Clifton Cameras and COAP Quarterly Tech Round Up - Q1 2025

By Aled Phillips

Well, what a start to the year it’s been! Seems as though as soon as the January blues had set in, the photo market exploded with lots of exciting new products to get our inspiration whirring and our wallets shivering in fear! 

Sony

Sony announced their FE 400-800mm f6.3-8 G OSS Lens

(https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/sony-fe-400-800mm-f63-8-g-oss-lens) which immediately got me thinking about how great this would be for an airshow lens. The 800mm focal length has previously been reserved for expensive primes, teleconverter users, or equivalent focal lengths by using crop sensor cameras. To have a native 800mm (albeit at f8) with the ability to zoom out for the closer passes, ticks a lot of boxes, and opens more of the display as aircraft head out away from the crowd. I can see this being an excellent lens for seaside-based shows, where aircraft tend to be slightly higher, and slightly further away from the crowd line. The only downfall or caveat I see with this lens is that maximum aperture, given our weather can be at best, unkind, even in the summer, any days where there is a distinct lack of sunny blue skies, will lead this into trouble fairly quickly.

Nikon

Nikon finally announced their 35mm f1.2 Z lens (https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/nikon-nikkor-z-35mm-f12-s-lens) which I feel will have some great uses as a night shoot wide angle lens. A super sharp and bright 35mm prime will go great as the natural light fades into darkness. 

Nikon also released a long anticipated updated to their Coolpix range of bridge cameras with the Nikon P1100. (https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/nikon-coolpix-p1100) This seems predominantly the same as the previous P1000, with a few autofocus tweaks, and the new EU regulatory USB-C Charging capability. This is a stalwart for anyone seeking immense reach (up to 6000mm!), ideal for photographing high level transits by airliners and military overflights alike.

Sigma

The Japanese brand have arguably started the strongest in 2025, with a whole raft of updates already this year. The biggest (literally) is the gargantuan Sigma 300-600mm f4 DG OS Sports Lens for Sony E, and L Mount cameras (https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/sigma-300-600mm-f4-dg-os-sports-lens). Sigma boasts prime levels of quality and sharpness across the focal length range, with High Response Linear Actuator (HLA) powering the high-thrust motor for speedy and accurate autofocus. Optimised for optical power the focus lens group is lightweight ensuring high-speed autofocus with outstanding accuracy. Constructed from 28 elements in 21 groups the 300-600mm f4 Sports lens offers unmatched image quality. 6 FLD and 1 SLD glass element, anomalous dispersion glass and a high refractive index glass all work to produce exceedingly high image resolution with minimal optical aberrations. The bright f4 aperture is wide for fast response and excellent light intake even in dimly lit scenarios. The 5.5 stops of optical image stabilisation are powered by Sigma’s OS2 algorithm. This drive unit is specially designed with a high-precision sensor and actuator that ensure ultimate mobility free from camera shake.

I find that 600mm is plenty enough for most aviation events in the UK, with some shows and low-level areas more than manageable at 400mm, this lens caters for the ‘one lens to rule all’ when it comes to aviation photography. It will easily cover the 3-point front arrival shots at RIAT P+V East, through to side on of smaller aircraft. Lovely head on shots at P+V West in the 300-500mm range, and perfect for all aspects of low level photography, with even the closest passes not requiring more than around the 300mm.

This lens is arguably the biggest step forward in telephoto lens capability since Nikon released their Z Mount 400mm f2.8, and 600mm f4 lenses with built in 1.4x Teleconverters.

I am really looking forward to getting hands on with this lens, and hope that the weight can be manageable, as it looks to be a weighty beast. I’m also pleased to say that as part of the ongoing support for COAP within the FRIAT enclosure at the Royal International Air Tattoo, the single demo model of the 300-600 in the UK, in E Mount, will be in attendance with the Sigma team in 2025! I’m sure you won’t miss it! Maybe bring a monopod, just in case!

For crop sensor shooters Sigma have also catered for you, in a release that may have been shadowed, the Sigma 16-300mm f3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary lens,  (https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/sigma-16-300mm-f35-67-dc-os-contemporary)  offers a fantastic do it all lens for single day airshows. Wide enough to get creative with static shots, long enough on a crop sensor body to shoot some lovely aerials too. At only £599 for Sony E, Canon RF, L Mount, and Fujifilm X Mount, this lens could be attending shows in high numbers through 2025 and beyond.

OM Systems

OM Systems released an updated version of the 100-400mm this quarter, with COAP Ambassador Keiran Wilkinson bagging the first pre-order with Clifton Cameras, I think this was quite hotly anticipated!

(https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/om-system-100-400mm-f5-63-ed-is-ii-mzuiko-lens)

Offering improved stabilisation and weather sealing than the mark I, as well as integrating synchronised IS across the lens and camera, the lens looks to be a sure fire upgrade for any OM Systems or Panasonic m4/3rds user.

I have no doubts Keiran will be updating you all on his new purchase very soon!

That concludes this quarters round up, hopefully some more excitement to come throughout the year, and I look forward to keeping everyone in the loop!