Ok below is an anonymous post from someone I know very well who is posting something here. No names will be mentioned but I thought it would be worth reading :) Don't blame me for the views though!
Having purchased in excess of $15,000 worth of Photography gear from Melbourne’s camera stores over the past year or so, I would like to share my experiences in regards to my purchase transactions. Everything is a factual account of my own experiences, and the truth is a complete defence to any defamation accusation, and I fully stand by my decision.
JB HiFi City Camera Store:
All three of my cameras (Canon 5D2, Canon 40D and Canon 400D) I purchased from JB HiFi. I find they consistently give the lowest prices on Cameras, IF you get the right salesperson. There is considerable variability in the quotes you get based on the salesperson you talk to. It is sometimes even worth asking a certain JB HiFi store to beat the price of another JB HiFi Store (I did in the case of my 5D2 and managed to get a further $50 shaved off).
The Elizabeth Street JB HiFi is a cheap source of cameras and “mainstream” L lenses (like the 24-105L, 24-70L and 70-200 f/4L). In addition to two cameras (my 5D2 came from JB HiFi Chadstone), I also purchased a 70-200 f/4L IS there, as well as many peripherals like CF cards and Lowepro Bags and Cases and a 430EX.
In my experience I have found them not to be a good source for more obscure products like Tamron and Sigma lenses. They generally are the cheapest for most things, but not always.
Regarding the city store, most of their staff are pretty cool, some are tighter than others, however I can honestly say that every single one of their staff I have come across has been very attentive to the customer, and always approach you to offer their help. The same can’t be said for other JB HiFi stores (especially Chadstone which is chronically understaffed), or other cameras shops.
Teds:
Whilst some Teds salespeople are nice to deal with, most are generally a waste of time and are not very knowledgeable. Some are very nice, so I don’t want to denigrate everyone, however a lot are exceptionally poor.
In the past I have even experienced being peddled obsolete stock and display stock, or being told things like “There’s no such thing as a Gitzo tripod”. Again, there are a few nice and competent staff there, but the majority are very poor. Again my experiences may not be indicative of your own.
Some of the city staff are amongst the worst I have come across. They are not very attentive, they often treat you with disdain and if it doesn’t look like you have much money and some are more interested in talking amongst themselves than helping you (I once had two of them stand in front of me talking about their Friday night rather than bother helping me (I was waiting at the counter for some help)).
There is a big exception. Joel in the Pro section of the City Store is the only person at Teds I buy stuff off. He has always given me the best pricing that Teds is able to offer. This is generally far below what other sales people have been able to offer. I have purchased a $2000 L lens off him, as well as multiple CF cards, harnesses, bags and other items. He is a Professional Photographer as well, and this certainly helps in that there is a mutual ability to relate to one another. I highly recommend Joel.
Teds sometimes has these $1 8X12 deals, which is exceptionally cheap (way below cost in my opinion) but the quality is terrible, for both the Chadstone and City stores. The prints lack contrast, are soft, and dull in colour. Seriously Harvey Norman prints are 100X better.
Camera Action City:
Again, some are ok, but many of Camera Action’s camera sales staff are a bit over confident and attempt to hard sell you. Having said that though I have bought a lot of items from them because although they are an absolute rip off in terms of price generally, they do have gems here and there. For instance I picked up a 85mm f/1.2L II USM for about $2300 there (the manual was ripped though...suggesting it had been opened up, but fortunately canon gave me a new one without the usual $50 fee), as well as Crumpler Bags, a 18-55IS and other small items.
I feel a bit pressured everytime I go in there though. Their staff are quite attentive, and come up to you offering their help, but I have found that their staff seem a bit overconfident, which puts me off a bit. A few have been quite nice, so again my experiences may not be indicative of your own.
Elizabeth Camera:
This is a bit of a weird store. It’s run by asians so this typically guarantees the cheapest prices as we asians like to haggle, but not always. That’s what’s weird. At times they are much cheaper than other stores, but other times they are much more expensive. It seems like their price guides are just out of sync with the rest of the Elizabeth Strip. For instance I purchased my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 off them for about 15% cheaper than what JB HiFi were willing to offer (though I got ripped off on a Hoya filter – my fault I didn’t know how much cheaper they are on Ebay). At the same time they were not able to beat JB HiFi on certain cameras, yet a few weeks later they were able to match it.
The staff are generally helpful, though the younger more experienced ones don’t give as much price flexibility as the older ones (who obviously have more authority and power)
Michaels:
Oh god. These guys could be the best Camera store in Melbourne, the equivalent of BH Photo in Australia. Unfortunately the reality is very different. Many of their staff are unknowledgeable and standoffish, a few are arrogant, but heaps of them do try their best). Again some are ok, but geez, I usually go see the Video guys who seem much friendlier and open to bargaining (though they can only really help on Video and general gear like bags and cases, not Photo specific gear). I think their intentions seem good, but their execution is terrible. What’s most disappointing is they could be so much more. Their size and location could enable them to blow the competitors out of the water, but instead they have a reputation of being expensive and poor value
I have purchased quite a bit of bags and stuff from Michaels and to their credit, they have a good post sale support process (were very good with the return of a defective item).
Other people I know have had real horror stories about Michaels, which I won’t repeat because it isn’t my experience. I have found them unpleasant but not horrible. (More disappointment than anything that they don’t life their game)
Camera Exchange:
I always get ignored when I go into this shop. I have purchased B+W filters off them because they are the only shop that has carried them (too expensive to get from the US at the moment), but other than that I don’t go in there much. The whole place seems like a dumping ground for odds and ends. Although the staff seem rude at first when they ignore you, some are quite nice, there was one who gave me a free microfiber cloth with my filter for example.
Vanbar:
This store is near my Uni, and if it was not for an unfortunate fact, I would have bought heaps of stuff from them because I’m a shopaholic and it’s located tantalisingly close to Uni. The unfortunate fact is that they refuse to price haggle. Oh well, their loss. A few of their staff are quite nice, but I don’t go there because the very first time I went there I attempted to haggle and some Nazi-ish dude pretty much told me off in front of the entire store implying I was a cheapskate (which I am, but that’s beside the point) and that they weren’t into that kind of bargaining. Oh well...
