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Canon EOS M50: What you need to know

28 Feb

Canon ESO M50: What you need to know

The Canon EOS M50 is the brand’s beefier entry-level mirrorless camera, slated above the comparatively compact EOS M100. Both sport APS-C sensors and single control dials, but the M50 provides a 2.36M-dot EVF, hotshoe and more substantial grip (similar to the EOS M5). An articulating touchscreen adorns the back and Canon’s stellar Dual Pixel autofocus is available when shooting stills and video (in most settings… more on that later).

We’ve had time to develop some first impressions of the camera. What follows is a distillation of the keys takeaways – everything you need to know about the Canon EOS M50.

Same 24MP APS-C sensor, new Digic 8 processor

It uses the same 24MP sensor as many of its siblings including fellow M-mount cameras like the M5, M6 and M100 as well as SLRs like the EOS 80D. But it makes use of the new Digic 8 processor, giving it a few advantages over other Canon interchangeable lens cameras.

A faster burst speed is one of them: with autofocus the M50 can shoot at 7.4 fps (10 fps with focus locked). That’s a big jump from the M100’s 4 fps burst with autofocus, and even faster than the 80D’s 7 fps burst rate with AF. The one caveat is that the buffer is limited to about one second.

Another major advantage the new Digic 8 chip provides is the ability to shoot Ultra High Definition Video, making it the first Canon mirrorless camera to do so. But…

It shoots 4K but…

…don’t throw the confetti just yet, because the implementation of 4K leaves much to be desired, due to several limitations.

The most notable limitation is that you can’t use Canon’s excellent Dual Pixel autofocus when shooting 4K, which is a real shame. We love Dual Pixel AF for its ability to stick to a subject without hunting, even if the subject moves. With the M50, there’s still an option to use autofocus in 4K, but it’s Contrast Detect, so will need to ‘hunt’ and is more prone to some wobbles.

The other big limitation is a 1.6x crop when shooting UHD video – that’s on top of the sensor’s 1.6x APS-C crop. Thus, a 22mm F2 becomes the equivalent field of view to a 56mm lens. Hardly ideal.

But it’s not all caveats and bad news on the video front: the EOS M50 can shoot 1080/60p and 720/120p high frame rate capture with Dual Pixel AF. And there’s no pesky additional crop (unless you use digital stabilization).

New CR3 Raw format with a better compression setting

The M50 is the first Canon camera to offer the latest CR3 Raw format, another product of the new Digic 8 processor. Why introduce it in an entry-level camera? Because it includes a new and improved compression option that might appeal to users wishing to dip their toes in shooting Raw, but don’t want the large file sizes that come with it.

With the old CR2 Raw files, if you want to save memory card/hard-drive space, there is an option for downsized ‘small’ and ‘medium’ Raw files that are lower resolution than an ordinary CR2 file. With CR3 there is a new compression option called C Raw: a compressed, full-resolution Raw file that can be as small as half the size of a full CR3 file. And, if Canon has been sensible about it, it should offer effectively the same quality.

Increased Dual Pixel AF point coverage, Eye detect mode

There’s a couple of improvements in the autofocus department of the M50: there are now 99 selectable points to choose from, up from 49 on previous M cameras. Point coverage is still 80% x 80% when using most M-series lenses, users just now have more point precision.

That said, with some lenses – specifically the 18-150mm, 28mm macro and 55-200mm – that coverage jumps to 88% x 100% with 143 points selectable. Canon representatives gave us no concrete reason for why some, but not all, lenses offer expanded coverage. However, we’re hopeful any newly-introduced M-glass will offer the updated spread.

The M50 also introduces a new ‘Eye Detection’ AF option. We’re huge fans of Sony’s Eye AF feature, with its impressive ability to track the eye of a moving subject. Sadly, Canon’s implementation seems less useful as it only works in AF-S – better hope your subject remains still.

Better wireless connectivity

This is not the first Canon ILC to offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC, but it is the first to feature a ‘send to smartphone after each shot’ function. We had a little bit of time to play around with this new feature during a demonstration of the camera and found it to work well, once paired. And like other entry-level Canon ILCs, the M50 has a dedicated Wi-Fi button (visible above).

Articulating touchscreen, high-res OLD EVF

A 1.04M-dot touchscreen can be fully articulated for selfies/vlogging and flipped inward against the body to protect it from damage – the back of has a lovely faux leather texture.

