Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Polarizing Filters’

Nikon 70 300mm f 4 5 5 6G ED IF AF S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

High-power 4.3x Telephoto Zoom-Nikkor lens (Approximates the picture angle performance of a 105-450mm lens on 35mm SLR) / Uses 67mm Filters Non-Rotating front element provides for convenient use of circular polarizing filters and the Nikon Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System A Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables fast and quiet autofocusing, along with quick switching between autofocus and manual operation (M/A and M) A nine-blade rounded diaphragm opening, out-of-focus elements appear more natural Accepts 67mm filter attachment size Focal length – 70-300mm (Approximates the picture angle performance of a 105-450mm 35mm SLR) Maximum aperture – f/4.5-5.6 Lens construction – 17 elements in 12 groups (with 2 ED glass elements) Picture angle – 34 degrees 20 feet- 8 degrees 10 feet (22 degrees 50 feet – 5 degrees 20 feet with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras) Focal length – scale 70, 100, 135, 200, 300mm Unit Dimensions – (approx.) 3.1 x 5.6 in. (80 x 143.5mm); Weight – (approx.) 26.3 oz (745g) Included accessories – LC-67 67mm snap-on front lens cap, LF-1 rear lens cap, HB-36 bayonet hood, CL-1022 flexible lens pouch

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Fantastic with Nikon D40
After owning a Nikon D40 with a 55-200mm lens, a larger lens was the next step.

This lens is much larger and heavier than the 55-200mm Nikkor. I had read the

reviews on the lens and was aware of the near 300mm difficulties. By compensating

for these issues the lens can be a remarkable instrument. Once in focus,

photos taken at 300mm can show excellent resolution and color. I’ve found best

results with the autofocus when the focus is close to the optimum setting before using

autofocus. The magnification is astounding, as much as I would want. The vibration

reduction is very effective. A tripod hasn’t been needed for daylight photos. When carrying

the pair, I cradle the lens instead of holding by the camera. The lens was a demo from

Cameta Camera for $379 with free shipping. It was indistinguishable from new and has

given no problems. A great bargain for its capability. Always get a UV filter!

It’s cheap insurance.

4 Stars Good compromise between performances, weight and costs
I had to do a long travel and I didn’t want to bring my Nikkor 80-200 AF-s 2.8 because of too heavy and too big size.

From Italy I ordered the 70-300 AF-s VR, asking the delivery to the hotel where I stayed in San Francisco. Perfect delivery and delivery time, so I have been able to enjoy the object.

Light tool, with good performances, above all if compared to his big brother 80-200 AF-s 2.8

The stabilizer, combined to the high Iso of my Nikon D700, helped me in a lot of critical situations so I have been able to catch good pictures.

5 Stars Glad I went for the 300
This is for my new D700. I will spare the technical jargon. Was thinking of the 70-200 f/2.8 but that thing is very huge and heavy. This seems like the perfect lens for the beach. Went there for a couple of hours with the dog and snapped about 200 pictures. Even though this is the first day using it, the 300mm really came in handy. I took many shots at 300mm and they came out great! It’s plastic but still feels substantial in your hand. Quality feels better that I expected. Focus is almost instant. I was concerned about the max 4.5 aperture but had no problems, had to turn down the ISO down to 400 as I had the aperture wide open most of the shots. I made full use of the 70-300 range as the dogs come and go very quickly. Took some pics of a friends dogs as well and they are tiny dogs. At 300mm I was able to get some good distance from the small dog, get an interesting perspective and background, shallow depth of field and sharp focus and filling the frame. Also got some good pics at 70mm for close ups. Point is that the 70-300 seems the perfect range when your going for casual wildlife photos.

This lens fits perfect in the Tamrac MX5378 lens case as long as you don’t have the hood on the lens. I shot many pictures into the sun had no flare at all. I guess the coatings really work so I don’t think I will carry the lens hood as I like to travel light. On the other hand…I just tried putting the lens in the case with the lens hood attached (reversed) and it still fits but is tight. Tamrac recommends the Pro100 lens case for this lens and that will be better if you like a loose fit. Problem is those cases are a lot larger and if you are using the Tamrac modular belt, then smaller is better I think.

My opinion, if you have an FX format camera you can’t go wrong with this lens. My three lenses I will most often use are:

70-300 (this lens) Hiking, beach, etc.

