Robert White Nikon specials, ex-demo

Robert White has the hard to find Nikkor 200mm f/2 VR (first version, I think) available as ex-demo for just £2,225 plus VAT:
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=2627&PT_ID=674

Nikon Special Offers - LIMITED STOCKS
Prices valid on in stock items ONLY
PRIME LENSES
24mm f1.4 AFS G £1325.00 plus VAT
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=2807&PT_ID=672
35mm f1.4 AFS G £1161.00 plus VAT
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=3238&PT_ID=672
50mm f1.4 AFS G £245.00 plus VAT
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=2619&PT_ID=673
85mm f1.4 AFS G £1010.00 plus VAT
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=3087&PT_ID=674

Zeiss launch 35mm f/1.4 for Nikon and Canon

Carl Zeiss has introduced a super-fast, manual focus 35mm prime with a maximum aperture of f/1.4, for Nikon and Canon EOS users. Recommended retail is £1275, 1386 Euros, plus tax, and will be available for sale early 2011.

The image above shows the Canon ZE version, the Nikon ZF.2 has a manual aperture ring.

Sample photo

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 01.09.2010.
A woman is sitting at the bar of a dimly-lit cafe. Lost in thoughts, she doesn’t notice the glass of wine the bartender places before her. From a distance, a photographer tries to capture her mood. He brings her face, which is leaning toward her phone, into focus. Everything around her becomes a blur, and the lights in the background coalesce into a wild “dance” of diffuse shapes.

This shot will only work with a fast lens with short focal length and harmonious bokeh. Carl Zeiss introduces a new lens for just such images: the Distagon T* 1,4/35.

By introducing the Distagon T* 1,4/35, Carl Zeiss is complementing the Planar T*1,4/50 and T*1,4/85 lenses with a wide-angle lens that shares the same high speed. Crisp, sharp images work every time, whether at dusk or in the weak lighting conditions of a café, and without the need for a tripod. With its 35-mm, the Distagon T* 1,4/35 matches the classic and versatile standard focal lengths when used on cameras with APS-C sensor formats.

Due to the special bokeh effects in both the foreground and background areas, the Distagon T*1,4/35 opens up new creative possibilities, giving photographers more options to ‘play’ with focus. Thanks to its large focus ring, photographers can also create highly accurate, sharp pictures, even at maximum aperture opening. In addition, the optical construction of the lens guarantees high image quality across the entire image range. Furthermore, with one step less than the full aperture opening, the light fall-off toward the edges is just one f-stop.

With the ZEISS T*‘s anti-reflective coating, its sophisticated stray light reduction and the excellent flare control the new Distagon also takes pictures of bright light sources without artifacts. The Distagon T*1,4/35’s extremely long-lasting and robust all-metal precision mechanics, for which Carl Zeiss is known, make this lens perfect for use on-the-go and for photo reports.

The Distagon T* 1,4/35 will be available in first quarter of 2011 at a recommended retail price of 1385.71 euros (excluding VAT)*.

Sample close-up

Excellent differential focus (bokeh) and colour rendition of the new Distagon 35mm f/1.4

 

Follow the link here for the official UK distributor, Robert White in Poole, Dorset.

Buy from our affiliate, Adorama in NYC: Nikon, Canon.

If you run both Canon and Nikon systems as I do (and Olympus as well), then buy the Nikon version and use a high-quality lens adapter such as this one as the Canon has the shorter flange focal distance (FFD)* of the two systems. It costs a little more than the standard version but allows mounting of AI-S and G-series Nikkor lenses. Metering is unaffected, as Canon cameras meter and operate in stopped down mode, and focusing is unaffected (it's a MF lens afterall).

*Most third-party manufacturers design the Nikon version first due to the maker's longer FFD, as it's easier to compensate for Canon, Pentax, Sony and the rest with their shorter registers.

 

 

Unboxing Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5

Okay so I don't normally do this kind of thing, but hey it's my blog and I can do what I like. It's not a video either just a couple of stills but it will give you a taste of what to expect when you plunk down your cash. Should of done this before I posted the first look, but well there you go. I didn't, so I'm doing it now.

Update; click here for a few more images.

UK link: Robert White

USA link: B&H Nikon fit, Pentax fit.

Review of Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5

The UK distributor has kindly agreed to send a Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 announced here to review in the DJP, please check back here in the next couple of weeks for the results of this extremely interesting (and hugely popular) new addition.

UK link: Robert White

USA link: B&H Nikon fit, Pentax fit.

Cosina unwrap new Voigtlander 20mm f/3.5 Color Skopar SL II Aspherical for Nikon and Pentax DSLRs

Cosina have lifted the wraps on the Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical for Nikon FX (full-frame) and DX (APS-C) format DSLRs. A version with the KA mount for Pentax DSLRs has also been announced. Like others in the range, it's a manual focus lens but has a built-in CPU for metering control with the latest DSLRs.

We have the following lens specification, but no word as yet on price or availability:

Lens Construction :6 groups 9 elements
Smallest Aperture : F22
Picture Angle :94°
Aperture Blades : 9
Nearest Distance : 0.2m
Diameter x Length :φ63mm x 28.8mm
Weight :205 g
Mount : Ai-S / KA

All this looks promising, and reminds me of the the long-discontinued Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 Ai lens from the late 70's and early 80's. Can't help but think this would be an excellent choice on the D700, but as the equivalent to a 35mm f/3.5 on the Pentax K20D it doesn't feel quite as compelling, in my view. Lets hope Pentax (Hoya) comes up with a full-frame model before too long - it has to be on the cards, recession or not, right?

For more information from the UK distributor, Robert White, visit their site.

For US visitors, the retailer B&H carry an extensive range of Voigtlander - to order the item or check the price, click here.

Robert White Digital Day 21st March 2009 - The Study Gallery Poole

Robert White Digital Open Day - Study Gallery Poole
Saturday 21st March 2009

The Study Gallery of Modern Art
North Road
Poole
BH14 0LS

Entry to venue and all seminars are FREE but please contact them by email salesatrobertwhite.co.uk (replace at with @) or by calling 01202 723046 to book places on seminars.