Is There A Difference Between a $500 And A $26000 Lens? And How Big Is It?

Lens

From the beloved series “unfair yet interesting comparisons”, here is a new episode. A lens selling for $500 compared with a lens that costs $26,000.

Film Riot compares the Rokinon 35mm T1.5 Cine DSX with the Arri 32mm Master Prime. A Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro was used for the comparison. You might be surprised to see that the inexpensive Rokinon performs well in many areas. Enjoy.

More comparison reviews are listed here.

[via PetaPixel]

Price drop on Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM, $200 off – $1,999

Ef 16-35mm F/2.8L III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE
At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 22
  • Three Aspherical & Two UD Elements
  • Subwavelength & Air Sphere Coatings
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Internal Focus; Full-Time MF Override
  • Fluorine Coating on Exposed Elements
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III is $200 off at all major US reseller, now on sale at $1,999: Amazon | Adorama | B&H Photo

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III DxOMarked (sharpest EF 16-35mm f/2.8L to date)

EF 16-35mm f/2.8L

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 22
  • Three Aspherical & Two UD Elements
  • Subwavelength & Air Sphere Coatings
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Internal Focus; Full-Time MF Override
  • Fluorine Coating on Exposed Elements
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III, a professional lens for news and event photographers, has been put on DxOMark’s benchmarks. It’s best iteration of the series so far. It’s an expensive lens, selling at $2,199, but its performance is top notch.

An important lens for many news, sports and event photographers who need speed and top performance at f/2.8, the improvements to edge sharpness on the new EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III will be appreciated. If it’s a lens you’re using on a daily basis, the improved resolution together with enhanced durability, including dust and water resistance, are probably enough to justify an upgrade from the ageing Mark I and II iterations. At $2199 it’s an expensive proposition though, not to mention big and heavy and, if you can live without its ‘fast’ f/2.8 maximum aperture, the cheaper, smaller and lighter 16-35mm f/4L version offers very similar image quality and sharpness as well as image stabilization. Cost aside however, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III is the best performing version of this lens Canon has produced and delivers excellent results. Read the review…

EF 16-35mm f/2.8L

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III real-world sample gallery (DPReview)

Ef 16-35mm F/2.8L III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 22
  • Three Aspherical & Two UD Elements
  • Subwavelength & Air Sphere Coatings
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Internal Focus; Full-Time MF Override
  • Fluorine Coating on Exposed Elements
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

DPReview posted a set of 42 real-world sample pictures shot with the new Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III, a highly regarded lens that’s not in anyone’s budget ($2,199)

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III review (ePhotozine)

Ef 16-35mm F/2.8L III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 22
  • Three Aspherical & Two UD Elements
  • Subwavelength & Air Sphere Coatings
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Internal Focus; Full-Time MF Override
  • Fluorine Coating on Exposed Elements
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

ePhotozine posted their review of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III. a highly regarded, professional wide-angle lens. In the conclusion they write:

We have weather sealing, outstanding performance, solid construction and a very high price. We lose IS, but that may be more acceptable in wide angle lenses. Really the question is not so much is the lens worth the price, it quite probably is, but whether or not our budget can justify the large margin between it and the alternatives.

If that equation can be satisfied for the individual photographer, then certainly the lens will not disappoint. Read the review…

The reviewers praise the excellent sharpness of the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III, the very good correction  of chromatic aberrations, the absence of flare, the outstanding build quality and the weather sealing. All this goodness comes at a price, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III sells at $2,199.

These are the best primes and zooms for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, according to DxOMark

Eos-1dx Mark Ii

DxOmark posted a list of what they consider the best prime and zoom lenses to be used with the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II.

Surprisingly (or maybe not), the zoom lenses ranked first and second are not Canon.

  1. Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM ART
  2. Tamron SP 15-30 mm F2.8 Di VC USD.
  3. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

The three best ranked prime lenses (recommended for photojournalists):

  1. Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM
  2. Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM
  3. Canon EF 24mm F1.4L II

What does it mean that third party manufacturers build lenses that are considered the best for Canon’s flagship, the EOS-1D X Mark II? It means that both Sigma ad Tamron made some significant advances in the last years and are now able to build lenses with outstanding optical performance and to sell them at a price that’s usually lower as the Canon counterparts.

eos-1d x mark ii

[via DxOMark: prime lenses | zoom lenses]