Digital Camera Warehouse:
Similar to Vanbar they have a no haggling policy, which isn’t my cup of tea but their prices are often very low so it’s understandable. Emails don’t seem to get answered, which is a bit annoying. Still, they sponsor my photography club (e.g. they donated a Nikon D90 as a prize), so are great people in my book, and I try to support them when I can in terms of buying. The act of sponsoring a student Photo Club is a very positive one, and as such I still think of them highly.
Kirks:
I haven’t purchased here but visited them once. The guys at the desk seemed pretty nice, and they are a good alternative source as they are willing to price haggle.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
Review: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Lens (APS-C Review)
This Review is incomplete, will finish soon
Note this is a APS-C Review on a Canon 40D and Canon 400D (XTi):
People say this lens was built for the 5D. Well, I haven't used it on a FF camera yet, so I'm sure I'll be in for a treat. I'll post another review when I get a 5D/5D2or 1Ds/1DsII/1DsIII
Firstly, here's a size comparison against a very large Point and Shoot, the Canon A640:
This lens is nicknamed "the grapefruit" or "the keg" or "the hand grenade" affectionately
Note this lens has MANY problems:
1. Chromatic Aberration. Far out it's bad wide open. It tends to dissipate (is that the right word?) from about f/1.6 to f/1.8 onwards, but it is horrible in high contrast conditions and metal/chrome objects. Having said that though, it is rarely an issue in 99% of photos, and stopping down mitigates it. I can only vaguely remember one or two photos where the CA wrecked the shot, and those photos were test shots anyway where I wasn't properly exposing and composing. Just be careful and don't be afraid to stop down a bit (if you can) in bright high contrast conditions.
Check out this ISO 3200 crop on a chrome object:
HAHAHA, Put you off? No, don't leave, read on :)
2. Has Battery Metering issues with 70-80% of Canon EOS 40D's. Canon has acknowledged this issue but as of yet has not been able to solve the problem (or likely just sweeping it under the carpet given the 40D is now obsolete). Basically you will need to flick the off-on switch every 30 shots or so because of the battery will report "empty" incorrectly with this lens. Often a freshly charged battery will report empty before you even take one photo, so you'll have to do a off-on flick. Not all 40D's are affected - you may want to test out the lens on your 40D before buying if you are concerned.
3. Dust Pump. The inside of my rear element is full of fluff and dust after 6 months. Maybe my copy is unique in this regard, but it is an absolute dust magnet, and the extending front focusing design of the lens only contributes to this. Some report that it is easy to get dust off by unscrewing the rear mount and blowing off the dust, but the dust has not yet affected image quality so I think I'll leave it. I've gaffer taped the edges of the lens mount though because I think that's where the dust is going in.
4. AF: Not as slow as others say, but it is noticeably slow, especially if you are used to the blazing fast AF of the 70-200 lenses. This lens focuses nicely in low light on a 40D though, it doesn't tend to hunt that much. But mine hunts like crazy on a 400D in low light though. I found that in low light conditions that required the use of 1.2 and ISO 1600, the 400D was barely usable on centre point, so you might want a slightly better focusing camera. It's doable, but to get the most out of the 85L II in low light, a 1 series or a 5D/5D2 or a 40D/50D may be the way to go.
Don't even think about using this for AI Servo in low light for a fast moving object, unless you have a Camera with awesome AF and you have good skills. AI Servo is usable in good light for something like bike rider, but in low light, the keeper rate is really low. (Doable in a pinch though). Note this is camera dependent too though.
I have been frustrated by forward focusing problems with my cameras, even after calibration. It is better now after several trips, but be wary that unless you have a AF microadjust camera (and sometimes even if you do), you will be fighting a long hard battle getting the AF in specification with various trips to Canon service. Consider your time, and your equipment needs for jobs and events, before purchasing this lens or any other fast prime for your non AF microadjust camera, because fast primes really expose the inadequate factory tolerances that cameras and lenses have.
5. Design Issues:
* Exposed Rear Element (basically level with the lens mount) - Although exposed and easily marked and soiled, it is quite tough to Canon's credit and scratches as of yet have not been permanent.
* Not Internally Focusing (only adds to the dust pump effect). When the lens focuses, the front extends, similar to the 50mm f/1.8 II.
* Focus By Wire (no MF if Camera is off) - what was Canon on when it gave the 85L this feature? It's especially bad for me because the 85L "just" fits in my bag's slot when its retracted, but if I forget to focus to infinity before dismounting the lens, I can't fit it in my bag Partially my fault yes, but I doubt many would miss the focus by wire feature.
* Canon did a Tokina and put the Mounting Indicator (red dot) on the back of the lens rather than the side It's a pain to mount this lens when you're under pressure, especially when you are also careful not to hit the rear element on the camera mount (because the rear element is basically level with the lens mount)
* Focus ring is a bit wobbly
* Canon for Christmas please give me IS (Image Stabilization) on this lens, thank you! :D (Not if it compromises Image Quality though)
6. Some other aspects of this lens that are interesting:
* Focus Ring has a very large range, you will have to do a few twists to cover the entire range. Good and Bad depending on the situation
* If you need a Lowepro Lens Case for it, the Lowepro 4s will fit it with the hood attached. Thanks to Bryan from the-digital-picture.com for this info. It is a good fit, but a teeny bit hard to put in and out because it is a little tight with the hood on. If you don't use the hood, the lens will bounce around inside the case, so you might want a smaller case if you don't use the hood.
* The hood is a clip on, not a Bayonet Mount. The hood looks ugly (its round not petal) and is a bit flimsy compared to the lens.
You know what, despite these issues, this lens still gets a highly recommended 5 stars from me. This lens and its predecessor are legendary lenses, held with awe and reverence, and its status is well deserved.
An often asked question is "Why Canon over Nikon". Many photographers quote a simple word: 85L
The stuff you can do with this lens is just spectacular. Don't expect this lens to substitute for photography knowledge, skill and good light, but if you have these ingredients and you add this lens, then you will be capable of awesome results. If you suck, you will still suck after buying this lens. You have to earn the right to get great images from this lens.
