1. Petapixel’s A Field Test of the $12,400 Nikon 180-400mm f/4 TC1.4
2. And the even better Shooting polar bears with the $12,000 Nikon 180-400mm F4E TC1.4 FL ED VR

Such a beast of lens is not for everybody, but you can’t beat reading real-world testing.

I hesitated quite some time and, while I was waiting for its arrival, I admit I was somewhat frigthened that buying it may have been the biggest mistake of my photographer’s career. I am no longer frightened and I offer to share why using it was so positive.

Out of its price, it appears frighteningly heavy. I would not say this is a light lens (3.8kg, no less!) but it is astonishingly well balanced; Most probably because it has a large optical group in the back, near the camera body. I was coming from my habits with a Minolta 400mm f/4.5 (of -only- 1.8kg) which I learned to handle without a pod (to track fliying birds). With the help of the image stabilization (active in the viewfinder), I could shoot vultures and storks filling the frame at 400mm and smaller, faster birds (European rollers) in a wider frame. Just remember that you need some space around or the head of your neighbours will not appreciate your ample moves. And those who met me face-to-face understand that I am not really an athlete!

The zooming ring falls right in your hand and is ideally fluid with a nice run (not too short, not too long for my taste: A big 90° angle to go from 200mm to 400mm). The advantage of the integrated multiplier is resolutely recognizable. I thought that it could be a pleasant addition with a limited use. This is much more than that: The combination of the focal range and the multiplier teaches you to easily move from one range to the other. I quickly built a reflex of re-centering the focal range when reaching 400mm (one push of a finger on the multiplier lever and a small ring turn and I’m back at 400mm but in the middle of the available 280-560mm range; and back).

The materials used to build it are pleasant and re-assuring to handle (the sun visor is quite rigid even if clearly plastic-made). The case which -at launch time- have temporarily appeared as maybe a separate option was included. If it protects the lens well, removing it from the shipment would have reduced the price by nearly 600€ (at this level of price, every little thing could help) and moving this jewel around in so recognizable a Canon case would call for robbery. Who would be ready to put this case on the conveyor belt of an airport check-in counter? Seriously!

Speaking of image quality,I should let more competent people count lines, measure fringes, peep pixels and describe the technologies deployed by Canon. I can only say that all you se in the viewfinder looks great (f/4) but I would tell a little tale that I can share with you. Back from Kenya with plenty of photos (my finger is a bit heavy and the 70D continuous shooting is quite fast, even when I shoot completely immobile subjects). While reviewing the images, I tried to compare AF results of a leopard lying on the ground by merely zomming as much as possible on the eye of the animal and by checking the precision of the vein lines and iris colors.

Of course, this cannot stop you having fun shooting pictures (the leopard below really winked at me (you can see it by moving your mouse over the image – if you click, you will see his nice eye).

All in all, no regret. The Canon 200-400mm f/4 ext 1.4 is a sumptuous piece of optical photographic glass.

Everything has already been told and written (you’ll find below a list of announcement papers in other blogs), except the price: A whooping 11769 US Dollar! Even a little higher than what was expected.

The first lenses will be available at the end of May, but Canon sources confirm that the quantity will be very limited at first.

• PetaPixel
• PhotoCritic
• Canon rumors
• DPreview

And the case is 649 US dollars more…

Since then, the rumors extended beyond reason. The lens was seen several times in the hands of various photographers (in particular, during some sports events around the world). But it seems that Canon evidenced a serious issue last Summer, significantly delaying the launch. It’s impossible to know what it was, but the reality is that the lens exists and that it’s not available yet.

Despite a formidable price (forecast to be further than 11000 US dollars, or more than 10000 euros), it attracted the interest of many people because it exhibits an extraordinary set of features (extraordinary, even in the world of mega-zooms):

1. A 200-400mm zoom lens with a f/4 aperture, or a diaphragm very wide open without reaching the ridiculous price and weight of a f/2.8 aperture.
2. This combination has already been visible in the Nikon lens line for several year in the guise of the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR which is already in its second generation (mainly for an upgrade of the optical image stabilization).
3. Its wide aperture allows to use a focal multiplier; but this kind of tool is often unpleasant to handle. The new Canon integrates a 1.4x multiplier in an internal mechanism that appears like a sort of side bulbous bump. The multiplier, thus, becomes always available at the minuscule cost of pushing a lever with a finger to bring it into the optical path. Nothing could be simpler!

This last item is clearly the innovation that shocked people into attention and could have a nice future if Canon learns how to handle the small associated mechanism (they do have the needed knowledge, of course).

