Review: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II at DXOMark

[ahsanford]

More DXO fiction...

The more we laugh at them, the more likely they are to take down their appalling and misleading web site.

Remember when Dxo posted a review of their camera for Crapple idevice?

I missed that they reviewed their own device. I wonder if they liked it....

Or that they offered two ratings for their DXO One product -- one for single stills and another for their higher res 4-shot composite format which they rate on par with FF sensors:

• No other manufacturer with a multi-shot hi-res mode (H'Blad, Olympus, etc.) has been afforded the same lattitude with their ratings. They only report single shot performance for everyone but their own product.
  
  
• Multi-shot modes (for resolution) absolutely require tripods, no matter how good the IS is. Who the hell is putting an iPhone on a tripod?!

#dxo #fairandbalanced

- A

 

[ahsanford]

Don't look at the scores, check the graphs. These are unambiguous. There you see that the Sigma is sharper when stopped down, but at more open apertures, the Canon is better.

I honestly don't understand their more detailed sharpness data (beyond the perceptual pixie stix they report), so please straighten me out.

Using any of their sharpness measurements, I either get a line chart vs. aperture or a 2D field map vs. aperture. In both cases, the lenses seem identical in that they are 'all light green' other than wide open or when you get past diffraction at narrow apertures.

From f/1.4 to f/2.8 or so, the Canon qualitatively looks 'more green than yellow' than the Sigma does. Past f/4 or so, they look identical in 'greenness'.

Is there some numerical version of this test that might help me see a difference? (I'm not winding you up here, I truly don't understand their plots -- clarity would be appreciated).

- A

 

[raptor3x]

Don't look at the scores, check the graphs. These are unambiguous. There you see that the Sigma is sharper when stopped down, but at more open apertures, the Canon is better.

I honestly don't understand their more detailed sharpness data (beyond the perceptual pixie stix they report), so please straighten me out.

Using any of their sharpness measurements, I either get a line chart vs. aperture or a 2D field map vs. aperture. In both cases, the lenses seem identical in that they are 'all light green' other than wide open or when you get past diffraction at narrow apertures.

From f/1.4 to f/2.8 or so, the Canon qualitatively looks 'more green than yellow' than the Sigma does. Past f/4 or so, they look identical in 'greenness'.

Is there some numerical version of this test that might help me see a difference? (I'm not winding you up here, I truly don't understand their plots -- clarity would be appreciated).

- A

You can click on the profile tab instead of the field map tab to get a more readable representation of the data. On a side note, the field map is not a true field map but just the 1D profile plotted in a pseudo-2D form. Even with that said, we don't actually know how they've defined % acutance so it can be hard to understand what they're actually showing.

 

[PureClassA]

Yes. I checked and the list of Cameras they have tested it with is EVERY camera Canon has ever made... except the 5DS and 5DSR. That's absurd.

They test it with the 5D3 first because it's a control against their previous tests. I'm sure they will add the 5DSR pretty soon. The Digital Picture has shot tests with the 5DSR and the 35L MkII

Agree for comparative purposes, but we're at the ~ 120 day mark since they 5DS / 5DS R review so one would expect lens testing on the 50 MP rigs soon, at which point even modestly sharp EF glass will vault over any Nikon F mount score. Their scoring system for lenses is horrifically tilted (above all else) to reward how many pixels are sitting behind the lens.

I honestly can't wait, not for Canon pride at all so much as DXO owning a poor rating system and having to explain why a (for example) 70-200 f/2.8L IS II -- heretofore the 1,096th ranked lens in their database -- is now sitting 900 places higher.

- A

 

[Diltiazem]

Is it possible thatDXO tested the worst copy of Canon with the best copy of Sigma? Of course. But I have my doubts.

My own test actually matches other reviews.

