I don't know much about the physics and science of optics, but the responses above sound pretty logical!

Also from a marketing standpoint, the pancake lens goes hand-in-hand with the smaller APS-C cameras, (ie an almost-pocketable DSLR!) and on a 1.6x crop camera, 50mm is too long for many people as general purpose lens. 40mm, on the other hand is a nice compromise between a standard view on both APS-C and FF.

CN1X1349 by PVC 2012, on Flickr

Camera Canon EOS-1D X
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 300 mm (2.8 II)
ISO Speed 16000

sl underexposed but love the concentration.....

expatinasia said:

On amazon.co.uk the Kenko 2x Teleplus PRO 300 DGX is £144.99 while the Canon Extender EF 2x III is a staggering £399.

Ironically, there are very few reviews on both, but the Kenko does seem to have a slight "points" advantage, though that may be due to the lower price.

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Before the 1D X firmware update providing f/8 AF, Art Morris blogged about getting AF at f/8 with the Kenko 1.4x on the 800/5.6L. At that time, I had just received my 600/4L II, and really wanted to know if the Kenko 2x would allow f/8 AF with an f/4 lens. I only found one comparison between the Kenko and Canon 2x TCs, on a birding forum. The guy had shot pics of a US$5 bill with both TCs behind a 500 II - with the Kenko, the bill was very soft, while the Canon 2x was sharp. Still, it was only one review. I had planned to test the Kenko 2x myself, and in fact, had both the Kenko 2x and 1.4x (for AF with the 100-400) in my B&H cart...but before I got around to clicking Buy, the firmware update was announced, so I bought the Canon 2xIII instead.

Mikael Risedal said:

IF the AF point in the middle is sensitive as Canon claims it is a big bonus compared to 5dmk2 .

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that too
Altho center AF on my 5d2 worked very well in super low light with a fast lens, no complaints.

Stickman said:

Quite possibly the Canon A2E, it was a leap forward, and then a feature pulled from our hands.

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+1

distant.star said:

Ray2021 said:

The alternate orientations that you can put the hood on when you do not align the spots also generate the same final symetry of the hood on the lens (even when using asymetric hoods like this petal one for the UWA zoom). This is the way I found my lens on the body when I read this post. So apprently I wasn't paying attention to Canon's instructions. :

So just put the hood on anywhich way that it will go smoothly onto the threads. I personally never cared if the writing was on top or bottom.

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You must be one of those anarchists I hear about!!

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If canon weren't busy making 20 different versions of the 24-70mm to fleece customers, they'd have put a hit on me for nonconformity like that.

ChilledXpress said:

Yea, wondering myself what point you are trying to make. Dump trucks as opposed to motorcycles? What's better... now discuss!!!

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I have a motor cycle, but I have always wanted a dump truck. A big one. Not sure it would be better in town though. But really cool!

+1 on Michael Freeman's books.

The meat of the matter you may want to study is how photographs are taken, critiqued and analyzed. This wholistic view is discussed by David Hurn & Bill Jay's 2 books: 1) On Being a Photographer, and 2) On looking at Photographs.

A good thing to note on these books is that it's not presented in your typical lecture-type format - what you actually read are them talking to each other on different topics per chapter, very much like an interview-type format with the 2 authors interviewing each other. I found the conversational nature of the presentation makes the book an easier reading considering the subject itself is heavy and typically hard to understand.

I've been using my 24-70 f/2.8 and 16-35 f/2.8 quite a bit for night sky photography, and what I've found is, although there isn't a hard stop on either, there is a fairly consistent soft stop. what I do is, I turn until I hit the soft stop, then come back the other direction slightly, and I've been able to pretty consistently nail the infinity focus I'm looking for. I think at this point it's just muscle memory that's built up after doing it a bunch of times. it may sound wildly inaccurate or ludicrous, but you'd be surprised how finely tuned you can hone your muscle memory.

