Lens News

Fujifilm was showing off its new toys at photokina today and we got some hands-on time with these latest X-series cameras and lenses. Initially announced on September 10^th, the Fujifilm X100T and XT-1 Graphite Silver cameras, and Fujinon XF50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR and XF56mm F1.2 R APD lenses continue to build on Fuji’s compact and retro-style (Fuji would say “classic" style) X-Series line.

Olympus took the wraps off a new version of its OM-D E-M1 mirrorless, compact system camera at photokina this morning and this Micro Four Thirds-based model now features a new silver look and is loaded with updated firmware designed to help studio photographers. Olympus also debuted the new M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f2.8 PRO lens at the show.

n lens development news, Tamron said it’s creating a new ultra wide-angle zoom lens for full-frame DSLRs with a fast F/2.8 aperture and VC (Vibration Compensation), which the company claims would be the world’s first in this category.

Zeiss has introduced the second lens in its coveted Otus family: an 85mm F/1.4 lens known as the Apo Planar 1.4/85. Designed for portrait photography or any imaging job that requires extreme sharpness and the ultimate in resolving power, the Otus Apo Planar 1.4/85 is comprised of 11 elements in nine groups and comes in both ZE (EF bayonet mount for Canon) and ZF.2 (F bayonet mount for Nikon) versions.

Maybe it’s just August but there seems to be a lot of weird lens news lately. Now a very rare and very large, Nikon 6mm F/2.8 Fisheye Lens has turned up on eBay with an asking price of $96,187.50.

An extremely rare, Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM super telephoto lens has gone on sale at a UK retailer for £99,000 ($165,270). The lens is one of the largest interchangeable lenses in the world and the longest with autofocus.

Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera systems promised us lenses that are more compact but fully featured. That promise has finally been fulfilled—and it took Tamron, the master of the All-in-One Zoom, to make it happen.