Lenses

Last month we reported that the incredibly rare Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 lens was up for auction for a whopping  £100,000 — but that we had no idea what the images out of the thing would look like.

Nikon continues to expand its line of F/1.8 prime lenses, this time adding a fast wide angle to the mix. The glass is coated with Nikon's Nano Crystal coat to fight ghosting and flare and inside is their Silent Wave Motor, both of which should be welcome inclusions for photo as well as video shooters. In total, it has 11 optical elements in nine groups, including two aspherical elements, which helps keep the size and weight down. It has full-time manual focus, even when AF mode is engaged.

 Just over a year ago, Lensbaby introduced the Lensbaby Composer pro for DSLRs, but now they're letting ILC owners in on the action with a few new versions. You can now get a Sony NEX mount, a Samsung NX mount, or a Micro Four Thirds mount that fits Olympus and Panasonic cameras. 

Talk about a golden age of lenses! Fast, long, superwide, fisheye, macro, you name it—camera manufacturers and independents continue to add to their optical arsenals. So, whether you plan to acquire new lenses, or just get the most out of your present optics, we offer this guided tour of today’s hottest glass.