Samyang announces 8mm f/2.8 Fisheye for Sony NEX, Samsung NX

Samyang Optics has announced a 8mm f/2.8 fisheye lens specifically for Sony NEX, and Samsung NX cameras. The new lens features 10 elements arranged in 8 groups, and includes one asphere and two ED (extra-low dispersion) glass elements. With an angle of view of 180-degrees, and mimimum focusing distance of 0.3m, the manual focus Samyang 8mm 1:2.8 UMC Fish-eye is due for release early July 2012 with an expected street price of £279.99 / Euros 349.99.

Construction

 

MTF

Note the MTF above displays 10 and 30 lp/mm.

For more information, please visit Samyang.

Fujinon XF60mm f2.4 R Macro samples

The Fuji XF60mm f/2.4 R Macro is a light-weight and compact fixed focal length lens, the equivalent of a 90mm in angle of view, which was announced alongside the Fuji X-Pro1. Although billed as a macro, with a minimum working distance of 26.7cm and maximum magnification of 0.5X, the 60mm can be thought of as a highly versatile short-tele for portraits and occasional close-ups. Before we publish a full review of the XF60mm f/2.4R Macro and Fuji X-Pro 1 camera, we've posted a few uncropped samples of what this lens is capable of. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Butterfly World Project for allowing unrestricted access to their beautiful butterflies and gardens.

1/800 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200 (handheld).

1/500 sec at f/2.4, ISO 200.

1/100 sec at f/4, ISO 800 (handheld).

1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 800 (handheld).

Links

B&H Photo $649 (world-wide shipping available including the UK).
Adorama $649
Amazon US $603 (price in cart)

Wex UK (£599 inc VAT)
Jessops UK (£599.95 inc VAT)

Nikon AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8 best wide-angle zoom for Nikon D800?

Introduced at the same time as Nikon's first digital SLR the APS-C format D1, the Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 was made not only to replace the earlier AF 20-35mm f/2.8D IF but to compete with and out-perform the rivals. Nikon may be slow in producing top-quality lenses, at times, but they look closely at competitive offerings before announcing new models that can out-do their rivals optically and mechanically.

Such is the case with this particular optic, and is still available today in spite of the more recent and impressive AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G and 16-35mm f/4G VR models. Both are said to be mighty fine performers (I have no personal experience of the 16-35mm f/4 VR) but I've not been inclined to replace the 17-35mm f/2.8. First, the AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 is large and heavy, especially on a pro-body but it''s still a handful on a D700/D800, while the 'compact and affordable' alternative, as Nikon claim the 16-35mm f/4 VR to be, just doesn't seem to be as compelling as the 17-35mm f/2.8. Not only can it serve as a formidable landscape lens, which the 14-24mm can not (due to the wildly convex front element and lack of a front filter thread) but because of the manual aperture ring, will also be of immense interest to those using video.I don't need to tell Canon users that Nikkor lenses can be fitted (courtesy of an adaptor), and, indeed, are favored for their manual aperture rings, along with Nikon's reputation for low chromatic aberration (especially on wide-angle primes and zooms).

Like Canon EF lenses, Nikon's newer G-series lenses (such as the 14-24mm / 2.8 and 16-35mm f/4 VR) lock out rival maker's bodies and the one or two Canon to Nikon G-series adaptors that are available commercially (we use a high quality Novoflex version) don't allow you to select a particular aperture. There is no aperture readout in the cameras' viewfinder as the lens adaptors simply operate a lever opening and closing the diaphragm (albeit steplessly, which is a plus).

Pricing

Perhaps that's the reason why the 17-35mm f/2.8 continues to be made and is available from US retailers for about $1,770 (with USA warranty) or around £200 less as an (gray) import. Part of the reason that this lens is expensive can be attributed to lower production volumes now the newer models exist but there are other reasons as well. This lens has two large precision ground aspherical elements (the front element, for instance), one composite asphere and two ED glass elements, instead of the usual one (if you're lucky). Due to thermal expansion characteristics, this lens focuses beyond the infinity mark.

Performance

Abbey Altar. St Albans. England. May 2012. Nikon D800 with 17-35mm f/2.8 @ 17mm f/4, ISO 6400

Nearly of the reviews I've read about this lens make some reference to the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 as result of there being only DX camera bodies available at that time but things have moved on and there is renewed interest in the 17-35mm f/2.8 with FX bodies, especially now that the D800 has been introduced. However, if you're using a DX camera (and as of now that means either the D7000 or D300s) and have no intention of buying a full-format (FX) model, then between the two you should choose the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8. Besides the extra range and disproportionately lower price, it's close in both AF performance and optical quality, color, and sharpness. That said, I still prefer the contrast and drawing style of the 17-35mm f/2.8. Images from the AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G, in my experience, look excellent on a technical level but appear somewhat sterile (and I have both).

