More EOS 6D Impressions By DPreview

[shoplink 7139][/shoplink]

DPreview added six more pages to their [shoplink 7139]Canon EOS 6D (price & specs)[/shoplink] review. The new information:

We’ve added our noise, dynamic range, resolution and test scene shots to the preview, including analysis. We’ve also gone back and re-worked the introduction and expanded on our first impressions of the camera.

Click here to read DPreview’s updated Canon EOS 6D preview

Click here to go to DPreview’s test and analysis section

B&H has a cool EOS 6D kit on sale. Get Canon’s entry level full-frame DSLR with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens for $2499 (click here).

Canon EOS 6D price check: [shopcountry 7139]

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM DxOMarked (very sharp!)

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM DxOMarked

DxOMark analyzed the [shoplink 5686]EF 40mm f/2.8 STM (price & specs)[/shoplink] using a [shoplink 254]EOS 5D Mark II (price & specs)[/shoplink], and the nifty pancake got figures:

Considering its relatively low price, the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM was a solid performer on our DxOMark Camera Lens Ratings. […] it rates among the top seven standard prime lenses (with a focal range between 35mm and 85mm) achieving an overall DxOMark Score of 26.

Strengths of the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM include resolution […] Additionally, our sharpness measurements and field maps […] indicated that the lens delivered relatively consistent edge-to-edge sharpness from f/2.8 to f/11.

Other strengths include its low geometric distortion and well-controlled chromatic aberration as indicated by its low Chromatic Aberration score of 10µm.

The one weakness of the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM was the strong vignetting evident at the widest apertures. You can see from the vignetting field maps below that at f/2.8, there is heavy shading across 2/3 of the field.

The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM actually has price tag of $149. A bargain for a lens that has such a good perfomance (click on shop name): [shopcountry 5686].

The 40mm pancake performs slightly better than the much pricier Canon [shoplink 175]EF 50mm f/1.4 USM(price & specs)[/shoplink], and the cheaper [shoplink 173]EF 50mm f/1.8[/shoplink]. As you can see, all three lenses have very good sharpness figures.

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM DxOMarked

[via DxOMark]

Sigma EF 35mm f/1.4 DG Reviews Round-Up

 

[shoplink 8892]Sigma EF 35mm f/1.4 DG Reviews[/shoplink]

Well, just two Sigma EF 35mm f/1.4 DG Reviews. :-)

The [shoplink 8892]Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG (price & specs)[/shoplink], part of Sigma’s “A” (Art) line-up, is getting very positive reviews allover the web. Having a price tag of $899 it is also affordable for most of us.

Photography Blog has to say:

If the new 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens is anything to go by, Sigma are definitely raising their game with the recent introduction of their three new lens ranges (Art, Sports and Contemporary). The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM is a fast and tack-sharp lens that exhibits low chromatic aberrations and very little barrel distortion. Vignetting at wide-open apertures is the only real optical issue of note, something that other fast lenses also suffer from, and stopping down to F/4 solves the problem altogether.

SLRgear writes:

Sigma’s produced an excellent lens in the 35mm ƒ/1.4 DG HSM, with comparatively great performance at the ƒ/1.4 aperture setting, where the lens will no doubt be used for the majority of the time. There’s a lot to like here: great results for sharpness, low chromatic aberration, and low distortion. There is some significant corner shading when used wide open, but coupled with the corner softness at the same aperture settings this contributes to an interesting look and subject isolation. If you’re looking for corner-to-corner image sharpness you’ll need to stop down. The Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4 is definitely priced to compete, and designed to perform.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG price check: [shopcountry 8892]

Update – More About The Metabones Speed Booster (Guess Which Is The FF Cam!)

Update: According to Japanese site dc.watch.impress the Metabones Speed Boost adapter will be on sale in Japan at the end of January 2013.

Update2: click here to read Metabones' white paper about the Speed Booster adapter. 30 pages of tech talk.

More About The Metabones Speed Booster. EOSHD did some simple but effective tests with Metabones' amazing Speed Booster adapter (we reported here). In short: the Metabones Speed Booster makes a lens wider and faster. Sounds like voodoo? It isn't, just clever engineering. To give a visual aid to what the adapater promises to deliver, have a look at the following two images. Only one was shot using a full-frame DSLR.