24-70 f/2.8 Walk around, candid, indoors without flash.

50 f/1.4G Indoors low light with no flash.

5 Stars Great lens; Great price.
Some of the reviews I’ve read about this lens say it doesn’t autofocus well, but I have not found that is a problem at all. This lens has worked great for me so far. The vibration reduction is definitely worth it. On my 18-105mm I couldn’t see the difference, but on this lens the difference is very obvious. It is definitely worth the extra money.

5 Stars Pro quality for bargain price…
This lens is tack sharp on my D90 all the way out to the corners at all aperature settings and focal lengths. On the D700 it’s a little soft zoomed all the way out to 300mm and @ f/5.6 but stop it down one stop and sharp all the way out to the corners. This lens isn’t meant to be a low light lens anyway so stopping it down shouldn’t be a problem. For the price this is one incredible lens. If you want pro performance and sharpness in low light situations pay the big bucks and get either the (now old) 70-200 f/2.8 or wait a couple months and get the brand new 70-200 f/2.8 with VRII. I will tell you in decent light or tripod situations this lens is just as sharp as the 70-200 f/2.8 (stopped down one stop from wide open) on my D700 and just as sharp at all aperatures on my D90. Pro quality for a bargain price for sure!

Buy/More Info

Canon EF 70 200mm f 4 L IS USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with the Canon EF 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens. The L-series lens offers an Image Stabilizer that provides up to four stops of shake correction–a first for Canon IS lenses. The use of fluorite UD lens elements, meanwhile, produces an excellent optical performance in terms of resolution and contrast. Add in a sturdy housing with water- and dust-proof construction and you have a lens that’s both portable and high performing. Other details include an f/4 maximum aperture, a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) that enables quick and quiet autofocusing, compatibility with circular polarizing filters, and a lightweight body. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 70-200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/4
• Lens construction: 20 elements in 15 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 34 to 12 degrees (with full-frame cameras)
• Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual focus
• Closest focusing distance: 3.94 feet
• Zoom system: 7-group helical zoom (72-degree rotational angle)
• Filter size: 67mm
• Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter, 6.8 inches long
• Weight: 26.8 ounces

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars My favorite lens!
This is the best lens in my camera bag. Meaning: versitile, light, and excellent image quality. I upgraded from the non-IS version(which is a great lens as well) to the IS and love it! I highly recommend this lens. For those who don’t shoot birds or racing or in low light stadiums, this lens is all you need. I contemplated the 2.8, but decided for the much lighter weight of the f/4. I can consistently get three more stops with the IS. No complaints whatsoever.Bottomline: Canon L-series+image stabilization=HEAVEN Get this lens.

5 Stars Great lens
As everyone has already mentioned, this lens is truly great! Incredibly sharp even wide open at f4, and the IS works fantastically well.

Build quality is top class as you would expect, and using this lens is just pure joy.

If you can afford the IS version get it, otherwise the f4 non IS is a great alternative at almost half the price.

5 Stars Essential
This lens provides image quality comparable to the best primes with image stabilization and the versatility of a zoom. That makes it a must have for a basic lens collection. I am shooting on a 1Ds III that tests every lens to the max and previously owned the non IS version of this lens. It was not as sharp as primes like the 135mm f.2 or the 85mm f1.8. My first priority is image quality so I basically stopped using the zoom and relied on the primes instead. The basic image quality of the new zoom is equal to any lens I have ever owned, even on a tripod with the IS off. The IS adds another dimension to its versatility, which is obviously a big advantage on a telephoto. I recently shot some wildlife at 200mm hand held and the image was as sharp as if the camera were on a tripod next to the animal. Now I use the primes only if the extra speed is needed to stop motion.

5 Stars Wonderful Lens
I recently traded in my long beloved 70-200mm f/4 L lens for the IS version after a recent hand surgery. I wrote an extensive review on the 70-200mm f/4 L for Amazon, and everything about that lens applies to this one plus more. I have to say that I am incredibly impressed with this lens. Not only is it just as sharp, contrasty, and light as the non-IS version, but the IS adds almost 4 stops of hand-holding ability! I was able to hand hold this lens and get sharp and clean images at 1/13 second shutter speed with the IS on!

