With Photokina 2012 just about a week away, manufacturers are starting to realease information about the new products they'll be showing off. Over two blog posts, lensmaker Carl Zeiss has revealed a couple of specific details, some more general information, and one very tantalizing hint.
Chief amongst the announcements is the new lens we posted above, that's a 55mm f/1.4 manual focus full frame lens for EF bayonet (ZE) and F bayonet (ZF.2) mounts. Zeiss claims the glass is "superior to conventional full-frame lenses, and it achieves with powerful full-frame, full-format cameras an image performance that until now has only been seen with medium-format systems." Expect to see it on shelves in the second half of next year.
The other concrete announcement is the Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 cinema lens, which is Zeiss' longest medium telephoto lens, and will be available this December for $2,000.
Zeiss also teased a number of other features, including an exciting move into autofocus lenses for mirrorless camera formats:
Another highlight will be the presentation of a design study, with which Carl Zeiss will offer a sneak preview of a new family of autofocus lenses for mirrorless system cameras (CSC) that will most likely be available in mid-2013. Due to their performance and high speed, these new lenses will be ideal for deliberate photo composition, making them perfect for more sophisticated photographers as well. Carl Zeiss plans to initially offer fixed focal lengths in the wide angle and standard range as well as a macro.
Finally, Carl Zeiss will be offering a "special surprise" for rangefinder users, saying that in 2013 "at least one fast lens with M bayonet will go on sale."
[via 1001 Noisy Cameras]
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