Canon PowerShot S110 Review (best bet for enthusiast photographers)

Canon PowerShot S110 core specs:

  • 12.1MP Resolution 1/1.7″ CMOS Sensor
  • 24-120mm UA Lens (35mm Equivalent)
  • 5x Optical Zoom, f/2.0-5.9 Aperture
  • 3.0″ PureColor Touch Screen LCD Display
  • HS SYSTEM Technology, High Speed AF
  • DIGIC 5 Image Processor, Intelligent IS
  • Full HD 1080p Video with Stereo Sound
  • High-Speed Burst HQ, Manual Control Ring
  • ISO 12800, Multi-Aspect Ratio RAW
  • Smart AUTO, Movie Digest & Wi-Fi

Cameralab’s review of the PowerShot S110 (price & specs), successor of the highly popular PowerShot S100 (price & specs). Foremost: while the S100 had built-in GPS, the S110 comes with built-in WiFi connectivity, and no more GPS. I can’t say if Canon did this for commercial reasons or because of engineering issues. It is not a big issue since you can always geo-tag your pics by connecting to your smart-phone. The other big difference to its successor is the introduction of a touch-screen 3″ display, a welcome addition for all those who are used to smart-phones and similar devices. If the touch interface is as smart and well workingas on the Canon EOS M (price & specs) then Canon did it right. In the same way as on the EOS M, the touch-screen can be used for focusing and subsequent shutter release.

In the conclusion they write:

[…] the PowerShot S110 remains the smallest camera with advanced features like a bright lens, RAW files and manual controls, and the only one with a built-in motorised lens cap. The competition from Panasonic and Olympus meanwhile continues to travel in a different direction, offering brighter lenses, hotshoes and accessory ports, but in a less compact form factor with lens caps. Sony’s RX100 comes closest physically and packs in a bigger sensor too, but again lacks the motorised lens cover and some of the S110’s other features. While you may think having a manual lens cap isn’t a big deal, it does make a camera larger and delays the time to first shot; certanly when shooting with the S110 alongside any of the aforementioned rivals, it’s been noticeably quicker to action and that can mean the difference between capturing or missing a brief opportunity, and that’s worth taking into consideration.

[…] the PowerShot S110 remains the best bet for enthusiast photographers seeking the rare combination of advanced control in a truly compact connected camera. Had Canon made a better job of the connectivity features it would have been Highly Recommended, as it is the PowerShot S110 comes Recommended; if you value genuine take-anywhere portability over the bright lens, hot shoe and accessory optons of larger models it’s hard to beat.

Comprehensive review with sample pictures, noise comparison, and image quality tests.

Canon PowerShot S110 price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE Canon PowerShot S100 price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE [via cameralabs] Canon PowerShot S110 Review Canon PowerShot S110 Review

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Review (slrgear)

EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Review

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM (price & specs) is about to become a highly popular lens, at least this is the impression if you look at the many EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM reviews that are published. The latest comes from slrgear. Some excerpts from their review:

  • The 24-70mm […] offers sharp results, but is also the subject of some controversy for its performance at 50mm. We tested three copies of this lens; the first and second had poor performance at the 50mm setting.
  • Stopping down the lens does improve its sharpness: corner softness is never completely removed to provide tack-sharp results from corner to corner on full-frame, but it is dramatically reduced. Peak performance is shown at ƒ/8 across all focal lengths
  • Results for chromatic aberration with the 24-70mm ƒ/4L were good: overall, CA is kept under control through the majority of the frame
  • On APS-C sensors corner shading is not an issue, but on full-frame: the lens creates images with corners that are significantly darker than the center. In the worst case, 24mm at ƒ/4, the extreme corners are a full stop darker than the center
  • […] testing for distortion shows a complicated pattern with a point of near-zero distortion.
  • Going from infinity to close-focus takes well less than one second, and point-to-point focusing is lightning quick
  • the lens offers an impressive 0.7x magnification [for macro]. There is also some slight fine-tuning adjustment available for zoom and focus in the macro setting

As you have seen, they are nor very satisfied with the performance at 50mm (sharpness-wise). Moreover, they found inconsistencies among copies of the lens (not good Canon!). It is hence wise to test the lens at 50mm before buying it. The issues at 50mm reflect also in the conclusion:

