Pentax have announced a new 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 high-zoom-ratio standard zoom lens. The smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL[IF] DC WR features a 7.5-times zoom ratio, simplified weather-resistant construction and extra-smooth autofocus operation. The smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm will be available from early November 2010 for £599.99.

In addition to launching a 120mm tilt-shift lens for Mamiya, Schneider Kreuznach will also release two perspective control lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony digital SLR cameras. The PC-TS Super-Angulon 2.8 / 50 HM and the PC-TS Makro-Symmar 4.0 / 90 HM are predominantly targeted at product and macro photographers, and allow 12mm of lateral shift plus 8 degrees of tilt. The lenses will be officially unveiled at Photokina next week.

According to Nikon, the total production of Nikkor lenses has reached fifty-five million. Out of these, 20 million are auto-focus lenses equipped with a Silent Wave Motor. The first F-mount Nikkor was the Nikkor-S Auto 5cm f/2, released in 1959 along with the first-ever Nikon SLR camera, the Nikon F. The 55 million lenses have thus been produced over the course of the last 50 years, with the last 5 million being manufactured over the past year.

Tokina’s new AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX lens will be on display at the company’s Photokina booth. Constructed of 15 elements in 13 groups, this ultrawide-to-wide zoom was first shown at PMA 2010,and the Nikon version reportedly went on sale last month in Japan, priced at 123, 900 yen. 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. You can view ten full-resolution samples taken with this lens mounted on a Nikon D3X body at the website below.

Website: Tokina AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX Samples

Schneider Kreuznach has announced a tilt-shift lens for Mamiya and Phase One system cameras. The PC-TS Apo-Digitar 5.6 / 120 HM Aspheric is an apochromatically corrected lens that “combines exceptional reproduction quality with a large image circle and excellent adjustability which is restricted only by the camera’s bayonet mount,” the manufacturer claims. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.

The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is a bright wide-angle lens for manual-focus enthusiasts. Constructed of 12 optical elements arranged in 10 groups (including one aspherical and two highly refractive elements), the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC uses a system of floating lens elements in order to preserve high image quality even at the lens’ close focus point of 30cm. The new 35mm lens from Samyang will be available in Canon EF, Four Thirds, Nikon F, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony fit. The price has not yet been revealed.

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II is is a fast telephoto lens that incorporates Nikon’s VR II image stabilisation system. Constructed of 13 elements in nine groups, the lens includes one Super ED and three ED optical elements to minimise chromatic aberrations. The AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II incorporates an internal focussing system featuring three focus modes - A/M, M/A and M. Also included is a Tripod Detection Mode, which automatically compensates for minute vibrations when mounted on a tripod. The AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II will be available early October for an MSRP of $5999.95 / £5299.99.

Updating a popular Nikkor lens, the new AF-S 35mm f/1.4G from Nikon completes the lineup of f/1.4G lenses announced in the past year. A moderate wide-angle lens on FX format, the AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G becomes a fast ‘normal’ prime when mounted on a DX body. The build of the 35mm f/1.4 features 10 optical elements in seven groups with one aspherical lens element that eliminates coma and other types of aberration even when shooting at the widest available aperture. A Rear Focus (RF) system incorporating a Silent Wave Motor provides smooth and fast autofocus with full-time manual focus override, while eliminating front barrel rotation. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G lens will be available in mid-November with an MSRP of $1799.95 / £1699.99.

Sigma says some of its lenses may have a potential aperture operation problem when used with the Sony A33 and A55 “SLT” cameras. Those camera owners who experience this issue are encouraged to contact the a Sigma Service Station for a free lens modification. Note that for lenses discontinued several years ago, a modification may not be available. Future batches of Sigma lenses for the Sony A mount will be fully compatible with these cameras, the manufacturer says.

The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL is a new standard prime lens. Offering a natural perspective similar to that of the naked eye, the Pentax 35mm f/2.4 lens can be used with all Pentax digital SLR cameras, offering an angle of view equivalent to a 53.5mm lens in the 35mm format. The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL will be available from mid October 2010 for £179.99.

Carl Zeiss has expanded its Compact Prime CP.2 lens series with two new focal lengths: the 50mm with macro and 100mm with close focus function. The CP.2 100 mm/T2.1 CF is based on the Planar design and is the longest focal length in the Compact Prime CP.2 lens series so far. It extends the series by adding a very fast telephoto lens with a close-up focusing range of 0.7 metres. The CP.2 50mm/T2.1 Makro is based on the Makro-Planar design and allows close-up shots to be taken with the object at a distance of just 24 centimetres. These lenses have been specially developed for filming with DSLR cameras and will be presented for the first time at the IBC in Amsterdam. Product delivery is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2010. Retail price starts at €3,700 excluding VAT.

