NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S up for Pre-order on Amazon US

Nikon has launched NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens in the US online. It has a launch price tag of $999.95 and is now available to pre-order from Amazon US ( check here ). This item will be released and ship to customers on June 30, 2021.

NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is the first Macro lens from the Nikon for its Z series Mirrorless cameras. It is part of the NIKKOR Z S-line of lenses. Nikon has also announced NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8 lens along with this and has confirmed 28mm F2.8 and 40mm F2 prime lenses for Z-mount are coming later this year.

The NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S has a minimum focus distance of 0.29m and offers a maximum reproduction ratio of 1.0. Nikon uses one aspherical lens element and three ED glass elements in the construction of this lens ensuring suppression of chromatic aberration.

This lens uses a new stepping motor (STM) made specially for this lens and comes with a multi-focusing system offering fast and precise AF performance. For greater stability, this lens has vibration reduction (VR) mechanism offering up to 4.5-stops. Nikon is using Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coats to reduce Ghost and flare offering better overall image quality.

NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 Specs and Features

  • Z-mount macro lens
  • Full 1:1 reproduction ratio
  • 4.5 stop Vibration Reduction
  • Multi-focus system
  • Max F2.8 aperture
  • Min f/32 aperture
  • Min focus distance: 0.29 m/0.96 ft from focal plane
  • Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups ( including 3 ED glass elements, 1 aspherical lens element )
  • Aperture opening: 9 (rounded diaphragm opening)
  • Weight: 630 g
  • Accessories in the box: LC-62B Lens Cap (front cap), LF-N1 Lens Cap (rear cap), HB-99 Lens Hood, CL-C2 Lens Case

As an Amazon associate, i earn from qualifying purchases.

NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f 2.8 VR S

Tamron has launched 150-500mm lens for Sony E-mount Full Frame Cameras

Tamron has just launched a 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (Model A057) zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. This is a compact, ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a max aperture range of F5-6.7. You can use it on an APS-C crop Sony Alpha body as well and can get the extra reach thanks to the crop factor.

Tamron 150-500m Sony E-mount Lens Price in the US: $1,399 ( Expected shipping date: June 10 2021 – will be available to pre-order from Amazon US / B&H Photo / Adorama etc in the coming weeks ).

Related: Sony FE 14 mm F1.8 GM Lens available to pre-order on Amazon US | Price: $1,599 USD.

Tamron 150-500mm is made with 25 elements in 16 groups optical construction and has a length of just 209.6mm ( 8.3 in ) zoomed out. When you extend the lens to 500mm, the length increases to 283mm (11.1 in). For good auto-focus, Tamron uses linear motor focus mechanism VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) and has and VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization to get the best shots when shooting handheld.

At 150mm, this lens has a min focus distance of 0.6m (23.6 in). At 500mm, the min focus distance is 1.8m (70.9 in). The arc of rotation of the zoom ring is only 75° which lets you zoom in and zoom out easily. To get the best image quality, Tamron is using XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion), LD (Low Dispersion) and hybrid aspherical lens elements in this lens’ construction. To suppress ghosting and flare, it has BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating as well.

Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (Model A057) Specs

  • 150-500mm focus range
  • Full frame Sony E-mount lens
  • F5-F6.7 max aperture
  • F22-32 min aperture
  • 25 elements in 16 groups lens construction
  • Min focusing distance: 0.6m (23.6 in) (Wide 150mm) / 1.8m (70.9 in) (Tele 500mm)
  • φ82mm filter size
  • Weight: 1,725g (60.8 oz)
  • 7-blade diaphragm
  • 75° arc of rotation for the zoom ring
  • Zoom lock switch
  • Arca-Swiss compatible tripod mount
  • Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF support
  • Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • BBAR-G2 Coating
  • Fluorine Coating on the front lens element

Sample Images: Image 1 , Image 2 ( Source: Tamron Official )

Sony FE 14 mm F1.8 GM Lens Price in the US

Sony E 14 mm F1.8 GM Lens ( SEL14F18GM ) up for Pre-order online on Amazon US | Price: $1,599 US.

Sony has launched the E 14 mm F1.8 GM Lens ( SEL14F18GM ) in the US. It has a pre-order price tag of $1,599 USD and is now in stock online on Amazon US ( check here ).

