Contax N1 Now the flagship of the Contax line, the N1 has a new, larger N-mount that's completely electronic and accepts only AF lenses. Most incorporate an ultrasonic focus motor for silent, high-speed operation. With an adapter, it...
Best known for selling over a million of the various versions of their 28-200mm zoom, Tamron makes a broad variety of lenses. In zooms, these range from highly affordable models to those intended to satisfy the professional photographer. Most...
Agfacolor Vista 800 Bearing a strong family resemblance, this film appears almost identical to Vista 400 in 4x6 prints. In my 8x12 enlargements, contrast appears a bit higher, an advantage in the flat light of an overcast day.
Although 50-105mm focal length macro lenses are by far the most popular, many advanced nature photographers prefer longer lenses. Consequently, many camera manufacturers make a premium grade 180mm or 200mm macro lens. Now Sigma offers one, too...
Described by one trade magazine as a "digital lovefest," this year's PMA show did not produce many film-based SLR cameras. Even so, I did find several new models, as well as some new flash units, with ultrahigh tech capabilities. As in past years, the trend is toward smaller and lighter autofocus SLR...
In this high tech era, I expected to find a half dozen brand-new 35mm SLRs packed with computerized capabilities at the PMA show. However, this year's show produced only a single pair of that type, since others were unveiled at last fall's photokina. Instead, I saw a surprising...
Whenever I judge photo contests including a travel category, one fact quickly becomes apparent: picture-taking during vacation and other trips is not always taken seriously. The photographer who might spend hours making an exceptional landscape...
Although digital cameras attracted the lion's share of attention at this year's PMA show, the compact lens/shutter cameras still outsell such models by a vast margin. Most manufacturers continue to offer both formats: 35mm and Advanced Photo System (APS or 24mm). The 35mm format has...
In most parts of North America, March signifies the beginning of spring, but it's the April showers that bring the best flowers. By the end of this month, gardens all around us will be lavished with vibrant colors making a highly appealing...
Although the 28-80mm zooms have become the standard lenses, they're not ideal in every respect. Although practical their somewhat limited focal length range tends to yield an "average" vision of the world, perhaps limiting the ability...