Articles by: James Abbott

James Abbott

James Abbott is a professional portrait and landscape photographer, and a freelance photography journalist producing words and pictures for the best photography magazines in the UK. James is also a qualified college lecturer and has taught photography and Photoshop to a wide range of age groups and situations including one-to-one, group and distance learning.

Articles by: James Abbott

Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM review

By James Abbott

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is a super-premium prime lens for Alpha fans. But how it live up to its billing?

UK drone laws: where can and can't you fly your drone?

By James Abbott

Got a new drone? Here's everything you need to know about staying on the right side of the new laws in the UK.

Got a new DJI drone? Here's how to set it up and take great photos

By James Abbott

Woken up to find a DJI drone has miraculously flown into your Christmas stocking? Here's how to set it up and get shooting.

Got a new camera? Here are 5 quick ways to take great photos with your kit lens

By Phil Hall, James Abbott, Chris Rowlands

Updated Got a new camera and not sure where to start? These top tips will help you get great shots right out of the box.

Leica Q2 Monochrom review

By James Abbott

A full-frame compact that only shoots in black and white might sound like folly, but the Leica Q2 Monochrom has won us over.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro vs DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0

DJI Mavic 2 Pro vs Phantom 4 Pro V2.0: which is the best drone for you?

By James Abbott

Versus Struggling to decide a winner in the big DJI Mavic 2 Pro vs Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 debate? Our side-by-side test has the answer.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 review

By James Abbott

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 remains a great option for pros who need a sturdy drone with great range and image quality.

DJI Mavic Air 2 vs Mavic 2 Pro: which is the best drone for you?

By James Abbott

Struggling with the great DJI Mavic Air 2 vs Mavic 2 Pro conundrum? Our in-depth comparison will help you pick the best drone for you.

PowerVision PowerEgg X review

By James Abbott

The PowerVision PowerEgg X is a modular, waterproof drone with many skills – but is it jack of all trades, master of none?

Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM review

By James Abbott

Sony's latest G Master is the widest lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture – and as you'd hope for the price, it produces stunning results.

DJI Mavic Air 2 tips and tricks: 7 ways to master our favorite drone

By James Abbott

Got a DJI Mavic Air 2? Our handy tutorials are here to show you how to master the drone and what it's capable of.

DJI Mavic Air 2 review

By James Abbott

Best in Class

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the best drone for beginners and hobbyists, thanks to a series of major upgrades.

How to colorize your old family photos – with smartphone apps or PhotoShop

By James Abbott

Bring your black-and-white memories to life with these photo colorizing options – for both smartphones and PhotoShop.

Leica M10 Monochrom review

By James Abbott

Shooting with the Leica M10 Monochrom is about as close as you can get to film photography with a digital camera.

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom review

By James Abbott

Recommended

The Mavic 2 Zoom is a lightweight, portable drone with a twist – it has an optical zoom lens to help you get close to the action.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro review

By James Abbott

Recommended

The DJI Mavic 2 Pro remains the best all-round drone for most people, thanks to its mix of pro features and portability.

Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G review

By James Abbott

Recommended

Sony’s latest wide-angle prime is a winner for photographers shooting with both full-frame and APS-C E-Mount cameras.

Macro photography: five ways to focus your close-up shots

By James Abbott

Get pin-sharp macro shots every time by choosing the most appropriate focusing method for the subject.

How to create motion blur in-camera

By James Abbott

Learn how to shoot amazing in-camera movement images in just five minutes with this quick shoot guide.

5 things to shoot with your new camera

By James Abbott

If you've just got a new camera, here are five great photo ideas you can try at home.

How to shoot a photo project

By James Abbott

Challenge yourself to create a coherent body of work exploring a theme that interests you.

Essential Sony Alpha camera settings

By James Abbott

Get more from your Sony Alpha mirrorless camera with these essential tips.

How to shoot in-camera double exposures

By James Abbott

Inject your photography with a burst of fun by experimenting with a classic in-camera technique.

Time-lapse photography: how to capture your first time-lapse video

By James Abbott

Learn how to shoot time-lapse photography the easy way with this no-nonsense and easy to follow guide.

Choosing the best lenses for landscape photography

By James Abbott

Discover the only two lenses you’ll ever need to be able to shoot every type of landscape.