📸 The Magazine For Photographers

A New Sunday means a brand new Issue of my Magazine. Another wonderful one enjoy the read :)

January 19, 2025

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In this Issue

The Brand New Leica SL3-S

Leica just dropped the SL3-S, a hybrid camera built for both photography and video enthusiasts. It’s packing a 24-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor with phase detection, which means you’re getting not only sharp and accurate focus but also the option to shoot massive 48 or 96-megapixel images in multi-shot mode. On the video side, it delivers 6K recording in a 3:2 aspect ratio, along with Timecode support and an upgraded HDMI 2.1 output. All of this is wrapped up in an IP54-rated, all-metal body that’s somehow lighter than its predecessor—the SL2-S—dropping from 850 grams to 768 grams (sans battery).

In terms of autofocus, Leica’s really stepped things up here. The SL3-S combines 779 phase-detection points with 315 contrast-detection points, plus object detection tech. Together, they make tracking your subject a breeze, whether it’s a person, a pet (thanks to a beta animal detection feature), or anything else in motion. Even at its top burst rate of 30 frames per second, the camera keeps focus locked in. For those wondering, the buffer holds up pretty well, handling up to 175 frames in JPEG, RAW, or both before hitting its limit.

Leica’s also made some thoughtful upgrades to the design. The electronic viewfinder now offers a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate with 5.76 million dots, while the 3.2-inch rear screen tilts—finally making it easier to shoot from tricky angles. Battery life gets a nice boost too, with the new 2,200mAh battery replacing the older 1,860mAh version. The overall feel of the camera has been reworked to be more comfortable in hand, which is always a win.

For still shooters, the SL3-S delivers detailed 24-megapixel shots with an ISO range of 50 to 200,000. If you’re after even higher resolution, its multi-shot mode can stitch together images to create 48- or 96-megapixel files—and you can do this handheld, thanks to in-body stabilization. Shutter speeds range from 1/8,000 to 1/16,000 of a second, depending on whether you’re using the mechanical or electronic shutter, and flash sync tops out at 1/200 of a second.

What makes this camera stand out even more is Leica’s decision to include hardware-based support for content authenticity. It’s the first SL-series camera with built-in Content Credentials from the Content Authenticity Initiative. This means your photos come with “tamper-proof metadata,” which can be verified to prove they haven’t been altered—a feature that’s pretty rare in the camera world and speaks to Leica’s forward-thinking approach.

If you’re already invested in the L-mount system, you’ll be happy to know the SL3-S works seamlessly with lenses from Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma. It’s available to order now for $5,295.

Image credits: Leica

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Interview with Mkaptured

This week’s interview with Mike, a photographer with a very striking, unique editing style. Some absolutely love it, some absolutely hate it.

You can find him on Instagram as: @mkaptured.uk

Enjoy the amazing Interview ;)

Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Mike, I’m a UK photographer based just outside of London. I specialise in night time photography and creating unique “fine art” style images. I am a former freelance graphic designer, with previous clients such as Warner Music and Atlantic Records.

How did your photography journey start?

Near the end of 2021 I started to watch POV style YouTube videos, of people doing doing street photography in London and in January 2022 I decided to go out and try it for myself. I instantly got drawn to going out at night where I started to play around with long exposure images and street photography using natural light sources such as street lights or neon signs in windows etc. From there, that, mixed with my previous history of graphic designing, I started to produce some really unique shots of London!

What do you think is the most important factor in capturing a great photo?

For me, it’s finding the right perspective to compliment the frame. You’ll see quite often that I take my photos from low down perspectives as it gives you a dynamic feel and the combination of, an out of focus, smooth foreground leading into a vast background, creates incredible depth.

What do you do when you get the feeling that there is nothing new to shoot?

I don’t really get this too often because I cover quite a big area when I do go out, so if one place isn’t working for one reason or another I just move onto the next spot. If I’m just generally having an off day I’ll either take a break or just call it a day.

How do you balance creativity with technical knowledge?

A lot of my images are based on symmetry so when I’m out shooting, I’m always looking for things such as leading lines that draw you in to the subject. When it comes to long exposure photography, where your catching light trails from vehicles, you can get vastly different results by using different shutter speeds. If your shutter speed is around 1-3 secs, the trails will be shorter but thicker and more vibrant, if it’s longer, around 6-20secs the light trails will appear longer, but thinner.

