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From the LensRentals Blog:

You guys have watched us gut a lot of lenses and cameras over the years. So I thought it would be fun for you to see us put one together from scratch. Compared to many of the lenses we’ve taken apart, this is all mechanical lens is rather simple: no focus motors, image stabilizers, etc. But even a simple lens is a very complex structure. This post will probably give you a good idea of how much mechanical design is required to make even a very basic lens.
 
The lens is also unique; it’s a prototype C-4 Optics 4.9mm f/3.5 circular fisheye. It’s a massive lens giving a 270-degree field of view, meant for immersive video and specialty shots. To give you an idea of what 270 degrees means, the lens sees behind itself. An ultra-wide 15mm fisheye lens gives a 180-degree field of view while an 11mm rectilinear lens is less than 120 degrees.
 
The closest thing that’s existed to this is the 1970s classic Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 fisheye, which gave a 220-degree field of view, weighed 5 kg, and can be rarely found for $100,000 and up these days. The C-4 optics lens weighs every bit as much as the Nikkor, but should be far sharper, have less distortion and vignetting, and cost somewhat less than those do today. (‘Somewhat’ being defined as ‘less than half’.)
 
So let’s put stuff together!

See the entire illustrated assembly at the LensRentals Blog.

The EOS 6D Mark II is the smallest, lightest and least expensive latest-model Canon full frame DSLR and the EOS RP enters the market as the smallest, lightest and least expensive Canon full frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC). With the EOS RP using a slightly-modified EOS 6D Mark II sensor, these two cameras produce nearly identical image quality. However, the difference between DSLRs and MILCs is rather big with the difference between electronic viewfinders and optical viewfinders being a primary difference. That page discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each design and I'll forgo most additional discussion in that regard in this comparison. Let's dive into the advantages of each camera model:
 
Canon EOS RP Advantages
 

• DIGIC 8 vs. 7
• More AF points (via viewfinder): 4,779 vs. 45
• Eye AF vs. no
• 100% viewfinder coverage vs. 98%
• Lower light AF working range: EV -5 vs. EV -3
• Lower light exposure metering: EV -3 vs. EV 1
• .CR3 RAW file type with C-RAW vs .CR2 with M-RAW, S-RAW
• 4k video
• Headphone jack vs. no
• Supports SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II vs. UHS-I
• Smaller size: 5.22 x 3.35 x 2.76" vs. 5.67 x 4.35 x 2.94"
  (132.5 x 85.0 x 70.0mm vs. 144.0 x 110.5 x 74.8mm)
• Lighter weight: 17.1 oz vs. 26.98 oz (485 vs. 765g)
• Lower price
• Can utilize RF lenses

Canon EOS 6D Mark II Advantages
 

• Cross-type AF points vs. single-line-sensitive
• Has greater auto exposure compensation range: +/-5 EV vs. +/-3 EV
• Faster continuous shooting rate: 6.5 fps vs. 5 fps (4 fps with Servo AF)
• Shorter viewfinder blackout during continuous shooting
• Has built-in GPS vs. optional accessory
• Has much longer battery life: Approx. 1200 vs. 250
• Uses N3 type remote controls vs. E3
• Has top LCD and more buttons

 

 
Summary
 
With these two cameras having the same heart, the imaging sensor, producing similar image quality, it is especially interesting to compare these two models. If photographing action is on your to-do list, the 6D Mark II is probably better-suited for your needs and some of the other 6D II advantages are important for certain uses. The travel-friendly smaller size and lighter weight along with the wallet-friendly lower cost are going to win the RP a lot of hearts as will some of its other features including the larger, full-coverage viewfinder and 4k video. The purchase of either of these models over the other can be justified, but I expect the RP to quickly become the more popular option.
 
More Information: Canon EOS RP | Canon EOS 6D Mark II
 
Specifications: Canon EOS RP compared to the Canon EOS 6D Mark II
 
 
Get your EOS RP or 6D Mark II Here:
 
Canon EOS RP: B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX
 
Canon EOS 6D Mark II: B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX
 

by Sean Setters
 
Holidays offer great opportunities for gift giving and flowers, although possibly a bit cliché, are still very often appreciated, which is why a bouquet of flowers has been sitting on our living room hutch since Valentine's Day. But while flowers are intended to be enjoyed by the recipient, there's no reason why we as photographers can't take advantage of the beautiful subjects at hand to add some colorful floral images to our portfolios.
 
A few evenings ago after my wife had retired for the evening, I took her bouquet into the studio to try one of my favorite techniques for photographing flowers – focus stacking. After perusing the options available in the bouquet, I settled on a type of flower that I've photographed before, a type of Peruvian lily. The colorful, elongated spots found on the leaves as well as the easily visible inner structures of these flowers make them ideal candidates for photographing.
 
