Essential Lenses And Necessary Accessories

Outfit a growing camera kit with the ideal lenses and accessories for the kind of photography you like to do—from travel to landscapes, portraits to wildlife

William Sawalich

Without a lens, a new camera is useless. And, without the right lens and the right accessories—media, tripod and camera bag—anything beyond the basics is a real challenge. Here’s a look at the lenses and accessories that make a new camera better and more fun. Lens Fundamentals Lenses aren’t very flashy, but they sure are important. In the past... Read more

Nikon NIKKOR 28mm f/1.4E ED Hands-On Review

An update to a popular wide-angle prime lens results in an instant classic

David Schloss

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm 1.4 E ED lens replaces the venerable NIKKOR 28mm f/1.4D, bringing a modern optical and operational upgrade that gives the new lens an incredible range of sharpness, low levels of distortion, and faster focusing. The 28mm focal length is an interesting one, sitting within the range classic landscape-friendly zooms like a 24-70mm... Read more

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

Hands-On Review: Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS

Fast, sharp and versatile, this zoom is one of those rare lenses that’s suitable for pro photographers as well as enthusiasts

Text & Photography By David Schloss

Most professional photographers steer away from zoom lenses with focal lengths that extend across several more than two focal-length ranges, due to concerns over image quality. You’ll see pros using zooms that are ultra-wide-angle on one end and wide-angle on the other (something like a 14-24mm), wide-angle to standard (24-70mm), telephoto to super-telephoto... Read more

Lenses Demystified

Finding the right lens is key for any photographer but requires navigating a sea of confusing terms and technologies

By The Editors

Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Summer issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To see our coverage of new lenses, visit our Gear/Lenses and News sections. A camera’s lens, arguably, is more important in shaping the final look of an image than is its sensor. Perhaps this wasn’t exactly true in... Read more

Hands-On Review: Sigma 135mm F1.8 DG HSM Art

A superstar portrait lens with exceptional optics and great performance at a reasonable price

Text & Photography By David Schloss

Sigma has been making quite a name for itself, thanks largely to the company’s high-end “Art” lenses, which rival—and often exceed—the quality of the best lenses from the camera manufacturers, at a lower price, to boot. Available for Nikon, Canon and—via the company’s MC-11 adapter—Sony E mount, the Art series gives shooters of the major... Read more

Unique Perspective: Shooting With Specialty Lenses

Having the right specialty lens allows a photographer to capture a shot that would be missed otherwise

David Schloss

Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Summer issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To see our coverage of new lenses, visit our Gear/Lenses and News sections. Photographers spend a lot of time and money striving to get the right combination of gear and technique to capture a “perfect” shot, one that... Read more

6 Top Guides To Lenses

Digital Photo reviews a few of the outstanding lenses introduced this year, plus an overview lens guide, how to build a prime lens kit and shooting with cine lenses

By The Editors Of Digital Photo Magazine

Digital Photo reviews a few of the outstanding lenses introduced this year, plus an overview lens guide, how to build a prime lens kit and shooting with cine lenses. 1. Guide To Lenses So you have a new camera—but in order to complete your kit, you’re going to need quality glass. A discussion of the focal lengths essential to the type of photography... Read more

Capture The Action: Lenses For Sports Photography

Shooting the perfect sports image requires training, practice and the right equipment. When it comes to lenses, super-wide-angles, fisheyes and portrait lenses are all part of a sport shooter’s kit.

By David Schloss / Photography By Jeff Flindt

Marlon Lipke, Portugal. A high-end telephoto lens with a wide aperture allowed for this shot with sharp action in the foreground and a soft background of the shoreline. Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Summer issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To see our coverage of new lenses, visit our Gear/Lenses and News sections. The... Read more

Hands-On Review: Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2

Fast, sharp and affordable, this lens delivers a knockout punch

David Schloss

The new Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens is a perfect example of the changes in the photographic market, and how the range of products available today offer photographers choices previously unavailable. The 24-70mm zoom is a must-have piece of gear, found in nearly every camera bag thanks to the versatility of the focal length range and the... Read more

Lenses For Landscapes

Whether you use a super-wide focal length to capture an expansive vista or go tighter to showcase a blossoming fern, your lenses will help you figure out the visual story you’re aiming to tell

Text & Photography By Brian Matiash

Providing a clear anchor at wide focal lengths (18mm, in this case) for viewers is critical. By prominently framing a tree center-frame, you give the eyes a place to start exploring the rest of the busy frame and can return to it as fatigue from browsing sets in. Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Summer issue and reflects the products... Read more

Lenses For Travel

Hit the road with your camera and bring home not just keepsakes, but a vivid documentary using these key lenses

Text & Photography By Mark Edward Harris

Aurora, Chena Hot Springs, Alaska. Travel photography is about conveying a sense of space that’s evocative, rather than precise. Lens choice helps to transport a viewer to a destination. Photo by Mark Edward Harris Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Summer issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To... Read more

LOGIN