Optical Limits: Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G Review – Might Be The Best Single Lens For A Desert Island

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 31, 2023

Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Optical Limits posted its full review of the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G and of course, it is a solid performer. You can read the full review here or an excerpt below:

The Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G is one of the more exciting lenses released in recent years. It may be a new contender if we revisit the age-old question of which single lens to take on a remote island…. It relies heavily on digital auto-correction to do the job, but there’s nothing wrong with this per se… In RAW images, the barrel distortions are nothing short of excessive at 20mm. Distortion correction is lossy, so auto-correction takes a toll on resolution. However, even so, the quality remains almost surprisingly high. The broader center quality is very good to excellent, and the outer image field is still good. As usual, the results are best in the broader middle zoom range. There’s a tiny drop at 70mm, but the results are still sharp. Auto-correction is doing a nice job of reducing the vignetting. Lateral CAs are also quite low. If we had to point to a single major weakness that is image-affecting from an end-user perspective, it’s the bokeh… as far as we can tell from sample images, the lens is pretty resistant to flare effects. And it can also produce pretty nice sun stars in night scenes.

The build quality of the FE 20-70mm f/4 G aligns with what you can expect from a modern G-class lens. It feels solid, and the used plastics are of high quality. The weather sealing may not have an IP rating, but it’s certainly reassuring. The zoom and focus control rings operate smoothly. Videographers will certainly appreciate the focus breathing compensation support (in certain Sony cameras) as well as the clickless aperture option. The AF motor is both very quick and noiseless.

Overall, the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G is a winner unless you are into shallow depth-of-field photography. Especially outdoor enthusiasts will like the combination of image quality, compact size and low weight … and, of course, the 20mm setting, which is its standout feature.

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Irix 65mm T1.5 Announced

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 30, 2023


Announcing our Highly Anticipated New Cine 65mm T1.5
We are thrilled to announce the development of an exciting new Cine lens.

Since 2019, we have been dedicated to providing filmmakers with exceptional cine lenses designed for popular cinema camera mounts. Our extensive collection, ranging from 11mm to 150mm, has gained a reputation for delivering premium image quality and is fully compatible with Full Frame cameras.

Continuing our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of filmmakers, Irix is pleased to confirm the development of a new lens that will bridge the gap between the existing 45mm and 150mm options. Introducing the highly anticipated 65mm T1.5 lens, designed to deliver exceptional versatility and stunning visual performance.

While further details about the lens are currently under wraps, we are excited to announce that an official release is planned in the following weeks. In the meantime, we invite all participants of the Cine Gear Expo in Los Angeles, USA, to visit our booth at Stage 32 – S3260 for an exclusive first-hand experience of a preproduction sample of this remarkable lens.

The expanded lineup of Irix Cine lenses will include:

These lenses will be available in a variety of mounts, ensuring compatibility with Canon EF, Canon RF, L-mount, MFT, Nikon Z, PL-mount, Sony E, and Fuji X cameras.

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AstrHori 18mm f/8 2X Probe Macro Lens Announced

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 29, 2023

AstrHori 18mm f/8 2X Probe Macro: Amazon

AstrHori Introduces the First APS-C 2X Macro Probe Lens — 18mmF8
Let everyone realize creative, macro photography.

AstrHori announces the APS-C 18mm f/8 2x Macro Probe Lens for Sony E, Fuji X, Canon RF, EF, Nikon Z and more mounts.
The lens will be officially launched on May 29th on Amazon, AliExpress, independent stations and other platforms.
The lens is now on sale for an impressively-low price of just USD 719, EUR 999, JPY 119,599, GBP 879, MXN 14,369, CAD 989.

Following the launch of the 28mmF13 2X macro probe lens, the 18mmF8 2X macro macro probe lens is launched. I don’t know if there will be a 28mmF13 second-generation lens, let us look forward to it.

As the first APS-C probe lens, AstrHori 18mmF8 is a probe type macro lens with a detachable structure design, and the wide-angle focal length is 18mm. It makes up for the shortcomings that ordinary lenses cannot shoot in claustrophobic and small spaces. Stable image quality with a minimum focusing distance of approximately 0.05m and a maximum magnification ratio of 2:1 (life size).

The front end of the lens can be imaged separately, with a focal length of approximately 90mm, and in addition, the main subject is highlighted through the wide-angle macro, creating an immersive image.

This lens is not only an ideal choice for macro shooting, but the built-in movie gear can provide more convenience for movie shooting, whether it is a close-up of a product or a special lens for commercial shooting, it can be easily controlled.

Specification:

  • Focal length   18mm.
  • Frame         (APS-C).
  • Mount        Canon RF, EF, Nikon Z, Sony E, Fuji X, Panasonic L, Olympus M43.
  • Focus mode    (Manual).
  • Focusing range  0.475m~∞.
  • Working Distance  5mm.
  • Aperture range    F/8~28.
  • Angle of view     76.0°
  • Diaphragm blades  7 tablets (7blades).
  • Optical structure   17 groups of 23 elements (23elementsin17groups).
  • Optical total length (TTL)    469mm.
  • Dimensions (Dimension)   Φ60*L457mm.
  • Weight (Heavy volume)    716g.

Wider 18mm Under the same magnification, the wide-angle macro can accommodate more and larger content, shoot extremely small objects, and also capture the surrounding environment into the picture to enhance the sense of picture.

Front Waterproof Design The front group of the lens is 20cm extreme waterproof, with a limit wading line mark, which can directly enter family fish tanks, wild streams, small animal caves and other wading areas for work.

Built-in LED fill lightBuilt-in LED fill light, which is conducive to working in dark light. It can work when connected to a 5v power supply. It can effectively increase the light intensity when shooting with a small aperture for macro.

