Independent lens maker Sigma has announced a new DSLR zoom lens designed for travellers and backpackers, or anyone who wants an all-purpose zoom lens that’s both light and small.
The Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is different because it’s been manufactured using a special polycarbonate material called Thermally Stable Composite (TSC).
Canon has added three EF lenses to its professional range with the launch of the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM
Tamron has announced a new fast, 24-70mm f/2.8 standard zoom lens, which is available in mounts compatible with Sony, Nikon and Canon DSLRs.
The new lens comes equipped with Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) image stabilisation and Ultrasonic Silent Drive, which is designed to help when shooting handheld.
With a class-leading 5.7x zoom range, this lens offers the widest-angle focal length in the group (on an APS-C camera), equivalent to just 24mm. The closest other lenses come is 27mm, and the difference is very noticeable when you want to exaggerate perspective or squeeze more into a shot.
The effective 136mm maximum telephoto setting is equally useful, making the EF-S 15-85mm an incredibly versatile Canon lens.
With its generous zoom range and fairly fast maximum aperture of f/2.8, decreasing to f/4 at 50-70mm focal lengths, the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM looks an attractive proposition at its modest price.
Sigma’s answer to the Canon EF-S 17-55mm is more compact and lightweight, and costs £200 less, but it offers many of the same attractions. The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM zoom range is similar and the fast f/2.8 maximum aperture remains constant throughout the zoom range.
This new Canon model breaks the telephoto zoom lens mold – can it really offer nearly professional level features at a budget price? We put this smooth operator to the test…
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