First Preview Of The Upcoming Canon 200-400mm f/4 IS 1.4x

It has yet to be announced, we are waiting for it since long, but photographer Joshua Holko had the exclusive chance to preview the Canon 200-400mm f/4 IS with built-in 1.4x teleconverter. The video has been published at Luminous Landscape:

Recently, Australian photographer Joshua Holko had an opportunity to work with a pre-production sample of the exciting new Canon 200-400mm lens. In the video review below Joshua offers us an exclusive look at this lens in action and he discusses his opinion of early sample images.

Cool! Really hope that means the lens will soon be released.

Battle Of The Bokeh – Various 35mm Lenses Compared

35mm lenses are in everyones mind those days. There have been some interesting lenses in this range that have been released in the last times. Think [shoplink 8253]Canon's EF 35mm f/2 IS USM (price & specs)[/shoplink], the amazing [shoplink 8892]Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM (price & specs)[/shoplink] and as last entry, the manual aperture and focusing [shoplink 10145]Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 (price & specs)[/shoplink]. The last one a hot one with a price tag of $479. For featured reviews of the Canon and Sigma lenses see here, here, and here. For the Rokinon see here.

DigitalRev made a video comparing the [shoplink 184]EF 35mm f 1.4L USM[/shoplink], Nikon 35mm G AF-S and the [shoplink 8892]Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM[/shoplink] for the purpose of checking which one has the best bokeh. Check it out!

[shoplink 8892]Battle Of The Bokeh[/shoplink]

[shoplink 184]Battle Of The Bokeh[/shoplink]

 

Canon EOS 6D Field Test (Video)

The Camera Store TV made 10 minutes video of a [shoplink 7139]Canon EOS 6D (price & specs)[/shoplink] field test. The setting:

In this episode The Camera Store TV’s Chris Niccolls gives the Canon 6D a test in a very demanding situation, the world of online dating. Watch as Chris and Dave Paul shoot a dating portfolio and video for our astronomy expert, Mark Langridge.

Note: B&H has a cool EOS 6D deal going on: the 6D body with a Lowepro – Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag and a Lexar – 16GB SDHC Memory Card Professional Class 10 UHS-I memory card for $1899 (click here). Or take the EOS 6D plus the EF 24-105mm f/4.0L and the memory card for $2499 (click here). This deals are part of the rebate programs that expire  Saturday, 2/2/2013.

[shoplink 7139]Canon EOS 6D Field Test[/shoplink]

Canon EOS 6D price check: [shopcountry 7139]

 

Metabones Speed Booster First Impressions (DPreview)

Metabones Speed Booster First Impressions

DPreview tested the Metabones Speed Booster for Canon EF lenses to Sony NEX mounts ($599, click here). They used a [shoplink 10206]Sony NEX-6 (price & specs)[/shoplink] for testing. All the marvels this adapter promises to deliver are once more confirmed. It is, definitely, a game changer. I think we will se great thing in the near future done with this adapter. In their conclusion DPreview writes:

There’s a lot to be excited about with a product that so transforms lens behavior and addresses such a long-standing issue for photographers who long for the wide-angle and light-gathering performance of their older full frame lenses on their newer APS-C body. Image quality is very impressive, with results that compare exceptionally well against a full frame sensor. You do pay a small price in terms of corner softness and CA.

The biggest remaining challenge, however, with the Canon EF to Sony NEX mount is AF speed, a direct consequence of pairing a PDAF-optimized lens on a CDAF sensor. And to their credit, Metabones makes it very clear that AF performance is going to lag far behind what you’d get by using the Sony NEX’s conventional AF system.

This does effectively make the Speed Booster an even more niche product, as it’s best suited for manual-focus shooters. We’d be keen to see a camera manufacturer license this now-proven technology and offer this optical quality and near-full-frame performance mated with an effective AF system. But for now, we tip our hats to Metabones for releasing a product that accomplishes what many had thought nearly impossible.

 The optical quality is outstanding. DPreview’s first impressions comes with samples and good technical description.
[via dpreview]

 

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS Video Review (DigitalRev)

DigitalRev’s Kai video-reviews the [shoplink 8251]Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM (price & specs)[/shoplink].

The lens core specs:

  • Aperture Range: f/4.0-22
  • Hybrid Image Stabilization (IS)
  • Dual UD & Super UD Lens Elements
  • Dual Aspherical Lens Elements
  • Ring-Type Ultra Sonic Motor (USM)
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.25′
  • Macro Mode With 0.7x Magnification
  • Weather Resistant to Dust & Moisture
  • Fluorine Coatings Reduce Fingerprints
  • Zoom Lock Lever

Kai writes:

In this video, we take a look at Canon’s 24-70mm f/4 L IS lens, which seems to fit in right between the 24-105mm f/4L IS and the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II. Or does it? With less range, does it seem like a worse choice than the 24-105mm, which is considerably cheaper? Watch the video to find out.

