Archive for July, 2010

Tamron 28-75mm – Is This Lens Actually Better Suited To 1.6x Crop Bodies?

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8

Buy the Tamron 28-75mm for half price at Amazon now!

Image quality – Rating: ★★★★☆
Build quality – Rating: ★★★☆☆
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★½☆
Lens features – Rating: ★★★☆☆
Value for money – Rating: ★★★★☆

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras is an ideal lens for 1.6x FOVCF cameras and is known for its light weight, low minimum aperture and affordability - (just $459 on Amazon at the time of writing).

Now some of you may not be familiar with all of the abbreviations listed in the full name above – partly because there are so many but also because Tamron are relatively little known in the world of DSLR lenses. However don’t assume that because they are lesser known that they are also not worth your strong consideration.

On the contrary, Tamron DSLR lenses can hold their own against more prominent counterparts Canon and Nikon and have high quality lenses in every category.

Anyway, back to some of the important abbreviations you need to know but may not;

  1. SP – Super Performance (the Tamron flagship lens line – think the same concept as Canon L series)
  2. XR – Extra Refractive Glass (reduces lens size and hence weight but increases performance)
  3. Di – Digitally Integrated Design (to reduce ghosting, flare, CA and peripheral light fall-off along with improved resolution)
  4. LD – Low-Dispersion lens elements (to reduce chromatic aberration for sharper images)
  5. Aspherical – similar to the term used in Canon/Nikon – contains aspherical elements (compensates for spherical aberration and distortion, making for better performance with fewer elements (and thus allowing for smaller, lighter lenses)
  6. (IF) – Internal Focusing – intuitive.

One distinction that needs to be made with the sharpness of this lens is that while the center sharpness is impressive (especially wide open), it is prone to fall off dramatically around the edges of the frame.

Of course, the edge fall off is almost eliminated completely if you are using a 1.6x FOVCF but those full frame users, the soft corners start to become manageable at higher apertures zoomed in towards 75mm.

Unfortunately it is a literal lucky dip as to the quality of lens that you will end up getting when you buy this lens - one copy may be excellent and the next not so good.

At a glance..

  • Designed to meet performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras
  • Minimum focusing distance of 13 inches; rotation-type zoom
  • Smaller and lighter than most fast zoom lenses; weighs 18 ounces
  • Measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 3.6 inches long; 6-year warranty
  • Brand Name: Tamron
  • Model: 28-75mm Canon
  • Lens Type: Zoom lens
  • Mounting Type: Canon EF
  • Minimum Focal Range: 13 inches
  • Maximum Aperture Range: F/2.8
  • Focus Type: auto-focus, manual-focus
  • Real Angle Of View: 75
  • Weight: 18 Ounces
  • Item Display Diameter: 2.9 inches
  • Length: 4 inches

Chromatic aberration (CA) on the Tamron 28-75mm is normal for a 28-75mm lens in a sense that is not bad nor is it non-existent. However the auto focus (AF) is somewhat slower than you would expect and the lens may have trouble finding focus in low light.

On the positive side, the build quality is quite good and the zoom function works well, except that the zoom ring works in the opposition direction to Canon lenses, meaning that you might want to zoom in and zoom out by mistake until you get used to it.

The Good
  • minimal chromatic aberration
  • sound build quality and mechanical operation
  • good image sharpness overall, depending on individual lens
  • 6 year USA warranty to deal with any Tamron-Canon conflicts that may arise
The Bad
  • slow auto focus
  • poor Tamron quality control
  • some corner softness particularly on full frame bodies
  • not available to Nikon bodies
  • some stiff zoom rings, some loose – again, to do with quality control

Overall you get what you pay for with this lens. Some will find comfort in the fact that this lens is 50% cheaper or more than other premium lenses in its category. Others will find the good centre image sharpness, light weight and low minimum aperture enough to make up for the shortcomings of the 28-75mm.

Overall Rating: ★★★½☆

This lens won’t win any awards for exceptional quality but for the price it offers a lot to any photographer who can’t or won’t consider such lenses as the Canon 17-40mm or Canon 24-70mm which are better quality but on the flip side far more expensive and hefty.

The low minimum aperture of f/2.8 on a 1.6x FOVCF body of the Tamron 28-75mm eliminates most of arguably the biggest pitfall of this lens – the dramatic sharpness fall off towards the edges of the frame. It would be a great first general purpose zoom lens for someone starting out into the world of DSLR photography.

Sigma 150-500mm Review – How Does It Compare To The Bigma 50-500mm?

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

sigma 150-500The Sigma 150-500mm is a photographic heavyweight in more than one sense of the word – but don’t let that that put you off this hidden gem of a lens.

Image quality – Rating: ★★★★☆
Build quality – Rating: ★★★½☆
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★½☆
Lens features – Rating: ★★★½☆
Value for money – Rating: ★★★★½

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras weighs in at just under 2 kilograms (about 4 pounds) and as you may have noticed this lens has an extraordinary reach of 500mm and as far as 800mm on a Nikon DX body.

But what about more important considerations such as image quality, general usability and even price? And what about the fact that there also exists another Sigma telephoto zens that has almost the same zoom range?

Which one are you to buy? The Sigma 150-500mm or the so called Bigma 50-500mm?

First off, the 150-500mm. You will notice the weight of this lens when you are carrying it around – but so you should, it is a telephoto lens after all.

However that’s not to say that you couldn’t take handheld shots or carry it around with you for most of the day. It is perfectly fine for that purpose if you are even half used to a bit of weight in your bag.

Secondly, the image quality of this lens is fantastic for the price you pay. It is not in the same league as the Canon 100-400mm, but this lens performs well throughout and is more than respectable at 500mm where most would expect it to fall off badly.

In fact, with the lens stopped down to  f/8 I would go so far as to say that the image quality is very good at 500mm. Presumably many people will find this fact comforting as anyone who does buy this lens will be wanting to put through its paces at 500mm – that much is guaranteed.

Sigma 150-500mm specifications

  • Incorporating Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.
  • An ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows short perspective.
  • Three SLD glass elements and a rear focus system provide optimum image quality throughout the entire zoom range.
  • Super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting.
  • HSM ensures quiet and high-speed autofocus.
  • Mounting Type: Nikon F
  • Minimum Focal Range: 7 feet
  • Maximum Aperture Range: F/5.0-6.3
  • Camera Magnify Power: 1 / 5.2
  • Real Angle Of View: 16.4
  • Weight: 4.2 pounds
  • Item Display Diameter: 3.7 inches
  • Length: 10 inches

What about auto-focus? Surprisingly fast and accurate to the point where you shouldn’t be scared to use it low light.

While the auto focus is not as fast in the 150-500mm as it is in the Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm, it does not suffer from the color reproduction and chromatic aberration issues that the Bigma does (thanks mainly to the apochromatic lens construction in the 150-500mm).

The Good
  • great image quality, that gets even better the further you zoom in (try f/8 at 400-500mm)
  • affordable price – much, much more affordable than the Canon and Nikon equivalents
  • adequate and sturdy support for a tripod
  • fast auto focus
  • no zoom creep
The Bad
  • this lens utilizes the 86mm filter thread size, which as you can imagine is uncommon and hence more expensive
  • optical stabilizer is slow to engage, and noisy, and can drain the battery quickly, but it DOES work.. eventually. just make sure you have backup batteries
  • lens is a bit stiff out of the box, but then again most lenses are – give it time to loosen up

So to answer the original question of this review, which is better, the Sigma 150-500mm or the 50-500mm?

The 150-500mm has the benefits of optical stabilization and is marginally cheaper, whereas the 50-500mm has a greater zoom range and is better at focusing and has a faster aperture, though only just.

The Bigma also suffers from some degree of zoom creep and has a cumbersome lens cap, but I guess the last 2 factors may be of little importance to some people.

My advice would be to stick with the 150-500mm. Read some of the fantastic reviews at the Sigma 150 500mm review page on Amazon if you need more convincing.

If you are for using one lens to cover all of your photographic bases then by all means go for the 50-500mm, but if it were me I’d rather own and use a dedicated wide angle lens in combination.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

At the end of the day you do have to be prepared to make sacrifices when considering a 500mm lens for under a thousand dollars. Don’t get me wrong though, the Sigma 150-500mm is a great lens for the price and if anything deserves to be priced higher.

The deciding factor for me would be the super image quality and long focal length for a such a bargain price, and as such this lens would be ideal for those photographers who love a bit of casual sports or bird photography, but aren’t willing to break the bank to get it.

I’m going to include a nice summary of the positives (+) and negatives (-) as determined by someone who bought this lens from Amazon. Enjoy.

+ Optics are outstanding considering the market price.
+ Less than $1000 USD as of this writing
+ 500mm without use of a teleconverter
- Not as sharp compared to the 50-500 Sigma but the 50-500 lacks OS/IS
+ Light build quality considering lens class
- Durability trade-off for lower weight. Sealing not optimal, housing uses plastic.
+ Aesthetics. Rubberized/tactile feel with a sleek dark gray body.
- Aesthetics/durability. Coating on body prone to marks/scratches.
- Stiff zoom ring takes effort to operate.
+ Durable OEM lens hood included
+ Solid OEM hard lens case included (in fact it is shipped in the case)
+ OEM Tripod collar included
+ Excellent industry warranty (3 years USA)
+ HSM motor quick but not the fastest.
- Seeks a bit for focus in less-than-optimal light a bit earlier than the Canon equivalents.
- Autofocus a bit more finicky than lens-class equivalents.
- OS certainly does not reach the claimed 4 stop benefit
+ OS obtains a clear 2 stop advantage
- Noisy OS
- Image appears to shake a bit in viewfinder w/ OS operating

by T. Cogar……. Read the rest of this Sigma Lens 150 500mm review here

Nikon 24-70mm – As Close To A Perfect Nikon Lens As You Can Get?

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Nikon 24-70mm

Nikon 24-70mm

Buy the Nikon 24-70mm from Amazon and receive FREE shipping.

Image quality – Rating: ★★★★½
Build quality – Rating: ★★★★½
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★★½
Lens features – Rating: ★★★★☆
Value for money – Rating: ★★★★☆

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens is a highly capable lens and has been often touted as the world’s sharpest lens.  It is that good that what this lens doesn’t do isn’t worth knowing about in my honest opinion.

Those of you who like to feel something solid between your hands will enjoy this all metal lens with an engraved zoom ring. Both auto and manual focus are a joy to use and operate and are both highly accurate and fast at finding focus.

There is barely a lens better at having the ability to lock onto a subject with such precision and accuracy.

The 24-70mm enjoys a high degree of compatibility allowing you to use it on all DX and FX sensor bodies, however this rather large full frame lens would be suited to an FX camera.

While this lens will still give you flawless performance on a DX camera, this lens is definitely more geared towards a full frame body as the price and focal range suggests.

At a glance..

  • AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens
  • Compatible with the D40, D60, D80, D90, and D300
  • 36-105mm effective focal length for APS-C sensor cameras
  • Versatile zoom range for landscapes, people photography, and everyday shooting
  • Minimum focus distance: 16 in.
  • Lens construction: 15 elements in 11 groups
  • Maximum aperture: f/2.8
  • Minimum focus distance: Approx. 1.2 feet (Middle)
  • Minimum aperture: f/22
  • Maximum reproduction ratio: 1/3.7
  • No. of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded)
  • Picture Angle: 61 – 22 degrees 50 minutes (Nikon DX-format)
  • Filter attachment size: 77mm
  • Dimensions: Approx, 3.3 in x 5.2 in (83 x 133mm) Weight: Aprox. 2.45 lbs.(900 g)

The best feature of this lens is the extraordinary image quality throughout the range., with the only slightly sour point being the noticeable barrel distortion wide open at 24mm.

While it is not the worst case of barrel distortion I have ever seen, it is noticeable. The good news is that it can be easily corrected in photo editing software without affecting the integrity of your image.

Unlike other lenses where you have to flick a switch (accidentally or otherwise) to move from auto focus to manual focus, the 24-70mm f/2.8G ED allows you to simply rotate the focus ring if you would prefer to use manual focus.

This may seem like a small thing, but it is a big plus to me and I know it would be to other photographers out there – particularly in those heat-of-the-moment type situations like shooting wildlife where you need to quickly and accurately switch between auto and manual focus.

The Good
  • spectacular image quality
  • superb build quality (and a lovely flawlessly operating zoom ring)
  • can be useful for macro shots with the combination of f/2.8 and a relatively close focusing distance
  • fast, accurate auto focus
The Bad
  • the Nikon 24-70mm may be considered by some to be ‘bulky’ – can often feel like you are using a long telephoto in the field
  • one person who bought this lens complained that the zoom ring was too close to the camera body and can be confused with the manual focus

Who is this lens good for? Anyone really. The highly workable 24-70mm focal range and super fast f/2.8 aperture means this lens can be comfortably used in a wide range of scenarios.