The 17-35mm is less prone to flare, but it's not impervious to it as I was reminded only recently when a shot taken using a D800 directly facing the sun coming through a window just above the subject caused some veiling glare. Like most modern Nikkors, the 17-35mm has a nine blade diaphragm to produce attractive circular highlights and improve bokeh. Few zooms have attractive out of focus planes and wide-angles less so (in any-case, strongly out of focus backgrounds and foregrounds are far easier to achieve with longer focal lengths, such as a 50mm or short tele) but the 17-35mm f/2.8 has none of the harsh double-edged effects seen in less capable optics and is quite acceptable. Longitudinal CA (sometimes refereed to as purple fringing, most noticeable at wider apertures) is low on the Nikon D800 but there is some lateral CA, though this is easy to remove in post (using Lightroom 4) There's also some vignetting at the maximum aperture, but this too can either be removed in-camera (on JPEGs) or in software later. It's not unexpected and no worse than rival offerings. As you can see from the picture above, there's some barrel distortion but it's reportedly lower than the Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR (I've not tested that model but I've seen sample photos of distortion).

Mechanical Quality

Ford. Redbournbury. England. May 2012. Nikon D800 with 17-35mm f/2.8 @ 17mm f/4, ISO 6400

If you're familiar with Nikon's older manual focus lenses then you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the 17-35mm f/2.8. The only really noticeable difference between them is that this lens, like others of the same period, has a plastic aperture ring though it is engraved still thankfully. This is an autofocus lens, however, so there are no brass helicoids, but the focus ring is smooth and not too highly geared, allowing large but precise adjustments. Auto-focus is very fast, near-instant and, unlike others that adopt a silent wave motor (SWM), practically noise -free.

The outer barrel is made from heavy-duty aluminum alloy and has the same durable construction that can only bee seen today in Nikon's top pro-quality super-telephotos, such as the AF-S 400mm f/2.8. If there's a shortcoming it's that there's no weatherproof sealing, and no rubber seal at the lens mount. The lens comes supplied with an old-fashioned rigid lens-case, pinch front and rear caps.

While well-made, the case isn't much use, to be honest. I prefer the soft, draw-string pouches but even those can be a pain to work from, so they're best used for storage. The supplied (HB-23) hood is really the only disappointment out of the whole package, and I rarely use it. It is the same one that's supplied with the 12-24mm f/4G and 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D lenses. Nearly all Nikon hoods appear to be made by a third-party, and can all be characterized by fitting too tightly (the exception to this is the huge hood for the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 (28-70mm equivalent) for DX cameras). Fortunately, the hood bayonets onto the outer barrel so it can't do any damage as it might to the extending barrels of lesser lenses. Still, it can be recommended to protect the front element, to a degree.

Shrine of St Alban. St Albans. England. June 2012. Nikon D800 with 17-35mm f/2.8 @ 17mm f/5.6, ISO 6400

Of course, now Nikon has the 36-megapixel D800 and D800E variant, interest in a suitable high-quality wide-angle zoom is paramount. For photojournalism and human interest / documentary work, the fast-focusing AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8 is the obvious choice. This lens performs remarkably well even at maximum aperture the centre has high sharpness and good contrast, meanwhile the low chromatic aberration and easily correctible barrel distortion make it equally suitable for landscapes, interiors and architectural photography alike.

Links


The Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S is available from:

B&H Photo (USA warranty) $1,769.00

Adorama (USA Warranty) $1,769.00

Amazon (in-cart price) $1,719.95 (USA warranty)

Amazon UK £1,495.25

Canon announces 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens

Canon has announced a new 40mm f/2.8 'pancake' lens for full-frame cameras. The 40mm has a electro-magnetic diaphragm (EMD - a feature of all EOS lenses) which is said to have 'full control' over the diaphragm - presumably step-less control as per cine lenses, but we're waiting for confirmation. The new lens also features a stepper motor (STM) particularly favored for use with CD AF systems, permitting 'smoother' AF during video capture than previous ring-type or ultrasonic motors.

