Deal: Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens – $139 (reg. $199, today only)

Zhongyi 20mm
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Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro at a glance:

  • Canon EF Mount/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2 to f/16
  • Magnification Range: 4.5x to 4x
  • Minimum Working Distance: 0.8″
  • Manual Focus Operation
  • Metal Lens Barrel
  • 3-Blade Diaphragm

Only for today (3/20/19) B&H Photo has the Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens on sale at $139. Compare at $199. Free shipping.

More selected and exclusive deals:

More hand-picked deals are listed here.

Authorised Canon retailer B&H Photo has discounted EOS 5D Mark IV and EOS 6D Mark II bundles on offer for the holidays.

We offer 10% discount to subscriptions to Pixpa all-in-one platform for photographers.

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, B&H Photo, eBay, Adorama.

Canon Europe stores have a cash back promotions going on:

Refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store (best deals to be found here)

Save $10 on Luminar 4 and/or Aurora HDR 2019 using our code “WATCH” at checkout.

IRIX 150mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Gets An iF Design Award 2019

Irix 150mm F/2.8
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At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
  • Neutrino Coating
  • 1:1 Magnification, 1.1′ Minimum Focus
  • Manual Focus Design with Focus Lock
  • Depth of Field and Focus Distance Scales
  • Dragonfly Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm

The IRIX 150mm f/2.8 Macro lens won an iF Design Award 2019. The IRIX 150mm f/2.8 Macro is available for $595 at B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Press release:

Irix 150mm f/2.8 macro has received a world-renowned design prize

Baar, Switzerland, February 15, 2019

Although it’s only three years since Irix arrived on the world market, our team of international photographers – a team who established the Irix brand – are pleased to be the winners of one of this year’s iF PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS, a world-renowned prize for design!

Therefore we are probably one of the youngest photographic companies that have received such an award and recognition from the world’s oldest independent design organization, the Hannover-based iF International Forum Design GmbH, a group which organizes the iF PRODUCT DESIGN AWARD.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Meike MK-50mm f/1.7 For Canon EOS R Available For Pre-Order (and more Meike lenses)

Meike MK-50mm F/1.7
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Meike MK-50mm f/1.7 at a glance:

  • RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.7 to f/22
  • Multi-Layer Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Metal Lens Barrel and Bayonet Mount

The Meike MK-50mm f/1.7 manual focus lens for the Canon EOS R system is now available for pre-order at $139.99 at B&H Photo. As far as I know this should be the first third party lens for the Canon EOS R.

Other Meike lenses are also in stock now, have a look here.

The Meike MK-85mm f/2.8 Macro Lens for Canon EF sells at $269.99.

Meike MK-8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon EF sells at $164.99.

The Meike MK-85mm f/1.8 Lens for Canon EF sells at $189.99.

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 STM Macro Review (IS better than Sony’s IBIS)

Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM
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Alik Griffin reviewed the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro lens for the EOS R system.

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro is (so far) the less expensive lens for the EOS R, it’s not “L” grade and it doesn’t sport all of Canon’s optical magic. Never the less it’s an interesting lens, especially at $500.

One interesting point of Alik’s review is the comparison with Sony’s IBIS. Alik did some extensive testing and comparison, and he found that…

[…] small shakes, from shaky hands or large vibrations are noticeably better with the IS lens compared to the Sony IBIS. Also, if you’re shooting video, IS + Digital IS is noticeably better than IBIS and the digital IS does correct the tilt take.

There are so many mostly wishful rumors about Canon delivering IBIS in a future EOS R models and Alik’s findings confirm that Canon is right when stating that their in lens image stabilisation is better than other’s IBIS. That’s not to say Canon will never sport IBIS on a camera, but for the time being it’s just a clickbait thing.

From his conclusion:

The Canon RF 35mm f1.8 is all around solid lens in terms of build and performance. There are a few flaws that are easy to work around like the vignetting at f1.8 and f2 and some noticeable barrel distortion. You can correct for all of this in-camera if you’re shooting video or JPG, but RAW shooters will have to use post corrections.
I like to shoot a lot at f2.8, which gives me great looking bokeh without the vignetting and astigmatism. I stop down to f5.6 and f8 when I want the most sharpness, and I shoot f1.8, when I need a fast shutter speed in low light or when I want very shallow depth.
Performance at f2.8 is just incredible. You don’t see any geometry yet in the bokeh at f2.8 and it cleans up all the issues in the corners and edges.

Alik tested anything you may want to measure on a lens, distortion, vignetting, flare, chromatic aberrations, you name it. A refreshing and independent review with test charts, sample images and all sort of insights.

You can follow Alik on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on his site.

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro:

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

Sigma 70mm F/2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Review (DPReview)

Sigma 70mm F/2.8 DG Macro Art
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Sigma 70mm F/2.8 DG Macro Art at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • Two FLD Elements, Two SLD Elements
  • Low Dispersion and Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • 1:1 Magnification, 10.2″ Min. Focus
  • Coreless DC AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Weather-Sealed, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

DPReview TV’s Chris and Jordan test Sigma’s latest macro lens, the 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art. Find out why they like it.

Sigma 70mm F/2.8 DG Macro Art:

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

Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly Lens Review

Irix 150mm F/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly
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Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
  • Neutrino Coating
  • 1:1 Magnification, 1.1′ Minimum Focus
  • Manual Focus Design with Focus Lock
  • Depth of Field and Focus Distance Scales
  • Dragonfly Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm

ePhotozine reviewed the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly, a specialised lens for macro photography.

From their conclusion:

There is no doubt that there will be many photographers who will be delighted by the arrival of the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro lens. The greater reach of 150mm will be welcomed, and indeed is highly sought after already as photographers search for legendary long macro lenses from the days of film.

Manual focus can often be the method of choice for macro work, depending upon the techniques needed, but at least can be regarded as a little impediment. This is an excellent addition to the options available, especially perhaps for Pentax users who have had no option at all before this.

A specialised lens to some degree, but one that can be Highly Recommended.

Among other things they praise the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly for the excellent sharpness, very well controlled CA, no distortion, no flare, weather sealed, and the bokeh.

Read the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly review at ePhotozine.

Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Dragonfly:

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