Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF officially announced

Tokina opera 50mm f/1.4
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Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
  • Ring-Shaped Ultrasonic AF Motor
  • Electric Diaphragm Mechanism
  • Weather-Sealed Construction

Tokina announced the Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF lens for full frame DSLRs.

The Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is not available for pre-order right now, but B&H Photo notifies you when it is. The new Tokina lens is expected to be release to the general public Summer 2018. It will be on display at CP+.

Tokina press release:

KENKO TOKINA CO., LTD. IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW TOKINA OPERA 50MM F1.4 FF, A PREMIUM FULL-FRAME LENS FOR HIGH-END DSLR CAMERAS

Overview

About opera series

With the debut of opera 50mm F1.4 FF we are launching a new series of next generation premium full-frame lenses for high-end DSLR cameras called “opera” series.

Opera series is designed to perfectly match recent high-spec full-frame DSLR cameras, which keep requiring high quality optics to be used with. In addition to originally high-valued Tokina AT-X series, this new opera series is positioned as top premium series of full-frame size lenses and will be further expanded with other lenses of related specifications and performance.

In modern society the word “opera” is commonly used to express general genres of stage art. In Italian it means work or work of art. As an omitted art genre definition opera comes from “opera musicale” that means a piece of music work. In Latin opera comes from “opus” and in contemporary language “magnum opus”, “opera magna” still has a meaning of “great literary, artistic or intellectual work”. We chose the name “opera” for a new premium full-frame DSLR lens series thinking of a lens that will help photographer in creating real “work of art”.

About the product

The debuting premium full-frame lens for high-end DSLR cameras in opera series is 50mm F1.4 FF (FF – Full-Frame). Designed for full-frame format DSLR cameras, opera 50mm F1.4 FF adopts a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor for autofocus drive module. Weather sealing prevents from dust and moisture to come inside the lens body. For the first time in Tokina line up Nikon mount model incorporates an electric diaphragm mechanism. The direction of the focus ring rotation fits the genuine Nikon and Canon lens.

Mounts: Nikon F, Canon EF Sensor size: full-frame format

Mounts: Nikon F, Canon EF
Sensor size: full frame format

About sales release:
Sales release: Summer 2018

A prototype of Tokina opera 50mm F1.4 FF will be displayed at CP+2018 Kenko Tokina booth location: Exhibition Hall(1F), booth # G-57

Canon to invest $4.69M to grow lettuce in automated factories

canon rumors

Next step in Canon’s bid to conquer automatised indoor gardening (no, it’s not pot).

Nikkei Asian Review reports:

TOKYO — The Canon group and a cross section of other Japanese companies are teaming up to grow leafy greens in factories.

About 10 investors will provide funding to Vitec Vegetable Factory, a farming arm of electronics trader Vitec Holdings. Canon Electronics, a unit of the office equipment maker, and Ryonetsu Kogyou, an electronics supplier, will each provide about 10% of the money, or around 500 million yen ($4.69 million).

The Development Bank of Japan will contribute about 4% of the funding.

Vitec Vegetable Factory currently runs three plants in Japan. Under a new business plan that takes effect in April, it intends to have eight factories for lettuce, kale and other leafy vegetables running by the end of the fiscal year through March 2021.

Canon Electronics will provide automated systems for seeding, harvesting and shipping to Vitec’s vegetable unit. This will be Canon’s first time sharing its automation technology with an outside party. The company hopes to soak up more farming expertise that it can later use on its own.

One of the locations, in the central prefecture of Ishikawa, is expected to be capable of producing 4,400 tons of leafy vegetables a year, or 120,000 pieces a day. This would make it Japan’s largest facility of its kind.

[via NAR]

Off Brand News: Sony announce new Sony α7 III

canon eos r6 vs Sony α7 III
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Sony α7 III at a glance:

  • 24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
  • BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
  • 693-Point AF System & 10 fps Shooting
  • UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
  • 2.36m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF
  • 3.0″ 922k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
  • ISO 204800 & Pixel Shift Multi Shooting
  • Built-In Wi-Fi and NFC, Dual SD Slots
  • USB Type-C Port, Weather-Sealed Design

Pre-order the Sony α7 III at B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Sony press release:

Sony Expands Full-frame Mirrorless Lineup with Introduction of New α7 III Camera
Versatile New Model Combines all the Latest Imaging Technologies into a Compact Package

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 26, 2018 – Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced yet another impressive addition to their full-frame mirrorless camera lineup, the α7 III (model ILCE-7M3).

Sony’s unmatched innovation within the image sensor space is at the forefront of the new α7 III, as it features a brand new 24.2MPi back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor with increased sensitivity, outstanding resolution and an impressive 15 stopsii of dynamic range at low sensitivities. By combining this sensor with a variety of impressive features including extreme AF coverage of 93%, fast shooting at up to 10 fpsiii with either mechanical shutter or silent shootingiv, diverse 4Kvi video capabilities and more, Sony has created a new tool that gives all types of creators – from enthusiast to professional – the ability to capture content in new and different ways than they ever have before.

