lenses

LAS VEGAS--It's been almost a year since Sigma announced its intention to create ILC lenses, and at this year's CES/PMA that intention finally bore fruit.

Dubbed "DN" lenses, Sigma's debut consists of two primes available in Micro Four Thirds (Olympus, Panasonic) and E-mount (Sony) models.

The initial models will be the 30mm f2.8 EX DN and 19mm f2.8 EX DN. (Because of the different sensor sizes associated with the mounts, the effective angle of view is different for a given lens--multiply MFT by 2 and E by 1.5 for that.) They both use a new direct autofocus motor that sounds similar to the one used by Sony in its new 16-50mm, which drives the system without gears for less noise during video recording.… Read more

Photographers who enjoy their music on the go might want to add this interesting camera novelty item to their collection.

Designed to look like a Nikon 55-200mm telephoto lens, the device is actually a portable speaker. Instead of the typical glass optical elements, the gadget sports a speaker driver. It's also capable of playing music from various audio sources such as smartphones, computers, and other devices with a 3.5mm stereo minijack. … Read more

When a company more or less tells you that Leica can't effectively come up with a high-quality lens for its mount, that makes you pause. But that seems to be the rationale behind Panasonic's latest X series "premium" lens announcements. In this case, the term seems to apply less to the optics--Leica's reputation is safe there--than to the features and technology. And I have to admit, when Panasonic briefed us about the lenses, they seemed pretty cool. Dubbed the "Lumix X series," they incorporate lever-based electronic zooms along with manual focus and servoelectronic … Read more

Sure we've seen our share of lens mugs, but Photojojo's Shot Glass Lens Set is a first. Made from ceramic, the $18 set consists of three individual shot glasses made to look like exact replicas of Canon's EF 24-105mm L lens, albeit in miniature.

The designers even included detail such as ridges on the focus ring and an on/off autofocus switch to make them look more realistic. If you're not a fan of alcohol, they can be used as to hold toothpicks, paperclips, and other small items.

(Source: Crave Asia via Photojojo) … Read more

Adding to its lineup of basic lenses for DX shooters, Nikon unveiled a $279.95 40mm f2.8 macro (which Nikon refers to as "Micro") lens, the AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G.

Taking into account the APS-C magnification factor, the lens has the same effective angle of view as a 60mm lens on a full-frame camera. Other key specs include the ability to focus as close as 6.4 inches and a 7-blade iris. It uses Nikon's version of a quiet focusing motor so it should be good for shooting video as well.

It lines up next to the cheaper 35mm f1.8 (about 52.5mm equivalent) in Nikon's lens lineup, which is cheaper, but which can't focus as closely. It sounds like a nice addition, especially for small product photography, such as jewelry.

The AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is slated to ship in August.… Read more

If you've always had a soft spot for your camera lenses, you might want one of Plushtography's latest lens pillows. "Made with fleece, felt, and a little bit of love," they are handmade and bear an uncanny resemblance to the real deal--right down to the font type and markings used on the distance scale of the lens. Only they're a lot bigger.

If these plushy lens pillows strike your fancy, you can preorder Canon's entry-level 50mm F1.8 and Nikon's 35mm F1.8 prime lenses at $35 each, while Canon's flagship short telephoto 24-105mm F4 zoom lens can be had for $65.

(Source: Crave Asia via Photojojo)… Read more

A couple of years back, Lomography started selling Diana F+ adapters for Canon and Nikon digital SLRs for use with its inexpensive plastic lenses, effectively turning your high-end digital SLR into a toy camera. But why stop with just one manufacturer of plastic lenses?

Those of you who want to experiment with another lo-fi photography option (you know, beyond using software to reproduce the effects), should check out Holga Direct's line of lenses--especially if you have an interchangeable lens camera.

Though the site carries lens sets for Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony, and Pentax SLRs, it also has kits for Olympus PEN, Panasonic Lumix G, Samsung NX, and Sony NEX ILCs.

A single lens will only set you back $24.99, while its Kitchen Sink set comes in at just $108.99.

(Via CNET Australia) … Read more

With DealExtreme.com's latest handheld fan, shutterbugs can cool off in style. Powered by two AAA batteries, the handheld fan mimics the design of Canon's 70-200mm EF telephoto lens, albeit in a miniature, palm-size version.

All you need to do is uncap the top cover to reveal two fan blades, flip the switch, and voila: instant coolness. The device is made entirely of plastic and claims to feature low power consumption for extended use.

Available in black and gray, the SLR zoom lens-shaped handheld cooling fan even comes with a free carrying strap. The unique gadget costs $5.60, including shipping.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

Hipstamatic is an extremely popular app that turns your iPhone's digital camera into an old-school single-shot camera of the past to give your images that grainy, washed-out (in a good way) retro look. The interface is a bit confusing at first, but you'll soon figure out how to switch between different types of retro film, different types of lenses, and even effects for different kinds of flashes. You can switch between each of the different variables with a swipe of your finger, with dramatically different results depending on the combination you choose before taking your snapshot.

We've … Read more