Oh Sigma, when you fail, you fail so wonderfully hard

Only Sigma has the stones to find a way to turn a fixed lens point and shoot into a medium format ergonomic footprint...

http://photorumors.com/2014/09/12/new-sigma-dp1-quattro-camera-three-lenses-and-two-teleconverters/

Quattros have always been an odd, odd duck. They have amazing detail in the sensor, yet such poor low light performance that a review I saw of this little thing was largely done on a tripod (!). The science fiction ergonomics, the fixed lens, all of it -- is wacky and "why?"-inducing.

But that viewfinder, good gravy that viewfinder... [Does the bon appetit hand to mouth kiss of perfection.]

Stick with lenses, guys. Stick with lenses.

- A

Attachments

  • Sigma-dp1-Quattro-Digital-Camera-474x550.jpg
    Sigma-dp1-Quattro-Digital-Camera-474x550.jpg
    31.6 KB · Views: 339

  • Poll Poll
What New Lens are You Most Excited About?

Of the newly announced lenses, which one are you most excited about?

  • Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Pancake

    Votes: 8 6.8%
  • Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

    Votes: 7 5.9%
  • Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II

    Votes: 19 16.1%
  • Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM (C)

    Votes: 7 5.9%
  • Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM (S)

    Votes: 24 20.3%
  • Samyang 12mm f/2.8 Full Frame Fish Eye

    Votes: 13 11.0%
  • Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

    Votes: 15 12.7%
  • Something else (post below)

    Votes: 12 10.2%
  • Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4

    Votes: 13 11.0%

Personally the Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II intrigues me. Why? How good will it be? How much will it cost?

However, the lens I'm most interested in is the Samyang 12mm f/2.8 Full Frame Fish Eye. I'd like a fisheye but the Canon 8-15 seems way too expensive for a lens I won't use a whole lot. If the Samyang is cheap (~$200-350 US) and decently sharp, I'll pick one up for sure.

The other lenses don't excite me at all.

Another Nikon FF body released -- is this a new segment for Canon?

Nikon just put out their D750 announcement:

http://petapixel.com/2014/09/12/nikon-d750-officially-announced-24mp-full-frame-dslr-designed-photo-enthusiasts/

Nikon has, of course, gone a little crazy with all the FF offerings. But the D750 is not a weird sidebar project (like the D800E), a retro/style play (Df), a quality fix (like the D610) or a refresh/update (like the D810). This is a new segment at first glance.

I thought the FF market had settled into:

Entry: 6D / D6-something (2 models 1 model ::))
Pro: 5D3 / D8-something (3 models)
Flagship: 1DX / D4-something (2 models)

It looks like (and I haven't scrutinized this terribly long) this D750 camera is a mish-mosh of:

* D6-something sensor (entry)
* D8-something AF system (pro)
* D8-something video (pro)
* D810 and D4s image processor (pro/flagship)
* 6.5 FPS burst (pro* is not quite this fast, but 6.5 is nowhere near their flagship level)
* D6-something fastest shutter speed (entry)

And everything -- features and price -- seems to line up with a new mid-level FF price point.

Is this tenable as a business model?
Can Nikon sustain four price points of FF shooters and not:

  • Leave one price point unattended for long periods with new offerings?
  • Frustratingly blur the lines between the segments and have new offerings muddle things further?

As a consumer, I love all the options, but surely this is a tough road for Nikon to take, isn't it? Would Canon ever try to stretch out and subdivide the FF market in this fashion?

- A

Fake serial number on Canon 5D Mark III on a UK purchase

Hey guys,

I thought I'd share the experiences I had with a camera purchase as a word of warning for fellow image makers. It's pretty boring stuff for most, but relevant for whoever is considering buying a Canon DSLR.

The short story is:

I've found a Canon 5D Mark III + 24-105mm lens kit on ebay and bought directly from the seller. The camera had a fake serial number and the customer service offered by the store that sold me the camera was pretty unprofessional. After some research I decided to keep my hands off that camera and returned it to the seller. In my opinion people should be aware of what and who they're dealing with to make up their own mind whether to buy from the store or not.

The longer story is:

i found the aforementioned camera on ebay at a pretty good price. £2150 for the kit. Because the store had plenty of positive reviews and was located in London, close to me, I decided to purchase from them. The store is Tronixcomputers in north London. They have an ebay shop but also operate from a high street store that sells electronic cigarettes. So far so good.

I went to the store to inspect the camera, paid by debit card and took the camera home. Checked the shutter count: all good. camera: New. Checked the sensor for dead and stuck pixels: all good as well.

Then I checked the serial number sticker and became suspicious. It was a bit loose. Checked the body number in the exif data of a recent test picture from that camera and compared it with the serial number on the sticker and it turned out that they don't match. Okay....that's not what I expected.

Research on the internet revealed that it was not an unknown issue. So I called Canon to confirm. They told me that it wasn't a known issue to them (which it clearly was, as plenty of people have dealt with Canon regarding that issue) and that sometimes the serial number in the exif data is inaccurate (which to me sounds like BS). They couldn't check the serials straight away but promised to call back.

