New Sigma lenses Span The Focal Length Spectrum
Sigma announced three new high-spec lenses, a fast portrait telephoto, and an ultra-wide to-wide zoom in the ART series, and a super telephoto in the SPORTS series aimed at pro and enthusiast sports/wildlife shooters. The lens that generated the most enthusiasm among folks in attendance was undoubtedly the new Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM, an ultra-high-speed medium telephoto shown in Canon mount and targeted at portrait and street photographers. This impressively large but well-balanced full-frame lens employs 14 elements in 12 groups, including 2 SLD elements and one LD element, to achieve beautiful bokeh and ultra-high resolution at wide apertures and is claimed to enable the full potential of the latest hi-res full frame DSLRs cameras. It also features dustproof, water-resistant construction for shooting under challenging conditions.
The new Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM ART works with both full frame cameras to provide ultra-wide to wide-angle coverage and wide-to-semi-wide-angle coverage with APS-C format cameras. Its unique optical formula includes a huge 80mm-diamter aspheric element and FLD (fluorite equivalent) elements to deliver outstanding image quality over its entire focal length and aperture range, and it features dustproof, splash-proof construction. The hefty new Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM is the flagship of Sigma’s SPORTS line. It’s understandably large (15 inches long with a 5.7-inch diameter), and weighs 7.3 pounds, but it’s nicely balanced and its magnesium alloy barrel helps make it lighter and easier to manage than many of its competitors. Other features: a built-in tripod socket platform with click-stops every 90 degrees, and a new Intelligent OS algorithm in its optical stabilization system that allows for effective panning.
Tamron Unveils Second Generation Super Telephoto Zoom
Not to be outdone, Tamron showcased their impressive new Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di G2 (Generation 2), a seriously upgraded 4x zoom providing telephoto to super telephoto coverage, and based on an advanced new optical formula that includes three low dispersion (LD) glass elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing over the zoom range. It incorporates eBAND and BBAR coatings to reduce ghosting and flare when shooting in adverse lighting conditions, and the new G2 lens incorporates an ingenious FLEX ZOOM LOCK that allows locking the zoom at any focal length position to prevent accidental zoom extension. The lens also has a conventional zoom lock is to prevent zoom creep when carrying it. In addition, Vibration Compensation (VC) has been enhanced to provide an effective 4.5-stop image stabilization to minimize the effects of camera shake in handheld shooting, and has a ring-type Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) autofocus motor that provides quicker, more accurate focusing plus full-time manual focus. As you’d expect with a lens that destined to spend most of its time outdoors, it also features a moisture-resistant construction along with a fluorine-coated front element to guard against dirt, dust, moisture, and smudging from affecting image quality, a robust metal barrel, ergonomic textured focus and zoom rings, and a removable, rotating tripod collar with an Arca-compatible fitting. The lens provides a 225-900mm equivalent focal length range with APS-C-format cameras. Street price: $1,399.00.
It’s a Wide, Wide Little Minimalist Bonbon from Kodak
Here’s something simple, ingenious, and off the beaten track. Kodak, of all people, has extended its range of cute-as-a-button PIXPRO 360-degree 4K cameras by announcing the latest model, the PIXPRO 4K VR 360. This back to the future cutie takes a minimalist approach to capturing all-encompassing 360 images by mounting two simple fixed ultra-wide-angle lenses into the side of a “space-age look” camera body, that can capture full 360-degree 4K video, and also seamlessly upload content to social media like Facebook and YouTube using the camera’s built-in Smart Device App. This engaging device has a 20MP CMOS sensor, dual 235, 235/155-degree field of view lenses, and Mac or PS Desktop Editing and Stitching Software included in the price. The Kodak PIXPRO 4K VR 360 should be available by the first quarter of 2017, but no price has been announced.
Olympus ups the OM-D ante
It looks a lot like the previous Olympus OM-D E-M1, but the new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II delivers much faster, more, precise, and reliable AF thanks to a new wider-area 121-point AF array that covers nearly the entire Micro FourThirds format the camera is more responsive and can lock onto a wider variety of unusual or moving subjects. What’s more, each AF point is a cross pattern sensor that can focus on almost any subject, and each uses both the speed of phase and the precision of contrast detection, which has h potential of taking autofocus to an entirely new level. For the moment Olympus says it’s the fastest AF system they’ve ever offered, and that probably explains why the new model has an impressive full-res burst rate of 60fps without AF, 18 fps with AF using its built-in electronic shutter, and up to 15 fps using its mechanical shutter, which uses a floating design to minimize shock. The Mark II can also capture 4K video at a cinematic 24 fps, provides a host of sophisticated video controls, has configurable dual SD card slots nd HDMI-out port. No price has been announced, but happily, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II is nearing full production status and should be on the market by early 2017 at the latest.
Panasonic said look but don’t touch…
The award for the biggest tease of Photokina 2016 might go to Panasonic who tantalized hordes of viewers (including yours truly) by displaying the long-awaited LUMIX GH-5, successor to the acclaimed GH-4, in a locked showcase. The company assured us that it’s the world’s first single-lens mirrorless camera (DSLM) capable of recording 4K 60p/50p video, and of considerable interest to still shooters, it also includes 6K Photo, a system that can extract 18MP still images from ultra-high-quality video with about 9 times the pixel count of Full HD 1080p. Unfortunately, that’s all we know about the new LUMIX GH5 for now, except that I got a reasonably good shot of it in its glass house, and it’s scheduled to go on sale in early 2017.
…But there was a cool consolation prize
Panasonic partially redeemed itself by letting us handle (but no shoot with) the new LUMIX DMC-FZ2500, an attractive mirrorless compact that features a 1-inch 20.1MP CMOS sensor, and built-in ND filters that let you set 4 levels of ND strength to maintain the same exposure when using a fixed shutter speed or with a wide open aperture in bright light. Seamless iris control is achieved with a nine-blade diaphragm and new galvanometer-type actuator. The LUMIX FZ2500 also lets you shoot unlimited 4K video output video via an optional micro HDMI cable while recording video. Its contrast-based AF System features DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology, enabling AF in as little as 0.09 sec, and it can capture bursts at up to 12 fps (in AFS mode) and fps (in AFC mode), for a maximum of 100 JPEG or 30 (RAW) images. Its hi-res OLED LVF (Live View Finder) displays images at 2360K-dot resolution, and it also has a free-angle 3.0-inch, 1040K-dot touch-control monitor, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The FZ2500 is available for preorder at Adorama for $1,197.99.
