Digital Camera Review

Tamron Announces the Launch of the Popular AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II with Built-In Motor for Nikon (Model A18N II)

A Compact, Lightweight and Ultimate High Power Zoom Lens Boasting the 13.9X Zoom Power Designed Exclusively for APS-C Sized Digital SLRs

Mr. Morio Ono, of Tamron Co., Ltd., announced that the company will release the AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro, a lightweight, compact and ultra high power zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized image sensors with a built-in motor for Nikon (Model A18N II).

Product Name

Date of Launch Schedule in Japan
AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II (Model A18N II) for Nikon December 13, 2007

The AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro is the ultimate high power zoom lens boasting the world’s greatest zoom ratio(*1) of 13.9X, a milestone that Tamron, the pioneer of high power zoom lenses, has achieved by commanding its technologies to further expand the capabilities of high power zoom lenses.

(*1) As of November, 2007. Based upon Tamron’s research of lenses for exclusive use with digital SLRs equipped with APS-C sized image sensors.

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Fisheye lens with close up ability designed exclusively for use with APS-C size digital SLR cameras

10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM

• Fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C digital SLR cameras
• 13.5cm minimum focusing distance and 1:3.3 maximum magnification allows close up photography
• Equipped with HSM allowing full-time manual focus override
• Equisolid angle projection system is possible for art and scientific use

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM lens.

This autofocus fisheye lens is designed for use with digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C size image sensors. The Nikon version produces a diagonal angle of view of 180°(154°for Sigma, 167°for Canon). The diagonal field of view of this fisheye lens produces striking images with exaggerated perspective and distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch, and maximum magnification 1:3.3 allows subjects to be as close as 1.8cm/0.7inch from the lens’ front element. This close focusing capability allows close-up photography and also it is possible to make use of large depth of field that covers wide range of subjects. The Integral hood blocks out extraneous light and the Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting, creating superior image quality. The HSM(Hyper Sonic Motor)ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring. This lens is supplied with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.

Tags: Sigma, Lens by deshot
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The first Circular Fisheye Lens exclusively for use with APS-C size digital SLR cameras.

 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC CIRCULAR FISHEYE HSM

• The first 180 degree circular fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C size digital SLR cameras
• Fast F2.8 maximum aperture making it ideal for low light photography
• Minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm and a maximum magnification of 1:6
• SLD glass minimizes color aberration
• Equipped with HSM with full-time manual focus override
• Equisolid angle projection method is possible for art and scientific use

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC CIRCULAR FISHEYE HSM lens.

This autofocus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in all directions. It is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras with the APS-C size image sensor. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors, it produces circular image within the frame.

The F2.8 large aperture value produces a bright image in the viewfinder and allows photographers to take pictures in low light conditions, making it an ideal lens for Astrophotography and Aurora photography. Due to the quantifiable angle/area relationship it produces, this lens can be used for scientific and arts applications such as solid angle measurements of cloud distribution over the sky or vegetation distribution of the forest.

The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch and maximum magnification of 1:6 make it particularly useful for close-up photography. SLD(Special Low Dispersion)glass provides effective compensation of chromatic aberration. Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting. It is equipped with an inner focusing system that creates high definition and good image quality over the whole frame. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor)ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring.

Tags: Sigma, Lens by deshot
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High-speed wide angle puts everything else in the shade 

Oberkochen, 17.09.2007.
A new high-speed, wide-angle lens complements the advanced SLR line of lenses from Carl Zeiss for analog and digital 35 mm single lens reflex cameras. With an aperture of 1:2.0 and 28 mm focal length, the Distagon T* 2/28 lens is the ideal bridge between the existing wide-angle lenses with 25 mm and 35 mm focal lengths. It is available as the Distagon T* 2/28 ZF for cameras with the F bayonet and Distagon T* 2/28 ZK for cameras with a K mount. This lens is among the most high-speed optics for these focal lengths and is thus ideally suited for taking pictures in unfavorable lighting conditions. Equipped with manual focus, a high-quality metal casing and floating elements, it provides demanding photographers with a creative, top-class tool with lasting value. As a result, the performance potential of the lens is also available throughout the entire image field even with professional digital cameras featuring full format sensors.

28 mm lenses are primarily used for landscapes, architectural photography and excellent, short-range portraits. It is particularly suited for picture taking indoors – even in natural light. The high image quality down to the close focus range of 0.24 m extends the application range of this lens to include photography of small objects.

The use of floating elements ensures equally impressive image quality in the close-up range as well as at larger distances. With the initial aperture of 1:2.0, photographers enjoy greater creativity through flexible use of the depth of field. This enables them to effectively separate the subject from the background at full aperture and achieve a strong 3D effect. If needed, they can also use the full definition of short focal length optics with smaller apertures over a wide range. High image quality is provided under all conditions despite the extremely high speed.

With its numerous, outstanding properties, the Distagon T* 2/28 from Carl Zeiss is a multi-purpose lens. Thanks to the standard F and K bayonet connections, it can integrated into the corresponding camera systems – with limited compatibility on a case-by-case basis with simple camera models.

This lens will be available for shipping by the end of 2007:
Distagon T* 2/28
1,049.00 € (incl. 19% German VAT)

Tags: Carl Zeiss, Lens by deshot
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PENTAX Imaging Company is pleased to announce the smc PENTAX DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3ED AL [IF] interchangeable zoom lens designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. With an approximate 14X zoom ratio covering from wide-angle to super-telephoto ranges, this versatile lens handles a great variety of applications from wide-angle landscapes to close-up sporting events and wildlife photography.The lens will ship in October for US $499.95.

Features

High zoom ratio
Mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this zoom lens offers approximate 14X zoom ratio that covers the range from 27.5mm wide angle to 383mm super-telephoto in the 35mm format. Without the need for lens changes, it can be used for a wide variety of applications — ranging from such standard applications as landscape photography, snapshots and portrait at frequently used focal lengths, to specialized applications like sports and wildlife photography at the super-telephoto range.Superb image description assured by extra-low dispersion (ED) and aspherical optical (AL) elements Incorporating two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and two aspherical (AL) elements, this lens effectively compensates for the adverse effects of various aberrations, assuring outstanding image description.

Digital SLR exclusive design
This lens is exclusively designed for use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras, with its image circle perfectly proportioned to their image sensor size (23.5mm x 15.7mm). Since the coating, curvature and position of all optical elements are optimized for the characteristics of digital images, the lens effectively minimizes annoying flare and ghost images in the resulting images.

Minimum focusing distance
An extra-short minimum focusing distance of 0.45 meters over the entire zoom range Inner-focus (IF) mechanism to avoid lens extension during focusing.

Main Specifications

• Lens mount: PENTAX KAF mount
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
• Angle of view: 76° ~6.5° (when mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body)
• Number of diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: F22 ~ F45
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.45m (1.48ft)
• Filter size: 62mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.28X
• Dimensions & weight:
  - 75mm (maximum diameter) x 85.5mm (length)
  - (3.0 inch x 3.4 inch);
  - 16.0 oz (455g) (without lens hood)   

Tags: Pentax, Lens, News by deshot
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