Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Sample Pictures Published

sample1_b

Blogging from Dubai International Airport while waiting for my connection :-)

Canon China published a set of sample pics shot with Canon’s new ultra wide angle lens for APS-C cameras, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ($299, pre-order at B&H Photo | Adorama). The EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM was announced on 5/13.

This lens has an amazingly good price, and – it may sound weird – it comes with a lens hood even if it is not an “L” lens.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS Article By Canon Professional Network

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS

Canon Professional Network posted an article about the new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS lens, announced yesterday.

The EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is Canon’s first ultra-wide L-series lens to feature Canon’s signature optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, offering a four-stop advantage over non-IS lenses, helping to ensure that shots are always captured with precise detail. Designed to deliver the highest image quality, the lens’s optical structure includes two Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) elements to minimise chromatic aberration and eliminate colour blurring plus a newly-designed IS system features gyro sensors for greater accuracy and stability.

EF 16-35mm f/4L IS key features:

  • Ultra wide-angle 16-35mm zoom range.
  • Superior L-series performance with precision EF optics.
  • Sharp, high-contrast images with UD lens elements and Super Spectra Coating.
  • Constant f/4 maximum aperture.
  • 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer.
  • Silent, high-speed autofocus with full-time manual override.
  • 9-blade circular aperture.
  • Minimum focusing distance of 0.28m.
  • Easy attachment of filters with non-rotating front element.
  • Weather sealed against dust and moisture

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS sells for $1,199, and can be pre-ordered at B&H Photo | Adorama.

[via CPN]

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Real World Review And Sample Pictures

Sigma 50mm f/1.4

All pictures used with permission, courtesy of Camera Pro AU.

Camera Pro Australia posted a real-world review of Sigma’s latest gem, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens.

About focusing:

With a thick and surprisingly responsive focus ring (the old Sigma 50mm was a struggle in manual) the new ART lens was a breeze to use and good for tricky situations. As far as comparing this to other 50s on the market, it is just as good if not better with focusing

About the value you get for the money:

The Sigma really is the best 50mm lens on the market, only slightly ousted by the Zeiss Otus in sharpness at the widest apertures, after this you have to be extremely good to tell apart two images side by side from both cameras and 99 of 100 people would not be able to split them. The Otus is nearly 5 times the price and did I mention that it is manual focus only

Conclusion:

Sigma has upped their game in the past few years and some of the big Camera companies really need to take note. There is a new nifty fifty king on the market and while it is a heavy crown, it is one that is affordable and usable by commoners like myself. You just need to have a play with one of these. Get one in to your hands and wait for the smile to follow.

There is more in Camera Pro’s review (also sample pics).

Sigma 50mm f/1.4

Pre-orders for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ($949) can be made at B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon.

To see all my coverage of this killer lens that sells at a killer price click here. The Sigma costs a fourth of the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 ($4000) and has a performance that comes seriously close to the Zeiss.

 

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art

More Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Real-World Sample Pics (dpreview)

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art

Dpreview published a set of 41 real-world sample pics shot with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens. Interestingly, the Sigma was used with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II (yes, not Mark III). Seems weird to me considering the exceptional optical performance of the Sigma.

The hot news of the day is DxOMark’s test of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens, and how it compares to the four times pricier Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 (this time using an EOS Mark III). Well, the Sigma comes seriously close to the Zeiss.

Pre-orders for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM can be made at B&H Photo and Adorama.

[via Dpreview]

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art

DxOMark Confirms Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Performs Very Close To Zeiss 55mm f/1.4

With all this hype about Sigma’s new 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM “Art” lens, it’s fine to see that also DxOMark confirms the exceptional optical properties of this lens, and that it can hold up to the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 – a lens you have to pay $4,000. And now compare that to the $949 that you have to pay for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens. And then: the Zeiss is manual-focusing, the Sigma has auto-focus. Pre-orders for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 “Art” lens can be made at B&H Photo and Adorama, stocks are limited for the time being.

The Sigma scored 35 vs the 38 of the Zeiss. Says DxOMark about the comparison between the two lenses:

[…] the extreme performance of the Zeiss is noticeable in some subtle ways. At wider apertures, the Art lens can’t quite match the sharpness of the Zeiss in the outer field but that won’t be a concern for all but the most fastidious of users.

At f2 the Sigma is almost on a par with the Zeiss, only it can’t quite match the Zeiss in the corners – though the difference in real world terms is trivial. The new Sigma can boast of slightly better control of vignetting and, arguably, chromatic aberration at maximum aperture, though there’s some fringing evident in the extreme corners.

Not bad for a lens that costs a fourth of the Zeiss :-)

[via DxOMark]

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art

Canon Powershot G1 X Mark II First Impression Review (DPreview)

Powershot G1 X Mark II

DPreview posted a first impression review of the Canon Powershot G1 X Mark II. The review isn’t entirely positive, have a look in the “shooting experience” section of the review. Among other notes, the reviewer writes:

The camera can certainly be held with one hand, though I preferred the more solid feel of the ‘custom grip’. There are a lot of buttons that surround the thumb rest so you have to be careful, as some buttons can be easy to bump. Speaking of buttons, I found myself scratching my head as to why there are two Wi-Fi-related buttons, and I kept pressing the upper one thinking it was for playback mode. […]

In nearly all situations, the autofocus system performed admirably. While I wasn’t blown away by its speed, I didn’t have to wait for it to lock on its subject

About the built-in WiFi:

Some manufacturers do better than others when it comes to setting up Wi-Fi, and Canon is one of the worst. To be brief, the Image Gateway website leaves much to be desired, there are too many steps required, and the camera takes a long time to connect to a network. The bottom line is that Canon’s Wi-Fi feature, while comprehensive, could be a lot more user-friendly.

I agree about how poorly Canon integrates WiFi functionality in their cameras. This could definitely be done better, and more user friendly.

To see all the Powershot G1 X Mark II coverage click here. A few days ago DxOMark posted their sensor scores for the G1 X Mark II. Well, the G1 X Mark II doesn’t shine.

Powershot G1 X Mark II

The Canon Powershot G1 X II has been officially announced February 12th, and can be pre-ordered for $799 at Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama.

[via dpreview]