Some have expressed concern of the lack of vibration reduction (VR) technology featured in this lens. My personal opinion is that the relatively ‘wide’ focal range and fast aperture will negate the need for the use of VR in most cases and if not just use a tripod.

Furthermore, the addition of any extra technology may have pushed the price up beyond many consumers reach.

My final piece of advice would be not to buy this lens unless you own (or plan to upgrade to) a FX body. Aside from the extra weight and price that you will incur, the 24-70 is obviously closer to a medium range telephoto on a DX body. Of course the end decision is up to you.. just a little reminder.

Overall Rating: ★★★★½

The Nikon 24-70mm is available now on Amazon and is actually in stock. Some people seem to be under the impression that this lens is hard to find in stock, but this is not the case at the time of writing (July 18 2010).

Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM Lens – A Super Fast, High Quality Non L Series Lens

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Canon EF S 17 55mm f2 8 IS USM
Canon EF S 17 55mm f2 8 IS USM

Buy the Canon 17-55mm at Amazon today and receive FREE shipping.

Image quality – Rating: ★★★★☆
Build quality – Rating: ★★★½☆
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★★☆
Lens features – Rating: ★★★★½
Value for money – Rating: ★★★½☆

Sometimes mentioned as being comparable to the acclaimed Canon L series range, its fast, fixed aperture, high image quality and popular zoom range makes it a hugely popular lens in its own right.

Since the Canon 17-55mm comes from the EF S range, it is primarily designed for use on 1.6x Canon DSLR bodies which means that the actual focal range is closer to 27.2-88mm.

As a result this particular lens excels in a wide range of styles – everything from a family portrait to a wide seascape or landscape.

You may or may not be aware that there are already a couple of Canon zoom lenses in this range, namely the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens and the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens.

For starters, the 18-55mm kit lens is vastly inferior in terms of image quality and construction. On the other hand, the comparison between the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and the EF-S 17-85mm is more complex.

What the 17-55mm has over the 17-85mm is L series low dispersion glass lens elements and a fixed f/2.8 aperture.

However, what the 17-85mm brings to the table is that it is cheaper, lighter and has a greater focal length. There is no inherent winner out of these 3 lenses, it really comes down to which lens is best suited to you.

Anyway, the 17-55mm features both image stabilization (IS) and a USM (ultrasonic motor) – both hallmarks of a good Canon lens.  This lens is undoubtedly the fastest EF-S lens that has been produced and it is a real joy to work with in the field with the extra shallow depth of field allowing for nice some bokeh (soft, out of focus backgrounds).

The added image stabilization feature allows you to handhold the camera in situations where you might not have thought possible – opening up a whole new world of shooting locations and possibilities.

At a glance…

  • Focal length: 17-55mm
  • Maximum aperture: f/2.8
  • Lens construction: 19 elements in 12 groups
  • Diagonal angle of view: 78 degrees (at 30 feet) to 27 degrees (at 50 feet)
  • Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual
  • Closest focusing distance: 1.15 feet
  • Zoom system: 5-group helical zoom (front group moves 27mm)
  • Filter size: 77mm
  • Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long
  • Weight: 22.8 ounces

So who is this camera for? Again, it’s a horses for courses scenario as with most DSLR lenses. However, if this lens had to be best suited to anyone it would be those who like portraiture and low light photography.

Most other photographers who fall into the general category and cannot justify the extra expense of the 17-55mm f/2.8 would be best served to pick up the 17-85mm. Even if the widest it will go is f/4, it is still suitably priced and not a bad lens in its own right.

The Good
  • f/2.8 throughout the zoom range
  • image stabilization enabled
  • silent and efficient USM motor
  • constructed from optically precise L series standard UD glass
The Bad
  • this lens is relatively expensive for what it is
  • while the optical construction is close to L series quality, the mechanical/build construction is lacking
  • lens hood not included
  • pouch not included
  • flare and ghosting will increase if used on a full frame DSLR body as this lens was primarily designed for 1.6x cameras with APS-C sensors

So in conclusion, there a couple of things you need to consider when weighing up whether to buy the Canon 17-55mm.

  1. if you want more focal range at the expense of a faster aperture, then choose the 17-85mm
  2. if you want a faster overall lens, perfect for low light photography and are not worried about reach, choose the 17-55mm.
  3. if you are just starting out and don’t know what you want, buy a DSLR body with the 18-55mm kit lens or even ask a question below!

I thought this customer review was quite good, so I’ve included a portion of it below..

