Tokina have unveiled the ATX 16.5-135mm f/3.5-5.6, a new versatile 8x zoom lens. Providing an equivalent focal length of 26-216 on a Canon APS-C DSLR, the Tokina ATX 16.5-135mm f/3.5-5.6 will initially be available for Canon and Nikon cameras. Price and availability of the Tokina 16.5-135mm lens are still to be confirmed. Tokina also announced an updated version of the 12-24mm F4 wide-angle lens for Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in AF motor (the D60, D40x and D40).

We have a gallery of photos of the Tokina ATX 16.5-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens - click the continue link below…

The Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a new large aperture prime lens for the Four Thirds system. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focus override. It effectively becomes a 100mm medium telephoto lens on Four Thirds cameras. Price and availability of the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM for Four Thirds to be confirmed.

The Sigma 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC HSM, 180 degree circular fisheye lens is now available for Sony and Pentax APS-C DSLR cameras. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors, it produces a circular image within the frame.HSM ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and includes full-time manual focus. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm and maximum magnification of 1:6 also makes it particularly useful for close-up photography. Pricing and availability to be announced.

The Sigma 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM diagonal fisheye lens is now available for Sony and Pentax APS-C DSLR cameras. It produces a diagonal angle of view of 180 degrees. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm, and maximum magnification 1:3.3 allows subjects to be as close as 1.8cm from the lens’ front element. The Sigma 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM lens is supplied with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters. Pricing and availability to be announced.

The Pentax smc DA-L 18-55mm / smc DA-L 50-200mm are the first two lenses in Pentax’s new and ultra-lightweight smc DA-L zoom lens series. The smc Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL lens is a compact, standard zoom lens with a focal length of 27.5-84.5mm, weighing only 700 grams. The smc PENTAX-DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6ED lens is a super-compact, ultra-lightweight telephoto zoom lens with a focal length of 76.5-8307mm. In order to keep weight and price as attractive as possible, Pentax has adjusted the construction of these zoom lenses. Unlike other Pentax lens series these two lenses are equipped with synthetic bayonets and do not the Pentax Quick-Shift focal system. Initially, both new lenses will be offered only as a kit with the Pentax K-m which will be available in November 2008. The Pentax K-m / K2000 will retail at £399.99 with the new smc DA-L 18-55 lens or £499.99 with the smc DA-L 18-55 and 50-200mm lenses.

Pentax have added two high-performance interchangeable lenses to the premium DA Star series. The smc Pentax-DA* 60-250mm F4ED[IF] SDM is a versatile telephoto zoom lens offering a high zoom ratio (92-383mm), while the smc Pentax-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM is a compact medium-telephoto lens offering a large maximum aperture and a focal length of 80mm. The smc PENTAX-DA* 60-250mm F4ED[IF] SDM will retail at around £899.99. Price to be confirmed on the smc PENTAX-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM Lens.

The AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G is a new Nikon standard prime lens. Helping to celebrate 75 years and 45 million lenses, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 includes an ultra-compact Silent Wave Motor to ensure fast, whisper-quiet operation, ultra-fast f/1.4 maximum aperture and the ability to focus as close as 1.5 feet. The Silent Wave Motor also enables autofocus in cameras without a built-in motor such as the Nikon D40 and Nikon D60. The AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G lens will be available at the beginning of December 2008 for $439.95 / £279.99 / €383.00.

The Mamiya Sekor 45mm f2.8 D is a new wide-angle lens for 645AFDII & III and ZD cameras. This wide-angle lens utilizes low-dispersion glass to correct chromatic aberration, producing high resolution and a large image circle coverage for film and digital backs. The Mamiya Sekor 45mm f2.8 D lens has an angle of view of 76 degrees - equivalent to a 28mm lens in the 35mm format. Pricing and delivery to be announced later this year.

The Mamiya Sekor AF 80mm F2.8 D L/S is a new leaf shutter lens for the 645 AFD III camera. The lens has an angle of view of 47 degrees in the 6 x 4.5 format, the equivalent of a 50mm lens in the 35mm format. The leaf shutter, which has been developed and manufactured in-house by Mamiya, is capable of shutter speeds from 1/800 second to 16 seconds, and has flash synchronization at all speeds. “The Mamiya Sekor AF 80mm F/2.8 D L/S,” says Jeff Karp, Mamiya Product Marketing Manager, “is unlike any other lens system available today. It has the advantage of high flash sync speeds—up to 1/800 second when used as a leaf shutter lens—and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second when used with the Mamiya 645AFD III’s built-in focal-plane shutter.” Final pricing and availability will announced later this year.

