Digital Camera Information

Sigma has just released a new lens with an 11.1 high zoom ratio which is designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras and incorporates Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) technology. With the optical stabilizer, the system uses two sensors inside the lens to detect vertical and horizontal movement of the camera by moving an optical image stabilizing lens group, to effectively compensate for camera shake. It also automatically detects movement of the camera and compensate for camera shake when shooting moving subjects such as motor sports.

Therefore it is perfectly suitable for low light conditions, indoors, at dusk and telephoto range. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass and aspherical glass provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7”) throughout the entire zoom range and has a maximum magnification of 1:3.9. The inner focusing system is suitable for using a petal-type lens hood supplied and also circular polarizing filters.

The only problem is the price which is a little bit more expensive at $820.

Specifications

Focal Length: 18-200mm
Minimum Aperture: F22
Lens Construction: 15 Elements in 13 Groups
Angle of View: 69.3 - 7.1 degrees (Sigma SD format)
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 7 Blades
Minimum Focusing Distance: 45cm / 17.7 in.
Maximum Magnification: 1:3.9
Filter Size: Diameter 72mm
Lens Hood: Petal Hood
Dimensions: Diameter 79mm X Length 100mm
3.1 in. x 3.9 in.
Weight: 610g / 21.5 oz.
Corresponding AF Mounts:

SIGMA(coming soon)
CANON (available)
NIKON (coming soon)

Photozone.de has an excellent review on the Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC lens which is one of many standard zooms available for Nikon DSLR users. Compared to the rest of the gang it offers a relatively long zoom range (~ 4 x ratios) combined with a relatively large max. aperture at 17mm.

They write: “The Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC is a very good standard zoom and a viable alternative to the Nikon offerings in this range. Generally it is capable to produce very sharp results although the corner performance leaves a bit to be desired at 17mm at large aperture settings. The vignetting level could also be a bit better here but most competitors don’t offer an f/2.8 settings anyway and from f/4 it follows the mainstream. The level of distortions is about typical for a standard zoom whereas chromatic aberrations (color shadows) are comparatively low. The build quality is very fine for a lens in this price league.”

Source

Do you have fungus growing inside your lens? Have you ever looked through your camera lens recently? With the aperture wide open, and you see tiny growth which is the mycelium or structure of the fungi.

You see fungi grow in all condition but thrive in areas where there is particularly low water activity where bacterial microorganisms cannot compete. Over time, the fungi excrete secondary metabolites which etched the surface of the lens rendering it useless.

The best remedy is keeping the lens in a cool dry place. Here are some further recommendations to further reduce the risks:

It seems the marketing department at Nikon has put enormous effort into its “Vibration Reduction” lenses by creating a new dedicated website. The website has some great videos that goes through a step by step process of the blurring problems associated with normal lenses, followed by the benefits of its new Vibration Reduction lenses such as clearer viewfinder, clearer pictures, the mechanism on how its technology and systems work and finally the range of lenses which has this VR incorporated into it.

The main point they left out is the high prices for buying these great lens. I guess that’s why they needed a whole website to explain the benefits.

Click here for the website.

Along with the two new DSLR models, PENTAX has also announced the smc PENTAX DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited interchangeable wide-angle lens. Previewed at PMA 2006 in Orlando, the lens features a versatile angle of view and an ultra-thin, pancake design that offers go-anywhere portability that is ideal for casual, day-to-day photography. The latest lens inherits all the attributes of the acclaimed PENTAX Limited lens series including high-quality image reproduction, distinctive visual description, and high-grade lens-barrel finish. The smc PENTAX DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited lens will ship in July 2006 for $549.95.

Specifications

Lens mount: PENTAX KAF mount
Lens construction: 8 elements in 5 groups

Angle of view: 68° ( when used with *istD series & K100D body )

Aperture control: Automatic

Number of diaphragm blades: 7

Minimum aperture: F22

Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering

Minimum focusing distance: 0.2m (0.66ft.)

Filter size: 43mm or 49mm

Maximum magnification: 0.17X

Dimensions (diameter x length): 63mm x 25mm (2.5inch x 1.0inch)

Weight: 140g (4.9oz) without hood / 155g(5.5oz) with hood

Ultra-thin, super-lightweight design
With newly developed, high-performance optics, this new lens measures only one inch (25 millimeters long) and weighs a mere 4.9 ounces (140 grams). Mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, the lens protrudes very little from the camera’s front panel, making it an ideal choice for carry-everywhere, instantaneous snapshot photography.

Versatile wide-angle perspective
Mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body — including the new K100D — this lens offers an angle of view equivalent to a 32mm lens in the 35mm format. This versatile angle of view produces natural images with a moderate perspective and an expanded depth of field (or a wide in-focus area), making it ideal for many different types of subjects and occasions, including snapshots, landscape, travel photos, and architecture.

High-performance optics
This lens incorporates a hybrid aspherical lens in its eighth optical element to effectively compensate for a variety of aberrations, which cause adverse effects on overall image quality. In order to assure high-quality image reproduction over the entire focusing range, it also features a floating mechanism, which is designed to adjust the degree of aberration compensation in relation to the focusing distance.

