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<p>DXOMark has completed their review of the Samyang (Rokinon/Bowers) 24mm f/1.4 for Canon. The lens gets a pretty good review, especially when you consider the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/868732-REG/Samyang_SY24M_C_24mm_f_1_4_ED_AS.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">very good price of $669</a>. When compared the Canon of the same focal length and aperture, you’re paying an <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590449-USA/Canon_2750B002_EF_24mm_f_1_4L_II.html/b/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">additional $1100 for AF and a better performance wide open</a>.</p>
<p><strong>From DXOMark
</strong><em>“Although the Samyang is a phenomenal performer, when stopped its sharpness wide open doesn’t match that of rival high-speed designs. Given the modest pricing it will no doubt continue to be a popular model but it would be all the more attractive with the addition of automatic aperture control and perhaps AF-assist (though it’s often unreliable without experience). There’s another, often overlooked benefit from the inclusion of data transmission – EXIF data stored in Raw files could be used by third-party software suppliers to apply lens corrections. Future updates such as these would seem likely but for now the Canon mount version is overshadowed by the better performing rivals.” <strong><a href="http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Samyang-24mm-F1.4-lens-review-Best-24mm-lens-for-Canon-full-frame-EOS-users" target="_blank">Read the full review</a></strong></em><strong>
</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/868732-REG/Samyang_SY24M_C_24mm_f_1_4_ED_AS.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Samyang 24mm f/1.4 $669</a> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590449-USA/Canon_2750B002_EF_24mm_f_1_4L_II.html/b/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II $1749</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
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More Canon lens patents have shown up. This time we get some macro patents that also include hybrid IS. We’ve been told that the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/112541-USA/Canon_2539A007_Telephoto_EF_180mm_f_3_5L.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">180mm f/3.5L macro</a> is on its way out, and this could be the direction Canon takes it.</p>
<p>A few other focal lengths also appear in the patent as well such as 200mm & 300mm versions with hybrid IS.</p>
<p>The information below is a Google translation.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Patent Publication No. 2014-41224</strong>
<ul>
<li><span>Publication date 2014.3.6</span></li>
<li><span>Filing date 2012.8.22</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Example 1</strong>
<ul>
<li><span>Zoom ratio 1.37</span></li>
<li><span>Focal length f = 180.03-167.06-131.08mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno (3.6-4.8-5.8 actual aperture). 3.6-3.3-2.59</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 6.85-7.38-9.37 °</span></li>
<li><span>Image height 21.64mm</span></li>
<li><span>The overall length of the lens 228.39mm</span></li>
<li><span>BF 68.14mm</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Example 2</strong>
<ul>
<li><span>Zoom ratio 1.58</span></li>
<li><span>Focal length f = 198.49-164.7-125.48mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno (3.6-4.8-5.8 actual aperture). 3.6-2.99-2.28</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 6.22-7.48-9.78 °</span></li>
<li><span>Image height 21.64mm</span></li>
<li><span>The overall length of the lens 231.65mm</span></li>
<li><span>BF 71.4mm</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Example 3</strong>
<ul>
<li><span>Zoom ratio 1.92</span></li>
<li><span>Focal length f = 289.97-213.39-151.33mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno (3.6-4.8-5.8 actual aperture). 3.6-2.65-2.21</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 4.27-5.79-8.14 °</span></li>
<li><span>Image height 21.64mm</span></li>
<li><span>The overall length of the lens 294.36mm</span></li>
<li><span>BF 68.05mm</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Canon patents</strong>
<ul>
<li><span>Inner focus</span></li>
<li><span>(Part of the fourth lens group) antivibration</span></li>
<li><span>Supports Shifutobure (???)</span></li>
<li><span>Floating</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2014-03-12" target="_blank">EG</a>]</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
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<p>A few bits of information about the possible replacement to the EOS 7D are trickling in, although there’s nothing I would call concrete.</p>
<p>We’re told again that the camera is being tested with some kind of a “hybrid viewfinder”, no details were given. Although, it’s possible the feature doesn’t make it into the production camera. A brand new image sensor will appear in the camera, with a resolution just under 25mp.</p>
<p>The camera will have dual memory card slots, CF and SD. Retaining CF is a big deal and will make a lot of people happy.</p>
<p>The camera is said to have the most features at the software level of any Canon DSLR ever, though there were no examples of what could possibly be new. I do agree this camera will have to be extremely feature rich to be successful.</p>
<p>It doesn’t feel like the hype machine has started yet, so I do not think the camera is “around the corner”.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
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<p>Roger at LensRentals.com has completed his comparison of the <a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5574981434&toolid=10001&campid=5337238466&customid=&icep_item=141091727885&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg" target="_blank">Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS</a> and the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009621-REG/sigma_635_101_24_105mm_f4_dg_os.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Sigma 24-105 f/4 DG OS</a>.</p>
<p>Lots of people ask us which lens to buy and we usually say get the one for the best price, which for the last few months has been the Canon variant. While the Sigma is a very good lens, it’s not head and shoulders above the Canon by most accounts, if at all.</p>
<p><strong>Says Roger
</strong><em>“Sigma has made a very nice zoom here at a very good price. It’s obviously not going to create the stir that occurred with their 35mm f/1.4 or 18-35 f/1.8 lenses, but it’s a nice addition to their lineup.</em></p>
