Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS lens review (fantastic quality, ePhotozine)

Samyang MF 85mm F/1.8
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Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS at a glance:

  • F-M-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
  • 136mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
  • One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
  • One High Refractive Index Element
  • Ultra Multi-Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Non-Rotating 62mm Filter Mount
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Samyang just announced the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS for mirrorless systems, Canon EOS M included.

ePhotozine tested and reviewed the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS (although not on a Canon EOS M camera, but on a Sony A5100).

From the conclusion:

There are so many excellent lenses, and the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS is another one. Fantastic quality, very nicely made, excellent price, compact and light… the only thing not to like is that focusing can be a bit tricky. However, to be fair, this depends also on the actual camera used. If used on a tripod with careful, magnified focusing, then the results possible from this lens are exemplary.

The Samyang (aka Rokinon) MF 85mm f/1.8 ED UMC CS sells for $399 and can be pre-ordered at B&H Photo and Adorama

Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Review (extreme optical instrument, D. Abbott)

Sigma 105mm F1.4
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Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Three FLD Elements, Two SLD Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Weather-Sealed, Protective Front Coating
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Removable Rotating Arca-Type Tripod Foot
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

There are many gear reviewers (and review sites) you can find on the web. Very few take it seriously and make their reviews “real world” related and yet highly professional. One of them is Dustin Abbott, who just posted his review of the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens, a pretty interesting lens in our opinion. It’s dubbed the “bokeh master”. Guess why.

In the conclusion he writes:

Sigma has once again successfully created an extreme optical instrument. Tackling a project like a 105mm lens with a huge maximum aperture of f/1.4 is not for the faint of heart, and yet I see evidence of growing maturation as Sigma manages to get more and more right. There’s no question that the extreme size and weight of the 105 ART will be off-putting to many, but those with a little extra arm strength will be rewarded with an exceptional portrait lens. The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART is not a mainstream lens. It isn’t a general-purpose lens; it is a tool for specialists. A lens like the 105 ART can seriously set your work apart from the crowd, providing images unique to those that a standard 70-200mm f/2.8 lens can produce. And for some photographers, that is worth the extra effort. […] The autofocus works well, the images look fantastic, and the build level is high.

D. Abbott’s reviews always come with a lot of sample photos, and all sorts of analysis. For those in a hurry the 23 minutes Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART video review below should do fine.

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art sells at $1,599: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Sample Images (Photography Blog)

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS
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Canon PowerShot SX740 HS at a glance:

  • 20.3MP CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • 24-960mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 40x Optical Zoom with OIS
  • 3″ Tilting LCD Display
  • ISO 100-3200 (Extended)
  • 4K Video and 4K Time-Lapse Recording
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity
  • 10-fps Continuous Shooting

Photography Blog posted a set of sample photos shot with the brand new Canon PowerShot SX740 HS.

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS can be pre-ordered in two color options:

 

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II Sample Photo Gallery (DPReview)

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS II
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to f/32
  • One Fluorite Element and Two UD Elements
  • Super Spectra Coating
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Internal Focus, Focus Range Limiter
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

DPReview posted a set of sample photos shot with the new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II lens. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is getting one positive review after the other. Canon clearly has another best selling lens here.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is in stock at major retailers in the US, price is $1,299: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II world-wide:

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 EOS 5D Mark IV vs Sony a7 III Low Light Portrait Comparison

Sony A7 Iii
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Photographer Julia Trotti, well known for her portrait work, discusses how the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Sony a7 III stand to each other when it comes to low light portrait photography. A real world comparison between the EOS 5D Mark IV ad the Sony a7 III.

[via Fstoppers]

Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 sample pictures gallery

Irix Blackstone 15mm F/2.4
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Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 at a glance:

  • Canon EF-Mount/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.4 to f/22
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Two ED and Three HR Elements
  • Neutrino Coating
  • Manual Focus Design with Focus Lock
  • UV Fluorescent Engraved Markings
  • Depth of Field and Focus Distance Scales
  • Weather-Sealed Magnesium Alloy Housing
  • Rounded Nine-Blade Diaphragm

While working on his final review, Dustin Abbott posted a set of sample photos shot with the Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 lens, and a video (below) where he tells his first look impression of the Irix lens. The Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 is a high quality manual focus lens that sells at $675.

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Irix Blackstone 15mm f/2.4: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon