Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH. , Super-Vario-Elmarit- SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. and Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70 f/2.8 ASPH.
Leica • Lenses • Press Releases

Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH.

2024-09-05
2 min read

PRESS RELEASE

Leica completes trinity series for the SL-System

New telephoto zoom lens with a focal length of 70–200 mm and new 2.0x Extender expand the L-Mount portfolio.

Wetzlar, 5th September 2024. Leica lenses are valued worldwide for their outstanding quality. Their legendary imaging performance is based on more than 150 years of expertise in the manufacturing of optical instruments. The same applies to the new Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70– 200 f/2.8 ASPH.

Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH.

Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH.

Being the third zoom lens with an aperture of 2.8, the new Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH. forms a powerful trinity series for the SL-System together with the Super-Vario-Elmarit- SL 14–24 f/2.8 ASPH. and the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70 f/2.8 ASPH. This series makes it possible to photograph and film with a continuous aperture over the entire focal length range from 14 mm ultra wide-angle to 200 mm telephoto. At the same time, Leica Camera AG introduces another extender for the telephoto Varios with L-Mount. The Extender L 2.0x extends the new SL-Lens to a focal length of up to 400 mm.

With a classic telephoto zoom focal length, it is predestined for impressive portrait shots. Thanks to the high aperture ratio over the entire zoom range and the excellent image stabilisation, the new Vario lens also meets every challenge of event, sports and nature photography.

Inside the lens, 20 lenses in 15 groups, including three lenses with aspherical surfaces, ensure razor-sharp, detailed images right into the corners across all focal lengths. In addition, convenient handling is made possible by the internal focusing and the resulting constant overall length at any focal distance.

With the new Extender L 2.0x, which is available separately, the focal length of the telephoto Vario can be extended from 70–200 mm to 140–400 mm. It takes up hardly any space in the bag but offers plenty of scope to realise your own creative visions.

The retail price for the new Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 70–200 f/2.8 ASPH. will be 3,150.00 EUR including VAT. The retail price for the Leica Extender L 2.0x will be 920.00 EUR including VAT. Both products will be available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers starting now.

Read more...
SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount
Lenses • Press Releases • Sigma

SIGMA Announces Pricing and Availability of SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount

2024-09-05
3 min read

PRESS RELEASE

Pricing and availability of SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for Canon RF Mount announced

Ronkonkoma, NY – September 5, 2024 – SIGMA Corporation of America, the US subsidiary of SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki. Headquarters: Asao-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan) is pleased to announce the pricing and availability of the SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary for the Canon EOS R camera system.

Originally announced in October 2023, this lens was first released concurrently for L-Mount, Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X Mount, and is now available for Canon RF Mount. This compact, versatile zoom is a perfect partner for the SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary which was released for Canon RF Mount in June 2024. The new lens will be available through authorized retail partners in late September 2024 for a retail price of US $659.

This is the world’s smallest and lightest F2.8 zoom lens designed for APS-C format mirrorless systems*. On the Canon system, the lens covers a 16-28.8mm (35mm equivalent) focal range, with a fast F2.8 constant aperture. Paired with the 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary, this duo of lenses covers a 16-80mm (35mm equivalent) range with the same bright F2.8 maximum aperture, with a combined weight of under 550g (19.5 oz.)
* As an AF F2.8 zoom lens for mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor. As of October 2023 by SIGMA.

The SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary uses an aspherical concave lens with a large polarization ratio and high refractive index in the first group, reducing the number of elements in the first group and shortening the overall length. Additionally, a new push-on petal type hood has been developed. Thanks to the new structure with a spring and lever which is not utilized by any other manufacturer, the hood has been made both thinner and smaller, which also contributes to the overall compactness of the lens.

The optical design of the lens delivers a short 11.6cm (4.6 in.) minimum focusing distance and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4 at the wide end, allowing for close-up photography with pleasing background separation. The optical design also minimizes focus breathing, and the autofocus system delivers swift, quiet AF during both still and video use.

Thanks to its high optical quality and compact size, the SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary lens is an excellent choice for travelers, adventure photographers, vloggers, and family photographers who want great image quality when paired with today’s leading lightweight crop-sensor cameras on multiple platforms.

Learn more at: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/10-18mm-f2-8-dc-dn-c
(more…)

Read more...
SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art
Lenses • Sigma

SIGMA Announces 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art for L-Mount and Sony E-mount Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

2024-09-05
3 min read

PRESS RELEASE

SIGMA announces 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art lens, a new fast-aperture zoom with extended reach

Ronkonkoma, NY – September 5, 2024 – SIGMA Corporation of America, the US subsidiary of SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki. Headquarters: Asao-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan) is pleased to announce the SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless camera systems. Spanning many popular focal lengths in a single fast-aperture zoom, this is an exciting addition to the product line.

The SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art is a surprisingly compact, full-frame, wide-angle to telephoto zoom lens with a fast constant aperture. Available for Sony E-mount and L-Mount, this lens covers several popular focal lengths from 28mm to 105mm, including the very popular 85mm focal length for portraiture, remaining at F2.8 through the entire range.

Featuring HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) autofocus, and optical performance that lives up to the standard of Art line lenses, the SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art joins SIGMA’s selection of fast-aperture zoom lenses in the Art line, offering photographers and videographers a variety of premium standard zoom options depending on their personal style. Like the 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art and the 28-45mm F2.8 DG DN | Art, the new 28-105mm F2.8 includes a lockable aperture ring with click/declick function, as well as two AFL buttons and a zoom lock switch. Additionally, the dust- and splash-resistant design and water-and oil-repellant coating on the front element makes it suitable for shooting both stills and video in inclement weather.

A minimum focusing distance of 15.8 inches (40cm) at all focal lengths, and maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.1 at the telephoto end add to the versatility of this new zoom lens. This lens also features a rounded twelve-blade diaphragm, which helps to keep the large-aperture unit as small as possible.

Measures have been taken to minimize changes in optical performance due to differences in zoom and focus positions, including the use of a difficult-to-process large-diameter FLD glass in the first group to suppress aberrations in each group. In addition, the use of 5 aspherical lens elements has enabled the lens to achieve both a wide zoom range of 28mm to 105mm and a large-aperture of F2.8, while reducing its overall size.

By thoroughly reducing the weight of each part, the lens is kept under 2 pounds while achieving both a wide zoom range and an F2.8 aperture. The lens barrel near the mount is made of magnesium rather than aluminum, ensuring rigidity while reducing the weight of these parts alone by two-thirds. The lens will retail for US $1,499 and will be available in late September 2024.

Learn more at: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/28-105mm-f2-8-dg-dn-a
(more…)

Read more...
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
Lenses • Press Releases • Sony

Sony Announces FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Telephoto Portrait Lens

2024-08-28
2 min read

PRESS RELEASE

Sony Electronics Announces the Highly Anticipated FE 85mm F1.4 G Master™ II Lightweight Telephoto Portrait Lens

A Next-Generation Full-Frame E-Mount Lens Offering Significant Resolution, Size, and Autofocus Upgrades

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 28, 2024. Sony Electronics introduces the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (SEL85F14GM2), a premium lens that delivers high resolution, smooth bokeh, and fast AF (autofocus) in a lightweight and compact body. As a second-generation model, it builds on the optical design of its predecessor and incorporates Sony’s latest G Master™ technologies to enhance overall performance. This is the 76th E-Mount lens and is designed to take full advantage of the features in Sony’s latest Alpha™ series full-frame cameras. As a large-aperture, telephoto prime, this lens is an ideal option for portraiture, wedding, travel, and cinematic video.

“The first-generation 85 mm F1.4 lens was one of three lenses in the initial G Master series launch back in 2016. Since then, our engineers have refined eight years of lens technology to decrease size and increase performance for our new flagship 85 mm,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “We are excited to introduce this highly anticipated lens for many photographers and cinematographers in our community.”
(more…)

Read more...
Canon EOS R1 and EOS R5 II
Canon • Reviews on the Web

Jeff Cable: Canon EOS R1 Real World (Paris2024) Review

2024-08-20
1 min read
The Paris2024 Summer Olympics was the perfect venue for Canon’s flagship EOS R1 full-frame mirrorless camera to be put to the test in the field. Jeff Cable (@jcable12) was there and used the pre-production Canon EOS R1 and Canon EOS R5 II full-frame mirrorless cameras that Canon made available to the pro photographers to shoot around 85,000 images at the various events.

How did Canon’s flagship camera fare, and which of the new features were really useful? Jeff lays it all out in his Real World review of the two cameras. In his review, he pays special attention to the Burst Rate, Pre-Continuous Capture, Tracking AF, weight, sensor resolution, ISO used, Eye Control, battery life, and dual CFexpress card slots. He also gives his opinion of the Canon RF 100-300mm lens and the Canon RF 10-20mm lens.

His conclusion: “I have already ordered my Canon R5 Mark II cameras and will order the Canon R1 as soon as it comes out.”

To find out why, read the Jeff Cable Real World (Paris2024) Review of the Canon EOS R1 and EOS R5 II.

Read more...