Canon Focuses On Professionals By Introducing
Six
New L-Series EF Lenses And Accessories
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Canon Introduces the World’s Widest Fisheye Zoom
Lens, a New Telephoto Zoom Lens and Two New Super Telephoto Lenses with
Optional New Extenders
Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in
digital imaging, rounds out its Summer product introductions with four
new L-series lenses and two new accessory extenders for professionals
and advanced amateurs. Leading the introductions, the EF 8-15mm f/4L
Fisheye USM lens is the world’s widest fisheye zoom lens, providing
professional photographers and cinematographers with a unique optical
tool for capturing 180˚ angle-of-view shots on all EOS Digital SLR
cameras.
Photographers looking for a broad focal length range with
excellent image quality will enjoy the Company’s first L-series 70-300mm
telephoto zoom lens, the new EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens,
delivering outstanding sharpness, contrast and color fidelity in a
compact, lightweight form factor. Canon is introducing two new versions
of its popular super telephoto lenses, the new EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lenses delivering
incredible image quality at all apertures for professional
photojournalists, sports and wildlife photographers.
For professionals
and advanced amateurs looking to push their L-series Canon telephotos to
the limit, the Company is proud to upgrade its two popular extenders
with the new Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III for
additional telephoto reach and exceptional clarity. Photographers will
immediately notice that the latest Canon L-series telephoto lenses and
extenders have a more neutral white tone compared to earlier models.
This new shade of white will be used with all L-series telephoto lenses
and extenders beginning in the second half of 2010. The introductions of
these Canon lenses have been timed with Canon’s latest camera
introduction, the Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR camera, designed for
advanced amateurs and emerging professional photographers.
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens
With its unique focal length range, the EF 8-15mm
f/4L USM is the world’s widest fisheye zoom lens. It delivers 180§
diagonal angle of view images for all EOS SLR cameras with imaging
formats ranging from full-frame to APS-C, and provides 180˚
circular fisheye images for full-frame EOS models. Professional
photographers and cinematographers will revel in the unique perspectives
afforded to them through this lens, particularly when coupled with the
highly popular full-frame EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera. Canon’s new
Fisheye zoom lens features both UD and aspherical lens elements to
enhance image quality and is equipped with rubber gaskets and seals to
enhance weather resistance. Canon’s proprietary SWC (Sub Wavelength
Structure Coating) is used to minimize flare and a new fluorine
anti-smear coating is applied to the front and rear elements to make
lens cleaning easier than ever.
The Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens is expected
to be available in January of 2011 for an approximate retail
price of $1,400.
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens
Compact and lightweight, yet durable and
professionally sharp, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens is the ideal
telephoto zoom lens for advanced amateurs looking for that extra reach
to bring a subject in tight and close. Providing the power and
durability to maximize every shooting opportunity, the Canon EF 70-300mm
f/4-5.6L IS USM lens features two UD ultra-low dispersion glass elements
for enhanced sharpness, L-series weather and dust sealing for shooting
in harsh conditions, improved mechanical design, and streamlined
ergonomics to help avoid inadvertent mode switch operation. The shapes
of the lens elements and their coatings have been optimized to minimize
ghosting and flare to produce high-contrast and high-resolution
throughout the zoom range. A sophisticated floating system optical
formula optimizes image quality at all distance settings and reduces
minimum focusing distance by more than a foot. An updated optical image
stabilization system compensates for camera shake up to an equivalent of
four full shutter-speed steps, a full step improvement compared to
earlier EF 70-300mm lenses. A new fluorine anti-smear coating is applied
to the front and rear elements.
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens is
expected to be available toward the end of October for an approximate
retail price of $1,500.
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM is the 6th
generation of a venerable family of Canon 300mm f/2.8 lenses that began
in 1974, and have become famous for their exceptional sharpness,
contrast and color fidelity. Ideal for a wide range of applications
ranging from professional photojournalism and sports photography to
nature and wildlife, Canon’s 300mm f/2.8 lenses have always led the
industry with new technical advances in every generation. The EF 300mm
f/2.8L IS II USM lens carries on this tradition with improved image
quality, lighter weight, improved Image Stabilization and enhanced
durability making it a great option for handheld work in the field. The
optical formula of the new lens has been upgraded with the inclusion of
two fluorite lens elements for improved image quality and reduced
chromatic aberration. Helping to reduce arm fatigue, Canon has reduced
the overall weight of the lens by 8 percent to 82.9 oz., making it the
lightest weight lens in the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 series. The Image
Stabilizer provides an equivalent of approximately four full shutter
speed steps of shake compensation and has been enhanced through the
incorporation of a rolling-ball-friction system in place of sliding
parts in the compensation optics barrel for a minimum-friction
structure. The overall durability of the lens has also been enhanced
through increased usage of magnesium alloy and titanium for lens barrel
components, together with weather sealing for all exterior joints and
switches and a new fluorine anti-smear coating applied to the front and
rear elements.
The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is expected to
be available in December for an approximate retail price of $7,000.
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
Quintessential for many sports assignments including
baseball, football, soccer and golf, Canon’s professional 400mm f/2.8
lenses provide the light gathering capability and long telephoto reach
that photographers need to freeze the action and fill the frame . The
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM is the 5th generation in Canon’s 400mm
f/2.8 series and the successor to the current EF 400mm introduced in
1999. The new lens has been engineered for the ultimate in optical
performance through the use of two fluorite lens elements for improved
quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Helping photographers in the
field, Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by a substantial
28 percent from 189.4 oz to 135.8 oz, making it Canon’s lightest weight
400mm f/2.8 lens ever. The Image Stabilizer provides an equivalent of
approximately four full shutter speed steps of shake compensation and
has been enhanced through the incorporation of a rolling-ball-friction
system in place of sliding parts in the compensation optics barrel for a
minimum-friction structure. The overall durability of the lens has also
been enhanced through increased usage of magnesium alloy and titanium
for lens barrel components, together with weather sealing for all
exterior joints and switches and a new fluorine anti-smear coating is
applied to the front and rear elements.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is expected to
be available in December for an approximate retail price of $11,000.
Canon Extender EF 1.4x III & Canon Extender EF 2x III
The two new EF extenders are direct replacements of
the current extenders offered by Canon as essential accessories for
professionals. These new extenders have been designed to provide faster
autofocusing and improved autofocus precision with compatible EF lenses.
Each extender includes an anomalous dispersion lens element for reduced
chromatic aberration and enhanced optical image quality. Each extender
also features a newly developed microcomputer that increases AF
precision when the extenders are used with a IS Series II EF
super-telephoto lens. Both extenders are equipped with rubber gaskets
and seals to enhance weather resistance. A new fluorine anti-smear
coating is applied to the front and rear elements of both extenders.
The Canon Extender EF 1.4x III & Canon Extender EF 2x
III are expected to be available in December for an approximate retail
price of $500 each.
New Lens Features
In addition to an anti-reflection multi-coating, the
front and rear elements of all newly announced EF lenses and extenders
are treated with Canon’s new fluorine anti-smear lens coating. The
fluorine layer is highly oil- and water-repellent so that any oil smears
or water droplets on the lens can be wiped off quickly and easily
without the aid of solvents using a soft dry cloth. These four new
lenses and two new extenders are the first of their type to employ
fluorine coating, and it is expected that this new feature will enhance
the usability of the lenses during adverse shooting conditions.
The new Series II EF super-telephoto lenses can
correct camera shake up to four full shutter speed steps, compared to
two shutter speed steps for the original versions. This improvement is
made possible by a new low-friction stabilizer mechanism that is not
only more efficient than the previous design but also smaller and
lighter. Other enhancements to the IS systems of both new super
telephoto lenses have enabled quieter operation ideal for use during
video capture.
Providing professional sports and wildlife
photographers with greater tracking flexibility, Canon has introduced a
third Image Stabilization mode option to its new EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II
USM and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses. When mode 3 is selected on the
lens, the image stabilization effect will not be seen in the viewfinder.
When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the lens will begin
detecting camera or lens
movement and only during exposure, when the shutter is fully
depressed, will the Image Stabilization engage and provide the
equivalent of four stops faster compensation for blur-free images. The
new Mode 3 is particularly useful when a photographer does not want to
see the IS working in the viewfinder while tracking a moving subject.
Helping moviemakers achieve smoother and more
appealing focus shifts when filming on EOS DSLR cameras, Canon has
included a new Power Focus (PF) mode on the Company’s two new super
telephoto lenses. This mode allows manual rack focusing to be operated
smoothly by turning a playback ring that is normally used for the focus
preset function. Both low-speed and high-speed focus shifting are
available.
Additionally, a new security slot attachment has been
included on both new super-telephoto lenses to allow a wire-type
security lock to be easily affixed, a great safety feature for
professionals shooting from high vantage points above arenas and crowds.
Availability, prices, and specifications of all
products are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by
individual dealers and may vary.
