News / New Cameras & Lenses

Canon has moved early to replace last year's 650D/Rebel T4i with the 700D/T5i. Like its predecessor, the new camera has an 18MP APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor with built-in phase-detection autofocus, a DIGIC 5 processor, a 9-point cross-type AF system, and Full HD movie mode. Among only a few minor changes, the Canon 700D is bundled with a new 18-55mm STM lens, which should offer better movie AF at a recommended price of $899.99/£849.

Canon has launched two SX series compact superzooms, the PowerShot SX280 HS and SX270 HS. The difference between the two is that the SX280 HS includes Wi-Fi connectivity and GPS, whereas the SX270 HS, which is not being announced by Canon USA, does not. Beyond that, both are 20x compact superzooms with 25-500mm equivalent image-stabilized lenses and 3 inch 460k dot LCD screens. Both feature 12MP back-lit CMOS sensors and the company's latest Digic 6 processor.

Olympus has announced the Stylus VH-520, an affordable 10x compact superzoom with a 14MP CMOS sensor. It offers a 26-260mm equivalent stabilized zoom lens and the ability to shoot 1080p video. It also offers 'Magic Filter' processing effects that can be applied to both stills and video, along with high-speed movie mode. The VH-520 will be available from April at a price of around £130.

Minox has released the latest generation of their 'Digital Classic Camera', whose miniature rangefinder body harkens back to the 1950's. The DCC 14.0 features a 14 Megapixel CMOS sensor, 41mm-equivalent fixed lens, optical viewfinder, 2" LCD display, and VGA video recording. The camera will be available soon in your choice of black or silver for $239. 

Tokina has announced it will be shipping the AT-X 12-28 F4 PRO DX lens from April 2013 in Nikon mount, and June 2013 for the Canon version. Announced at the CP+ tradeshow, the lens is a replacement for the company's existing 12-24mm F4 wideangle zoom for APS-C cameras. But rather than making the lens wider to match its competitors, Tokina has chosen to extend it further into the 'normal' range, to give an 18-42mm equivalent zoom. The Japanese RRP of ¥90,000 is the same as that for the existing AT-X Pro DX 12-24mm F4 II lens. (via DCWatch)

DxOMark has tested 61 lenses on the Nikon D800, and drawn some conclusions about the results. So far it has published two sections of an eventual four-part article: the first discusses how much benefit the D800's 36MP sensor really offers over the 24MP chips in cameras such as the D3X and D600, while the second looks at which lenses in the 50-100mm range come out with the best DxOMark scores. Further parts later this month will look at telephoto and wideangle lenses. Click through for the link.

Rokinon has announced the T-S 24mm F3.5, a wideangle perspective control lens, for release in May 2013. Rokinon rebadges and distributes Samyang lenses for the US market, and this lens first appeared at Photokina 2012 as the Samyang T-S 24mm 1:3.5 ED AS UMC, but without a specific date for launch. The lens features manual focus and aperture setting, offers up to 12mm of shift and 8.5° of tilt, and is designed for full frame cameras. It'll initially be available in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts, at an RRP of $1299.99.    

Nikon and Canon UK have announced Spring 2013 rebates with savings ranging from £30-£235. The Nikon offer applies to D3100, D3200, D5100, D5200, D7000 and D600 digital SLRs. The rebates are available on purchases made between March 14th- May 31st 2013. Canon UK is offering rebates on a number of DSLRs, lenses, printers and camcorders including the EOS 5D Mark III DSLR, 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens, G1 X compact camera and Pixma Pro-1 printer for purchases made between March 7th- May 31st 2013. Click through for links to the rebates.

Samsung UK has announced it will include a copy of Adobe Lightroom 4 photo-editing software for free with its NX300 APS-C mirrorless camera shipments. Announced at the CES 2013 tradeshow,the 3D-capable camera is built around a 20MP sensor, 3.3" OLED screen and built-in Wi-fi. We do not know whether this is a UK-only bundle, but we will update the story if more information becomes available.

Pentax US has announced mail-in rebates on its 645D medium-format DSLR and select Limited series lenses when purchased with the K-5 IIs DSLR. Buyers of the 645D body will receive a free D-FA 55mm lens and $500 rebate on the purchase of the D-FA 25mm and HD 90mm lens. Those buying the K-5IIs camera body will receive a $250 rebate on the purchase of FA 31mm, 43mm and 77mm lenses. The rebates can be claimed from March 11th through March 31st 2013 and will be paid in the form of a Visa gift card.

