Dissecting The Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS

Dissecting The Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS
Dissected EF 24-70mm f/4L – image credit: lensrentals.com

After having measured the resolution of the Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS (price & specs), R. Cicala and the lensrentals team decided to open and dissect the EF 24-70. And since they are really ironic guys, they started the post with an Albert Einstein quote: If we knew what we were doing it wouldn’t be called research, would it? :-)

The lens is dissembled and every step is shown with pics and explained in text. This is for sure nothing you should do as a DYI weekend project. In the conclusion they write:

[…] the Canon 24-70 f/4 IS is a truly interesting design, with some things that we’ve never seen before.

Some worry me a tiny bit. I’m certain the zoom-lock/macro switch is going to break some, although it doesn’t appear that will have any major effect.

The large number of adjustable elements is a bit concerning, too. In theory, at least, that’s more adjustments that could contribute to sample variation. On the other hand, Canon’s been a long time developing this lens and they engineer lenses more logically than anyone else. I suspect there’s a nice thick document I’ll never see that tells techs exactly which of those adjustments controls which aspects of the lens’ optics.

In some other lenses, where one element is used to adjust several variables the adjustments can be ridiculously finicky to make. It might well be that having more adjustable spots will make the adjustments more straightforward and logical, reducing sample variation. Only time will tell on that one.

A limited stock of the 24-70mm is available at Adorama for $1499

Canon EF 24-70mmf/4L IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via lensrentals]

 

Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published (better than T4i/650D)

Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published

Canon EOS M DxOMark scores published. Not surprising: the Canon EOS M (prce & specs) scores lower than the Sony NEX 6 (price & specs) and the Olympus OM-D (price & specs). Surprising: the EOS M scores higher (slightly) than the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D (price & specs), both for color depth and low light ISO.

Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published Canon EOS M DxOMark Scores Published

Canon EOS M price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Rebel T4i/EOS 650D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Resolution Test (R. Cicala)

ca24704u_1

There is one thing I really like in Roger Cicala’s reviews (beside the quality of the content): they are concise and won’t make you waste time until you get the information you are looking for. Cicala did the usual resolution test on the Canon EF 24-70mmf/4L IS (available here in limited stock for $1499).

The lens doesn’t come out of the test with much glory, unfortunately.In the conclusion Cicala writes:

On the basis of this information [the resolution test data], though, I’m . . .  well, I don’t know what I am. This is a good lens, but I at the price point I’d probably prefer the f/2.8 of the Tamron VC to the new Canon’s f/4. The macro feature is nice and will certainly pull some people towards the Canon.

This is only a sample of 22 copies, but the sample variation at 70mm is a bit bothersome. I don’t feel comfortable making any statements about it, though, until we’ve seen another 40 or 50 copies. This might just be a couple of bad lenses in a small sample.

My bottom line is I sit here thinking the prices need to settle down a bit. If I was considering upgrading to one of these lenses I’d probably hold off a few months and see how the prices change.

Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Resolution Test
Credit: lensrentals.com

The lens was compared to the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC (price & specs) and the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mark II (price & specs) since they all share the same focal range, and to the Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS (price & specs). Cicala writes:

  • If you want the best 24-70 f/2.8 zoom at any price, the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mk II outresolves anything else, period.

  • If you want image stabilization with your 24-70 zoom, the Tamron is really very good, and while it doesn’t quite resolve up to Mk II standards, it does outresolve the Mk I version (which is itself a pretty good lens, at least when you get a good copy).

  • The Canon 24-105 f/4 IS gives good quality and greater range at a lower price.

[via lensrentals]

Canon EF 24-70mmf/4L IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mark II pice check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 

 

Canon EOS 6D Reviews Round-Up (Moire Issue Confirmed)

More Canon EOS 6D (price & specs) reviews for you. We reported about the strong moire artifacts noticed by Gizmodo's reviewers in their short review. Unfortunately the problem gets confirmed also by photo-oriented sites, like learningcameras. They tested the EOS 6D in an comprehensive review (see also the video above), and about the moire issue they write:

[…] there was a great increase in the amount of moire on the 6D vs other cameras like the 5D mark III. It is almost as if Canon had a filter on the 5D and removed it for the 6D resulting in greater sharpness but also in moire. In my video tests, it was not visable in most shots but certain scenes bring it out more clearly. It also really does not seem like Canon designed this camera to be a great video DSLR.

It is not as harsh as in Gizmodo's review, but the issue is real. On the other hand, the EOS 6D stands out for the sharpness of the video footage, and for the high image quality, which slightly outperforms even the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs):

Quality was similar or better than the excellent 5D mark iii in virtually every test, not enough to be significant, but enough to be noticeable at 100% viewing. During the low light tests, results were similar to the 5D mark III up to ISO 3200 and were very usable. At 6400 ISO, the results began to get a slight bit better than the 5D mark III and produced results about ⅓ of a stop better. This lead continued up to the max ISO however results after 12,800 ISO are probably going to be unusable. This is also significantly better than the Nikon D600 which began to fall apart in my use at anything above 6,400 ISO.

