Lens Reviews

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
Lens NewsLens Reviews
The Lensbaby 3G; Selective Focus SLR Lens
Steve Anchell  |  Nov 01, 2007  | 

If photography is your pastime, you can afford to indulge in toys. If it is your occupation you tend to be more selective about what you spend your money on; toys are an extravagance--you couldn't afford 'em when you were struggling, and you don't need 'em now that you have a client base which likes your style.

But what if a toy is also...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Medium Format Lensbabies; Blur & Distortion Go Big!
Joe Farace  |  Aug 01, 2007  | 

At PMA 2007 Lensbabies introduced the medium format version of its third-generation selective focus lens for Mamiya 645 and Pentax 67 cameras. That's right kiddies, it's a new lens that's engineered for use with medium format film (remember that stuff?) cameras.

The optic in the Medium Format Lensbaby 3G produces the same effects as the optic in...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
You Can’t Use Old Lenses On Digital Cameras! Or Can You? An Extensive Test With The Leica M8 Just Might Change Your Thinking
Roger W. Hicks  |  Aug 01, 2007  | 

"My" Leica M8--a loaner from Leica for review--came with a 50mm f/2 bar-coded Summicron. The 18x27mm sensor turns this into a 67mm lens in 35mm terms: rather long for someone whose standard lens on 35mm has for decades been a 35mm. So as soon as I got the M8, I started using other, older lenses. There is, after all, an enormous choice, from 12mm (18mm...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Sigma’s APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM & 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro; A “Constant Aperture” Zoom And A Multi-Platform Close-Up Lens
Peter K. Burian  |  Aug 01, 2007  | 

Because most consumers demand very compact, lightweight equipment, the majority of lenses are designed with a relatively small aperture: f/4 to f/5.6, for example. That makes sense because the same focal length with a wide aperture would be larger, heavier, and more expensive due to the oversized optical elements and barrel. Even so, many photo enthusiasts really appreciate an...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Three Carl Zeiss T* Lenses From Sony For The Alpha, And Soon-To-Come Sony D-SLRs; Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA Zoom, Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA, And Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 ZA
Peter K. Burian  |  Aug 01, 2007  | 

When Sony first unveiled their Alpha D-SLR system in June 2006, the company made a pledge to expand its line of lenses with additional Sony G models as well as some Carl Zeiss lenses. The first three of these products, with a ZA designator indicating Zeiss Alpha, are available at this time, distributed exclusively by Sony. A fourth model, a wide aperture (f/2.8) zoom, should be...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Tamron’s AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro; A 13.9x Zoom (!) For D-SLRs
Peter K. Burian  |  Aug 01, 2007  | 

Although Tamron makes some wide aperture, pro-grade lenses, the affordable "multi-platform" 28-300mm zoom and the "digital only" 18-200mm zoom have been their best sellers. That's understandable, since those are unusually versatile and portable lenses. Now, Tamron is marketing a newer 18-250mm Di II model, the first lens on the market with a 13.9x...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Sigma’s APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM; A Portrait Photographer’s Zoom
Steve Bedell  |  Jun 01, 2007  | 

I 've been shooting most of my portrait work with a 28-75mm zoom, but always felt I could use something longer. And I'm about at the point where fixed focal length lenses just won't do; once you get used to the flexibility of a zoom, you're spoiled. I also like a fast lens with a relatively wide maximum aperture, as I like to get way out-of-focus...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Sigma’s APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM; A Portrait Photographer’s Zoom
Steve Bedell  |  Jun 01, 2007  | 

Technical Specifications

 

Lens Construction: 18 Elements in 14 Groups
Angle of View: 27.9 ° - 9.5 °
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 9 Blades
Minimum Aperture: F22
Minimum Focusing Distance: 100cm / 39.4 inches
Maximum Magnification:...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Zeiss “Nikon-Fit” ZF Lenses; Manual Focus For “F” Mount Cameras
Roger W. Hicks  |  May 01, 2007  | 

Quality, according to the old saying, doesn't cost: it pays. These new manual-focus, Nikon-fit "ZF" lenses are a perfect illustration of that saying. Sure, they are built by Hirofumi Kobayashi in Japan, but they are built to Zeiss standards from Zeiss designs, and they feel like the Zeiss lenses of yesteryear: smooth, solid, beautifully finished, with a lot of...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Sigma’s APO MACRO 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM; It’s A Macro Lens—Wait—It’s A Portrait Lens!
Steve Bedell  |  Dec 01, 2006  | 

While searching for a new portrait lens I saw Sigma's APO MACRO 150mm f/2.8 on their website. But wait, you say, this is a macro lens, not a portrait lens! Here's my thinking: Any portrait photographer out there worth his light meter will gladly extol the virtues of a long, fast lens for portraiture. The reasons are simple--limited angle of view to get rid of...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
A Trio Of Tamron Zooms; SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF], AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 XR Di Aspherical [IF] Macro, And AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2
Peter K. Burian  |  Dec 01, 2006  | 

Because of the increasing popularity of digital SLR cameras, Tamron has been upgrading their line of lenses to the "Digitally integrated" (Di) standard, employing methods discussed in our Technology sidebar. Some of the new products (Di II series) were designed exclusively for digital cameras with the typical APS-size sensor, while others (Di) are multi-platform...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Sigma’s APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM; Pro-Caliber Zoom With Close-Focusing Ability
Peter K. Burian  |  Nov 01, 2006  | 

One of the favorite lenses among news photographers, a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 80-200mm f/2.8 zoom also appeals to many serious photo enthusiasts. Although large and heavy, lenses of this type offer several benefits. Their very wide maximum aperture allows for faster shutter speeds than the more typical f/4.5-5.6 zooms, great for low-light or action photography at lower ISOs (film or...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
A Classic Goes Digital; The Leica M Mount
Jason Schneider  |  Sep 01, 2006  | 

In the first noteworthy change to the Leica M mount since its introduction back in 1954, all Leica M lenses delivered to dealers starting on July 1, 2006, will have a 6-bit digital black and white code applied to the bayonet ring. The physical dimensions and mechanical specs of the venerable M mount will remain exactly the same, so both coded and non-coded lenses can be used on...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens Reviews
Canon’s EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM; Portraits Plus Optical Speed
Joe Farace  |  Aug 01, 2006  | 

For some time now my favorite portrait lens has been Canon's EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, but now my new favorite is the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM. It replaces the EF 85mm f/1.2L USM and offers the widest aperture of any lens in Canon's EF family. All in all it provides a useful combination of focal length, depth-of-field control, and low-light performance. The superb optics...

Continue Reading »
Lens NewsLens ReviewsPro Techniques
Longer Focal Length Macros; Get Up Close From Far Away
Stan Trzoniec  |  Aug 01, 2006  | 

My first macro lens was the popular Nikon 60mm Micro-Nikkor. Good move, I thought, as the 60mm focal length could double as an all-purpose lens for a variety of assignments. Trouble is, when I started to get into more and more 1:1 (life-size) work, I only had 21/2" of working space between the front of the lens and my subject. The 105mm was next, sharp as a tack but again...

Continue Reading »

Pages

X