Nikon have announced that the total production of Nikkor SLR lenses had reached fifty million as of August 2009. 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 50 million lenses have thus been produced over the course of the last 50 years, with the last 5 million being produced over the past year. Almost all F-mount lenses sold in the last half a century will mount on any Nikon SLR ever made, except for some invasive fisheyes produced in the 1960s. However, not every camera-lens combination will utilise the full potential of the camera or the lens. (Some of the newer DSLRs may not meter and/or autofocus with older Nikkors, DX lenses don’t cover the full frame on 35mm film, VR lenses won’t provide stabilisation on bodies predating the Nikon F5 of 1996, lenses bearing the G designation have limited use on old film SLRs etc.). Nevertheless, the current lineup of more than sixty Nikkor lenses for Nikon SLR cameras also offers a wide variety of lenses, including fisheyes, super wide-angle to super telephoto lenses and micro lenses.

Review: Read our in-depth review of one of the latest Nikkors, the AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G

The Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS is a new image stabilized telephoto zoom lens. Incorporating Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer), the 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The lens has an overall length of 126.5mm (5.0”), maximum diameter of 76.5mm (3.0”) and weight of just 610g, making it well-suited to travel photography. The Sigma 70-300mm’s rounded 9 blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out of focus areas of the photograph and it has a minimum focusing distance of 150cm throughout the zoom range. The Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS will cost £399 and be available in late September for Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony cameras.

The Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm / F1.7 ASPH is a new interchangeable pancake lens. Featuring a bright maximum aperture of f/1.7, the Pansonic 20mm lens is very compact and lightweight. Seven blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. Comprised of seven lenses in 5 groups, the versatile 20mm focal distance is equivalent to 40mm on a 35mm film camera. The Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm / F1.7 ASPH will be available in October as one of the DMC-GF1 kit lenses, pricing to be announced.

The Panasonic LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S is a new macro lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. Offering a 35mm camera equivalent focal length of 90mm, the Panasonic 45mm lens uses both an aspherical lens and an ED lens in its fourteen lenses in ten groups to realize outstanding compactness. It incorporates an inner focus direct-drive linear motor with three groups of floating structure for focusing, and the inclusion of stepping motor makes the focusing action smooth and silent for use in both photo and movie recording. The closest focusing distance can be instantly changed to 15cm or 50 cm(0.5 ft to 1.64 ft) with the switch on the lens barrel. Availability and pricing of the Panasonic 45mm macro lens are still to be announced.

In addition to the DMC-GF1 camera and two new lenses announced today, Panasonic have also announced their Micro Four Thirds lens roadmap for 2010. Three new lenses will be launched - the 100-300mm f/4-5.6 OIS, 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, and 14mm f2.8 prime lens.

The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm is a new standard zoom lens for Nikon-mount digital SLR cameras with smaller sensors. Featuring Tamron’s proprietary tri-axial Vibration Compensation (VC) mechanism, the Tamron 17-50mm provides a focal range equivalent to equivalent to 26-78mm in the full-frame 35mm format. Tamron plans to introduce the lens in a Canon mount version shortly after the new Nikon mount version with built-in motor hits the market. The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm will be available in Japan from September 17th 2009. In the UK it will cost £529.99.

Canon has unveiled two new kit lenses for everyday use, the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. The high-quality EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is equivalent to a 24-136mm focal length lens. It offers a 4-stop Image Stabilizer as well as a close focusing distance of just 0.35m throughout the zoom range. The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a powerful all-in-one lens with a 4-stop Image Stabilizer and a 7.5x super zoom range. The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is available from early October 2009 priced at £529.99 / €619.99 inc. VAT. The EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is available from mid October 2009 priced at £849.99 / €989.99 inc. VAT. In the US the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is scheduled to be available at the end of September and sell at an estimated retail price of $499.99. The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM is scheduled to be available in late October and sell at an estimated retail price of $799.99.

The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is the first Canon lens to feature Hybrid image stabilisation. The new Hybrid IS system features up to 4-stop correction, compensating for the effects of camera shake during normal shooting and shift movement which is problematic when shooting up close. The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM will be available from early October 2009 priced at £999.99 / €1199.99 inc. VAT. In the US the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is scheduled to be available at the end of September and sell at an estimated retail price of $1,049.00.

Along with the Sony A850 full-frame DSLR, Sony also introduced a new standard zoom with a constant f2.8 maximum aperture. Weighing in at 565 grams, the compact Sony SAL2875 28-75mm f2.8 SAM lens is among the lightest in its class. The new, bright standard zoom has 16 lens elements in 14 groups, offers a maximum magnification of 0.22x, and takes 67mm filters. The SAL2875 lens will be available in November for about $800.

Sony has announced the availability of the Sony SAL30M28 DT 30mm f2.8 Macro SAM, a new macro lens intended for use on Sony’s cropped-sensor DSLRs. With an imaging circle designed to cover sensors of 16x24mm or smaller, this lens is not meant to be used on the Sony A850 or A900 full-frame cameras (or any of Minolta’s film SLRs), but is a perfect match for all other Sony DSLRs. The Sony DT 30mm f2.8 Macro lens offers 1:1 magnification at a subject-to-sensor distance of 13cm, and has a Smooth Autofocus Motor on board (hence the SAM abbreviation in the name). According to Sony, the lens will become available in October for about $200.

Update: We’ve just added 4 product shots taken at today’s UK press launch.

