see also:

• image stabiliser

• Olympus Four Thirds dSLR system lenses:
  • LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH OIS
    • 28-100mm equiv.
  • Leica D 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS
    • 28-300mm equiv.
  • Leica 50-150mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS
    • 100-300mm equiv.
• Micro Four Thirds system lenses:
  • see a brief catalogue of Micro Four Thirds lenses

• most Olympus Olympus Four Thirds dSLR system and Micro Four Thirds system camera bodies - in addition to being able to use the optical IS Panasonic Leica lenses, have 3-4 stop IS for ALL lenses, so you now have some unique IS opportunities such as:
  • Olympus ZD 8mm fisheye
  • Olympus ZD 7-14 f/4.0 giving 14-28mm f/4.0 IS
    • the widest wide angle IS zooms otherwise are:
      • Olympus ZD 11-22mm f/2.8-3.5 giving 22-44mm f/2.8-3.5
      • Olympus ZD 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 SWD giving a great travel lens at 24-120mm f/2.8-4.0 IS
      • Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS giving 31-137mm f/4 on Canon 1D
      • Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS giving 27-88mm f/2.8 on 1.6x crop Canons
      • Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR giving 27-300mm
  • Leica D 25mm f/1.4 giving a 50mm f/1.4 IS
  • Olympus ZD 50mm f/2.0 macro giving 100mm f/2.0 macro
    • Nikon now has a 105mm f/2.8 but at 158mm that is a bit long
  • Olympus ZD 50-200mm with 2xTC
    • unique hand holdable 800mm f/7 (sharper at f/10) with 1:1 macro at 1.2m close focus
    • E510 IS allows reliable images at 1/200th sec which means images possible in sun or shade at ISO 400.
    • see photos-ByLens-OlympusdSLR-ZD50-200mmTC2x
  • Olympus ZD 300mm f/2.8 giving a potentially hand-holdable 600mm f/2.8 IS weighing 3.3kg
    • the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS on 1.6x crop gives 640mm f/2.8 but weighs 5.3kg
    • alternatively, you could bump the ISO up by 1 stop and use the Canon EF 400mm f/4L IS at only 1.94kg
• see Four Thirds lenses for all lenses available.
• any other lens that can be fitted with focal length in range 8mm through to 1000mm (actual focal length not 2x cropped value).
• although Olympus recommend turning IS OFF when using a tripod, experiments by Stan Williams suggest that turning IS on mode 1 is OK on a tripod, and may be beneficial in minimising mirror vibrations at shutter speeds 1/30th sec - 4 sec range, particularly if your tripod is not super sturdy.
  • also confirmed by Ian Burley's tests.
  • personally, I would turn IS OFF (and use the Antishock setting to put mirror up for at least 5 secs if timing is not critical) whilst on a tripod as per Olympus' recommendations but you may find it improves shots having IS ON when using slow shutter speeds with mirror not up.

