Digital_Camera_World_Issue_192_July_2017

Superzoom
lenSeS
For the last word in convenience,
Matthew Richards searches out
the best lenses that go extra-large
on zoom range
S
uperzoom lenses
can take you all the
way from wideangle
viewing to serious
telescopic reach, with just
the flick of a wrist. They can
save you missing great shots,
because you can react instantly
to unfolding events instead of
wasting time, rummaging
around in your bag for the ‘right’
lens. Superzooms also make
good sense for a holiday, travel
and walkabout lens. You can
just grab your camera and
go, without having to pack
additional lenses that take up
space and weigh you down.
So where’s the catch? Well,
historically superzoom lenses
have been somewhat notorious
for compromising on image
quality in the pursuit of extra
zoom range. A loss of outright
sharpness and an increase in
distortions and colour fringing
have been common ailments.
They’ve also tended to be quite
big and heavy compared with a
standard zoom lens.
But the latest models aim to
improve performance, while
shrinking the form factor to
more manageable dimensions.
Let’s see how well they deliver
on their promises.
Elnur / Shutterstock
the contenders
1 canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM £430/$600
2 nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR £630/$700
3 olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II £550/$500
4 Panasonic Lumix G 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS £550/$550
5 sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C £370/$500
6 sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE £580/$750
7 tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro £430/$500
8 tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC £570/$550