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Olympus News Release: Olympus Announces The World’s Fastest Fixed Aperture Zoom Lenses Ever Designed For Digital Photography
Two Lenses Deliver an Unprecedented f2.0 Aperture through Entire Zoom Range, Third Lens Delivers Amazing f2.8 Aperture Over its 90-250mm (180-500mm) Range
Melville, New York, February 17, 2005 – Olympus today announces the breakthrough development of the world’s fastest “Designed for Digital” interchangeable fixed-aperture wide zoom lenses. Designed for use with Olympus E-System digital SLR cameras, including the E-1 and EVOLT E-300, these three exciting new Digital Specific™ lenses – Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f2.0, Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f2.0 and Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f2.8 – feature fixed apertures through the entire zoom range to offer the most advanced and fastest zooms of their kind available anywhere today. The new lenses compliment the current line of Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses™ offered by Olympus and establish the line as one of the largest 100% designed for digital lens systems offered by a manufacturer to date. These three lenses are due to go on sale in fourth quarter of 2005.
“These three new lenses represent a technological milestone by maintaining fixed apertures through their entire zoom ranges. And because they are Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses, they are designed specifically for digital capture with smart technology that delivers edge-to-edge sharpness with reduced distortion and shading,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager at Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Together with the Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f4.0 Lens available in March 2005, these three new lenses will create a series of fixed-aperture zoom lenses designed to deliver optimal image quality that meets professional specifications and covers a broad range of focal lengths, from ultra-wide-angle to ultra-telephoto.”
Lenses Are the World’s First to Offer f2.0 Over Full Zoom Range
The Zuiko Digital 14-35mm f2.0 (28mm –70mm equiv.) and the Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f2.0 (70mm-200mm equiv.) will be the first lenses in the world to feature an aperture of f2.0 over the full zoom range. The goal of their design is to maximize the full potential of the mobility of the lens zoom range while making the most of the brightness offered at f2.0. In combination, these two lenses will give photographers the freedom to use the f2.0 aperture over focal lengths ranging from wide-angle 14mm (28mm equiv.) to telephoto 100mm (200mm equiv.).
These two lenses use Super ED or ED lens elements to allow each wavelength of light to strike the sensor evenly and at the same time eliminate chromatic aberration to the maximum possible extent at aperture f2.0 and deliver excellent edge-to-edge image quality with superior sharpness, definition, and color fidelity.
Long Zoom Ideal for Sports & Nature Photography
The Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f2.8 Lens features a wide aperture of f2.8 over its entire ultra-telephoto focal length up to 250mm (500mm equivalent). This alone allows photographers freedom to shoot in more varied lighting situations while still maintaining excellent sharpness and definition. The power of the optical zoom range on this lens enables users to instantaneously obtain optimal framing in sports and nature photography, where positioning for shots is often subject to constraints. This lens also uses ED glass lenses for its optical system to eliminate chromatic aberration to the greatest degree at f2.8 and to maintain sharpness, color, and tonal definition throughout the zoom range.
Versatile Rugged Design Standard
All three lenses will employ separate zoom and focus rings so that photographers can easily maintain focus on their subjects while utilizing control of creative composition with a separate zoom ring.
The lenses will also offer a splash proof design similar to other Zuiko Digital Specific pro series lenses. This rugged design standard supports photography under the severe conditions in which many professional photographers work by incorporating special seals in the lens construction to protect the lens from moisture and dust. Reinforced metal lens mounts on each lens offer added support when attaching the lenses to E-System camera bodies.
“The addition of these three new Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses reaffirms Olympus’ commitment to bringing the highest level of technology and performance to the pro arena,” said Knaur. “We are planning for several lens announcements each year for both consumer and professional applications in order to meet the demands and higher standards that digital photography requires.”
The entire line of Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses comply with the Four Thirds System to be perfectly matched to the imager so light strikes the sensor directly, ensuring rich, accurate colors, sharp contrasts and bright images even at the edges. With the addition of these three lenses, the Zuiko system will offer optical ranges from an ultra-wide-angle of 7mm (14mm equivalent in 35mm film photography) to ultra-telephoto 300mm (600mm equivalent).
Availability
The Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-35mm f2.0, Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f2.0 and Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f2.8 Lenses will be available forth quarter of 2005. Lens pricing and specifications will be announced at a future date.
Posted by Darren in our News category on February 18, 2005