The 2018 – 2019 release cycle has so far been full of exciting video cameras and lenses, and it’s now time for the EISA Awards to recognize those that shine above all others.
The EISA Awards has just announced its winner of the top photography products of 2018 – 2019. Sony has come out on top — winning and impressive 5 EISA awards (which includes the op prize: camera of the year.) Canon came in a close second, taking 4 awards. Nikon also impressively took 2 awards.
Here are some of the top picks:
Camera of the Year: Sony a7 III
The a7 III is a solid choice as camera of the year. Its strengths definitely outweighs its weaknesses. We were impressed with the a7 III during our review, especially by its two Log picture profiles and long battery life — two hours plus. Not to mention it shoots Full Frame 4K.
Here’s the EISA Awards reasoning behind picking the a7 III as its Camera of the Year:
“With the α7 III, Sony has set the standard for an all-round full-frame mirrorless camera capable of tackling many forms of photography. The new 24.2-megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor provides outstanding image quality in a wide range of lighting conditions. The autofocus system covers almost the entire frame, making it easy to focus on and track moving subjects that are not in the center of the frame. With a burst speed of 10 frames per second and a 4K video mode, the α7 III is ready to capture fast action,” says the EISA Awards.
Best Photo/Video Camera: Panasonic LUMIX DC-GH5S
We found the Panasonic LUMIX DC-GH5S to be more of a video-first camera. It has a great looking image and does well in low-light, but it uses a sensor that has half the pixels of the GH5 and lost the sensor stabilization. However the GH5S has a strong list of features that you could ignore some of its downfalls.
“This camera is specially designed for demanding videographers. The 10.2-megapixel Four Thirds sensor offers dual native ISO sensitivities for the best picture quality when working in low light. It also offers many different recording formats, including 4K/30p 4:2:2 10-bit direct to card without any time limit, or high frame rates (240fps in Full HD) for smooth slow motion. It also offers V-Log and HDR mode for wide dynamic range and better tonal rendering. Other useful facilities include a zebra pattern display, time code in/out function as well as a waveform and Vector Scope monitor,” says the EISA Award.
DSLR Zoom Lens: Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art
The EISA Awards picked the Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art because of the rarity of it “extreme wide-angle zoom” with the kind of sharpness the lens provides. They also say it’s very durable and priced at a “reasonable price” — 2,300 dollars.
“This SIGMA lens is a really impressive performer. It’s rare to find a bright extreme wide-angle zoom of this kind with very high sharpness, virtually no linear distortion, and almost no sign of chromatic aberration. With extremely good build quality, well protected against dust and splashes, this is a lens you can use with confidence in poor weather conditions. Available for full-frame DSLRs at a very reasonable price, this landscape and architecture lens stands out from the competition.”
DSLR Prime Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
Taking the top DSLR Prime lens award, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM, according to EISA Awards, makes it possible to shoot handheld in low light. This is due to its built-in image stabilization and large aperture.
“This unique lens combines built-in image stabilisation with a very large aperture. This combination makes it possible to take handheld pictures in very low light. The lens is built for professional work, with weather sealing and fast, accurate autofocus. The sharpness is improved compared to previous 85mm lenses from Canon, while blurred backgrounds are rendered very attractively. It’s a perfect choice for portrait and wedding photographers shooting with high-resolution full-frame DSLRs.”
EISA Awards will be held in two weeks
The official ceremony will be held on August 31st where the winning companies will receiver their awards. Congrats to all the winners!
You can check out the full winner roster at eisa.eu./awards/photography.