Indeed this suggests Canon thinks a new motor type is necessary for CD AF systems to work effectively during video capture and has released the new EOS Rebel T4i / 650D with a hybrid CD/PD-AF system (located on the CMOS imaging chip). Although Canon has also intoduced a EF-S 18-135mm STM zoom to accompany the new camera, the 40mm f//2.8 is a full-frame lens, so we can expect to see a new full-frame video-enabled camera from Canon with a hybrid CP/PD AF system in the near future. Could this be the mirrorless camera Canon is rumoured to be launching this year?

The EF 40mm f/2.8 STM is available from 15th June 2012, priced at $199 / £229.99/Euro 279.99 RRP incl. VAT.

Pre-order from Adorama at $199

Pre-order from B&H Photo

Amazon ($199)

From the press release:

EF 40mm f/2.8 STM – super-slim, high image quality

The EF 40mm f/2.8 STM is Canon’s first EF pancake lens with a fixed focal length of 40mm and wide f/2.8 aperture, making it ideal for photographers who want a versatile, compact and lightweight lens for portrait, reportage, travel or landscape situations. Precision control over the circular, seven-blade aperture is enabled by the EMD, producing a beautiful bokeh effect and an aspheric lens with Super spectra coatings ensures optimal image quality from the centre of the lens to the periphery for stunning shots of practically any subject.  

UK retailer Jessops issues 2011 results

In what appears to be an effort to counter the recent rumor reported on several sites claiming Canon UK provided £10m for equity in the UK retailer, after allegedly citing a downward trend in sales and profit to online retailers, high-street retailer Jessops has today released "encouraging" results from the company's 2011 accounts.

Press release

Jessops 2011 Accounts

Jessops is delighted to announce its results for the 52 weeks to 1 January 2012.  In a very challenging year that saw the devastating Japanese Tsunami in March and the Thai floods in October causing severe product supply challenges, I am pleased to announce that Jessops grew sales by 3% to £236.8m with like for like sales growth of 1.3% against a digital camera market backdrop of (7)% decline.

Sales growth was accompanied by margin improvement and strong cost control resulting in an increase in EBITDA from £4.0m in 2010 to £5.7m in 2011.

Jessops has continued to drive market leading shares in the DLSR, CSC, Lens and Accessories categories and saw significant growth in the DSC category too.  Jessops experienced 13 months of consecutive market share growth in the Total Digital Still Cameras Sector*.

Growth has been delivered as a result of significant investment in staff training and knowledge, a commitment to invest in the refurbishment of the store portfolio and further development of the online platform.

During the year a further 20 “black” store refurbishments were completed and 6 new stores were opened.  The refurbished and relocated stores delivered an uplift of over 20% on pre-refurbishment sales.  The new stores have widened Jessops appeal, retaining existing customers and attracting more younger, older and female customers to the store.  Customer dwell time and visit frequency has also improved.

Jessops online business grew by 79% in the year following growth of 100% in 2010.  Online now accounts for 32% of total business with 70% of online customers choosing to collect their products in store.  This provides Jessops with an opportunity to build strong customer relationships and attach the appropriate accessories and photo services to camera purchases.

Jessops continues to drive innovation in its photo business making it more accessible to a broader customer base with initiatives such as our order online and collect at store, in-store large format printers enabling wall art to be produced within an hour, photobook design services, iPhone and iPad apps, a range of high quality instant gifts and UK and International passport photo services.  Our Photo Legacy service will land in June, enabling customers to safely scan, store and reprint old negatives and images and our cloud storage service will be available in the last quarter.

Trevor Moore, CEO, Jessops commented “2011 was a difficult year for retailers and 2012 is expected to remain challenging.  Jessops will continue to develop its knowledge and service based proposition by investing in its people.  We will work to optimize our store portfolio and invest in a further 25 store refurbishments.  The online platform will be evolved to include a new mobile and integrated photo platform.  Jessops will continue to work closely in partnership with its suppliers to present new technology and innovation to the market with the aim of being the best channel to market for our suppliers and the first choice destination for all our customers imaging needs.  We remain cautiously optimistic in the outlook for 2012.”


* According to the GfK Photo Panelmarket April 2011 to April 2012 in value terms, compared to the same period the previous year. Total Digital Still Cameras is the aggregation of DSLR, CSC and Compact

Panasonic secure equity bid in Olympus Corp

According to reports from an Asian news agency, Panasonic is said to have secured an equity stake in Olympus Corp to the tune of $635 million, after the investment loss scandel that wiped millions off the share price of the camera and endoscope maker earlier in the year. The company already supplies Olympus with sensors in the PEN and OM-D series cameras but, while this may bolster the camera divisions of both companies, the report concludes Panasonic is looking to enter the lucrative medical instruments and healthcare industry after falling profits. An additional report states Olympus is set to announce up to 2,500 lay-offs from the loss-making camera division later this week.

