Buyers’ guide
Glasswith class
Buyers’ guide
Lenses and filters define you as an image maker. What you purchase to place on the front of the camera is certainly not a decision to take lightly
Samyang › holdan.co.uk
Samyang goes from strength to strength, with AF and MF lenses for stills and video shooters. Its latest arrival is the AF 135mm f/1.8 FE, bringing Samyang’s total of f/1.8 AF lenses in Sony E-mount to five, with the 135mm telephoto joining the 24, 35, 45 and 75mm. The 135mm f/1.8 has an optical design of 13 elements in 11 groups. It includes advanced glass to deliver optimum resolution and high performance, even when wide open – and you get smooth background bokeh, too. Autofocus is slick and accurate, thanks to Samyang’s Linear STM (stepping motor). A focus hold button and range limiter enhance lens handling. The AF 135mm f/1.8 is on offer at a competitive £798, while the other focal lengths in the f/1.8 range start from £349.
gets more complex is in the massive choice available. Making the most of your cash needs some research. PN is here to help, with a guide to the latest movers and shakers in the optics and filters market.
THE CAMERA BODY is essentially an advanced, light-tight box, home to a sensor or film. It needs a lens (or pinhole!) to produce an image that can be fine-tuned or modified with filters. It’s simple really, but where it
Fujifilm › fujifilm.com/uk/en
Fujifilm is in the unique position of being the only camera brand with APS-C (X Series) and medium format (GFX System) mirrorless cameras in its range – with an outstanding array of lenses for both. This year marks the tenth anniversary of X Series lenses. This collection is up to 21 primes, 11 zooms and two teleconverters, so all needs are catered for. Recent prime additions are the XF33mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF18mm f/1.4 R LM WR, priced at £699 and £879, respectively. Both are about high performance, slick handling and portability. The most recent zoom in the family was an XF70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR, which retails for £729. Giving a 35mm format equivalent of 107 to 457mm, the XF70-300mm f/4-5.6 is capable of pulling in distant detail, but can focus as close as 83cm. It comes in a portable form that houses optical image stabilisation with a benefit of 5.5EV. Include compatibility with Fujifilm’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, and you have a zoom with huge creative potential.
Sigma › sigma-imaging-uk.com
and L-mount. There’s a limited selection of lenses compatible with Canon EOS EF-M and, in very recent news, three existing Contemporary lenses will be available in Fujifilm X Mount – namely, the 16, 30 and 56mm f/1.4 DC DN.
Sigma offers a vast choice when it comes to independent glass, in three collections: Art, Contemporary and Sports, with many lens mounts supported. Most come in Canon EF, Nikon F and Sigma SA fittings, but many recent arrivals are Sony E-mount
Zeiss › zeiss.com
focus, full-frame lenses in Leica M-Mount. For full-frame Canon and Nikon DSLR shooters, the Milvus offers top-class performance and value, with 11 lenses in the range, from 15mm f/2.8 to 135mm f/2. Great mechanics and outstanding optics mean a wonderful user experience and results. Check out all the Zeiss optics on its website.
No zooms here, just glorious primes to suit different needs, budgets and fittings. Zeiss offers seven families to check out. Classic, Milvus and Otus are manual focus primes to make the most of the high megapixel count of full-frame Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Batis, Loxia and Touit are compact, high-performance optics for mirrorless cameras in Fujifilm X and Sony fittings. Then, there’s ZM – manual
Issue 97 | Photography News 19
photographynews.co.uk
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