More than any other type of equipment, interchangeable lenses define creative photography and can elevate it to the level of fine art through imagery. Lenses not only capture the image, they render it in distinctive ways, enabling photographers to express their personal vision and take their images well beyond the realm of simple visual records. That’s why lenses are “keepers” that tend to hold their value and often become a photographer’s most treasured possessions.
The world’s leading optical manufacturers have responded to this perception by unveiling hundreds of ingenious new high-performance lenses aimed at expanding the user’s creative horizons, elevating their picture-taking experience, and making their work stand out. Hot areas of innovation include wide-aperture primes and fast new zooms that can capture compelling images with shallow depth of field, and specialty lenses ranging from wide-aperture super-telephotos to innovative macro lenses. Optical designers have also placed a high priority on achieving beautiful bokeh, creating lenses that deliver smooth, natural transitions from sharp to soft areas of the image. And most of the latest lenses employ a greater number of rounded aperture blades to enhance the visual quality of out-of-focus image areas.
Here are 12 of the coolest new lenses we’ve carefully culled from the current crop, but there are lots more out there that are well worth checking out — all detailed, described, and reviewed on the Adorama website.
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art, (Shop Now)
This exceptional new high speed, constant-aperture, full-frame ultra-wide-angle zoom is ideal for shooting interiors, scenic vistas, and environmental portraits even in low light. It incorporates 3 FLD (fluorite equivalent) 3 SLD, and 3 aspheric elements to achieve outstanding image quality at all focal lengths and apertures, a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for swift, silent, precise AF, a 9-bladed diaphragm for smooth, artistic bokeh, and Super Multi-Layer Coating for superior light transmission and flare control. It also features weather-sealed construction, a durable high-precision brass bayonet mount, and it focuses down to 10.2 inches for compelling close-ups.
Available in Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sigma SA mount.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.4E ED (Shop Now)
This remarkable new F-mount, full-frame (FX format) super-speed wide-angle prime incorporates 2 Extra Low-Dispersion (ED) glass elements and 3 aspheric elements to achieve outstanding image quality at its widest apertures, employs Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings to enhance light transmission and minimize ghosting and flare, and a protective fluorine coating on its outer elements to repel contaminants and facilitate cleaning. It uses a Silent Wave Motor for quick, quiet, precise AF and a rear focusing system to maintain constant length, balance, and high image quality. Other features: full-time manual focus override, and a rounded, electronically controlled 9-bladed diaphragm to ensure optimum exposure accuracy and enhance its beautiful bokeh.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM (Shop Now)
This outstanding new L-series super-speed, full-frame, medium telephoto prime is ideal for creating artistic portraits using limited depth of field. It employs one GMo molded aspheric element to achieve excellent optical correction, Air Sphere and Fluorine coatings for enhanced light transmission, flare suppression, and smudge resistance, a Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) system for quick, precise AF, Built-In Optical Image Stabilization, and a 9-bladed diaphragm for enhanced bokeh. It features dust-and-weather resistant construction, full-time manual focus override, and provides a 136mm-equivalent focal length with APS-C-format Canon cameras.
Pentax SMCP- FA 31mm f/1.8 AL (Shop Now)
This unique high-speed wide-angle K-mount prime for full-frame Pentax DSLRs incorporates a molded aspheric element to minimize spherical aberration and a 9-bladed diaphragm for creamy smooth bokeh. It focuses down to 1 foot, has a non-rotating front element, a built-in lens hood, provides a 46.5mm-equivalent focal length with APS-C-format cameras, and delivers outstanding image quality across the field.
Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS (Shop Now)
A superb full-frame E-mount crossover lens designed for high-performance cinematography as well as still image capture, this robust constant-aperture wide-to-telephoto zoom incorporates 5 aspheric and 3 ED elements to achieve exceptional image quality throughout. It provides 8-speed Power Zoom, a linear SuperSonic Wave Motor, an internal focus design to achieve smooth transitions and fast, quiet precise AF, and has built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization optimized for both video and still photography. Like dedicated cine lenses, it has separate geared control rings for iris, focus, and zoom, does not shift focus or “breathe” as you change settings, and provides Smooth Motion Optics that support 4K video. It features Nano AR coating to enhance light transmission and suppress flare, and includes a removable rotating tripod collar.
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD (Shop Now)
The latest iteration in Tamron’s long-running series of extended-range all-in-one zooms for APS-C-format cameras, it delivers an impressive 28.8-640mm-equivalent range and uses 3 LD and 3 aspheric elements to maintain high image quality. Its built-in VC image stabilization system minimizes the effects of handheld camera shake, and its new compact high-low torque modulated drive (HLD) AF system delivers fast, responsive AF. Other features: an electromagnetic diaphragm for precise, consistent exposures, a rounded 7-bladed diaphragm for enhanced bokeh, and moisture resistant all-weather construction.
