Panasonic has unveiled two new Micro Four Thirds lenses. The Lumix G 42.5mm f/1.7 Power O.I.S. is an 85mm equivalent short telephoto lens with optical image stabilisation and 240fps Drive Auto Focus. The lens will become available in May in black and silver versions. The Panasonic Lumix G 30mm f/2.8 Macro Mega O.I.S. (pictured), whose development was announced back in 2014, is a stabilised macro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1. This lens will also go on sale in May. Pricing - for both lenses - has yet to be communicated.

Schneider Kreuznach has announced the launch of the Xenon Full Frame Prime lenses in the United Kingdom. Each Schneider Kreuznach Xenon full-frame prime lens features an M95 filter thread, a focus ring with a 300° angle of rotation, robust cine-style lens mechanics, a maximum aperture of T2.1, a circular aperture with 14 diaphragm blades and an exchangeable bayonet interface. The Xenon FF-Prime lens family will eventually include an 18mm T2.4, 25mm T2.1, 35mm T2.1, 50mm T2.1, and 100mm T2.1 focal lengths.

Ricoh has unveiled updated versions of its lens roadmaps for Pentax K, Q and 645 medium-format optics. For K-mount cameras, the company is planning to release a DA wide zoom, a D-FA large-diameter standard zoom, another D-FA standard zoom and a D-FA large-diameter wide zoom this year (or later). For the Pentax Q series, Ricoh will introduce a telemacro lens, and the line-up of Pentax 645 lenses will be expanded with a standard zoom and a telezoom. The actual focal ranges of these zooms have not been specified, but from the charts it looks like the DA wide zoom might be a 14-35mm, the D-FA arge-diameter zoom is likely to be a 24-70mm, the D-FA standard zoom could be a 28-100mm, and the D-FA large-diameter wide zoom may be a 18-36mm. The Q-mount telemacro lens could be anywhere between 85mm and 105mm, whereas the Pentax 645 series standard zoom and telezoom lenses appear to be 45-85mm and 95-180mm, respectively.

The FUJIFILM Xseries Japan Facebook page has published a photo of all the new XF lenses. Shown in the image are the XF 16mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2, 90mm f/2, 120mm f/2.8 Macro, 100-400m (apertures tbc), and the 1.4x tele-convertor. The photo confirms that the 16mm, 35mm and 120mm lenses will all be weather-resistant (but not the 90mm).

The upcoming Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R lens will be weather-resistant. The Fujifilm X World Facebook page has published an image of the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR lens with "WR" included, which denotes "weather resistant" on other Fujifilm lenses.

They also comment "And in 2015 there will a be a new addition, XF16mmF1.4 R. It is wide angle large diameter lens, and yet compact in size. It takes the full advantage of X-mount being a mirrorless system, and it will certainly be optimized for the X-Trans CMOS sensor. The lens will be a favorite for many."

Sigma Corporation of America has announced pricing and availability of its 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens. Promising the highest optical performance in its class, the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art wide-angle lens is the ninth addition to the company’s iconic Global Vision Art line-up. It is designed for full-frame DSLRs, and when used on digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, it effectively becomes a 38mm. The lens will be available in Sigma and Canon mounts next month for the street price of $849. The Nikon version will follow in April, and in Sony variant will be available later in the year.

Sigma Corporation of America has announced pricing and availability of its 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens.  The 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens is the first hyper-telephoto zoom lens from the Global Vision Contemporary line, and features a light-weight and compact construction for higher usability. In order to allow for mobile, handheld shooting in the field, it has a new and improved image stabiliser and features a new water and oil-repellent coating on the front and rear lenses. Its dimensions will be 4.1 inches by 10.2 inches and will feature 20 elements in 14 groups – including one FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements – with a minimum aperture of f22 and minimum focusing distance of 110.2 inches. The lens will become available in Canon and Nikon mounts in March for the street price of $1089.

Kenko Tokina has released the official specifications of the Tokina AT-X PRO SD 24-70mm f/2.8 (IF) FX standard zoom lens. The optical formula comprises 15 lens elements in 11 groups, the minimum focus distance is 38cm, and the maximum reproduction ratio is 1:4.73. The lens will weigh around a kilogram. Price and availability are to be communicated.

Via PR

The upcoming Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R lens will be weather-resistant. The Fujifilm X World Facebook page has published an image of the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR ASPH lens with "WR" included, which denotes "weather resistant" on other Fujifilm lenses.

They also comment "And, today we are happy to make an announcement on the development of a new lens; XF35mmF2 R, that would definitely be another killer lens for such use. Whether you prefer to shoot wide angle or standard angle of view, this lens is definitely to look out for. Stay tuned for its size, performance, and image quality, soon to come in 2015."

Fujifilm has released an updated road map for its X mount interchangeable lenses. The new lenses that have been added to the Fuji X Mount Lens Roadmap are:

XF 120mm F2.8 R Macro 1:1 Macro, telephoto lens
XF 35mm F2 R compact and lightweight standard focal length lens
1.4x Teleconverter for XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR, XF 120mm F2.8 R Macro, XF 100-400mm

Fujifilm have also confirmed that the "Super Telephoto Zoom" lens that was announced on its previous roadmap update will have a focal range equivalent to 150-600mm.

The Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art is a new premium wide-angle lens that offers the highest optical performance in its class. Available for Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts, the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art joins the existing 35mm and 50mm Art lenses. Pricing and availability of the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art are yet to be announced.