My only gripe about this lens is that the IS is noisier than the IS on the Canon 100-400 or the Canon 24-105. When I first got it, I thought I had gotten a bad copy. It turns out after taking it to the shop, that the IS is just noisier than on the other IS lenses, and it seems to work perfectly except for a little more noise than I would like.

If I could give this lens 4.5/5 stars, I would do so, but I figure it’s worth rounding up just because the image quality is second to none.

If you need a lightweight telephoto lens that will produce excellent images consistently and also IS, then this is your lens.

5 Stars Great color and contrast
Prior to purchasing the 70-200mm f/4 L IS I’ve had mixed results with telephoto lenses. This lens has shown me what a truly great telephoto can do for my hobby. The first thing I noticed was how bright the view finder was. My photos displayed great color and contrast when using this lens. Focus is incredibly sharp compared to my previous telephoto experiences. Even with the IS I prefer to use a monopod because I feel like the camera is moving with that lens hanging out front. Now I don’t know how I got along without my 70-200 f/4 L IS. A great addition to anyone’s bag for those who take their photography serious.

Buy/More Info

Sigma 18 250mm f 3 5 6 3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

The Sigma 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM lens incorporates Sigma’s original anti-shake compensation
function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. For cameras that have anti-shake function in the camera body, this
lens’s Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provides not only anti-shake function for the camera body compensation,
but also the function to compensate the image shaking in the view finder. Incorporating four Special Low Dispersion glass elements
and three Aspherical lens elements provides excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range.
This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 17.7 inches (45cm) at all focal lengths and a maximum
magnification of 1:3.4 reproduction ratio, making it ideal for close-up photography. An inner focusing
system also eliminates front lens rotation, making it suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and the
supplied petal-type hood. The super multi layer coating helps to reduce the ghost in the backlight
photography.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Best bang for your buck
Very minimal nuance with my Canon L lens if you ever notice it at all. No wonder this is the Best Entry Level Lens: Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM and has a TIPA award for 2009. Quick AF and razor sharp pics!!!! Anyone now can become a playboy photographer.

4 Stars Excellent but slightly heavy
I bought this lens before a recent trip to Australia. I’ve been using the 18-55mm that came with my EOS and a Canon 22-200mm. The 18-55mm suits 80% of my needs normally but I find that I use the telephoto a lot when traveling. So this lens replaces them both. I still brought the 18-55mm with me but 90% of the time I had the Sigma on the camera. It worked very well. The zoom is smooth and the autofocus worked well. The few times I needed to use manual focus I found the focus ring fell right at hand and worked well. I took 2000 pictures in a variety of conditions and the images look great. It was especially handy for wildlife shots.

One downside is that it’s a relatively slow lens (f-stop). I can’t really call it a complaint because I knew what I was getting and a faster lens is quite a bit more expensive. The 10% of the time I used the 18-55mm lens was in low-light situations where f/3.5 just wasn’t cutting it.

The image stabilization seems to work well. I have not tried any comparisons with it on or off yet–I left it on the entire trip. However I did take several hundred pictures during a whale watch cruise. The seas were rough and the boat was moving and I was at maximum zoom taking photos of whales breeching. Everything worked a treat. Of course some were blurry but most were razor sharp.

The only ‘complaint’ is that the lens is heavy. There’s a lot of glass in it, so that’s understandable, but it gets to be a pain in the neck (literally) after a while. I’ll be looking for a better strap next. When carrying the camera, the lens ends up hanging down. After a while it loosened up enough that it would extend on its own. I started using the zoom lock and have begun to build up the muscle memory to unlock it when I bring the camera into position. Unfortunately, the lock button is very close to the autofocus button and on several occasions I flipped that while trying to lock or unlock the lens. Not a big deal, though.

Overall I’m very happy with the lens and the pictures it took and the price was quite reasonable.

