![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Unknown-2_278449242_481906641-400x400.jpeg\")
\nAs usual, we advertised the event on our social media channels and asked applicants to tell us what kit they owned, and to list the kind of kit they would potentially be looking to change up to or add to their existing systems. The wish lists we got back gave the team at MPB plenty of scope to match each participant with an interesting variety of mint condition second-hand cameras and lenses, while still maintaining an element of surprise as to what they were going to get. Accompanying the group were AP\u2019s Editor Nigel Atherton and Features Editor Ailsa McWhinnie, along with Clare Anderson and Ian Howorth from MPB. With a \u00a3250 MPB voucher going to the reader with the best set of images from the day, there was everything to play for. Find out how\u00a0they got on..<\/p>\n
Davina Clift,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Cirencester<\/em><\/strong> Olympus PEN F<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f\/1.7 ASPH<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Sigma 20mm f\/1.4 ART<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n “I usually carry two Nikon D800 bodies, with different lenses, so that I can just grab one out of the bag and use it \u2013 it\u2019s quite heavy kit. So it was very liberating to use the PEN F. It\u2019s a small camera, but quite chunky and substantial, not at all flimsy. I really liked the tilting touchscreen on the back. That\u2019s something I haven\u2019t experienced before. It\u2019s great for shooting at unusual angles, and the fact that you can touch it and it shoots as well is something quite new for me.<\/p>\n The day was quite difficult because usually when you get a new camera you spend a couple of days at home trying to figure out how everything works, but we were thrown in at the deep end. So it says a lot about this camera that everything was quite straightforward and easy to figure out. Overall, I would consider getting one of these, but I would also like to try one of the OM-D cameras and try the live composite mode at night.<\/p>\n I also had a Sigma 20mm f\/1.4 that I used with my D800, which was absolutely wonderful. I\u2019m not used to working with prime lenses, so I had to use my feet more. It meant that as a photographer I had to move around to find the best angles, but I really enjoyed it and the quality is lovely. My last shot of the day was in a barbershop and couldn\u2019t have got the picture that I did without it.”<\/p>\n \u2018The builder found it amusing that I wanted to take his photo; after laughing together, I caught this relaxed shot\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The Sigma 20mm f\/1.4 lens enabled me to capture this characterful scene of\u00a0 men in a barbershop\u2019<\/p>\n\n Joyce Dela Paz, London Nikon Z6<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Nikkor AF-S 50mm f\/1.4G<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Nikkor AF-S 35mm f\/1.4G<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n “I was given a Nikon Z 6, and the first thing I noticed was the size and weight. It is very small and light compared with my D800, but it feels just as solid and sturdy, and fits perfectly in my hand. The layout of the controls is very similar to my D800 so I was able to easily navigate the buttons. The joystick control was a joy to use, giving me immediate access to moving around the AF point. The\u00a0electronic viewfinder and tilting LCD touchscreen are a great bonus, which make this a better shooting experience than that with my D800.<\/p>\n My camera can\u2019t compete with the high-ISO shooting that the Z 6\u00a0offers and the stabilisation when shooting handheld in low light is superb. Autofocus is excellent, too. I was given 35mm and 50mm lenses \u2013 I usually shoot wider, but I got used to it and enjoyed the wide apertures. The Z 6 has changed my views about mirrorless cameras. I have always been sceptical about them. This is the first time I ever used one and I would certainly consider buying one now. The only thing I don\u2019t like about the Z 6 is the fact that it doesn\u2019t take SD cards, and the cards are very expensive.”<\/p>\n \u2018This rusty winch was filled with patterns and rich colours\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The Z6 allowed me to work in low light with a bokehlicious background\u2019<\/p>\n Tay Aziz,\u00a0<\/strong>Bristol<\/strong> Canon EOS 5D<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Canon EOS 5DS<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Canon EF 85mm f\/1.2 L II USM<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Fujifilm X100F<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n I initially picked the Canon EOS 5D because I\u2019ve looked at images from the different versions of that camera and I like the look of them. They look more film-like \u2013 or you can make them look more film-like. With the 5DS, you get about 50MP to play with, which was fun. I\u2019ve never shot with Canon before, so it was a big learning curve. Coming from a Panasonic Lumix GH4, I found the menus a little confusing at first, but it was nothing like those on Sony cameras, which I\u2019ve used, and which are notoriously bad. I have quite small hands so I found it a little big for me to hold, but the buttons are laid out nicely and easy to reach.<\/p>\n For wildlife this camera would be amazing because of the pixel count and ability to crop, but I use the Lumix because it\u2019s much lighter and more portable \u2013 if\u00a0 I was carrying the Canon with a massive 400mm lens it would get very heavy very quickly. I would love to shoot with full frame but I\u2019d have to get a lot fitter first! I really loved the 85mm f\/1.2, though. It produces such beautiful bokeh for portraits. I want one!<\/p>\n I loved shooting with the Fujifilm X100F as well. It\u2019s so small and the dials on the top make it so easy to change the settings. I was taking street pictures of people and because it\u2019s so small nobody notices you. I would love to buy one as an everyday camera \u2013 it would be an amazing little thing to carry around with me all the time. Because it looks so nice it made me want to use it, so I think if I owned one it would inspire me to go out and take more pictures and be much more creative.