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Posts Tagged ‘f/2.8’

LensRentals tears down Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II

01 Sep

LensRentals Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II teardown

When Canon announced the EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III USM earlier this summer, the company was pretty open about the fact that it was a minor upgrade to its predecessor, featuring tweaked coatings and a new finish, but the same optical-mechanical formula.

Never ones to take a press release at face value (and since repairing lenses is a big part of their job) Roger Cicala and the team at LensRentals opened the lenses up to see whether Canon made any hidden changes. Not to spoil the surprise, but what they found… wasn’t a surprise.

All images courtesy of LensRentals, and used with permission.

LensRentals tears down Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II

The new Mark III version of the 70-200mm F2.8 is indeed optically and mechanically identical to the older Mark II. In Roger’s words: “If you think there’s an optical or performance difference, please contact me about some Tennessee Beach-front property I have for sale.”

But that doesn’t mean that they’re not optically and mechanically interesting lenses. According to Roger, the various versions of the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 are possibly the most popular lenses that the company has in their loan stock, but because they’re so complex, internally “the 70-200mm f/2.8 is […] one of the ugliest bits of engineering in the Canon fleet”

LensRentals tears down Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II

If the containing tape in the last photograph didn’t give it away, the camera-side internals of the 70-200mm F2.8 II/III are something of a rats nest of fragile ribbon connectors, wires and PCBs. “Not much fun to work with” says Roger, and we believe him.

LensRentals tears down Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II

This shot shows the rear group (being lifted off) connected by one remaining ribbon to the image stabilization unit. The rear group acts as a single centering element, making it “a bit of a pain to adjust”, requiring repeated adjustment, reassembly, more adjustment, reassembly (again) and so on, until it’s correctly aligned.

LensRentals tears down Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II

Here’s the IS unit, removed from the main lens barrel. The tweezers indicate one of the four posts that stop the IS unit from moving around too much inside the lens. To avoid damage to the IS unit during travel or shipping, Roger recommends turning IS off when the lens is still on the camera. Otherwise the element won’t lock and these plastic posts are the only things stopping the lens from banging around freely inside the barrel.

LensRentals tears down Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 Mark III and Mark II

Two layers of weather-sealing tape (which the LensRentals team tells us is pretty much the same material as this stuff) protects the 70-200mm’s front group, and helps prevent water ingress. This is how the LensRentals team gets access to the front element of the 70-200mm, which they have to do a lot, to replace scratched front elements, get rid of dust and make optical adjustments.

So is the new Mark III version worth upgrading to? We’re not convinced, and neither are Roger and his team. Both are excellent lenses, and if you can find a Mark II for a good price, go for it.

For more details – and a lot more images – read the full blog post at LensRentals.com.

Read the full tear-down at LensRentals

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Tamron introduces 2nd-generation 15-30mm F2.8 full-frame lens for Canon and Nikon

31 Aug

Tamron has updated its SP 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD lens with new elements and coatings, a more powerful autofocus CPU and an enhanced Vibration Correction system.

The use of XGM (eXpanded glass-molded aspherical) and low-dispersion elements reduce distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations, according to Tamron, while an AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) coating handles ghosting and flare. The lens is weather-sealed and has a fluorine coating to keep water and oil off of the front element. The 15-30 F2.8 has nine rounded aperture blades.

A Dual Multi-Processing Unit and new algorithms have boosting AF speed and precision, and the VC system now corrects for up to 4.5 stops of shake. The 15-30 has a minimum focus distance of 28cm (11″), a magnification of 0.2x and support for rear gel filters on the Canon model. It supports Tamron’s TAP-in Console for making fine adjustments to autofocus and Vibration Correction.

The Nikon FX-mount lens will ship first on September 21st, with the Canon EF-mount version coming about three weeks later. The Tamron SP 15-30mm F2.8 G2 will be priced at $ 1299.

