PCMag UK electronics

Pocket Dispo

Jim Fisher — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:56:44 +0000

Get that disposable camera look with digital convenience

Younger Gen-Xers and just about every millennial will remember disposable cameras. In the days before digital cameras and smartphones, folks would grab a throwaway 35mm camera on their way to an event and capture moments with lo-fi plastic lenses and grainy analog film. The Pocket Dispo ($49.99) takes …

Nikon Nikkor Z 600mm F6.3 VR S

Jim Fisher — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:51:23 +0000

A rare mix of light weight and extreme telephoto reach

The Nikon Nikkor Z 600mm F6.3 VR S ($4,799.95) is an exciting lens for photographers who are interested in taking photos of far-off subjects but are tired of carrying a heavy zoom. It leverages a Phase Fresnel optical formula to realize its 3.2-pound carry weight, is …

Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE

Jim Fisher — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Lenses don't get much smaller than this

The Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE ($99) is easily the tiniest autofocusing lens we've seen. The twee design tugs on heartstrings and really calls to creators who like the idea of packing light, but it comes with compromises, including slower autofocus response and some frustrating usability …

Canon Adds Compact Standard Zoom for Enthusiasts on a Budget

Jim Fisher — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 04:01:00 +0000

The RF 28-70mm F2.8 Lens is the perfect alternative to pricier L series glass.

Canon's latest lens for its RF mirrorless camera system fills a very important gap in its lens catalog: a mid-priced standard zoom with professional-grade f/2.8 optics. Its RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM debuts at $1,099, for roughly half the cost of its marquee lens is an all-around upgrade to 2016's FE 85mm F1.4 GM. It features a new optical formula that effectively eliminates false color and stands up better to high-pixel sensors. It also …

Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro

Jim Fisher — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:44:38 +0000

A weather-sealed prime for APS-C cameras with bright and sharp optics

The $578 Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2 Pro is an attractive lens for APS-C camera owners who want to get photos with the artistic, bokeh background look that's typical of full-frame optics. The prime matches an extra-wide aperture with perfectly sharp optics and sturdy construction, which means you can comfortably use …

Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II

Jim Fisher — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:10:14 +0000

A small zoom that deserves a more substantial update

The $299.99 Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II is a rather meager update to Sony's least expensive E-mount starter zoom from over a decade ago that keeps the same optical formula and compact design. All the upgrades are …

Nikon Nikkor Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR

Jim Fisher — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:20:21 +0000

A weather-protected zoom that covers wide to super telephoto angles

The $1,299.95 Nikon Nikkor Z 28-400mm F4-8 covers a broader range than any other Z system lens and makes an appeal to photographers who prefer the convenience of an all-in-one solution for their travels. It delivers reasonably crisp results at every focal length, has …

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR

Jim Fisher — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:42:00 +0000

A starter lens with excellent optics and weather sealing

The $699.95 Fujifilm XF 16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR has some big shoes to fill as the first upgrade to the company's inaugural X mount mirrorless zoom, the laudable XF 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS. It lives up …

Megadap EFTZ21 Canon EF to Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter

Jim Fisher — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:27:37 +0000

A bridge to using Canon SLR lenses with your Nikon mirrorless camera

The $299 Megadap EFTZ21 Canon EF to Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter should appeal to Canon SLR photographers eyeing a Nikon Z camera for their next upgrade. It allows you to use your favorite EF glass on Nikon mirrorless bodies …

Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD

Jim Fisher — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 04:01:00 +0000

A lightweight, extended-range telezoom with good enough image quality

The $799 Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD telezoom lens for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras is quite versatile thanks to its lightweight design and standard-angle coverage at the wide end. It also comes with full weather protection, a speedy linear autofocus motor, and decent optical …

Ready to Upgrade? What to Consider Before Buying a New Camera Lens

Jim Fisher — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:40:39 +0000

If you've outgrown the kit lens that came with your camera, it can be difficult to decide what to get next. We walk you through everything you need to know before your purchase.

