Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Photo Review Reviews section
An interesting camera for serious photographers but with some functionality limitations and a relatively high price tag.It’s been ages since we reviewed a Sigma DSLR camera, the last model being the not-so-impressive SD10. Fortunately, its replacement, the SD14 is a somewhat different beast, although it still uses a Foveon image sensor. For starters, it’s more compact and 85 grams lighter than the SD10. It’s also the first Sigma DSLR capable of shooting JPEG files as well as X3F raw files.
A well-built, thoughtfully-designed DSLR camera for serious enthusiasts and professional photographers.Nikon’s new D300 DSLR camera slots in above the D200 ‘pro-sumer’ model but does not replace it. Although five grams lighter, the new model has essentially the same sturdy body as the D200, with a magnesium alloy chassis and dust- and moisture-proof sealing. Its shutter unit is rated for 150,000 cycles, compared with 100,000 for the D200. Its sensor resolution is also higher at 12.3 megapixels.
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 capable ultra-wide lens for DSLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors.Announced at PMA 2010 in February, the new Sigma AF 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM lens is designed specifically for DSLR cameras with APS-C size image sensors and boasts the widest angle of view of its type. It covers angles of view equivalent to a 12-24mm lens in 35mm format (12.8-25.6mm on Canon cameras) and features a number of exotic glass elements that help to keep its size compact and weight relatively low.
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.
A large aperture, standard zoom lens with image stabilisation for DSLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors.Sigma’s 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM lens is an upgrade to the AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro lens released in 2006. Designed for the smaller imaging circle of cameras with APS-C sized sensors, it is slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor and has a more complex optical construction. It also includes Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) technology for fast and quiet autofocusing.
An affordable telephoto zoom lens with optical stabilisation for 35mm SLR cameras and DSLRs.Sigma’s 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS telephoto zoom lens is targeted at amateur photographers who require an affordable long-zoom lens to complement, say, an 18-55mm or 18-85mm kit lens on their DSLR. Usable with both 35mm cameras (and ‘full-frame’ DSLRs) and DSLRs with APS-C sized sensors, this lens can be used for subjects as diverse as portraiture, sports, wildlife and travel photography.
An affordable, high-performing macro lens that is also ideal for copying.Sigma’s 50mm f/2.8 EX DG has the shortest focal length and lowest price of the four macro lenses in the company’s current line-up. Designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras, it can also be fitted to DSLRs with smaller APS-C size sensors, where it covers a similar field of view to a 75mm lens in 35mm format with Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras or 80mm with Canon cameras.
A fast, stabilised, medium-telephoto lens that can be used with ‘full frame’ and APS-C sensor DSLR cameras and supports hand-held shooting in low light situations.Sigma has been producing fast tele zoom lenses for hand-held photography since the late 1980s and, although the new 70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS lens claims to be a second generation model, we estimate it’s the sixth in a line that reaches back to the original AF 70-210mm f/2.8, which was designed for 35mm film SLR cameras. Interestingly, the main difference between the new lens and its immediate predecessor is the addition of the company’s Optical Stabilisation (OS) system.
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