A versatile general-purpose lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, which features motorised zoom control for smooth movie shooting.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens
Canon’s first 24-70mm zoom with a large maximum aperture.
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro Lens
An update that adds image stabilisation to a popular macro lens.
Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 PRO FX Lens
A fast, high-performance ultra-wide angle lens for Canon and Nikon DSLRs with 36 x 24 mm sensors.
Tokina AT-X 17-35mm f/4 FX Lens
A relatively distortion-free, wide-angle 2x zoom lens for Nikon and Canon cameras with 36 x 24 mm sensors.
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 II DG HSM Lens
An ultra-wide zoom lens for digital SLR cameras with both ‘full frame’ and APS-C sized sensors.As is apparent by its name, Sigma’s 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 II DG HSM is a second-generation product that updates the popular 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG ASP HSM that was introduced in 2002. Interestingly, its RRP in Australia is just over $250 lower than the MSRP posted on Sigma Corporation’s US website, which makes this lens excellent value for money for Australians.
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens
A well built standard zoom lens for DSLR cameras with ‘APS-C sized’ sensors.Tamron has tagged its new 17-50mm F/2.8 lens with the ‘SP’ label, indicating Super Performance, which puts it into the professional product category. It also bears the Di II, indicating a second-generation, digitally integrated lens that is designed for use with ‘APS-C sized’ sensors and mounts are available for Canon, Nikon and Sony DSLRs. As tested on a Canon EOS 300D, it covers a field of view equivalent to approximately 27-80mm.
Sigma DC 18-200mm 1:3.5-6.3 Lens
Sigma’s new 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC zoom lens is marginally heavier than the similarly-featured Tamron lens we reviewed in issue 25 but also somewhat smaller in size and considerably cheaper. Designed specifically for current DSLR cameras with ‘APS-C’ sized sensors (1.5-2.0 field of view crop), this lens has internal focusing, which prevents the front from rotating, making it ideal for use with angle-sensitive accessories like polarisers and graduated filters.
Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens
Digital integration is now available for a popular long-range zoom lens.
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens
This professional quality, mid-range zoom lens has been designed specifically for the ‘APS-C’ sized sensors used in all of Nikon’s DSLR cameras and is quite a different beast from the 18-55mm lens supplied with the D50 camera reviewed in this issue. Covering a picture angle equivalent to 25.5~82.5mm on a 35mm camera, it maintains its fast f2.8 maximum aperture throughout its zoom range, giving it a big advantage over the cheaper optic for photographers who shoot in dim lighting and those who require a high level of depth-of-field control with differential focusing.