From the point of view of a novice photographer, the optimal choice for the first time will be a whale camera kit and an object. Standard optics are suitable for any everyday shooting and will allow a beginner amateur photographer to fill his hand. Whale objects often have a universal set of focal lengths and a low "floating" aperture, so that at one point their opportunities for realizing creative potential are not enough. This is where the question of choosing a suitable replacement optics becomes an edge.

For "native" objects with outstanding optical properties for a specific camera system, it is often necessary to pay a tidy sum of money. This approach is followed by almost all venerable giants of the photo industry. The expensive cost of the original models is justified by the one hundred percent compatibility of the objects with the "carcasses" of the corresponding camera lines, without any pitfalls.

Those who want to save money on the purchase of replaceable optics should pay attention to third-party products. Its main competitive advantage is a more affordable pricing policy. A good high-power object from alternative brands can be purchased 1.5-2 times cheaper, while it will give a big boost in terms of picture quality compared to whale optics.

Another common reason for choosing objects from third-party manufacturers is the unique specifications of individual models. According to the set of focal lengths and light intensity, there are simply no rivals for such instances in the park of "native" optics.

The first step of the podium of the best third-party optical builders is deservedly occupied by the Japanese company Sigma Corporation.

Sigma

The range of Sigma objects contains a great variety of offers for all occasions — from all-seeing fisheye lenses to giant long-range "guns" for shooting sports events or timid animals. The release of most objects is adjusted for all common sLR bayonets and many mirrorless systems.

Perhaps the best in the class of alternative optics are the objects of the Sigma Art line. The models delegated from the family are designed with an emphasis on creative types of filming and high artistic expressiveness. The standard aperture for fixed objects Art is f/1.4. Also in the line is the ultra-luminous Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art model and there are a couple of inexpensive lenses with a constant focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8.

Objects from the Sigma Art art line can be identified by the letter "A" in a silver circle on the case.

Some zooms from the Sigma Art line can also boast the highest constant aperture (f/1.8 and f/2.0). According to this parameter, there are simply no equals to such optics in the "native" fleet of objects for common systems. For the most part, models with a variable set of focal lengths have a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and f/4.

Sigma objects from the Contemporary series, which means "Modernity" in English, will serve as an affordable alternative for shooting at the amateur level and the genre of travel photography. Zoom objects from this league cover the most popular focal length ranges, their aperture is often low and "floating". However, the "dark" background of Contemporary models is brightened up by the optical image stabilization system. In the case of fixed objects of group C, it is possible to find options with a high aperture of f/1.4.

Sigma Contemporary's inexpensive objects are addressed to amateur photographers.

Reportage filming and photographing dynamic sporting events are the lot of Sigma Sports long—range "guns". These are large and weighty objects for mirrors and mirrorless mirrors. Such models are several times cheaper than the original optics, without losing to it in terms of image quality.

Popular objects Sigma

Tamron

On the heels of Sigma objects, the optics of a third-party manufacturer Tamron are coming in full force. The bet in the brand's model portfolio is made on the universal nature of zoom objects. In the brand's product park, there are often specimens with focal lengths of 18-200 mm, 18-300 mm and even 18-400 mm. The fee for such a wide zoom range is a small "floating" aperture (f/3.5-6.3). However, all such multi-purpose "station wagons" are equipped with an effective optical image stabilization system.

Models from Tamron with a constant aperture of f/2.8 are a suitable and more affordable alternative to the original objects in wide—angle, standard and TV zoom ranges. And relatively recently, the company began to produce fixed objects with high optical properties and at a reasonable cost. There are no competitors for individual instances of fixes. A vivid example of this is the Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD.

The exclusive "feature" of this fixed object from Tamron is an atypical focal length of 45 mm, supported by a high aperture of f/1.8.

The lion's share of Tamron optics is addressed to owners of SLR cameras with cropped and full-frame image sensors. At the same time, the production of brand objects for Sony E mirrorless bayonet mount has been established and models for Fujifilm X mirrorless guard have begun to appear .

