July 29th, 2008 , No Comments »
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM is a wonderful macro lens that gives you a magnificationn ratio up to 1:1. It’s a wonderful lens for all types of macro work.
But sometimes you might want to have an even higher magnication ratio or a little more focal length for photographing shy insects. If you own a Canon EF 1.4x extender you might think about adding it to the lens to get more focal lenght or a higher magnification ratio.
Unfurtunately this won’t work as the lens does not work with the 1.4x extender. At least not without a little trick.
You have to add an extension tube like the Canon EF 25mm II between the extender and the lens. AF won’t work with that combination which is not a serious problem because with such a high magnification ratio, manuall focus is the better solution.
Here is a picture of that combination:
EOS 40D with EF 2.8100 Macro USM, 25mm extension tube and EF 1.4x extender
As you can see, it’s mounted on a focusing rail (from Novoflex). I highly recommend using a focusing rail with that combination as this allows for very precise focusing without the need to move the tripod.
The following three picutures give you a comparison of the highest magnificaton ratio with the lens alone, with the 25mm extension tube and with the 25mm extension tube and the 1.4x extender.
EOS 40D, EF 2.8100 Macro USM
EOS 40D, EF 2.8100 Macro USM, 25mm extension tube
EOS 40D, EF 2.8100 Macro USM, 25mm extension tube, 1.4x extender
As you can see, adding the 1.4x extender and the extension tube gives you a much higher magnificaton ratio than the EF 2.8/100 Macro alone. If you are shooting a lot of macro and want to go beyond 1:1, this is a very interesting combination.
Keep in mind that with the extender and the extension tube, the lens won’t focus to infinity. That combination is only useful for closeups.
If you want even more, I recommend the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo lens, which is a lens designed only for macro work. It gives you a magnification ration between 1:1 and 5:1.
If you have the EF 3.5/180L Macro, you don’t need an extension tube to use the 1.4x extender, as that lens will work just fine with the 1.4x extender. Of course, adding an extension tube will increase the highest possible magnifcation ratio.
July 28th, 2008 , No Comments »
When you buy a new DSLR today, the changes are high that the offer comes with a kit lens. This seems like a great
bargain to get a great camera with lens for an affordable price.
Unfortunately many of the kit lenses are not the best lenses out there. They are not really bad but the high
resolutions of modern DSLRs (for example the Canon EOS 450D has over 12 megapixels) demand high quality lenses to get the best results the sensor can produce.
Good lenses are often more expensive than the kit lenses. For example the kit lens for the EOS 450D, the EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS is not as good a lens as the Canon EF 4/17-40L. The 17-40L is sharper and more robust.
If you want the best image quality, you have to buy the best lenses.
Unfurtunately that means that you will have to pay a higher price.
It’s better to get a cheaper camera and a good lens than a more expensive camera and a bad lens.
For example, if you are shooting Nikon it might be better to get a D700 with a Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED than the more expensive D3 with a Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S.
What should you do?
It depends on your budget. But I suggest to spend some money on good lenses. If you are thinking about buying the EOS 450D (Rebel XSi), and you can afford it, I suggest you get the EF 4/17-40L instead of the kit lens. Combine this with the 4/70-200L IS instead of the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS and you have a wonderful combination that will get you much sharper and better results.
The best solution would be to get the best camera with the best lens. If that is not possible I suggest you get the best lens with a cheaper camera. This is much better than getting the best camera with just mediocre lenses.
July 25th, 2008 , No Comments »
Tokina has announced two new lenses:
- Tokina ATX 11-16mm F2.8 PRO DX
- Tokina ATX 35mm F2.8 Macro PRO DX
Both are available for Canon and Nikon and designed for APS-C sized sensors like the EOS 40D, EOS 450D, Nikon D300 or Nikon D80. They are not suitable for full frame cameras like the EOS 5D, EOS 1Ds Mark III, Nikon D3 and Nikon D700.
The wide-angle zoom is for those who want a really wide zoom lens on a camera with a 1.5 (Nikon) or 1.6 (Canon) crop factor. The large and constant aperture of 2.8 of the 11-16mm might be of interest to people often shooting in low light.
There are now many super wide angle lenses availabe, either from Canon and Nikon themselves or from third party manufacturars like Sigma, Tamron and Tokina. I suggest to go to a camera store and put differenct lenses on your camera and then compare the results and get the lens you like most.
The macro lens is similar to a 55mm macro lens on a full frame camera and might be useful for flowers and macro photography in the studio. If you are shooting insects or other small and shy animals, I suggest to get a longer macro lens with 100 or 180 (200 with Nikon) mm focal length.
