Your camera deserves great glass here are 5 of the best new optics I've tested in 2026, from Canon, Sony, Nikon and more

Date:
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:22:42 +0000

Description:
I get just as excited about new lenses as I do about new cameras, and these 5 new optics for 2026 were a real treat to review.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Any serious photographer knows the importance of great glass. And while I've had the personal pleasure of testing the best cameras for 2026 so far , innovative lenses get me even more excited.

Only a true macro lens can bring the insect kingdom to life, or a telephoto optic get you close to distant wildlife, or a fast prime bag you punchy portraits with dreamy bokeh. With that in mind, I regularly review the latest lenses as well as cameras, and I've played with some real crackers this year. These include Sony 's overdue macro lens upgrade, Sigma's world first 135mm with an f/1.4 aperture, Viltrox's impossibly tiny 28mm f/4.5, Canon 's affordable f/1.2 prime, and Nikon's fabulous 70-200mm F2.8 Mark II. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

Each of the above lenses serve different use cases, and they come in at
varied price points, starting at just $99 / 90 / AU$169. Let's dive into my top five lenses for 2026 so far Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 Image 1 of 7 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) Release date: Staggered release for various mounts Lens mount: Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X Verdict: 4/5 The Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 was first launched in 2025 for Sony E-mount, but it has been released for various lens mounts in 2026, including Nikon Z and Fujifilm X. I expect an L-mount version will land soon. You may like I've been testing cameras for over 15 years here are my 5 personal favorites for 2026 so far The best mirrorless cameras, based on in-depth testing Best Sony lenses:
we've tested top lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras

It's an impossibly small wide-angle prime considering that it features autofocus, full communication with the camera, and an impressively fast f/4.5 aperture. It's so small, in fact measuring just 15.3mm in length and
weighing just 2.1oz / 60g that I'd describe it more as a body-cap lens than
a pancake lens, with a neat sliding lens cover, and it costs just $99 / 90 / AU$169, with occasional sales knocking 10% or so off the price.

I'd describe image quality as characterful rather than technically precise, with detail being fairly soft in the corners, and some obvious vignetting. In the center of shots, however, it's actually pretty sharp. It's a full-frame lens, but the Viltrox 28mm F4.5 actually makes even more sense for Sony,
Nikon and Fujifilm's APS-C cameras, because the 1.5x crop effectively transforms the lens into a 42mm optic, plus the softer corners are outside
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The Viltrox lens is so small and so cheap that it's a zero risk purchase, and one that I'd happily keep on my camera instead of a body cap and for quick everyday snaps.

Read my Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 review 90 at Amazon 90 at Amazon (Black) 90 at Amazon 90 at Wex Photo Video Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Dan Mold) (Image credit: Dan Mold) (Image credit: Dan Mold) Release date: January 31 (announced late 2025) Lens mount: Sony E, L-mount Verdict: 5/5 World-first is a term that's banded around a lot, usually with caveats, but Sigma's pro portrait prime is a true first a 135mm lens with a maximum f/1.4 aperture. I've tested my fair share of 135mm f/1.8 lenses recently, including the Viltrox 135mm and Nikon Plena , while Sigma has its own that's now nine years old, but Sigma's latest offering has an even faster aperture and creamier bokeh for the ultimate portrait photography quality. What to
read next I tried Sonys 400-800mm super telephoto zoom lens for bird photography now I'm hooked I tried Sony's new 100-400mm f/4.5 GM you have
no excuse for missing that shot now The best camera for photography

It's a beast of a lens, mind you, weighing 50.4oz / 1,430g, and with a
massive front lens element and 105mm filter thread. If you're willing to lug the lens around, though, you'll be rewarded with "razor-sharp detail" and "stunning shallow depth of field", as we noted in our in-depth review, with the lens earning a perfect five-star rating.

Currently the Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art is available for Sony E and L-mount cameras; pro Nikon photographers can only hope that a Z-mount version is on the way soon.

