Schneider-Kreuznach of Bad Kreuznach, Germany today announced that they will be unveiling a new lens made specifically for the Micro Four Thirds format. S-K had previously announced their formal joining to Micro Four Thirds Consortium, and the Super Angulon 2.0/14 is the first of several lenses the have planned for m4/3.
The Super Angulon 2.0/14 is an all-new lens design made specifically for Micro Four Thirds. The lens is autofocus and auto aperture and in fully integrated electronically to the camera. High performance lenses from Cosina Voigtlander have all been manual focus, manual aperture.
S-K will be presenting this lens at Photokina 2012 and expects it to ship in the first quarter of 2013. Estimated price is under 1500 € (under $1800 USD).
Analysis
It is this reporter's opinion that the this announcement bodes very well for the long term durability of the Micro Four Thirds format. Now that the camera bodies have become something that a pro can use (I have personally shot weddings with my OM-D E-M5 and gotten paid for it), high end glass will be needed to really make the format shine.
S-K strikes me at looking to become the Zeiss of this format. High-end boutique lenses that cater to photographers who demand the highest level of performance from their gear. S-K lenses have compared very favorably to Leica glass and I, for one, am very keen to put one on the front of my camera and see what magic I can make with it.
Time to start saving up.
