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.
If you’ve never come across the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens before, then it could be the exact solution you need. Specifically designed for APS-C sensor camera bodies, this lens packs in a lot of features above and beyond a normal 35mm prime lens. The EF-S 35mm doubles up nicely as a
Once you’ve been on the photography horse for some time, you’ll soon realize that a 35mm prime lens is an essential part of your kit. A 50mm prime is a good standard, but the 35mm provides a slightly wider viewpoint, with arguably more scope for creativity. For the Fujifilm platform, one of the contenders in
If there’s one zoom lens you should own above the rest, it’s a 24-70mm. There is the argument for a wide-angle zoom or the very capable 70-200mm zoom, but the 24-70mm covers the most useful and common focal lengths. This is why we’re taking a closer look at the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM
When photographers need the help of a telephoto zoom lens, all roads seem to lead back to the tried and trusted 70-200mm lens. Canon’s own version now comes in the form of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM, being the third iteration of this lens. Equally capable on full-frame and crop sensor camera
I have to admit that I am quite partial to a Sigma Art lens these days. Like many, I love high-end same-brand lenses, but the Sigma Art series simply won me over for the image quality they provide for the price. Sigma lenses may not have the full weather-proofing of some brands, but in every
Back in the day when I predominantly produced virtual tours, a fisheye lens was a must. Without naming names, I bought into a cheap fisheye lens which did the job as intended, but suffered from tons of flaring. Image quality was okay with this lens, but it wasn’t until I got my hands on the
I have to admit that in the past Samyang wouldn’t have been my first choice for a prime lens, simply from the point of view that same-brand and popular third-party makers are usually at the top of the list. However, the company has been producing some great quality prime lenses recently, which is the case
It’s almost amazing how certain lenses can stand the test of time, while others fall by the wayside. Generally, it’s the better quality lenses with the best performance which last the longest. This includes the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. This lens isn’t fancy by any means. It does have a reasonably wide aperture, but
As Canon starts to round out the lens range for the Canon EOS R and EOS RP bodies, it makes sense to have a top-quality zoom that covers the most useful focal lengths. For the DLSR version, it was the 24-70mm focal length and now for the mirrorless format, it’s the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L
As photographers, we don’t realize how spoiled we are with lens choice and cost until we venture past the 200mm focal length. Past the 200mm zone we are into the specialist area of super-telephoto prime lenses which are large and expensive, but also the best way to capture professional quality images at long distances. There
If we’re speaking in general terms, one zoom to rule them all would be a 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. Classed as a standard zoom lens, the 24-70mm focal length covers the most useful focal lengths, with a nice large aperture and high-quality optics. However, the f/2.8 version may be a touch too expensive for most or
High-power zoom lenses are fantastic devices that allow you to experiment with multiple focal lengths without changing lenses. The Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC is one such device that provides a superb focal range of 18-200mm. This allows you to cover many different photography styles including wide-angle landscape, and even macro photography. If you
Owning a high-quality wide-angle lens is always a great addition to your kit bag. If you’re in the Nikon camp, there are a bunch of options, like the 20mm, 24mm, and 28mm, with the 24mm being a happy medium. Neither too wide or too narrow, the 24mm lens can fit a range of scenarios from
If you want to progress into ultra-wide-angle photography, a dedicated wide-angle lens is ideal. You could use a standard kit lens – like a 24-70mm zoom, but the overall quality may not be as sharp as a professional wide-angle option like the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. A lens like this is
If you’ve never had the pleasure of trying out a fisheye lens, then the most descriptive word to use is ‘fun.’ The ability to capture almost 180 degree images is pure joy, but it can have limited applications. Due to the very stretched out perspective, it’s not the most flattering lens to use for portraits,
Throughout a manufacturer’s range of lenses there will always be the case for a cost-effective zoom. Something with good optics that has a bunch of features from top-end lenses like VR, but that still produces satisfying images. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR fits this bill. This is a consumer-grade lens, which ticks
Tamron has a diverse range of lenses for multiple DSLR systems. Here, we look specifically at the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD – a superb wide-angle lens that offers fantastic image quality and great functionality. If you want to improve your landscape and outdoor photography, the focal length of 17-35mm is certainly a great choice.
In this review we going to be looking at one of those ‘oldies, but goodies’ type of lenses. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR was released back in 2010 as a pro grade wide-angle zoom, with the benefit of vibration reduction (VR) technology. It’s equally capable on both the FX and DX platforms,
There are a few routes you can take if you want an all-rounder zoom lens. Some cheap, some expensive, but if you have the cash, it’s always better to opt for a high-quality version every time, like the likes of the X-T range of cameras. In this respect, the Fujifilm FUJINON XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R
For those of you who have bought into the mighty fine Canon EOS M, lens choices are currently thin on the ground. But, to keep everybody happy in the short term, there’s the option of the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. Aimed at the enthusiast end of the market, the point here is to
I have to admit, I have a soft spot for the 24-70mm zoom lens. A little weird having emotional attachment to a focal length range, but this lens was my first, top quality zoom lens back in the day. In my case, it was the Canon L-series version which covered the most usable focal lengths
Lots of choice is a good thing when it comes to camera lenses. There was a time when you could only trust the same make as a camera for optics, but not any more. Many third-party lens manufacturers are producing fine zoom and prime lenses, as evident with the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro
If you have wholeheartedly bought into either the Canon EOS R and/or EOS RP mirrorless camera bodies, then you’re probably shopping around for some equally tasty lenses. Depending on your shooting preferences, you now have the option of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM or its counterpart the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS. We
Canon has created an amazing range of telephoto lenses. The characteristic white, red, and black design of the L-series telephoto lenses is instantly recognizable. One particular lens in this range is the epic Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM. This telephoto zoom lens offers a great mix of portability, combined with brilliant image quality,
Tamron has a history of creating high-quality zoom lenses that offer an affordable alternative to Canon and Nikon models. The Tamron 70-210mm f/4 Di VC USD is a high-end telephoto zoom lens that has an excellent build quality, and a host of useful features that make it a brilliant option for wildlife and sports photography.
As a photographer, it is important to have a multi-purpose lens that you can utilize for a myriad of purposes. Having a lens like this provides you with flexibility – you don’t have to continually change lenses for different compositions. The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is one such lens – it is
An essential piece of gear for any photographer is a high-quality mid-range zoom lens. The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 fits this bill perfectly. This mid-range zoom lens is a great competitor to the Canon EF 24-105mm, and the Nikon 24-70mm. It has a superb set of features including image stabilization and
A 400mm prime lens is quite a specialist offering, providing a super telephoto view of the world, with that special something you can only get from a prime lens. Enthusiasts to professionals opt for this focal length for high-end images for such things as wildlife and sports, boasting superior optics and go-anywhere build quality. The
The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is a brilliant lens that is often used for portrait photography. This well-built model has a great set of features and provides immaculate image quality. In this review, we look at the lens features, its performance, and how it shapes up against other similar models: Main Features First,
Canon has certainly been expanding their RF lens range of late with some very tasty top end prime and zoom lenses. The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM marks the first middle-of-the-road, super zoom lens for those who want an all in one solution that saves carrying around a bunch of primes and zooms and