Limited Lens-series quality for distinctive visual description and a premium appearance
The PENTAX Limited Lens series is designed for ultimate image reproduction by combining a series of mechanical and numerical evaluations with human assessment of test shot samples. True to this tradition, this new lens not only assures excellent image quality, but also produces sharp, clear images with outstanding contrast even at the maximum aperture, because its optical design has been optimized for digital photography. In addition, its lens barrel, hood and cap are all made of a high-grade aluminum material, shaped for perfect proportions and striking beauty.

SP coating to protect the lens against water and grease
The PENTAX-original Super Protective (SP) coating is applied to the front surface of the lens. Through a vapor deposition process, the lens surface is coated with a special fluorine compound to repel dust, water and grease, making it easy to wipe off fingerprints and cosmetics.

Digital SLR-exclusive design
This lens is exclusively designed for use with the PENTAX digital SLR cameras, with an image circle perfectly proportioned to the CCD size (23.5mm x 15.7mm), and optics optimized for digital imaging characteristics. Combining high-quality image reproduction with an ultra-thin, super-lightweight design, it is a perfect partner to PENTAX digital SLR cameras.

Other features
*PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the AF system.
*Minimum focusing distance of 20 centimeters for close-up photography.
*Dual filter attachment design: 43mm filters on the hood, and 49mm filters on the lens (without use of the hood).

Sigma has a new Compact High Performance Zoom Lens with a 10.7:1 High Zoom Ratio and optimized for Digital SLR cameras. The 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 MACRO lens covers all the focal lengths from 28mm wide angle to 300mm telephoto with 10.7:1 high zoom ratio as well as macro capability. 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 MACRO packs a lot of performance in a compact package with ultra compact dimensions (Diameter 74mm and Length of 86mm) that make this lens the ultimate traveling companion. It’s the ideal lens all types of photography and optimized for digital SLR cameras.

The lens has a new coating that reduces ghost and flare which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range.

The lens also features one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element and one aspherical lens in the front lens group, and one SLD glass element and three aspherical lenses in the rear lens group. This lens provides excellent correction for all types of aberrations.

Macro photography is perfect with the 1:3 ratio. The 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DG MACRO lens has a minimum focusing distance of 50cm at all focal lengths and is equipped with a macro mechanism for close-up photography at 300mm telephoto, allowing a reproduction ratio of 1:3.

This design allows for stability and compactness in design as changes in focus are made in an internal lens grouping. This also gives the advantage of a non-rotating front lens assembly, which is of great benefit when using polarizing filter and Petal-type hood.

Finally, the lens has a “Zoom Lock” device to prevent the lens from creeping due to its own weight, and to offer protection whilst the lens is being carried.

The world’s largest independent manufacturer of zoom and fixed focal length lenses, Sigma Corporation has announce the launch of the new 28-105 F2.8-4 DG lens. This lens has a large aperture with standard zoom for both Digital SLR Cameras and 35mm Film SLR Cameras.

The standard zoom lens covers frequently used focal lengths from 28mm to 105mm and allows a large aperture of F2.8 at the 28mm focal length. This lens is very convenient for a wide range of applications such as snap shots and indoor photography. In addition, the new lens has a new multi layer coating and is design to reduce flare and ghosting (common problem with digital cameras) whilst also creating an optimum color balance throughout the entire zoom range. The lens is also aspherical which reduces the various aberrations throughout the entire zoom range.

This lens has minimum focusing distance of 50cm (19.7 inches) throughout the entire zoom range and it also has a maximum magnification of 1:5.5.

The specification is shown below:

Focal Length : 28-105mm
Minimum Aperture : F22
Lens Construction : 12 Elements in 11 Groups
Angle of View : 75.4 - 23.3 degrees
Number of Diaphragm Blades : 8pcs
Minimum Focusing Distance : 50cm (19.7”)
Maximum Magnification : 1:5.5
Filter Size : 72mm
Lens Hood : Petal Hood
Dimensions : Diameter 77mm (3”) x Length 81mm (3.1”)
Weight : 405gr / 14.3oz

Along with the release of the Canon 5D Digital SLR camera next week, Canon will also release the new EF 24-105mm f/4L USM lens. One interesting feature is the built-in image stabliser.

The new len has the following features:

Standard zoom lens - 24-105mm focal length, fast f/4 aperture

Super UD glass lens and two types of aspherical elements effectively correct aberration

Image Stabilizer gives equivalent effect of a shutter speed three stops faster during hand-held shooting

Optimised lens coating to minimise ghosting and flare

High dust and moisture resistance for use in harsh environments

Closest focus distance of just 45cm at all zoom focal lengths

Circular aperture producing attractive background defocus

Inner focusing, ring USM and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing

Manual focusing enabled even during AF mode (full-time mechanical manual focus)

Only environmentally friendly lead-free glass used in lens construction

Download the pdf file here