As expected, 2010 will be a great year for lenses to strengthen the range delivered to the Samsung NX-10: Samsung announces no less than 10 glasses for this year.

To be released during the first half of 2010:
18-55mm F3.5-5.6, Non OIS

To be released during the second half of 2010:
20-50mm F3.5-5.6
20mm F2.8
18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OIS
60mm F2.8

Finally, Sony told us some about the future of the Alpha line of D-SLR cameras. Unfortunately, it does not mean that we will see new cameras soon. The discontinued Alpha 700 will receive a replacement (who is surprised, really?) and it will come with a wide-angle lens Zeiss Distagon T* 24 mm f/2 ZA SSM and a big 500 mm f/4 G. And notice the prominent HD marking on the top of the mock-ups: HD video is coming now.

There also will be a new ultra-compact camera with interchangeable lenses. The presented mock-ups are quite small indeed:

The video has just been updated (it was removed by the user for some short time).

According to NR, the announcements of new Nikon for the PMA will be very limited: “several large aperture prime lenses and light compact zoom lens this year”.

The official PMA press conferences will happen in the coming hours, but this probably means “no SLR“.

Updated on 9-Feb: As a matter of fact, the Nikon press conference only presents the new AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED & AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR (source: DPReview).

It is sometimes difficult for the budding photographer (or for more seasoned ones, also) to clearly grab the differences between focal lengths. Nikon comes to our help with their Lens Simulator. Nothing absolutely new, but a nice one (even taking into account the differences between DX and FX formats – APS-C and Full Frame).

Lens simulator

Canon has just presented its newest zoom lens. The 70-200mm range is quite important because at f/2.8 it is one of the most coveted high-quality lenses.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM

The new features:

• Faster AutoFocus algorithms
• Min focusing distance: 1.2m
• Wider focusing ring
• Weather-sealing
• Magnesium allow barrel for a better reliability at the small cost of only 1490g weight

This small marvel does not have a price yet, and will only be available in April 2010.

When you use an expensive SLR camera you are often tempted to purchase a specialty lens like a ultra-wide angle (fish eye) lens.

But, apart from the rare occasions when you really need it, it’s too expensive for you and me. Why not build it yourself? Instructables does the demonstration with a Nikon D90, but it could be done with any other camera.

How to make a fish eye lens for a Nikon D-90 Digital SLR for $16

Since Sony took over the photo activities of Minolta, we observed a considerable evolution on the lens range. There were only lenses from the Minolta original range (mainly on the second-hand market), but Sony associated with Zeiss to build a full-spectrum offer covering more and more and providing a good answer to the needs from entry-level to pro (going through the expert/enthusiast amateur).

Alpha-Numérique has a good and clear summary panorama of this young but rich product line in a French post: La gamme optique Sony / Zeiss.

If you don’t know, you may be interested in this video from Canon.

When you want to go cheap, you’d better be able to build your own devices. For most photographers, a tilt-shit lens is often too expensive for something that you’ll nearly never use. So, why not build your own tilt-shift lens from cheap plumbing parts?

Bhautik Joshi did exactly that. $10 for the whole project, including the lens mount, plus a manual focus lens (less than $50 on will open the doors to architecture and special effects only available to tilt-shift. If you accept quality limited by your ability with tools and crafts.

I just got a Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM zoom (Mfr# SAL1635Z) and I wanted to share with you my first impressions.

Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM

Obviously, this is a pro-level mechanical design. You immediately notice the weight of this zoom lens (at no less than 1.9 lbs (860g), this is not a cheap plastic lens). Some photographers may even find it too heavy for ease, but if you tend to use your wide-angle zoom on a tripod, you won’t notice it and it will bring some additional stability to the SLR Alpha-series camera body.

