The 5 Best Zoom Lenses
There are plenty of purists who reject the notion that you need fancy gear to be a photographer. Fair enough. First and foremost, you need a good eye and the skill to capture the shots you visualize; however, having good gear is almost never an impediment to capturing better photographs. Ideally, a good photographer would have both finely-honed skills and high-end equipment. One of those essential pieces of equipment is a zoom lens. Whether you're shooting sports or wildlife, having a good zoom lens is basically a must, so we went ahead and researched the best options on the market. These five zoom lenses are the fruit of our labor, and we've chosen them for their cost value, build quality, and their zoom abilities.
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
The Wizard of Light
Those seeking an all-in-one solution would be wise to look in the 70-200 mm length range. Why? At this range, you’re able to shoot all kinds of different environments, whether they be short-range (like that squirrel in the back yard) or long-range, like your brother’s kid scoring on the goalie in his rec-league soccer debut. Thanks to this lens’ 2.8 constant maximum aperture, which is on the lower side, you’re going to be blessed with excellent light performance. Sure, at this price it is an investment, but investing in your art, your hobby, your talent – none of these are foolish decisions. The resulting photos – blur-free and detailed to a tee – promise to redeem that intimidating price tag.
Pros:
- Autofocus is not noisy
- Rugged build quality
- Proprietary optical stabilizer function
Cons:
- Quite heavy
Tamron 150-600
Go Long!
You’re a sports photographer. Athletes frame prints of your shots on the walls of their houses. Fans marvel at the dramatic in-game action that your shots capture. You, magician that they take you for, know that your gear is essential in capturing such moments. In a split second, a play can transform from routine and predictable to chaotic, exciting, and/or spectacular, which is why it’s so important to have a telephoto lens like this one by Tamron. This lens offers 4x zoom, an aperture range of f/5 to f/40, and both flex- and conventional-zoom lock modes, all of which work together to relay an optical image through the LD glass element, ultimately producing a stunning result. Furthermore, this one is offered as a bundle deal which includes an array of accessories besides the lens, such as an Altura camera bag, a 32- and 64-gig SD card, a neck strap, a hard-shell case, and 3 MagicFiber lens cases. All things considered, we deem this one an excellent value for the cost.
Pros:
- Excellent Vibration Control
- 6-year warranty in USA
- Responsive flex zoom
Cons:
- Some of the bundle accessories are unnecessary
Canon RF 70-200 F2.8 L IS USM
Hit Me with Your Best Shot
If you’re at the point where you’re considering spending enough money to buy this kind of a lens, you probably don’t need us to explain why it’s worth it or why you’d want it. Rather, let us describe some of the Canon RF 70-200’s specs to you. First of all, with this magnificent unit you’re dealing with an incredibly lightweight (2.35 pounds) and compact build. When it’s not extended, the lens body’s length measures in at a mere 5.75 inches. Simply put, this lens is ultra-portable. Next, it utilizes dual focus motors (rather than using one, as is the norm) to create a floating optical system. It’s quiet, compact, and effective in close-focus environments. This is further enhanced by the lens’ ~5 stops of shake correction. You might ask, do I really need to spend this much on a 70-200 lens? Well, no, you could go with our top pick, the Sigma; however, frankly, you’d be missing out on the state-of-the-art quality that this Canon lens can deliver.
Pros:
- Aspheric lenses correct distortions
- Design is beautiful in appearance
- Great with background blur
- Dust- and weather-resistant
Cons:
- Though great for travel, perhaps too costly to risk breaking
- Zoom throw is a tad long for some folks’ tastes
Tamron SP 70-200
Wild at Heart
Those enamored with Nikon or Canon’s telephoto zoom lenses have every right to be; they’re incredible, magnificent wonders of engineering. But most of those enamored folks simply won’t be able to afford a lens at that price. Does that mean they have to accept defeat, saving over the course of months and years until that distant day when they can afford it? Not necessarily. The Tamron SP 70-200 offers folks in this boat a fine alternative. Comparable to the Canon and Nikon lenses in terms of image quality, design specs, and steadiness, this one boasts features like a 5-stop Vibration Compensation image stabilization, electromagnetic diaphragm control, and an extra low-dispersion glass that prevents chromatic aberration from occurring as the light reflects onto the lens. All in all, it’s the perfect size for those looking for a wildlife lens, and thanks to its stabilization features and accuracy, with this one, you’re bound to nail some stunning shots.
Pros:
- Also available with polarizer or UV protection filter
- Incredibly sharp and crisp images
- Full-time manual focus
Cons:
- Body may get scratched easily
- A bit bulky (although this is not uncommon for a lens with these specs)
Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 200-500
Makes No Apologies
What is there to say with this one? If you already own a Nikon DSLR and you’ve got the cash for this bad boy, it only makes sense to splurge. Unlike the Tamron and Sigma models, this thing comes straight from the manufacturer, and as such, it costs a pretty penny – and it makes no apologies for it. Many out there make the argument that the Tamron- & Signa-esque lenses do the same thing at a fraction of the price. A fair opinion. On paper, their specs are fairly similar, so we won’t bore you by rattling them off here. However, similar as their specs might be, nothing beats a Nikon-designed lens engineered for a Nikon DSLR. The differences may be subtle in some ways, but if you’re looking to capture shots with the most precision and accuracy as you can, this one’s your bet.
Pros:
- Excellent focusing
- Virtually zero chromatic aberration
- Available with bundled accessories
- Great for wildlife and long-range sports
Cons:
- No tripod mode
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a zoom lens actually work?
This is rather complicated, so what follows here is a very simplified and reductive explanation. Let’s start with light, which is what a photograph is – a scattered collection of light values. A zoom lens works like this: the light enters on one end of the lens’ body, passing through the first piece of glass. In the center, you’ll have another glass element – typically concave in shape – which bends and refracts that light to the final lens. Having multiple lenses helps correct color and chromatic aberrations that occur as a natural result of light waves, which have different wavelengths depending on their color. When you extend the body of a telephoto lens, the middle of the lens element moves closer to the image’s entry point, essentially magnifying the amount of light that enters without reducing the resolution of the image.
Why do they cost so much money?
As you climb towards the upper echelons of zoom lens quality, you’ll notice that you can put a down payment on a house for the same price as some of these lenses. Why? Well, there are a few factors at play here. For one, the materials themselves aren’t cheap. Further, the precision required to manufacturer a lens is extremely exacting, and the machinery required to do this is very, very costly. A slight divergence from the exact dimensions required for a lens can result in a totally faulty lens.
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