Mar 042013
 

AFS_80_400_ED_VR

Nikon has today announced an updated version of the 10-yr old 80-400.  All mod-cons as expected including 4-stop VR.  $2700 is a pretty hefty price tag but recent lenses such as Canon’s 70-300 L IS have proven that pro quality lenses can come in the form of wide ranging zoom using modern technologies. This will be an intriguing package for Nikon shooters , especially given modern ISO capabilities that render lenses with smaller maximum apertures a lot more useful….

Press Release

MELVILLE, N.Y. (March 4, 2013) – Today, Nikon Inc. introduced the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, a versatile FX-format telephoto zoom lens designed to provide top-class performance and a long reach for a variety of shooting scenarios. Sporting a long 5x zoom range, the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G is capable of capturing vivid colors with exquisite sharpness, whether shooting stills or HD video. Ideal for sports and nature photography, the addition of the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR reaffirms Nikon’s commitment to providing a stable of lensing options for all types of photographers.

“Nikon’s next generation of the 80-400mm lens gives advanced photographers yet another top-quality NIKKOR lens to help capture every precise moment with intense detail and exceptional clarity,” said Bo Kajiwara, Vice President of Marketing, Planning and Customer Experience, Nikon Inc. “It’s a one lens solution that combines a versatile 5x zoom range, long focal length and core Nikon technologies to help create beautiful stills and HD video.”

High-Performance, High-Power Zoom Nikon’s newest telephoto zoom lens features a versatile 80-400mm focal length (5x zoom equivalent) that offers photographers a high-power FX-format lensing option to help capture stunning stills and HD video. Whether birding or shooting from the stands, the lens is also compatible with DX-format bodies to extend the maximum reach to 120-600mm (35mm equivalent). Additionally, alongside a 1.4x teleconverter, the lens can be expanded to an f/8 aperture to retain compatibility with the AF system on the most recent Nikon D-SLR cameras.

The AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is loaded with essential NIKKOR technologies to help ensure top performance for the advanced photographer, including Vibration Reduction (VR) allowing for up to four stops of image stabilization while Auto tripod detection VR allows for effortless stabilization when mounted on a tripod. The lens sports Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat to prevent ghost and flare, a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) to ensure fast and quiet AF operation, and two focusing modes including M/A (AF with manual override) and M (manual). A new optical formula features 20 elements in 12 groups and includes one Super ED Glass Element and four ED glass elements for maximum clarity in a wide variety of shooting environments.

Price and Availability

The AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR will be available in early April 2013 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $2,699.95.*1 For more information on these and other NIKKOR lenses as well as other Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

Nov 052012
 

As reported earlier today, new Canon lenses have now become official.

Pre-Orders

Canon 24-70 F4 L IS @ B&H

Canon 35mm f2.0 L IS @ B&H

 

 

Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS & EF 35 f/2 IS
London, UK, 6 November 2012 – Canon today adds to its world-famous EF lens series with the launch of two models designed for enthusiasts and professionals – the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM and EF 35mm f/2 IS USM. Offering first-class optical technologies alongside highly compact designs, the new lenses are perfect for a range of creative purposes, including reportage, landscape, portrait, and travel photography.

Ideal for use alongside DSLRs like the new EOS 6D, both new lenses utilise the latest Canon technologies to consistently deliver superb results. Both include aspherical lenses and Super Spectra Coatings optimised for each individual element, Canon’s industry-leading Image Stabilizer (IS) technology and Ultrasonic Motors for superfast

Auto Focus (AF) – providing outstanding optical performance. The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is also the latest lens to feature Hybrid IS, delivering shakefree shots at any distance, including at macro focal lengths.

EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM – high performance, high flexibility, Hybrid IS
The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is the latest addition to Canon’s elite L-series, and expands the range of standard zoom EF lenses available for both professional and amateur photographers. Ideal for reportage and wedding photography, it combines an essential everyday focal range with a premium quality L-series construction, delivering consistently sharp, professional-quality stills in a range of different situations. A new macro function also optimises the placement of lens groups during macro photography, allowing shooting at a maximum magnification of 0.7x – reducing the need for photographers to carry a dedicated macro lens.

