AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85 mm f3.5G ED VR II
(Credit: Nikon)Nikon today expanded its DX lens line by adding a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography .The new AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85 mm f3.5G ED VR II. A prime focal length macro lens is something DX format shooters have desired, from general shooters to Ebay sellers.
The new AF-S DX 85mm Micro lens focuses as close as 10.8 inches, with reproduction ratios up to 1:1. with its 127.5mm 35mm equivalent focal length, it allows for a good lens-to-subject working distance while doing close-up work, as well as being suitable for portrait and nature work.
Designed for use with Nikon DX format DSLRs, it is also compatible with Nikon FX format DSLRs when used in crop mode. The lens features Nikon's Vibration Reduction II technology which reduces image blur from camera shake, allowing the ability to shoot up to four shutter speeds slower when shooting handheld. Nikon's Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides for fast and quiet auto-focusing. Its Internal Focusing (IF) design eliminates the front lens from rotating during focusing as well as keeping its length constant during focusing.
The AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85 mm f3.5G ED VR II lens will be available for $529.95 in early December 2009.
(Credit:
Canon)
Canon has announced two new lenses offering useful zoom ranges to its EF-S line-up, the new EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens and the new 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM lens.
The 15-85mm is a high-quality standard zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 24-136mm, covering from wide angle to portrait ranges. It also features Image Stabilization and a USM autofocus motor for quiet and fast AF.
The 18-135mm is a high-quality superzoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 29-216mm, covering a very wide range, making it a good choice for a do-it-all lens.
The two new lenses both offer IS with up to four stops of correction for camera shake, as well as ultralow dispersion lens elements and special coatings for improved image quality and reduced lens flare. They have circular apertures for a pleasing bokeh, the background blur at wide apertures.
Both lenses share a new look that goes along with the newly announced EOS 7D.
The EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens will be available in September 2009 for about $500, and the EF-S 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM will be available a bit later in October 2009 for about $800.
EF 100mm f2.8 L IS USM
(Credit: Canon)With Canon's announcement of the new Hybrid IS EF 100mm f2.8 L Macro IS USM lens, Canon has made two firsts: it's the first EF lens to offer Canon's new Hybrid IS technology, and also the first EOS macro lens to offer Image Stabilization. The new Hybrid IS system features up to four stops of correction of camera shake. Low friction ceramic balls support the lens elements to allow for smoother movements when correcting for camera during macro shooting, which requires very subtle corrections.
Besides being the first new Hybrid IS lens it is also the first EOS macro lens to offer Image Stabilization at all. Allowing for many great close-up shots to be taken without a tripod, superb for nature photographers where carrying a tripod is not always easy or convenient.
The new L series professional-grade lens features dust and weather seals, as all L series lenses do. It has a nine-blade, circular aperture for a pleasing bokeh, or background blur in photos taken with a wide aperture. There are ultralow dispersion (UD) lens elements to correct color and minimize chromatic aberrations. Super Spectra coating for improved contrast and reducing glare and lens flare. A high-speed USM autofocus motor for fast, silent AF. Specific to it's macro design is a three position focus limiter switch to tailor the focus range to shooting conditions.
There are several accessories supported by the 100mm Macro IS, such as the Tripod Mount D, Macro Lite adapter 67, Lens Hood ET-73, and the EF12 II and the EF25 II extension tubes.
The EF 100mm f2.8 L Macro IS USM lens with be available in September 2009 for about $1,050.
30mm f2.8 DT Macro
(Credit: Sony)Today, Sony announced two new lenses, the 30mm f2.8 DT Macro lens (SAL30M28) and the 28-75mm f2.8 SAM lens (SAL2875) along with three new dSLRs. Providing an inexpensive entry into macro photography is the new 30mm f2.8 DT Macro lens which will sell for about $200 when it becomes available in October 2009. The lens is a DT series for Sony's APS-C sensor size cameras such as the new Alpha a550 and Alpha a500 announced today, as well as the Alpha a380 and Alpha a330. It features a distance scale in both feet and meters. Reflecting its economical price are a plastic lens mount and a small manual focusing ring.
28-75mm f2.8 SAM
(Credit: Sony)Adding to its already extensive line-up of full-frame lenses, Sony also announced the new full-frame 28-75mm f2.8 SAM lens along with the A850 full-frame camera today. A normal range telephoto zoom with a fast, constant 2.8 aperture, making it useful for portraits and available light shooting. The lens has a 42-113mm 35mm equivalent when used on a Sony APS-C camera body. It features a zoom-lock switch, circular aperture blades, and four aspherical lens elements. As well as a metal lens mount there is also a distance scale in feet and meters. There is a minimum aperture of f32 and a 67mm filter diameter. The new 28-75mm f2.8 lens will be available in September 2009 for about $800.
