Ricoh has announced a new wide-angle lens for the Pentax medium-format DSLR camera system. The 27.5mm-equivalent HD PENTAX-D FA645 35mm F3.5AL[IF] combines a newly designed, high-grade glass-moulded aspherical element with a high refractive index low dispersion glass element and a hybrid aspherical element to effectively compensate for chromatic and spherical aberrations. The lens coating and reflective material used for the interior of the lens barrel are optimised for the distinctive characteristics of digital imaging, and promise to minimise flare and ghosting. This lens features a nine-blade, rounded diaphragm to produce a smooth, beautiful bokeh effect. Available from mid-December, the lens will retail for £1,549.99.

Canon U.S.A. has announced the CJ20ex7.8B portable 4K broadcast lens for use with broadcast cameras featuring 2/3"-type sensors. Featuring With a focal range of 7.8-156mm, the lens features a 20x zoom range, while a built-in 2x extender allows more telephoto operation without sacrificing 4K image quality. A 20-pin connector, capable of reading out the high-precision position information of the zoom, focus and iris are provided as a standard feature. Coming standard with another two 20-pin connectors for zoom and focus control, virtual operations are possible in the full-servo mode, and use of a 16-bit absolute value encoder in the digital drive unit helps eliminate the need for any initialisation, meaning users can simply turn on the camera and begin shooting. The CJ20ex7.8B portable broadcast lens is scheduled to be available in June 2016.

Inventor Thomas Larson has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a highly portable stick-on macro lens for cell phones. Available in two versions, offering 4x and 8x magnification, the MPL Macro conversion lens comes in a convenient coin-sized case, and enables users to take compelling close-up shots with their smartphone's built-in camera. Compatible with nearly all phones and tablets, the universal MPL Macro lens attaches to your smart device without any adhesives. "This is a project I started as an undergrad two years ago, and have been able to finance solely through crowdfunding and direct sales (no investors or grants)," Thomas says. "I use the extra funds from crowdfunding and sales to work on less commercially viable mobile microscopes that I hope will have an impact on education and world health." Interested readers are encouraged to pay a visit to the project's Kickstarter page.

Want to see exactly what the new Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 lens.

Want to see exactly what the new Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 lens look like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 lens.

Ricoh Imaging Americas has announced the Medium Format by PENTAX Advantage Programme for the Pentax 645Z medium-format digital camera system. Designed to provide professional photographers with continuous access to gear in the event of a camera system failure, the programme provides three years of extended service and support from date of purchase plus loaner camera bodies and lenses, and a dedicated toll-free support number. The Medium Format by Pentax Advantage Programme packages can be purchased now at authorised Pentax dealers for $849.95 (Pentax Advantage Gold Service) and (Pentax Advantage Platinum Service).

Lensbaby has announced the new Composer Pro II with Edge 50 Optic. Introduced at PhotoPlus Expo 2015, the Lesnbaby Composer Pro II with Edge 50 Optic is a high-quality, 50mm f/3.2 upgraded metal-bodied tilt lens providing a sharp slice of focus bordered by silky, smooth blur. The lens body swivels and tilts on a smooth metal ball and socket design, and is compatible with the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, allowing users to swap optics in and out of the Composer Pro II lens body to change effect and focal length. The Composer Pro II with Edge 50 Optic retails for $424.95 and is available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony Alpha A, Pentax K, Fuji X, Sony Alpha E, Micro 4/3rds, and Samsung NX.

Schneider Kreuznach's newest leaf shutter lenses are now available to purchase through Phase One photography partners worldwide. Like the 35mm and 120mm lenses introduced simultaneously with the Phase One XF System, these Schneider Kreuznach lenses - including the 55mm LS f/2.8, the 80mm LS f/2.8 and the 150mm LS f/3.5 - are built to a new and more robust quality standard. The new lenses feature a metal focusing ring and AF/MF selector ring of precision milled aluminium and a new metal lens hood with anti-skid rubber edging. The 55mm LS f/2.8 lens is available for €3.990 / $4,990, the 80mm LS f/2.8 costs €2.490 / $3,290, while the 150mm LS f/3.5 (pictured) sells for €4.490 / $5,990.
.