Next, a real world test of the EOS 6D (and short comparison to the EOS 5D Mark III and Fuji XE-1) by photographer Michael Stringer. He was positively impressed by the AF of the 6D, which is by far less sophisticated than the AF of the 5D Mark III:

Much has been said about the 6D’s focus deficiencies in comparison with the 5D III. Of course 61 vs 11 AF points is a substantial difference – as is the fact that the 6D only has 1 cross sensor in the centre while the 5D III has 41 of them. Before using the 6D at a recent wedding I read that the 6D’s centre AF point was particularly sensitive and I can confirm that it definitely is. Whether it is better than the 5D III is debatable but I can say that I had little problem achieving focus in near darkness (12800 iso) with my Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L lens.

About the sensor noise, he confirms what we already reported:

I would say that the I’m very comfortable with 6D images at 12800 iso and 5D III images at 6400-10000 iso. Of course metering must be pretty accurate for well controlled noise at these iso settings.

The review comes with images (wedding shots) so be sure to check it out.

Another EOS 6D review comes from Ron Martinsen. He writes:I’ll admit it, until I tested the new Canon 6D, the Nikon D600 was my camera of the year for 2012. About the image quality: This camera creates some delicious images that seem to even out perform the 5D Mark III at the highest ISO’s. You can check out Ron's images shot with an EOS 6D clicking here.

Finally, though the video dates back to November 2012, watch Canon's Chuck Westfall showing how you can remotely control the EOS 6D via a WiFi connected smartphone.

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 

Canon EOS 6D Serious Moire Issue (Gizmodo Review)

Gizmodo published their short review of the Canon EOS 6D (price & specs). They praise the excellent image quality, low light performance, and all the rest of the goods that you get with Canon’s entry level full frame DSLR. But…there is a big “but”: video performance of the EOS 6D is not au pair with the quality of still images. The 6D can not hold up to the outstanding video capabilities of its bigger brother, the EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs). The problem are serious moire issues, clearly visible in the crops in the video above. Gizmodo writes:

In comparing still image quality, we found the 6D to produce nearly identical results as the 5D Mark III—that is to say, beautiful. You will not be disappointed with this camera’s terrific abilities to produce low-noise pictures at high ISOs. Sharpness is great, only slightly exceeded by Nikon’s D800 or D600.

Video, however, is another story. All signs pointed toward the 6D sharing the same great video quality of the 5D MK3. The thing that the 5D3 does so well—that no other DSLR has accomplished—is reducing moire patterns (rainbow-like bands along detailed surfaces). But the 6D fails where the 5D3 prevailed. Moire is rampant. This single failure ruins the 6D as a viable alternative to the 5D3 for professional video.

The moire issues of the EOS 6D have already been discussed over the net, if future reviews will replicate and confirm the problem it would be a pity for an otherwise so awesome EOS 6D, which, btw, produces less sensor noise than the EOS 5D Mark III.

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via Gizmodo]

 

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Reviews Round-Up

Note: for a previously posted video review of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 click here.

Let’s start with The Phoblographer’s first impressions (lots of samples) about Sigma’s latest entry in the “Art” category of its lens line-up, the highly praised Sigma 35mm f/1.4 (price & specs), which has been tested using an EOS 5D Mark II:

Everything about this lens feels super solid. I’ve had other staffers hold it and proclaim that it feels like an entirely metal lens. When putting a Zeiss lens right next to it though, it is clear that this lens’s exterior is not made of metal. However, if you squeeze the lens, it feels even more solid than previous optics made by Sigma.
[…]

So far, I’m still quite head over heels for the lens. The wide open and stopped down performance is really quite good and it’s made me reach for my 5D Mk II much more than I used to. In many ways, its breathed new life into the camera.
The build quality so far is stellar and is the way it feels in my hands. And for the price, I really can’t see anyone going wrong with this lens.

The price is one of the big points of this lens, at $900 it is ways cheaper than the equivalent brand lenses.

Just a few days ago DPreview published its review of the Sigma. In the conclusion they write (emphasis mine):

It’s remarkably sharp, even wide open, outperforming not only its Canon, Nikon and Sony equivalents, but also the far more expensive Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 in lab tests. Chromatic aberration is also impressively well controlled (both lateral and longitudinal), distortion is low and vignetting more-or-less typical for its class. The rendition of out-of-focus regions is generally quite attractive, although complex backgrounds can end up looking rather ‘fussy’. The overall result, though, is a lens that delivers fine-looking images with the minimum of fuss, shot after shot.

It appears as if Sigma made a definitely outstanding lens. Quoting DPreview:

Every now and then we come across a camera or lens that hits a sweet spot of image quality, usability and price that makes it an easy recommendation. The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM is just such a beast – it manages the impressive trick of being substantially cheaper than the camera manufacturers’ equivalents while matching or beating them optically. If you’re after a top quality fast prime at this focal length it should be right at the top of your short list, and it easily earns our top award.

Image credit: ephotozine

Finally, ephotozine (also with sample images) reviewed the Sigma:

Even at f/1.4, sharpness in the centre portion of the frame is excellent, although as you might expect at such a fast maximum aperture, sharpness towards the edges of the frame falls away to just below good levels. This is still very good performance for a lens of this type. Stopping the lens down improves sharpness across the frame with clarity towards the edges of the frame reaching very good levels by f/2. Peak sharpness across the frame is achieved at apertures between f/4 and f/5.6 where the clarity achieved in the centre is outstanding, and sharpness is excellent towards the edges of the frame.

More samples can be checked on the Sigma blog.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA