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Phase One Announces 40mm-80mm f/4–5.6 Lens for Its Digital 645 System

When it comes to medium format photography, prime lenses are the norm. The size, weight and quality of construction of lenses are all areas of constraint for medium format over DSLRs or mirrorless, and so zoom lenses are more of a rarity.

However, there are always impressive exceptions to the rule, which is exactly what Phase One has done with its second-ever zoom lens for the 645 digital medium format system.

NASA Zooms Into Stunning Hubble Photo to Show You a Galaxy that’s Falling Apart

There's nothing like a Hubble Space Telescope image to break up all of the law and stock photography-related news (and there has been a LOT in the last 24 hours). Then again, this video and image aren't the most peaceful NASA has ever released, given they show a galaxy tearing itself apart as it hurtles through a particularly harsh part of our universe.

New Tech Totally Eliminates Zoom and AF Noise from Video Soundtracks on the Fly

DSLRs and Compact System Cameras are becoming increasingly capable video capture devices in addition to being solid still shooters. But when it comes time to focus or zoom using the lens' or camera's built-in motor, you're often left with glaringly obvious noise on your soundtrack.

So far manufacturers have tackled this problem by introducing silent focusing motor lenses, but one group of engineers is taking a firmware-based approach that seems to work just as well (if not better) and might someday soon do away with zoom and AF noise entirely.

Thanko’s APOLLO2 is a Tiny Camera that Packs a 30x Optical Zoom

We've seen some interesting gimmicky cameras come out of Japan in the past -- from Japanese anime special editions to a donut camera -- but this latest one might come in handy a bit more often. Dubbed the APOLLO2 and created by the company Thanko, it's a compact camera strapped to a whopping 30x telephoto lens.

Sigma’s Game-Changing 18-35mm f/1.8 Zoom Lens to Cost Just $799

Sigma shook up the camera world back in April by announcing its new 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens -- the world's first zoom lens with a fixed maximum aperture of f/1.8. It turns out the revolutionary lens will have a revolutionary price tag as well: the company announced today that the lens will cost just $799.

Attach Binoculars to your Smartphone for Telephoto Shots with the Snapzoom

Earlier today, brothers-in-law Daniel Fujikake and Mac Nguyen of HI Resolution Enterprises announced a new product for the photography enthusiast community that they're trying to get some help funding. Launched via Kickstarter campaign, the Snapzoom is a universal adapter that can attach a slew of optical scopes (i.e. binoculars, telescopes, etc.) to your smartphone in lieu of a telephoto lens.

Fujifilm XP200 and S8400W Go Extreme in Ruggedness and Zoom

Fujifilm has announced two new consumer-level cameras that go extreme in different ways. The first is the new FinePix XP200, a new rugged cameras for outdoor environments. The second is the FinePix S8400W, a bridge camera that packs a massive zoom for photographers who are always shooting faraway subjects.

Don’t Zoom, Move: Treating Your Zoom Lens as a Series of Primes

We've shared some funny pictures in the past that illustrate how distance, not focal length, changes perspective -- but nothing beats a video walk through. So, in this short video, photographer Mike Browne explains why you should treat your zoom lens as a series of prime lenses, and not the equivalent of getting physically closer to your subject.

Macro Photos Shot Using a Smartphone and a Laser Pointer Lens

Last month we wrote about how the small focusing lens inside a laser pointer can be repurposed as a cheap macro lens for your smartphone. After seeing this project online, photo enthusiast John Coleman decided to give it a shot. To keep the lens secure against your phone, you'll need something to hold it (e.g. a hair pin) and some tape to attach the holder to the phone. The photo above shows the super simple attachment Coleman created.

Google Patents Way to Deliver Zoom By Giving You Someone Else’s Photo

When tourists visit famous landmarks, they commonly pull out their own cameras to snap some photographs as mementos, even if they themselves aren't in the picture. Despite the fact that there's almost always guaranteed to be an identical photograph taken by someone else, somewhere online, there's something about capturing the moment for oneself that makes redundant photos special.

That's why a new patent filed by Google is a bit puzzling. It's called "Image zooming using pre-existing imaging information" and, as the title suggests, revolves around using other people's photographs to "boost" a digital camera's zoom.

Olympus SP-820UZ Packs a Ridiculous 40x Lens, Great for Wildlife and Jousting

We've been saying that the "compact" camera will still have a spot in the camera market, even after cell phones drink most of its milkshake, due to the fact that they can be specialized in ways phones can't. Here's another example: the new Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ is a super-zoom compact camera that packs an absurdly long 40x zoom lens. In 35mm terms, this lens reaches from 22.4mm to 896mm -- wide angle to super telephoto. In case that's not enough reach for you ("we need to go deeper!"), the camera also features a "super-resolution zoom" that uses digital zoom to offer up to 80x.

Dizzying Animations that Show What San Francisco Looks Like to Superman

Director Kevin Parry recently finished creating a music video for the song "Water Falls" by Kalle Mattson. Filmed by Andrea Nesbitt, the video features some crazy time-lapse shots over great distances in San Francisco. Parry has also turned the shots into these animated GIFs that show you what various locations would look like if you were Superman whizzing around.

HandiZoom Adds a Camcorder-style Grip and Zoom Controls to Your DSLR

HandiZoom is a new camera accessory that adds a special grip to your DSLR that allows you to hold and use it like a camcorder. The device adds ENG-style zoom controls by connecting directly with the zoom ring on your camera lens. Videographers who've transitioned to DSLR shooting may feel much more at home with their hand around an ergonomic grip and a zoom rocker under their fingertips.