WIDE!

Sigma 10 20mm 4 5 6 Digital Cameras

10mm for the Sigma versus 12mm for the Nikon, and it costs around half as much. Done deal.

HSM is great for focusing, and works on my D40 which only supports AF-S type lenses. 5.6 on the narrow end is unfortunate, but you don't buy this lens to shoot at 20mm. You can handhold wide-angles at slower shutter speeds anyways. The lens cap is once again Sigma end-pinch, which I quickly replaced with a Nikon center-pinch, a practice I've begun with all my Sigmas. Be aware that there are optical distortions in most wide-angle lenses, but most of the time they aren't much of an issue. When they are, an application like PTLens does a great job of fixing it up.

I've really become a fan of Sigma lenses, they seem to offer such a great value. I'm sure the Nikon is probably slightly sharper, but I don't see a noticeable difference. I can see the difference between 10mm and 12mm, though, along with the over $400 difference.

Get your Sigma 10 20mm 4 5 6 Digital Cameras Now!

The Best Micro 4/3rds Camera Yet

Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera Built In

I purchased the G1 as soon as it was released in 2008 because I believed then as I believe now that mirrorless cameras are the future of digital photography. I did have one major complaint about the G1 -- it was too small. The various buttons and controls were not only small but they were placed close together. I could hold the camera firmly but a slightly larger camera would be more comfortable.

Despite the improvements that were made to G and GH lines, I didn't upgrade because the size remained relatively the same (the G3 was a step backwards as far as I was concerned).

I was delighted when the GH3 was announced. The camera, at least on paper, answered my prayers. When I was finally able to get one, almost 6 months after it was announced, I found that it was indeed the camera I had hoped for.

The camera felt like it had been custom made for my hands. The various controls were a good size and well placed. With 7 programmable Function buttons and 5 Custom camera settings the camera can be easily configured to meet almost any need.

The Image Quality is excellent. Thus far I found the results up to 2000 ISO to be good and even at 3200 to be useable. This camera has been compared to the Olympus OM-D (which I had the opportunity to test extensively last fall). Any differences in the images produced by these two cameras are, in my opinion, so small as to be meaningless.

While my main interest is in Still Photography thus far I found the Video capabilities of this camera to be amazing. I can understand why video fans have praised this camera so much.

To sum up, this is an extraordinary, flexible camera capable of producing superb results both as a still and as a video camera.

Get your Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera Built In Now!

The Best Micro 4/3rds Camera Yet

Panasonic DMC GH3K Digital Single Mirrorless

I purchased the G1 as soon as it was released in 2008 because I believed then as I believe now that mirrorless cameras are the future of digital photography. I did have one major complaint about the G1 -- it was too small. The various buttons and controls were not only small but they were placed close together. I could hold the camera firmly but a slightly larger camera would be more comfortable.

Despite the improvements that were made to G and GH lines, I didn't upgrade because the size remained relatively the same (the G3 was a step backwards as far as I was concerned).

I was delighted when the GH3 was announced. The camera, at least on paper, answered my prayers. When I was finally able to get one, almost 6 months after it was announced, I found that it was indeed the camera I had hoped for.

The camera felt like it had been custom made for my hands. The various controls were a good size and well placed. With 7 programmable Function buttons and 5 Custom camera settings the camera can be easily configured to meet almost any need.

The Image Quality is excellent. Thus far I found the results up to 2000 ISO to be good and even at 3200 to be useable. This camera has been compared to the Olympus OM-D (which I had the opportunity to test extensively last fall). Any differences in the images produced by these two cameras are, in my opinion, so small as to be meaningless.

While my main interest is in Still Photography thus far I found the Video capabilities of this camera to be amazing. I can understand why video fans have praised this camera so much.

To sum up, this is an extraordinary, flexible camera capable of producing superb results both as a still and as a video camera.

Get your Panasonic DMC GH3K Digital Single Mirrorless Now!

Great Combination of Natural Light & Magnifier

Daylight Naturalight 7 Inch Magnifying Lamp

I paint and draw in color - often working at night when I have to rely on artificial lighting. This light allows me to judge colors accurately when I mix them, which is important, so I'm not surprised when I look at the artwork the next day. Moreover, the 7" magnifying glass is great for my eyes since my artwork often involves fine detail. And, like another reviewer noted, the magnifying glass allows enough space for my paint brushes (mostly short-handle) and drawing implements. I thought perhaps I "overdid it" getting the 7" magnifying glass rather than the 5" one, but now that I've used it for several months, I'm glad I DID get the larger magnifying glass. When it is not in use I put a lint-proof cloth over the lens to protect it and to prevent any potential problems from sunlight shining through the magnifying glass and perhaps starting a small fire or something. ;-) Wish I had bought this lamp much sooner.

