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SLRmagic announced the release of the new Spotting Scope for Micro Four Thirds. Their plan was to release them earlier but the product was delayed because customers asked them to add a tripod collar before we release the lens. You can see some image samples and buy the lens on their [shoplink 27827 ebay]eBay page (Click here)[/shoplink].
PRESS RELEASE
SLR Magic introduces a 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope and expands its micro four thirds lineup with SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope lens for Digiscoping.
Hong Kong, China (Dec 16, 2011) – SLR Magic introduces a 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope and expands its micro four thirds lineup with SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope lens for Digiscoping. With this latest addition, the portfolio of lenses for the micro four thirds system is now comprised of six focal lengths.
The SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope gives you the highest resolution and brightest view possible by three key elements. It features an over sized eye relief, utilized Extra-low Dispersion optics, as well as fully Multi coated glass to help you with spotting the rare bird species. The SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope also offers stacked, dual-focus controls, so you can make both rapid and fine-tuning adjustments. The scope comes with a soft carrying case and handle. The micro four thirds version comes with the mFT adapter objective.
The field of view of this spotting scope on the micro four thirds camera corresponds to a a 840-2520mm lens in 35mm format. The user friendly design allows you to attach your camera by mounting it like any other camera lens. Everything you need comes with the package and there is no need to have a compatible lens to use it. This is the perfect solution for amateur digiscopers who want to take photos or video of wildlife.
The 12-36×50 ED Spotting Scope will be available from authorized SLR Magic dealers end December 2011.
Technical Data
SLR Magic 12-36×50 ED (Premium Extra-low Dispersion glass) for mFT
Lens Type: Spotting Scope
Compatible Cameras: All micro four thirds mount cameras
Magnification: 12-36x
35mm equivalent focal length: 840-2520mm
Objective: Φ50
Lens Coating: Multi Coated
Close Focus: 15 ft.
Weight (oz./g): 28.2/800, 49.4/1400 (with mFT adapter objective)
Water Resistant/Fog proof: Yes
Eyepiece: Straight Zoom
Eye relief: 23mm
Accessories: mFT adapter objective with tripod collar
MSRP: $549
Andrew Chan
Product Manager
26 Responses
SLR again? Does 43 rumor site got nothing else to post than an ads?
This is great news for us wildlife photogs. I have been using the 100-300mm which has a quarter the reach. Looking forward to using it. Glad SLR Magic is helping with MFT specialty lenses.
😉
Would be nice to see some images.
What is the aperture on this thing?
RUY …. Dude, if 50 other manufacturers were making m4/3 lenses you would have a point. But they aren’t and you don’t.
There are so many lens could adopt to M43. Spotting Scope too. they are not the first one to do this. this is so interesting that this site was just so supportive to SLR. as well as you.
RUY, I think this site is so supportive of Tamron, Sigma, Panasonic, Olympus, and SLR Magic because they all have lenses to adopt to m43. I think this website should start talking about the Fuji X100 and Leica X1 and Panasonic LX-5 as their lenses cannot be adopted for m43
And news about a new Olympus camera, or Panasonic lens somehow isn’t a form of advertisement?
Advertising? This is a press release of a new Micro Four Thirds product. Should I skip that while so many other wbesites are publishing it???
your good – I want to know about all the products…. this is not an add???
It’s a product announcement. Just like Panasonic did for the GH2. Would you suggest not posting the announcement for the GH3?
We all know full well there’s a difference between a press release and an ad. Giving Admin a hard time over this is silly.
SLR magic is the only company adapting lens for m43. You would have a point if a whole bunch of companies make adapted lens for m43.
Surely yes, using an adapter and that is, so do SLR M. They neither a manufacturer and not a optical design firm, what do you think if they say they are native?!
Note how “conveniently” max aperture value is not mentioned. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something like f16-f32 or even smaller. Good luck to use it.
There is $250 Opteka 650-1300mm lens, it’s f8-f16 but it looks way bigger than this, the scope should be much slower.
I think long legacy lens with 2x or 1.4x teleconverter would be more useful for wildlife.
EDIT: I meant to reply to PEN who wanted to use it for wildlife
Well…
Definite max aperture size is 50mm
And if 35mm equivalent focal length is 840-2520mm that would mean 420-1260mm real focal length.
Now f-ratio which is erroneously called as aperture is simply focal length divided by aperture so optimistic f-ratio would be about F/8.5-26
This is a lens I could get excited about. Wonder if it would work for the moon or the planets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcZFet5E1is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYl7GvspoRk
luckyest shot ever!…. well doen that is some very nice work – excelent sharpness and range with that thing!
I’m trying all kinds of Computer Visions formulas to calculate the effect of a 1mm shake but I’m failing miserably, I guess I would need more data like size of subjects and distance to camera, but I have a feeling that unless the camera is tripod mounted and indoors, any footage will be unusable at these focal distances.
A tripod is required, yes, but scopes have long been used successfully with cameras for astronomy, birding and other long-distance photography. The subjects have to be relatively still and it helps to be in a blind or otherwise out of the wind, but the results can be quite good. At its most simple you can just hold a P&S camera up to the eyepiece of a spotting scope, but mounting the camera body on an integrated adapter as in the SLR Magic setup can be more convenient and higher quality.
SLRmagic
Great on announcements on lenses but not so good at releasing them.
Wheres the bloody 12mm f1.6??
My question is:
Are the optics good?
Does it have a good zoom to sharpness ratio?
Does it work well with the GH2, no fiddles?
I asked the guy who was marketing it and he said to me I don’t know how to compare a V8 to a V12 engine. Fair enough but their is a difference. I suppose its possible to get a good system for value for money. Time will tell I guess.
+10 On image quality.
A Leica spotting scope is about $4000 and a M4/3 adaptor another $400. At under $600, this thing could be very compelling.
There’s a total difference between small cheap and big good bird scopes. Think 70 euro compact vs 2000 euro full frame camera.
It’s an enjoyable experience to look through a good scope on a sturdy tripod and watch every small detail and the colourfulness of a beautiful bird so closely.
It’s hard to beat the large front element, good quality glass and color correction.
But if there’s good light and the birds are close by, you can probably get acceptable photos with less heavy and cheaper gear too.
A Zeiss fluorite scope made in the Czech Republic is indeed 3000 euros with ocular but there are other slightly cheaper (1200-2000 euros or so) Japanese ones like Kowa and Opticron that are also very good quality both optically and mechanically.
Perhaps just about useable for videscoping but forget it for stills. It just won’t let enough light through for the ISOs M43 operates at. I have a Canon FD 1.4 attached to my G1 and 80mm Leica scope using an adpter from SRB Giturn. Even that requires a cable release and a wooden surveyors tripod to minimise vibration and is working on the limit here in the dreary grey weather of the UK
Not bad, is it? These are my samples from today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75469505@N06/sets/72157629169544423/