The undisputable theme at Photokina 2018 is the coming of age of mirrorless system cameras and, more precisely, full frame mirrorless. We attended all the big-camera manufacturer Photokina 2018 press conferences and here is what we found.
Panasonic have announced the development of the world’s first constant-aperture f/1.7 zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds.
Press release issued by Panasonic
Panasonic develops fast wide-angle LEICA zoom-lens
Professional LEICA DG 10-25mm zoom lens
(35mm camera equivalent: 20-50mm)
The World’s First Full-range F1.7 Wide Zoom Lens as of September 25, 2018
Aiming to be the ultimate photo/video-hybrid digital interchangeable lens
Constant aperture ensures harmonic depth of field while zooming
Cologne, Germany, 2018-09-25 – Panasonic Corporation announces that it is developing the LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 wide zoom digital interchangeable lens (35mm camera equivalent: 20-50mm). It is the world’s first* F1.7 wide-angle zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system.
Taking full advantage of the MFT system standard, the new LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 lens is both: bright and compact. It is the first interchangeable lens to be introduced to the market featuring a full-range F1.7 high-speed aperture.
Integrating a click-less aperture ring that provides seamless aperture control, the new LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 lens aims to be the ultimate photo/video-hybrid digital interchangeable lens.
The zoom range of the VARIO-SUMMILUX covers 10-25 mm: Starting from a wide angle and reaching to the natural perspective of human vision. It is designed and developed to fully support photography as well as video recording on a professional level.
LEICA DG lenses are designed to exceed the stringent LEICA quality standards to boast excellent optical performance. The new LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 achieves exceptional imaging performance over the entire zoom range, empowering users to capture precise details and expressions.
Panasonic is committed to further expand the camera and lens line-up for the MFT system to meet customer demands and needs.
* As of September 25, 2018
•Details of the product specifications, the date of release and the price are yet to be advised.
•Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.
•SUMMILUX is a registered trademark of Leica Camera.
Press release issued by Sony:
New Large Aperture Super-Telephoto Prime Lens is World’s lightest in its class, with outstanding AF performance, innovative optical design and exceptional image quality
Sony today announced the highly anticipated FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS large aperture super-telephoto prime lens (model SEL400F28GM).
The product of extensive research and testing, Sony’s new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens is the first large aperture super-telephoto prime to join the E-mount line-up. This exciting new lens produces brilliant image quality, extraordinary focusing speed and precision while also boasting the lightest weight in its class[i] and an extremely balanced design. It’s the ideal choice for professional sports, wildlife and nature photographers, and a perfect complement for Sony’s extensive line-up of high-speed E-mount bodies including α9, α7R III and more.
World’s Lightest 400mm F2.8 Prime with Ideal Balance for Monopod or Handheld Shooting
Weighing in at only 2897g, the new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens provides a level of portability and handheld manoeuvrability that has never before been achieved in a lens of its class. The remarkably light weight of this lens is achieved through an innovative optical design that includes three fluorite elements, with a reduced number of elements deployed at the front of the barrel, as well as the liberal usage of durable magnesium alloy components.
Additionally, repeated field tests and evaluation by professional photographers across the world have led to a lens design that is not front-heavy, reducing moment of inertia that resists rotation by up to 50% as compared to the SAL500F40G.[ii] This ensures that quicker, more precise panning is available, whether shooting handheld or on a monopod.
Fast, Precise Autofocus
To best take advantage of the rapidly evolving shooting and focusing speeds of Sony’s latest cameras, the FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens features two newly developed high-speed XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors that drive the lens’ focus group, achieving up to a 5x improvement[iii] in moving-subject tracking performance. These motors are supported by specially developed motion algorithms to minimise lag and instability and control noise levels, resulting in exceptionally quick, accurate and quiet autofocus performance. This allows the lens to capture dynamic, fast moving athletes or wildlife with ease.
G Master Image Quality and Bokeh
A member of the Sony’s flagship G Master Series lenses, the new large aperture super-telephoto prime lens features an incredible level of image quality and detail, with outstanding contrast and resolution maintained all the way to the corners of the image. The unique optical design includes three fluorite elements that help to minimise chromatic aberration and suppress any amount of colour bleeding. The lens has also been coated with Sony’s original Nano AR coating to suppress any unwanted reflections, glare, or ghosting.
In addition to the impressive resolution, the lens features an 11-blade circular aperture mechanism that allows it to produce extremely natural and beautiful background defocus or bokeh’. Each lens is also individually tested and adjusted at manufacturing stage to achieve maximum image quality and ‘bokeh’.
The new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS is compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2.0x E-mount tele-converters, producing outstanding imaging performance at extended focal lengths[iv] while maintaining fast, precise AF performance.
Durability, Reliability and Control
To withstand the harsh conditions of sporting events and wildlife photography, Sony’s new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS is built with a durable magnesium alloy and a strong, lightweight carbon fibre hood. The lens is also dust and moisture resistant[v], and its front element is coated with fluorine to resist dirt and fingerprints.
There is also an ample amount of hard controls on the lens, including a ‘Full-Time DMF’ switch to immediately engage manual focus at any point, customisable focus hold buttons in four different locations on the lens barrel – allowing easy access of an Eye AF for example, and a focus ring that features Linear Response MF for fine, responsive manual focus. The new lens also features built-in optical stabilisation for dynamic sports action and three different ‘Mode’ settings, including a brand new Mode 3[vi] setting with an advanced algorithm that ensures easier framing when following moving subjects. The new model includes a function ring with selectable ‘Preset’ and ‘Function[vii]’ settings, further adding to the customisability, a first for any Sony lens.
The FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS includes a drop-in filter slot[viii] that accepts ø 40.5mm ND and other filter types, as well as the optional VF-DCPL1 Drop-in Circular Polarising Filter. The VF-DCPL1 filter can be rotated to achieve the desired polarisation while installed in the lens.
α9 System Software Update to Support FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS[ix]
The latest system software update (Version 3.00) for α9 (ILCE-9) provides support for the new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS (SEL400F28GM) lens to optimise optical image stabilisation performance and enables continuous shooting with auto focus tracking even when aperture is greater than F11.
The update also provides added option to input camera serial number to the Exif data, a feature that has been strongly requested by professional sports photographers and photojournalists. Additionally, several other updates to the α9 camera have been implemented with the new firmware, including improved auto focus speed in low light conditions, enhanced continuous AF performance when tracking a moving subject, and reduced release time lag when shooting with flash.
Pricing and Availability
Built to order, the new FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS will ship in Europe in September 2018,priced at approximately £10,500. The optional Drop-in Circular Polarising Filter (model VF-DCPL1) will ship in Europe in December 2018, priced at approximately £420.
A product feature video and testimonials by Nick Didlick and Bob Martin are now available at Sony Camera Channel on YouTube, and the new sample images are also posted at the global Sony Photo Gallery
Please visit Sony.co.uk for more information: http://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/camera-lenses/sel400f28gm
[i] Compared to 400mm F2.8 lenses for 35mm full-frame format cameras, as of June 2018, Sony survey
[ii] When mounted on the α9 with VG-C3EM grip. Compared to the α99 II + SAL500F40G, Sony tests
[iii] When mounted on the α9. Compared to the SAL300F28G2 mounted on the α9 (via LA-EA3), Sony tests
[iv] Maximum aperture with the 1.4x (SEL14TC) and 2.0x (SEL20TC) tele-converters is F4 and F5.6, respectively
[v] Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof
[vi] α9 software must be updated to the latest version to activate Optical SteadyShot MODE 3 when this lens is used with the α9. Refer to the Sony support site for camera body compatibility information
[vii] Functions can be assigned via a camera body menu. Power Focus is assigned by default. APS-C/Full Frame Select can be assigned by updating α9 software to the latest version. Refer to the Sony support site for up to-date function and camera body compatibility information
[viii] A normal filter is initially installed in the filter slot. The filter is part of the lens’s optical system, and either the normal filter or circular polarizing filter should always be in place when using the lens. Be sure that filter is installed before memorising the focus point for the preset focus function
[ix] System software update for α9 is scheduled soon. For more information, please visit Sony support site. https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce9-series/ilce-9#downloads
Nikon today announces the development of the AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR – a fixed focal length super-telephoto lens compatible with Nikon FX-format digital SLR cameras.
Press release issued by Nikon UK:
Faster. Sharper. Better. The new AF-P NIKKOR 70–300mm ED VR telephoto zoom.
RRP: £749.99 / € 899.00
Sales start date: TBC
London, UK, 11th July 2017: Nikon gives sports, wildlife, and travel photographers the power to achieve better handheld telephoto shots with the new AF-P NIKKOR 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR. Faster AF plus SPORT VR mode hone in on the action without compromising sharpness. The lighter, weather-resistant build goes anywhere.
From the winner’s expression to birds in flight, the latest incarnation of this full-frame telephoto zoom captures exceptional stills and movies. As an AF-P NIKKOR lens it boasts Nikon’s Stepping Motor, which brings subjects into focus extra quickly and extra quietly. Vibration Reduction (VR) is now faster, quieter, and more effective. And this lens also benefits from SPORT VR mode, inherited from Nikon’s pro lenses. A firm favourite with photographers who shoot action, SPORT VR mode enables photographers to reliably track fast-moving subjects—even when they’re moving erratically. Additional features from Nikon’s pro lenses include an electromagnetic diaphragm, which ensures precise exposures at high frame rates. And A/M and M/A focus-mode switches that make it possible to control manual-focus override simply by turning the focus ring. The preferred option of sports photographers, M/A mode allows switching with virtually no time lag. The A/M focus mode is less sensitive to prevent unintentional switching to manual mode.
Emma Fergie, Product Manager, Lenses & Accessories, Nikon UK says: “The new AF-P 70-300mm lens is an excellent addition to our NIKKOR lens line-up. Nikon is renowned for its ability to integrate proven pro technology into more affordable lenses, and this new telephoto zoom is testament to that. Exceptional features like the SPORT VR and advance vibration reduction (VR) mean that this is the ideal lens for photographers who often have to shoot in gruelling situations.”
A significant upgrade—New features of the AF-P NIKKOR 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR
More flexibility: this 70–300mm telephoto zoom (105–450mm when used with a Nikon DX-format SLR) now boasts a minimum focus distance of 1.2 m throughout the zoom range and a 0.25x maximum reproduction ratio.
AF-P Stepping Motor: for ultra-fast, ultra-quiet autofocus. Enables video footage to be recorded with practically no drive noise.
Advanced Vibration Reduction (VR): enables shooting at shutter speeds up to 4.5 stops slower than otherwise possible.¹
SPORT VR mode: delivers a more stable viewfinder image, which is helpful when shooting exceptionally fast action, or when panning.
Weather-resistant build: every movable part of the lens barrel is sealed to protect from dust and water droplets.
Electromagnetic nine-blade diaphragm: delivers consistent automatic exposure control even during high-speed bursts. The rounded diaphragm blades enable natural-looking bokeh.
Superior control: A/M and M/A focus-mode switches. Focus ring and the zoom ring boast a knurled covering that enables a firm grip.
FOOTNOTE:
1 Based on CIPA standards.
ENDS