Sony FE 14 mm F1.8 GM ( SEL14F18GM ) is a compact, large F1.8 aperture, an ultra-wide-angle lens that is part of their premium G-Master series of lenses. This is made for Sony Alpha E-mount Full Frame cameras. You can use it on a crop sensor APS-C camera as well, albeit with a crop ( 21mm ).

The fast F1.8 aperture makes it a great lens to have for astrophotography. The ultra-wide 14mm focal length and G Master lens quality make it a wonderful lens to use in real estate interior photography and landscape photography as well. This lens boasts sharp resolution from corner to corner with little to no distortion. It weighs just 460g. Comparing to the Sigma 14mm lens, this lens is much compact and lightweight. Check out the Dpreview review of this lens comparing these two lenses here.

Sony has used Two XA (extreme aspherical) elements and one aspherical lens element to get an excellent resolution out of this lens. It also has Two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one Super ED glass element to suppress chromatic aberration issues and offer good contrast and image quality. To get a circular and smoother bokeh, this lens has a 9-blade circular aperture mechanism.

Usually,, ultra-wide-angle lenses do not need super fast autofocus features. Sony, however, is using two XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors to get fast and accurate Auto-focus even at wide open at F1.8. To use filters like ND filters, you will have to use the rear filter holder as you can’t screw in a filter at the front due to the bulbous front glass which is common on ultra-wide-angle lenses. As always with a G-Master lens, Sony FE 14 mm F1.8 GM SEL14F18GM lens also has a dust and moisture resistant design.

Sony FE 14 mm F1.8 GM Lens Specifications

  • Mount: Sony E-mount 35 mm full-frame
  • Focal length: 14mm
  • Aperture range: F1.8 – F16
  • Lens construction: 14 elements in 11 groups
  • Min focus distance: 0.82 ft
  • Two XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors for Autofocus
  • 9 bladed circular aperture
  • Customizable focus hold button
  • Aperture ring with click-stop switch
  • Linear Response MF
  • Fluorine coating on the front and rear elements
  • 2x ultra-precise XA elements
  • 2x ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements
  • One Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion)
  • Nano AR Coating II
  • Dust and moisture resistant design
  • APS-C focal length: 21mm
  • Weight: 460 g

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fujifilm XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR in Stock on Amazon US

If you have been looking to buy a fast 18mm lens for your Fujifilm Mirrorless Camera, you would be happy to know Fujifilm has just launched a brand new Fujinon XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR lens in the market. This has a launch price tag of $999.95 in the US. It is now available to pre-order online in the US from Amazon ( check here ). It will ship to customers on April 30, 2021.

Fujifilm XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR as the name suggests comes with a fast F1.4 aperture. This is an APS-C lens offering an equivalent full-frame view of 27mm when we take the crop factor into the consideration. Fujifilm claims this lens to have corner to corner sharpness with little-to-no distortion at the frame’s edges. It uses 15 elements in 9 groups including 1 ED and 3 aspherical elements to control optical aberrations.

XF18mmF1.4 has a 9 bladed aperture offering a rounded diaphragm opening. The lowest aperture it can go is F16. Minimum focusing distance achievable is 20cm with a max magnification of 0.15x. This lens just weighs 370g making it a great lens to carry around with your Fujifilm camera.

You can find the sample images taken by this lens here.

Fujifilm XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR Specifications

  • Lens type: Fixed Prime
  • Lens mount: Fujifilm X mount
  • Focal length: 16mm ( 27mm full-frame equivalent )
  • Max aperture: F1.4
  • Min aperture: F16
  • Aperture blades: 9 rounded diaphragm opening
  • Lens construction: 15 elements in 9 groups
  • Mim focus distance: 20cm
  • Weight: 370g
  • Filter thread size: 62mm

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Canon RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM up for Pre-order on Amazon US

Canon has launched the RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM lens in the US online. This is made for Canon’s RF Series of Cameras such as EOS R5, R6, etc, and has a launch price tag of $1,399.

These lenses will ship to customers in July 2021 and is now available to pre-order online in the US from Amazon US, B&H Photo, Adorama, etc.

