dSLR Dad

Photozone has published their review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G dSLR lens:

Normal primes have a long standing reputation of high quality for an affordable price and the Nikkor AF-S 50 makes no exception in this regard. The lens is able to deliver ver sharp images, at least slightly stopped down.
However it’s not without flaws. Wide open, it lacks a bit sharpness and most of all contrast, vignetting is very high wide open, but that is to be expected on a full frame camera with a moderately priced fast prime. The bokeh is smooth from f/2 to f/2.8 onwards, but a bit nervous wide open, where the lens also shows considerable amount of LoCAs

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I just received my Joby Gorillapod Focus in the mail today.  All I can say is that I think I have found my new travel tripod.  Most of you have probably already seen Gorillapods in the stores, the Focus is a whole different animal:

1. All of the socket joints are made out of anodized aluminum. They are made out of aluminum because:
2. This little unit can hold up to maximum of Eleven pounds (7kg)!
3. It is large for a Gorillapod at 11.4 by 3.6-inches (289 x 92mm), but the Focus is still extremely compact for my intended use as a travel tripod. The weight is still a respectable 1.1-pounds (500g).
4. Like any Gorillapod, it’s legs can bend to and contort into any position. Since each little socket has a rubber ring around it, you can even wrap it around a fencepost. Again, it will still hold 11-pounds!
5. Since it has some decent size to it, those dSLR Dads whole can also shoot video can use this as a steadycam rig.  Just angle out two feet in front of you and hold on the third like a hand grip.
6. You can mount to both a standard 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch mount, via the included adapter screw. That means that you can even attach your nice Kirk or Really Right Stuff Ballhead to it, which is what I plan to do. Heck I may just wrap this around the top of my regular tripod if I need to.
7. The street price is $99.95.

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Popular Photography Magazine has published their review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G dSLR lens:

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Imaging Insider has completed their review of the smc PENTAX DA Star 55mm F1.4 SDM Prime Lens:

There isn’t much to add that we haven’t already covered: excellent results for sharpness, great resistance to CA, little to no corner shading or distortion. Quick and silent autofocus; rounded aperture blades; and to top it all off, a great lens hood that you probably won’t even need given the lens’ shrouded design. Pentax has produced a fantastic lens with the 55mm ƒ/1.4 DA*, however the only sticking point could be its high price point: at over $700, it’s one of the most expensive 50mm-style lenses of any manufacturer. Based on our test results however, you definitely get your money’s worth.

You can read the entire review over at SLR Gear.com.

Photozone has published their review of the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens. They have reviewed 24-105mm f/4L lens before on an APS-C sensor.  Now they have taken a look through the viewfinder of a full-frame Canon EOS 5D Mark II:

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS is surely one of the better standard zoom lenses for full format EOS DSLRs but it’s not perfect within this scope nonetheless. The resolution figures are generally very decent except for a pronounced border softness at 70mm @ f/4. Neither distortions nor vignetting are something to rave about at 24mm although these are no real issue at other focal lengths. Lateral CAs can be visible at times but the problem is generally well controlled (relative to other lenses in its class). The quality of the bokeh (@ 105mm) is very usable – within the limits of a lens with a moderate max. aperture. As to be expected from a modern Canon L lens the construction quality is up to pro standards. The AF is exceptionally fast, accurate near silent. The image stabilizer works well within its specifications although some may miss a panning mode which is implemented in Canon’s IS L tele lenses. The EF 24-105mm is a pricey lens but also a substantial one.

You can read the entire review over at Photozone.

Imaging Resource has published their review of the Sony SAL-1118 DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Super Wide-Angle Zoom Lens:

The Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is respectably sharp in the central region of the frame, even when used wide open, but its design produces corner softness and barrel distortion. Chromatic aberration is quite high, even for a wide-angle lens, and its lack of a modern autofocus motor makes it somewhat slow to focus, and noisy.