Update: the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art will retail for $849 in the US.

Want to see exactly what the new Olympus 8mm f/1.8 Fish-Eye lens, 7-14mm f/2.8 Pro lens, and the EE-1 Dot Sight look like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Olympus 8mm f:1.8 Fish-Eye lens, 7-14mm f/2.8 lens, and the EE-1 Dot Sight.

The HD Pentax-DA 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE is a new standard zoom lens for Pentax K-mount cameras with APS-C sized sensors. Billed as the World’s shortest standard zoom lens, the HD Pentax-DA 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE boasts a new retractable mechanism and measures a mere 41mm in length in the stored position. The lens also features a dependable weather-resistant construction with nine special seals to effectively prevent the intrusion of water into the interior. By pairing it with a weather-resistant Pentax digital SLR camera body, the user is guaranteed  a durable digital imaging system that performs reliably in demanding shooting settings — even in the rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray. The HD Pentax-DA 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR RE lens is equipped with a quick-shift focus system, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation, even when the camera’s AF system is in operation. The recommended retail price of the lens is £229.99.

Want to see exactly what the new Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens.

The Canon EOS 5DS and the EOS 5DS R are a new breed of ultra-high resolution full-frame DSLRs, offering the highest megapixels ever seen in a full frame sensor, an astonishing 50.6 MP. The EOS 5DS R also features a low pass cancellation filter to maximise the sensor’s resolution and visible image quality.

The EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is the world’s widest-angle rectilinear zoom lens, the perfect companion for landscape and architecture photographers.

The EOS 5DS is available from June 2015 with an RSP of £2999.99/€3999.99 body only.

The EOS 5DS R is available from June 2015 with an RSP of £3199.99/€4249.99 body only.

In the USA, the EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R Digital SLR cameras are scheduled to be available through authorized Canon dealers in June 2015 for estimated retail prices of $3,699.00 and $3,899.00 for the body only, respectively.

The EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is available from March 2015 with an RSP of £2799.99/€3699.99. In the USA, it is scheduled to be available in late February 2015 for an estimated retail price of $2,999.00.

Olympus have unveiled an improved version of its M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm superzoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. This new edition features a dust- and splashproof construction and "greatly improved" design, as well as ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical Coating on the surface of the front element to eliminate scratches as well as reduce ghosting and flare. The lens will be available in a kit with the new OM-D E-M5 Mark II compact system camera, priced at £1249.99. In the USA the  will be sold separately, at an estimated street price of $599.99.

Olympus has announced the development of the world's fastest fish-eye lens. The new M.Zuiko Digital 8mm 1:1.8 Pro has a maximum aperture of f/1.8, whereas most high-grade fish-eye optics max out at f/2.8, i.e. more than a full stop slower. The new lens will come equipped with a built-in petal-shaped hood and a dedicated Micro Four Thirds mount. As with other lenses in the Pro series, the M.ZuikoDigial ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye Pro features a dustproof and splashproof construction. A dedicated underwater lens port is also under development, allowing users to capture wide-angle images at depths of up to 45m when paired with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and PT-EP13 protective case. Availability is slated for summer 2015. Pricing is to be announced.

Olympus Japan has announced a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled camera unit designed for use with smartphones. The Olympus Air features a Four Thirds sized 16-megapixel MOS sensor, a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, an electronic shutter with a top speed of 1/16,000s, an 81-point AF system, a shutter release and a tripod socket. Weighing-in at 147 grams, the Olympus Air can be controlled via a smartphone app. Going on sale on 6 March 2015, the Olympus Air has a recommended retail price of 36,504 yen. The product will only be available through the Olympus Online Shop, and there is no word on international pricing.

The HD Pentax-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW is a new full-frame telephoto lens for Pentax KAF mount cameras. This telephoto zoom lens has been developed as the latest model in the Pentax Star series, which boasts the highest image quality of all Pentax interchangeable lenses. The optical construction features 19 lens elements in 16 groups plus an aperture diaphragm with 9 rounded blades. The minimum focus distance is 1.2m, and the lens takes 77mm filters. Additionally, this zoom lens is equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows users to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. In order to improve its operability, a three-position switch has been installed on this lens, allowing instant switching among QFS/A, QFS/M and MF modes. QFS/A is an autofocus-priority mode, which allows the user to switch to manual-focusing operation when autofocus operation is complete. QFS/M is a manual-focus-priority mode, which enables the user to switch to manual focusing at any time — even when the AF system is in operation. MF mode allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing with a simple twist of the focus ring on the lens. Available in March, the new HD Pentax-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW will retail for $2,299.95.

Ricoh have now confirmed the official name and specifications of the "high magnification super zoom" lens they had on display at photokina 2014. Designed for use on K-mount 35mm film cameras as well as the upcoming full-frame Pentax dSLR body (but also compatible with APS-C models), the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW features three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and a super-low dispersion glass element, HD Coating to optimise image rendition; and a dustproof, weather-resistant construction. Additionally, this zoom lens is equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows users to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. In order to improve its operability, a three-position switch has been installed on this lens, allowing instant switching among QFS/A, QFS/M and MF modes. QFS/A is an autofocus-priority mode, which allows the user to switch to manual-focusing operation when autofocus operation is complete. QFS/M is a manual-focus-priority mode, which enables the user to switch to manual focusing at any time — even when the AF system is in operation. MF mode allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing with a simple twist of the focus ring on the lens. Available in March, the new HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW lens is priced at $2499.95.