Super Zoom

Super zooms are lenses capable of zooming in from wide angle to 10x or longer, equivalent to about 400mm (relative to film camera), the start of a super telephoto range lens. With zoom capabilities ranging from 10x to 26x currently, you have a wide choice of photographic zoom lenses with unconventionally large focal length factors, typically more than 4× and ranging up to 15×, e.g., 35 mm to 350 mm. make and models to choose from. The largest ratio for digital SLR cameras is held by the Tamron 18–270 mm, giving 15×. Some compact digital cameras have even larger zoom ratios up to 20x. For movie and television use, Panavision holds the record with their 300X HD Lens.

History and development

That same year Nikon introduced a Nikkor an 85-250 mm/1:4.0-4.5 for the new Nikon F.

The first zoom affordable for amateurs was the Vivitar series I 1:3.5/70-210 mm of 1973 with at that time a breathtaking focal length range. Further superzoom was a 100-500 mm/1:8 Rokkor from Minolta and a 360-1200/1:11 Nikkor from 1976.

1980 brought Tokina a wide angle - to zoom with the likewise enormous focal length range of 1:4.0/28–85 mm on the market. Only two years later Tokina presented then first superzoom shot after the today's understanding, it also covered a focal length spectrum from 35–200 mm (1982).

The focal length range was again increased 1985, when Kiron presented the first zoom lens with a focal length range of 28–210 mm.

Models

Canon

• EF-S 17–85 mm f/4–5.6 IS USM, 17 elements in 12 groups, 6 diaphragm blades, f/22–32 min, 35 cm close focus, 1:5 magnification, 67 mm filter, ø78.5×92 mm, 475 g
• EF-S 18-200/3.5-5.6 IS, 16 elements in 12 groups, 6 diaphragm blades, f/22-36 min, 45 cm close focus, 1:4.2 magnification, 72 mm filter, ø79×102 mm, 600 g
• EF 28-200/3.5-5.6 USM, 16 elements in 12 groups, 6 diaphragm blades, ultrasonic autofocus (non-USM version is available outside Japan), f/22-36 min, 45 cm close focus, 1:3.6 magnification, 72 mm filter, ø78.4×89.6 mm, 500 g
• EF 28-300/3.5-5.6L IS USM, 23 elements in 16 groups, 8 circular diaphragm blades, f/22-40 min, 70 cm close focus distance, 1:3.3 magnification, Ring USM AF, Image Stabilisation, 77 mm filter, ø92×184 mm, 1,670g
• 35-350/3.5-5.6L USM, 21 elements in 15 groups, 8 diaphragm Blades, ultrasonic autofocus, f/22-32 min, 60 cm close focus, 1:4 magnification, 72 mm filter, ø85×167.4 mm, 1385 g, Discontinued

Cosina

• 28-210/4.2-6.5 IF Aspherical (2.4), 15 elements in 13 groups, 7 blades diaphragm, f/22 min, 50 cm close focus, 1:6.8 magnification, 67 mm filter, 395 g, Ø72×92,5 mm, replaced the older 28-210/3,5-5,6 (2.1)
• 28-300/4.0-6.3 (1.6), 17 elements in 15 groups, 77 mm filter, 1.9 m close focus, multicoated lenses, 570 g, f/16 min, 1:5.5 magnification, Ø82×122 mm, sliding zoom

Kiron

• 28-210/3.8-5.6 1:4 magnification, 72 mm filter

Sony/Minolta AF

• Sony/Minolta AF DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 13 groups / 15 elements, 1:4.2 magnification.