Press Release

Tamron Announces A New Advanced, Super High-Quality, Fast, Ultra-Wideangle Zoom Lens

SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041)

August 31, 2018, Commack, New York— Tamron announces the launch of a new high-speed ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, the SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041), for full-frame DSLR cameras. The new model will be available in Nikon mount on September 21st and in Canon mount October 12th at a suggested retail price of $ 1299.

With a well-established reputation for ultra-high-quality wideangle zoom lenses with its Model A012, Tamron carries on the tradition of high optical performance with the new SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041). By incorporating an XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) lens element, as well as multiple LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements, the distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations so common in wideangle shooting have been greatly minimized. Furthermore, a newly developed AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) Coating has been applied to reduce ghosting and flare more thoroughly than ever before. The optical performance in this high-speed F/2.8 ultra-wideangle zoom lens is outstanding. In addition, the built-in Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) enables vastly improved AF speed and precision and image stabilization. This is a next-generation super high-quality, high-speed ultra-wideangle zoom lens with first-rate optics and a wide range of features that serve to revitalize the user’s shooting experience. With the release of this model, three of Tamron’s high-speed F/2.8 zoom lens with VC (Vibration Compensation) are now G2 (Generation 2).

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

1. Super high-quality high-speed ultra-wideangle zoom lens
The Model A041 is an F/2.8 ultra-wideangle lens with a focal length starting at 15mm that offers high resolution even in the peripheral area of the image. By incorporating an XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) lens element and multiple LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements to curtail distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations, Tamron has achieved a degree of resolution throughout the range that is just as good as a fixed focal length lens.

2. Newly developed AX Coating
The AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) Coating, especially effective for wideangle lenses that tend to let in harmful light from peripheral areas, was developed to control rays that affect image quality. It is a revolutionary new proprietary coating developed in-house by Tamron using specialized deposition technology. The new coating keeps the reflection factor for peripheral areas at the same high level as that for the center area, not only overcoming standard curvature issues, but even overcoming the problems of conventionally produced convex surface with large curvatures for which uniform deposition has always proved difficult to achieve. Furthermore, the Model A041, along with eBand (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating utilizing nanotechnology, and BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating, makes effective use of three different types of coatings, thereby enabling unsurpassed curtailment of ghosting and flare and consequently enabling superlative, exceptionally clear image quality edge to edge.

3. High-speed, high-precision AF
Superb AF speed and precision is delivered by equipping the lens with a Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) system and employing an enhanced AF control algorithm to improve performance. The AF drive uses proprietary Tamron technology, USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive), enabling high torque, high response, and silent operation. And because it comes with a Full-time Manual Focus override system, manual focus adjustments can be made on the fly.

4. VC promises sharp images for all varieties of shooting
Tamron released the first high-speed F/2.8 ultra-wideangle zoom lens in the world equipped with a VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism, the original Model A012. The new Model A041 has been further improved with a newly developed VC mechanism that surpasses former versions and reaches 4.5 stops , according to CIPA standards. This makes it possible to shoot sharp photos over a wide range of photographic scenes, including indoor and outdoor shots as well as handheld shots at stopped-down aperture settings for landscape photography.

5. Rear filter holder
The Model A041 made for use on Canon (EF-mount) cameras comes with a filter holder as a standard feature that lets you insert gelatin and other sheet filters into the rear side of the lens. This makes photography using filters much easier and simpler by overcoming the problem of the curvature of the front lens elements that made shooting with filters so difficult in the past.

6. Vastly improved highly durable Fluorine Coating
Abrasion resistance capability has been vastly improved on the new Model A041. The front surface of the lens element is coated with a Fluorine Coating based on a newly developed fluorine compound with high water- and oil-repellent properties. The lens surface is easier to wipe clean and is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of dirt, dust, moisture, and fingerprints, and enabling your important lenses to be continually protected on a long-term basis.