There aren’t a whole lot of control points on the camera but the touchscreen somewhat makes up for it: you can use it to change quite a few settings, access the Q menu and move your AF point, all with a tap of the finger. Plus, Canon’s touch implementation is excellent on the whole: the screen is responsive and common gesture controls like swiping between images are recognized.

The 2.36M dot OLED EVF is lovely to look through and on par with the best you can get at this price point.

Mediocre battery life

Battery life isn’t stellar: at 235 shots per charge (CIPA rated), you’d be wise to carry a spare battery (though if you switch it into ‘Eco mode,’ battery life jumps to 370 shots). As always, you’ll often get more shots than the number given in the rating but it does give a good impression of longevity, and 235 shots isn’t great.

The M50 uses the same LP-E12 as the M100: a second one will cost you about $ 50 (on brand). Fortunately if you do pick up a second, the M50 ships with an external charger, so you can top it off while you’re out shooting. There is no in-body charging.

Ports, hotshoe and pop-up flash

In terms of wired connectivity, the M50 offers a 3.5mm microphone socket: a real rarity in entry-level products. There’s also a Micro-HDMI and Micro-USB port, though again, the latter does not support charging.

We like the M100’s pop-up flash because you can use your finger to direct it to bounce off the ceiling – with the M50, you can only fire the flash directly at your subject. However, unlike the M100, the M50 offers a hotshoe for use with an accessory flash.

More buttons than the M100, plus Canon’s Guide Modes and a new silent mode

We already mentioned that the M50 doesn’t have a lot of buttons, but it does have more control points than the smaller, more affordable M100, despite also being fairly point-and-shoot in nature. These additional controls/buttons include: an AE lock button, AF frame selector button, mode dial and custom function button.

And like the Canon SL2 and T7i, the M50 offers Canon’s helpful Guide Modes. These were omitted on the M100 and we’re glad to see them make their way into an entry-level Canon mirrorless product.

The M50 also gains a new silent scene mode, which sounds useful for a variety of scenarios like photographing sleeping babies or a documenting a school play. You won’t be able to control exposure settings when using it – such is the case for all ‘scene modes’ – but it’s a nice beginner-friendly feature.

What do you think?

There you have it, the EOS M50: the first Canon mirrorless camera with 4K and the new auto send-to-smartphone feature. It’s also the first Canon camera to use the new Digic 8 processor which brings about the updated CR3 Raw format. And to top things off, it has expanded Dual Pixel AF coverage (with some lenses). That’s a lot of ‘new’ to pack into an entry-level product.

So what do you think? Is the EOS M50 a sign that Canon is taking mirrorless seriously, or are you upset about the 4K limitations? And for those impressed, would you still buy the M50 despite the limited lens family (7 M-series lenses as of writing), especially when compared to that of Fujifilm X-mount or the Micro Four Thirds system? Let us know all of your thoughts, good bad and weird, in the comments below.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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The Canon EOS 4000D might be the cheapest DSLR ever launched

27 Feb

Canon Europe has launched the EOS 4000D, a still more cut-down version of the EOS 2000D/T7 announced earlier today. The entry-level model will launch for around £330/€380 body only, which would equate to somewhere around $ 385 without tax. That’s the lowest launch price of any DSLR we can remember.

Canon’s four-digit-D series cameras, from the 1000D (Rebel XS) onwards, have always hit aggressive price points in the market by recycling existing components and features—we called the original 1000D a “reheated” 400D/Rebel XT at the time. But the EOS 4000D takes this to a new level.

The 4000D shares its body and viewfinder with its more expensive sibling (and previous cameras of this series), but relies on a version of the 18MP sensor first introduced nine years ago in the EOS 7D, and the Digic 4+ processor that made its debut in Canon’s 2014 model-year compacts. The camera’s rear display is a 2.7-inch LCD that we last encountered in 2011’s EOS 1100D/Rebel T3.

Finally, some kits of the camera will include the unstabilized 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 III first announced in February of 2011, although we’re pretty sure the plastic lens mount is a first for a digital EOS.

That’s not to say that Canon has just launched a DSLR from five years ago’s parts bin. Although it loses the NFC feature of the 2000D, it does retain Wi-Fi connectivity. This feature, a more modern version of Canon’s Auto modes, and its much-loved JPEG engine means the EOS 4000D is likely to be a pretty credible super-budget DSLR.

