Camera Lens

October 14, 2009 – Nikon Inc., today introduced the new medium telephoto AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens designed specifically for extreme close-up photography, yet perfectly suited for portrait, nature, and general imaging as well. Focusing as close as 0.9 ft., this new 85mm Micro lens allows photographers to capture breathtaking close-up images with life-size reproduction ratios up to 1:1, helping to ensure that even the subtlest of subject detail is reproduced faithfully. The new 85mm Micro NIKKOR lens, in conjunction with Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras, renders a picture angle equivalent of approximately 127.5mm (in the 35mm or FX-format), providing a natural perspective along with a desirable and practical lens-to-subject working distance.

"Nikon is proud of its strong reputation for designing and producing some of the world's finest close-up lenses, delivering faithful and consistent color reproduction, stunning sharpness and beautifully balanced contrast," said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon, Inc. "The introduction of the AF-S DX 85mm Micro lens further broadens the Micro NIKKOR family and answers a call from serious nature and portrait photographers, generalists and on-line auction specialists seeking superior close-up shooting performance, affordability and versatility."Read more

World's first Leica Micro Four Thirds lens Compatible with Panasonic's Award-Winning LUMIX G Series of Digital Cameras, Plus a New, Ultra Lightweight F1.7 Lens

September 2, 2009 – Today, Panasonic introduced two new Micro Four Thirds digital interchangeable lenses – the LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH, a compact and lightweight "pancake" lens with outstanding brightness, and the world’s first Leica Micro Four Thirds lens, the LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. which features exceptional image quality in a compact size. Both lenses are compatible with Panasonic's LUMIX G Series Micro Four Thirds standard digital cameras, which include the award-winning LUMIX DMC-G1 and LUMIX DMC-GH1 models; and the LUMIX DMC-GF1, also introduced today.Read more

Ever since the dawn of 35mm cameras independent lens manufacturers have produced optics that generally carried a lesser price and was of lesser quality than those offered by the original manufacturer. A few independents however, do make lenses that often meet or exceed the major camera manufacturers’ products. These companies include Zeiss, Sigma, and Tamron.

Sigma, in particular, has produced perhaps the best standard 50 mm lens in its all-new 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM. Fixed focal length lenses are called “prime lenses” because they do not have to deal with the inherent compromises that the design of a zoom lens demands. Prime lenses are designed to perform extremely well at one focal length. This is important for photographers who need or demand the sharpest image that they can achieve.

This particular new Sigma lens has received wide acclaim, which it richly deserves-- along with many of the other lenses in Sigma's line-up. As do most independent manufacturers, Sigma makes its lenses available to fit Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony and Pentax camera bodies, while retaining all of the autofocus and auto exposure capabilities of the original manufacturers’ lenses, with only a few rare exceptions in certain Pentax models. Read more