I have a Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM which i just bought last week and to tell anyone honestly I liked it a lot. I mainly used this camera lens as a standard zoom for my Nikon D40 because it covers all focal lengths I usually use for indoor shooting. Also it provides faster aperture available for DSLR zooms, which is an absolute must for shallower depth-of-field portraits and low-light photography.

So before I go into any deeper I need to explain first what is the full feature and advantages of my new Sigma Camera lens.

Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM has a large aperture zoom lens designed especially for use with digital SLR cameras with minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.9”). The lens is especially designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras and provides a high level of optical performance. It has a large aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, offers superior peripheral brightness as well as a compact and lightweight construction. Also having a maximum magnification of 1:3 making it ideal for close-up photography.

What are the features this camera lens provides?

Excellent optical Design

The Sigma Camera Lens produces an exceptional level of optical performance with a Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and Extraordinary Low Dispersion (ELD) glass elements which provides excellent correction of colour aberrations.

Compact and Lightweight lens

The design incorporates both glass-mold and hybrid aspherical lens technology which makes a compact and lightweight construction.

Reduced Ghosting and Flare

The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghost. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range.

Inner Focus System

An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using the petal-type lens hood (supplied) plus circular polarizing filters.

Having my own satisfactory opinion for this camera lens, having my sigma camera lens compared with other camera lenses, I prefer this one as it provides quality as well as affordability.

Product Description
Tamron’s AF19-35mm F/3.5-4.5 is the affordable super wide-angle zoom ideal for travel, landscape, group portrait, adventure photography and more. Offering an authentic super wide-angle range with an angle of view of 97 degrees – 63 degrees and a close M.O.D. of 19.68 inches, this 19-35mm provides dramatic and fun image making. The lens is easy to carry anywhere as it weighs just 10.5 ounces and is only 2.66 inches long. It also features a fixed front element group a… More >>

Tamron Autofocus 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Konica Minolta SLR Cameras

Choosing the Right Digital SLR for Your Nature Photography

It is very true that it doesn’t matter what equipment you use — it’s what you do with the camera that matters. However, there is no question that when you’re hiking through a thick jungle in the middle of central america you want to pack light. Even though the Nikon D2x has the prestige of being Nikon’s premier “PRO” camera, you may not find it’s the best fit for your nature work.

One of the first things you need to consider is how you’re going to use the pictures. Look up the magazines you want to publish your work. Send in for “submission guidelines” and find out their minimum mega pixel count. The same is true for stock agencies — browse around and decide which place you’d ultimately like to sell your work. Many organizations have their submission guideliens published on their websites. If you’re more interested in learning and doing nature photography for your own pleasure then by all means buy the less expensive models. There’s nothing wrong with a camera that takes a 5 or 6 megapixel image. You’ll still be able to blow it up to poster size if you want a special print made.

Choosing the Right Lenses

Unfortunately, no one can tell you which lenses to buy or “how to build the perfect SLR system for nature photography.” Again, it depends on the kinds of photos you like to take, your personal preference and the market where you want to sell your image.

The great advantage of Nikon cameras is that you can use older lenses on your body. This allows a lot more freedom of choice and means you can get really amazing older lenses at shockingly affordable prices.

I’ll give you an example. One of my favorite lenses is a 300mm f4 manual focus prime lens from the 1970s. Nikon especially developed ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass to provide pricise optical colour correction. This special glass (not available in all Nikon lenses) provides the sharp, clear resolution required for superb photographs. The other advantage (at least for me since I generally hike to find wildlife) is that it weighs less and packs small.

Another example — the 50mm 1.4 auto focus). It’s actually an 80mm on your body. That means you have a prime lens at 80mm that can take pictures in the darkest settings. And, because Nikon lenses has been perfecting its 50mm lenses since its inception as a company (Nikon used to include a 50mm on all its bodies until well into the late 1980s), it’s one of Nikon’s very best lenses. It’s cheap because 50mm on a 35mm camera is kind of pooey. But 80mm on a digial camera is marvelous.

Magnification – Use it to your Advantage

For wildlife photographers in particular, the one advantage of shooting with any Nikon digital camera these days is the magnification factor. Rather than create a sensor the same size as one frame of 35mm film, Nikon and most other digital SLR camera manufacturers decided to create a sensor that is smaller than the 24×36mm standard frame of the older film models. Having a smaller sensor means you aren’t going to capture all the information on the left and right and top and bottom of the frame. This may sound really bad… but there is no need to worry about what you haven’t captured because the viewfinder has been adjusted so that what you see optically is what is captured in the digital file.

The result is that the camera multiplies the magnification of all the lenses. Nikon’s magnification (depending on the camera you use) is around 1.5x. That means a 300mm lens is now magnified to 450mm. This is great news for wildlife photographers. The only drawback is that wider angle lenses (like a 17mm wide angle becomes a 25.5mm not-as-wide-angle lens. However, landscape photographers still have some options. I’ll get to those in a bit.

Lenses – Pros and Cons

While I can’t tell you the right lenses to buy for your particualr needs… I can give you some feedback/impressions about the particular lenses I am using or have used in the past.

Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 Fisheye: I never thought such a specialized lens could provide me with so much use. For more information, I’ve written a short article about how to use a fisheye lens in your nature photography athttp://www.naturestocklibrary.com/gallery/2472892

Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom – This lens is all right. I bought it as a kit lens a long time ago and it’s served well for the wider range. I wish I had saved pennies and purchased a 2.8 that offered a wider range (like a 12mm to 25mm).

Tamron 17-35mm f2.8: This is a great lens but, alas, I purchased it for a film camera and the magnification on my digital body means that it isn’t that useful in my photography right now. I’m planning on selling it (along with my other wide angle) and buying a 2.8 that has a wider range so I can do more with landscape photography.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D AF – This is the same lens I discussed earlier. It’s small, has a low price tag, allows you to shoot in really dark situations and it’s an 80mm on a digital camera. You really can’t go wrong.

Nikkor Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED AF Zoom – This is a fantastic lens that stays at 2.8 no matter if you are shooting at 80 or 200mm. Again, magnification means it’s actually a 300mm zoom. Zooms are great because you can adjust your focus distance depending on where your subject is located. Not so great with subjects that are always far away (like the macaws seen here), but really awesome for docile wildlife like deer. It also has a macro function that works beautifully.

Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro, or 105 Micro for short – This is probably Nikon’s most used macro lens, probably because the lens can serve triple duty. First of all, it is a macro photography lens and it allows you to take photographs at a 1:1 reproduction ratio (on a 35mm body), which means that a 24 by 36 mm subject will fill the entire frame. Second, it makes a very good general purpose short telephoto lens. Third, it is also at least a very reasonable portrait lens (although, with magnification it may be too much of a telephoto on a digital SLR). I really love this lens for macro photography.

Nikkor 300mm f4 manual focus – While a “prime” lens doesn’t offer the flexibilty of a zoom… it’s still an ideal choice for getting the best results in your work. This is the same lens I discussed earlier and, considering it cost only $350, it’s light & the focusing is so smooth, it’s one of my favorite lenses. I never leave home without it.

Nikkor 600mm f5.6 manual focus ED Glass – Again, I paid a lot less for this lens (which is actually a hefty 900mm on a digital body and also has the famous Nikon ED glass!!) because it’s an older model and it’s manual focus. I spent $1,599 USD – but consider that a newer model would go for at least $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the f stop. Some may argue that 5.6 is a bit too narrow of an f stop but I find the compression with telephoto lenses means that I wouldn’t want to shoot a 900mm subject with anything wider than 5.6 (2.8 would make the focus far too shallow on such a far away subject). Although… for closer subjects 2.8 is magic!

In the past, I have also used the Sigma 70-300mm 3.5-5.6 and the Tamron 200-400mm 3.5-5.6 and both served well as affordable zooms while I was learning about photography. I have since sold them to pay for the lenses I currently use.