Here at CanonWatch we featured lots of reviews about this lens, click here to see a list.

If you live in Europe or in Asia, then DigitalRev may have the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at a very competitive price (click here to check it out)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM price check: [shopcountry 8251]

[shoplink 8251]Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS Video Review[/shoplink]

 

Canon EOS 6D Reviews Round-Up (The 6D Is Hot!)

[shoplink 7139]Canon EOS 6D Reviews[/shoplink]

A Canon EOS 6D reviews round-up. The full-frame EOS 6D is selling very good around the globe, check its prices at the following shops: [shopcountry 7139]. If you are located in the US, then B&H has a cool EOS 6D deal going on: the 6D body with a Lowepro – Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag and a Lexar – 16GB SDHC Memory Card Professional Class 10 UHS-I memory card for $1899 (click here, price shows up after having added the item to the cart). Or take the EOS 6D plus the EF 24-105mm f/4.0L and the memory card for $2499 (click here). This deals are part of the rebate programs that expire on Saturday, 2/2/2013.

Let's start with the core specifications of the EOS 6D:

  • 20.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • 3.0″ Clear View High Resolution LCD
  • DIGIC 5+ Image Processor
  • Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS Connectivity
  • Full HD 1080p with Manual Controls
  • 11-Point AF with Center Cross-Type Point
  • 63-Zone Dual Layer Metering Sensor
  • Extended ISO Range of 50-102400
  • Up to 4.5 Full Resolution FPS
  • Built-In HDR and Multiple Exposure Modes

The EOS 6D is a hot piece of gear, says The Online Photographer. By taking inspiration from the car market, and using the Corvette as example, they conclude that the high price of the [shoplink 2431]Canon EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs)[/shoplink] leads people to get a 6D:

The theory is that the high price of the 5D Mark III is driving peoples' interest into the waiting arms of the 6D. The 6D has a lot of the higher model's goodness, for such a big price cut that it tips the balance of most peoples' interest from the high-horsepower body to the more “sensible” model.

Makes sense, imho. And the following ISO comparison by RiceHigh between the EOS 6D and the EOS 5D Mark III also makes sense, since we know that the 6D sensor performs better as long as noise is concerned. They tested ISO 100 to 12800 (all pictures here), using the following setting

1. Camera mounted on a sturdy tripod (a giant Gitzo) and shutter was triggered via the original Canon remote cable switch;

2. Picture Style was reset to Standard, with all parameters all left at factory defaults. Other image settings such as Auto Light Optimizer and High ISO NR etc. were reset to their factory default values. Large Fine JPEGs were produced directly out of both cameras;3. One-shot AF with 50/1.2L with Central AF point selected;4. For ISO 100 to ISO 1600, the lens aperture was set at f/8, whilst from ISO 3200 to 12800, the lens was set to f/16 – This was particularly required with the 6D for its low maximum shutter speed of only 1/4000s;

[shoplink 7139]Canon EOS 6D Reviews[/shoplink]

It is always good to know how to use a camera and how its settings work. Canon recently published a set of online video tutorials (source: The Digital Picture). The following topics are covered:

  • Basic Overview
  • The Auto Options
  • Image Quality
  • Multiple Exposure Shooting
  • In-Camera HDR
  • In-Camera RAW and JPEG Processing
  • Auto Exposure Bracketing
  • Low Light Shooting
  • Composition Aids
  • Auto Focus System Basics
  • Basic Video Operation
  • Time Code Operation Basics

Finally, a full review by ephotozine. The review comes with a lot of samples and videos. They “highly recommend” the EOS 6D, writing in the conclusion:

The Canon EOS 6D feels like it's an improvement over the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and gives most of what you get with the 5D Mark III, but with the addition of GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as the excellent 20.2 megapixel sensor for improved noise performance, but with a fraction of the price of the 5D Mark III, making this an excellent camera for those wanting a full-frame Digital SLR.

Image quality is impressive with excellent colour both in photos and on the rear screen of the camera, and noise performance is excellent. Focus performance is good with 11 point auto focus that works down to -3EV, and as long as you are not using live view it is very quick and reliable.For anyone looking to upgrade from an earlier Canon camera, the Canon EOS 6D delivers some of the latest features such as Wi-Fi, GPS, built in HDR shooting, and reasonably quick continuous shooting at 4.5fps. The camera feels extremely well built, and pleasantly compact and light-weight for a full-frame Digital SLR, making it an enjoyable experience to use.

They also produced the nice video below, a menu walk-through.

[shoplink 7139]Canon EOS 6D Reviews[/shoplink]

Canon EOS 6D price check: [shopcountry 7139]