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Posts Tagged ‘Optics’

Cooke Optics to offer miniS4/I lens range in mounts for DSLR and mirrorless cameras

06 Sep

UK lens manufacturer Cooke Optics has announced that it is to produce a much wider range of mounts for its compact miniS4/i family of lenses to allow access for DSLR and mirrorless camera owners. From October the lenses will be available in mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E and Micro Four Thirds systems, as well as the normal PL mount for movie cameras. In addition the company will offer the new mounts on their own for existing miniS4/i lens owners who will be able to switch the fittings themselves.

The Cooke miniS4/i series is designed to offer movie makers a smaller, lighter alternative to the company’s S4/i lenses through the use of a T2.8 maximum aperture instead of the T2 opening of the S4/i range. There are ten prime lenses in the series ranging from 18mm to 135mm, and each is capable of covering a Super 35mm frame.

Although the miniS4/i series is considered to be a cost-effective alternative to the company’s larger lenses, a set of all ten costs around $ 69,500 while the individual lenses are priced at about $ 7300 each. The price of the individual mounts has yet to be announced.

For more information see the Cooke Optics website.

Press release

Cooke Optics introduces multiple mounts for miniS4/i lens range

Users of Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E and micro 4/3 cameras now have access to the Cooke Look

Leicester, UK- Cooke Optics, the multi-award winning manufacturer of precision lenses for film and television, is pleased to announce that it is introducing multiple mounts for its acclaimed miniS4/i lenses, enabling more cameras and productions to benefit from the ‘Cooke Look®’. The new mounts, including Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E and micro 4/3, will be available to view at IBC 2016 on Stand 12.D10 and will ship from October 2016.

A single mount will fit every focal length lens in the miniS4/i series. For existing miniS4/i lenses, users can simply unbolt the PL mount that comes as standard, bolt on the replacement mount, and shim as required. The mounts can be used on any miniS4/i lens, regardless of delivery date. For new miniS4/i deliveries, starting from October 2016, the lenses will be available with the mount of choice from the factory. The mounts are designed for the MIRRORless cameras.

Les Zellan, Chairman and Owner, Cooke Optics, said, “The miniS4/i lenses are steadily gaining popularity for many genres of production, since they have all the coveted attributes of Cooke prime lenses in a smaller, lighter and more affordable form. With the introduction of these interchangeable mounts, we can now bring the Cooke Look to many more cameras and productions, giving even more choice to directors of photography.”

miniS4/i lenses were recently used to shoot the popular UK TV drama Midsomer Murders and the Spanish feature film El Pregon.

Cooke will also show the new 35-140mm Anamorphic/i zoom lens at IBC 2016, alongside a variety of Anamorphic/i, 5/i, S4/i and miniS4/i lenses.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Venus Optics to launch ‘world’s widest F2.8 rectilinear lens’

26 Jul

Chinese optical manufacturer Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited, or Venus Optics, is preparing to introduce a 12mm lens that it claims will be the world’s widest F2.8 lens with fully corrected distortion. Going under the Laowa brand name the lens will be called Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D and will be officially announced on July 30th via a Kickstarter campaign.

Venus Optics says that the lens has almost no distortion, hence the ‘Zero-D’ in the name, and has loaned a test unit to a blogger Nicky Bay who has a preview with images on his website. The lens will be manual focus only, will feature an aperture range of F2.8 to F22 and is due to have a seven-bladed iris with clicking stops. The company is also said to be launching a Magic Shift adapter, according to Bay, that allows +/-10mm of shift while converting the lens to a 17mm focal length. The converter will be for Sony E-mount users only.

Specification published on the Laowa Facebook page.

Of course, this isn’t the world’s first rectilinear 12mm with a fast aperture, as F2 and F1.4 12mm lenses exist for the Micro Four Thirds system, and there are Zeiss F2.8 and F2 Samyang 12mm lenses for APS-C sensors, but this lens is designed for full-frame cameras.

The lens, which will be made in Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Sony E and Pentax K mounts, is expected to retail at $ 949, but supporters of the Kickstarter campaign will be able to get one from $ 649. The Magic Shift will cost $ 300 and a square filter adapter will be $ 50.