I set up my Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM + 36mm extension tube on a sturdy tripod and Arca-Swiss Z1 ball head set to f/9, 1/160 sec, ISO 100 and tried several compositions with the Peruvian lily that caught my eye. A studio flash on each side of the bouquet provided the light required for a proper exposure at those settings, and Magic Lantern's Focus Stacking feature was used to increment focus for the focus bracketed images. After capturing all of the variations, I brought the images into Canon's Digital Photo Professional to see which one (or ones) might work well for further processing. Finding a series that I really liked, I opened the relevant RAW files in Helicon Focus (my preferred focus stacking software), compiled the images and output the result as a DNG.
 
Looking closer at the result in Photoshop CC, I realized that I hadn't captured enough depth-of-field in my focus bracket to fully cover the parts of the plant I wanted in focus. As such, instead of having crisp lines in places where I wanted to emphasize details, I had soft transitions that didn't seem to meld with the rest of the focus stacked image.
 
From a photographic standpoint, my attempt at a pleasing focus stack image was a failure. But then I had a moment of inspiration.
 
My wife is a huge fan of impressionist paintings. In fact, not more than a couple of weeks ago she insisted we see (aka, dragged me to) the impressionist art exhibit that was showing at the Jepson Center for the Arts ("Monet to Matisse: Masterworks of French Impressionism"). The nice thing about impressionism is that crisp details are not a notable quality of the creative movement; in the case of my image, I could use impressionism to hide the major flaw in my image. Keep in mind, rarely is an image made visually palatable if you have to "save it in post." But in this case, it seemed to work just fine.
 
After searching for several years for a Photoshop plug-in that could convincingly turn an image into a painting, I finally found Topaz Impression and never looked back. It's been an excellent find and has opened up a new door for monetizing my images. Or in this case, just saving one.

B&H has a Used Really Right Stuff BH-40 Ball Head with Full-Size Lever-Release Clamp (Condition: 9+) available for $319.95 with free shipping. Compare at $415.00 new.
 
Product Highlights
 

• 18 lb Load Capacity
• Max Height: 3.0"
• 90-Degree Notch for Portrait Orientation
• Separate Tension Control Knob
• Panning Base with Engraved Degree Marks
• Base Diameter 2.1", Ball Diameter 1.6"
• Weight: 17.1 oz
• Accepts Optional Arca-Type Plates

B&H typically offers a 90-day warranty on used items. Please check the product listing above to verify.

Adorama has the Flashpoint Junior Steel Wheeled Stand - 12' available for $149.95 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $179.95.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Massive strength and balance
• For the biggest Junior Pin lighting fixtures
• Great for boom and remote arms
• All steel and aluminum construction
• Spring loaded risers
• 12 feet of pure power
• No scuff locking polyurethane casters

From Tamron:
 
Products to be sent to and updated by Tamron
 
For details about the service, please contact your nearest Tamron dealer. For the list of Tamron dealers, please click here.
 
Service for compatibility with Canon EOS R
 
New firmware version makes the model compatible with Canon "EOS R" and Canon "Mount Adapter EF-EOS R" for general operations(*).
 

Model	Product	Mount	Supported Camera Models	Info
A011	SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD	Canon	EOS R	Firmware released on Feb. 19, 2019

(*) Functions used on DSLR cameras

B&H has the Dracast 728B LED Panel available for $199.00 with free shipping. Regularly $299.00.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Bi-Color: 2300 to 6800K
• High Color Accuracy, CRI 96
• 0-100% Dimmable, Beam Angle: 25°
• Measures 12.4 x 13 x 2.6"
• Optional V-Mount Batteries
• 100 to 240 VAC Adapter
• 5/8" Receiver

Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the Davis & Sanford TR654C-36 Traverse Carbon Fiber Grounder Tripod With Ball Head available for $99.99 with free shipping. Regularly $169.99.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Load Capacity: 12 lb
• Max Height: 65"
• Min Height: 9"
• Folded Length: 18.5"
• Leg Sections: 4
• Weight: 3.25 lb
• Reverse-Folding Legs
• Ball Head with Arca-Type QR Plate
• Rubber and Spiked Feet
• Carrying Bag Included

See today's full list of B&H Deal Zone Deals for excellent savings opportunities.

Adorama has the Refurbished Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED IF Lens available for $1,679.95 with free expedited shipping. Compare at $2,196.95 new.
 
Product Highlights
 

• World's first full-frame 105mm with an f/1.4 maximum aperture
• A marvel of optical precision, distortion correction and craftsmanship
• Chromatic aberration, ghosting and flare is minimized by three
• Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) elements
• Nano Crystal Coat (N) outperforms conventional antireflection coatings over a broad wavelength range for maximum contrast

Nikon USA refurbished items come with a 90-day warranty.
 
