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Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

We’ll be honest – the past year has been pretty rough. It’s hard to find much good news out there, and it seems like the world is more divided than ever. With so much uncertainty in so many areas of our lives, it’s important to hold on firmly to the important things. Friends, family, lifebelts, and amusing-looking 19th century cameras (snigger snigger) but most of all, traditions. 

Here at DPReview we take tradition seriously. Every new years eve, Rishi drinks a pint of beer*. Every Easter, Carey gets a haircut. And every February, at CP+, we post a gallery of things we found at the show which have been cut in half.

So dim the lights, put on some Enya and settle in, because it’s that time again.

* Most of a pint of beer.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

First up is the recently announced Pentax KP, a weather-sealed 24MP APS-C DSLR which features a lot of the same technology as the full-frame K-1. We know what you’re thinking – this KP might have its innards exposed for all the world to see, but it hasn’t been cut in half! How am I supposed to trust DPReview? It hasn’t been the same since Phil left! Where is the Leica M9 review???

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Not so fast. Don’t worry – we know what you came here to see, and we would never disappoint you (unless you really are still waiting for the M9 review, in which case we’re definitely going to disappoint you). 

Here’s a KP without any weather sealing at all, because it’s been cut in half. It’s positively begging for dust and moisture incursion.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Also distinctly vulnerable to the elements is this Canon EF Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM. A regular on the ‘things that have been cut in half’, trade show circuit, Canon seems to really enjoy taking these 200-400mm lenses apart and showing off their insides.

We’re starting to worry, to be honest.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

It’s just gratuitous, at this point.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

We have to admit though, when it comes to showing off lens components, Canon does a good job. These are aspherical lenses, from (L-R) the company’s 14mm F2.8 II, 85mm F1.2 II, 17-40mm F4, 16-35mm F2.8 II (last generation) and EF-S 15-55mm F2.8, respectively.

We were hoping to see the new 16-35mm F2.8 III represented in this display, but no such luck. If you really want to see an impressive aspherical element though, check out the 10-24mm F4, on display at CP+ 2015.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

The 16-35mm F2.8 III might have been missing from Canon’s aspherical mushroom farm, but Canon didn’t let us down – here it is, in another display case, with all of its many elements on show. This latest version of the 16-35mm is favorite of landscape photographers and a stellar performer, outperforming its predecessors in every respect.

Good luck getting nice-looking sunstars out of this one, though. It’s been cut in half.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Tamron’s new 70-200mm F2.8 ‘G2’ has been completely redesigned, with a new optical design consisting of 23 elements in 17 groups. These include extra low dispersion and low dispersion elements to reduce chromatic aberrations. Stabilization has been improved too, and now offers up to five stops of compensation.

This lens is 50% lighter than shipping samples, so in theory, it should be even more hand-holdable.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Not to be outdone, Nikon is showing off a another high-tech, multi-element 70-200mm of its own – the new, and very nice 70-200mm F2.8E.

We’ve been impressed by the performance of this new telezoom, both optically and in terms of image stabilization, but we won’t be getting on the waiting list for this 100th anniversary special addition. It looks like Nikon got a bit carried away with the weight-saving.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Speaking of lightweight, Panasonic’s DC GH5 is a modestly-sized powerhouse, combining an advanced video feature set with impressive speed, resolution and autofocus performance for stills photography. We’re currently working on an in-depth review but we’re glad that Panasonic didn’t send us this one. It seems to have exploded.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Voigtlander really outdid itself this year, when it came to things that had been cut in half. Here’s the Nokton F1.1 for Leica M mount. Normally a useful lens for extreme low light imaging on film and digital rangefinders, we’d recommend passing on this one if you see it on Ebay.

It’s decentered.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Another Voigtlander – the 10mm F5.6 Heliar Ultra-Wide. The second native E-Mount lens made by Voigtlander and at the time of its release, the widest rectilinear lens ever produced, this one has been put together using even more aspherical elements than normal.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Another 15mm, this is the LAOWA 15mm F4 Wide Angle 1:1 Macro – an impressive, inexpensive but undeniably niche optic, we’d describe this lens’s internal construction as ‘industrial’. Or ‘industrial accident’, in the case of this example, which has been partly – but not entirely – cut in half.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

Sony can always be relied upon for some high-quality tradeshow bisection, and this year was no different. It’s easy to forget that despite its size and form-factor, the SLT-A99 II does not contain a pentaprism, and seeing it cut in half (here with a 24-70mm F2.8 attached) reveals a surprising amount of empty space above the fixed mirror.

