less than a
Z9 battery! Design and Build Quality
• Video: Video quality is amazingly 
good. As already mentioned earlier, if Key Features
you like to shoot videos at very high
resolutions for extended periods of time
(like in creating full-length movies),

Ergonomics
you will be better off with the Z9 as the
Z9, with its larger body, can dissipate
heat faster than the smaller Z8. Also,

Performance
the much more powerful battery of the
Z9 means that you may not need an
additional battery for a full day shoot.

Value for Money
Additionally, since the Z8 is lighter, it
would be easier to shoot with it while
mounted on a gimbal or steadycam.

Overall
• Digital noise: Digital noise control
was very good -- as good as with the

Z9, – after all they both share the same
sensor and the same processing engine. PLUS
I was comfortable using Auto ISO for
most of my outdoor shoots, in good light • Excellent image quality
as well as in poor light. At ISOs of 6400 • Excellent video quality
• Very good build quality
and higher, I would use dedicated noise
• Excellent ergonomics
reduction software. The user has to keep • Light in weight (compared to the Z9)
in mind that with any camera, as the ISO
sensitivity increases, proportionately, MINUS
there will be a corresponding increase
in digital noise. Overall, the Z8’s • Supplied User’s Manual is inadequate.
(Please download the Reference Guide
performance was excellent.
–PDF - from the website mentioned in
the review).
Value for Money • Need to keep extra batteries.
The Z9 body is available at an MRP
of `343, 999 — that’s a lot of
money but then the Z8 is a lot of KEy SPECIFICAtIONS
camera! It is a professional tool at a Lens mount: Nikon Z mount
professional cost! |SP Sensor type/size: CMOS/35.9 x 23.9 mm
(FX)
Effective pixels: 45.7 million
Media: CFexpress (Type B), XQD, SD
Card slots: Two
were next to none. Its blistering speed (fps) Shutter: Electronic
combined with its awesome AF performance S. Speeds: 30 Sec – 1/32000 sec;
makes the Z8 a versatile tool for nature/ expandable to 900 sec, B, T.
wildlife/sports/action photographers. Shooting modes: P, A, S, M
ISO sensitivity: ISO 64-25,600
If you are into film-making and your (Expandable: ISO 32-102400)
recording times are super long, the Z9 may AF: Hybrid (Phase detection/Contrast AF)
be a better choice for you. But if you are like VR (Camera): 5-axis image sensor shift
me – someone who loves to record videos VR (Lens): Lens shift (with VR lenses)
on and off, then the Z8 could be your choice Battery: EN-EL 15c (earlier versions can
even for videos. Given an option between the be used)
Z9 and the Z8, my personal choice would be Weight: Approx. 910 g with battery and
the Z8 – smaller and less expensive body, but memory card.
with the same overall performance of the Z9.
Without any hesitation, the Z8 is a Best Buy!
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 73
Smartphone review

Xiaomi 13 Pro `79,999

The Red Dot Returns

Sujith Gopinath

A Inside the Box

red dot of vermillion on the
forehead assumes great
significance in the Indian culture, ✓ Xiaomi 13 Pro 5G
but apart from that, a camera’s head plate ✓ 120W charger
is probably the most coveted position ✓ USB Type-C cable
where a humble red dot can assume ✓ SIM eject tool
iconic status. This mark of a legend now ✓ Protective case
adorns Xiaomi’s 13 Pro smartphone, as ✓ Quick start guide
it sports cameras codeveloped with the ✓ Warranty card
opto-mechanical precision of German
camera maker Leica.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a design that
matches the camera brand—a premium
look with glossy finish, curved front and
rear surfaces with rounded corners, flat
base and top, and a nicely finished square
camera bump housing the triple cameras.
The volume control and power buttons
are at the right side, while the base
accommodates the SIM tray, USB type-C
port, main speaker grille and microphone
hole. The Leica branding proudly shows
up on the camera unit, while the Xiaomi
branding appears vertically at the left
corner of the back glass. A Corning
Gorilla Glass Victus panel shields
the front. The glossy surface attracts
fingerprints and smudges, but Xiaomi
provides a silicon back cover if you are
ready to swap the looks with protection.
The phone measures 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.38
mm and weighs 229 g.
Key Features
Cameras are the main USP of the 13 Pro,
and the main camera uses a 1-inch Sony
IMX989 sensor that ensures more light
is captured by the system, for detailed
imaging with wider dynamic range. The
main camera assumes a Leica Vario-
Summicron nomenclature with 14-75
mm equivalence in focal length, but this
is essentially a clever misnomer that can
confuse you with the premium zoom
lenses from the Leica stable. The system
is in fact a combination of three separate
50MP cameras with a 23mm equivalent
main camera, 14 mm equivalent ultra-
wide camera, and 75mm equivalent
telephoto camera. The cameras offer
Optical Image Stabilisation. The primary
camera uses 8 elements for the lens and
uses phase detection autofocus. The
telephoto lens uses floating elements
to achieve focal lengths from 10 cm to
infinity, making it a great macro lens.
The phone cameras feature some Leica-
specific tuning in the form of Leica
Authentic and Leica Vibrant look, both
of which are self-explanatory. In portrait
mode, the camera offers four ‘lens’
option, simulating Leica’s classic portrait
lenses. The 35mm lens offers a classic
Black and White mode. While the 50mm
Swirly bokeh lens and 75mm Portrait
lens render pleasing bokeh in different
shapes, the 90mm Soft focus lens renders
your portraits with a classic portrait feel
complete with shallow depth-of-field.
The Xiaomi Imaging Engine includes
Xiaomi ProFocus, which adds tracking
options to focus. Night, Night Portrait
and Lightning Burst modes are also
available. The cameras offer HDR and
AI features. The rear cameras offer up
to 8K (7680 x 4320) video capture at 24
fps and up to 4K (3840 x 2160) at 60 fps
HDR with Dolby Vision. There are ample
video modes including Ultra Night Video,
One-click Cinema, Night Time-lapse and
Vlog mode. The phone offers a 32MP
in-display front camera with bokeh and
depth control.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro uses MIUI 14 on
top of Android 13 OS. It is powered by
a flagship 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
octa-core mobile platform. The phone is
available in a single configuration with
12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0
storage. The 6.73-inch 10-bit AMOLED
display offers a pixel density of 522 PPI.

