The Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM (SAL500F40G) is a professional grade super-telephoto lens for A-mount SLR and SLT cameras. Billed as the longest fixed-focal-length G lens from Sony to date, the Sony G 500mm f/4 SSM includes 11 elements in 10 groups, including three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements. It’s also the first G lens from Sony to benefit from an advanced new coating process that ensures crisper, clearer images. Exclusive to Sony, the Nano AR Coating process is claimed to cut internal reflections “drastically”. The lens’ SSM (SuperSonic-wave Motor) features a new drive circuit that ensures rapid, responsive AF with significantly faster object tracking than conventional Sony lenses. Four focus hold buttons are spaced around the lens barrel for easy operation in any position. They’re complemented by a two-way DMF (Direct Manual Focus) mode button and focus range switch. Focusing ring and front/rear joints are protected by interlocking seals that ensure a high degree of protection from the elements. Built to order, the SAL500F40G super-telephoto lens from Sony is available in the UK from April 2012.

Olympus has announced the development of two new prime lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 is a telemacro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1. Housed in a dust- and splashproof body, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro is designed to complement the similarly rugged Olympus OM-D camera (but can, of course, also be mounted to any other Micro Four Thirds body). The M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 (pictured) is an ultra-bright telephoto lens with a full-metal exterior, designed primarily for portraiture, indoor sports and low-light photography. Mock-ups of both lenses will be on display at the CP+ Photo and Camera Imaging Show in Yokohama, Japan from 9-12 February. The prices and precise launch dates will be announced later in the year.

The Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 is an ultra-bright moderate wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds. Like its highly regarded stablemate, the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f0.95, this is a manual-focus lens with an all-metal exterior. The Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 has a 10-bladed iris diaphragm and features an aperture ring with stepless aperture control. The optical formula comprises 13 lens elements arranged in 9 groups, including aspherical and ultra-high-refractive-index glass elements. Available from March, the Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 has a close-focus point of 15cm, and carries an MSRP of ¥ 118,000 in Japan.

Source: Cosina Voigtländer

Pentax is displaying new interchangeable lenses and camera accessories that are currently under development at the Japanese camera show, CP+ 2012. On show will be the smc PENTAX-D FA645 90mm f/2.8 medium-format lens, smc PENTAX-DA 560mm f/5.6 and smc PENTAX-DA 50mm f/1.8 K-mount lenses, telephoto zoom lens and standard lens with “body cap” design for the Pentax Q system, super-thin interchangeable lens for the K-01 compact system camera, and a lens adapter for mounting a K-mount lens onto a Q-mount body. Names and prices of these products will be confirmed at a later date.

Canon has updated its EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM to Mark II, and introduced two new image stabilised wide-angle primes. The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM ($2,299.00) features an all-new optical design that’s claimed to deliver exceptional sharpness and reduced aberrations thanks to the inclusion of both ultra-low-dispersion and super ultra-low-dispersion elements. Other highlights include a dust/moisture resistant construction, fast and silent AF with manual focus override and a nine-bladed circular aperture - but no image stabilisation. The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM ($849.99, pictured) is a medium-high-speed ultra-wideangle prime with Super Spectra coatings, ultrasonic focus motor and a circular aperture. The other new fixed-focal lens, the CanonEF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM ($799.99), has a similar feature set but a slightly tighter field of view. Unlike the zoom, both primes feature image stabilisation offering a claimed 4-stop advantage over lenses without IS.

Tamron has announced the development of a new fast, optically stabilised, splashproof standard zoom for full-frame cameras. The Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD will feature the manufacturer’s Vibration Compensation (VC) technology and an ultrasonic focus motor for quiet AF operation. The optical formula comprises 17 lens elements in 12 groups, including three low-dispersion, two high-refractive-index and three glass-moulded aspherical elements as well as a hybrid aspherical element; and an iris diaphragm with nine rounded aperture blades. As the world’s first 24-70mm f/2.8 lens with VC technology, the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD will be available in Canon and Nikon fit. A special A-mount version with no Vibration Compensation will be marketed to Sony DSLR users. Pricing and availability to be communicated.

