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Discusses the purpose of the letters on front ring of camera lenses. Placement of designation in the front rings to indicate camera-lens combination; Appearance of MD to indicate Minolta lens could be used on late model; Information on the image coverage of the lenses.

Discusses various concept related to camera lens. Key features Pentax SLR; Popularity of 30mm camera lenses; Types of lenses.

Features several single lens reflex cameras. Phoenix P-200 with 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Phoenix lens; Vivitar V3800N with 28-70mm f/3/4-4.8 MC lens; Camera features; Price range. INSET: HOW GOOD ARE THE LENSES?.

Features the 500mm telephoto mirror lens based on a telescope design, developed by Russian scientist Dmitri Maksutov. Weight and length; Popularity of lenses to photojournalists; Speed capability; Ease of use; Limitations of the lenses.

Shares the author's technique of using semi-fisheye lens in taking pictures. Achieving depth and sharpness; Hiding distortion; Turning off flash; Printing.

Focuses on issues related to photography in the U.S. Features of the Discovery Store camera bag; Importance of using the right battery; Type of photographic lens capable of giving quality pictures.

Discusses how to test a camera lens. Developments in the testing systems of camera lenses; Reason for the variation in performance of lenses; Details of Subjective Quality Factor camera lens testing system.

Evaluates several single lens reflex camera lenses and teleconverters. Tamron 2X AF teleconverter; Sigma 1.4X and 2X APO teleconverters for Sigma tele and tele zoom lenses; Phoenix 100-400 f/4.5-6.7 AF telezoom lens.

Provides suggestions on photography. Difference between high-quality modern camera lens and inexpensive old lens; Suggestions on trusting camera dealers in purchasing a camera.

Discusses the evolution of pop-off lenscaps of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras and why they are still easily lost. Remedies created by camera accessory manufacturers to prevent lenscap loss; Practical alternative suggestions.

Evaluates 28-300mm Tamron LD Aspherical camera lens. Cost of the camera lens; Features; Capabilities.

Presents information on German Pentacon and Ukranian Kiev cameras which created a family of basic, budget-priced cameras with a common lensmount. Pentacon 6 production; Features of Exakta 66; Variation of Ukranian lenses.

Discusses information about the various types of SLR macro lenses used in photography. Focal-length groups; Correlation between length of macro lens and camera-to-subject distance; Terminology used in macro photography; Macro lens designs.

Examines and compares the features of interchangeable-lens Advanced Photo System (APS) SLR brand name cameras in the United States. Minolta Vectis S-1; Canon EOS IX; Nikon Pronea 6i; Body styles; Loading techniques; Size of lenses.

Discusses the pros and cons of increasing a camera lens' focal length with teleconverters. Description of teleconverters; Effect of teleconverters on lens aperture; Autofocus; Prices of teleconverters.

Features the new Tamron 28-200 millimeter close-focusing camera lens. Advantages of using a 28-200 millimeter lens; Criteria for determining how close a lens should focus; Shortcomings of earlier models of 28-200 millimeter lenses; Focal lengths to use for portraits or close-ups; Description of the new Tamron lens.

Presents tips for picking the right zoom lenses. Different types of zoom lenses; Focal-length distinctions blurred by zooms; Examinations of zoom lenses from a practical point of view.

Focuses on zooms in single-focal-length (SFL) lens cameras. Advantages of having zooms; Comparison of the zoom with a macro lens; Minolta single-lens reflex camera that shoots Advanced Photo System films.

Features the Raynox Model CM-3500 MicroExplorer camera lens kit. Broad range of magnifications; Bright viewing image; Requirement of little additional exposure time; Need focal length lens; Raynox as the brand name of Yoshida Industry Co. Ltd.; Kit components; Utilization of high-refractive-index optical glass; Usage procedure; Author's testing of the lens.

Looks at two major tests in the photo area done by Consumers Union and reported in `Consumer Reports,' a guide to buying film and processing (November 1993) and a report on SLR cameras and zoom lenses (December). The author's comments on the `CR' report on films (excellently done) and processing (need for some acknowledgement that some labs are better than others); Apparent skewing of camera feature comparisons in wrong directions; Conclusions on lenses; Can you trust the tests.

Reports on developments concerning the single-lens reflex (SLR) camera market, as of December 2002. Olympus Corp.'s proposal for a standard digital SLR system based on a 4/3 sensor size and a common lensmount; Digital and 35-millimeter SLR lenses introduced at the Photokina photography trade show.

Discusses the principle behind the Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element technology being used by Canon to cut the weight and size of telescopic lenses. Capabilities of the technology; Advantages.

Provides suggestions on choosing the right zoom lens for single lens reflex (SLR) cameras. Basic manual-focus SLR cameras; Reasons for the decline of demand for 50 millimeter lens; Commentary on some brands.

Compares the photographic lenses of Tamron and Sigma. Relation between subjective quality factor (SQF) ratings and picture quality; Distant detailed building facade photographed by both Tamron and Sigma; Eye in the 11x14 print segment.

Offers information on how to put together a good working lens system without going into hock. The availability of new or used manual-focus SLR lenses at bargain prices; Examples; Nikon and Pentax AF cameras with lens mounts suitable for new AF or old non-AF lenses; The Samyang ultrawide-angle zoom; Lens converters.