74 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 Camera: Xiaomi 13 Pro
Aperture: f/1.9
Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec
Focal Length: 7.8 mm
ISO: 200

Sujith Gopinath

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 75

Smartphone review Camera: Xiaomi 13 Pro
Aperture: f/1.9
Shutter Speed: 1/17 sec
Focal Length: 7.8 mm
ISO: 5000

Sujith Gopinath
Camera: Xiaomi 13 Pro
Aperture: f/2.2
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
Focal Length: 2.2 mm
ISO: 50

Sujith Gopinath

76 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in


Sujith Gopinath
The LTPO 3.0 panel offers up to 240Hz
touch sampling and AdaptiveSync Pro.
The display offers a peak brightness of
1900 nits and provides HDR 10+ support.
The phone offers excellent audio with
dual stereo speakers. The device offers
Dolby Vision for display and Dolby
Atmos for sound along with Hi-Res Audio
(Wired and Wireless) certification. The
phone houses a 4820 mAh battery and
includes a 120W HyperCharge adapter
in the box. Xiaomi promises three years
of Android updates and five years of
security updates for the device.
Ergonomics
The 13 Pro is a heavy device, and
slippery with all that glossy finish. The
fingerprint and face unlock are quick,
and the display is quite responsive. The
interface looks clean with only a handful
of proprietary apps. Most of these apps
can be uninstalled.
Performance
The Leica cameras performed
exceptionally well in most situations.
There are a lot of features to be explored.
If you like to control all parameters of
an image, the pro mode provides all the
tools. The Leica lenses are particularly
interesting and yield brilliant portraits
and BW images. The camera offers
excellent videos. The macro mode
also proved impressive. The portrait
mode lets you apply beautification,
and it also includes a feature to remove
moles. Generally, I am not a great fan
of this mode, but this camera handles
it like a pro and renders portraits with
www.smartphotography.in
Camera: Xiaomi 13 Pro
Aperture: f/1.9
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
Focal Length: 7.8 mm
FInAL
ISO: 400
SCOrE
Design and Build Quality

Key Features

Ergonomics

Performance

Value for Money
natural texture even after applying
these adjustments. There is an extensive

editing mode that lets you fine-tune the Overall
image precisely. This also includes AI
mode, which lets you erase elements

and people from your photograph,
though the results are not exactly what a PLuS MInuS
photographer would be able to achieve • Superior camera • Heavy device
in an editing program. There is also a features • Slippery finish
sky replacement mode, which lets you • Great build quality • AI editing
select various skies complete with cloud • Powerful hardware imperfections
formations and hues from dawn to • Smooth experience
dusk. Again, the results in the AI editing • Excellent multimedia
capability
mode are far from perfect. Xiaomi might
not have felt the need to hide these
imperfections, but these are some things KEy SPECIFICAtIOnS
that would never see the light in an Operating System: MIUI 14, Android 13
Apple device. If Xiaomi is listening, as a Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
manufacturer, even mild imperfections Storage and rAM: 12GB LPDDR5X RAM
make you look like an amateur. + 256GB UFS 4.0 Storage
Camera: Leica triple camera, 50 MP with
Just because the camera is a high Leica Vario-Summicron 14-75 f/1.9 ASPH.
Lens, HyperOIS
performer doesn’t mean that the device
Photographic styles: Leica Authentic,
does not perform in other areas. The 13 Leica Vibrant
Pro is capable of handling all everyday Portrait lenses: 35mm Black and white
tasks and is even ready for gaming. lens, 50mm Swirly bokeh lens, 75mm
The entertainment capability is equally Portrait lens, 90mm Soft focus lens
impressive with a great display and Video (rear camera): up to 8K at 24fps
brilliant sound reproduction. Slow motion video: 120fps, 240fps, 480fps,
960fps, 1920fps
Value for Money Front camera: 32MP in-display camera,
f/2.0
The Xiaomi 13 Pro retails at Rs. 79,999. Display: 6.73-inch 10-bit AMOLED
At this price, the phone is good value for HDr 10+ support: Yes
money if photography is your phone’s Screen protection: Corning Gorilla
primary role. |SP Glass Victus
Speakers: Dual Stereo Speakers
Audio features: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Hi-
VErDICt Res Audio (Wired and Wireless) Certification
Battery: 4820mAh
the Xiaomi 13 Pro is an excellent phone that Dimensions: 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.38 mm
offers a brilliant set of cameras and extensive Weight: 229 g
options for pro-grade imaging capabilities.
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 77
Smartphone review

Inside the Box

✓ Realme 11 Pro+ 5G
✓ USB Type-C Cable
✓ 100W Adapter
✓ Protective Case
✓ SIM Ejector Tool
✓ Screen Protect Film
✓ Quick Guide
✓ Product Literature

offers up to 120Hz refresh rate and up to

360Hz touch sampling rate. The screen
can display 1.07 Billion colours and cover
100 percent DCI-P3 gamut.

