April, 2009 | Photocrati

Canon 28mm f/2.8 EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 may not be the most attractive lens on the market but it is still interesting nonetheless. It is very affordable in combination with a pretty impressive optical performance (except CAs) and quite decent mechanics. However, it faces pretty stiff competition from the Sigma AF 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM which is a little better in the center but worse at the borders. The Canon is much cheaper though. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 28mm f/1.4 D AF Review Round-Up

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Regarding the obvious centering defect it is difficult to find a verdict for the Nikkor AF 28mm f/1.4D. Assuming a valid sample the performance should be great when stopped down a little. Even in its less than perfect state the tested sample performed better than the AF 28mm f/2.8. CAs, vignetting and distortions are very well controlled for a lens in this class. The build quality is superb. It is a pity that the lens has been discontinued – more so because Nikon does not offer any replacement nor any other ultra-fast wide-angle fix-focal AF lens. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II EF-S Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens for EOS Digital SLR Rebel XT, XTI, 20D & 30D Digital Cameras

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In lens land there’s no such thing as a free lunch and the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II is an example for that. Under controlled conditions (stopping down two stops at 18mm) the lens can provide very decent results – certainly more than enough for casual users who are the target group anyway. However, technically the resolution is mediocre all-in-all and at 18mm @ f/3.5 it’s downright poor. Distortions and vignetting are very high at the wide-end but no big issue at the tele end. The construction quality is soso at best. In its price range there’re few alternatives in Canon EOS mount and they probably aren’t better either. However, serious users looking for a good quality lens should save a little longer and look elsewhere. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 20mm f/2.8 USM EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

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Since the release of the EOS system we have seen several updates to Canon ultra-wide zoom lenses but they didn’t really care about their fix-focals in this range ever since their initial release back in the early 90s. The Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM feels a little dated by now – less so regarding its mechanical qualities but optically it isn’t really something special anymore. Most good quality zooms can match its quality by now. The fix focal lens can still convince regarding distortions and CAs. Resolution-wise it is still a good to very good lens for sure – just not more than that. Vignetting is a little on the high side at f/2.8 which is a little disappointing for a full format lens tested on an APS-C DSLR. So unless you require an affordable, large aperture lens in this range there’re few reasons left to favor this lens over e.g. the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 USM L. READ FULL REVIEW

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Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) SP AF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Tamron SP Autofocus 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras

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The Tamron AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) SP is indeed a worthy competitor for the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS. The resolution and vignetting figures are slightly superior whereas it’s a tie regarding distortions. The Tamron shows a rather weak CA characteristic though. The build quality of the lens is very decent but it leaves a little to be desired regarding AF speed. Due to the 1.6x cropping factor on APS-C DSLRs the range isn’t all that attractive than it used to be so shopping for a new ones seems rather pointless regarding the existing alternatives. However, on the long term Canon users may see mainstream full frame DSLRs where the lens could show its old qualities again. “¦ READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 105mm f/2 D DC AF Review Round-Up

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The DC-Nikkor AF 105mm f/2 D is a very high quality, versatile tele lens. The resolution figures are excellent when using the Nikkor as a conventional lens. The Defocus Control (DC) feature gives you superior control over background and foreground blur … Vignetting, distortions and lateral CAs are very low and nothing to worry about in the field. The build quality of the lens is excellent whereas the AF (relying on the slotted drive screw) is a bit dated by now. The DC-Nikkor has one major drawback – its price tag. At around 1000 â‚¬/US$ it costs about as much as the Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 or the new Zeiss ZF 85mm f/1.4 – two other excellent but even faster “portrait” lenses. READ FULL REVIEW

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Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di SP AF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP is a superb lens without any significant flaws and it’s easily as good as the corresponding (classic) Micro-Nikkor – the resolution figures are extremely high, vignetting is marginal, CAs are low and distortions are non-existent. The build quality may be slightly inferior in comparison to the Nikkor but then the price tag is also substantially lower so the verdict can only be – HIGHLY recommended! READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Ai-S Review Round-Up

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The Nikkor Ai-S 50mm f/1.8 performed basically identical to the current AF D model so it’s your choice whether you prefer AF and a plastic construction or smooth manual focusing in a solid package. At wide-open aperture it is a little soft at the image borders and the contrast level is a little on the low side. However, at medium aperture settings the resolution figures are exceptionally high. Distortions are negligible and vignetting as well as CAs are very well controlled. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 35mm f/1.4 USM L EF Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Photo Zone:

The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L is highly regarded in the Canon community and it also shows in the lab. The resolution figures are exceptional and among the best tested so far. Typical for ultra-large aperture lenses vignetting is a little on the high side at wide-open aperture even on an APS-C DSLR but the issue remains correctable via imaging tools and stopping helps to resolves the issue if needed. CAs are a little on the high side unfortunately. Apart from the sheer lab related figures it’s simply pure fun to use the lens and the large aperture option is an inspiration for creative photography. The build quality is typical for a Canon L grade lens – simply superb. The EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L is not exactly a cheap lens but nonetheless – highly recommended. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 85mm f/1.8 D AF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Nikon 85mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.8 D was a very boring lens during the tests simply because it showed a exceptional performance in all tested categories. Besides the lab results the lens shows a beautiful bokeh (out-of-focus blur). If I had to name a weakness it may be flare in contra light but it is a minor issue in the otherwise very harmonic package. So if you ´re looking for a portrait lens or a similar application where you would like to isolate an object from its environment this is an ideal lens. Highly recommended! READ FULL REVIEW

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