Why I LOVE and Highly Recommend Manual Focus

I used to be terrified of focusing manually. On most auto focus lenses, the focus ring is small and more difficult to use… also there’s something really easy about just allowing your camera to do the focusing work for you. I was afraid I couldn’t react quickly enough to moving subjects and that I wouldn’t be as good as my camera’s auto focus. Now I see the errors of my ways.

For wildlife (or people), you want to make sure the main subject’s eyes are in perfect focus. You won’t be able to sell any image if the eyes aren’t in focus. If you shoot a subject 10 feet away at 2.8 and use auto focus, the camera will choose the object closer to the camera (usually the nose, cheek, or eye brow… not the eye itself). A 2.8 aperture means that you will have such a soft depth of field that the eyes will appear out of focus. The older (and more affordable) manual focus lenses have the most beautiful focusing rings you’ve ever seen. I find it much easier to use manual focus on my 300mm f4 lens from the 1970s than my newer autofocus 80-200mm zoom (using the auto focus feature). Unfortuately, I find the focusing ring on the newer models a little bit pooey… but I did want to make the case for why I think manual focus lenses from the 1970s are the greatest things since sliced bread!

Rule of Thumb for Fast Subjects

You may already be aware that your shutter speed should be at least the same as the distance of your lens. For instance, you need to shoot at least 1/300th of a second if you are using a 300mm lens or hand shake will make your picture look really blurry. And anything larger than 300mm should be put on a tripod (preferably one with a ball head for wildlife work). With magnification, you may be able to get away with shooting a 300mm (a 450mm on your digital) hand-held… at 1/450th of a second or higher…)in a pinch… but investing in a good ball head tripod will really improve your results if your lens is higher than 300mm.

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At times like these, you want to be practical. You want to stretch your buck. You avoid buying things that burn a hole in your wallet. If you can, you go for secondhand products. But are there risks if you buy used camera lens?

Is this what’s holding you back from saving your money? Well, if you think about it, there are always risks in everything we do. Buying used camera lens is an example.

Camera lenses are very delicate and sensitive. These are made from glass. If it has been misaligned or has scratches, then it can affect the performance of the camera. It might nullify the effectiveness of the lens.

The picture is prone to aberrations and it wouldn’t be as clear as it would have had it been a brand new camera lens. If you are buying used camera lens for zooming purposes, you are getting yourself in a greater risk. The zooming option requires the user to put a greater amount on the camera’s moving glass parts.

If you are going to buy used camera lens, you have to ask yourself if you will feel confident in using your camera knowing that the lens is second hand. Only you can answer this.

If used camera lens is all that you can afford and will probably hold you until you can afford a brand new one, then go for it. Just be aware that used camera lens usually have scratches.

Get a used camera lens that has less scratch. This will save you from the trouble of having a hard time peering into your subject, simply because there are so many scratches on the lens.

Another factor you have to consider when you’re buying used camera lens is how compatible this is with the camera you are using. No matter what brand of camera you are using, the used camera lens you get should work with it.

Different cameras need different lens mounts. Read on the requirements of your existing camera and get the used camera lens that will fit the most. If the only used camera lens you can get is the closest to the perfect fit, then you can get this as well.

However, the slightest space between the camera body and the lens results to light getting through. This will ruin the picture you’re taking.

Finally, buying used camera lens is a great way to save money. For some reason, lens is so expensive. It may be so small but it is a very complicated gadget. It is important to the camera’s functioning purposes.

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM SLD Ultra Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital DSLR Camera

People are very familiar with the focal lengths of the 35mm camera. Digital camera manufacturers often use these terms to describe the focal length capabilities of each model in order for the public to understand the specs and features of the camera.

At least by describing the specs in a context that people can understand, the manufacturers and the consumers know that they are on the same page.

The focal length of a 35 mm camera lens is most like the same for all the other models because the size of the film that a camcorder uses is usually the same. Digital cameras, on the other hand, vary on the focal lengths because they do not rely on the film in particular but on the sizes of their image sensors.