Realme projects the camera as the main

feature of the 11 Pro+. The main camera
is a 200-megapixel unit that sports an
upgraded 1/1.4-inch Samsung Isocell
HP3 sensor and features OIS. The lens
offers 22.9mm equivalent focal length
and has a fixed aperture of f/1.69. This
camera offers a native resolution of
16320 × 12240 pixels, enough to produce
a 54.4 x 40.8-inch print at 300 ppi. The
camera unit also includes an ultra-wide-
angle camera and a macro camera. The
Realme 11 Pro+ `27,999 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera offers
15.9mm equivalent focal length f/2.2

An Ornate Maze
aperture. The macro camera is a 2MP
unit that provides 4 cm focus distance
and f/2.4 aperture. The camera unit
offers high-res mode, Auto-zoom, Street
Photography mode, Starry mode Pro,
Sujith Gopinath are flat. The rear cameras are arranged Super NightScape, Pano, Professional

R
ealme has been absent from
our test bench for a while, but
the brand came up with the
11 Pro+ recently. The phone boasts
a 200-megapixel camera along with
premium design. The device surely looks
a stunner, but does it live up to the hype?
Let’s find out.
Design and Build Quality
The Realme 11 Pro+ is designed to look
premium, and the Sunrise Beige and
Oasis Green devices feature a unique
vegan leather design with the rear
surface finish resembling a zippered
jacket, complete with a braided lining
and stitches. The screen is curved
and is protected by a 0.65mm double-
reinforced glass. The top and bottom
within a circular camera bump with the
main camera at the centre and the other
two cameras diagonally opposite to each
other. Overall, the phone gives a premium
feel. The device measures 161.6 x 73.9 x
8.7mm and weighs 189g.
Key Features
The Realme 11 Pro+ uses a Mediatek
Dimensity 7050 5G chipset with an octa-
core CPU and a Mali-G68 GPU. The device
runs on Realme UI 4.0, wrapped around
Android 13 OS. The phone is available
in two variants, one with 8GB RAM and
256GB storage and the second with 12GB
RAM and 256GB storage. We received
the 12GB/256GB variant in Oasis Green
finish. The devices offer dynamic RAM
up to 24GB. The 11 Pro+ uses a 6.7-inch
Full HD+ (2412 x 1080) display that
mode, Portrait mode, HDR, and AI Scene
Recognition among other features.
Videos can be recorded in up to 4K
quality at 30 fps. The phone supports
Dual-view video, Slow Motion, Time-
Lapse, Cinema Mode, AI Video Tracking,
Starry time-lapse video, and Tilt-shift
time-lapse video. The front camera is a
32MP Sony selfie camera. This camera
offers Portrait Mode, Pano, Ultra-wide
Angle, AI Beauty mode, Face Recognition,
Super Nightscape, and AI Scene
Recognition. The front camera can record
videos in up to 1080P at 30fps.
The 11 Pro+ accepts two physical Nano
SIM cards. It supports dual 5G mode. For
audio, the phone uses dual super linear
speakers and supports Dolby Atmos and
Dual-mic Noise Cancellation. It is also

78 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

 camera: Realme 11 Pro+
aperture: f/1.7
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
Focal length: 6.1 mm
ISo: 100
Hi-Res Audio certified. The device uses a
5000 mAh (typical) battery, and a 100W
SuperVooc charger comes bundled with
the phone.
ergonomics
The Realme 11 Pro+ offers an in-display
fingerprint scanner along with face
unlock. Both the methods unlocked the
screen quickly without any trouble. The
vegan leather back ensures that the
phone does not accidentally slip out of
your hands. The slim and thin design
makes it easy to operate with one hand.
The UI is quite responsive but comes
with too many unnecessary apps and
games. Many of these can be uninstalled,
but it is as nightmarish as the fictitious
depiction of traversing through an
asteroid belt.
Performance
The Realme 11 Pro+ is a mid-priced
phone, and expecting it to perform
like the flagships would be ask for too
much. At this price, it is probably one of
the best performing devices, especially
when it comes to the cameras. The
200-megapixel camera does a great job
VeRDIct
the 11 Pro+ comes after a long hiatus, and Realme has done a good job in designing a great
looking phone with a brilliant display and good camera. It is a decent mid-priced phone, but
you get tons of annoying bloatware to deal with.
www.smartphotography.in
FInal
ScoRe
Design and Build Quality

