Get Lightroom 3 for an all-time low of US-$ 69.95!

Adobe is in the final stages of finishing their new Lightroom 4 photo editing and managing software, and it seems everybody is waiting for the new version to arrive. This is good for all those who would like to own the current version of Lightrom, since it is currently being sold with massive discounts!

At B&H Photo, you can order Lightroom 3 for an all-time low price of only US-$ 69.95. This $ 200 less then B&H’s regular price, and almost $ 230 less than Adobe’s MSRP of $ 299! B&H Photo’s offer is valid for the next 24 hours only, but my guess is that online prices for LR 3 will stay low until the advent of LR 4.

> Get Lightroom 3 from B&H Photo for $ 69.95

Why the Olympus E-M5 has such a big hump

Finally. The truth has been uncovered. Now the endless forum discussions can end.

Picture | Morning light down by the river

This one is from last year — I just stumbled upon it and though I’d share it, since I haven’t been posting pictures for quite some time. Early morning light at the shores of the Lahn river, Marburg, Germany.

Leica M8 + Biogon 28/2.8 @ f/2.8 or f/4, 1/350 sec, ISO 160

The smallest 28mm M-mount lens

Japanese optics manufacturer MS Optical has been renowned for quite some time for their conversions of all kinds of lenses from and to all kinds of different mounts. A while ago, they created the smallest ever 35mm lens for Leica M-mount, the MS Optical Super Triplet Perar 35mm f/3.5, a lens which was instantaneously recognized for its optical qualities. After the original version of the 35mm Perar had sold out, MS Optical introduced version II with slight modifications. This lens is recognized as one of the best 35mm lenses for Leica M-mount ever.

Meanwhile, it seems the lens’ creator Miyazaki-san has been busy working on new designs. As rangefinderforum.com-member jonmanjiro reports, MS Optical have just finished development of another minute M-mount lens, one even smaller then the previous. The new lens is a 28mm f/4 lens and shares the designation “Super Triplet Perar” with its predecessor. And just like its 35/3.5 sibling, it sports a modern three-element “Cooke-Triplet” design that is highly corrected for ultimate performance on digital M-mount cameras.

MS Optical Super Triplet Perar 28mm f/4 on a Leica M7 | Picture by jonmanjiro

An interesting feature of the lens is that its aperture blades are position in front of the front lens element. Since this would effectively expose them to outside influences, I am very curious to hear from the first actual users of the lens if this will eventually pose a problem. The reason behind this is that this way the optical formula could be further perfected, since there had no space to be left for the aperture between the lens elements.

According to the thread on rff, the new lens will be available shortly via Japan Camera Hunter. Since MS Optical products have previously been sold via Japan Exposures, I believe the lens will also be available there soon.

UPDATE: More info on the lens and on how to order it is now available at Japan Camera Hunter.

Hot stuff in stock and for pre-order at B&H!

B&H currently has a number of interesting items either in stock or available for pre-order. For those into mirrorless cameras, and Micro Four Thirds and Leica M in particular, read on!

Currently in stock at B&H

  • –> Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera (black) + X 14-42mm kit lens — $ 949.–
    –> silver body only $ 699.–
  • –> Olympus M.Zuiko 12-50mm for Micro Four Tirds (black) — $ 499.00
    –> silver version $499.99
  • –> Voigtländer “knock-your-socks-off” Nokton 50mm f/1.1 for Leica M — $ 1049.–

Available for pre-order at B&H

  • –> Fujifilm X-Pro1 mirrorless X-mount camera (black body) — $ 1,699.-
  • –> Fujinon 18mm f/2 (27mm-equivalent) aspherical lens for X-mount — $ 599.–
  • –> Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 (53mm-equivalent) aspherical lens for X-mount — $ 599.–
  • –> Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 (90mm-equivalent) macro lens for X-mount — $ 649.–