Fujifilm have announced a new, weather- and dust-resistant standard prime for the company's X-series compact system cameras. The Fujinon XF35mm f/2 R WR features 9 elements in 6 groups, including 2 aspherical lens elements, and an iris diaphragm with nine rounded blades for a pleasing bokeh. At just 45.9mm in length and with a diameter of 60mm, the slim and stylish design allows comfortable operation and draws minimum attention to the photographer; whilst the all-metal construction of the lens exterior ensures it is durable enough for a wide variety of shooting situations. An inner focusing system, which moves the lens elements, is combined with a stepping motor to produce quiet, accurate and fast autofocus capable of locking on to the subject in as little as 0.08s. The lens will be available from November for £299.

Fujifilm have announced a new weather-resistant teleconverter for their X-mount compact system cameras. The Fujinon XF1.4x TC WR is capable of multiplying the focal length of compatible lensesby 1.4x. When mounted, the teleconverter reduces the lens’ brightness by one f-stop, however its optical design constructed of 7 elements in 3 groups maintains the optical performance of the original lens. The camera’s auto focus performance is unaffected by the addition of the teleconverter. The Fujinon XF1.4x TC WR will go on sale next month, priced at £329.

The Leica SL (Typ 601) is a new mirrorless system camera that marks "the beginning of a new era in professional photography". The Leica SL features the fastest auto-focusing of any full-frame system camera, a 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, 4K video with a frame rate of 30 frames per second, 4.4million pixel electronic viewfinder, 2.95” back panel display with a viewing angle of up to 170°, Maestro II Series processor, 11fps burst shooting, built-in wi-fi and a highest ISO setting of 50,000.

Three new lenses have also been unveiled alongside the Leica SL - the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–90 mm f/2.8–4 ASPH. standard zoom, Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90–280 mm f/2.8–4, and the Leica Summilux-SL 50 mm f/1.4. In addition, all lenses for the Leica T camera can be used without an adapter as they share the same mount. In addition, appropriate adapters allow almost all Leica S, M, and R system lenses ever made to be mounted on the Leica SL, as well as lenses from other manufacturers.

The Leica SL (Typ 601) body is scheduled to be available in the UK from authorised Leica stockists from 16 November 2015, at a suggested retail price of £5,050 including VAT.
The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–90 mm f/2.8–4 ASPH. zoom lens is scheduled to be available at the same time, at a suggested retail price of £3,150 including VAT. The Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8–4 will be available in Q2 2016, and the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. will be available in Q4 2016, pricing for both to be confirmed at a later date.

In the USA the Leica SL (Type 601) body (SRP: $7,450) and Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–90 mm f/2.8–4 ASPH zoom lens (SRP: $4,950) will be available beginning November 16 at your local Leica Store, Leica Boutique or Leica Dealer.

The new Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art is billed as the World’s first f/1.4 ultra-wide-angle lens for full-frame digital SLR cameras. Constructed of 15 elements in 11 groups including two FLD glass and five SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements, the Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens also features an iris diaphragm with 9 rounded blades for a pleasing bokeh. Allowing the photographer to leverage the perspective provided by the wide-angle and the shallow depth of field provided by the large aperture, this lens is ideal not only for such ultra-wide-angle subjects as landscapes and starry skies, but also for snapshots in low light, indoor photography, environmental portraits and more. Weighing in at 950 grams, the new Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens carries an MSRP of £849.99.

Canon are offering up to £75 on selected products in the United Kingdom. The cashback promotion runs from 14th October 2015 to 13th January 2016 for eligible products purchased from selected UK or Republic of Ireland retailers. Eligible products include seven SLRs, twelve lenses, two flash units, half a dozen compact cameras, six camcorders and four printers (click through / scroll down for the full list). Registering with Canon to claim cashback on any of these products will give you the chance to win a luxury trip to St. Moritz in Switzerland.

The ZEISS Otus 1.4/28 lens offers unrivalled image quality unseen until now in wide-angle photography, even with a wide-open aperture. Even with a maximum aperture, the corners of the image are completely usable, so there are no limits to composition. In poor light combined with fast-moving objects, the lens also excels due to its high speed of f/1.4.