Canon has also announced two other lenses – RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM ( Price: $11,999 ) and RF600mm F4L IS USM ( Price: $12,999 ).

Canon RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM as the name suggests is a macro lens with a min focus distance of 0.86 ft. / 0.26m. It has Auto-focus support and offers a maximum magnification ratio of 1.4x for great close-up photography. Canon has equipped this lens with an Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5 Stops of Shake Correction. If you are using it with a camera like EOS R5 which has built-in image stabilization, you get around 8 stops of shake correction. The lens also features Hybrid IS technology which reduces blurring in handheld macro photography by compensating for both angle and shift camera shake.

For the first time, Canon has implemented a Spherical Aberration (SA) Control Ring in a lens, that lets you adjust the bokeh characteristics on the fly. Using this ring, you can change the shape and character of the foreground and background bokeh paving way for some creative, unique-looking shots. There is also another Control Ring available on the lens which can be programmed to adjust shutter speed, lens aperture, exposure compensation, etc.

For faster and better accurate Auto-focus, Canon has equipped this lens with dual independent Nano USMs motors. The RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM lens features dust and weather-resistant construction in the lens mount, switch panel, and all rings. The fluorine coatings on the front and rear help you to easily clean smudges and fingerprints off the glass.

Canon RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM Lens Specifications

Lens MountCanon RF mount ( compatible with Canon EOS R-series cameras like EOS R5, R6, R3, etc )
Focal length100mm ( Full-frame )
Lens typePrime lens
Min Focus Disatance0.86 ft. (10.2 in.) /0.26 m.
Maximum Magnification1.4x
Aperture rangeF2.8 – F32
Aperture blades9 circular
Lens construction17 elements in 13 groups
Lens CoatingSuper Spectra Coating; Fluorine coating
Filter size67 mm
Image stabilization5 stops built-in ( up to 8 stops using a camera with build-in image stabilization like EOS R5 ), Hybrid IS support
Weight730g
Special FeatureSA (Spherical Aberration) Control Ring to change Bokeh characteristics.
Dust/Water ResistanceRubber Ring on the lens mount, Focus Ring, Control Ring, SA Control Ring, switch panel, and switches

From the manufacturer

The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM lens is the world’s first medium telephoto AF Macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1.4x (as of 4/14/21). This lens is perfect for portraits, weddings, still life, and even landscapes with its Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5 stops of shake correction, up to 8 stops when used in combination with an EOS camera with Optical Image Stabilizer, and an SA (Spherical Aberration) Control Ring that lets you change the look and style of the foreground and background blur.

Specs Source: Canon USA

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sony launches 3 new Full Frame G Lenses ( 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G, 50mm F2.5 G )

Sony has launched 3 new Full Frame G Lenses for their Alpha Cameras. They are 24mm F2.8 G ( SEL24F28G ), 40mm F2.5 G ( SEL40F25G ) and 50mm F2.5 G ( SEL50F25G ). All these lenses have a price tag of $600.00 USD in the US and $800.00 in Canada.

These lenses will be available to pre-order online in the US from Amazon US, B&H Photo, Adorama, etc in the coming days ( check here ). All these models will ship to customers in May 2021.

March 24 2021 update: Available to pre-order from Amazon US.

Sony has also launched the high-end 50mm F1.2 SEL50F12GM lens in the US and is now available to pre-order for a price of $1,999.

These 3 new lenses are part of the Sony G Series lineup which means they are of good quality, but not as great as the expensive G-Master series of lenses. All these lenses have a lightweight and compact design which makes these great lenses to use with the compact Sony A7C camera. You can also use these with APS-C cameras ( A6000 Series ).

Sony 24mm F2.8 G ( SEL24F28G ), 40mm F2.5 G ( SEL40F25G ), and 50mm F2.5 G ( SEL50F25G ) have the same size and filter diameter thread ( 49mm ). All 3 have similar weight as well (FE 50mm F2.5 G 172.9g, FE 40mm F2.5 G 172.9g, and FE 24mm F2.8 G 161.5g ). All three lenses focus internally and use aspherical elements and ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements to achieve better image quality and resolution.