The Bokeh (Boke) is just heavenly. I am not talking about the amount of background blur, I am talking about the quality of the background diffusion. It's just buttery smooth.
Image Quality? No worries from a APS-C perspective. I don't even have to say much here. This lens is sharp wide open. The contrast at a 100% crop level (micro contrast is it called?) is a tad lower than when stopped down, but this is ok because with a bit of sharpening in Photoshop - WOW. This lens sharpens up VERY well. If you are concerned with the sharpness of your copy, carefully take a photo of a flat surface with detail using MF aided by 10X Live View. It should look sharp. If its hazy or blooming, then you either stuffed up the test or your lens is stuffed up.
Seriously, it's sharp wide open, at least on APS-C 10MP sensors. This is coming from a pixel peeper who inspects the 100% view for EVERY photo he takes. Yes it does improve when stopping down though, mostly through improved contrast. From about f/1.6 onwards, not much can touch this lens for sharpness.
Here's a crop with zero PP sharpening, this is straight out of the camera RAW converted except for my annotation:
You can see that the table is in focus, but even the pen and video case are OOF and hence softer. The biggest limit on sharpness is imposed not by the lens resolving power, but by motion blur, low DOF and AF errors and CA.
At the end of the day, I have listed a whole list of nitpicks I have with this lens, but you quickly forget them when reviewing the images you take with this lens
Again, a warning, this lens will not make you into a super photographer. You will need to put in the hard yards in learning and practice, and this lens is a tool that you can use to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you gain. Expect much hardship (dealing with motion blur especially if you are used to IS lenses, dealing with AF issues, inaccuracies, AF calibration) but eventually you'll get better and better with it.
Highly Recommended Lens!
Sample Photos:
This first example is three portrait shots from a recent wedding merged into one photo for ease of display. Notice the quality of background diffusion (bokeh or boke) with this lens. It is just so soft, smooth and "buttery". Other lenses can achieve this level of diffusion, but not this quality of diffusion. Many confuse the magnitude/degree of diffusion (which is dependent on depth of field) with the quality of diffusion (bokeh). It is the quality of diffusion that the 85L II is a world class leader in.
(more to come)
Note this is a APS-C Review on a Canon 40D and Canon 400D (XTi):
People say this lens was built for the 5D. Well, I haven't used it on a FF camera yet, so I'm sure I'll be in for a treat. I'll post another review when I get a 5D/5D2or 1Ds/1DsII/1DsIII
Firstly, here's a size comparison against a very large Point and Shoot, the Canon A640:
This lens is nicknamed "the grapefruit" or "the keg" or "the hand grenade" affectionately
Note this lens has MANY problems:
1. Chromatic Aberration. Far out it's bad wide open. It tends to dissipate (is that the right word?) from about f/1.6 to f/1.8 onwards, but it is horrible in high contrast conditions and metal/chrome objects. Having said that though, it is rarely an issue in 99% of photos, and stopping down mitigates it. I can only vaguely remember one or two photos where the CA wrecked the shot, and those photos were test shots anyway where I wasn't properly exposing and composing. Just be careful and don't be afraid to stop down a bit (if you can) in bright high contrast conditions.
Check out this ISO 3200 crop on a chrome object:
HAHAHA, Put you off? No, don't leave, read on :)
2. Has Battery Metering issues with 70-80% of Canon EOS 40D's. Canon has acknowledged this issue but as of yet has not been able to solve the problem (or likely just sweeping it under the carpet given the 40D is now obsolete). Basically you will need to flick the off-on switch every 30 shots or so because of the battery will report "empty" incorrectly with this lens. Often a freshly charged battery will report empty before you even take one photo, so you'll have to do a off-on flick. Not all 40D's are affected - you may want to test out the lens on your 40D before buying if you are concerned.
3. Dust Pump. The inside of my rear element is full of fluff and dust after 6 months. Maybe my copy is unique in this regard, but it is an absolute dust magnet, and the extending front focusing design of the lens only contributes to this. Some report that it is easy to get dust off by unscrewing the rear mount and blowing off the dust, but the dust has not yet affected image quality so I think I'll leave it. I've gaffer taped the edges of the lens mount though because I think that's where the dust is going in.
4. AF: Not as slow as others say, but it is noticeably slow, especially if you are used to the blazing fast AF of the 70-200 lenses. This lens focuses nicely in low light on a 40D though, it doesn't tend to hunt that much. But mine hunts like crazy on a 400D in low light though. I found that in low light conditions that required the use of 1.2 and ISO 1600, the 400D was barely usable on centre point, so you might want a slightly better focusing camera. It's doable, but to get the most out of the 85L II in low light, a 1 series or a 5D/5D2 or a 40D/50D may be the way to go.
Don't even think about using this for AI Servo in low light for a fast moving object, unless you have a Camera with awesome AF and you have good skills. AI Servo is usable in good light for something like bike rider, but in low light, the keeper rate is really low. (Doable in a pinch though). Note this is camera dependent too though.
I have been frustrated by forward focusing problems with my cameras, even after calibration. It is better now after several trips, but be wary that unless you have a AF microadjust camera (and sometimes even if you do), you will be fighting a long hard battle getting the AF in specification with various trips to Canon service. Consider your time, and your equipment needs for jobs and events, before purchasing this lens or any other fast prime for your non AF microadjust camera, because fast primes really expose the inadequate factory tolerances that cameras and lenses have.
5. Design Issues:
* Exposed Rear Element (basically level with the lens mount) - Although exposed and easily marked and soiled, it is quite tough to Canon's credit and scratches as of yet have not been permanent.
* Not Internally Focusing (only adds to the dust pump effect). When the lens focuses, the front extends, similar to the 50mm f/1.8 II.
* Focus By Wire (no MF if Camera is off) - what was Canon on when it gave the 85L this feature? It's especially bad for me because the 85L "just" fits in my bag's slot when its retracted, but if I forget to focus to infinity before dismounting the lens, I can't fit it in my bag Partially my fault yes, but I doubt many would miss the focus by wire feature.