Olympus Corporation

• 18-180/3.5-6.3 Zuiko digital ED, 15 elements in 13 groups, 45 cm close focus, 7 blades diaphragm, 1:4,3 magnification, 62 mm filters, Ø78×84.5 mm, 435 g

Nikkor

• AF-S DX 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED, 15 elements including one ED glass and two aspherical in 13 groups, 7 rounded diaphragm blades, f/22-38 min, 45 cm close focus, 1:4.1 magnification, 385 g, ø73.5×86.5 mm, 67 mm filters
• AF-S DX VR 18-200/3.5-5.6G IF-ED, 16 elements including two ED glass three aspherical in 12 groups, enhanced vibration Reduction, silent wave motor AF, 7 rounded diaphragm blades, f/22-36 min, 50 cm close focus, 1:4.5 magnification, 72 mm filters, ø77×96.5 mm, 560 g
• AF-S VR 24-120/3.5-5.6G IF-ED, 15 elements in 13 groups, 7 diaphragm blades, f/22 min, 50 cm close focus, 1:4.8 magnification, 72 mm filters, ø77×94 mm, 575 g; launched january 2003, supersedes the AF 24-120/3.5-5.6D IF
• 28-200/3,5-5,6D IF (2.6) launched in March 1998, 16 elements in 13 groups, 85 cm close focus, f/22 min, internal focusing, 72 mm filters, ø78×86.5 mm, 555 g
• AF 18-200/3.5-5.6G IF-ED, 12 elements including 3 ED glass and 3 aspherical in 11 groups, 7 rounded diaphragm blades, f/22-36 min, 44 cm close focus, 1:3.2 magnification, 62 mm filters, ø69.5×71 mm, 360 g
• 35-200/3.5-f/4.5s macro, 17 elements in 13 groups, 30 cm close focus, 1:4 magnification, ø70×139 mm, 52 mm filters, 740 g, introduced in 1985, phased out in 1999. See mir.com.my/rb/photography
• 50-300 mm f/4.5, 20 elements in 13 groups, f/22 min, 250 cm close focus, 95 mm filters, ø98mm×292 mm, 2300 g, introduced in 1966, Ai coupling since 1977; replaced by (s) version, ED, 15 elements in 11 groups, f/32 min, 1:6.9 magnification (Ai-S), 95 mm filters, ø98mm×247 mm, 2200 g then 1950 g (Ai-S), introduced 1977, Ai-S version 1982. See mir.com.my/rb/photography
• AF VR 80-400/4.5-5.6D ED, 17 including 3 ED glass elements in 11 groups, Vibration Reduction, 9 diaphragm blades, f/32 min, 230 cm close focus, 1:4.8 magnification, 77 mm filters, ø91×171 mm, 1210 g, 2000 Release

Pentax

• 28-200/3.8-5.6, a rebranded Tamron model.
• DA 18-250 mm F3.5-6.3ED AL, f/22-45 min, 7 blades diaphragm, 16 elements in 13 groups, 45 cm close focus, 1:3.6 magnification, 62 mm filter, ø75×85.5 mm, 455 g (the specifications are very close to the Tamron model)

Sigma Corporation

• 18-125/3.5-5.6 DC, 15 elements in 14 groups, 7 diaphragm blades, f/22 min, 50 cm close focus, 1:5.3 magnification, 62 mm filters, ø70×77.7 mm, 385 g
• 18-200/3.5-6.3 DC, 15 elements in 13 groups, 7 diaphragm blades, f/22 min, 45 cm close focus, 1:4.4 magnification, 62 mm filters, ø70×78.1 mm, 405 g
• 18-250/3.5-6.3 DC OS, 18 Elements in 13 Groups, 7 diaphragm blades, f/22 min, 45 cm close focus, 1:3.9 magnification, 72 mm filters, ø79×100 mm, 610 g. In January 2009 Sigma announced a new version of this lens extending the range to 18-250
• 24-135 mm F2.8-4.5, 16 elements in 15 groups, 9 diaphragm blades, f/32 min, 50 cm close focus, 1:4.5 magnification, 77 mm filters, ø83.6×93.4 mm, 535 g
• 28-200/3.5-5.6 DG Macro 16 elements in 14 groups, 8 blades diaphragm, f/22 min, 48 cm close focus, 1:3.8 magnification, 62 mm filter, ø70×77.7 mm, 400 g, replacing the 28-200/3,8-5,6 Aspherical UC and the 28-200/3,5-5,6 Asph. Hyperzoom (2.7)
• 28-300/3.5-6.3 DG Macro, 15 elements in 13 groups, 8 diaphragm blades, f/22 min, 50 cm close focus, 1:3 magnification, 62 mm filter, ø74×86 mm, 490 g, replacing the 28-300/3,5-5,6 DL (2.7)
• 80-400/4.5-5.6 EX DG OS, 20 elements in 14 groups, 9 blades diaphragm, f/32 min, 180 cm close focus, 1:5 magnification, 77 mm filters, ø95×192 mm, 1750 g
• APO 50-500/4-6.3 EX DG /HSM, 20 elements in 16 groups, 9 diaphragm blades, f/22 min, 100-300 cm close focus, 1:5.2 magnification, 86 mm filters, ø95×218.5 mm, 1840 g. This large and heavy lens has earned the nickname "Bigma".

