Canon EOS M Shipping News And Video Review

The good news is that the Canon EOS M should start shipping by tomorrow, October 31st. I am still eagerly awaiting mine to arrive.

The other news is that DigitalRev notified me that they have the Canon EOS M in stock and ready to ship. Various kits are offered, click here to see all their EOS M related bundles and items. As usual with DigitalRev the price depends by your check-out location, but: they told me the EOS M kits are now slightly lower in price. Check it out to see if it works for you. Customers based in Asia should be fine with DigitalRevs location-based check-out system. One thing is sure: for the time being DigitalRev has the richest set of EOS M kits and bundles, and they are all ready to ship today.

I am checking the other sellers, but for the time being neither Amazon nor Adorama and B&H have the EOS M listed as in stock. More tomorrow, or as soon as there are news.

In the meantime have a look at the video above (DigitalRev’s Kai reviewing the EOS M) and on Techcrunch’s hands-on. Techcrunch writes:

[…] the EOS M [is] a camera that feels great in the hand and that lives up to the expectations of the MILC category. Canon’s big advantage over others in this space may just be the adapter ring, which makes it possible to use the EOS M with Canon’s extensive catalog of EF lenses, a huge selling point for existing Canon DSLR shooters who want something more portable to shore up their collection.

There are slowly starting to be “EOS M”-tagged pics on Flickr, click here to see the pics. Finally, in the case you missed it, here is an interview with Canon’s David Parry about the EOS M:

Canon EOS M price and availability check for your country: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon EOS M Shipping News And Video Review

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 USM IS Reviews And Video (Update)

Update: added another EF 28mm IS USM review.

The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM succeds the EF 28mm f/2.8, a lens that was in production for 25 years and has now been discontinued. The old Canon 28mm can still be found on Amazon ($349) and on . 28mm on a crop sensor give you a focal length of 45mm, near the normal focal length (50mm). I like the focal lenght on the crop body and I own the old Canon 28mm. It is one of the lens I use more often on my crop body, especially for street photography.

The new Canon EF 28mm isn’t an earthshaking technical progress. Focal length and maximum aperture didn’t change, although Canon widely changed the optical design. An ultrasonic motor that drives the auto-focus and image stabilization are the new features. A fast and very silent auto-focus isn’t a bad feature, though the micro-motor on my EF 28mm has never been to slow, it was louder. Canon claims the IS gives you 4 stops, although you should probably consider a more realistic figure of 2-3 stops. Uh, and the price, which is around three times the price of its predecessor.

A relatively fast prime (f/2.8) that’s not an “L” lens and goes over the counter for $800/€700. There is nothing revolutionary or innovative in this Canon prime. It’s a well built lens (though not being an “L” lens the build quality is very high), and it doesn’t extend and hence is little exposed to dust and water. It has a rock solid, reliable performance, sharpness is absolutely impressive, it’s lightweight, and wouldn’t it be for the price I am sure this could be a bestseller. Some macro capabilities are also given, the lens has a 0.2x magnification and a close-focusing distance of 23 cm (9 inches). Here are some Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 USM IS reviews for you to check.

Photozone.de writes

The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 USM IS is, undoubtedly, a high performance lens with only a few weaknesses. The center performance is breathtaking and the border quality is also very good if you close the aperture by a stop or so. The lens is also capable of keeping its performance in close-focus scenarios. The low amount of lateral CAs contributes to the high sharpness perception as well. The lens produces a slight amount of mustache-style barrel distortion which is lower than most zoom lenses. The vignetting characteristic is a a weak spot – at max. aperture there’s quite a bit of light falloff so you should stop down to at least f/4 to reduce the issue to a more sane level (unless you’re after the effect, of course).

From Slrgear’s lab test:

Sharpness
On a sub-frame camera such as our studio Canon 7D, the lens provides excellent sharpness across its aperture settings; on a full-frame camera, the corners of the lens show a little softness.

Mounted on the Canon 7D, the lens provides consistent sharpness from its widest setting of ƒ/2.8 through to ƒ/11; while it’s not tack-sharp, it is very sharp indeed. Diffraction limiting sets in appreciably by ƒ/16, and there is a generalized softness when fully stopped-down at ƒ/22.

Mounted on the full-frame Canon 1Ds mkIII, we noted a bit more of the lens’ corners: specifically, it’s a bit soft in the extreme corners when used wide open at ƒ/2.8 and ƒ/4, and while the central region of the frame offers excellent results for sharpness, the corner areas trail very slightly behind.

