Anyone tested the Canon 14 mm II?

[jordi 3]

I am thinking on buying this lense and I was wondering if someone has tested it on a full frame or 1D MkIII.

 

I've heard something about corner sharpness but I haven't seen any real test.

 

Thanks in advance

[bmyates 3]

Jordy,

 

I just returned from Indonesia, where I used the 14 II (on my new 1Ds MkIII) in most instances where I would normally have used the 15mm FE (which I left home on purpose), e.g., reef scenes.

 

I was generally very pleased with it, concluding that it is slightly sharper than the 16-35mm II at 16mm (and with wider reach), but still a bit soft in the corners, especially at lower aperture settings (that's a problem that seems to beset almost all wide angle lenses underwater in dome ports).

 

I'll be posting some photos, a gallery, and hopefully some more detailed thoughts on this lens within the next week. Right now I'm just working through the 3,700 photos I took on this trip...and trying to get caught up in my day job!

[hoovermd 0]

I own the "older" lens and the 14mm is so wide that it is impossible to get sharp corners at most reasonable UW apertures.

 

I have since moved on to the 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM Lens

[bmyates 3]

I own the "older" lens and the 14mm is so wide that it is impossible to get sharp corners at most reasonable UW apertures.

 

I have since moved on to the 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM Lens

 

The new 14 "II" is - by all accounts - a considerable improvement over the old 14mm. However, the 16-35mm L "II" (an improved version of the old 16-35mm L) does give you considerably more flexibility, e.g., if you see a fish or shark at close range, you can shoot it, whereas the 14mm II is strictly for WIDE angle, e.g., reef scenes, whale sharks, etc.

 

BOTH of the newer "II" versions (which I've now used a bit) suffer from edge softeness, and in both cases it is most pronounced at low apertures...but still evident even at high ones. As has been discussed many times in other threads, there appears to be NO way of totally eliminating that underwater simply because the optics involved (dome ports, etc.) make it impossible. I am resolved, therefore, to having to crop a bit of the corners of ANY super-wide-angle photos. That's not the end of the world, and leaves me believing the same thing that would seem obvious to most of us: if you really want the widest clear shot possible, use the best super-wide lens (either the 14mm "II" or 15mm FE), and if you want quite wide, but the additional flexibility of a zoom, use the 16-35mm "II" lens.

 

Again, I'll try to post some examples and more comments from my recent trip, where I used both the 14mm II and the 16-35mm II on many dives, as soon as I have time...

[jordi 3]

Hi Bruce,

 

Thanks for your kind answer!!

I am anxious to see your pictures.

 

I was also wondering if with the 1D MkIII (with the 1,3 cropped sensor) the soft corners disappear.

I have also heard that the Sigma 14 mm, with a shorter close focus distance, give better corner performace than Canon 14 mm (this opinion was based on the old Canon 14, which as Bruce has pointed is worst than version II)

 

Anyway, thanks a lot for your help!

 

Jordi

[hoovermd 0]

Here are 2 examples of the softness problem.

This is certainly not due to the lens, but rather the dome and water:

 

[james 0]

Stephen Frink tested the 14mmII and posted his test results here and on his site. Do a search here and you should find them.

 

Cheers

James

[StephenFrink 9]

... I was also wondering if with the 1D MkIII (with the 1,3 cropped sensor) the soft corners disappear ...

 

Jordi

 

Jordi - Here is some info on 14mm II testing with full frame camera (1DsMKII): http://www.seacamusa.com/canon-lens-14mm-ii.shtml

 

I am almost certain the 1.3 crop on 1DMKIII will minimize corner issues at F-8 and smaller with 14mm II. I have 1DMKIII and 1DsMKIII ready for some in-water testing next week during my annual series of photo courses here in Key Largo, and will add that to the list of optics to test. I expect the 14mm II on a 1DMKIII to be very useful for reef scenics, and may eliminate the corner crops Bruce mentions.

[BotSO 0]

Steve,

 

I'm planning to borrow a 14mm II to use on my 1D mk III inside that shiny new housing you're holding for me. All this new gear, the mind is spinning. Looking forward to the 21-28 class.

 

I'll be sure to post any keepers later this month.

 

Best,

 

Basim

[StephenFrink 9]

Jordi - I am almost certain the 1.3 crop on 1DMKIII will minimize corner issues at F-8 and smaller with 14mm II. I have 1DMKIII and 1DsMKIII ready for some in-water testing next week during my annual series of photo courses here in Key Largo, and will add that to the list of optics to test. I expect the 14mm II on a 1DMKIII to be very useful for reef scenics, and may eliminate the corner crops Bruce mentions.

 

Here is the 14mm II at F9:

 

 

Here is the corner detail at 100%:

 

 

Certainly acceptable corner performance with 14mm II on the cropped sensor of the 1DMKIII, even at a moderately wide aperture of F-9.

 

Basim ... I used the 9" Superdome and PVL25. Sea conditions are great. See you soon!

Edited June 17, 2008 by StephenFrink

[jordi 3]

Hi Stephen,

 

Thank you so much!

 

Your picture is the answer to all my questions. I think the corner sharpness is very good. I must say that it seems the best result for a rectilinear wide angle that I've seen.

 

Again, thanks for your help!

 

 

jordi