April, 2009 | Photocrati

Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor 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 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

PhotoZone

The Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED DX proved to be a very good performer. Its center resolution figures are exceptionally high and apart from 12mm @ f/4 the border quality is also impressive though a little less field curvature may be desirable at 12mm. CAs as well as the distortion characteristic are very good for an ultra-wide zoom lens wMOREas vignetting is about average due to the reduced APS-C image circle. The build quality is, in principal, very fine but you would usually expect a little more from a lens in this price class. The primary competitor is probably the Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X Pro – a lens which is just as sharp but with a higher degree of CAs and worse flare in contra light – all at less than half the costs and combined with a better build quality. Costs aside it’s a close race between the two with a slight edge for the Nikkor regarding optical quality. When taking the very different price tags in account the decision may be a little more complicated. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Review Round-UP

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get more information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

Photo Zone

Regarding some glowing reviews available on the web the expectation were rather high. Unfortunately the (tested sample of the) Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR II DX wasn’t able to convince completely. Weak points are rather hefty distortions and high vignetting (@ f/3.5) at 18mm. Apart from a few weak spots the resolution figures are quite good though and it is possible to get very decent images from this lens under field conditions. The VR can surely help to save the day in situations where similar zooms must fail utterly The build quality is a little soso for a lens in this price class and probably the biggest disappointment. All in all the Nikkor is a highly interesting lens but not without flaws (hardly surprising for a 11x zoom). … READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 105mm f/2.8 D AF Micro Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get more information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Nikon 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Micro-Nikkor AF 105mm f/2.8 D may be a relatively old lens but it is still capable to deliver excellent results. Optically it is a near-flawless lens with high resolution figures, low vignetting, low CAs and non-existent distortions. The mechanical quality is very high but it also feels a little dated here with its independent AF-MF switch. Typical for most macro lenses it also suffers from a relatively slow AF speed. The new Micro-Nikkor AF-S 105mm f/2.8 ED VR has been improved in both respects (with VR on top) and regarding its similar price tag there’re probably few reasons left to prefer the classic lens. Nonetheless it is still a very fine lens. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 300mm f/2.8D ED IF II AF S Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Shutterbug

Picking up a Nikon 300mm f/2.8 for the first time was certainly a humbling experience. This lens was not only large in physical size, it was heavy! Considering the larger 500mm and 600mm super telephotos have only one more lens element in roughly half again the overall length surely indicates this 300mm f/2.8 is one optically packed powerhouse. Would I recommend this new “II” for someone looking for a 300mm f/2.8 high-performance lens? Absolutely, and without reservations. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM EF 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 from Amazon: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 USM IS is a very good lens but not a stellar one. The resolution characteristic is excellent at 70mm and 135mm but at 200mm it disappoints – more so regarding its price tag. The results are still very good here (just at f/2.8) but when putting things into perspective (e.g. vs the superb EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L IS) the delivered quality is not overly impressive. Based on the performance at 200mm the potential with tele converters seems “limited”. Lateral chromatic aberrations (CAs) are relatively well controlled but, again, inferior to the in-house competition (inc. its predecessor). Distortions are nothing to worry about as is vignetting. The build quality of the lens is superb and the IS as well as the very fast AF makes it a joy to use. If only it was better at 200mm. READ FULL REVIEW

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Book Review: Art & Fear

I frequently get questions from folks looking to pursue a career in fine art nature photography, as with many forms of art, there are many who would love to pursue it, but few who do. While the primary reason for this is financial, another part of the barrier is simple fear. It is to this audience, the beginning or mid-career photographer (or other artist), that Bayles and Orland’s famous tiny ::amazon(“0961454733″,”Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils and Rewards of Artmaking”):: is addressed. While many books attempt to cover the particulars of pricing, of stock photography, of sales technique, few cover the inner hurdles real-world artists face in embarking on art as a career, and none do it so well as Art & Fear. (more…)

Book Review: Art & Fear

I frequently get questions from folks looking to pursue a career in fine art nature photography, as with many forms of art, there are many who would love to pursue it, but few who do. While the primary reason for this is financial, another part of the barrier is simple fear. It is to this audience, the beginning or mid-career photographer (or other artist), that Bayles and Orland’s famous tiny ::amazon(“0961454733″,”Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils and Rewards of Artmaking”):: is addressed. While many books attempt to cover the particulars of pricing, of stock photography, of sales technique, few cover the inner hurdles real-world artists face in embarking on art as a career, and none do it so well as Art & Fear. (more…)

Two must haves”¦if your budget allows.

Having the opportunity to work with a great photographer like Joe McNally taught me a valuable lesson about photography, why do I own so much useless crap? There are many things on my photography wish list that I hope to purchase this year. The Canon 5D MKII, with the 580EX II Speedlite and ST-E2 Transmitter Kit (cue the Homer “Mmmmmmm donuts” sound effect) for one. (more…)

Nikon D3X Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this camera from Amazon: Nikon D3x 24.5MP FX Digital SLR (Body Only)

Popular Photography (D3X versus Canon 1Ds Mark III)

Sure, it can’t match the D3X’s 24.5MP, but at 21.1MP, this Canon’s no slouch. … If you mainly shoot in a studio environment, where you won’t need high ISOs, the 1Ds Mark III might be the camera for you — especially if you already have an arsenal of Canon glass. If your shooting is more varied, the D3X’s versatility may tip the scales in its favor. After all, the D3X nearly matches or beats the Canon in most areas of performance, including the burst rate of 5 fps. But if you’re not already wedded to a brand, the Canon offers one big advantage: It costs about $1,500 less. READ MORE OF THIS REVIEW (more…)

Canon 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 USM L IS EF 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 from Amazon: Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

Photo Zone

The Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 USM L IS is an impressive extreme range zoom. The optical quality is on a very high though not exceptional level. The resolution figures are generally very good without any major flaws. Vignetting, CAs and even distortions are very well under control. The build quality is exceptional though some may not like the push-pull zoom design. … The 3rd generation IS is a significant and highly welcome addition to the feature list. On the downside the lens is heavy and not exactly small especially when used at 300mm – not exactly a low profile lens. The price lifts it beyond the reach of most amateurs but then this is true for many L grade lenses out there. … So if you can live with its limitations and the price tag it is surely worth a deeper look! READ FULL REVIEW

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