Adorama has a wide selection of Nikon refurbished items in its inventory right now, with significant savings on a lot of pro gear. In its refurbished inventory (savings against new/retail):
 

• Refurb. Nikon D850 - $500.00 savings
• Refurb. Nikon Df with 50mm f/1.8G - $795.00 savings
• Refurb. Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S - $400.00 savings
• Refurb. Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED - $547.00 off
• Refurb. Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED AF-S VR-II - $2,000.00 savings
• Refurb. Nikon 200mm f/2G IF-ED AF-S VR II - $900.00 savings
• Refub. Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR II - $1,000.00 savings

B&H has the Gura Gear G Elite G26 Pro Camera Backpack available for $139.95 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $359.95.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Holds Pro DSLRs & Super Telephoto Lenses
• Protective Compartment for 15" Laptop
• Butterfly Multi-Access System
• Fully Adjustable Internal Divider System
• Two Full-Length Front Accessory Pockets
• Multiple Interior Mesh Pockets
• Multipoint Tripod/Monopod Configuration
• M.O.L.L.E. Compatible Attachment Points
• Stowaway Harness & Removable Waist Belt
• Removable Rain Fly & Custom-Fit Dust Bag

Focus Camera has the Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera in stock with free one-day shipping and is throwing in a free Sony SF-G Series 64GB Class 10 UHS-II SDXC memory card (over $100.00 value) as well as a Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R ($99.00 value).
 
Note: The free memory card and adapter also come with the Canon EOS R with RF 24-105L IS USM Lens Kit.
 
Product Highlights
 

• 30.3MP Full Frame CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 8 Image Processor
• Continuous Shooting up to 8 fps
• Ultra HD 4K Video Recording
• 3.15" Vari-angle LCD Touchscreen
• 0.5" OLED Electronic Viewfinder
• WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity
• 5,655 Manually Selectable AF Points
• Customizable Multi-Function Bar
• Dust and Water Resistant Magnesium Alloy Body

As the long-awaited Canon full frame mirrorless camera line is beginning to fill out, the first two models are worth comparing. The Canon EOS R vs. Canon EOS RP comparison using the site's specifications tool shows most of the differences between these cameras. Those and a handful of others are included below.
 
EOS R Advantages
 

• Higher resolution: 30.4 MP vs. 26.2 (6720 x 4480 vs. 6240 x 4160 px)
• Dual Pixel RAW file format vs. no
• More dynamic range
• More AF points: 5,655 vs. 4,779
• Lower AF working range: EV -6 vs. EV -5
• Faster shutter speed available: 1/8000 vs. 1/4000
• Faster X-Sync shutter speed: 1/200 vs. 1/180
• Larger, higher resolution EVF: 0.5" (1.27cm) OLED color EVF, 3.69M dots (with more nose relief) vs. 0.39" (1.0cm) OLED color EVF, 2.36M dots
• Larger, higher resolution LCD: 3.15" (8.01cm), approx. 2.10M dots vs. 2.95" (7.50cm) approx. 1.04 million dots
• Better LCD Coatings: Anti-reflection and anti-smudge vs. anti-smudge only
• Faster continuous frame rate: 8 fps vs. 5 fps, with AF tracking: 5 fps vs. 4 fps
• Has a programmable Multi-Function Bar vs. no
• Has a top LCD vs. dedicated mode dial
• Better video capabilities including higher frame rate video and more compression options: Up to 10-bit Canon Log vs. 8-bit no log
• USB 3.0 vs. 2.0
• Longer battery life rating: approx. 370 shots vs. 250
• Higher shutter durability rating: 200,000 vs. 100,000
• Closes shutter on power-off vs. no
• Has access to a PC Terminal via Battery Grip BG-E22 vs. no
• Has a battery grip available vs. extension grip

EOS RP Advantages
 

• Significantly lower price
• Smaller size: 5.22 x 3.35 x 2.76" vs. 5.35 x 3.87 x 3.32" (132.5 x 85.0 x 70.0mm vs. 135.8 x 98.3 x 84.4mm)
• Lighter weight: 17.1 vs. 23.3 oz (485 vs. 660g)
• Has focus bracketing vs. no
• Has Eye-tracking Servo AF vs. not until later in 2019
• More Diopter Correction: -4 to +2 m-1 vs. -4 to +1 m-1

Summary
 
The EOS R is a higher-end model and that shows very strongly in its list of advantages. However, the first three RP advantages are very significant ones. Those on a tight budget are going to be favoring the RP. While the EOS R is itself a relatively small and light camera, the RP easily bests it in these categories and those traveling, hiking, etc. may be willing to forgo the R's benefits to also give up some size and weight.
 
More Information: Canon EOS R | Canon EOS RP
 
Get Your EOS R or RP Here:
 
Canon EOS R: B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX
 
Canon EOS RP: B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX
 

Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the Tamrac HooDoo 18 Backpack available for $24.95 with free shipping. Regularly $79.95.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Designed for Hiking or Traveling
• Holds Mirrorless / Compact DSLR & Lenses
• Dedicated 13" Laptop Compartment
• Upper Padded Compartment
• Organizer Pocket with Key Fob Strap
• Water-Resistant Waxed Canvas
• Adjustable, Ergonomic Shoulder Strap
• Top Quick-Grab Handle

See today's full list of B&H Deal Zone Deals for excellent savings opportunities.

 
In this episode of Lightroom Coffee Break, Benjamin Warde demonstrates how to create custom photo templates (a relatively new feature) in Lightroom Classic CC.
 
B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

For orders arriving by March 1, use coupon code ROLL50 at LensRentals to save $50.00 on a $250.00 order or coupon code ROLL150 to save $150.00 on an order of $500.00 or more.