Get your Daylight Naturalight 7 Inch Magnifying Lamp Now!

Amazing Naturally-lit Photos!

Canon 85mm Medium Telephoto Cameras

This lens has been my main lens since April 1996 (receipt still in my bag!) and is always on my camera. I'll never forget the first roll with this lens after being used to the normal small zooms---the colors, crispness, and limited depth-of-field amazed me. They still do. At that time I was using an Elan and a 28-80 4.5-5.6 usm. I since had moved to an Elan IIE, then an A2E, then a 1N-RS (still have) and finally a Canon 30D digital, purchased last month. The 85mm f1.8 usm has remained through all of these, being my main lens for all this time. Its quality has not diminished one bit.

The focusing ring is a huge plus---you can fine tune at any time once the camera has selected a focus. This is very handy during portraits when you really want to have the eyes in focus at the moment the shutter is pressed.

The huge points to this lens are color saturation, crispness, fine-focus ability, and the extremely small depth-of-field obtainable through the 1.8 aperture. Incredible lens in every aspect. Oh, and from the front the glass and open aperture is massive looking, making those 4-5.6 zooms look the size of pupils in the eyes of the person whose portrait your taking. I kid you not, you won't believe the look of this thing from the front. The rear glass is huge too, allowing for the 1.8.

A couple more thoughts---I have the 200mm f2.8L lens, which is another fantastic lens. It has the pro glass, and the images I get with the 85mm f1.8 actually rival those made with the 200mm L lens. It is very hard to discern a difference. I cannot say that about the 28-105 3.5-4.5 or the 75-300usm zooms in my collection. Those are zooms and not a prime, which is the big reason, but still, image quality differences are huge. It is one of my main hang-ups about using one of my zooms----when I do and after I look at the images, I always know that they could have been crisper, with more pop and pizazz if I had only used the 85 or 200. That is why I really like to stick with the primes.

For the future, I am planning on purchasing a zoom L lens or two, most notably the 24-70 f2.8L, and the 17-40 f4L. Then I will be able to get the quality of images I am used to with my prime lenses. Good luck with whatever you decide. If you go the route of the 85mm f1.8, you won't regret it. I've loved my since 1996!

Get your Canon 85mm Medium Telephoto Cameras Now!

another great megagear product

MegaGear Multi Coated ARMOR attached FILTER

The Nikkor 10-24 is sharp and produce stunning pictures. The lens is sharp even wide open at f/4, colour saturation is excellent and minimal loss of detail at the edge of the picture. At the wide end, wide angle of the lens give you the ability to take pictures of amazing perspective. Wide angle lens have really large depth of field, so focus is almost not required. Most pictures will come out file if the lens is left at infinity all the time. The distortion at 10mm is fairly substantial, I do not suggest taking picture of straight lines at 10mm, or it will come out all out of shape.

The good:
- Sharp at most f stops
- Good colour
- Fast focus

The bad:
- Not exactly a cheap lens
- Heavy
- External Zoom mechanism, I definitely hit the front to the lens several times
- 10mm has substantial distortion

Get your MegaGear Multi Coated ARMOR attached FILTER Now!

Great Wide Angle for DX Cameras

Nikon 10 24mm 3 5 4 5G Wide Angle Digital

The Nikkor 10-24 is sharp and produce stunning pictures. The lens is sharp even wide open at f/4, colour saturation is excellent and minimal loss of detail at the edge of the picture. At the wide end, wide angle of the lens give you the ability to take pictures of amazing perspective. Wide angle lens have really large depth of field, so focus is almost not required. Most pictures will come out file if the lens is left at infinity all the time. The distortion at 10mm is fairly substantial, I do not suggest taking picture of straight lines at 10mm, or it will come out all out of shape.

The good:
- Sharp at most f stops
- Good colour
- Fast focus

The bad:
- Not exactly a cheap lens
- Heavy
- External Zoom mechanism, I definitely hit the front to the lens several times
- 10mm has substantial distortion

Get your Nikon 10 24mm 3 5 4 5G Wide Angle Digital Now!