* Canon did a Tokina and put the Mounting Indicator (red dot) on the back of the lens rather than the side It's a pain to mount this lens when you're under pressure, especially when you are also careful not to hit the rear element on the camera mount (because the rear element is basically level with the lens mount)
* Focus ring is a bit wobbly
* Canon for Christmas please give me IS (Image Stabilization) on this lens, thank you! :D (Not if it compromises Image Quality though)
6. Some other aspects of this lens that are interesting:
* Focus Ring has a very large range, you will have to do a few twists to cover the entire range. Good and Bad depending on the situation
* If you need a Lowepro Lens Case for it, the Lowepro 4s will fit it with the hood attached. Thanks to Bryan from the-digital-picture.com for this info. It is a good fit, but a teeny bit hard to put in and out because it is a little tight with the hood on. If you don't use the hood, the lens will bounce around inside the case, so you might want a smaller case if you don't use the hood.
* The hood is a clip on, not a Bayonet Mount. The hood looks ugly (its round not petal) and is a bit flimsy compared to the lens.
You know what, despite these issues, this lens still gets a highly recommended 5 stars from me. This lens and its predecessor are legendary lenses, held with awe and reverence, and its status is well deserved.
An often asked question is "Why Canon over Nikon". Many photographers quote a simple word: 85L
The stuff you can do with this lens is just spectacular. Don't expect this lens to substitute for photography knowledge, skill and good light, but if you have these ingredients and you add this lens, then you will be capable of awesome results. If you suck, you will still suck after buying this lens. You have to earn the right to get great images from this lens.
The Bokeh (Boke) is just heavenly. I am not talking about the amount of background blur, I am talking about the quality of the background diffusion. It's just buttery smooth.
Image Quality? No worries from a APS-C perspective. I don't even have to say much here. This lens is sharp wide open. The contrast at a 100% crop level (micro contrast is it called?) is a tad lower than when stopped down, but this is ok because with a bit of sharpening in Photoshop - WOW. This lens sharpens up VERY well. If you are concerned with the sharpness of your copy, carefully take a photo of a flat surface with detail using MF aided by 10X Live View. It should look sharp. If its hazy or blooming, then you either stuffed up the test or your lens is stuffed up.
Seriously, it's sharp wide open, at least on APS-C 10MP sensors. This is coming from a pixel peeper who inspects the 100% view for EVERY photo he takes. Yes it does improve when stopping down though, mostly through improved contrast. From about f/1.6 onwards, not much can touch this lens for sharpness.
Here's a crop with zero PP sharpening, this is straight out of the camera RAW converted except for my annotation:
You can see that the table is in focus, but even the pen and video case are OOF and hence softer. The biggest limit on sharpness is imposed not by the lens resolving power, but by motion blur, low DOF and AF errors and CA.
At the end of the day, I have listed a whole list of nitpicks I have with this lens, but you quickly forget them when reviewing the images you take with this lens
Again, a warning, this lens will not make you into a super photographer. You will need to put in the hard yards in learning and practice, and this lens is a tool that you can use to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you gain. Expect much hardship (dealing with motion blur especially if you are used to IS lenses, dealing with AF issues, inaccuracies, AF calibration) but eventually you'll get better and better with it.
Highly Recommended Lens!
Sample Photos:
This first example is three portrait shots from a recent wedding merged into one photo for ease of display. Notice the quality of background diffusion (bokeh or boke) with this lens. It is just so soft, smooth and "buttery". Other lenses can achieve this level of diffusion, but not this quality of diffusion. Many confuse the magnitude/degree of diffusion (which is dependent on depth of field) with the quality of diffusion (bokeh). It is the quality of diffusion that the 85L II is a world class leader in.
(more to come)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Preview: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
For a wedding gig I had on the 22nd of November I purchased a brand new Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM (abbreviated to 35L) from Ted's which set me back $1800+ (a few months ago the price at Grey Market vendors was only $1400 or so but the falling AUD caused their prices to go up, so Ted's was the cheapest was I could find. There's a great guy at Ted's Melbourne called Joel - I highly recommend him for your buying needs, he's able to bargain down to great prices and is also friendly and helpful. He's also a professional photographer so unlike a lot of the other sales people actually knows what he is talking about, or at least doesn't try to bluff his way around)
The 35L is one of Canon's most well known and respected prime lenses and a member of Canon's legendary "holy trinity" of Prime Lenses (along with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM which I also have, and the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM which I don't have). I can confirm that this lens oozes class, a well deserved member of Canon's L range of lenses (professional grade).
On my APS-C (1.6X Field fo View Crop Factor Sensors) I can confirm that this lens lives up to its reputation. It is sharp wide open, and whilst it does improve as you stop down (close the aperture), I would not hesitate to use this wide open. Sharpness is not a reason to stop down with this lens. When testing it across its aperture range, f/1.4 is just as sharp as stopped down apertures, but admittedly when stopping down contrast improves. I am over the moon about this because there have been some reports of "soft" 35L lenses, but mine certainly isn't one of them, I am raving over its capabilities wide open.
The lens is awesome. It is like using a wider 85L II. Admittedly background diffusion is not as strong as the 85L II in most situations however this to be expected given the focal length (and therefore perspective difference) as well as the fact that the 85L II is approximately 1/3 - 1/2 a stop wider aperture. I love this lens, and can envisage it being glued (not literally) to one of my camera bodies.
So why is this blog post a Preview rather than a review?
Unfortunately my lens front/forward focuses on both my cameras, including my Canon calibrated EOS 400D and therefore requires focus adjustment. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I had received a lens that front focused. My 85L II, an even more expensive lens seemed ok when I was testing it around the house, but once I went outdoors and put into real world use, it front focused quite badly, especially for far away subjects. Canon calibrated it for me, and whilst I haven't had a chance to test it out extensively yet, it does seem a bit better
My pristine, brand new 35L is now in the hands of Canon technicians being adjusted. It's disappointing it wasn't right out of the factory, but that's the way it is I guess, Canon has been notorious for its quality control (or lack of) and its high factory tolerances for AF accuracy errors.
