Press Release

From Tamron:

Tamron's state-of-the-art lens design features an XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) lens element and eBAND Coating for outstanding detail and performance from the center to the edges of the frame over the entire zoom range.

Saitama, Japan - Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Morio Ono), a leading manufacturer of precision optics, announces the release of a groundbreaking F/2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras.

Since 2012, Tamron has been expanding its lineup of interchangeable lenses for full-frame DSLR cameras. The Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A007) was the world's first F/2.8 high-speed standard zoom lens to include image stabilization, followed by the development of the unique SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A009), SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F004), and SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011) lenses, all of which have been highly acclaimed among the photo enthusiasts around the globe. Now, we have developed SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A012) to expand the world of imaging possibilities in the wide-angle range.

Product Highlights

• Superior, class leading imaging performance using an innovative XGM lens element
  With an optical construction consisting of 18 elements in 13 groups, including, for the first time, an XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) lens element placed in the front group, and several Molded-Glass Aspherical elements and LD (Low Dispersion) elements used throughout the optical system, aberrations such as geometrical distortion and lateral color are efficiently corrected enabling the zoom lens to deliver outstanding image quality throughout its entire zoom range from corner to corner.
• Enhanced sharpness with exclusive VC image stabilization when shooting handheld in low light or at night
  In response to popular demand, Tamron has created the world's first F/2.8 ultra-wide- angle zoom lens with VC (Vibration Compensation). The VC allows shooting at slow shutter speeds and in low light conditions, and effectively compensates for minor camera shake, whilst maintaining class leading optimal performance.
• eBAND Coating provides superior anti-reflection properties
  In addition to further optimizing Tamron's acclaimed BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating, the eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating has also been employed in this lens. This combination offers superior anti-reflection properties especially important in ultra-wide-angle lenses which are particularly susceptible to flare and ghosting due to their wide angle of view, and provides superior quality and crystal-clear images by minimizing unwanted light reaching the sensor.
• 15-30mm zoom covers both ultra-wide and semi-wide-angle focal lengths
  At its ultra-wide-angle settings this lens can capture, in a single photograph, broad landscapes that cannot be taken in fully by the human eye. At its semi-wide-angle focal lengths, it's ideal for travel and street photography. In short, this unique lens utilizes the zoom function to provide maximum shooting flexibility with a wide range of subjects.
• Fascinating background "bokeh" throughout the wide-angle range due to its fast constant F/2.8 aperture
  Utilizing its shallow depth of field at F/2.8, it enables users to capture beautiful bokeh effects even at wide coverage angles. Its advanced optical formula and 9-bladed circular diaphragm are designed with defocused photography in mind - perfect for creating images where subjects stand out from their natural, blended backgrounds.
• Proven fluorine coating utilizing Tamron's industrial lens expertise is used on the front element
  Fluorine coating, with an established track record in Tamron's industrial lenses, such as those used in automotive cameras, has been applied to the front element. It repels water and dirt, and makes it easier to remove smudges.
• Flexible, high-performance focusing with USD
  USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) delivers high torque, high precision, and virtually silent autofocus action. A full-time manual focus mechanism permits fine focus adjustments instantly without needing to exit AF mode.
• Lens hood designed to prevent light from striking lens at all focal lengths
  This unique lens hood provides effective shading of the front lens surface over the entire zoom range to minimize flare. It utilizes the unique characteristics of the optical system in which the front lens group recedes as you zoom in from 15 mm to 30 mm.
• Double-hood structure provides additional strength
  A double-hood structure has been incorporated into the lens design to improve the durability of the zoom mechanism.
• Comes with "SILKYPIX Developer Studio for Tamron", RAW image processing software customized for Tamron SP lenses
  The SILKYPIX Developer Studio software can develop high-quality images from RAW data, incorporating adjustments that can express the personal style and taste of the photographer. These include white balance, color, sharpness, and the tonal curves recorded by digital cameras. The SILKYPIX Developer Studio for Tamron provides a range of functions in addition to the basic adjustment capabilities, such as correcting aberrations (chromatic aberrations, distortion, peripheral light fall-off), based on the optical data. Used in tandem with Tamron's SP series lenses - renowned for their crisp, high-resolution imaging - this advanced technology efficiently produces images that meet photographers' most exacting demands.

Date of Launch: Gradually launching from January 30, 2015
Dedicated Tamron Page: http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/lineup/a012/index.html

Note: B&H doesn't have the lens available for preorder yet and the product pages do not indicate a price. However, Adorama has the lens available for preorder for $1,199.00 with free expedited shipping.

Update: Adorama's product page says, "NEW ITEM, NOT RELEASED YET. This Item is currently in Developement and has not been released yet. The price has not been set yet."

So either one of two things has happened:

• Adorama has filled in an expected MSRP for the lens, but it isn't the official price (to be updated later) or
• Adorama has published the actual MSRP but has not updated the status of the item

It seems that you can go through the preorder process at Adorama, so the second possibility may be the answer.

Canon U.S.A. Introduces New Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens, The Compact And Highly Mobile Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

New Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens Delivers an Enhanced IS System Providing Four Shutter Speed Steps of Correction, a Rotation-Type Zoom Ring, and New Optical Element Formula to Help Maximize Image Quality

MELVILLE, N.Y., November 10, 2014 - Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the highly anticipated Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM lens, a second generation compact super-telephoto zoom lens featuring significant advancements in optical quality, image stabilization performance up-to-four steps, and rotating-zoom-ring design. This new L-series super- telephoto zoom lens features Canon L-series weather resistance and rugged magnesium housing to meet the needs of wildlife and sports photographers or photojournalists working out in the elements. Fully compatible with all EOS cameras, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM features a completely redesigned optical formula containing one Fluorite and one Super UD lens element - a combination unique to lenses in this focal range - to help deliver sharp images with high resolution and contrast. This combination of elements helps thoroughly suppress chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range.

"The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM is the logical evolution of the very popular EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM introduced 16 years ago," said Yuichi Ishizuka, President and COO of Canon U.S.A., Inc., "This long awaited, next generation lens was developed to be a highly portable and adaptable telephoto zoom lens for today's modern professional and advanced amateur photographers."

For photographers who want to work as closely as possible to their subjects, the minimum focusing distance of the lens has been reduced to just 3.2 ft. (0.98m), resulting in maximum magnification of 0.31x. The original EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM was well known for its push-pull zoom adjustment, but the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM uses a rotation-type zoom ring similar to the one found on the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens that allows for more precise adjustments, easier handling, and consistently excellent weight balance during handheld photography. In addition, the lens features an improved zoom torque adjustment ring that allows for the easy setting of zoom tension based on personal shooting preferences. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM also features an inner focusing system, a powerful yet quiet Ring USM, a high-speed CPU and optimized auto focus (AF) algorithms for fast and accurate autofocusing in various shooting situations.

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM features three Image Stabilization (IS) modes - standard, panning, and during exposure only. Each IS mode is individually engineered to help provide outstanding results in a wide variety of shooting situations, and all serve to satisfy the personal preferences of photographers based on the type of IS they desire. The optical IS provides up to four shutter speed steps of correction, increased from 1.5 steps in the previous model*. In addition, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM features Canon's newly developed Air Sphere Coating (ASC) which helps to reduce backlit flaring and ghosting significantly, as well as a 9-bladed circular aperture Electro-Magnetic Diaphragm that helps to enhance beautiful, softly blurred backgrounds.

As with all L-series lenses, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM is highly resistant to dust and water, with excellent durability in even harsh conditions, ideal for wildlife photographers even in rainforest environments, or sports photographers on the sideline grabbing action shots of the big game. Fluorine coating on the front and rear surfaces of the lens can repel dust particles and water droplets. It also makes smears and fingerprints easy to remove without the use of lens cleaning fluid. Included with the lens is the new ET-83D lens hood, that features a cleverly placed and convenient side window allowing the user to easily adjust specialty filters while the lens hood remains in place. In addition, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM is equipped with a newly designed detachable tripod mount which can be removed to reduce weight during handheld operation.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens is scheduled to be available in December 2014 for an estimated retail price of $2,199.00.

From Samyang:

17th March, 2011

Temporary shortage of Samyang lenses between April and May

Delta Company, the sole representative and distributor of Samyang products for Europe announces there may be some temporary shortage of Samyang lenses between April and May. This is due to suspension in deliveries of optical lenses produced in Japan by factories located on the area destroyed by the Tsunami wave which hit Japanese shores on 11th of March 2011. We will be informing our customers about any changes concerning availability of our products.