Still, we’ve not seen such aggressive corner cutting unit cost optimization since Sony’s a3000 (which was seemingly made from upcycled yogurt containers), and can’t think of a DSLR that has ever launched at a lower price.

Is there one we’ve overlooked? And what do you make of the EOS 4000D? Let us know in the comments.

Note: While the Canon EOS 4000D has only been launched in Europe thus far, don’t rule out seeing a wall of them at your local BestBuy just as soon as Canon US has worked out which random letters to call it.

Step up to effortless DSLR storytelling with Canon’s new EOS 2000D and EOS 4000D cameras

London, UK, 26th February 2018 – Canon Europe today unveils the launch of the EOS 2000D and EOS 4000D, Canon’s latest entry-level DSLR cameras. With a wide range of practical and easy to use features, these new cameras cater to the storytelling needs of individuals taking their first steps into interchangeable lens photography and those wanting to create superbly detailed DSLR quality pictures and cinematic Full HD movies with ease.

The newest additions to Canon’s entry-level DSLR range, the EOS 2000D and EOS 4000D have been designed for people who seek out new experiences and want to share their adventures seamlessly to social media. The cameras’ powerful combination of APS-C sensor technology, DIGIC 4+ image processor, seamless Wi-Fi connectivity and straightforward in-camera feature guides enable stories to be captured and shared with highly detailed photos and Full HD movies.

With the EOS 2000D featuring a new 24.1 Megapixel APS-C sensor, and the EOS 4000D using an 18 Megapixel APS-C sensor, each camera allows for compelling storytelling with superb control over depth of field for beautifully blurred image backgrounds. Shooting rich, atmospheric photos during night-time adventures is also made possible with both models capable of low light shooting up to ISO 6400, expandable to ISO 12800.

The DIGIC 4+ image processor, used in both models, powers Canon’s Scene Intelligent Auto mode, enabling simple point and shoot photography with superb image results, as it automatically optimises every shot. The fast and responsive DIGIC 4+ image processor enables the Full HD video capabilities in both models, breathing cinematic life into captured memories.

In addition to a rear mounted LCD screen (7.5 cm on the EOS 2000D and 6.8 cm on the EOS 4000D), both cameras feature a centrally mounted optical viewfinder, providing a distinctly authentic photography experience and allowing stories to be told just as they were experienced with the naked eye. Decisive moments in unfolding stories can be captured with responsive and precise nine point auto focus and continuous shooting at 3.0 frames per second.

Both cameras are Wi-Fi enabled for seamless smartphone connectivity via the Canon Camera Connect app (iOS and Android), enabling adventurers to rapidly shoot and share their content on social media whilst on the move. New images can be conveniently backed up to Canon’s cloud storage service, irista, via a Wi-Fi connection, ensuring stories and memories shared are never lost.

These processes are made even easier for the EOS 2000D with the inclusion of Near Field Communication (NFC), which can establish a Wi-Fi connection to a smartphone by simply tapping the device on the camera (available on compatible Android devices).

Both models include simple in-camera feature guides, perfect for those looking to improve their storytelling potential as they upgrade from a smartphone. Both cameras include six image settings outside of basic auto modes and a variety of creative filters, enabling experimentation with manual control and the artistic freedom to tell dynamic and vibrant stories. Those embarking on their first DSLR adventure will also benefit from the Canon Photo Companion app, which provides the necessary tips on getting the best out of the cameras.

The EOS 2000D and EOS 4000D’s excellent battery life delivers approximately 500 pictures, or one hour 30 minutes and one hour 15 minutes of HD video respectively, allowing for peace of mind during extended outdoor adventures and the freedom to explore.

Both DSLR models are compatible with over 80 Canon EF and EF-S lenses and range of accessories, giving beginners the greatest choice of systems as they grow and develop their photography skills. The new cameras will be sold as a body only option or with a selection of lens kit options, including an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens.

Canon’s latest entry-level DSLR cameras offer a fantastic gateway to the joys of interchangeable lens photography. The Canon EOS 2000D and Canon EOS 4000D provide an easy and reliable shooting experience that enable users to capture detailed images and sharp Full HD video. As people step-up from their smartphone and expand their creativity, Canon’s new DSLR cameras will intuitively capture superbly detailed professional-looking images, time after time.

The Canon EOS 2000D is available to pre-order from Canon’s online store from 26^th February 2018.