More than 40 different Schneider lenses for view cameras, ranging from 24mm to 1100mm, are eligible for instant rebates through 30 September 2009. The amount of the rebate varies between $200 and $400 depending on lens purchased. The offer is valid on 45 different Schneider lenses in the Apo-Symmar, Apo-Tele-Xenar, Fine Art, Macro-Symmar, Super-Angulon, Super-Symmar, Apo-Digitar and Macro Apo-Digitar designs.  Photographers should contact or visit any participating Schneider dealer found on the list at the website below. After getting a price quote from a dealer that meets their needs, photographers then tell or give the dealer the Instant Rebate Code Number 27686.

Website: Schneider Optics

The UK pricing and availability of the Leica S2 and a number of S system lenses have been unveiled! OK, sit down if you are not seated yet, take a deep breath… here we go: the body-only price is £15,996! And if you want a sapphire glass screen plus Platinum Service (whose details are to be announced), then expect to pay £19,092. The suggested retail prices of four Summarit-S lenses and their Central Shutter versions - which enable flash synchronisation at higher shutter speeds - have also been announced: they range from £3,096 to £5,160; with availability slated for October 2009. Read all the details after the break.

Website: Click here for our brief hands-on report and exclusive shots of the Leica S2

The AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM F/2.8G ED VR II is a new professional telephoto lens. Featuring a brand new optical design and extended Vibration Reduction capability, the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 lens implements Nikon’s anti-reflection Nano Crystal coat and seven ED glass elements. Three focus modes are incorporated, A/M; M/A and M, and two Vibration Reduction modes. The AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM F/2.8G ED VR II will cost £1999.99 / €2430.00 / $2399.95 when it launches in November 2009.

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR II is a new superzoom lens. Offering 11.1x zoom, the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 improves functionality and image quality.It features a new zoom lock switch, improved Super Integrated Coating and Vibration Reduction II system to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR II will cost £729.99 / €887.00 / $849.95 and be available from 4th September 2009.

There is a mail-in rebate promotion on most Leica M lenses in the US. The offer is valid through 14 August 2009, and the amount you can save varies between $200 and $500. The exact amount is based on the manufacturer’s suggested price of the M lens purchased. The offer is valid on purchases of new Leica lenses imported by Leica Camera Inc., excluding the 50mm f/0.95, 21mm f/1.4 and 24mm f/1.4. To qualify for the mail-in rebate, a customer must submit a mail-in rebate form, warranty card and a copy of the sales receipt. All mail-in rebates must be received by August 31, 2009. Processing of registration and mail-in rebate will take a minimum of 8 weeks from time of receipt.

Canon’s new Hybrid Image Stabilizer is the world’s first optical Image Stabilizer to compensate for both angular camera shake and shift camera shake. Making it’s debut in a new SLR lens due for release before the end of 2009, the Hybrid Image Stabilizer optimally compensates for angular camera shake (rotational) and shift camera shake (linear), using a new acceleration sensor that determines the amount of shift-based camera shake.

Forty years ago, Apollo 11 astronauts took the first pictures of their excursions on the surface of the moon – with camera lenses from Carl Zeiss. For the manned spaceflights to the moon, cameras and lenses with special specifications were prepared and subjected to stringent testing. NASA bought the first ZEISS medium format lens to be used successfully in space – a Planar 2,8/80 mm – with a Hasselblad camera in a camera store in Houston. In October 1962 Walter Schirra took this serially manufactured equipment with him into space. Only a few modifications to save weight and facilitate operation were necessary in order to ensure that the astronauts’ freedom of movement was in no way restricted during the mission. Christian Ludwig, head of the optical design department for camera lenses at that time, remembers: “It turned out that the technology of the lenses used, including the Planar 2,8/80 mm and Tessar 5,6/250 mm, was suitable without any need for mechanical modifications. However, the specially produced Biogon 5,6/60 mm posed a major challenge”.

Electrophysics, a Sofradir Group company, has introduced a new high performance night vision module for use with Canon full-frame digital SLR cameras such as the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 5D Mark II. When used with the new AstroScope 9350EOS-FF, these digital cameras deliver bright, high-resolution green images of night-time scenes. Because the night vision module fits between the camera body and SLR lens, all the lens electrical connections are maintained and important lens features such as optical image stabilisation remain fully functional even in night vision mode. The modules deliver optimum performance, sharp detail and highest quality full-frame images with no vignetting, a common problem with other night vision configurations, the company says.

Website: Electrophysics

Tamron has announced the pricing of the new Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II Macro lens for the euro zone. The lens, which shall become available at retail a week from now, has a suggested retail price of €699 including VAT, according to a German-language press release issued in Cologne today. As we wrote earlier, main features of the Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II Macro lens include 1:1 magnification, maximum aperture of f2, and a minimum focusing distance of 23cm. The lens is constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups, has 7 diaphragm blades and a filter diameter of 55mm. Other highlights include an internal focusing system and full-time manual control. Note that this lens is not meant to be used on full-frame DSLRs and 35mm film SLRs, because its imaging circle is smaller than that required to cover these formats.

Via photoscala.de

Kenro has announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 124 PRO DX II, the new version of the AT-X 124 PRO DX. This is a 12-24mm ultrawide-to-wide zoom lens designed for DSLRs with an APS-C sized sensor and has a fixed f/4 maximum aperture throughout its zoom range. The Nikon mount AT-X 124 PRO DX II features a built-in AF motor drive that operates smoothly and quietly due to a DC motor that uses a new AF control gear assembly. With the built-in motor, the lens can be used in AF mode with the Nikon D40, D40x, D60 and D5000 bodies, which lack a body-integral focus motor.