Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Excellent Performance And Quality Confirmed By DxOMark

Sigma 35mm f/1.4

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM (price & specs) is an awesome piece of gear. We featured many reviews here and all credited the high quality of the Sigma (see here and here to get an idea). DxOMark’s test lab measurements fully confirm what previous reviews stated: the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM has outstanding optical performance and build quality. And, last but not least, it comes at an affordable price for what it offers, $899. DxOMark’s conclusion (the lens has been tested in the Nikon version):

Sigma has stated previously that it was upping its game with new pro-level lens designs and the new 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM is not only on a par with OEM lenses optically it surpasses them in most areas, especially in both acutance and resolution. It’s lens that’s designed not only for the very best of today’s sensors but it appears well suited to handle the demands of the next generation of high-resolution imaging chips. The lens sets a new benchmark for optical performance for a retro-focus lens in this focal length and it’s a feat that’s even more remarkable given the price is well-below that of any of the big name brands.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM can be rented at borrowlenses (click here)
Sigma 35mm
[via dxomark]

Canon EOS 6D Video Review And Comparison With 5D2, 7D And 60D

A Canon EOS 6D (price & specs) review and comparison with Canon EOS 5D Mark II (price & specs) and Canon EOS 7D (price & specs) and Canon EOS 60D (price & specs) video from Orange Wedding Films.

The sections in the video:

00:00 – 06:22 Intro
06:23 – 7:06 30 minute recording time
7:06 – 10:40 Menu items
10:41 – 17:23 Working with an external HDMI monitor
17:24 – 20:04 Moire Test 1 + 2
20:04 – 20:28 – sample clips
20:28 – 23:29 – Low Light with ISO Comparison
23:30 – End – my personal likes and dislikes

Some deals about mentioned DSLRs:

  • The EOS 6D body only option is now down to $1789 (Adorama | B&HAmazon)
  • The EOS 6D with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens is $2329 (Adorama | B&HAmazon) – B&H bundles the kit with these additional bonus items:  Lexar 16GB SDHC Professional 400x Class 10 UHS-I Memory Card and a Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag
  • Adorama has refurbished EOS 7Ds for $979 (click here).

Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II USM Review (DPreview)

EF 24-70 f/2.8L II

DPreview reviewed the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II USM lens (price & specs), one of Canon’s top level pro lenses.

In the conclusion they write:

Conclusion – Pros

  • Superb, almost flawless optics
  • Impressive flare resistance
  • Fast, silent, and accurate autofocus
  • Excellent build quality including weathersealing

Conclusion – Cons

  • Unpleasant vignetting in the 50-70mm region at F2.8 on full frame
  • Noticeably lower image quality at close focus distances
  • No image stabilisation
  • Very expensive

In fact, the 24-70mm II follows its big brother, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM (price & specs), in being a lens that’s so good we’ve found it difficult to pick out any significant flaws. It’s superbly sharp, even wide open, but manages to combine this with lovely bokeh. Distortion is pretty well under control (and of course easily corrected in post processing), and chromatic aberration extremely low. Vignetting can be a problem towards the long end on full frame cameras, with a very abrupt falloff in brightness in the corners at F2.8. But again that’s easy to correct, either in post-processing, or in-camera with recent EOS models.

The 24-70mm deals well with difficult lighting too, and handles shooting directly into the sun without much image degradation due to flare. Autofocus is fast and decisive, and we’ve found it to be impressively accurate on higher-end cameras such as the EOS 6D (price & specs). The entry-level EOS 650D (price & specs) can struggle to hit perfect focus every time at F2.8, but that probably reflects more on the camera than the lens. The build quality is difficult to fault too, combining weathersealing with a welcome wieght reduction compared to its predecessor.

Nothing surprising, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8 II was called a peerless performer by the DXOMark’s people.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM price check: [shopcountry 2160] The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM can be rented at borrowlenses (click here)

[via dpreview]

More On Canon’s Mixed Reality System (MREAL)

Two weeks ago we reported about Canon’s Mixed Reality system, MREAL (click here). Now there is a nice article by extremetech explaining the technology and possible uses of it.

The core of the setup is the Canon HMD (head-mounted display) which works in conjunction with various sensors — optical and magnetic, as well as visual markers — to help create the mixed reality environment. The HMD employs two cameras located in front of each eye that captures video and shoots it off to an off-board, tethered computer. The computer then combines the real-world visuals with computer-generated visuals, and beams that back to two monitors placed in front of the eyes within the HMD. The unit combines with a development platform, dubbed the MR Platform, which allows companies to create mixed reality images to display on the HMD.