In the meantime I sent several emails to Tronixcomputers. They didn't reply to my emails but after plenty of phone calls I got someone on the phone. I send him this link of a thread discussing the same issue about fake serial number stickers: http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?113459-Purchased-a-Grey-Market-camera-recently-Is-it-GENUINE

He wouldn't really engage with me via email but on the phone he told me I shouldn't worry and clearly they had no clue about what I was talking about.

At this point considered the following: I wasn't surprised that the camera was a grey import and was fine with that. After all, the camera was a few hundred ££'s cheaper than amazon or high street. The only issue for me was the warranty offered by the seller and I wanted the reassurance that a faulty camera would be handled professionally. In addition, it wasn't very clear how i would register the camera with my equipment insurance, with those 2 different serial numbers etc. So I emailed the seller once again, asking him how they would handle warranty with a camera that clearly had a fake sticker on it, probably a wrong serial number on their original purchase receipt/ warranty card.

NO REPLY to several of my emails. Eventually I went back to the store to return the camera and save myself the hassle. The people at the shop didn't seem to take my concern seriously. I was then told by the manager (via a colleague) that they had called Canon and were told that "it's normal that there are 2 or 3 serial numbers on a camera body". At no point had they asked me for the serial numbers to verify with Canon.

A few days later Canon called me back, confirming that the camera was from Singapore and that the serial number on the body was indeed fake.

Phew, that's pretty much it. Was a bit disappointed that the customer service at Tronixcomputers was pretty rubbish. They seemed unprofessional in the way they handled the problem at hand and were rather happy to return the camera and save themselves a critical customer. At no point did they make an attempt to investigate the issue (didn't have a clue what exif data means and never asked me for the serial numbers of the camera body I had purchased). This makes me believe that they'll just carry on selling those camera bodies merrily to unsuspecting customers. In my opinion it should be up to the customer to decide whether they'd like to take that risk with the benefit of a discounted camera. And for this reason I'm letting other prospective customers know.

Definitely worth checking the exif data body number against the serial number sticker. At least that way you know where you're at in terms of warranty etc.

That's all from me for now. Well done if you've read this far down the post and haven't fallen asleep yet.

All the best and happy image making.

Mattia

Post your 'Noise by Ten' results

Yesterday I was al little bit bored and try the 'Noise by Ten' test.

- Set your body on a tri-pod and select manual mode
- Cover eyecup with piece from neckstrap
- Put on your lenscap
- Set your lens at manual focus
- Aperture f/10
- ShutterSpeed 10 seconds
- ShutterDelay 10 seconds
- Put your setup in the darkest place possible
- Run all ISO modes

Body: Canon 5D Mark III
Lens: Canon 50/1.4
5DMK3-CLEAN%2BISO.png


As you can see are ISO160 and ISO320 cleaner then ISO100. Even ISO640 is cleaner then ISO400
More noise is a bigger file and numbers don't lie. ;)

What are your results?

Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Reviews

HTML:
<p>If you love reading reviews, Zeiss seems to have done a wonderful job of getting the new Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 in the hands of photographers for a barrage of reviews praising its quality. Below is a rundown of reviews from around the web and they all have the same running theme, and that is the lens is pretty good.</p>
<p><strong>List of Reviews</strong></p>
<ul>
<li class="amzn_view_checked" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://nikonrumors.com/2014/09/10/confirmed-zeiss-otus-85mm-f1-4-is-the-best-performing-lens-ever-tested-by-dxomark.aspx/" target="_blank">DxOMark</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://3d-kraft.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166:zeiss-otus-14-85-review-in-the-real-world" target="_blank">3d-kraft.com</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.f64.ro%2Fblog%2F2014%2F09%2F08%2Fnoua-bufnita-zeiss-otus-85mm-1-4%2F&edit-text=" target="_blank">f64.ro</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://jorgetorralba.com/2014/09/11/zeiss-otus-85mm-f1-4-hands-on/" target="_blank">Jorge Torralba</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://blog.mingthein.com/2014/09/09/lens-review-zeiss-zf-2-1-4-85-otus-apo-planar/" target="_blank">Ming Thein</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://www.mattgranger.com/otus85mm" target="_blank">Matt Granger</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=11489" target="_blank">The-Digital-Picture</a></li>
<li class="amzn_view_checked amzn-taggable-text" style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2467429,00.asp" target="_blank">PC Mag</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a style="color: #900000;" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1077281-REG/zeiss_2040_292_otus_apo_planar_85mm.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Preorder the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Apo Planar T* $4490</a></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Source: [<a href="http://photorumors.com/page/2/#ixzz3D60sAvdS" target="_blank">PR</a>]</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>
<p> </p>

Sigma Corporation Announces New 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary

HTML:
<p><strong>RONKONKOMA, N.Y — September 12, 2014</strong> – Sigma Corporation of America, a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world’s most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, is adding a new lens to its Global Vision Contemporary category with today’s announcement of the 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM. The lens will become available in October for the street price of $579.</p>
<p>Designed exclusively for APS-C camera sensors, the new 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM features a 16.6x high-ratio zoom lens which equates to a 27-450mm zoom range. It incorporates four “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass elements, which have performance equal to flourite, in addition to one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element. This enables the lens to minimize the chromatic aberration, especially toward the telephoto-end, and provide clear image quality with high color fidelity. Also, this lens comes with a newly developed optical stabilization (OS) system, ensuring better compensation.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082147-REG/sigma_18_300mm_f_3_5_6_3_dc_macro.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296" target="_blank">Preoder the Sigma 18-300 f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro HSM Contemporary at B&H Photo</a></p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p>“We expect the 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM to be yet another standout in our Global Vision lineup, and a perfect option for anyone looking to carry minimal equipment and still be able to capture breathtaking images” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “It will be a compact and affordable, high-performance, all-in-one lens that offers wide-angle to telephoto versatility and the very unique macro-zoom capability for close-ups. It’s perfect for all photographic needs – especially for those purchasing this product as their first time interchangeable lens.”</p>
<p>The lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 15 inches, with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3. To enhance the macro capabilities of the lens, Sigma Corporation has also designed a dedicated close-up AML72-01 lens that pairs with the 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 to offer a maximum magnification ratio 1:2 and changeable angles of view. Even when this close-up lens is attached, the image taken at maximum magnification ratio, at 300mm, infinity, shows very little difference in modulation transfer function (MTF). This close-up lens will be sold separately for $55 and will also be available in October.</p>
<p>The 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM incorporates a bigger and newly developed Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) that ensures high speed and quiet AF. Additionally the Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting, to provide the user with sharp and high contrast images.</p>
<p>The lens will be available in Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony mounts; Pentax and Sony mounts will not offer OS.</p>
<p>The 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM is compatible with Sigma’s USB dock, allowing photographers to update the lens’ firmware and change focus parameters using Sigma’s Optimization Pro software. It is also compatible with Sigma’s Mount Conversion Service. Sigma remains one of the very few manufacturers whose products are solely made in Japan. Moreover, all products, including the 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM was designed to surpass the required quality inspection of every Global Vision lens with Sigma’s own modulation transfer function (MTF) “A1” measuring system to create a new optical standard to align with the high-spec cameras on today’s market.</p>
<p>The company will be exhibiting at the 2014 Photokina in Cologne, Germany, later this month. The latest lenses from the Global Vision lineup will be on display at the event and attendees are invited to stop by booth #B20/C29 in Hall 4.2. For information about Sigma, go to www.sigmaphoto.com or follow the company on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.</p>