“Conclusion: This is one great lens! There’s nothing else out there for 1.6x crop digital cameras that gives you the sweet spot of zoom range, low light capability, depth of field control, image stabilization, fast and quiet auto-focus, and superior image quality rivaling prime lenses. And to put the considerable weight (22.8 oz.) into perspective, it is still 3.8 oz. lighter than the very good digital-only Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, and the Nikon does not even have image stabilization (and costs more to boot). Game, set and match!”

- Steven A. Hoagland – Richmond, VA, USA.

If you want a few more reasons to buy the 17-55mm, read the rest of this Canon EF S 17 55mm f2 8 IS USM Lens review at Amazon.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Nikon 50mm 1.8 – Read The Review And Get Excited!

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Nikon 50mm 1.8

Nikon 50mm 1.8

Buy the Nikon 50mm 1.8 at Amazon today and receive FREEshipping.

Image quality – Rating: ★★★★★
Build quality – Rating: ★★★★☆
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★★½
Lens features – Rating: ★★★★½
Value for money – Rating: ★★★★★

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens is the cheapest 50mm lens from Nikon and replaces the 50mm f/1.8 AF.  This very accomplished lens owes its popularity to its tack-sharp image quality for an extremely low price, enabling it to hold its own against lenses that cost 10 times as much or more.

As if this wasn’t enough, the 50mm 1.8 is compatible with every Nikon body lens ever made, whether it be digital, film auto focus or manual focus.

This lens passes every test with flying colors and where it matters with superb image quality, fast auto focus and minimal to no distortion, all for a price so low that you are wondering whether it’s too good to be true.

Well, I’m happy to tell you that it isn’t too good to be true. The lens is only just over $100 because it is a simple design and as a result easy to construct. A zoom lens for the same price would be almost unachievable (and extremely low quality if achievable) for the simple fact that a zoom lens is more complex to construct.

At a glance…

  • Lens Construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
  • Closest Focusing: 045m/1.5ft.
  • Filter Size: 52mm
  • Dimensions: 2.5 x 1.7 in.
  • Weight: 7.9oz.

But who is the Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens good for? This lens is good for anyone really, but particularly those who shoot in low light often and will benefit from the wide aperture setting and fast auto focus. It is also good for potrait photography and the bokeh is awesome, too.

It is also great for travel photographers who want the convenience of a cheap, light, high quality prime lens which they can get out at a moments notice for that important travel photo.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that everyone should own this lens in addition to the lenses they already have, and especially if they have an extra $124 lying around. It is that good that you will always find a use for it and its size and weight enable it to not become a nuisance if you are carrying it around in your bag.

The Good
  • superb image quality
  • extremely cheap
  • fast auto focus
  • versatile – great for a wide range of photographic pursuits/subjects
  • compact
The Bad
  • this lens is a prime lens – those used to zoom lenses may find a prime lenses limitations frustrating (read below)
  • autofocus does not work with D40, D40x, D60 and D5000
  • plastic construction

Now I mentioned above that the 50mm f/1.8D AF is a prime lens. If you don’t know or have never owned a prime lens before, it basically means that you cannot zoom in or out on your chosen subject(s). What this means is that you yourself is the thing that has to move in order to get the right composition.

One thing I forgot to mention in this Nikon 50mm 1.8 review is that the 50mm becomes 80mm on a 1.6x body, meaning the versatility of this lens is increased further. Now obviously that is not going to be to everyones liking, but it may be ideal for some people as 80mm is a pretty workable focal length in my opinion.

If you want a faster 50mm prime lens, then by all means check out the Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens which, for a slight increase in price, is highly worth considering also.

As we have learnt in this review, the lack of zoom on this lens has made it extremely cheap as it is a simple design. If you are willing to pay for the privilege of a very fast zoom lens then you can always have a look at the 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S lens which is about 15 times the price.

Overall Rating: ★★★★½

I don’t know about anyone else, but I would be happy to do a bit of walking backwards and forwards, especially if my finances didn’t allow for the $1700 upgrade.

Canon 24-105mm Review – Why Does Everyone Loves This L Series Lens?

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

canon 24-105mmThe Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens has all the hallmarks of a Canon L series lens – quality lens construction, very high image sharpness and superb mechanical operation. Buy it now on Amazon!

Image quality – Rating: ★★★★½
Build quality – Rating: ★★★★½
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★★½
Lens features – Rating: ★★★★½
Value for money – Rating: ★★★★☆

It is no coincidence, then, that the 24 105mm is one of the most popular general purpose zoom lenses in use today.