Canon’s MREAL system isn’t for everyone. The system will be released on 03/01/13, and it is not targeted to general consumers: it’s sold for $125,000, with a $25,000 additional bucks to pay for annual maintenance. Nice toy! :-)

According to Canon the main benefits of MREAL are:

  • Productivity: Effective product lifecycle management places an emphasis on maximizing productivity to help reduce time to market, optimize designs, improve product quality, and save time, cost and resources. The MREAL System enables customers to develop digital prototypes, identify potential design concerns to reduce prototype iterations, incorporate required characteristics more quickly and get products to market sooner.
  • Interaction: The MREAL System allows customers to make the leap from screen to seen. With this new system, you can experience, examine, modify, manipulate, discuss, analyze, or present designs with a level of realism that allows complicated ideas and plans to come to fruition quickly and efficiently.
  • Attention To Detail: The MREAL System brings users to a 3D world where they can interact with virtually any given scene, landscape, environment or object. Designers can closely examine how components manufactured at different locations are expected to come together, or see how light will reflect off the interior trim of a car. Users can view intricate details of the 3D image from almost any angle.
  • Feedback: When the audience is immersed in the MR experience, users gain tremendous insight. Whether collaborating on ideas, discussing new product designs, securing customer input, generating investor interest, winning management buy-in, or just entertaining an audience, MR brings many levels of value to all participants.
[via extremetech]
mreal
MREAL headset

 

Canon EOS 5D Comparison (Original vs Mark II vs Mark III)

EOS 5D Comparison
Image courtesy: ephotozine.com

ephotozine published an interesting comparison between the three iterations of the Canon EOS 5D, i.e. the original one, the Mark II and the Mark III. Purpose of the comparison is to see “how far we’ve come since the first affordable full frame digital SLR was announced and released in 2005“. Well, yes, a lot happened since the first EOS 5D, things changed even more with the EOS 5D Mark II (price & specs), and then came the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs). The Mark III was seen by most people as a rather evolutionary update, not as the big step forward represented by the Mark II (though I do not agree, the Mark III for many aspects was also a totally new camera).

ephotozine’s conclusion:

Each successive Canon EOS 5D has been revolutionary in its own way, with exception, perhaps of the latest, the Mark III, which in appearance at least has been a much more evolutionary update. However, from the images produced and the additional advances made in speed, image processing and quality of the camera, it is by far the biggest upgrade to the 5D yet. While it hasn’t seen the megapixel number jump as much as from the Mark I to the Mark II, it has seen nearly every feature and function updated and improved. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III, looking at the additional specifications, features and upgrades, is a completely refreshed camera, and if the 5D Mark II was one of the best Digital SLRs available, then the Mark III is also one of the best Digital SLRs currently available.

The only problem being faced by the 5D Mark III being the obvious Canon choice, is the recent introduction of the Canon EOS 6D (price & specs) (have a look at our 6D vs 5D Mark III comparison), available for much less than the 5D Mark III, and offering some of the best low-light performance of any Digital SLR yet. We’ve come a long way since the Canon EOS 5D was first introduced, and whether you’re buying a new or second hand camera, the choices available are now more vast than ever before, making it even more affordable to enter into full frame photography, with great results possible.

There is more in ephotozine’s review, as performance charts, sample pics etc. There are two cool deals for refurbished 5D Mark II and Mark III in the Canon Direct Store (expires today), the Canon EOS 5D Mark III for $2799.21 (click here) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II for $1407.36 (click here).

Canon EOS 5D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Review (slrgear)

22-2-1

EF-M 2mm f/2 STM core specs:

  • Moderate Wide-Angle Lens for EOS M
  • Bright f/2 Lens Aperture
  • Exceptional Low-Light Performance
  • One Aspheric Lens Element
  • Built-In Stepping Motor
  • Smooth & Continuous AF
  • Seven Blade Circular Aperture
  • Short Minimum Focusing Distance of 5.9″

slrgear reviewed the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens (price & specs), part of the Canon EOS M (price & specs) ecosystem. For the time being there are only two lenses for the EOS M system, the other one is the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM(price & specs). I own this lens, and I have to say that I am overly satisfied by its performance, the featured review basically confirms my experience using the lens. Some excerpts:

  • The Canon EF-M 22mm ƒ/2 STM provided surprisingly sharp results.[…] Stopping down to just ƒ/2.8 provides very sharp images – for practical purposes, we would say it’s tack-sharp from corner to corner.
  • There is some significant corner shading with the 22mm ƒ/2: used at the ƒ/2 setting, the corners show up a full stop darker than the center of the frame.
  • The 22mm ƒ/2 provides excellent resistance to distortion
  • The lens, while not specifically built for macro, offers some usable close-up capability [max 0.21x]

In the conclusion they write:

For a small and relatively inexpensive lens, the Canon EF-M 22mm ƒ/2 STM provides an excellent result. Given the few options available […] for Canon EOS-M users, having this prime lens as an option is a no-brainer.

The Canon EOS M with the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is now sold for $679 on Amazon (click here), for $699 at B&H (click here) and Adorama (click here).

Canon EOS M price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via slrgear]

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