The Photocrati Blog

Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR Review Round-Up

Editor’s note: There are strikingly few expert reviews of this lens in existence. None of the major review shops known for their for lens reviews has published a review on this lens. This is surprising, given the quality and uniqueness of a 200-400 f/4 VR lens. If you know of an outstanding expert review on this lens, email the editor at [email protected].

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get more information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

Thanks to a silent-wave AF drive and a VR (Vibration Reduction) mechanism the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR is a worthy improvement over the previous high-speed tele zooms made by Nikon. However, these improvements also come at cost of a substantially higher price tag and increased dimensions/weight. Performance-wise the results are excellent and slightly superior to the old AF 80-200mm f/2.8ED. Vignetting, distortions as well as CAs are well controlled and not really field relevant. The mechanical quality of the lens is exceptionally high and it’s a joy to use this lens. … READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The EF 50mm f/1.4 USM showed an almost flawless performance during the lab- and field-tests both in terms of optical and mechanical quality. If I had to list a few negative points it would be vignetting and low contrast at f/1.4. So if you’re looking for a lens in this class the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is a great option. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED delivered a very impressive performance in the lab. The resolution figures are very good to excellent with a highly impressive peak performance around f/5.6. The level of distortions is exceptionally low for a zoom lens. CAs are moderate except at 40mm @ f/2.8. Vignetting is very well controlled. The build quality of the lens is superb and it ´s a joy to handle it despite its comparatively hefty size and weight. Typical for most classic standard zooms it looses quite a bit of its attraction on APS-C DSLRs – a focal length range equivalent to 42-105mm may not be up to everybody ´s taste anymore. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM L proved to be a worthy representative of the pro-grade lens league … if you can get a good sample. During the last two years four lenses has seen the lab with only one within specs – this is disappointing especially for a lens of this price class. If you ´re lucky enough to get a decent sample you can expect a very high performance level, especially when stopped down a bit. Distortions, vignetting and CAs are well-controlled. The build quality is superb with only the reverse zoom extension as a minor downside. Even so the 24-70mm range is not all that attractive on APS-C DSLRs (39-112mm) – the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS is a better and cheaper bet except regarding build quality. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 85mm f/1.2 USM L EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Photo Zone

I was quite sceptical regarding this lens. Not so much because I expected a bad performance but what to do with this lens. I’ve to admit that after a week of testing I’m in love and it’ll be very hard to part with it again. Isolating objects via ultra-large aperture settings is more fun than I ever imagined. Besides the performance of this lens is exceptional with scaringly sharp results (from f/2.8 and up) and a super-smooth bokeh. The build quality is, naturally, up to pro standards. Regarding its price tag it is certainly not a mainstream lens but if you belong to the financially-gifted you may consider to take a long, deep look at this lens. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 EF IS USM Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get more information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon:
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

Photo Review

An affordable long-zoom lens with two effective image stabilisation modes. Released concurrently with the EOS 5D, Canon’s EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom lens replaces the 10-year-old EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. We tested it on Canon’s new EOS 30D, where it covered a focal length range equivalent to 112-480mm in 35mm film format. The new lens combines ultra-low dispersion (UD) and aspherical lens elements and includes an improved optical image stabiliser (IS) that allows users to shoot at approximately three shutter speed increments slower than a non-stabilised lens. This is a one-stop improvement over its predecessor. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 24mm f/1.4 USM L EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 USM L left some mixed feelings during the tests. The peak performance is about the best that I’ve seen at this focal length but it is reached late (f/8). The center quality is surely very impressive throughout the tested aperture range but this isn’t quite as true for the borders which are soft at f/1.4 and the quality only increases slowly towards medium aperture settings. The distortion and CA figures are acceptable for such a lens but vignetting is way too pronounced on an APS-C DSLR even though the problem is only visible at f/1.4. The build quality is typical for a Canon L grade lens – simply superb. If you’re looking for a high performance lens the EF 24mm f/1.4 USM L may be an option but if you don ´t need an ultra-large aperture it seems pointless to invest a magnitude more here. READ FULL REVIEW

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Stay away from the light!

In my last post I talked about David Zizer’s new seminar. This time around I’d like to talk a little bit about what I took away from the experience and how I plan to use it to make myself a better photographer. (more…)

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

Photo Review

A high-performing lens for general photography. A superb general-purpose lens, Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM is equally at home on the EOS 400D and the ‘full frame’ EOS 5D cameras, giving a focal length range equivalent to 38.4 to 168mm on the former. Compact for its specifications, it is relatively light and comfortable to use as well as being very well built. The lens barrel carries switches for IS (on/off) and AF/MF (Autofocus/Manual Focus). They are recessed into the lens barrel itself, which means you’re less likely to re-set them inadvertently. READ FULL REVIEW

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