 

[Update] Another detailed review with samples (and comparison with other Canon primes) can be found at The Digital Picture. Some excerpts:

I am modestly surprised that Canon decided to not include the Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens in the L Series, but, like the 24 f/2.8 IS, the 28 f/2.8 IS has image quality that challenges these impressive lenses. The 28 f/2.8 IS has a price that makes adding the extra red paint around the end of the lens seem logical. […]

With good technique and a stable, standing shooting position, I am getting a very good percentage of sharp shots at 1/5 – 1/4 second. Beyond 1/4 sec, the keeper rate drops off gradually with sharp images still obtainable at close to 1 sec exposures. The IS assistance I experience is about 3 stops. […]

In a quiet environment, you will be able to hear the shuffling of elements inside the lens while autofocusing, but … this is one of the quieter-focusing lenses available.

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 USM IS Reviews

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 price and availability check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

 

Three Canon EOS M Kits In Stock At DigitalRev (and Gizmodo EOS M review)

Three different Canon EOS M kits in stock at DigitalRev, all are ready to ship:

  • Canon EOS M with EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (click here)
  • Canon EOS M with EF-M 22mm f/2 STM (click here)
  • Canon EOS M with EF-M 18-55mm and EF-M 22mm (click here)

The price of the kits depends by your check-out location. To see all of the Canon EOS M kits in stock at DigitalRev click here.

Gizmodo published a very positive review of the Canon EOS M. The small size makes the difference for Gizmodo’s reviewer. It’s true that the Canon EOS M is barley larger than a staple of card, yet featuring an advanced APS-C sensor and lots of functionality and features.

More than a shrunken down DSLR, the magnesium and stainless steel build and smooth lines remind us of Canon’s slick, consumer-minded Powershot cameras like the Canon s100. The EOS M has been stripped of everything that could add any bulk to it and it shows in its size: the camera with kit lens and battery included weighs just 14 ounces. That’s crazy light. Canon basically built a box around an image sensor.

Gizmodo’s conclusion:

We’ve been waiting a long time for a compact interchangeable-lens camera from Canon, and from the looks of it the Canon EOS M is a winner. Some of the traditional questions about mirrorless cameras remain, though. Will the camera be practical and easy enough for regular consumers who want a more powerful camera? Is the camera powerful enough for someone who’s used to a DSLR? At $800 with the 22mm lens, it’s not the cheapest camera of its kind out there, but it’s mighty reasonable considering others can cost upwards of $1000. We’ll know for sure how good a deal it is when the Canon EOS M is available in October.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens Review

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens Review

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is one of the two lenses (the other is the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, and then there are two STM lenses for the EOS M) that have been designed to work smoothly with the Movie AF Servo mode that’s featured on the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D. In Movie AF Servo mode the camera can focus continuously while it is recording video. Moreover, the STM (Stepping Motor) AF should allow for a silent focusing (so you don’t record disturbing noise while in video mode).

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens sports a newly developed image stabilization system of which Canon claims it gives you 4 stops. The Canon is a good walk-around and everyday lens. It covers photographic settings from landscape (wide angle) to portrait photography. The lens will also sense if you are shooting normally or panning, and will activate the most appropriate IS mode to capture the best possible image. When shooting movies, Dynamic IS automatically engages, countering any shake caused by movement. On a crop sensor (1.6x magnification) the lens has a range of 29-216mm. The usual price tag of the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is $549, and it has the following specs:

  • 18-135mm Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5-36
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Stepping Motor and Inner Focusing System
  • Supports Movie Servo AF Feature
  • Smooth and Quiet AF Ideal for Video
  • EF-S Mount for APS-C Format EOS Cameras
  • Compact Design

Steve’s Digicams took the lens and tested it. They used a Canon EOS 60D for the tests. In the conclusion they write:

Canon’s new 18-135mm IS STM lens is a high quality, versatile and affordable (~$550 USD) standard zoom lens. This lens can easily be used as an all-in-one lens, as it is all you need for most standard shooting situations. It is also one of just two of the STM lenses currently available (Oct. 2012), which is a must for anyone that uses their Canon dSLR regularly for shooting video. The new functions of the lens will automatically increase your video quality. As it is equipped with the new T4i kit, we recommend that you buy the kit for this lens, whether you are getting your first dSLR or upgrading from a previous Rebel. You will find yourself using this lens for all of your day to day shooting.

