Nik Software has released version 4 of its Color Efex Pro filter suite. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Color Efex Pro 4 Now Shipping
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 Last week SLRmagic announced the new 11mm f/1.4 manual lens for Micro Four Thirds . The images you see on top are the very first full size samples posted by the company. CLick on the thumbnails to enlarge the image. The focal length and aperture are very appealing but the image quality is less impressive. You can get the lens on eBay (Click here) . . . . → Read More: Big size samples of the new SLRmagic 11mm f/1.4 lens  SLRmagic announced a new 11mm f/1.4 wide angle lens with Micro Four Thirds mount. But there is a big disappointment. The price is incredibly high…$210!!! It would be a fair price if the lens would have at least a decent optical performance. But from the first images we have seen on eBay (Click here) we can see heavy vignetting and unsharp results. If you really need a fast wide angle lens get the Computar 12.5mm F1.3 which is much cheaper ( Read the review at EosHD ). . . . → Read More: SLRmagic announces (an expensive) 11mm f/1.4 Micro Four Thirds lens.  That is going to be a must read review for everyone! Photozone (Click here) just published the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 review. We are talking about a Micro Four Thirds lens that is highly requested and sadly almost nowhere available. Those are the key conclusions of the review: – “ Technically the lens is capable of delivering a sharp image center at very large apertures but the borders are fairly soft here.” – “The quality of the bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is generally impressive although you can push it into producing some less than pleasing highlight artifacts at f/0.95″ – ” Bokeh fringing is visible at large apertures but this is true for the vast majority of ultra-large aperture lenses. Lateral CAs are minimal and there isn’t really any significant amount of distortion to worry about either .” – “ The mechanical quality is outstanding thanks to an all-metal lens body and a dampened focus ring. Only a weather sealing is missing here.” He tested the lens on the Panasonic GF1 . Read the full review at www.photozone.de Reminder: The lens is sold out in most worldwide shops. The next Stock of lenses will be shipped in late April only. You can get the lens at eBay (Click here) where there are a dozen auctions ongoing right now. You can read the 43rumors user reviews of the lens here at http://www.43rumors.com/cameras/voigtlander-nokton-25mm-f0-95/#submitownreview . . . → Read More: A must read! Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 tested at Photozone. The Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 is a tiny wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds compact system cameras. Offering an 18-36mm focal length in 35mm terms and a weight of just 155g, the Olympus 9-18mm lens is much smaller and lighter that other ultra wide-angle lenses. Read our Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 review to find out if it deserves a place in your lens collection. Read the review . . . → Read More: Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 Review Now it’s becoming very unfair! While we europeans can get the Olympus 40-150mm lens for over 250 Euro only you US guys can get it for $150 (110 Euro) only!!! Check out BHphoto (Click here) to get the lens. That price makes it the cheapest Micro Four Ghirds lens on market. And we are not talking about a bad quality lens. DiwaLabs and SLRgear alredy tested the lens and said that it has an “excellent performance”. If those price drops will continue next month you will only have to buy a coffee for the BHphoto storekeeper to get the lens for free Check the price and availability of the lens at . . . → Read More: Another reason why we Europeans are so jealous of US Americans: They can have the Olympus 40-150mm lens for $150 only!  A Guest Post by Kat Landreth from Pare and Focus I love the idea of photography gear that will do the job without breaking the bank. Unfortunately sometimes the equipment I try ends up wasting my money instead of saving it. Do you hate spending your hard earned cash on gear that doesn’t work? These are the five biggest photo equipment mistakes I’ve made and the gear I now use instead. 1. Lens Blower/Brush Seems like a cleaver little tool right? It’s not. It actually makes my lens even dirtier. The blower doesn’t have enough force to really blow anything and the brush is worse because it sheds bristles everywhere. I shouldn’t have to clean up after the cleaning tool. Now I use a Rocket Blower to blast dust and grit with air and a Lenspen to whisk away the rest. If you’re curious about cleaning technique check out this article on how to clean a DSLR lens . 