How do you approach post-processing to achieve a specific look or style, what is your software of choice and how much time do you spend editing?

So my post processing starts in Lightroom where I’ll make minor lighting/colour adjustments, crop and straighten the image. Then it’s into photoshop where about 90% of the edit takes place. Here is where I implement the look I want to give the image. I often manipulate the image to create my own symmetry, or to remove any distractions. I love the dark and moody tones and it’s a vital part to almost every image I produce. The time spent on each image varies, but typically on average about an hour.

How do you use lighting in your photos?

As a night photographer, any light source is important. When out shooting, I’ll take advantage of Street lights and lights from shop fronts etc. When it comes to post processing, in photoshop I use the dodge and burn tools as they work extremely well when it comes to adjusting the highlights, midtones and shadows individually.

What gear do you use?

I use the Sony A7iii & A7Riii. My go to lenses at the moment are the 35mm 1.4 from Sigma and the 85mm 1.8 from Sony. I also have a 14-24mm 2.8 and 24-70 2.8 both from Sigma as it’s handy to have a wide angle lens and the 24-70 is an extremely versatile lens to own if you want to only take one lens out with you.

Favourite accessory?

I honestly use one accessory and that’s my wrist strap from peak design! I do have a CPL filter for my 24-70 lens, however I rarely use that lens!

Is a good photograph a matter of expensive gear, skill, or… ?

Definitely not expensive gear. It’ll help, but you can capture incredible photos even on camera phones these days! I think especially if you’re just starting out, focus more on building your knowledge and skills before building an expensive camera/lens collection. A good photograph mostly comes from the composition, and for that, the type of camera is irrelevant.

Best photo-spots in London?

Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, Piccadilly and Chinatown are probably my favourite areas!

What do you think sets your work apart from others in the industry?

The rest, 5 more questions, of this Interview are for Premium subscribers only.

7Artisans’ Tiny Full-Frame Lens

7Artisans has a new lens out—the FF 18mm f/5.6—and it’s all about being compact, affordable, and super lightweight. At just $89, this wide-angle pancake lens weighs only 146 grams (5.2 ounces) and is barely 1 inch long, depending on the mount. It’s available for Sony E, Nikon Z, and L-Mount cameras, making it a nice little option for anyone looking for something portable.

Of course, to keep the size small and the price low, some trade-offs had to be made. The biggest thing to note is the fixed aperture at f/5.6. That’s not exactly bright, and you can’t adjust it, but for casual shooting or walking around, it’ll do just fine. Plus, the wide-angle view makes it easier to get sharp shots, even with the manual focus.

Just be aware you’ll need to adjust focus yourself, but honestly, with a lens like this, it’s not a big deal. The closest it’ll focus is about 0.3 meters (just under 1 foot), so you’ve got a bit of flexibility for closer subjects.

The lens itself is solidly built, with a metal body and space for 49mm filters. Inside, there are seven lens elements arranged in five groups, including two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and one high-refraction element to keep image quality in check. It’s simple but effective.

If the design feels familiar, you’re not wrong. 7Artisans released a similar 18mm f/6.3 Mark II Cap Lens for APS-C cameras early in 2023. That one was even smaller and cheaper at $59, but it had a slower aperture and was marketed more like a “cap lens.” This new 18mm f/5.6 for full-frame cameras is essentially the same idea—tiny, lightweight, and perfect for casual, everyday shooting—just upgraded for bigger sensors.

Image credits: 7Artisans

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 ;)

Let’s Analyse this Photo

Composition

  • Positive:
    The framing here is gorgeous. Those leaves create a natural frame that leads your eye straight to the castle and bridge in the center. It’s layered beautifully, giving the shot a ton of depth. The rule of thirds is nailed, with the castle sitting just slightly off-center, which feels really balanced.

  • Negative:
    The leaves in the foreground are pretty dominant. They’re framing the scene nicely, but they might be a little too in-your-face. A bit more breathing room would’ve made the shot feel less crowded.

Lighting

  • Positive:
    That soft, glowing light from the sun is pure magic. The way it filters through the mist makes everything look dreamy and atmospheric. It gently highlights the castle and bridge, giving the whole scene this serene vibe.

