Dphoto.us have reviewed Canon’s new EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM telephoto zoom lens, which measures less than 10cm long and includes Canon’s Image Stabilisation technology to reduce camera shake.

“Immediately noticable is the light weight. Particularly if you’re used to shooting with Canon L lenses, the 70-300 DO will seem light as a feather at it’s weight of only 720g/25.2 oz. For travel purposes or when otherwise traveling light, the 70 - 300 provides very useful focal lengths in a very manageable package. This however is not enough for serious photographers if image quality is sacrificed to a great degree. I had the opportunity to shoot with the 70 - 300 DO for two days. The first day was shooting an outdoor concert. I was very pleased with the contrast and skin tones of the lens. Zoom operation was very smooth, and autofocus was acceptable, though not as quick as Canon’s 70 - 200 2.8.”

Website: Dphoto.us - Canon EF70-300mm DO IS Lens Review

Luminous Landscape have just reviewed Canon’s new EF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM ultra high magnification zoom lens. With an approx. 11x zoom range covering everything from wide-angle to telephoto, Canon’s latest dust and moisture proof ‘white lens’ is designed to appeal to professional EOS photographers looking to reduce lens changes and the number of lenses they need to carry.

“Because of advances in computer-assisted lens design and also the use of exotic glass elements, zooms lenses have become very good indeed. The best ones are almost as good as the best primes, and much more versatile. But they are relatively slow. In fact few if any manufacturers are even producing new prime lens designs anymore, and some are even being discontinued due to slow sales. (Get ‘em while you still can). New lenses like these two high-end zooms are indicative of how manufacturers are no longer fighting for speed. People would much rather have smaller, though slower lenses, not faster ones.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Canon EF28-300mm L IS Lens Review

The Slovenian website e-FotoGrafija have reviewed Canon’s new EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM telephoto zoom lens, which measures less than 10cm long and includes Canon’s Image Stabilisation technology to reduce camera shake.

Website: e-FotoGrafija - Canon EF70-300mm DO IS Lens Review

Nikon UK Press Release 28/05/04

The world’s first f/2 aperture SLR lens to feature Vibration Reduction

A revolutionary SLR photographic lens, the AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED is the first* f/2 aperture lens to feature Vibration Reduction (VR) technology. Heralding an exciting breakthrough in photographic performance, the VR technology extends shooting opportunities beyond the limits of the currently available photographic lenses.

f/2 maximum aperture combined with Vibration Reduction
The unique combination of an f/2 maximum aperture combined with Vibration Reduction technology offers exciting photographic opportunities in low light conditions, previously impossible to achieve without resorting to grainy high-speed film or noise-prone digital ISO sensitivity settings.

The shallow depth of field created by the wide f/2 aperture offers a unique result, combined with a pleasing background blur and bright viewfinder image the AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED suites photographers seeking to freeze movement with fast shutter speeds in low lighting conditions.

Nikon UK Press Release 28/05/04

Nikon is pleased to introduce the AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II; the first teleconverter to offer a 1.7x lens focal length magnification, but with exposure compensation kept to just 1.5 stops. Designed exclusively for use with AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses, the AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II is the newest member of the Nikon range, consisting of 1.4x, 1.7x, and 2.0x focal length magnification factors.

With dimensions of just 66 x 31.5mm (2.6 x 1.2 in.) and a weight of only 250g (approx.) the AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II is compact and lightweight to use. Attached to a camera body, for example, with the latest AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED lens, the combination of lens and teleconverter offers the photographer an impressive focal length of 340mm with a maximum aperture of just f/3.3. On all of Nikon’s digital SLRs an approximate 135-picture angle equivalent to 510mm is possible, whilst maintaining the same maximum aperture of f/3.3.

Cosina Press Release 27/05/04

Japanese lens manufacturing giant, Cosina, has launched it’s first lens specifically for digital SLR’s. The new arrival gives a true 19mm-35mm f3.5 - 4.5 zoom wide angle, which promises to give the same high performance as it’s non-digital model. Modifications to improve the overall feel and handling of the lens have been made, which include a ‘well balanced’ lens when mounted onto a camera body. 

The lens is constructed of 11 groups and 13 elements with an angle of view of 97 - 63 degrees. With a rotating zoom it has a minimum aperture of f/22 and a minimum focusing distance of 0.5meters. Weighing in at 300 grammes, the 19-35mm zoom is a compact 82mm in diameter and 67.2 mm in length. It has a filter size of 77mm.

Sigma Press Release 20/05/04

12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG ASPHERICAL HSM wins “Camera Grand Prix 2004” award from Camera Press Club.(2004.5.20)

We are glad to announce that the super-wide angle zoom lens 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG ASPHERICAL HSM introduced to market last November (first zoom lens that has 122 degree diagonal angle of view at 12mm focal length) was awarded Camera Grand Prix 2004 Special Prize by Camera Press Club.

Camera Grand Prix is the official prize of “Camera Press Club” which consists of 13 main Japanese Camera and Photography magazines.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Camera Press Club’s Special Prize award given to popular, advanced imaging products.

Sigma wins “camera press club Special Prize” second time. First time, “SA-300” and Interchangeable lenses of Sigma have won this award in 1993.

Except fish-eye lenses, this super-wide angle lens is the only lens that has 12mm focal length and can be used with Digital SLR cameras as well as film SLR cameras. Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements are provided for effective compensation of color aberration, which is a common problem with super-wide angle lenses.

If you’re a Canon DSLR user who’s interested in long-lens photography, then you will want to take a look at the new article from Michael Reichmann over at Luminous Landscape. Michael has tested the Canon 100-400 f/5.6L IS against the Canon 400mm f/5.6L using the DxO Analyzer optical testing system. Can the zoom lens beat the prime?

“Recently I started testing some of my existing cameras and lenses with DxO Analyzer. Based on e-mails that I receive and the numerous questions that I see on various equipment Forums around the Net, one of the most common questions concerns what is the best moderately priced 400mm solution for Canon lens owners? This test is intended to partially answer that question, at least with regard to measurable optical performance.”

Website: Two Canon 400mm Solutions Compared

Sigma Press Release 21/05/04

Exclusively Designed for use with digital SLR cameras and has 6.9 times high magnification zoom ratio(2004.5.21)

18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC

Corresponding AF Mount
SIGMA, CANON, NIKON (D), PENTAX

Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC.
This zoom lens was exclusively designed for use with digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras and has 6.9 times high magnification zoom ratio.

A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and two pieces of aspherical glass elements produce high level of optical performance through the entire zoom range and also this has resulted in a compact, lightweight lens that features a length of 77.7mm (3in.), maximum diameter of 70mm (2.7in.), weight of 385gr (13.5oz) and filter size of just 62mm.

Two new models introduced from May 2004

Following the successful launch of Tamron’s first Di (Digitally integrated) lenses last year, Tamron have recently announced a further two models:

SP AF 90mm f2.8 Macro 1:1 Di & SP AF 200-500mm f5.6-6.3 Di.SP AF90mm F2.8 Di MACRO 1:1
The existing Tamron 90mm Macro lens is world renowned for its outstanding optical performance as well as its lightweight and compact design. Tamron have redesigned this lens to feature Di - Digitally Integrated Design for use with film and digital SLR cameras.

The lens provides outstanding image quality when used with film or digital cameras. Unlike conventional lenses, designed to cope with internal diffused reflections of a mirror box and film surface, Di lenses offer new anti-reflection countermeasures that are essential in lenses designed for use with digital cameras. the 90mm Di features an improved coating technology that reduces the reflections that are likely to become a problem to the absolute minimum.

PENTAX Press Release 12/05/04

Compact, Lightweight 14mm DA-Series Lens for *ist D

GOLDEN, Colorado (May 12, 2004) - PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a second lens designed for the *ist D digital SLR will ship later this month.  The smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] interchangeable wide-angle lens was developed as a second model of the new DA-series lineup.  At 14.8 ounces and measuring just 2.7 inches long and 3.3 inches in diameter, the lens is one of the lightest in its category.  The lens features a standardized DA-series design incorporating high-grade metallic components with green accents. 

Featuring a focal length of 14mm (equivalent to 21mm in the 35mm format) and a 90-degree angle of view, this high-performance wide-angle lens incorporates a high-refraction, low-dispersion glass element and an Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element to produce high-resolution, true-to-life images in advanced digital photography.  The lens offers a minimum focusing distance of .56 ft. for a maximum magnification of approximately 0.19 times. The image circle is designed to perfectly match the 23.5mm x 15.7mm size of the CCD used in the *ist D, contributing to a drastic reduction in size, weight and production cost.

Sigma Corporation Press Release 12/05/04

A compact zoom lens with large aperture from 24mm super-wide-angle

Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 24-60mm F2.8 EX DG lens.

From super-wide-angle of 24mm this lens has a very compact design as well as a large-aperture. By effective arrangement of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and aspherical glass elements, this lens has compact dimensions of 83.6mm (3.3in.) maximum diameter, and 84.5mm (3.3in.) length. It is capable of taking pictures from a close distance, minimum focusing distance is 38cm(15.0in.) at all focal lengths, and has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.8. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements are provided for effective compensation of color aberration, which is a common problem with super-wide angle lenses. One piece of Glass Mold Aspherical and three pieces of Hybrid Aspherical, total four pieces of aspherical lenses offer excellent correction for distortion as well as all types of aberration. The new lens coating reduces flare and ghost, which is a common problem of digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance.