• see Canon EOS camera system
• http://www.canon.com.au/products/visual/cameras_lenses_accessories/telephoto_lenses.html
• no portrait lens with IS although the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS is often used as a portrait lens but its big.
• Canon EF-S lenses for 1.6x crop cameras only:
  • EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
    • a nice combination of range and aperture giving 27-88mm but v. expensive.
  • EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM
    • 27-136mm - this should probably be everyone's 1st “kit lens” instead of the junk normally given on the Canon prosumer dSLRs, but it is a bit aperture challenged.
  • EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
    • introduced late 2008 to compete with Nikon's long VR lens;
    • 29-320mm but no USM; 4 stops IS;
    • http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon_18-200_3p5-5p6_is/
  • Tamron AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO:
    • 15x zoom designed for digital cropped sensors giving 35mm eq. 28-419mm in a compact, light lens
    • VC = Vibration Control = optical IS
    • slow AF so not so good for action shots requiring continuous AF
    • sharp in middle focal lengths; CA at long end; barrel distortion wide end then pin cushion throughout much of range.
    • http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/tamron_18-270.html
    • http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/18270_vc.asp
    • http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tamron_18-270_3p5-6p3_vc_n15/page4.asp - formal lens tests
• Canon EF lenses:
  • EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
    • pity its not that little bit wider as on a 1.3x it becomes 31-137mm
    • not really worth it for travel on a 1.6x at 38-168mm
  • EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
    • 36-176mm on 1.3x 45-216mm on 1.6x
  • EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
    • 36-390mm on 1.3x and 45-480mm on 1.6x
  • EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
    • 91-260mm on 1.3x and 112-320mm on 1.6x
  • EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
    • 91-260mm on 1.3x and 112-320mm on 1.6x
  • EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
    • 91-390mm on 1.3x and 112-480mm on 1.6x
  • EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
    • 91-390mm on 1.3x and 112-480mm on 1.6x
  • EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
    • 130-520mm on 1.3x and 160-640mm on 1.6x
  • EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
    • 2008; 2.5kg; close focus 1.9m; circular aperture; $US5999 RRP
  • EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM
    • 390mm on 1.3x and 480mm on 1.6x
  • EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
    • 390mm on 1.3x and 480mm on 1.6x
  • EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
    • 520mm on 1.3x and 640mm on 1.6x
  • EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
    • 650mm on 1.3x and 800mm on 1.6x
  • EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM
    • 2008; 4.5kg (lighter than the 600mm f/4 which is 5.4kg); $US11,999 RRRP
• Sigma for EF mount:
  • 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM:
    • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08013107sigma18125.asp
  • APO 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
    • 1.75kg; 9-bladed; 77mm filter; 4EV IS; removable tripod socket;
    • also in Nikon mount; 2008;
    • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08013103sigma120400.asp
  • APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM:
    • 1.9kg; 252mm or 10“long; 9-bladed; 86mm filter; 4EV IS; removable tripod socket;
    • also in Nikon mount;
    • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08013102sigma150500.asp
    • 2008;
• Tamron for EF mount:
  • AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] Macro

• see Nikon F dSLR system
• http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5
• AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF SWM
  • 158mm eq; VRII - 4 stops; non-rotating front with 62mm filter; 1:1; 9 blade diaphragm; 790g;
  • AF does not work with teleconverters but VR & AE do.
  • no aperture ring so can't be used on Canon or Olympus usefully.
  • the 1st VR macro lens - Canon still do not make one.
  • the nearest VR lens to a portrait lens but at 158mm equiv. its a bit too tight indoors, the only other real candidate is the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR.
• 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX
  • 24-128mm but aperture is a bit lousy (compare this with the Olympus 12-60mm which has the same range but f/2.8-3.5)
  • VR II allows 4EV IS
  • introduced 2008
  • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012909nikkor1685vr.asp
• AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR:
  • 27-158mm with 3 stop VR II image stabiliser;
  • rounded 7 blade diaphragm; SWM AF; 67mm filter; 450g;
  • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08082701nikkor_18-105lens.asp
• AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G VR
• 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
  • a very useful travel lens covering 27-300mm but image quality is compromised
  • version II announced July 2009
• 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 36-180mm but a bit aperture is a bit slow for action photos
  • its inferior image quality does not do a Nikon D700 justice
• 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
  • a slow 83-300mm DX lens
• 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • to match Canon's popular 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens
  • 105-300mm - very versatile lens & the only Nikon VR that is really useful for portraiture
  • version II announced July 2009
• 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 105-450mm a useful hiking, bushwalking lens but aperture a bit slow at 105mm
• 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 120-600mm equiv. but slow at 120mm end
• 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 300-600mm equiv. - very nice for sports & wildlife
• 200mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor
  • 300mm equiv. to beat Canon's 200mm f/2.8L IS II but big!
• 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor
  • 450mm equiv.
• Tamron for Nikon mount:
  • AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] Macro - coming 2008.
    • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0805/08051502tamron28-300.asp