For more information on Venus Optics see the company website. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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New glassless ‘metalens’ is 100,000X thinner than conventional optics

07 Jun

A team at Harvard University has designed a ‘metalens’, around 100,000 times thinner than an equivalent glass lens. Constructed from titanium dioxide ‘nanofins’, the lens is a mere 600 nanometers thick, and can focus features smaller than the wavelength of the light it is imaging, thanks to its very high numerical aperture that allows it to focus light into a spot smaller than the wavelength of light being imaged. Senior author Federico Capasso and his fellow researchers successfully imaged structures 400nm in size, which is on the order of the bluest light in the visible spectrum. That suggests the tech is essentially diffraction-limited: resolving small structures as well as one ever theoretically could using visible light.

An electron microscopic view of the titanium dioxide metamaterial lens, created by engineers at Harvard University. These TiO2 towers are only 600nm in length, yet can image features traditional microscopes require lenses 6cm in length – 100,000 longer – to image. And apparently do so 30% better.

John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences/Harvard University

This is the first planar lens that works in the visible spectrum. The nanofins (shown above) are constructed using similar lithographic processes used to fabricate computer chips, and mounted on a thin layer of transparent quartz. The fins are made of titanium dioxide because it is clear, and interacts strongly with visible light. Each fin is angled and positioned so that the ensemble effectively bends light just as the curved surface of a lens would. Different focus can be achieved simply by changing the size, spacing and orientation of the pillars – it’s just a matter of doing the computer simulations and calculations to dial in the proper design. Different materials can be used to target different wavelengths of light: previously, the team has used silicon to focus infrared light, for example.

The practical potential of lenses made from these so-called ‘metamaterials’ are almost infinite, considering the drastic reductions in size and weight that the technology makes possible. A planar surface saves considerable space and volume compared to the typical curved surfaces traditional lenses necessitate. Furthermore, the non-reliance on a perfectly curved spherical or aspherical surface means images can be relatively aberration-free. And the nanostructures themselves can be manufactured with incredible precision, and in a cost-effective way as well, due to the compatibility with traditional microprocessor chip foundries.

Currently, these lenses can’t handle full-color imaging because of the very narrow band of wavelengths that can currently be imaged with any particular TiO2 arrangement. However, the team hopes to broaden the wavelengths over which the technology works in the future. This might allow for small yet very high numerical aperture, aberration-free imaging in cameras and cell phones.

But even without spectral broadening advances, the potential applications are very exciting. Obvious applications include microscopy and medical instruments, where structures larger than the wavelength of light are more the exception than the rule. But another potentially huge application is display technology – particularly virtual/augmented reality and wearable optics in general, where the size and weight of today’s headsets is a major obstacle to mass adoption. Display technology actually utilizes narrow wavelength R, G, and B primaries, mixing them in just the right ratios to trick your eye/brain into perceiving the intended color. Small, flat lenses that can focus these primary colors with very high precision, aberration-free, might just open up a world of high-resolution and practical VR devices.

Source: phys.org

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Venus Optics launches Loawa 105mm F2 with apodization element

12 Mar

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Chinese lens manufacturer Venus Optics has announced a portrait lens that uses an apodization element and dual diaphragms to produce better looking out-of-focus highlights. The company says that the apodization element in the new Laowa 105mm F2 STF acts as a radial gradient filter that becomes darker towards its outer edge. This graduation of tone is said to help produce smooth tonal transitions in out-of-focus discs. The element works in conjunction with a 14-bladed diaphragm that Venus Optics says forms a constantly circular aperture directly before the light meets the main second aperture, which still determines the f-number and the depth of field.

This approach is very similar to the one used in the Minolta (and, more recently, Sony) 135mm STF F2.8 [T4.5] lens.

The lens uses 11 elements arranged in eight groups and includes a single forward element that has a high refractive index and three made from low dispersion glass. The company claims that this design is ‘proven to deliver images with extreme sharpness and limit the chromatic aberrations at its lowest.’

The all-metal lens will be available in mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony FE, Pentax K and Sony A cameras. The Loawa 105mm F2 STF will cost $ 699. For more information visit the Venus Optics website.

Press release:

Anhui China, Mar 10, 2016 – Venus Optics, the Chinese camera lenses manufacturer who had launched the world’s Widest 1:1 Macro lens last June, has just released another extraordinary lens, Laowa 105mm f/2 (t/3.2) Smooth Trans Focus Lens for DSLR cameras.

