Black_White_Photography_-_Winter_2014

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B+W

T

he iPad Air retains

the incredible 9.7in

Retina display of its

predecessor, while

seriously trimming down every

other aspect of the device.

The end result is a thin and

seriously lightweight tablet,

that’s comfortable when held

for extended periods and ideal

for travelling when space is

at a premium.

Apple have made no

compromise in the build quality

either: the iPad Air is beautifully

crafted in aluminium, right

down to the metal keys. New

chips and a new operating

system (iOS 8) hone the already

unsurpassed user experience,

allowing the iPad Air to perform

T

he Sony Xperia Z2 is

currently the thinnest

10in tablet on the

market, being 1.1mm

slimmer than the iPad Air and

a fraction thinner than the

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5.

As it’s also considerably lighter

than its two main rivals, and

benefits from being waterproof,

it’s a great tool for travelling

or using in the field when you

need a full size screen.

That said, despite being

beautifully designed, some

weight saving is achieved

though the use of a plastic back

and trim, which may not be as

durable as the iPad’s chassis.

CHECKOUT

Whether they’re used as a portfolio, studio tool, photo editor or storage

device, tablets have become a crucial part of a photographer’s armoury.

Daniel Calder takes six contenders for a test drive.

TESTS AND

PRODUCTS

IPAD AIR

SONY XPERIA Z2

TECH SPECS

TECH SPECS

Available models 16Gb, 32Gb, 64Gb,

128Gb with or without 4G option

Display 9.7in, 2048 x 1536 pixels

Operating system iOS 8

Ports Lightning

Size 240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm

Weight 469g (Wi-Fi only)

RRP £399-£739

Contact apple.com

Available models 16Gb with or

without 4G, 32Gb Wi-Fi only

Display 10.1in, 1920 x 1200 pixels

Operating system Android 4.4 KitKat

Ports microUSB and microSD

Size 266 x 172 x 6.4mm

Weight 426g (Wi-Fi only)

RRP £369-£469

Contact sony.co.uk

LIKES

Premium design

Awesome Retina display

Massive range of tablet apps

LIKES

Thinnest and lightest 10in tablet

on market

Useful microUSB and

microSD slots

Waterproof

DISLIKES

No microSD card slot

Expensive

DISLIKES

Disappointing screen resolution

compared to its competitors

Highly reflective screen

BEST IN TEST

SUPER THIN

‘As good as the hardware is, the software is key

to just how creative you can be with a tablet.’

‘It’s a great tool for travelling or using in the

fi eld when you need a full size screen.’

complex tasks incredibly

quickly and intuitively.

As good as the hardware

is, the software is key to just

how creative you can be with

a tablet. In this area, the App

store still trumps its Android

rival. The iPad Air is packaged

with iWork and iLife, which

includes iPhoto – a useful

cataloguing and viewing

program for your images.

The only downside is the

preference for a Lightning port,

which requires the purchase of

a Camera Connection Kit (£18),

USB adaptor (£20) or Eye-Fi

card to transfer images quickly.

The screen lacks the

resolution of other premium

tablets, but it’s certainly

good enough, and Sony’s

Live Colour LED gives added

punch to reds and greens. The

screen, however, is particularly

glossy – which could be

problematic in bright daylight.

More positively, the Xperia Z2

boasts excellent connectivity

with a microUSB (MHL 3.0

enabled) and microSD slot

beneath a waterproof panel on

the side of the device. These

welcome additions make it

easy to transfer files, increase

the storage capacity and

connect to a television.

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