While none of these seem verifiable, there are simply too many rumors about new dSLRs and interchangeable-lens cameras floating around on the Web to ignore. So here, for your delectation, is a summary of all the bits that are fit to post.
The most frequent topic playing Ring Around the Web is for a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. A host of sites have repeated a set of specs first posted at Northlight Images by a supposed tester of the aforementioned model. He specifies the following:
- Same 1.3x multiplier (APS-H) as previous models.
- 16-megapixel sensor with 8-megapixel sRAW
- ISO 50 to ISO 26,500
- Same video and display as the 5D Mark II
- Slight redesign of button layout and grips
Said tester reports good high ISO photo quality (as you'd expect), faster continuous shooting than the 1D Mark III, "Nikon fast AF", usable Live View AF, and an overall better feel.
Supposedly there'll be a late summer announcement and end-of-year ship. Start saving those pennies now. Use a really big jar.
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DA 18-55mm AL WR
(Credit: Pentax)Pentax has announced two new entry-level WR (water-resistant) series lenses: the DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR and the DA 50-200mm AL WR. They coincide with the launch of the company's new K-7 dSLR body, which has a dust- and water-resistant lens mount.
Both lenses offer water and dust resistance when used with a complementary water-resistant K series body, such as the K-7 or the K-20. The lenses feature weather-resistant seals for damp and inclement conditions. The DA 18-55mm WR replaces the existing model while adding the water-resistance. The DA 50-200mm WR also replaces the existing model while adding water-resistance and an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens element.
The lenses will be available in July 2009, with the DA 18-55mm WR priced at $199.95, and the DA 50-200mm WR priced at $249.95.
Sony DT 18-55mm f3.5-5.6
(Credit: Sony)To go with Sony's new compact and lightweight Alpha dSLR's announced today are four new DT series lenses. Designed for use with APS-C sized sensors, the new entry-level DT lenses have built-in-lens autofocus motors. The Smooth Autofocus Motor provides quiet, smooth autofocus with the new compact Alpha bodies.
Sony announced a pair of new compact, lightweight kit zoom lenses: The DT 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens has aspherical and ED (extra-low dispersion) lens elements. The DT 55-200mm f4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens has an ED lens element and its long range make it good for sports. They are available separately or in camera kits.
There are also two new compact DT series constant aperture prime lenses providing more creative control. The DT 50mm f1.8 is a fast 50mm lens, long a favorite in traditional photography. It is good portrait lens with its fast 75mm f1.8 35mm equivalent and shallow depth of field. Also announced is the 30mm f2.8 macro lens for getting the close-up shots. Both lenses have the built-in Smooth Autofocus Motor and are compact and lightweight.
The lenses will be available in July 2009 with the 18-55mm going for about $200, the 55-200mm for about $230, and the 50mm f1.8 for about $150. No pricing has yet been announced for the 30mm macro.
(Credit:
Matthew Fitzgerald)
At the PMA show yesterday, Pentax announced a new Limited Series lens, the DA 15mm f4 ED AL Limited. The ultra-wide angle lens has a 23mm equivalent in 35mm terms and has a closest focusing distance of 6 inches. The lens has an aspherical (AL) lens element, and an extra low dispersion (ED) lens element to minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure image quality. Image distortion is claimed to be extremely low for an ultra wide-angle lens.
As with others in Pentax's Limited lens series, it is built to a high-quality standard, featuring the lens barrel, cap, and built-in hood made of high-grade aluminum. The flower-shaped built-in lens hood is a great feature. The lens cap screws on and is felt-lined to help protect the front element.
The lens will ship in April 2009 for $649.99.
The Nikon 18-105mm DX ED VR is sort of a kit lens on steroids; it has the all-plastic construction of a basic kit lens but adds VR and an extended zoom range. If you want to equip your Nikon DX dSLR with something more than the basic 18-55mm kit lens and a better performer than the do-everything 18-200mm lens, this one provides a good combination of features and performance for a reasonable price.
(Credit:
Matthew Fitzgerald)
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
For Nikon DX shooters looking to expand their horizons beyond the kit lens, the 18-105mm DX ED VR f3.5-5.6 lens is an attractive and reasonably priced addition to your collection. Introduced in August 2008 as a kit lens option for the D90, you can find it for well under $400. It delivers a 27-158mm 35mm-equivalent focal length in a compact and lightweight package, combined with Nikon's Vibration Reduction (VR) image-stabilization technology, and that makes this a good choice for travel and general pictorial photography
