Lensbaby’s Deliberate Distortion

I’ve experimented with Lensbaby lenses for years, since they paradoxically let me focus on blur in a very unique and compelling way

Text & Photography By Terry Sullivan

During a trip to Florida a few years ago, while staying at a beach-side resort, my daughter began blowing bubbles by the beach. What intrigued me about the oval shapes and oily texture of the bubbles is that they echoed some of the oval shapes appearing in the background as part of the photo’s bokeh. I love the dreamlike quality the lens allows me... Read more

Special Lenses For Special Effects

Whether you want to make big enlargements of tiny subjects with a macro lens or alter the focal plane and perspective with a tilt-shift lens, these specialty lenses produce truly unique optical effects

Text & Photography By William Sawalich

When most of us think about camera lenses, we think about things like focal lengths and maximum apertures and how they allow us to photograph certain subjects most effectively. Lots of lenses work for lots of different things, most of the time. But some lenses are built to do things that are especially unique. These specialty lenses may be designed... Read more

Lenses For Sports Photography

Sports photographers need to reach out and grab the shot. Here's how to pick the right lens.

Text & Photography By Mark Edward Harris

I used my Nikon D4 with my NIKKOR 300mm F2.8 lens set to 1/2000th of a second, f/4.5, ISO 200 to capture the action of a steer wrestling competition at the PRCA Rodeo during Cheyenne, Wyoming’s Frontier Days. When it comes to sports photography, since speed is the name of the game, pros turn to “fast” lenses. But what constitutes a fast lens... Read more

Lenses For Landscape Photography

Landscape photographers need a wide variety of lenses to capture nature’s splendor

Text & Photography By Brian Matiash

It’s very important that I provide viewers with a clear path within my photos, especially when I’m using an ultra-wide focal length. I want to avoid the problem of confusing the viewer as to what the primary focal points are by establishing a clear sense of direction. It’s fair to say that landscape photography can mean different things to... Read more

Portrait Lenses

What to look for when shopping for a portrait lens for any camera, any format and any budget

Text & Photography William Sawalich

Just about the moment the camera was invented, it was used to create portraits. Historic records of people have always been a main photographic focus. In an era of selfies, a portrait stands out as a composed and intentional representation of a person. The first consideration when choosing a lens for portraiture is typically focal length because it... Read more

Travel Lenses

Confidently capture the world with these great lenses

Mark Edward Harris

Kudla/Shutterstock While there’s no single defining characteristic that makes something a travel lens, there are definitely pieces of glass that are geared for work on the road. When it comes to zooms for travel, one focal length range must be covered—a 24-70mm for a full frame camera or a 16, 17, or 18-55mm for a camera with an APS-C sensor. With... Read more

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

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