As promised, Pentax have unleashed their latest DSLR, the 14.6-megapixel K-7. Pairing the new CMOS with the PRIME II imaging engine, the K-7 is also the first of the company’s DSLRs to support high-definition video recording. Where many rivals top out at 720p, the Pentax can climb all the way to 1,536 x 1,024 at 30fps (3:2 aspect; 16:9 720p is also supported), and has an HDMI output for easy viewing.
Video demo after the cut
NTT have developed a variable focus lens that they claim is 1,000x faster than existing technology. The lens is based on KTN (potassium tantalate niobate), an “electro-optic crystal” the refractive indices of which varies depending on how much voltage is applied across its surface. By adjusting the voltage, the focal length varies.
Typical macro lenses — normal to telephoto focus length range – usually have maximum aperture at F2.8 or slower, with the exception of Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm F2.0 ( Four Thirds lens) at one stop faster. Tamron has today announced the development of SP AF 60mm ƒ/2 Di II LD (IF) Macro 1:1. Like the Olympus, it’s a digitally optimized Macro lens featuring a bright maximum aperture of ƒ/2.0.
Here’s some love for Alpha shooters without breaking the bank likes the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*. Sigma Japan has revealed shipping date for A Mount version of 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM large fixed aperture zoom lens by end of this Month.
More Nikon Optics but made suitable for scientific researchers or Audubon naturalists. Like the stereoscopic microscope we reported last time, this high performance Nikon fieldscopes are compatible with Nikon’s DSLR and Coolpixs series digital cameras.
Sigma is having hard time to deliver the new 18-250mm F3.5-F6.3 DC OS HSM zoom lens. The EF mount was previously scheduled to hit the street of Akihabara in the mid February, but later pushed to March 15th and now we are looking at another month of postponement.
Having owned four 1.4x teleconverters for my birding outfit, I was excited to see a new candidate at PMA 2009. From previous report, we spotted a 3rd party battery grip for 5D Mark II at Meike booth, as well as a new a 1.4x TC available for both Nikon and Canon mounts. The design is closely resembling the Tamron SP or the kenko standard 1.4x TC; it doesn’t has a front element that’s sticking out from the mounting flange nor o-rings for weather seal, but definitely has slight edges in built quality.
Olympus has today announced a firmware update for its Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6, the Four Thirds System standard wide-angle zoom lens, to further improve ”IMAGER AF operation under certain conditions“.
To load the firmware, both camera and lens are required; for Olympus, update can be applied via the camera supplied software, while Panasonic user can obtain a firmware updater via Olympus website here.
Our mission at Canon’s booth while attending PMA 2009 was a failed epic. We’ve got the “hot on the heel” Panasonic’s GH1 video clips, Sigma’s newest 24-70mm IF DG HSM samples and Olympus E-620 high ISO test shots, but the permission to test on the World’s widest Tilt-n-shift TS-E 17mm f/4L was gracefully denied by Canon! So sorry folks, no sneak peek on the TS-E lenses, however we have Canon’s tech guru, Brian Matsumoto on video explaining the 17mm’s TS-E feature, briefly.
You want more choices of walk-a-round 24-70mm zooms with silent motors? Here’s your latest option, but it comes in at a slight higher premium cost that one would normally expect from a 3rd party lens maker like Sigma. Sigma’s new 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Autofocus Lens now incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) – a quieter and speedy AF – with full time manual focusing capability and much superior lens construction. At twice the cost of the previous model, ($1,400 retail, $900 street) does it warrant the upgrade? We dropped by Sigma during PMA 2009 to find out more.
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