Japanese lens manufacturer, Kowa, has released details of three new prime lenses that are being developed for the Micro Four Thirds format.
The three up-coming M4/3 lenses being developed by Kowa, from left: the Prominar 25mm f/1.8 MFT, the Prominar 12mm f/1.8 MFT and the Prominar 8.5mm f/2.8 MFT, shown with their respective optical diagrams. (Source: Kowa.)
The Prominar 25mm f/1.8 MFT is a standard lens that covers an angle of view equivalent to 40.9 x 31.1 degrees, which is roughly equivalent to a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera. It can focus as close as 25 cm. The Prominar 12mm f/1.8 MFT provides a moderate wide-angle coverage of 74.9 x 59.6 degrees or 24mm equivalent in 35mm format. Its close focusing limit is 20 cm. The Prominar 8.5mm f/2.8 MFT is a fast, ultra-wide lens with an angle of view equivalent to 93.5 x 77.1 degrees (106 degrees diagonal), or 17mm in 35mm format. The new lenses, which are scheduled for release mid-year, feature manual aperture control and manual focusing. Details can be found at http://www.kowa-prominar.ne.jp/special/wide_lens/index.htm.
