Portland, OR—Lensbaby announced its newest SLR creative effects camera lens, the Composer Pro, which is a refined version of its Lensbaby Composer that has been upgraded with a swivel ball and focus mechanism to provide smoother focus and tilt control. Lensbaby says the updated focus mechanism employs a “fluid and accurate dampened focus ring comparable to the focus mechanisms of the highest quality professional manual focus lenses.” For photographers as well as videographers who want to produce creative imagery, the Composer Pro ships with either Lensbaby’s double glass optic or the newly released Sweet 35 optic installed. It is compatible with the...

Pine Brook, NJ—The Rodenstock HR Digaron-W lens series, with a resolution of 80 lp/mm and image circle diameters of at least 90mm, is designed for the largest sensor formats up to 36x56mm and 40x54mm as well as for even larger stitch formats up to 49x71 mm. The new HR Digaron-W 32mm f/4 super-wide-angle lens has an equivalent (35mm full-format) focal length of 20.6mm when used with a 40x54mm sensor and 16.5mm when used for stitching to a 49x71mm format. Despite its very short focal length, it provides the same 90mm image circle as other HR Digaron-W wide-angle lenses, and it...

Lake Success, NY—Canon USA announced that its new EF lenses—the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM—will now be available for purchase in March 2011, due to some adjustments in the manufacturing process. Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM. Canon bills this as “the world’s widest fisheye zoom lens,” delivering 180-degree diagonal angle of view images for all EOS SLRs with imaging formats from full-frame to APS-C, and it provides 180-degree circular fisheye images for full-frame EOS models. The lens features both UD and aspherical lens elements...

Joining the new Lumix GH2 are three 3D-capable interchangeable lenses. Unless you have a 3D HDTV, it's hard to see why you'd need to rush out and upgrade your photo gear to 3D - but if you see an 3D HDTV in your medium-term future, it might be worth your while. Full release below: SECAUCUS, NJ (September 21, 2010) – Panasonic today announced three new interchangeable lenses for its LUMIX G Series of cameras, including the world’s first1 interchangeable 3D lens, the H-FT012. The lenses, all based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard, are compact while featuring...

End of Summer Super Rebates of Up To $100 on Six of Tamron's Most Popular Lenses Valid Through October 10, 2010 Tamron USA, Inc. announced today an End of Summer Super Rebate program that gives consumers extra cash incentive when purchasing one of the select lenses included on the program. The limited time offer is valid on purchases made September 3 through October 10, 2010. New Super Rebates on Six Top Lenses Included in this special offer are: •    Tamron AF18-270mm Di-II VC (model B003) at $100 •    Tamron AF18-200mm Di-II (model A14) at $100 •    Tamron AF28-300mm Di at (model A20) at $50 •   ...

Ronkonkoma, NY—Sigma Corporation released its new 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM lens—a large-aperture standard-zoom lens that was first introduced at PMA 2010 and is designed for small chip APS-C digital cameras. The lens incorporates Sigma’s optical stabilization (OS) functionality and new FLD glass. The ultra-compact lens has an overall length of 3.6 inches and provides a focal length from a 17mm wide angle, a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches throughout the entire zoom range, and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5. Its OS function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops slower than would otherwise be...

Secaucus, NJ—Panasonic is touting its new Lumix G Fisheye 8mm f/3.5 lens, the H-F008, as “the world’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable fisheye lens compatible with the Lumix G-series, DSL Micro (DSLM) cameras. The 35mm-equivalent 16mm lens features a 180-degree diagonal angle view, with a “distinctive perspective and unique deformation effect,” for both photos and video. Its compact size can be attributed to its 10 lenses in nine groups, which takes advantage of the Micro Four Thirds system standard to achieve downsizing. “The addition of this lightweight Lumix fisheye lens gives photographers of all levels the ability to enjoy a range of...

Allendale, NJ—Leica Camera AG unveiled the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Asph, a revised version of the Leica M rangefinder system’s popular wide-angle lens. The new lens was created to set “a whole new standard in the fast wide-angle lens portfolio, utilizing the latest developments in the fields of optics and precision engineering,” announced Leica. The lens is geared for a wide variety of shooting, from selective focus in the close-up range to high-contrast available-light applications and landscape shots with depth of field. The Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Asph differentiates itself from its predecessor by offering a floating element: the lenses behind the...