Lenses

Ultra-Wide-Angle Zooms

As their name suggests, ultra-wide-angle lenses take in very wide angles of view. As their name suggests, ultra-wide-angle lenses take in very wide...

Macro Lens Guide

Macro is the photo op that’s always available: You can find good close-up subjects just about anywhere.

Find Your Wildlife Action Lens

Wildlife action covers quite a range, from huge bears snagging salmon while standing in a river to quick and tiny birds zipping by. ...

Landscape Lens Tech

Finding your perfect landscape lens is a matter of defining the priorities. ...

Essential Lenses Of The Pros

Everyone has one. It’s the lens you never leave at home.

Get The Most Out Of Variable Aperture Lenses

Zoom lenses come in two varieties: fixed-aperture (70-200mm ƒ/2.8, for example, where the maximum aperture is ƒ/2.8 at all focal lengths) and variable-aperture (70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6, for example, where the maximum aperture decreases from...

Major Innovations Of The Last 25 Years

Photography is an art form that tends to push the limits of technology. ...

70 To 200

Everyone has a favorite lens. It’s usually in a focal length that matches the way the photographer sees in his or her mind’s eye. ...

Image Stabilization And You

For the sharpest shots, a tripod is essential, but you have to carry it with you and set it up each time you want to make a shot—not great for capturing a bighorn sheep that suddenly bursts into view and is gone just as quickly.

One Lens To Shoot Anything

Outdoor photographers have long sought the “do-it-all” lens, a single unit that could handle everything from wide-angle to telephoto and close-ups.

The Certainty Of Sharpness

On a recent photo safari, a colleague asked me to review the images he had captured with his brand-new, top-of-the-line DSLR and matching high-end lens.

Build A Landscape Kit On Any Budget

Even though technology has certainly changed, the keys to capturing a great landscape haven’t.

Gear Up For The National Parks

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) manages 392 “units,” including 58 national parks and 74 national monuments.

What Lens Would Adams Use?

Ansel Adams used the sharpest lenses he could find for his cameras, experimenting with a number of them to discover the best ones for his work, be it a 70-year-old, 12-inch Voigtlander, the renowned 12-inch Goerz Dagor or the latest 121mm Schneider...

Building Your Lens Kit For Digital Action

Now is an ideal time to upgrade your lenses. Fall wildlife season is here, and it’s also the time of year when you can make some of the best landscapes.

Building The Ultimate Lens Kit

Outdoor photography encompasses a lot of territory—from landscapes, wildlife and macro to tripod-mounted shots of static scenes and handheld shots of quick action. So the “best” lens(es) depend in large part on what you photograph outdoors and how you...

The Poor Man’s Super-Telephoto

The lens of choice among the serious pro wildlife photographers I know seems to be the 600mm ƒ/4 super-telephoto. It’s great for subjects that won’t let you get close, is incredibly sharp, and autofocuses quickly and accurately. However, it costs over...

Lenses For Landscapes

At heart, the choice of lens for any photo is based on the photographer’s vision, on how he or she “sees” the subject and the final image. Wide-angle lenses take in a vast angle of view, and individual elements of the scene are relatively tiny....

Selective Focus Made Easy

Photographers love accessories that help them create unique-looking images. With many photographers owning the same cameras and lenses, it’s exciting to find a product that provides us with the ability to create a distinctive photograph. The Lensbaby 2...