A more exhaustive description of the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens follows after the break.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE Canon Rebel T4i/EOS 650D price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE Canon EOS 60D price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Click here to open the rest of the article

Rebel T4i/EOS 650D Reviews And Comparisons Round-Up

Rebel T4i/EOS 650D Reviews And Comparisons Round-Up

Time for a Rebel T4i/EOS 650D reviews and comparisons round-up. There are at least two big innovations that Canon carried out with the Rebel T4i/650D: the touchscreen interface (same as on the EOS M) and the hybrid auto-focus system. The AF system allows for full auto-focus while you are in video mode, a very quiet AF when you use STM (Stepping Motor) lenses. The hybrid AF and the full AF in video mode are a primer for Canon: The Rebel T4i/EOS 650D is the first Canon ever that comes with this feature. The Rebel T4i/EOS 650D kit with the 18-135mm IS STM kit lens has a price tag of $1200. The Rebel T4i/EOS 650D acted as a sort of testbed for the technologies Canon later implemented on its first mirrorless system camera, the Canon EOS M (see here for price and specs). Rebel T4i/EOS 650D specifications:

  • 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
  • Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S Lenses

Let’s start with digitalcamerainfo. They compared the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with its predecessor, the Rebel T3i/EOS 600D. The new Rebel is definitely a more powerful video-making gear. However, if you are not particularly interested in video, then the Rebel T3i/EOS 600D (click here for price and specs) may be your best bet. Virtually same image quality at a concretely lower price (it’s the last year’s model). The same guys at digitalcamerainfo also made a comparison between the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D and the Nikon D3200 (which is almost half the costs of the Rebel).

There’s little question that the T4i is a better camera in every respect, aside from pure image quality. It’s better built, more feature rich, has a more logical and full-featured control scheme, and boasts neat party tricks like touchscreen control and continuous video autofocus. This is stuff the D3200 can’t hope to match.

I know a lot of people who are unsure if they should prefer the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D or the more feature rich EOS 60D. The following video by Dave Dugdale may help take a decision.

Some more Rebel T4i/EOS 650D reviews. PCPro UK‘s verdict:

Clever use of a touchscreen display and a vast improvement to autofocus performance on video and stills makes the 650D the best all-rounder for amateurs.

Photographyblog‘s conclusion:

In summary the new 650D / Rebel T4i is the most complicated yet friendly mid-range Canon DSLR yet, truly a camera that you can grow into as your photography skills develop. It only misses out on our highest Essential award because of the still slow Live View auto-focusing and a small price increase over the 600D, but is more than deserving of our still-coveted Highly Recommended award.
I will come back to the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D when there are new reviews.

 

Canon Rebel T4i/EOS 650D price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE
Canon Rebel T3i/EOS 600D price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE
Canon EOS M price and availability check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

24-70mm Lenses Reviews Round-Up (Canon, Tamron, Sigma)

The 24-70mm is a wide-angle to medium telephoto range that’s popular with full-frame shooters (e.g. photojournalists), so I thought it would be a good idea to write a 24-70mm lenses reviews round-up. Canon, Sigma and Tamron are the brands of choice. If used on a APS-C sensor, the lenses give you an equivalent of 36-105mm.

Canon recently released the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II lens ($2300) to succeed the now discontinued EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM (still available on eBay for around $1800). Canon’s new EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II has a rather hefty price tag, and no image stabilization. Being an “L” lens it is totally weather sealed, and the overall build quality is on line with Canon’s “L”-philosophy. The video above and the sharpness test below feature the “old” EF 24-70mm, which also comes without image stabilization.

The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD ($1,299) is cheaper than both Canons and has image stabilization(VC), making it an interesting alternative. The weather sealing of the Tamron is defined as a moisture-resistant construction [that] helps prevent water from penetrating the lens. For a lab test of the Tamron click here. And then there is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM ($899), no image stabilization, no weather sealing and definitely the less expensive of the three. A review of the Sigma can be read here.

At learningdslrvideo they were particularly interested to compare sharpness. They used a Canon EOS 5D Mark III for the tests. The results are discussed in the video above. That’s what they found out:

  • At 70mm
    • f2.8: Tamron beats Sigma (Sigma looks bad in the center and edges), Canon beats Tamron ever so slightly at center and edges
    • f5.6: Sigma beats Tamron at both center and edges, Canon beats Sigma only at center, edges are a tie
    • f8.0: Sigma and Tamron tie, Canon wins slightly
    • f16.0: All three tie
    • f22.0: Sigma does a nice job beating both Tamron and Canon
  • At 24mm:
    • f2.8: Sigma beats Tamron in the center, Tamron beats Sigma in the edges, Sigma beats Canon in center, Canon beats Sigma in the edges
    • f5.6: Sigma and Tamron tie, Sigma beats Canon in the center
    • f8.0: Tamron beats both Canon and Sigma
    • f16.0: All three tie
    • f22.0: All three tie
The Sigma may not have the excellent build quality of the Canon, nor it has any sort of weather sealing like the Tamron. Nevertheless, the Sigma has an excellent build quality), and its sharpness is good. Obviously sharpness is not the only concern for a photographer (though one of the most important). However, the Sigma is much less expensive than the Canon and the Tamron.
The next video shows a 24-70mm Canon vs. Tamron shootout (by youtube user TheCameraStoreTV). This time the new Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II lens comes into the game.

EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II price and availability:  Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM price and availability:  Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE