L&P have announced the release of a new Phase One 40-80mm f4.0-5.6 leaf shutter zoom lens from Schneider Kreuznach.

The new LS lens is the second zoom of its kind that Phase One has designed for the 645 camera platform, which will be available in three to four weeks.

It is the latest design to come from Phase One which collaborated closely with Schneider Kreuznach, a German optics company, and Mamiya, a Japanese high-end photographic manufacturer – now that’s globalisation! An earlier 75-150mm lens previously came about from a Schneider/Phase One collaboration.

‘Designing a zoom lens with excellent optical qualities throughout the zoom range is always a challenge,’ said Espen Beck, senior product manager at Phase One. ‘When the zoom range goes from a fairly wide angle perspective to a normal perspective, as our new lens does, this only adds to the design complexity. This lens has 15 optical elements, two of which are aspherical, arranged in 11 groups.’

‘We have invested greater design and engineering resources into this lens than any of those before it, and we are very proud of the results. I think that this lens will be a perfect companion for on-location photographers.’

Click here to read a .pdf with the specs of this lens.

The Schneider Kreuznach 40-80mm lens is priced at $11,350 incl. GST, and as stated before, will be available at L&P in three or four weeks.