1. Wide open, both Canon and Sigma are sharp at the center, but Canon is better. From mid frame to periphery the difference widens in favor of Canon. Around f5.6 Sigma catches up, but Canon continues to be slightly sharper at the mid frame.
2. CA is significantly less with Canon, this is so obvious that DXO had no option but agreeing.
3. Color shifts in some out of focus areas with Sigma, but not with Canon.
4. Vignetting is less with Canon. I don't understand how DXO got worse results with Canon. Would a bad copy affect vignetting too?
5. Bokeh is roughly similar. With less CA/color rings and slightly sharper edges bokeh highlights from Canon looks better to me.
6. AF is better with Canon, but that is expected.

When all the differences are combined together, Canon seems to be in a different league. Well, at least to me.

 

[ahsanford]

Yes. I checked and the list of Cameras they have tested it with is EVERY camera Canon has ever made... except the 5DS and 5DSR. That's absurd.

I'm stepping off the gas on my anger on the timing aspect of things. Some others have pointed out that other cameras (including Sony and Nikon) had similar time lags in lens data being offered after launch. I count some 120 lenses having been tested on the 5D3, so repeating that on a 5DS would not be a quick effort at all.

This is also presuming they actually physically retest each older body with a new lens, which they may not... I suppose they could interpolate/downsample their sharpness testing based on pixel count for lower res rigs, but I'm admittedly not well read on that.

- A

 

[ahsanford]

You can click on the profile tab instead of the field map tab to get a more readable representation of the data. On a side note, the field map is not a true field map but just the 1D profile plotted in a pseudo-2D form. Even with that said, we don't actually know how they've defined % acutance so it can be hard to understand what they're actually showing.

Super. Thanks!

Other than some very slight differences in favor of Sigma in the f/4 to f/5.6 neighborhood, nothing's jumping out at me that says the Sigma is sharper on aggregate. Am I missing something?

- A

 

[PureClassA]

Yeah but here's a brand spanking new lens. Why not put it on the 5DS? I didn't say they had to take every old Canon lens and do it. But to test this brand new lens on EVERY Canon DSLR made in the last 10 years just now and NOT put it on the new body while your'e at it? I don't understand. What's the hold up? Why not take the handful of newer L glass starting with the 70-200 f2.8 IS Mk II and going forward, start testing. That isn't but a few lenses.

Yes. I checked and the list of Cameras they have tested it with is EVERY camera Canon has ever made... except the 5DS and 5DSR. That's absurd.

I'm stepping off the gas on my anger on the timing aspect of things. Some others have pointed out that other cameras (including Sony and Nikon) had similar time lags in lens data being offered after launch. I count some 120 lenses having been tested on the 5D3, so repeating that on a 5DS would not be a quick effort at all.

This is also presuming they actually physically retest each older body with a new lens, which they may not... I suppose they could interpolate/downsample their sharpness testing based on pixel count for lower res rigs, but I'm admittedly not well read on that.

- A

 

[benperrin]

Yeah but here's a brand spanking new lens. Why not put it on the 5DS? I didn't say they had to take every old Canon lens and do it. But to test this brand new lens on EVERY Canon DSLR made in the last 10 years just now and NOT put it on the new body while your'e at it? I don't understand. What's the hold up? Why not take the handful of newer L glass starting with the 70-200 f2.8 IS Mk II and going forward, start testing. That isn't but a few lenses.

Yeah I agree. It's beyond a joke at this point. I swear dxo are just a Ken Rockwell troll experiment now lol. ;D

 

[Sator]

I honestly can't wait, not for Canon pride at all, so much as DXO owning a poor rating system and having to explain why a (for example) 70-200 f/2.8L IS II -- heretofore the 1,096th ranked lens in their database -- is now sitting 900 places higher.

The Canon reps got their act together and dined DXO Mark staff at a Michelin 3 star restaurant, not just a one star joint like they condescended to first time around. But obviously they get beaten by the Sigma reps who also remembered to hire strippers to entertain them.

 

[EddieNM]

As soon as I saw it was DXOMark I just rolled my eyes. Their test are B.S, look how they rated their own little camera, and the Canon 70-200 f 2.8 II got low scores. I don't believe anything these people have to say.

