All lens tests

THE SCIENTIFIC DATA BEHIND SCORES & REVIEWS

The Nikon D800 and standard lens choices

In this second part of the Nikon D800 and lenses review, we’re looking at the standard focal lengths. Within this group, there is a very wide range available. When searching for a standard lens, ...

Which lenses for your Nikon D800?

Announced in 2012, the Nikon D800 is the current undisputed king of DxOMark, with results that eclipse every other camera from all other manufacturers. However, with so much resolution on tap, the question is, ...

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM C Canon test – The Above ‘Standard’ Zoom

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For many people an introduction to photography is through a compact camera: usually, these days, one with a zoom lens covering medium-wide through to short telephoto. The next step is often an SLR and ...

35mm prime lens round up

This is the first in a series of reviews rounding up the Lens Metrics Scores on 35mm primes for Canon, Nikon and Sony. We start by looking at options for Canon EF, and with ...

Sony Cyber-shot RX1 / Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 2/35 test: Is this the ultimate moderate wide-angle lens?

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The high-end Sony RX1 was one of the most eagerly awaited cameras in our labs and while we assessed the camera’s full-frame sensor early in January, we’ve decided to publish the results of the ...

Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 Di VC USD Canon test – Excellent Value and a Great All Rounder

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The zoom range 70-200, or thereabout, is one of the real classic lenses, an absolute “must” for sports and photojournalism. The faster the maximum aperture the better, but most important of all it must ...

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

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Another intriguing offering in our database is the Canon EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM. It’s pricey at $1,270 but appealing as an ultra compact (if still relatively heavy at 720g) model, thanks to the ...

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF Macro Sony

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At around $420, this relatively affordable, compact and lightweight (420g) full-frame zoom with an 11x range and minimum focus distance of 0.49m (19.3in) sounds like an appealing option. As for image quality, it’s a ...

Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 MEGA OIS

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While this practically pocket-sized lens will only appeal to Panasonic and Olympus Micro 3/4 users, with an 35mm equivalent focal length of 200-600mm f/4-5.6, this lens may seem like an attractive option for wildlife ...

Pentax smc DA Star 300mm F4 ED IF SDM test

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Our final comparison, for the sake of objectivity, is the $1,400 Pentax smc DA Star 300mm f/44 ED IF SDM. On a Pentax DSLR this lens is the 35mm equivalent to a 450mm f/4 ...

Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5 56 USM

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With a DxOMark score of 14.6 on a full frame EOS 5D Mk II, dropping to 11 on a EOS 7D, the EF100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM has homogenous sharpness across the focal range, good resolution ...

Wildlife Lenses: telephoto-zoom round up

With the vagaries of photographing wildlife, the flexibility of a telephoto zoom would appear to be an attractive solution. However, image quality is often a compromise at the maximum aperture and longest focal length, ...

Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

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One of the single most versatile lenses for wildlife Canon’s EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM scores reasonably well on a full-frame camera with a DxOMark score of 15.4, however on APS-C EOS 7D that ...

Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM Nikon

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The Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM is interesting for its longer focal lengths, equivalent to a 180-600mm on a Nikon DX body (and slightly more on a Canon APS-C). On a full-frame ...

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD test: A uniquely versatile pro-worthy alternative

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Announced in February 2012, the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 lens Di VC USD is the latest full-frame, fast aperture standard zoom from the Saitama, Japan-based optical firm and is the first of its type to ...

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM test: The ideal standard zoom?

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Introduced in November 2012 as the proposed ‘kit’ lens for the EOS 6D, the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens represents an interesting move for Canon – despite two well respected lenses in this ...

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM test: A ‘fast’ wide-angle prime for the 21st Century

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Canon were busy in 2012 releasing three wide-angle primes, the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 35mm f/2 IS USM, on to the market. The latest launched in ...

A wider view: Independent Super Wide-Angle lenses compared

There is a very particular look available to photographers who have a ‘Super-Wide-angle’ lens in their gadget bag, a ‘look’ that puts a whole new perspective on things. To get it you really need ...

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