Sigma Corporation Announces State-of-The Art Teleconverters and Filters

HTML:
<p><strong>RONKONKOMA,  N.Y—  September  12,  2014</strong>  –  Sigma  Corporation  of  America,  a  leading  researcher,  developer,  manufacturer  and  service  provider  of  some  of  the  world’s  most  impressive  lines  of  lenses,  cameras  and  flashes,  today  announced  its  first  line  of  Global  Vision  accessories.</p>
Building  on  the  exceptional  quality  and  sleek  design  of  Sigma’s  popular  Global  Vision  lenses,  the  company  will  now  offer  two  new  teleconverters  offering  magnifications  of  1.4x  and  2x,  respectively,  and  four  new  lens  filter  types,  including  three  water  repellent  (WR)  models.</p>
<p>“The  announcement  of  these  new  accessories  reaffirms  our  commitment  to  providing  photographers  with  the  highest  quality  tools  they  need  to  experience  the  amazing  photographic  details  of  our  lenses,”  said  Mark  Amir-Hamzeh,  president  of  Sigma  Corporation  of  America.</p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p><strong>Teleconverters:  TC-1401  and  TC2001</strong></p>
<p>The  teleconverters  TC-1401  and  TC2001  are  developed  as  dedicated  attachments  for  Sigma  Global  Vision  lenses.  By  mounting  it  in  between  a  telephoto  lens  and  a  camera,  the  TC-1401  and  TC-2001  will  magnify  a  lens’  focal  length  by  1.4  and  2  times,  respectively.  Both  models  now  incorporate  Special  Low  Dispersion  (SLD)  glass  elements,  the  TC-1401  with  1  and  the  TC2001  with  2  SLD  elements,  which  offer  excellent  aberration  correction  and  maintain  the  exceptional  image  quality  of  the  original  lens.  The  TC-1401  will  be  sold  for  the  street  price  of  $349,  and  the  TC2001  will  be  sold  for  $399.  Availability  is  still  yet  to  be  announced  for  both  teleconverters.</p>
<p>The  teleconverters  come  packed  with  additional  special  features  –  its  power  distribution  is  designed  for  Sigma  lenses  of  large  diameter.  Without  affecting  the  lens  performance,  these  options  offer  stable  image  quality  through  the  zoom  at  every  focal  length  and  on  the  corners  of  the  frame.  Additionally,  the  tele  converters  are  designed  for  high  durability  –  being  both  dust  and  splash-proof.  These  new  teleconverters  are  capable  of  shooting  effective  AF  at  F8,  if  the  camera  can  do  so.</p>
<p><strong>Filter  lineups:  WR  Protector,  Protector,  WR  UV  Filter,  WR  Circular  PL  Filter</strong></p>
<p>With  the  new  Global  Vision  lens  filters,  Sigma  will  now  offer  13  filter  size  options  in  four  new  lineups.  These  filters  offer  several  new  features  that  enable  photographers  to  maximize  the  optical  performance  of  Sigma’s  lenses  in  various  conditions.  The  filters  will  be  available  for  purchase  in  October.</p>
<p>These  filters  have  a  new  design  that  suits  the  high  optical  performance  of  all  new  Global  Vision  products  to  prevent  vignetting  or  the  decrease  in  peripheral  light  quantities  especially  when  the  thinner  wide  type  filters  are  used  with  Sigma  lenses.  By  incorporating  Sigma’s  Super  Multi-Layer  Coating,  the  filter  reduces  flare  and  hosting;  black  rimmed  glass  eliminates  unnecessary  internal  reflections,  and  provides  high  performance  for  both  digital  cameras  and  film  cameras.  In  addition,  to  ensure  versatility,  Sigma’s  WR  filters  feature  excellent  water  and  oil  repellent  as  well  as  an  antistatic  function,  and  the  two  types  of  “Protector”  can  protect  the  lens  surface  effectively.</p>
<p><strong>The  four  line  ups  include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>WR  Protector  (Water-repellent,  antistatic  type)  and  Protector  (normal  type):  The  protector  is  developed  to  protect  the  lens  surface  from  dirt  and  dust  as  well  as  scratches.  It  is  an  ideal  filter  for  regular  use  as  it  is  completely  colorless  so  it  does  not  affect  color  reproduction.</li>
<li>WR  UV  Filter  (UV  water-repellent,  antistatic  type):  UV  filter  prevents  the  bluish  tone  that  generates  by  absorbing  ultraviolet  rays.  It  is  effective  in  most  situations,  such  as  landscape,  portrait  and  general  photography  on  a  sunny  day.</li>
<li>WR  Circular  PL  Filter  (PL  water-repellent,  antistatic  type):  Circular  PL  filter  removes  the  reflection  of  water  surface  and  glass  windows,  and  increases  the  contrast  in  landscape  photography.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span  style="color:  #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

