Sigma USA has announced that the Canon version of the newly-upgraded Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM is now available at retail. Incorporating Sigma’s original Optical Stabiliser function, the Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 allows sharp hand-held shots at shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. Four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of colour aberration, the company says. The Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens is now available for purchase in Canon mounts through authorised Sigma dealers at the MSRP of $2,400 (Amazon is actually offering it at $1,599 but it still says it “has not yet been released”). Nikon mounts will be available later this month, and they will be followed by Sigma, Pentax and Sony mounts in April.

Canon Japan has announced that there is a shortage of Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens due to higher-than-expected demand. Announced at the beginning of this year, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM features enhanced optical performance thanks to a fluorite element and a fifth UD element. Other noticeable improvements include faster auto-focus, a wider focusing ring, and sleeker design by reducing the thickness of any protruding elements such as the switch panel. Despite the shortage announced today, the lens appears to be in stock at a number of online retailers.

Source: Canon Japan via 1001 Noisy cameras

Sigma Japan is launching the Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM telezoom in Pentax and Sony mounts. Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed approximately 4 stops faster. The 150-500mm lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. A removable tripod socket is included as a standard accessory. The Pentax and Sony versions of the Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens will be available from the end of March.

Tamron says it is developing a premium telezoom for full-frame DSLR cameras, called the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD. The VC abbreviation in the product name stands for “Vibration Compensation” - so it is an optically stabilised lens -, whilst the USD designation indicates that the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD will have an Ultrasonic Silent Drive auto-focus motor, which also enables full-time manual focus override, with no need to switch the lens to MF mode. In the pursuit to achieve the most outstanding image resolution in the 70-300mm class, this 60th Anniversary lens from Tamron utilises an advanced optical design that features an LD (Low Dispersion) and an XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) lens element made from specialised materials that prevent chromatic aberration. The Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD will be available for Nikon, Canon and Sony/Minolta AF mounts.

Along with the Lumix DMC-G2 and G10 Micro Four Thirds cameras, Panasonic has introduced a new standard zoom, the Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. Constructed of 12 elements in 9 groups, the Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 features an aspherical lens element and optical image stabilisation. Accepting filters of 52mm in diameter, the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens has 7 rounded aperture blades for pleasant bokeh, and weighs in at only 5.82 ounces. This lens will be available in a bundle with the Panasonic Lumix G2 and G10 cameras from June 2010.

Those who buy a Mamiya DM40, DM33 or DM56 DSLR kit from an authorised Mamiya Digital Dealer in the USA between now and 30 April 2010 can choose one of two zoom lenses for free. These inclide the Mamiya AF 55-110mm f/4.5 and the AF 105-210mm f/4.5, each of which represents a $2371 value according to Mamiya. Consumers who purchase either a Mamiya DM28 or DM22 DSLR kit can in turn receive a free Mamiya AF 55mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime lens.

The Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds, which we wrote about last week, has officially been announced and priced. Constructed of eight elements in seven groups, the Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 offers the same angle of view (23°) and depth of field as a theoretical 100mm f1.9 lens would when mounted to a 35mm film camera. Weighing in at 480 grams, the Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 takes 62mm filters and focuses down to 0.6m / 2ft. This manual-focus lens for Micro Four Thirds ships from 15 April priced at $750, and is available now for pre-order.

Website: Noktor

A start-up called Noktor is planning to launch a 50mm f0.95 lens for Micro Four Thirds, which looks like the ideal portrait lens for the system, at least on paper. The Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 for Micro Four Thirds offers approximately the same angle of view (23°) and depth of field as a theoretical 100mm f1.9 lens would on a 35mm film camera.. Via Twitter, Noktor has already posted a couple of samples that were allegedly taken with the Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95, but these are of low resolution and are devoid of any EXIF data.

Update: the Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 has been announced - it’s for real.

According to Sigma, FLD glass, which has a performace equal to fluorite glass but costs less, has been adopted and used in Sigma’s new high-performance lenses. FLD glass offers the same optical performance as fluorite, at an affordable price. Also, the density of FLD glass is lower than traditional optical glass, ensuring a lighter construction of large aperture lenses. FLD glass has been incorporated into the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM - the widest lens available for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors, pictured -, the Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM and the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM.