2. Cheap UV Filters Some people suggest using a UV filter to protect your lens while you shoot. They’re not supposed to effect your pictures so you should be able to leave them on your lens all the time. Just my luck, the cheap filters I bought made all of my pictures soft . So how should you protect your lens instead? If you’re not willing to give up on UV filters, image quality is better when you pay up for top of the line versions. A lens hood can put some distance between the glass and anything that can scratch it. And of course there’s my personal favorite- the lens cap. 3. Dedicated Bean Bag Before I went on safari everyone said I should buy a beanbag to prop up my camera when I couldn’t use a tripod. So I bought one and by the end of the trip I hadn’t used it once . There were definitely times when the beanbag could have been useful but it was always more handy to fold up a jacket or sweater to put under my camera. 4. Cheap Tripod I thought it would be OK to spend less on my first tripod. Then I realized there are good reasons people buy more expensive tripods. They’re often lighter, sturdier, and easier to use. My first cheap tripod (and it wasn’t truly cheap at $80 US) started to break down after two months of use. It was too big and too heavy to carry around my neighborhood let alone bring with me on trips. Buying $80 tripods once a year seemed like an expensive habit so I made an investment in a tripod I won’t have to replace for a long time. Added Bonus- I actually like to use the new tripod. 5. The First Camera Bag You See The day bought my camera I also got a camera bag to protect and carry it. I hardly use it. It just doesn’t feel right. It’s really no wonder I don’t like that bag. I didn’t know what style would work for me or the kinds of gear I would need to put in it. It can take time to figure these things out but you have to use something until you find the right bag. I bought a Lenscoat DSLR cover and a padded lens bag . The Lenscoat goes on the camera body, and the lens bag fits over any lens I own even when it’s attached to the camera. This modular system keeps my gear safe enough to carry in regular backpacks and purses. I’d still like to find the best camera bag for me but this system is perfect until then. Help Me Out I know I’m not the only one who’s ever wasted money while trying to save it. And I know some of you might love the gear I loathe. So let me hear it . What’s your least favorite photo gear? If you disagree with this list tell me about that too. Maybe you’ll convince me to look at my unused gear in a new light. Kat Landreth writes PareandFocus.com – budget friendly photography tips, tricks, and tutorials . Post from: Digital Photography School – Photography Tips . Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips , Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras . 5 Kinds of Photography Equipment That Waste Your Money . . . → Read More: 5 Kinds of Photography Equipment That Waste Your Money Almost 80% of my pictures have been taken with that cheap and unspectacular lens. It’s not as fast and as good as the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 but it’s cheaper, lighter, tinier and has a more interesting wider view angle (that’s just my personal opinion). I am glad that someone finally reviewed the lens. That “someone” is Photographyblog (Click here) : “ Its sharpness and resolving power are pretty good, especially in the centre of the frame, but they are hardly exceptional for a prime lens “…” Overall, we enjoyed shooting with the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 17mm f/2.8 a lot – there are few lenses out there that beat it on the portability front, while its angle of view and fast maximum aperture make it an excellent walk-around lens “. Click those links to check the Olympus 17mm price at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . . . . → Read More: My Olympus 17mm gets reviewed Image on top: The current popular Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens you can get at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . 43rumors just found a new Panasonic patent that discloses full details about new fast primes for Micro Four Thirds ( United States Patent Application 20110052181 via freepatentsonline ). Let’s start with the official patent description: “ It has conventionally been difficult to reduce the size of a fast lens system having an F number of about 1.4 to 2.4. “…” Each of lens systems according to Embodiments 1 to 11 of the present invention has an F number of 1.4 to 2.1, and includes, in order from the object side toward the image side, a front unit including two lens elements, i.e., a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a rear unit having a positive power. The rear unit includes at least one negative lens element and at least one aspheric surface. A diaphragm A is disposed in a widest air space in the lens system .” The patent unveils all details about the lenses including also the spherical aberration, astigmatism and distortion data!!! Those are the lenses: 1) 17.5mm f/1,75 (lenght of the lens 5cm) 2) 17mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 5cm) 3) 17mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm) 4) 20mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm) 5) 16,7mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4.1cm) 6) 21mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4cm) 7) 17mm f/1.83 (lenght of the lens 4cm) 8 ) 16mm f/1.7 (lenght of the lens 5.6cm) 9) 14,4mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 4.3cm) 10) 14,4mm f/1.75 (lenght of the lens 5.5cm) 11) 16,4mm f/1.43 (lenght of the lens 5cm) Those info are very detailed and do proof that Panasonic has working prototypes with those characteristics. I hope Panasonic will really bring them to final production! The most interesting lenses are the 14mm f/1.7 (faster and larger than the current 14mm f/2.5 lens ), the 16mm f/1.4, the 17mm f/1.7 (faster and larger than the current Olympus 17mm f/2.8 ). We already have the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 described in the patent (or at least a similar version). Interesting, Panasonic announced the development of the 25mm f/1.4 but that lens isn’t mentioned here! I simplified the lens list and mae a short poll Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll. The Micro Four Thirds system currently offers three compact primes: Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . Olympus 17mm f/2.8 at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . . . . → Read More: (FT5 patent) Panasonic 16mm f/1.4 and more prime lens specs! The latest rumor about the Olympus PEN pro cameras created a very long and interesting discussion on 43rumors ( Click here to read the original article including the 160 comments ). Thom Hogan from bythom.com added his personal thoughts about Olympus PEN pro future. I believe he made a very understandable and rational analysis of the risks, limits and chances of future Olympus PRO cameras. Let’s read the text and discuss the single points! The following text has been written by Thom Hogan on 43rumors: . . . → Read More: Thom Hogan thoughts about the Olympus PEN pro (a must read!) Samyang Optics has shown a prototype 7.5mm F3.5 fisheye lens for the Micro Four Thirds system at the Focus on Imaging trade show in Birmingham, UK. The new lens is considerably more compact than the company’s existing 8mm fisheye designed for SLR cameras. In a brief press release, the company also reveals that this lens is intended to be the first in a new series of optics designed specifically for interchangeable-lens compact system cameras. . . . → Read More: Samyang shows prototype Micro Four Thirds 7.5mm fisheye There are not many videos out there which have been shot with a f/0.75 aperture lens(!) and a Micro Four Thirds camera. The maker of the video is seelling that Kowa 44mm f/0.75 on eBay : “ This is a very unique and beautiful lens that produces a soft blur due to its fast aperture.I tried it also with the HD video mode on my Panasonic GF2 and the result was stunning. This lens can be adapted to almost any camera as far as you buy the right adapter for it, I previously used it on my Canon 50D and on a Sony NEX 5 . I can say that due to the sensor size and distance from the back of the lens, you will get better results with the NEX but any mirrorless camera (EVIL camera) is good to use with that ultra fast lens .” Click here to see the Kowa 44mm f/0.75 auction on eBay . That lens is very cheap compared to the De Oude Delft 50mm f/.075 which usually sells for over $2000 on eBay . You can’t find anything faster than that (there was once a Zeiss f/0.7 but that’s impossible to find). P.S.: Panasonic GF2 is in Stock at Amazon , Adorama , B&H , J&R , eBay . . . → Read More: Need for speed? Look what a f/0.75 lens can do on your Panasonic GF2  Over a year passed without Olympus announcing any new Four Thirds lens. At least Samyang announced that nice 35mm f/1.4 manual focusing lens with 43-mount. There is a last minute surprise. Samyang added a red ring and an useful focusing scale to the lens. And they announced the final price which will be 389 Euro. All Samyang lenses for Olympus can be found on eBay only and under seven different brand names (Click on it to