July 22nd, 2008 , No Comments »
Yesterday I wrote about my Nikon wish list. Today I want to write about what I think is missing from the current Canon product portfolio. Some is the same as in my Nikon wish list, like a 4/200-500 zoom lens, but others are unique to Canon.
Recently Nikon has launched some great cameras and Canon is under a lot of pressure now. In about two months, by the end of September, Photokina - the world’s largest exhibition about photography - will open it’s doors. Many expect Canon to introduce one or more new cameras and maybe a few new lenses. Here is what I would like to see.
Successor to the EOS 5D
A successor to Canon’s very successful EOS 5D has been expected for over a year now. In the meantime, Nikon launched the very interesting D700.
I am sure we will see a 5D successor at Photokina 2008. The question is what Canon will put into this model. Just adding a larger sensor (like 16 MP) and some small improvements like sensor cleaning won’t do it to have a real winner over the D700, although the latter does only have 12 MP and the new Canon will probably have several more.
But the D700 is a fully professional camera in a professional body. So the 5D successor should have some or all of the following features to be a real winner:
- about 16 MP
- full weather sealing
- much better AF with the capability to work up to f8
- at least 5 frames per second, up to 7 with battery grip
Those features would make the new camera a true innovation and not just a small upgrade. It will be interesting to see what Canon will have to offer in about two months.
Professional body with 1.6 crop factor
Canon’s EOS 40D is a great camera, but I think there is room for a more professional model with a crop factor of 1.6. I would love to see the following features in such a camera:
- 12 - 14 MP
- 8 frames per second
- full weather sealing
- AF of the 1D Mark III (or an even better system without the problems of the 1D Mark III)
- AF up to at least f8, better f11
Having AF up to at least f8 would be great for using a 4/500 + 2x extender with the camera. The AF will be a bit slower than with just a 1.4x, of course. But this will still be better than focusing manually with a 2x extender under most circumstances.
A camera with the above mentioned features would it put into the same league as the Nikon D300, or even a little above it. It would be a great tool, especially for wildlife and bird photographers. Canon has always been reluctant to introduce a powerful model below it’s EOS 1D cameras. But now that Nikon seems not be afraid to do this (the D700 will cut sales of the D3), maybe Canon will follow.
5.6/400L IS
Canon has a great 5.6/400L, but still not with IS. The IS version is overdue.
4/200-400L IS
Nikon’s 4/200-400 VR is one their most popular lenses. It’s very sharp and has fast AF. On a 1.5 crop body like the D300 it’s like a 4/300-600 VR which is perfect for birds and other wildlife.
But, although the Nikon lens has been out for many years and many Canon photographers have repeatedly said that they really want such a lens, Canon still does not offer one. I hope this will change for Photokina 2008.
4/200-500L IS
Same as with Nikon. Such a lens is really needed for all sports and nature photographers.
5.6/600L IS
Same as with Nikon. Would be great for those who can’t (or don’t) want to afford a 4/600L IS. Would also be much lighter. A 5.6/600 would make a great lens for wildlife and bird photography, even for birds in flight.
5.6/200-600L IS
Many years ago, Canon had a 5.6/150-600 (without AF) and it was very popular. A 5.6/200-600L IS would be a great lens for wildlife and sports photography.
This is just what I think Canon should add to their product portfolio to make nature and sports photographers happy. The next several years will be an interesting race between Canon and Nikon and in the end, the photographers will win, as they get better and better tools.
July 21st, 2008 , No Comments »
At the moment, I use Canon equipment and I am happy with it, but competition is always good and the better Nikon gets, the better Canon will get.
During the last two years, Nikon has really caught up to Canon. The introduction of the super telephoto lenses with VR and especially the amazing D300 and D3 and recently the D700 have put a lot of pressure on Canon. Nikon also has the wonderful 4/200-400 VR for which there is still no equivalent from Canon.
But to be fully ahead of Canon, Nikon is still missing some cameras and lenses. What follows is my suggestions of what I think would be a great addition to the Nikon product portfolio:
D3X
This is probably the item on the wish list that will be added in the very near future to the Nikon camera family. Most rumors on the web expect the D3X (or whatever it will be called) to have a 24 MP full frame sensor in a body that is similar to the D3. That camera would help Nikon not only close the gap to Canon’s 1Ds Mark III, but even get the lead in the megapixel race (maybe together with Sony, who are also supposed to introduce a 24 MP sensor, maybe the same as will be used in the D3X).
D3H
With the D700, Nikon has put the D3’s full frame sensor in a D300 body. Maybe it would also be great to put the D300 sensor in a D3 body. With the D300’s sensor and 10 frames per seconds and a (even) faster AF than the D300 (due to more powerful CPUs), such a camera might be the ultimate camera for sport and bird shooters.
f4 versions of some of its f2.8 lenses
Nikon has a wonderful 2.8/14-24 and another wonderful 2.8/24-70 which where introduced with the D3. Nikon also has a 2.8/70-200 which is considered to be a great lens. It seems to have some problems with the full frame sensor of the D3, though.
