Off Brand News: Sony a7R III is best performing MILC at DxOMark (scores 100)

Sony A7R III
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Sony A7R III at a glance:

  • 42MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
  • BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
  • 399-Point AF System & 10 fps Shooting
  • UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
  • 3.69m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF
  • 3.0″ 1.44m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
  • ISO 102400 & Pixel Shift Multi Shooting
  • Built-In Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Dual SD Slots
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Port & PC Sync Port

The folks over at DxOMark put the Sony A7R III on their test bench. Well, the A7R III scores 100, same as the Nikon D850. Only the medium format Hasselblad X1D-50c and Pentax 645Z have a higher score (102 and 101, respectively).

From DxOMark’s conclusion:

It’s clear that the Sony A7R III has a high-performing sensor that’s capable of capturing images with a broad range of color and tone, while keeping noise well under control.

However, comparing the A7R III sensor to the Nikon D850’s reveals the advantage that the Nikon camera’s lower minimum sensitivity (ISO) value brings. Photographers who predominantly shoot in bright light or capture motionless subjects with the camera on a tripod will record the most information, be it color, tone, or detail with the Nikon D850 set to ISO 32. However, if they require values above that, the Sony A7R III sensor produces marginally better images.

Sony’s in-body 5-axis image stabilization system is widely respected, and if it achieves the 5.5 EV shutter speed compensation in the A7R III that the company claims, it would enable the camera to capture images at ISO 100 instead of at ISO 3200 (provided the subject is stationary). Read the review…

sony a7r iii
The Canon DSLRs with the highest DxOMark score are the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (88) and EOS 5Ds (87). Once more, Sony is showing how well they manage to design and build image sensors.

So, Canon, have you ever heard about this company, Sony? You know, they make amazing hardware with shitty interfaces and beta software on it. But, hey!, they innovate and users love them gadgets and gear. Maybe, Canon, you should consider catching up. Maybe. Just my 2 cents.

Sony A7R III: Amazon US, Adorama, B&H Photo.

Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Review (premium compact camera, Photography Blog)

Canon Powershot G1 X Mark Iii Dual Pixel Af
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PowerShot G1 X Mark III at a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 3x Zoom Lens, 24-72mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Built-In Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF, Image Stabilizer
  • ISO 25600, 9 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction

Photography Blog posted their full review of the brand new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III (specifications, and price in your country), Canon’s first PowerShot with an APS-C sensor and Dual Pixel AF.

From their conclusion:

Canon must have read our review of the G1 X Mark II, because all of the things that we felt were missing – the exposure compensation dial, vari-angle LCD screen and optical viewfinder – have all made a welcome return in the Mark III. We also like the fact that the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is weather-proof and can be powered via a USB compatible battery pack, instantly making it more appealing for frequent travellers, while the combination of front and rear control dials and the single lens control ring make it a snip to quickly set the main camera parameters. We’ve always been fans of Canon’s user interface on its DSLRs, and also now on the PowerShot G1 X Mark III.

In summary, the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III can be summed up in one word – premium. It’s a premium compact camera that offers premium image quality and handling, albeit with a premium price tag to match. Read the review…

I agree, asking $1,299 is a bit too much for what otherwise is a very cool and powerful compact camera. Let’s hope the price gets down in the next months (after the holidays?).

Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III:

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 85mm f/1.4L IS sample images (shot with EOS 6D2)

Canon EF 85mm F/1.4L IS
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Pre-orders are available at $1,599 at Adorama | B&H Photo | Amazon | Canon Store

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/32
  • One GMo Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere and Fluorine Coatings
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Photography Blog posted a gallery of sample images taken with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS lens on a Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR. Original files are available for download (and for your pixel-peeping pleasure). The EF 85mm f/1.4L IS is the hottest Canon lens of 2017.

Canon EOS M100 review (phone photographers feel very at home, Cameralabs)

Eos M100
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The Canon EOS M100 starts at $599:Adorama | B&H Photo | Amazon | Canon Store

At a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 3.0″ 1.04m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF
  • Up to 6.1 fps Shooting and ISO 25600
  • Creative Assist and Self Portrait Mode

I guess there is no recent Canon camera that’s getting so much love from reviewers as the Canon EOS M100 (specifications, and price in your country), the company’s latest entry-level mirrorless interchangeable lens camera and as it appears, a well made one.

