Which of These Lenses Is the Better Deal?

A good 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is often worth its weight in gold, and unfortunately, they often cost about that much too. Luckily, in the last few years, we have seen a real influx of much more affordable third-party options from companies like Tamron and Samyang. This excellent video comparison takes a look at two such options, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 and Samyang 24-70mm f/2.8 AF.

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Shooting Portraits With an Insane 400mm f/2.8 Lens

Traditionally, portraits are shot with focal lengths between 50mm and 135mm, though there is no reason you can’t use a longer focal length. Nonetheless, 400mm f/2.8 lenses are traditionally reserved for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need a lot of reach and the ability to capture as much light as possible. With super-sharp results and a narrow depth of field, they seem like a great (if somewhat impractical) option for portraits, and this fun video shows you what you can expect.

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Can This Ultra-Cheap 85mm Lens Give You the Results You Need?

An 85mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most desirable options out there, especially for portrait photographers, who prize the focal length and narrow depth of field. However, such lenses can easily cost well over $2,000 for a good option. At less than $200, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 is highly intriguing, but can it offer the results you need at such a low price? This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

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