Key Features

ergonomics

Performance

Value for Money

overall
Sujith Gopinath 
in capturing colours well. If you view the PluS MInuS
images on the phone’s screen, the images • Premium design • Filled with
appear vibrant and detailed. Viewed on • Brilliant display bloatware
a large calibrated display, the images • Decent camera • Gaming
lose some of its vibrancy, but still holds • Super-fast charging performance
up well. The high-resolution mode with
200MP capture allows you to crop the
image beyond levels other phones allow Key SPecIFIcatIonS
you to do if you can live with the loss in Display: 6.7inch FHD+ (2412 x 1080)
detail. Low-light images were quite noisy. Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz
colour depth: 1.07 Billion colours
The phone can handle games with up colour gamut: 100% DCI-P3
to medium-level graphics, but at times, Processor: Dimensity 7050 5G chipset
cPu: Up to 2.6Ghz Octa-core
you experience much lag in action titles. GPu: Mali-G68
The display proved quite good, with the uI: Realme UI 4.0
sound output complementing the screen oS: Android 13
perfectly while watching movies. The RaM: 8 / 12GB (up to 24GB Dynamic RAM)
battery life was satisfactory, while the Storage 128GB / 256 GB
100W SuperVooc charger topped up Main camera: 22.9mm, 200MP, OIS, f/1.69
Sensor: Upgraded Samsung ISOCELL HP3
the battery in less than 30 minutes. We
SuperZoom sensor
did not experience any heating beyond Sensor size: 1/1.4-inch
tolerable limits. native resolution: 16320 × 12240
ultra-wide angle camera: 15.9mm, 8MP,
Value for Money f/2.2
The Realme 11Pro+ retails at a starting Macro camera: 2MP, f/2.4
price of Rs.27,999 for the 8GB/256GB Macro focus distance: 4cm
Video capture: up to 4K / 30fps
variant. This is reasonable for a well- Front camera: 32MP Sony selfie camera
designed phone with a good camera and Front camera video: up to 1080P / 30fps
decent features. |SP Battery: 5000mAh (Typ)
Battery charger: 100W SuperVooc charger
Interface: USB Type-C Port
SIM: 2 Nano SIM Card Slots
audio: Super linear dual speakers
Dimensions: 161.6 x 73.9 x 8.7mm
Weight: 189g
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 79
Smartphone review
Google Pixel 7a `43,999
Pixel Junior
Inside the Box
✓ Pixel 7a
✓ USB-C to USB-C cable
(USB 2.0)
✓ Quick Switch Adapter
✓ Support Card
✓ SIM tool
Sujith Gopinath
G
oogle’s Pixel phones have been
accepted widely for the clean stock
Android experience and excellent
cameras they sport. The Pixel 7a comes
quite close on the heels of the premium
Pixel 7-series devices that we reviewed in
our December issue.
Design and Build Quality
The Pixel 7a has a design similar to the
6a, with a 3D thermoformed composite
back with a tactile alloy frame. The
device offers IP67 rated dust and water
resistance. The screen is protected with
a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass. The
device is available in Charcoal, Sea, and
Snow colours. The phone uses a USB
Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 interface. The device
measures 152 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm and
weighs 193.5 g.
Key Features
The Pixel 7a uses Google’s Tensor G2
SoC, which also powers the Pixel 7 and
7 Pro, along with Titan M2 security
coprocessor. The device offers 8GB
RAM with 128GB storage. The 6.1-inch
FHD+ panel offers always-on display
and HDR support along with up to 90Hz
refresh rate.
The Google Pixel 7a houses a
64-megapixel Quad PD Quad Bayer
wide camera, and the main feature of
this device is up to 8x Super Res zoom.
The second unit is a 13-megapixel
ultrawide camera. The camera features
lens correction and uses dual pixel
80 | Smart Photography | July 2023
phase detection autofocus. The images
and video are stabilised with optical
and electronic stabilisation methods.
The front camera is a 13 MP model. The
camera offers features such as Photo
Unblur, Face Unblur, Magic Eraser,
Night Sight, Long Exposure, Real Tone,
Panorama, Top Shot, Portrait Mode,
Portrait Light, Super Res Zoom, Motion
Auto Focus, Frequent Faces, Dual
exposure controls, and Live HDR+.
Videos can be recorded in up to 4K
resolution at 30 or 60 FPS. Video features
include Cinematic Pan, Slo-mo up to 240
FPS, 4K timelapse with stabilisation, and
Astrophotography timelapse. Videos
are recorded in HEVC (H.265) and AVC
(H.264) formats. The device offers stereo
speakers along with dual microphones.
The phone accepts dual SIM including
one physical SIM and one eSIM. The
device supports all popular 5G Sub 6Ghz
bands and uses Bluetooth v5.3 with
Bluetooth Low Energy and Bluetooth
Diversity, NFC, and Google Cast. In India,
it supports NavIC satellite system in
addition to GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS,
and BeiDou for location access.
The Pixel 7a is powered by a 4385 mAh
battery and supports fast charging
(according to Google) along with
Qi-certified wireless charging. Google
promises five years of security updates
for the device.
Ergonomics
The a-series has been the most compact
devices from Google, and hence the
easiest to handle. The 7a does not
change that. The display was quite
responsive. The phone houses an
under-display fingerprint sensor. Face
unlock and fingerprint unlock were
quick and flawless. The device is glossy
and slippery, but the matte-finished
frame offers good grip. The device offers
a smooth stock Android experience
without bloatware.
Performance
We got the chance to experience the
device for a very short time, and hence
this review does not explore the features
in detail. The cameras are the highlight
www.smartphotography.in
 camera: Google Pixel 7a
aperture: f/1.9
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
Focal length: 5.4 mm
ISO: 125
FInal
ScOrE

Design and Build Quality


Key Features


Ergonomics


Performance


Value for Money


Overall

PluS MInuS
• compact formfactor • Slow charging
• Brilliant cameras • no expandable
• Price storage

of this device, especially at a price that is
much less than the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The
device captured shadow and highlight
details well, and the colours appeared
true to the original. Features like photo
unblur and magic eraser worked well in
most cases, though it does not replace a
full-fledged image editing programme
like Photoshop.
Google claims that the Pixel 7a supports
fast charging, but what they don’t
mention is that the charging power is
limited to 18W, which is quite low by
today’s standards. The phone is designed
Sujith Gopinath
for day-to-day tasks, and not for heavy
operations like gaming.
Value for Money
The Pixel 7a retails at Rs. 43,999, and
this makes it one of the best phones
for photographers under Rs. 50,000.
However, the price is quite close to that
of the Pixel 7, making it a tough choice
between these similar-spec phones. |SP
VErDIct
the Google Pixel 7a offers great cameras at
an affordable price.
KEy SPEcIFIcatIOnS
Display: 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED
refresh rate: Up to 90Hz
cover glass: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Memory : 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage: 128 GB UFS 3.1
Processors: Google Tensor G2 with Titan
M2 security coprocessor
Primary camera: 64 MP Quad PD Quad
Bayer wide camera, ƒ/1.89 aperture
Second camera: 13 MP ultrawide camera,
ƒ/2.2 aperture
aF: Autofocus with dual pixel phase
detection
Image stabilisation: Optical and electronic
Front camera: 13 MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture
Video: Up to 4K at 30 FPS, 60 FPS
Front camera: Up to 4K at 30 FPS
Video formats: HEVC (H.265), AVC (H.264)
Buttons and Ports: USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2
Dual SIM: Single Nano SIM and eSIM
Battery capacity: Typical 4385 mAh
charging: Fast charging, Qi-certified
wireless charging
Dimensions: 152 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm
Weight: 193.5 g