Carl Zeiss have unveiled an 85mm telephoto lens for rangefinder cameras. The compact Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM is a new addition to the ZM line of lenses. The lens is almost distortion-free and features excellent field curvature correction. Its shortest possible distance setting of only 0.9 m ensures maximum diversity of use. Its all-metal mount and sturdy design make it a multi-purpose lens for a wide variety of applications. Delivery of the Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM is scheduled to begin by the end of the year, priced at 769 euros.

The Canon EF 24mm f1.4L II USM lens is a new fast aperture prime lens. Completely redesigned, the EF 24mm f1.4L II USM replaces the original Mark I model. Featuring a 13-element, 10-group lens, the EF 24mm f1.4L II USM is designed to achieve the highest standards of image quality. Pricing and availability are still to be announced.

Carl Zeiss have launched a new 21mm super wide angle lens for SLR cameras. The Distagon T* 2.8/21 lens will be available for SLR cameras with EF (ZE), F (ZF) and a K (ZK) bayonets. Delivery of the Distagon T* 2.8/21 is scheduled to begin by the end of this year with the ZF and ZK version. Its selling price is estimated at 1,399 euros.

The world’s fastest aspherical lens has been announced by Leica. The new Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH offers extremely shallow depth of field at full aperture. This new lens is the successor of the famous NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/1 marketed by Leica for over 30 years, beginning in 1975. The Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH will be available from February 2009 for £6290.

In a surprise move, Carl Zeiss is expanding its manual focus SLR lenses to to include the Canon EF mount with the new ZE range. The first lenses to be available will be the Planar T* 1.4/50 ZE and the Planar T* 1.4/85 ZE in the last quarter of this year. The Planar T* 1.4/50 ZE will cost 579 euros, and the Planar T* 1.4/85 ZE 999 euros. Further focal lengths will be added to the line within the next few months.

Panasonic have unveiled two new Micro Four Thirds lenses to accompany the DMC-G1 camera. The LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens offers a zoom range of 28-90mm in 35mm terms, and the LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. lens offers an equivalent range of 90-400mm. You can use the camera’s contrast AF system when either lens is mounted on the DMC-G1, and both lenses feature optical image stabilisation. Pricing and availability of the Panasonic 14-45mm and 45-200mm is still to be announced.

Sony has launched 2 new lenses to accompany the A900 DSLR - the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 and Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8. The new 70-400mm f/4-5.6 is a 5.7x super telephoto zoom lens ideally suited for sports, action and wildlife photography. The Vario Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Series is a super wide angle 16-35mm f/2.8 constant aperture zoom lens suited for landscape, snapshot and indoor photography. For both lenses, when attached to the Alpha 900 camera body, the AF hold buttons can be customized to activate the camera’s intelligent preview function. The Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA and 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G lens will ship in January 2009 for about $1,800 and $1,500, respectively.

Canon has announced plans to construct new camera lens production facilities in Taiwan. The continued growth of the global digital SLR camera market has led to a rapidly increasing demand for interchangeable lenses. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2008 with production expected to commence in July 2009.

Luminous Landscape have reviewed the new Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens.

“There isn’t much more to be said. If you shoot wildlife or outdoor sports, and are finding that your 500mm or 600mm lens isn’t quite long enough, and your bank manager is telling you to spend some $12,000 before the tax man grabs it, then the new Canon 800mm f/5.6L may be just the thing for you.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Review

The Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS is a new tilt shift lens for the Phase One 645 and Mamiya 645AFD camera systems. Based on the popular Hartblei 45 mm f/3.5 Super Rotator lens, the Phase One 45mm Tilt/Shift lens offers up to 12 mm shift and 8 degrees tilt for maximum flexibility. It can be used to adjust the plane of focus without changing the depth of field, correct perspective and selectively sharpen and soften an image. The new Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS lens is also supported by Phase One’s Lens+ and Focus+ optical correction technologies available in Capture One 4 software. The Phase One 3.5/45 TS lens costs 2.990€  / $3,990 and can be ordered now.

Carl Zeiss are running a teaser advert for a brand new SLR lens mount. Already available for Nikon, Pentax and Leica M42, the un-named mount will be unveiled on September 15th. Speculation is growing that the Sony/Minolta mount is the most likely candidate, possibly coinciding with the Sony A900 pro DSLR…

Website: Carl Zeiss