Sony announces Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 with Nikon 1 format sensor

Sony has announced a new large sensor compact, the RX-100, using the same 1.0-inch type size sensor (13.2x8.8mm) as the Nikon 1 series. The new Sony has proprietary 20.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor but uses a non-interchangeable lens; a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 3.6x optical zoom. Although the rival Nikon cameras are reported to use an Aptina sourced chip, the appearance of this sensor suggests that we may soon see an update to the Nikon V1 and J1 series cameras (and would certainly explain the current round of rebates on offer on both sides of the Atlantic). There's no mention of a hybrid AF system (CD/PD -AF), but that's not to say there's a derivative in the pipe, it seems too much of a coincidence. Apart from the zoom and lack of an EVF, where this camera scores highly, in my opinion, is in the size or lack thereof; it's seriously small (about the same size as the Canon Powershot S100).

The RX100 will be available in mid July 2012 at $650

Pre-order the RX100 at B&H ($648)

Product Highlights

Cyber-shot™ RX100 from Sony with world’s first1 1.0-type 20.2 effective megapixel sensor and bright F1.8 lens

    •    Capture crisp detail with 1.0-type (13.2 x 8.8mm) approximately 20.2 effective megapixel Exmor™ CMOS sensor and F1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 3.6x optical zoom lens
    •    Get low-noise handheld shots in low light with high sensitivity up to ISO 256002
    •    Intuitive operation with Control Ring for creative photo shooting
    •    Powerful features packaged into sleek, compact styling in aluminum body, thanks to newly developed AA (Advanced Aspherical) lens
    •    Shoot Full HD movies with extremely low noise and full creative control
    •    Auto Portrait Framing, Creative Style and Picture Effect modes

Nikon recounts design and introduction of the Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8P IFED

Image courtesy of Nikon Corp.

Nikon USA has added an interesting and candid introspective on the development of the Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8P IFED. The company describes how a 'competitor' (Canon) had introduced a 1200mm f/5.6 specifically for shooting pictures from the photographers' seats at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture in Japan and that the Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm had been built in direct competition.

Interestingly, Nikon refer to the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 optic has having a built-in (1.4x) teleconverter (operated by a lever), in effect offering a 1700mm f8 option (actually 1680mm f/8), but Nikon wanted to outdo Canon and offer a zoom covering the same range.

What's interesting? Well apart from the fact the Nikon zoom was a manual focus lens and the Canon was a AF lens, I don't recall the Canon having a built-in converter at all and I've seen one up close with a camera attached (though, admittedly, I didn't have the opportunity to actually take pictures with it).

Second, I've not heard that version of the events before. Indeed, I heard the lens was introduced for the 1992 Olympics (with the lens going on 'sale' in 1993 for approximately $78,500 - just think how many affiliate links you would of seen if the net and the rumor sites existed back then), but that doesn't appear to be the case, at all.

Ironically, several Canon-equipped picture agencies (including Reuters) bought the lens and adapted it for use with Canon cameras (it was a MF lens after all). But, Nikon may be having the last laugh now, as I had heard Reuters were using 'the beast', as they call it, with the Nikon D3X*. As one of only two-or-three AI-P lenses (as opposed to the earlier AI-S type), the 1200-1700mm was equipped with a CPU and corresponding electrical contacts for multimode operation (Tv, Av and Program exposure modes). Even now the D3X, D800 and D4 would work perfectly with it, albeit without AF of course.

*Amendment: 02 October, 2012. I've heard from a friend of mine at Reuters, and he says that while they did some in-house testing with the D3X and D4, they continue to use the Canon EOS-1D Mk IV, and now the EOS-1D X with Novoflex converters citing workflow reasons (they are a Canon-based agency after all).

Nikon UK announce cashback on Nikon 1 kits

NIKON LAUNCHES NEW CASHBACK – NIKON 1
 
London, UK, 31st May 2012: Nikon UK today launches a new Nikon 1 promotion offering £50/󌍬 cashback on Nikon 1 J1 and V1 kits purchased before 31st August 2012 (inclusive).
 
Customers purchasing any Nikon 1 J1 or V1 camera or lens combination are entitled to claim £50 /󌍬 cashback. The promotion runs from 31st May - 31st August 2012 (inclusive) and all claims must be received by the 30th September 2012 in order to qualify.

