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.

The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN is a new “Digital Neo” lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) and NEX system users. With an optical formula that comprises 7 elements in 5 groups and an iris diaphragm with 7 rounded blades, the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN has an angle of view of 39.6 degrees on MFT and 50.7 degrees on an E-mount camera, thus being equivalent to a 60mm and a 45mm lens, respectively. The 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, the company says. Note that this is not a macro lens - the maximum reproduction ratio is only 1:8.1. The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN has a non-rotating 46mm filter thread and weighs in at 135 grams.

Panasonic today announced four new conversion lenses that are compatible with the Lumix G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. and the Lumix G 14mm / F2.5 ASPH. Micro Four Thirds lenses. The DMW-GWC1 wide conversion lens turns a 14mm lens into a 11mm, the DMW-GTC1 teleconverter (only compatible with the zoom) effectively doubles the focal length of your lens, the DMW-GMC1 is a macro conversion lens that allows you to focus the 14mm lens down to 0.14m and the 14-42mm power zoom to 0.16m, while the DMC-GFC1 fisheye converter helps you shoot creative and unique photographs with a very pronounced barrel distortion and an ultra-wide 120-degree angle of view. Pricing and availability will be announced approximately 30 days prior to shipping.

The AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is a new fast aperture medium-telephoto lens.

SLR Magic has announced the HyperPrime CINE 50mm T0.95 lens for the Leica M mount. Slated for a September release, the SLR Magic HyperPrime CINE 50mm T0.95 is claimed to be optimised for wide-open performance. The optical formula comprises 12 elements arranged in 7 groups, including 7 “Tantalum” glass elements, complete with an iris diaphragm boasting a dozen rounded blades for a pleasing rendering of the out-of-focus areas. Weighing in at 975 grams, the lens features a non-rotating, 62mm filter thread, a distance scale with depth-of-field markings, and a minimum focus distance of 70cm.

Sigma Corporation of America has announced the winner of its “Dear Sigma” contest.  Participants were required fill out an entry form and draft a “Dear Sigma” letter describing what Sigma products they’re dreaming of this holiday season. The company today revealed that Brandon Bethea, of San Diego, California, will receive three Sigma lenses totaling nearly $2,500 as a result of his “Dear Sigma” contest entry, titled “Better to Give than Receive.” Bethea founded Fin Forward, a shark-diving project for cancer survivors, and said he plans to use the 50mm F2.8 macro, 8-16mm F4-5.6 wide angle (pictured), and 20mm F1.8 wide angle lenses to photograph his upcoming 2012 Mayan Shark Odyssey to raise awareness about cancer and shark conservation.

Our third award is for the Lens of the Year 2011.

This goes to the lens that we feel is a must-buy for the particular system that it’s part of, be that DSLR or compact system camera, Canon or Nikon, and so on. Olympus have been a big part of the growing popularity of the compact system camera market, and it’s not surprising when they’re releasing fantastic products like the M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 lens, a fast and unbelievably small portrait lens that every Micro Four Thirds should take a good hard look at.

”“Pancakes” aside, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 is one of the smallest lenses in the Micro Four Thirds system, which is no mean feat considering that this is a fast-aperture telephoto lens. One might think that this miniaturisation may have had some negative side effects on its performance but thankfully, this is not the case. Optically, the lens excellent with centre sharpness being commendable even wide open, and overall sharpness being nothing short of astounding in the f/2.8-f/8 range.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Olympus and the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8!

Hong Kong based SLR Magic, also known as Noktor, has announced the HyperPrime 23mm f/1.7 lens for E-mount cameras. Billed as the world’s fastest interchangeable camera lens with APS-C coverage in this focal length, the manual-focus SLR Magic HyperPrime 23mm f/1.7 has an angle of view similar to that of a 35mm lens on a full-frame camera. Available from authorised SLR Magic dealers from the end of January 2012, the HyperPrime 23mm f/1.7 comprises 8 lens elements (including five “Tantalum” glass elements) arranged in 7 groups, and offers a minimum focus distance of 15cm.

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 EZ is a new dust- and splash-proof, 24-100mm equivalent power zoom for the Micro Four Thirds system. Aimed at both videographers and photographers, the lightweight (211g) M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-5.6 comes with a new ultra-smooth, variable-speed, near-silent electromagnetic zoom mechanism and offers “blazing quick” AF speeds. The optical formula comprises 10 elements arranged in 9 groups, including 1 ED (extra-low dispersion), 1 HR (high refractive index), 1 DSA (dual super aspherical) and 2 aspherical lens elements. Offering up to 0.36x maximum magnification that allows users to fill the frame with a subject that measures just 48mmx36mm, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED f/3.5-5.6 EZ also doubles as a quasi-macro lens. Priced at £349.99 / €399.00 / $499.99, the lens will sell separately and as part of a kit with one of the three newest PEN cameras: the E-PL3, the E-PM1 and the flagship PEN E-P3.

