Sony E-mount shooters have long been starved of a premium standard zoom lens, that is until last year's excellent but pricey Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G was launched. Now Tamron have upped the ante by releasing a constant f/2.8 lens that's much longer, much cheaper and which also boasts image stabilisation. Is this the best all-round standard zoom for Sony APS-C users? Find out now by reading our in-depth Tamron 17-70mm Sony review, complete with full-size sample images...
Sony APS-C E-mount owners have been waiting for years for a fast standard zoom lens, and at long last it's finally arrived in the shape of the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G - but is it worth the £1200 / $1400 price tag? Find out now by reading our in-depth Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 review, complete with full-size sample images...
The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a compact and lightweight 7.5x zoom lens for Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras. Designed to be a significant step-up from the usual kit lenses, is it worth the £570 / $599 asking price? Read our in-depth Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS review with full-size sample images to find out...
The Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4G OSS is a versatile lens for Sony E-mount Super 35mm / APS-C cameras, offering a 6.1x zoom range, constant f/4 aperture, separate focus, iris and zoom rings and power zoom functionality. Read our Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4G OSS review now...
The Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 is a modern version of the classic "soap bubble" lens from 1916. Does it still have a place in the 21st century? Find out by reading our Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 review...
The Sigma 50-100mm F/1.8 DC HSM Art is the second ever zoom lens to offer a fast constant aperture of F/1.8 throughout its range. Retailing for £999 / $1099, read our in-depth Sigma 50-100mm F/1.8 DG HSM Art review to find out if it can replace several lenses in your camera bag...
The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is the new kit lens for the EOS 80D camera. Is it just a throw-away lens that you should upgrade as soon as possible, or is it actually worth using? We've tested the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM on the EOS 80D to find out...
The Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. is a new standard zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 24-120mm in 35mm terms, the Panasonic 12-60mm lens boasts fast and quiet auto-focusing, weather sealing and an appealing price-tag. Read our in-depth Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. review, complete with sample images, to find out if it's a must-have lens for Micro Four Thirds photographers...
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN C is a fast standard prime lens for Sony E-mount and Micro Four Thirds cameras. Retailing for £299 / $339, read our in-depth Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN C review to find out if it's worth the modest investment...
The Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4G OSS is a versatile lens for Sony E-mount cameras, offering a 6x zoom range, constant f/4 aperture and power zoom functionality. Is it a worthwhile upgrade from the standard kit lens that ships with your camera? Read our Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4G OSS review to find out...
Ahead of our full review, here are 44 sample images taken with the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4G OSS lens.
The Sony E PZ 18-105mm F/4G OSS power-zoom lens provides a versatile 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 27-158mm, covering wide-angle to telephoto perspectives, combined with a constant maximum aperture of f/4.
The Leica Vario-Elmar-T 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH is a standard zoom lens for the brand new Leica T system. Offering a focal range of 27-84mm in 35mm terms, a compact and lightweight design, and an optical formula that comprises 10 elements in 7 groups, is the Leica 18-56mm T lens the perfect partner for the new Leica T camera? Read our Leica Vario-Elmar-T 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH review to find out...
The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD is an affordable ultra-zoom lens for full-frame and APS-C Canon, Nikon and Sony DSLR cameras. Read our in-depth Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD to find out if it's really a bargain or not...
The Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS is the first ever G lens that has been created specifically for the manufacturer's E-mount cameras and interchangeable-lens camcorders. Offering a 35mm equivalent focal range of 27-157.5mm, the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS power zoom boasts an optical image stabiliser and 16 lens elements in 12 groups, including two ED glass elements and three aspherical lens elements. Equipped with an iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades, the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS maintains a maximum aperture of f/4 throughout its entire zoom range. Weighing in at 427 grams, the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS takes 72mm filters, and offers a close-focus point of 45cm. Availability is slated for October in the UK and December in the US. The estimated street price is £500/$600.
In addition to the new 16-70mm f/4 and 18-105mm f/4 zoom lenses, Sony has announced that its E 50mm f/1.8 OSS portrait prime will now be available in black, in addition to the existing silver version. "This bright, wide-aperture prime lens is ideal for capturing atmospheric handheld portraits with flattering background defocus (bokeh)," the company says. "Optical SteadyShot cuts the effects of camera shake for crisp, blur-free images when you’re relying on available light. Smooth, quiet autofocus is less likely to disturb your subject – whether you’re shooting stills or Full HD video." The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 Black Edition will be available in fall 2013, priced at around $300.
The Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM is a brand new fast prime lens for full-frame and APS-C Sony SLT cameras. Offering an ultra-fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 and weather-sealed construction is this a must-have lens for A99/A77 users? Read our Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM review to find out...
