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Lensfest2010: Tele zooms go all the way

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Welcome to Lensfest 2010, where we look at the best of this year’s new optical marvels.

By Mason Resnick

November 28, 2008

.Welcome to Lensfest 2010, where we look at the best of this year’s new optical marvels.


Welcome to Lensfest 2010, where we look at the best of this year’s new optical marvels. 2010 is turning out to be a fascinating year for the advancement of optics, with zoom lenses zooming farther, a resurgence in specialty lenses such as fisheye and perspective-control lenses, and expanded compatibility among third-party lenses. With more full-frame, 35mm format DSLRs on the market from Nikon, Canon, and Sony, we're starting to see more lenses compatible with larger-sensor cameras. 

Here, we look at telephoto zoom lenses.

Telephoto zoom lenses are a staple of SLR photography and this year a bumper crop was introduced. From consumer-level lenses in the 50-200mm range that are meant as companioins to kit lenses to superfast, superbig lenses that only a pro with a big budget can afford, there’s a tele zoom to fit just about any need and price range.

The most active company by far this year was Sigma. Their tele zoom offerings include:

• 70-200mm f/2.8 II EG DG Macro HSM, a pro-quality lens for Pentax and Sony and Olympus Four Thirds
• APO 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM, another pro lens that’s been updated and improved for Pentax and Sony
• 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HS now has effective optical image stabilization, which is good because it can be a pretty heavy (if multitalented) load. Read our review!
• APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM, an enthusiast-level lens for Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony (shown)

Finally, there’s the Sigma APO 200-500mm f/2.8, fondly known as The Sigmonster, an extreme, 34-pound pro-level lens has a consistent max. aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range and costs about as much as that Toyota Prius you have your eye on. Which will you get more mileage out of? I can't speak for the Prius but the lens has Special Low Dispersion and Extaordinary Low Dispersion glass elements, super multi-layer coating, and requires a battery to power zooming and focusing. A 2x tele-extender doubles its range to 400-1000mm but reduces its aperture to f/5.6. This special-order lens requires a 15 percent downpayment. It’ll mount on any Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax or Sony SLR. View our video field test of the slightly smaller but still monstrous Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 Supertele.

While Sigma was the dominant tele zoom player, let’s not forget Tamron, which introduced the SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD Macro lens, a pro lens with extra low dispersion glass elements and silent autofocus, designed for 35mm-sized DSLRs and film cameras. With a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and 1:3 magnification, this lens will find a welcome home in any serious Pentax or Sony shooter’s bag.

Sony introduced the 70-400mm f/4-5.6G lens for its line of DSLRs, and will work on its smaller sensor and full-frame models. Pentax’s 50-200mm f/4-5.6AL is a compact and light model that complements the Pentax kit lens.


About The Author

Mason Resnick is the editor of the Adorama Learning Center and a lifetime photography enthusiast.

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Browse product categories:

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EG DG Macro HSM
Sigma APO 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM
Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Sigma APO 200-500mm f/2.8
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EG DG Macro HSM
Sigma APO 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM
Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Sigma APO 200-500mm f/2.8
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EG DG Macro HSM
Sigma APO 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM
Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Sigma APO 200-500mm f/2.8
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8

Browse products:

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Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Telephoto Zoom Lens with Hood & Case

$1799.99

 
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Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon EOS Cameras - USA Warranty

$999.00

 
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Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras - USA Warranty

$999.00

 
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Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras - USA Warranty

$999.00

 
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Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG APO AF Telephoto Macro Lens for Sigma Cameras - USA Warranty

$689.00

 
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Sigma APO 200mm - 500mm f/2.8 / 400-1000mm f/5.6 EX DG Autofocus Zoom Lens for the Canon EOS Camera - USA Warranty

$25999.00

 
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Sigma APO 200mm - 500mm f/2.8 / 400-1000mm f/5.6 EX DG Autofocus Zoom Lens for the Sigma Camera - USA Warranty

$25999.00

 
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Sigma APO 200mm - 500mm f/2.8 / 400-1000mm f/5.6 EX DG Autofocus Zoom Lens for the Nikon AF-D Digital Camera - USA Warranty

$25999.00

 
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Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 DI LD (IF) Macro, Fast AF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Mount - USA Warranty

$699.00

 
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Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 DI LD (IF) Macro, Fast AF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax Autofocus Mount - USA Warranty

$699.00

 
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Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 DI LD (IF) Macro, Fast AF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon EOS - USA Warranty

$699.00

 
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Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 DI LD (IF) Macro, Fast AF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Maxxum & Sony Alpha Mount - USA Warranty

$699.00

 

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