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AWARDS / 33
Lenses
It’s been an incredible time for lenses as manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. The boom in mirrorless cameras with larger lens mounts, explosion in video-focused social media content creators and push to longer, faster and lighter lenses has seen lots of incredible glass coming onto the market. And the restrictions forced on optical designers by DSLR designs are gone, paving the way to some groundbreaking optics. While cameras are upgraded relatively often, lenses are a longer- term investment that can make a very real difference to your work. In the category for zoom lenses, there is a substantial choice, from super wide to super long and from video-focused to all stills. This year has seen Nikon make its first move into dedicated video lenses with its new Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ, joining old firm rival Canon with its hybrid offerings like the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z VCM, as well as pure stills glass such as the RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM. Sony continues to shock the market with zooms like the incredible FE 50- 150mm f/2 GM and there’s a lighter Leica standard, the Vario-Elmarit- SL 28-70mm f/2.8 ASPH. But much kudos goes to indie brands such as Tamron with its 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD and especially Sigma with its 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports and 14- 40mm f/1.8 DC Art. In the wide-angle class, Sigma once again impresses with its 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary, but has competition from camera brands’ marque lenses, plus Samyang with its Prima AF 35mm f/1.4 P FE and AF 12mm f/2 RF-S. Canon, Nikon, OM System, Leica and Hasselblad all possess stunning standard options, but it’s a welcome return to the all-manual Zeiss Otus range with the new 50mm f/1.4 ML. This is joined by its 85mm brother in the telephoto class. That’s where the biggest guns go to battle, such as the Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR, Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS, Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS and Nikon Z mount lenses like the 400mm f/4.5 VR S or stunning 135mm f/1.8 S Plena. With so many incredible options, pick your best!
THE NOMINATIONS
Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 S OM System M Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Otus ML
ZOOM
Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM Canon RF 70-200mmm f/2.8L IS USM Z VCM Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 28-70mm f/2.8 ASPH Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ Panasonic Lumix S 24-60mm f/2.8 Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 FE Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary Sigma 14-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports Sony FE 28-70mm f/2 Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
WIDE ANGLE
Canon RF 20mm f/1.4L Canon RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2.8 Irix 21mm f/1.4 Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro Nikon Z 35mm f/1.2 S OM System M Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II Samyang Prima AF 35mm f/1.4 P FE Samyang AF 12mm f/2 RF-S Sigma 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G Voigtländer Super Nokton 29mm f/0.8
TELEPHOTO
Fujifilm XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift Macro Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 110mm f/2.5 Macro Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Otus ML
A LENS LESS ORDINARY
Great glass can make a massive
difference to your images.
STANDARD
Our shortlist has everything from superzooms to telephoto primes
Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM Hasselblad 75mm f/3.5 XCD
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