Most entry-level mirrorless cameras include a basic starter lens, also called a kit lens. Regardless of brand, these kit zooms tend to share some features. Most start at a moderately wide angle and extend to a short telephoto view. They also typically use narrow, variable-aperture …

Sigma 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN Art

Jim Fisher — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A zoom lens that can replace a set of primes

The $1,349 Sigma 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN Art is the brightest full-frame zoom lens we've tested for any system and a successor to the well-regarded 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art lens for SLRs. The updated version has a slightly tighter starting angle …

TTArtisan 28mm F5.6

Jim Fisher — Sun, 26 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

A tiny wide-angle lens for rangefinder cameras

The $368 TTArtisan 28mm F5.6 is a throwback lens in more ways than one. It looks and feels a lot like the Leica Summaron-M 28mm F5.6, a pricey remake of a 1950s optic, and similarly delivers photos with less …

Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye Art

Jim Fisher — Mon, 20 May 2024 13:34:12 +0000

A rare combination of extremely wide and bright optics

The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye Art ($1,999) is the first autofocusing fisheye lens for mirrorless systems we've tested. Available for full-frame E-mount and L-mount cameras, it matches an incredibly wide angle of view (180 degrees diagonally) with a class-leading …

Lensbaby Sweet 22

Jim Fisher — Thu, 09 May 2024 19:31:40 +0000

A wide-angle sweet spot lens for creative imaging

If you're tired of lenses that capture scenes with picture-perfect realism, it might be time to explore alternatives like the $179.95 Lensbaby Sweet 22. The small, manual focus prime offers a uniquely wide angle of view for both full-frame and crop-sensor cameras, as well as an optical formula that draws …

Sigma, Tamron Introduce Lenses for Canon RF Mirrorless

Jim Fisher — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:54:21 +0000

The first autofocusing third-party lenses for Canon EOS R cameras are limited to APS-C sensors, but that's still good news for R10 and R7 owners.

Photographers who own, or are considering buying, a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera will have several new lens options to choose from later this year.

Sigma and Tamron are bringing selected lenses from their extensive catalogs to the RF mount, effectively ending Canon's embargo on autofocusing third-party lenses for its …

Nikon Tips First 28-400mm Superzoom for Z Mount

Jim Fisher — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:01:00 +0000

The Nikkor Z 28-400mm F4-8 VR provides double the zoom power versus competing all-in-one zooms, making it a compelling option for Nikon photogs after an all-in-one zoom for travel.

The all-in-one zoom concept has long been a favorite option for photographers who want to add a grab-and-go lens to their kit that can cover the unexpected photo ops that pop up during travel, walks around the neighborhood, and anything in between. Nikon is adding its second lens of this …

Ring Suspends Sales of Its Car Cam

Emily Price — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:44:21 +0000

It works as a dash cam while your vehicle is in motion and as a security camera when parked.

Amazon’s Ring has stopped selling the Ring Car Cam. The camera launched at CES 2023 and works as a dash cam while your vehicle is in motion and as a security camera when parked.

While the camera officially went on sale last year, it’s been hard for customers to purchase, and …

Sigma 15mm F1.4 Fisheye Targets Astrophotographers

Jim Fisher — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0000

The 15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye Art lens matches a 180-degree angle of view with extra-bright optics and other features specific to night sky photography.

Photographers capturing night sky images often reach for wide angle lenses to create compositions that incorporate both landscape and stars, and chase extra-bright optics to keep exposure times reasonable and improve manual focus accuracy. Sigma's latest lens, the 15mm F1.4 DG DN Diagonal Fisheye Art, fits those requirements to a …

CES 2024: Panasonic Rethinks Macro With Lumix S 100mm Lens

Jim Fisher — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:45:00 +0000

The Lumix S 100mm F2.8 sports a shorter barrel and faster focus than most 1:1 macro lenses, and promises speedy dual-element focus for video and action snaps

Panasonic took out its pen and started drawing outside the typical lines for its latest full-frame L-mount lens, the Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro. The lens is not only smaller and lighter than most others of this type, its focus is tuned for a snappy …

Sony's A9 III Camera, 300mm G Master Lens Tout Top Speeds for Sports, Wildlife

Eric Zeman — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:23:49 +0000

The Sony A9 III camera introduces a global shutter, which makes 1/80000 shutter speeds, 120fps bursts, and flash sync at any speed possible. The company also showed off a powerful 300mm F2.8 G Master prime sport and wildlife lens that can keep up with the A9 III.

