Panasonic has revealed the Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Power OIS power zoom. The telephoto zoom carries the company's 'Lumix X' branding that it will be using to denote premium quality lenses. Along with the PZ 14-42mm, it features a quiet variable-speed power zoom for smooth zooming during movie recording but, unlike the collapsible standard zoom, the 45-175mm also features 'by-wire' dials for direct control of zoom and focus. The lens features a compact, lightweight design and uses an internal zoom mechanism, meaning it stays the same length at all times.
UPDATE - We've asked Panasonic for clarification on compatibility, and have been informed "The lenses are compatible and will work with all Micro Four Thirds cameras."
Japanese adapter maker Rayqual has announced a series of adapters for Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-mount with built-in tripod mounts. The adapters allow the use of long and heavy lenses on mirrorless cameras without the camera having to bear the weight. Adapters are available for Nikon F, M42, Leica R, Olympus OM, Canon FD and Pentax K mounts. Aperture control is not available on the F and K mount versions.
The European distributor of Korean lens maker Samyang has announced the price and availability of its 7.5mm fish-eye lens for Micro Four Thirds. The Samyang 7.5mm 1:3.5 UMC Fish-eye MFT will be available from the middle of September at a recommended selling price of €299. The lens offers a 180° diagonal field-of-view and will be available in black and silver. The company says it will be the first in a range of lenses designed specifically for the Micro Four Thirds system.
Panasonic has announced the Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS collapsible power-zoom lens. The pancake zoom represents a series of firsts for Panasonic and the Micro Four Thirds system - it incorporates a lever-operated powered zoom and similarly controlled manual focus system. It is also the first lens to gain the company's 'Lumix X' branding that it will use to denotes high-end performance.