www.smartphotography.in July 2023 | Smart Photography | 81

First look
Samsung t7 Shield Portable SSD `9,299
Shield on the Field
Sujith Gopinath
P
ortable SSDs have ben in the
market for a long time, and
Samsung’s T7 series of NVMe
SSDs are among the most compact in
these devices. The T7 series has seen
many iterations, and the brand recently
introduced the T7 Shield.
The Samsung T7 Shield is a compact
and rugged portable SSD that is built for
extreme conditions. It carries an IP65
rating for dust and water resistance. It is
enclosed in an elastomer rubber casing,
which ensures a drop resistance of up
to three metres. The drive measures 59
x 88 x 13 mm, which makes it portable
enough to fit in your pocket and weighs
98g. The device is available in Black,
Blue, and Beige colours and in 1TB, 2TB
and 4TB capacities. We received the 4TB
variant. The T7 Shield has a USB-C (USB
3.2) interface, and you get Type-C to
Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables in
the box.
The T7 Shield offers claimed sequential
speeds of 1050MB per second (read) and
1000MB per second (write). The rubber
82 | Smart Photography | July 2023
exterior uses a Dynamic
Thermal Guard to
control heat and
hence provide
consistent
performance. In
our limited tests,
the drive achieved
a peak performance of
968MB per second and
814MB per second on an Amazon at a
Asus Zephyrus G14 via USB 3.2 starting price of Rs.
Gen 2 port. 9,299 for the 1TB variant,
going up to Rs.29,499 for the 4TB
You can use this portable drive with variant. Samsung offers a 3-year limited
PCs, Macs, and Android devices. You can warranty on the drive. |SP
configure and monitor the drive using
the Samsung Magician software. You can
set your password and update firmware Key SPecificationS
with the Samsung Portable SSD software. interface: USB 3.2 Gen.2 (10Gbps)
transfer Speed: Sequential Read: Up to
Being a portable, rugged and high- 1,050MB/s, Sequential Write: Up to 1,000 MB/s
capacity drive, the Samsung T7 Shield is UaSP Mode: Supported
ideal for professionals who are always encryption: AES 256-bit hardware encryption
Security: Samsung Portable SSD Software 1.0,
on the field, like photographers, video
Samsung Magican Software
professionals, business executives and Warranty: Limited 3-year
anyone who needs data transfer between country of origin: Republic of Korea
a wide range of devices. Dimensions (WxHxD): 59 x 88 x 13 mm
Weight: 98g
The Samsung T7 Shield retails on
www.smartphotography.in

1 If you use a 28 mm lens for
portraiture, what is the likely
outcome?
a) A perfect picture
b) Facial distortion
c) The background will be out of
focus
d)The image will be easier to
enlarge
2 In portraiture, always focus on :
a) The hair
b) The nose
c) The eyes
d) The chin
3 If you want to throw the
background out of focus, which
aperture should you choose?
a) F 1.8
b) F 5.6
c) F 8
d) F 11
4 If you have to use flash during
portraiture, which of the
following should you keep in
mind?
a) Use soft, diffused light
b) Position the flash above subject
level
c) Use a lens diffuser to reduce
facial blemishes
d) Consider bouncing the flash
www.smartphotography.in
Quiz
5 For portraiture, which type of
metering is considered best?
a) Matrix metering
9 Poor contrast can ruin a picture.
Which of the following methods
can improve contrast?
b) Centre weighted average a) Avoid shooting in hazy
c) Spot conditions
d) Multi spot b) Use a reflector
c) Use fill-in flash
6 What type of photography are
perspective control lenses used?
d) Expose correctly
a) Portraits
b) Fashion
c) Landscapes
10 When shooting sport, which is
the most important factor to
keep in mind?
d) Architectural a) Use continuous focussing
b) Increase the ISO
7 When photographing through
glass, which tips should you
c) Use a faster shutter speed
d) Use a 400 mm lens
follow?
a) Use a polariser
b) Have the lens touching the glass
to avoid reflections
c) Use a wide aperture
d) Use a telephoto lens
8 Depth of field can be altered in
many ways. Tick the methods
that you think will work.
a) Change the aperture
b) Change the lens to subject
distance
c) Change the focal length
d) Use a different sensor size
8 (a, b, c & d), 9 (a), 10 (a)
4 (a, b, c & d), 5(b), 6 (d), 7 (b),
camera body AnsWers: 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (a),
July 2023 | Smart Photography | 83
Mirrorless lens Guide
CANON
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM 62,652 15 55 61 58.2 220
EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM 45,512 25 49 60.9 44.5 130
EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM TBC 25 52 61 61 210
EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM 36,995 25 55 60.9 86.5 300
EF-M 22mm f/2 STM 18,995 15 43 61 23.7 105
EF-M 28mm f/3.5 IS STM Macro 24,990 9.7 43 60.9 45.5 130
EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM 69,564 23 43 60.9 56.5 235
EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM 25,495 100 52 60.9 86.5 260
RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM 1,55,995 20 77 84.1 99.8 540
RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM 2,20,995 28 82 88.5 126.8 840
RF 16mm f/2.8 STM 26,995 13 43 69.2 40.1 165
RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM 2,20,995 38 82 88.5 127.7 900
RF 24-105mm f/4L IS STM 1,18,995 45 77 83.5 107.3 700
RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM 36,995 34 67 76.6 88.8 395
RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM 81,995 50 72 80.4 122.5 750
RF 28-70mm f/2L USM 2,86,995 39 95 103.8 139.8 1430
RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro 44,995 17 52 74.4 62.8 305
RF 50mm f/1.8 STM 17,995 30 43 69.2 40.5 160
RF 50mm f/1.2L USM 2,23,995 80 77 89.8 108 950
RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 2,57,995 70 77 89.9 146 1070
RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM 1,66,995 60 77 83.5 119 695
RF 85mm f/1.2L USM 2,57,995 85 82 103.2 117.3 1195
RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS 2,94,995 85 82 103.2 117.3 1195
RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM 52,995 35 67 78 91 500
RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM 1,34,995 26 67 81.5 148 730
RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM 58,995 88 67 79.5 164.7 635
RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM 2,72,995 90 77 94 208 1530
RF 600mm f/11 IS STM 74,995 450 82 93 200 930
RF 800mm f/11 IS STM 94,995 600 95 102 282 1260