Sony today announced two products meant to elevate the world of high-speed photography, the Alpha 9 III camera and the 300mm F2.8 G Master lens. Both the camera and lens target sports and wildlife photographers foremost with enticingly quick focus and capture times.

A Global Shutter Opens Possibilities

The …

Canon Adds a Trio of RF Lenses to Its Catalog

Jim Fisher — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:00 +0000

The growing RF mirrorless system is bolstered by the latest set of releases, which include an affordable wide zoom for APS-C, an extra long telezoom, and first-of-its-kind 24-105mm F2.8.

Canon's latest set of lenses for its RF lens system is a bit of a grab-bag; the three new lenses couldn't be more different. A slim wide angle zoom, made for APS-C cameras, comes along with the first F2.8 full-frame zoom to cover the 24-105mm range, …

Canon Shows Off RF 10-20mm Full-Frame Zoom

Jim Fisher — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:48:12 +0000

The RF 10-20mm F4 L IS STM is incredibly small and light when you take its immersive wide angle and autofocus capability into account

Canon's newest zoom lens addresses one of the long-running problems with wide-angle photography: lens size. Zooms that cover an extreme angle are often oversized. The RF 10-20mm F4 L IS STM bucks that trend—at around 4.4 by 3.3 inches (HD) and 1.3 pounds it's half the weight of the

Nikon's 600mm F6.3 VR S Is a Featherweight Lens for Wildlife

Jim Fisher — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:01:00 +0000

Outdoor photographers tired of schlepping heavy lenses through the backwoods will want the new 3.1-pound 600mm F6.3 VR S for their kit.

There's just no getting around it, if you're interested in taking photos of far-off subjects, whether they be backyard critters or linebackers scrambling to make a tackle, a long telephoto lens is a must-have. But because of the the amount of glass required to get close …

Hands On: Lomography's Throwback Nour Triplet V Bokeh Control Lens

Jim Fisher — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Lomo is launching its latest throwback art series lens on Kickstarter, and we've got first impressions to share so you can decide if it's worth it to get one.

Lomography often looks back to the early days of photography for its steampunk-styled art lenses. Its latest, the Nour Triplet V 2.0/64 Bokeh Control Art Lens, follows suit, and is available for order today via Kickstarter. The all-manual lens looks like something out of the 19th …

Nikon Plena Lens Promises Beautiful Bokeh for Portraits

Jim Fisher — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:01:00 +0000

The Nikkor Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena matches a wide aperture and telephoto focal length for extreme background blur

Nikon is excited about its latest lens, the Nikkor Z 135mm F1.8 S, even more so than usual. It's gone as far as to give the lens a name, Plena. It's the second named Z lens, following the

Tamron Tips the First 17-50mm F4 Full-Frame Zoom Lens

Jim Fisher — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 03:00:00 +0000

The forthcoming 17-50mm F4 Di III VXD for Sony cameras zooms in further than other lenses that start at such a wide angle

Today Tamron is teasing a new full-frame lens, set to be sold exclusively for Sony's full-fame mirrorless system, the 17-50mm F4 Di III VXD. The small starting focal length means it covers an extra wide angle, almost as broad as current options like the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II trend to the …

Nikon 70-180mm and 180-600mm Strengthen Z Telephoto Lens Library

Jim Fisher — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 10:49:15 +0000

The mid-priced zooms appeal to anyone who doesn't want to spend thousands on telephoto glass.

Nikon is adding a pair of lenses to its growing Z mirrorless library. The Nikkor Z 70-180mm F2.8 and Nikkor Z 180-600mm F5.6-6.3 VR have loads of appeal to enthusiasts and other photographers shopping for mid-range photo gear to use for long-lens subjects like sports …

Nikon DX 24mm F1.7 Blurs Backgrounds on a Budget

Jim Fisher — Wed, 31 May 2023 04:01:00 +0000

The bright, close-focusing prime for DX sensor Nikon Z cameras is light and priced to own.

