Lenses

Gear Check: Canon Extension Tubes

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Extension tubes are a great little lens accessory, and I almost always have at least one of the Canon ones in my bag these days. At first glance they look like small, black extenders (sometimes called teleconverters), but actually they don’t have any optics inside them at all. It can be a bit confusing because extenders and extension tubes look similar, so let’s be clear from the start which is which, and what they do: Extension Tubes (what we’re talking about today) These sit between the lens and the camera body and act as a spacer to move the lens …

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Gear Check: New Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS II

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It’s always an exciting day when a big brown box arrives, especially when it says Canon on the side. This year, due to economical situations in Canada (where I live) and Japan, Canon raised their prices on all their lenses and cameras. Whilst this is always a bit of a blow, they were at least kind enough to let people know that the increases was coming, and they even honoured the old pricing for people that placed orders before the April 1st deadline on out-of-stock equipment. Some of the price increases were close to 20% on big ticket items, so …

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My Canon 11-24mm Is Here! Unboxing + First Look

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This year (2016 for those reading later) there were some hefty price increases on Canon lenses here in Canada. Thankfully the increase was known to be on the way, so I thought I’d order a few lenses that I’ve had my eye on, to make sure I got them at the lower price point.  One of the ones I ordered is the crazy looking Canon 11-24mm f/4 L, the world’s widest rectilinear lens at the time of writing this. Canon have really been at the forefront of photographic lens design for some time now, and their innovation never ceases to amaze …

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Inside the Canon 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x

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I was fascinated by this video because I own one of these lenses, but I think it’s worth sharing with you guys as well. This lens is a huge optical achievement from Canon and it puts a smile on my face every time I use it.  The built-in 1.4x extender is still a unique feature in the photo world, and it makes this lens design extremely complex.  Just look how many pieces there are in this thing! Should you wish to buy one (warming, you will get sticker shock), they have them at B&H Photo and Amazon. Here’s my one …

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canon 50mm f/1.8 stm

Checking Out The New Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM

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The so-called “Nifty Fifty” has been around for 24 years, so it’s high time Canon came out with an upgrade!  The new Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM will replace the f/1.8 II, and began shipping a couple of weeks ago.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to take a look at this lens, but I came across one in a nearby store so I thought, why not?  I know a ton of people will be curious about it, and I’m always recommending the old version to beginners since it’s such a great way to learn about shooting with a shallow …

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Tamron 150-600 Samples

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I’ve been playing with the Tamron 150-600 f/5-6.3 for a while now and I’ve had it out with me on a couple of good wildlife trips alongside my Canon 200-400 f/4.  It might seem like an odd pairing but I’ve been curious to see how the seemingly incredible value Tamron lens compares with the cream of the crop.  There’s no doubt this Tamron lens is a bit of an anomaly, it’s incredibly sharp for such a ‘cheap’ lens.  I use cheap in the relative sense, of course, because $1060 isn’t small change, but compared to the other options out there, …

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Canon 7D Mark II + Canon 100-400mm L IS II – Perfect Match?

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For Canon folks, the 7D Mark II is definitely the most exciting camera announcement of 2014, particularly if your hobby (or job) is shooting sports or wildlife images.  The original 7D was popular in these niches as well, but Canon have gone after these markets in a much bigger way with the 7D Mark II.  The 65-point AF system is generally on a par with that of the 3-times more expensive flagship EOS 1-DX, and in fact features a much wider spread of AF points across the frame. I think it’s the best AF system I’ve ever used, and the …

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Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS Review

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Hey guys, I don’t like to cross post too many things on here but I did want to point you to my review of the very popular Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS that I posted on Shutter Muse this week.  If you are in the market for a travel photography lens, or a general walkaround lens, then you should definitely check it out.       

Canon 200-400 Review

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Over on Shutter Muse I have posted an in-depth review of the Canon 200-400 f4 L IS.  Is this the worlds best wildlife photography lens as many predicted?  Find out what $12,000 can get you here……