Admittedly, this one has 50% as much empty space inside it as a regular A99 II, because as you can see, it has been cut in half.

Things we found at CP+ 2017 which had been cut in half

That’s it for another year – thanks for reading, and we hope you’ve enjoyed our show content from CP+. It’s time for lunch. Or breakfast. Quite honestly we’re still a bit confused about what timezone we’re in.

Until next time – keep it demi. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

‘I don’t know, Rishi’, I said in the press room, over warm coffee from a warm can. ‘I don’t know if I should do another ‘things we found that had been cut in half’ slideshow.’ Rishi was silent. I went on: ‘Is it even funny? And there aren’t that many things at the show this year which have been cut in half. Mostly I’ve just seen things which are whole. I don’t know whether I should do it’. 

Rishi looked up. There was pain in his eyes. Confusion. The confusion of a child who’s starting to suspect that Santa doesn’t exist but isn’t ready to believe it.

His normally whisper-quiet voice rose slightly. ‘You have to do it’ he said, almost pleading. His voice became louder still – ‘You have to do it. Not because it’s funny – Barney, listen to me. It’s not funny. It has never been funny. But that’s not why you do it. You do it because it’s tradition.’

‘Dammit, Rishi’ I said, straightening in my chair and in the same motion, banging my knees against the oddly low desk, ‘You’re right. And stop yelling, you’re freaking me out’. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Could you disappoint this face? I couldn’t.

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

So, without further ado, here’s a selection of things we found at CP+ which had been cut in half. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride*

First up is Nikon’s brand new flagship D5. Capable of taking pictures very quickly of things moving even more quickly, the D5 is as tough as week-old sushi and entirely sealed against dust and moisture incursion. Not this one though – why not? Because this one has been cut in half. Water and dust can get right in, all over the place.  

*It won’t be. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

With pro-level DSLRs being cut in half left right and center in previous years, I think Ricoh has been feeling a bit left out. In fact, I suspect that this is one reason for the much anticipated release of a proper Pentax full-frame camera, the K-1. 

The K-1 is a 36MP full-frame camera with a host of solid core photographic features including in-camera stabilization, a revamped AF system, support for legacy Pentax K-mount lenses and little LED lights hidden in clever places all over the camera body. The rear LCD is articulated, using an innovative and unusual strut and hinge design, and the shifting sensor can be used to create full-color resolution exposures, correct wonky horizons and even track stars for night shots.

This K-1 can’t do any of that though, because it’s been cut in half. This one is literally useless. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

An early prototype of the K-1, before Ricoh’s engineers realised that using clear plastic would cause serious light-leak issues. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Here’s a blast from the past – a Nikon F from the early 1960s, cut in half good and proper. A period of huge social change, the 1960s saw revolutions on several fronts – sexual, social, political and photographic. This was the decade of TTL metering, removable prisms, wideangle lenses and motor-drives. Before the 1960s, the idea that a professional camera could be displayed like this – bisected, with its delicate parts exposed to public view – would have been unthinkable.

How much has changed. Yet how much remains the same. 

This Nikon F could be yours for only  ¥248,000 (~$ 2200). Superglue not included. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

In many ways a more innovative camera than the Nikon F, Canon’s F1 (which came along a little later) proved itself a solid, reliable workhorse for Canon FD photographers in the 1970s. With TTL metering built in (not via an optional metering head, as with the Nikon F) an optional (and insanely noisy) 3.5fps motordrive and a faster maximum shutter speed, the F1 was popular among sports and action photographers.

There’s no way this one is being used to photography any sports or action though. Not only are the mercury cells that powered the F1 unavailable these days, this camera has been cut in half. It’d just fall sideways off the tripod.

