Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM Lens Review

The push/pull zoom mechanism is possibly the most noticeable physical feature of this lens. While it works smoothly, it took me some time to get used to it. There is a ring on the back of the manual focus ring that adjusts the tension on the zoom part of the lens. That is a nice feature, but I find myself constantly adjusting the tension to get it just right for the moment. The ring also gets in the way of the manual focus ring – when making a manual focus adjustment, I often inadvertently change the zoom friction ring as well. Set the zoom friction too light and the lens extends by itself when pointed downward – fast and hard if set really loose. Set the friction too tight and zooming becomes difficult. So, it works as it is supposed to. Some prefer the push/pull design.

As an L-series lens, Canon’s brand new 70-300mm IS includes Canon’s high quality materials. The 70-300m lens includes two Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) elements, Super Spectra coatings, Canon latest optical image stabilizer (IS), 8 bladed for beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds & USM AF motor. High quality lenses, means high optical quality and therefore, high resolution. Many of today’s latest Canon DSLRs, includes high resolution CMOS sensors. In order to take advantage of this high resolution sensors, Canon keep enhancing the optical quality of its lenses every year.

Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM Lens

Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye Review

Canon today unveils the world’s first fisheye zoom lens offering both circular and full frame images, thanks to an extreme wide-angle focal range of 8-15mm. Replacing the EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, the new EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM is the latest addition to Canon’s L-series range of professional lenses, providing outstanding image quality, constant aperture throughout the zoom range and a robust design for reliable shooting in challenging weather conditions.

When paired with Canon’s full-frame DSLR bodies, such as the EOS 5D Mark II or the EOS-1Ds Mark III, professional photographers can choose to capture circular or full-frame fisheye images, allowing them to view a scene in a completely new and unique way. This new level of choice provides enhanced creative flexibility when shooting scenes such as the night sky, where the full 180º horizontal and vertical fields of view (FOV) allow every detail to be captured with incredible clarity in one single image.

When used with EOS bodies featuring APS-C or APS-H sensors, the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM produces a more traditional, full frame fisheye view. A zoom-lock mechanism on the lens body allows the range to be limited to the focal length that ensures the best possible full-frame view without unsightly vignetting around the edge. ‘C’ and ‘H’ markings can be found next to the zoom operation ring, indicating the wide-angle zoom position where vignette-free shooting is possible with either sensor, allowing photographers to achieve optimum results with any EOS body.

Advanced optics for professional imaging
The EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM showcases over 70 years of Canon’s optical engineering heritage, boasting 14 lens elements in 11 different groups, including one aspherical and one Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) element to correct chromatic aberration and produce high-quality, high-contrast shots with excellent colour reproduction.

Ghosting and flare caused by strong light sources can be a particular challenge when shooting at such a wide angle, and, in order to counteract these artefacts, all lens elements have been covered with Canon’s Super Spectra Coating. The inner surface of the front element also features Canon’s SubWavelength Structure Coating (SWC), which uses tiny cone-like structures, shorter than the wavelength of visible light on the surface of the lens element, to gradually slow light down until it is at the same speed as it travels through glass, removing the risk of flare occurring before the light reaches the sensor.

To maintain optimum image quality, the front and rear lens elements also feature a Fluorine Coating which actively repels water, dust and dirt, making it easier to clean the lens and leaving it unobstructed by particles.

Fast, accurate focusing and low light performance
The ultra-wide angle zoom of the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM offers a fresh take on sporting action or architecture shots, while the constant f/4.0 aperture allows faster shutter speeds to be employed for natural-looking images in low light.

A ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM), provides quick and accurate focusing when shooting and enables a full-time manual focus functionality allowing photographers to adjust the focus of any shot, even when the AF system is activated, for even greater control over image capture and improved creative flexibility.

Built for professional performance
The EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM features a high-grade physical design that reflects its elite performance. High resistance to both dust and water enables it to be used in a range of challenging situations, and, when used with a professional EOS body, it allows continued shooting in the harshest weather conditions. The external design also features the new exterior texture, for a high quality look and feel indicative of all new L-series models.

High quality accessories
The EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM is supplied with a dedicated lens cap, lens pouch and a felt-lined lens hood EW-77 for use when using the zoom at the 15mm setting, preventing lens flare.

Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye

Lensbaby The Composer

The Optic Swap System provides even more creative freedom by allowing users to pop-out the crisp multi-coated double glass optic and replace it with a softer, more dream-like single glass optic or with a plastic optic that provides a very ethereal look with strong chromatic aberration. There’s even a pin-hole/zone plate optic that can easily be swapped in or out.

All three Lensbabies now feature the ability to swap out the optics in order to change the overall look and feel of their images. As mentioned above there are three additional add-on optics that are currently available, each with their own special look and feel. The sample images below were shot with each of the optics that are available, starting with the included double-glass optic. The double glass, single glass, and plastic optics create the traditional Lensbaby look with a defined sweet spot of various clarity (depending on optic used). The Pinhole / Zone Plate optic creates images that are softer from edge-to-edge with no defined sweet spot.

The test images below were shot indoors under traditional incandescent lighting. The relatively low lighting created quite a challenge when trying to frame and focus the shot using the Pinhole / Zone Plate optic as the small f/177 (pinhole) and f/19 (Zone Plate) apertures made the scene look completely dark through the viewfinder. I ended up shooting blindly and hoped for the best and had to use long exposures to capture each of the scenes. When shooting through the pinhole lens I even had to bump the ISO to 1600 in order to keep the exposure to 30 seconds.

Lensbaby The Composer

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II Review

The new AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens adds the latest Vibration Reduction image stabilization for up to four stops of camera shake compensation; Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coat to minimize flare and ghosting; and a new A/M switch that protects the photographer from changing focus by accidentally moving the manual focus ring. The new AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR II zoom lens uses the same, proven 27-element optical formula as its predecessor and is built to take the abuse dished out by working photojournalists and sports photographers.

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak to Nikon’s PR team about the new lens. They wanted to point out that Nikkor lenses are the heart and soul of the Nikon system. Cameras are important, of course. I’ve had the pleasure of using the Nikon D3S for a few weeks now and it is really a mind-blowing camera. But without great glass, even the best camera can never reach its potential. Plus, with fast changing digital technology, most of us rarely use a camera for more than 3 or 4 years (and that’s being generous). But a great lens is something you can use for life. Hopefully that will be the case with the new AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR II zoom lens.

The new 200-400 Nikkor, with VR II and the new Nano Crystal coatings, will be able to deliver in an even wider range of conditions – especially when paired with the incredible low-light ability of the Nikon D3S digital SLR

Nikon AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR II Zoom Lens

SIGMA AF 70-200/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens Review

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM.This large aperture telephoto zoom lens incorporates Sigma’s original Optical Stabilizer function.

The lens covers a medium telephoto range of focal lengths from 70mm to 200mm and has a large maximum aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. The OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible.  For Sony and Pentax mount, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system.

As compensation for camera shake is visible in the view finder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement.  Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of color aberration.

High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range and an optimum optical power layout provides superior optical quality in all shooting ranges from close-up to infinity. Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghost.  This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring a quiet and high speed AF as well as full-time manual focus capability.

The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 140cm (55.1”) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:8.  The rounded 9 blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus images.  This lens is equipped with a Petal-type hood.  For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied.

Buy the Sigma AF 70-200/2.8 EX