Tamron Announces Development of Full Frame 15-30mm f/2.8 VC

HTML:
<p><strong>September  12,  2014,  Saitama,  Japan.  –  Tamron  Co.,  Ltd.</strong>  (President  &  CEO:  Morio  Ono),  a  leading  manufacturer  of  precision  optics,  announces  development  of  a  new  ultra-wideangle  zoom  lens  for  full-frame  DSLR  cameras  with  a  fast  F/2.8  aperture  and  VC  (Vibration  Compensation),  the  world’s  first  in  its  category.  The  price  and  launch  date  are  to  be  determined.  The  lens  will  be  showcased  at  the  Tamron  booth  at  Photokina  2014,  September  16-  21,  2014  in  Cologne,  Germany  (Photokina  Booth  Number:Hall  4.2  D10  –  E19).</p>
Since  2012,  Tamron  has  been  expanding  its  lineup  of  interchangeable  lenses  for  35mm  full-frame  DSLR  cameras.  SP  24-70mm  F/2.8  was  the  first  in  the  series,  being  integrated  with  VC,  followed  by  the  70-200mm  F/2.8,  90mm  F/2.8  Macro,  and  150-600mm  F/5-6.3.  The  array  of  those  new  lenses  have  been  highly  acclaimed  among  the  photo  enthusiasts  and  working  pros  around  the  globe.  To  address  the  needs  for  more  towards  the  wider  angular  field,  Tamron  spearheaded  the  development  of  SP  15-30mm  F/2.8  Di  VC  USD,  a  fast  ultra-wideangle  zoom  lens  with  the  image  stabilization  feature,  setting  itself  apart  from  the  rest  of  zooms  in  this  category.</p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p><strong>Product  Highlights</strong></p>
<p>Superb  image  quality  and  performance</p>
<p>With  an  optical  construction  of  18  elements  in  13  groups,  inclusive  of  XGM  (eXpanded  Glass  Molded  Aspherical)  element  placed  at  the  front  group  and  several  LD  (Low  Dispersion)  glass  elements  in  the  system,  aberrations  such  as  geometrical  distortion  and  lateral  color  are  efficiently  compensated  for  enabling  the  zoom  lens  to  deliver  outstanding  image  quality  throughout  the  entire  range  from  corner  to  corner.</p>
<p><strong>Prominent  competence  of  VC  when  shooting  night  scenes  and  under  low  light  conditions</strong></p>
<p>Recognizing  the  needs  for  image  stabilization  capability  on  a  wideangle  lens  voiced  by  a  number  of  photographers,  especially  for  a  full-frame,  fast  F/2.8  ultra-wide-angle  zoom  lens  category,  VC  is  tuned  for  providing  discernible  competence  throughout  the  entire  zoom  range.  The  feature  enhances  image  depicting  capabilities  for  shooting  night  scenes  and  under  low  light  conditions.</p>
<p>B<strong>enefit  of  the  eBAND  and  the  improved  BBAR  coatings</strong></p>
<p>Tamron’s  acclaimed  BBAR  (Broad-Band  Anti-Reflection)  coating  is  further  refined  to  render  uniformity  in  transmissivity  across  the  critical  bandwidths.  Coupled  with  the  eBAND  coating,  ghosting  and  flare  typically  observed  on  ultra-wideangle  lenses  are  efficiently  eliminated,  resulting  in  crisper  and  crystal-clear  images.</p>
<p><strong>Fluorine  coating  on  the  front  element,  Tamron’s  first</strong></p>
<p>Due  to  the  large  diameter  and  the  prominent  convex  profile  of  the  front  element,  it  is  not  practical  to  deploy  a  protective  filter.  For  the  first  time,  a  fluorine  coating  is  applied  to  the  front  element,  which  repels  water  or  any  type  of  dirt,  while  making  it  easier  to  remove  such  smudge  when  contaminated.</p>
<p><strong>Fascinating  background  “bokeh”  with  the  fast  maximum  aperture  of  F/2.8</strong></p>
<p>Natural  and  smooth  blur  on  the  subject  background  enhances  depictive  capabilities  of  wide-angle  photography  when  a  subject  is  located  in  the  close  distance.  The  9-blade  diaphragm  construction  retains  a  near-circular  aperture  opening  even  when  stopped  down  by  two  steps  from  its  full  open  position  and  delivers  ideal  bokeh  effects.</p>
<p><strong>Easy-to-use  autofocus</strong></p>
<p>Speed  of  autofocus  and  control  accuracy  are  further  improved.  USD[4]  (Ultrasonic  Silent  Drive)  delivers  tack-sharp  images  due  to  the  high  torque  and  fast  response  speed  with  least  amount  of  lag  time,  yet  with  extremely  low  acoustic  noise.  Equipped  with  a  full-time  manual  focus  mechanism,  fine  focus  adjustments  are  enabled  without  exiting  from  the  AF  mode.</p>