These specs vary from one model to another and this contributes to their specs and capabilities.

Manufacturers express the focal length as 35mm camera lens in order for the public to comprehend faster so that it will be easier for them to compare the digital lenses that are available for their gadgets.

However, the users must remember that the zoom lengths of their cameras are not equal even if they all have 35mm camera lens. But there are camera lenses that can be fully zoomed and reach the total focal length. If that is the case then the magnification levels won’t make such a difference after all.

When buying a digital camera with 35mm camera lens, make sure that it is equivalent to the 35mm which is compatible to specific focal length.

A lot of DSLRs or digital single lens reflex camera has effective focal lengths. The focal length is the effective range equivalent of the camera.

When discussing whether the DSLR lens on cameras is effective or not, check the full frame sensor. Take note that if it states a 250 mm lens and not a 35mm camera lens, the RLM yields a 400mm effective focal length.

This is very effective in an angle using that view. Not all optical factors have the same depth or any field at the given focus distance that has not been changed to the smaller sensor.

There are some photographers who still use film and this has not stopped them from finding the digital still or video that is right for their 35mm camera lens. They figured that these products are very effective when it comes to the focus distance and this has not changed even with the smallest sensor.

They can just check the specs and features of the camera and make sure that the incredible extreme and unmatched depth of field is still with them.

By knowing the processors of their digital camera, they can do the same just as yet and make it very effective for them.

• Dedicated to Nikon AF SLR cameras
• Takes life-size, 1:1 images, without the use of accessories
• Uses the silent HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor)
• Apochromatic design, 2 SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements, floating inner focus system
• Chromatic, spherical aberrations, and astigmatism virtually eliminated

Product Description
Sigma Fixed Focal Length Lens With innovative, state-of-the art technology, Sigma s complete line of lenses expand your ranges of photographic possibilities. Sigma lenses are designed to be sharp, versatile, ergonomic and unmatched for low weight and compactness. Sigma s fixed focal length lenses range from full macro capabilities to wide and ultra-wide lenses. Some are equipped with a HyperSonic Motor (HSM) for added power and convenience, while still others are ul… More >>

Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX IF HSM Macro Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras

Just because the prices of cheap camera lens are lower than the regular ones, it does not mean that these products cannot deliver nor meet the expectations from the market.

Cheap camera lens also has special features which include the telephoto zoom. This is also compatible with a camera that has micro sensors.

Cheap camera lens is so compact that it can fit any camcorder model. The thing to remember is to make it easy to shoot and customize the features in such a way that the images would be crystal clear.

The shots from the cheap camera lens are clear, as long as there are no problems with lighting and the hand of the photographer does not shake. One can also broaden his horizons by checking out the different specs and features of cheap camera lens.

Cheap camera lens incorporates the features of the top selling camera lenses. At the same time, it stabilizes the easy to shoot crystal clear shots in any conditions. The lighting can adjust and the results from the cheap camera lens will still remain the same.

But above all, if you are getting a cheap camera lens have it tested to pass the handshake setting. Sometimes, the images are blurred because of the shaking. This is evident in a cheap camera lens.

However the best cheap camera lens is the one that can still deliver good quality images even if it is shaking.

If this is not a good solution, some of the camera manufacturers sell an accessory that could stabilize the image. This UD glass element is attached to the cheap camera lens.

The system is made up on 12 lenses and these are divided in 10 groups. With the circular aperture diaphragm, this is very ideal to emphasize on the subject that is being photographed.

It corrects the chromatic aberrations and puts the lens on the top as the exclusive technology that could limit the distortion of the image.

Some cheap camera lens has an increased focal range that really appeals to the users. Seasoned users who invest in camera products opt for the cheap camera lens so they could spend the rest of their money in the other accessories.

They are always looking for optical telephoto lens that is flexible and optical that they can use.

Photographers are really interested in camera lenses get those that won the Best Lens award. They just wait for these to decrease their prices. After all, they still provide the same service. The prices are just different.