Digital integration is now available for a popular long-range zoom lens.
Photo Review Reviews section
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.
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED Lens
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.
Lexar Professional 133x Speed 2GB CompactFlash Card
Rugged construction and fast data transfer speeds for today’s DSLR camera users.Just over a year after SanDisk released its Extreme III line of memory cards, Lexar Media has produced a competing line-up in its Professional range, under the ‘133x Speed’ label. The new Lexar cards offer the same 20 MB/second minimum sustained write speed as the SanDisk cards and include the proprietary Write Acceleration Technology, which allows high-performance DSLR cameras to store images as quickly as possible. Each card also carries a lifetime warranty and gives professional photographers unlimited access to Lexar’s technical support facilities.
Canon EF 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 IS USM Zoom Lens
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.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
The world’s first Micro Four Thirds System camera with features and performance to appeal to photo enthusiasts.Panasonic’s new Lumix DMC-G1 is the first model in an entirely new camera system, officially known as ‘Micro Four Thirds’ but sometimes dubbed ‘EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens)’ to provide a better picture of the difference between it and a DSLR (which it resembles superficially). Cameras made for this system have no reflex mirror and no optical viewfinder. The sensor is also significantly larger than the sensor in similar-sized advanced digicams.
Panasonic Lumix FZ20
Test shots showed excellent edge-to-edge image sharpness, clearly defined areas of colour and no detectable chromatic aberration, although some blooming was detected in contrasty shots and night shots at ISO 400 had visible image noise.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7
An easy-to-use, long-zoom digicam with an excellent menu system and effective image stabilisation. Available in silver or black, Panasonic’s new DMC-FZ7 Lumix camera replaces the popular FZ5 and offers a higher-resolution sensor, larger LCD screen and a redesigned body that is slightly larger and heavier. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has been relocated directly over the lens barrel, where it’s more comfortable to use and your nose is less likely to touch the LCD – an important feature with the enlarged monitor. A new omni-directional joystick makes manual focus and exposure easier to operate and a higher capacity battery allows up to 320 images to be recorded per charge.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
High resolution and extended zoom range plus a wide variety of user-operated controls in an SLR-sized camera body.As the ninth model in Panasonic’s ‘FZ’ series of 12x zoom cameras, the DMC-FZ50 is a sizeable step-up from its predecessor, with higher sensor resolution. It also sports a new Venus Engine III image processor chip. The higher-resolution sensor has extended the ‘extra optical zoom’ function to 21.4x at 3.2-megapixel resolution, compared with 19.1x for FZ30, while the new processor has improved overall performance. But otherwise, little has changed.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5
Available in black or silver, Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ5 sports the same Leica 12x optical zoom lens as its successful predecessor, the DMC-FZ20 but, unlike the FZ20, it cannot maintain the f2.8 maximum aperture throughout its full zoom range. With a plastic body that is almost identical to that of the 3-megapixel FZ3, the FZ5 is smaller and roughly 40% lighter and 20% cheaper than the FZ20. The FZ5’s body is well made and feels comfortable in the hands.
