Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Review (fun, flawed, and useful, D. Abbott)

rf 16mm f/2.8 STM review
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Here is a Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM review by one of our favorite gear reviewers. This lens is inexpensive yet it delivers.

At a glance:

  • RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Spectra Coating
  • STM Stepping AF Motor
  • Customizable Control Ring
  • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

Dustin Abbott posted his exhaustive Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM review. Many so called “reviews” out there are nothing more than rewritten user manuals. Not Mr. Abbott; his reviews are professional, thoroughly, and answer all questions you might have. From Mr. Abbott’s conclusion:

[…] the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM is fun, flawed, and useful. It does have some severe flaws, but I love the flexibility of the focal length and the compact size of the lens. It does something that no other lens is really doing on the Canon RF platform right now, and does it at a truly reasonable price point.

The RF 16mm is not going to compete with L series lenses optically, but I also found that images had a certain pop to them that stood out when I compared them to images I was taking on the Canon EOS R7 and EF-S 18-150mm STM that I was reviewing at the same time.  This image, for example, is pretty lovely.

So, in conclusion, the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM is not only worth buying because it is cheap, but also worth buying because it is competent.  It will go anywhere with you and provides a nicely wide alternative to something like the 24-105mm or 24-70mm lenses.  It would also be a great focal length counterpart if your primary lens on an outing is a telephoto, offering the option to get a wider angle of view but with a minimum of additional size and weight.  It is for this reason that I’m considering a purchase even despite the RF 16mm’s many flaws.

Read the full review at dustinabbott.net

The review comes with test charts, sample pics, and much more. As usual, D. Abbott also posts a video-review that someone might prefer to the written review. It’s here for your viewing pleasure.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM (sells at $299): [shoplist 67369]

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Today Only: Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5 Lens for Canon EF – $369.95 (reg. $649.95)

Lensbaby Velvet 28mm
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Only for today (9/20/2022) B&H Photo has a 45% discount on the Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5 Lens for Canon EF mount.

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.5 to f/22
  • 1:2 Magnification, 2″ Working Distance
  • Soft Glowing Effect at Wide Apertures
  • Multi-Coated Elements
  • Manual Focus Design
  • 12-Blade Diaphragm

Get the Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5 Lens for Canon EF mount on sale at $369.95. Compare at $649.95.

More selected deals:

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Is This Nikon Roadmap For Real?

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An alleged Nikon roadmap is making its rounds on the Internet. Is it real or fake?

You can see the Nikon roadmap on top. Summarizing:

  • November 2022: Nikon Z 7 III with 45MP and 8K video
  • November 2022: Nikon Z 6 III with 24MP and 6K video
  • January 2023: Nikon Z 5 II with 24MP and 4K video
  • March 2023: Nikon Z 90 with 24MP
  • June 2023: Nikon Z F with 24MP
  • August 2023: Nikon Z 8 with 61MP and 8K video
  • October 2023: Nikon Z 50 II with 21MP

Any thoughts?

[via asobinet]

TTArtisan 11mm F/2.8 Fisheye Video-Review (RF Mount)

TTArtisan 11mm F/2.8
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Here is a TTArtisan 11mm F/2.8 Fisheye Video-Review. The RF-mount option is reviewed.

At a glance:

  • RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/16
  • Fisheye Optical Design
  • Manual Focus Operation
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 6.7″
  • 7-Blade Diaphragm
  • Built-In Lens Hood

User Qippy’s Channel on YouTube posted the TTArtisan 11mm F/2.8 Fisheye Video-Review you can watch below. Enjoy.

The is a rather inexpensive lens, you can get it for $215: [shoplist 70036]

TTArtisan 11mm f/2.8 Fisheye Overview

Offering a uniquely wide angle of view, the TTArtisan 11mm f/2.8 is a fisheye lens designed for Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras. The expansive field of view and distinct fisheye look is characterized by immense depth of field along with strong distortion for creating very striking and dynamic imagery. The wide-angle design is also complemented by a bright f/2.8 maximum aperture, to suit working in available lighting conditions, and the lens’s manual focus design permits working with subjects as close as 6.7″ away.

Ultra-wide prime is designed for full-frame Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras.

Fisheye design renders an immensely wide angle of view to produce distinct visual appeal characterized by dramatic distortion and a creative depiction of space.

Manual focus design permits smooth, refined control along with a minimum focusing distance of 6.7″.

Built-in petal-shaped lens hood that helps to block stray light from causing lens flare and also offers some physical protection to the front of the lens.

Announced: New Topaz Photo AI, Get It Now And Enjoy 15% Discount

Topaz Photo AI
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Topaz Labs announced Topaz Photo AI, the company’s new flagship app.

Topaz Photo AI is the new “autopilot” for maximizing image quality. It offers AI-powered noise reduction, sharpening, and upscaling in one single, powerful app.

You can get Topaz Photo AI at the launch price and with additional 15% discount by using the code GETPHOTOAI.

If you want to learn more about Topaz Photo AI, I suggest the video below.

The press release:

Dallas, TX — September 15, 2022 — Topaz Labs is announcing Topaz Photo AI, which automatically detects and fixes image quality issues with deep learning, allowing photographers to focus on the creative editing process in much less time.

Autopilot for maximizing image quality

Topaz Photo AI will help photographers maximize image quality faster and more accurately than ever before by pairing its extensively trained AI models and deep learning capabilities with its brand new Autopilot inspector and improved RAW workflow options.
“Getting a clean, crisp, and high-resolution photo is really important, but the current process of increasing image quality is quite slow and error-prone. To solve this, we’ve built Topaz Photo AI to be an autopilot for image quality. It detects the unique problems in your image and intelligently applies the correct methods to maximize resolution, detail, and clarity,” says Eric Yang, CEO of Topaz Labs.
Topaz Labs has spent years training and refining its AI models to address some of the most common issues affecting the objective image quality of its users’ photos. With the Topaz Photo AI Autopilot, Topaz Labs is taking it a step further by automatically analyzing photos and applying the most appropriate models and optimal settings, freeing users up to apply the creative edits that make their photos uniquely theirs, which is something that no AI model can ever replace.

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Canon Patent: Fan Powered Cooling System For Mirrorless Cameras

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Remember the overheating soap opera that came along with the Canon EOS R5? Here is a new Canon patent for a fan aided cooling system for what we think is a mirrorless camera.

Canon patent application 20220294954 (US, filed 2/15/2022) discusses methods and technology for a cooling system with fans that draw in air through vents on the back (21c in the drawing on top) and out on the front (22b in the drawing on top). The patent abstract:

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via Northlight Images]