The ZEISS Otus 1.4/28 ZF.2 and ZEISS Otus 1.4/28 ZE will be available worldwide starting in the second quarter of 2016. The lens shade is included with delivery. The retail sales price is unknown to date.

The ZEISS Loxia 2.8/21 is a super wide angle lens for compact full-frame cameras with E-mount. With a new optical design based on the ZEISS Distagon, the Zeiss Loxia 21mm lens has an angular field exceeding 91 degrees (diagonal) on a full-frame camera and a minimum object distance of just 0.25 meters (9.84”).

The ZEISS Loxia 2.8/21 will be available worldwide starting December 2015. The lens shade is included with delivery. The recommended retail price is USD 1,499 (excl. VAT) or EUR 1,259.66 (excl. VAT).*

In Spring 2016 Voigtländer will release a new line of Sony-E-Mount lenses including a 10mm f/5.6 Hyper-Wide-Heliar, a 12mm f/5.6 Ultra-Wide-Heliar and a 15mm f/4.5 Super-Wide-Heliar. While the 12mm and 15mm primes are already available in M-mount versions, the 10mm focal length is completely new. The new E-mount lenses will be equipped with all the necessary contacts to transmit data such as focal length, aperture and camera-to-subject distance, so that they can be included in the EXIF information embedded in the image files produced by the camera. Additionally, all three lenses will incorporate a stepless aperture control mechanism, a feature that's especially important for videographers. Pricing and specifications have yet to be communicated.

Japanese optics manuafacturer Kinoshita Kogaku Kenkyujyo has just announced the Kistar 55mm f/1.2 lens. Paying homage to a 1970s Tomioka lens, the Kistar 55mm f/1.2 large-aperture standard prime comes with a Yashica/Contax mount but can be used on most modern compact system cameras with an adapter. The optical construction features 7 elements in 6 groups and an 8-bladed iris diaphragm. Weighing in at 310 grams, the Kinoshita Kistar 55mm f/1.2 carries a recommended retail price of 134,100 yen (approximately £740/$1,115) but actually sells for $1,465 on eBay.

Via PR

The HD Pentax D-FA 24-70mm f/2.8ED SDM WR is a full-frame standard zoom for Pentax K-mount SLR cameras. Designed with Ricoh's new 35mm full-frame DSLR (currently under development) in mind, this zoom lens is constructed of 17 elements in 12 groups, including 3 ED glass elements and 4 aspherical lens elements. The built-in SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) provides a quiet, high-speed autofocus operation. The lens comes equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus system, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing as needed. The HD Pentax D-FA 24-70mm f/2.8ED SDM WR features a weather-resistant construction with special seals to effectively prevent water reaching the inside of the lens (despite having an extending zoom mechanism). The lens will be available from late October for £1149.99/$1,299.99.

Samyang have introduced four new manual-focus lenses for compact system cameras with APS-C and FourThirds sized imagers. The Samyang 21mm F1.4 ED AS UMC CS (£279.99/€349.00, pictured) is a moderate wide-angle/normal lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 and an optical formula comprising 8 lens elements in 7 groups, including one extra low dispersion lens (ED) and three glass aspherical lenses. The Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS (£309.99/€399.00) is a short telephoto lens with a bright f/1.2 aperture with impressive bokeh, incorporating 9 elements in seven groups with two glass aspherical lenses. For an extra £30/€50, both the 21mm and 50mm lenses will be available in cine versions featuring quiet and smooth de-clicked focus and aperture gear rings and maximum apertures of T1.5 and T1.3 respectively. These new lenses will be available from mid-October in Sony E, MFT, Fujifilm X and Canon M mounts.

Zhongyi Optics (ZY Optics) has officially announced the Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm f/0.95 MFT lens, which was first unveiled a week ago by way of the company's Facebook fan page. This tiny yet ultra-fast manual-focus lens features 11 elements in 9 groups, and a diaphragm with 11 aperture blades. Weighing in at 230 grams, the Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm f/0.95 takes 43mm filters, and offers a close-focus point of 25cm, measured from the sensor plane. Equivalent to a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera, the Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds lens is available to pre-order for $399.