The FE 50mm F2.5 G ( SEL50F25G ) lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.35m and a max magnification of 0.18x. The FE 40mm F2.5 G ( SEL40F25G ) has a min focus distance of 0.28m and a max magnification of 0.20x. The widest FE 24mm F2.8 G ( SEL24F28G ) has a min focus distance of 0.24m. All three lenses support Auto Focus as well as Manual Focus modes.

Specs Highlights

  • Full Frame Prime Lenses
  • Sony G Lens Series
  • Focus hold button, focus mode switch, aperture ring, aperture click switch
  • Linear Response MF
  • 49mm Filter diameter
  • Compact and Lightweight
  • 2x linear motors for Fast Auto Focus
  • 3x aspherical elements
  • 1x ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element
  • Aluminum finish lens body
  • 7-blade circular aperture
  • Dust- and moisture-resistant design
  • Price: $600.00 USD

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sony Alpha 50mm F1.2 SEL50F12GM up for Pre-order on Amazon US

Sony has launched their first 50mm F1.2 lens for their E-mount mirrorless bodies. The Sony SEL50F12GM FE 50 mm F1.2 GM has a price tag of $1,998 in the US and $2,600.00 in Canada. It will be available to pre-order online from Amazon US, B&H Photo, Adorama etc in the coming days.

Mar 17 2021 Update: Sony 50mm F1.2 now available to pre-order from Amazon US ( check here ). This item will be released on May 13, 2021.

SEL50F12GM is the 60th lens made for the E-mount system by Sony. Since this is a G Master lens, Sony has used the premium materials available to make this lens offering excellent image quality, beautiful bokeh, and quick quiet autofocus. This lens has a 14 elements in 10 groups construction including three XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements to get the best resolution across the range. Sony’s Nano AR Coating II which we also saw on many other GM lenses, helps to minimize internal reflections, eliminate flare and ghosting issues.

According to Sony, this lens has a newly developed 11-bladed circular aperture unit that offers smooth, deep bokeh in both the foreground and background. Since this has an extreme shallow depth of field, Sony is using 4 XD linear AF motors to quickly get the subject in focus. This lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.32 feet and has a 72mm filter thread. It weighs 27.5 oz ( 779.6g ) which is lighter than Nikon and Canon’s F1.2 lenses.

Sony Alpha 50mm F1.2 SEL50F12GM Specs

  • E-mount Ful Frame Lens
  • Premium G Master Series Standard prime lens
  • 11 bladed Circular aperture
  • 50mm focal length ( 75mm on APS-C cameras )
  • Lens construction: 14 elements in 10 groups
  • F1.2 max aperture
  • F16 min aperture
  • 3XA elements for high resolution
  • Sony Nano AR Coating II
  • Linear Response MF
  • 4XD Linear Motors for Autofocus
  • Focus hold button
  • Aperture Click switch
  • 27.5 oz (778 g)
  • 72 filter diameter (MM)
  • 0.17 max magnification
  • 1.32 ft (0.4 m) minimum focal distance
  • Fluorine front-element coating

Source: Sony Alpha US.

Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD for Sony up for Pre-order on Amazon US

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony E Mount Cameras ( Model B070 / AFB070S-700 ) is now available to pre-order online from Amazon US. It has a launch selling price of $799.00 in the US. This lens was announced back in December 3, 2020, but is only available to pre-order now. It will ship to customers on January 15, 2021, according to the Amazon.com listing ( check here for the current lowest price ).

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a high-speed standard zoom lens for the Sony E-mount APS-C cameras like A6000, A6100, A6600, etc. You can use it on Sony’s Full Frame bodies in APS-C crop mode, but you won’t get the Full MP of the sensor. For eg on a 24MP Sony A7, you get around 10MP photos in APS-C crop mode using this lens.

According to Tamron, It is the first F2.8 high-speed zoom lens in the world for APS-C mirrorless cameras to achieve a 4.1x zoom ratio. It offers a constant F2.8 aperture throughout its zoom range. This lens has a variable focal length of 17-70mm, which on full-frame terms gives a 25.5 – 105mm equivalent focal length, making it a great walk-around lens to have on your crop sensor camera all the time.

It has a Moisture-Resistant Construction and has Fluorine Coating. It takes 67mm sized filters. This lens is compatible with Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF which are now common in many Sony Mirrorless Cameras.

Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Specs

  • 17-70mm Focal length ( 25.5mm-105mm )
  • F2.8 constant aperture
  • Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
  • Two GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) lens elements
  • One hybrid aspherical lens element
  • 0.19m ( Wide ) / 0.39m ( Tele-photo ) Close focusing capability
  • Weight: 525g
  • RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor
  • Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Fast Hybrid AF support
  • Eye AF support
  • 67mm Filter size
  • 9 Aperture blades
  • Minimum aperture: F22
  • Flower-shaped hood
  • Lens caps

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Canon Speedlite EL-1 up for Pre-order on Amazon US

Canon’s new Speedlite EL-1 is now available to pre-order online from Amazon US. It has a launch selling price of $1,099.99. This flash was announced back in Oct 2020. Check out the current lowest price for Canon Speedlite EL-1 here. This will ship to customers on February 28, 2021, only.

Specs and Features

  • Maximum Guide Number of 197 Ft./60m at ISO 100 Zoom Flash Head with Wide Range of 24-200mm.
  • New Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Utilizing LC-E6 Battery Charger
  • Improved Recycling Time (0.9 Sec.) and Number Of Flashes (335 Times)
  • New Active Cooling System Enabling Longer Operation and Improved Thermal Management
  • More Versatility with Minimal Power Output Range 1/8192
  • Improved User Interface with New Joystick, Display, and Control Layout
  • LED Modeling Lamp with Adjustable Brightness and Color Temperature
  • Same Dust- and Water-Resistance as EOS-1D Series and a New High-Durability Glass Flash Tube
  • Support of RT Series Flash Products and Wireless Second-Curtain Sync
  • Full Swivel 180° with Bounce Up To 120°, Built-in Catch Light Panel, and Wide Panel
  • Bounce Adapter and Two Color Filters Included
  • CP-E4N battery pack compatible

Canon Speedlite EL-1 has a maximum guide number of 197 ft (60m) at ISO 100 and offers a wide range of 24mm to 200mm flash. This flash uses a new battery that can do a 0.9-sec recycle at full power. The flash head can be swiveled 180 degrees. This flash has weather sealing and has an active cooling system built in to keep the temperature in check.

Sony ILME-FX6 up for Pre-order on Amazon US

Sony FX6 full-frame Cinema Camera ILME-FX6 up for Pre-order on Amazon US. Price: $5998 – $7198.

Sony has launched the FX6 full-frame Cinema Camera ( ILME-FX6 ) in the US. It has a launch selling price of $5,998 and is now available to pre-order online from Amazon.com. You can also buy FX6 with SEL24105G 24-105mm lens bundle which has a pre-order price of $7,198. ( FX6 models: ILME-FX6T / ILME-FX6TK / ILME-FX6V / ILME-FX6VK )

Sony ILME-FX6 Cinema Line Full-Frame Camera has a lot in common with the recently launched Sony A7S3. It features the same 12MP sensor and offers 15+ stops of dynamic range. Since this uses the same sensor, you can get some great videos in challenging low light scenarious like the A7S3. FX6 can capture up to 120 fps at the 4K (QFHD) resolution and has S&Q quick modes for better creativity.

The new FX6 is powered by BIONZ XR image processing engine offering better, high-speed read out and offer better overall responsiveness. For good colors, you get S-Cinetone colour which we saw on the more expensive FX9 offering rich colours and natural skin tones.

Like many other Sony Full Frame Cameras launched recently, FX6 also comes with Real-time Eye AF and Face Detection. It has an hybrid Auto focus system, with 627 point focal plane phase-detection AF coverring approximately 89% of the image area.

Sony ILME-FX6 Specs Highlights

  • 35 mm full-frame, single-chip CMOS image sensor
  • 12.9 megapixels sensor ( 10.2 effective MP )
  • Built-in variable ND Filter (1/4ND to 1/128ND)
  • ISO 800/12800 (Cine EI mode, D55 Light source)
  • 64F to 1/8000 sec shutter speed
  • SDR mode : S-Cinetone, Standard, Still, ITU709
  • HDR mode: HLG_Live, HLG_Natural
  • 15+ stop dynamic range
  • 4K @ 120fps support