It’s hard to recommend the Sony 11-18mm with the newer, better-performing and less expensive Sigma 10-20mm ƒ/4-5.6 lens hovering on the sidelines. As well, Tamron’s own 11-18mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 exists as another budget alternative, not to mention the older Konica-Minolta version; there are plenty of ways to get the performance this lens offers, without spending top dollar. But for the brand-loyal, the 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 offers pleasing wide-angle performance.

You read the complete review at SLR Gear.com.

Imaging Resource has published their review of the Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Macro AF Lens:

As the Tamron 18-270mm and the ”name-brand” competition are all floating around the same price point, the decision of whether to buy this lens or a Nikon / Canon equivalent comes down to how badly you need the extra 70mm of distance. Image quality is fairly consistent between these lenses, with perhaps a nod towards the Tamron, but autofocus speed and quality is better with the competition. For what it’s trying to be though, the Tamron produces good results, an excellent alternative to carting around several lenses.

You can read the entire review at SLR Gear.

Imaging Resource has published their review of the Sony SAL-100M28 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens:

When mounted on the A700, the Sony 100mm ƒ/2.8 macro provided excellent results almost across the board; the only possible objection would be that it wasn’t tack-sharp at ƒ/2.8, but at 1.5 blur units, to ask for more would be very demanding. The 24-megapixel sensor of the A900 taxes the optics of the 100mm macro quite heavily, requiring some level of stopping-down to get the best results (our optimum setting being at least ƒ/5.6, if not ƒ/8 for the absolute sharpest).

Otherwise, distortion is non-existent, chromatic aberration is well handled, and there is virtually no light falloff. Focus handling options are very good, making the lens an excellent platform for macro work.

You can read the entire review at SLR Gear.

Imaging Resource has published their review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens:

Released in 2008, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S is a significant update to the existing Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AF-D, adding weather sealing, rounded diaphragm blades and AF-S focusing (and thus, compatibility to consumer-level Nikon dSLRs). We’ve finished our tests on the lens; for Nikon shooters, will it be time for an upgrade?

You can read the entire review at SLR Gear. As always, you can find more reviews at the dSLR Dad Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens Resource Guide

Nikon Inc. has released their first fixed focal length, fast-aperture DX-format lens for dSLR Dads, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens.  This is the first normal focal length fast-aperture prime lens for an APS-sized sensor since the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens. However, while the Sigma sells for around US$425, the DX 35mm f/1.8G lens is only $199.95.   The benefits of this lens are:

• Fast f/1.8 aperture – allows you to shoot in low-light without a flash and achieve a very short depth-of-field which is great for portraits.
• Rounded 7-blade diaphragm – the rounded aperture blades will help out-of-focus image elements have a more natural appearance.  Straight blades can tend to make objects that are out-of-focus have sharp edges.
• 35mm DX format – will give you the traditional “classic” normal focal-length on an APS-sized digital SLR.  Very good for group candid’s and portraits from a  close distance. Of course, this lens is not full-frame, so you wouldn’t want to use it on an FX camera.
• Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) – gives you the fast, accurate auto-focusing, even on a D40 or D60.
• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) – What Nikon claims will enhance light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
• Minimum focus distance of just 1-foot will allow you to still keep your “subject” in focus as they run right up to the camera to say hi.

You can find the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens at both Amazon.com and B&H Photo.

Resources

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens Product Page (Nikon USA)

Download the NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens Brochure (pdf link, Nikon USA)

Nikon USA Tech Support page

Reviews

Photozone - Test Report

The Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G is able to deliver very sharp pictures wide open already. The bokeh, one of the primary aspects for a fast prime, is well developed and generally pleasing (at least slightly stopped down). There are some drawbacks, though, especially rather high distortions and CAs, both lateral and longitudinal. And although it’s sonic wave driven, the AF is not really a speed demon.

Nonetheless, given its affordable price, the lens performs on a very high level and is a welcome addition the limited range of lenses that can be used as normal primes on DX cameras.