5 Stars Great All-In-One SLR lens
We got the Sigma 18-250mm lens for our Nikon D40 and it works great without any problems. It is a great all-in-one lens that can go wide and zoom pretty far in, has optical stabilization features, and even has a zoom lock function that isn’t even on Nikon’s current 18-200mm lens (the replacement model has one, though). Focusing does not rotate or extend the barrel of the lens so it won’t throw off polarizing filters or accidentally hit objects that are close to the lens like when taking pictures through a window. While its visual quality won’t match that of the more expensive Nikon lenses, you do get more bang for your buck and you probably won’t even notice the difference. The only drawbacks I see with using this lens are that it is a little on the heavy side, and that its length will create a shadow when using your SLR’s built-in flash at the widest focal length, but zooming in to at least 24mm or using an external flash will solve that problem. The f/6.3 aperture at maximum zoom might also cause problems for some, but it’s a compromise you have to live with given this lens’ price.

2 Stars Poor All-In-One lens…
The reason I bought this Sigma 18-250mm are probably like most people. I want to replace two lenses I have (18~70mm + 70~210mm) and the Nikon is cost too much. Amazon had this one for Nikon mount priced $509 last month, so I decided to give it a try. After two weeks of ownership, I am disappointed and sending it back. This is my second Sigma lenses. My first one is Sigma 30mm f1.4 which I like it, but this Sigma 18~250mm OS, just cannot serve the purpose.

What I like about this lens:

1. It’s much cheaper than Nikon one and have huge focus range.

2. Solid built and it is “Made in Japan”.

3. Optical Stabilizer does work.

4. Fast auto focus.

5. NO zoom lens creep.

What I don’t like about this lens:

1. Images are not sharp at all. I’ve compare it to my more than 10-years-old Nikkor (70-210mm f/4.5-5.6), it’s not even close.

2. It focuses fast, but I do find it somehow backward focus every now an then.

3. Less contrast and the color are not very saturated.

4. The pop-up flash would cast a shadow at 18~24mm even without the len hood on it.

5. The AF stuck few times. I have to switch the AF button to fix it.

I don’t care much about the weight, HSM and distortion since I have hand strap and shoot more people than buildings. The sharpness is what I care the most. This lens is also useless indoor. I’ve trid turn on the OS, increase the ISO to 800, but none of the images come out what I expected. There are not that many reviews on this lens yet. The one I found is at [...]. The author had it compare to Nikon 18-200mm VR very thoroughly. He was impressive about this Sigma, but I think he return it after owning it for 6 weeks. It works fine on tripod for comparison, but not that great in real application.

While it is not sharp enough for outdoor shots, and useless indoor, I see no reason for keeping it. Others’ reviews are “Great all-in-one…”. I would say “Poor All-In-One lens”.

4 Stars Great everyday lens
This is a great everyday lens. Two lenses in one. I get great clear shots. The only negative I have about this lens is lens creep. It is bad. Any downward angle when using a tripod, it slides. It does not hold its position. Maybe this is true with all lenses of this size, I don’t know. But if it is then I think that is a major flaw that companies can work to fix. Because of the lens creep I give a 4 star rating and not 5 star. I do recommend this lens if lens creep is ok with you.

Buy/More Info

Sigma AF 18 200mm f 3 5 6 3 DC OS Optical Stabilizer Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

The Sigma 18-200mm high-zoom-ratio lens is designed exclusively for Nikon digital SLR cameras and is capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements and two hybrid aspherical lenses correct for all types of aberrations, letting Sigma house the extended-range super-zoom lens in a compact and lightweight body that measures 70mm in diameter and 78.1mm long and weighs a mere 14.3 ounces. The new lens coating, meanwhile, reduces flare and ghost–a common problem shared by many digital cameras–while also creating an optimum color balance. Other details include a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7) at all focal lengths, a high zoom ratio of 11:1, and a maximum magnification of 1:4.4.

The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system that prevents the front of the lens from rotating, making it particularly suitable for using circular polarizing filters and petal-shaped lens hoods. In addition, the overall length of the lens never changes during focusing, making the lens convenient to handle and easy to use. Finally, the lens’s zoom lock switch eliminates “zoom creep” during transport–a convenient addition when traveling. The lens, which includes a metal mount, is backed by a one-year warranty.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars wonderful lens
I received the len which was packed carfully. The len itself is very beautiful and the picture is beautiful too.

4 Stars Great lens for the money
I bought this lens for my son’s wrestling tournaments and was not disappointed. Even indoors without a flash it was fast enough for great shots when they weren’t moving too fast. Reviews said the Canon and Tamron superzooms have better IQ, but they cost $200 more, and I wasn’t ready to spend that.