For more information, please visit: Canon EOS 2000D and Canon EOS 4000D

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canon announces EOS M50 with 24MP sensor, 4K video and built-in EVF

26 Feb

Canon has taken the wraps off the EOS M50, a beginner-friendly mirrorless camera that’s the first in the company’s M-series to offer 4K video capture. It uses a 24MP APS-C sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus, a new Digic 8 processor and unlike its M100 sibling, provides a built-in electronic viewfinder.

Read our Canon EOS M50
First Impressions

The M50 is also the first camera to offer a new CR3 Raw format. It provides a standard “image quality priority” Raw setting as well as a “size priority” C-Raw that produces up to 50% smaller files with the same resolution, albeit with a slight drop in image quality.

Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth are also included, enabling a new option to automatically transfer images from the camera to a smartphone after each shot. The M50’s updated processor makes 1080/120p high frame rate video possible, and UHD 4K recording is available at 24p. Unfortunately, 4K also imposes a significant 1.6x crop and Dual Pixel isn’t available.

The camera’s 2.36 million-dot OLED EVF complements a 1.04 million-dot fully articulated touchscreen. With focus locked the M50 will shoot up to 10 fps; 7.4fps shooting is available in C-AF.

Dual Pixel autofocus provides improved coverage with certain lenses, including the EF-M 55-200mm, EF-M 18-150mm and EF-M 28mm F3.5. With one of these lenses attached, the M50 gives 88% horizontal and 100% vertical sensor coverage and up to 143 AF points. A large number of EF and EF-S lenses will also give the same level of AF coverage, while other M-mount and EF/EF-S lenses will offer up to 99 AF points and 80% horizontal/80% vertical coverage.

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The Canon EOS M50 will be available in April for $ 780 body-only. It will also be bundled with an EF-M 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM for $ 900; a kit with 15-45mm and 55-200mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM will cost $ 1250.

WANT TO UP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY GAME? NEXT GENERATION OF EOS CAMERAS FROM CANON BRING IMAGE QUALITY UP A NOTCH

New Additions to the Canon EOS Family include EOS M50 and EOS Rebel T7

MELVILLE, N.Y., February 25, 2018 – Upgrading from a smartphone camera to an entry-level interchangeable lens camera (ILC) can be considered to some people a daunting task. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, supports those looking to advance their skills by continuously developing and evolving its gear. Today, the company announced their latest additions to its all-encompassing lineup of digital cameras: the EOS M50 Interchangeable Lens Camera, the first Canon EOS M-series camera with 4K video recording which is four-times the size of full HD 1080, and the EOS Rebel T7, the latest addition to the wildly popular EOS Rebel line of entry-level DSLR Cameras, with an upgraded CMOS sensor to deliver sharp, high-resolution images to capture life’s key moments.

For photographers actively seeking to upgrade their skills, the EOS M50 is an all-around, entry-level camera with an extensive list of user-friendly features that encourages users to broaden their creative visions. Providing improved Dual Pixel CMOS AF, a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor resulting in less noise and high definition in low-light situations, and the capability of recording 4K video, the EOS M50 will capture crisp, photographic expressions in various situations.

“Our core goal when developing new entry-level interchangeable lens cameras for our consumers is to meld high-quality features and usability together. In listening to our customers, we believe we have achieved this goal with both the EOS M50 and EOS Rebel T7, ” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “With enhanced features for photographers of all skill levels to enjoy, both cameras demonstrate Canon’s commitment to developing and manufacturing best-in-class quality imaging solutions.”

Additional features of the EOS M50 include:

New DIGIC 8 Image Processor
HD 120p High-frame video rate
Built-in OLED Electronic Viewfinder with Touch and Drag Autofocus
Vari-Angle LCD touchscreen
Wi-Fi*, NFC** and Bluetooth connectivity***
Automatic image transfer to compatible devices while shooting*
New Silent Mode

The EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera, featuring an upgraded CMOS sensor of 24.1 megapixel resolution, is the successor to the EOS Rebel T6. Offering easy sharing of high-quality photos and videos on social media sites, the EOS Rebel T7 provides continuous shooting up to 3.0 frames per second (fps), a nine-point autofocus system and a three-inch LCD monitor, offering users a multitude of options to capture and share life’s important moments.

Additional features of the EOS Rebel T7 include:

Built-In Wi-Fi* and NFC** connectivity
Scene Intelligent Auto Mode
Optical View Finder

For an additional cost, both products are also eligible for the reliable protection of CarePAK PLUS, Canon’s optional service plan, which includes accidental damage protection and Image Recovery, designed to retrieve irreplaceable images or videos otherwise lost or corrupted. CarePAK PLUS, along with all Canon camera service plans, is performed exclusively by Canon’s renowned service and support team.

