Tamron has just announced the development of its first superzoom lens for Micro Four Thirds. The Tamron 14-150mm F/3.5-5.8 Di III VC has a 35mm equivalent focal range of 28-300mm, and features 17 lens elements in 13 groups and an aperture diaphragm with 7 rounded blades. Supplied with a flower-shaped lens hood, the new Tamron 14-150mm lens boasts the manufacturer’s Vibration Compensation technology, a minimum focus distance of 50cm and a filter attachment size of 52mm. Pricing and availability to be announced.

At CP+, Kenko Tokina is showcasing the prototype of a new ultrawide-to-wide zoom lens designed for digital cameras with APS-C sized sensors. Intended to replace the critically acclaimed but somewhat shorter AT-X 12-24mm f4 PRO DX, the brand new Tokina AT-X 12-28mm f4 PRO DX offers users a 35mm equivalent focal range of 18-42mm on Nikon and ~19-45mm on Canon dSLRs. Weighing in at 600 grams, the Tokina AT-X 12-28mm f4 PRO DX features 14 elements in 12 groups and boasts a minimum focus distance of only 25mm from the sensor plane. Furthermore, the lens sports Tokina’s exclusive one-tocuh 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. Pricing and availability to be announced.

Source: Kenko Tokina Japan

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM is a new standard prime for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors. With an optical formula comprising nine elements in eight groups and an iris diaphragm with nine rounded blades (and no “EX” designation in the name), this lens features a completely different design to the older Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, which was introduced back in 2005. It also has a shorter close-focusing distance of 30cm and a higher maximum reproduction ratio of 1:6.8. The filter attachment size is unchanged at 62mm, as is the 30mm focal length that translates into 45mm on Nikon and newer Sigma bodies, 48mm on Canon and 51mm on older Sigma digital SLRs. As part of the manufacturer’s ‘Art’ line, the new 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM is compatible with Sigma’s separately sold USB dock accessory and Sigma Optimisation Pro software.

The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN is a new mid-range telephoto lens for Micro Four Thirds and NEX system cameras. Offering a 35mm equivalent focal length of 90mm/120mm (NEX/MFT), the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN boasts a rounded aperture diaphragm and a minimum focus distance of 50cm. The lens benefits from a linear AF motor which moves the lens unit directly without the need for gears or other extra mechanical parts. This system ensures accurate and quiet focusing, the company says. The Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN lens takes small 46mm filters and comes supplied with an LH520-03 lens hood (see picture).

Sigma has unveiled new and restyled versions of its 19mm f/2.8 EX DN and 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lenses. Optically unchanged, the new editions boast metal exteriors and come in black and silver versions.

Panasonic has announced a new standard zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras. The Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II has an optical formula comprising nine elements in eight groups, including two aspherical lenses plus Panasonic’s “Mega” Optical Image Stabiliser. Other highlights include an internal focus mechanism, a minimum focus distance of 20cm in the 14-20mm rangeand an iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades.

Nikon has introduced a redesigned, AF-S version of its 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. This ultrawide-to-wide zoom lens can be used on the company’s FX-format dSLRs as well as its more recent film SLRs. With up to a 100º angle of view, the AF-S Nikkor 18–35mm f/3.5–4.5G ED offers advanced and amateur photographers an affordable way to experiment with the unique perspectives that wide-angle zoom lenses can achieve, the company says. The newly designed optical formula comprises a dozen elements in eight groups, including two ED glass and three aspherical elements and Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating. The minimum focus distance is 28cm (measured from the film/sensor plane rather than the front lens element). The AF-S Nikkor 18–35mm f/3.5–4.5G ED lens weighs in at 385 grams, and takes standard 77mm filters. On a DX body - or an FX camera operating in DX crop mode -, the lens offers a 35mm equivalent focal range of 27-53mm. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED will be available in March 2013 for the SRP of £669.99/$749.95.

Nikon has launched its AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens, whose development was announced in the summer of 2012. Already tested by professional sports photographers at the London Olympics, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR is a super-telephoto lens featuring twenty elements in thirteen groups - including two ED and two fluorite elements -, an iris diaphragm with nine rounded blades and electromagnetic diaphragm control (hence the new “E” designation), and Nikon’s critically acclaimed Vibration Reduction system. Every Nikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens is supplied with the also-new TC-800-1.25E ED teleconverter - the first teleconverter to employ an ED glass element to correct chromatic aberration. The suggested retail price of the new 800mm Nikon lens is £15,599.99/$17,899.95.

Nikon has refreshed its Coolpix L and P ranges with the Nikon Coolpix L820 and P520 models. The Nikon Coolpix L820 ($279.95) is an easy-to-use, AA battery operated 16-megapixel digital superzoom camera with 30x optical zoom and Full HD video capture. Other highlights include Vibration Reduction, Eye-Fi memory card compatibility, a 3-inch rear screen and a “smart portrait system.” The 18-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P520 (£399.99 / €479.00 / $449.95, pictured) is a more serious proposition offering 42x optical zoom, a vari-angle, 3.2-inch, 921k-dot display and full manual control over the shooting settings. An optional Wi-Fi dongle can instantly transfer images and movies to virtually any smart device. Other key features include an auto HDR mode, a customisable function button, a 1cm macro mode, Easy Panorama and 3D shooting modes, 7fps continuous shooting at full resolution, and the ability to use the optical zoom while recording a full HD movie.