<p><strong>Comes  with  “SILKYPIX  Developer  Studio  for  Tamron”,  RAW  image  processing  software  customized  for  Tamron  SP  lenses</strong></p>
<p>The  SILKYPIX  Developer  Studio  software  provides  an  added  feature  to  generate  high-quality  images  from  RAW  data,  while  performing  adjustments  to  reflect  a  personal  style  and  a  taste  of  the  photographer.  These  include  white  balance,  color,  sharpness,  and  the  tonal  curves  recorded  by  digital  cameras.</p>
<p>The  SILKYPIX  Developer  Studio  for  Tamron  provides  a  range  of  functions,  in  addition  to  the  basic  adjustment  capabilities,  such  as  correcting  aberrations  (lateral  color,  distortion,  relative  illumination  fall-off)  referring  to  the  optical  design  data.  Optimal  use  with  Tamron’s  SP  series  lenses  –  renowned  for  their  high-depiction  capabilities  –  delivers  images  that  meet  photographers’  most  exacting  demands.</p>
<p>[4]  USD  (Ultrasonic  Silent  Drive)  is  Tamron’s  proprietary  ring-type  ultrasonic  motor.</p>
<p><strong>Detailed  Feature  Explanation</strong></p>
<p><strong>VC  (Vibration  Compensation)</strong></p>
<p>VC  (Vibration  Compensation)  is  Tamron’s  proprietary  image  stabilization  system.  Tamron’s  VC  is  a  three-coil  system,  whereby  three  driving  coils  activate  the  shake-compensating  VC  lens  group  electromagnetically  via  three  ceramic  ball  bearings.  The  VC  lens  elements  are  held  in  place  only  by  contact  with  the  ceramic  ball  bearings,  achieving  smooth  movement  with  little  friction.  And  since  the  VC  mechanism  is  moved  in  parallel  using  only  the  motorized  control,  the  mechanical  structure  has  been  simplified,  enabling  the  development  of  a  more  compact  lens.</p>
<p><strong>The  Ultrasonic  Silent  Motor  (USD)</strong></p>
<p>In  the  ultrasonic  motor,  a  piezoelectric  element  arranged  in  a  ring  formation  generates  ultrasonic  vibrations  in  a  metallic  ring  stator,  and  the  vibration  energy  is  used  to  rotate  a  metallic  ring  rotor  that  is  attached  to  the  stator.  The  rotation  energy  is  in  turn  transferred  from  the  metallic  ring  rotor  to  operate  the  focusing  mechanism  of  the  lens.</p>
<p><strong>eBAND  (Extended  Bandwidth  &  Angular-Dependency)  Coating</strong></p>
<p>eBAND  Coating,  developed  by  Tamron,  is  a  new  coating  technique  that  radically  improves  anti-reflection  properties.  A  nano-structured  layer  (1nm  =  1/1,000,000mm),  with  dimensions  smaller  than  the  wavelengths  of  visible  rays  of  light,  is  deployed  on  top  of  multiple  coating  layers  to  maximize  efficiency.</p>
<p>Reflections  occur  at  the  interface  between  the  lens  and  the  air  because  of  the  difference  in  refractive  indices  of  the  two  substances.  The  nano-structure  of  the  eBAND  Coating  renders  an  extremely  low  refractive  index  by  minimizing  the  differential  with  that  of  air  while  actively  inducing  air  to  its  own  structure,  thus  significantly  suppressing  the  extent  and  degree  of  reflections.</p>
<p>In  addition,  a  total  anti-reflection  efficiency  at  the  lens  surface  is  further  improved  by  means  of  integrating  the  conventional  coating  technique  based  on  an  active  utilization  of  the  “interference  of  light”  principle,  attenuating  an  amount  of  reflections  by  overlaying  reflected  light  on  the  coating  front  surface  and  that  of  the  back  side  with  its  phase  shifted,  thus  increasing  the  net  transmissivity.</p>
<p>As  a  hybrid  technology  between  the  newly  developed  nano-structured  layer  with  an  extremely  low  refractive  index  and  conventional  multiple-layer  coatings,  the  eBAND  Coating  provides  superb  anti-reflection  performance,  delivering  crisp,  razor  sharp  images,  and  remarkably  eliminating  the  flare  and  ghosting  that  can  tangibly  damage  image  quality.</p>

