Camera vs. phone: 5 of the best new gadgets to make the most out of your photography

WHETHER you’re focusing on a digital SLR or you want to shoot better smartphone snaps, these new gadgets can help make the best of your photographs.

WHETHER you’re keen to snap the ski slopes, step up your photography or shoot fast-moving sportspeople, there are a host of speedy new cameras and accessories emerging to help you find focus.

We’ve rounded up five of the best new cameras and lenses for your consideration, from pocketable pro models to inexpensive action cameras.

Sony A9

4.5/5 stars / $6999 / sony.com.au

The Sony A9 full-frame camera is designed to capture fast-moving subjects.

Sony’s new Alpha camera is built for speed. The A9 is designed for sports-loving photographers who can’t afford to miss a moment, and it’s capable of capturing 20 full-size images in just one second so you can shoot first and make choices later. The 24.2-megapixel full-frame camera also adds a host of useful features including Silent Shooting that uses its electronic shutter to eliminate noise, five-axis image stabilisation, 693-point phase-detection autofocus, and a tilting touchscreen. It can also capture 4K video, and offers dual SD card slots, plus a battery with twice as much power as the previous model. There aren’t as many lenses for the A9 as its top rivals, nor is it built to withstand as much, but this is a real pro photo contender.

Nikon D7500

4/5 stars / $1999 / nikon.com.au

Nikon's D7500 camera is a mid-range digital SLR camera with wireless sharing features.

There are compelling reasons to upgrade to Nikon’s new mid-range DSLR, and they include greater speed, focus, and connectivity. The D7500 improves upon its D7200 predecessor with a 51-point autofocus system, the ability to take eight 20.9-megapixel photos every second, and Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity for transferring photos to a smartphone. The camera is also 45g lighter than before, offers a tilting touchscreen and 4K video capture, and it’s weather-sealed. On the downside, its battery life is 15 per cent shorter, its focus is not as fast as the sporty D500, and it drops a few megapixels.

Nikon AF-P 10-20mm VR

4/5 stars / $600 / nikon.com.au

Nikon's new 10-20mm DX lens is designed for landscape photographers.

Nikon’s new wide-angle lens is designed to pack more into each photo, while adding little more to your camera bag. This lens is surprisingly lightweight at just 230g, and quite compact despite a flared front. When you add it to a cropped sensor camera, like the new D7500, it will deliver the equivalent of 15-30mm, which will still let users capture sweeping landscape views or thorough architectural shots. The lens also offers 3.5 stops of image stabilisation and, while its aperture only opens as wide as f4.5, its comparatively inexpensive price makes it a good bet for enthusiasts.

Kaiser Baas X4 Action Cam

3.5/5 stars / $300 / kaiserbaas.com

The Kaiser Baas X4 Action Cam is designed to record 4K video and 12-megapixel photos.

The X4 Action Cam is a feature-packed device, ready to capture 4K video and 12-megapixel photos from the handlebars of a bicycle or the top of your helmet. The tiny rectangular camera is more than just a GoPro knock-off, however, as it comes with a 40m waterproof housing, several mounts, and features you wouldn’t necessarily expect. They include slow-motion and stabilised video so your downhill races don’t look like a blurry mess. Its screen won’t respond to touches but it is clear enough to give you a good idea of what you’re filming, and it features a wi-fi connection to let you control it from a connected phone. Its build quality does not match that of its main rival, but it is a solid, cheaper alternative.

Olloclip Core Lens Set for iPhone 7/7 Plus

3.5/5 stars / $159.95 / apple.com/au

The Olloclip Core Lens set for the Apple iPhone 7 Plus.

Olloclip has met the design challenge of the Apple iPhone 7 Plus with this unit that works with both of the camera lenses that feature on its rear panel. Using an Olloclip kit can be fiddly, between holding the zoom lens still or finding the focal point when up close with a flower, but the results are worth it. This Core Lens Set’s combination of super-wide, fish-eye and 15x macro lenses offers great versatility.