Available in Canon EF and Nikon F mount.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM (Shop Now)
The latest iteration of Canon’s iconic wide-constant-aperture ultra-wide-angle L-series high-performance zoom, it delivers improved image quality thanks to an upgraded design incorporating 2 ultra-low dispersion (ED) glass and 3 high-precision aspheric elements, each of a different type. Revised algorithms for its ring-type ultrasonic (USM) motor help to deliver faster, quieter AF, and it employs dust-and-water-resistant construction. This compact zoom covers the full-frame format, features internal focus to maintain balance, full-time manual focus override, and has a 9-bladed circular diaphragm for enhanced bokeh. Sub-wavelength and Air Sphere coatings minimize flare and ghosting and fluorine coating on exposed elements repels dust and grit, and facilitates cleaning.
Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS (Shop Now)
This innovative full-frame-format, E-mount moderate telephoto prime features Smooth Trans Focus (STF) technology employing a sophisticated apodization element to achieve smooth bokeh with rounded out-of-focus highlights. It also incorporates 1 aspheric element and 1 ED element to deliver outstanding image quality across the field at all apertures, and Nano AR coating for optimum clarity. Other features; a DirectDrive Super Sonic Wave motor for fast, precise, quiet AF, a de-click-able physical aperture ring that controls its 11-bladed circular diaphragm, built-in SteadyShot image stabilization, a Macro Switching Ring, and a focus hold button. It focuses down to 1.9 feet (0.25x) in macro mode.
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary (Shop Now)
Covering the full-frame format, this new high-performance long telephoto zoom employs 4 SLD glass elements to achieve impressive sharpness and clarity over its 4:1 zoom range, and Super Multi-Layer Coating on all elements for optimum light transmission and freedom from flare and ghosting. Its Hyper Sonic Motor provides fast, quiet precise AF with fulltime manual override, built-in OS optical stabilization minimizes the effects of handheld camera shake, and a rounded 9-bladed diaphragm enhances its inherently smooth bokeh. The lens barrel is made of TSC (thermally stable composite) material to ensure uniform performance at all temperatures, and it features a solid brass mount for maximum durability and precision.
Olympus M Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 PRO (Shop Now)
This ingenious 24-200mm-equivalent long-ranger for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) format cameras is a high-performance “universal zoom” aimed at critical shooters. Its built-in 5-axis image stabilization system interfaces with the 5-axis stabilization system in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II body to “calibrate and coordinate” the overall system for optimal performance. This combo is claimed to provide a 6.5-step anti-shake-effect advantage in handheld shooting — the highest in the industry. Its advanced optical design includes one double-sided aspheric elements and 3 additional aspheric elements to achieve outstanding optical correction and high image quality over its entire range. It’s also has a 7-bladed diaphragm for enhanced bokeh, and it’s weather- and dust-sealed for shooting under adverse conditions.
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM ART (Shop Now)
This exceptional new ultra-high-speed ultra-wide-angle prime lens for full-frame cameras incorporates 3 FLD (fluorite equivalent), 4 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and 4 aspheric elements, including a large diameter precision molded glass front element to achieve outstanding correction and sharpness, and superb evenness of illumination across the imaging field. It also includes Super Multi-Layer coating to suppress flare and ghosting, a fast, precise, quiet Hyper Sonic AF motor with full-time manual focus override, and a rounded 9-bladed diaphragm for enhancing its already impressive bokeh and depth of field control. The barrel is made of TSC material to maintain high performance over a wide temperature range, and its precision solid brass lens mount ensures perfect alignment and durability. The lens focuses down to 10.6 inches and provides a 21mm-equivalent focal length with APS-C-format cameras.
Available in Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony E mount.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR (Shop Now)
Nikon’s breakthrough high-speed full-frame (FX-format, F-mount) constant-aperture super telephoto zoom is the first of its kind with a built in TC1.4 teleconverter that allows you to switch on the fly, transforming it into a 252-560mm f/5.6! To achieve this, it incorporates 1 fluorite and 8 ED elements. This premium, pro-caliber optic also features internal focusing, a high performance Silent Wave AF motor, VR image stabilization with sports and tripod modes, an electromagnetic diaphragm for improved exposure accuracy, and a removable rotate-able tripod collar. Primarily aimed at pros that shoot sports and wildlife it delivers exceptional performance and flexibility, but it’s hefty and happiest atop a sturdy tripod.
Check with Adorama’s Rental Department if you need this lens for a specific project.
