Buyers’ guide Lenses continued
Lensbaby › lensbaby.com
EF, Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F and Nikon Z, plus Sony E, Pentax K and the full-frame L-Mount. Singling out a couple of examples, its Velvet Effect collection promises an ethereal edge-to-edge velvety glow across images, yet tack- sharp details too. The options here are 28mm f/2.8, 56mm f/1.6 and 85mm f/1.8 lenses. Lensbaby’s Sweet line-up, as the name indicates, provide a sweet spot of focus surrounded by gradually increasing blur. Interested parties can check their camera system’s compatibility with various Lensbaby products by heading to the website.
Offering optics with an accent on creative fun, this is another manufacturer unafraid to try something different from the tried- and-tested standard offerings in order to capture photographers’ imaginations. With the US-based company fast approaching its 20th anniversary, Lensbaby boasts optics aimed at DSLR and mirrorless users designed to create special effects in-camera, rather than via software afterwards. Embracing weirdness and imperfection as assets, its current one-of-a-kind effects lenses include Velvet, Edge, Sweet, Swirl, Obscura and Omni filters. Supported camera mounts are Canon
Tokina › tokinalens.com
With its expertise dating back to the fifties, Tokina specialises in lenses for DSLR and mirrorless. Its three most recent releases are designed for APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, with availability in Sony E, Canon EF-M and Fujifilm X mounts. These are the SZ 300mm Pro Reflex f/7.1 MF CF, the SZ 600mm Pro Reflex f/8 MF CF and the SZ 900mm Pro Reflex f/11 MF CF – all fully manual lenses that adopt a ‘catadioptric’ design. That’s a system where refraction and reflection are combined, incorporating the best features of both and enabling the creation of lenses which are shorter and more compact than telephoto counterparts. Case in point, these 300mm, 600mm and 900mm prime lenses are claimed to be both lightweight and compact – thus providing an affordable and practical super telephoto option. They are also said to deliver better suppression of chromatic aberrations, low-level flare and ghosting, perfectly round and donut-shaped bokeh, a 270° focus rotation angle, plus 1:2.5 (0.4x) macro capability. Another new product is a Tokina SZ mount adapter in EF to FE, allowing for Tokina’s Canon EF mount lenses to be used on Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras – and in both stills and video AF modes. Future firmware updates will be deliverable via micro USB port.
Sigma › sigma-imaging-uk.com
Laowa › venuslens.net
Family-owned Japanese lens manufacturer Sigma offers high-quality, affordable and award-winning alternatives to the big camera brands’ own lenses. Its ever-expanding Contemporary series offers excellent image quality plus a compactness that claims to make them ideal for travel. Sigma’s most recent big news is that the beloved brand has released its first three dedicated lenses for Nikon Z mount, which were already available for Sony E-mount, Fujifilm X Mount, Canon EF-M mount, Micro Four Thirds and L-Mount. The fresh optics in question are the 16mm f/1.4 DC DN, the 30mm f/1.4 DC DN and the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN. Collectively weighing under 1kg, they are compatible with APS-C sensors – incorporating mirrorless camera bodies including the Nikon Z 50 and Z fc – but can also be employed on Nikon’s full-frame models in crop mode. Nikon owners aside, three further new Sigma Contemporary lenses include the 17mm f/4 DG DN, 50mm f/2 DG DN and 23mm f/1.4 DC DN. The first two are full-frame for L-Mount and Sony E-mount, and the latter a crop sensor lens for L-Mount, Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X Mount.
Chinese firm Venus Optics’ range of Laowa branded lenses comprises high-quality glass that occasionally offers something a little different – and at times more adventurous – than standard focal lengths elsewhere. As its name indicates, the Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D LM is designed for Leica M-Mount photographers and promises close- to-zero distortion. This, it suggests, makes the full-frame lens ideal for capturing landscape, architecture, interior, street and astrophotography. With construction comprising 12 elements in nine groups with two aspherical elements, it’s also suitable for both digital and film users. Closest focusing distance is 15cm, a 72mm filter thread further extends creative possibilities, while a lens hood is supplied as standard. Its other most recent offering is the Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2 FF, available in Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E and L mounts. A contemporary take on a classic focal length, it’s designed as an everyday lens, suited to both video and photography. With a 62mm filter thread, it weighs 562g and measures 68.5x106mm. Suggested uses for this travel-friendly lens again include street, documentary, landscape, portrait and astrophotography. Portrait photographers will also revel in the fact that a 13-blade aperture delivers creamy, round bokeh that flatters subjects.
30 Photography News | Issue 108
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