Review: Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM
Sigma released several new lenses as this past year's PMA, one of which was the ultrawide zoom lens, the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM. Essentially an APS-C version of their popular 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6, the lens uses new FLD glass elements which Sigma compares to the performance given by fluorite lenses. In our testing, we've found that there may be something to this claim: click here for our full review of the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM. (read more)
Review: Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S
Released earlier this year, the Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S is the first ultrawide, full-frame zoom lens to include image stabilization. There's a lot of technology built in to the lens to combat chromatic aberration; we put the lens through its paces in our test lab to see how it handles. Click here to read our full review of this lens. (read more)
When Sony announced its entry into the world of digital SLR cameras in 2007 with the 100, it already had a good lineup of lenses from the Minolta catalogue to bring along with it. Part of this lineup included the subject of today's lens review, the 35mm f/1.4G. Can the legacy of Minolta glass keep up with Sony's digital camera bodies? Click here for our full review of this lens. (read more)
Review: Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar
Today we take a look at another one of the Zeiss manual-focus lenses, the Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar. Many a photographer might scoff at an expensive lens that doesn't even have autofocus, but the images this lens can produce might be enough to make them think twice. When working with the fast f/1.4 aperture, it doesn't hurt to have a whopping 250 degrees of manual focusing action. Click here to read our full review of the Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar. (read more)
Review: Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon
In a world of computers and automatic settings, Carl Zeiss has been quietly manufacturing a line of manual-focus lenses compatible with a wide variety of SLR camera bodies. The Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon is one of these lenses, noteworthy for its heavy duty construction, old school features (an aperture ring!) and complete absence of autofocus. Is the hefty price tag justified, especially when considering brand-loyal options, with autofocus? Click here to read our full review of the Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon. (read more)
Review: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Canon announced an update to one of its more popular lenses - the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM - in early 2010, adding a premium fluorite lens element to reduce chromatic aberration and a new Image Stabilization system to further improve hand-held steadiness. We've put the new lens through its paces in our test lab: click here for our full review of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. (read more)
Review: Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital
In November 2009, Olympus announced two new lenses for its micro four-thirds PEN camera, one of which was the 14-150mm f/4-5.6 M.Zuiko. Falling squarely in the 'superzoom' category, the lens provides an effective field of view of 28-300mm. Will PEN users flock to this lens as the one they leave on all the time? Click here for our review of the Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital. (read more)
Review: Sony 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T*
After Sony took over Minolta's camera assets in 2006, it began releasing Sony branded lenses. The Sony 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T* appears to be more than just a re-badging, integrating Carl Zeiss optics and an additional lens element to the design. We've put the lens through its paces in our test lab: Click here to read our review of the Sony 85mm f/1.4 Zeiss. (read more)
Review: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical IF SP AF
Tamron announced an image-stabilized version of their popular 17-50mm f/2.8 lens in September 2009 for the Nikon F-mount, and we've finally had a chance to put the lens through its paces in our test lab. A month later, it became available in the Canon EF-S mount. Is it worth the switch? Click here to read our test results for this lens at SLRgear.com. (read more)
Review: Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 M.Zuiko
The Olympus PEN series of digital camera came with a new style of zoom lens - the M.Zuiko - created specifically for the micro four-thirds mount. We've finished our review of the wide-angle zoom, the Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital. The lens is unusual in that it retracts for storage, creating an extremely compact camera / lens combination. How does the lens perform? Click here for our full review of this lens. (read more)
Re-test: Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM
We originally tested the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OS in May 2008, where it produced some fairly odd results. After we did our article on sample variation, and as a result of your feedback, we thought we should try another sample. See the results of our re-test by clicking on this link. (read more)
Review: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
Sigma gave its 17-70mm lens a makeover at the end of 2009, adding optical stabilization to produce the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM. We've had a chance to put the lens through its paces in our lab: to read our full review of the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM, click here. (read more)
Review: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR
We've finally had a chance to put Nikon's previous version of the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens through its paces in our test lab, which will allow photographers interested in the newer version of the lens the ability to compare its full-frame performance (we had previously tested the lens in 2005, but a Nikon full-frame digital body wasn't available at the time). To read our full review of this lens, click here. (read more)
Review: Nikon 85mm f/3.5G ED AF-S VR DX Micro
Nikon released a new macro prime lens at the end of 2009: the 85mm f/3.5G ED AF-S VR DX Micro. Designed specifically for DX-sensor based bodies, the lens provides an equivalent field of view of 128mm, and to the delight of macro photographers tired of carrying around tripods, the lens features vibration reduction. We've put the lens through its paces in our test lab, so if macro photography is your thing, the click here for our full review of the 85mm f/3.5G ED AF-S VR DX Micro. (read more)
Multi-sample review: Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S
Following in the footsteps of our multi-sample review of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4, we have conducted the same tests on the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S. Again, we've partnered with LensRentals.com to test *5* different samples of the lens. Click here to read our multi-sample review of the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S. (read more)