|
Page 3 of 5
 When really wide is what you want, but a fish-eye isn’t, consider the Canon EF 16-35mm ƒ/2.8L II USM zoom.
Replacing a popular ultra-wide zoom in the lineup, the new 16-35mm
L-Series lens is made for maximum edge-to-edge sharpness in a fast
ƒ/2.8 lens. Clearly designed to be a do-it-all wide-angle, this lens
also is internal-focusing (for easier filtration with polarizers) and
water-resistant for pros who will no doubt use it in extreme situations
and are willing to pay for the performance. List Price: $2,399.
TELEPHOTO ZOOMS
There’s no better way to focus tightly on a subject than to use a telephoto lens. They do more than just get you a closer view of your subject; a telephoto also condenses compositional elements in the frame. This narrow angle of view combined with inherently shallower depth of field makes it easier to put the center of attention exactly where you want it, so telephotos are the lens of choice for portrait photographers who want to emphasize their subjects’ faces.
The biggest bummer about big focal lengths is that the lenses are often big, too—bulky, long or both. But thanks to innovations in lens coatings and optics, many telephotos—particularly telephoto zooms—are now delivering big results in smaller packages. That means bird-watchers and sports photographers can get their 300mm-plus lenses in easier-to-handle sizes. Coverage that once required a photographer to carry multiple lenses can now be accomplished with a single lens. Pick the right few zooms, and you could easily cover 10mm to 300mm. And if you happen to shoot with a smaller-sensor D-SLR, the magnification factor works in your favor with telephoto, turning a 28-200mm zoom into roughly a 42-300mm.
 Olympus EVOLT shooters are fortunate to have a number of great lenses from which to choose, including the Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm.
This telephoto zoom utilizes a variable maximum aperture (ƒ/4-5.6) to
pack a lot of power into a small space. In 35mm terms, the lens covers
a whopping 140mm to 600mm range, yet it’s small enough for easy travel.
It’s also designed purely for digital use with Olympus’ Four-Thirds
sensor, and it utilizes a CPU for improved communication with the
camera—meaning better control over common optical aberrations. With
enthusiast users in mind, its price is designed to make the lens easily
attainable, too. List Price: $399.
 Nikon’s 55-200mm ƒ/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
not only has one of the longest names in lenses, but a long list of
features, too. With a variable maximum aperture lending itself to
portability, Vibration Reduction making it easy to handhold even at
the long end of the zoom and D-Type technology for improved distance
information designed to deliver more accurate flash and ambient
exposures, Nikon has packed this G-Series compact lens full of
performance. Designed for digital on Nikon’s DX sensor and with an
angle of view of about 82-300mm in equivalent terms, this zoom is an
easy choice for Nikkor quality in the digital era. Estimated Street
Price: $250.
|
