[Review] EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM (and why it is better to have newer lenses for new gear)

ephotozine reviewed Canon’s new EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM ($850, click here) and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM ($800, click here). Both lenses are the second iteration, adding Image Stabilization and USM to its features. They replace some rather old, and affordable, lenses, the EF 24mm f/2.8 ($374, click here) and the EF 28mm f/2.8 ($259, click here). These lenses are somewhat discussed. They have good performance but it is common opinion that the price tag is a little exaggerated. However, all reviews I saw are crediting these lenses having good optical properties and overall performance. These lenses are particularly useful for videographers. ephotozine wanted to have a closer look on both lenses.

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM Pros (click here for the review)

  • Good build quality
    Lightweight
    Image Stabilisation
    Excellent sharpness
    Focuses close

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM Pros (click here for the review)

  • Good build quality
    Lightweight
    Image Stabilisation
    Outstanding sharpness
    Focuses close

Finally, I want to feature a post by Scott Bourne about how important new glasses are for new DSLRs. The article takes AF performance as an example: if you are not using pro glasses on pro gear you can’t expect that your DSLR will perform as expected. And there is more (emphasis mine):

I spoke with Canon representatives who prefer to remain unnamed and they admitted that the new AF systems on the 5D Mk IIIand 1DX are optimized to work with the newest, fastest glass.

So the thing to know is this. If you expect a remarkable improvement in AF just because you buy a new 5D MK III or 1DX you may be slightly disappointed. You need that fast, new glass too.

Simple, isn’t it? :-) Good that there is a huge Canon lenses August discount program going on (click here)!

EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

How To Know The Shutter Actuations Count Of Your Canon DSLR

5D Mark III shutter mechanism (image credit: lensrentals.com)

Who doesn’t want to know how many times the shutter of his or her DSLR has been actuated? You know that Canon DSLRs (like every other DSLR) are guaranteed to hold for a minimum number of actuation (typically 100000 for consumer oriented cams, and up to 300000 for pro oriented ones). This is an important information to know, especially if you are going to buy a used camera: the risk of failure increases after the actuation limit has been reached. Unfortunately there are no official ways to learn about the shutter actuations of your DSLR. But there are some freeware utilities that can do the job, and make your life more easy. Clicking here you can read a good background article with all the links to the utilities.

And since we are talking about used DSLRs, have a look at the box below to find some cool EOS 7D deal on eBay. The EOS 7D can be found refurbished at Canon Store for $1,359, click here) and on eBay too, starting refurbished from , and new from (.

[via thedigitalstory via canon5dtips] [shariff]

[Deal] Huge Canon Lenses August Discounts (all kind of lenses – UPDATE)

Update: I added the links to B&H too (see below). They are also offering Canon lenses following the Canon August Discounts.

Adorama has a big Canon Lens Promotion going on. All kinds of lenses are discounted, some up to hundreds of dollars. Discounts are in the range 10-25% of the regular price.

The full list Adorama:

The full list B&H (click here to see all items):

 

[Patent] New Canon Phase-Detection AF Method With Higher Accuracy And Smaller Pixel Size (for the next mirrorless camera?)

Egami (machine translated) found a Canon patent for an improved phase-detection AF. Higher accuracy is obtained by better propagation of light. The patent text also suggests, the method should improve accuracy when light is falling in with a low-angle incident. I found another thing very interesting: the patent refers to smaller pixel size, i.e. you can pack more pixel on the sensor. So, given that a phase-detection AF is particularly useful on a mirrorless camera, could that indicate that Canon is working on a higher resolutions sensor (with an improved AF) for its more pro-oriented mirrorless camera that we expect to be announced later this year?

  • Patent Publication No. 2012-151215
    • 2012.8.9 Release Date
    • 2011.1.18 filing date
  • Existing techniques
    • JP 2002-314062
    • Conventional techniques beam separation is insufficient, Ranging Accuracy is poor
      • Scattering effects due to wiring
      • The smaller the angle of incidence, it is difficult to detect
      • Smaller pixel size, the value of F becomes larger microlenses (dark), they spread the light next to almost the same in the size of the image pixel size and pixel diffraction
  • And waveguide
    • The waveguide, depending on the angle of incidence of the light flux, there is a characteristic (waveguide mode) is different states of light propagation in the waveguide
  • Canon ‘s patented
    • Consisting of waveguide waveguide and vice
      • Guiding light of two different incident direction: waveguide
      • Vice waveguide: one for each waveguide comprises a waveguide two sub-
    • Can be detected by the photoelectric conversion unit specific, the incident light at a particular angle
    • Impact of wiring
      • The incident light to propagate the core portion of the waveguide, reducing the impact of wiring
    • Low-angle incident light, by using the corresponding waveguide mode depends on the incident direction
    • Small pixel size, support by limiting the distribution of the emitted light
      • Achieved by suppressing the spatial width confinement in the waveguide propagation of light sub-

 

Canon EOS M: A Camera For The Ladies (according to Canon), And To Be Released In September

DC Watch (machine translated) published an interview with some Canon executives. The interview is rather long. A few of the discussed points:

  • The EOS M should be released to the public in mid September
  • The EOS M‘s target are women. According to Canon they prefer not to have a bulky DSLR in their hands
  • m43 is no competition since the sensor is too small
  • From the beginning the goal was to make the EOS-M as good as other EOS DSLR cameras. And to make it small and light.
  • First goal is to reach a 15% of the mirrorless market share in Japan (by October)
  • Shutter from the EOS DSLR series has been miniaturized to fit into the EOS-M
  • PowerShot G1 X sales are still strong (production is 30.000 units per month)
  • A Four Thirds sensor would bring an even further advantage in miniaturization but Canon wanted to make it fully EOS compatible
  • Canon chose to have phase detection pixel on sensor because that technology works better than contrast AF on moving objects
  • EOS-M mount can not accommodate a full frame sensor
  • There is no plan for a FF mirrorless
  • No plan for now to make an adapter for FD lenses.

 

EOS M pre-order links:

USA & world-wide:

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
EOS M Black at Amazon (click here), Amazon UK (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M White at BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 22mm pancake at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 18-55mm kit lens at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M adapter at Amazon (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M Flash at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).

Germany (Amazon DE): EOS M black with EF-M 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM lens and Speedlite 90EX for €849 (click here), EOS M white with EF-M 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM lens and Speedlite 90EX for €849 (click here), EOS M red with EF-M 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM lens and Speedlite 90EX for €849 (click here), EF-M 22mm 1:2 STM Pancake lens for €249 (click here), EF-EOS M Adapter for €129 (click here), wexcameras.de (click here)

Italy: Amazon IT (click here)

UK: Amazon UK (click here)

More pre-order options here.

[via DCwatch]

[Review] EOS 1D-X Detailed Review And Insights

Techradar got a full-production sample of the EOS-1D X and have run it through their labs. The hands-on review they made includes resolution charts, dynamic range and signal to noise ratio. They’ve compared the 1D-X with the Nikon D4, but also the EOS 5D Mark III, the EOS-1D Mark IV and the Nikon D800.

Sample images are provided too. Btw, I heard from various sources that the major shops are starting to stock EOS 1D-Xs.

EOS 1D-X price check and availability: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA. The following seller should have the 1D-X for $6,799.00 (click on the shop name): Adorama (click here), B&H (click here), Amazon US (click here) and DigitalRev (click here).

Signal to Noise ratio (RAW converted to TIFF)
Dynamic Range (RAW converted to TIFF)
[via techradar]