Sigma Corporation of America has teamed up with underwater photographer, sculptor and conservationist Jason deCaires Taylor to help photograph the artist’s oft-unseen work and share it with the world. Taylor is the mastermind behind the underwater sculpture park, known as the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) in Cancun, Mexico. The museum, which consists of more than 400 of Taylor’s permanent, life-size sculptures, is designed as an artificial coral reef that provides a new habitat for sea creatures, while drawing attention – and tourist traffic – from the region’s overtaxed natural reefs. Because the project can only be viewed by scuba divers, snorkellers and people aboard a glass-bottom boat, photographs of the museum are essential in helping Taylor share this work. “Sigma lenses have become a vital tool for me to document my work and portray the beauty and fragility of the underwater world,” he says. “I have been photographing underwater for more than 10 years and have tried many different camera setups, however, using Sigma’s wide angle 10-20mm has been a turning point.” For information about on Taylor, MUSA or his artwork, visit the website below.

Tamron has announced its first E-mount lens designed for the NEX system. This compact and lightweight, 27-300mm equivalent all-in-one zoom lens features a 62mm filter thread, Vibration Compensation and an optical formula that comprises 17 elements arranged in 13 groups. Available from 15th December, the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Di III VC features a seven-bladed iris diaphragm and comes with a petal type lens hood.

Canon UK has launched a new lens cashback promotion with offers on 14 products across the EF and EF-S range when purchasing an EOS 60D, EOS 7D or EOS 5D Mark II. Lenses available in the promotion include the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, as well as the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, 85mm f/1.8 USM, 50mm f/1.2L USM, 85mm f/1.2L II USM, 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, 17-40mm f/4L USM, 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM (pictured), 24-70mm f/2.8L USM and 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. To be eligible for the cashback, you must purchase one of the selected DSLR cameras by 28th February 2012, and one of the selected lenses by 31st May 2012. The deadline for claims is 30th June 2012.

Those who buy a Hasselblad H4D-40 medium-format DSLR camera with an 80mm lens before 31st January 2012 are entitled to a 50% discount off the MSRP of a second lens of their choice. This offer is good for any lens in the H line, from the HCD 28mm wide angle all the way to the HCD 35-90mm zoom lens, and represents a value of up to $3,747. Note that you must buy the H4D-40 kit and the second lens before 31st January in order to claim the 50% discount.

If you buy a Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 lens - either the ZE or ZF.2 version - from an authorised Carl Zeiss dealer between 1-13 December, you will receive a matching 58mm T* UV filter, worth €49, free of charge. According to the company, the crystal clear glass UV filter with T* anti-reflective coating provides optimal protection without any influence on the optical performance. The recommended retail price for the Planar T* 1,4/50 is €545 + VAT.

Samyang is about to release a new version of its 8mm 1:3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye CS lens for Nikon single-lens-reflex cameras. Now equipped with a chip that can pass on aperture information to the camera body, the Samyang AE 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye CS is designed for cameras with a DX sized sensor. The optical formula comprises 10 elements in 7 groups, including one hybrid aspherical lens element designed to reduce chromatic aberrations. The Samyang AE 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye CS lens has a suggested retail price of €325.

Nikon has released firmware updates for the three VR lenses in its new 1 Nikkor line-up. Version 1.01 for the 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 superzoom resolves an issue that in some rare cases caused images to be blurred when shot immediately after the camera was shaken or moved quickly. Version 1.02 for the 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 standard zoom (read review) and the 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 telezoom (read review) fixes a bug related to the recording of the aperture value in the image metadata. You can download the firmware updates from the websites below.

Website: 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM L Firmware Update 1.01
Website: 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 L Firmware Update 1.02
Website: 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 L Firmware Update 1.02

Canon U,S,A, has posted an update on the availability of the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, 500mm f/4L IS II USM and 200?400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER lenses. The company is basically saying that the launch of the lenses, whose development was first announced more than a year ago, has been delayed until further notice, adding that “additional information regarding the shipping date of each lens will be made available as soon as possible”. The 500mm and 600mm lenses have MSRPs of $10,499 and $12,999, respectively.

Richmond-based photographer Cameron Texter has invented a new selective-focus lens for Canon and Nikon SLR cameras, called the Lynny. “The way it works is you push and pull the lens to and from the camera, and tilt the lens around to control where the blur is in the photo,” Texter says. “The Lynny is made from just an extension tube, macro filters, and gaffers tape, or electrical tape, and also 2 pipe clamps for having something to grip when pushing and pulling the lens to and from the camera.” The inventor has set up an IndieGoGo page to raise funds for the commercialisation of the Lynny. Interested readers are encouraged to check out the project’s website via the link below.

Website: Lynny on IndieGogo

Panasonic will soon be releasing firmware updates for the new Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm and 45-175mm lenses. Both firmware updates improve AF performance and optimise operation when using Touch Zoom with the Lumix GX1 camera. The upgrade for the G X Vario PZ 45-175mm lens additionally improves the stability of the optical image stabiliser (OIS). The firmware updates will be available worldwide at 6:00 GMT on 17th November at the website below.

Website Panasonic Lumix Support