The Canon EOS M50 is scheduled to be available in April 2018 for an estimated retail price of $ 779.99^ for the body only. The EOS M50 will also be available with the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens in both black and white for an estimated retail price of $ 899.99^. Additionally, the EOS M50 will be sold with the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM and the EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM in black only for an estimated retail price of $ 1,249.00^. A Video Creator Kit will also be available for the EOS M50 for an estimated retail price of $ 999.99^.

The EOS Rebel T7 is scheduled to be available in April 2018, and will be sold as a lens-and-body kit with the EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS II for an estimated retail price of $ 549.99^.
For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.

*Compatible with iOS® versions 9.3/10.3, Android™ smartphone and tablet versions 4.4/5.0/5.1/6.0/7.0/7.1. Data charges may apply with the download of the free Canon Camera Connect app. This app helps enable you to upload images to social media services. Please note that image files may contain personally identifiable information that may implicate privacy laws. Canon disclaims and has no responsibility for your use of such images. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images through this app.
**Compatible with Android™ smartphone and tablet versions 4.4/5.0/5.1/6.0/7.0/7.1.
***Compatible with select smartphone and tablet devices (Android™ version 5.0 or later and the following iOS® devices: iPhone 4s or later, iPad 3rd gen. or later, iPod Touch 5th gen. or later) equipped with Bluetooth® version 4.0 or later and the Camera Connect. ^ Availability, prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canon EOS M50 first impressions review

26 Feb

Introduction

The Canon EOS M50 is an entry-level mirrorless camera sporting an electronic viewfinder, fully articulating touchscreen, single control dial and 24MP APS-C sensor – the same used by its M-series siblings. It has Canon’s latest DIGIC 8 processor and offers expanded Dual Pixel AF coverage, 4K/24p video capture (1.6x crop) as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC.

In a lot of ways it’s a beefier, viewfinder-sporting M100, the brand’s most affordable M-mount offering. And it will likely appeal to the same crowd: beginners and/or those stepping up from a smartphone as their primary photography device. Unlike the M100, the M50 has Canon’s Guide Modes, like those found on the SL2 and T7i. But what’s really exciting about the M50 is that it’s an indicator of what’s down the road for the rest of the M and Rebel series.

Key Features:

24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
Dual Pixel autofocus for stills and video
DIGIC 8 processor
2.36M-dot OLED EVF
1.04M-dot vari-angle LCD
7.4 fps burst in AF-C (10 fps in AF-S)
4K/24p UHD video (1.6 x crop)
1080/60p and 720/120p HD video
Wi-Fi and NFC with Bluetooth
235 shot-per-charge battery live (via CIPA)

One year ago, we met with Canon executives in Yokohama, Japan – you can read the full interview here. At the time, they promised the brand’s main strategic focus going forward would be connectivity and video. The M50 is a clear indication that Canon is making good on that promise. This is the first Canon camera that will automatically send photos to your smartphone after each shot and the first M-series to offer 4K. But before you get too excited about that latter bit, it’s worth noting that 4K comes with a heavy 1.6x crop, and Dual Pixel AF is not available in 4K (contrast detection AF is available).

Dual Pixel AF can be used in all other video modes, including 1080/60p. It still covers 80% x 80% of the sensor but now with 99 selectable points (up from 49 on previous M cameras). And with certain lenses (18-150mm, 28mm macro and 55-200mm) that coverage increases to 88% x 100% with 143 points.

The M50 is the first Canon to use the new CR3 Raw format, which has an updated compression option called C-Raw (compressed full resolution, rather than the downsized ‘Small’ and ‘Medium’ Raw formats).

Other new features include an Eye Detection mode, only available in AF-S, as well as a new silent scene mode. It also has a new gyro sensor that communicates movement to the lens-based IS system for better shake compensation, as well as dual Sensing IS (using data from the image sensor to compensate for shake when shooting stills or video).

Compared to…

Though the M50 is an entry-level camera, it’s priced a bit higher than a lot of other entry-level offerings. Below we’ve compared it to some of its Canon peers as well as similar-priced mirrorless cameras.

