Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM DxOMarked (a tempting lens)

Sigma 20mm F/1.4
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DxOMark posted the lab results of their Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM tests. Needless to say, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM performance is stellar, and the lens easily beats the Zeiss Distagon T 21mm f/2.8 ZE as well as the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. Oh, and the Sigma costs much less than the lenses it beats.

From the conclusion:

Sigma continues to raise the bar with this new addition to their Art series primes. The new Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM compares very favorably with the Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/21, even outperforming it when stopped down, and it looks very promising against the relatively new Nikon Nikkor 20mm f1.8G ED.

Canon has yet to upgrade its old EF 20mm f2.8 from the film days, but it offers some excellent zooms that cover 20mm; however, even when stopped down, they lack the edge-to-edge sharpness of the Sigma. Of course, the Sigma is an ultra-high-speed model that’s suited to a variety of subjects, including indoor scenes with low ambient light levels, as well as landscapes, and even architecture […]. At around $899, the Sigma is competitively priced and difficult to ignore. If you’re in the market for a 20mm, this model is definitely worth a closer look.

Sigma 20mm f/1.4

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM  B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via DxOMark]

Canon 35mm f/1.4L II USM video-review (DigitalRev TV)

DigitalRev’s Kai reviewed Canon’s new EF 35mm f/1.4L II, featuring Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics.

Key features:

  • 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

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

EF 35mm f/1.4L II

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM review (very good image quality)

Photographer Dustin Abbott reviewed one of Canon’s affordable telephoto lenses, the recently updated Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens. While the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is a budget lens, the optical performance of this lens is very good.

From the conclusion (emphasis mine):

If you have a limited budget but need a telephoto lens there is really no need to look any further.  The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM gives a lot of performance for its relatively low purchase price of right around $300.  The redesign of its optics makes it a legitimate competitor of much more expensive options, and, while it may lack the higher grade build of those lenses, it is actually surprising how close this lens comes in optical performance. It really doesn’t have a lot of optical weaknesses other than being a little prone to veiling when the sun is in the frame (at telephoto lengths) […]  The maximum apertures at most focal lengths suffer relative to competitors, but the great wide open image quality as means you don’t have to stop the lens down as much. The build quality isn’t impressive, but it’s not terrible, either, and the lens handles fine overall.  I found the image stabilizer to be effective, and, while STM focus is not my favorite AF system, the lens performed quite ably in most situations.

You may watch the 12 minutes video above or head over to Dustin Abbott’s site for the review and a huge set of sample pictures shot in real world settings.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II review (outstanding image quality, says Photography Blog)

EF 35mm F/1.4L II
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Photography Blog posted their exhaustive review of Canon’s new EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens. The EF 35mm f/1.4L II is a highly regarded lens, well suited for travel photography and journalism. In the conclusion they write:

Image quality is outstanding. Chromatic aberrations are virtually non-existent thanks to the new Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics technology, geometric distortion is impressively low for a wide-angle lens, and the Sub-Wavelength Structure Coating (SWC) coatings successfully prevent contrast loss attributable to flare. The only real optical issues are some corner shading at the maximum aperture, something that every full-frame shooter has to put up with, especially when using wide angles, and a slight lack of critical edge sharpness between f/1.4-f/2.8 and f/16-f/22. Read the review…

There is nothing not to like on the EF 35mm f/1.4L II, except for the price ($1,799). Beside the excellent build quality, the EF 35mm f/1.4L II is also a lens of a new generation, planned and build with Canon’s EOS 5Ds and EOS 5Ds R in mind.

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II key features:

  • 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

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

Canon PowerShot G5 X real-world sample pictures

Powershot G5 X
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DPReview posted a gallery with 55 sample photos shot with Canon’s new PowerShot G5 X.

Powershot G5 X key features:

  • 20.2MP 1″ High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 6 Image Processor
  • 4.2x Optical Zoom f/1.8-2.8 Lens
  • 24-100mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 2.36m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ 1.04m-Dot Multi-Angle Touchscreen
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
  • ISO 12800 & 5.9 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Manual Control Dials, Star Shooting Mode

Canon Powershot G5 X: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

A new Powershot G5 X introductory video by Canon…

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II reviewed by LensRentals

EF 35mm F/1.4L II
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The folks at LensRentals posted a brief review of the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II, a new Canon prime featuring Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics. They write:

The greatest (and only) shortfall I found with the new Canon 35mm f/1.4L II came in the price of the lens. At $1,799 new, the Canon 35mm f/1.4 II is a staggering $300 more than its now dated predecessor, and double the price of the Sigma Art series lens – a strong competitor to the Canon 35L II. So is it worth the massive price difference?  If you’re a loyalist to Canon, then yes – the Mark II version is a considerable upgrade to the original, and well worth the price difference between the two. However, if you’re willing to venture over to Sigma, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art series lens is still the best buy for the money. At $799 [editors note: it’s actually $899] retail price, the Sigma 35mm Art series will put you right in between the two Canon lenses, and at a considerably lower price than both of them. Read the review…

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