Its first-class optical system includes two aspherical elements alongside two Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lenses, each with optimised Super Spectra Coatings to minimise chromatic aberration, colour blurring and flare. A constant f/4 aperture throughout the zoom range provides photographers with exceptional creative control, allowing blurring of the background of a scene at all focal lengths. A nine-blade circular iris also assists photographers in making their subjects stand out, delivering beautiful out of focus highlights (bokeh) in the background blur to add atmosphere to a shot.

The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM also features a newly designed IS system, delivering blur-free images throughout the zoom range. Canon’s advanced optical IS offers a 4-stop light advantage, while Hybrid IS effectively compensates for angular and shift shake during macro shooting for stable close ups.

Superfast AF performance is provided by a small, ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM). Working in combination with a high-performance CPU and advanced AF algorithms, USM technology enables accurate, silent and ultra-responsive autofocusing. Full-time manual focusing also ensures adjustments can be made even when AF is engaged.

The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM features a high grade, usability-focused design – both inside and out. The exterior features a high quality leather-texture coating, a revised shape ensures ease-of-use, and the focusing and zoom rings have been designed for optimal operation. Additionally, a dust and drip-proof construction is resistant to dust and moisture, a lock function protects lenses from knocks when travelling, while fluorine coating minimises the amount of dust, dirt and fingerprints that adhere to the front and rear lenses – helping to maintain superior image quality and reduce the need for cleaning.

EF 35mm f/2 IS USM – take a wider look at the world


The new EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is designed to offer outstanding flexibility – allowing photographers to capture an even broader range of scenes and subjects in wide-angle. The lens is Canon’s first-ever 35mm prime to feature optical Image Stabilizer technology, which combines with high quality optics to offer outstanding performance from a lightweight, compact body. The 35mm focal length also provides the ability to capture everything from close-up portraits to wide-angle landscapes, making it an ideal companion for travel or general reportage photography.

Its advanced specification offers photographers great flexibility to shoot a wider-range of scenes and subjects. A bright, fixed f/2 aperture also allows photographers to employ a shallow depth of field, and optical IS offers users a 4-stop light advantage, allowing the capture of blur-free images in low light conditions when shooting handheld. Intelligent detection of panning motion is also supported, with Panning IS mode automatically engaged to enable photographers to capture movement with greater accuracy.

Designed to deliver exceptional image quality, the EF 35mm f/2 IS USM features an aspherical glass-moulded (GMo) element positioned at the rear of the optical path to correct aberration for the entire optical system. Additionally, each individual element features optimised Super Spectra coatings to reduce ghosting and flare – ensuring excellent colour balance with minimal need for post processing. A combination of a ring-type USM and high performance CPU also provides rapid AF performance, with full-time manual focus also available for users who want to retain maximum control.

 

Nov 052012
 

Well here’s a turn up for the books.  Two Canon lenses leaked onto the net today via Digicame-info.  A 35mm f2.0 and a 24-70 f4 L IS.  The 35mm will be an interesting lens, much smaller than the f1.4 L bigger brother and if it follows the same optical quality of recent 24mm and 28mm lenses it should be very nice.

Now the 24-70 though….. this is just an odd lens to me!  Seems like a replacement to the 24-105, but why oh why would they lower the range like that ?!!  It’s also going to have recent purchasers of the 24-70 f2.8 L II contemplating if they made a bad decision!  More on that later, I’ll write a separate post examining when you would have each particular lens.

The interesting thing for me is that the 24-70 has a Macro mode !  That really does make it an awesome one lens travel solution and I guess we’ll see this thing paired up with the EOS 6D in a kit soon enough.

Canon EF24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens 

  • 15 elements in 12 groups, two aspherical elements, lens configuration sheet 2 UD lens
  • 9 blades circular aperture
  • Weatherproof
  • Full-time manual focus
  • Macro mode can be switched at the telephoto end
  • 0.2m minimum focusing distance, 0.7 times the maximum magnification
  • Hybrid IS Image Stabilizer
  • 77mm filter size
  • 93mm length, 83.4mm maximum diameter, 600g weight
  • Released in mid-December
  • Expected price shop around ¥ 145,000 (around $1,800, US price will be lower)

Canon EF35mm F2 IS USM lens

  • 10 elements in 8 groups, the lens structure is molded glass aspherical lens
  • 8 blades circular aperture
  • The effect of camera shake correction about four stages
  • AF motor ring USM, full-time manual focus
  • 67mm filter size
  • 62.6mm length, 77.9mm maximum diameter, 335g weight
  • Released in early December 2012
  • Expected price shop around ¥ 74,000 (around $900)
  • EF24-70mm F4L IS USM lens will be available as a kit lens to the EOS 6D
  • Released in December 2012
May 242012
 

