After teasing its expected official unveiling by way of an ominous package and poem sent to various news outlets, the story of which can be read HERE, Olympus finally announced the much-anticipated M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f/1.8 lens – an offering that Olympus themselves are dubbing as the “perfect portrait lens.”
With its full-metal, splash and dust proof exterior, this new addition to Olympus’s fast prime lens lineup promises to not only be rugged, but optically impeccable as well, containing ten lens elements arranged in nine groups with the inclusion of three ED elements for the reduction of aberrations.
The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f/1.8 is expected to hit retail outlets “this summer” for $899.99 – full details in the press release after the break.
In other lens news, Fujifilm has announced their version of an M Mount Adapter for the X-Pro1, highlighting the following key features for their $199.95 offering.
- Three-piece aluminum and stainless steel construction
- 27.8mm lens mount to sensor distance
- Electronic connections and Function button
- Compatible with Hybrid Multi Viewfinder
- Lens profiles and corrections available through Mount Adapter Setting menu (firmware version 1.10 or later must be installed for using above features)
The Fujifilm Leica M-Mount Adapter for the X-Pro1 is currently available for pre-order at Adorama.
Olympus Press Release:
OLYMPUS INTRODUCES A NEW BRIGHT F1.8 MICRO FOUR THIRDS® LENS PERFECT FOR PORTRAITS AND CHALLENGING LIGHTING CONDITIONS
New M.ZUIKO DIGITAL™ ED 75mm f1.8 High-Grade Portrait Lens Enhances the Power, Performance and Versatility of Olympus OM-D and PEN® Compact System Cameras
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 24, 2012 – Today, Olympus adds to the Micro Four Thirds family of lenses with the release of the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 High-Grade Portrait Lens (150mm equivalent), a high-speed, single-focal-length telephoto lens that is optimized for studio, stage, indoor sports and portrait photography, encased in a high-quality, compact, stunning metal body.
The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8′s nine-blade circular aperture unit delivers beautiful defocused backgrounds, while the high-quality optical design keeps the subject in sharp focus. This is due to an advanced optical design that incorporates 10 lens elements in nine groups that make extensive use of special glass materials, including three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements to optimally correct aberrations. Each lens element is polished to an ultra-high level of working precision, only possible with the progressive techniques developed by Olympus master craftsmen, and carefully assembled to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability. Olympus’s exclusive ZERO (ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical Coating) lens coatings are applied to the elements to reduce reflectance to a level that is half that of conventional coatings.
With a total length of just 2.7 inches, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 is surprisingly small and maximizes the performance and portability of the Olympus PEN and OM-D compact system cameras. A textured metallic outer finish exudes quality and sophistication, while the large 50mm diameter glass front lens conveys a sense of power and performance.
Ideal for capturing brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) videos, the lens employs Olympus’s proven MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) autofocusing mechanism featuring an inner focus system to drive this single-focal-length lens for fast and quiet focusing. A precision-touch metallic focus ring provides easy manual focusing.
The optional LH-61F Lens Hood and the LC-61 Lens Cap metallic lens accessories are designed exclusively for the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8. The LH-61F Lens Hood attaches with an outer friction knob system that allows attachment or removal even when the lens cap is attached.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 High-Grade Portrait Lens will be available in summer 2012.
Estimated Street Price: $899.99.
