Thanks to the digital camera revolution, most of us can try a shot at photography. And those who want to hon their photography skills and not be stuck in “point and shoot” mode forever can now splurge on a DSLR. But as most of you are familiar, the bundled kit lens while a bargain doesn’t really spell quality. So we decided to list some of the best lenses out there.
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Len - Around $650
A 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens with f/4-5.6 maximum aperture , this one is a must. You can use it for sports,zoom, travel and even low light situations.
Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L UD Aspherical Ultra Wide Tilt-Shift Lens – Around $2500
If wide angle photography is a passion and you have a big wallet then this is the lens for you. The widest tilt-shift lens in Canon’s lineup offers an angle of view of 93 degrees.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens – Around $1700
The perfect telephoto lens for Nikon users. A pro level lens, it boasts of a great VR system and also offers a fast constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths.
Yes, the price is not a typo and that’s how expensive the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S SWM is. Compatible with both Nikon FX- (23.9 x 36mm) and DX-format image sensors, this one includes a magnesium die-cast barrel and professional-grade dust- and moisture-resistant construction.
Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG IF Aspherical Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens - Around $400
The lens is a first of its kind since it provides focal lengths from 15mm ultra-wide angle to 30mm wide-angle. Its perfect for the Sigma SD14.
Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Telephoto Macro ED Lens – Around $600
Compatible with Four Thirds camera bodies, this one is equivalent to 100mm on a 35mm camera. It boasts of a magnification ratio of 0.52x along with a minimum focusing distance of 9.45 inches.
Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 Digital ED SWD Lens – Around $800
The Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD lens covers a zoom range equivalent to 24 to 120mm on a 35mm camera lens.
Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens – Around $1400
Available for both Canon and Nikon mounts, the Tamron AF 18-270mm is a multi-purpose lens that won’t burn a hole in our pocket.
Sony SAL-1680Z 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT Zoom Lens – Around $750
Designed specifically for DSLR APS-size CCD, the Sony SAL-1680Z 16-80mm is provides you focal lengths of 24mm wide-angle to 120mm telephoto .
Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens – Around $680
Macro photography enthusiasts will love this versatile lens. F/2.8 is the maximum aperture and it supports Sony Alpha’s Super SteadyShot image stabilization system.
This list was tricky given the plethora of brands, the variety of lenses and different price points. Hence this list picks some of the most popular lenses which doesn’t necessary means high-end.
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