	Canon M50	Canon M100	Canon M6	Panasonic G85	Sony a6300	Fujifilm X-T20
MSRP w/lens	$ 900	$ 600	$ 900	$ 1000	$ 1150	$ 1000
Resolution	24MP	24MP	24MP	16MP	24MP	24MP
Sensor size	APS-C	APS-C	APS-C	Four Thirds	APS-C	APS-C
Stabilization	Lens IS + digital	Lens IS	Lens IS	Sensor + lens IS	Lens IS	Lens IS
EVF	2.36M-dot	No	No	2.36M-dot equiv (field sequential)	2.36M-dot	2.36M-dot
AF system (live view)	Dual Pixel	Dual Pixel	Dual Pixel	Depth from Defocus	Hybrid AF w/425 PDAF points	Hybrid AF w/91PDAF points
LCD	3″ fully-articulating	3″ tilting	3″ tilting	3″ fully-articulating	3″ tilting	3″ tilting
Number of control dials	1 top	1 top	2 top, 1 rear	2 top	1 top, 1 rear	2 top + shutter speed, exp. comp. dial
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Burst speed (AF locked)	10 fps	6.1 fps	9 fps	9 fps	11 fps	14 fps
Video	4K/24p	1080/60p	1080/60p	4K/30p	4K/30p	4K/30p
Wireless	Wi-Fi + NFC + BT	Wi-Fi + NFC + BT	Wi-Fi + NFC + BT	WiFi	WiFi + NFC	WiFi
Battery life	235 shots	295 shots	295 shots	320 shots	400 shots	350 shots
Dimensions (mm)	116x88x59	108x67x35	112x68x45	128x89x74	120x67x49	118x83x41
Weight	351 g	302 g	343 g	453 g	404 g	383 g

As you can see, it stacks up quite nicely compared to other offerings at this price point, though battery life is the one area it falls behind a bit.

Pricing and availability

The Canon EOS M50 will be available in April for $ 780 body-only in either black or white. It also ships in a variety of kits, including with the EF-M 15-45mm for $ 900, as well as with both the EF-M 15-45mm and EF-M 55-200mm for $ 1250.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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dPS Writer’s Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

21 Feb

The Canon 100mm macro lens was on my Want List for such a long time, next to the Canon 10-22mm Ultra Wide-Angle. Oddly, once I did get it, I never used it, and it sat gathering dust in the cupboard for a couple of years. Now it is my go-to lens for doing still life, food and of course, macro photography.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

Why is it my favorite lens?

Sharpness, image quality, color, and versatility – it has it all!

I know when using this lens it is going to pick up absolutely every detail, and when it is sharp it is crystal clear. Unfortunately, due to the combined weight of the lens (625g) on my Canon 7D MK II, I find it difficult to handhold and get sharp shots. So I use it on my tripod to guarantee the focus is bang on.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

Merits of the Canon 100mm macro lens

This lens has a richness to the colors that I appreciate, it gives the best color reproduction of any of my lenses. Also when you are shooting at its native 2.8, the soft background blur is quite delicious as well.

Finally, the versatility of this lens, given it is a macro lens, is impressive. I use it for macro, food photography, flower photography, and other still life subjects. It is also a favorite lens for portrait photographers due to the factors that make it my personal favorite.

It’s quiet, it’s fast and it’s a lovely lens to use. Once I mastered the art of fine focusing with a really tiny depth of field and was able to consistently get sharp shots, the quality of the images impressed me more and more.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

How I use it

1 – Food Photography

Working with natural light in my home studio sometimes means the light is not always abundant. Or possibly you need to filter it quite heavily so you don’t blow out the highlights on some whipped cream or icing. So working in slightly less than ideal light conditions is where I find this lens really comes into its own.

With a 67mm filter diameter, it has a lot of surface area to bring in the available light. The native f/2.8 aperture captures all the light possible. While I might have to increase ISO a small amount, it is not enough to affect the quality of the image.

With such high image quality, capturing the finest small details really adds character to food shots taken with this lens. Water droplets on fruit or the tiny hairs on a raspberry become things of wonder, brought into view by the capabilities of this lens.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

2. Flower Photography

Doing photography of flowers is what finally forced me to get my Canon 100mm lens out of storage and start using it. I had become interested in still life photography and was using flowers as the subject to base my compositions around.