Sigma Corporation Announces a Pair of 150-600mm f/5-6.3 OS Lenses With Advanced Features and Optics

HTML:
<p>RONKONKOMA,  N.Y  —  September  12,  2014  –  Sigma  Corporation  of  America,  a  leading  researcher,  developer,  manufacturer  and  service  provider  of  some  of  the  world’s  most  impressive  lines  of  lenses,  cameras  and  flashes,  has  announced  two  new  150-600mm  F/5-6.3  DG  OS  HSM  high-performance,  hyper-telephoto  zoom  lenses  that  celebrate  significant  optical  and  build  advancements.  The  two  lens  designs  vary  in  size  and  use,  and  add  to  the  company’s  impressive  roster  of  Contemporary  and  Sports  lenses  in  the  Global  Vision  lineup.</p>
The  150-600mm  F/5-6.3  DG  OS  HSM  Sports  delivers  enhanced,  professional-grade  optics  and  greater  durability  for  challenging,  high-action  photographic  situations.  The  150-600mm  F/5-6.3  DG  OS  HSM  Contemporary  is  a  versatile  lens  that  offers  similar  performance  in  a  more  compact  and  portable  design.  Pricing  and  availability  of  these  lenses  are  not  yet  available.</p>
<p>Both  versions  of  the  150-600mm  F/5-6.3  DG  OS  HSM  feature  dust  and  splash-proof  features,  as  well  as  new  water  and  oil-repellent  coating  on  the  front  and  rear  lenses.  They  boast  an  updated  Optical  Stabilizer  (OS)  that  features  an  accelerometer  for  improved  vertical  and  horizontal  panning,  essential  for  bird,  wildlife  and  motor  sports  photography.  Two  new  switches  were  added  for  ease-of-use,  including  a  new  zoom  lock  switch  capable  of  locking  at  any  focal  distance  and  a  Manual  Override  (MO)  switch  for  improved  control  of  focusing  performance.  An  enhanced  auto  focus  (AF)  algorithm  and  Hyper  Sonic  Motor  ensure  quiet  and  fast  AF.  The  lenses  are  compatible  with  Sigma’s  newly  announced  lineup  of  Global  Vision  teleconverters,  which  are  effective  up  to  F/8.</p>
<p><strong>Preorder  the  new  Sigma  150-600mm  f/5-6.3  Lenses  at  B&H  Photo  (Prices  coming  soon)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a  href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082154-REG/sigma_150_600mm_f_5_6_3_dg_os.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296"  target="_blank">Preorder  Sigma  150-600mm  f/5-6.3  Contemporary  Lens  at  B&H  Photo</a></li>
<li><a  href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082152-REG/sigma_150_600mm_f_5_6_3_dg_os.html/BI/2466/KBID/3296"  target="_blank">Preorder  Sigma  150-600mm  f/5-6.3  Sports  Lens  at  B&H  Photo</a></li>
</ul>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p>“The  Global  Vision  Art,  Sports  and  Contemporary  lines  were  developed  to  help  photographers  identify  lenses  that  are  best  suited  to  their  specific  photography  and  these  two  lenses  are  perfect  examples  of  that  intent,”  Mark  Amir-Hamzeh,  president  of  Sigma  Corporation  of  America.  “While  they  share  a  focal  length  and  many  outstanding  features,  these  lenses  are  designed  with  different  photographers  in  mind.  Both  high-performance  lenses,  one  is  for  the  professional-grade  action  shooter;  the  other  for  photographers  looking  for  high  performance  and  portability.”</p>
<p>The  150-600mm  F5-6.3  DG  OS  HSM  Sports  offers  the  highest  level  of  performance  and  durability  with  a  splash  and  dust  proof  construction,  and  features  dimensions  of  4.8  inches  by  11.4  inches,  with  a  weight  of  100.9  ounces.  It  contains  24  lens  elements  in  16  groups  –  including  two  FLD  and  three  SLD  glass  elements  –  with  a  minimum  aperture  of  F/22  and  minimum  focusing  distance  of  102.4  inches.  Its  maximum  magnification  ratio  is  also  1:5.  The  Sports  lens  will  be  available  in  Sigma,  Canon  and  Nikon  mounts.</p>
<p>The  150-600mm  F5-6.3  DG  OS  HSM  Contemporary  lens  is  the  first  hyper-telephoto  zoom  lens  from  the  Global  Vision  Contemporary  line,  and  will  enable  easy  handling  with  a  smaller  build  than  its  Sports  counterpart.  It  is  equipped  with  a  splash  and  dust  proof  mount,  and  while  the  weight  of  the  lens  is  still  to  be  determined,  its  dimensions  will  be  4.1  inches  by  10.2  inches.  The  lens  will  feature  20  elements  in  14  groups  –  including  one  FLD  and  three  SLD  glass  elements  –  with  a  minimum  aperture  of  F/22  and  minimum  focusing  distance  of  110.2  inches.  Its  maximum  magnification  ratio  is  1:5.  It  will  be  available  in  Sigma,  Canon,  Nikon  and  Sony  mounts.</p>
<p>All  of  Sigma’s  Global  Vision  lenses  are  compatible  with  the  company’s  USB  dock  and  Mount  Conversion  Service,  and  undergo  individual  testing  before  being  shipped.  Using  the  USB  Dock  allows  for  advanced  customization  of  AF  speed,  OS  viewing  modes,  focus  limiter  and  firmware  updates.  Every  Sigma  Global  Vision  lens  is  tested  with  Sigma’s  proprietary  “A1”  MTF  measuring  system  prior  to  shipping  to  ensure  optimal  performance  and  image  quality.</p>
<p>The  company  will  be  exhibiting  at  the  2014  Photokina  in  Cologne,  Germany,  later  this  month.  The  latest  lenses  from  the  Global  Vision  lineup  will  be  on  display  at  the  event  and  attendees  are  invited  to  stop  by  booth  #B20/C29  in  Hall  4.2.  For  information  about  Sigma,  go  to  www.sigmaphoto.com  or  follow  the  company  on  Twitter,  Instagram  and  Facebook.</p>
<p><strong><span  style="color:  #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

Three New PowerShot Cameras Coming Shortly

HTML:
<p>Three new PowerShot cameras will be announce for Photokina shortly, one will be the PowerShot G7 X, which will have a 1″ sensor and be about the size of an S series camera. The second will be the massive zoom range PowerShot SX 60 HS and the third will the PowerShot N2.</p>
<p>The should be arriving with the EOS 7D Mark II and new lenses on Monday.</p>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://digicame-info.com/2014/09/powershot-g7-x.html" target="_blank">DCI</a>]</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

Nikon D750 announced & "NEW" Sensor (recycled) & AF!

Report @ Dpreview:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7222282087/nikon-d750-fx-dslr-announced

Nikon seems to recycle the D610 sensor....

"The D750 features a 24MP CMOS sensor with an AA filter, and although Nikon (as usual) claims that this sensor is 'newly developed' it is probably based on the same sensor that we've seen in the D610 (and Sony A7)...."

cited from: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikon-d750/3

"The D750 inherits a version of the 51-point Multi-CAM 3500FX AF system that we've seen used in the D800/E and D810 but its 'II' version is actually more sensitive - rated down to -3EV. We haven't been able to really get a feel for how much difference this makes in normal use but in theory, the D750 should offer superior AF reliability in poor light compared to the D810 and D4S, which is quite something (and which might prompt more than a few D800 owners to 'upgrade' to the D750). "
cited from: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikon-d750/3

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Announced

UPDATE: It's officially been announced!

My take:
-That's one heavy lens!
-The bulbous front element looks like it protrudes pretty far by looking at the photo
-It's nice that the focus ring is slightly wider than the 24-70mm VC
-LOVE the new gray color scheme
-First wide angle f/2.8 with IS... for the right price, and hopefully with the right image quality, this thing might be an absolute winner!

