Cameras
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Leica Q3 43 review
Leica’s Q3 43 builds on the success of the Q-series, adding a new 43mm F2 Apo lens to the 60 MP CMOS of the regular Leica Q3. Kevin Carter takes a look. With Canon and Nikon concentrating on niche genres like sports and action or the ‘content creator’, it’s hardly surprising when something like the Leica Q3 arrives to fill the void. And now it has been joined by the Leica Q3 43. While expensive, with better resale prices than rival makes when the time comes to upgrade, it is perhaps the most economical way into the Leica system. Small, light and discreet, the Leica Q3 43 shares the ergonomics…
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Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 specs compared with Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM
Technical Data Comparison Manufacturer Canon Nikon Model RF 35mm F1.4L VCM Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 Web www.canon.co.uk www.nikon.co.uk Elements/construction 14 elements in 11 groups 11 elements in 9 groups Special glass types 2x UD, 2x Asph 2x Asph Aperture blades 11 rounded 9 rounded Angle of view 63° (diagonal) 63° (diagonal) Max aperture F1.4 F1.4 Min aperture F16 F16 Min focus distance 0.28 m (11.02 in) 0.27 m (10.6 in) Mount RF mount Z mount Filter size 67mm 62mm Length 99.3mm (3.9 in.) 86.5mm (3.4 in.) Diameter 76.5mm (3 in.) 74.5mm (2.93 in.) Weight 555g (1.2 lb) 415g (0.91 lb) Price £1819 inc VAT ($1,499) £650 inc VAT ($699)…
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Fujifilm Fujinon GF30mm F5.6 T/S three-shot hand-held panorama at maximum shift (± 15mm)
Handheld three-shot pano with GF30mm F5.6 T/S, totalling 175 MP. As this was shot without a tripod, there’s quite a bit of overlap in the centre but what’s of interest here is that maximum shift ±15mm has been applied to show the worst case. Focus was confirmed using magnified LV, which is my preferred option of the various focusing aids. This three-shot pano was stitched in Lightroom with an automatic lens profile applied, which can’t be turned off. Still, no further corrections were made to show the vignetting and it’s no big deal as it could be cleaned up. Automatic profiles like this don’t show what’s being corrected in…
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Fujifilm Fujinon GF30mm F5.6 T/S specs compared with Canon EF 24mm F3.5L TS-E
I realise this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison but as many architecture photographers adapt the Canon 24mm TS-E to use on their Fujifilm GFX system cameras then the side-by-side contrast makes more sense. It’s surprising how similar the specs are but early testing of the Fujifilm GF30mm T/S with the 100MP Fujifilm GFX100 II (which has an optimised sensor for this lens, apparently) suggests super-impressive optical performance, even when shifted to the maximum. Also, if there was any doubt that the tilt and shift functions can be oriented separately to use in the same ‘direction’ (it wasn’t that clear in the press release), then I can confirm they can. When fully…
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Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM specs compared with predecessor, Canon EF 35mm F1.4L USM II
Canon has introduced the mirrorless successor to the much-vaunted EF 35mm F1.4L USM II, only it’s not quite what we were expecting. Like the recently announced Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L, this new lens is a hybrid model, appealing to filmmakers and stills photographers. As such, it features a new voice-coil motor (VCM) for AF, a type of linear motor noted for its smooth focusing, supplemented with a second Nano USM to control the ‘floating’ (independently moved) element used in close-range correction. It also relies quite heavily on digital correction, though it’s not alone these days. A new step-less manual aperture ring is included but only for video; apparently it’s not…
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Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM specs compared with predecessor, Canon EF 35mm F1.4L USM II
Canon has introduced the mirrorless successor to the much-vaunted EF 35mm F1.4L USM II, only it’s not quite what we were expecting. Like the recently announced Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8L, this new lens is a hybrid model, appealing to filmmakers and still photographers. As such, it features a new voice-coil motor (VCM) for AF, a type of linear motor noted for its smooth focusing, supplemented with a second Nano USM to control the ‘floating’ (independently moved) element used in close-range correction. It also relies quite heavily on digital correction, though it’s not alone these days. A new step-less manual aperture ring is included but only for video; apparently it’s not…
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Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM
Technical Data Manufacturer Canon Model RF 35mm F1.4L VCM Web www.canon.co.uk Elements/construction 14 elements in 11 groups (2x UD, 2x Asph) Angle of view 63° (diagonal) Max aperture F1.4 Min aperture F16 Min focus distance 0.28 m (11.02 in) Mount RF mount Filter size 67mm Length 99.3 mm (3.9 in.) Diameter 76.5 mm (3 in.) Weight 555 g (1.2 lb) Price £1819 inc VAT ($1,499) Check stock and prices of the Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM at the following retailers: WEX Photo (UK)| Park Cameras (UK) | Canon Store (UK/Eur) B&H Photo (US) | Adorama (US) | Amazon (US/UK) Articles may include affiliate links. If you purchase through…
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Leica Q3 review: the quintessential Leica
Leica’s Q series is the company’s best-selling digital camera to date and it’s not all that difficult to see why. Kevin Carter looks at the latest iteration, the Leica Q3 Small, light and unobtrusive the Leica Q embodies all that’s attractive of the Leica M with added the benefit of a Kabe-designed Leica autofocus 28mm F1.7 lens. This is the closest we have to an autofocus M series camera, and unless you’re adept at using one of those you’ll be more successful shooting at the initial aperture or close to it and far more discrete using a Leica Q. What’s more, the latest iteration the Leica Q3 is the fastest…
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Canon announces three new RF lenses for the EOS R system
Canon has announced three new lenses for the EOS R system, a high-speed RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z priced at £3,440 inc VAT, aimed at sports photographers and hybrid operators, an RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM targeting sports and birders which is not unreasonably priced at £2,299 inc VAT and an RF-S 10-18mm (16-35mm equiv.) F4.5-6.3 IS STM designed for APS-C EOS R cameras at £379, inc VAT. Particularly interesting, to me at least, is the high-speed RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z, a lens that was once expected with an EF mount but was never put into serial production. It makes much more sense as an RF model.…
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Leica updates Summicron-M 28mm F2 ASPH with close focus
Leica has continued to add the close-focus feature to the venerable Summicron-M 28mm F2 ASPH, first seen with on the rather incredible (and hard to find) Summicron-M 35mm F2.0 APO. The new lens focuses to 0.4m instead of 0.7m, which is a huge plus when including people in the shot. The close focus feature can only be verified on-screen on a Leica M, with a visoflex (EVF) or the Leica app. It’s also a benefit on the Leica SLs, which seems obvious but is often overlooked. My thoughts are Leica is preparing us for a Leica M with a built-in electronic viewfinder, which will most likely be offered as…
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