Tamron has announced that two of its lenses have been presented awards at the “TIPA Awards 2016” ceremony hosted by the Technical Image Press Association. The Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (pictured) has been named "Best DSLR Prime Lens of the Year," whilst the Tamron18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC has won the title "Best Entry-Level DSLR Lens."

Meyer Optik Görlitz has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the launch of the Trioplan f2.9/50 lens. The new 2016 Trioplan f2.9/50 offers creative photographers the most versatile Trioplan yet with a built in front element that provides a macro capability of 1:4 and the brand’s famous 'soap bubble' bokeh. The new Kickstarter project takes the legendary Trioplan 50 design and updates it with state-of the art materials and handmade manufacturing capabilities. Backers will be able to fund the lens and get it at an extraordinary low price, starting at $449. Meyer-Optic expects the lens to retail for $1,299 once Kickstarter fulfillment is completed next winter. The Trioplan 50 will be available for both mirrorless and DSLR cameras, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji and Leica brands.

The Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 is a new full-frame UWA lens for Sony E-mount cameras. Featuring eleven elements in ten groups, the new lens offers a diagonal angle of view of 99° and a close-focus point of 9.8". Four of the lens elements are aspheric on both sides and seven are made from special types of glass. Weighing in at 330 grams, the Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 has an innovative OLED display showing the current focus distance and depth of field. The lens will be available from May at an SRP of $1,499 + VAT.

Lensbaby today announced the availability of their new Twist 60 lens. This metal-bodied 60mm f/2.5 lens with gold anodised accents creates powerful portraits, spotlighting subjects by freeing them from their background and surrounding them with swirly blur and enhanced vignette. The brighter the aperture, the greater the swirl and the greater the vignette. The optical formula comprises 4 elements in 3 groups and a 12-bladed iris diaphragm that can be stopped down all the way to f22. The Twist 60 lens retails for $279.95 and is available via pre-order beginning today. Shipments commence on 5th May. A Twist 60 Optic ($179.95) will also be sold separately for use with other Lensbaby Optic Swap System-compatible lenses.

Lomography has introduced a new lens for its “art” range of lenses designed to work in conjunction with digital cameras.

The Daguerrotype Achromat, like several other Lomography lenses will be launched via a Kickstarter campaign to get it launched before becoming available for regular purchase in shops once the required funding has been achieved.

It is based on an optical design dating back to 1839, where a Chevalier Achromat lens was mounted on a Daguerrotype camera. The main characteristic of the lens is that at wide apertures it produces a soft effect.

The new lens has a focal length of 64mm, making it ideal for a number of subjects including portraits. The maximum aperture is f/2.9, and it will be available to buy in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts - you can also use it with other cameras via mount adapters.

Lenses bought via Kickstarter are likely to start shipping in August, with availability in normal shops some time after that.

The Lomographic Society has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the commercialisation of its new Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art lens. The Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens has been designed by Lomography’s technicians based on an 1839 design – and condensed into a bold brass lens for modern analogue and digital cameras – available in Canon EF OR Nikon F mounts. "Photographers and videographers can delve into an extensive variation of moods and special effect: silky soft focus at f/2.9, crisp sharp shots from f/5.6 onwards, and a focal length of 64mm," the society says. The Daguerreotype Achromat Lens works with a Waterhouse Aperture Plate system, which allows full creativity with depth of field and bokeh effects. The Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens is available through Kickstarter, where in addition to exclusive offers and prices, backers can secure their own Daguerreotype Achromat Lens from the first-ever batch – estimated to start shipping in August of this year.

Tamron USA announced that its new Mobile Learning Center Tour will commence on 14th April in Fairfield, NJ. The new fully-equipped and customised Tamron vehicle will travel around the USA through December 2016, making over 70 official stops at authorised Tamron retailers. The Tamron vehicle will pull into the parking lot and set up for a full day of education to help people with their photography questions, see the latest in Tamron products, and provide valuable tips and tricks on subjects attendees frequently photograph. Each day will feature team members leading free seminars under the Tamron Mobile Learning Tent - "Travel & Nature Techniques," "The Art of Macro," and "Light Like a Pro." Attendees are encouraged to bring their cameras so that after each seminar, they can try out Tamron lenses on subjects such as birds of prey or other animals brought to the event by local conservationists and sanctuaries.

Sony have announced a new full-frame standard prime for their E-mount camera system. Weighing in at 192 grams, the lightweight FE 50mm F1.8 lens features a new optical design with an aspherical element that effectively compensates for all forms of aberration, plus a circular aperture diagram. The new FE 50mm f/1.8 prime lens will be available in April for £240.

Sony today introduced the FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS telezoom for their E-mount camera system. The longest reaching E-mount lens to date, the new FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS features an optical design including four aspherical glass elements, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and Sony’s Nano AR coating. The new telezoom also boasts near-macro capabilities with a minimum focusing distance of less than 3 feet and a maximum magnification of 0.31x. The lens offers Sony's built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation system and a linear actuator that allows it to achieve fast, smooth and quiet autofocus and is also dust and moisture resistant to ensure reliable operation in harsh outdoor conditions. The new FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS telezoom will be available in April for £1,150.