Cameralabs reviewed the EOS M100, and their opinion is not different than other (positive) reviews. Delivering DSLR image quality, Dual Pixel AF, and more DSLR-ish features on a very compact and lightweight, and beginner-friendly camera seems to be a winning formula.

From their conclusion:

The Canon EOS M100 is […] designed as a first step up from a smartphone, an introduction to ‘real’ photography […] As such it needs to get the balance right, with nothing too complex or unfamiliar, whilst at the same time providing enough control to enable newbie photographers to develop their skills. It also needs to be able to do the things a phone can do at least as well if not better and, finally, it needs some fun feature modes.

The EOS M100 manages all of those things very well. It’s compact enough to be able to slip it in your pocket and the simple control layout means anyone can pick it up and start using it straight away. The flip-up screen and selfie features combined with great connectivity make it almost as easy to share your photos and videos as if you’d shot them on your phone in the first place. It has good range of effects filters, a time-lapse movie and Hybrid movie mode and the touch screen and well designed interface will make phone photographers feel very at home. Beyond that it offers the same image quality as the more sophisticated EOS M6, the same fast and accurate Dual-pixel AF, 1080p video and respectable 6fps (4fps with Continuous AF) continuous shooting. Read the review…

The review comes with sample photos and usage scenarios. Below two videos from the review. More featured Canon EOS M100 reviews.  You can download the EOS M100 user manual, in case you want to learn more about Canon’s latest MILC.

Canon EOS M100:

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 Powershot G1 X Mark III review (ePHOTOzine)

Canon Powershot G1 X Mark Iii Dual Pixel Af
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PowerShot G1 X Mark III at a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 3x Zoom Lens, 24-72mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Built-In Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF, Image Stabilizer
  • ISO 25600, 9 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction

ePHOTOzine reviewed the brand new Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III (specs, and price in your country), Canon’s first PowerShot camera equipped with an APS-C sensor and Dual Pixel Auto-Focus.

From the conclusion:

The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III has taken the great usability of a Canon DSLR, and the 24mp APS-C CMOS sensor with phase-detection AF built-in, and squished it into a compact camera, whilst maintaining excellent handling and usability. They’ve also put a 3x zoom lens (24-72mm equivalent) on the front, with a relatively bright f/2.8 aperture at the wide-angle end of the lens.

What Canon is offering is unique, giving a 24mp APS-C CMOS sensor, and a 3x optical zoom lens, in a compact camera not much bigger than other compact cameras. We started this review by asking if Canon had made a true miniature DSLR in the size of a compact camera, and from the results, we would say they’ve succeeded. Whilst the camera doesn’t have the battery life to match a DSLR, this can quickly be solved by the purchase of a spare battery or two. Read the review…

Seems Canon got it right with the G1 X Mark III. I wonder why it took so long to feature an APS-C sensor on a PowerShot. My guess: this little powerhouse will sell like hot cakes.

The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III is expected to start shipping at the end of November 2017.

You can preorder the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III at B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro lens review (ePHOTOzine)

The Canon TS-E 50mm F/2.8L (for RF Mount)
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Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
  • Two Ultra-Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere and Subwavelength Coatings
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5°
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 10.6″
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.5x

ePHOTOzine posted their full review of the new Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro lens (price & specs). Canon announced the TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro lens back in August 2017, along with the TS-E 90mm f/2.8L Macro and TS-E 135mm f/4.0L Macro lenses.

From their conclusion:

It has bulk, it has the features. It has a high price, it has the features. In other words, another of those situations where the feature set and quality are not in question but the price will limit the market to those who really need this as a working tool. It would be very nice indeed to own, but it does need to pay its way, as well as needing a high degree of photographic skill to get the best out of its potential.

Given the need and the cash, the photographer will certainly not be disappointed in the results from the Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro lens. Read the review…

True, this lens is not inexpensive, selling at $2,199. However, this is a specialised lens and the reviewer underlines the excellent sharpness, low distortion and chromatic aberrations, the bokeh, and the outstanding built quality.