7. The new design provides greater operability and design consistency
With the new SP design applied, Model A041 shares the same feel of high quality and operability as the other two models in this series, SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A032) and SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A025). Tamron has merged beautiful craftsmanship with intuitive design in this new high-speed ultra-wideangle zoom lens. Even details like the shape of the switch box, distance-scale window, and the precision and stability of the metallic mount reveal a commitment to functionality, as well as design. The result is a next-generation lens that’s easy to use yet loaded with cutting-edge technology.

8. Compatible with TAMRON TAP-in ConsoleTM, an optional accessory
The new Model A041 is compatible with the TAMRON TAP-in Console, an optional accessory product that provides a USB connection to a personal computer for easy updating of the lens’s firmware as well as customization of features including fine adjustments to the focus position of AF and VC control.

9. Moisture-Resistant Construction
Seals are located at the lens mount area and other critical locations to prevent infiltration of moisture and/or rain to provide Moisture-Resistant Construction. This feature affords an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions.

10. Manufacturing innovation with thorough attention to details based on the rigorous quality standards worthy of the SP series
Tamron has enhanced the SP series lenses to fulfill high-level photographic requirements and provide the pleasure of ownership. While introducing a new exterior design, Tamron reviewed the SP series standards. The new SP series has been developed by setting rigorous standards for design, manufacturing and quality that apply to the optical design and mechanical design as well as such wide-ranging areas as the product’s robustness and improvements in a variety of individual functions. This has helped to achieve a more consistently superb optical performance, making it a lens that fulfills the demand for higher image quality that is compatible with the latest high-pixel cameras. To maximize the optical performance of the SP series, Tamron will continue to enhance the accuracy of the component parts of each lens element unit and improve the mechanical precision of the entire lens, thereby achieving a high overall performance.

Tamron SP 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD G2 specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type Zoom lens
Max Format size 35mm FF
Focal length 15–30 mm
Image stabilization Yes
CIPA Image stabilization rating 4.5 stop(s)
Lens mount Canon EF, Nikon F (FX)
Aperture
Maximum aperture F2.8
Minimum aperture F22
Aperture ring No
Number of diaphragm blades 9
Optics
Elements 18
Groups 13
Special elements / coatings 2 eXpanded glass molded aspherical + 1 molded glass aspherical + 3 aspherical elements, Anti-reflection eXpand + BBAR + fluorine coatings
Focus
Minimum focus 0.28 m (11.02)
Maximum magnification 0.2×
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Ring-type ultrasonic
Full time manual Yes
Focus method Internal
Distance scale Yes
DoF scale No
Physical
Weight 1110 g (2.45 lb)
Diameter 98 mm (3.86)
Length 145 mm (5.71)
Sealing Yes
Colour Black
Zoom method Rotary (extending)
Power zoom No
Zoom lock No
Filter notes Canon version accepts rear gel filters
Hood supplied Yes
Tripod collar No

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 launches in September for Nikon F-mount

22 Aug

Rokinon has announced that its ultra-wide AF 14mm F2.8 lens will arrive for Nikon F-mount in September. The lens, which is already available for Canon EF, is the maker’s first auto focus lens for Nikon. The model features 15 glass elements in 10 groups, including two aspherical lenses, four high refractive index lenses, and one extra-low dispersion lens. The glass has Ultra Multi-Coating (UMC) anti-reflective coatings.

The lens features a Manual / Auto Focus switch and an aluminum alloy housing, as well as a 7.8″ / 0.20m minimum focusing distance, weather sealing, and a 16.7oz / 474 grams weight. According to Rokinon, the AF 14mm F2.8 “meets or exceeds the performance characteristics” of similar ultra-wide lenses.

The Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 for Nikon F will be available in September for $ 799 USD.

Via: Imaging Resource

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sigma 14mm F1.8, 135mm F1.8, and 70mm F2.8 macro Art lenses for Sony E-Mount now shipping

10 Aug

Sigma is now shipping the 14mm F1.8 DG HSM, 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO, and 135mm F1.8 DG HSM Art lenses for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras that were announced in February. All three lenses support Sony’s Continuous AF and high-speed autofocus, as well as in-camera lens aberration correction and image stabilization.