see all Four Thirds lenses from the specific brand!): Samyang Walimex Rokinon Opteka Falcon Vivitar Bower Unbelievable or not? Click the link to read the press release: “ Kraków, 4th of March 2011 r . – Delta company, the sole distributor of Samyang products for Europe proudly presents the final version of the long-waited for Samyang 35mm 1:1.4 AS UMC. Our new lens comes with utterly new design, with its distinguishing mark: a metallic red ring. A new concept version of Samyang 35mm 1:1.4 AS UMC was officially introduced during Photokina 2010 fairs held in Cologne. Since then, we have carried out intensive works to improve optical qualities of theproduct and devise its unique and exceptional design. The conducted works have allowed us to bring you the final version of the lens. Due to your recommendations we decided to add the focusing scale and diminish the overall dimension of the product. Samyang 35mm 1:1.4 AS UMC is an optically sophisticated 35mm f/1.4 wide-angle lens, which was designed for fullframe reflex camera. Nevertheless, it may be also used with APS-C/DX and Four Thirds cameras. The lens’s optical construction was based on two lenses made of the quality glass with high refraction factor, which made it possible to minimize its weight and dimensions. Moreover, we used an aspherical lens was to prevent the horizontal chromatic aberration. Owing to the high-quality, dense anti-reflexive layers, the lens produces stunningly high contrasts and perfectly reflects the natural colors. Samyang 35mm 1:1.4 AS UMC also takes advantage of the so called gliding lenses allowing to minimize the focusing distance. The lens will be available for sale with the following mounts: Canon, Four Thirds, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony Alfa. The recommended retail price for the microprocessor was established at EUR 379 gross. You will have a great opportunity to take a close look on the new Samyang 35mm 1:1.4 AS UMC on Sunday, during Focus on Imagining fairs in Birmingham in Great Britain. Please, don’t hesitate and visit Samyang stand located in the 10 hall, sector Q12. “ . . . → Read More: Surprise: Last minute design changes for the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 lens Lensbaby has introduced the Sweet 35 optic for its selective focus lens system. With a focal length of 35mm, it features an internal 12 blade aperture controlled by a dial on the front of the lens with an available range of f/2.5 to f/22, in contrast to previous optics which used drop-in aperture discs. The optical unit is composed of 4 multi-coated glass elements in 3 groups, has a 46mm filter thread and is compatible with the Composer, Muse, Control Freak and Scout lens bodies. . . . → Read More: Lensbaby releases Sweet 35 optic with internal aperture  “ jieying-usa ” is a well known eBay reseller that modifies lenses so that they can fit on Micro Four Thirds camera without the use of adapters. And his latest creation is the modified Kowa 77mm f/1.0 lens . This is the description: “T his lens is 77mm f/1.1~f/11 , was manufactory in Japan by Kowa. Lens rework on Panasonic Lumix G1 GF1 GH1 or Olympus E-P1 E-P2. After rework image little large than 77mm, Lens focusing from 5ft to infinity. (scale will not correctly you must use screen or viewfinder focusing). Glass looks mint, no fungus and no scratch. It is specially for Portrait use with full open aperture, image will be soft, when you step down after F/2.8 will get sharper, but when you use small aperture, corner image looks blur. I think buy this lens is to use large opening soft effect, smaller aperture doesn’t make any sense. Including a tripod mount, you may take it off if you feel not easy to carry on. (camera body for display only, not included) ” Click here to see the Kowa 77mm f/1.0 lens at eBay . I found a few image samples at Flickr (Click here) . Let us know if you find more images! . . . → Read More: Kowa 77mm f/1.0 modified for Micro Four Thirds  Danish photographer Jonas Krøyer took the lens, shutter, rail and bellows from a vintage Zeiss Ikon Ikonette folding camera (manufactured from 1929 to 1931) and turned it into a DSLR lens. Read more and comment . . . → Read More: Danish Photographer Turns Old Folder into DSLR Lens  Since a long time we are used to read Micro Four Thirds reviews only. But ePhotozine just posted four new Four Thirds lens reviews! 1) The first lens they tested is the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye : “ Performance-wise, it is a bit of a mixed-bag, with soft images at maximum aperture and strong chromatic aberrations towards the edges, but with a little care, and maybe some post-processing, this lens should be able to produce decent enough results. ” Check the lens price and availability at: Amazon , Adorama , BHphoto , eBay 2) Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD : “Although the price tag may seem a little steep at first, this lens justifies it with very good optical performance, and a very handy zoom range for walking about town” Check the lens price and availability at: Amazon , Adorama , BHphoto , eBay 3) Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II : “ For the price this lens commands, I expected a better performance than this lens delivers, especially at 14mm, where I am quite disappointed. ” Check the lens price and availability at: Amazon , Adorama , BHphoto , eBay 4) Olympus Zuiko Digital Ed 50mm f/2 Macro : “ This 50mm macro optic from Olympus is an interesting choice for Four Thirds format cameras due to its compact dimensions and bright maximum aperture. Although the performance wide open may not be of the highest order, it is well-suited to portraiture, and stopping the lens down can produce excellent results. ” Check the lens price and availability at: Amazon , Adorama , BHphoto , eBay . . . → Read More: Four new Four Thirds lens reviews! Samsung now offers ten lenses for their popular NX mount EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) cameras, such as the NX100 , with five new models announced today. These include three fast prime lenses (16mm f/2.4, 60mm f/2.8 Macro, and 85mm f/1.4 CSC) and two zoom lenses (16-80mm and 18-200mm). Each of these new lenses offers Samsung’s newer i-Function technology, which allows users to make changes to pertinent camera settings without removing their hand from the lens. This is accomplished thanks to the i-Fn button mounted on the lens barrel, in conjunction with the manual focus ring. Other options offered on most of these new models includes OIS (Optical Image Stabilization; 16mm and 85mm lenses excluded) and silent Autofocus motors, with the 60mm Macro and 85mm “Perfect Portrait” lenses including full-time manual focus and SSA (Super Sonic Actuator) AF drive. The 18-200mm model also boasts their VCM (Voice Coil Motor) technology, which they claim helps keep your video free from AF noise. Looks like pricing is to be announced at a later date, however approx. availability dates can be seen below. Availability dates for US: 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS – May, 2011 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 OIS – December, 2011 85mm F1.4 ED SSA – October, 2011 60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA – August, 2011 16mm F2.4 – . . . → Read More: Samsung Rolls Out Five New NX-series Lenses  Image courtesy: Photoscala.de Ok Zeiss, Schneider and Cosina will make Micro Four Thirds lenses but there is also one more small company that will join the group. At photokina 2010 the japanese company Elicar showed that 4,5-6,3/300-600 Micr Four Thirds lens prototype. So what happened since then? Did you got some news about when the lens will be available? Elicar already made lenses for Olympus OM, Canon FL and Minolta mount. You can see a list of lenses at eBay (Click here) . . . . → Read More: When will Elicar release that lens?  Olympus announced they will show the mockup of a “high-end” M.Zuiko Micro Four Thirds prime lens at the CP+ 2011 show (which starts today). That’s the way Oly wants to celebrate the 75 years of Zuiko-branded lenses! There are no details about the lens focal length or aperture but they said it will be available in 2011. This is part of the press release: ABOUT THE ZUIKO BRAND It was in 1936 that the Takachiho Corporation, forerunner of today’s Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., introduced its first camera, the Semi-Olympus I. The camera’s lens was given the name Zuiko, a Japanese word that means “light of the gods.” It was an auspicious name, chosen partially because the lens had been developed at the Mizuho Optical Research Laboratory and partially because the corporate name, Takachiho, is a Japanese word that means “mountain of the gods.” But more than the name, it was the quality of the lens that sparked conversation at the time. Ever since, Zuiko lenses have been featured on succeeding generations of Olympus cameras. The Zuiko lenses are widely acclaimed for their remarkable imaging power, and have become one of the world’s most respected high-performance lens brands. Semi-Olympus I (1936) Launched in 1936, the Semi-Olympus I was the first Olympus camera fitted with the newly developed Zuiko lens, which was mounted on a Semi-Proud body supplied by Proud. The lens looks nice but I want it for real and now . . . → Read More: New M.Zuiko high-end Micro Four Thirds lens mockup! |
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