Sigma has announced availability and pricing details for its 60mm f/2.8 DN lens in the US. First revealed at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show in Japan earlier this year, the 60mm F2.8 is a new focal length in the Sigma lineup for both Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount camera systems. It joins Sigma’s other DN lenses for MILCs: the 19mm F2.8 DN and the 30mm F2.8 DN. Featuring Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass, which helps minimise axial and transverse chromatic aberration, the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN offers a minimum focusing distance of 19.7 inches and a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:7.2. The new 60mm F2.8 DN Art lens will hit shelves mid-May at an estimated street price of $239.

To celebrate National Photo Month, Pentax Ricoh Americas have announced significant savings on numerous products. The promotional offers include several price drops and consumer instant rebates on a variety of compact and interchangeable-lens cameras as well as lenses. Click through / read on for the details.

Intro2020 has announced availability and pricing details for the Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC tilt-shift lens in the United Kingdom. Manufactured in Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony A. fittings - with Canon M, Fujifilm X, Samsung NX, Pentax and Sony E-mount versions coming soon -, the lens has an optical formula comprising 16 lens elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses and two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements. Each optical component has been covered with multi-layered, anti-reflective UMC coatings, which are claimed to provide superb light transmission, high contrast and natural colours. The tilt-shift function in the Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC allows for tilt and swing movements up to +/-8.5° and enables shift, rise and fall movements of up to +/-12 mm. The Tilt-Shift section may be rotated left by 90° (with 30° adjustment), while the lens mount may be rotated both ways by 90° (in 30° increments). The Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC tilt-shift lens will be available from mid-May, at a suggested retail price of £949.99 including VAT.

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. Micro Four Thirds lens looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

The Panasonic Lumix G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. is a new 28-280mm equivalent superzoom lens for Micro Four Thirds system cameras. Significantly lighter and more compact than Panasonic's previous 14-140mm lens, the new Lumix G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER OIS is capable of taking maximum advantage of cameras with high-speed AF such as the Panasonic GH3 and the new Lumix G6. Incorporating the manufacturer's POWER O.I.S. optical image stabiliser, the new lens is also optimised for HD video recording. The new Panasonic Lumix G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. lens will be available from the end of June, priced at £599.

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is an exciting new standard zoom lens for APS-C DSLR owners. Offering a short focal length of 27-52.5mm in the 35mm format, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM’s most interesting innovation is its constant aperture of f/1.8 throughout the zoom range. Whereas most standard zoom lenses, even the more expensive optics, offer a maximum aperture of f/2.8, Sigma’s new lens offers a faster shutter speed and even shallower depth of field. The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM could effectively replace a fast 28mm, 35mm and 50mm prime lens in your camera bag, although it doesn’t offer the mild telephoto reach that a lot of standard zooms offer.

Want to see exactly what the new Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 lens, which is the first zoom lens ever to have a constant aperture of f/1.8 throughout its 27-52.5mm equivalent range.

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is the first zoom lens ever to achieve a maximum aperture of f1.8 throughout the zoom range. Offering a focal range equivalent to 27-52.5mm in the 35mm format, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is standard zoom-lens for digital single lens reflex cameras with APS-C size sensors. The 9 blade rounded diaphragm creates an attractive round bokeh at large-aperture settings, while the HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function. The price and availability of the new Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM lens are still to be announced.

Fujifilm has released 9 sample photos taken using the brand-new Fujinon XF55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS lens. Shot on the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and X-E1 cameras at a variety of f-stops ranging from f/4.5 to f/9, these official Fujinon XF55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS samples are available as full-resolution JPEGs. You can download the sample pictures from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm - Fujinon XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Sample Photos

Fuji has just unveiled its first telephoto zoom lens for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and X-E1 compact system cameras. The Fujinon XF55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS is a stabilised, mid-speed telezoom boasting two linear motors for high-speed AF of 0.28 seconds. Equivalent to a 84-305mm optic in a 35mm system, the Fujinon XF55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS features 2 ED lens elements including one Super ED lens element that boasts performance equivalent to that of fluorite lenses and comes with Fujinon’s proprietary “HT-EBC Coating” on the entire lens surface to control flare and ghosting. The focus ring and aperture ring are made from metal and have been designed to have a high quality feel, with the benefit of being extra robust. At the launch of the XF55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS lens, Fujifilm will upgrade the firmware for both the X-Pro1 and X-E1 cameras. “Thanks to a new algorithm, the firmware will be able to harness the full capability of the lens enabling both cameras to search the contrast AF quickly throughout the full range of focal lengths,” the company claims.

Sigma UK has announced availability and pricing for its new USB Dock and 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM lens. The USB Dock (£39.99, pictured) allows users of the company’s new, USB-enabled lenses to update their lenses’ firmware and customise the working of the auto focus. The new Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM telephoto zoom lens (£3599.99) is a dust- and splashproof professional lens with a constant maximum aperture, optical stabilisation, USB docking, hypersonic motor and a focus limiter. Both products will go on sale in the UK at the beginning of May.

