As I look back over the past 12 months of camera gear and accessory launches, what strikes me is how strong a year this has been for new lenses.
It’s not like there’s been a shortage of new cameras in 2025, but it’s in the lens market that design innovation has impressed me the most, with multiple first-of-a-kind optics, and new players emerging as impressive alternatives to leading camera brands.
Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM
- Release date: April 22
- Verdict: 5 / 5
I wasn’t initially convinced by the specs of Sony’s 50-150mm F2 GM, nor its premium price tag, but once it was in my hand I was so impressed that I awarded it five stars out of five in my in-depth review. It also took the title of the Best Camera Lens in the 2025 TechRadar Choice Awards 2025, scoring the most votes from our readers and expert TechRadar team alike.
I even described the 50-150mm F2 GM as a lens “worth switching systems for” – high praise indeed. So what makes Sony’s unique pro zoom stand out?
Users will appreciate the constant f/2 max aperture whatever the focal length, which makes the 50-150mm a dream lens for events, weddings and portraiture. Focus is fast and silent, optical quality is top drawer whatever the lens settings, and bokeh is dreamy. Besides missing out on optical stabilization (and the matter of that heavy price tag), the Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM is essentially flawless. I’ve never been more jealous of Sony shooters.
Read my Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM review
Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM sample photos
Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
- Release date: August 22
- Verdict: 5 / 5
I didn’t think Nikon’s original Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens needed a successor, but when the mark II version landed in August it improved on the superb original in multiple ways, and is arguably the finest standard professional zoom lens available from any brand.
I own the original model and I’m more than happy with it, so it’s all the more impressive that Nikon has been able to improve on the 24-70mm f/2.8 S in several ways. The new mark II version features an internal zoom which means the lens barrel doesn’t extend as you zoom, and in my book that improved robustness is welcome, especially for the demanding shoots for which that I would typically use this lens, like events. The new version is also now the lightest 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for any full-frame camera, so more points to Nikon there.
As for image quality, it’s fractionally better than the original, and pin-sharp from edge to edge at any setting. Bokeh is smooth, sunstars are crisp, and distortions are non-existent. Autofocus is snappier too. I’m still not about to sell my original 24-70mm f2.8 to upgrade, but that’s no reflection on a lens that scores top marks in every metric (and which has already dropped in price).
Read my Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II review
Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II sample gallery
OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro
- Release date: September 10
- Verdict: 5 / 5
The world’s first 100-400mm (equivalent) lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture across its zoom range is truly special. I first got to try the 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro out at a wetland center in the UK which is home to an abundance of birdlife, and was immediately impressed by the lens’ versatility and quality. Even better, its reach can be further extended with a 1.4x teleconverter to create a 560mm f/4, or a 2x teleconverter for a 800mm f/5.6.
OM System doubled down on its outdoor photography credentials, ensuring the 50-200mm is properly weather sealed, something that’s helped by an internal zoom. Pair it with a camera like the OM-1 II and you have a super-lightweight setup considering what the combo is capable of, including smart subject-detection autofocus, rapid burst shooting, and phenomenal image stabilization performance.
Fussy bokeh in certain scenarios, such as backlit macro photography shots, was a slight letdown, but otherwise the pin-sharp optical quality seriously impresses. There’s a severe leap in price from the 40-150mm F2.8, but I think this new zoom is worth every penny. It’s an incredible lens, especially for wildlife photography, with decent close-focusing skills adding extra shine. I’d go so far to say as this lens tops my wishlist, being the one that would make the biggest difference to my own setup.
Read my OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro review
OM System 50-200mm F2.8 sample gallery
Viltrox 135mm F1.8 LAB
- Release date: March 19 (Z-mount, late 2024 for Sony E-mount)
- Verdict: 4.5 / 5
Viltrox is rightly gaining a solid reputation as a high-quality, affordable alternative to pricey proprietary lenses, and fully deserves to be featured in this article. We’ve reviewed several of the Chinese lens maker’s optics, including the five star 35mm F1.2 LAB, but it was the 135mm F1.8 LAB for full-frame cameras that impressed me the most.
Perhaps it was because I had previously tested the Nikon 135mm f/1.8 S Plena and declared it my dream portrait lens, only for Viltrox to pull it’s own version out the bag for just 30% of the asking price.
Yes, the Viltrox version is weightier, but beyond that there’s really not all that much to choose between to the two, except for the huge gap in price. Viltrox currently makes lenses first for Sony E-mount, and a number of those also are made for Nikon Z and Fujifilm X-mount further down the line.
Viltrox also joined the L-mount alliance in September, and so we should expect further options for its most popular lenses, one of which is 2025’s impossibly small 28mm F4.5 pancake. My hope for 2026 is that Viltrox branches out from primes and into high-quality zoom lenses.
Read my Viltrox 135mm F1.8 LAB review
Viltrox 135mm F1.8 LAB sample gallery
Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM
- Release date: November 6
- Verdict: Not yet rated
The one lens in this roundup that I’m yet to get my hands on is the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM, which is a never-before-seen f/1.2 prime lens without Canon’s pro ‘L’ moniker or premium price tag. This is Canon sticking one back to cheap Chinese alternatives.
I know it won’t be up to the same standard as a pricey pro prime equivalent like the RF 35mm F1.4L VCM – even the sample images provided by Canon demonstrate pronounced lens distortion (see below) – but it doesn’t need to. What the 45mm F1.2 STM does is bring a super-bright-aperture prime, with its shallow depth of field potential, to beginners who would otherwise be priced out of owning such a lens.
Canon deserves kudos here – of all the leading camera brands, it’s the one that’s giving the widest camera and lens choice for users of all experience levels and budgets, from the award-winning pro EOS R5 Mark II to the EOS R100 (which is the cheapest mirrorless camera available) and now this cheap f/1.2 prime.
Canon is full of surprises, and while it continues to keep its full-frame RF lens mount closed to third parties, a lens like this finally makes that strategy feel justified.
Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM sample gallery
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Other outstanding lenses for 2025
