Zoom Lenses

The Canon EF 70 300mm F 56 IS USM zoom lens, while seemingly a whole mess of alphabet letters actually has some to die for features that photographers will especially like. For instance the image stabilization (IS) and the ultrasonic motor (USM).

The USM is quiet and offers either automatic focus or manual focus, the best of both worlds. The best feature appears to be the image stabilization, achieved with a couple of gyros that compensate for camera motion. What they do is adjust the position of specific elements inside the lens itself. Without getting too terribly technical, the end result is a sharper image than you would get without the stabilization.

What is a zoom lens anyhow? A zoom lens is an assembly of lens elements that can vary focal length rather than the prime lens that has a fixed focal length. Zoom lenses are used in still photography, video work, and motion picture cameras. You'll find them in some binoculars, microscopes, and telescopes.

In 2002 Sigma introduced three new big zoom lenses - The APO 80 - 400 mm F4.5 - 5.6 ES OS(the first Sigma lens to feature image stabilization), APO 120 - 300 mm F2.8 EX IF HSM and the APO 300 - 800 mm F5.6 EX IF HSM.

If you happen to be looking for a Minolta short to moderate telezoom lens, then you shouldn't have any trouble finding them on eBay for between $130-$180 USD and in stores for between $230-$260. This was introduced in 1981 and was a very popular lens that came with a macro setting.

Just a little friendly competition going on in the zoom lens industry between Sigma and other lens manufacturers. The Sigma zoom lens lays claim to being the pioneer of the wide-angle zoom lens introduced in 1979 – the zoom Gamma 21-35mm F3.5-4.2. However, if you'd like to try another brand name, you might want to check out the Nikon zoom lens, available on eBay and other camera stores on the Internet. Or you could opt for the Canon zoom lens that has a good reputation as being an all round handy dandy lens – a bit heavy, but worth it. The one thing you can count on with most brand name lenses, and this also applies to Canon zoom lenses, is that you do definitely get what you paid for.

No doubt you will want to keep your lens clean and for that you will want information on zoom lens cleaning. Basically you will need the following – a cleaning cloth, blower brush, lens tissue and some type of cleaning solution. For instructions on how to - hop on the Internet.