ZEISS has announced that the first two
lenses in the new Touit family are now available from dealers. These
are the new Tout 1.8/32 and 2.8/12 lenses for the Fujifilm X and Sony
NEX cameras.
The new Touit 2.8/12 offers a very wide
angle field of view, with a 12mm focal length with a bright f/2.8
aperture available. This lens has 11 elements arranged in 8 groups
using a classic Distagon design. It includes floating
elements, two aspheric lenses and three lens elements made of high
quality glass materials with anomalous partial dispersion. ZEISS
states that this lens is especially suited for nature and
architectural photography and will sell for an estimated retail price
of $ 1,250.00
The new Touit 1.8/32
is designed to offer a similar angle of view as human eyesight when
used on a Sony NEX or Fujfilm X camera model with an APS-C size
sensor, with a focal length of 32mm and an aperture as wide as f/1.8.
This lens uses a modified Planar design with 8 versus 6 elements
for better performance with modern digital imaging sensors and will
sell for an estimated retail price of $ 900.
Both lenses include the
famous ZEISS T* optical coatings to maximize contrast and minimize
glare.
OBERKOCHEN,
June 3, 2013
Starting
immediately, the first two members of the new ZEISS lens family Touit
are available with dealers. With the extreme wide angle lens Touit
2.8/12 and the robust standard lens Touit 1.8/32, both for Fujifilm X
and Sony NEX cameras, ZEISS is entering the new market for compact
system cameras (CSC) with autofocus, interchangeable lenses. The new
lens series is characterized by a powerful optical and mechanical
design, which fully exploits the potential of the cameras thanks to
the low distortion and stray-light absorption. Noteworthy is also the
professional product design of the new lens family, which has already
won several design prizes.
“With
Touit photographers can use ZEISS lenses on two leading mirrorless
system cameras,” says Michael Schiehlen, Director of Sales at ZEISS
Camera Lenses. “We are addressing this market because it offers
interesting application possibilities for sophisticated photographers
and because the segment promises very interesting growth.”
By
supporting Fujifilm X and Sony NEX, ZEISS has decided on cameras with
an APS-C sensor in order to guarantee maximum image quality. The
APS-C sensor is the largest possible sensor currently available on
the market for this segment. The Touit lenses are characterized by
their high production quality, guaranteeing longtime usage. Like all
ZEISS lenses they also offer outstanding imaging performance. Typical
for the new family is above all the combination of compactness, light
weight and precise, durable mechanics. “High imaging quality and
light weight are the most important advantages of Touit and are
especially interesting for ambitious users of compact system
cameras,” says Schiehlen. “The angular view is identical to DSLR
lenses for APS-C cameras, but the lens is significantly smaller and
lighter.” The metal body underscores the lenses’ robustness and
durability. Those parts that are not relevant to key functions
were designed in high-quality plastic in order to reduce weight.
Compatibility with all Sony NEX and Fujifilm X camera functions, a
clearly accentuated 1/3-step aperture ring on the version for
Fujifilm X, nine aperture blades for an almost circular bokeh, as
well as excellent stray-light absorption through the ZEISS T* coating
are the hallmarks of the design of this new lens family.
The
Touit 2.8/12 offers the most extreme wide angle fixed focal
length in the current APS-C range. “It is an extremely
sophisticated lens which has been equipped with the great effort and
care that an extreme focal length of 12 millimeters requires,”
explains Dr. Michael Pollmann, who is responsible for the development
of the Touit lenses at ZEISS. The lens has eleven lens elements
arranged in eight groups and was designed according to the Distagon
optical concept. In addition, the lens has floating elements, two
aspheric lenses and three lens elements made of high quality glass
materials with anomalous partial dispersion. This lens is especially
suited for nature and architectural photography. The product design
of the Touit 2.8/12 has received an iF as well as a red dot product
design award.
The
Touit 1.8/32 offers the user an angular field that resembles
natural eyesight. The goal during the development stage was to create
an easy-to-use standard lens that the photographer can leave on the
camera continuously and which can be used for a wide range of
everyday situations. Touit 1.8/32 was developed according to a
modernized Planar design approach that was adapted to today’s
requirements: instead of six lens elements, which is common for the
Planar, the Touit 1.8/32 is equipped with eight lens elements and
therefore offers an even higher imaging performance when used with
digital sensors. The Touit 1.8/32 can be used in many types of
situations: travel photography, family photos, photojournalism and
portrait applications. The Touit 1.8/32 recently received an iF gold
award and red dot product design award for its innovative product
design.
As
announced during photokina 2012, the Touit 2.8/50 Makro will come on
the market at the end of 2013. Other focal lengths will follow.
The
recommended retail price of the Touit 1.8/32 will be €670 / US$ 900
(excl. VAT)*. The recommended retail price for the Touit 2.8/12 will
be €920 / US$ 1,250 (excl. VAT)*.
Caption
1: With an angular field of 99 degrees, the wide angle Touit 2.8/12
lens shows its strengths particularly well with landscape and
architectural photos.
Caption
2: Like the 50mm focal length in full frame, the Touit 1.8/32
reproduces the perspective of the human eye.
Technical
data Touit 2.8/12
Focal
length 12 mm
Aperture
range f/2.8 – f/22
Number
of elements/groups 11/8
Focusing
range 0.18 m (0.59 ft) – infinity
Angular
field **
(diag./horiz./vert.) 99° / 89° / 66°
Coverage
at close range** 220 x 144 mm (8.66 x 5.67″)
Image
ratio at close range 1:9 (close-up)
Filter
thread M67 x 0.75
Length
with caps E: 81 mm (3.19″)
X: 86 mm (3.39″)
Diameter
of focusing ring E, X: 65 mm (2.56″)
Weight E: 260 g (0.57 lbs)
X: 270 g (0.60 lbs)
Mounts E Mount
X Mount
Technical
data Touit 1.8/32
Focal
length 32 mm
Aperture
range f/1.8 – f/22
Number
of elements/groups 8/5
Focusing
range 0.30 m (0.98 ft) – infinity
Angular
field**
(diag./horiz./vert.) 48° / 40° / 29°
Coverage
at close range** 214 x 142 mm (8.43 x 5.59″)
Image
ratio at close range 1:9 (close-up)
Filter
thread M52 x 0.75
Length with caps E: 72 mm (2.83″)
X: 76 mm (2.99″)
Diameter
of focusing ring E, X: 65 mm (2.56″)
Weight E: 200 g (0.44 lbs)
X: 210 g (0.46 lbs)
Mounts E
Mount
X Mount
*
Status: June 3, 2013
**
Refers to APS-C format