Flowers offer so many opportunities to be creative with this lens, you can shoot the whole flower, move in to shoot just a portion of it, or really get into the macro side of things.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

The lovely colour and soft bokeh suit flower photography very well, and I enjoy using it a great deal. It is a lot of fun to experiment with areas of selective focus or just using depth of field in unexpected ways.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

3. Macro photography

There is a whole world of things too small for our eyes to see naturally that suddenly become revealed when we shoot with a macro lens. It is fascinating to uncover tiny details in everyday objects.

Playing with abstracts of textures or just exploring the things we cannot normally see are possible with the 100mm macro lens. The ordinary becomes extraordinary when you can get up close and personal. When my camera is mounted on my tripod, I know that I can get sharp focus with a very narrow depth of field on a very small subject.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

4. Other options

I am not a portrait photographer but I do have cats, and they are fun to shoot with this lens as it picks up so much detail. I personally struggle to sucessfully handhold my 7D Mark II with this lens and get sharp images, so I don’t shoot with it off my tripod very often.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

Specifications

The Canon EF 100mm F2.8 IS L Macro lens – full specifications on Canon site – 625g, minimum focus distance 300mm, Hybrid Image Stabilization for handheld macro shooting.

Pros

Sharpness
Depth of field
Bokeh is smooth
Color
Hybrid Image Stabilizing
EF and EFS compatible
1:1 magnification
Comes with a lens hood and carry bag

Cons

Heavy and can be difficult to handhold, requiring a tripod
Expensive
300mm minimum focus distance

Conclusion

Overall for me, the pros of shooting with this lens far outweigh the cons. Have you used the Canon 100mm macro lens or one similar? Please share in the comments below if you enjoy it as much as I do.

dPS Writer's Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

The post dPS Writer’s Favourite Lens: Canon 100mm Macro by Stacey Hill appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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DPRSplit will help pull more dynamic range from Canon 5D Mark IV Dual Pixel Raw files

14 Feb

RawDigger and FastRawViewer have released the beta version of an application called DPRSplit, designed for Canon 5D Mark IV owners. With DPRSplit, photographers can input a CR2 file from a Canon 5D Mark IV and then extract a second image from it, one with an exposure value that is about one stop lower than the original CR2 image.

This utility works only if the camera’s Dual Pixel Raw mode was enabled when the shots were taken.

Canon explains how this technology works on its website:

The Dual Pixel sensor’s pixels have a dual photodiode construction. This sensor design means the sensor can receive an A and B signals from the subject and to detect any phase differences between the two signals, allowing them to attain focus as part of the Dual Pixel AF system … During Dual Pixel RAW shooting, a single RAW file saves two images into the file. One image consists of the A+B combined image data and the other only the A image data.

Photographers benefit from this technology by using Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software, which enables users to make “microadjustments” to focus, bokeh shift, and reduce ghosting. However, the software doesn’t enable users to extract both images from the CR2 file separately—that’s where DPRSplit comes in.

With this utility, photographers get access to that second frame, which has half the light of the composite image. This means that, in essence, the camera is automatically capturing two shots, bracketed by about 1EV.

Extracted images are saved as DNG files for editing with any software that supports the format, so you can blend the images back together and get about +1EV more usable dynamic range. And since the exposures are captured simultaneously, you don’t have to worry about motion blur in your image. The only potential “issue” is a minor parallax error between the two frames.

DPRSplit beta 0.8 is free to download for Windows 7 or higher and Mac OS X 10.6 through macOS 10.13. As with any beta software, it is possible users will encounter bugs, but if you’re a 5D Mark IV user and you already shoot in Dual Pixel Raw, this one might be worth a shot.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Full-frame showdown: Nikon D850 vs Canon 5D IV vs Sony a7R III

31 Jan

Dan and Sally Watson over at Learning Cameras recently put together a really useful comparison video that pits the Sony, Canon, and Nikon fanboys against each other in a series of real-world tests. Shooting with the Sony a7R III, Canon 5D Mark IV, and Nikon D850, Dan and Sally ran the cameras through a variety of tests that cover everything from skin tones, to low light, to dynamic range, to autofocus tracking and more.

We’ll let you dive into the full 20-minute video if you want to see all of the comparisons for yourself, but one that we found particularly interesting—maybe because it confirmed our own tests—was the autofocus tracking comparison.

The Sony and Canon were shot in Auto AF area mode—Sony at 8 fps with live view, Canon and Nikon at 7 fps—and Dan and Sally found pretty much what we did. At 8 fps live view, the a7R III sometimes just goes out-of-focus then snaps back, Canon’s iTR can be very jumpy, and Nikon’s 3D tracking is more or less perfect. For what it’s worth (since Dan and Sally didn’t test this) in our tests, the Sony performed more consistently at 10fps without live view.