There’s no getting around the fact that if you want the highest quality photographs possible, then you will need and want the sort of output that the 24-105mm offers.

Another obvious benefit of this lens is the large focal length and variety of uses this lens possesses as a result. Even on a 1.6x body it is moderately wide at 38mm on one end and almost telephoto at the other end at 168mm.

Worried about the filter size for polarizers and the like? This L series lens utilizes a 77mm filter which, while arguably not one of the cheapest filter sizes, is able to accomodate many other Canon lenses including the EF 17-40mm, EF-S 17-55mm and EF 24-70mm.

The 24-105mm f/4 L features a fast, quiet and highly accurate auto focus thanks to the Canon USM (Ultrasonic motor) which makes focusing a breeze and a joy.

Another awesome feature of this lens is the fact that the ring does not rotate when focusing or zooming so the attachment of a polarizing filter shouldn’t be a problem at all.

At a glance…

  • Brand Name: Canon
  • Model: 0344B006
  • Lens Type: Zoom lens
  • Mounting Type: Canon EF
  • Minimum focal length: 24 millimeters
  • Maximum focal length: 105 millimeters
  • Minimum Focal Range: 17.7 inches
  • Maximum Aperture Range: F/4.0
  • Camera Magnify Power: 0.23
  • Lens System Special Functions: Zoom
  • Focus Type: auto-focus, manual-focus
  • Real Angle Of View: 84
  • Weight: 23.6 Ounces
  • Item Display Diameter: 3.3 inches
  • Length: 4 inches
The Good
  • silent, methodical and super accurate USM auto focus
  • sharp image quality wide open and negligible corner sharpness falloff
  • flare is very well controlled with the exception of certain early model numbers, which Canon will repair or replace to you free of charge if affected. See here for more information.
  • color and contrast reproduction are excellent
  • minimal chromatic abberation except under extreme contrast shooting conditions
  • image stabilization (IS) providing an extra 3 stops of stability when the camera is handheld. Remember – IS does not stop motion blur.
  • IS button on side of the lens is now flat and not raised as with previous models – raised buttons in the past led to accidentally changing the IS or AF settings without realizing (almost as bad as accidentally shooting at ISO 800 for 500 shots!)
The Bad
  • there is nothing much wrong with this lens, but there is some minor light fall off wide open, especially with full frame bodies

It was really hard to find anything bad to write about in thisCanon 24-105mm review and this is typical of most Canon L series lenses really. The only thing that would stop you buying this lens would be the price, but the old saying that you get what you pay for still holds true. I personally own 2 L lenses and they pay for themselves many times over and will last many many decades if they are cared for properly.

Something else that people may have a “problem” (for want of a better word) is that they may be torn between the 24-105mm and the 24-70mm f/2.8 IS. Obviously the latter offers a wider aperture throughout but is more restricted in its focal length.

Conversely, the 24-105mm offers image stabilization which may be the clincher for some people because it may negate the fact that the lens is fixed at f/4.  Needless to say a lot of people would love to see a 24-70mm IS released at some time in the near future.

Overall Rating: ★★★★½

A pretty good basic summary of this lens can be found below…

“This lens is often tagged a “walkabout” lens, and that’s a good description. There’s nothing better if you want to carry camera and lens about and get a variety of shots in the range from wide angle to short telephoto. It’s difficult for lens designers to make all the compromises necessary to have a lens go from wide angle to telephoto, and have a max focal length over four times the widest focal length, but Canon has done a good job here. The image stabilization works excellently when hand held (it cuts image quality if you use the stabilization from a tripod, though). The f/4 maximum aperture cuts the size and weight down quite a bit. Image quality is excellent for a zoom from about 30mm up to 90mm, good from 90mm to 105mm, and tolerable from 24 to 30mm (getting better in the 28 to 30mm range). As expected, image quality is best stopped down to about f/8, but is still good wide open at f/4.

I can’t say the lens has major flaws, but relative weaknesses are the wide angle performance, and the f/4 maximum aperture. The lens is not fast enough for shots of moving subject indoors. For stationary subjects, the image stabilization lets you take shots with slower exposure times than you’d expect, but stabilization won’t do anything to improve a moving subject. ” Read the rest of this Canon 24 105mm review here

The Nikon 80-400mm – Telephoto Performance Without The Bulk Of A Telephoto Lens

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Reviewed by Ben Lee, http://dslrlensesonline.com editor.

