Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Inc., Thornwood, N.Y., is billing its two new lenses as being the fastest macro lenses for 35mm full-frame photography today, whether shooting film or using digital capture. At a top aperture of f/2, the Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF and Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF focus manually from infinity to one-half life size, capturing an object field of approximately 50mm-by-70mm, at the close-focus limit. All of the Zeiss ZF lenses feature precision metal mechanics, providing the photographer with a durable, reliable tool of lasting value.

A floating-element optical system enables the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF to deliver very high-image quality over the entire focusing range. The Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF goes several steps further by employing an optical design originally developed for the Arrri/Zeiss Master Prime T* 1.2/100 — an ultra-high performance lens made for big budget feature films. Thus, the Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF lens offers an optical performance never before available for still photography, especially at wide-open apertures and in macro applications. This lens allows photographers to use selective focus on important details with unprecedented clarity, effectively isolating the subject from distracting surroundings. The suggested retail price for the 2/50 ZF is $1,124, and $1,749 (USD) for the ZF 2/100 ZF.

Also new in the Distagon T* 2.0/35 ZF is a versatile all-round lens with moderate wide-angle coverage and high speed, a classic standard for photojournalistic work. Due to its high performance, this lens can capture very detailed scenes with high accuracy and information content. The Distagon T* 2.8/25 is a lens with pronounced wide-angle characteristics. The minimum object distance of just two inches from the front element enables unique wide-angle close-ups. The new lenses will begin shipping at the end of 2006. The list price of $824 is the same for each of the two new lenses.

The new Zeiss Sonnar T* 4/1700 was developed by Zeiss for customers interested in long-distance wildlife photography. With a focal length of 1700mm and f/4 maximum aperture, delicate, special-glass types were required, says the company. The design of the Zeiss Sonnar T* 4/1700 required new lens-assembly techniques and quality-assurance methods never before applied in photo-lens production. The finished lens weighs a staggering 564 lbs, placing unique demands on the focusing mechanisms.

Website : Carl Zeiss introduces several new lenses aimed professional photographers

Hasselblad launched the world’s first full frame 48mm DSLR, the H3D at a Photokina press conference. Praised as the world’s first 48mm full frame DSLR by Hasselblad, the new H3D is available in the 22 megapixel count H3D-22 and the high 39-megapixel H3D-39.  The Hasselblad H3D was designed to provide medium format quality in a more compact digital back. The camera has a large 22 or 39 megapixel, 36.7 x 49mm sensor and 2.2-inch OLED display.  With a new engine, the camera promises to provide the company’s new “Ultra-Focus” auto focus standard.

Under the new motto of the Hasselblad Star Standard, the H3D has a combined package of clarity, color, sharpness, detail, and resolution, according to Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen at the conference. “What Victor Hasselblad managed to develop with the classic V camera system, the H3D now extends into the digital age,” said Poulsen.

The camera possesses a Digital APO Correction (DAC) to reduce chromatic aberration. The camera has a sensitivity range of 50-400 ISO and a shutter speed from 32 seconds to 1/800 of a second. Allowing for only single shot shooting mode, the camera captures images in the DNG file format. The H3D also Includes FlexColor software.

Website : Hasselblad launched 39-megapixel H3D-39 48mm DSLR

The Sigma SD14 was announced by Sigma with a teaser ad a few weeks ago but today it becomes official. The Sigma SD14 is a 14.1 megapixel DSLR with a Foveon X3 sensor. It has a 1.7x field of view crop, in camera JPEG mode, 2.5 inch LCD screen, built in flash, image sensor dust protector, 5 point auto focusing and 3 frames per second high speed continuous shooting mode.

The all new SD14 powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor, can reproduce high definition images rich in gradation and impressive 3D detail. Using three silicon-embedded layers stacked upon one another, this beast can capture all primary RGB colours at each and every pixel in a 2652 x 1769 x 3 configuration. Featuring a large 2.5 inch, 150,000 pixel resolution LCD monitor.

Incorporating both Raw and Jpeg recording formats, and also JPEG recording can be used for various printing sizes from Super High (14.15 million pixels: 4608×3072 pixels) for A3 (297×420mm/11.6″x16.5″) or larger prints to a low (1.03 million pixels: 1296×864 pixels) for web-page and e-mail transmission. The Sigma SD14 comes loaded with a easy to use SIGMA Photo Pro 3.0 software, a RAW image developer that converts all RAW data quickly and easily. Also there are three separate adjustment modes, the X3F Mode, Auto Adjustment Mode and Custom Mode.

It features Image Sensor Dust Protector, that is intelligently placed away from the image sensor and there by prevents dust from entering and adhering to the image sensor. The Sigma SD14 features a continuous shooting speed of 3 frames per second and the new auto focus sensor features 5 focusing points (center, left, right, up and down) ensuring consistently fast and precise focusing. The durable focal plane shutter mechanism has life cycle of over 100,000 exposures. Other additional features include built-in flash, easy to use multifunction interface, mirror lock-up mechanism prevents camera shake and three types of metering mode. The accessories list include over 40 Sigma lenses such as ultra-wide, ultra-telephoto, macro, fisheye, the power grip (PG-21), cable release (CR-21), remote controller (RS-31) and the AC adaptor (SAC-21).

Website : Sigma Intros 14 megapixel SD14 DSLR With Foveon X3 Sensor

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced an update to the public beta of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom(tm) software at the Photokina tradeshow in Cologne, Germany. Available immediately for download from Adobe Labs, this update unites the product feature set for Windows® and Macintosh platforms, giving professional photographers a new way to import, manage and showcase large volumes of digital photographs. More than 325,000 people have opted to try Lightroom during the beta period and feedback has been fueled by over 3,400 of them sharing input in Adobe online forums. The final version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is expected to ship in early 2007.

Website : Adobe Lightroom product information

Website : Adobe Lightroom general discussion forum

Download : Download a free copy of Lightroom Beta (for Windows and Mac)

Website : Adobe Lightroom Review by Kim Dudley

Back in February 2006, Pentax announced the roadmap for the rest of 2006. Here’s the updated roadmap for the year 2007. Based on the roadmap, there will be 10 new lenses planned for release by Pentax in 2007. The PENTAX DA16-50mm F2.8ED AL is scheduled for release in March 2007. The PENTAX DA50-135mm F.8ED lens is schedule for March 2007. The PENTAX DA60-250 F4ED is scheduled for mid 2007. Other PENTAX lenses are DA 35mm, DA 55mm, DA 17-70mm, DFA 200mm, DFA 300mm, and DA 70-300mm.

Download: Pentax New Lens Release Roadmap in 2007 (in Acrobat)

Samsung today announced the launch of the 10.2 megapixel GX-10 digital SLR, which it says will be positioned firmly towards the “discerning enthusiast photographer searching for comprehensive functions, stunning design, ease of use and real value for money - all in one camera”. Samsung also announced the launch of five more lenses, that each would be released before the end of 2006 that will work with the new model and the company’s current DSLR, the GX-1 series.

The new model will feature a 2.5-inch TFT LCD (210k pixels) and built-in Optical Picture Stabilization (OPS) technology, support high sensitivity ISO 1600, offer TTL phase-matching 11 points wide AF and TTL open-aperture 16 segment metering system. The GX-10 come with a special water-proof and anti-dust coating to allow users to take photographs in difficult situations. Continuous shooting at 3 fps (frames per second); RAW files can be shot at the same speed up to 9 frames.

The GX-10 and lenses are expected to be available from October, with the price being announced at that time.

Samsung also announced that five kinds of lenses will be launched by the end of 2006: fish eye lens (fish eye 10-17mm F3.5-F4.5 ED), an ultra wide zoom lens (12-24mm F4 ED AL), a wide zoom lens (16-45mm F4 ED AL), a fixed focus lens (35mm F2 AL) and a macro lens (Macro 100mm F2.8). The lenses will also be compatible with the DSLRs launched by Samsung earlier in the year – the GX-1S and GX-1L, which were aimed towards the serious amateur photographer.

Website : Samsung launch 10.2 megapixel GX-10 DSLR digital camera

As it is the world’s smallest and lightest D-SLR*, the E-400 is sure to never become a burden. Within its extraordinarily tiny frame is a 10.0 million pixel CCD provides plenty of imaging power. This highly energy-efficient CCD features a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit that all but eradicates noise and is incredibly fast. It enables sequential shooting at up to 3fps with a five image RAW buffer in burst mode. Like every Olympus E-System camera, the E-400 is armed with a Supersonic Wave Filter which generates ultra-high-speed vibrations that literally shake off dust and other particles from the CCD. These are then captured on a special adhesive membrane to prevent recontamination.

For better results and improved handling, lenses based on the Four Thirds Standard feature near telecentric construction, which takes into account the specific technical characteristics and requirements of digital cameras. Two new Olympus Four Thirds lenses will be introduced with the E-400 at its launch: the EZ-1442 ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 (equiv. to 28-84mm on a 35mm camera), which is perfect for standard applications, and, for more magnification power there is the EZ-4015-2 ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 (equiv. to 80-300mm on a 35mm camera). Both lenses are exceptionally compact, for greater mobility and speedy use. They also offer maximum image quality at an excellent price and feature a stylish design with a blue ring in the middle – the new insignia for the Olympus E-System lens line-up.

The E-400 will be available from November 2006.

Website : Olympus E-400: World’s Smallest DSLR

Phase One®, the world leader in professional digital imaging solutions, releases version 3.7.5 version of Capture One® RAW workflow software. Capture One RAW workflow is one of the very first RAW workflow to offer RAW files support for new DSLR cameras such as Nikon®’s new flagship, the D2Xs, Nikon D80 and Canon® EOS 400D. RAW files from Leica®’s brand new digital rangefinder camera, the M8, Epson®’s R-D1s as well as Sony®’s first DSLR camera: the Alpha DSLR-A100 are also supported in Capture One 3.7.5.

The capture rate performance when shooting in RAW IIQ-L mode on Mac has improved. This performance enhancement allows professional photographers to maintain a high capture rate, which can be very useful at fashion shots. Phase One constantly improves the existing color profiles in Capture One. In Capture One 3.7.5 a range of new Easy Gray profiles has been included. These profiles are available for Phase One digital backs and are particularly useful for product shots as they create a consistency in neutral tones. Prices and availability Capture One 3.7.5 is free of charge for existing Capture One users.

Download: Capture One Version 3.7.5