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Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW Lens Shipping Soon

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Ricoh has unveiled that the full frame Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens for K-mount cameras will ship in July for $1199.

The lens features a rounded, 9-blade diaphragm, along with a redesigned ring motor for better AF response. While compatible with K-mount cameras for shooting operations, the electromagnetic diaphragm-control mechanism is only available when the lens is mounted on a Pentax K-1 Mark II, K-1, K-3 II, K-3, KP, K-70, K-S2 or K-S1 camera body.

You can view more specs and pre-order the new Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW lens here at B&H Photo.

 

5 Reasons to Shoot With a 50mm Prime Lens

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Last Vegas at Night, Copyright: Rose Clearfield

When you bought your DSLR camera, most likely it came with a kit lens. Modern kit lenses are a great pace to start. However, after a while, you may find yourself itching to try other lenses. There are so many lenses on the market that it’s often overwhelming narrowing down one or two lenses to buy. A 50mm prime lens is a natural choice for a first prime lens. 50mm f/1.8 lenses are very affordable and allow you to explore a wide variety of techniques while gaining confidence as a photographer. [Read more…]

Sony Unveils 50mm f/1.8 and 70-300mm G OSS Full Frame Lenses

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Sony-FE-70-300mm-f4.5-5.6G-OSS-Lens-and-Sony-FE-50mm-1.8-Lens

Sony has unveiled a pair of new full frame lenses – the FE 50mm f/1.8 lens and the FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G OSS lens.

The new 50mm f/1.8 lens isn’t quite in the “nifty fifty” price range of others, but it still isn’t too expensive at just $248. It has a 7-blade aperture and a nice, large manual focus ring for better control. It also features a 49mm filter thread. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 lens will ship in May 2016 and is available for pre-order here at B&H Photo.

The new 70-300mm lens adds to Sony’s G line and features built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, two ED glass elements, four aspherical elements and a Nano AR coating to reduce ghosting and flare. It also features a 9-blade circular aperture and a 72mm filter thread. It has a minimum focusing distance of 3′ and a focus limiter for faster AF when shooting beyond three meters.

Priced at $1198, the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G OSS lens will ship in May 2016 and is available for pre-order here at B&H Photo.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Replacement Coming Soon?

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Current Canon 50mm f1.4 USM Lens

Canon Rumors received a tip that a new 50mm lens is coming soon. While there are no specifics as to whether it is a replacement for the current 50mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.2 lens, the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens is over 30 years old and is ripe for replacement.

Canon Rumors rates this as a credible rumor and it’s certainly a needed replacement. So, hopefully, we’ll see something sooner rather than later.

Stay tuned.