[Review] Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC In Depth Review

Photography blog has another helpful review. This time about the Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC, an affordable lens with excellent optic properties, and with no AF nor electronic metering. However, this lens is a valid alternative if you are on a budget, having a price tag of $699, and are looking for a fast lens (f/1.4!) with very good optical quality and perfomance.

The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC’s build quality is reassuringly good […] makes an ideal partner to a full-frame like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III t[…]. Focusing manually is straight-forward thanks to the responsive focusing ring […], with Live View mode proving essential for closer focusing distances. […] video shooters will positively embrace the de-clicked aperture version of this lens.

Image quality is generally excellent. Chromatic aberrations are very well controlled, geometric distortion is impressively low for an ultrawide lens […], and the coatings successfully prevent contrast loss attributable to flare. The only real optical issues are obvious corner shading at the maximum aperture, something that every full-frame shooter has to put up with especially when using wide angles, and a lack of sharpness wide-open at f/1.4 and stopped-down at f/22.

Amazon US has a kit with the lens, bundling an UV filter, a cleaning kit, a memory card storage wallet and more, for $699.95 (click here)

Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[Review] EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM In Depth Review

Photography blog reviewed Canon’s new EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM ($850) lens. The review goes over 7 sections and has an investigative eye on all the features and promises of this lens. From the conclusion:

[…] the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM build quality is reassuringly good and it makes a good partner to a full-frame Canon DSLR like the 5D Mark III. Auto-focusing is quiet and quick, with the ability to manually override it and focus manually if required proving a nice touch. The capable image stabilization system used in conjunction with a high-ISO monster like the 5D Mark III is a low-light shooter’s dream ticket, making it easy to hand-hold the camera and get the shot.

Image quality is generally excellent. Chromatic aberrations are very well controlled, geometric distortion is impressively low for an ultrawide lens (unless you are focusing very close), and the Super Spectra coatings successfully prevent contrast loss attributable to flare

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

[via photography blog]

Sigma 180mm f/2.8 Macro EX OS HSM (f/ Canon) Limited Stock

B&H has the Sigma 180mm f/2.8 APO Macro EX DG OS HSM Lens (for Canon) in stock and ready to ship for $1,688 (click here), but just a limited quantity. Free shipping in the US.

  • 180mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 1:1 Magnification
  • Optical Stabilizer Function
  • FLD Glass Elements Reduce Aberration
  • Floating Inner Focusing System
  • Multi-Coating Reduces Ghosting and Flare
  • Hyper Sonic Motor for Quiet Focusing
  • Focus Distance of 18.5″ / 47cm
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Rebel T4i/EOS 650D With EF-M 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM In Stock And Ready To Ship (Update)

Edit: I was referring to the wrong lens, it is a 18-135mm IS STM.

Update: Check sample pics shot with a Rebel T4i/650D and the 18-135 IS STM lens – click here

Great news if you live in the States and can’t wait to get your hands on Canon’s new Rebel, the T4i/650D. B&H has the T4i as a kit with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens available for (free) shipping ($1,199.99 click here). Limited quantity, so be quick before others are. Core specs of the T4i/650D:

  • STM Lens Support for Quiet AF in Movies
  • 18.0MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 5 Image Processor
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touch Screen LCD
  • ISO 100-12800, Expandable to 25600
  • Full HD Movie Mode with Continuous AF
  • 5.0 FPS Continuous Shooting
  • 9-Point All Cross-Type AF System
  • Multi Shot Noise Reduction
  • EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
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Canon EOS M Available For Pre-Order At Amazon Germany And Italy

Image credits: Jet Daisuke

The EOS M now can be pre-ordered at Amazon Germany (click here, from Austria and Switzerland too) and at Amazon Italy (click here). For the time being the only EOS m-related item you can get at Amazon DE and IT is the camera itself, coming as a kit with the EF-M 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and the Speedlite 90EX. Price tag is €849 at Amazon German (click here) and €915,06 at Amazon Italy (click here). Why it costs €65 more in Italy is a mystery to me. German news site heise.de has a pro/contra article about the EOS M.

World-wide EOS M per-order links:

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
If you live in Germany: wexcameras.de (click here), Amazon DE (click here)
If you live in Italy: Amazon IT (click here)
If you live in the UK: Amazon UK (click here)

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).

More pre-order options here.