Nikon 80-400mm

Nikon 80-400mm

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Image quality – Rating: ★★★★☆
Build quality – Rating: ★★★½☆
Ease of use – Rating: ★★★★☆
Lens features – Rating: ★★★½☆
Value for money – Rating: ★★★★☆

The Nikon 80-400mm is a popular lens that does not look like a 400mm lens to the naked eye. The picture quality is sharp, the weight is light (compared to say a Canon 100-400mm IS) and the size of the lens will have you thinking you are using wide angle or general purpose zoom lens.

This lens by Nikon is perhaps the only 400mm lens going around that can boast the fact that it has very little flare and distortion combined with a superb vibration reduction (VR) feature which enables you shoot with this lens handheld in all sorts of situations.

Those photographers out there who will be thinking this lens is perfect for sports shooting or low light motion photography will be a disappointed unfortunately.

A combination of slow automatic focusing and f stop issues will make life difficult capturing motion in subjects, but more on that later.

Who this lens is good for – people that like to wander around the place, you know, landscape photographers/nature photographers and the like who will appreciate the large zoom range and VR functionality and the fact that your arm won’t feel like it’s going to drop off after 15 minutes of use.

It’s also good for people who aren’t very tripod disciplined and prefer to handheld most of the time. Of course, because camera vibration is such a random thing, the vibration reduction setting won’t save you every time, but you can go along way to making sure it does by holding the camera correctly and steadily before taking the shot.

You can certainly hear the vibration reduction engage with a rather noticeable clunking noise, but it is as smooth as silk once engaged and for me this wouldn’t put me off buying the Nikon 80-400mm or indeed any other lens. As mentioned in an earlier review, I sometimes enjoy knowing that functions are working rather than simply relying on the fact.

At a glance…

  • Color: Black
  • Diameter: 3.58 in
  • Length: 6.73 in
  • Weight: 2.86 lb
  • Diaphragm Blades: 9
  • Features: Internal focusing system, ED glass, VR (Vibration Reduction), AF stop
  • Filter Size: 77 mm
  • Focal Length: 80 mm – 400 mm
  • Focus Adjustment: Automatic, manual
  • Lens Aperture: F/4.5-5.6
  • Lens Coating: Nikon Super Integrated Coating
  • Lens Construction: 11 group(s) / 17 element(s)
  • Max View Angle: 30.2 degree(s)
  • Min Focus Range: 2.3 m
  • Mounting Type: Nikon F
  • Optical Zoom: 5 x
  • Zoom Adjustment: Manual
The Good
  • made of plastic primarily, but it is high quality plastic and definitely not Mamiya plastic
  • comparatively lightweight and small for its capabilities
  • freedom from a tripod in a lot of cases thanks to vibration reduction. Note: this vibration feature only works with the following bodies – D80, D200, D2H, D2X, D1/X/H, D100, D70, F5, F100, F80/N80 and the F65/N65. But do check your instruction manual as the list is always being added to.
  • sharp image quality especially on DSLR bodies
  • little to no flare and ghosting despite large number of lens elements (17 in total)
The Bad
  • slow autofocus, if you want faster autofocus consider reading the Nikon 70 300 VR Lens Review
  • not compatible with any Nikon teleconverters, not that you should be using teleconverters with a 400mm in my opinion. There is a teleconverter called the Kenko Pro 300 2x that will enable the VR but manual focus only – don’t say I didn’t warn you however.

Remember how I mentioned the slow auto focus system earlier on? Some of the more thoughtful photographers out there might be wondering why this lens doesn’t incorporate some sort of modern AF-S technology.

So why not? No-one really knows except the manufacturer. Possible explanations may be that there isn’t simply enough room in the lens or that the price would be out of reach for many had it incorporated a decent AF-S motor.

My gut feeling is that the lack of decent auto focus is because this lens was one the first in a long line of Nikon lens improvements stretching back a decade. Usually but not always the newer lens is the better performing and technologically refined.

Again, if you want faster autofocus at the expense of reach then have a look at the Nikon 70 300 VR Lens Review or the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Telephoto Zoom Lens

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

This does not detract from the fact that the Nikon 80-400mm is a great lens that does the job it is designed for. It offers itself to a great range of mostly stationary or slow moving subjects in the field and is the perfect companion to a wide angle lens in your camera bag. Check it out!