All posts tagged Canon lens

You are here: Home / All posts tagged Canon lens

Sep

Review : Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Canon EF 100-400, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens, Canon lens, DSLR Lens

The Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens has been long awaited. The arrival of this lens replaces the EF 100 100-400mm that hit the market almost two decades ago in 1998. The new model brings some needed changes to this camera bag staple.

The newer Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens weighs 3.5 pounds making it slightly heavier than its predecessor. It is 3.7 inches in diameter by 7.6 inches in length making it slightly stubby and longer but this design with the rotating zoom will reduce the amount of dust that gets into the lens as happened with the previous version. The new version also has four stops of stabilization and three image stabilization modes while providing an ISO lock in tripod use for those long shots.

A new optical configuration consists of on Super UD and one Fluorite element and 21 other elements in 16 groups with internal focus. The lenses are coated with Air Sphere Coatings reducing ghosting and flaring from the previous model.

Another big improvement in the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is the focal length of 3.2 feet versus the 6.5 feet of the previous model. This is great news for those who like to get up close and personal with their subject. The zoom ring has been modified allowing for more precise adjustments including a torque ring for easier setting of zoom tension preferences.

The USM motor technology provides virtually instant focusing from any focal point with instant switching to manual focus by grabbing the focus ring and a lock switch on the lens. Image stabilization has been boosted also with a four stop image stabilization and three dedicated IS modes all reducing shake making it more stable for handheld shooting.

As for the performance it is can be called outstanding from the bokeh to focus breathing the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens performs exceptionally well. This is an excellent lens for portrait shooting with the beautiful bokeh effect it provides at varying distances. The center image is crisp clear and the backgrounds are soft and beautiful. There is little to no visible barrel distortion with the smallest amount seen at 100mm and a tiny bit of pincushion seen from 200-400mm. Falloff is also minimal and the new design reduces ghosts and flares.

Lateral color fringes are non-existent at 400mm and just a touch of magenta-green can be seen at the 100mm distance. The macro performance is one of the biggest changes with the 3.2 focal distance over the 6.5 in the old version. Cropping at 100% provides even more surprising macro clarity. This lens is razor sharp through and through with extra sharp images through the entire full frame focal range. There is a minute diffraction at the smallest aperture but barely noticeable unless you are a pixel peeper.

Overall, the new Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens doesn’t disappoint and in fact is a major improvement over the previous model. It will quickly find its place as a staple in the camera bag.

Click here to chose your price on a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens.

Jun

Product Review : Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Autofocu, Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens, Canon lens, lens review, Product Review

Comments: No

The Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens is considered a medium telephoto prime lens. In plain terms it is a lens that is stationary and unable to zoom represented by the single 8

Physically this is a lightweight compact lens weighing about 425 grams, less than a pound. The outer barrel is comprised of plastic with a black rubber focus grip ring. It includes an Autofocus (FM) Manual Focus (MF) slider switch to flip between the two. It measures 2.9” x 2.86” making it quite compact. The 58mm ring accommodates filters.

The lens itself performs excellently for the size and price of $370.00. The center sharpness is very good at f/1.8 the widest setting but the sweet spot of this lens is at the f/5.6 range where clarity from edge to edge is most pronounced. The falloff, diminishment of light on from the center of the frame to the edges, also stands up to the tests with minimal darkening or falloff detected even at f/1.8.

Distortion is virtually non-existent in the Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens. Color fringe, the halo of color around objects especially on the edges of frames, is also non-existent. There are a few reports of barrel distortion, a slight curve to lines, but it is extremely minute and easily corrected in post processing.

Flares and ghosts, are the spots and flares seen when there is strong background lighting like the sun and the Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens performs extremely well in this arena even at f/1.8. Naturally it performs better with smaller stops like f/5.6.

The center sharpness at all stops is gorgeous with beautiful bokeh, background blur, with large f-stops. The auto-focusing is typical of Canon technology with lightening quick focus capabilities. The lens can focus faster than the human eye. The lens does not have IS or image stabilization but doesn’t really need one due to the rapid focus.

