Lenses

Gear — Urban Night Photography
Gear recommendations for capturing the essence of a city at night
Brian Matiash
Read our urban night photography how-to guide Camera If the sun is down, it’s more than likely that I’ll be using a Sony a7S II full-frame mirrorless camera. While the sensor measures in at 12 megapixels, the pixels are very large and can pull in a ton of light. Its high-speed ISO performance is virtually unparalleled, though the Nikon D5 and Canon... Read more

Gear — Sports
The gear you need in the field to capture the action of sports
Brett Wilhelm
Read our sports how-to guide Cameras While mirrorless technologies continue to improve, the autofocus capabilities and frame rates of current DSLR cameras have made them the default choice for sports photographers, but that won’t last much longer. Nikon and Canon are the dominant players in the pro sports world. Nikon and Canon’s flagship full-frame... Read more

Gear — Landscapes
The tools you need in the field to return home with spectacular landscape images
Glenn Randall
Read our landscape how-to guide Camera Versatility and portability are important in landscape work because you’ll often need to travel to your subject. The Nikon D810 and Canon EOS 5DS offer high resolution in compact packages. The Pentax K-1 offers features designed for outdoor work, like GPS and star tracking. The Sony a7R II packs the highest resolution... Read more

Gear — Travel
Our gear recommendations for returning home with meaningful travel images
DPMag
Read our travel how-to guide Cameras There are pros who take high-quality travel pictures with an iPhone. If you want professional-quality images, with fine detail and low levels of noise in all settings, though, you’ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera. The larger the sensor, the better the image quality, generally speaking. For all-around photography,... Read more

Gear — Portraits
Our recommendations for the best gear to level up your portraiture work.
Thomas Boyd
Read our portrait how-to guide Cameras Most pros prefer full-frame cameras for portrait work, but whether you use a full-frame or crop-framed one like APS-C or Micro Four Thirds, you have the same needs. You want good image quality, a camera that feels comfortable and that makes sense to you. I use a Canon 1D X Mark II, but honestly, if I weren’t... Read more

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

Hands-On Review: AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR

This budget-based extreme telephoto lens from Nikon is one of the best bargains in photography

By David Schloss
Judging by the name and specifications alone, the new AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm ƒ/5.6E ED VR from Nikon doesn’t seem like it’s going to be an exceptional lens—with a minimum aperture of ƒ/5.6 and a street price of under $1,400, even Nikon’s own press release doesn’t talk up the power of this new super-tele zoom. While the company often praises... Read more

Lenses For Portraiture

Considerations when choosing a lens for flattering photos of people

By Wes Pitts
Though there’s no "perfect" lens for portraiture, it’s generally agreed that a moderate telephoto in the range of 85mm to 135mm (35mm equivalent) is a reliably good choice. For tight headshots, an even stronger telephoto in the 200mm or even 300mm range may be a better choice. A lot depends on the space in which you have to work,... Read more

Optics For Macro

Three ways to get closer to your subject

By Mike Stensvold
Want to try exploring the miniature worlds accessible through close-up photography? There are options for every budget, from premium lenses specially designed for macro work, to relatively inexpensive extension tubes and close-up lenses, or "diopters", that resemble optical filters and attach to the front of your lens. Here are the basics... Read more

The Do-It-All Lens

All-in-one zooms that can cover wide-angles to telephoto

By David Willis
Canon EF 24-105mm ƒ/4L IS USM Over time, many pros build up an impressive arsenal of lenses for specialized use, but if you’re just starting out, superzooms are a great way to save on cost while still being able to cover most subjects. Digital lens design has mitigated the difference in image quality between zooms and prime lenses for the... Read more

Lenses

If you’re looking to buy a new lens with the latest optical technology, you’re in luck.

By William Sawalich
If you’re looking to buy a new lens with the latest optical technology, you’re in luck. Manufacturers have spent 2012 introducing many new models from which to choose. Whether you’re shopping for an extreme zoom for your mirrorless camera or a superfast wide-angle prime for your DSLR, there’s literally something for everyone.... Read more

Using A Teleconverter

Get extra reach with an affordable alternative to extreme tele lenses

By Mike Stensvold
Supertelephoto lenses are really expensive, but worth it for those who can afford the cost, due to their superb optics and AF performance, and fast maximum apertures. But there’s an accessory that can give those on a budget access to supertele "reach" at a much lower cost: the teleconverter. PROS AND CONS A teleconverter (or tele-extender)... Read more
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