Exchanging the lens was not an option because this was literally the only brand new copy of the lens in Melbourne. I was surprised such an awesome lens is not purchased by others more often, but I guess most consumers are sucked in by the marketing of mass production consumer grade and kit zoom lenses instead of professional grade quality prime lenses such as the 35L. For my wedding gig I had to make do with a misfocusing lens. It was an absolute mess at times, and I had to lean in after focusing to compensate for the AF inaccuracy. I don't recommend to any other photographers to use malfunctioning equipment like I did.
I eagerly await my lens to come back and hope that it doesn't get damaged in the process because when you buy something so expensive you start to get a bit paranoid :)
Will post a full review soon! Because I don't have the lens at the moment, and I forgot to take some photos when I did have it, I can't post any pictures but I do have the box still so here are some photos of the box :)
The 35L is one of Canon's most well known and respected prime lenses and a member of Canon's legendary "holy trinity" of Prime Lenses (along with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM which I also have, and the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM which I don't have). I can confirm that this lens oozes class, a well deserved member of Canon's L range of lenses (professional grade).
On my APS-C (1.6X Field fo View Crop Factor Sensors) I can confirm that this lens lives up to its reputation. It is sharp wide open, and whilst it does improve as you stop down (close the aperture), I would not hesitate to use this wide open. Sharpness is not a reason to stop down with this lens. When testing it across its aperture range, f/1.4 is just as sharp as stopped down apertures, but admittedly when stopping down contrast improves. I am over the moon about this because there have been some reports of "soft" 35L lenses, but mine certainly isn't one of them, I am raving over its capabilities wide open.
The lens is awesome. It is like using a wider 85L II. Admittedly background diffusion is not as strong as the 85L II in most situations however this to be expected given the focal length (and therefore perspective difference) as well as the fact that the 85L II is approximately 1/3 - 1/2 a stop wider aperture. I love this lens, and can envisage it being glued (not literally) to one of my camera bodies.
So why is this blog post a Preview rather than a review?
Unfortunately my lens front/forward focuses on both my cameras, including my Canon calibrated EOS 400D and therefore requires focus adjustment. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I had received a lens that front focused. My 85L II, an even more expensive lens seemed ok when I was testing it around the house, but once I went outdoors and put into real world use, it front focused quite badly, especially for far away subjects. Canon calibrated it for me, and whilst I haven't had a chance to test it out extensively yet, it does seem a bit better
My pristine, brand new 35L is now in the hands of Canon technicians being adjusted. It's disappointing it wasn't right out of the factory, but that's the way it is I guess, Canon has been notorious for its quality control (or lack of) and its high factory tolerances for AF accuracy errors.
Exchanging the lens was not an option because this was literally the only brand new copy of the lens in Melbourne. I was surprised such an awesome lens is not purchased by others more often, but I guess most consumers are sucked in by the marketing of mass production consumer grade and kit zoom lenses instead of professional grade quality prime lenses such as the 35L. For my wedding gig I had to make do with a misfocusing lens. It was an absolute mess at times, and I had to lean in after focusing to compensate for the AF inaccuracy. I don't recommend to any other photographers to use malfunctioning equipment like I did.
I eagerly await my lens to come back and hope that it doesn't get damaged in the process because when you buy something so expensive you start to get a bit paranoid :)
Will post a full review soon! Because I don't have the lens at the moment, and I forgot to take some photos when I did have it, I can't post any pictures but I do have the box still so here are some photos of the box :)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Preview: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II (abbreviated to 5D2) is one of the most anticipated digital SLR cameras for a long time. It is the successor to Canon's famous EOS 5D which was the first "affordable" Full Frame Sensor DSLR (with FOV equivalent to a 35mm SLR).
The Canon 5D was/is legendary for its exceptional image quality, particularly its high ISO performance, its colour rendition, and the "3 dimensional look" (probably because its full frame sensor allows subjects to pop out more due to the lower depth of field inherent to files from a full frame camera versus a 1.6X ASP-C DSLR) that so many users allude to.
However, at the time of the 5D2's announcement, the 5D had become somewhat of a veteran in the DSLR arena. In DSLR terms, it was a Dinosaur as it was first announced and released back in 2005. It was still used because of its spectacular class (and arguably small format DSLR industry) leading Image Quality, but its features and functionality was very obsolete. In fact, the many cheaper, consumer model cameras were more advanced in the features and functionality department.
We all hope that the 5D2 is able to live up to the 5D name. First impressions are that it will, however, a lot of the samples floating around the internet seem to suffer from heavy Noise Reduction so it is hard to assess its Image Quality just yet. Canon indicates that this camera will have their best high ISO performance to date, but we all remember the infamous claims they made about the Canon EOS 50D being a stop better than the Canon EOS 40D (which was not true for RAW images at the pixel level, and arguable at the image level).
The 5D2 was first announced back in September, and has now started appearing on shelves in China. It has not yet been released in Australia or the United States or the U.K. yet, and the rest of the world outside of China is eagerly awaiting the camera. Word on the street is that JB HiFi is currently leading the price stakes by taking orders at $3800 AUD, which isn't bad given the low value of the AUD at the moment. Up until a few weeks ago, the 5D was selling at a clearance price of $2400 at some of the major stores, and whilst I was tempted to buy one I really wanted a Camera with AF Microadjust and decided to save up for the 5D2. UPDATE: As of the 28th, the limited 5D2 stock is available in Melbourne at JB HiFi (though only those who preordered can get them)
When will I get one? Well given my financial situation, I probably won't be able to afford one till it becomes obsolete :) I am fervently saving up my money to acquire one, however I will wait for the first user reports first before I purchase this camera. Recent Canon cameras have had a lot of teething problems (1D3 - AF; 50D - constant Err 99; 1Ds3 Viewfinder Alignment) so it's probably not worth being an early adopter, especially for the financially impaired (like myself)
A few weeks ago I went to the 5D2 launch at Michael's in Melbourne where I got to use the camera (but unfortunately could not keep any of the photos from it so I don't have any sample shots.) The Camera was very nice and slick to use, but I tell you what, I then picked up a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III to try, and this older camera (with crappier LCD screen and no video or other advanced features of the 5D2) which is twice the price of the Canon 5D2 was intoxicatingly special. I could never afford it though, so I try to keep it out of my mind :)
Here's some photos of the event. Canon Australia was kind enough to bring the only two 5D2's in the country at the time, as well as some CPS (Canon Professional Services) Loaner Lenses which I noted had been scratched and roughed up from use by Pros:
^I took this photo surreptiously with my 40D and EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
^The only two 5D2's in the country at the time
^That's the 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, which costs about as much as a small car
^And here's few more random shots
^ That's the 5D2 and EF 200mm f/2L IS USM (over $11,000 worth of gear in my hands right there). They aren't mine so don't try and rob me :) Photo credits: Daniel Yong
Assuming everything is ok, I really want to buy one though for several reasons:
1. AF Microadjust
This feature is the reason I didn't purchase a 5D when they were being cleared out by the camera stores at the ridiculously low price of $2400 or so (they sold for $4000 or so when they first came out). Taking my cameras and lenses for calibration has frustrated me to no end, not because of the service quality, but because of the time it takes. Canon Melbourne is constantly overworked, and as a photographer, I simply never seem to have the 2 or 3 weeks gap it takes to get a camera or lens calibrated. This feature will be a godsend for me. AF calibration is very important especially for the fast primes I use which really expose the inaccuracies of the Canon AF system. Yes all of Canon's recent cameras (except the Consumer models) can do this but read on...