The Fujifilm XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS is a fast standard zoom lens for Fujifilm X-series compact system cameras. Offering a focal range of 27-84mm in 35mm terms, 4 stops of built-in image stabilisation, a compact and lightweight design, 0.1 second auto-focusing and an aperture ring, is the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS a viable alternative to the XF prime lenses that have been released so far? Read our Fujifilm XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS review to find out...
The Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is a fast standard zoom lens for Nikon and Canon full-frame DSLR shooters. Crucially offering built-in image stabilisation, something that the Big Two don't offer, the Tamron 24-70mm is also weather-sealed and cheaper. Read our Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD review to find out if it's the best standard zoom for full-frame users.
The Fujifilm WCL-X100 is a new wide-angle conversion lens for the popular X100 camera. It converts the X100's 35mm lens to a wider-angle 28mm focal length with no effect on the camera's fast f/2 maximum aperture. Read our in-depth Fujifilm WCL-X100 review complete with full-size sample images to find out if it's a must-buy for X100 owners...
There aren't too many quality standard zoom lenses available for the Sony Alpha system, so the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM is something of a breath of fresh air for A-mount users. Introduced at the same time as the A77 SLT camera, this 16-50mm optic is a great match for Sony's excellent prosumer DSLR. Is it a must-have lens for every A77 / A65 shooter? Read our Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM review to find out...
While the Sony NEX mirrorless camera system offers a number of excellent bodies, most notably the NEX-7 and NEX-5N, the lens range is a little more threadbare in terms of quality optics. The Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA is an obvious exception to this rule, offering a versatile focal length of 36mm and a fast maximum aperture. But is it a must-have lens for every NEX owner? Check out our Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA review to find out...
The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH is a new standard lens for the Micro Four Thirds compact camera system. Providing an effective focal length of 50mm, a fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 and a Nano Surface Coating to help reduce flare, the Leica-branded Panasonic 25mm lens is small in both size and weight. Read our Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH review to find out if this long-awaited premium optic is a must-have Micro Four Thirds lens.
The Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD is a weatherproof telephoto lens for the Four Thirds system. Featuring fast maximum apertures of f/2.8-3.5, this lens offers an equivalent focal length of 100-400mm in 35mm terms. Read our expert Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD review to find out if it's worth the £979 / $1,199 investment.
The Nikon AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G ED VR is a compact and lightweight DX format macro lens. Featuring built-in Vibration Reduction and a 1:1 reproduction ratio, the affordable Nikkor 85mm macro lens is compatible with every DX-format Nikon digital single-lens reflex camera ever made. But does that make it worth investing in? Read our Micro-Nikkor 85mm review to find out...
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM is a new compact L-series telezoom lens. It offers the usual high build quality of Canon's luxury lenses, optical image stabilisation, a ring-type ultrasonic motor for fast auto-focusing, and an eight-blade circular diaprhragm which promises excellent bokeh. That distinctive white coating doesn't come cheap, though, so read our Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM Review to find out if it's worth the investment.
The Panasonic LUMIX G FISHEYE 8mm F3.5 is a fisheye lens for the Micro Four Thirds system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering a diagonal angle of view of 180 degrees, the Panasonic 8mm lens certainly offers a unique perspective on the world. Read our Panasonic LUMIX G FISHEYE 8mm F3.5 review to find out if it's worth adding to your lens collection.
The Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 is a do-it-all superzoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds compact system camera range. Providing a 35mm equivalent focal range of 28-300mm, this could be the only lens that you need for your Olympus Pen or Panasonic G-series camera. Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out if it makes the grade in our Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 Review.
The Zuiko Digital ED 50mm f2 Macro is an affordable macro lens for the Four Thirds system. Offering an equivalent range of 100mm on a 35mm film camera, the Olympus 50mm Macro has a constant maximum aperture of f2.0, closest focusing distance of 0.24m and ED lens elements for highest picture quality. Currently priced at around $450 / £450, we find out if the Zuiko Digital ED 50mm f2 Macro is a must-have lens for the Four Thirds photographer.
The AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G is an affordable prime lens for Nikon DX DSLR cameras. Providing an equivalent focal length of 52.5mm, this Nikon lens mimics our everyday view of the world, replicating the standard prime lens that was popular back in the days of 35mm film photography. Competitively priced at £199 / $199 / €243, Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out if the AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G deserves a place in every Nikon shooter's camera bag...
The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD is the world’s first standard zoom lens to feature a constant f2.0 aperture. It provides an equivalent focal length of 28-70mm in 35mm terms and features the SWD-driven ultra-fast AF system. Part of the premium Super High Grade (SHG) series for Olympus DSLR cameras, the Olympus 14-35mm F2.0 SWD also offers dust-/drip-proofing, a mechanically interlocked manual focusing mechanism, and a large, flower-shaped hood with a polarization filter control window. Priced at $2,299 / £1,999, we find out if the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD is the best standard zoom lens that money can buy.