According to Canon Rumors (which previously distinguished itself with a number of unfounded rumors about this lens and about other Canon products), the official announcement will happen in a few days (15th of May?) with full availability around Fall 2013. Nothing is certain, but if you want some more to feed your impatience, there is an Australian photographer, Joshua Holko, who has been authorized to publish a video review of a few minutes.

Thanks to Luminous Landscape.

Nikon has decided to start renewing some of its sports- or wildlife-oriented long lenses this year (and probably in 2014 too). Starting in January 2013, they offer a monster of a lens, the Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 E FL ED VR.

It’s a monster of price (18,000 USD list price, but slightly better at B&H or Amazon), of weight (4.59 kg or 10.12 lb). But it’s also one of the longest focal you can really find on the market (older 1200mm heavy-weights are out-of-market, in all senses of the word).

The most prominent features are a dream for all photographers (in this category):

• Two ED glass elements (“fluorite” for those more used to Canon language, despite the small differences between these technologies)
• Electro-magnetically-controled diaphragm (like in the PC-E line of lenses)
• Included TC800-1.25E ED extender designed specially to create a 1000mm f/7.1 beast (the first extender ever to include an ED glass element).

• Dust-proof and splash-proof construction
• High image quality close to fixed focal length lens
• Focus limiter button (to speed AF up)

Sigma also disclosed that they want this lens to be the first in a long (and new) line of “sports-oriented” lenses (read: lens line of big focal lengths, and possibly relatively inexpensive… for long lenses).

So, we will have to wait until we can see if these features are accompanied with excellent optical quality (or not) for this Sigma new 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM lens.

• Nikon launches an 800mm f/5.6 which is becoming the biggest product of its catalog.
• Canon is still testing the all-new, all-beautiful 200-400mm f/4 (with integrated 1.4x f)
• Sony should renew its 70-400mm with an evolution whose content is still quite unclear.

These lenses will certainly be nearly impossible to purchase without winning the Lottery or holding a bank up (but from what I hear about their financial situation, even this may not be a viable option) but they may be attracting the attention of a few pro photogs and triggering some dreams from sports and wildlife photographers.

Now that Pentax has announced the Pentax K-01, a strange little hybrid photo camera using the K-mount lenses inherited from the DSLR range (K-5 or K-r cameras), it becomes once again important to see what Pentax is planning for the future of this range of lenses.

In the past, the question of survivability of the K-mount cameras was clearly open: Recurrent rumors of obsolescence for the K-mount were rampant in the rumors web sites, because of the possible (sometimes observed) announcement of the end-of-life of DSLR Pentax cameras. But now, with the K-01 (even if it is quite far from a pro or expert design), the promise of new DSLR (including a possible new Full Frame reflex in the end of 2012, according to sites like PhotoRumors), and the influx of new money from Ricoh, everything becomes possible again.

Pentax specifically presented a roadmap for this range of lenses.

What is really important here (read the roadmap for the details) seems to be:

• A very long telephoto prime lens: 560mm seems to be more than adequate for the smaller sensors. if this is a lens for the Full Frame, it will be a big pro lens. If it is a lens for the hybrid, it may have a relatively small aperture (f/8) to offer a very long focal length at a (relatively) reasonable cost. However, if you notice the existence of a focal 1.4x multiplier, I would say: A 560mm f/5.6. Mark my words.
• The two wide-angle zooms are obviously here for the Full Frame camera and seem to confirm that the rumor of availability in 2012 (see above) is unfounded and that the new Pentax K-full will only arrive in early 2013.

Some things are not mere rumors, but just a correct analysis of the available information…

This is not for everybody. This is heavy in all senses of the word.

Availability of the Sony 500 mm f/4 G SSM: end of March 2012.

• Tamron
• Kenko-Tokina

Olympus press release.

Leica has a long history and a brilliant fame for manufacturing excellent lenses. This is a marketing video about these Leica lenses.

Leica Lenses (English) from Leica camera on Vimeo.

So, patience is still very necessary here (Canon is finishing the actual launch of its pro primes lenses) but early 2012…

Source: Egami, an excellent technology patent blog.

• EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM at $6,599, late August 2011
• EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM at $10,499, late August 2011
• EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM at $1,399, late July 2011
• EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM at $9,499, later in 2011
• EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM at $11,999, later in 2011

No information about the 200-400mm with 1.4x extender.

In parallel, Nikon is murmuring that they do not intend to launch any new pro tele-lens in 2011.

All this is obviously linked to the issues coming from the Japan earthquake (even if Canon is pushing forward with something that is really late already).

Samsung tells us the story of how they proceed to launch the future lenses (particularly for the products of the hybrid NX family). Presented as several videos from their web site.

Videos are in English.

