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Reviews / Review - The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS

« on: April 23, 2013, 03:00:13 PM »

Hi again!  For those interested in reading a review of this excellent lens along with a lot of sample images taken with it, I have just posted a review to my website at:  http://www.dustinabbott.net/2013/04/canon-70-300mm-f4-5-6l-is-review-the-ultimate-zoo-lens/

Among the things I address are its use with teleconverters (sample images included).  A lot of you are now familiar with my review technique, but in case you aren't, this is a real world review with pictures of things as opposed to charts.  I am a part time professional photographer with a lot of real experience.  If you don't care to look at the review, here is the conclusion:  I like the lens...a lot

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Reviews / Why I Chose a Canon EOS 6D over a 5D MKIII

« on: February 08, 2013, 02:12:31 PM »

Many of you know that I recently acquired a Canon 6D, and I have been asked by multiple posters both in the forum and by email to give my reasons why I made the decision I did.  I have wasted far too much time doing just that today 

Here is the link to my website where I shared my findings:  http://www.dustinabbott.net/2013/02/why-i-chose-a-canon-eos-6d-over-a-5d-mkiii/

Also, if any of you are interested in adapting old M42 lens to the new 6D, here are my findings with my little kit of vintage glass:  http://www.dustinabbott.net/2013/02/the-new-canon-eos-6d-and-classic-m42-lens/

Disclaimer:  I have no intention of starting a flame war.  I believe that the 5D MK3 is overall the better camera and I intend to upgrade my MK2 to a MK3 down the road.  I came to the conclusions that I share for myself and felt those conclusions and hands on experiences might help others making a similar type decision.

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Third Party Manufacturers / New 6D and M42 lenses capability.

« on: January 23, 2013, 08:21:44 PM »

Hello to those interested in shooting some of the classic (and sometimes great) M42 lenses in the modern world.  I discovered the world of M42 while shooting a 60D body and of course crop bodies have no problem with mirror tolerance on almost any M42 lens.  I knew when I switched to FF that some of my favorites would not work as well or at all.  There are lists out there regarding the 5DC and to a lesser extend, the 5DII.

One of the things I was eager to test when my 6D arrived was the mirror tolerance on my M42 collection.  Photos of the build show that it is narrower than the 5DII, and I wondered if that would create less tolerance for mirror fouling.  Here is a list of my current M42 kit and my findings:

1)  Anything 85mm+ is almost never a problem.  There tends to be a fairly deep well in them and nothing fouls the mirror.  I have an Image/Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 that is no problem, nor is my Super Takumar 150mm f/4
2) SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8.  Works fine at all focal lengths.
3) SMC Takumar 28mm f/3.5.  Works fine at all focal lengths (and is a killer lens, BTW).
4) Super Takumar 35mm f/3.5 - still hangs close to infinity.  Has been my worse offender on the 5DII and so have only used it on my 60D.  Is marginally better on the 6D but still not really an option here.
5) Helios 44-2.  I love this old lens, particularly for portraiture, and I was very happy to find that it now works almost to infinity focus without hanging the mirror, which is a big improvement over the 5DII.  It is far more of an option through normal viewfinder focus than before.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there seems to be a little more mirror clearance in the 6D, so those lenses that were on the edge with the 5DC or 5DII may be usable with the 6D.  I have found that some M42 lenses just work better on a FF body.  Some get shown up as being inferior, of course, but for some the narrower depth of field inherit in FF gives them more character.  Happy shooting!

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Lenses / Canon EF 35mm f/2L IS Review from the Digital Picture

« on: January 16, 2013, 10:49:31 AM »

Bryan Carnethan has a very favorable review of the new 35mm f/2 IS up now:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-2-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Most interesting is that he concludes that the bokeh is smoother on it than either its predecessor, the 35L, and the new Sigma (which he makes second).

The biggest advantages of this optic over the Sigma:

1)  The very effective IS (he calls this the most handholdable full frame lens available), particularly for video purposes.

2)  Much smaller size and weight.

3)  AF is (according to Brian) amongst the quietest he has heard (which definitely sets it apart from the old 35mm f/2).

Biggest downsides (vs. Sigma)

1)  Slower aperture

2)  Slightly lower sharpness.

I'd really love to see a head a to head comparison between the two lenses.  I will probably add one of them to my kit within the next year, and I'd love to see them compared.

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Third Party Manufacturers / A Wedding Photographer's Look at the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

« on: December 14, 2012, 05:52:22 PM »

For those still considering this lens, here's my take on my first wedding done with the lens:

http://www.dustinabbott.net/2012/12/a-wedding-photographers-look-at-the-tamron-sp-24-70mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd/

I have given quite a few examples and reviewed it more from the perspective of professional use in that type of setting.

Here's one of the photos from last weekend:


Winter Wedding by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Also, if you are interested, here is my initial review of the lens on my website:

http://www.dustinabbott.net/2012/11/tamron-sp-24-70mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd-review/

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Reviews / Review - Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD with Pictures

« on: November 29, 2012, 12:36:57 PM »

For those interested in this lens, I have posted a full review to my website with photos and conclusions.  If uninterested, please disregard this message

http://www.dustinabbott.net/2012/11/tamron-sp-24-70mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd-review/