It wasn’t so long ago when every camera came with what’s called a normal lens. This, of course, didn’t refer to its mental health, but to the fact that it was the default lens that every photographer would find useful or, in the days before interchangeable lenses, would be stuck with.
Outdoor and travel photographers take note. The compact and rugged Pentax KP DSLR is a lot of camera in a tough, portable package, making it an ideal traveling companion. The 24-megapixel KP features a dustproof and weatherproof camera body with 67 points of sealing yet it weighs only 1.4 pounds and is small enough to fit into a laptop bag. This APS-C-sensor-based DSLR also features five-axis in-camera shake reduction, a top sensitivity of ISO 819,200, and high-speed continuous shooting at up to 7 frames per second. Best of all, if you like shooting outdoors even when the weather outside is less than optimal, the Pentax KP is designed to shoot in temperatures as low as 14 degrees F. You may freeze but your camera won’t.
Nikon announced three new wide-angle Nikkor lenses this morning: the AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20MM F/4.5-5.6G VR, which is a compact, ultra-wide-angle perspective DX-format zoom lens; the AF-S Fisheye Nikkor 8-15MM F/3.5-4.5E ED, which is a circular fisheye zoom lens; and the AF-S Nikkor 28MM F/1.4E ED: a wide-angle, prime lens.
A small earthquake didn’t stop Sony from unveiling two new wide-angle zooms in their ever-expanding line of full-frame E-mount lenses at a press event today in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Shutterbug was on hand to test out the new Sony glass, which includes a fast FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM wide-angle zoom and an FE 12-24mm f/4 G ultra-wide zoom.
When Sigma introduced their new super-wide zoom in late 2016 I was eager to give it a try. Among their Art lens offerings, the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM lens ($1,599, MSRP) serves as an upgrade to their 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 (still available at an MSRP of $949) with a constant f/4 aperture; a nine-bladed diaphragm; FLD glass elements; an updated HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) that uses 1.3x the torque for fast and smooth autofocus operation; 16 elements in 11 groups construction; and what Sigma claims is “the largest aspherical element in the industry” to minimize distortion, ghosting, and flare. The angle of view ranges from 84 to 122 degrees, with mount compatibility for Canon, Nikon, and Sigma DSLRs.
Lomography’s new Neptune Convertible Art Lens System offers photographers a lightweight, modular approach to shooting, with a universal base unit that mounts to both film and digital cameras and three interchangeable front lens elements.
If the used camera lens you see online is packaged with a leash and a bone, odds are very good that it’s a dog. But in the absence of obvious evidence, how can you tell a bargain from a bagel? It’s impossible to physically examine the merchandise before purchase. And you can’t always trust what you see in the listing photos. However, you can conduct a thorough inspection upon receipt. Here are 10 things to check the minute the used lens is delivered.
We watched this video at least a dozen times over the weekend and we still can’t get enough. Mats Wernersson is some kind of master craftsman or maybe he’s just a really clever guy with what Jeff Spicoli would call “an awesome set of tools.”
Focal length is a simple but extremely important photographic concept, and in this quick video you’ll learn all you need to know to make the most of the lenses you have as well as those you acquire in the future.
Just bought a 200mm f/2.8 lens for my Nikon D300s for $99! Incredibly it’s only 3.1 inches long and it’s as sharp as a handful of carpet tacks. It’s used, sure, and it’s manual focus. But hey! It was made by Nikon. It’s a real Nikon lens and it’s just one example of the fantastic bargains that are available to those who know what to look for.
In commenting on an obscenity case back in 1964 Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously quipped, “Hardcore pornography is hard to define, but I know it when I see it.” The same can be said of bokeh, a Japanese term for the perceived quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph.
Canon has two innovative lenses that incorporate built-in LED “Macro Lites” on either side of the front element, the EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM for M-Series mirrorless cameras, and the EF-S 35mm Macro IS STM for Canon DSLRs. In the video below, you’ll see what you can accomplish by using these lenses instead of a conventional on-camera flash.