For more information on the promotion, and how to submit your claim, please visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback

Buy Nikon 1 kits

Jessops
WarehouseExpress (WEX)
Amazon

Adobe releases ACR 7.1, LR 4.1 adds support for Fuji X-Pro1

Adobe has introduced ACR 7.1 and LR 4.1 adding support for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Fujifilm X-Pro1, Nikon D800, Leica M-Monochrom and Olympus OM-D E-M5. (Lightroom 4.1 was released as RC2 but didn't have support for the Fuji X-Pro1 Raw (.RAF) files).

Other features of Lightroom 4.1 include;

The ability to process HDR TIFF files. (16, 24 or 32-bit TIFF files)
Additional Color Fringing corrections to help address chromatic aberration.
Save photobooks created in the Book Module to JPEG
Publishing photos to Adobe Revel is now accessible via a Publish plugin
Corrections for issues introduced in previous versions of Lightroom.

The update is free to existing users and can be found here (page down to the bottom).

Buy Lightroom 4.1 from Amazon.

List of new cameras supported:

    •    Canon EOS 1D X
    •    Canon EOS 5D Mark III
    •    Canon EOS 60Da
    •    Canon PowerShot G1 X
    •    Fuji FinePix F505EXR
    •    Fuji FinePix F605EXR
    •    Fuji FinePix F770EXR
    •    Fuji FinePix F775EXR
    •    Fuji FinePix HS30EXR
    •    Fuji FinePix HS33EXR
    •    Fuji X-Pro1
    •    Leaf Credo 80
    •    Leica M Monochrom
    •    Leica X2
    •    Nikon D4
    •    Nikon D800
    •    Nikon D800E
    •    Olympus OM-D E-M5
    •    Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
    •    Pentax K-01
    •    RICOH LENS A16 24-85mm F3.5-5.5
    •    Samsung NX20
    •    Samsung NX210
    •    Samsung NX1000
    •    Sony Alpha NEX-F3
    •    Sony Alpha NEX-VG20
    •    Sony Alpha SLT-A37
    •    Sony Alpha SLT-A57

Fuji announce M-mount adapter for X-Pro1

Fuji has formerly announced the M-mount adapter first seen at CES earlier in the year. The new mount allows the fitment of Leica M series lenses (or any lens using a M-mount: Zeiss ZM, Voigtlander etc) on the X-Pro1. T

According to the press release; 'the M Mount Adapter features an array of electronic connections that automatically pass information to the X-Pro1 body based on pre-registered lens profiles. With firmware version 1.10 or later, this information is transmitted by pressing the Function button on the side of the adapter, which allows users to access the Mount Adapter Settings menu on the rear LCD'...To ensure the Fujifilm M Mount Adapter delivers optimum results, users can create and fine tune lens profiles through the X-Pro1’s Mount Adapter Settings menu. This menu allows X-Pro1 users to profile up to six lenses. There are four presets for 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm lenses, plus two optional settings for additional optics.'

The new mount adapter will be avilable in June for $199.95

Order from Adorama at $199.95

Fuji has posted a list of compatible lenses here*, as well as a useful product overview here. Kudos to Fuji for doing this, as the Fuji X-Pro1 is a viable alternative to the Leica M8/9 providing the raw file coversion support can be implemented satisfacitorily (in Lightroom, ideally, but I don't mind Aperture, DxO or C1).

A number of the Voigtlander M lenses, such as the relatively affordable Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4, which I'm evaluating on a Ricoh GXR - M mount, are not unfortunately.

Olympus announce price and availability of 75mm f/1.8

Olympus has confirmed the price and availability of the recently announced 75mm f/1.8 (150mm equivalent). The new lens, said to be aimed at studio users (for portraits), stage and indoor sports photographers will be available in July for $899.99 / £799.99.

Along with the already 'leaked' 60mm f/2.8 macro, Olympus can now claim a decent range of prime lenses; 12mm f/2, 17mm f/2.8, 45mm f/1.8 and now the 60mm and 75mm. And don't forget Panasonic's primes neatly complement the Zuikos, with a 14mm f/2.5, 20mm f/1.7, and two Leica branded lenses: a 25mm f/1.4 and 45mm f/2.5 macro. No wonder the GH2, G3 and EM-5 are attracting serious attention. As good as the rival cameras are from Sony, Nikon, and Samsung,  the Micro Four Thirds system is way ahead.

Sample images can be seen here. (though the lens is still pre-production (ie not using finalised firmware for optical corrections, AF etc)).

The lens can be pre-ordered from B&H Photo (they will send to Europe and the UK) or Amazon US.