The new Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens incorporates an unique optical design with an apodization (APD) element next to the aperture. The APD element resembles the function of an ND filter which becomes thicker towards the perimeter, gradually reducing the amount of light transmission towards the periphery to produce a soft, natural and beautifully diffused out-of-focus rendition (or called bokeh).
The new Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens offers two separate diaphragms. The stepless 14-bladed perfectly circular aperture, in conjunction with the apodization element gives this lens the ability to produce smooth and pleasing bokeh. It is also useful for videographers to control the amount of light passes through the lens. The 8-bladed aperture is to determine the effective aperture opening (f-number) and the depth-of-field formed.

The lens houses with 11 elements in 8 groups with 1 piece of High Refractive elements, 3 pieces of Low Dispersion elements and 1pc of Apodisation element. This optical design is proven to deliver images with extreme sharpness and limit the chromatic abberations at its lowest. The enclosure of the lens is made of metal to strengthen its durability. Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony FE, Sony Alpha and Pentax K mounts are available.

Pricing and Availability
The Laowa 105mm f/2 Smooth Trans Focus lens will be available at authorized resellers and at the English official website (http://www.venuslens.net). The recommended retail price without tax is USD 699. Free shipping will be provided during the promotion period.

Pre-order starts from today and shipping for Canon EF / Nikon AI / Sony FE mounts will start from April. Delivery for Sony A / Pentax K mounts will start from May.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DJI’s Phantom 4 boasts improved camera optics and obstacle avoidance

02 Mar

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DJI has updated its flagship drone lineup with the Phantom 4, which offers automatic obstacle avoidance and ‘dramatically’ improved camera optics. With a 12MP sensor and F2.8 lens the Phantom 4 is capable of Raw still shooting and 4K/UHD video at 30p as well as new machine vision technology adding subject tracking and object avoidance. Flight time has increased to 28 minutes – and the price has increased to $ 1399 compared to the Phantom 3 Professional’s original $ 1259 MSRP.

The DJI Phantom 4 is now available for pre-order through DJI.com and Apple.com. Orders are expected to ship March 15.

Press release:

DJI Launches New Era of Intelligent Flying Cameras

DJI, the world’s leading maker of unmanned aerial vehicles, on Tuesday launched the Phantom 4, the first consumer quadcopter camera (or “drone”) to use highly advanced computer vision and sensing technology to make professional aerial imaging easier for everyone.

The Phantom 4 expands on previous generations of DJI’s iconic Phantom line by adding new on-board intelligence that make piloting and shooting great shots simple through features like its Obstacle Sensing System, ActiveTrack and TapFly functionality.

“With the Phantom 4, we are entering an era where even beginners can fly with confidence,” said DJI CEO Frank Wang. “People have dreamed about one day having a drone collaborate creatively with them. That day has arrived.”

The Phantom 4’s Obstacle Sensing System features two forward-facing optical sensors that scan for obstacles and automatically direct the aircraft around the impediment when possible, reducing risk of collision, while ensuring flight direction remains constant. If the system determines the craft cannot go around the obstacle, it will slow to a stop and hover until the user redirects it. Obstacle avoidance also engages if the user triggers the drone’s “Return to Home” function to reduce the risk of collision when automatically flying back to its take off point.

With ActiveTrack, the Phantom 4 breaks new ground, allowing users running the DJI Go app on iOS and Android devices to follow and keep the camera centered on the subject as it moves simply by tapping the subject on their smartphone or tablet. Perfectly-framed shots of moving joggers or cyclists, for example, simply require activating the ActiveTrack mode in the app.

The Phantom 4 understands three-dimensional images and uses machine learning to keep the object in the shot, even when the subject changes its shape or turns while moving. Users have full control over camera movement while in ActiveTrack mode – and can even move the camera around the object while it is in motion as the Phantom 4 keeps the subject framed in the center of the shot autonomously. A “pause” button on the Phantom 4’s remote controller allows the user to halt an autonomous flight at any time, leaving the drone to hover.

By using the TapFly function in the DJI Go app, users can double-tap a destination for their Phantom 4 on the screen, and the Phantom 4 calculates an optimal flight route to reach the destination, while avoiding any obstructions in its path. Tap another spot and the Phantom 4 will smoothly transition towards that destination making even the beginner pilot look like a seasoned professional.

The Phantom 4’s camera, still the world’s best aerial-optimized 4K imaging device, has undergone an upgrade that includes improved optics for better corner sharpness and reduced chromatic aberration. The Phantom 4 also has DJI’s signature Lightbridge video transmission system onboard, allowing users to see what their camera sees in HD and in real-time on their smart devices at a distance up to five kilometers (3.1 miles).

The Phantom 4’s form factor, still the classic quadcopter style pioneered by DJI, has been redesigned and redefined to emphasize elegance and smoother, more-aerodynamic lines. Its frame incorporates a lightweight composite core to provide enhanced stability and more-agile flight. The core now features a redesigned gimbal that provides more stability and vibration dampening, and has been repositioned for a better center of gravity and to reduce the risk of propellers getting in the shot.

Refinements to motor efficiency, power management and a new intelligent battery have extended the Phantom 4’s flight time to 28 minutes, which means more time in the air to capture professional photos and video.

DJI crafted the Phantom 4 with reliability in mind, including redundant inertial measurement units (IMUs) and dual compasses onboard. It uses new push-and-lock propellers that are faster to install and more secure in flight.

In addition to intelligence and ease-of-use, the Phantom 4 is built for fun. Its new “Sport Mode” for advanced flyers gives a taste of what drone racing feels like. In “Sport Mode,” the Phantom 4 can fly 20 meters per second (45 miles per hour) and ascends and descends more rapidly than in other modes. The craft’s acceleration and top speed in “Sport Mode” also mean it can reach locations for shots faster and capture shots you couldn’t get before.

“Though the Phantom 4 is easy to use, let’s not forget it is a high-performance aircraft powered by unparalleled DJI technology,” said Senior Product Manager Paul Pan.

The Phantom 4’s U.S. retail price is $ 1,399.

Pre-orders for the Phantom 4 will start March 1 on DJI.com and Apple.com, and customers will begin receiving their units on March 15. The Phantom 4 will also be available in-store at DJI’s flagship stores and Apple stores around the world starting March 15. Phantom 4 pre-orders from DJI’s other sales partners will commence on March 23, with availability from April 1.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZY Optics launches improved Speedmaster F0.95 35mm lens, claiming 30% better resolution

17 Feb
The new model (right) is smaller and lighter than the original version of the lens (left)

The Shenyang Zhongyi Optical & Electronic Company Limited has introduced an updated version of its super-fast 35mm lens for APS-C-sensor cameras that it claims has better resolution and reduced chromatic aberrations. The manual focus Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm F0.95 II is also smaller and lighter than the original model, with a length of 60mm instead of 82mm, a filter thread of 55mm instead of 58mm and a weight of 460g/1.06lb compared to 680g/1.5lb.

The latest version uses a new optical design that features 11 elements in 8 groups, and includes a single extra-low dispersion element, two extra-high refractive index elements, and three elements made in high-refractive glass. The company says the new design produces 30% more resolution via better overall sharpness and reduced chromatic aberrations. Performance wide open is also greatly improved, ZY Optics says.

A click-less aperture ring makes the lens suitable for video recording, so it is a shame the Micro Four Thirds system isn’t supported in the initial offering. Fuji X, Sony E and EOS-M camera system owners will be provided for though.

The lens costs $ 599, and you can learn more on the ZY Optics website.

Press release:

ZY Optics releases the improved Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 Mark II for Sony E / Fuji X / EOS-M cameras

Shenyang China, Feb 14, 2016 – Zhongyi Optics (ZY Optics) has released an improved version of their first f/0.95 lens, Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 Mark II. The mark II verison features a drastic improvement of sharpness, better control of chromatic abberations and much compact size. The new version comes with a Fuji X / Sony E / EOS-M mount and is able to cover the image circle of APS-C sized sensors.

Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 Mark II is a ultra-fast prime lens which provides a 35mm-equivalent focal length of around 53mm in APS-C cameras. A maximum aperture of f/0.95 makes it extremely convenient to shoot at a low light conditions without flash. The new optical design incorporates a 11 elements in 8 groups structure, including 1pc of Extralow disperson elements, 2 pcs of Extra-high Refractive Index elements and 3pcs of High Refractive Index elements. This structure effectively improved the image resolution by 30% compared to the previous version from corners to corners. This also controls the chromatic abberations very well and deliver excellent image sharpness even at f/0.95.

The new Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 is light and compact. The total weight is reduced from 680g to 460g, making it an ideal companion for the compact mirrorless cameras. Manual focus design and a click-less, silent aperture ring promote smooth handling and are especially well-suited to video applications. The lens is built in metallic enclosure with additional protective process and finest finishing, which gives extra durability and aesthetic.

Pricing & Availability
Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 is now available to purchase at ZY Optics authorized resellers and at our official website (http://www.zyoptics.net/). The Recommended Retail price is USD 599.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZY Optics unveils new Lens Turbo adapters for Micro Four Thirds cameras

13 Jan

Chinese lens maker Zhongyi Optics has added M42, Canon FD and Minolta MD lens adapters to its second-generation Lens Turbo lineup for Micro Four Thirds cameras. Like Metabones’ Speedboosters, the adapters shorten the effective focal length, increasing the F-number by one stop and partially negating the crop factor. The 0.726x focal length reduction combines to give a net 1.45x focal length crop, rather than the 2x crop that you’d usually experience on a Micro Four Thirds camera.

These three adapters join ZY Optics’ existing Lens Turbo Version II adapters for Canon EF and Nikon G lenses. Among the adapters’ four optical elements is an extra-low dispersion element, and all three offer stainless steel mounts and metal bodies.

All three adapters are available directly from ZY Optics for $ 149 USD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Zeiss optics included in latest ExoLens accessory lenses for the iPhone

07 Jan

Smartphone accessory lens manufacturer ExoLens is to introduce three new lenses that use optics and designs from Zeiss. The lenses will be a zoom macro adapter as well as wideangle and telephoto convertors that will screw into a frame that fits around the phone. The macro lens will allow focusing from as a close as 30mm, and will convert the effective focal length of the iPhone lens to a 40-80mm zoom in full frame terms. The wide angle adapter will offer 0.6x magnification to make the iPhone lens act as an18mm would, while the telephoto adapter has a 2x magnification that delivers the appearance of a 58mm lens. 

Both converters allow focusing to infinity, from 50cm (the wideangle) and 36mm (the telephoto), while the zoom macro lens has a focusing range that’s restricted to 30-78mm. 

Zeiss says that the Mutar-design converters have been calculated to suppress chromatic aberrations, especially fringing, and aspheric lenses have been used to ensure accurate drawing by reducing curvilinear distortions. Contrast is said to be maintained and T* coatings are used on all glass/air surfaces to keep flare under control. The wideangle converter uses four elements in four groups, while the telephoto version uses five elements in three groups. 

The company has labelled the macro zoom lens a Vario-Proxar for its ability to vary the focal length of the camera lens and its ability to close-focus. Zeiss says it is the only continuous zoom accessory for smartphones, and that it maintains coverage of the entire sensor while zooming takes place. The magnification is such that objects as small as three centimetres can fill the frame, and the lens comes with a semi-transparent diffuser hood that simultaneously improves the quality of the light while providing a guide to the closest focus distance. 

The metal frame that the lenses screw in to features a tripod socket as well as an accessory shoe for lights etc. 

No prices have been announced yet, but Zeiss and ExoLens say the accessories will be available before the middle of 2016. Initially they will be made for iPhone 6/6s and 6 Plus and 6s Plus. 

For more information visit the Zeiss and ExoLens websites. 

Press release:

ExoLens

ZEISS and Fellowes Brands Launch Mobile Phone Accessory Photography Lenses

Fellowes Brands, manufacturers of premium mobile photography accessories and ZEISS, international optics enterprise, present three new high-performance accessory lenses for mobile phones at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

ZEISS, one of the world’s leading companies in the fields of optics and optoelectronics, and the Fellowes’ ExoLens™ brand, an American innovator in mobile photography accessories, announce their collaboration in the design and development of accessory lenses for mobile phones. The companies will present the first jointly developed accessory lenses at the Fellowes booth (no. 31016) during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from 6-9 January 2016.

The first three lenses – wide-angle, telephoto and macro – are scheduled to be launched in late Q2 2016. The wide-angle and telephoto lenses offer excellent image performance with outstanding edge-to-edge contrast. The macro lens features a zoom function – unique for accessory lenses of this type – for flexible image composition. The new lenses can be used on the Apple® iPhone®1) with customized mounting brackets.

Partnership between ZEISS and ExoLens™

The collaboration between ZEISS and ExoLens™ represents an important step in the development of accessory lenses for mobile phones. ZEISS has been powering optical innovation in photography since 1890. With current products such as the professional camera lenses of the ZEISS Otus SLR lens family or the ZEISS Batis autofocus lenses featuring an innovative OLED display for mirrorless full-frame system cameras, the optics company continues to evolve and set new milestones in photography. ExoLens™ is a pioneer in the new and expanding space of mobile photography. The joint goal of ZEISS and ExoLens™ is to bring never before seen quality and versatility to this rapidly growing market. 

“We are thrilled to announce our new relationship with ZEISS, who has been setting standards in optics for almost 170 years,” says John E. Fellowes, Chief Executive Officer of Fellowes. “Following the launch of our new ExoLens™ mobile phone photography line last year, our partnership with ZEISS will enable unique and innovative consumer lens solutions. ExoLens™ with optics by ZEISS will redefine quality in the mobile photography space, providing professional-grade results for end users.”

“The impact of an image is decisively influenced by the lens and its technical properties,” says Dr. Winfried Scherle, Executive Vice President of Carl Zeiss AG and Head of the ZEISS Consumer Optics business group. “The collaboration with ExoLens™ gives us the opportunity to tap into new target groups and provide ambitious mobile phone photographers with high-quality tools to support their creativity.”

ExoLens™ with optics by ZEISS

The new lenses are characterized by their leading-edge design featuring smooth surfaces made of black anodized aluminum with white labeling. This is a systematic continuation of the distinctive, innovative product design that typifies current families of ZEISS camera lenses. The modern design offers excellent optic properties and the lenses meet even the highest aesthetic standards,” Scherle says. “The lenses of ExoLens™ with optics by ZEISS are the best currently available on the market,” he adds. “We have achieved the best possible technical balance between a small size, light weight and high image quality.”

All lenses incorporate the proven T*® antireflective coating from ZEISS, which minimizes reflections at the glass-to-air surfaces and improves the transmission of light.

The lenses are attached to the device-specific ExoLens™ machined aluminum bracket using a screw thread. The ExoLens™ bracket features a standard tripod mount (1/4”-20) as well as a cold shoe for mounting accessories. At launch, ExoLens™ with optics by ZEISS will be available for Apple® iPhone® 6/6s and Apple® iPhone® 6 Plus/6s Plus, with the goal of adding more devices in the future.

ExoLens™ wide angle and telephoto lenses with optics by ZEISS

The jointly developed lenses turn the integrated mobile phone lens into either a wide-angle or telephoto lens. The optical design used for both lenses bears the name MutarTM. This stands for an afocal system and is therefore different from traditional interchangeable lenses for system cameras. The lens has no focal length, i.e. the focus is set at infinity. This enables photography of objects from infinity to the close-up range, the limits of which are defined only by the technical properties of the mobile phone camera. This makes this optical design suitable for both landscape and detailed photography. Distortion would impair the composition as straight lines which are not imaged through the image center would be reproduced as curved lines. This adverse effect has been offset by the use of aspheric lenses in the optical design. Both lenses therefore offer image excellence and outstanding contrast rendition right to the edges. Chromatic aberrations are also corrected. Bright-dark transitions in the image, and highlights in particular, are largely free from colored artifacts. Protection against dust and water spray makes the wide-angle or telephoto lens perfect for the challenges of outdoor use. 

Dramatic perspectives, exceptional angles or portraits in which the main subject is to be clearly isolated from the background are the specialties of the two lenses by ExoLens™ with optics by ZEISS.

ExoLens™ macro lens with optics by ZEISS

The macro lens complements the wide-angle and telephoto lenses and enables currently unparalleled close-up photography with a mobile phone camera. The optical design of the macro lens bears the name Vario-ProxarTM. “Vario” stands for the variability of the focal length (zoom), and Proxar for proximity. Like the wide-angle and telephoto lenses, the macro lens offers edge-to-edge image excellence and no discernible distortion or chromatic aberration. It is currently also the only accessory lens for mobile phones to offer a continuous zoom function, permitting the full-frame capture of objects with diameters of between three and twelve centimeters. An optionally attachable and semi-transparent diffusor serves as a spacer, allowing light to shine evenly on the object to be photographed and enabling convenient focusing, even with a short object distance and shallow depth of field.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZY Optics launches optically improved version of its Turbo Adapter for Micro Four Thirds

23 Oct

Chinese lens manufacturer Shenyang Zhongyi Optics has redesigned the optical construction of is Turbo Adapter that allows Micro Four Thirds users to mount Nikon and Canon lenses to their cameras. The details are slight, but the company says the configuration is completely different, although still using four elements, and new coatings have been applied to reduce flare and increase contrast. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon EF 35mm F1.4L II USM boasts new Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics for improved chromatic aberration control

27 Aug

Canon has announced the EF 35mm F1.4L II USM, the second generation of its popular wide-angle prime. It uses newly designed Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics, which claim to reduce chromatic aberration better than any other existing technology. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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