Canon made a smart decision to offer a lower-priced alternative to its 24-70mm ƒ/2.8, in order to give Canon shooters of the more casual or economical nature a way to stay true to the brand name. Unfortunately the lens’ performance at 50mm stands out as unacceptable, especially when you consider [it] still costs $1,500. […] So what is a Canon shooter to do? If you’re happy with the performance you see from our sample pictures, and you need or want the image stabilization and macro capabilities of the 24-70mm ƒ/4, then you should be happy with your purchase – assuming you get as good a copy as we did […]

There is always the alternative to go for the good old Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (price & specs), which offers a wider range and the same specs as the 24-70mm. And the 24-105mm is known not only to be a lens of proven quality, but also to have consistent optical performance.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

[via slrgear]

EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Review

First Preview Of The Upcoming Canon 200-400mm f/4 IS 1.4x

It has yet to be announced, we are waiting for it since long, but photographer Joshua Holko had the exclusive chance to preview the Canon 200-400mm f/4 IS with built-in 1.4x teleconverter. The video has been published at Luminous Landscape:

Recently, Australian photographer Joshua Holko had an opportunity to work with a pre-production sample of the exciting new Canon 200-400mm lens. In the video review below Joshua offers us an exclusive look at this lens in action and he discusses his opinion of early sample images.

Cool! Really hope that means the lens will soon be released.

Battle Of The Bokeh – Various 35mm Lenses Compared

35mm lenses are in everyones mind those days. There have been some interesting lenses in this range that have been released in the last times. Think Canon's EF 35mm f/2 IS USM (price & specs), the amazing Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM (price & specs) and as last entry, the manual aperture and focusing Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 (price & specs). The last one a hot one with a price tag of $479. For featured reviews of the Canon and Sigma lenses see here, here, and here. For the Rokinon see here.

DigitalRev made a video comparing the EF 35mm f 1.4L USM, Nikon 35mm G AF-S and the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM for the purpose of checking which one has the best bokeh. Check it out!

Battle Of The Bokeh

Battle Of The Bokeh

 

Canon EOS 6D Field Test (Video)

The Camera Store TV made 10 minutes video of a Canon EOS 6D (price & specs) field test. The setting:

In this episode The Camera Store TV’s Chris Niccolls gives the Canon 6D a test in a very demanding situation, the world of online dating. Watch as Chris and Dave Paul shoot a dating portfolio and video for our astronomy expert, Mark Langridge.

Note: B&H has a cool EOS 6D deal going on: the 6D body with a Lowepro – Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag and a Lexar – 16GB SDHC Memory Card Professional Class 10 UHS-I memory card for $1899 (click here). Or take the EOS 6D plus the EF 24-105mm f/4.0L and the memory card for $2499 (click here). This deals are part of the rebate programs that expire  Saturday, 2/2/2013.

Canon EOS 6D Field Test

Canon EOS 6D price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

 

Metabones Speed Booster First Impressions (DPreview)

Metabones Speed Booster First Impressions

DPreview tested the Metabones Speed Booster for Canon EF lenses to Sony NEX mounts ($599, click here). They used a [shoplink 10206]Sony NEX-6 (price & specs)[/shoplink] for testing. All the marvels this adapter promises to deliver are once more confirmed. It is, definitely, a game changer. I think we will se great thing in the near future done with this adapter. In their conclusion DPreview writes:

There’s a lot to be excited about with a product that so transforms lens behavior and addresses such a long-standing issue for photographers who long for the wide-angle and light-gathering performance of their older full frame lenses on their newer APS-C body. Image quality is very impressive, with results that compare exceptionally well against a full frame sensor. You do pay a small price in terms of corner softness and CA.

The biggest remaining challenge, however, with the Canon EF to Sony NEX mount is AF speed, a direct consequence of pairing a PDAF-optimized lens on a CDAF sensor. And to their credit, Metabones makes it very clear that AF performance is going to lag far behind what you’d get by using the Sony NEX’s conventional AF system.

This does effectively make the Speed Booster an even more niche product, as it’s best suited for manual-focus shooters. We’d be keen to see a camera manufacturer license this now-proven technology and offer this optical quality and near-full-frame performance mated with an effective AF system. But for now, we tip our hats to Metabones for releasing a product that accomplishes what many had thought nearly impossible.

 The optical quality is outstanding. DPreview’s first impressions comes with samples and good technical description.
[via dpreview]