On this occasion, Samsung took some time to produce an illustration picture which gives us an idea of what could be the next generation of the NX range at Samsung. Obviously, they intend to give this modern range of cameras a retro look.

Bizarre, but why not? We’ll see if it works.

Some will also ask if the next Samsung NX-20 and Samsung NX-200 are present on this photo.

• Sony 30mm macro lens
• Sony 50mm f/1.8
• Zeiss 24mm f/1.7
• Sony 55-200mm f/4-5.6 zoom
• Sony medium telephoto lens
• Sony semi-pro standard zoom
• Sony wide-angle zoom

More details when they become available. For now, we don’t even have the maximum aperture for most of them (let alone prices and shipping dates).

And, there should also be a Sony NEX flash with 24-50mm coverage which will cost around $150/150€.

Source : SonyAlphaRumors.

Surprisingly for some, the Sony small inexpensive NEX-5 is giving pretty much the same results in quality even if the lens adapter is slightly reducing the field of view.

You can go and check the samples photos on the original post.

Thanks to Steve for an interesting comparison idea. It is showing that digital quality is improving in a way which is reducing the picture differences between cameras while leaving a lot to compare the other features of the cameras.

Consequently, Samyang has been forced to announce some delays and difficulties to supply their products in the coming months. The list of impacted lenses has not been detailed but it contains many items including the recent

• 7.5mm f/3.5 UMC Fisheye MFT
• 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC

Beware: Other non-listed references are involved too.

No word about the economic/financial consequences to the Samyang Optics Co. Ltd company.

• Samsung 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 ED OIS
• Samsung 16mm f/2.4
• Samsung 60mm f/2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA
• Samsung 85mm f/1.4 ED SSA
• Samsung 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 OIS

Up to now, Canon and Nikon have been using mobile optical elements in the lens in order to compensate for the hand-shake of the photographer. This way, even if you’re not very steady, your lens will compensate your moves.

But the problem with mechanical image stabilization is that it’s limited by mechanical inertia. You cannot shake a lens block as fast as you’d want. This is perfectly OK for photographer shake (usually under 10 Hz) and it is adequate for vibrations on a tripod (under 40-50 Hz) if you use a really light mobile element. But it becomes tough when you want to correct easily tripod vibrations or even in-vehicle vibrations (usually 10 Hz to 500 Hz).

This is where electro-optical elements come in (and it’s not to be understood as Electro-Optical System or EOS). This is an optical element whose optical index can change under electrical voltage. In the patent drawing, you’ll notice that eo1/eo2/3d is a flat element (pressed between two electrodes). The major advantage of electro-optical elements is that the maximum frequency may be very high (probably up into the 1000’s of Hz).

With this kind of technology (already seen in other less precise patents), Canon could be preparing a third-generation IS able to adapt easily to tripods (not only accepting to leave IS on when using the lens on a tripod, but correcting in-car or in-plane shakes).

• 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM: $4700
• Macro 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM: $1600

One SLD and two FLD glass elements, to reduce chromatic aberrations. The Super Multi-Layer Coating treatment to reduce unwanted reflexions and lens flare. 9 rounded blade diaphragm. AF driven by an HSM motor. Sigma did not leave any available technology out. They seem to be intent on making an excellent lens.

The result will have to be checked and compared with the undisclosed 3200€ price. Sigma is capable of the best or the less than best depending on the balance chosen by the Marketing Department. But it seems already going in the right direction.

Back to tradition?

Three nice lenses will also received the SILVER treatment:

• SMC PENTAX-DA 21mm f/3.2 AL Limited Silver
• SMC PENTAX-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited Silver
• SMC PENTAX-DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited Silver

Available in April 2011, you will certainly have to disburse $1699.95 (or probably around 1700€) to put your hand on it.

• Sigma 12-24mm f/4-5.6 EX DG HSM II is a new improved version of its widest zoom lens
• Sigma Macro 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is both stabilized and Macro 1:1
• Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM is designed to replace the usual 70-200mm f/2.8 on an APS-C digital sensor

Here is very good news for the Sony customers. But it’s even better when we read the list of names that Sony immediately provided: Lens manufacturers having already expressed their interest in designing lenses for the E-mount:

• Zeiss, traditional ally of Sony around the A-mount of Alpha SLR cameras.
• Tamron, old friend of the orange house, and partner back in the Minolta times.
• Cosina, owner of the very elitist Voigtländer brand.
• Sigma, manufacturer of the broadest range of compatible lenses.

Assuredly, this type of talks is usually very discreet. Here, Sony decided to strike our imaginations in one big marketing blow, demonstrating their clear intent to develop the NEX range of hybrid mirror-less cameras in the best conditions for a long life. The message has been received loud and clear.