Kind of a hard question to answer as the primary need for the lens was not specified. Given the large selections of lenses and bodies you already have, I would strongly suggest going for a decent tele prime. Indoor events could use a 200mm f/2 or the 300mm f/2.8 II. You can add TC's to them for different lengths. These are suggested as price was not given as primary issue. Since you have so many camera bodies, you don't really need the functionality of the zooms as much as a person with only one body to work with. My 2 cents at least.

distant.star said:

.
Avoir l'esprit de l'escalier, I know, but you should have told him, Piss on borrowing one, I'll just buy it.

You're going to end up buying one anyway. Get on with it!

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LOL...inevitable ;D

bornshooter said:

... and his reply to me " i didn't go into custom functions as didn't have the space to,idea was to talk about design and using it out of the box.otherwise a review would read like an instruction manual which would be pretty boring read".

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I write for magazines, and there is always a balancing act in what you write, what the editor wants, and what the people want. For the most part, the buyers of magazines are not looking for super technical pieces, they want something easy to read, and almost conversational. I fully agree with the people who are going to post "NO!!! We want full technical info and in depth real coverage!!!" The problem is that information is more often than not found on sites like this, where most people will skim over it and only a few will get involved.

This causes most reviews to be written as an overview, instead of an actual review. Combine that with the need to write about new items, and a lead time of often several months before an article is written to when it hits the stands, and you can see where the internet simply slays its print edition older siblings.

I agree that mentioning a custom function would have been better, but there ends up being a lot that a Nikon shooter isn't going to know, and a lot that a shooter new to the 1DX doesn't know as well. I blame most of that on the time constraints which are put in place for the articles.

Looks pretty good. I can't say if its as good or better than a 5d. I don't think the OP was saying that either.

of the three, I'd buy the 135. This is a fantastic lens that produces spectacular results. But for a
portrait lens, I'd stretch a little and buy the Zeiss 85mm f1.4. Unless you're using that 5DIII as a
point and shoot, the lack of autofocus in a portrait session should be no big deal and the results
will blow you away. It's 2/3 the cost of the Canon 85 1.2 and is a wonderful performer.

Bearcat1 said:

Does the WFTP software come free with the camera or is that extra? I have a new 6D and I can't use the setup on the EOS Utility for the Web, FB, YouTube. It gives me an SSL Certificate Error running Mountain Lion.

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The software is free and included with the camera. I haven't tried the FB & YouTube functions. Did you note the updated firmware for uploading video? There was a problem with the firmware that shipped with the camera.

+1 for Kenko.

They are not too expensive and really do a great job. I haven't try to autofocus with them, but the focus confirmation and aperture control works perfectly. I personally believe extension tube are a great choice; it's a cheaper way to start doing macro, and even if you decide to buy a macro lens in the future, you will still be able to use them to increase even further its magnification. I use the Kenko on a SMC 50mm f/4 Macro (it is a 1:2) to be able to have approximately 1,5:1 magnification.

I think I must have clicked the wrong link... Is this Nikon Rumors?

M.ST said:

Send it back and wait what is coming next year.

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Body(s)?? ???
I'd be more than amazed if any more full frames were anounced for the 6D market segment next year. Will the new tech crop sensor be that good??

Jonesing for the 50/1.2.... but if a 50/1.4 with IS comes along, I'd get it in a NY second.

http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=3974
merry christmas

On a scales including Hood and both caps..

skitron said:

LOL, a shipping label with every new lens, thats funny.

The good news is that Sigma seems to be committed to shifting from being a second tier vendor to a top tier vendor.

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I think this is true and is the route to fierce user loyalty and better margins that, in turn, fund more R&D.

I am really liking the looks of the 35 and am eager to see what else they have up their sleeve.

Don Haines said:

vargyropoulos said:

paper towel diffusers? - I came close last week... used blank copy paper as a diffuser for some corporate photos...

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I have used Kleenex.......

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She said.

Impressive for the camera's ability to focus and shoot in a very dark room, no flash, 6D 24-105 f4 kit lens, ISO 12,800:

Flip the back screen around so you can see it, display a picture on the screen, turn it off. If the on/off switch is working it should instantly stop displaying the picture, show the cleaning sensor message, and after a second or two turn off and then nothing should work until turned on again.

Is there anything plugged into the USB port?