Tamron and Tokina Become Micro Four Thirds Members
Today, there's really great news for Micro 4/3s photographers. Three new lens makers have joined the 4/3s format which includes lens builders Tamron and Tokina along with video camera manufacturer Astrodesign. Astrodesign builds 4K video rigs, although not much interest to the majority of you, however the two lens manufacturers hold a great deal more interest.
Tokina and Tamron have manufactured lower-priced lenses for SLRs cameras since the film days. Tamron even featured a mounting system which let one put a lens on any
SLR 35mm camera body, although in the field it was of little use: How many people use more than one camera brand?
They join with Sigma in manufacturing Micro 4/3s lenses however product lineups are yet to be determined, Now every important third-party lens maker is on board.
Hopefully we can expect more lenses taht are wide-angle as the telephoto end is already quite well covered, by simply using an adapter one can just mount a regular 35mm lens on a camera and have a double length. I have only wish that Tokina and Tamron doesn't just take an APS-C lens, install a new mount and call it 4/3s (Sigma, are you listening?)
• Tamron Lenses (The Expanded Guide) - Tamron lenses are familiar world over for their innovative features, compact designs, superior resolution, while being easy to use. Written by expert photographer, Andy Stansfield, this Expanded Guide examines the entire Tamron range of interchangeable lenses created for digital SLR and 35mm SLR cameras. Free of Jargon details are provided on lenses ranging from micro, standard, and wide-angles, to special lenses ranging from APS-C aspherical versions up to the big-ratio zoom lenses which Tamron pioneered in 1992, at a time when it announced the 28-200mm version. The information also includes the discontinued Tamron models, which continue to be sought after by photographers..
ASTRODESIGN, Inc.
Founded in 1977, A company based in Japan that engineers and fabricates professional video gear along with measurement and analysis-related equipment. Well known for building the first global programmable signal generator plus the HDTV Ultra image processor machines employed at the Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan.
ASTRODESIGN, Inc. Website
http://www.astrodesign.co.jp/english/
Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.
Tokina was founded by a group of Nikon engineers who left Nikon to concentrate on the development of high-quality zoom lenses, which were rare at the time. Originally an OEM manufacturer only, in the early 1970s they began selling lenses under their own
Tokina brand. Kenko Co., Ltd. (株式会社ケンコー ,Kabushiki-gaisha Kenkō?)
a Japanese manufacturer and trading company of photographic
accessories, especially known for its filters has been producing conversion lenses since the 1960s
now produces camera lenses under the Tokina brand name.
Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. Website
http://www.kenkoglobal.com/
Tamron Co., Ltd.
Tamron Co., Ltd. (株式会社タムロン ,Kabushiki-gaisha Tamuron?) (TYO: 7740) a Japanese company
that manufactures Tamron photographic lenses, optical components and commercial/industrial-use optics. Sony is a major shareholder in the company and the two companies have worked together on
a number of
Sony-brand lenses for the Sony α series of digital SLR cameras.
Tamron Co., Ltd. Website
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/
The standards can be viewed at the Four Thirds website
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/
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