📸 The Magazine For Photographers

Welcome to a brand new Issue of my Magazine. A Christmas special, enjoy the read ;)

December 22, 2024

In this Week's Issue

Panasonic’s New Point and Shoot

Panasonic is making a bold move in the world of point-and-shoot cameras with the announcement of the Lumix ZS99, a successor to the ZS80 and ZS80D. Known as the TZ99 in some regions, this compact little device is designed for those who want a pocketable camera that doesn’t skimp on quality and offers an impressive zoom range. It’s a bit of a surprise, too, considering most manufacturers have stepped back from releasing new point-and-shoot models. Panasonic, however, seems determined to prove there’s still life in the format.

The ZS99 isn’t drastically different from its predecessors. For the most part, the core features of the ZS99 are unchanged. It has the same sensor, lens, image stabilization, autofocus system, rear display, and video capabilities as the ZS80 and ZS80D. But Panasonic has made a few thoughtful tweaks. For instance, the ZS99 now supports vertical video recording, making it a better fit for social media users who shoot for platforms like Instagram or TikTok. There’s also a new “REC” frame indicator—a red border that shows up on the screen when you’re recording video, which is a small but handy addition.

Connectivity has also been updated. The ZS99 supports Bluetooth V5 for faster, more stable connections, and Panasonic has replaced the aging micro USB port with a modern USB-C connection. On top of that, there’s now a “Send Image” button right on the camera body, making it easier to transfer photos without having to dive into menus.

But with new features come tradeoffs. To make room for the USB-C port, Panasonic removed the electronic viewfinder entirely. Unlike the ZS80 and ZS80D, which had a 2,330K-dot EVF, the ZS99 relies solely on its rear LCD screen for composing shots. For some users, this might feel like a bit of a step backward.

The Panasonic Lumix ZS99 is set to hit shelves in mid-February 2025, available in both black and silver, priced at $499.99.

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Interview with Tommi Viitala

This week’s Interview with the amazing street photographer Tommi Viitala. What I like most about his photography style is his amazing use of light which always sets a mood and leads the viewer through his images.

You can find him on Instagram as: @tommiviitala

Enjoy this amazing Interview ;)

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm Tommi Viitala, a Helsinki-based street photographer with a long background in the creative industry. I’ve been exploring street photography for over four years, focusing on contrasts, shadows, and the fleeting moments of urban life.

How did you get into photography?

I started with film cameras in the 1990s and have been capturing images ever since. My passion for street photography grew out of a desire to document the beauty and unpredictability of everyday moments.

How do you approach storytelling through your photos?

I focus on capturing fleeting, candid moments that raises emotions and leave space for viewers own interpretation. My goal is to let each viewer find their own story within the frame, guided by the contrasts, light, and composition I carefully craft.

How do you define street photography in your own terms?

Street photography is about capturing raw, unfiltered moments of life in public spaces. It's a mix of spontaneity and observation, where the mundane becomes extraordinary through timing and perspective.

What attracts you to street photography compared to other types of photography?

I’m drawn to the unpredictability and authenticity of street photography. It’s a challenge and a thrill to find beauty and meaning in the chaos of everyday life, where no two moments are ever the same.


How do you capture emotion in your photos?

I focus on timing, body language, and facial expressions, often framing subjects in contrasting light or shadow to amplify the mood. The goal is to create images that resonate emotionally with viewers through subtle, candid details.

What gear do you use?

I primarily use a Fujifilm X-series camera X100f with a compact fixed 23mm lens, as it’s discreet and versatile—perfect for blending into the street environment while maintaining high image quality.

What are your favourite shooting conditions?

I embrace surely all weather conditions, but I have to choose, I love shooting on sunny days with strong light and shadows, as they add depth and drama to my compositions. Early mornings or late afternoons, when the light is softer and more directional, are particularly ideal.

Is there a type of photography or genre you haven’t explored yet but would like to?