FUJIFILM
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)

XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR 1,59,999 25 N/A 88 121.5 805

XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR 94,999 24 72 77.6 87 385
XF 14mm f/2.8 R 85,148 18 58 65 58.4 235
XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ TBC 13 52 62.6 44.2 135
XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR 78,999 15 67 73.4 73 375
XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR 38,990 17 49 60 45.4 155
XC 16-50 f/3.5-5.6 OIS II TBC 30 58 62.6 98.3 195
XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR 94,999 60 77 83.3 106 655
XF 16-80mm f/4 R WR OIS TBC 35 72 78.3 88.9 440
XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR 91,999 20 62 68.8 75.6 370
XF 18mm f/2 R TBC 18 52 64.5 40.6 116
XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR 90,999 45 77 75.7 97.8 490
XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS TBC 18 58 65 70.4 310

84 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

XF 23mm f/1.4 R 66,080 28 62 72 63 300
XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR TBC 19 58 67 77.8 375
XF 23mm f/2 R WR 45,900 22 43 60 51.9 180
XF 27mm f/2.8 38,000 34 39 61.2 23 78
XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR TBC 34 39 62 23 84
XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR 79,999 30 58 67 73.5 360
XF 35mm f/1.4 R 58,470 28 52 65 54.9 187
XF 35mm f/2 R WR 43,000 35 43 60 45.9 170
XC 35mm f/2 20,900 35 43 58.4 46.5 130
XF 50mm f/1 R WR 1,49,999 70 77 87 103.5 845
XF 50mm f/2 R WR 44,999 39 46 60 59.4 200
XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR 1,48,000 100 72 82.9 175.9 995
XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS II 34,990 110 58 69.5 111 375
XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS 67,990 110 62 75 118 580
XF 56mm f/1.2 R 96,490 70 62 73.2 69.7 405
XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD TBC 70 62 73.2 69.7 405
XF 60mm f/2.4 XF R Macro 50,998 26.7 39 64.1 70.9 215
XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR TBC 83 67 75 132.5 580
XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro 94,999 25 62 80 130 750
XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR 74,000 60 62 75 105 540
XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR 1,89,990 175 77 94.8 210.5 1375

LAOWA
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 15,521 8 N/A 45.2 25.5 135
7.5mm f/2 MFT 38,919 12 46 50 55 170
9mm f/2.8 Zero-D 38,919 12 49 60 53 215
10mm f/2 Zero-D MFT TBC 12 46 54 41 125
17mm f/1.8 MFT 11,621 15 46 55 50 160
25mm f/0.95 APO MFT Argus 31,119 25 62 71 86 570
33mm f/0.95 CF APO Argus 38,919 35 62 71.5 83 590
50mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO MFT 31,119 13.6 49 53.5 79 240
65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro 31,119 17 52 57 100 335
9mm f/5.6 FF RL 62,317 12 N/A 62.4 66 350
10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 54,518 15 37 70 90.9 496
11mm f/4.5 FF RL 54,518 19 62 63.5 58 254
14mm f/4 FF RL 42,818 27 52 58 59 228
15mm f/2 Zero D 58,417 15 72 66 82 500
15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift 93,514 20 N/A 79 103 597
20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift 85,715 25 82 91 95 747
35mm f/0.95 FF Argus 70,116 50 72 76.8 103 755
45mm f/0.95 FF Argus 62,317 50 72 76.8 110 835
85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO 35,019 16.3 46 53 81 291

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Mirrorless lens Guide
NIKON
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Nikkor-Z DX 26,450 30 46 70 32 135
18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 VR Nikkor-Z DX 26,999 20 62 73 90 315
50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR Nikkor-Z DX 31,450 100 62 74 110 405
14-24mm f/2.8 S Nikkor-Z 1,99,995 28 112 88.5 124.5 650
14-30mm f/4 S Nikkor-Z 99,950 28 82 89 85 485
20mm f/1.8 S Nikkor-Z 83,990 20 77 84.5 108.5 505
24-50mm f/4-6.3 Nikkor-Z 39,995 35 52 73.5 51 195
24-70mm f/2.8 S Nikkor-Z 1,90,000 38 82 89 126 805
24-70mm f/4 S Nikkor-Z 78,450 30 72 77.5 88.5 500
24-120mm f/4 S Nikkor-Z 97,995 35 77 84 118 630
24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR Nikkor-Z 68,995 70 67 76.5 114 570
24mm f/1.8 S Nikkor-Z 83,995 25 72 78 96.5 450
28mm f/2.8 Nikkor-Z 21,995 19 52 70 43 155
28-75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-Z 89,995 19 67 75 120.5 565
35mm f/1.8 S Nikkor-Z 52,748 25 62 73 86 370
40mm f/2 Nikkor-Z 21,500 29 52 70 45.5 170
50mm f/1.2 S Nikkor-Z 1,79,995 45 82 89.5 150 1090
50mm f/1.8 S Nikkor-Z 38,986 40 62 76 86.5 415
50mm f/2.8 MC Nikkor-Z 58,995 16 46 74.5 66 260
70-200mm f/2.8 VR S Nikkor-Z 2,04,995 100 77 89 220 1360
85mm f/1.8 S Nikkor-Z 52,766 80 67 75 99 470
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 Nikkor-Z VR S 2,41,995 75 77 98 222 1355
105mm f/2.8 VR S MC Nikkor-Z 89,995 29 62 85 140 630