Canon is developing a new 35mm cinema prime lens for large-sensor digital cameras. Compatible with a wide range of sensor sizes including super 35mm, full-frame 35mm and APS-C, the new EF-mount 35mm lens in development would become the sixth prime lens in Canon’s EF Cinema lens line-up, fulfilling the requirement for an option between the existing 24mm and 50mm lenses. A development sample of the 35mm cinema lens will be on display in the Canon booth during the 2013 NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 8-11, 2013, with the aim of an official launch during 2013.

Developed by LockCircle, the Prime Circle XE System is a complete range of innovative prime lenses with electronic aperture and wireless control up to 300 feet. Prime Circle XE lenses blend world-class optics (Carl Zeiss) with cine-style ergonomics complete with dedicated XE and XE-Z wireless controllers and an FZ intelligent mount. Available in 10 different focal lengths from 15mm to 135mm, PrimeCircle XE lenses feature large focus scales on both sides of lens barrel for precise focus-puller work and a 95mm front mount across the range. The lenses will be on display at the NAB 2013 show, in Booth # C 9921.

Pentax has launched a new spotting scope kit that will enable users to attach any Pentax digital SLR camera for digiscoping purposes. The PR-80 EDA spotting scope (£1,249.99) features a double-ED objective lens and FBMC (Fully Balanced Multi Coating) on all lenses with enhanced light transmission and resolution values for superior colour, contrast and brightness. The PR-80 EDA lit is argon-purged, fully water- and dustproof, and unusually compact. The adapter that will allow for the attachment of a DSLR is currently under development. By means of this adapter, the spotting scope can be “converted” into a high-power telephoto lens. The estimated focal length will be around 1500mm, the company says.

Schneider Kreuznach has launched a completely new series of full-frame lenses, the “Xenon full-frame primes.” Developed specifically for video enabled DSLRs (but also usable on professional cine cameras), the series initially comprises three fixed focal lengths: T2.1/35mm, T2.1/50mm and T2.1/75mm. The lenses support 4K Ultra HD video resolution and can also be used for stills photography. Cinematographers will be pleased to learn that they are all compatible with standard professional cine accessories like rigs, follow focus or matte boxes. Each Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon full-frame prime lens features a maximum aperture of T2.1, an iris diaphragm with 14 rounded blades, an M95 filter thread, robust cine-style lens mechanics and a focus ring with a 300° angle of rotation. For more information, visit the website below.

The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is a new standard zoom for the manufacturer’s APS-C digital SLR cameras, featuring near-silent STM technology optimised for focussing in live view and video modes. Other highlights include optical image stabilisation, an iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades, a non-rotating front element, Super Spectra coating and a close-focus point of 25cm. The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM will be available from late April, at suggested retail prices of £239.99 / €299.99 / $249.99.

Amazon has recently added a new tool helping users find the ‘right’ lens for their cameras. After selecting their camera brand, series and model, customers are presented with a matrix showing all available lenses for the chosen camera. They can then filter the results by lens brand (if more than one is applicable) and lens type (such as fisheye, telephoto, macro etc.). It seems that the project is currently going through a “soft launch” phase as the ‘Find Lenses for This Camera’ link is not yet available with every interchangeable-lens camera carried by Amazon - only select models, with presumably more coming soon.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Reuters photographer Dylan Martinez used a huge Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8P IF-ED super-telephoto lens to take photos of Pope Francis from ground level on Saint Peter’s Square. This is a rare but not exactly new manual-focus lens - in fact it was first used at a Japanese tournament held in March 1990. The large (888mm long), expensive and unwieldy (16kg) lens isn’t often seen out in the wild but when you do see one in person you won’t mistake it for anything else. Italian newspaper La Stampa published a couple of pictures of Martinez working the monster lens on 12 March 2013 here. The pictures he took with the rare super-telephoto zoom appeared on the Reuters blog as well as in publications worldwide.

Via MLZPhoto

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas has announced consumer mail-in rebates on its 645D medium-format system as well as select Limited series lenses when bundled with the K-5 IIs dSLR. The rebates, valid through 31 March 2013, range from $250 to $500. Photographers who buy a 645D camera body will receive a free D-FA 55mm lens and a $500 Pentax VISA prepaid card on the purchase of the D-FA 25mm and HD 90mm lens when bought at the same time as the body. Those purchasing the K-5IIs camera body will receive a $250 Pentax VISA prepaid card on the purchase of FA 31mm, 43mm and 77mm Limited series lenses when biught at the same time as the body. To print a mail-in rebate form, visit the website below.

Sigma has announced availability and pricing for the three lenses unveiled at the CP+ trade show held earlier this year in Yokohama, Japan. The new and restyled Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN and 30mm f/2.8 DN (pictured) will be available for MFT and NEX cameras from late March, priced at £189.99 / $199.00 each. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM dSLR lens will hit the shelves in Canon and Sigma fit, in late March / early April respectively, priced at £499.99 / $499.00. The availability of the F mount version has yet to be announced.