Panasonic announces 12-35mm (24-70mm) f/2.8 for Lumix Micro Four Third cameras

Panasonic has announced a new addition to their micro four thirds lens range in the form a new 14-35mm f/2.8 (formally called the LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. (H-HS12035)). The lens has an equivalent angle of view to that of 24-70mm f/2.8 on a 35mm camera. The new zoom lens is weather-sealed and boast both ED glass, IF (internal focusing) and the company's Power-OIS system (optical image stabilizer). Although aimed at enthusiasts the lens is compact and portable. Panasonic has reduced the weight to a low 305g and just 73.8mm in length thanks to the use of four aspheres in the optical construction. There is no word yet on price or availability.

For more information please visit: http://panasonic.net/.

MTF

This lens promises very high imaging performance (and resolving power), note that Panasonic has measured at 20 and 40 lp/mm, as opposed to the more usual 20 and 30 lp/mm. The topmost (blue) lines at 20 lp/mm most closely correlate to lens contrast, whereas the lower (green) lines at 40 lp/mm are indicative of the resolving power of the lens. It will be an interesting lens to test; the edges appear to drop away slightly at the longer end, however the MTF only shows maximum aperture.

Hasselblad reduce prices on H4D models

Hasseblad is set to reduce the price on the H4D cameras up to 22-percent on some models. The price of the top-of-the-range H4D-60, for instance, will fall $11,000 / 6,200 Euros, bringing the price to 23,900 euros ($30,995 / £21,995).

Under the revised pricing structure, the H4D-31 (incl. 35-90mm lens) has been reduced by 3,565 euros to 11,995 euros, the H4D-40 is reduced by 1,000 euros; the H4D-50 by 3,000 euros; the H4D-50MS by 3,000 euros; the H4D-200MS by 4,500 euros and the CFV-50 Digital Back by 2,000 euros. The price of the top-of-the-range H4D-60 will fall $11,000 / 6,200 Euros, bringing the price to 23,900 euros ($30,995 / £21,995).

And, in a separate stand-alone offer customers who buy a new Hasselblad camera and lens before the end of July will be eligible to purchase a second lens at just 50% of the manufacturer’s recommended sales price.

For further information visit www.hasselblad.com/price-reduction

The prices are not yet in effect at Adorama, however there are some camera kits (c/w the 80mm lens) with the new prices at B&H Photo

Related Posts

Hasselblad H4D-60 review

Billingham announces new V-Bridge insert

Billingham is to introduce a long-overdue 'V Bridge' insert to support pro-body cameras with lenses attached. There will be two sizes available, the 'V Bridge 12' and '15'. The 12 fits the f/stop range and also some other smaller bags with a base width of 120mm. The 15 fits the 107, 207, 307, 225, 335, 445, 555 and 550 bags, along with any older bags which were manufactured with two horizontal velcro fastenings inside the main compartment with a base width of 150mm. Both sizes will retail at £12 inc VAT.

UPDATE: Although it looks like a simple divider it is in fact made of shaped foam. We've been sent one and it doesn't deform at all so it's quite capable of supporting a relatively heavy lens like the 70-200mm shown below. We've also been sent a Billingham 550, which we will review in due course.

Related Posts

Billingham 307 Review - Part I

Canon announces firmware update to EOS C300 models, adds functionality

Canon will add Genlock synchronisation for 24.00P, 24.00PsF, 23.98P and 23.98PsF signal inputs in the C300 models, the company announced today. The extra functionality will be enabled via a firmware update available at the end of May.

Press release:

Canon adds new functionality to the EOS C300 and EOS C300 PL

United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, 18 May 2012 – Canon today announces the availability of a new firmware update for the ground-breaking EOS C300 and the EOS C300 PL.  The update, version 1.0.5.1.00, will add Genlock synchronisation for 24.00P, 24.00PsF, 23.98P and 23.98PsF signal inputs.  In addition, the new firmware will add support for Korean language to the menus.

The new firmware will be available from the end of May 2012 from http://software.canon-europe.com/

Now In Stock Canon EOS 5D MKIII DSLR At Jessops - Order Here

Don't miss out, Jessops have just received stock of this awesome camera and it's ready to order here. The total cost body only is £2999.95 or you can spread the cost over 12 months from £201.99 per month.

Just click here to order.

Pre-order Leica M-Monochrom

If you don't understand the need for the Leica M-Monochrom then there's no need to buy one. It's not about the technical capabilities but about the psychological effect on the brain when composing using a camera that's only able to capture a B&W image (in exactly the same way you're forced to think about tonality when you load an Leica M6 with Tri-X or FP4 Plus). For me personally, the M-Monochrom is more compelling than the regular M9 but, as they say, 'your mileage may vary'.