Popular objects Tamron

Tokina

The Japanese company Tokina occupies a niche in the second echelon of manufacturers of optics for mirrorless and partly mirrorless systems. The brand's objects stand out among the representatives of the alternative optics caste due to the democratic cost and exclusive sets of focal lengths.

The best in terms of optical properties are Tokina objects from the AT-X Pro line. The series presents entirely top-end objects with improved optical and mechanical properties and a constant aperture over the entire zoom range. In comparison with the original optics, they cost mere pennies. Wide-angle zoom objects with a light intensity index from f/2 to f/4 prevail in the family.

Top Tokina objects are attributed to the AT-X Pro series.

The price tag for ordinary Tokina objects starts at $300. Without overpaying for the big name of the original brands, photographers get at their disposal high-quality optics with autofocus for many sLR and mirrorless systems.

Popular objects Tokina

Zeiss

The German company Carl Zeiss (since 2013, simply Zeiss) is an elder in the optics industry. The history of the brand goes back to the middle of the XIX century. In modern realities, the brand's objects are highly valued among professional photographers. As a rule, these are expensive high-end optics with outstanding properties and a unique character of the drawing.

Zeiss objects promote the philosophy of thoughtful manual focusing on sharpness. Autofocus on their board is rather an exception to the rule. However, in the spirit of the present time, some models of objects have been made for the Sony E full-frame mirrorless system. They have an autofocus drive and even have an OLED screen for visualizing settings. Similar weapons are found in the Zeiss Batis subfamily.

Zeiss Batis objects have an OLED screen for duplicating the main settings of the photo shoot.

The Zeiss roadmap is formed exclusively from high-power fixed objects with a maximum aperture from f/1.2 to f/2.8. You will not find zooms in the line of thoroughbred "Zeiss" optics. In a separate line, it is necessary to note the close cooperation of German optical manufacturers with Sony — in partnership with these two venerable giants of the photo industry, many interesting copies of objects for Sony mirrorless cameras have been released.

Samyang

The South Korean company Samyang has a reputation as a well-known manufacturer of non-autofocus objects for most SLR and mirrorless digital cameras, including a specialized "cinematic" line for video shooting. Since 2016, the first autofocus "swallows" began to appear in the brand's portfolio.

Samyang objects are often chosen for use in the genre of video production.

Samyang specializes in the production of high-power fixed objects. Almost all models of the brand are presented in versions for "running" bayonet mounts, including for the "dying look" of the Pentax K. In addition to its own name, the brand's products can be found on the shelves of photo stores with nameplates Rokinon, Bower, Vivitar, etc.

Popular objects Samyang

Yongnuo

In addition to the standard zoom object of the camera, inexpensive fixes of the Chinese brand Yongnuo are often bought. Their acquisition allows you to expand your creative horizons with minimal financial injections. Yongnuo objects are from the category of "cheap and angry". It is worth giving preference to the brand's products if you want to expand the optics fleet and there is no money to buy top-end lenses.

Yongnuo autofocus optics is a cheap entrance ticket to the photographic arena.

Yongnuo models provide acceptable image quality, can offer high aperture (f/1.8) and are equipped with an autofocus system. They are produced for amateur Canon and Nikon DSLRs with APS-C format sensor.

7Artisans

Optics from the Chinese company 7Artisans is located approximately on the same level with the objects of Yongnuo. The brand name was chosen for a reason — at the time of launch in 2016, the company "artisans" had only 7 people. The objects of 7Artisans quickly came to the public. Structurally, they are adapted versions of the well-known optical circuits authored by Leica and Zeiss.

The young company 7Artisans recently broke into the segment of interchangeable optics for cameras, but has already managed to win an army of loyal fans thanks to a winning combination of cost and image quality.

One of the advantages of the brand's optics is the lack of autofocus. So the photographer will have to focus on sharpness the old-fashioned way, i.e. manually. 7Artisans fixed objects are suitable for thoughtful and unhurried shooting of portraits, landscapes and static subjects.

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Objects from third—party manufacturers are good means of saving financial resources. With the right choice of alternative optics, you can get a non-acid boost as an image or even get exclusive models without direct competitors in the original fleet of objects.