Waterproof protective lens is made of sapphire material The front protective lens is made of sapphire material, which is more wear-resistant, has a longer service life, and has wider application scenarios.

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Sony Savings Sunday

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 28, 2023


Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD FE Save $100:
B&H Photo /  Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 35mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Samsung 4TB SSD: Amazon / B&H Photo / Adorama


Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f/4.5 ASPH III (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Voigtlander 21mm f/1.4 FE (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 FE (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.2 FE (Save $350):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.2 FE (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Voigtlander MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm f/2.5 (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Other Deals
Memory Card Savings
Power Banks

Battery Banks
Anker PowerCore Speed 20000 PD
PowerCore+26800 PD
other more affordable options

New Apple M2: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
New Apple Mac Pro: B&H Photo
New Apple iPad Pro and More: B&H Photo / Adorama
New Apple iMac Pro: B&H Photo / Adorama
New Apple MBP: B&H Photo / Adorama
MacBook Pro (Savings still available): B&H Photo

Limited-time iPad Pro Savings
iPad Pro Bundles: B&H Photo

Software Deals
Luminar Neo & Aurora HDR 2019 (Savings code FUJIADDICT)
ON1 Photo RAW 2023
Picktorial
TopazLabs
Capture One

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LAOWA Argus 28mm F1.2 FF Announced

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 26, 2023


LAOWA Argus 28mm F1.2 FF: B&H Photo / Amazon

Cytron Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Akira Watanabe) has announced the launch of the LAOWA Argus 28mm F1.2 FF, a new camera lens brand from Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology (Venus Optics). It will be released on June 2, 2023.

“LAOWA Argus 28mm F1.2 FF” has a focal length of 28mm and a bright F-number of F1.2 that can be used for a wide range of shooting purposes, so it can be used not only for daily use in the daytime, but also for capturing precious moments in low light. It is a lens that can From the maximum aperture, it delivers overwhelming resolution and high optical performance.

■ Release overview
Product name: LAOWA Argus 28mm F1.2 FF
mount: SONY FE / Nikon Z / Canon RF / L mount

Suggested retail price: Open price
Estimated market price: Around 110,000 yen including tax
*Estimated market price is the price we estimate. , different from the actual selling price.
Release date: Friday, June 2, 2023 Read More »

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Tamron 90mm f/2 1x Mag and 90mm f/2.8 2x Mag Patents Found

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 25, 2023

  • Applicant: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Publication number: P2023072281
    Application number: P 2021184724
    Publication date: 2023-05-24Title
    of invention: Optical system and imaging device
  • Kind Code: A1 An optical system and an imaging apparatus having a larger aperture and a higher imaging magnification can be provided while maintaining a compact size as a whole.
  • As these imaging devices have become more sophisticated and smaller, there has been a demand for their imaging lenses (optical systems) to have higher performance and smaller sizes, and macro lenses are no exception.
  • Macro lenses are required to achieve high optical performance over the entire focal range by suppressing fluctuations in aberrations during focusing, such as fluctuations in spherical aberration and curvature of field. However, most macro lenses on the market today are around F2.8. Even with a zoom lens, it is possible to achieve a similar imaging magnification with a brightness of about F2.8, and there are cases where the zoom lens is used as a substitute for the macro lens. Therefore, there is a growing demand for macro lenses that are smaller, have higher performance, and have higher added value that pursue imaging expressions unique to macro lenses.
  • However, although the optical system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an F2.0 aperture and is intended to achieve a large aperture ratio, the weight and movement of the focus group are large. It is difficult to improve imaging magnification and focus speed.
  • In addition, in the optical system disclosed in Patent Document 2, in order to further increase the aperture and improve the imaging magnification, another lens group must be configured in order to satisfactorily correct the aberration occurring in the third lens group. It is necessary to increase the number of lenses, resulting in an increase in the size of the optical system.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical system and imaging apparatus with a larger aperture and a higher imaging magnification while keeping the overall size small.

  • Example 1 (90mm F2 life-size macro)
    Magnification 0 0.5x 1x
    Focal length 92.7002 56.4352 38.4725
    F value 2.110 3.200 4.200
    Half angle of view 12.5792 6.5626 3.7783
    Image height 21.633 21.633
    21.633 back Focus 18.500 18.500 18.500
    Optical total length 134.619 134.619 145.676

  • Example 2 (90mm F2 0.8x macro)
    Magnification 0 0.5x 0.8x
    Focal length 92.7001 61.6892 46.4780
    F value 2.1549 3.2000 3.8000
    Half angle of view 12.5935 5.8338 5.7301
    Image height 21.633
    21.633 21.633 Back focus 18.500 18.500 18.500
    Optical total length 136.903 136.903 136.903

  • Example 3 (90mm F2.8 2x macro)
    Magnification 0 1x 2x
    Focal length 87.8766 39.7703 25.9505
    F value 2.9000 5.8500 8.7000
    Half angle of view 12.9523 8.4795 5.1482
    Image height 21.633 21.633
    21.6 33 Back focus 37.877 37.877 37.877
    Optical total length 145.000 145.000 154.112

  • Example 4 (90mm F2.8 1.5x macro)
    Magnification 0 0.75x 1.5x
    Focal length 91.6041 50.1114 35.1898
    F value 2.9100 5.0000 6.5000
    Half angle of view 12.7285 8.6295 5.5211
    Image height 21.633 21.6
    33 21.633 Back focus 53.033 40.589 40.589
    Optical total length 143.520 143.520 154.229

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD FE:
B&H Photo /  Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 FE:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD FE:
Amazon
Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III RXD FE:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD FE:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2（Model F050):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2（Model F051):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Tamron 35mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2（Model F053):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III A-VC RXD:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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via digicame-info

 

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