The bulk of the objective is in relation, but it offers several noticeable advantages:

1. The lens length does not change when you zoom
2. The front lens does not rotate when zooming or focusing (since you need very fine polarizers on such a wide-angle, it’s better that way)
3. the focus and zoom rings are wide, well located and easy to reach
4. The AF-lock button on the side is well located
5. The depth-of-field window is large and quite readable

Now, if you start playing with the lens, as I did on a Sony Alpha 700, the operation is very smooth. Obviously, the presence of the SSM motor is helping a lot and AF operation is nearly totally silent, while very fast.

Now, I could not yet evaluate the image quality (the lens is announced as having a high IQ), and I will provide some more info when I will be able to play with it (probably during my trip to Nepal next week).

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Canon adds to the EOS 7D a set of new lenses that will be attractive to enthusiast, expert and pro photographers:

• Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
• Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
• Canon EF 100mm F2.8L IS USM macro, with Hybrid IS system which is claimed to provide up to 2 stops stabilization at 1.0x magnification, and up to 4 stops at longer shooting distances.

Your iPhone is probably not at the same quality level as your other(s) photo camera(s). But since the arrival of the iPhone 3G-S it looks more and more like a cute small photo notepad. But you still had no option to extend its lens with lens converters of any kind.

This is corrected by Factron, a Japanese company offering a metal box on which you can attach accessories.

iPhone case

iPhone lenses

Surprising, but it may be useful to somebody..

Factron web site: in Japanese, in English (translation by Google).

Today is clearly a big day for Nikon marketing department, since they not only launch two major SLR cameras, but this also comes with a couple of nice lenses:

• The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR II improved to correct the unpleasant ‘zoom creep‘ of previous versions, at a list price of €887.00 / $849.95 / £729.99 (from September 2009)
• The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II which should become on of the most successful lens products for both the pro and the enthusiast, at a list price of €2430 / $2399.95 / £1999 (from November 2009)

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR II	AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR II
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II	AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II

We should discover tomorrow that Nikon updated one of its most attractive tele-zoom lenses, the 70-200mm. The new AF-S Nikkor 70-200 mm f/2.8G ED VR II is expected by RP to have the following specs:

• Image stabilization: VR II.
• Lens with nano-coating.
• New faster AF.
• 1540g weight (70g more than the previous model).
• 209mm length (a bit shorter than the previous model).
• Shortest focusing: 1.4m.
• Filter diameter: 77mm.

Also expected tomorrow: Another new lens, the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II.

Apparently, this is the Nikon month… News after news.

Tamron rewrote its web site. This was the occasion to move the Lens Comparison Tool but it is still useful to compare a 400mm with a 500mm (or a 35mm with a 50mm).

Tamron - Lens Comparison Tool (based on focal length)

But you can also find a similar tool at Olympus (and it takes into account the specificities of 4/3 sensor format, of course): Perfect Lens finder.

Olympus Perfect Lens Finder

PhotoRumors is telling us about an anonymous leak describing a possible new Sony Alpha 800 with the following features:

• 16.2 MP full frame sensor EXMOR R (new technology)
• 100-25600 ISO
• 8 frame/sec
• SSI, same a900 OVF, new AF system,
• GPS and WiFi built-in
• 3.5″ LCD display
• Pop-up flash
• Flash sync: 1/500s
• Camera level
• 23 AF sensors
• Quick Live View
• Video Full HD
• Dust/splashes sealed
• Aluminum-magnesium alloy body
• Released early September 2009

It seems that everybody is now expecting Sony too announce/launch at least one more SLR camera (after the Sony Alpha 230, Alpha 330 and Alpha 380).

I am not sure this leak is real (it looks too much like the wet dream of a techno-geek maniac), but it’s worth waiting for a new SLR photo camera to go and replace or complement the existing Sony Alpha 700.

What seems certain: Sony promised to present two more high-end lenses in 2009 (one super-tele-photo, maybe a 500mm f/4.5, and a beautiful 28-75mm f/2.8 zoom); We expect both lenses and new body to be announced simultaneously.