Sigma DC 18-125mm 1:3.8-5.6 HSM Lens

8.5 Rating

A high-quality standard zoom lens with an extended zoom range for DSLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors.Designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors, Sigma’s new DC 18-125mm 1:3.8-5.6 HSM lens offers a slightly longer zoom range than most kit lenses and promises better optical quality. Constructed from 16 elements in 12 groups, it comes with Sigma’s Optical Stabiliser function and multi-layer coatings to minimise flare and ghosting.

smc Pentax-DA L 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Lens

8 Rating

A compact, ultra-lightweight telephoto zoom kit lens for Pentax DSLR cameras.Most people will acquire the smc Pentax-DA L 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED lens in the twin lens kit with one of Pentax’s DSLR cameras. However, the kit lens supplied for review with the K-m camera body looked a little different from the lens shown on Pentax’s website. Like the 18-55mm kit lens, the test lens lacked the green band around the rear edge of the zoom ring and focus markings in metres and feet in front of the focusing ring and no lens hood was provided.

smc Pentax-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens

8 Rating

A lightweight standard zoom kit lens for Pentax DSLR cameras.The smc Pentax-DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6AL lens supplied for us to review with the K-m camera body was not quite the same as the lens that is sold as a stand-alone item and shown on Pentax’s website. There was no green band on the review lens and no focus markings in front of the focusing ring and, although the dimensions of the review lens matched those of the lens listed on the Pentax website, it appeared to be less refined.

AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens

8.5 Rating

A versatile, but quite expensive, 5x standard zoom lens that covers a popular focal length range for general photography.Announced in mid-September 2010, the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR is an update to the popular 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 VR that features a constant f/4 maximum aperture across the focal length range. Designed for Nikon’s FX (36 x 24 mm sensor) cameras, it is also usable with the company’s DX models, where it covers a focal length range equivalent to 36-180mm.

AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR Lens

9 Rating

The smallest of Nikon’s super-fast telephoto lenses.Nikon’s huge AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G ED VR lens is so big it comes in its own special suitcase. At almost $13,000 its price tag is beyond the reach of even the most serious enthusiasts but, when we were offered it for review we felt it would be interesting to road test a lens that only a very specialised cohort of professional photographers would use – primarily sports photographers.

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II Lens

8.5 Rating

An extended range zoom for Nikon APS-C camera owners who want a single lens that covers most popular focal lengths.The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II is a minor redesign of a previous lens. It features a new zoom mechanism for reducing zoom creep (the lens slides forward when tilted). A new zoom lock switch has been added and the multi-layer Super Integrated Coating (SIC) has been improved to provide better image quality and contrast. Otherwise, it’s identical to the original Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Lens

8 Rating

A budget-priced tele-zoom lens with built-in image stabilisation.Canon’s new EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS is designed specifically for cameras with ‘APS-C’ sized sensors and combines light weight with a very low price tag for an optically-stabilised lens. On the EOS 400D and 40D cameras we used for our tests, its focal length range is equivalent to 88-400mm on a 35mm camera. It’s a fairly slow lens – and this is apparent in the viewfinder when you’re shooting.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens

8.5 Rating

A first-rate wide-angle zoom for DSLRs with ‘APS-C’ sized imagers.The ‘EF-S’ designation is Canon’s way of labelling lenses with Short Back Focus, which indicates the distance between the sensor plane and the rear element of the lens is shorter than in an EF lens. Such lenses are designed exclusively for EOS cameras with ‘APS-C-sized’ sensors and cannot be used on Canon’s 35mm SLR cameras – or on the EOS 5D. The new EF-S 10-22mm ultra-wide-angle zoom lens covers fields of view equivalent to 16-35mm in 135mm format. An excellent partner to the EOS 400D we used for our tests, its wide angle of view is great for landscape and architectural photography, especially indoor shots.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

8.5 Rating

A new 7.5x standard zoom lens that automatically selects the optimum Image Stabiliser mode. Announced at the beginning of September, this new Canon standard zoom lens was designed to complement the EOS 7D body on which we tested it. Providing a focal length range equivalent to 29-216mm in 35mm format, the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS covers both wide enough angles for landscape photography and is narrow enough for portraiture and sports photography. It’s an excellent step-up from the standard kit lens for buyers who would like a longer zoom range.