128GB and 64GB SDXC Cards Enable Capture of High-Resolution Images and HD Video on Compatible Devices

Fremont, CA, March 15, 2011 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced it is now shipping the Lexar® Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) 133x memory card in capacities of 128GB, an industry first, and 64GB. The Lexar Professional SDXC cards are available in B&H Photo and Video [coming soon], and Adorama Camera [preorders taken] stores across the U.S, as well as on www.lexar.com.

These large capacities make Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards an excellent choice for shooting continuous, rapid-fire images and extended lengths of 1080p high-definition (HD) video on a single, high-performance solution. Also, the Professional SDXC cards offer a Class 10 speed rating with a minimum guaranteed speed of 133x, or 20MB per second, and accelerate professional workflow by quickly transferring high-resolution images and HD video from the memory card to the computer when paired with an SDXC-enabled card reader, such as the Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader.

“We saw a demand for a professional card that would allow photographers to not only capture more high-resolution images and HD video, but to also take advantage of the full capabilities of their high-performance digital SLRs and camcorders,” said Pachi Chen-Wong, senior product marketing manager, Lexar Media. “With the new Lexar Professional SDXC cards, we developed a product that will enhance the professional photography workflow. With capacities of 64GB and 128GB, photographers can capture, store and transfer more images and HD video in one place than ever before.”

The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC memory cards include the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue® software to help recover lost or deleted photo and video files. All Lexar product designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs, a group of facilities where all Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability with more than 800 intended digital devices.

The Lexar Professional SDXC cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free, dedicated professional technical support. The 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional SDXC memory cards are available now at B&H Photo and Video [coming soon], Adorama Camera [preorders taken] and on Lexar.com, with MSRPs of $199.99 and $329.99 respectively.

Vitec, the international provider of products and services for the broadcast, photographic, and MAG (military, aerospace and government) markets, announces that it has acquired the entire share capital of Henry Holdings Limited ("HHL"), for a cash consideration of up to £9.75 million (the "Acquisition"). HHL is the owner of Lastolite Limited in the UK ("Lastolite").

Based in Coalville, Leicestershire, Lastolite employs approximately 80 people and is a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of lighting control accessories and backgrounds for the photo, video and cinema industry. Established in 1986, Lastolite produces highly innovative products for the keen amateur and professional photographer. It is also the owner of the Colorama brand of paper backgrounds.

The Acquisition will complement Vitec's existing range of Manfrotto lighting supports and LED lights with lighting control accessories, thereby strengthening the Company's position in this part of the accessories market.

Lastolite will operate as a standalone business within Vitec's Imaging and Staging Division. Lastolite's existing senior management, including the Managing Director, Sean Henry, will be retained by the business reporting to the Divisional Chief Executive, Francesco Bernardi.

For the financial year ended 31 December 2010, Lastolite generated audited sales of £8.0 million (of which £1.5 million were to Vitec Group entities) and adjusted profit before tax of £1.4 million. As at 31 December 2010, Lastolite had gross assets of £3.5 million.

Under the terms of the Acquisition, an initial consideration of £8.75 million was paid on completion and is subject to post-completion adjustments for changes in net assets. Up to a further £1.0 million is payable in 2012 based on operating profit for the year ending 31 December 2011. At completion, Lastolite had net cash balances (net of liabilities assumed by Vitec) of £0.3m. Consideration has been paid in cash, financed out of Vitec's existing revolving credit facilities. The Board expects the Acquisition to be earnings enhancing (on an adjusted basis) in the year ending 31 December 2011 (see note 1).

Stephen Bird, Vitec's Group Chief Executive, commented on the acquisition:

"We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Lastolite, which is in line with our strategy of broadening our lighting offering within the photographic market. The Lastolite business and its management are well known to us and we look forward to the Lastolite and Manfrotto teams working together, sharing distribution and sales opportunities."

Think Tank Photo has launched a huge new equipment case - the Logistics Manager.

The Logistics Manager is available now from Think Tank Photo. I want one.

Canon has announced its intention to acquire the .canon gTLD (generic Top Level Domain) Name.