Tells how to compare camera lenses for sharpness. Readers' doubts about the quality of their newer lenses, especially zooms; Why you shouldn't judge a lens or camera by looking at prints; Steps to take in comparing lens sharpness; Testing of a 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D AF Nikkor at 50mm against a 50mm f/1.7 Zeiss T* Planar; Conclusions; Comments.

The article examines a riot of lens-swapping among photojournalists from German lenses to Japanese lenses during the 1950s. Favored Japanese-brand Nikkors were the 50mm f/1.5 and f/1.4m 85mm f/2m and 135mm f/4. These Japanese lenses were equal of the Zeiss lenses, and that the Nikkors varied less in quality from lens to lens. Amateurs and professionals read about Nikkor versus Zeiss, and wanted to be certain their lenses were as good. As a result, lens testing became an obsession.

The article describes the emergence and specifications of the interchangeable-lens Leica C. hot shoe camera. One of the earliest model of a hot-shoe for flash was the American-made Univex Mercury CC of 1938, with an accessory flash unit accepted screw-based flashbulbs. Most hot-shoe flash units have been designed with lookdown mechanisms either in the form of a knurled horizontal tightening ring or a locking lever which causes a mechanism in the flash foot to clamp down on the shoe.

The article discusses the evolution of optics. Single-element lenses with apertures between f/11 and f/18 were utilized in the cheapest of nonfocusing cameras. Lens designers correct triplets by a cemented component composing of a converging lens and a diverging lens of lower power. Five-element lens were developed to overcome the f/3.5. Normal lenses for 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) and digital SLR require seven elements if speedy and six elements if they are between f/1.7 and f/2.

The article offers tips for photographers on how to acquire a high-quality single-lens reflex finder image. Among the camera's most important viewing features are image size, brightness, manual focus capability, and data legibility. Among the most sought-after finder is the Nikon F finder which shows a full 24x36mm image with large screen area.

The article discusses the author's collection of digital camera lenses. The author owns several kinds of lenses including Olympus, Vivitars, Kirons, Sigmas, Tamrons, Tokinas, and Komuras. He recalls that he printed a still life of the collection on the journal. He notes that engineers made no allowance to allow the lens system to be useable on a fully integrated autofocus system. The author wishes to buy lenses specifically designed for digital use.

Discusses factors to be considered by photographers when buying entry-level 35mm single lens reflex cameras. Prices; Lens systems; Exposure compensation; Batteries. INSETS: HATE AUTOFOCUS? READ THIS.;HATE AUTO-EVERYTHING? READ THIS..

Discusses semi-fisheye lens photography. Coverage of fisheye lenses; Description of 'fisheye'; Prices of semi-fisheyes; Recommended brands.

Evaluates the Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar Aspherical camera lens manufactured by Cosina Co. Ltd. Description of the camera lens; How it created light falloff for wide-angle lens view; Cost.

Deals with several photographic lenses. Information on the lens introduced by Kyocera Optics Inc.; Vibration Reduction lenses released by Nikon; Features of Limited Pentax SMCP-FA lens.

Describes a 500-millimeter lens designed for 35-millimeter single-lens reflex cameras. Compatibility of the lens to Pentax's 645 camera; Comparison of the price of a 500-millimeter lens for a 35-millimeter camera with for a medium-format camera.

Focuses on Nikon's line of lenses called `Amusing Lenses.' Design; Specifications; Innovative features.

Examines the Tamron 24-70mm autofocus, wide-angle-to-moderate-tele zoom lens. Tamron's success with the sensationally light 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 AF zoom; How Tamron slimmed down to eight elements; Evaluation of a pre-production sample; Recommendations; Results; Cost; Mounts available.

The article traces developments in the lens industry worldwide since the 1960s. In the mid-1960s, American importers bought lenses from small Japanese lens makers and not from European lens makers because the Japanese lenses were inexpensive and were useful. By the 1990s, the number of lens makers had fallen to only three: Sigma, Tamron and Tokina. Pentax and Tokina jointly developed lenses. Tokina also makes four different brands.

Features the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D digital single lens reflex camera in the United States. Anti-shake feature; Charge coupled device sensor of the camera; Exposure modes; Price.

Reports on the results of testing the 24 to 200 millimeter (mm) lens of Tokina. Information on the 24-200mm Tokina lens; Optical formulation of the lens.

Introduces the Nikon N80 single lens reflect camera. Principal features of the camera; Batteries to use in N80; Information on Nikon's VR vibration-reduction lens.

Provides ways on how to test a camera's lens. Equipments needed in testing.

Considers the use of Maxxum-mount lenses on APS Minolta Vectis S-1 and S-100 cameras. Cost of Minolta's V-mount MC-V1 converter; Problems with converters; Compensating for errors in aperture-priority mode.

Presents information regarding conversion of lens focal lengths from one camera format to another. Formula of converting lens focal lengths; Chart comparing focal lengths of different camera formats.

Presents guidelines in cleaning camera lenses. Three ways to clean lenses; Cleaning materials to use and avoid; Four steps to clean lenses.

Examines the Minolta 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom for Maxxum cameras which should be ideal for the new Maxxum 700si. The manual-zoom AF lens lists at $684 and should be arriving in stores shortly. Three other autofocus manual zooms announced at the same time; Availability; Future autofocus lenses for Maxxums.