When I first thought about the intro to today’s Photography News, I wanted to write something about how gloomy, dark, and cold it is outside all day. This morning, my hand literally froze to the door handle. But your perception of the world is likely to be quite different from mine. Am I right, dear Australians and South Africans, and all you people out there in the tropical heat right now?
So I’d better start in a different way. I’ll ask instead, what interesting things has life put in front of your lens this week? As for myself, I was very pleased to meet a wintering Long-Eared Owl the other day. Its eyes shone beautifully and complemented the color of the brown leaves in the tree.
Recent Announcements
- Pergear 14mm f/2.8 Ultra-Wide Angle Manual Lens: This 500g lens has an all-metal construction with 13 Elements in 9 Groups. The lens accepts conventional 82mm diameter filters. For Canon EOS-R, Sony E, Nikon Z, and L-Mount cameras. Early bird price with 10% discount is now $269.
- AstrHori 85mm f/1.8 Autofocus Lens: A new portrait lens for Sony E-mount. The optical design includes nine elements in eight groups covered with multi-layer coatings. The aperture has nine blades, and the minimum focusing distance is 0.8m. Priced at $276.
- Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 ASPH Power OIS: A Micro Four Thirds zoom with a 24-70mm full-frame equivalent range. Optical design includes 14 elements in 9 groups. Lens surfaces are coated with Nano Surface Coating. The lens is stabilized and water/dust resistant. The weight is 306 g, and the filter diameter is 58mm. Pre-order at B&H for $899.
- Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D lens: Manual lens with minimal distortion, 110° angle of view (15mm full-frame equivalent), designed for Fujifilm GFX camera systems. Includes 12 elements in 10 groups. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.18m, a 77mm filter diameter, an unusual five-blade aperture diaphragm, and a weight of 546 g. Priced at $999.
The Rumor Mill
The long-awaited Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens is coming
It seems that the lens itself has not been released yet – but its warranty cards have been. On Nikon Rumors, cases are starting to appear that a customer bought a 35mm lens but got a warranty card for it marked as “Z 85/1.2 S”. A truly original way to stir up the stagnant waters of the internet. For reference, the existing Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S was $2096.95 at the time of its launch. I’m going to stake my prediction at $2336.95 for this one.
Canon has patented a 200-500mm f/4 zoom with built-in 1.4x extender
Canon, along with Nikon and Olympus, already has a lens with a built-in teleconverter – namely, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x. However, it’s an EF-mount lens. If this patent ever becomes reality (and they often don’t), that lens’s RF-mount successor may get an additional 100mm at the long end.
Via Canon Rumors
New 19MP full-frame sensor with global shutter from Canon
At the moment, this sensor is only expected to be used in industrial or security applications. But development is moving forward, and fast action photographers would surely be fans of a global shutter, even with a relatively low 19 MP resolution.
What are the benefits of a global shutter sensor? Since the sensor reads an entire image area in one short instant, rolling shutter is eliminated. Likewise, the shutter synchronisation time for flash photography can be forgotten. Finally, it would be possible to forget about the mechanical shutter completely, as with the Nikon Z9. It looks like a global shutter sensor is a thing of the near future.
Via PetaPixel
Photo Contest Corner
- Topic: portrait, people, nudes, black and white, fashion, fine art, self-portrait
- Fees: 1 image: $24.50 (discounts for multiple entries)
- Prize: Vacation in Cappadocia and Turkish Riviera, cash from $200 to $500 and other prices.
- Deadline: December 28
The Antwerp University & Panathlon International Photo Contest
- Topic: Sports
- Fees: Free
- Prize: First place € 500, second place € 200, third place € 100
- Deadline: December 31
- Topic: Nudes
- Fees: €45 (3 images) to €75 (12 images)
- Prize: The winner of the competition will receive the title of Photographer of the Year and a cash prize
- Deadline: December 31
Good Deals and New Sales
In many places around the world, the Christmas holidays will culminate next week. If you’re waiting until the last minute to buy gifts, you can find inspiration from Spencer’s article The Best Gifts for Photographers.
A few things caught my eye from the current selection of photography deals, so maybe I’ll inspire you, too. For $2,099 (was $2,499), you can now get the Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera, optionally also in a kit with the 24-105mm f/4-7.1 or 24-105mm f/4 lenses.
Sticking with Canon, the EOS R10 is currently available for $200 less than usual for the first time. That puts the price at a very reasonable $779.
Do you know what the best tripod is? The one you have with you. (Or a RRS/Gitzo/etc. carbon fiber beast.) Anyway, this 1.06 kg Gitzo Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber won’t slow you down, and its stability is enough for shooting with lenses of common focal lengths. Now $130 off at $400.
Don’t forget, the best gift is an experience! Give yourself, or someone you love, a photography workshop through Photography Life (yes, a bit of self-promotion today :). We offer destinations with a taste of adventure – one in Jordan, and one in Ecaudor/The Galapagos Islands! Both workshops are limited to five participants each, and we’ve already had a few signups, so they’ll be gone soon.
Other Pages of Interest
Have you ever tried to change the lens on your Nikon Z9 and it didn’t work? The fault may not have been in your skill, but in the locking mechanism of the lens mount. On this page, you can check by serial number to see if you are eligible for a free repair at an authorized service center.
Nowadays, the vast majority of all animals on Earth are raised by humans. Over 70% of the birds on this planet are chickens. Over 60% of mammals are human-raised livestock. It might seem that there’s a great coexistence between people and animals. The documentary photographs by Jo-Anne McArthur will surely take you out of this illusion.
Finally, let’s take a look at the beautiful, but vanishing, world of wild nature. The winning images are stunning from this year’s Nature Photographer of the Year competition. Looking at them makes me want to go out with my camera in hand. Here in the northern hemisphere, the daylight will be increasing starting next week. I hope that for you, that light – whether it’s about to increase or decrease – will be beautiful!
VueScan software is on sale now – 50% discount.
www.hamrick.com/purch…escan.html
Got any rumors, or rumors about rumors, about Nikon Z8s?
Unfortunately, I don’t know anything specific yet. The Z8 is still shrouded in mystery.
If Canon brings this 200-500 f4 to life and Nikon keeps building just the high-end lineup of their lenses I am thinking about to switch. Wildlife and Nature photographer on a tight budget are waiting for the Nikon 200-600 for ages by now….
I am afraid Tobias that if the 200-500mm f/4 ever actually becomes a reality it will be quite expensive. The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L lens costs $11,099, so a 100mm longer version on the new mount will definitely be noticeably more expensive. Nikon 200-600mm will come. I believe it will be next year.
I would not be surprised to see Canon 200-500 TC from canon to be around 20k$.
It is quite promising that Sigma are now being reported to be producing a Z Mount 60-600mm.
Firstly, All bases of Telephoto Zoom covered in one unit.
Secondly, The Z System does seem to get the best out of a lens, and Sigma have done very well with certain F Mount Zooms and Prime Models.
The Sigma Z has a lot of potential.
Thirdly, The Sigma Brand are hopefully not going to turn down the option to produce a Built In TC Model. The Market is just screaming out for affordable versions of this type of design.
You’re right John, the demand for lenses of this type is incredibly high. To the point where Nikon can’t even cover the demand for their most expensive telephoto lenses. I’m a little worried that Nikon is comfortable with this situation. There are plenty of people who would be happy with a 200-600 type lens. When that option is not available, they bite the bullet and buy the multiply more expensive 400/2.8 or 600/4. Assuming they can get one. Sigma could bring some fresh wind to this. Then even Nikon couldn’t stay behind. Built-in TC in the Sigma? That may be too much optimism, but who knows?
I can’t find anything to fault with Sigma, the Company has a history of supplying lenses that are more that adequate to take the Place of a Camera Brands own Lenses.
There are lenses supplied by Sigma that have Superseded the use of a Lens in a die hard Nikon users arsenal of owned Nikon Lenses.
Sigma on a Z System is yet to be tested, but I will be feeling very confident for them.
Look at the reports on the usually obscure Third Party Brands Z Lenses and the positive reports on the VFM when in use.
Does the Z System or Mirrorless in general eek out that little bit more of a X Factor for the IQ.
As said, A Built-In TC, this is put out there as a wish list item.
It is already proven to be available at a fairer cost from other Competitors.
Olympus has already produced a Zoom –
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F/4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO Lens, at a retail of $7000
Imagine a 60 – 600mm with a Built In TC that was a flick of a Button Inception at a certain operation of the Zoom Range, even a 1.25TC at the 500-600mm – F5.6 – F6.3 is very attractive at F8 when engaged.
Even more attractive if considerably more affordable that other Brands offerings for a Camera Body of choice.