“We are continually pushing to deliver more for our customers – more versatility, more functionality and most importantly, more innovation,” said Neal Manowitz, Vice President of Digital Imaging for Sony Electronics. “With the new α7 III, we’ve taken many of our newest and most advanced imaging technologies from the acclaimed α9 and α7R III models and paired them with an all-new 24.2 MP back-illuminated sensor to deliver the ultimate full-frame camera for enthusiasts, hobbyists and professionals alike. It’s a camera that punches far above its weight class in every capacity. Combined with our impressive selection of 26 native full-frame E-mount lenses, it provides a level of performance that is simply unmatched in the industry.”

Click here to open the rest of the article

The Canon EOS M50 is a “strategic model”, Canon exec states

Canon eos m50 mark ii
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Canon released some statements about the new EOS M50 (canon rumors), and about the company’s future mirrorless plans. Masahiro Sakata, president of Canon group member Canon Marketing Japan, gives some insights in Canon’s mirrorless strategy.

When asked about a possible high-end mirrorless camera, Mr. Sakata said “we will look at the timing and consider it”.

Excerpts from Nikkei Asian Review report:

TOKYO — Canon will shift more of its focus to mirrorless cameras, a change in strategy spurred by sharp growth in the market.

The company boasts a commanding share of the global single-lens reflex market but was reluctant to enter the mirrorless field over concerns about cannibalizing SLR sales.

Canon said Monday that it will release an entry-level mirrorless camera next month. The product is positioned as “a strategic model” for mirrorless cameras, according to Masahiro Sakata […]

Canon hopes that the new product will attract demand from families, including mothers who enjoy taking pictures of their children.

[…]

With mirrorless cameras rapidly gaining popularity and rivals like Sony breaking into SLRs, Canon decided it must “actively roll out products for a growth market even if there is some cannibalization,” Sakata said.

[…]

The company is making efforts “to be able to respond to customer needs in any region by offering both SLR and mirrorless cameras,” said Go Tokura, a Canon executive officer.

Read the report at Nikkei Asian Review.

The Canon EOS M50 was announced yesterday, and it is Canon’s first mirrorless camera to do 4K video. For hands-on videos and more information on the EOS M50 click here.

Pre-order Canon EOS M50 in USA & CANADA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Pre-order Canon EOS M50 in UK: Park Cameras | Canon UK | Wex Photo Video | Amazon UK

Pre-order Canon EOS M50 in GERMANY: Canon Germany | Wex Photo Video

Pre-order the Canon EOS M50 in ITALY: Canon Italia

SIGMA 70mm F/2.8 DG MACRO ART lens development announcement

sigma 70mm f/2.8
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Release date and price of the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 are not known yet.

Development announcement of SIGMA 70mm F/2.8 DG MACRO | Art

The SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the development of the first macro lens in the Art line, SIGMA 70mm F/2.8 DG MACRO | Art.

In recent years, macro lenses in the standard range have tended to employ inner focusing with the goal of maximizing autofocus speed. In contrast, the new SIGMA 70mm F/2.8 DG MACRO | Art lens is designed to prioritize optical performance, fulfilling the demanding image quality requirements that define the Art line. In the standard to mid-telephoto range, it delivers stunning resolution and incredible clarity that greatly exceed expectations for a macro lens. The coreless DC motor further enhances image quality, while an optimized algorithm helps offer extremely smooth autofocus performance for a weightier, high-performance lens. Photography enthusiasts will recall a certain legendary, razor-sharp macro lens—the SIGMA MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG—and be glad to learn it is available in a new form, updated with outstanding Art line quality.

SIGMA 105mm F/1.4 DG HSM ART development announcement

Sigma 105mm f/1.4
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Release date and price of the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 are not known yet.

Sigma press release:

Development announcement of SIGMA 105mm F/1.4 DG HSM | Art

The SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the development of the SIGMA 105mm F/1.4 DG HSM | Art, the longest focal length of the F1.4 Art series.

Since introducing its first SIGMA Global Vision F/1.4 lens in 2012, the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, SIGMA has been adding wide-aperture F1.4 options to the lineup. Now, with the introduction of the new 105mm F/1.4 DG HSM | Art, SIGMA offers a total of nine lenses with F1.4 brightness, including six for full-frame cameras and three for APS-C cameras. SIGMA has designed all of these lenses to offer minimal optical aberration and deliver incredible resolution and stunning contrast. Boasting the longest focal length of the F1.4 Art line lenses, the new lens combines outstanding resolution with a beautiful bokeh effect. Designed with great care to ensure that both the in-focus and out-of-focus areas of the photograph are equally satisfying to the eye, this lens is truly a “bokeh master.” The SIGMA 105mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art has earned its place as the flagship of the F1.4 Art line lenses, prioritizing image quality above all to fulfill the promise of the line, delivering truly amazing optical performance.