Hundreds of lenses are reviewed each year by our expert photographer reviewers. Find out about the different models being offered by the biggest brands and the best lenses for specific types of photography and focal distance needs.
Wide-angle lenses have a lot more to contend with in life than their more standard viewpoints siblings. These types of lenses are specialists in nature and have to counter more edge distortion as standard. The Venus Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D is aimed at the typical landscape or architectural photographer who wants something a little different
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a powerful prime lens with an excellent maximum aperture of f/1.8. This makes it ideal for low-light photography and creating fantastic bokeh effects whilst experimenting with depth of field. It also has an exceptional build quality and is one of the best prime lenses available for the
It’s fine and dandy to cart around a bag full of prime lenses all day long to cover every conceivable need. But if you only want or need one zoom lens to cover everything from the wide-angle to super-telephoto, then the likes of the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM Contemporary lens can fit
The Nikon Z range of cameras is an advanced series of both full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras such as the Nikon Z5 and Nikon Z50. These cameras offer superior image quality and a fantastic range of features. To complement this developing range of cameras, Nikon has Z lenses like the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8
If you’re currently shopping around for a premium quality 35mm lens for the Sony platform, the ZEISS Loxia 35mm f/2 is one candidate that is usually recommended. The Loxia 35mm f/2 features the usual ZEISS niceties and design assets, along with a few added extras above a usual manual lens in the form of Exif-data
Samyang and Rokinon have been busy little bees, to steal a quote from a tyrannical Roman Emperor. Fortunately, they’re not working to bring down an empire, but to build cost-effective prime lenses. The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is aimed at users who are happy with manual focusing and need a fast lens, while also
When it comes to the sheer quality of output, ZEISS glass is usually the top of any photographer’s list. Anybody who has been playing around with lenses for a good deal of time either owns some form of ZEISS optics or wouldn’t mind getting their hands on one. This is easier said than done for
When we think of Leica optics, it’s usually to do with high-quality prime lenses. Not necessarily zoom lenses, which is why taking the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 for a test run will be very interesting to see how it measures up against the prime lens camp. As this zoom lens covers the 90-280mm focal range,
The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM was released back in 2012. In general technology terms, this lens should be drawing its pension. But in the world of camera lenses, this Canon 35mm has just hit maturity and has a good idea of its own capabilities. The lens has also lost some of the limelight
For many, experience with a fisheye lens comes mainly from the peephole in a front door rather than a constantly-used piece of camera optics. This makes sense, as a fisheye lens gives a very bulbous view of the world, with distorted lines being a feature rather than the usual negative. However, a lens such as
For anyone looking for a versatile telephoto zoom lens, the 70-200mm is the most popular option. This focal range has plenty of applications for the likes of wildlife, sports, action, and event photography, while also containing highly competent optics. The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is a more affordable version of Sony’s f/2.8 GM,
Those out there who want a top-quality, standard view lens with a little extra width usually opt for a 35mm prime. This focal length has more width than a 50mm prime and is great for things like environmental portraits. There are quite a few options out there to choose from, but if you want a
The 35mm focal length provides a wonderful, standard view of the world. This focal length is ideal for capturing environmental portraits or when a bit more width than the standard 50mm prime lens is needed. As the 35mm focal length is one of the standards, there are plenty of examples on the market. But if
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G is a prime lens that is especially suited for portrait and wedding photographers, but also works well for food and landscape photography. Many photographers relied heavily on the old Nikon AF NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4D lens, which was legendary for the amazing bokeh it produced as well as extreme sharpness and
Samyang has traditionally not been at the top of many people’s wish lists when it comes to high-quality prime lenses. But with the introduction of the Samyang XP 85mm f/1.2, the company now has optics that can provide top quality at a very respectable price point. This lens may be manual focusing only, but the
A 50mm prime lens will always be the go-to standard for any type of photography. This focal length provides a happy medium between a relatively wide view and the ability to get in close when needed. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA is one such lens, which offers a fast aperture and some of the
For many, the 24-70mm is the most widely-used zoom lens, which is why it’s most commonly given the workhorse title. For many photojournalists, this focal range is an invaluable tool, acting almost like a bunch of 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses in one package. Each camera maker has its own version, which is why the
There’s one thing that Leica makes sure of above any other lens manufacturer and that’s to make their high-end optics as exclusive as possible. I say this purely from a price point of view, as the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH costs just shy of $5000 on a favorable day at current prices, making it
As photographers, we train ourselves to be as pragmatic as possible when it comes to lens choice and acquisition. This is a good thing in part, but we also secretly long to own an all-encompassing lens that covers every focal length and contains every feature imaginable. Lenses like the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS go
If there’s one lens that you are going to spend big on for the long run, it’s going to be a 50mm prime. This focal length just so happens to slot into a wide variety of shooting scenarios. That’s why it is touted as a standard focal length. The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH slots
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR is a telephoto zoom that covers a decent focal range. It will appeal to all kinds of photographers from portrait shooters through to landscape and sports, but the slow f/4 maximum aperture may limit its usefulness for some photographers. When you’re looking for a good, solid general-purpose
Every popular lens manufacturer has a flagship 70-200mm zoom, as it’s one of the most popular solutions for covering the short-to-medium telephoto range. Sony is no different, and for those wanting the best in performance from the platform, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS now features a floating focusing system, with improved autofocus motors,
Anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about long telephoto prime lenses will know that they cost a king’s ransom and are large and heavy. At least the Vivitar 500mm f/8 checks the “large” box, but for a prime lens at this focal length which costs just shy of a hundred dollars, the price point
Without diving into all the standout benefits of shooting through a prime lens, this type of glass can more than make up for the lack of zoom ability with their own zest of final image rendition. If you’re currently checking out the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II, you may have come from
The usual course of action when first diving into interchangeable lens cameras is to purchase some sort of 50mm prime lens. Experience eventually tells you why this is a good happy medium option, as the 50mm focal length is great for everything from landscapes to quality portrait shots. If you’re on a budget or just
When you start to get really serious about long-range photography, there’s nothing like owning a super-telephoto prime lens. There are zoom lenses out there that can cover the same focal length as a 500mm, but a prime lens will always give you that extra zap of quality. However, a 500mm prime is going to be
An 85mm prime lens has always been a good solution for portrait shots, but the highest-quality versions have always been a bit pricey. This means that if you are on a limited budget and still want good image quality, you have to be more strategic with your choices. This is where the Meike 85mm f/1.8
Usually, when it comes to buying into a high-quality 70-200mm zoom lens, the first port of call is to check out the camera manufacturer offerings. But for the vast majority of us, price is always a big consideration, which is why the likes of the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 will always
Once you’ve been down the road of owning a bunch of prime lenses, you’re more likely to revel in the more obscure and specialist versions available. Common, highly touted, and pin-sharp primes are one thing, but there’s also an eagerness to find the lenses that produce their own individual character and look. One such lens
One of the nice side benefits of sitting squarely on the Sony camera platform is access to native ZEISS lenses. The relationship has been going on for many years, which means the average Sony user has a wealth of glass to choose from in many different focal lengths. To cover the slightly wide-angle side of
