Laowa 0.7X Focal Reducers For Probe Lens PL and EF Mount Announced

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 4, 2022


24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe: B&H Photo / Amazon / Venus Optics

Anhui China, 4 April, 2022 – Venus Optics, the camera lens manufacturer specializing in making unique lenses for photographers and cinematographers, is thrilled to announce the new 0.7x Focal Reducer for 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe. It reduces the crop factor when using probe lenses on APS-C/ Super35 and Micro Four Thirds cameras, which helps retain the perspective of the probe lens. The maximum aperture is boosted to f/10 as well. Various mounts are available:

●               Canon EF – Canon RF●               Arri PL – Canon RF
●               Canon EF – Sony E●               Arri PL – Sony E
●               Canon EF – Fuji X●               Arri PL – Fuji X
●               Canon EF – M43●               Arri PL – M43
●               Canon EF – L mount●               Canon EF – L mount

Keeping the perspective on S35 and M43
Optimized for Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe, the 0.7x Focal Reducer effectively reduces the crop factor from 1.5x to 1.05x on Super35 and from 2x to 1.4x on Micro Four Thirds, which reserves the original perspective of the probe lens. It also boosts the aperture by 1 stop, making it a brighter lens with an f/10 maximum.

Various mounts available
The reducer allows users to mount Arri PL/Canon EF probe lenses onto different cameras, including Canon EOS C70, RED Komodo, Sony APS-C series, Fujifilm X series, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k, Lumix GH5, Leica CL, etc.

Excellent Durability
The focal reducer is fully constructed with metal. Not only provide stability for adapting lenses, but it also improves durability. It would be a reliable shooting gear for professional use.

Optimized quality for affordable price
Laowa 0.7x Focal Reducer for Probe Lens is currently available to purchase on Venus Optics official websites  (http://www.venuslens.net/ / https://laowacine.com/) and via authorized dealers.

Priced at USD250, Laowa offers probe lens enthusiasts a rather friendly price while giving promising results.

Specification 

Laowa 0.7x Focal Reducer for Probe Lens
FormatFF to S35/ APS-C/ MFT
Lens Structure3 elements in 1 group
DimensionsEF adapter：Φ75mmX25.5mm
PL adapter：Φ90mmX38mm
Weight 259g(PL-E)
MountPL-E/PL-X/PL-R/PL-M43/PL-L
EF-E/EF-X/EF-R/EF-M43/EF-L
Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

DPR: MonsterAdapter LA-KE1 Pentax AF Adapter

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 3, 2022


The MonsterAdapter LA-KE1 has been around for a while but DPR posted a very in-depth review of the capabilities of the adapter that you can read here. In short, you won’t get native performance out of the adapter and it won’t support every last lens, but it is good enough to take advantage of some excellent Pentax glass. Below are some excerpts:

If you want to use your Pentax lenses on Sony E-mount bodies without losing autofocus, the MonsterAdapter LA-KE1 is basically the only game in town… While its performance will vary depending upon your chosen lenses and camera bodies, we found the LA-KE1 adapter to yield rather lesser AF performance than is natively available from Pentax bodies… Whether you’re hooked on the look those lenses provide or just want to delay buying their replacements for as long as possible, the MonsterAdapter LA-KE1 is definitely worthy of consideration.

Pro:

  • Pentax glass on Sony E-mount without losing AF and aperture control
  • Relatively small and compact
  • Solid, durable build
  • Works with both single and continuous AF
  • Works with screw-drive and in-lens AF motors, even for precision operations like remote-controlled focus stacking
  • Works with mechanical and electronic aperture control
  • Works with in-body image stabilization

Con:

  • Quite pricey
  • No weather sealing
  • Control feel isn’t very premium
  • Negates the size advantage of mirrorless cameras
  • Slower AF than with a Pentax body
  • No video autofocus

MonsterAdapter LA-KE1: B&H Photo

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Big Tamron Savings

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 2, 2022

Tamron 20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 35mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Save $80:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD Save $100:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III A-VC RXD Save $100:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III RXD Save $100:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Save $80:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Save $50:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Save $200:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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Sony Medium Format Sony A7MI, A7MII, and a7RV Rumors

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 1, 2022


I think most expect Sony to enter the medium format market sooner rather than later and I actually have received a few rumors about it happening as soon as this year, but I do not believe it is plausible so I have been saving this particular rumor for April 1st.