According to Sigma, the brass bayonet on each lens features special surface treatment designed to improve the mount strength. The mount is joined by a rubber seal to protect against splashes and dust. In addition, Sigma says its E-mount models include a newly developed control algorithm that both maximizes data transmission speeds and optimizes the autofocus drive.

All three E-mount lenses are available from retailers now at the following prices:

  • 14mm F1.8 DG HSM: $ 1599 USD
  • 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO: $ 569 USD
  • 135mm F1.8 DG HSM: $ 1399 USD

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview TV: the Sony 400mm F2.8 is a pretty sweet lens

22 Jul
Sony’s new 400mm F2.8 G Master rounds out the company’s commitment to provide a complete range of pro-level lenses to photographers who use the Alpha system. In this week’s episode of DPReview TV, Chris and Jordan take this behemoth for a spin and share their first impressions of Sony’s exciting new telephoto.

Make sure to read our Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS first impressions article.

Read the Sony 400mm F2.8 first impressions article

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

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Sample photos from this episode

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Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS sample gallery

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm’s XF 8-16mm F2.8 ultra-wide zoom arrives in November

20 Jul

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Fujifilm’s widest X-series zoom to date, the XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR, will ship in late November: just in time for Christmas. The lens has a total of 20 elements, including four aspherical, three ED and three Super ED, plus a Nano GI coating to reduce ghosting and flare. The lens has linear motors for responsive and quiet focusing, a nine-blade aperture and a minimum focus distance of 25 cm / 9.8″. The lens is sealed against dust and moisture and operates down to -10°C/+14°F.

The XF 8-16mm F2.8 will be priced at $ 2000.

Press Release:

FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES NEW FUJINON XF 8-16MMF2.8 R LM WR LENS; FUJINON XF 200MMF2 R LM OIS WR TELEPHOTO LENS AND XF 1.4X TC F2 WR TELECONVERTER KIT

Ultra-wide angle zoom lens and super-fast telephoto lens with accompanying teleconverter for the X Series line of mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras; Latest development of the X Mount Lens Roadmap unveiled

Valhalla, N.Y., July 20, 2018 FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the new FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR Lens, an ultra-wide angle zoom lens with a constant maximum aperture of F2.8 and focal length equivalent to 12-24mm (35mm format). Capable of providing outstanding edge to edge image-resolving performance, this lens is perfect for landscape and architecture photography such as interior and nightscape, and astrophotography.

FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR Ultra-Wide Angle Lens

The new XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR features an optical construction of 20 elements in 13 groups, including 4 aspherical lens elements to control distortion and spherical aberration, and 6 ED lens elements including 3 super ED elements to control lateral chromatic aberration, a lens design that produces advanced image-resolving performances across the entire zoom range. Featuring a floating lens element that adjusts according to the position of the zoom, the XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR achieves edge-to-edge sharpness, and corrects field curvature that is typically found in ultra-wide angle lenses. The lens barrel is lightweight yet robust, sealed at 11 points, designed to be weather and dust-resistant and capable of operating in temperatures as low as 14°F/-10°C.

FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR Key Features:

  • FUJIFILM X Mount is compatible with all FUJIFILM X Series interchangeable system cameras
  • Weather-sealed at 11 points for weather and dust-resistance; operates in temperatures as low as 14°F/-10°C
  • 20 elements in 13 groups including 4 aspherical elements, 3 ED elements and 3 super ED elements
  • Uses linear motors for quiet and ultra-fast AF
  • Nano-GI coating applied to rear surface of two front lens elements to eliminate ghosting and flare caused by oblique light

Availability and Pricing

The new FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR Lens will be available in late November 2018 in the U.S. and Canada for USD $ 1,999.95 and CAD $ 2,599.99.

