Category: Reviews

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Photo Samples Reviews

Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM full size samples

We recently wrote about the new Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM and we were fortunate enough to come across a fellow Filipino photographer who managed to shoot with the lens just recently. Since our readers have requested for full size crops or samples of the images, Randy Tamayo sent us original files of two of the photos we featured in our earlier post. Click on the thumbnails for the full size image:

Sample #1 [Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM]

Sample #3 [Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM]

Once you’ve viewed the images, please save them to your computer to inspect further. Help me conserve my bandwidth! :)

Like my previous comments, I think the Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM is a very good lens and would perfectly fit the needs of professionals looking for a good 50mm for the EOS mount. Price would be a factor, though there aren’t really other alternatives for this focal length. Besides, pro shooters can easily justify acquiring this lens since their jobs will be paying for it anyway. Hopefully, we can now buy cheap pre–owned 50mm f/1.4 from other users. ;)

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Links News Reviews Tips

Canon EOS 400D Reviewed @ pipho

Canon EOS 400D Reviewed at pinoyphotography.org

Remember the first few photo samples and initial impressions we posted a few weeks ago on the Canon EOS 400D/XTi? Regie Fernando now has his complete review of the new Canon body on the pipho forums. It was actually published several days ago, and it seems several enthusiasts are now shooting with this camera.

If you’re a fellow Filipino shooter lurking in the pipho forums, you might want to take advantage of this wonderful offer provided by Henry’s Camera: Canon EOS 400D for 46,000 pesos, with a two–year warranty, an extra battery, and several other freebies. This is a good deal and seems a bit cheaper compared to other Hidalgo shops. Some are reportedly selling the 400D body only, for 42,500 pesos — a very tempting deal. Once prices drop below the 40k range, the temptation would be too hard for me to resist. ;)

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Lenses Links Photo Samples Reviews

User Review: Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM

Red Lady

Peter Franzén is a regular reader of this weblog who discovered it by chance as he was searching for details regarding Canon’s EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM. He is in Sweden with his website at qps.se. After shooting with the crappy 18-55mm kit lens, he upgraded to the new EF-S favorite and uses it regularly for his automative shoots.

Red Lady

He wrote us an email to strongly recommend the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM and help potential buyers make a solid decision. The photo shown below is a good demonstration of the lens’s image stabilization advantage, with the photo taken handheld at a shutter speed around 1/20 at ISO 200.

C70

Posted below is another one of the cars he shoots regularly and I can’t help but drool at the wealth of photo oppotunities he gets with these wonderful machines.

Ford Mustang

Lastly, here’s a comparison of the Canon 18-55mm kit lens against the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM:

Canon 18-55 compared to Canon 17-55

Same as before, I think this lens is an excellent performer though priced steeply. At the same price, you can get the workhorse 24-70 f/2.8L though without IS. If you have the money, I have no reservations recommending this lens if you’re an EF-S shooter intending to stay in the 1.6x APS-C format. If you’re going full–frame soon, you might want to pass on this one for now.

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Links News Photo Samples Reviews

Canon EOS 400D Hands On

Canon EOS 400D

As Canon’s update to its entry level digital SLR slowly makes its way to the worldwide market, we now see a surge of opinions and reviews on the new camera. The Canon EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi is still very much like the previous models, though packs a few surprises and still keeps photography enthusiasts very excited.

Just as we have posted links to sample photos from this camera, the camera is now officially here in the Philippines and sent for review to media people as well as prominent Canon users. One lucky guy is pinoyphotography.org’s Regie Fernando who has just posted sample photos and his initial insights on the camera in this thread and on his weblog.

The sample photos appear to be very inspiring, though it is worth noting that he used the Canon 17-40 f/4L USM and not the included kit lens. We (yes, including me!) are eagerly waiting for his in–depth review to know if the 400D is really worth the money, as I might just get one as soon as prices stabilize.

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Links News Reviews

HardwareZone Review: Nikon D80

HardwareZone scoops all photography sites by posting the first online review of the recently announced Nikon D80. DPReview.com has a preview of Nikon’s latest DSLR, but contains no sample images. In contrast, HWC’s review has complete details, though their review format/methodology is catered towards prosumers, not typical DSLR shooters or advanced amateurs.

For in–depth technical details on the Nikon D80, go with DPReview.com’s preview of the Nikon body, but get your review fix from HWC’s review. Expectedly, since the new Nikon D80 is almost a Nikon D200, their conclusion is right on the spot.

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Lenses Photo Samples Reviews

Weddings with a Sigma 17-70

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I’ve been talking a lot about the Sigma 17-70 since day one on this blog, praising its abilities especially for such a relatively cheap walkaround lens. But can this thing be used for specialized situations? Below are some sample photos from a wedding I covered entirely with this lens, from start to finish! Certainly, the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro is one capable piece of glass.

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Lenses Links Photo Samples Reviews

Photozone on the Canon EF-S 17-55

Photozone has finally released their review of the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM. Their one of the very first to provide a technical review of Canon’s latest gem, in fact the first true review of the lens I’ve seen on the web.

It seems that most negative speculations about the lens were false, as Photozone has found the lens excellent in image quality, especially among APS-C lenses. Vignetting is one of this lens weaknesses, and the expected 1100 USD selling price raises questions about its build and other monetary considerations. Still, if I had that amount of money to spend on a lens, I’d definitely get this.

Categories
Lenses Reviews

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

The newly announced Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro provides a relatively fast yet cheap walkaround lens that can take a spot in the amateur DSLR shooter’s arsenal. Translating to approximately 28-105mm for APS-C DSLRs, this lens also boasts strong macro shooting capabilities, with a maximum magnification of 1:2.3 that’s uncommon for zoom lenses.

Here are two links detailing the lens’s performance compared to two good lenses: against the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC and against the Canon 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM.

I know I want this one!