<\/p>\n \u2018I loved the Canon 85mm and even overcame my fear of asking people for a photo!\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The Fujifilm X100F is super-inconspicuous \u2013 perfect for candids or cheeky seagulls\u2019<\/p>\n\n Kimberley Elliott,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Lewes, East Sussex<\/strong><\/em> Canon EOS 5D Mark IV<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Sigma 50mm f\/1.4 DG HSM Art lens<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n I was especially interested in trying the Sigma 50mm f\/1.4 Art lens as I\u2019ve\u00a0been looking at it for quite a while.\u00a0I loved both the body and the lens, compared to the EOS 6D set-up that I\u00a0have at the moment. The main things that I liked were the 5D Mark IV\u2019s extra focus points, compared with the 6D, and a few more menu options. But overall I loved using it because it was so similar that it didn\u2019t take me long at all to get used to it and figure out how it works. I had been wondering whether it would be worth upgrading my 6D, and after using it for the day it has confirmed for me that \u2018The lens allowed me to work from the other side of the street so I could go unnoticed\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The lens and body combination was high quality and a great focal length for this angle\u2019<\/p>\n Julia Brillantes,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>London<\/strong><\/em> Leica SL<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f\/2.8-4 ASPH lens<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n This was my first time with a Leica. I found it very fast to use, and the images are very sharp. There are only\u00a0<\/i>a few buttons on the camera and the four customisable ones on the back don\u2019t have any labels to say what they do. But when you get used to that it\u2019s very user-friendly. I love the lens. It\u2019s a great all-rounder, with a fast f\/2.8 aperture. Overall this is the perfect camera for travelling. You don\u2019t need any extra lenses \u2013 just this body and this lens. I would certainly consider buying one.<\/p>\n\n \u2018Shooting at the long end of the lens with a wide aperture makes this close-up of a daffodil really pop\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The sparkling colours caught my eye and the Leica rendered the scene with perfect sharpness\u2019<\/p>\n\n In a vast 18,240 sq ft warehouse in Brighton, MPB product specialists check, photograph and catalogue each item before adding it for purchase on the website. Following a rebrand in January 2019, MPB\u2019s website is attractive and user friendly. Photographers who are looking to buy, sell or trade camera equipment can visit the MPB site<\/a>.<\/p>\n So what is the most in-demand kit at MPB right now?<\/p>\n Canon EOS-1D X Mark II<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Canon EF 24-105mm f\/4 L IS USM<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Canon EF-S 10-18mm f\/4.5-5.6 IS STM<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Fujifilm X-T3<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Fujifilm XF 35mm f\/1.4 R<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f\/4G ED VR<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Nikon D750<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 Pro<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Sony Alpha A7 III<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nInstagram: @davina.clift<\/em><\/strong>
\nCurrent kit: Nikon D800, Nikkor lenses, <\/em><\/strong>
\nPanasonic Lumix GF1
\nKit she borrowed:
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DAVINA-Change_WorkInProgress_278390071_481906641-267x400.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DAVINA-Change_AntiqueRestyle_278390082_481906641-599x400.jpg\")
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\n<\/strong><\/em>Instagram: joycedelapazphotography
\n<\/strong><\/em>Current kit: Nikon D800 with various full-frame lenses
\n<\/strong><\/em>Kit she borrowed:
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JOYCE-Z6_AP_RUST_278385712_481906641-614x400.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JOYCE-Z6_AP_JEWELS_278385702_481906641-601x400.jpg\")
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\nInstagram:@tayaziz_<\/strong>
\nCurrent kit: Panasonic Lumix GH4 with Lumix 12-35mm\u00a0and 25mm lens<\/strong>
\nKit she borrowed:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/TAY-Old_and_new_278372262_481906641-500x400.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/TAY-gulls_278372251_481906641-600x400.jpg\")
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\nInstagram: kimberley_elliott_photo <\/strong><\/em>
\nCurrent kit: Canon EOS 6D with a range\u00a0of Canon lenses<\/strong><\/em>
\nKit she borrowed:
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nI want to do that. The lens was lovely. I don\u2019t often use a 50mm prime but I found it natural, and the focusing was very fast. I usually either go wide with my 16-35mm L lens or I\u2019m using telephoto, so this focal length is a refreshing change.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/AP_KimberleyElliott_Old_New2_278374862_481906641-1-600x400.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/AP_KimberleyElliott_Change4_278375041_481906641-500x400.jpg\")
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\nInstagram: @jetaime.07<\/strong><\/em>
\nCurrent kit:\u00a0 Sony A7R III with a range of Sony and Zeiss lenses<\/strong><\/em>
\nKit she borrowed:
\n<\/i><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JULIA-L1170206-Daffodil-CHANGE-OR-UNUS_278377531_481906641-600x400.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JULIA-L1170300-Lights-UNUSUAL-BEAUTY_278377551_481906641-600x400.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mpb-logo-midnight_278384522_481906641-300x191.png\"){kind=logo}
\nAbout MPB<\/strong>
\nMPB is the quick, easy and secure way to buy and sell used camera equipment. They trade hundreds of cameras, lenses and accessories every day. Based in Brighton, MPB has expanded rapidly in the last ten years and now employs more than 100 people in the UK, US and Germany. Most of the MPB staff are camera enthusiasts themselves.<\/p>\n