Twenty-four years after the first Electro Focus (EF) lens launched, Canon announced that it had reached a milestone by producing the 60 millionth lens in the series. This landmark was achieved on 11th January 2011 during the production of an EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM (pictured), thirteen months after the production of the company’s 50 millionth EF lens.

Panasonic have released a new firmware update for the 14-140mm lens. Version 1.4 adds the following changes:

- Improved stability of O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and AF (Auto Focus) in movie recording.

Website: Download Panasonic 14-140mm Firmware Update 1.4

The Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD is the world’s lightest and smallest 15x travel zoom for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor. Sporting an ultrasonic Piezo AF motor and vibration compensation (Nikon and Canon versions only), the Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD weighs in at 450 grams, and spans a focal range equivalent to that of an imaginary 27-405mm (Nikon/Sony versions) or 29-432mm (Canon version) zoom lens. The Piezo AF motor built into this lens functions according to the standing wave principle, and is supposed to be faster and quieter than travelling-wave ultrasonic motors. The recommended retail price for the Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD is £649.99 and the product will be available in the UK in limited quantity from the end of December 2010.

Samyang Poland has announced the European launch of the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC lens for the Samsung NX mount. Given that the the existing Samsung NX cameras use an APS-C sized sensor, the lens’ angle of view is equivalent to that of a 21mm lens mounted to a 35mm camera. The recommended retail price of the manual-focus Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC lens is €329.

Cosina has ceased manufacturing of Carl Zeiss and Voigtländer branded manual focus lenses for the Pentax K mount. The Japanese website of the company has a short note saying that the Carl Zeiss ZK line has been discontinued, and these lenses can only be bought until stocks last. Photoscala reports that Carl Zeiss wants to concentrate on the more lucrative ZE and ZF.2 lines instead.

Olympus Japan has announced the Olympus E-PL1s compact system camera and the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II silent-focus lens. The Olympus E-PL1s, which is a Japan-only model, is mostly a cosmetic update of the E-PL1, having the silver band on top and sides changed to the body colour, which can be red, white or black (although it does add one functional upgrade - a new top sensitivity setting of ISO 6400/39° - as well). The new kit lens is more interesting, inasmuch as it provides high-speed and near-silent focusing for both stills and video, and weighs in at only 112 grams, a 25% reduction versus the older version. Unlike the E-PL1s, the new kit lens will apparently be available worldwide. A new battery called BLS-5 and a new charger named BCS-5 have also been announced - both of these have been developed to conform to new regulations, Olympus says.

Kenro has announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 16.5 135mm DX lens.Offering an equivalent angle of view to 25-200mm, the Tokina 16.5-135mm lens is well suited to scenic and travel photography. Three aspherical elements, one all glass precision-molded element and 2 compound elements yield high contrast. Additionally two Super-low Dispersion (SD) glass elements correct chromatic aberration. The lens comes with either a Canon or Nikon fit and has a recommended retail price of £799.

Canon UK has announced three cashback promotions for consumers. Those who purchase an EOS 7D or 5D Mark II between now and 31 January 2011 can claim up to £100 / €120 savings on selected EF lenses. The second offer concerns those who buy an EOS 500D digital SLR camera or one of three selected PowerShot models before 13 January, while the third is for consumers purchasing either a Pixma Pro9000 Mark II or a Pixma 9500 Mark II between now and 27 January. All of these offers are open to 18+ residents of the UK and Ireland, and valid on purchases made in one of these two countries.

Canon has delayed the introduction of the new 400mm, 300mm and 8-15mm lenses until March 2011. Adjustments in the manufacturing process are the official reason for the 3 month delay of the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lense, which were first unveiled at the end of August.

The Tokina AT-X 116 Pro 11-16mm lens is now available in Sony A-mount in the UK. The lens has a bright f2.8 maximum aperture across its entire zoom range, and features Tokina’s exclusive ‘One-touch Focus Clutch Mechanism’ that 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. Constructed of thirteen elements in eleven groups, the Tokina AT-X 116 Pro has an angle-of-view range of 104°-82°. In the United Kingdom, the lens is distributed by Kenro, and is available at an RRP of £740.25.

The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM lens is now available for purchase in the US. This fast medium telephoto lens is optimised for 35mm full-frame digital and film SLR cameras, although it can of course also be used on cropped-sensor digital camera bodies as well. The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM contains one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element and a glass mold element, and comes with a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for quiet focussing.  The lens has a round, nine-blade diaphragm for attractive bokeh, and comes bundled with a petal-type hood. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $1,400.

Olympus has issued firmware updates for the three quiet-focussing SWD lenses in its E-system line-up. Firmware version 1.2 for the Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD prepares the lens to provide optimum performance with the new Olympus E-5 DSLR camera body, while firmware version 1.1 for the Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f/2 SWD (read review) and Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD lenses improves continuous AF speed with other Four Thirds cameras too.

The Lensbaby Tilt Transformer allows Nikon lenses to be tilted on Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX cameras. The Tilt Transformer allows photographers to mount any Nikon mount lens onto their Micro Four Thirds or Sony NEX camera and tilt up to twice the amount of standard tilt-shift lenses, delivering photos that have a slice of focus through the image, bordered by a soft. The Composer with Tilt Transformer allows the Lensbaby Optic Swap system to be used. The Tilt Transformer retails for $250 and the Composer with Tilt Transformer retails for $350.

The Hasselblad HC Macro 120-II is a 120mm macro lens for Hasselblad H4D medium-format digital SLR cameras. Compared to the previous iteration of the lens, the Mark II version offers improved correction of longitudinal chromatic aberrations, higher resolution and better close-up performance. Constructed of nine lens elements, the Hasselblad HC Macro 120-II features a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1 at a close-focus point of 39cm.

The Hasselblad HC 50-II is a 50mm lens which has an angle of view similar to that of a 31.4mm lens mounted to a 35mm body. Improvemetns over the first version of this lens include an updated optical design resulting in more even performance across the frame, and better close-up capabilities. Featuring 11 optical elements in 7 groups, the Hasselblad HC 50-II has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 and a close focus point of 60cm.

Want to see exactly what the new Canon lenses look like, including the 8-15mm fisheye?

Then check out our hands-on photo gallery of the new additions to Canon’s extensive range of lenses.

The Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a new large aperture telephoto zoom lens with weather resistant construction. One SLD and Two FLD glass elements are used for maximum correction of chromatic aberrations. The OS function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The addition of the optional APO 1.4x EX DG and 2x EX DG Tele Converters produces an ultra telephoto zoom lens with AF.

The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a new large aperture medium telephoto macro lens. Successor to the 6-year old APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM, this new lens features an OS design offering the latest optical technology and the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The Sigma 150mm’s HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures quiet and high speed autofocus as well as full-time manual focus capability.

Panasonic has announced three new lenses - 14mm, 100-300mm, 12.5mm 3D - for the Micro Four Thirds system. The LUMIX G 14 mm / F2.5 ASPH, features a 14mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 28 mm) wide angle and F2.5 brightness. The LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. takes 300mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 600 mm) handheld ultra-telephoto zoom shots. The LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12 (H-FT012) is the world’s first interchangeable 3D lens.

The Panasonic Lumix G 12.5mm F12 is a 3D lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. The remarkably compact lens features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses, to be processed with a 3D image processing system. When mounted on the Panasonic GH2, the lens has an angle of view of 37°, provided the user has chosen the 16:9 aspect ratio on the camera. Constructed of 2x4 elements in 2x3 groups, the Panasonic Lumix G 12.5mm lens has a fixed aperture of f12 and comes with a standard Micro Four Thirds mount. Pricing to be confirmed.