 

[Don Haines]

Yeah but here's a brand spanking new lens. Why not put it on the 5DS? I didn't say they had to take every old Canon lens and do it. But to test this brand new lens on EVERY Canon DSLR made in the last 10 years just now and NOT put it on the new body while your'e at it? I don't understand. What's the hold up? Why not take the handful of newer L glass starting with the 70-200 f2.8 IS Mk II and going forward, start testing. That isn't but a few lenses.

(in a Pancho Villa voice) Testing?? WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING TESTING! We just make crap up and post it.....

 

[PhotographyFirst]

At the risk of sounding like a jerk...

Isn't DXO based out of France?

 

[zim]

Oui

 

[infared]

I put no stock in DXO....DXSchmo...I would not be honest if I didn't admit that it is a little pleasing to see my Sigma Art rated above the new Canon 35mm f/1.4 II. 8)
....But I am no fool...the new Canon is definitely the better lens from what I have read. No question...but I think that the Sigma pushed Canon to make the new lens at this level....I doubt that it would have been this good without the Sigma competition. Canon HAD to deliver to save face.
I would love to own the Canon...but that is too much coin for a 35mm prime for this photographer...also the Sigma is cost-effective and is still a killer lens, too! I do love mine.

 

[zim]

A small potted history which I think just about manages to insult everyone....

Dx0é Cart-Blanche works as a waitress during WW2 at the Café Nikoné, but at night she makes money as a prostitute. Although she sells her body for paraffin, gasoline, sugar and butter, her only true love is Nikoné Artois. She is famous for her saying "Oh Nikoné" in a long growling tone. They are often caught by Nikoné's wife, Madame Soné, but the unfaithful husband always has a proper explanation for his behaviour, always beginning with "You stupid canon!".

Dx0's best friend is Mikaelé Filluppa , another café waitress, but Mikaelé goes missing after series 3; she posts herself to Switzerland by mistake. After that, the Resistance member Neuroé Labong is hired as staff, but Neuroé and Mikaelé develop quite a rivalry, usually beginning with Neuroé making a joke about Mikaelé's small stature and ending with a catfight between the two.

In the last episode, many years after the war, DxOé's biggest dream is apparently fulfilled. The episode ends with Nikoné and Dx0é driving off with the intention of eloping......

 

[Sabaki]

A small potted history which I think just about manages to insult everyone....

Dx0é Cart-Blanche works as a waitress during WW2 at the Café Nikoné, but at night she makes money as a prostitute. Although she sells her body for paraffin, gasoline, sugar and butter, her only true love is Nikoné Artois. She is famous for her saying "Oh Nikoné" in a long growling tone. They are often caught by Nikoné's wife, Madame Soné, but the unfaithful husband always has a proper explanation for his behaviour, always beginning with "You stupid canon!".

Dx0's best friend is Mikaelé Filluppa , another café waitress, but Mikaelé goes missing after series 3; she posts herself to Switzerland by mistake. After that, the Resistance member Neuroé Labong is hired as staff, but Neuroé and Mikaelé develop quite a rivalry, usually beginning with Neuroé making a joke about Mikaelé's small stature and ending with a catfight between the two.

In the last episode, many years after the war, DxOé's biggest dream is apparently fulfilled. The episode ends with Nikoné and Dx0é driving off with the intention of eloping......

Lol!!! Magnifique!!!

 

[Click]

;D ;D ;D

Excellent, zim.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Yes, CR for humour or is it humor.

Jack

 

[Maximilian]

They test it with the 5D3 first because it's a control against their previous tests. I'm sure they will add the 5DSR pretty soon. The Digital Picture has shot tests with the 5DSR and the 35L MkII

...
By the way: Still just testing with the 5D3 and not with the 5DS/R. : : :

You mean yet another 112 days plus X? Like discussed here:
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=27385.msg541386#msg541386

To me this has a taste...