Following this mornings announcement from Canon that the new 500mm and 600mm lenses were now beginning to ship to dealers in Europe, B&H has updated their site to allow pre-orders of these two exciting new lenses.  This usually only happens when items are expected to arrive in stock relatively soon.  There’s a lot of buzz around what look likely to be Canon’s sharpest ever lenses and with people having to have waited more than a year for these to finally come to market I would expect demand to be relatively high initially for such a high priced item.  If you want to get one quickly I suggest you jump in line!

B&H Pre-Order Links

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Telephoto Lens
Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II USM Telephoto Lens

Adorama Pre-Order Links

Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II

Canon 600mm f/4L EF IS II

 
Continue reading »

May 242012
 

UPDATE: B&H is now offering both of these lenses for pre-order.  They typically only do this when things get relatively close to arriving.

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Telephoto Lens
Canon 500mm f/4L EF IS II USM Telephoto Lens

Finally!!  After many delays, the lenses that were announced more than a year ago are now “shipping to selected dealers in Europe” according to Canon CPN.  No word yet on N.American dealers but I would expect to hear any time soon.  This comes just one day after hearing that the first of the Canon 1D X cameras are also starting to ship to select photographers covering Euro 2012 and the London Olympics.  Is Canon finally getting back on track ? We shall see when they begin to ship the highly anticipated new 24-70 f2.8 L II. 

Many people are excited about the upgraded super telephoto lenses, myself included.  They incorporate huge weight savings compared to the previous versions and if the MTF charts are anything to go by then these (500mm in particular) are Canon’s sharpest lenses EVER!

 

Continue reading »

May 212012
 

We’ve seen this lens behind glass at many a trade show in the last 12 months, the first of a pair of high end weather sealed Panasonic zoom lenses for the Micro Four Thirds System.  Today Panasonic finally confirmed the last piece of the puzzle, that the maximum f-stop is f2.8 and they officially announced the lens.  No word yet on the second of the two but it could possibly come fairly shortly with the expected GH-3 which should also be a weather sealed body to match the lenses.

Being a higher end product, and having seen this lens myself at CES 2012 where I was quite impressed, I thought this was worth a mention.  With so many mirrorless cameras and lenses being released these days, it’s nice to see a product aimed at the higher end of the market that could conceivably be used for professional work. The price is high though at about $1,500 so this is going to have to be a sharp when performer when it comes to stores in August.

Both of Panasonic's high end zooms at CES 2012

Press Release

SECAUCUS, NJ (May 21, 2012) – Today, Panasonic announced a new digital interchangeable standard zoom lens, the LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm/F2.8 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. (H-HS12035). The newest addition to the company’s premium lens brand “X,” which is compatible with the Panasonic LUMIX G Series and complies with the Micro Four Thirds™ system standard, this lens offers a versatile zoom range of 12-35mm (35mm camera equivalent: 24-70mm) and features constant F2.8 aperture brightness at entire zoom range. Suitable for professionals and enthusiasts, this new lens captures a wide range of scenes from dynamic landscapes to available light and studio-lit portraits and features superb image rendering for lifelike textures and crisp edge-to-edge contrast.

Continue reading »

Apr 012012
 

UPDATE: This has now been confirmed by Canon themselves via their website. They also confirmed the 1DX is delayed until mid-June.  Why can’t they figure out timelines recently ?  The 5DIII launched on time and in impressive numbers, it seems that was a huge exception.

Disappointingly (and once again) one of Canon’s most anticipated new lens releases seems to have slipped down the time line.  Initial reports had it shipping on April 17th but upon inquiring to my local camera store about CPS pricing, the local Canon rep informed the store that this lens will not ship until July!

A couple of months back I had the chance to have some hands on time with this lens and it appears to be one fine piece of glass that I’m very excited to add to my kit, despite the very high price.  If the July date turns out to be true it does seem odd that so close to the anticipated date, the lens could slip a full quarter year but Canon has had a habit of doing this recently.  I’m still waiting for my new 500mm lens some 6 months after it was supposed to be on the market.

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