Read my Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art review 1,649 at Wex Photo Video 1,649 at London Camera Exchange 1,649 at Park Cameras 1,649 at Dorothy Perkins UK (Black) Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Dan Mold) (Image credit: Dan Mold) (Image credit: Dan Mold) Release date: January 15 Lens mount: Sony E Verdict: 5/5 If there was a Sony E-mount lens that needed updating, it was the 10-year-old Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Sony's only true macro lens. Thankfully, 2026 delivered the new Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS, and it's a notable improvement on the 90mm original in just about every regard.

With "improved optics, faster autofocus, steadier stabilization, greater magnification, increased zoom and teleconverter compatibility", we concluded in our review that the new Sony 100mm is "the go-to macro lens for Sony working pros who make an income from close-up pictures, whether its product photography, still life, flat lays or macro nature shots".

Key features include the new maximum magnification, which was upped from 1x
to 1.4x, plus its compatibility with teleconverters to further extend its reach. Compared to Sony's other macro lens, the new 100mm macro is in another league, and very much merited its five-star review rating. It's not the first optic of its kind Canon walked this path years before with its own 100mm macro with 1.4x magnification. Still, Sony photographers finally have the macro lens their cameras deserve.

Read my Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS review 1,349 at Clifton Cameras 1,399 at Sony UK 1,399 at Amazon (Black) 1,399 at Jessops Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) Release date: November 6 (reviewed in March 2026) Lens mount: Canon RF Verdict: 3.5/5
What's this now an affordable f/1.2 prime lens from Canon? Pick my jaw off the floor. True, it's far from being a perfect lens, but Canon's 45mm F1.2
STM makes a fast aperture and the attendant shallow depth of field potential available to beginners who would otherwise be priced out of owning such a lens.

We gave the lens a 3.5 star-rating because of its optical flaws; there's significant chromatic aberration and "swirly distracting bokeh". It doesn't even come with a lens hood. However, we've got to respect what this lens represents, and Canon for delivering it.

Not only is this the most affordable proprietary f/1.2 full-frame lens for
any lens mount, but Canon also makes the most affordable mirrorless cameras.
I can see the 45mm F1.2 STM pairing nicely with an entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera such as the EOS RP and EOS R8 , and even with an APS-C
model like the EOS R100, on which you're getting an effective 70mm lens (approx).

Where rival brands are typically ignoring beginners and putting their efforts into high-end gear, Canon is regularly delivering new cameras and lenses for all budgets and skill levels.

Read my Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM review 407 at Amazon 479 at Clifton Cameras
479 at Wex Photo Video 479.99 at very.co.uk (Black) Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S II Image 1 of 7 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Release date: February 23 Verdict: 5/5 If there's one lens for 2026 that I desperately want to add to
my bag permanently, it would be the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S II. Granted, I'm a Nikon shooter who regularly works at these focal lengths, who is also in need of upgrading (I still use the DSLR version of this lens via an adapter), but that's not to take away from what I called a "flawless" telephoto zoom.

It follows the 24-70mm f2.8 S II in being a second-generation upgrade of what was already an excellent Z-mount zoom lens, bringing a lighter build, fully removable tripod collar and teleconverter compatibility. The lighter design
is thanks to an entirely new optical design that's somehow simpler and
sharper at the same time, while also improving close-focusing capabilities.

There's probably not enough reason for owners of the original Z-mount
70-200mm to upgrade, especially given the jump in price, but for everyone
else there's arguably no greater 70-200mm f/2.8 available and it's the kind of lens I've relied on for so many shoots down the years. With the Mark II version now available, I finally feel like it's time to upgrade from my aged DSLR lens.

Read my Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S II review 2,999 at Wex Photo 2,999 at Park Cameras Check Amazon What do you think of the lenses above? Are there any other new lenses that appeared in 2026 that you particularly like? Have you say in the comments. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a
preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Today's best Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM, Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE, Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 Macro GM OSS, Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art and Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II deals Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM 407 View See all prices Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE 90 View See all prices Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 Macro GM OSS 1,399 View See all prices Sigma 135mm f/1.4 DG Art 1,649 View See all prices Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II 2,999 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices



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