Skylum Software has announced the development of software focused on drone photography, the new software will be called AirMagic and is scheduled to be available in Q2 of 2019.

From Skylum Software:

Incredible new software dedicated to drone photography is coming soon. Powered by AI and advanced algorithms, AirMagic improves aerial photos without human involvement.

Skylum Software is the creators of Luminar and AuroraHDR.

I’ll be honest, the first 20 or so patents relating to diffractive optics lenses had me excited about what was coming down the pipeline. However, the last bunch of patents for DO optical formulas hasn’t really given me a lot of hope that we’re going to see new and exciting super telephoto lenses from Canon.

Below are three embodiments that show 400mm, 600mm, and 800mm DO optical formulas.

Japan Patent Application 2019-028317

Canon 600mm f/4 DO IS

• Focal distance: 582.00mm
• F number: 4.12
• Half field angle:  2.13°
• Image height: 21.64mm
• Whole length of the lens: 394.25mm
• BF: 62.79mm

Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS

• Focal distance: 405.00mm
• F number: 4.12
• Half field angle: 3.06°
• Image height: 21.64mm
• Whole length of the lens: 330.16mm
• BF: 50.46mm

Canon 800mm f/5.6 DO IS

• Focal distance: 795.00mm
• F number: 5.60
• Half field angle: 1.56°
• Image height: 21.64mm
• Whole length of the lens: 490.24mm
• BF: 105.13mm

Samyang has announced that they plan to announce 8 new lenses this spring. Samyang will make announcements at multiple trade shows between now and the Q2 of 2019.

Expect to see some lenses announces at CP+ at the end of this month and The Photography Show in Birmingham, England in mid-March.

The first lens to be announced will likely be the Samyang XP 10mm f/3.5 prime lens. Samyang claims this new lens is a zero distortion rectilinear lens for high-resolution full-frame DSLRs.

Tokina has officially announced the Opera 16-28mm F/2.8 FX zoom lens for Canon and Nikon full-frame DSLRs.

Key Features:

• EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
• Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
• Three Aspherical Elements
• Three Low Dispersion Elements
• Multi-Coating
• Silent Drive DC Motor Autofocus System
• 9-Blade Diaphragm
• Built-In Lens Hood

Preorder the Tokina Opera 16-28mm F/2.8 FX Zoom

Read more…

Another detailed patent for an RF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens has appeared, the first one came as part of a patent for an RF 100-400mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM.

The 70-300mm zoom lens has always been a part of the budget telephoto zoom lens lines of various manufacturers, and it makes sense that we’ll see one for the RF mount, and likely sooner than later.

Japan Patent Application 2019028212

• Focal length: 71.53mm 132.28mm 293.70mm
• F-number: 4.16 5.18 5.83
• Half-field angle: 16.83° 9.29° 4.21°
• Image height: 21.64mm 21.64mm 21.64mm
• Lens total length: 179.52mm 216.99mm 250.81mm
• BF: 48.94mm 22.62mm 18.05mm

The PowerShot G5 X was announced back in October of 2015 and was one of the better selling G series cameras. Its mix of size, EVF and relatively fast 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 lens made it fairly desirable for a point & shoot camera.

Canon prototype named PC 2355 has appeared at certification agencies and has been confirmed as the PowerShot G5 X Mark II by Nokishita.

Along with the PowerShot G7 X Mark III that has been spotted, it looks like we’re going to finally get some updates to the G series line of cameras.

There is no word on a replacement for the PowerShot G3 X which was announced in June of 2015 or the PowerShot G9 X Mark II which came out in 2017.

Press Release:

February 20, 2019, Saitama, Japan – Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shiro Ajisaka), a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the development of two new lenses for full-frame DSLR cameras—the 35-150mm F/2.8-4 Di VC OSD (Model A043) zoom lens and the SP 35mm F/1.4 Di USD (Model F045) fixed focal lens; and a new high-speed ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras—the 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A046).

Tamron will display these new lenses at CP+ 2019, the World Premiere show for camera and photo imaging, beginning February 28 through March 3, 2019 at Pacifico Yokohama and at the Wedding and Portrait Professionals International (WPPI), February 27 through March 3, 2019 in Las Vegas.

The lenses are expected to launch in the middle of 2019.

Read more…

The most complained about specification in cameras is currently “dynamic range”. It seems to be the current still photography performance metric people are most passionate about when it comes to image sensors.

Jared AKA FroKnowsPhoto has decided to a quick and dirty comparison between the Canon EOS RP, Canon EOS 6D Mark II and Canon EOS R. He was unable to do this until the RAW converter for the EOS RP became available.

Read more…

Lensrentals.com, more noteably Roger and Aaron have been working on this crazy fisheye lens for quite some time. They’ve now posted an article and video about the assembly of the C-4 Optics 4.9mm f/3.5 fisheye with a 270-degree field of view. You read that correctly, this lens can see behind itself.

From the Lensrentals.com:

You guys have watched us gut a lot of lenses and cameras over the years. So I thought it would be fun for you to see us put one together from scratch. Compared to many of the lenses we’ve taken apart, this is all mechanical lens is rather simple: no focus motors, image stabilizers, etc. But even a simple lens is a very complex structure. This post will probably give you a good idea of how much mechanical design is required to make even a very basic lens.

The lens is also unique; it’s a prototype C-4 Optics 4.9mm f/3.5 circular fisheye. It’s a massive lens giving a 270-degree field of view, meant for immersive video and specialty shots. To give you an idea of what 270 degrees means, the lens sees behind itself. An ultra-wide 15mm fisheye lens gives a 180-degree field of view while an 11mm rectilinear lens is less than 120 degrees. Read the full article

The retail price for this lens? Likely into 5 figure territory.

Everyone is announcing their new wares ahead of CP+ this month, the show begins on February 28, 2019. Tamron will be announcing two new lenses for the EF mount (and others) in the next few days.

The new Tamron lenses to be announced:

• Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 VC USD
• Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 USD

Tamron is apparently making some bold claims about the SP 35mm f/1.4 USD, claiming that it will be the best 35mm lens ever. Thankfully, we won’t be waiting too long to find out if that’s a legitimate claim or not.