SAMYANG
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
7.5mm f/3.5 UMC fisheye MFT 30,999 9 n/a 48.3 60 197
8mm f/2.8 UMC fisheye II TBC 30 n/a 60 64.4 290
12mm f/2 NCS CS 26,990 20 67 72.5 59 245
35mm f/1.2 ED AS UMC CS TBC 38 62 67.5 74.2 420
50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS TBC 50 62 67.5 74.5 380
85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS TBC 65 62 67.5 81 423
300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS Reflex 23,320 90 58 73.7 64.5 320
12mm f/2 AF 29,990 19 62 70 59.2 213
14mm f/2.8 AF 48,806 20 n/a 85.5 97.5 505
18mm f/2.8 FE AF 31,034 25 58 63.5 60.5 145
24mm f/1.8 FE AF 37,490 19 58 65 71.5 230
24mm f/2.8 FE AF 26,490 24 49 61.8 37 93
24-70mm f/2.8 FE AF 77,915 35 82 88 128.5 1027
35mm f/1.4 FE AF 38,606 30 67 75.9 115 645
35mm f/1.4 FE AF II TBC 29 67 75 115 659
35mm f/1.8 FE AF 31,544 29 58 65 63.5 210
35mm f/2.8 FE AF 25,400 35 49 61.8 33 86
45mm f/1.8 FE AF 31,034 45 49 61.8 56.1 162

86 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

50mm f/1.4 FE AF 39,900 45 67 73.5 97.7 585
50mm f/1.4 FE AF II 54,517 40 72 80.1 88.9 420
75mm f/1.8 FE AF 28,993 69 58 65 69 230
85mm f/1.4 AF 52,300 90 77 88 99.5 568
135mm f/1.8 FE AF 77,915 69 82 93.4 129.6 772

SIGMA
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
16mm f/1.4 DC DN | C 36,990 25 67 72.2 92.3 405
18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | C 46,210 12.1 55 61.6 76.5 290
30mm f/1.4 DC DN | C 28,990 30 52 64.8 73 140
56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C 39,499 50 55 66.5 59.5 280
14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN | A 1,23,443 28 n/a 85 131 795
20mm f/2 DG DN | C I-series TBC 22 62 70 74.4 370
24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | A 1,05,032 38 82 87.8 122.9 835
24mm f/2 DG DN | C I-series TBC 24.5 62 70 74 360
24mm f/3.5 DG DN | C I-series 45,300 10.8 55 64 48.8 225
28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | C 75,626 19 67 72.2 101.5 470
35mm f/1.2 DG DN | A 1,09,112 30 82 87.8 136.2 1090
35mm f/1.4 DG DN | A 80,034 30 67 75.7 109.5 645
35mm f/2 DG DN | C I-series 55,162 27 58 70 65 325
45mm f/2.8 DG DN | C 46,571 24 55 64 46.2 215
65mm f/2 DG DN | C I-series 62,404 55 62 72 74.7 405
85mm f/1.4 DG DN | A 96,004 85 77 82.4 94.1 630
90mm f/2.8 DG DN | C I-series TBC 50 55 64 61.7 295
100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS | C 1,39,293 112 67 86 199.2 1140
105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro | A 78,990 29.5 62 74 133.6 715
150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS | S 1,18,990 58 95 109.4 263.6 2100

SONY
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
E 10-18mm f/4 OSS 76,490 25 62 70 63.5 225
E 16mm f/2.8 10,900 24 49 62 22.5 67
E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ OSS 22,290 25 40.5 64.7 29.9 116
E 16-55mm f/2.8 G 1,08,990 33 67 73 100 494
E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T* 55,490 35 55 66.6 75 308
E 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS TBC 25 49 62 60 194
E 18-105mm f/4 G PZ OSS 47,490 45 72 78 110 427
E 18-110mm f/4 G PZ OSS 2,86,990 40 95 110 167.5 1105
E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 55,490 45 55 67.2 88 325
E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE 77,490 50 62 68 98 460
E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 PZ OSS 1,05,990 30 67 93.2 99 649
E 20mm f/2.8 37,990 20 49 62.6 20.4 69
E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* 92,990 16 49 63 65.6 225
E 30mm f/3.5 Macro 25,490 9 49 62 55.5 138
E 35mm f/1.8 OSS 41,490 30 49 62.2 45 155
E 50mm f/1.8 OSS 22,690 39 49 62 62 202

