Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE Pictures Leaked: Official Announcement Coming Soon

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 13, 2019

The first lens from Samyang’s spring collection the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE should launch soon. The Samyang lens sale is also still active if you’re looking to round out your Samyang AF lens collection.

via Nokishita

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Zenitar 50mm f/0.95 Manual Focus Len Is Rumored To Be Announced On March 15th

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 12, 2019


Russian websites are reporting that the new Zenitar 50mm f/0.95 manual focus full-frame lens from Zenit will be announced March 15th. The new lens will be produced in the Krasnogorsky plant by Shvabe Holding. Additional information:

  • The lens has 9 elements in 8 groups
  • The angle of view in full frame is 46°
  • Multi-layer coating
  • 14 aperture diaphragms
  • The lens has been in development since 2015
  • The price is rumored to be around $500

Zenitar 50mm f/0.95: B&H Photo / Amazon

via Photorumors

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The Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM Managed The Best MTF Results Ever Recorded by Lens Rentals

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 12, 2019


Lens Rentals tested the Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM and were shocked by how well it resolved detail. The new Sony 135mm is the sharpest 135mm ever tested and even super telephoto lenses don’t score as well as Sony’s latest. In fact, it scored so well at 50 lp/mm that they decided to test it at 100 lp/mm and it still impressed. There are two excerpts below from the testing

50 lp/mm test
Let’s make this simple and straightforward. In the center, that’s the highest MTF I’ve seen on a non-supertelephoto lens. The highest. Let’s put particular emphasis on the purple line, which is 50 lp/mm. That’s a higher frequency than any manufacturer tests (that we know of), appropriate for fine detail on the highest resolution cameras. We would consider an MTF of 0.5 at 50 lp/mm to be very acceptable. This is hugely better, nearly 0.8 in the center. We’ve never seen that kind of resolution before.

100 lp/mm test
No lens we’ve ever tested has resolved 100 lp/mm this well at any aperture. One other lens was close, but I can’t tell you the name of it. We were under such strict nondisclosure that we never referred to it by name. It was just referred to as ‘the lens in question’ and was a huge prototype. But even that lens wasn’t quite this good at 100 lp/mm.

What does this mean for you? Well, in a couple of years if you are shooting a 90-megapixel camera, this lens will be the one that wrings the most detail out of that sensor. Right now it looks at your 43 megapixels and goes, “that’s cute.”

You can read the full results here and see more MTF charts, but the new Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM is seriously impressing testers. Lets hope photographers enjoy it as much.

Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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Meyer Optik Görlitz is Back and They Are Being Transparent

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 12, 2019


Meyer Optik Görlitz is back thanks to OPC Optics and they hope to not make the same mistakes as the company that originally tried to revive the brand. So far they have released two press releases, which you can read below, but the second one is probably the most interesting since it includes:

Somnium and Nocturnus ranges for the time being. In line with comments in the past on various online platforms, forums etc., the current Meyer Optik staff also soon became aware that internally the Somnium was actually a modified Russian lens and the Nocturnus was a modified Chinese lens.

It looks like two of Meyer Optik Görlitz more expensive lenses were largely a Russian and Chinese design. Meyer will discontinue these lenses for now and will not continue many of their former practices like crowdfunding. The first lenses manufactured entirely in Germany from Meyer Optik should start to ship around the end of 2019 after they finish the acquisition. There is also news about warranty support and some existing stock that is left.

As part of the takeover of the brand, OPC Optics also acquired the previous manufacturer’s stock of finished goods. These lenses have been checked by OPC and will be for sale at greatly reduced prices, for as long as stocks last. OPC Optics will, of course, honor guarantees and warranties for 2 years from the date of purchase. Any subsequent production of these lens designs or their components is not envisaged in the current development plan.

You can read the full press releases below. Read More »

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Samyang AF and MF E-Mount Discounts

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 11, 2019


Samyang AF lenses are currently discounted. The savings are listed below. There are also savings on none AF lenses that you can find at B&H Photo and Adorama

Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE (Save $200): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE (Save $130): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE (Save $269): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 FE (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 FE (Save $250): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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Sony Savings Sunday: Now With Deeply Discounted Vi Vante Bags and Camera Straps

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 10, 2019


B&H Photo is running their trade-in event where you can receive up to a $500 trade-in bonus towards select cameras & lenses.

Amazon has some very good discounts on leather Vi Vante goods. They are largely marketed to Leica users, but at these prices, everyone can grab one. You can find a list of all their products here. Just make sure you click the coupon button when orders to get the savings applied at checkout.


Body Specials
Sony Alpha a9 w 100-400mm
Sony Alpha a9 w 24-70mm f/2.8
Sony Alpha a7 II w FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 

Sony Alpha a9 w Hard Drive and Bag
Sony Alpha a7R II w Professional Kit
Sony Alpha a7S II w Storage Kit
Sony Alpha a7 II w Accessories

Sony Alpha a6500 w 18-135mm and Accessories
Sony Alpha a6300 w 18-135mm and Accessories

Sony Alpha a6000 w 16-50mm, 55-210mm and Accessories

Sony Alpha a6300 w 16-50mm and Accessories
Sony Alpha a6000 w 16-50mm and Accessories
Sony Alpha a5100 w 16-50mm and Accessories

Sony Alpha a6500 w Accessories
Sony Alpha a6300 w Accessories
Sony Alpha a6000 w Accessories
Sony Alpha a5100 w Accessories

Meike Grip

Sony FE Lens Savings
Sony 16mm Fisheye Conversion Lens for FE 28mm f/2 (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony 21mm Ultra-Wide Conversion Lens for FE 28mm f/2 (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 28mm f/2 (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA(Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

APS-C NEX E-Mount Lenses
Sony Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E 20mm f/2.8Sony E 20mm f/2.8 (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E 16mm f/2.8 (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS (Save $100): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS (Save $25): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony E PZ 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS (Save $50): B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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