During the NAB Trade Show in Las Vegas from 9-14th April, Carl Zeiss will present two new mounts for its interchangeable-mount Compact Prime CP.2 lenses. These include the Micro Four Thirds mount, which is available now, and the Sony E mount, which is expected to hit retail in June. The Carl Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 lenses are the first cine lenses with interchangeable mount developed specially for filming with HDSLRs and compact system cameras.

Kenro has announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 PRO FX lens. This new ultrawide-to-wide zoom is the first in a new generation of full frame Tokina lenses designed for professional digital SLR cameras. Incorporating a fixed lens hood and a quiet focussing motor coupled with a new GMR magnetic AF sensor, the Tokina AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX has a large, multi-coated aspherical glass optical element in the front lens group, two additional aspherical elements in the rear group, and three super low-dispersion elements that reduce aberrations. Tokina’ s exclusive One-touch Focus Clutch Mechanism allows the photographer to switch between AF and MF simply by snapping the focus ring forward for AF and back toward the camera to focus manually. Available with either a Canon or Nikon fit, the AT-X 16-28mm is on sale now with an RRP of £1,072.

Sigma USA has raised the price of the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG APOMacro HSM II, while simultaneously reducing the price of the new OS version. According to Fro Knows Photo, the company cited “an increase in manufacturing costs and the current poor exchange rate” as the main reasons for the price hike on the old lens. As a consequence of the recent changes in pricing, the price difference between the old non-OS and newer OS versions has shrunk from $800 to $450; with the stabilised version remaining the more expensive option.

Source: Fro Knows Photo via PR

As noted in our Samyang booth report, the Korean lens maker has announced the development of a new, manual-focus fish-eye lens for Micro Four Thirds. As seen in the photo above, the Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 UMC for Micro Four Thirds (right) is much smaller than the company’s existing 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC fish-eye lens (left), which is made for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor, yet it’s still capable of delivering a diagonal angle of view of 180°. Directly competing with the Panasonic Lumix G Fish-Eye 8mm f/3.5 (read review), the new Samyang lens is the first model in a new series of lenses designed specifically for compact system cameras, the company says.

Lens makers Samyang are making their UK debut at Focus on Imaging, with their full range of manual focus lenses on display. This includes the new Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC, a bright wide-angle lens for manual-focus enthusiasts, the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED MC and lenses for the Samsung NX system. On show behind glass was the recently announced Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fish-Eye CS VG10, a manual-focus fish-eye lens designed for the Sony NEX-VG10 interchangeable-lens camcorder, and a world first, a concept version of a new 7.5mm Micro Four Thirds fisheye len providing 180 degree field of vision.

Samyang has modified the design of the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC lens by adding a DOF scale at the request of photographers. Originally announced on 16 September 2010, this ultra-fast moderate wide-angle manual-focus lens has also seen a reduction in size, Samyang says. Available in Canon, Four Thirds, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony Alpha fit, the lens is priced at €379 including taxes.

Samyang has announced a manual-focus fish-eye lens designed for the Sony NEX-VG10 interchangeable-lens camcorder. The new lens comes with a native Sony E bayonet mount and promises easy and smooth - perhaps stepless, but it’s unclear from the wording of the product announcement - diaphragm control. The Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fish-Eye CS VG10 lens will be on display at the Focus On Imaging show in Birmingham. Pricing and availability to be announced.

The new Sweet 35 optic from Lensbaby is a 35mm selective-focus lens featuring a built-in 12-blade iris diaphragm. Compatible with the Lensbaby Composer, Muse, Scout and Control Freak - but not the Composer with Tilt Transformer -, the Sweet 35 is part of Lensbaby’s Optic Swap System. The new diaphragm makes it very easy to control depth of field and the size of the lens’ sweet spot of focus. Featuring close-focus capabilities, the Lensbaby Sweet 35 is available for $180, including free shipping within the continental US.

Canon UK has issued a notice to Canon users regarding AF operation with certain camera-lens combinations. Specifically, those using the Canon EOS 7D, 40D, 50D or 60D camera with one of the lenses below may find that the peripheral AF points work as line sensors rather than cross sensors, and are therefore sensitive to vertical OR horizontal detail only, but not both at the same time. Normally, if you use any EF or EF-S lens with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster, all AF points on these cameras should work as cross-type AF points, but this does not apply to the lenses listed below. These are quite old lenses - all of them were released between 1990 and 1995.

