12 Lenses of Christmas: A Festive Look Back at 2025's Top Gear
The holiday season is in full swing, and it's time to reflect on the year's best camera gear. For 12 days, we'll revisit lenses we reviewed and tested on DCW. Let's kick things off with the highlights from January 2025.
Ultra-Wide and Light
The Pergear 12mm f/2 II APS-C lens, unveiled at the stroke of midnight, is 25% lighter than its predecessor. This revised aluminum structure gives it a feather-like 230g build, making it a great option for Canon RF-S, Nikon Z DX, Fujifilm X, and Sony E mount cameras.
Fast Primes for APS-C
January brought a flurry of fast new primes for APS-C format cameras, offering 'effective' focal lengths of around 35mm. The Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.7 Air, compatible with Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fujifilm X cameras, joins the Viltrox Air series, which already includes 20mm, 35mm, 40mm, and 56mm options. It's super-lightweight and budget-friendly.
The Yongnuo YN23mm f/1.4 DA DSM WL Pro, a chunkier option, also offers high-end features like an aperture ring and dual function buttons, making it a versatile choice for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fujifilm X cameras.
Budget-Friendly Options
The TTArtisan AF 23mm f/1.8 is a super-cheap lens for Fujifilm X-mount cameras, with Nikon Z and Sony E versions on the way. The 7Artisans AF 27mm f/2.8 II, available in the same mount options, offers a longer focal length at a competitive price.
Viltrox's Chip Lens
Viltrox followed up on the Sony version of its Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 with a Fujifilm X edition, dubbed a 'chip lens' for its ultra-thin design.
Pancake Prime
The SG-image 18mm f/6.3 is barely thicker than a camera's body cap, weighing just 78g. It's available for Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm APS-C cameras, as well as Micro Four Thirds systems.
Canon RF Owners Rejoice
January brought a game-changer for Canon EOS R owners: Sigma's first RF-S lenses, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary and Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, offering wide primes for a budget-friendly price.
Full-Frame Action
The 7Artisans 18mm f/5.6 is a lightweight, affordable full-frame lens for Sony E, Nikon Z, and L-mount cameras. The Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical, available for Nikon Z, complements the Sony E version released late in 2024.
Canon R-System Zoom
The Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM joins the 'alternative trinity' of compact, lightweight, and affordable f/2.8 zooms, catering to Canon R-system users.
Unique Lenses
We reviewed the Samyang Remaster Slim 3-in-1 pancake lens, praised for its uniqueness, and the Blazar Cato Anamorphic lenses, delivering full-frame anamorphic quality cine lenses on a budget.
Looking Ahead
For more best-in-class glass, explore our guides for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony, Fujifilm, and Micro Four Thirds lenses. Dive into medium format with Fujifilm GF and Hasselblad lenses.
Matthew Richards, a seasoned photographer and journalist, brings his expertise to Digital Camera World, reviewing lenses and equipment with a keen eye for detail.