2. HD Video
A lot of photography purists will scoff at the idea of Video in a DSLR, with comments such as "It's a camera not a video camera". Well, sometimes I want Video, and the 5DII offers 1080p full HD video recording. Yes, there is a FAT32 file size limitation of 4GB. Yes, the audio quality likely sucks without an external mic (which can be attached). Yes, you would likely need thousands in dollars of stabilisation equipment and lighting equipment to get the best out of it. I still want it :)
Just watch Vincent LaForet's video to see what this camera is capable of: http://www.vincentlaforet.com/
Let's not delude ourselves, you can't just pick up a 5D2 and do what Vincent LaForet has done. LaForet is an extremely able and experienced photographer (Joint Pulitzer Prize Winner), and has very expensive gear, but this does show you the potential of the 5DII, even if we aren't able to extract that potential ourselves.
and most importantly...
3. 21.1 Megapixels Full Frame Sensor
Ok 21.1 Megapixels is a bit overkill most of the times, only because the file sizes are crazy huge and will take up a lot of hard drive space. I never delete ANY of my photos, and keep multiple backups, so this is especially problematic for me. But I can always lower the resolution when its not needed. Many users will complain about how dense the sensor is and how this is likely to be a detriment to Image Quality due to the increased noise that will likely be evident at the pixel level, but we'll have to wait and see on this one as conclusive tests have not been done yet. Many "special" early users have reported that it is very clean at high ISOs but all samples posted seem to suffer from excessive Noise Reduction which makes the images seem "watercolour" like, so no concrete conclusions can be drawn yet.
Most importantly though, beyond the megapixels, is the Full Frame Sensor. I have a lot of fast prime lenses (EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM) which are crying out for a Full Frame Sensor to extract their maximum potential.
What don't I like about it? Canon has copped a lot of criticism from not just myself but many others for their choice of upgrades. They were happy to upgrade the resolution of the 5D from 12.8 megapixels to 21.1 megapixels on the 5D2 (which not many people complained about)
Dislike 1. Autofocus (AF) System
Hello? Canon? Is anyone home? For some insane reason, Canon decided to retain the AF hardware of the old 5D. Software may be improved, so it could be better than the old 5D system, but the hardware has not changed so no one is expecting any great improvement. The old 5D's Cross Type Centre AF point is decent, but the outer points are unusable. This was one of the biggest complaints about the 5D so you can imagine the anger elicited when one of Canon's top executives proclaimed: "...the market's evaluation of the 5D's AF system has been very positive; there have been no complaints from users, with everyone saying it's very good. Given that, to a certain extent, we think we shouldn't change it." Source: DPReview.com
Um...no.
The executive goes one to make a more sensible argument about the size constraints in the 5D series compact body, but many users point out that D700 and 40D/50D are able to fit in far superior AF system hardware.
Another problem with the 5D series AF hardware is the fact that the outer points are so close to the centre point that the outer points are pretty much still in the centre anyway, making their uselessness not as large an issue. Note that last phrase in the previous sentence was supposed to be in a tone saturated with sarcasm...
Canon should have increased the spread of the AF points within the frame, so that a wider area is covered, and they should have made the outer AF points Cross Type. Adding in more AF points wouldn't hurt either.
Dislike 2. No Dual Memory Card Slots
Given how ubiquitous the 5D is amongst Wedding Photographers and other professionals, dual memory cards would be a godsend for backup purposes and data security. To be fair, Nikon's D700 (competitor to the 5D) doesn't have two card slots either, and there is hardly any space in the 5D2 compact body to begin with so this could have been a physical constraint rather than Canon choosing to spite us, but even a tiny backup SD card slot would have been a godsend for almost every wedding photographer out there. CF Card Failures are extremely rare but do happen, and a second card slot would have been awesome for safety. We Photographers will unfortunately just have to use other ways to mitigate risk.
It is disappointing that Canon chose to upgrade features that noone really asked for, but neglected to upgrade features that everyone was crying out for. Who knows why. Some people speculate that perhaps the marketing department (I think this overstates the influence of Marketing departments in companies though), whilst others speculate the AF and Dual Cards omission is to separate the 5D2 from the higher end 1 series cameras (Canon EOS 1D Mark III and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III). I think the second reason is a more likely explanation, but this doesn't make it any less disappointing. Nikon puts pro AF in its D700 camera (competitor to the Canon 5D series), but it's still selling plenty of D3's (competitor to the Canon 1D series).
All in all though, I'm excited to see what this Camera can bring. It shouldn't be too long now till the Message Boards are flooded with User Opinions and the Comprehensive Reviews from the Review sites start flooding in.
If only my Bank account is also able to follow suit...
The Canon 5D was/is legendary for its exceptional image quality, particularly its high ISO performance, its colour rendition, and the "3 dimensional look" (probably because its full frame sensor allows subjects to pop out more due to the lower depth of field inherent to files from a full frame camera versus a 1.6X ASP-C DSLR) that so many users allude to.