I’m keeping the lens on the camera more and more, only changing for my 50mm 1.4 for portraits or when I need the best IQ.

For a single walkaround lens, for the money, I don’t think it can be beat.

Perry

3 Stars Good price and quality. Soft focus.
This is an universal lens. When you put in your camera you don’t feel to change it.

Pros:

1. Tele zoom. You can catch people without being noticed.

2. Wide angle. You can take photo of your large family and firends.

3. Decent quality.

Cons:

1. Soft focus. When you take photo at full zoom the soft focus is mostly unavoidable.

2. There is defocus to the corner of the lens.

3. Heavy.

4 Stars Pretty good lens for the $.
This lens works pretty good with my Nikon D40 and I have made great shots using it.

After about a year of use I got no complaints and would buy it again in a heart beat.

Note: there is some lens creep but not terrible, the the OS makes an audible chirp sound and the auto-focus motor makes a very high pitched sound that’s a audible too (not as much as the OS tho), but it’s not that bad and I can easily live with this.

2 Stars Great lens… for the short time it lasted
Loved this lens when it worked… however now, only one year later, this lens doesn’t work! Short circuits new Nikon D90 camera and won’t AF on D50. I can’t afford to be buying a new $500 lens on a yearly basis – I’m extremely disappointed in Sigma’s longevity.

Buy/More Info

Sigma 18 200mm f 3 5 6 3 DC AF OS Optical Stabilizer Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

The Sigma 18-200 F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Lens incorporates an Optical Stabilizer function and is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras. It is perfectly suitable for low light conditions whether indoors, at dusk, or in telephoto range. This system uses two sensors inside the lens to detect vertical and horizontal movement of the camera by moving an optical image stabilizing lens group, to effectively compensate for camera shake. It also automatically detects panning movement of the camera and compensates for camera shake when shooting moving subjects such as motor sports. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass and aspherical glass provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7″) throughout the entire zoom range and has a maximum magnification of 1:3.9. Since the inner focusing system means the front of the lens does not rotate, optional circular polarizing filters and the supplied petal-type hood can easily be used. A magnification scale is displayed on the lens barrel, ensuring ease of use. A zoom-lock switch mechanism is provided to prevent the lens from creeping due to its own weight. 69.3 – 7.1 degrees (Sigma SD format) angle of view 7 Diaphragm Blades F22 Minimum Aperture 45cm / 17.7 Minimum Focusing Distance 1 – 3.9 Maximum Magnification Petal Lens Hood Dimensions – Diameter 79mm x Length 100mm Weight – 21.5 ounces (610 grams)

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Great lens… for the short time it lasted
Loved this lens when it worked… however now, only one year later, this lens doesn’t work! Short circuits new Nikon D90 camera and won’t AF on D50. I can’t afford to be buying a new $500 lens on a yearly basis – I’m extremely disappointed in Sigma’s longevity.

3 Stars Good price and quality. Soft focus.
This is an universal lens. When you put in your camera you don’t feel to change it.

Pros:

1. Tele zoom. You can catch people without being noticed.

2. Wide angle. You can take photo of your large family and firends.

3. Decent quality.

Cons:

1. Soft focus. When you take photo at full zoom the soft focus is mostly unavoidable.

2. There is defocus to the corner of the lens.

3. Heavy.

4 Stars Great lens for the money
I bought this lens for my son’s wrestling tournaments and was not disappointed. Even indoors without a flash it was fast enough for great shots when they weren’t moving too fast. Reviews said the Canon and Tamron superzooms have better IQ, but they cost $200 more, and I wasn’t ready to spend that.

I’m keeping the lens on the camera more and more, only changing for my 50mm 1.4 for portraits or when I need the best IQ.

For a single walkaround lens, for the money, I don’t think it can be beat.

Perry

4 Stars wonderful lens
I received the len which was packed carfully. The len itself is very beautiful and the picture is beautiful too.

4 Stars Pretty good lens for the $.
This lens works pretty good with my Nikon D40 and I have made great shots using it.

After about a year of use I got no complaints and would buy it again in a heart beat.

Note: there is some lens creep but not terrible, the the OS makes an audible chirp sound and the auto-focus motor makes a very high pitched sound that’s a audible too (not as much as the OS tho), but it’s not that bad and I can easily live with this.

Buy/More Info