Following my enthusiastic review of the Lensbaby a few weeks ago, Photo.net have also given this unique product a glowing report.

“It takes a bit of manual dexterity to use the “lensbaby:. You have to compress the lens to focus it, and apply tilt if you want an extra “effect” and that’s most easily done by holding the camera body in both hands and using the two middle fingers of each hand on either side of the lens. You can then get the index finger of your right hand on the shutter release, but it can be a bit of a struggle, or at least require a little practice. This is more of an art than a science.”

Website: Photo.net - Lensbaby Review

Website: Read my review of the Lensbaby

The Norwegain website Akamera.no have published a test of 3 Canon 50mm lenses - the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 Mark II, Canon EF 50mm 1.4 USM and Canon EF 50mm 2.5 Compact Macro. There are an excellent set of comparitive sample shots so that you can see the differences between the lenses, even if norwegian isn’t one of your strong points.

Website: Akamera.no - Canon 50mm Lenses Test

DigIT have reviewed the ZUIKO DIGITAL 11-22mm F2.8-3.5 lens, a bright, high performance wide zoom lens for the Olympus E-System, which was first announced back in January.

Website: DigIT - Olympus 11-22mm E-System Lens Review

Photo.net have just reviewed the Canon EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6, which ships as part of a kit with the Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel and can only be used on that digital SLR camera.

“The 18-55/3.5-5.6 is a very good lens for $100. It’s weaknesses show up at the ends of its zoom range (18mm and 55mm), especially in the corners of the frame when used wide open where resolution and contrast can be rather poor. To get decent sharpness in the corners requires stopping to f8 at 18mm or f11 at 55mm - but you still won’t get the same image quality as you would from a a prime or “L” series zoom lens. In the mid range (28mm), performance is pretty good at both center and edge. For a cheap, plastic mount, low end consumer lens, the 18-55 is certainly better than I would have expected.”

Website: Photo.net - Canon EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 Lens Review

The Norwegian website Akamera.no has tested the Canon 17-40mm f/4 L zoom lens, which sells for around ?600 in the UK, against the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens and 3 Canon prime lenses. The article is worth looking at even if you can’t speak Norwegian, as there are a lot of comparitive sample images.

Website: Akamera.no - Canon Zoom Lens Test

Sigma have recently released a new wide-angle zoom lens which will appeal to all digital SLR owners. The Sigma 12-24/F4.5-5.6 ex DG Asph may be quite slow but it will translate to a 19-38mm lens on a Canon EOS 10D/300D, for example. About.com has just posted an extensive user report.

“This is a lens that opens up the wide-angle end of the range for DSLRs. It’s a lens that needs care in use, but can give superb results. The specification and performance would have been unbelievable only a few years ago, and are still exceptional. Within the limits of aperture and focal length there is little more it could be expected to do. It is a superb lens, but perhaps something of a specialist tool.”

Website: About.com - Sigma EX 12-24mm Lens User Report

Photo.net have taken a look at Image-Stablised (IS) lenses, specifically from Canon, and investigated if they really do offer any advantages over normal, non-stablised lenses.

“One of the most popular question on web forums is some variation on “what should I buy” or “Is it worth it”. This article addresses some aspects of the issues of which 300mm lens to buy and whether IS is worth it! Is it worth an extra $200 to upgrade from a Canon EF75-300/4-5.6 lens to the EF75-300/4-5.6 IS version? Is it worth the extra $400 to upgrade the EF75-300/4-5.6 IS to an EF 300/4L (used, since it’s not made anymore) or $700 to upgrade to a 300/4L IS lens?”

Website: Photo.net - Canon IS Lenses: “Worth it” or not?

Sigma Press Release 16/03/04

High-performance Telephoto Zoom Lens, designed for “Four Thirds System (4/3 System)” Digital SLR Camera System standard.(2004.3.16)

55-200mm F4-5.6 DC

Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC for the Four Thirds Digital SLR Camera System.

This compact telephoto zoom lens was exclusively designed for use with digital SLR cameras. The image circle was designed to match the size of the image sensors of digital SLR cameras that also allows compact body and lightweight. This remarkably compact high performance zoom lens is ideally suited to a wide range of subjects and lens has a minimum focusing distance of 110cm (43.3in.) and maximum magnification of 1:4.

* If Olympus E-1 digital cameras is used, the angle of view will be equal to 110-400mm focal length.