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The Sigma Corporation has announce that the Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is now available in Sony AF fit.

The successor to the Sigma MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG, introduced to market in June 2004, this large aperture medium telephoto macro lens incorporates the latest optical design technology, offering advanced performance for close-up photography. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and one high refractive index SLD lens provide excellent correction for all types of aberration and distortion.

A floating focusing system moves two different lens groups in the optical path to different positions. This system compensates for astigmatic aberration and spherical aberration and provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 Macro.

The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting, providing high contrast images. It is also possible to use this lens with Sigma’s optional APO Tele Converters. Sigma’s own proprietary OS (Optical Stabiliser) function helps with handheld close-up photography and the HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures quiet and high speed autofocus as well as full-time manual focus capability.

This lens features a splash resistant design for use in harsh conditions and a rounded 9 blade diaphragm creating a smooth blur to the out of focus areas of the image.

THE SPECIFICATIONS

Minimum Aperture F22
Minimum Focusing Distance 31.2cm
Lens Construction 16 Elements in 11 Groups
Maximum Magnification 1:1
Angle of View 23.3°
Filter Size 62mm
No. of Diaphragm Blades 9 pcs
Lens Hood Bayonet-type
Weight 725g
SRP £649.99
Dimensions Diameter 78.3mm x Length 126.4mm

Sony has announced their latest compact camera in the form of the NEX-F3.

The pocket-sized NEX-F3 features the same space-saving mirrorless design as other cameras in the a E-mount family. Far bigger than the sensors found in point-and-shoot compacts, the 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor(tm) APS HD CMOS sensor captures more light for flawless, low-noise stills and crisply detailed Full HD video (50i/25p). Just like traditional DSLR cameras, it’s easy to create beautiful defocus effects with your subject focused sharply against a smoothly blurred background.

Just hold the camera at arm’s length and flip the LCD 180° to see yourself clearly. Then press the shutter button, or let Smile Shutter take the picture for you automatically.

Shooting options in dim light or indoors are enhanced with the addition of a useful built-in flash. As introduced on the acclaimed NEX-7, this handy pop-up flash lets you brighten up shots without the need to carry an additional flash accessory.

The NEX-F3 aims to help inexperienced photographers effortlessly craft top-quality portraits. Auto Portrait Framing identifies your subject’s position, trimming the scene to create beautifully composed, high-resolution portrait photos.

Getting close to your subject used to mean packing a more powerful lens, but now you can enjoy high-quality close-ups with Clear Image Zoom, which doubles effective magnification of your lens. Unique to Sony, By Pixel Super Resolution Technology maintains superb image detail, tones and textures. Ideal for travel and everyday shooting, it’s a great way to boost your maximum focal length without carrying extra hardware.

Auto mode intelligently recognises a wide range of scenes and subjects, adjusting settings with the skill of a seasoned photographer. The camera’s feel is enhanced by a high-quality handgrip for positive, comfortable handling, which, along with its array of features, makes the NEX-F3 a must-have for photographers stepping up from their point-and-shoot compact.

Battery stamina has also been boosted to 470 shots from a single charge – an 18% (approx.) improvement on the NEX-C3. Easy charging via USB simplifies battery top-ups when you’re travelling.

SEL18200LE E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 telephoto zoom lens

An ideal travel partner for the NEX-F3, the new SEL18200LE E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE offers a powerful 11x zoom range and superb resolution in an easy-to-carry lens.

Smaller and 12% lighter than the SEL18200, the new E-mount lens features Optical SteadyShot to compensate for the effects of hand-shake. Direct Manual Focus gives precise control over touching-up focus for fine creative control over beautiful images.

The super-soft LCS-EMH carry case gives quick access to the camera and attached lens; while the LCS-EJC3 carry case fully protects the camera and lens.

The new NEX-F3 compact system camera from Sony is available in the UK from June 2012.

Fujifilm has announced the launch of the WCL-X100, a wide conversion lens designed specifically for the award-winning Fujifilm X100. The lens attaches directly on to the camera and increases picture taking versatility by multiplying the fixed focal length by 0.8x, converting it from 23mm (35mm in 35mm equivalent) fixed focal length to a 19mm wide angle  (28mm in 35mm equivalent).

Superb optical quality maximises versatility

The WCL-X100 has been engineered to ensure the Fujifilm X100′s supreme optical quality remains intact. Created by the same experts who designed the X100′s lens, the WCL-X100 delivers comparable image quality even at the f/2 wide aperture setting, retaining all the original optical characteristics, including the attractive bokeh effect.

This optical excellence is underlined by the fact that the WCL-X100 is manufactured in Japan, allowing Fujifilm engineers to guarantee precision and quality in every component. The optical construction uses four premium glass elements in three groups to keep aberrations to a minimum and also employs Fujinon’s unique Super EBC coating for outstanding results.

Image processing optimises picture quality

Achieving the very best results from the WCL-X100 is simple; just select the ‘Wide Conversion Lens’ option in the Fujifilm X100′s shooting menu. To enable this extra functionality, the camera must  be updated to Firmware version 1.3.0 or later, which also allows the option to be selected via the Function (Fn) or RAW buttons. The Fujifilm X100 has the option to apply image processing to shots taken using the WCL-X100 to reduce image distortion, ensure balanced illumination across the frame and reduce chromatic aberration, commonly found in wide conversion lenses.