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Mirrorless lens Guide
E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS 21,190 100 49 63.8 108 345
E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS 80,990 110 67 77 142 625
FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM 2,99,990 28 n/a 97.6 137 847
FE 12-24mm f/4 G 1,51,990 28 n/a 87 117.4 565
FE 14mm f/1.4 GM TBC 25 n/a 83 99.8 460
FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM 1,92,990 28 82 88.5 121.6 680
FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T* 89,990 28 72 78 98.5 518
FE 16-35mm f/4 G PZ 1,24,990 23 72 80.5 88.1 353
FE 20mm f/1.8 G 89,490 18 67 84.7 73.5 373
FE 24mm f/1.4 GM 1,29,990 24 67 75.4 92.4 445
FE 24mm f/2.8 G 63,500 24 49 68 45 162
FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM 1,59,990 38 82 87.6 136 886
FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T* 79,900 40 67 73 94.5 426
FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS 94,990 38 77 83.4 113.3 663
FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS 79,990 50 72 80.5 118.5 780
FE 28mm f/2 34,500 29 49 64 60 200
FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 44,990 30 40.5 67 45 167
FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 34,990 30 55 72.5 83 295
FE 28-135mm PZ f/4 G OSS 2,17,990 95 95 162.5 105 1215
FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA Distagon T* 1,17,990 30 72 78.5 112 630
FE 35mm f/1.4 GM 1,64,990 27 67 76 96 524
FE 35mm f/1.8 55,490 22 55 65.6 73 280
FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Sonnar T* 57,990 35 49 61.5 36.5 120
FE 40mm f/2.5 G 66,990 28 49 68 45 173
FE 50mm f/1.2 GM 2,28,990 40 72 87 108 778
FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Planar T* 1,30,990 45 72 83.5 108 778
FE 50mm f/1.8 19,130 45 49 68.6 59.5 186
FE 50mm f/2.5 G 63,500 35 49 68 45 174
FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro 42,990 16 55 70.8 71 236
FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* 68,990 50 49 64.4 70.5 281
FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS 1,12,490 100 72 80 175 840
FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS 1,89,990 96 77 88 200 1480
FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II 2,44,990 40 77 88 200 1045
FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS 1,03,990 90 72 84 143.5 854
FE 85mm f/1.8 53,069 80 67 78 82 371
FE 85mm f/1.4 GM 1,29,990 80 77 89.5 107.5 820
FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS 65,990 28 62 79 130.5 602
FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS 1,40,990 57 72 85.2 118.1 700
FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS 2,27,500 98 77 93.9 205 1395
FE 135mm f/1.8 GM 1,85,990 70 82 89.5 127 950
FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS 1,77,990 240 95 111.5 318 2115

TAMRON
MOUNT PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
14-150 F/3.5-5.8 Di III MFT mount 55,500 50 52 63.5 80.4 285
11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD Sony APS-C 67,500 15 67 73 86.2 335
17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Sony APS-C 67,500 19 67 74.6 119.3 525
17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Fujifilm X 73,000 19 67 74.6 119.3 525

88 | Smart Photography | July 2023 www.smartphotography.in

18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC Sony APS-C 55,200 50 62 68 96.7 460
18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Sony APS-C/ Fujifilm X 65,000 15 67 75.5 125.6 620
20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Sony FF 32,000 11 67 73 64 220
24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Sony FF 32,000 12 67 73 64 215
35mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Sony FF 32,000 15 67 73 64 210
17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD Sony FF 85,000 19 67 73 99 420
28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Sony FF 82,000 18 67 76 118 540
28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Sony FF 64,500 19 67 74 117 575
35-150mm F/2.0-2.8 Di III VXD Sony FF 164,000 33 82 89 158 1165
70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD Sony FF 99,900 85 67 81 149 810
70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Sony FF 50,000 80 67 77 148 545
150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Sony FF 120,900 60 82 93 209.6 1725

TOKINA
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
atx-m 23mm f/1.4 X 42,750 30 52 65 72 276
atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X 35,905 40 52 65 72 285
Firin 20mm f/2 FE MF 55,417 28 62 69 81.5 490
Firin 20mm f/2 FE AF 39,999 28 62 73.4 81.5 464
atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE 34,161 80 72 93.2 80 645
Firin 100mm f/2.8 FE Macro 47,990 30 55 74 123 570

VOIGTLANDER
PRICE MIN FOC FILTER DIAMETER LENGTH WEIGHT
(RS) (CM) THREAD (CM) (MM) (CM) (G)
10.5mm f/0.95 Nokton 1,49,207 17 72 77 82.4 585
17.5mm f/0.95 Nokton 58,417 15 58 63.4 80 540
25mm f/0.95 Nokton II 54,517 17 52 60.6 70 435
29mm f/0.8 Super Nokton 1,36,410 37 62 72.3 88.9 703
42.5mm f/0.95 Nokton TBC 23 58 64.3 74.6 571
60mm f/0.95 Nokton 58,417 34 77 82.5 87.7 860
23mm f/1.2 Nokton Aspherical TBC 18 46 59.3 43.8 214
35mm f/1.2 Nokton X 50,617 30 46 59.6 39.8 195
10mm f/5.6 Hyper Wide Heliar 74,015 50 n/a 67.8 58.7 312
15mm f/4.5 Super Wide Heliar III 54,517 30 58 66.4 62.3 294
21mm f/1.4 Nokton 77,915 25 62 70.5 79.5 560
21mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar Asph 82,751 20 52 62.8 39.9 230
35mm f/1.2 Nokton SE 68,556 30 58 66.5 59.9 387
35mm f/1.4 Nokton Asph TBC 30 58 67 39.6 262
35mm f/2 Apo-Lanthar 89,614 35 49 62.5 67.3 352
40mm f/1.2 Nokton 66,216 35 58 70.1 59.3 420
40mm f/1.2 Nokton SE 62,316 35 58 66.5 51.9 340
50mm f/1.2 Nokton 70,116 45 58 70.1 58.8 434
50mm f/1.2 Nokton SE 62,316 45 58 66.5 58.5 383
50mm f/2 Apo-Lanthar 81,815 45 49 62.6 61.3 354
65mm f/2 Macro Apo-Lanthar 74,015 31 67 78 91.3 625
110mm f/2.5 Macro Apo-Lanthar TBC 35 58 78.4 99.7 771

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