Lens Reviews

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Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 12, 2024  |  0 comments

High-quality 10mm ultra-wideangle f/2.0 lens for way less than 200 bucks? Are you serious? We took a hard look at TTArtisan's $159 all-metal 10mm f/2 ASPH manual-manual lens for APS-C format cameras. Here's what we think.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Feb 02, 2024  |  0 comments

The 50mm f/1.2 all-manual APS-C lens from TTArtisan costs around a hundred bucks and is built like an Acme anvil. It offers outstanding value for the dollar and is fun to use. But it's not perfect. Read on to review the Pros and Cons as we see them.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Oct 27, 2023  |  0 comments

Sigma just began delivering the Fujifilm X mount version of their popular 100-400mm f/5-6.3 zoom.  Shutterbug had the chance to field test a sample hands-on for a few weeks to learn whether or not it's as good as people say. Here are our findings.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Sep 29, 2023  |  0 comments

The Fujinon XF30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro from Fujifilm is very compact, very sharp and focuses to 1:1, true life-size, without any accessories. But how does it measure up as a "normal lens" suitable for EDC? Let's take a close-up look.

Ron Leach  |  Sep 21, 2023  |  0 comments

We're big fans of using old lenses on modern mirrorless cameras for a variety of reasons. Not only is vintage glass far less expensive than modern counterparts build quality is often superior, and the necessary adapters are readily available for less than 20 bucks. The wide-angle prime discussed in the video below is a perfect example

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jun 16, 2023  |  0 comments

Tamron just introduced the 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD fast-aperture, ultra-wideangle zoom lens for the Fujifilm X-Mount, and Shutterbug was able to take it for an extended spin. Although it covers more than 105° at the 11mm focal length, it features close-focusing down to 5.9 inches, prompting us to propose that it enables a wholly new type of photographic composition: Ultra-Wide Closeup.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Mar 10, 2023  |  0 comments

Olympus just introduced a 90mm f/3.5 macro lens, and Shutterbug had a chance to give it a full workout on the new Olympus OM-1 mirrorless marvel prior to launch. Here is our evaluation and a few sample photos captured by this camera/lens combo.

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 07, 2023  |  First Published: Feb 08, 2023  |  0 comments

Olympus just announced the M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS Pro for Micro Four Thirds systems. Shutterbug has obtained an early sample and is currently preparing a full review. In the meantime, here’s a rundown on this exciting new lens.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Oct 21, 2022  |  0 comments

Tamron just announced an 8X lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras that starts at 50mm and zooms to 400mm, widening the range of creative applications compared to telephoto zooms that begin at the 100mm focal length. In addition to beginning at 50mm (the established “normal” or “standard” focal length for full-frame cameras) the new ultra-telephoto zoom focuses as close as 9.8 inches, rendering a magnification ratio of 1:2 (one-half life size).

Henry Anderson  |  Sep 01, 2022  |  0 comments

If you’ve ever wondered whether newer and, typically, more expensive versions of lenses are that much better than their predecessors, the below video is a fun comparison. In the clip, swimwear and lingerie photographer Anita Sadowska compares the new Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens from this year to the older “Mark I” version.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jul 01, 2022  |  0 comments

Sony offers a wide assortment of excellent optics for their popular mirrorless full-frame and APS-C cameras, but so do other high quality lens manufacturers, including the three we identify here. Sometimes adding the “just right” glass to your lens arsenal gives you a whole new way to look at things.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  May 13, 2022  |  0 comments

The 27-ounce 90mm f/1.5 manual focus lens from Mitakon Zhongyi Optics is a handful of glass, that’s for sure. We reviewed the Speedmaster on a full-frame Sony mirrorless body and formed some strong opinions. Read on…

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 22, 2022  |  0 comments

When we reviewed the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Ultra-Zoom Lens in Sony APS-C mirrorless mount, we were truly impressed that a long-reach zoom that small (< 5 inches) had such outstanding IQ, focused to 5.9 inches and cost less than $700. But I must confess that all the while, I was eagerly awaiting the Fujifilm X version of this beauty. I finally landed a sample, and here’s what happened.

Henry Anderson  |  Dec 02, 2021  |  0 comments

Since street photographers are always debating which lens is best to capture candid scenes and portraits, Pierre T. Lambert decided to put a few to the test. In the below video Lambert compares the Sony 14mm f/1.8 Vs. 35mm f/1.4 Vs. 85mm f/1.8 to see which comes out on top for street photography.

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Nov 26, 2021  |  0 comments

Time to hit the Reset Button and put your notions of Image Quality on Pause. In our everyday lives as photographers we prize sharpness, saturation, acutance and absence of aberration when we idealize the images we want to capture. Now it’s time to recognize that images that are blurred, smeared, warped and otherwise traumatized can be beautiful.

Lensbaby lenses produce images that are intentionally unsharp, because optical aberrations can be beautiful. In a word, a Lensbaby turns blur into bliss.

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