dSLR Dad

Photozone has released another in-depth lens test. This time, they are focusing closely on Sony’s Macro Alpha Lens, the 100mm f/2.8 Macro (available now at Amazon and B&H Photo).

The Sony 100mm f/2.8 macro is able to produce very sharp results combined with a negligible amount of distortions, vignetting and lateral CAs. However, longitudinal (axial) chromatic aberrations can be quite a problem in out-focus areas (f/2.8-f/5.6) resulting in a magenta to greenish tint in some situations - this is not unusual but unfortunate nonetheless. The build quality of the lens is fine although it doesn’t win any crown when looking towards the competition a la Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR or the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro. Same goes for the AF speed which does still rely on the slotted drive screw rather than Sony’s faster SSM (ultrasonic AF drive). The biggest problem of the Sony 100mm f/2.8 macro is probably its price tag - at around 600US$ it is substantially more expensive than the third-party alternatives without offering much if anything on top.

Regarding the third party alternatives referenced above. For around $200 less, a Sony dSLR Dad looking for value should check out the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens. You can read the entire review over at Photozone here.

Popularity: 13% [?]

I’ve begrudgingly kept my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens, mainly because the actual lens assembly pops-out of the housing from time-to-time so I can’t sell it. At $80 it is a great value, but it’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer (until f/2.8). I was looking at the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens (available at Amazon and B&H Photo), but it seems somewhat soft at the corners, even on a digital body. It also doesn’t have the same high quality feel as Canon’s excellent EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens (which I loved, available at Amazon and B&H Photo).

Well, leave it to Sigma to announce a quality, large aperture alternative, the new 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM standard lens. It will be offered in Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax^*, Sony^* lens mounts. The * means if your Pentax or Sony camera body does not support HSM, auto focus will not be available. With any luck, this 50mm f/1.4 will be match the quality of their fantastic Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens. Hopefully, Sigma will release this at a street price under $300.

Excerpts from the Sigma Press Release (2008-3-18):

• Standard lens with large maximum aperture of F1.4.
• It creates sharp images with high contrast and ensures superior peripheral brightness.
• Incorporates molded glass aspherical lens, perfectly correcting coma aberration and creating superior image quality.
• Super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting.
• Hyper Sonic Motor HSM ensuring silent, high-speed AF. (more…)
  

  Popularity: 19% [?]

  Tags: Camera Lens, Canon lens, Nikon lens, Pentax Lens, Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens, sigma lens, Sony lens

If the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX was called the “Big-ma”, is this the “Tank-ma”

It’s big. Over Twenty-Eight inches long by nine inches in diameter big! It’s the only lens that could make an attached Canon EOS 1D Mark III or Nikon D3 look small.

It’s heavy. Thirty-four and a half pounds heavy! Let’s put that in perspective. It’s heavier than Three of Canon’s EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Super Telephoto Lenses.

It’s long at 200-500mm (500-1000mm with the included 2X f5.6 “attachment”) and it keeps a monster f/2.8 aperture all the way to 500mm. But I wouldn’t call it fast. How fast can an f/2.8 lens be when it has to turn glass that’s nine inches in diameter? Oh wait, that’s right, it has it’s own battery to power the zooming and AutoFocus operations.

It has an it’s own built-in LCD panel to display focusing distances and focal lengths. Why? Because it’s so huge you can’t see around it to tell how far away that Grizzly bear really is. But with a minimum focus distance of up to 196.9 inches, I guess you’ll know when to play dead.

It’s painted military green and comes with it’s own dedicated hard case for travel. Good luck getting that past the TSA on your next flight to Washington, D.C..

Price? Do you really have to ask?  At under $25,000, you could always choose a Honda Civic as your new rolling camera case.

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Popularity: 100% [?]