Camera Labs

Hi everyone, I've just completed my video demonstration of this lens:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon ... view.shtml

I hope you enjoy it!

You may notice a few new angles in the video, and hopefully much improved sound quality thanks to my new external microphone! (An AKG C1000S).

I'm still learning with it, so bear with me (there's a couple of clips where I mucked it up), but I reckon it's a big improvement over the internal camcorder mics - at least you can't hear the tape whirring anymore!

Hi Gordon,

Congratulations: for my money it's a definite step up. Great sound quality and I love the turntable effect. Was it turned by hand?

The 1080p version took quite a while to download so I dread to think how long it took you to upload it.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

have you ever thought about using a camera that support external mic input ? I have the Canon Vixia HF200 and I can use a Condenser mic through a Yamaha Mixing console. All it take is a little 1/4 TRS to 1/8 TRS adapter.

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Canon T2i (550D)- Tamron 17-50 F2.8 Non-VC, Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM, Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4.5-F5.6
http://www.astronomyphotography.com

Thanks Bob - the turntable effect was actually just the camera mounted to a tripod and turned by hand as smoothyl as I could manage!

And yes, as you spotted, it's also in 1080p...

Er symtex, didn't you read my message above - I am now using an external microphone! I hoipe you'll agree it's a big improvement over my older videos...

Great review as always. And great sound and video quality. Great stuff

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Canon DSLRs: 5D Mark III, 7D
Canon lenses: 17-40/4L, 24-105/4L, 24/1.4L II, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 100/2.8L Macro, 70-200/2.8L IS, 100-400L
Other stuff: Canon 580 EX II, Canon 430EX II, Velbon Sherpa 600R
Apple: MacBook Pro 15", iMac 27", iPad III, iPhone 4S, Apple TV

My deviantART

That video was awesome! Great angles, sound quality, and content. Watching it somewhat makes me still want a 15-85mm

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Hello, my name is Jay.
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I thought you bought one of theses external mic that connect to the hot-shoe. Which preamp are you using ?

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Canon T2i (550D)- Tamron 17-50 F2.8 Non-VC, Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM, Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4.5-F5.6
http://www.astronomyphotography.com

Hello Gordon, the video is awesome, thanks. I like the new style, keep up the good work

Great review & excellent audio quality better than previous video. Keep it up Gordon!

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Soon.....

Thanks everyone! I tried a few new things with that review and will probably use it as a template for future lens reviews - not that I get much time to do many these days! Although I do plan to do an updated one with the Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II soon, plus the Canon EF-S 18-135mm, although there probably won't be a seperate video review of the latter.

Symtex, my Canon HV30 camcorder has a 3.5mm microphone input, so I could connect pretty much any kind of microphone. I tried a shotgun mic mounted on the hotshoe once, but the problem is the HV30 tape mechanism is quite loud and you could still hear it whirring. I needed to get a microphone closer to me and further from the camcorder.

Following some disappointing results with a lapel microphone, I was recommended to try the AKG C1000S, a microphone designed to record voices, singing and music. It does need to be powered, but you have the choice between a traditional phantom power source or an internal 9V battery, so I went for the latter. The microphone is an XLR design, but since I don't have balanced inputs on the HV30, I connected it using an XLR to 3.5mm adapter - not ideal, but it works.

The mic itself was mounted on a tripod about one foot in front and below my face, just out of shot.

More info:

http://www.akg.com/site/products/powers ... ge,EN.html

Here's a review of it from Sound on Sound:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec98/a ... 00.576.htm

Gordon, I do some home recording and I have notice that using a good preamp does effect dramatically the overall sound. The microphone you have chosen if more then adequate for the kinda work you do.

For a long I was using the M-audio Fastrack Pro Preamp but I was never really satisfy. Since then I have acquire a Yamaha MG124c. This mixing console has a very good preamp that was taken from the higher end model and 1 knob compression.

Don't get me wrong, I saw a great improvement on your overall sound quality since you switch to an phantom power mic.


Yamaha MG124c
http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/products/ ... index.html

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Canon T2i (550D)- Tamron 17-50 F2.8 Non-VC, Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM, Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4.5-F5.6
http://www.astronomyphotography.com

Could anyone list at what focal lengths the AV drops at across the range on this lens?

Thanks

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Canon 7D/350D, Σ17-50/2.8, 18-55IS, 24-105/4 IS, Σ30/1.4, 50/1.8, 55-250IS, 60/2.8, 70-200/4 IS, 85/1.8, 580ex II, 430EX II, 270EX II.

According to the EXIF data generated by the lens:

f3.5: 15-17mm
f4.0: 18-26mm
f4.5: 27-37mm
f5.0: 38-60mm
f5.6: 61-85mm

And for the 18-135mm in case you're interested:

f3.5: 18-21mm
f4.0: 22-30mm
f4.5: 31-40mm
f5.0: 41-61mm
f5.6: 62-135mm

I'll add these to the review later...

You rock Gordon. Thanks

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Canon 7D/350D, Σ17-50/2.8, 18-55IS, 24-105/4 IS, Σ30/1.4, 50/1.8, 55-250IS, 60/2.8, 70-200/4 IS, 85/1.8, 580ex II, 430EX II, 270EX II.

Hi Gordon,

I love the comparison photos you provided that use a red outline to demonstrate the differences between the wide end of a 15mm, 17mm, and 18mm lens. I am considering buying the Canon 15-85 and am curious how much the zoomed in end makes? Could you provide similar photos comparing some common zoom levels? I have the 18-55 kit lens.

I was looking at this page in your review:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon ... lens.shtml

Thanks and I love your site!