No one has seemed to mention the fact that adding red, blue, yellow or green filters to the lens will decrease the sensor's sensitivity, effectively giving up some of the gains of removing the array in the first place. The B+W Red 091 Filter, for instance, has a filter factor of 8 (3-stops). What's more, few commentators, if any, have mentioned the M-Monochrom's IR cut-off filter (it doesn't use a OLPF). There are generally two types available; absorptive or reflective (short pass interference). It's most likely the M-M uses a thin absorptive type, but either are a shortcoming. I wonder why they did that. Oh well, that's why there are reviewers I guess.

What do you think, is there a case for the Monochrom?

Pre-order the M-Monochrom from Adorama for $7,950

NPG call for entries for Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2012

The National Portrait Gallery has announced the Call for Entries for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2012, a major international photographic award. Entry forms are now available and the closing date for entries is 9 July 2012. To enter, visit www.npg.org.uk/photoprize and complete the online application form.

Leica announces APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH

Alongside the anticipated M-Monochrom, Leica Camera AG has announced the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. The new lens features apochromatically corrected glass for reduced chromatism, aspherical lens surfaces and a floating element design (for close range correction of SA). The lens is expected to be available from the end of July at a retail price of £5,400 inc VAT. Note, the current non-apo 50mm f/2 version has the reputation of being the best 50mm optically and retails at just (!) $2,295 / £1,535 inc VAT, so this is without doubt a lens for the purist.

For more information, please visit www.leica-camera.com

Although it's easier to design 50mm's, this lens' performance looks like it will be superb wide-open right out to the corners of the frame.

Nothing short of outstanding performance at f/5.6.

Leica announces five central shutter lenses for Leica S system

Leica Camera AG, is expanding the Leica S medium format system with five lenses incorporating central 'leaf-type' shutters. The new models announced today in Berlin are the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. and Leica Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH. wide-angle lenses, the Leica Summarit-S 70mm f/2.5 ASPH. standard lens, the Leica APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm f/2.5 tele-macro lens and the Leica APO-Tele-Elmar-S 180mm f/3.5 telephoto lens.

With a top speed of 1/1000 of a second, the central shutter offers a working range expanded by three f-stops (over the 1/125th sec flash sync of the current S2 camera). Each shutter has a guaranteed life of more than 100,000 cycles per lens, and each lens adopts dust- and splash-proof construction. The CS lenses are scheduled to be available in the UK starting from October 2012 at the following retail prices;

Suggested Retail Prices including VAT are:
Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. (CS version) – £5,850
Leica Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH. (CS version) - £5,515
Leica Summarit-S 70mm f/2.5 ASPH. (CS version) - £4,365
Leica APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm f/2.5 (CS version) - £5,975
Leica APO-Tele-Elmar-S 180mm f/3.5 (CS version) - £5,975

Leica unwraps M9-P Edition Hermes

In addition to the Leica M-M and Leica X2, Leica Camera AG has also announced a limited edition M9-P 'Edition Hermes' model featuring a restyled top plate, shutter speed dial and shutter release. The camera also adopts the distinctive 'Veau Swift' calfskin leather in ochre color.

The first of the Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ sets will be available in May 2012, in a worldwide limited edition of 300. In addition to the camera, the set includes a silver-anodised Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens and is scheduled to be available in the UK from May 2012, at a UK suggested retail price of £18,000 inc VAT.

This will be followed by a very special set, which will be available in June 2012. The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’ – Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas, in a strictly limited edition of only 100 sets, is a celebration of the friendship and collaboration between Jean-Louis Dumas, the former president of Hermès, who died in May 2010, and Leica Camera AG. The camera is accompanied by three lenses: a Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/ 2 ASPH., a Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. and a Leica APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH., all featuring a silver-anodised finish. This set will be available in the UK from June 2012, at a UK suggested retail price of £36,000 inc VAT.

More information can be found at www.leica-camera.com.

Leica announces new Leica M-M, new X2

Leica Camera AG has announced a new M-series camera to complement the existing M9 and and M9-P models. The new camera, the M-M (Mononchrom) boasts a 18-MP full-frame CCD sensor for black and white photos only. The sensor is devoid of the conventional Bayer colored array and is said to have improved detail, sensitivity and lower noise than a comparable color sensor.

In addition to the M-M, Leica has also introduced the Leica X2, and updated version of the X1 featuring a 16MP CMOS and 35mm f/2.8 equivalent lens. The X2 is said to have improved AF operation over the original and has a accessory socket for an optionally available 1.44m dot electronic viewfinder, or 'Visoflex' finder, in Leica speak (but looks remarkably similar to the Epson made unit for the Olympus PENs, see below).