Leica today introduced a new addition to the Leica T Camera System portfolio – the Leica Summilux-TL 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. telephoto lens. Delivering maximum sharpness, and superb resolution and colour reproduction, the Leica Summilux-TL 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. is the first of two new prime lenses for the Leica T Camera System that is fully compatible with the bayonet mount of the Leica T, as well as the L-mount of the Leica SL-System. The Summilux-TL 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. is available now in a choice of black or silver anodised finish from authorised Leica stockists in the UK, at a suggested retail price of £1,650 including VAT. A matching lens hood is also available at an SRP of £65 including VAT. The second TL lens, the Leica APO Macro-Elmarit-TL 60mm f/2.8 ASPH., will be available from Autumn 2016.

Tamron has announced the recommended retail price of its new SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD telephoto lens. Introduced in February, the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is the World's first image-stabilised 85mm f/1.8 lens for SLR cameras. Using LD (Low Dispersion) and XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) glass elements, the new lens is constructed with Tamron’s new SP design, incorporating a new look and feel which includes larger and more tactile switches, together with Tamron’s Moisture-Resistant Construction. VC (Vibration Compensation) is also included in the lens design to help reduce camera shake making it easy to take handheld photographs in low light. USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) focusing is also a key part in delivering sharp and precise focus every time, with full-time manual override for extra creative control. The lens will go on saleon sale on March 24th  in Canon and Nikon mounts, priced at $749. The Sony version willbe launched at a later date.

Want to see exactly what the Tamron SP 85mm F/1.8 and SP 90mm Macro F/2.8 lenses look like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Tamron SP 85mm F/1.8 and 90mm Macro F/2.8 lenses.

Want to see exactly what the Sigma MC-11 Mount Converter looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sigma MC-11 Mount Converter.

Want to see exactly what the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sigma 50-100mm lens.

Want to see exactly what the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH.POWER O.I.S lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Panasonic 12-60mm lens.

Want to see exactly what the Irix 15mm f/2.4 lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Irix 15mm f/2.4 full-frame DSLR lens (Canon, Nikon and Pentax mounts).

The Irix 15mm f/2.4 is available in the standard Firefly version (around £400) and the weather-proof Blackstone version (around £650). The Blackstone edition of the Irix 15mm f/2.4 lens also has flouresecent markings for easier operation at night.

Irix were also showcasing a new 11mm f/4 lens, due for release in Summer 2016.

The Irix 15mm f/2.4 is a new rectilinear, manual-focus UWA lens for full-frame digital SLR cameras. Offering a diagonal angle of view of 110°, the Irix 15mm f/2.4 has an array of features including focus lock, infinity click and separate distance, depth-of-field and hyperfocal scales as well as both a 95mm front filter mount and a rear gelatin filter slot. The optical formula comprises 15 elements in 11 groups, including 3 high-refractive-index elements, 2 extra-low-dispersion glass elements and 2 aspherical lenses. According to the manufacturer, this complex optical construction - coupled with a special "neutrino" coating - reduces colour aberration, ghosting and flare "to the absolute minimum." The Irix 15mm f/2.4 lens comes in two versions, Irix Blackstone (pictured) with engraved fluorescent markings, and Irix Firefly, which is billed as "the most lightweight lens in its class." Availablity is slated for Spring 2016.

Sigma UK has announced the immediate availability of two new Global Vision Lens kits. First announced by Sigma USA, the 150-600 f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports + Tele Converter TC-1401 bundle (£1649.99) and the 150-600 f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary + Tele Converter TC-1401 kit (£1,349.99) expand the focal range from 150-600mm to 210-840mm, offering Canon, Nikon and Sigma camera users a more powerful telephoto reach. Each kit represents a saving of over £100 compared to buying the lens and tele converter separately.

Leica has revealed pricing and availability for the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90–280mm f/2.8-4 lens. First announced alongside the Leica SL (Typ 601) camera, the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90–280mm f/2.8-4 is a telephoto zoom lens with a focal length range which complements that of the already available Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–90 mm f/2.8–4 ASPH. standard zoom. Its integrated optical image stabilisation offers a 3.5-stop advantage over non-stabilised lenses, while the new dual internal focusing system ensures very fast and quiet auto focus operation. The Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90–280 mm f/2.8-4 is sealed against dust and moisture, and features a detachable tripod plate for easier handling. On sale from 24 March 2016, the new telezoom is priced at £4650 including VAT.

Olympus will showcase the new Olympus PEN F camera and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO lens at The Photography Show 2016 taking place from19th to 22nd March at the NEC in Birmingham. Photographers can pre-book a 30 minute session to sit down in an exclusive PEN-F area with a member of the Olympus team and get to know the camera. Sessions can be booked online and also from the Reception desk on the stand. The Photography Show will also host a number of talks by Olympus visionaries such as Jay McLaughlin, Edmond Terakopian, Robert Pugh and R Cleveland Aaron. Additionally, Olympus will have two photographers speaking on the prestigious Super Stage at the Show; Nick Danziger and Peter Dench.