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Canon 100-400 IS II MTF and Variation Tests
When the Canon 100-400 f/4-5.6 IS L Mk II lens was first released we immediately did some testing. First we took one apart and were extremely impressed with the build quality. Then we compared it using Imatest to the original Canon 100-400 IS L and the new Canon 400mm DO L IS Mk II lenses at 400mm.…
Cine Lens Teardown Comparison: Zeiss 85mm CP.2 T2.1 and Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5
I was pretty excited when I first heard about the Rokinon Xeen line of Cinema lenses. For several years now, Samyang / Rokinon photography lenses have given photographers with reasonable expectations some superb alternatives. They sell optically excellent lenses at amazingly low prices. There are…
MTF and Variation: An Example
We’ve spent most of the last month establishing a database of MTF curves and expected copy-to-copy variation for a number of lenses. Most people have a general idea about what we’re doing, can follow along the basics of MTF curves, etc. But many other people also have a very good question, “How…
70-200mm f/2.8 MTF and Variations
Finally, the last in our series of MTF and variation tests is here. We’ll be doing these going forward as new lenses are released but for now we’ve got a nice database of common lenses that we can measure others against. We’ve completed almost all of the common prime lenses, along with wide and…
Wide-Angle Zoom MTF and Variations
We recently published the MTF and variation curves of standard range lenses and now are going to tackle wide-angle zooms. As we’ve seen, zooms have more variation than primes and wide-angle primes have more variation than standard range primes. Also, the MTF curves of wide-angle primes are weaker…
Review of the Sigma 24-35mm f/2 Art Series
Last week, Roger had the unique opportunity to get a single copy of the Sigma 24-35mm f/2 Art Series to test the sharpness up against the most common lenses in the 24mm and 35mm focal range. When Roger was done with his tests, and showing off his results, I had the opportunity to bring the lens…
Turn Love into Loot!
We want to hear from you! Share your Lensrentals story and complete a quick customer survey and you’ll be entered to win your choice of a Sony A7s , Canon 5Ds , or Nikon D810 ! Click here to enter! Entries accepted through August 31, 2015. Must be a legal resident of the United States to win.…
Come see us at Photoshop World!
Are you headed to Las Vegas for Photoshop World next week? Come see us in booth #703! We will be there August 11-13 showing off gear, answering questions, and giving away an iPad Air and Lensrentals gift certificates! To visit the expo for free, just simply print out this expo pass and show it at…
Sony a7R II: A Brief Review
I’ve been a fan of the Sony a7 series bodies for a while, and I’ve been incorporating them into my paid work slowly but steadily. I was lucky enough to already try the new Sony a7R II at a wedding I was second shooting for Well Worn Co. I figured that would give me a good idea what I could do with…
Street Photography and the Sony A7s
Recently I took a trip to NYC and I wanted practice street photography on the same streets as Gary Winogrand and Robert Frank. I chose the Sony A7s to take with me because I’m spoiled on a full frame sensor and the option to change lenses. The Sony A7s is easily in my top 3 favorite cameras, and…
Quick MTF of the Tokina 24-70 f/2.8 PRO Fx
* Courtesy Tokina, USA * Tokina is releasing a new competitor in the 24-70mm f/2.8 standard zoom lens group. It’s a reasonably sized lens, having an 82mm diameter front ring, measuring 4.25 inches long, and weighing 2.2 pounds. That’s just a bit smaller and lighter than the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC…
A Quick Look at the New Sigma 24-35 f/2 Art
* Image Courtesy Sigma USA * I generally do MTF testing on multiple copies of a given lens so that I can present the averages, look at sample variation, and stuff like that. I’m always aware that looking at any single copy of a lens, especially a zoom lens, gives only a limited prediction of how…