Lensbaby has launched a new set of macro photography accessories for its lens bodies and optics. The Lensbaby Macro Converters are available as a kit containing one 8mm converter and one 16mm converter, which can also be stacked together to make a 24mm converter. The existing Lensbaby Macro Kit (which features a +4 and +10 macro filter) can also be used in conjunction with the Macro Converters with the Double Glass, Single Glass, Plastic and Soft Focus Optics for an even closer capture. The new Lensbaby Macro Converters are available now for $50 from the website below.

At the CP+ trade show, Kenko Tokina will be showing a mock-up of its newest full-frame lens, the Tokina SD 70-200mm f/4 (IF) FX. This constant-aperture telephoto zoom features a ring-type ultrasonic focus motor and optical image stabilisation. Measuring 168x80mm (length x maximum diameter), the Tokina AT-X Pro SD 70-200mm f/4 (IF) FX lens is a bit thicker but nearly 5mm shorter than Canon’s popular EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM. Additionally, the Tokina lens can focus somewhat closer (its close-focus point is at a distance of 1m from the sensor plane), although its maximum magnification is unknown at the time being. The release date and MSRP have not yet been revealed either.

Source: Kenko Tokina

Kenko Tokina has announced yet another mirror lens for Micro Four Thirds. Measuring only 66x66mm (length x diameter) and weighing in at only 300 grams, the Tokina 300mm f/6.3 is a lot more compact than the longer but slower Kenko 400mm f/8, which was also announced recently. Like its bigger brother - and the vast majority of mirror lenses -, the Tokina 300mm f/6.3 is a manual-focus lens with a fixed aperture. The lens takes 55mm filters, focuses down to 0.8m and offers a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2. The recommended retail price has not been revealed yet.

Source: Kenko Tokina

Fujifilm USA has announced the recommended retail price of the new Fujifilm X-Pro1 compact system camera and three Fujinon XF lenses. The body-only price of the X.Pro1 camera is $1,699.95, the Fujinon XF 18mm f2 and 35mm f/1.4 lenses will cost $599.95 each, while the Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 Macro will set you back $649.95. The Fujifilm X-Pro1 camera body and lenses will be available at the end of February.

The new Tokina AT-X 17-35mm f/4 Pro FX full-frame wide zoom is now on sale in the United Kingdom. Available in Canon and Nikon fit, the Tokina AT-X 17-35mm f/4 Pro FX has an optical formula that comprises 13 elements arranged in 12 groups, and comes with a nine-bladed iris diaphragm. Notable features include an angle-of-view range of 103.96° -64.74°, a rubber seal around the lens mount, and Tokina’s exclusive one-tocuh focus clutch mechanism that allows the photographer to switch between AF and MF simply by snapping the focus ring forward for AF and back toward the camera to focus manually. Both the Canon and the Nikon versions come with a silent, high-precision AF motor. The Tokina AT-X 17-35mm f/4 Pro FX lens is available from Kenro for £829.99.

As well as unveiling the new K-01 compact system camera and new 40mm pancake F2.8 lens, Pentax have also unveiled their K-Mount lens roadmap for 2012 and 2013.

Shown at today’s UK K-01 press launch, the roadmap predicts that 3 new lenses will be released in 2012 - a DA Standard lens, DA High Magnification Zoom lens, and a DA Telephoto lens.

In 2013 4 new lenses will make an appearance - the DA Zoom Limited, DA Tele Zoom, DA Wide Zoom and DA Zoom, with a new DA AF RC 1.4x teleconvertor too.

A Pentax UK spokesperson was keen to point out this roadmap is subject to change.

Kenko Tokina has announced the upcoming release of the new Kenko 400mm f8 mirror lens for Micro Four Thirds and Sony’s NEX system. Being only 112mm in length, the Kenko 400mm f8 is rather compact for a super-telephoto lens. Like the majority of existing mirror lenses, this is a manual-focus lens with a fixed aperture and a machined aluminium barrel. The Kenko 400mm f/8 takes 67mm filters, and can focus down to 1.15m, at which point it offers an impressive reproduction ratio of 1:2.5. The lens will be released in Japan this Thursday, with pricing to be communicated.

