Digital Camera News and Reviews

Olympus Digital Zuiko 35mm f/3.5

Ther German photo testing website Photozone has tested one of my favorite lenses, the Olympus Digital Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 macro lens. This ultra-light macro lens is able to take pictures at a 1:1 scale, but because of the focal length 35mm you have to get very close to the subject to get 1:1.

Photozone gives the Olympus Digital Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 macro lens a good review as the lens is extremely sharp and give you macro pictures of high quality. There are a few drawbacks like the lack of focus limiter and that you have to get very close to the subjects making insect photography pretty hard. As a owner of the Olympus 35mm lens I’m very satisfied with this lens and I’ve taken tons of great macro photos. I wholeheartedly recommend this lens especially when you look at the low price tag.
Read the full review of the Olympus Digital Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 macro lens here.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Nikon has announced a new high end prime lens with a pretty extreme focal length at 300mm. This telephoto lens from Nikon is fast with its f/2.8 and it has the new Vibration Reduction technology. The lens also has a new focus mode, weatherproof sealing and focus limit switcher.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens will be available in January 2010 and cost about $5900 so you need a big budget to be able to purchase this lens.

Press release:
Nikon Introduces the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Raising the bar for hand held telephoto photography

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, December 10, 2009 – Nikon Europe today announces a new super telephoto lens to replace the AF-S VR NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED. The AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II features the new generation of Vibration Reduction technology (VR II) and a new A/M focus mode, making it an ideal choice for sports, action and wildlife photographers. This lens is designed for those who are serious about photography.

Zurab Kiknadze, Product Manager Lenses, Accessories & Software, Nikon Europe says: “The AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II comparatively light weight and compact dimensions make it a perfect choice for hand held super telephoto photography, particularly when used with a teleconverter. The new VRII system offers four or more stops of compensation, and makes this a really practical solution for the news and wildlife photographer”. The evolution of the NIKKOR lens reflects a commitment to developing a range of products tailored to photographers’ needs, and it strengthens the line-up of high-performance NIKKOR lenses.

Sharper action images
The AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II features the second generation built in Vibration Reduction (VRII), providing the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops slower so sharper images can be achieved when using the camera for hand-held shooting. In addition, the new A/M mode added to existing M/A and M modes enables autofocus priority even if the focus ring is being handled during shooting. Weighing in at 2,900g this is a lens that ticks every box for those who are serious about action photography.

Built for any environment
This super telephoto lens is designed with the photographer in mind and has the same excellent optical system as its predecessor. Those who need extreme speed and quiet to capture wildlife, can rely on the autofocus with a built-in silent wave motor to ensure you won’t disrupt the action. To top off the extensive features,, this lens is also sealed to withstand the affects of dust and moisture, allowing photographers to keep shooting whatever the conditions. Finally, the lens construction features eleven elements in eight groups, including three ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coat.

Specifications
Focal length 300mm
Max/min aperture Min f/22 Max f/2.8
Lens construction 11 elements in 8 groups
Picture angle 8◦10’
No. diaphragm blades 9 (rounded)
Closest focusing distance 2.3m/7.5ft. (AF); 2.2m/7.2ft. (MF)
Filter/attachment size 52mm
Diameter x length Approx. 124 x 267.5 mm/ 4.9 x 10.5 in.
Weight 2,900g

Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor

SLR Gear has tested the Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor prime lens. This wide angle lens from Nikon has a compact construction and has auto focus.
Let us hear what the reviewer thinks about the lens and see if it is worth the $360 price tag. They have tested the Nikon 24mm f/2.8D lens on a full frame Nikon DSLR camera.

SLR Gear ends up giving the Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor a pretty good review as the lens is able to take very sharp pictures especially when you stop it down to f/5.6. The lens has some shortcomings like corner softness when taking pictures wide open and a bit of chromatic aberrations. Some Nikon camera bodies are able to correct the chromatic aberrations.
Read the full review of the Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor prime lens here.

Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR

Digital Camera Review has tested the Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR compact digital camera. This Fujifilm ultrazoom camera contains a lens with 14.6x zoom and a 12 megapixel sensor.

Some key features for the Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR:
-14.3x optical zoom lens
-12 megapixel image sensor
-Optical image stabilization
-2.7″ LCD screen
-Full manual controls

The Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR gets a very good review from Digital Camera Review. The reviewer finds the camera the best ultrazoom he has tested when it comes to image quality and image noise at higher ISO levels. It is also positive that it has RAW capability and fast shutter speed. There are a couple of downsides like high price and that the zoom range is not that long compared to other ultrazoom cameras. Overall the S200EXR seems like a fine superzoom camera.
Read the full review of the Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR camera here.