Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Lens

8.8 Rating

A compact, lightweight all-in-one 15x zoom lens for cameras with APS-C sized sensors.Announced early in December 2010, Tamron’s 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD lens introduces a new PZD (Piezo Drive) ultrasonic motor that delivers faster and quieter autofocusing. Claimed as the world’s most compact, lightweight lens with a 15x zoom ratio it is designed for DSLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors and is initially available in Canon and Nikon mounts, with a Sony mount without VC stabilisation to follow in May.

Sony SAL85F14Z Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA Lens

9 Rating

A fast, high-performance prime lens that is ideal for portraits and candid photography.The name alone should be an assurance to knowledgeable photographers that the Sony CZ Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA is no ordinary lens and the ‘Planar’ tag reflects its noble ancestry. The original Planar was a six-element symmetrical lens designed by physicist, Paul Rudolph, at Carl Zeiss in 1896. It was very popular with serious photographers for its speed and pictorial qualities and offered consistent performance over a wide range of imaging ratios.

Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM Lens

8.5 Rating

A very fast prime lens that covers a ‘normal’ angle of view and is designed for ‘APS-C’ format DSLR cameras.Designed exclusively for DSLR cameras with ‘APS-C’ sized image sensors, Sigma’s 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM lens is solidly constructed and available in mounts to suit all popular brands – including Olympus and Panasonic. On the Canon EOS 40D and 400D cameras we tested it on, this lens equates to a 48mm lens on a 35mm camera – which is close to a ‘standard’ viewing angle. It cannot be used on DSLRS with ‘full frame’ sensors because it vignettes at the corners of the frame.

Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens

8.5 Rating

A compact 13.9x wide-angle zoom lens for DSLR cameras with APS-C-sized image sensors.Sigma’s new 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM is designed as an all-in-one lens for digital photographers with APS-C-sized (DX) sensors who don’t want to carry more than one lens. Covering focal lengths ranging from the 35mm equivalent of 27mm to 375mm with most camera brands (28.8mm to 400mm on Canon bodies) it offers a 13.8 times zoom ratio. A built-in Hybrid Optical Stabiliser is provides for shake reduction in both shots and the viewfinder image.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS

8.8 Rating

An affordably-priced long-zoom lens that will suit photographers who want a single ‘go-anywhere’ lens for their DSLR cameras.Sigma’s versatile 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 DC OS lens has been designed as an all-purpose lens for digital SLR cameras with ‘APS-C size’ image sensors. Offering an 11x zoom ratio and a minimum focusing distance of 45cm at all focal lengths, this lens will appeal to photographers who want a single, long-range zoom lens to fit on their camera body. A built-in Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) uses ultrasonic waves to drive the autofocusing controls, providing fast and quiet AF.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

8.5 Rating

The standard stabilised zoom lens for Canon’s entry-level digital SLR cameras.Supplied as a basic kit lens with entry-level Canon DSLRs, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens covers a focal length range equivalent to 28.2 to 88mm in 35mm format. This is a good choice of focal lengths for general photography and will suit subjects as diverse as scenery and portraiture. Equipped with built-in image stabilisation (which Canon claims offers up to four f-stops of shutter speed advantage) it will focus as close as 25 cm at all focal length settings.

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

8.5 Rating

A general-purpose lens with an extended zoom range for Canon’s DSLR camera bodies with ‘APS-C-sized’ image sensors.Designed to provide a wide zoom range in a compact and lightweight form factor, Canon’s EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS telephoto zoom lens can only be used with cameras that have ‘APS-C-sized’ image sensors. Supporting a zoom range of approximately 11 times, it covers a focal length equivalent to 29-320mm in 35mm format but weighs only 595 grams. Built-in image stabilisation provides approximately four f-stops of shutter speed advantage and the stabilisation system can detect when the camera is panned.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

8.5 Rating

A compact, high-quality 5.6x zoom lens with four-stop image stabilisation and a fast autofocus drive.The EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens is one of two lenses announced by Canon in September when details of the EOS 7D were revealed. It’s offered with the 7D body in the Platinum kit and covers a wide-to-telephoto zoom range of roughly 5.6 times. A built-in image stabiliser claims a four f-stop advantage in shutter speed settings and an ultrasonic motor (USM) provides quick and quiet autofocusing.

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm 1:2.8G ED Lens

9 Rating

Designed for both ‘full frame’ FX and ‘APS-C’ DX cameras, the new AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm 1:2.8G ED lens is designed to partner the AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G ED lens we reviewed recently. Capable of covering subjects as diverse as tight portraits and expansive scenes, this lens maintains an f/2.8 aperture throughout the focal length range. Like the 14-24mm lens, it is built to Nikon’s professional DSLR standards with high-quality dust and moisture sealing.

AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G ED Lens

9 Rating

A fast, high-performance, wide-zoom lens for professional photographers and photojournalists.Designed for both ‘full frame’ FX and ‘APS-C’ DX cameras, Nikon’s new ultra-wide angle AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G ED zoom lens offers a combination of speed and performance that will suit professional photographers and photojournalists. The f/2.8 aperture is usable throughout the focal length range as is the closest focusing distance of 28 cm. On a DX-format Nikon body like the D300 we used for this review, this lens covers a focal length range equivalent to 21-36mm.