However, at the time of the 5D2's announcement, the 5D had become somewhat of a veteran in the DSLR arena. In DSLR terms, it was a Dinosaur as it was first announced and released back in 2005. It was still used because of its spectacular class (and arguably small format DSLR industry) leading Image Quality, but its features and functionality was very obsolete. In fact, the many cheaper, consumer model cameras were more advanced in the features and functionality department.
We all hope that the 5D2 is able to live up to the 5D name. First impressions are that it will, however, a lot of the samples floating around the internet seem to suffer from heavy Noise Reduction so it is hard to assess its Image Quality just yet. Canon indicates that this camera will have their best high ISO performance to date, but we all remember the infamous claims they made about the Canon EOS 50D being a stop better than the Canon EOS 40D (which was not true for RAW images at the pixel level, and arguable at the image level).
The 5D2 was first announced back in September, and has now started appearing on shelves in China. It has not yet been released in Australia or the United States or the U.K. yet, and the rest of the world outside of China is eagerly awaiting the camera. Word on the street is that JB HiFi is currently leading the price stakes by taking orders at $3800 AUD, which isn't bad given the low value of the AUD at the moment. Up until a few weeks ago, the 5D was selling at a clearance price of $2400 at some of the major stores, and whilst I was tempted to buy one I really wanted a Camera with AF Microadjust and decided to save up for the 5D2. UPDATE: As of the 28th, the limited 5D2 stock is available in Melbourne at JB HiFi (though only those who preordered can get them)
When will I get one? Well given my financial situation, I probably won't be able to afford one till it becomes obsolete :) I am fervently saving up my money to acquire one, however I will wait for the first user reports first before I purchase this camera. Recent Canon cameras have had a lot of teething problems (1D3 - AF; 50D - constant Err 99; 1Ds3 Viewfinder Alignment) so it's probably not worth being an early adopter, especially for the financially impaired (like myself)
A few weeks ago I went to the 5D2 launch at Michael's in Melbourne where I got to use the camera (but unfortunately could not keep any of the photos from it so I don't have any sample shots.) The Camera was very nice and slick to use, but I tell you what, I then picked up a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III to try, and this older camera (with crappier LCD screen and no video or other advanced features of the 5D2) which is twice the price of the Canon 5D2 was intoxicatingly special. I could never afford it though, so I try to keep it out of my mind :)
Here's some photos of the event. Canon Australia was kind enough to bring the only two 5D2's in the country at the time, as well as some CPS (Canon Professional Services) Loaner Lenses which I noted had been scratched and roughed up from use by Pros:
^I took this photo surreptiously with my 40D and EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
^The only two 5D2's in the country at the time
^That's the 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, which costs about as much as a small car
^And here's few more random shots
^ That's the 5D2 and EF 200mm f/2L IS USM (over $11,000 worth of gear in my hands right there). They aren't mine so don't try and rob me :) Photo credits: Daniel Yong
Assuming everything is ok, I really want to buy one though for several reasons:
1. AF Microadjust
This feature is the reason I didn't purchase a 5D when they were being cleared out by the camera stores at the ridiculously low price of $2400 or so (they sold for $4000 or so when they first came out). Taking my cameras and lenses for calibration has frustrated me to no end, not because of the service quality, but because of the time it takes. Canon Melbourne is constantly overworked, and as a photographer, I simply never seem to have the 2 or 3 weeks gap it takes to get a camera or lens calibrated. This feature will be a godsend for me. AF calibration is very important especially for the fast primes I use which really expose the inaccuracies of the Canon AF system. Yes all of Canon's recent cameras (except the Consumer models) can do this but read on...
2. HD Video
A lot of photography purists will scoff at the idea of Video in a DSLR, with comments such as "It's a camera not a video camera". Well, sometimes I want Video, and the 5DII offers 1080p full HD video recording. Yes, there is a FAT32 file size limitation of 4GB. Yes, the audio quality likely sucks without an external mic (which can be attached). Yes, you would likely need thousands in dollars of stabilisation equipment and lighting equipment to get the best out of it. I still want it :)
Just watch Vincent LaForet's video to see what this camera is capable of: http://www.vincentlaforet.com/
Let's not delude ourselves, you can't just pick up a 5D2 and do what Vincent LaForet has done. LaForet is an extremely able and experienced photographer (Joint Pulitzer Prize Winner), and has very expensive gear, but this does show you the potential of the 5DII, even if we aren't able to extract that potential ourselves.
and most importantly...
3. 21.1 Megapixels Full Frame Sensor
Ok 21.1 Megapixels is a bit overkill most of the times, only because the file sizes are crazy huge and will take up a lot of hard drive space. I never delete ANY of my photos, and keep multiple backups, so this is especially problematic for me. But I can always lower the resolution when its not needed. Many users will complain about how dense the sensor is and how this is likely to be a detriment to Image Quality due to the increased noise that will likely be evident at the pixel level, but we'll have to wait and see on this one as conclusive tests have not been done yet. Many "special" early users have reported that it is very clean at high ISOs but all samples posted seem to suffer from excessive Noise Reduction which makes the images seem "watercolour" like, so no concrete conclusions can be drawn yet.
Most importantly though, beyond the megapixels, is the Full Frame Sensor. I have a lot of fast prime lenses (EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM) which are crying out for a Full Frame Sensor to extract their maximum potential.
What don't I like about it? Canon has copped a lot of criticism from not just myself but many others for their choice of upgrades. They were happy to upgrade the resolution of the 5D from 12.8 megapixels to 21.1 megapixels on the 5D2 (which not many people complained about)
Dislike 1. Autofocus (AF) System
Hello? Canon? Is anyone home? For some insane reason, Canon decided to retain the AF hardware of the old 5D. Software may be improved, so it could be better than the old 5D system, but the hardware has not changed so no one is expecting any great improvement. The old 5D's Cross Type Centre AF point is decent, but the outer points are unusable. This was one of the biggest complaints about the 5D so you can imagine the anger elicited when one of Canon's top executives proclaimed: "...the market's evaluation of the 5D's AF system has been very positive; there have been no complaints from users, with everyone saying it's very good. Given that, to a certain extent, we think we shouldn't change it." Source: DPReview.com
Um...no.
