Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH OIS Announced Preorder Now


Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

With the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH. / OIS continues to expand Panasonic’s micro-FourThirds range. This means that not only ten high-quality Leica lenses are available to users, but more than 75 MFT lenses from Panasonic and third-party suppliers.

In all lenses of this new series, nine blades form a virtually circular aperture. This creates a nice, soft bokeh in the blurred areas of the picture when shooting with large apertures. All lenses in the new series use Panasonic’s nano surface coating to suppress reflections and ghosting. In addition, they are characterized by a robust, dust and splash-proof construction and are frost-resistant to -10 degrees Celsius.

With its focal length range of 100 to 400mm telephoto (KB), this offers despite its compactness remarkable for photo and video recordings, zoom distant objects. The two optional 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverters additionally extend the focal length to a maximum of 560 or 800mm (KB).

In addition to its high light output, the OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) enhances low-light applications by effectively suppressing camera shake when shooting outdoors. The lens supports the Dual IS image stabilization system of current Panasonic Lumix G cameras.

The lens design incorporates 21 lenses in 15 groups, including two aspherical, two UED, two ED and one UHR lenses, which provide extra high resolution and contrast to the edges, effectively eliminating spherical distortion and chromatic aberration.

The new lens is also recommended especially for video recordings. It is compatible with the high-speed precision contrast AF system of the current Lumix cameras with a data exchange up to a maximum of 240 B / s and allows a uniform focusing movement. In addition to the quiet operation enabled by in-focus, the finely graduated aperture drive system provides even exposure control with brightness changes during zooming or panning. In addition, the security of the AF tracking function during zooming is also improved thanks to the high-speed single image analysis in the focus control.
The new Leica DG lens (H-ES50200) will be available from May 2018 for around 1,800 euros ($1,697.99 US).

  • Micro Four Thirds System
  • 100-400mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • Two UED Elements, Two ED Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements, One UHR Element
  • Nano Surface Coating
  • High-Speed 240 fps AF System
  • POWER Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Splash, Dust, and Freezeproof Design
  • LEICA Quality – Professional, high-quality LEICA DG ELMARIT optics. (21 Elements in 15 Groups, 2 UED Elements)
  • 50-200mm – Ultra-telephoto zoom lens F2.8-4.0 (67mm lens filter threads) suitable for wildlife photography. Compatible with optional tele converters DMW-TC14 and DMW-TC20
  • Stabilized – Power Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) compensates for the hand-shake movement in combination with LUMIX cameras supporting Dual I.S. and Dual I.S. 2.0 in-camera stabilization.
  • Fast focusing – Supports sensors drive at max. 240 fps sensor for high-speed autofocusing.
  • Rugged – Dust/splash-proof design and are even freeze-proof down to 14 Fahrenheit to withstand professional use under harsh conditions.

Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

via profifoto

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Panasonic/Olympus WPPI Deals


WPPI Deals (May Require Promo Code “BHWPPI18” at Checkout)
B&H Photo / Adorama

WPPI Panasonic/Olympus/Sigma Deals
Panasonic/Olympus Body Savings
m43 Lens Savings

Posted in 3rd Party Lens, Deals, Olympus, Panasonic| 7 Comments

Panasonic Leica DG Vario Elmarit 50-200mm f/2.8-4.0 ASPH. POWER OIS Images Leak


Nokishita leaked images of the Panasonic Leica DG Vario Elmarit 50-200mm f/2.8-4.0 ASPH. POWER OIS  that is expected next week.

Posted in Panasonic, Panasonic lenses| Tagged | 4 Comments

Towerjazz And Panasonic Talk Global Shutter And BSI Technology in TowerJazz Q4 2017 Earnings Report


TowerJazz Semiconductors released information about there future plans for sensor development. Panasonic has a 49% stake in the company and we previously showed some of their global shutter technology for future cameras here. TowerJazz has big plans for future Global Shutter and BSI sensors including Full Frame. Maybe we will see their sensor in cameras like the future Fujifilm X-T3 and Panasonic GH6.

“For CMOS image sensor we use the 300 millimeter 65 nanometer capability to develop unique high dynamic range and extremely high sensitivity pixels with very low dark current for the high-end digital SLR and cinematography and broadcasting markets.

In these developments, we’ve included are fab 2 stitching technology to enable large full frame sensors. In addition, we developed a unique family of global shutter state-of-the-art pixels ranging from 3.6 micron down to 2.5 micron to note the smallest in the world with extremely high-shutter efficiency using the unique dual light pipe technology already developed at TPS Go for high quantum efficiency and high image uniformity.

And lastly within the CIS regime, we’ve pushed the limits of our x-ray dye size developing a one dye per wafer x-ray stitch sensor to produce a 300 millimeter a 21 cm x 21 cm imager. All of the above technologies have been or are being implemented in our CIS customers next generation products and are ramping or are plan to begin ramping this year with some additional next year.

Our Image sensor end markets including medical, machine vision, digital SLR camera, cinematography and security among others represented about 15% of our corporate revenues or $210 million and provided the highest margins in the company. We are offering the most advanced global shutter pixel for industrial sensor market with a 2.8 micron global shutter pixel on 110 nanometer platform. The smallest global shutter pixel in the world already in manufacturing. Additionally, as mentioned we have a 2.5 micron state of the art global shutter pixel in development at 65 nanometer, 300 platforms with several leading customers allowing high sensor resolution for any given sensor size enabling TowerJazz to further grow its market leadership.

We also offer single photon avalanche diode which is state of the art technology and ultra fact global shutter pixel for automotive radars based on time of flight principle, answering automotive market needs. We have engaged with several customers in the development of their automotive radar and expect to be a major player in this market in the coming future.

During 2017, we announced a partnership with Yuanchen Microelectronics for backside illumination manufacturing in Changchun China that provide us the BSI process segment for CIS 8 inch wafer manufactured by TowerJazz to increase our service to our worldwide customer base in mass production. So I will be ready for this mass production early second half of this year with multiple customers already having started their product designs.

In addition, we developed backside illumination and stack way for technology on 12 inch wafers in the Uozu factory serving as a next generation platform for high end photography and high end security market. We now offer both BSI and column level stack wafer PDKs to our customers.

We are investing today in three main directions. Next generation global shutter technology for industrial sensor market. Backside illumination stack wafers for the high end photography market and special pixel technology for the automotive market.”

via Image Sensor World

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. vs DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S.

Richard compares the Leica DG 100-400mm f/4-6.4 Leica DG and 200mm f/2.8 Review with both 1.4x TC and 2.0x TC, with some surprising results. I have always personally felt these lenses are pretty closely matched, but the Leica DG 200mm f/2.8 is just an outstanding all-around performer. Check out Richards video and decided which is best for you.

Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Leica DG 200mm f/2.8: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Posted in Panasonic, Panasonic lenses| Tagged , , , | 5 Comments