At PMA 2010, the US distributor of Tokina products displayed the mock-up of an ultrawide-to-wide zoom for 35mm SLR cameras and “full-frame” DSLRs. As the Tokina SD 16-28mm f2.8 (IF) FX is currently in the development phase, no information on availability or pricing has been released yet.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Ricoh today announced the development of two new camera-lens units for the Ricoh GXR interchangeable unit camera system. One of them, tentatively named RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC, features a back-illuminated compact camera sensor with the ability to capture images at 120 frames per second, and a 28-300mm equivalent lens. The “VC” designation indicates that this unit has the vibration correction function developed independently by Ricoh. The other, called GR LENS A12 28 mm F2.5 for the time being, is a unit boasting an APS-C sized CMOS sensor ana 28mm lens. The former is scheduled to ship in the summer, while the latter is expected to go on sale at the end of the year.

The Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a new fast telephoto lens. Equipped with optical stabilisation, the Sigma 70-200mm has a large maximum aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. The lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring a quiet and high speed AF as well as full-time manual focus capability. For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied.

The Sigma 50-500mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM is an ultra telephoto lens offering a 10x zoom ratio. Incorporating Sigma’s original Optical Stabiliser function, the Sigma 50-500mm f5-6.3 offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. Four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of colour aberration. The addition of the optional 1.4x EX DG or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 70-700mm F6.3-8 or a 100-1000mm F9-12.6 MF zoom lens respectively.

The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a large aperture medium telephoto lens. Optimised for use with digital SLR cameras, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 lens is ideal for portrait and low light photography. It features a minimum focusing distance of 85cm and a maximum magnification 1:8.6. For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied.

The Sigma 8-16mm f4-5.6 DC HSM is a new ultra wide-angle zoom lens for DSLRs with APS-C size sensors. This lens has an equivalent angle of view of a 12-24mm lens, producing striking images with exaggerated perspective. Four FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, compensate for colour aberration. The Sigma 8-16mm has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm throughout the entire zoom range.

The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a compact large aperture standard zoom lens equipped with optical stabilisation. This large aperture standard zoom lens is designed for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors. Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, plus two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens, provide excellent correction for all type of aberrations. The inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarising filters.

Samsung will launch 5 more lenses for its NX camera system in 2010. These include an 18-55mm, 20-50mm, 20mm, 18-200mm and 60mm macro lens. The total number of Samsung lenses at the end of 2010 will be 8, rivalling similar systems from Olympus and Panasonic. “The Samsung NX10 represents a whole new category of digital cameras and the new offerings within our lens line up will ensure our users feel empowered to unleash their creative side and integrate camera technology into everyday life, in their own way.” explained Steve Mitchell, General Marketing Manager, Samsung Digital Imaging.

Samsung has issued a firmware update for its NX series lenses, which are compatible with the Samsung NX10 interchangeable-lens system camera. Version 1.1 improves AF accuracy when using the Samsung NX 30mm f/2, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS (pictured) and 55-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS lenses.

Website: Samsung Support

The Cosina Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 90mm F3.5 SL II is a manual-focus lens for Canon, Nikon and Pentax SLR cameras. It comes with a lens hood and an add-on close-up lens, which allows the photographer to focus down to 32cm, and achieve a magnification of 1:1.8. (Without the close-up adapter, the lens can focus down to 50cm only.) Constructed of 6 lens elements arranged in 5 groups, the Cosina APO-LANTHAR 90mm F3.5 SL II has 9 diaphragm blades, and comes in Canon EF, Nikon F Ai-S and Pentax KA versions. The lens has only been released for Japan; there is no word on international pricing or availability at the moment.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Sigma Japan has unveiled the release date for the Pentax and Sony versions of the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM lens. The lens, which was announced on 4 December 2009, will be launched on 27 February for Sony and 19 March for Pentax. The estimated retail price is 56,200 yen plus taxes - this includes the lens itself and a LH780-04 lens hood.