<p><em>Canon shooters who have a 24-105 f/4 IS have no reason to change based on optics as long as the promotional pricing remains in effect. The Sigma and Canon 24-105s are nearly identical. Similarly the Nikon 24-120 has been available on discount lately, so I don’t see a big motivation for Nikon shooters to change, either.</em></p>
<p><em>Of course, if the pricing changes I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the Sigma instead of the name brands. If nothing else, I think the presence of the Sigma will keep Canon and Nikon prices reasonable.</em></p>
<p><em>I expect as this lens is released in other mounts it will be quite popular. There’s a reason Canon has sold about 3 gazillion 24-105s. It’s a very good lens with a very useful range. The Sigma will be available for Sony shooters next month and may be the best option in that mount.” <strong><a href="http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/03/a-24-105-comparison" target="_blank">Read the full review</a></strong></em></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5574981434&toolid=10001&campid=5337238466&customid=&icep_item=141091727885&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg" target="_blank">Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS $682</a> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009621-REG/sigma_635_101_24_105mm_f4_dg_os.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Sigma 24-105 f/4 DG OS $899</a></strong><em><strong>
</strong></em></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
Image Quality: Okay, we are now in one area where I know I’m going to get a lot of blowback: image quality. The number one thing I heard the fanboys all rejoicing about when the A7r was announced was this: “Yes! D800E quality in a smaller, lighter, less expensive body.” No, the A7r produces less than D800E quality in a less expensive body. If you want a free lunch, I suggest you try the local rescue mission.
The difference isn’t actually easy to describe because it involves what’s going on behind the covers. But let me lay out the basics: the D800E will shoot 14-bit raw files with no underlying artifacts and fully recoverable data. The A7r will shoot 11-bit raw files with potential posterization issues in the data. The same is true of the A7 versus a D610, too.
Let’s start with the 11-bit thing. Sony always uses compression in storing raw files. The way they do that is quite clever. They slice each pixel row into 32 pixel blocks. In a Bayer sensor, that means two colors, each with 16 data points). For each 16 pixels of a color, Sony looks at the minimum and maximum pixel values for each and stores that. For the other 14 pixels they store a 7-bit value that is offset from the minimum value. In essence, they get 32 pixel values stored in 16 bytes, when normally 11-bit storage for that data should take 44 bytes.
This is not lossless compression. It is highly lossy. Nor is it visually lossless. That’s because when you have an extreme set of values in the 32-pixel block (e.g. sun peaking out from behind tree edge), you get posterization of data. Don’t believe me? See this article, which describes it better than I can in the limited space of a review. Indeed, every A7/A7r owner should probably have a copy of RawDigger so that they can understand exactly where the issues in their raw files lay. Even Nikon’s optional visually lossless compression scheme does a better job at this, as it hides its posterization only in very bright values that our eyes just don’t resolve.
This factor alone means that the A7r is not equivalent to a D800E. Sorry fanboys, but those of us who want high performance cameras actually want real performance, not a simulation. (I should point out that this compression scheme is used in most Sony cameras now, including the RX1, which is where I first noticed it.)
Coupled with other issues (see Shutter Slap, below), the A7r simply doesn’t match my D800E in optimal collection of raw data. Remember, I used to write a column called Optimal Data, and that’s my mantra when shooting: collect optimal data.
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A slew of patents showing various wide angle optical formulas has appeared. All of the lenses appear to be for full frame and could be hints of replacements for the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/279582-USA/Canon_8806A002_EF_17_40mm_f_4L_USM.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">EF 17-40 f/4L</a> as well as the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486708-USA/Canon_1910B002AA_EF_16_35mm_f_2_8L_II.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">EF 16-35 f/2.8L II</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Patent Publication No. 2014-41245</span>
<ul>
<li><span>Publication date 2014.3.6</span></li>
<li><span>Filing date 2012.8.22</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span>Example 1</span>
<ul>
<li><span>Focal length f = 16.49-23.55-33.95mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno. 4.10</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 52.68-42.57-32.51 °</span></li>
<li><span>14 pieces of 10-group lens configuration</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span>Example 2</span>
<ul>
<li><span>Focal length f = 17.50-25.45-38.90mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno. 4.10</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 51.03-40.36-29.08 °</span></li>
<li><span>15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span>Example 4</span>
<ul>
<li><span>Focal length f = 17.50-24.82-38.89mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno. 2.88-3.25-4.10</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 51.02-41.08-29.09 °</span></li>
<li><span>15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span>Example 5</span>
<ul>
<li><span>Focal length f = 16.50-25.34-34.00mm</span></li>
<li><span>Fno. 2.91</span></li>
<li><span>Half angle ω = 52.66-40.49-32.47 °</span></li>
<li><span>15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span>Canon</span><span> patents</span>
<ul>
<li><span>4-group zoom of positive and negative positive negative</span></li>
<li><span>Inner focus</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2014-03-10" target="_blank">EG</a>]</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/279582-USA/Canon_8806A002_EF_17_40mm_f_4L_USM.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 17-40 f/4L</a> | <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486708-USA/Canon_1910B002AA_EF_16_35mm_f_2_8L_II.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L II</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>