Zeiss ZF lenses

• Brand: Zeiss
• Subject: SLR Lenses
• Category: Zoom Lenses

At the Photokina Zeiss announced four new Zeiss ZF lenses for the Nikon F Mount. Showcased behind glass, and we almost missed them, two new wide-angle lenses with Nikon F Mount. The new Distagon T* 2/35 ZF and the Distagon T* 2,8/25 cover full 35mm frame and can be used on both analog and digital SLRs. The Zeiss Distagon T* 2/35 ZF is a versatile all-round lens with moderate wide-angle coverage and high speed, a classical standard for photojournalistic work. Due to its high performance this lens can capture very detailed scenes with high accuracy and information content. The Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/25 is a lens with pronounced wide-angle characteristics. It excels in dynamic architecture, landscape, and travel photography. Its sharpness goes far beyond any current color film. The minimum object distance of just two inches from the front element enables unique wide-angle close-ups. The new lenses will be shipping as of end of 2006 and will both have a street price of €699.

Leica D SUMMILUX 25mm ASPH lens

• Brand: Leica
• Subject: SLR Lenses
• Category: Fixed Focal Lenses

During our meeting with mister Suguru Takamatsu, Coordi-nator Marketing Team Overseas Sales & Marketing Group and Ichiro Kitao, Product Planning Manager, from Panasonic we had a little hands-on with the new Leica D SUMMILUX 25mm f1.4 ASPH lens. The new Leica lens incorporates a large total large total of 10 lens elements in 9 groups, including a large-diameter aspherical lens. The bright standard f/1.4 lens provides a superb high-quality optical performance. The large diameter front lens ensures sufficient peripheral light levels, and a large-diameter front aspherical lens reduces light degradation all the way to the lens periphery. The result is high resolution and absolutely minimum lens distortion.

Canon lenses

• Brand: Canon
• Subject: SLR Lenses
• Category: Zoom Lenses

Since the launch of the EOS camera system Canon produced an impressive number of 30 million interchangeable EF lenses. Of course events like the Photokina are the perfect place to showcase the lens assortment. Since the digital SLR camera raise in popularity the market for lenses is booming again. The EF lens mount revolutionised SLR photography in 1987 by replacing mechanical links between camera and lens with electronic contacts and providing for an internal auto focus motor. Even with continued development and evolution of focus systems, Image Stabilizer technologies, lens element materials science, weather sealing and design, the EF mount remains consistent.

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC Macro lens

• Brand: Sigma
• Subject: SLR Lenses
• Category: Macro Lenses

Sigma launched today a new Four-Thirds system compatible, large aperture zoom lens; Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro. This lens has a large aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. A minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.9”) and a maximum magnification of 1:3, makes it ideal for close-up photography. Specially designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras, this lens provides a high level of optical performance. Its design incorporates both glass-mould and hybrid aspherical lens technology which offers extremely high image quality as well as a compact and lightweight construction. Minimal vignetting and superior peripheral brightness is ensured.

Sigma 24mm Aspherical Macro lens

• Brand: Sigma
• Subject: SLR Lenses
• Category: Macro Lenses

Sigma launched a new Four-Thirds system compatible, large aperture wide-angle lens; Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro. This F1.8 wide-angle lens has a minimum focusing distance of 18cm (7.1”) and a maximum magnification of 1:2.7. Two aspherical lenses ensure the utmost correction of distortion and aberrations. The floating focus system provides high optical performance from 18cm to infinity. The Dual Focus (DF) system makes the lens easy to hold and eliminates focus ring rotation during auto-focusing, making the lens particularly suitable for accepting the petal-type lens hood. The introduction of this new lens increases Sigma's lens line-up for Four Thirds mount to a total of eleven models. With Four Thirds cameras, the focal length will be equivalent to 48mm.