Seven Things You Might Want To Know Before Buying The Sony a7 III

Sony A7 Iii
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Sony a7 III at a glance:

  • 24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
  • BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
  • 693-Point Hybrid AF System
  • UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
  • 2.36m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF
  • 3.0″ 922k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
  • ISO 204800 and 10 fps Shooting
  • Built-In Wi-Fi and NFC, Dual SD Slots
  • USB Type-C Port, Weather-Sealed Design

Sony cameras are hyped and tech-packed, but regularly fall short on simple things, like ergonomics. In this short video, DIYPhotography lists seven aspects of the A7III that might disappoint you, especially if you discover them after having bought the Sony a7 III:

  1. No built-in Intervalometer
  2. The touchscreen is infuriating
  3. Only one UHS-II memory card slot
  4. Default settings are good for no one
  5. There is no battery charger
  6. Confusing Menus
  7. Monitor Lag

Here is the video:

Sony a7 III: Amazon | Adorama | B&H Photo

[via DIY Photography]

Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art First Look/Hands On Review and Image Sample Gallery

Sigma 105mm F1.4
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Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Three FLD Elements, Two SLD Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Weather-Sealed, Protective Front Coating
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Removable Rotating Arca-Type Tripod Foot
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Our preferred reviewer, Dustin Abbott, posted a hands on/first look review video (below) for the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens, and a sample photo gallery too. The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art just recently got a “Hot One” award from Professional Photographer Magazine.

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art sells at $1,599: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II review by D. Abbott

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS II
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Photographer and reviewer Dustin Abbott posted his exhaustive review of the new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II. 

It’s no secret that the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is getting one positive review after the other. It’s a great lens, and Canon has another winner here. Btw, the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II also impresses with build quality and low variance.

From D. Abbott’s conclusion:

Some have questioned whether this lens is a worthy upgrade, if enough has changed. If you are looking for a revolutionary improvement over the previous generation lens (perhaps considering updating), that might be a hard choice, but there is no doubt that this is a significantly improved lens on a number of levels. The build is improved, the autofocus is improved, and the image quality is improved. There is no single thing that jumps out at you, but the sum total of the improvements add up to what I believe is the best f/4 lens that covers this focal length. The price tag is at the high end of the spectrum, but so is the performance of the lens. There are solid alternatives to this lens, but if you want the best 70-200mm f/4 lens, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is the one to get.

D. Abbott’s review comes with a huge set of sample photos, and analyses any aspect of the lens. You may also choose to watch the full review video below.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is in stock at major retailers in the US, price is $1,299: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II world-wide:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II review by Optical Limits

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS II
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32
  • One Fluorite Element and Two UD Elements
  • Super Spectra Coating
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Internal Focus, Focus Range Limiter
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Optical Limits (former photozone.de) reviewed the new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II lens.

From their conclusion:

The king is dead and, yes, long live the new king. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is everything that the mk I was plus some. It is the perfect playmate for ultra-resolution Canon cameras. It is mostly tack sharp at mainstream settings with no real weakness across the focal length range. Lateral CAs are low and not really an issue. Image distortions can be visible specifically at the long end though and you can spot some moderate vignetting at f/4. If you use digital auto-correction that will be a lesser concern, of course. The quality of the bokeh is good for a zoom lens.

The build quality is excellent but that’s hardly a surprise when talking about a Canon L lens. The low weight and small size are certainly welcomed when carrying around your camera gear all day long. Canon’s improved image stabilizer is impressive. Read the review…

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is getting one positive review after the other. Canon clearly has another winner here.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is in stock at major retailers in the US, price is $1,299: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II world-wide:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II lens image quality breakdown (D. Abbott)

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS II
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32
  • One Fluorite Element and Two UD Elements
  • Super Spectra Coating
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Internal Focus, Focus Range Limiter
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Photographer and reviewer Dustin Abbott posted a 24 minutes video where he analyses the image quality of the new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II.

Have a look also on Dustin Abbott’s first look and hands on review. The new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is in stock at major retailers in the US, price is $1,299: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II world-wide:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon EOS 6D Mark II best vlogging tool, T. Northrup (seriously) states

Canon Eos 6d Mark Ii Deal
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II at a glance:

  • 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 45-Point All-Cross Type AF System
  • Full HD Video at 60 fps; Electronic IS
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
  • Native ISO 40000, Expanded to ISO 102400
  • 6.5 fps Shooting; Time-Lapse & HDR Movie
  • Built-In GPS, Bluetooth, & Wi-Fi w/ NFC
  • Dust and Water Resistant; SD Card Slot

Tony Northrup appears to have changed his mind on the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, a camera that got a lot of undeserved bad press.

Says T. Northrup:

The Canon 6D Mark II […] really is the best vlogging camera for YouTubers who might need to film themselves at times. Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus (DPAF) simply works better than any of the competitors. The only camera that even comes close are Sony’s latest round of full-frame e-mount cameras, like the Sony a7 III. However, those cameras lack a selfie screen, and when they do focus during video, it isn’t smooth and cinematic. Besides the reliable face autofocus when recording, I’ve come to appreciate being able to use fast full-frame lenses, like the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 […], to blur the background. The 6D Mk II also has audio levels on the screen while you’re recording (as long as you have the audio levels set manually), which the APS-C Canon 77D lacks.


We never had any doubt that the EOS 6D Mark II was an excellent camera.

B&H Photo has the Canon EOS 6D Mark II bundled with the following items:

  • Watson LP-E6N Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1900mAh)
  • SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Memory Card
  • Ruggard Journey 44 DSLR Shoulder Bag (Black)
  • Canon BG-E21 Battery Grip for EOS 6D Mark II

on sale for just $1,599. Compare at $1,999 for the body only without any bonus items. A killer deal in our opinion. The same bundle is available with the EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens at $1,999, and with the EF 24-105mm f/4L II lens at $2,499.

Adorama too has a set of Canon EOS 6D Mark II bundle deals on sale. All bundles get $350 mail-in rebate (instructions) and include the following items:

  • Canon PIXMA PRO-100 Professional Photo Inkjet Printer
  • Canon Plus Luster Semi-Gloss Photo Paper (13×19″), 50 Sheets
  • Shure VP83F LensHopper Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
  • Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera

The Canon EOS 6D Mark II bundles on offer are:

  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II body only bundled with the items listed above on sale at $1,599 after MIR
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II lens and bundled with the items listed above on sale at $2,499 after MIR
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II with EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens and bundled with the items listed above on sale at $1,999 after MIR

Canon EOS 6D Mark II world wide:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE