EF 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus

Like many others, I am a big fan of 135L! Not really a surprise here, given its legendary optical performance! But, people often forgot about this little brother - EF 135/2.8 with Softfocus. In fact, i think it is one of the most under-appreciated lens in entire EF line!

It is small, AF fast, great soft focus effect when use it, and a darn sharp lens then you turn soft focus off.

Here are a few photo I took in my last trip to Boston.


Canon EOS Rebel XSi + Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus
Soft focus mode 1, 1/640s f/2.8 at 135.0mm iso200, resize only


Canon EOS Rebel XSi + Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus
Soft focus mode 1, 1/400s f/2.8 at 135.0mm iso200


Canon EOS Rebel XSi + Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus
Soft focus mode 1, 1/400s f/2.8 at 135.0mm iso200


And when Soft Focus being turn off,

Canon EOS Rebel XSi + Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus
Soft focus mode 0, 1/320s f/2.8 at 135.0mm iso400


Canon EOS Rebel XSi + Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus
Soft focus mode 0, 1/640s f/2.8 at 135.0mm iso400


Enjoy.

EF 600/4 LIS + 1.4x TCs compared

One can never have enough reach, even with the superteles, like 600/4 LIS. Naturally, tele-converters (or TCs) will be used. A 1.4x TC will get you 1.4x more focal length, at the cost of one stop of light. So 600/4 become 840/5.6.

There are quite a few 1.4x TCs available, a few are very popular ones, like Canon EF 1.4x II, Kenko Pro 300 1.4x dg, and Tamron 1.4x. Canon's is most expensive, while tamron is the cheapest.




But how about the IQ, do they have noticeable difference? Well, see for youself.

The setup
Canon 450d + 600/4 LIS, Tripod + Wimberley head, Live View AF, wait > 10 seconds until no more shake detected, remote cable release. 3 shots each, best shot used for comparsion.

The target


Canon EF 1.4x II vs. Kenko Pro 300 1.4x DG (copy a)


Canon EF 1.4x II vs. Kenko Pro 300 1.4x DG (copy b)


Canon EF 1.4x II vs. Tamron 1.4x (MC4)


Kenko Pro 300 1.4x DG (copy b) vs. Tamron 1.4x (MC4)


To my eyes, canon is still slightly better than kenko, which is in turn better than tamron. No reall surprise here.

In the field, kenko AF seems a very slightly faster than Canon, and it can be stacked with others. For example, two kenko 1.4x can be stacked together, but one can not stack two canon 1.4x together. In fact, it is very popular to have one kenko stacked with a canon EF 1.4x, this is gives very good IQ, be able to AF at none 1 series bodies with good AF speed! I have some test results on 2x vs. stacked 1.4x TCs, but I guess that has to be covered in another article.

Canon XSi (450D) vs. 40D

Original posted at dpreview.


The first question is that how it compare to its bigger brother 40d?

Three shots each, and the best one used for comparsion. Locked tripod, ML, 300/2.8LIS + EF 2x @ f8, iso400. RAW processed by dpp standard, sharpness 3.


(Please click on the photo to see it in its native resolution)


To my eyes, 450d does resolved quite a bit more details and more sharper. 12 mp vs. 10mp definitely be one factor here.

But is it possible that 450d has weaker AA filter as well? If so that'd be even better. Need more data on this one.

ps: dpreview's tests have showed that it is indeed 450d have better resolution than 40d, thanks for both higher density sensors and weaker AA filters.

San Francisco Carnaval 2008

Try embeded slide show this time. :)

Photos from San Francisco Carnaval 2008, Grand Parade.

Canon 1D Classic + EF 135L. All shots are wide open.

Burrowing Owl

Saw this lovely owl again! And this time it does let me get very close, i guess that he just had a wonderful meal and didn't want to move much!

Canon EOS Rebel XSi ,Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/1600s f/4.0 at 420.0mm iso200
2 kenko pro 1.4x stacked.
(1/1600s f/5.6 at 600mm iso200)

Canon EOS Rebel XSi ,Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/2000s f/4.0 at 420.0mm iso400
2 kenko pro 300 dg 1.4x TC stacked.
(1/2000s f/5.6 at 600.0mm iso400)