Here is something I can be a bit more definitive about: Sony will announce Medium format cameras in the summer. 2 of the. 150mp and 200mp. $7500 and $9999 respectively. Anything over 10k and its effectively pointless. Under 10k and they put Hasselblad and Phase One out of business.

The curved sensor patents we saw earlier would limit them to Prime lenses and extremely expensive ones at that…so expect flat regular medium format sensors like the 150mp and 200mp we’ve already seen patented.

Expect a bizarre name like A7M i and A7M ii.

Announcement may be a development announcement at the same time the A7r V.

This rumor is likely off base, but if it is correct we could see some interesting medium format cameras going into 2023.

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Posted in Press releases| Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Tamron 18-50mm, 25-120mm, and 28-120mm Patents Found

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 1, 2022

Example 1

  • Focal length: 18.528-49.967
  • F value: 3.605-5.308
  • Half angle of view: 39.012-15.652
  • Image height: 14.250
  • Overall length: 97.833-119.002
  • Back focus: 37.320

Example 2

  • Focal length: 25.100-114.132
  • F value: 4.105-4.140
  • Half angle of view: 42.102-10.446
  • Image height: 21.633
  • Overall length: 167.363-218.148
  • Back focus: 39.824

Example 3

  • Focal length: 28.000-118.794
  • F value: 4.113
  • Half angle of view: 39.089-10.020
  • Image height: 21.633
  • Overall length: 173.822-232.150
  • Back focus: 45.497

Overview

  • [Publication Number] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-51875
  • [Title of the invention] Zoom lens and image pickup device
  • [Filing date] 2022-02-08
  • [Applicant]
    [Identification number] 000133227
    [Name or name] Tamron Co. , Ltd.
  • PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-performance standard zoom lens capable of ensuring an appropriate back focus while reducing the weight of a focus group, and an image pickup apparatus provided with the zoom lens.
  • [0003]
    By the way, as an autofocus mechanism of an image pickup apparatus, a phase difference method and a contrast method are known. In the phase difference method, the distance to the subject is measured by the phase difference sensor and focused. On the other hand, in the contrast method, the position where the contrast of the subject is highest is detected while moving the focus group, and that position is set as the in-focus point.
  • [0005]
    On the other hand, Patent Document 2 proposes a standard zoom lens suitable for an image pickup lens that employs a contrast-type autofocus mechanism. The zoom lens has a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power in order from the object side. It is composed of four lens groups, a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power, and a sixth lens group having a positive refractive power, and the fourth lens group is moved to the image side to focus on the subject.
  • [0006]
    Conventionally, a phase difference type autofocus mechanism has been widely adopted in an image pickup device to which an interchangeable lens system requiring a relatively long back focus such as a single-lens reflex camera is applied. On the other hand, the contrast type autofocus mechanism is widely adopted in an image pickup device in which the back focus is shortened by eliminating an optical viewfinder such as a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera and a reflex mirror.
  • Wear.
    [0010]
    However, the zoom lens described in Patent Document 2 has a short back focus at the wide-angle end, and is difficult to apply to an interchangeable lens system such as a single-lens reflex camera that requires a relatively long back focus.
  • [0011]
    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance standard zoom lens capable of ensuring an appropriate back focus while reducing the weight of the focus group, and an image pickup apparatus provided with the zoom lens. It is in.

via asobinet

Posted in 3rd Party Lens, Patents| Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Sony a7IV Firmware 1.01 Released

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 31, 2022


Sony a7IV: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Sony a7IV FW1.01 Download Here
Benefits and Improvements

  • Improves the accuracy of the Eye AF feature
  • Fixes an issue where you may not be able to take photos when using a SEL2860 lens
  • Improves the operational stability of the camera

Note: This update is only available for Windows and macOS. A memory card version is not provided.

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Posted in Firmware updates, Sony a7IV| 1 Comment