Image: 7Artisans
Chinese lens maker 7Artisans has announced the AF 27mm F2.8 prime lens for APS-C cameras using the Sony E-Mount.
The 27mm focal length gives a fractionally wide-angle ∼41mm equivalent field of view, while the semi-fast F2.8 maximum aperture should give some control over depth-of-field and better low-light performance than a kit zoom.
The compact prime consists of six elements in five groups. It uses a stepper motor and internal focus design, which is potentially promising in terms of autofocus speed. Unusually for a modern lens, it makes no use of aspherical, ED or other special glass, and features just six aperture blades.
The 48mm (1.9″) long, 173g (5.0oz) lens features a USB 3.0 socket on its side, allowing firmware updates. It has a minimum focus distance of 0.3m (11.8″) and accepts 52mm threaded filters. It is available immediately at a recommended price of $129.
The Panasonic Lumix S5II launched the second generation of Panasonic’s full-frame mirrorless camera system and was the first Panasonic to feature phase detect autofocus. As our review reveals, it’s a heck of an all-around camera for both still and video shooters.The latest Lumix puts a Four Thirds sensor in a full-frame body with boosted AF and a wealth of stills and video capabilities to create a Swiss Army Knife of a Micro Four Thirds camera.The fourth camera in Leica’s SL series of full-frame mirrorless cameras sees the 60MP BSI sensor from the Q3 and M11 models arrive with a significant interface redesign.The Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of Fujifilm’s classically-styled large sensor compact. A 40MP X-Trans sensor, in-body stabilization and 6.2K video are among the updates.The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon’s mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We’ve picked the models that really stand out.What’s the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.’What’s the best mirrorless camera?’ We’re glad you asked.Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a ‘best’ option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
