Brands

One of the most important things to be aware of when you're shopping for a lens is that they are brand specific. In most cases, each manufacturer—Canon, Nikon, etc.—has its own lens mount that's incompatible with other brands. The main exception is lenses in the Four Thirds System, which use a universal mount for Four Thirds cameras. Olympus, Sigma, and Panasonic manufacture lenses with the Four Thirds mount. As mentioned earlier, Panasonic and Olympus also created the Micro Four Thirds camera system, which use a different lens mount, but can accommodate 4/3 lenses with an adapter ring.

Additionally, there are "third party" lens manufacturers, including Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina, and that make lenses for different mounting systems, including Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, and Pentax. Third-party lenses tend to be less expensive than their name-brand counterparts. To see how some third-party lenses compare in price and performance with those offered by the major camera brands, see the Ratings (subscribers only) of SLR lenses. Use these profiles to compare SLR lenses by brand.

Canon

One of the largest camera and lens manufacturers in the world, Canon currently sells scores of lenses in a wide variety of focal lengths. Canon splits its lenses into two main classes—its standard EF (electro focus) series, and its consumer-level EF-S lenses, which are only compatible with its smaller, APS-C sensor bodies. There are also two smaller classes of Tilt-Shift (TSE) lenses and Macro (MP-E) lenses. More generally speaking, Canon splits its lenses into nine main categories: ultra-wide zoom; standard zoom, telephoto zoom, wide angle, standard and medium telephoto, telephoto, super telephoto, macro, and tilt-shift.

Nikon

Nikon is also a world leader in cameras and lenses. The company currently sells about dozens of auto-focus lenses and several manual focus lenses under the Nikkor brand. It splits its lenses between a standard F-Mount category and a smaller DX format class designed specifically for its small size sensor DX-format digital SLRs but can be used on full-size sensor bodies using the camera’s sensor crop settings. Nikkor auto-focus and manual-focus lenses cover a variety of focal lengths and price points and are divided into seven main categories: zoom, micro (aka macro), fisheye, wide angle, normal, telephoto, and PC, which is Nikon's tilt-shift category.

Olympus

Until 2002, Olympus sold film-based, 35-mm SLR cameras under the Olympus OM system. The company currently sells digital SLRs, which use the Four Thirds sensor system, under its E-series line of DSLRs, and lenses under the Zuiko Digital label. It is also developing cameras and lenses using the new Micro Four Thirds system. Olympus currently has more than 20 Zuiko Digital lenses in varying focal lengths that it splits into three classes: super high grade, high grade, and standard. Old Olympus film-camera lenses can be used with the Four Thirds system using an adapter ring.

Sony

Sony has only been in the DSLR game since 2006 but it has quickly become a major contender. Sony purchased DSLR technology from Konica Minolta in June 2006 and then produced its Alpha series of digital SLRs using some of Konica Minolta's camera innovations. Sony's Alpha cameras use the Konica Minolta lens mount and so are compatible with older Minolta auto focus lenses and Minolta lenses rebranded under the Sony name. Sony currently has more than 20 lenses in its stable, including several premium models that were developed for Sony by the German lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss. Other Sony categories for lenses are: zoom, fixed focal length, macro-STF-reflex-fisheye, and G lenses (professional).

Pentax

There are currently more than 20 lenses in the Pentax line in five classes: DA Star (high-grade DSLR), DA (consumer DSLR), DA Limited (Prime) lenses, DFA (for digital SLRs but compatible with 35mm film cameras), and FA (designed for film SLRs but compatible with DSLRs). Pentax lenses are also compatible with Samsung's GX line of digital SLRs.

Leica

Leica Camera is a manufacturer of film and digital rangefinder cameras, SLRs, and a digital SLR/medium format hybrid camera. Leica has about 30 high-end (read: expensive) lenses for M-series rangefinder cameras. These are split into four categories: wide angle, standard, telephoto, and Macro. The company also has a few dozen lenses for its R9 film SLR, though that camera was recently discontinued. Leica produces a few lenses for its new S2 DSLR/Medium-format camera.

Panasonic

Panasonic is another well-known name in the consumer electronics industry that has been expanding rapidly into the world of digital cameras using interchangeable lenses. Currently a few lenses are being sold under the Leica brand for Panasonic's Four Thirds system Lumix digital SLRs. Those cameras can also use any other Four Thirds lenses, including the Zuiko Digital lenses produced by Olympus and several Four Thirds lenses manufactured by Sigma. There are also a few lenses for Panasonic's smaller Micro Four Thirds G-series digital cameras. Those are sold under the Lumix brand name.

Tamron

Tamron currently manufacturers lenses with mounts for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Pentax cameras. Sony is a major shareholder in Tamron. The company currently sells more than 20 lenses in four different classes: Di (digital integrated) lenses, Di II (for DSLRs with APS-C sized sensors only), SP (super performance, professional lenses), and conventional lenses. Tamron breaks its lenses down into four general categories: all-in-one zooms, fast zooms, wide and tele lenses, and macro lenses.

Sigma

Sigma makes lenses for its own digital SLRs along with manufacturing lenses with mounts for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, and Panasonic (Four Thirds) cameras. The company has scores of lenses in categories including wide zoom lenses, standard zoom, telephoto zoom, wide (fixed focal), standard (fixed focal), macro, DC (for DSLRs with APS-C sensors), and tele (telephoto) lenses.

Tokina

Tokina recently partnered with Pentax to develop lenses. Tokina also manufacturers lenses in the Nikon and Canon mounts.

It offers AT-X PRO series lenses that include wide-angle zooms, a telephoto zoom, and Macro lenses, all with apertures of either f/2.8 or f/4. They also offer two lenses in the consumer-level AT-X series, a wide-angle zoom and a telephoto zoom.

Carl Zeiss AG

Carl Zeiss AG produces high-end lenses for rangefinders, SLRs and DSLRs. Zeiss sells several ZM-class lenses that are compatible with Leica M mount rangefinder cameras, and with its own Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera. It also produces ZA-class lenses for Sony's Alpha line of DSLRs. Zeiss also has manual lenses for Nikon's F-mount cameras (ZF), Canon EOS EF mount cameras (ZE), Pentax's K mount cameras (ZK), and for the M42 lens mount used on Pentacon/Practica/Pentax screw-mount cameras (ZS). The company also makes 360-degree tilt-shift lenses Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony Alpha A mounts.

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