Fujifilm XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type Zoom lens
Max Format size APS-C / DX
Focal length 8–16 mm
Image stabilization No
Lens mount Fujifilm X
Aperture
Maximum aperture F2.8
Minimum aperture F22
Aperture ring Yes
Number of diaphragm blades 9
Optics
Elements 20
Groups 13
Special elements / coatings 4 aspherical + 3 ED + 3 Super ED elements, Nano GI coating
Focus
Minimum focus 0.25 m (9.84)
Maximum magnification 0.1×
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Linear Motor
Full time manual Yes
Focus method Internal
Distance scale No
DoF scale No
Physical
Weight 805 g (1.77 lb)
Diameter 88 mm (3.46)
Length 122 mm (4.8)
Materials Magnesium alloy
Sealing Yes
Colour Black
Zoom method Rotary (extending)
Power zoom No
Zoom lock No
Hood supplied Yes
Tripod collar No

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm adds 33mm F1.0, 16mm F2.8 and 16-80mm F4 lenses to X-series roadmap

20 Jul

Fujifilm has added three new lenses to its X-mount roadmap. The most interesting of the lenses is definitely the XF 33mm F1.0 R WR, a weather-sealed lens that, when mounted on an X-series body, is equivalent to 50mm F1.5 on full-frame.

Also in the pipeline are a 16mm F2.8 prime and a stabilized 16-80mm F4 zoom, both of which are weather-resistant.

Click for larger view

The 16mm prime and 16-80mm zoom lenses are expected in 2019, with the 33mm F1.0 arriving sometime in 2020.

Press Release:

Updated X Mount Lens Roadmap Unveiled

Also announced is the latest development roadmap of interchangeable lenses for the X Series line of mirrorless digital cameras. The latest roadmap adds three new lenses to the lineup: a compact wide angle lens, XF16mmF2.8 R WR, perfect for landscape and travel photography; a standard zoom lens, XF16-80mmF4 R OIS WR, which boasts a 5x zoom range with a broad focal range, providing a versatile lens capable of covering a wide range of shooting scenarios; and a large aperture prime lens XF33mmF1 R WR, an ultra-fast lens that stands to be the first mirrorless lens with a maximum aperture of F1.0 with AF capability. With the expansion of the high performance X Mount lens lineup, Fujifilm continues to cover more focal lengths to support a wide range of photography styles and shooting scenarios.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Tamron releases updated firmware for 28-75mm F2.8 for Sony E-Mount

11 Jul

Tamron has released firmware version 2.0 for its 28-75mm Di III RXD, addressing previously acknowledged autofocus issues.

The update specifically addresses focusing issues on Sony E-mount cameras while shooting video, including ‘autofocusing operation and loss of focus,’ while also addressing ‘flicker on peripheral parts of the image when zooming.’

The firmware update is done through the Sony cameras themselves, with the lens mounted. We’ll be updating our review sample, so keep an eye out on our homepage for a full review in the coming weeks.

Press release

Notice about Firmware Update for Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036)

Dear users and potential purchasers of Tamron interchangeable lenses.

Thank you for using Tamron products.

We are pleased to inform you that the firmware update for the 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036) for Sony E-mount, full-frame mirrorless cameras, is now available. The firmware update is available through Sony E-mount camera bodies.

Please review the information below.

Affected model
28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036)

Firmware version
Ver.2

Improvements
This update improves known issues for autofocus with Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, when the range of focus search distance is broad, in video recording mode.
Tap for more details.

How to Update
The lens firmware can be updated using cameras that support this lens firmware update.
Tap for more details.

How to Check your Lens Firmware Version
From your camera’s menu screen, please select “Setup” then “Display version.”

Inquiries regarding this matter
Please contact your local Tamron distributor.
http://www.tamron.com/en/#distributors

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sample gallery: Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS

28 Jun

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We first heard about Sony’s pro-level FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens back in the winter. This past weekend we finally had the chance to put this impressive sports/wildlife lens to the test at a professional soccer match – read our first impressions. We even had the chance to toss on the Sony 1.4x teleconverter for some shots at an 560mm equiv. field of view. Have a look for yourself at the results.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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First Impressions: Sony FE 400 F2.8 GM OSS

27 Jun

First Impressions: Sony FE F2.8 GM OSS

We first gazed upon Sony’s new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens at CP+ earlier this year. This past weekend I had the chance to use it in-person at a Major League Soccer match between the New York Redbulls and Dallas FC.

