News Roundup: New Nikkor Z Mount lenses and Canon cinema camera updates

In this week's news round up there's a whole load of new lenses from Nikon as well as some solid firmware updates for the Canon cinema range of cameras.

New NIKKOR Z Mount Prime Lenses in Development 

Nikon announced the development of two new prime lenses for full-frame Z mount cameras: The NIKKOR Z 40mm F/2 lens and the NIKKOR Z 28mm F/2.8 lens. Both are great for video and photography.

NIKKOR Z 40mm F/2 lens and the NIKKOR Z 28mm F/2.8 lens. Image: Nikon.

Both lenses will be available later in 2021, and will be small and light to carry around. Nikon says the new glass will also be priced affordably, which is good news for Nikon Z mount camera owners looking to add to their lens collections. We'll have more details when available.

Nikon Introduces New NIKKOR Z Macro Prime Lenses

Nikon unveiled a pair of macro prime lenses for full-frame Nikon Z cameras: The NIKKOR Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S and NIKKOR Z MC 50mm F2.8. The former is a medium telephoto macro lens, while the latter is a 'nifty-fifty' macro.

Both new lenses produce lovely bokeh while keeping colors from bleeding and chromatic aberration down.

NIKOR Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S macro lens. Image: Nikon.

The NIKOR Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S macro lens features a minimum focusing distance of 11.4 inches (29 cm) and the maximum magnification is 1x. It features 16 elements in 11 groups, an STM (stepping motor), and 4.5-step image stabilization (VR). It weighs 22.22 ounces (630 g).

NIKKOR Z MC 50mm F2.8 macro. Image: Nikon.

Meanwhile, the NIKKOR Z MC 50mm F2.8 macro also has an STM, plus a minimum focusing distance of about 6.29 inches (15.97 cm) and a maximum magnification of 1x. It also has 10 elements in 7 groups, and weighs just 9.17 ounces (260 g).

Both NIKKOR macro lenses will arrive later in June 2021. Learn more here.

Canon Updates Firmware for C70, C300 Mark II, and C500 Mark II

Canon released some firmware updates for key Cinema EOS cameras, including the C70, C500 Mark II, and C300 Mark II. Here's a breakdown:

EOS C70:

• HDMI view assist, including WideDR/BT.709 LUT while filming in Canon Log.
• More EF lens support while using the EF-EOS R 0.71x Adapter.
• AF improvements with a Whole Area option added, plus touch control to change to Face Detection or Tracking.

EOS C300 Mark II and C500 Mark II:

• Output to both HDMI and SDI at the same time.
• Limit the output of 4K to 2K and Full HD.
• Look File Function support added, which 'bakes in' a look based on a LUT (available previously only in the C70).
• New 1.8x De-Squeeze Mode for more anamorphic lens options.
• C500 Mark II sensor will feature 6:5 and 4:3 resolution options while filing in Cinema Raw Light.
• C300 Mark II can pull down 60p to 30p and 24p during a live broadcast.
• Remote control during live shoots via Canon's XC Protocol with both proprietary and third-party options.

The Canon EOS C70 firmware will be available on June 30, 2021, while the EOS C500 Mark II and C300 Mark II firmware updates will drop July 30, 2021.

DigitalFoto Unveils the W64RGB Magnetic Mini RGB Light

If you're looking for a small and affordable LED light, DigitalFoto has announced their new W64RGB Magnetic Mini RGB light. It's battery powered via a built-in 2000 mAh battery, and features three cold shoe mounts plus the magnetic allows it to be attached to just about anything that's metal.

So why would you need three cold shoe mounts, which includes one on the bottom to attach to a camera, and one on each side? To allow the attachment of more of the W64RGB lights, creating more illumination.

The price for one W64RGB Magnetic Mini RGB Light is a very affordable $29.99 USD, making it a no-brainer to buy more than one to mount together, or even create a small 3-light setup. You can learn more and purchase on DigitalFoto's site.