Category: Lenses

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Lenses News Product Announcements

Tokina 17-135/3.5-5.6 DX

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The Tokina 17-135/3.5-5.6 DX is a conventional lens with a great zoom range, translating to 28-200mm in 35mm terms. Clearly, this one is destined to fight the walkaround lens market. Hopefully, this can put up a good fight against Sigma’s 18-125, a sharp lens I’ve been shooting with since last year. Just like most walkaround, this lens is on the slow with the maximum aperture at both ends hardly something to brag about.

For their expected price though, lenses of this type are bang for the buck performers that can very well serve the needs of the casual enthusiast and even those of serious amateurs.

Since this lens is more than a year younger compared to Sigma’s offering, Tokina should’ve made this better in many respects and addressed the shortcomings of its competitors. Hopefully, we have another viable walkaround alternative in the next few months.

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Lenses Product Announcements

Tokina 10-17/3.5-4.5 DX

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One of the most expected upcoming lenses is the Tokina 10-17/3.5-4.5 DX, a wide–angle lens for cropped frame sensor cameras like the EOS 30D and the Nikon D200. This lens is rumored to be based on Pentax’s similar lens, and rightfully so, since Tokina and Pentax are now collaborating for an extra to their products in the digital photography market.

This lens is part of an extensive roadmap from the lensmaker who plans to release several lenses designed specifically for APS-C type digital SLRs.

Curiously, this lens may put a good fight against Canon’s 10-22 offering, as well as Sigma’s budget standout, the 10-20 DC. Surely in the next few months, the good competition will be very beneficial for the consumers as it will surely lead to reasonable prices and better quality.

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Lenses Photo Samples

My Sigma 17-70

I really couldn’t help it, I was too intrigued with the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro that I just to get one for myself. The samples were quite good for this new lens I had to test it for myself.

These are just a few samples. I’ve had this lens for around a week now, and in the next few days I’ll be sharing more of my shots with this lens, as well as a brief review. :)

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Commentary Lenses News Product Announcements

Tokina 16-50/2.8 DX

Tokina 16-50/2.8 DX

The Tokina 16-50/2.8 DX is an APS-C lens for designed for DSLRs with a 1.5x/1.6x sensor crop like the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D70s. The zoom translates to a 28-80mm range for traditional film cameras, a range widely used in almost all types of photography.

This lens from Tokina is expected to compete against the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, the Tamron SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF, and the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC.

It would be a long shot to expect this lens to be better than the Canon and Tamron offerings; comparably this should be at par with the popular Sigma zoom. But let’s hope Tokina proves us otherwise.

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Lenses Links Photo Samples

Flower shooting with the Sigma 17-70

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Our search for more sample photos taken with the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro has led us to a great gallery of the Minter Gardens by PBase user Alex Tsung. He notes that this lens has much faster and quieter AF than the Tamron 28-75 f2.8, suggesting that Sigma has somehow improved on their typically noisy AF system. Another observation he noticed was the lens closer macro performance compared to the Tamron, just as we have expected.

Photozone also has a review of the Sigma 17-70, predicting that this lens will be a hot seller. I’m a few samples away from buying this one for my D60 as well. ;)

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Lenses Links Photo Samples Reviews

Photozone on the Canon EF-S 17-55

Photozone has finally released their review of the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM. Their one of the very first to provide a technical review of Canon’s latest gem, in fact the first true review of the lens I’ve seen on the web.

It seems that most negative speculations about the lens were false, as Photozone has found the lens excellent in image quality, especially among APS-C lenses. Vignetting is one of this lens weaknesses, and the expected 1100 USD selling price raises questions about its build and other monetary considerations. Still, if I had that amount of money to spend on a lens, I’d definitely get this.

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Lenses Links Photo Samples

More Sigma 17-70 samples

The Sigma 17-70 is now slowly making its way from the retail stores to the very first happy owners of the lens. PBase already has a few users shooting with the said lens, and most of the samples have shown the its capabilities and more importantly, value for money.

We have two galleries from another user, and these two are worth looking at: San Juan, Puerto Rico and Paradise Revisited. Head on to see what this new lens from Sigma could do.

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Lenses Links Photo Samples

Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM samples

In the battle of the normal zooms, it looks like the expected leader is already here, as the first few samples from the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM are already here. This lens is expected to set the standards for this range and lead against the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC, the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro, the upcoming Tamron SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF, and the still in the works Tokina 16-50 f2.8.