Nikon is turning its attention to the DX sensor format for the second lens release in a row. The compact Nikkor Z DX 24mm F1.7 prime follows the Z DX 12-28mm from last month, so it's more good news for creators who've picked up …

How to Buy the Best Tripod

Jim Fisher — Mon, 22 May 2023 18:28:39 +0000

If you want to buy the best tripod for your camera, we have the expert buying advice you need to read. Here’s a breakdown of every aspect to consider, from legs and heads to attachment systems, along with pertinent product recommendations.

In the market for a tripod? You probably have a good idea of what to look for if you're an old hat at photography, but beginners might find the task more difficult. After all, there are hundreds of models available from dozens of brands to choose from, most of which …

Canon Tips First Ever 100-300mm F2.8 Zoom Lens

Jim Fisher — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:05:03 +0000

This 5.8-pound, $9,500 lens isn't for everyone, but pro photogs will find reason to get excited.

Canon's latest lens isn't one that most of us will own, or even get to use. But pros who make a living shooting sports, fashion, events, and wildlife should find some utility in the RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM. It's not exactly the first zoom of its kind—Nikon and …

Nikon Expands Vlog Support With DX Power Zoom Lens

Jim Fisher — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:01:00 +0000

A wide angle of view and optical stabilization should make the Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm F3.5-5.6 PZ VR a perfect match for the Z 30 vlogging camera.

Nikon is one of the most recognizable names in photo gear, but its latest Z series mirrorless lens is more about video. The Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm F3.5-5.6 PZ VR slots in as the widest angle option for its APS-C format camera line, and one that could easily serve as …

Sigma Brings Affordable APS-C Contemporary Lens Trio to Nikon Z

Jim Fisher — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:52:20 +0000

The 16mm, 30mm, and 56mm F1.4 Contemporary primes have proven to be fantastic performers for other systems, and they're now coming to Nikon Z cameras.

The Sigma APS-C Contemporary trio is a set of three lenses with F1.4 apertures, relatively slim barrels, and obtainable price points. The 16mm, 30mm, and 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary have proven their worth with other camera systems, and they're now coming to Nikon Z cameras.

Autofocus …

New Sony Lens Targets Photogs Who Want Affordable, Bright Prime

Jim Fisher — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:50:59 +0000

The FE 50mm F1.4 GM offers comfortable middle ground for those who don't want to spend for the F1.2 GM edition.

Sony's latest lens—the FE 50mm F1.4 GM—joins its highest end line, the G Master series. It's considered a standard angle, a design that gets its moniker from mimicking the typical human field of vision. The F1.4 optical formula is ideal for capturing subjects in sharp detail, …

How to Pick the Right Canon Lens for Your Camera

Jim Fisher — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:43:28 +0000

Canon offers interchangeable lens cameras with different mounts and sensor sizes, so it can be tricky to pick the best lens for your SLR or mirrorless model. If you're not sure which lenses work with your camera, we're here to help.

Canon currently markets three types of interchangeable lens cameras—and they all use different lenses. That can make shopping for a new lens a little more difficult than with other brands.

The first step in your search should be to determine what type of camera you have: a Canon Rebel SLR, …

Nikon Tips 26mm and 85mm Lenses for Z Mirrorless

Jim Fisher — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Creators using Nikon Z cameras can now pick up a wide angle pancake or portrait speciality lens.

Nikon is offering up details on a pair of prime lenses that have been on its development roadmap for some time. The slim Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8 and chunky Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S bolster options for photographers using Z mirrorless cameras. The former is the …

Sony Broadens Views With FE 20-70mm F4 G Zoom

Jim Fisher — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:33:23 +0000

The FE 20-70mm F4 G opens up to a wider angle than most standard zooms, meeting the needs of creators who crave a wider view.

With its latest zoom lens, Sony is rolling an all-new optical formula, one previously unrealized for full-frame systems. The FE 20-70mm F4 G captures a broader angle than many other lenses, and still hits the 70mm mark for background-blurring portraits.

A Trend Toward Wider Angles

We've seen other …