Tokina has announced a new version of its 11-16mm f/2.8 DX lens. Available for Nikon (in March) and Canon (July), the Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX Ⅱ 11-16mm f/2.8 (IF) Aspherical comes with a newly developed Silent Drive Motor for quiet auto focus and a GMR magnetic AF sensor similar to the one found in the 16-28mm FX lens. The optical formula comprises 13 lens elements arranged in 11 groups, including aspherical and ultra-low-dispersion elements as well as improved multi-coating. In Japan, the lens carries an MSRP of 90,000 yen including a petal-shaped hood but excluding taxes.

Source: Tokina

Panasonic has announced upcoming firmware updates for the Lumix GX1 and G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. lens. The GX1 firmware update shall improve AWB performance, enhance the performance of the AF-F and AF-C focus modes, improve operational stability with UHS-I compliant memory cards, add Step Zoom and Zoom Speed to the options selectable via the Fn button and the Q menu, and more. The firmware update for the lens will improve the performance of the optical image stabiliser. The firmware updates will be available in the end of January at Panasonic’s Customer Support Site.

A detailed hands-on look at Sigma’s new lenses and a tour of their CES 2012 booth.

Sigma have introduced their first compact system camera lenses - the 19mm f/2.8 EX DN and the 30mm f/2.8 EX DN - for both the Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX systems.

Sigma haven’t gone down the pancake lens route, instead aiming for a bigger size in the interests of maintaining image quality at the edge of the frame, and they’;ve also chosen focal lengths that fit into the current lens ranges of Panasonic / Olympus and Sony.

We’ve got an extensive hands-on gallery, including shots of the 30mm lens mounted on a new Panasonic Lumix GX1 body.

Sigma have also released the APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens, but unfortunately the only sample at CES was stolen on the first day of the show!

So take a closer look at Sigma’s new lenses and their CES stand in our photo gallery.

Fujifilm have officially revealed their X-Lens roadmap at an exclusive briefing at CES 2012.

Covering 2012 and 2013, Fujifilm are set to release six new lenses in addition to the 18mm, 35mm and 60mm optics that were announced alongside the X-Pro1 body.

A super-wideangle 14mm and 18-72mm f/4 IS lens are due in 2012, with a 28m f/2.8 pancake and 23mm f/2 primes to follow in 2013. Also set to be released next year are two zooms - the 70-200mm F/4 OIS and 12-24mm F/4 OIS.

Fujifilm stressed that the X-Lens roadmap is subject to change in response to feedback once the X-Pro1 is in photographers’ hands.

Panasonic have unveiled two new concept lenses, the 12-35mm and 35-100mm, at CES 2012.

Being shown under glass, the Lumix 12-35mm (24-70mm equivalent) and 35-100mm (70-200mm equivalent)  are both Power O.I.S lenses with maximum apertures of f/2.8, and they accept 58mm filters.

Other than a prominent sign stating “Concept Lens” behind each one, there’s no other information on if or when they will see the light of day.

Click through to see some larger images.

Successor to Sigma’s earlier, slower 180mm F3.5 EX DG macro lens, the new APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is billed as the world’s first 180mm f/2.8 macro lens with a 1:1 reproduction ratio. In addition to the faster maximum aperture, the new lens also offers optical image stabilisation and a quiet “hypersonic” AF motor. Three “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass elements, which have a performance equal to fluorite glass, are included to provide correction for colour aberrations, while the Super Multi-Layer Coating is claimed to reduce flare and ghosting. The Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens has a rounded nine-blade diaphragm to create an attractive blur to the image’s out-of-focus areas. Note that unlike the two other Sigma lenses announced today, this is a “traditional” SLR lens. Pricing and availability to be confirmed.

The Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN (“Digital Neo”) is a new fixed-focal-length lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) and Sony NEX users. Comprising 8 elements in 6 groups, the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN has an angle of view of 59.3 degrees on MFT and 73.5 degrees on an E-mount camera. This lens benefits from a newly developed linear AF motor which moves the lens elements directly without the need for gears or the drive of other mechanical parts, and comes with a non-rotating 46mm filter thread. The Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN features a rounded 7 blade diaphragm creating an attractive blur to the out of focus areas of the image. This Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm/7.9in and a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:7.4. Pricing and availability have yet to be communicated.