I’m intrigued by documentary photography, especially projects that dive deeply into cultural or social themes. It would be interesting to explore storytelling on a broader scale with more narrative depth.

What does photography mean to you?

Photography is a way to freeze fleeting moments, to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. It’s both an art form and a personal journey of observing and connecting with the world around me.

Do you have a specific location or city that you think offers the best opportunities for street photography?

Budapest is close to my heart, with its unique light, urban atmosphere, and the understated stories it offers. That said, any city with diverse people and dynamic street life can provide incredible opportunities. Especially Budapest metro stations are incredible.

What are your thoughts on AI in photography?

AI can be a powerful tool for enhancing workflows and exploring creativity, but I believe the essence of photography lies in the human perspective. AI should complement creativity, not replace the authentic connection between the photographer and the subject.

What editing software do you use and how long does it take you to edit a shot?

I primarily use Adobe Lightroom for editing. Depending on the complexity, editing a shot usually takes 5–15 minutes as I aim for subtle adjustments that enhance the original image. To be honest, i'm super lazy to edit my street photos.

How much gear do you usually carry with you on a street photography outing?

The rest, 7 more questions, of this Interview are for Premium subscribers only.

Viltrox’s AF 35mm f/1.7 Air

Viltrox has just dropped a new 35mm f/1.7 autofocus lens for Nikon Z, Sony E, and Fujifilm X-mount cameras, and it’s designed with entry-level photographers in mind. This lens checks all the boxes: it’s small, lightweight, affordable, and promises great image quality.

Part of Viltrox’s “Air” series, the lens is all about portability. It weighs just 170 grams (about six ounces) and measures 64mm by 54.7mm (roughly 2.5 by 2.1 inches). Translation? It’s small enough to fit in your pocket or the palm of your hand—lighter than most smartphones, even. Despite its compact size, Viltrox says it delivers “professional-grade” performance, making it a great everyday option.

Inside, the lens is built with 11 elements in nine groups, including extra-low dispersion (ED) glass and aspheric elements. These are meant to reduce distortion and chromatic aberration, so your shots come out clean and sharp. There’s also a multi-layer coating to cut down on lens flare and ghosting, which is especially helpful in tricky lighting conditions. Interestingly, Viltrox’s website lists slightly different specs (nine elements in eight groups), but their official press materials back up the more advanced configuration—so we’re rolling with that.

The lens has a nine-bladed aperture, which creates smooth, dreamy bokeh—perfect for portraits. Autofocus is driven by a stepping motor, and it fully communicates with Nikon, Fujifilm, and Sony mirrorless cameras, so everything works seamlessly. The f/1.7 aperture is a standout feature, letting in tons of light while still keeping the lens small.

At just $179, the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 Air Series lens is available now. It’s an awesome choice for photographers looking to upgrade their gear without spending a fortune. If you’re curious about how it performs, Viltrox has shared some sample images on their website—definitely worth a look.

Image credits: Viltrox

ON1’s New Lightpanel Tool

ON1 has introduced a new professional photography tool, Lightpanel, as part of its ON1 Pro brand. This AI-powered app is designed to work within Adobe Lightroom Classic, focusing on simplifying culling, reviewing, and editing large batches of photos.

Lightpanel uses artificial intelligence to group similar shots, flag common issues like motion blur or blinking, and assist photographers in quickly narrowing down their selections. It also includes tools like zoomed-in face comparisons, which can be helpful for selecting the best shot from a series.

The app goes beyond sorting by offering AI-driven editing features that make automatic adjustments to tone and color based on the photo’s content. Photographers can modify these edits as needed, and the software learns user preferences over time. Portrait-specific tools, such as background darkening, are also included, along with options to download editing styles created by other professionals.

ON1 plans to expand Lightpanel’s functionality with features like job and order tracking, allowing photographers to manage their workflow and client interactions directly within Lightroom Classic.

