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Zhong Yi Optics has released a new 200mm f/4 APO 1x macro lens (buy here). Oddly, though, it’s been something of a silent announcement. There has been no mention of it on their Facebook page, and it’s not even listed on their website yet.
It’s also not available at the usual retailers, although it has popped up on eBay. This is the third full-frame macro lens from ZY Optics, following the 20mm f/2 4.5x in 2016 and the 85mm f/2.8 1-5x in 2019.
Zhongyi Optics has announced their new Mitakon Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 lens. They’re billing it as “a budget alternative to the legendary Leica Summilux-M“. And at $599, yeah, it certainly sounds like a bit of a bargain compared to the $14,000 Leica lens. They look pretty similar in outward appearance, although it doesn’t appear to be a straight-up copy, containing 9 elements vs the Leica’s 8.
The new lens is available in Canon RF, Sony FE, Nikon Z and Leica M mounts (no Leica L), with the latter being adaptable to other mounts. Offering “buttery bokeh” (their words), thanks to its f/1.5 aperture and rounded 9-blade aperture, it seems particularly well suited to its portrait photography target audience.
ZY Optics has announced its new Zhongyi Lens Turbo II. It’s a 0.72x speed booster for Nikon Z mount APS-C cameras. There are three versions available that let you use full-frame M42, Canon EF and Nikon F mount lenses on the new system with a wider field of view than you’d otherwise get on an APS-C body. It also gives you an extra stop of light and brings back some of that shallow depth of field.
It’s not an autofocus adapter, like the Nikon FTZ and this is reflected in the price, but it does mean that when you’re shooting video, you’ll get to use some of those classic lenses that people have been using with their other cameras for years.
ZY Optics has expanded their f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds lens lineup with the new Mitakon Speedmaster 17mm f/0.95 lens, offering a similar field of view to that of a standard 35mm lens on full-frame. This brings the Mitakon Speedmaster f/0.95 lens count for Micro Four Thirds up to two, adding to their existing 25mm f/0.95 lens.
It features 12 elements in 9 groups with a single extra-low dispersion element and four high refractive index elements to minimise chromatic aberration. ZY Optics says the lens delivers a “compelling sharpness across the frame, even at f0.95”.
ZY Optics has released a Canon EF mount version of the Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 lens. This isn’t just slapping a new mount onto their existing Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III for Nikon Z, Canon RF and Sony FE mounts, though. This is an entirely new lens designed specifically for Canon DSLRs.
According to the press release, ZY Optics says this is currently the world’s only f/0.95 lens designed specifically for full-frame DSLRs. Sure, there may be some old ones out there, but none of those are still in production and a lot of the new ones coming out are designed for mirrorless only. Oh, the price? Yeah, that’s going to be a mere $799.
If you shoot macro, there are several options: buying extension tubes, reverse rings, or a macro lens. The first two solutions are cheap, but don’t always give the results you want. On the other hand, macro lenses are quite expensive. But ZY Optics has launched Super Macro 20mm f/2 4.5x, a lens that takes the best from both worlds. It’s both affordable and gives very good results.
Zhongyi Optics, often referred to as ZY Optics, has release the second iteration of their Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 lens, a manual focus lens with a fast maximum aperture at an impressive price point.
Yesterday we reported that Mitakon/ZY Optics is developing the world’s fastest 135mm full frame lens, and today the company has revealed its specs and made the lens available for pre-order.
Owning the longest f/1.4 full frame lens will come at a cost, $2,999 to be precise, but it will automatically become a collectible item with just 100 of these lenses being produced.
Another expense will be the gym membership you’ll need in order to carry around the 3kg (6.6 lbs) lens.
Oh, and there’s a $500 non-refundable deposit.
When Sigma announced its 20mm f/1.4 Art lens a couple of days ago, among the excitement were calls for longer fast lenses as well.
While the release date is not yet known, ZY optics (aka Mitakon) is hard at work on its new 135mm f/1.4 Speedmaster full frame lens – the world’s fastest 135mm FF lens out there in today’s market.
With Canon and Nikon’s similar lenses reaching a maximum aperture of f/2, this lens is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit.
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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