Danish photographer Jonas Krøyer took the lens, shutter, rail and bellows from a vintage Zeiss Ikon Ikonette folding camera (manufactured from 1929 to 1931) and turned it into a DSLR lens. After detaching the bellows from the camera body, Krøyer made an adapter that allows the lens to be mounted on any Nikon SLR. The original shutter is kept open continuously with the help of a spring from a ballpoint pen, so it’s the camera’s own shutter that controls exposure time. The lens offers three aperture settings, f/9, f/16 and f/32. Focusing is done by sliding the lens back and forth on the rail, as typical of a bellows lens. For more information and a selection of sample images, head to the photographer’s website.

Samyang has announced on its Facebook page that the new Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC manual-focus lens will start shipping next month. Replying to a question raised by a fan, Samyang said that copies of the lens from a limited production run “will be available at the beginning of March”, and added that mass-produced copies “will be on sale at the end of March”. The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC will be available in Canon EF, Four Thirds, Nikon F, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony fit.

Via PR

Samsung have officially unveiled 5 new NX lenses for 2011. They include a 18-200mm multi-purpose telephoto zoom, 16mm ultra wide pancake, 60mm macro, 85mm ultra bright portrait and 16-80mm standard zoom. All of the lenses are compatible with Samsung’s unique i-Function system. Here is the full list:

18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS (May)
16mm F2.4 (July)
60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA (August)
85mm F1.4 ED SSA (October)
16-80mm F3.5-4.5 OIS (December)

Sigma is developing new lenses for Micro Four Thirds and E-mount camera system. A mockup of a 30mm f/2.8 E-mount lens is being displayed at Sigma’s booth during the CP+ show in Japan. More detailed information including specifications, product names, pricing and launch schedules are yet to be announced.

Via DCWatch

Olympus are set to launch a high-end Micro Four Thirds prime lens later this year. Making its debut at the CP+ in Japan, a mock-up of a new M.ZUIKO single focal lens concept is being displayed. No further details about the lens’s specifications are available.

Sigma has announced a new and improved version of its widest rectilinear zoom lens for full-frame digital SLR cameras. The optical formula now incorporates one SLD and four FLD glass elements to minimise colour aberration and provide “excellent image quality throughout the zoom range”.Three glass mold elements and one hybrid aspherical lens give advanced performance in a compact and lightweight construction and the Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting., the company says. In addition, this lens features Sigma’s splashproof design for use in harsh conditions. Pricing is to be announced.

The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is an optically stabilised true macro lens with a reproduction ratio of 1:1. Featuring a Super Multi-layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting, a HyperSonic Motor (HSM) for quiet auto focus and Sigma’s own Optical Stabiliser to combat motion blur resulting from shaky hands, the new lens is the successor to the Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG, which was launched in June 2004. The new lens also boasts nine rounded diaphragm blades for pleasing bokeh and a splashproof construction for problem-free outdoor use. Pricing and availability to be announced.

The Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM is a new, stabilised version of the company’s large aperture telephoto zoom lens designed for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors. The company claims that its proprietary Optical Stabiliser system enables hand held tele-photography by allowing the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The lens also features a new optical formula comprising 21 elements in 15 groups, including 6 special low-dispersion elements (the previous version had 18 elements in 14 groups, including 4 SLD elements). The new version has a 77mm filter thread and a maximum magnification of 1:6.3, whereas the older variant took 67mm filters and had a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:5.3. The new lens inherits the HyperSonic Motor and nine-bladed diaphragm of its predecessor. Availability and pricing to be announced.

The smc PENTAX D FA 645 25mm F4 AL [IF] SDM AW is the second lens for the Pentax 645D Medium Format digital camera. Priced at $4999.95 and available in April 2011, the Pentax 25mm lens offers a focal length of approximately 19.5mm in the 35mm format. The Pentax 645D 25mm lens will be available in April 2011 for £3799.99.

Following a development announcement issued before Photokina 2010, Canon has now launched the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lenses. Both lenses feature completely redesigned optics, with 16 elements in 12 groups. Each includes the latest Canon Image Stabiliser (IS) technology, while magnesium alloy constructions with titanium components make each lens significantly lighter and even more durable than its respective predecessor. Rapid, quiet autofocus is provided by a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM). Both lenses are weatherproof, and available from mid-2011. The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM is priced at £8,999/€10,799/$9,499; whilst the EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM can be yours for £11,299/ €13,549/$11,999. Prices include VAT.

Canon has announced the development of a new 200-400mm lens with a built-in 1.4x focal length extender. Called the CanonEF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4×, the new telezoom will enable photographers to shoot a greater breadth of subjects using a single lens, delivering the best possible image quality at all focal lengths, the company claims. With the use of the integrated extender, the lens becomes a 280-560mm, making it ideal for wildlife and sports photographers. The lens will be displayed for the first time during CP+, held in Yokohama, Japan.