Model: A012
Focal Length: 15-30mm
Maximum Aperture: F/2.8
Angle of View (diagonal): 110° 32'–71°35' (for full frame format)
85°51'–49°53' (for APS-C format)
Lens Construction: 18 elements in 13 groups
Minimum Focus Distance: 11in. (0.28m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:5
Filter Size: n/a
Maximum Diameter: 98.4mm
Length: For Canon 5.7in. (145mm) / For Nikon 5.6in. (143mm)
Weight: 38.8 oz. (1,100g)
Diaphragm Blades: 9 (circular diaphragm)
Minimum Aperture: F22
Standard Accessories: Lens caps (push-on front & rear)
Compatible Mounts: Canon, Nikon, Sony

http://photorumors.com/2014/09/12/tamron-sp-15-30mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd-full-frame-zoom-lens-announced/
http://www.cameraegg.org/tamron-sp-15-30mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd-lens-announced/

_____________________________

ORIGINAL POST:

Tamron apparently rumored to announce a new 15-30mm f/2.8 full frame lens tomorrow.

So many great UWA zooms lately for us Canonites :) Especially if the Sigma 14-24mm f/4 OS rumor comes true.

http://photorumors.com/2014/09/11/rumor-tamron-to-announce-a-new-15-30mm-f2-8-full-frame-lens-tomorrow/
http://www.slrlounge.com/tamron-debut-new-15-30mm-f2-8-full-frame-lens-tomorrow/
http://www.cameraegg.org/tamron-15-30mm-f2-8-full-frame-lens-to-be-announced-tomorrow/

Attachments

  • Tamron-SP-15-30mm-f2.8-Di-VC-USD-full-frame-zoom-lens.jpg
    Tamron-SP-15-30mm-f2.8-Di-VC-USD-full-frame-zoom-lens.jpg
    56.1 KB · Views: 1,601

7D with 800 Great White Naked vs 5D Mark iii +1.4 iii Teleconverter

The reach is somewhat comparable: (1280mm for the 800 naked with the 7D vs 1,120mm for the 5D with the 1.4 tele). Noise and cropping are always going to be a much bigger issue with the 7D BUT!!!! I am wondering if my keeper rate will go through the roof with the superior AF speed running without a tele on a naked 800. Add to that the rumored 7Dii improved AF system. . .It makes me wonder.

I am a birder. I have no illusions that noise will be a much bigger problem with the 7dii. That issue alone may force me to stay with the 5D iii.

Thoughts?

Canon 70D Buffer speed

Does anyone have any specs on the Buffer speed for the Canon 70D whats the Best SD card to use?
I am shooting some fast action sports and want to shoot raw. But the buffer max's out at 15 shot even using a 600x SD card. I can shoot JPG and the count will increase to 30ish. I know its a smaller size and compression.
Didnt know if using a sandisk extereme pro card 90/90 would help?
Shooting manual with auto iso and shutter 1000 and F 2.8-5.6

  • Poll Poll
How does the reveal of the final 7D2 specs make you feel?

POLL: Now that the final specs for the 7D2 have been outed, what is your impression?

  • I'm over-the-moon with the spec list. This is beyond my expectations.

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • In general, I am excited about the list of specs.

    Votes: 37 15.5%
  • I am specifically excited about the massive AF upgrade over the original 7D

    Votes: 12 5.0%
  • I am specifically excited about the opportunity to shoot at 10 fps without needing to buy a 1D body.

    Votes: 18 7.5%
  • I am neither excited nor disappointed. The specs are, on average, what I was expecting.

    Votes: 62 25.9%
  • I am not sure. I'll make up my mind when I see what they are going to charge us for it.

    Votes: 24 10.0%
  • I am specifically disappointed at the lack of a killer, ground-breaking new feature.

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • I am specifically disappointed with the sensor. I wanted more resolution or much better low light p

    Votes: 33 13.8%
  • I am specifically disappointed at a missing feature I was really hoping for (4K, wifi, etc.)

    Votes: 10 4.2%
  • In general, I am disappointed with the overall offering. It is an underwhelming spec list.

    Votes: 25 10.5%
  • Laughable. On aggregate, these specs are a day late and a dollar short compared to what Canon's com

    Votes: 14 5.9%

We've finally seen what are believed to be the final 7D2 specs:
http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/09/canon-eos-7d-mark-ii-specifications-confirmed/

So there it is. It's Christmas morning, and you finally got to open your present after ages of speculating. How are you feeling?

- A

New crop standard zoom?

It would make very much sense for Canon to introduce a fast standard zoom with the 7DII, something like an EF-S 15-60mm f/2.8 IS USM with weathersealing. The 17-55 is nice optically, but it is not dust- or water-resistant and does not go down to a crucial 24mm equivalent. Any rumors about that? I'd buy that lens in a heartbeat for ~1000$... ::)

Filter

Forum statistics

Threads
37,439
Messages
973,603
Members
24,804
Latest member
chrisgphoto

Gallery statistics

Categories
1
Albums
29
Uploaded media
372
Embedded media
1
Comments
25
Disk usage
1 GB