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£479,000 for an M4 Biannual Leitz Photographica Auction sees German military-spec Leica M4 go for almost half a million pounds – expected to be a new record
Sigma is claiming its new 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports lens is the world’s first and only 10x ultra-telephoto zoom for mirrorless cameras. Available from February 17 in L-Mount and E-mount, it has a feature set designed for pro use, but at one pence short of £2000 is likely to be on the radar of keen enthusiasts, too. With a dust- and splash-proof construction, the far-reaching optic features a newly developed High-response Linear Actuator (HLA) focusing motor for fast and quiet autofocus performance. The optical stabiliser, meanwhile, employs a new algorithm to provide a seven-stop benefit at the wide end and six stops at the telephoto end. It also has dual-action zoom, which can be used by either rotating the zoom ring or pushing/ pulling the end of the lens, a focus limiter switch and an Arca Swiss-compatible tripod mount. The L-Mount version is compatible with Sigma’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, for even greater reach. sigma-imaging-uk.com One-of-a-kind 10x telephoto zoom lens will be available from February for £2000 ultra-telezoom for mirrorless Sigma unveils ‘world’s first’ 10x
Leicas have always been pricey, but the 41st Leitz Photographica Auction in Vienna saw some eye-watering prices paid for cameras, including what may be a new record for a military-edition model sold at auction. Recognised as the world’s most prestigious auction for vintage cameras and historic imaging accessories, six months earlier the event had seen a new world record for the most expensive camera of all time – £12.7 million for a 100-year-old ‘Barnack camera’. While sales didn’t achieve the same level this time around, a Leica M4 Olive Bundeseigentum (which means ‘federal property’) fetched £479,000 against an estimate of £266,000-£310,000. British military Leicas also came under the hammer, but not for such fantastical prices. A Leica IIIa British Marine sold for £38,300 (against an estimate of £1400- £1700!), while a Leica Standard British Navy ‘Admiralty NP’ sold for almost £32,000 against an estimate of £3500-£4500.
UNDER THE HAMMER Military-issue Leicas caused a stir at the Leitz Photographica Auction
explained Alexander Sedlak, managing director of Leica Camera Classics and Leitz Photographica Auction. “The three edition prints of Marilyn Monroe are remarkable because they show the future Hollywood icon posing in a completely carefree manner. The sorrow of later days seems far away. Entire proceeds from the charity lot go to charity Licht ins Dunkel.” leitz-auction.com
Alongside the hardware, the auction also saw rare photographs sold for the first time in three years. These included a series of three prints of a young (and then unknown) Marilyn Monroe photographed on Tobay Beach, Long Island in 1949 by legendary Hollywood photographer André de Dienes, which sold for £13,800 with the profits going to charity. “At each auction we provide an exhibit for a good cause,”
ON THAT BOMBSHELL These prints of a 1949 Marilyn Monroe shoot sold for £13,800 with the proceeds going to charity Licht ins Dunkel
Laowa adds GFX lens and shift converter Fujifilm GFX users have a new wide-angle
(MSC), transforming a normal lens into a shift lens for architecture and product photography. The MSC uses an optical design that enlarges the image circle to create room for the shift capability. With converter attached, the mechanism allows for up to +/-10mm of movement to help avoid converging verticals and keep uprights straight. One stop of light is lost. Previously only Canon EF, Nikon F and Nikon G to Sony E-mount options were available, but these have now been joined by Canon EF to RF, Canon EF to Nikon Z and Nikon F/G to Nikon Z, broadening the capability enormously. Prices for the new MSC fittings range from £247 to £264. Additional mounts for other Laowa lenses have also been announced. The 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D and 65mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro APO are also now available in Canon RF mount, while the 12-24mm f/5.6 zoom is now available in L-Mount. venuslens.net
option thanks to the Laowa 19mm f/2.8 Zero-D GFX. Offering the equivalent to a 15mm for the medium format system, the lens offers a 110° angle of view with zero distortion (hence Zero-D), yet is compact at 80mm in length and lightweight at just 546g. Ideal for landscape, architecture and astrophotographers, the new lens offers a low-price alternative to Fujifilm’s own GFX optic – it costs just £825 ($999). However, the lens is manual focusing only, plus the aperture diaphragm comprises five blades, compared to nine on the Fujifilm’s closest equivalent – the GF23mm f/4. Other features include a close focusing distance of 18cm, a 77mm filter thread and an optical construction of 12 elements in ten groups including two aspherical lenses, three ED glass elements and one UHR glass element. Alongside this, the company unveiled new mount versions for its Magic Shift Converter
6 Photography News | Issue 103
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