Digital SLR Photography

102 Digital SLR PhotographyNove mber2016Gear/ProductnewsPREMIUM OPTICS FROM SIGMASIGMAANNOUNCEDTHREEpremiumlensesthatcertainlydrewinthePhotokinacrowds.Wide-anglefanswillbesavingupforthe(£1,650)12-24mmf/4DGHSMArtlens(1),designedtoofferoutstandingimagequalityfromcentretoedgeandminimaldistortion.Thezoomsportsanf/4maximumaperturethroughouttherange,incorporatespremiumopticsincludingFLD(FLowdispersion)glasselementsandhasaminimumfocusdistanceof only24cm.The(£1,200)85mmf/1.4DGHSMArtlens(2)lookssettobecomeafavouriteforportraiture.Ituses14 elementsin12groupstomaximisesharpnessandminimisechromaticaberration,whilebokeh–asourtestswithapre-productionmodelrevealed–istrulybeautiful.Alsoannouncedwasthe(£6,000)500mmf/4DGOSHSMSportslens(3),whichissettoofferwildlifeandsportsphotographersapremiumpackagethat’slighterinweightandcosttomarquebrands.AllthelenseswillbeavailableinCanon,NikonandSigmamounts,withstocksarrivinginNovember.www. sigma-imaging-uk.com``````Right:SigmaUK’sGrahamArmitagepreparestojugglewithSigma’slatestArtlenses.PREMIUM OPTICS FROM SIGMA- as our tests with a pre-production model revealed2``````1``````3``````Below:Tamrron'sstandoffered achancetotryoutitsfullrange,includingthenew150-600mm.Inset:Fujifilm'sstandwaspackedwithpunterscheckingoutitsproductsandattendingseminars.``````SAMYANGSamyangrevealedthe85mmf/1.2and14mmf/2.4manualfocuslenses,thefi rstmodelsinitspremiumrange.Madefromaluminiumalloy,thelensesareclaimedtooff erunprecedentedresolvingpower, suitableforusewithcamerasboasting50-megapixelsand8Kvideo.The85mmf/1.2hastenelementsinsevengroups,includingoneasphericallensandtwohighrefractiveelementsandboastsaveryfastmaximumaperture,idealforhandheldphotographyinlowlightandforcapturingimageswithminimaldepth-of-fi eld.The14mmf/2.4usesSamyang’smostadvancedopticaldesign,witheightglasselementsin14groupsincludingfourtypesofspecialoptics:twoasphericallenses,onehybridasphericallens,twoextra-lowdispersionlensesandonehighrefractivelens.Samyangclaimsitoffersoptimalimagequalityfromthecentre oftheframetotheedges.Availabilityandpriceareyetbeconfirmed.www.samyanglensglobal.com``````TAMRONStarringontheTamronstandwasitslatestsuper-telephotozoom,theSP150-600mmf/5-6.3DiVCUSDG2.Thispowerfulsecond-generationzoomoffersanumberofimprovementsovertheoriginal,includingsuperioropticalperformance,fasterAFandimprovedVibrationCompensation.Italsoboastsanumberofnewfeatures,includingafl uoritecoatingandmoisture-resistantconstructionforprotectionagainsttheelements,aFlexZoomLockthatcanholdthefocallengthatanyfocallengthandcompatibilitywithtwonewtele converters.It’savailableinCanonandNikonfi ttings,withSonytofollow.Pricehasyettobeconfirmed.www.tamron.co.ukNEWLENSES