Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens image quality and sharpness analysis (video)

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to 16
  • Two Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Photographer and reviewer Dustin Abbott takes a detailed look at the overall sharpness, resolution, and image quality from the new Sigma 85mm f/1.4 ART lens. He also compares the Sigma 85mm with the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC and the pro-grade and expensive Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4. A gallery with sample shots can be seen here,

[via Dustin Abbott]

Canon EOS M5 real-world sample pictures (DPReview)

Canon Eos M5 Mark Ii
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Canon EOS M5: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 2.36m-Dot EVF, Touch and Drag AF Control
  • 3.2″ 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth Smart
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF
  • Up to 9 fps Shooting and ISO 25600
  • Digital IS 5-Axis Image Stabilization

DPReview posted a set of 103 sample pictures shot with the new Canon EOS M5.

The user manual for the Canon EOS M5 can be downloaded at Canon USA. Good to learn about the features of the EOS M5.

Canon EF 35mm F1.4L II review (best 35mm F1.4 prime available, DPReview)

EF 35mm F/1.4L II
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Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

  • EF Mount L-Series Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4-22
  • Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics
  • Two Aspherical Elements, One UD Element
  • Subwavelength and Fluorine Coatings
  • Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor
  • Full-Time Manual Focus Override
  • Weather-Sealed Design
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

DPReview posted their Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II review. And it is all a praise for the new EF 35mm f/1.4 II.

From the conclusion:

Canon has thrown everything it’s got at the 35mm F1.4L USM MkII, with a ground-up remake of the MkI original from 1998. This is a lens with the most advanced and innovative optics, heavy duty construction, and lightning autofocus – the whole nine yards. It is priced accordingly.

Every aspect of performance is best in class, and it’s the joint-sharpest lens we’ve ever tested […]. It’s especially impressive at F1.4, with very high sharpness extending right to the edges. The new BR Optics layer does its job of keeping chromatic aberrations under control, with unusually low levels of axial CA […]

This is the best 35mm F1.4 prime currently available. On performance overall, it leaves all-comers floundering in its wake with outstanding image quality, especially at F1.4, and extra-robust build. Some rivals come close optically, but none offers a total package to match the Canon 35mm F1.4L USM MkII. Read the review…

Clear words for a lens that sells at $1,649.

Venus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero D Lens Review (D. Abbott)

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Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero D: B&H Photo | Adorama

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • Three Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Rectilinear Design, Low Distortion
  • Frog Eye Dust & Water-Repellent Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Floating Optical Design
  • Built-In Petal-Shape Lens Hood

Reviewer and photographer Dustin Abbott posted his final review of the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero D lens. The “zero D” stays for “zero distortion”. Can he Laowa hold up to the promises?

Dustin calls the fully manual Laowa a “classic, extraordinarily well-made lens” that feels a lot like a classic Zeiss lens. Dustin’s reviews always come in two versions, you can enjoy the videos below (the first one is the full review), or you can head over to Dustin’s site and go for the written review with many sample pictures. In the conclusion he writes:

This is a very intriguing lens.  That extremely wide focal length is both challenging and yet inspiring.  Laowa has been able to engineer a lens with a fabulous build quality and compact size that I find personally very appealing.  They’ve also managed to minimize the potential optical shortcomings of such a lens and produce a very well rounded result.  The Zero D isn’t necessarily exceptional at any one thing save the incredibly low distortion, but neither is it bad in any area.

Dustin says that “the zero distortion claim pretty much holds up in real world shooting” and that the Laowa has a “good flare resistance, chromatic aberration control, and resolution”. At $949, the Laowa sounds like a winner.

Laowa 12mm f/2.8

Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero D: B&H Photo | Adorama

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II review (Photozone)

EF 24-105mm F/4L IS
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At a glance:

  • EF-Mount L-Series Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to 22
  • Four GMo Aspherical Elements
  • Air Sphere Coating
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Internal Focus; Full-Time MF Override
  • Zoom Lock Switch; Fluorine Coating
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 10-Blade Diaphragm

After LensRentals’ not so exciting MTF figures on the new Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II, we have another review by lens reviewing authority Photozone, which also doesn’t really praise this lens.

While Photozone confirms the good build quality of this “L” grade lens, they are pretty disappointed by the overall performance. From the conclusion:

Let’s be honest – the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS (mk I) was not the greatest lens Canon ever produced. Unfortunately neither is the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS II. While there are differences on detail level, the performance is roughly similar which is a little depressing given all the years that passed by since the mk I was designed. 50 megapixels are a torture ground for all lenses but it’s too much for the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS II really. The center quality is sufficient but the corner quality just isn’t there at the extreme ends. The amount of CAs is acceptable. The lens performs, of course, much better on 21 megapixel cameras with very decent results from f/5.6 at least. However, you have to live with the outlook that the glory ends once you decide to upgrade you camera. […] The quality of the bokeh is comparatively decent for a standard zoom lens at least. Read the review…

In other words: there are no improvements over the predecessor, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS, which at least has a street price of $623, compared to the $1,099 of the new EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II (the price is likely to go down in the next months). Photozone clearly states they “would recommend to skip this lens”.

Price check:

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens sample pictures

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to 16
  • Two Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Photographer and reviewer Dustin Abbott posted a set of sample pictures shot with the new Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art sells at $1,199 and can be pre-ordered: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA