Announced: Petzval 55mm f/1.7 MKII Lens for Canon EOS R (and other FF MILCs)

Petzval 55mm

Lomography announced the Petzval 55mm f/1.7 MKII lens for Canon EOS R, Nikon Z and Sony E full frame mirrorless systems. The Petzval 55mm f/1.7 MKII will go on sale starting at $399.

Press release:

New Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 MKII Brass

Sporting a solid, satin-finished exterior, the Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 is sure to turn heads and keep them turned for years to come. Available with Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts!

The First Petzval Designed for Mirrorless
We are introducing the first Petzval Art Lens built specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Coming standard with mounts for Canon RF, Nikon Z and Sony E – the New Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 has been streamlined with a robust, modern build quality and requires no pesky adaptors.

Petzval 55mm

Dual Aperture System
The brass edition features an 8-blade diaphragm aperture system regulated by a control knob, providing it with both authenticity and a vintage feel. On top it hosts a classic waterhouse aperture system allowing to tweak the bokeh with exceptional shapes.

Engineered Harmony
Featuring a new bokeh control ring, improved optic design and dual aperture system – you can manually manipulate your shots to achieve any desired style. The New Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 offers reliability and top-tier professional quality without sacrificing its vintage styling.

A Tribute to Joseph Petzval’s Legacy
Preserving the vintage quality and feel while boasting the uniformity and compatibility of present-day technology, we’ve combined the legendary 180 year old aesthetic with the dependability of today’s lenses.

Improved Bokeh Control – Deliciously Dreamy to Strikingly Sharp
Rather than changing the aperture to modify the bokeh effect, the New Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 includes a dedicated bokeh control ring – an improvement that gives this lens more flexibility than any other traditional lens.

Rest-assured with the New Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 brass edition, you will be in possession of an art lens of the highest quality. Known for their robustness and durability, brass lenses are sought-after for the classic aesthetic they embody. The Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 brass edition is no exception – sporting a solid, satin-finished exterior, it’s sure to turn heads and keep them turned for years to come.

Along with classic brass, the Petzval 55 mm f/1.7 comes in a brass coated with a sleek, painted-black finish, as well as the modern looking, black-anodized aluminum edition. All finishes are compatible with Canon RF, Nikon Z and Sony E mounts, be sure to choose the option that fits your equipment.

Latest Canon Patent Applications (celestial AF, improved viewfinder, IS on tilt-shift, telephoto)

Canon Patent

US Patent Application 20490158760 discusses how to get better autofocus performance when picturing objects in the sky, like the moon.

In recent years, the number of pixels in image capturing apparatuses such as cameras and videos has increased, a slight defocus state of an image has become conspicuous and, more precise focusing is desired. This is the same in shooting an image of celestial bodies (stars, moon, and so forth) in the night sky. 

Focusing on celestial bodies is performed by calculating a focus position at which an area represented by high brightness signals is strictly minimized when regarding each celestial body as a point light source. As stars and the moon which are subjects in astrophotography at night are located substantially at infinity and there are specific exposure settings for astrophotography, there is an independent shooting mode for astrophotography different from other scene modes. Hereinafter, a mode for shooting the moon as the main subject is referred to as a “moon shooting mode”. 

Normally, the focus position at which an object located substantially at infinity is in focus is uniquely determined by performing infinite focus adjustment in individual image capturing apparatus. However, due to a difference between temperature at a time of the infinite focus adjustment and temperature of the image capturing apparatus at a time of actually shooting a celestial body, a difference in posture, and so forth, the focus may shift during shooting. For this reason, it is necessary to often adjust focus even during shooting a celestial body whose distance from the image capturing apparatus does not substantially change during shooting. 


Japan Patent Application 2019-078959 describes am improved viewfinder which improves on aberrations and magnification while maintaining a long eyepoint.

[…] the focal length of the eyepiece is about 65 mm, and the finder magnification is about 0.8 or less when the standard lens with a focal length of 50 mm is mounted as a photographing lens. 
Therefore, in a camera using a so-called APS-C size sensor in which the size of the image circle is smaller than a 35 mm film, the finder image becomes smaller than the conventional silver halide film camera. 
Further, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, although the finder magnification is as high as about 1 time, it is difficult to sufficiently correct axial chromatic aberration and lateral chromatic aberration. 
Therefore, an object of the present invention, while increasing the magnification while maintaining high optical performance, is to provide a finder optical system capable of ensuring long eye point. 


Japan Patent Application 2019-078903 describes how to implement an image stabilisation system on a tilt-shift lens while also lowering the power consumption.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens apparatus capable of reducing the power consumption while being able to shoot under an eyebrow and correct the shake, and an image pickup apparatus using the same. 
To achieve the above object, a lens device of the present invention, 
  – an optical system comprising a plurality of lenses, 
  – the shake correction lens of the plurality of lenses the optical system A – driving unit for moving in a direction crossing the optical axis;

A tilt unit for tilting the optical system and a control unit for controlling the drive unit are provided, and the control unit is configured to make the tilt amount of the optical system generated by the tilt unit smaller than a predetermined tilt amount. When the first tilt amount and the shake amount applied to the optical system are the first shake amount larger than a predetermined shake amount, the shake correction lens is in a direction crossing the optical axis. The drive unit is controlled to move in a direction intersecting the optical axis with a first drive amount smaller than the maximum drive amount of the shake correction lens 
  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus using the lens apparatus and which capable of reducing power consumption as well as a possible tilt shooting and shake correction . 


Japan Patent Application 2019-078948 describes various optical formulas for telephoto lenses and how to reduce chromatic aberrations.

  • focal length 392.55 
  • f-number 2.90 
  • half angle of view 3.15 
  • image height 21.64 
  • total lens length 372.00 
  • BF 60.70 
  • focal length 292.46 
  • f-number 2.90 
  • half angle of view 4.23 
  • image height 21.64 
  • lens total length 273.98 
  • BF 62.03 
  • focal length 488.82 
  • F number 4.10 
  • half angle of view 2.53 
  • image height 21.64 
  • lens total length 411.90 
  • BF 71.62 
  • focal length 778.70 
  • F number 5.83
  • Half angle of view 1.59 
  • image height 21.64 
  • lens total length 486.03 
  • BF 71.54

US Patent Application 20190155003 describes optical formulas for more telephoto lenses. As with the previous patent application, here too reduction of chromatic aberrations is discussed.

In an ultra-telephoto lens, generally, the longer the focal length, the more axial chromatic aberration or magnification chromatic aberration occurs. As a technique for excellently correcting these types of chromatic aberration, a technique for increasing the number of lenses placed on an object side and causing the lenses to share the action of correcting chromatic aberration is known. However, the effective diameter of a lens placed on the object side of the ultra-telephoto lens is likely to be large. Thus, if an attempt is made to correct chromatic aberration by the above technique, the weight of an imaging optical system increases. 

Industry News: Fujifilm GXF 100 Announced, A Game-Changing Medium Format MILC With 102MP

Fujifilm GXF 100

Fujifilm GFX 100 at a glance:

  • 102MP 43.8 x 32.9mm BSI CMOS Sensor
  • X Processor 4 Image Processor
  • Removable 5.76m-Dot OLED EVF
  • 3.2″ 2.36m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • DCI 4K30 Video; F-Log Gamma & 10-Bit Out
  • 5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
  • 2.16m-Point Phase-Detection Autofocus
  • ISO 100-12800, Up to 5 fps Shooting
  • 16-Bit Raw Output, Multi Aspect Ratios
  • Built-In Battery Grip, 2 x SD Card Slots

Fuji film announced the Fujifilm GFX 100, a medium format mirrorless camera sporting a 102MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor.

You can pre-order the Fujifilm GFX 100 for $9,999 at B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Park Cameras UK

Press release:

Fujifilm launches innovative mirrorless digital camera FUJIFILM GFX 100

  • Equipped with the large format sensor with the world’s highest 102 million pixels resolution
  • Offering fast / accurate autofocus, in-body image stabilization and 4K video capability
  • Capturing and recording precious moments at world-leading image quality

Tokyo, May 23, 2019 — FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) is pleased to announce the release of the FUJIFILM GFX 100 mirrorless digital camera (“GFX100”) in late June 2019, incorporating an image sensor with the world’s highest* 102 million pixels resolution and unique color reproduction technology to achieve the world-leading image quality.

The Fujifilm GFX 100 is a flagship model of the GFX Series of mirrorless digital cameras, which have won strong praise from professional photographers and photo enthusiasts alike for the use of a large image sensor, boasting approximately 1.7 times the size of the 35mm full-frame sensor. Among digital cameras equipped with a sensor larger than the 35mm full-frame format, this is the world’s first** model that offers (1) a back-illuminated sensor with phase detection pixels, (2) in-body image stabilization (IBIS) mechanism and (3) 4K/30P video recording capability. The innovative mirrorless digital camera fulfills photography’s intrinsic mission of “capturing and recording precious moments that are never to be repeated again.”

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BCN Trends Show Sony Losing Market in Japan, Canon Steady, Nikon Gaining

Sony

BCN data for the full frame mirrorless market in Japan (April 2019) shows how Sony is slowly losing market shares in favour Nikon while Canon remains steady.

The five top ranking cameras are:

  1. Sony a7III
  2. Canon EOS RP
  3. Canon EOS R
  4. Nikon Z 6
  5. Sony a7II

Guess Sony will lose even more market shares in the next months. Besides Canon and Nikon’s offerings there is also stiff competition coming from the L-Mount front.

sony

Three New Canon RF Lenses Coming Early 2020 (24mm/1.4, 135mm/1.8, macro)

Canon RF 85mm

While we are still waiting for Canon to release five Canon RF lenses they already announced, the rumor mill already has new RF lenses suggestions in the pipeline.

It’s suggested Canon might announced three new lenses for the Canon EOS R system in early 2020. Among them there might be an RF 24mm f/1.4L and an RF 135 f/1.8L (the latter was just revealed through a patent a few days ago). The third one is said to be an undisclosed macro lens that will be the “first of its kind macro lenses”. Aren’t all unreleased lenses undisclosed?

All three RF lenses might be announced before CP+ 2020, which happens at the end of February.

We are a bit puzzled because of the many rumors about RF mount lenses we get in our inbox and others are reporting. Some of these rumors are contradicting, others just nonsense. There is another rumor suggesting there are eight new RF lenses on Canon’s agenda.

It can be taken for granted that Canon is building a solid lens ecosystem for the Canon EOS R. All these RF lens rumors are just suggesting RF mount versions of the most popular (and used) lenses in the full frame DSLR world. Without any crystal ball or magic intuitive skills, it’s to expect that Canon will sooner or later release all those lenses murmured on rumor outlets. No real surprises here to expect.

Stay tuned.

Source: Canon Rumors

Peak Design Announced a Travel Tripod That’s Incredibly Compact

Peak Design Travel Tripod

Peak Design release a new, travel oriented tripod which is surprisingly compact.

You can pre-order the Peak Design Travel Tripod at Kickstarter.

Key Design Features

  1. Spatial efficiency: Peak Design engineers reworked Travel Tripod’s legs and center column to nest perfectly together in order to achieve a total packed diameter of just 3.25 inches—roughly the diameter of a water bottle. The result is a tripod that deploys to 58.5 inches tall while taking up less than half the volume of its competitors.
  2. Redesigned ball head: Travel Tripod ball head operates more fluidly than traditional tripod heads while still prioritizing spatial efficiency. By utilizing a single adjustment ring Peak Design was able to eliminates bulky and confusing knobs. This not only improves user experience but helps the Travel Tripod maintain its compact diameter from tip to toe. 
  3. Rapid deployment: Peak Design developed a system of non-inverted legs that rapidly deploy along an aligned system of locking cam levers. With three swift hand movements, the legs can be fully extended and ready for action.
  4. Available in carbon fiber + aluminum alloy legs: carbon (2.81lbs – msrp: $599) aluminum alloy (3.44lbs – msrp $349)
peak design

Press release:

Peak Design Unveils The Next Generation of Camera TripodsNew Travel Tripod Promises to Redefine Product Category for Years to Come

San Francisco, CA (May, 2019) – After multiple award-winning bag releases, Peak Design, the worldwide leader in crowdfunding and everyday carry solutions, is proud to disrupt yet another product category—the camera tripod.More than four years in the making, Peak Design’s newest release, Travel Tripod, is a ground-up reexamination ofcamera tripod design to produce the world’s most portable, packable, and easy-to-setup tripod for professionals and first-time tripod owners alike.

Peak Design directly addressed their biggest rub about traditional tripods: spatial inefficiency and unnecessary bulk.Peak Design’s goal was to eliminate the dead space within a tripod, an ever-present inefficiency that often doubles ortriples the effective diameter of a packed tripod. Peak Design engineers reworked Travel Tripod’s legs and centercolumn to nest perfectly together in order to achieve a total packed diameter of just 3.25 inches—roughly the diameter of a water bottle. The result is a tripod that deploys to 58.5 inches tall while taking up less than half the volume of its competitors.

“During my travels in 2008 I began wondering why on Earth my tripod was so big. The thing was full of negativespace and knobs, and I felt like something designed for portability could do much better,” commented Peak Design CEO, Peter Dering. “I quickly realized that anything short of a complete design overhaul would fail to meet my criteriaof the perfect travel tripod. It took years of development but the outcome is a camera tripod that seamlessly integratesinto all aspects of travel and adventure.”

Travel Tripod is among the quickest-to-deploy and most intuitive to use tripods on the market. Peak Design developed a system of non-inverted legs that rapidly deploy along an aligned system of locking cam levers. With three swift hand movements, the legs can be fully extended and ready for action.

Peak Design also optimized the Travel Tripod ball head to operate more fluidly than traditional tripod heads while still prioritizing spatial efficiency. Travel Tripod eliminates bulky and confusing knobs with a single adjustment ring for simple and smooth 360-degree adjustment. Peak Design’s proprietary quick-release plate technology facilitates lightning-fast camera attachment—easily accommodating a full frame DSLR with telephoto lens—and is compatible with Peak Design carrying equipment and with Arca Swiss tripod dimensions. Furthermore, Travel Tripod’s ball head measures just 3.25 inches in diameter, keeping it aligned with the packed profile of the tripod’s legs for exceptionallycompact carry.

In addition to a thorough rethinking of a tripod’s architecture and user interface, carefully considered material choices and construction techniques provide the stability and vibration dampening demanded by avid photographers. A built- in universal phone mount, bubble-level, hook for counterweights, and included soft case round out a packed feature list that fans of Peak Design have come to expect.

Available both in carbon fiber and aluminum legs (MSRP: $599.95 // $349.95) the Travel Tripod will launch on Kickstarter (peakdesign.com/ks) for a pre-sale discount beginning May 21, 2019. The tripod will then be available for purchase online at peakdesign.com and through major retailers in time for the 2019 holiday season.