News For camera nerds only

[Wazzerphuk]

That Zeiss 21mm is lovely. Really lovely. If I ever have stupid money to burn to replace my 20mm f/2.8....

 

[old.user4556]

I could forego the flexibility of the 16-35mm II L and go prime for the better corners. Besides, using the LEE CPL adapter ring means I can't go wider than 12mm on crop anyway (about 19mm FOV on 35mm), so the Zeiss 21mm could be the one.

 

[milou]

Have a try first >> http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

 

[old.user4556]

Yeah been thinking about it, the lack of flexibility is a bit scary.

Other than the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 (which you can't use a 10 stop on, or standard filters unless you buy that mahoosively expensive Lee kit), there are no UWA lenses that Nikon make that are worth it or good enough IMO.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Why are TS lenses so good? How do they work?

 

[caLLous]

A pretty decent explanation (with lots of visual examples) of the tech in this guy's TS-E 24mm f3.5L II review. I think they are so good at the edges because the image circle is so much bigger than on normal lenses because you can shift the frame around the image circle. So what you consider to be the edge of the frame on a standard lens is in a much less edge-like place on the TS-E. I *think* that's why they (and this one in particular) are considered to be so good across the whole frame. All of that adds up to zero distortion, hardly any CA, mad-good edge-to-edge sharpness etc...

Then of course you have all the extra creative possibilities that the tilty and shifty bits offer you. In short: I want one.

 

[TdC]

TS == tilt shift? In my photography school days, we could only do that kind of stuff with technical or technical field cameras.

The original purpose -iirc- was to remove perspective distortion by allowing the focal plane / image circle and exposure plane to be moved around respective to each other. In this manner you could make perspective-corrected images where among other effects parallel lines would not be perceived to converge on each other.

I had a blast taking images with cameras such as the one in the attached image. There was all kinds of trickery: for example, you had to compute your exposure times based on your aperture and the distance your lens plane and exposure plane were apart. The Zeiss lenses we used were huge constructions on the plane, as each lens had it's aperture and shutter built in to it. Amazing memories

 

[old.user4556]

A pretty decent explanation (with lots of visual examples) of the tech in this guy's TS-E 24mm f3.5L II review. I think they are so good at the edges because the image circle is so much bigger than on normal lenses because you can shift the frame around the image circle. So what you consider to be the edge of the frame on a standard lens is in a much less edge-like place on the TS-E. I *think* that's why they (and this one in particular) are considered to be so good across the whole frame. All of that adds up to zero distortion, hardly any CA, mad-good edge-to-edge sharpness etc...

Then of course you have all the extra creative possibilities that the tilty and shifty bits offer you. In short: I want one.

That's a good review that one, what I'd give to be able to put a Canon 24mm TS-E II on a D800, sadly not to be. It's the shift function that interests me the most to keep verticals straight but get more foreground in.

Like this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickmann/5454590816/

 

[TdC]

landscapes and buildings should be awesome, but be aware that people will look "odd"

 

[old.user4556]

Bah to people, photos of people are for Wazz and Clown! PAH!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Wut? When do I take pics of people? Hate the things.

 

[milou]

The 24mm TSE-II is a pretty awesome straight 24mm too. No image tearing in the corners, no CA (as per the Digital Picture review). You have to hone your focusing technique too as it's manual only but liveview certainly helps.

 

[old.user4556]

Great review here comparing the Zeiss Distagon 21mm, the Canon 24mm L, the Canon 17-40mm L and the 17mm TS-E. The 17mm TS-E looks just as superb as it's 24mm TS-E II brother, shame about the "no filter" front element though

http://macdanzigphotography.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/zeiss-21mm-distagon-ze-review/

Some crops:

In addition to my full-frame fantasy with the Zeiss 21mm, I would like to add the Samyang 35mm f/1.4

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/657-samyang35f14eosff?start=1

Look at those resolution and aberration figures at f/8, blows the doors off the equivalent Canon, Nikon and Carl Zeiss counterparts. All yours for £340 as well.

 

[milou]

The 17-40 is great - ok, there's distortion, CA n' shizzle, but for the price...
Also the Zeiss is a new lens - the 17-40 and the 24mm are of an age.

 

[old.user4556]

I think it makes the 17-40mm look like a bargain given you can get one around the £650 mark. The Zeiss 21mm is around £1300 (give or take)

 

[milou]

Mint £430 >> http://www.apertureuk.com/canon_auto_focus.html

New £519 >> http://www.onestop-digital.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=33302

 

[old.user4556]

STOP THIS TEMPTATION

 

[Wazzerphuk]

In addition to my full-frame fantasy with the Zeiss 21mm, I would like to add the Samyang 35mm f/1.4

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/657-samyang35f14eosff?start=1

Look at those resolution and aberration figures at f/8, blows the doors off the equivalent Canon, Nikon and Carl Zeiss counterparts. All yours for £340 as well.

Bokeh hell at 1.4 though.

 

[old.user4556]

I wouldn't use it at anything less than f/8.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I like my new car, but I only drive in third gear.

 

[old.user4556]

Hardly the same!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

But I get the best engine response in third!

 

[caLLous]

So the bokeh is better in third or...?

 

[Wazzerphuk]

YES, DUR

 

[caLLous]

I have so much to learn.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Bokeh is quite good in second too.

 

[old.user4556]

Klaus has posted a detailed review of the new Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 and it looks ... *drum roll* fucking epic.

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/741-tamron2470f28eosff

Cut to the chase:

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/741-tamron2470f28eosff?start=1 - Tamron stats

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/528-canon2470f28ff - Canon 24-70 stats

It's as good as the canon, infact it's sharper in most places except the border at 35mm & f/2.8 - aberrations are also very well controlled. Canon and Nikon don't have image stabilisation on their equivalents where this Tamron does. The addition of weather sealing makes it a superb lens all round. Best bit? Half the price of Canon's new 24-70 f/2.8 and less than the Nikon equivalent. Take a bow Tamron.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-tamron-24-70mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd-sp-lens-canon-fit/p1530694 - (you'll get it cheaper)

 

[caLLous]

...what I'd give to be able to put a Canon 24mm TS-E II on a D800, sadly not to be.

Don't be so sure of that! (probably bullshit)

 

[old.user4556]

I'd buy that for a dollar! (or two thousand)

 

[Deebs]

I'd buy that for a dollar! (or two thousand)

I am available for less than a quid.

/me runs off to Ben Dover and O2 to grass on Big G....