Although the Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Autofocus Lens has been in the Canon offerings since 1992, it still retains extreme quality. The f/1.8 works really well but overall the performance improves by stopping down at least one stop. The faults are minimal but to a discerning eye, things like barrel blur will be noticed at f/1.8. Overall this lens is ideal for portraiture with sharp center focus and beautiful bokeh. It has enough flexibility to not be limited to portraiture and can be used for much more. The size, performance and price make this an excellent prime lens to have on hand at every shoot.

Save big on a Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM Lens now:

https://www.greentoe.com/Canon85mmf-1-8EF

May

Product Review : Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Art Lens, camera reviews, Canon DSLR, Canon lens, lens, lens reviews, Photography, Sigma 50mm

Comments: No

Overview

Although larger and more expensive than similar lenses, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is a perfectly servicable lens suited for art applications and shooting scenarios where more manual precision may be required. At the time of its release, it was considered one of the better auto-focus 50mm prime lenses on the market.

This lens produces great images with refined sharpness, minimal abnormalities and very little distortion. It’s also great to use if shooting out of focus backgrounds, thanks to the elements that work hard in its camera. Its multifaceted lens elements help it output content most expect of Sigma lenses.

Features At A Glance

Compatible with Canon EF cameras
Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
Measures 3.36 inches by 3.93 inches, weighs 1.79 pounds
One Molded Glass + Three Special Low Dispersion Aspherical Elements
Compatible with 35mm and Full-Frame Digital Sensor formats
Focal Length: 50 mm
Refined Auto-Focus allows more accurate auto-focus
Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces glare and ghosting

Key Characteristics

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is compatible with Canon EF cameras. This standard length lens is specifically designed for high optical performance by utilizing its refined components.

The lens possesses a large 85.4mm diameter with a floating system that helps correct vignetting, ensuring peripheral brightness is maintained within images.

This Sigma lens is constructed using Thermally Stable Composite material and traditional metal, affording this lens better precision and versatility in all sorts of temperatures.

Its 9-blade circular diaphragm helps the camera produce great-looking out of focus images.

Lens includes a brass bayonet mount for better accuracy and durability.

Key Features

Four elements comprise this lens’ image refinement system – one molded glass aspherical element and three Special Low Dispersion glass elements. All components help reduce the appearance of sagittal coma flare and chromatic abnormalities, producing high quality image quality and sharpness as a result.

Lens elements have been treated with a Super Multi Coating, which helps reduce glare and ghosting, producing better high quality color fidelity and contrast.

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Hyper Sonic AF Motor features a highly optimized Auto-Focus algorithm. As a result, the lens produces a smooth, fast and silent auto-focus performance. AF Motor also features a full time manual focus control for fine precision through turning the lens’ focus ring when needed.

Fully compatible with optional Sigma USB Dock to fine tune lens characteristics and also updating its firmware.

Pros

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is specifically designed for high optical performance by utilizing its refined components. Best suited for shooting art-related scenarios, due to its optical performance.
One molded glass aspherical element and three Special Low Dispersion glass elements do a lot of the lifting work in producing high quality images, along with the lens’ other essentials. They help reduce image abnormalities and produce high quality image quality and sharpness as a result.
Large 85.4mm diameter lens with floating system maintains peripheral brightness within images.
Thermally Stable Composite material and traditional metal affords this lens better precision and versatility in all sorts of temperatures.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Hyper Sonic AF Motor produces a smooth, fast and silent auto-focus performance. AF Motor also features a full time manual focus control allow for fine precision.

Cons

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens doesn’t have finely tuned image stabilization when compared to competitors. Chromatic abnormalities may crop up in images at certain settings.
The lens isn’t reinforced against the elements like competitors, so it may be tricky to use in different environments.
This Sigma lens is heavier and more expensive than similar lens of its class.

Why Should You Buy Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF?

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is a great lens for certain applications, most notably art-related applications. It’s not, however, the best lens for situations where a lot of dust or moisture may be, since it’s not weatherproof. Users of full frame cameras will enjoy this lens simply because it possesses a decent aperture range that outputs very sharp images. For its price, it’s a great alternative to similar cameras of its class.

Make an offer