Paired with the Sony a9 and vertical grip, the combination easily met – and in some cases, exceeded – what I’ve come to expect in terms of AF performance, bokeh and handling for a pro sports camera+lens combo. Continue reading for my first impressions from the field, and check out our full gallery from the match below:

See our Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS samples

Fast AF speed

ISO 1000 | 1/2000 sec | F2.8

This shooting opportunity – arranged by Sony – felt like the perfect real world scenario to put a 400mm F2.8 through it paces. I’ve shot a lot of soccer at the collegiate level over the years, mostly with a 300mm F2.8, but never at the professional level. Despite my inexperience, I walked away with a hit rate close to 98% mostly using the Zone area AF mode; this really impressed me.

Though I initially set the camera up with the intention of using back button AF, I ended up using the half press shutter to activate autofocus nearly the whole time. Most sports photographers would avoid this as it can lead to missed shots: decoupling the two allows you to hit the shutter without the risk of driving focus onto the wrong subject or into a hunt. But the Sony drove focus in the correct direction, locking onto my intended subject, pretty much every time.

Prior to the match, Sony talked about how the lens’ design had been optimized for speed and super fast tracking even at the a9’s top burst speed of 20 fps. I mostly shot at 10 fps, but found the lens kept up marvelously.

Beautiful bokeh and background separation

ISO 1250 | 1/1000 sec | F2.8

While I started the game with the lens slightly stopped down, I opted to open the 400mm up to F2.8 as the sun began to set. These wide open shots in particular display beautiful background separation, with lovely bokeh, thanks in part to an 11-blade circular aperture. For sports photographers, the quality of a lens’ bokeh is obviously second to sharpness and AF performance, but lovely bokeh sure is nice to have.

A little lighter

At 2.9kg / 6.4lb., the lens weighs about 1kg less than the Canon 400mm F2.8, but make no mistake – this is still a heavy piece of kit. Sony says it’s light enough to shoot hand-held. I’ll admit I’m not the world’s strongest man, and 15 minutes of free-arming that lens definitely left me a little sore the next day.

Sore arms aside, it’s worth calling out that Sony’s 400mm feels exceptionally balanced. This is because much of the glass, and therefore weight, is located toward the back of the barrel resulting in a lens that doesn’t tend to pull forward/down as much as some similar telephoto primes. The build quality is also excellent – exactly what you’d expect of a pro-level tele. Above is the lens’ magnesium alloy shell.

Compatibility with teleconverters

ISO 1250 | 1/1000 sec | F4 | 560mm (1.4x teleconverter)

The 400mm F2.8 is compatible with both Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. The former provides an equivalent field of view of 560mm and F4, the later 800mm and F5.6. The above is an example taken with the 1.4x teleconverter.

Other bits

As you would expect for $ 12,000, the lens has image stabilization with three different modes for various sports/action scenarios. It also has a customizable ring – located right in front of the focus ring – that can be set to do things like engage the APS-C crop mode on the camera, for more reach. There’s also a drop-in filter tray near the lens mount.

One of my favorites things about this lens is a bit more superficial: the snazzy orange ring around the front of the carbon fiber hood. Perhaps in years to come, we’ll see that orange ring more often along the sidelines.

Final thoughts

ISO 1250 | 1/1250 sec | F2.8

To many, the 400mm F2.8 was the final piece of the puzzle that had been missing in Sony’s glass line up. With this new telephoto prime, Sony is getting closer to being able to claim that it has a lens to meet the needs of any working photographer.

But now that the upper end of the market has been addressed, I implore you Sony, address the needs of the more modest end too. This $ 12K 400mm F2.8 is a huge accomplishment, but how about a reasonably-fast sub-$ 500 prime? A 35mm F1.8 perhaps…

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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