Tamron

• AF 18-200/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro (Model A14), 15 elements in 13 groups, 45 cm close focus, 1:3.7 magnification, 62 mm filter, ø73.8×83.7 mm, 398 g, 7 blades diaphragm, f/22 min
• AF 18-250 mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro (model A18), f/22 min, 7 blades diaphragm, 16 elements in 13 groups, 45 cm close focus, 1:3.5 magnification, 62 mm filter, ø74.4×84.3 mm, 430 g
• AF 18-270 mm Di-II VC LD Aspherical (IF) Macro (model B003), f/22min, 7 blades diaphragm, 18 elements in 13 groups, 49 cm close focus, 1:3.5 magnification, 72 mm filter, ø79.6×101.0 mm, 550 g
• SP AF 24-135/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF] Macro (Model 190D), 14 elements in 10 groups, 7 blades diaphragm, f/22 min, 0.4 m close focus, 1:3.3 magnification, 72 mm filter, 530 g, ø78.5×80.6 mm
• AF 28-200/3.8-5.6 Super Zoom XR Aspherical (IF) Macro (Model A03) 15 elements in 14 groups, 7 blades diaphragm, f/22 min, 0.49 m close focus, 1:4 magnification, 62 mm filter, 354 g, ø71×75.2 mm; replaced the 28-200/3,8-5,6 LD (IF) Aspherical Super (2.7)
• AF 28-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro (Model A061), 15 elements in 13 groups, 0.49 m close focus, 1:2.9 magnification, 62 mm filter, ø73×83.7 mm, 420 g, 9 blades diaphragm, f/22 min; replaced the 28-300/3,5-6,3 LD Aspherical (IF) (2.6)

Tokina

• 17-135/3.5-5.6 DX
• 24-200/3.5-5.6 AT-X 242 AF, 15 elements in 13 groups including two aspherical and two SD glass, multi-layer coatings, internal focusing, rotary zoom, 6 blades diaphragm, f/22 min, 80 cm close focus, 1:5.97 magnification, 72 mm filter, ø81.8×89 mm, 690 g
• 28-200/3.5-5.3 SZ-X 282 MF, f/22 min, 15 elements in 12 groups, 135 cm close focus, 1:5.5 magnification, 72 mm filter, ø74×109 mm, 690 g
• 35-200/4-5,6 (2.5), the first trans-standard superzoom launched in 1982.
• 35-300/4,5-6,7 (0.3)
• 80-400/4.5-5.6 AT-X840 AF D, 16 elements in 10 groups including one SD glass, f/32 min, multi-layer coatings, 250 cm close focus, 1:5.4 magnification, rotary zoom, 8 diaphragm blades, 72 mm filters, ø77.2×136.5, 1020 g, replacing the previous AT-X 840 AF-II

Vivitar

• 28-210/3,5-5,6 (0.9)
• 28-300/4-6,3 Series 1 (1.3
)
• 28-200/3,8-5,6

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