Nikon has expanded its Coolpix S line-up with three new cameras. The new models include the 18.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S9500 (£299.99 / €359.00 / $349.95, pictured) with Wi-Fi, 22x optical zoom, 3.0-inch OLED display and built-in GPS; the similarly Wi-Fi enabled, 16-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S5200 (£179.99 / €215.00 / $179.95) with 6x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD screen; and the 18.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S9400 (£249.99 / €299) with 18x optical zoom and a 3-inch OLED panel (but no built-in wireless connectivity). All models feature back-illuminated CMOS image sensors, lens-shift vibration reduction and Full HD movie recording. All three cameras will become available on 21st February.

The Nikon Coolpix AW110 (£329.99 / €395.00, pictured) is a robust 16-megapixel camera with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi. Waterproof to 18m, shockproof from heights of up to 2m, dustproof and freezeproof down to -10 °C; the Nikon Coolpix AW110 features a 3-inch, 614k-dot OLED monitor, 5x optical zoomand Full HD movie capture. An altimeter records the exact altitude at which you take a shotand a hydro-barometer measures underwater depth. The 10-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S31 (£99.99 / €120.00) is waterproof to 5m, shockproof from up to 1.2m height, and dustproof. Other highlights include a symmetric body design with centred flash unit, 3x optical zoom, a range of fun digital filters and 720p HD video recording capabilities. The Nikon Coolpix L28 (£89.99 / €109.00) is an easy-to-use, AA battery powered 20-megapixel compact with 5x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD screen and 720p video. Its little brother, the Nikon Coolpix L27 (£69.99 / €84.00), is a 16-megapixel camera with a 2.7-inch rear display, exclusive to Argos in the United Kingdom.

Canon has expanded its compact camera range with three high-zoom Ixus models and a new PowerShot A series shooter. The 12.1-megapixel Canon Ixus 255 (pictured) features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, 10x optical zoom, Intelligent Image Stabilisation, high-speed shooting, Full HD video recording capabilities and a 3-inch rear screen. The 16-megapixel Canon Ixus 135 also comes with Wi-Fi and Intelligent IS, and offers 8x optical zoom, 720p movies and a 2.7-inch display. The Canon Ixus 132 is a similar model sans Wi-Fi, while the Canon PowerShot A2500 is an entry-level digital compact camera with a 16-megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 720p video and a 2.7-inch monitor (but no optical image stabiliser).

Hama has introduced a new line-up of bags designed for compact system cameras. The ‘Seattle’ series is available in six different sizes, including two Colt models. Prices range from €19.99 to €39.99.

This year, Nikon is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Nikkor brand. The brand’s history began in 1933 with the first shipment of Nippon Kogaku’s Aero-Nikkor aerial photographic lenses. Twenty-six years later, the company released its first SLR camera, the Nikon F as well as its first lens for Nikon SLR cameras, the Nikkor-S Auto 5cm f/2. Since then, Nikon has been at the forefront of lens development. The OP Fisheye-Nikkor 10mm f/5.6 fisheye lens for SLR cameras, released in 1968, was the world’s first lens to incorporate aspherical lens elements. The Ultra Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8, released in 1962, served as the template for projection lenses employed in Nikon IC steppers and scanners. Total production of Nikkor lenses for cameras with interchangeable lenses reached 75 million in November 2012.  Nikon’s lineup of lenses for cameras with interchangeable lenses currently consists of more than 80 types of lenses, including fisheye lenses, ultra wide-angle lenses, super-telephoto lenses, zoom lenses, micro lenses, PC-E lenses, and 1 NIKKOR lenses.

In February, 2013, sixty years after its founding, Aperture Foundation will relaunch its flagship publication Aperture. “The award-winning London designers A2/SW/HK have re-envisioned the magazine as a luxurious print object defined by its tactile presence, dynamic typography unique to Aperture, and high-quality reproductions,” the publisher says. “Each quarterly issue will feature at least 50% more pages and will be reformatted to a larger trim size.” The Aperture Spring 2013 issue hits newsstands February 26, 2013.

With support from the European Commission, the Dutch FotoMuseum Provincie Antwerpen (FoMu) has embarked on a new photographic heritage project called Daguerreobase. The project’s goal is to collect copies and descriptions of over 25.000 historical daguerrotypes from all over Eurotype in a single database / knowledge bank. “European-style daguerreotypes are scarce and collections are scattered around in several European institutional and private collections,” the museum explained in a statement. “The renewed Daguerreobase aims not only to aggregate and to centralise the [available] information about these collections, it will also make this information open to researchers and professionals [as well as] the general public.” For more information, visit the website below.

Datacolor today announced its winter 2013 line-up of free colour management webinars. The bi-monthly webinars, hosted by David Tobie, global product technology manager for Datacolor, and David Saffir, Datacolor expert, noted landscape and fine art photographer, and author of “Master Digital Colour,” focus on managing colour using tools in both capture and processing stages. Webinars include step-by-step demonstrations using Datacolor’s line of Spyder colour calibration devices, and in-depth discussion to provide photographers with new methods to produce high quality results with their own images. Click through / read on for the detailed webinar schedule.

McCullin, a documentary portrait of the acclaimed war photographer, will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD on 25th February. Recognised for his war photography and images of urban strife, photojournalist Don McCullin worked for The Sunday Times from 1966 to 1983, covering wars and humanitarian disasters on virtually every continent: from civil war in Cyprus, the war in Vietnam and the man-made famine in Biafra to the plight of the homeless in 1960s London. Packed with in-depth interviews and rich archive footage, the 89-minute documentary will retail for £15.99. You can watch the film’s trailer below.