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After The Kit Lens; Tips On Expanding Your Optical Options
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 01, 2008  |  0 comments

Now that you've mastered the standard zoom lens that came with your D-SLR, you have to be asking yourself "what's next?" You bought a D-SLR instead of a compact camera so that you could change lenses. The question is: which lens to buy first? The answer is easy, but it all depends on what kind of pictures you like to take.

 

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Sigma’s 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens; The First Multipurpose Sigma Zoom With A Built-In Image Stabilizer
Peter K. Burian  |  Dec 01, 2007  |  0 comments

Although Sigma released their first lens with a built-in Optical Stabilizer (OS) system in the spring of 2004, the company employed this technology in only one pro-grade lens, the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6. That has changed with the introduction of a more compact/affordable (digital-only) 18-200mm OS zoom. Sigma will not comment about future plans, but a reliable source indicates that...

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The Lensbaby 3G; Selective Focus SLR Lens
Steve Anchell  |  Nov 01, 2007  |  0 comments

If photography is your pastime, you can afford to indulge in toys. If it is your occupation you tend to be more selective about what you spend your money on; toys are an extravagance--you couldn't afford 'em when you were struggling, and you don't need 'em now that you have a client base which likes your style.

But what if a toy is also...

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Tamron’s AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro; A 13.9x Zoom (!) For D-SLRs
Peter K. Burian  |  Aug 01, 2007  |  0 comments

Although Tamron makes some wide aperture, pro-grade lenses, the affordable "multi-platform" 28-300mm zoom and the "digital only" 18-200mm zoom have been their best sellers. That's understandable, since those are unusually versatile and portable lenses. Now, Tamron is marketing a newer 18-250mm Di II model, the first lens on the market with a 13.9x...

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Three Carl Zeiss T* Lenses From Sony For The Alpha, And Soon-To-Come Sony D-SLRs; Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA Zoom, Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA, And Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 ZA
Peter K. Burian  |  Aug 01, 2007  |  0 comments

When Sony first unveiled their Alpha D-SLR system in June 2006, the company made a pledge to expand its line of lenses with additional Sony G models as well as some Carl Zeiss lenses. The first three of these products, with a ZA designator indicating Zeiss Alpha, are available at this time, distributed exclusively by Sony. A fourth model, a wide aperture (f/2.8) zoom, should be...

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Sigma’s APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM & 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro; A “Constant Aperture” Zoom And A Multi-Platform Close-Up Lens
Peter K. Burian  |  Aug 01, 2007  |  0 comments

Because most consumers demand very compact, lightweight equipment, the majority of lenses are designed with a relatively small aperture: f/4 to f/5.6, for example. That makes sense because the same focal length with a wide aperture would be larger, heavier, and more expensive due to the oversized optical elements and barrel. Even so, many photo enthusiasts really appreciate an...

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You Can’t Use Old Lenses On Digital Cameras! Or Can You? An Extensive Test With The Leica M8 Just Might Change Your Thinking
Roger W. Hicks  |  Aug 01, 2007  |  0 comments

"My" Leica M8--a loaner from Leica for review--came with a 50mm f/2 bar-coded Summicron. The 18x27mm sensor turns this into a 67mm lens in 35mm terms: rather long for someone whose standard lens on 35mm has for decades been a 35mm. So as soon as I got the M8, I started using other, older lenses. There is, after all, an enormous choice, from 12mm (18mm...

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Medium Format Lensbabies; Blur & Distortion Go Big!
Joe Farace  |  Aug 01, 2007  |  0 comments

At PMA 2007 Lensbabies introduced the medium format version of its third-generation selective focus lens for Mamiya 645 and Pentax 67 cameras. That's right kiddies, it's a new lens that's engineered for use with medium format film (remember that stuff?) cameras.

The optic in the Medium Format Lensbaby 3G produces the same effects as the optic in...

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New Gear For 2007: PMA Report; New Lenses For Digital And 35mm SLRs
Peter K. Burian  |  Jun 01, 2007  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2007  |  0 comments

Although most of the new products shown at PMA 2007 were digital, at least some of the new lenses are just as useful for anyone still shooting with a 35mm SLR system. While some of the new zooms were designed exclusively for use with D-SLRs with the APS-size sensor, the multi-platform lenses work perfectly with both analog and digital cameras. That's because they project...

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Sigma’s APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM; A Portrait Photographer’s Zoom
Steve Bedell  |  Jun 01, 2007  |  1 comments

Technical Specifications

 

Lens Construction: 18 Elements in 14 Groups
Angle of View: 27.9 ° - 9.5 °
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 9 Blades
Minimum Aperture: F22
Minimum Focusing Distance: 100cm / 39.4 inches
Maximum Magnification:...

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Sigma’s APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM; A Portrait Photographer’s Zoom
Steve Bedell  |  Jun 01, 2007  |  0 comments

I 've been shooting most of my portrait work with a 28-75mm zoom, but always felt I could use something longer. And I'm about at the point where fixed focal length lenses just won't do; once you get used to the flexibility of a zoom, you're spoiled. I also like a fast lens with a relatively wide maximum aperture, as I like to get way out-of-focus...

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Zeiss “Nikon-Fit” ZF Lenses; Manual Focus For “F” Mount Cameras
Roger W. Hicks  |  May 01, 2007  |  0 comments

Quality, according to the old saying, doesn't cost: it pays. These new manual-focus, Nikon-fit "ZF" lenses are a perfect illustration of that saying. Sure, they are built by Hirofumi Kobayashi in Japan, but they are built to Zeiss standards from Zeiss designs, and they feel like the Zeiss lenses of yesteryear: smooth, solid, beautifully finished, with a lot of...

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Lens News
photokina Special Coverage; New Lenses For 35mm And Digital SLR Cameras: The D-SLR Lens Ship Comes In
Peter K. Burian  |  Jan 01, 2007  |  0 comments

With the incredible popularity of D-SLR cameras, all manufacturers are working aggressively to expand their line of suitable lenses and we found many new models at the photokina show. As expected, most of the new products are "digital only"--designed exclusively for digital cameras with APS or Four Thirds size sensor--some are multi-platform lenses. The...

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A Trio Of Tamron Zooms; SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF], AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 XR Di Aspherical [IF] Macro, And AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2
Peter K. Burian  |  Dec 01, 2006  |  0 comments

Because of the increasing popularity of digital SLR cameras, Tamron has been upgrading their line of lenses to the "Digitally integrated" (Di) standard, employing methods discussed in our Technology sidebar. Some of the new products (Di II series) were designed exclusively for digital cameras with the typical APS-size sensor, while others (Di) are multi-platform...

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Sigma’s APO MACRO 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM; It’s A Macro Lens—Wait—It’s A Portrait Lens!
Steve Bedell  |  Dec 01, 2006  |  0 comments

While searching for a new portrait lens I saw Sigma's APO MACRO 150mm f/2.8 on their website. But wait, you say, this is a macro lens, not a portrait lens! Here's my thinking: Any portrait photographer out there worth his light meter will gladly extol the virtues of a long, fast lens for portraiture. The reasons are simple--limited angle of view to get rid of...

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