Note that as of writing, Google Pages is reporting a “bandwidth message” for the said site and images, probably a result of the sudden surge of photography enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the first real world samples from this lens.

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Commentary Lenses

Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM

Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM

You would’ve noticed that I’ve been writing a lot about the better lenses in the 17-50 range, which translates to 28-105, probably the most used range in the 35mm format. After Nikon’s 17-55 f/2.8 AF-S, Sigma was the first to produce a similar lens, at a remarkable value. The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC has basically captured that market, considering none of the other camera makers rushed to produce an excellent f/2.8 lens in the given range.

This year, the battle in this range will be getting fiercier as Tamron has announced the SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF based on their best–selling SP AF28-75MM F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) which has managed to capture those who have long been dreaming of Canon and Nikon’s 24/28-70 f/2.8 lenses.

Canon’s EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM is a welcome addition in this battle of walkaround zooms, a lens expected to take a significant chunk of the market. Unfortunately, the addition of IS has pushed this lens in the 1,100 USD range, more than twice the Sigma and the Tamron. Everyone is expecting top–notch quality and performance, but at this price, the cost may be unreachable to many first–time DSLR shooters.

My verdict: a very good lens though at a steep price. There are cheaper alternatives that may provide better value and just as capable of delivering excellent photos. Before you buy, make sure you also consider the Tamron SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF, the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC, and even the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro which I’m still eagerly waiting for.

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Lenses Links

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC

The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC is one of the earliest F2.8 lens in the 18-50mm range, and has been very popular since it was released several months ago. At its current street price in the 400-500 USD range, it can very well compete with the upcoming Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM and the Tamron SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF which are both expected in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, these two new lenses will come at a premium price, putting the Sigma 18-50 in a very competitive price advantage.

Real–world samples of photos taken with this lens has shown excellent quality, and the range is very usable as it translates to 28-75mm lens for APS–sized sensors in DSLRs.

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Lenses Links Photo Samples

Sigma 17-70mm samples

I mentioned the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro not too long ago, eagerly awaiting the first batch of real–world samples from early buyers of the lens. Now they’re here!

PBase user smallufo took photos of his brand new Canon EOS 30D, using his 300D and a Sigma 17-70. This clearly shows the lens’s excellent macro performance, with focus and exposure spot–on in good lighting. He has some portraits using the lens, and based on them I think this lens is a capable performer considering its value.

Also from PBase is Bela Pecsek’s Sydney gallery, with several photos taken with the Sigma 17-70. By far, this is the best outdoor samples I’ve seen for this lens.

Nicky Thurgar is another shooter with this lens, and he she has some photos that shows the lens’s fine qualities.

From these early consumer samples, the lens should be a good seller considering its quality–value balance. There is no doubt that its macro capabilities is superb. Resolution is okay, along with color, saturation, and contrast. Let’s hope that it doesn’t have focusing issues like those reported concerning recent Sigma lenses. In a few more weeks we should get decisive feedback from others on the overall performance and values, along with its weaknesses. Until then, keep shooting!

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Lenses Product Announcements

Tamron SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF

Tamron SP AF17-50MM F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF

This fast zoom from Tamron promises to be a good alternative to the popular Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC, which has proven to be an affordable walkaround lens for 1.6x crop crowd. However, the list price of almost US $800 is much higher than the Sigma which retails in the street around the US $400 dollar range. It is much closer to the upcoming Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, expected at the US $1200 price point. However, the Canon has image stabilization which puts it a technical advantage.

This Tamron is expected to perform very well as it is based on their top–selling SP AF28-75MM /2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF, but for it to sell well, it should be much closer to the 500 dollar range, in the vicinity of the Sigma.

Currently, sample photos are not yet available online and we are eagerly awaiting the first ones from this new lens.

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Lenses Reviews

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro

The newly announced Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro provides a relatively fast yet cheap walkaround lens that can take a spot in the amateur DSLR shooter’s arsenal. Translating to approximately 28-105mm for APS-C DSLRs, this lens also boasts strong macro shooting capabilities, with a maximum magnification of 1:2.3 that’s uncommon for zoom lenses.

Here are two links detailing the lens’s performance compared to two good lenses: against the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC and against the Canon 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM.

I know I want this one!