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Sony had a big booth at this year’s CP+ show, and as well as a new camera, the 24MP a6300, the company was also showing off three new ‘G Master’ lenses. Designed to cover the full-frame imaging area of the company’s a7-series mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, the new 24-70mm F2.8, 70-200mm F2.8 and 85mm F1.4 are the most convincing pro-level optics yet released for Sony’s FE mount.

Here’s the new FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS. Comprised of a remarkable 32 elements in 18 groups, elements include one double-side aspherical and one extreme aspherical element, plus ‘Nano AR’ coating. This particular lens is even more complex, being made up of 46 elements in 36 groups. Because it’s been cut in half. Bonkers! 

Read more about Sony’s new G Master lenses

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Oooh, look at all that lovely glass. This is the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM portrait prime, sliced wide open for all to see. This lens comprises 11 elements in 8 groups, and features a new XA (extreme aspherical) element which has been rendered even more aspherical in this lens by being cut in half. 

Read more about Sony’s new G Master lenses

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

The third lens in Sony’s new G Master trio is the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM, which is intended as a standard zoom for Sony’s flagship a7R II. Our intial impressions of image quality from this lens are very encouraging, but it’s the Direct Drive SSM autofocus motor which has us most impressed.

When paired with an a7R II this lens acquires focus – and can continue to focus on moving subjects – extremely quickly. We didn’t get the chance to try out the performance of this particular sample, but we’re pretty confident that it won’t be great. After all, it’s been cut in half. 

Read more about Sony’s new G Master lenses

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Sensors come in all manner of shapes and sizes – actually no, that’s not really true, but they come in all manner of sizes at least. From full-frame on the Sony booth to Micro Four Thirds at Panasonic, here’s the company’s new Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS. Optically much simpler than Sony’s 70-200mm, the Leica 100-400mm is equivalent to a 200-800mm lens when attached to a Micro Four Thirds body.

It has has one aspherical, one UED, and two ‘regular’ ED elements, as well as a nine-bladed circular aperture. Or it would, if it hadn’t been cut in half. We didn’t get the chance to shoot with this sample yet but we’re pretty sure it’s going to give some very ugly bokeh. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Here’s the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 300mm F4 IS Pro, which offers an equivalent focal length of 600mm in full-frame terms. This lens has impressed us with its sharpness, durability and relatively light weight. This one is even lighter than normal, but much less resistant to the elements. It’s been cut in half, you see. Very silly.  

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

When it comes to cutting things in half, Zeiss is one of the best companies out there. And as usual, the Zeiss stand was a positive orgy of bisected primes, split zooms and half-naked wide-angles. Here’s the company’s Zeiss Milvus 21mm F2.8, which retails for almost $ 2000 normally. This one isn’t worth even half of that amount though. Off-center performance (on one side only) is terrible, because it’s been cut in half.

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Hey, remember the tiny, cute little Voigtländer VM 40mm F2.8 Heliar we wrote about last year?

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

It looks even tinier and cuter when it’s been cut in half. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

Less small but still pretty cute is Tamron’s new SP 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 Macro, the latest version in a line of very well-regarded 90mm macro lenses from Tamron stretching back decades. Weather-sealed with a built-in vibration correction stabilization system we’re really looking forward to seeing how this new macro prime performs. Not even Vibration Correction will get sharp results out of this one though though – this one has been cut in half. 

CP+ 2016: Things we found that had been cut in half

An etymological diagram of the human brain, cut in half. These are the literal translations of latin terms for the various brain regions. After 4 days at CP+, Rishi and I are mostly creating content from our ‘Little Brain’ area, although my Slime Gland has been giving me trouble. It’s probably just the jet-lag.

We’ve got more content lined up for you over the next few days, including some more technical analysis of Nikon’s D5 and D500, and interviews with senior executives from Canon, Nikon, Ricoh and more. Thanks for reading and goodbye (for now) from Yokohama. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Building modern digital cameras and lenses is an exacting business. Each product is made up of sometimes hundreds of tiny components, assembled to meticulously narrow tolerances and if one piece is out of alignment, the whole is compromised. But you want to see what stuff looks like when it’s been cut in half? Yes. You do, you know you do. It’s OK, we won’t tell anyone. Click through for a look at things that we found at CP+ that have been cut in half. 

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)