Photography Camera Lenses Reviews

February 21, 2018

Sony AX700 Camcorder Autofocus Put To The Test

Sony’s trio of new 4K camcorders feature face detect autofocus—we put it to the test to see how it performs

By David Schloss

Sony’s trio of 4K camcorders are some of the first to feature face-detect autofocus. Whether you’re a still photographer or videographer, having a dedicated camcorder with autofocus in your bag is a huge bonus. All three of the camcorders, from this consumer model we tested all the way up to the professional model, all feature the same sensor, image... Read more

January 30, 2018

Hands On With Olympus 17mm and 45mm f/1.2 Lenses In South Carolina

The company's new high-end glass gives shooters the images they've been craving.

David Schloss

When Olympus first challenged the conventional DSLR-based photographic market with the introduction of their first mirrorless camera, they steered clear of the traditional full-frame and APS-C-sized sensors and instead used their internally-developed Micro Four Thirds sensor. Smaller than either full-frame or APS-C, Micro Four Thirds sensors allowed... Read more

June 22, 2017

Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C — First Hands-On Test

A first look at the new lightweight, affordable super-zoom

David Schloss

Sigma’s new Contemporary 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM has just arrived, and I’ve been spending some time putting it through its paces at a media event in Utah’s Park City. The new lens is, according to Sigma “a state-of-the-art telephoto zoom that brings a new level of portability and quality to the super telephoto market.” Sigma has called... Read more

June 10, 2016

Hands On Review: Sony G Master Lenses

New optics for a new generation of cameras.

David Schloss

It’s only natural that a camera platform as new as the Sony’s a7 series would be perceived as being a little bit short on lenses. When the first a7 shipped—only a few years ago—you could count the number of lenses that designed for its full frame sensor on one hand. The rest of Sony’s lenses were designed for their smaller APS-C sensor equipped... Read more

September 9, 2015

Zeiss Batis Lenses Arrive

Designed to work in tandem with the Sony a7 series, the new Batis 25/2 and 85/1.8 optics deliver sharp image quality and vivid color

By David Schloss

Sony and Carl Zeiss have long had a strategic partnership—you’ll find the blue-and-white Zeiss badge on products ranging from the company’s compact cameras to Sony-designed lenses for the company’s flagship Alpha series. With the release of their first two Batis lenses, which are only available for the Sony E-mount (such as the a7R... Read more

March 9, 2015

Hi-TechStudio: The Mid-Range Zoom

With reduced distortion, sharpness across the field of view and a generally comfortable working distance, the mid-range zooms are a preferred tool for fashion and beauty

By The Editors

Mid-range zoom lenses—those that go from moderate wide-angle to portrait telephoto—are versatile tools that can cover a wide range of subject matter. But they’re especially well suited to fashion/beauty/portraiture work, letting you frame from full body to tight headshot from distances that provide pleasing perspective. Note that with an APS-C... Read more

January 6, 2015

Superfast Glass

The pros and cons of using lenses with maximum apertures greater than ƒ/1.4

By The Editors

Fast lenses let you shoot in dimmer light and can really limit depth of field for selective-focus shots. Superfast lenses are even better, right? We’ll go into that in a moment, but first, what is a fast lens? Fast refers to the size of the lens’ maximum aperture, and it’s a relative term in more ways than one. The ƒ-number designates... Read more

November 1, 2014

Lenses Deconstructed

We demystify the key specifications and how each one plays its role in making the perfect image

By The Editors

Everyone does it, even if they don’t admit it. From global photojournalists to the image makers cruising around Fashion Week to fine artists working in their hip lofts, everyone pores over spec charts about their photo gear. Another thing most photographers have in common is that they have only a passing notion of what some of those specs mean... Read more

September 1, 2014

Hi-Tech Studio: Lens Adapters

Create a completely custom body and lens outfit with an adapter

By The Editors

These two Novoflex adapters demonstrate how flange-back distance is a factor when adapting disparate mounts to one another. The very narrow adapter is for connecting a Nikon lens to a Canon EOS body. The thicker adapter is for attaching a Nikon lens to a Micro Four Thirds body. Novoflex has an extensive line of precision mounts for just about any... Read more

July 1, 2013

Hi-Tech Studio: Key Primes For Pros

For speed and sharpness, add a set of single-focal-length lenses to your lens collection

By Staff

As good as zoom lenses are, it’s tough to beat a prime lens for its combination of speed, sharpness and overall optical excellence. With their inherent sharpness, many prime lenses are able to perform up to the level of the latest image sensors. And, of course, the explosion of DSLR motion capture has also played a major role in the resurgence... Read more

December 18, 2012

Lenses For Still + Motion

Putting together the best optics for versatility and practicality

By David Willis

While both photography and videography are visual mediums, video and filmmaking add an extra level of complexity. Essentially, you’re creating a motion picture from many sequences of still images, and while many of the same rules apply when it comes to composition, exposure and aesthetics, motion adds several other challenges like sound, camera... Read more

November 1, 2010

Give Film Lenses New Digital Life

The DSLR manufacturers all produce some excellent lenses for their cameras. But spend some time in professional photography forums online, and you’ll find pros extolling the virtues of older “elite” lenses many feel are optically superior to modern designs.

By Lisette Rose

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