  • Negative:
    The sun in the middle is just a tad too bright—it kind of washes out some of the details. Dialing back the exposure or playing with contrast in post-processing could’ve helped keep that soft glow without losing anything.

Colors

  • Positive:
    The reds of the leaves really pop against the softer tones of the castle and the misty background. It’s such a beautiful autumn vibe, and the colors totally pull you into the scene.

  • Negative:
    The reds are quite intense—maybe a little too much. Toning them down just a bit could make the image feel more balanced.

Depth and Layers

  • Positive:
    This shot has amazing depth. The layers—foreground leaves, the misty middle ground, and the castle in the back—make it feel so rich and dimensional. The reflection in the water ties it all together really nicely, too.

  • Negative:
    The foreground leaves are stealing the spotlight a bit from the castle and bridge, which are supposed to be the main focus. If they were a little softer or less sharp, the balance would feel better.

Mood and Storytelling

  • Positive:
    This photo has such a magical, fairytale vibe. The mist, the soft light, the classic architecture—it all feels like a quiet moment in some enchanted world. It’s super calming and atmospheric.

  • Negative:
    Honestly, there’s not much wrong here. Maybe adding something small, like a person walking on the bridge, could’ve made it feel a little more alive and relatable.

Reflection in the Water

  • Positive:
    The reflection is subtle but adds so much to the calm, tranquil feeling of the image. It’s like a little bonus layer that makes the whole scene feel more complete.

  • Negative:
    The reflection could’ve been sharper or a bit more defined. It’s easy to lose it in all the mist and softness, which makes the bottom of the frame feel a little empty.

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: Filippos Pappas

You can find him on Instagram as: @filippospappasphotography

A few of his images:

Don’t forget to check out the advertisement up top ⬆️

The DJI Flip - Your New Drone?

DJI just dropped the Flip, a new lightweight drone that’s all about making aerial photography easy without skimping on quality. It’s under 250 grams, shoots 4K video, and snaps 48-megapixel photos, borrowing the best bits from the Neo and Mini 4K while stepping up the performance. Think of it as a more powerful, still portable option for everyday users.

The Flip builds on the simplicity of DJI’s $199 Neo, adding features like AI tracking, smart shooting modes, and foldable propeller guards to make flying it a breeze (literally). It even has automatic braking thanks to a 3D infrared sensor, so it’s pretty forgiving if you’re new to drones. It’s bigger than the super-tiny Neo—closer in size to the Mini—but it’s still compact enough to toss in a bag, and those foldable guards mean it won’t snag on anything.

Now, let’s talk about what really matters: the camera. The Flip’s got a larger Type 1/1.3 sensor, which is way better than what the Neo or Mini 4K offered. With DJI’s Dual Native ISO Fusion tech, it handles low-light scenes like a pro. It can capture detailed 48-megapixel photos, shoot 4K HDR video at 60 fps, and even do 4K at 100 fps in 10-bit D-Log for some serious cinematic vibes. It’s basically packing Mini 4 Pro-level quality but at a much friendlier price.

The lens? It’s a 24mm equivalent with an f/1.7 aperture, offering solid performance for most shooting scenarios. You also get up to 4x digital zoom, and the 4:3 sensor gives you enough room to crop vertical shots for social media without losing much quality. Unlike some other DJI drones, the Flip’s camera doesn’t rotate, but it’s designed to make smartphone-ready content super easy.

Battery life is solid too, with up to 31 minutes per charge. The Flip uses a new type of battery (so don’t expect it to be interchangeable with older drones), and if you’re into experimenting, DJI sells optional ND filters for creative control.

You can fly it with DJI’s RC-N3 or RC 2 controllers, the DJI Fly app, or even voice commands. Plus, there’s a Local Data Mode to keep everything offline if you’re privacy-conscious. If you pair it with a controller, you can stream 1080p video up to 13 km away, which is plenty for most uses.

The Flip starts at $439 for the basic drone, $639 if you want the RC 2 controller, and $779 for the full “fly more” bundle with extra batteries and accessories. Sure, it’s pricier than the Neo or Mini 4K, but it’s also a huge step up in terms of features and quality.

A few sample images:

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.