In practice, the WCL-X100 maintains the functionality of the Fujifilm X100. The autofocussing speed remains the same, the 10cm macro distance still applies and it is also compatible with the Fujifilm X100′s hybrid viewfinder. With the optical viewfinder (OVF) selected, icons showing the edge of the frame are displayed instead of the frame rim (equivalent to 80% of the frame field of view), while selecting the electronic viewfinder (EVF) gives users a 100% field of view.

The perfect match for the Fujifilm X100

The design of the WCL-X100 has been carefully considered to ensure a seamless blend with the camera. It uses the same materials, textures and colours as the existing X100, plus the optional LH-X100 lens hood and PRF-49S protective filter can be used on the conversion lens. Furthermore, the clip-on lens cap for the WCL-X100 can be attached with both the lens hood and filter in place.

WCL-X100 key features

• 0.8x magnification factor to convert X100 lens to 28mm wide angle (35mm equivalent)
• All glass optical construction using four elements in three groups
• Fujinon Super EBC coating
• Made in Japan for optimum quality
• Available in black and silver Contact Information

For information about Fujifilm and its products, please visit:www.fujifilm.co.uk or call 0844 553 2322

PermaJet have invested in the very latest professional profiling solution to provide customers with the most accurate ICC Colour profiles on the market.

Colour Management for your inkjet print output is a highly important topic to address. Operating systems and editing software continue to develop and advance meaning that the way ICC Profiles are created and used need to advance too.

All users of the PermaJet range of papers are automatically entitled to use the FREE ICC Custom Profiling Service – guaranteeing 100% accurate profiles and, in turn, less paper and ink wastage.
The i1 publish software suite from X-Rite is the new, in-house software used for this profiling service, helping build far superior ICC profiles and totally universal for both PC and MAC users – covering all the very latest MAC and PC operating system platforms.

The free ICC profiling service is very straightforward to follow and all customer information is available at www.permajet.comFor more information on the range please contact JP Distribution

T: 01782 753304 E: marketing@johnsons-photopia.co.uk W: www.johnsons-photopia.co.uk

Leica Camera AG has revealed their latest lens in the form of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH.

With the goal of creating a lens that fully exploits the opportunities offered by high-resolution camera systems, Leica’s engineers have successfully redefined the limits of what is technically possible. The result is an extremely high-performance lens that sets entirely new standards, and currently represents exceptional talent amongst the standard lenses of the Leica M portfolio.

This new reference lens has achieved the best test results ever seen in the Leica M-Lens programme. The MTF curves of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH, which describe the contrast of fine details and, in turn, the image sharpness, confirm its stated outstanding performance.

Even the finest details are resolved with more than 50% contrast across the entire image field. This previously unattained value confirms the exceptional positioning of this lens. This means that all images captured with the Leica APO-Summicron- M 50mm f/2 ASPH in any situation show extreme sharpness and resolution of details, from corner to corner of the image.

At the same time, the apochromatic correction of the lens minimises chromatic aberration on sharp edges, ensuring natural rendition of every detail. Consequently, Leica advise that photographers will benefit from the best possible reproduction results at any print size.

The high performance of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH is founded on the perfect interaction of all its design and construction parameters, from its optical calculation and choice of materials to the sophisticated and meticulous manufacturing and finishing of the lens.

Together with more than 150 years of experience in the design and construction of optical instruments, this once again emphasises Leica’s reputation as the manufacturer of the world’s best lenses. The new design of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH is based on the optical design of the existing Summicron-M 50mm f/2, which has been available since 1979 (currently the oldest lens represented in the Leica M portfolio).

The classic specifications – 50mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2 – offered an ideal starting point for further development. This meant that the lens designers were able to concentrate exclusively on the improvement of image quality within these standard specifications. In its optical design, the new Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. reflects some of the specific features of Leica’s Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH and Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH  lenses.

For instance, the new lens incorporates a floating element. The lens group behind the diaphragm is designed as a floating element that changes its position relative to the front group during focusing, ensuring the lens achieves outstanding imaging quality throughout its focusing range, including at closer focusingdistances.
The achievement of the apochromatic correction of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH involved the use of specially formulated glass based on original developments from the former Leitz glass laboratory. The use of such glass requires great effort and many years of experience.

Thanks to the consistent advancement of optical processes, working with this high-quality glass has been honed to such a fine art that it is integrated in the best possible quality in Leica lenses – as it is today, in the new Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH.

As a particularly reliable product with enduring value, the APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. Is manufactured from the highest quality materials and is assembled in an intricate process, completely by hand, in Leica’s production facility in Solms, Germany. The combination of cutting-edge technologies and meticulous manufacturing procedures guarantees the consistently excellent quality of every single Leica lens.

Pricing and availability
The Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. in black finish is scheduled to be available in the UK from the end of July 2012 from authorised Leica dealers including the Leica Store Mayfair: www.leicastoremayfair.co.uk, tel: 020 7629 1351. A full list of authorised UK Leica dealers is available at www.leica-camera.co.uk. The suggested UK retail price is £5,400 inc. VAT.

Leica warranty and added value services
The Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH comes with a two-year warranty and a one-year Leica UK ‘Passport’ (complimentary accidental damage cover). UK customers are also welcome to visit the Leica Store and Akademie in Mayfair, London, for a complimentary demonstration on the features of the product.

Technical support by telephone is available via Leica’s London-based Client Care department.