The executive goes one to make a more sensible argument about the size constraints in the 5D series compact body, but many users point out that D700 and 40D/50D are able to fit in far superior AF system hardware.
Another problem with the 5D series AF hardware is the fact that the outer points are so close to the centre point that the outer points are pretty much still in the centre anyway, making their uselessness not as large an issue. Note that last phrase in the previous sentence was supposed to be in a tone saturated with sarcasm...
Canon should have increased the spread of the AF points within the frame, so that a wider area is covered, and they should have made the outer AF points Cross Type. Adding in more AF points wouldn't hurt either.
Dislike 2. No Dual Memory Card Slots
Given how ubiquitous the 5D is amongst Wedding Photographers and other professionals, dual memory cards would be a godsend for backup purposes and data security. To be fair, Nikon's D700 (competitor to the 5D) doesn't have two card slots either, and there is hardly any space in the 5D2 compact body to begin with so this could have been a physical constraint rather than Canon choosing to spite us, but even a tiny backup SD card slot would have been a godsend for almost every wedding photographer out there. CF Card Failures are extremely rare but do happen, and a second card slot would have been awesome for safety. We Photographers will unfortunately just have to use other ways to mitigate risk.
It is disappointing that Canon chose to upgrade features that noone really asked for, but neglected to upgrade features that everyone was crying out for. Who knows why. Some people speculate that perhaps the marketing department (I think this overstates the influence of Marketing departments in companies though), whilst others speculate the AF and Dual Cards omission is to separate the 5D2 from the higher end 1 series cameras (Canon EOS 1D Mark III and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III). I think the second reason is a more likely explanation, but this doesn't make it any less disappointing. Nikon puts pro AF in its D700 camera (competitor to the Canon 5D series), but it's still selling plenty of D3's (competitor to the Canon 1D series).
All in all though, I'm excited to see what this Camera can bring. It shouldn't be too long now till the Message Boards are flooded with User Opinions and the Comprehensive Reviews from the Review sites start flooding in.
If only my Bank account is also able to follow suit...
Welcome to the Camera Gearhead
Hi everyone, welcome to the Camera Gearhead Blog
This is a site dedicated to Information and Reviews of Camera Gear and Camera Accessories, particularly Canon DSLR Cameras and Accessories.
My name is Dawei, I'm a novice Professional Photographer in my spare time, but during the day I study and teach accounting at the University of Melbourne, Australia. My area of specialisation is in the area of Event and Party Photography and I have also entered the Wedding Photography market. In addition to being a Photographer, I am a Camera Gear enthusiast (a Gearhead) and know more about gear than I do about Photography - which probably isn't a good thing!
Unfortunately the public at large is not very well informed about Camera Gear. I'm a shopaholic and love going into Camera Stores and looking around at the latest and greatest products and exotic items I could never afford, but on every trip I observe customers buying the wrong products for them, getting poor information and advice from salespersons, and just simply not getting their money's worth. I hope that this site can go some way to rectify some of the misinformation that's out there at the moment and help consumers make a more educated and informed choice.
An archive of all Reviews (content is identical, but arranged differently) will also be kept at this link (in addition to the Blog Archive) for easy access:
http://dawei.zenfolio.com/f1035989094
It is also important to note that one should not just rely on a single site to gather information about a certain product. My opinions on this site are just that - opinions. Additionally my sample of products may not be a representative sample as quality control is sometimes an issue. I do my best to ensure my products are within specifications, however it is important to note sample variation is sometimes an issue. Multiple reviews on any particular item should be attained.
My favourite camera and lens review sites include:
1. The Digital Picture
http://the-digital-picture.com
2. DP Review
http://www.dpreview.com
3. Fred Miranda Reviews
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews
4. SLR Gear
http://www.slrgear.com
5. Photozone
http://www.photozone.de
Also check out the user reviews on shopping sites such as:
1. BH Photo & Video
http://www.bhphoto.com
2. Amazon
http://www.amazon.com
3. Adorama
http://www.adorama.com
I hope this site is of benefit to you just as those great sites have been of benefit to me in the past
Regards,
Dawei
This is a site dedicated to Information and Reviews of Camera Gear and Camera Accessories, particularly Canon DSLR Cameras and Accessories.
My name is Dawei, I'm a novice Professional Photographer in my spare time, but during the day I study and teach accounting at the University of Melbourne, Australia. My area of specialisation is in the area of Event and Party Photography and I have also entered the Wedding Photography market. In addition to being a Photographer, I am a Camera Gear enthusiast (a Gearhead) and know more about gear than I do about Photography - which probably isn't a good thing!
Unfortunately the public at large is not very well informed about Camera Gear. I'm a shopaholic and love going into Camera Stores and looking around at the latest and greatest products and exotic items I could never afford, but on every trip I observe customers buying the wrong products for them, getting poor information and advice from salespersons, and just simply not getting their money's worth. I hope that this site can go some way to rectify some of the misinformation that's out there at the moment and help consumers make a more educated and informed choice.
An archive of all Reviews (content is identical, but arranged differently) will also be kept at this link (in addition to the Blog Archive) for easy access:
http://dawei.zenfolio.com/f1035989094
It is also important to note that one should not just rely on a single site to gather information about a certain product. My opinions on this site are just that - opinions. Additionally my sample of products may not be a representative sample as quality control is sometimes an issue. I do my best to ensure my products are within specifications, however it is important to note sample variation is sometimes an issue. Multiple reviews on any particular item should be attained.
My favourite camera and lens review sites include:
1. The Digital Picture
http://the-digital-picture.com
2. DP Review
http://www.dpreview.com
3. Fred Miranda Reviews
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews
4. SLR Gear
http://www.slrgear.com
5. Photozone
http://www.photozone.de
Also check out the user reviews on shopping sites such as:
1. BH Photo & Video
http://www.bhphoto.com
2. Amazon
http://www.amazon.com
3. Adorama
http://www.adorama.com
I hope this site is of benefit to you just as those great sites have been of benefit to me in the past
Regards,
Dawei
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