Sigma US has announced the price and availability for its three latest 'Art' series prime lenses - the 19mm f/2.8 DN and 30mm f/2.8 DN for mirrorless cameras, and the 30mm f/1.4 for APS-C DSLRs. The DN lenses will be available for street price of $199 and the redesigned 30mm f/1.4 will be available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts for $499. All three will start shipping from the end of this month. No details were given about the 60mm f/2.8 lens also announced during the CP+ tradeshow.

Fujifilm UK has given more details of the upcoming XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS telephoto zoom for its X system cameras. Full specifications include an inner focusing system driven by no fewer than four linear stepper motors, and a promise of class-leading OIS with four to five stops correction, to go alongside the maximum aperture that's half a stop faster than typical SLR lenses covering the same range. The company says the lens will be available in May 2013. Meanwhile the promised XF 23mm F1.4 R and XF 27mm F2.8 R pancake are expected to appear in the middle of the year, and the XF 56mm F1.4 R and XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS at the end of 2013.

Nikon has posted a gallery of ten images and a video of the new Coolpix A DX-format compact camera. The camera features a 16MP APS-C sensor with no optical low-pass filter and a 28mm equivalent F2.8 prime lens. The images that Nikon has posted are taken by documentary photographer Doug Menuez in JPEG Fine (8-bit) mode. Click through for some images and a link to the full gallery. 

Nikon has unveiled its first DX-format compact, the Coolpix A, alongside the enthusiast-focused Coolpix P330. The Coolpix A fits a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter behind a 28mm equivalent, F2.8 prime lens. The Coolpix P330, meanwhile, gains a 1/1.7" sensor and Raw-shooting capability, over its predecessor. The Coolpix A will cost around $1100/£1000/€1100, while the P330 will retail for around $380/£350/€380.

Nikon has launched the AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, a redesigned version of the 12-year-old 80-400mm VR. The G version features an entirely new optical formulation, ring-type AF-S focus motor and revamped VR system capable of a claimed four stops of stabilization.

Nikon Europe has announced the Coolpix L320 CCD-based superzoom, while Nikon USA has announced the Coolpix S3500. The 16MP L320 features a 22.5–585mm equiv. zoom lens, 3.0" LCD, 720p HD recording and runs on two AA batteries. It will be available from the end of this month at a retail price of around £199.99. Nikon USA has announced the Coolpix S3500, revealed last week in Europe.

Phase One has unveiled the Wi-Fi enabled IQ260, IQ260 Achromatic and IQ280 medium format digital camera backs. The 60MP IQ260 and IQ260 Achromatic feature maximum shutter speeds of 1/10,000th of a second. The IQ260 Achromatic is a black-and-white version, with no color and IR filter. The cameras' wireless capabilities allow users to remotely capture and view images from iOS devices. All three backs feature 3.2" multi-touch rear screens with 1.15m dot resolution, and built-in accelerometers. They will be available from June 2013 at suggested retail prices starting from €29,990 /$39,990.

Sensor maker Aptina has announced it has signed a patent cross-license agreement with Sony, that provides each company with access to the other’s patent portfolio. This agreement gives two prominent sensor makers access to some of each other's technologies for future development of cameras and other imaging products.

Pentax Ricoh has moved its K-01 K-mount mirrorless camera to the 'discontinued' section of its website after just 12 months on the market. The unconventional-looking K-01 used a full-depth Pentax K lens mount but relied on contrast-detection AF, rather than the phase-detection systems for which all autofocus K-mount lenses have been primarily designed. Designed by Marc Newson, the K-01 was one of the most unusual-looking cameras we've ever tested. Click through for more details. 

Sony US has announced the Alpha SLT-A58 and NEX 3N cameras, five days after they were announced in Europe. The A58 replaces both the A37 and A57, helping to simplify the company's lineup. Meanwhile, the NEX-3N gains a compact-camera-style zoom lever and a smaller body than its predecessor, the F3. Both gain a lock-on focus mode and Auto Object Framing mode. The SLT-A58 will cost around $600 as a kit with the 18-55mm zoom, while the NEX-3N comes with a 16-50mm power zoom lens for around $500.