According to ON1, Lightpanel aims to reduce the time spent on culling and editing tasks, providing an integrated solution for photographers who handle high-volume workloads, such as wedding or portrait photography.

Lightpanel is available for preorder at $199.99 per year, discounted from the expected regular price of $299.99.

Image credits: ON1

Photo Analysis

Welcome to the new part of the Magazine Issue where we take a closer look at a photo and analyse it so that you can learn and better your own photography from it ;)

This editions photo by: @anskar.lenzen

Let’s Analyse this beautiful image:

Composition:

  • Good: The kingfisher is positioned slightly off-center, still following the rule of thirds, which creates a visually pleasing balance and directs attention to the bird. The inclusion of the branch provides a natural frame, enhancing the composition by adding context and depth as well as almost creating a leading line. The waterfall can be seen as a leading line as well.

  • Could Improve: While the composition is strong, slightly more negative space around the bird could emphasise its solitude and make it the undeniable focal point.

Lighting:

  • Good: The soft, diffused lighting, highlights the bird's vivid colours without creating distracting shadows. This lighting adds a serene atmosphere to the photo, with the gradient in the background contributing to the overall depth as well.

  • Could Improve: A touch more contrast might help in making the bird stand out even more from the background, although the current lighting works well with the subject's natural colours.

Focus and Depth of Field:

  • Good: The sharp focus on the kingfisher against a softly blurred background does isolate the subject effectively, showcasing the texture of the feathers and the details of the leaves.

  • Could Improve: Although the focus is good, ensuring the bird's eye is the sharpest point would enhance the emotional connection, as eyes are key in wildlife photography for engaging viewers.

Color:

  • Good: The bird’s bright blue and especially the orange are striking against the muted, cool tones of the background, creating a good contrast that creates this ‘‘pop’’ of the bird. The dark, red leaves provide additional contrast (as well as texture), enriching the overall colour palette.

  • Could Improve: Some viewers might find the overall colour too muted, too cold, too blue. Therefore adding a bit more warmth to the image might help keep some viewers more interested.

Artistic Elements:

  • Good: The photo captures a moment of stillness, with a sense of calm. The misty backdrop adds an almost dreamlike feel, contributing to a narrative of ‘‘nature's quiet beauty’’.

  • Could Improve: To add narrative depth, capturing the bird in a moment of activity or interaction, like hunting etc., could tell a more dynamic/dramatic story, though like I said the current stillness has a charm of its own.

Photography Tip of the Week

The weekly photography tip is only accessible to Premium Subscribers of The Magazine For Photographers.

Photographer of the Week

Photographer of the week goes to: Rebecca B Traveller

You can find her on Instagram as: @rebeccabtraveller

A couple of her images:

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Anamorphic Lenses on a Budget (Kinda)

Venus Optics has introduced the Nanomorph LF 1.5x Anamorphic Series, a set of lenses made for full-frame and large-format cameras. This lineup includes four primes—32mm, 42mm, 55mm, and 85mm—all with a T2.9 aperture, designed for big projects like theatrical films.

These lenses have a 44.71mm image circle, so they’re perfect for full-frame cameras and even some larger sensors like the Arri Alexa LF. The 1.5x squeeze ratio gives you that cinematic 2.66:1 aspect ratio on a 16:9 sensor. It’s a nice middle ground—more dramatic than the 1.33x look but without the size and weight issues of 1.8x or 2x anamorphic lenses.

What really stands out is how clean and smooth these lenses make your shots. The bokeh stays uniform across the frame, so you won’t get weird distortions at the edges. Plus, Venus Optics kept things lightweight and compact.

Each lens costs $1,499, or you can get all four for $5,399 (saving $600). They come with a PL mount, but you can swap it for Canon EF, RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, or L-Mount for $50 each.

Image credits: Laowa

The Rest of this Issue is for Premium Subscribers

The Premium Version of this Magazine is now on a ‘‘Pay What you Want’’ model. Meaning you get to decide the price.