From the 4th quarter of 2010, the Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 cine lenses will be available for F-mount cameras. Developed primarily for shooting with video-enabled digital SLR cameras, the CP.2 lenses have a compact and robust build so that they can handle any demand on the film set. Carl Zeiss also announced that it will soon also be offering the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses with Micro 4/3 and A-mount.

Tamron USA has announced an End of Summer Super Rebate programme valid on purchases made through 10 October 2010. The lenses included in this programme are the Tamron AF18-270mm Di-II VC, AF18-200mm Di-II, AF28-300mm Di, SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 VC, SP AF10-24mm and SP AF60mm f/2 1:1 Macro (pictured). The rebate is $100 on each lens except for the Tamron AF28-300mm Di. In addition to this special offer, Tamron offers rebates that are valid through 31 December 2010 on several other lenses. For the complete list, see Tamron’s press release after the break.

Website: Tamron Rebate Form

Nikon UK has launched a promotion offering students 10% cashback on Nikon equipment. The offer is valid through 31st October, and all full-time students, lecturers or technicians attending or teaching a higher education photographic or media course in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are eligible. All claims must be received by 30th November 2010. For terms and conditions and information about how to claim your cashback, visit the website below.

Website: Nikon Student Cashback

To celebrate the company’s 60 years of being in business, Tamron USA has announced a promotion which involves giving away 60 Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD zoom lenses. For the next 60 days, every US resident that’s signed up to receive Tamron news by e-mail will automatically be entered into the prize draw. Each day, one lucky winner will get a Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD lensm with four other entrants winning other prizes ranging from $15 to $499 in value. For complete details and to sign up to enter Tamron’s 60th Anniversary 60-Day Lens Giveaway, visit the website below.

Website: Tamron USA

The Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 is a remarkably fast moderate wide-angle lens for Canon and Nikon single-lens reflex cameras. With a focal length of 35mm and a maximum aperture of f1.4, the manual-focus Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 has been designed with ultimate sharpness and excellent bokeh in mind. Plus, with the Zeiss T*‘s anti-reflective coating, its sophisticated stray light reduction and the excellent flare control the new Distagon also takes pictures of bright light sources without artifacts, the manufacturer says. Constructed of 11 elements arranged in 9 groups, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 can focus down to 30cm, enabling full-frame camera users to fill the frame with an object that measures 18x12cm (0,2x magnification). The lens will be available in first quarter of 2011 at a recommended retail price of €1385.71+VAT.

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 is a new ultra-telezoom lens the Micro Four Thirds platform. Equivalent to a 150-600mm lens in 35mm format, the new Olympus 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 measures just 70x116mm and has been designed with both photographers and videographers in mind. Featuring a rear-focusing mechanism with only two moving lens elements, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 enables “remarkably fast” and quiet autofocus. Constructed of 18 elements arranged in 13 groups, the lens boasts two ED lens elements and three highly refractive elements, while its iris diaphragm has seven rounded blades for pleasant bokeh. Weighing in at 430 grams, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 takes 58mm filters and comes in black and silver, priced at £799.99/€899.00/$899.99. Availability is slated for December.

Note: This is the “Super Telephoto Zoom” that appeared on the MFT lens roadmap we published back in November 2009.

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 is an 80-300mm equivalent telezoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. With its ultra-quiet and “extremely fast” autofocus mechanism, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 is claimed to be ideal for video capture. Available as a standalone product or as part of Olympus’ PEN double zoom kit, the lens comprises 13 elements (including an ED element) in 10 groups. Weiging in at only 190 grams, this is one of the lightest telephoto lenses around. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 will be hit the shelves in October in Europe (and November in the USA), priced at £299.99/€329.00/$299.99.

Cosina has announced a new Voigtländer lens for M-mount cameras. Constructed of 6 elements in 3 groups, this fast short telephoto lens is designed to provide shallow depth of field with excellent bokeh. The Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 has a 52mm thread for screw-on filters and comes with a reversible lens hood. Although it has an imaging circle large enough to cover the full frame on 35mm film or the similarly sized sensor of the Leica M9, it seems best suited to sub-frame digital rangefinder cameras such as the Leica M8 and M8.2, on which it makes for a perfect portrait lens. Scheduled for release in September, the lens is priced at 75,000 yen.

The Nikon version of the Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is now available in Japan. Constructed of 22 elements in 17 groups, the lens has a filter thread size of 77mm and has an iris diaphragm with 9 rounded blades for smooth bokeh. Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of colour aberration, the company says. Supplied with a petal-type lens hood (and a hood adapter for use when the lens is attached to a DX body), the Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is priced at 200,000 yen.