lens

It won't be shipping for a couple of weeks, but I got a chance to shoot a bit with a production model of Olympus' new 9-18mm f4-5.6 Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount lens. Though MFT cameras from Panasonic and Olympus have been around for a few generations, they're new enough that the companies are still actively building out their stable of lenses. The eagerly awaited $699 9-18mm, a smaller version of Olympus' full-size Four Thirds-mount lens, delivers the least expensive wide angle available to date; Panasonic's 7-14mm model runs around $1,000.

It also incorporates internal … Read more

Though we haven't had a digital-imaging-related giveaway in a while, we have a good one this week from Lensbaby for all of you with dSLR cameras. We're not only offering up the Lensbaby Composer Lens but we're also throwing in the two newest additions to the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, the Fisheye Optic, and the Soft Focus Optic.

That's a pretty sweet package.  The good news is that if you win, Lensbaby will send you the right products for your specific camera, whether it's a Canon EF (EOS), Nikon F, Sony Alpha A / Minolta … Read more

Ah, the concept display. It's a way for companies lagging behind competitors to promise wonderful and amazing things, throwing potential purchasers of seemingly less marvelous products into a paralytic tailspin, without actually have to deliver. They inspire media paeans and page-turning slideshows--guilty as charged, for the latter at least--creating buzz. Most often, the final product turns out to be drastically different (remember the Olympus Micro Four Thirds concept?) or at best is just a parity-match for the competition (Samsung NX10, anyone?).

Sony is this year's concept master, showcasing an entire line of fictional products--plus a couple prototypes, one … Read more

Two years ago it was difficult to see Samsung as a serious digital camera competitor in the U.S. But that was two years ago. The company has since released a handful of models that have helped it standout, and its newly announced TL500 looks like another standout to add to that list.

Judging by it specs alone, the TL500 looks like it can take down Canon's PowerShot S90, one of the most popular cameras on CNET. In front is a f1.8, 24mm-equivalent lens with a 3x zoom. In back is a 3-inch swivel-mounted rotating AMOLED screen. Inside … Read more

LensVector, a start-up in Mountain View, Calif., that hopes its optical components using solid-state electronics will replace moving parts in consumer camera technology, said Thursday that it's raised $30 million in a third round of funding.

Institutional Venture Partners led the funding round, joining existing investors Menlo Ventures, Samsung, Silicon Valley Bank, Mitsui, and Kodak. IVP general partner Norm Fogelsong has joined the LensVector board, the company said.

"This financing will allow us to scale our manufacturing capacity and better serve this growing demand from our customers," Chief Executive Derek Proudian said in a statement. LensVector now … Read more

Canon today announced the EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM lens, a successor to its EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM lens that was launched in 2008. The pro-grade 70-200mm f2.8 lens has long been a go-to lens for professional shooters. This newest version offers improvements on an already solid design including a redesigned optical system and a closer minimum focusing distance.

It is fully weatherproof. The mount, focus mode switch, and focusing ring are completely dust-proof and drip-proof. The lens is designed and built to withstand the rigors of everyday use by professional photographers.

The Canon 70-200mm … Read more

Nikon today expanded its DX lens line by adding a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography .The new AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85 mm f3.5G ED VR II. A prime focal length macro lens is something DX format shooters have desired, from general shooters to Ebay sellers.

The new AF-S DX 85mm Micro lens focuses as close as 10.8 inches, with reproduction ratios up to 1:1. with its 127.5mm 35mm equivalent focal length, it allows for a good lens-to-subject working distance while doing close-up work, as well as being suitable for portrait and nature work.

Designed … Read more

Canon has announced two new lenses offering useful zoom ranges to its EF-S line-up, the new EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens and the new 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM lens.

The 15-85mm is a high-quality standard zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 24-136mm, covering from wide angle to portrait ranges. It also features Image Stabilization and a USM autofocus motor for quiet and fast AF.

The 18-135mm is a high-quality superzoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 29-216mm, covering a very wide range, making it a good choice for a do-it-all lens.

The two new lenses … Read more

With Canon's announcement of the new Hybrid IS EF 100mm f2.8 L Macro IS USM lens, Canon has made two firsts: it's the first EF lens to offer Canon's new Hybrid IS technology, and also the first EOS macro lens to offer Image Stabilization. The new Hybrid IS system features up to four stops of correction of camera shake. Low friction ceramic balls support the lens elements to allow for smoother movements when correcting for camera during macro shooting, which requires very subtle corrections.

Besides being the first new Hybrid IS lens it is also the … Read more