Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Purchasers of Nikon DSLR cameras that come with 18-55mm or 18-70mm lenses will probably want a long zoom to extend their shooting capabilities. The recently-released AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED has been designed specifically to meet this need. Available in black or silver (to match the D50), it can be used for subjects as diverse as candid portraits, sports, nature and wildlife photography.
An affordable long-zoom lens with two effective image stabilisation modes.Released concurrently with the EOS 5D, Canon’s EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom lens replaces the 10-year-old EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. We tested it on Canon’s new EOS 30D, where it covered a focal length range equivalent to 112-480mm in 35mm film format. The new lens combines ultra-low dispersion (UD) and aspherical lens elements and includes an improved optical image stabiliser (IS) that allows users to shoot at approximately three shutter speed increments slower than a non-stabilised lens. This is a one-stop improvement over its predecessor.
A lightweight tele-zoom lens with an excellent price/performance ratio.Sony’s SAL75300 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens partners the 18-70mm kit lens in some twin-lens kits. Compatible with both APS-C and 35mm ‘full frame’ Alphas, on the A55 body we used for our tests it provided focal lengths equivalent to 112.5-450mm in 35mm format. This range is useful for portraiture and shots of wildlife and also handy for close-ups of flowers and other small objects, where the lens will focus down to 1.5 metres.
A fast, high-performance telephoto prime lens with above-average close-up capabilities.One of the first Carl Zeiss lenses to go on sale for the Sony DSLRA100 camera, the 135mm F1.8 Sonnar T* is relatively large and heavy, with a massive front element. It’s also extremely well-built, as you’d expect from a high-quality prime lens with a longish focal length. The T* designation indicates special multi-layer coatings on the lens elements to maximise light transmission and contrast. Claimed as the brightest telephoto lens in its class, it has nine aperture blades which close on a circular aperture, providing outstanding bokeh (out-of-focus blur).
An extended-range zoom lens that covers a useful focal length range and provides above-average optical performance.Scheduled for release in October, at around the same time as the new Sony DSLR-A700 camera, the DT 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 zoom lens covers a 14x zoom range that is equivalent to 27-375mm on a 35mm camera. This well-built optic weighs only 440 grams and is reasonably compact. It can focus down to 45 cm to give a close-up magnification of 0.29 times.
A capable wide-angle zoom lens for Sony’s Alpha DSLR-A100 camera.Sony’s DT 11-18mm super wide zoom lens represents a minor evolution of the 11-18mm lens released by Konica Minolta in mid-2005 for the Dynax 5D and 7D cameras. Its DT design is ideally suited for the APS-sized CCD imager of these now defunct models – and also for the Sony Alpha A100 camera. Used on the A100 it provides angles of view between 104 and 76 degrees, which is equivalent to 16.5mm to 27mm on a 35mm camera. This is quite wide for the smaller sensor.
A fast, high-quality zoom lens that covers a popular focal length range and can be used on all Sony DSLR bodies.The price tag reflects the build quality and performance of Sony’s fast 70-200mm f/2.8 G lens. Compatible with APS-C format and 35mm sized sensor cameras, it covers a focal length range of 105-300mm with the former. The fast f/2.8 maximum aperture is available at all focal length settings, as is the minimum aperture of f/32. Eight contacts inside the lens mount allow the lens to interact with compatible camera bodies.
An affordable long-zoom lens for DSLR cameras with ‘full-frame’ or ‘APS-C’ sized image sensors.Sigma’s APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens is a telephoto zoom with a 3.3x magnification ratio that will suit photographers who enjoy taking close-ups of sports or wildlife. Although not particularly fast, it is reasonably portable and has an affordable price tag for its build quality and optical composition.
A competitively-priced, optically-stabilised long-zoom lens for DSLR cameras with ‘full-frame’ or ‘APS-C’ sized image sensors.A close cousin to the APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens, which has also been reviewed on the Photo Review website, Sigma’s APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM lens can be used on both ‘full frame’ and ‘APS-C-sized’ DLSR cameras as well as traditional 35mm SLRs. Smaller and lighter than the 150-500mm model, it is a significant upgrade on the 135-400mm f/4-5.6 lens it replaces.
A large aperture medium telephoto lens that is ideal for portraiture and low light photography. Sigma’s new 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens is designed for use with full frame digital cameras but can also be suitable for cameras with smaller APS-C sized sensors. On the Nikon D7000 body we used for our tests, it provided the 35mm focal length equivalent of 127.5mm. On a Canon APS-C body, the equivalent is 136mm. Slightly longer and 130 grams heavier than Nikon’s similarly-specified equivalent, it is also roughly $500 cheaper.
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