For the full breakdown, check out the video for yourself above—it gets the DPReview stamp of approval for being both entertaining and informative. And if you want to see more from Learning Cameras, you can follow the channel on YouTube, or catch Dan on Facebook and Instagram.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canon patents fingerprint reader for cameras and lenses

30 Jan

The ability to unlock your smartphone or computer using just your fingerprint has been an option for ages, but it looks like digital cameras might not be too far behind. A recent Canon patent shows how the Japanese camera giant could implement a fingerprint ID sensor into both its camera bodies and lenses to safeguard your images and make cameras less tempting for thieves.

The patent (US Patent Application 20180012061) was first spotted by Northlight Images, goes beyond a security lockout though. The fingerprint sensor could be customized like any Custom Function button—allowing you to use different fingers to control autofocus, image stabilization, and more by simply scanning your finger while you shoot.

You can have as many custom buttons as you have conveniently placed fingers.

On the security side, the fingerprint reader could be used to completely lock out your gear, or even customize the camera for multiple ‘registered’ users. So whether it’s you, your spouse, or one of your artistically inclined children picking up the DSLR, it would immediately default to their custom settings once scanned in.

The idea, so standard or even outdated on smartphones, seems positively futuristic when you apply it to cameras. Here’s hoping this is one patent that does eventually see the light of day in real Canon products.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canon patents innovative lens adapter with built-in electronic ND filter

27 Jan

A Canon patent from October, 2017 resurfaced on the Canon rumor mill today, and it describes something pretty innovative from the Japanese camera giant. The patent shows a lens adapter—ostensibly designed for a mirrorless camera—that features a built-in variable-voltage ND filter.

The ND filter component is “formed from an electrochromic device [or a liquid crystal element] which changes light transmittance on application of a voltage.” That way, you could electronically and silently change the amount of light hitting your camera’s sensor without stopping down the lens.

As Canon News points out, this would be particularly useful for video shooting, since it’s silent, and it would allow you to separate depth-of-field control from brightness (i.e. shoot with a shallow depth-of-field in bright light).

We could see this technology more readily appearing in a Cinema EOS system, but Canon has (naturally) written the patent as broadly as possible so that no one else can use the idea for stills. Canon Rumors also speculates that it might be the patent behind a rumored EF/EF-S to EF-M adapter specifically designed to adapt cinema lenses to an EF-M mount camera.

As always with patents, it’s impossible to know what parts of this idea—if any—Canon plans to bring to market. But it’s a rather innovative design that we wouldn’t mind seeing in action.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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This vlogger is the guy behind last week’s Canon G7 X Mark III hoax

25 Jan

Italian vlogger and designer Breccia, telling his audience to Google Canon G7X Mark III and let him know if they see anything… suspicious.

Last week, much of the photography blogosphere went nuts when a series of “leaked” images purported to show a not-yet-announced Canon G7 X Mark III. The high-res photos immediately spread like wildfire, spurred on to even greater sharability because they seemed to show Canon was planning to put 4K video into the little compact camera.

There’s just one problem: they were 100% fake. And now we can be pretty much certain that the creator of the fake images is Italian vlogger and graphic designer Breccia.

Here are the images Breccia “leaked” to the photography press:

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We decided not to share the “leaked” images on DPReview, as several members of the staff pointed out that they looked like digital renders with several unlikely design choices… even the font wasn’t correct. Sure enough, within 24 hours the photos had been outed as fake, not just because of the unlikely design, but because the “photos” on the LCD screen were grabbed from the Royalty Free photo sharing website Unsplash.

But it wasn’t until this morning that Canon Rumors was able to identify Breccia as their creator, pointing to a vlog posted yesterday in which the YouTuber tells his audience to Google “Canon G7X Mark III” and drop him a comment if they see anything “suspicious.” That, by itself, isn’t exactly iron clad proof, but if you look at the fakes themselves, you’ll see he actually signed them:

This isn’t the first time Breccia has pulled a fake “leaked photos” stunt like this. According to CR, he was also behind a Google UltraPixel hoax from September of 2017, and a PS4 Slim hoax before that. The leaks are supposed to showcase his skill as a graphic designer, and possibly earn him some work… even if they do simultaneously earn him the ire of (in this case) hopeful Canon shooters.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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