More About The Metabones Speed Booster
Image courtesy: EOSHD

Did you guess which pic was shot with the full-frame camera? Both pics were shot using a Sigma 24mm F1.8 (price & specs). The top one using a [shoplink 5712]Sony NEX-7 (price & specs)[/shoplink], the bottom pic using a [shoplink 2431]Canon EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs)[/shoplink]

As you can see the field of view is as good as identical. Quoting EOSHD: “The Speed Boost effect on aperture is highly evident too. On the NEX 7 the camera reports the maximum aperture as F1.3 and it is certainly brighter. […the] “depth of field is as shallow on the NEX 7 as the 5D Mark III despite the difference in sensor size.“

I agree with the following statement: “This is a groundbreaking product for photographers and cinematographers alike.” The EOSHD post has more samples to check and an exhaustive description on how this wonder thing works.

A synthetic description how the adapter works: “If your sensor is smaller than full frame, shrink the image that the lens throws to fit over it. That is the principal behind the Metabones Speed Booster which essentially gives you the full frame look and a brighter image all at once…“

With this adapter:

  • A 24mm wide angle like the Canon 24mm F1.4L becomes a 24mm wide angle on the [shoplink 4953]Sony FS100 (price & specs)[/shoplink], with the same shallow DOF and field of view as on the 5D Mark III

  • A F1.2 aperture on a Canon lens becomes F0.90, a significant 1 stop brighter image in low light

  • Depth of field becomes shallower – the same as it would be on full frame

[EOSHD via Fujirumors]

 

Canon EOS-1D X Review (ephotozine)

[shoplink 4119]New Canon EOS-1D X Firmware Released[/shoplink]

ephotozine reviewed Canon’s professional flagship, the [shoplink 4119]Canon EOS-1D X (price & specs)[/shoplink]. Highly weather-sealed body, an advanced AF system, plenty of controls, outstanding low light performance. This toy has everything a professional photographer may wish. In the verdict they write:

If you’re looking for the ultimate in speed, image quality, and performance, as well as exceptional low light performance then the Canon EOS 1D X certainly delivers in abundance. With extremely high ISO settings available it’s possible to shoot in low light situations hand-held where you would normally have to setup a tripod and timer, as long as you don’t mind using these higher ISO settings.

[…]

The Canon EOS 1D X gives the best low light high ISO performance of any full frame Digital SLR yet! One of the biggest negatives about this camera is the price, with the Canon EOS 1D X being one of the most expensive full frame Digital SLRs available, however, for those seeking the ultimate in speed, and low light performance, the price will be justified, assuming you have the budget for it.

They list the following pros:

  • Exceptional high ISO performance
  • Excellent image quality
  • 2 year warranty offered on Canon Pro bodies
  • Extremely solid build quality
  • Large, bright optical viewfinder
  • Fastest shooting full frame DSLR available
  • Large bright optical viewfinder
  • Great 3.2inch screen
  • High speed focus

and cons:

  • Size, Weight
  • Expense (Nikon D4 cheaper)
  • Lacks in camera HDR of following models

The EOS-1D X got a “highly recommended” rating. Canon EOS-1D X price check: [shopcountry 4119] [via ephotozine]

Metabone Does The Optical Voodoo (want faster and wider lenses?)

This is the perfect Monday morning news. Want to use the awesome Canon lens collection on your MFT gear? And maybe you want your EF lenses to get faster and wider? Sounds impossible, or sounds like magic? Well, it is possible, at least it appears to be.

Metabones just announced the new “Speed Booster” Adapter that makes any Canon full-frame (i.e. EF and not EF-S) lens faster and wider (some say also sharper)! Philip Bloom posted this for first, and he explains how it works:

“The Metabones ‘Speed Booster’ is a 0.71 x focal reducer, that will effectively turn your full frame 50mm f/1.8 lens into a 35mm f/1.2 lens. Note, doing so (as a guide) will increase the aperture of that lens by one stop. It will be available in January 2013 from Metabones’ web site http://www.metabones.com and its worldwide dealer network for US$599 / £372 plus shipping and applicable taxes and duties“

Let me sum it up:

  1. The adapter reduces the image circle of full-frame lenses in order to cover the MFT sensor area
  2. You can use only full-frame lenses (Canon EF lenses)
  3. While the adapter supports automatic aperture and image stabilization it doens’t support AF control

Here is an image that shows you how it works:

The image circle gets reduced and this actually doesn’t decrease the image quality!

Below is a video sample shot by Philip Bloom using an Canon EF 17-40 f/4L lens shot at 24mm and a Sony FS100 camcorder

Take some time to read Philip Bloom post (there are more videos, lots of information, excerpts from the adapter’s white paper) and let me know what you think about all this optical voodoo. This is what Philip Bloom thinks:

Does it work? Well yes. After what has been some very speedy non scientific tests, I am very happy with the images produced so far. From what I have seen, will I be ordering one on release? Again yes, yes I will. The adapter I’ve tested is a prototype, so final judgment should be reserved until a production version is used and tested. I love that I can have a real 50mm on the FS100.

[via 43rumors]