The problem with those lenses is, that they are very heavy, especially if you have to carry them over long distances (like when photographing in the mountains). A f4 version of those lenses would be very welcome. Either with the same zoom range, or maybe something different like a 4/16-50 and 4/50-200 VR (that would be a killer combination).
Canon offers an 4/17-40, 4/24-105 IS and 4/70-200 (two versions, one with and the other without IS). Those are great lenses and compared to the 2.8 versions much lighter (and cheaper!).
Currently, Nikon does not offer those f4 lenses in professional quality like the 2.8 lenses mentioned above.
To be fair, Nikon has a 3.5-4.5/18-35mm which is not bad, but a new f4 version designed for use with the full frame sensors would still be great.
4/300 VR
Nikon’s 4/300 still does not have VR. A new version with VR is really overdue. An interesting alternative would be a 4/100-300 VR, which would be a real advantage over Canon’s 4/300 IS prime lens.
5.6/400 VR
Canon has a wonderfully sharp and light 5.6/400 (although still not with IS). Nikon should add such a lens to its portfolio, too. That would make a great (and affordable) lens for sport and nature photographers, especially for birds in flight.
5.6/600 VR
That doesn’t exist from Canon, either. But it would be a great alternative for people who want a long telephoto lens, but cannot afford a 4/600. A 5.6/600 would also be much lighter.
4/200-500 VR
Another lens, that does not exist in the product family of any manufacturer. Sigma has a 2.8/200-500, but that is nonsense for most photographers as you would need a mule to carry it and an elephant to lift it.
A 4/200-500 VR would be the nature and sports photographers dream and that lens alone would make many people move from Canon to Nikon (or from Nikon to Canon if Canon comes out with one first).
Nikon builds a wonderful 4/200-400 VR, so they should be able to build a 4/200-500 VR.
5.6/200-600 VR
An alternative to a 4/200-500 VR which would probably be lighter and cheaper.
5.6/300-800 VR
More an exotic beast, that one would still be very helpful for some nature and sport photographers, at least when you don’t have to carry it over long distances. Sigma has a very popular and sharp 5.6/300-800 but it lacks VR (IS) and does not have the fastest AF motor (although it’s not bad, either).
This was my Nikon wish list. Tomorrow I will post my Canon wish list. What are your thought’s? What do you want to see Nikon adding to there product family in the near future?
July 19th, 2008 , No Comments »
I love my Canon EF 4/500L IS. It is a great lens, very sharp even wide open. IS works great and the AF speed of the lens is amazing. But sometimes when I frame a bird or another subject I am a little too close and it would be great to have 450mm. Or sometimes the birds is a little to small for 500mm but when I add a 1.4x extender it is too big in the frame. Of course I can always crop the shot taken with 500mm but then I will always loose some data and pixels. Sometimes you can get around this problem by slightly moving towards the subject or away from it, but that is often not possible (for example when you are in a hide).
What we really need is a telephoto zoom lens. Nikon offers an amazing 4/200-400 VR which is very sharp and immensely popular among Nikon shooters. I don’t understand why Canon still doesn’t offer such a lens.
The problem with 200-400mm is, that for many animals 400mm is just not long enough. Sigma offers a 5.6/300-800. The range of the focal length is perfect for wildlife and birds. The problem is that this lens is very long and heavy (it is also knows as the “Sigmonster”). Also, it does not have image stabilization.
What we need is a Canon or Nikon 4/200-500 with image stabilization and a closest focusing distance of about 2.5m at 500mm (great for small birds and large insects). If that lens would have a bigger weight than the current 4/500 lenses from Canon and Nikon, I am sure it would be a big seller. Almost every nature photographer who could afford it, would probably buy it. And probably also most sport shooters and any other photographer who needs or wants a long lens.
So far, nothing is in sight. Nikon recently announced new versions of their 2.8/400, 4/500 and 4/600 with VR (finally) so I doubt that they will come up with a zoom in the near future. Canon announced a 5.6/800 IS so maybe there is room for a 4/200-500.
Sigma some time ago announced a 2.8/200-500. But that is nonsense as that lens is way too heavy for practical use. I wonder why they built it. If they had offered a 4/200-500 with image stabilization and fast AF, they would have had a real winner.
So for now, all we can do is to wait and see if sometimes in the future Canon or Nikon (or someone else) will offer a 4/200-500. Next time you see a Canon or Nikon representative ask them for such a lens. If enough photographers keep asking them, maybe someday they will wake up.
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