Information about the Canon EOS M6 Mark II Camera's 30 fps RAW burst feature was limited at the product launch, so I inquired of the man who seems to know everything about the Canon EOS system, Rudy Winston of Canon USA. Here is the very helpful information Rudy shared with me:
RAW burst is a separate line item in the camera’s shooting menu; it’s not one of the listed “Drive” speed choices. So it’s handled like a separate feature, and not just another FPS choice.
As the specs suggest, RAW burst fires at up to 30 fps, and will do so for up to 80 shots in a continuous burst, assuming a fast UHS-II compliant SD card is installed. I’ve tried it with UHS-I cards, and gotten around 50 or so images in a burst.
There’s a separate Menu choice for “Pre-shooting,” which by default is off. If user-enabled, it starts collecting image data **when the shutter button is pressed half-way down,** and then once it’s pressed FULLY to begin shooting, the last 0.5 seconds worth of images before the full press are recorded to the memory card as well. We’ve seen this before, in the video world, and the idea is if waiting for some split-second event to occur (for instance, a bird on a branch, waiting for it to take off in flight), you get the half-second before you actually reacted and fully pressed the shutter button down.
A few other points about RAW burst mode:
The last two points MAY be a matter of it being pre-production… don’t have documentation from Japan to confirm or deny, but thought I’d mention it. At this stage of pre-production, I wouldn't’ be surprised if actual production cameras behave the same way as my sample camera.
Two of the keys that make RAW burst possible are the use of a DIGIC 8 processor, and most importantly, faster read-out speeds of the new 32.5 MP image sensor (while still allowing Dual Pixel CMOS AF to be carried out).
As a practical matter, at least judging from my pre-production sample camera, this feature is VERY sensitive to SD card write speed. A SanDisk UHS-I card, rated at 95 MB/sec, was not sufficient to record anything close to 80 straight images, and the little vertical buffer “scale” on the LCD monitor appeared almost immediately as shooting began. In other words, users should expect to use fast, UHS-II cards to really get the most out of this feature. Fortunately, unlike previous EOS M-series models, the M6 Mark II **is** compatible with UHS-II cards!
Thanks for sharing, Rudy!
Order the Canon EOS M6 Mark II at: B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
A recent Canon media event provided a significant amount of hands-on time with the new Canon EOS 90D and M6 Mark II. Both are excellent cameras and while I look forward to bringing these models into the studio for a more in-depth look, I have plenty of information to share with you now.
First, the review pages are a work-in-progress but already loaded with information:
Canon EOS 90D | Canon EOS M6 Mark II
From those pages, navigate to the specifications and product image pages for detailed comparisons. Note that the specifications are also a work-in-progress and the camera side images remain MIA.
Image quality test results have been added to the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens page.
Sony is going to sell a LOT of copies of this lens. Here are some comparisons:
Compared to Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens
Compared to Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
Compared to Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR Lens
Compared to Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens
Compared to Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens
Compared to Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens
Compared to Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Lens
Sanity check: Compared to Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens
This lens was a huge hit before we saw the image quality it was capable of. Finding one on the shelf anytime soon should be challenging. Preorder now to get in line. The Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens is available for preorder at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens from Lensrentals.
Just posted: Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD Lens Review.
I expect to see this lens ending up on many short lists.
The Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality test results have been added to the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens page.
Expensive? Absolutely.
Weight? Incredibly light for the focal length and aperture.
Image quality? You get what you pay for.
Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS compared to Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III Lens
Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS compared to Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II Lens
Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS compared to Nikon 600mm f/4E AF-S FL ED VR Lens
Please share these results with your friends!
Act fast: I expected this lens to be very difficult to get for a long time, but Amazon USA has two in stock (Samy's Camera is reputable)! WEX also has this lens in stock.
The Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens is available for preorder at B&H | Adorama
Rent the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality, vignetting, flare, and distortion test results have been added to the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD Lens page.
The results look good, especially for the price of this lens. Here are some comparisons to get you started (use your visualization skills in the comparisons showing different resolution test cameras):
Compared to Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS Lens
Compared to Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III Lens
Compared to Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L Lens
Compared to Nikon 16-35mm f/4G VR Lens
Compared to Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Lens
Compared to Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens
Compared to Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens
Compared to Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF Lens
Compared to Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 Lens
Compared to Tokina 17-35mm f/4 Lens
As hinted to, this is a very affordable lens. The Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD Lens from Lensrentals.
Share these results with your friends!
Just posted: Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD Lens Review
Check out how this new lens featuring a unique focal length range performs! Share the review with your friends.
The Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality, vignetting, flare, and distortion test results have been added to the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD Lens page.
I think you will be impressed, especially for the price. Here are some comparisons.
Use your discernment when viewing comparisons captured with different resolution cameras.
Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD compared to Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD compared to Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens
Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD compared to Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens
Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD compared to Rokinon (Samyang) 35mm f/1.4 US UMC Lens
Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD compared to Tamron 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens
The Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD Lens is in stock at B&H |
Adorama | Amazon USA |
WEX
Rent the Tamron 35mm f/1.4 Di USD Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality, vignetting, flare, and distortion test results along with specs and measurements have been added to the Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD Lens page.
Create comparisons – share with your friends.
The Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD Lens from Lensrentals.
Just posted: Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens Review.
Meet your new favorite portrait lens.
The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens from Lensrentals.
The Canon, Nikon, and Sony 70-200mm f/4 lenses, along with the Canon 70-300 L lens, are now included in the site's Camera Lens MTF Measurements Comparison Tool.
When the size and weight (and price) of the f/2.8 models are too much, the f/4 models are the easy alternative.
Go make some comparisons, then share them with your friends.
Image quality test results have been added to the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens page.
Make some comparisons. I think that you will like what you see!
The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens from Lensrentals.
Just posted: Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens Review.
The light weight of this lens is really incredible.
The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens is in stock at B&H (save the tax, use the B&H Payboo card) | Adorama | Amazon | WEX.
Rent the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens from Lensrentals.
70-200mm f/2.8 lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony, and Tamron are now included in the site's Camera Lens MTF Measurements Comparison Tool.
The 70-200mm f/2.8 image stabilized lens is a staple to many kits. Start comparing! Then share the results with your friends.
Just posted: Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens Review.
Along with much other information, learn why this lens' f/2.8 is equal T 5.6.
The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens from Lensrentals.
Just posted: ProMediaGear PLX3x Universal L-Bracket Review.
I've wanted a universal L-bracket for a long time and this is the one I picked.
The ProMediaGear PLX3x Universal L-Bracket is in stock at Adorama
Image quality test results have been added to the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens page.
Compact, light, great focal length range, and ... very nice image quality (remember that lateral CA is usually easily removed). Create your own comparisons – share the results with your friends.
The Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX ("Awaiting Stock")
Rent the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality test results from an additional lens have been added to the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens page.
As I shared prior regarding the first lens' test results:
While these image quality results may appear simple, they have a background.
Keeping the story short, my first copy of this lens took forever to arrive and when it did, the performance was not as expected with damage sustained in transit being strongly suspected.
The second lens also took a long time to acquire and the results being shared here are from this lens.
Before announcing these results, I did some sanity checking including with my Canon USA technical rep. My concern (always) is ensuring that this lens' performance is representative of what buyers should expect from their own lens. The MTF charts suggest that the version III lens should perform nearly equally to the version II lens. While I'm not absolutely 100% confident that a better copy of this lens is not available (and will likely test at least one more copy of this lens to be sure), I have enough confidence that this lens is representative of the model, showing what we should expect, to share these results.
That said, let's jump right into the comparison that most will be interested in, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III vs. II Lens image quality comparison. The version III lens produces very impressive image quality wide open. My only cause for concern about this lens copy was that the version II lens is very slightly sharper in the center of the frame with the difference primarily noticeable when extenders are being used. With less lateral CA, the version III lens produces better peripheral image quality, even with the 2x extender in place.
Unmistakably better is the version III's weight. As I was creating this post, I grabbed the lens from my desk and ran to attempt to catch a pileated woodpecker on a tree just outside the studio. That effort reminded me how amazingly light this lens is for its specs.
Back to the new copy of this lens ... as I mentioned, I wanted to test another copy and
here is the comparison between the two copies (copy "2" is the new one).
The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens is in stock at B&H (save the tax, use the B&H Payboo card) | Adorama | Amazon | WEX.
Rent the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens from Lensrentals.
Just posted: Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens Review.
This is an outstanding lens.
The Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens is available for order at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX (in stock – act fast)
Rent the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality test results have been added to the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens page.
They can't keep this one on the shelf. Here are some comparisons.
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens compared to Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens compared to Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens compared to Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens compared to Rokinon (Samyang) 135mm f/2 ED UMC Lens
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens compared to Zeiss 135mm f/2 Milvus Lens
As always, please share these results with your friends!
The Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens is available for preorder at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens from Lensrentals.