Today Only: Lensbaby Obscura 16mm Pancake Lens (RF mount) – $99.95 (reg. $249.95)

Lensbaby Obscura
View Post

Only for today (6/12/2023) B&H Photo has a $150 discount on the Lensbaby Obscura 16mm Mirrorless Pancake Lens for Canon RF.

At a glance:

  • Canon RF Lens Mount
  • Combo Zone Plate, Pinhole, Pinhole Sieve
  • For Full Frame and APS-C Cameras
  • Photolithographically-Applied Pinholes
  • Anti-Reflective Coated Optical Glass
  • Fixed Focus

Get the Lensbaby Obscura 16mm Mirrorless Pancake Lens for Canon RF on sale at $99.95. Compare at $249.95.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM Review (one of the most exciting lenses in the system)

RF 16mm F2.8 STM review
View Post

Here is a Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM review in video format. This seems to be a little and affordable lens ($279( that is getting lots of positive reviews.

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

DPReview TV posted their Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM review. You can watch it in the video below. They say (emphasis mine):

When it was first announced, we were surprised by how small and affordable the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM was. Ever since, we’ve wanted to try one out and we finally had a chance! Canon’s RF mount may boast plenty of fancy, expensive optics, but this might be one of the most exciting lenses in the system. 

More Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM review stuff is listed here.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM (sells at $279):

America: B&H Photo, 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

Click here to open the rest of the article

Today Only: Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Canon EF-M) – $319 (reg. $449)

Sigma 16mm f/1.4
View Post

Only for today (12/30/2022) B&H Photo has a $130 discount on the excellent Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Canon EF-M mount.

At a glance:

  • EF-M-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
  • 25.6mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Two SLD Elements, Three FLD Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Stepping Motor AF System
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Get the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Canon EF-M mount on sale at $319. Compare at $449.

More selected deals:

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon Patent: 16mm f/2.8 & 20mm f/2.8 With Image Stabilization

Canon patent
View Post

A new Canon patent to start a new week. Once more for lenses for the RF mount.

Canon patent 2022125455 (Japan, published 8/29/2022) discusses optical formulas for two prime lenses, a 16mm f/2.8 and a 20mm f/2.8, both with image stabilisation. From the patent literature (machine translated):

[Title of Invention] Optical system, lens device having the same, and imaging device

The present invention provides an optical system having a wide angle of view, a small size and light weight, and high optical performance in the non-stabilizing state while suppressing peripheral image quality deterioration during image blur correction, and a lens device and an imaging device having the same.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, as means for correcting image blurring, there are known a lens-shift type anti-vibration mechanism that shifts a part of an optical system and a sensor-shift type anti-vibration mechanism that shifts an imaging device. In a central projection optical system, the amount of movement of the image point in response to changes in the angle of incidence of light rays entering the optical system is not uniform on the imaging surface. However, image blur remains around the imaging surface.

The imaging apparatus of Patent Document 1 can correct image blur at a specific image point position, but cannot uniformly correct image blur at all angles of view.

In an equidistant projection optical system, the image quality around the imaging surface is less likely to deteriorate during image blur correction. Therefore, in order to suppress image quality deterioration around the imaging surface, it is necessary to generate a large amount of distortion in the negative direction in the central projection method, and reduce the absolute value of the amount of distortion in the equidistant projection method.

An optical system with a large absolute value of the amount of distortion aberration in the central projection method produces a greatly distorted image, so it is often used in combination with an imaging apparatus equipped with electronic distortion correction. In this case, if the distortion aberration in the central projection method is excessively generated, the image quality around the imaging surface is degraded due to the extension of the electronic distortion correction.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 24.22
  • F-value: 1.85
  • Image height: 19.38
  • Overall length: 85.24
  • Back focus: 12.06

Example 2

  • Focal length: 19.48
  • F value: 2.88:
  • Image height: 18.60
  • Overall length: 73.01
  • Back focus: 12.19

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

[via asobinet]

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

rf 16mm f/2.8 STM review
View Post

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):

America: B&H Photo, 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

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon RF 16mm F/2.8 STM Review (excellent value for money, extremely versatile)

rf 16mm f/2.8 STM review
View Post

Here is a new Canon RF 16mm F/2.8 STM review. An affordable lens that performs quite good. This is not the first very positive review this lens gets.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM 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

ePhotozine posted their full Canon RF 16mm F/2.8 STM review. They gave the lens a 4.5/5 rating and a “highly recommended”. We agree. This is a lens every EOS R photographer should have. From ePhotozine’s conclusion:

It is not perfect technically, but it is a perfectly usable and extremely versatile ultra-wide lens at a very keen price. It seems to be well made and many of the shortcomings optically may well not be significant drawbacks for the applications the lens is intended for. In particular, it could be an outstanding vlogging lens, it has low distortion making it ideal for architecture and delivers sharp, impressive images at real-world distances.

Read the full review at ePhotozine…

I our opinion, this is a little gem only Canon can make at this price. The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM sells at $299:

America: B&H Photo, 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

All Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM coverage is listed here.

Click here to open the rest of the article