The Leica X2 is available immediately at $1,995, while the Leica M Monochrom in black chrome will be available from Leica dealers in late July 2012 at a retail price of $7,950 / £6120 / 6.800 Eur (inc VAT).

Pre-order the Leica X2 (silver) at Adorama

Pre-order the Leica X2 (black) at Adorama

Leica Visoflex EVF at Adorama ($524.95)

More information can be found at www.leica-camera.com.

Related Posts

Leica M9 review

Leica X1 review

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 - Now Available To Download From The Mac App Store

This new release to the Mac App Store represents a substantial release for Adobe. It will join Photoshop Elements 10 Editor and Premier Elements 10 Editor as well as the subscription based app Revel.

Adobe Photoshop LIghtroom 4 retails for $149.99/£99.99 You can download it here.

Schneider Kreuznach announces Cine-Xenar III primes

Schneider Kreuznach, the maker behind high-end optics for DSLRs and MF cameras (as well as B+W filters) has announced today the third generation of its Cine-Xenar range of lenses for cinema and TV- productions (though the lenses can also be adopted for use with APS-C DSLRs). The lens range consists of T2.2/25mm, T2.1/35mm, T2.0/50mm, T2.0/75mm and T2.0/95mm lenses and have been updated to include an inner focusing system. An a brand new 18mm variant (T2.2/18mm) has also been announced. The lenses were primarily developed for RED, ARRI, Canon, Sony and Panasonic professional cameras with a PL mount. Thanks to their exchangeable camera mount, these versatile Cine-Xenar cinema lenses can also be used with semiprofessional digital SLR cameras such as the (APS-C) Canon EOS 7D.

More information can be found at www.schneiderkreuznach.com

Leica to unveil new cameras on Thursday

Although it hasn't been confirmed by the company, we're expecting to see a new addition to the M9 line on Thursday (May 10), possibly even the M10, though from what I've heard this is likely to be announced later in the year at Photokina (along with the the new S3). However an M9 with a monochrome sensor is the most likely scenario, along with perhaps the announcement of the Leica X2 (with probably a 16/18MP APS-C sensor and different lens, perhaps a 35/2 equivalent - the current lens is a 35/2.8 equivalent - 24/2.8 Elmarit). We'll just have to wait and see.

Related Posts

Leica M9 review

Leica X1 review

Memory Card deals

B&H Photo have specials on SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro SD and CF cards. I think the offer is only going to last a day (till tonite). Oh and they're limited on stock too.

B&H Photo announces double rebates on select Canon gear

B&H has introduced a new Canon DOUBLE rebate page. Expires June 2nd 2012

How it Works

1.      You click on the link below
2.      Choose a camera body and then choose a lens or speedlight (or both)

Example: Canon EOS 7D SLR Digital Camera (Body Only) $ 1,699.00 - $150 instant savings = $1,549.00
Then pick up a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens $2,499.00  - Instant savings of $200 which Doubles to an instant savings of $400. Final price $2,099.00. You Just saved $550!

Please follow the link here for the rebate.

Sony 500mm f/4 G now shipping

Sony has started to ship the incredibly expensive SAL 500mm f/4.0 G that was announced earlier in the year. At $12,999 via B&H Photo it's $2,500 more expensive than the new even lighter (7.63 lb. vs 7.03 lb.) titanium-bodied IS II Canon version. Because of their lower weight the 500's are easier to handle than either the 600/4 or 400/2.8, a point I'm reminded of now as I'm currently reviewing the Nikkor 400/2.8 VR (actually VR II) with the Nikon D4 (strange the buttons aren't all back-lit) and the D800. The Nikon lens weighs 10.1 lb, though the new Canon IS II version has lowered the weight to 8.5 lb.

Nikon Europe announces FX lens cashback scheme

 Nikon UK today launches a new full-frame (FX) lens promotion offering up to £180/Eur210 cashback on purchases of selected FX lenses between 1st May – 30th September 2012 (inclusive).
 
Customers may claim up to £180/Eur 210 cashback when purchasing any of the selected lenses (listed below) in conjunction with a Nikon D4, D800 or D800E body. The cashback can be redeemed for up to two lenses per body.

The promotion will run from 1st May – 30th September inclusive and all claims must be received by the 31st October 2012 in order to qualify. See full details of the promotion below:

For more information on the promotion, and how to submit your claim, please visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback.

Search for Nikon at the following:
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Amazon.it