Archive for the ‘Canon Lenses’ Category

Patent: Supertelephoto DO Lenses With Macro Features

400mm, 600mm and 800mm DO Lenses
Patents have shown up showing new DO optical formulas with 2:1, 1:1 and 1:4 macro functions.

Adding macro functionality to super telephoto lenses would be a pretty cool feature. It’s also good to see DO patents continue to show up, it’d be nice to see new DO lenses.

Read the patent here

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EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS Exists as a Working Prototype [CR2]

It’s not coming soon
There are plans to release an EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS sometime in the next 18 months. I have confirmed from two sources that the end of 2013 or early 2014 is the earliest we’d see a production model announced.

There are no plans for a non-IS 24-70 f/4L.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens $2049 (Save $250)

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Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L Non-IS to Be Discontinued in 2013 [CR2]

Time’s up
The Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L non-IS is set to be discontinued officially some time in 2013. As much as I think there is still a market for this lens with sports & wedding photographers with pro bodies with great high ISO performance, there’s no information saying Canon will do a version II of this lens.

In case you were wondering, the EF 70-200 f/4L is remaining current with no plans for a discontinuation.

Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L non-IS at B&H $1299

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Patent: A New Canon EF 50 f/1.2 & Suggestion of a Full Frame Mirrorless?

New Canon 50 f/1.2
A new patent has surfaced that shows a new design for an EF 50 f/1.2 lens. The current 50L has somewhat of a mixed reputation due to some focus shift.

Also shown is potentially a 50 f/2 for a full frame mirrorless camera as it mentions a 22mm back focus distance. Keith at [NL] is reading the patent that way, and that interpretation looks plausible. If anyone is better at reading and interpreting the patent than we are, please let us know.

• Example 1
  • Focal length f = 51.70mm
  • Fno. 1.25
  • Half angle of view ω = 22.71 °
  • Image height 21.64mm
  • 105.65mm length lens
  • BF 40.00mm
  • Nine 6 groups lens configuration
  • One one aspherical surface
  • Maximum effective diameter 45.16mm
• Example 4
  • Focal length f = 50.00mm
  • Fno. 2.06
  • Half angle of 23.40mm
  • Image height 21.64mm
  • Length 72.62mm lens
  • BF 28.86mm
  • Eight four group lens configuration
  • No aspherical
  • Maximum effective diameter 33.34mm

Source: [EG] via [NL]

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2013 – The Year for 400mm Lenses? [CR1]

400mm Everywhere!
I have received various bits of info over the last few months about Canon’s plans in the 400mm range. There is lots of desire for a new 400 f/5.6L and 100-400, and both may finally be getting an update. It feels like the 100-400 has been in the update cycle forever, but judging by how many of these things Canon sells, I can see why they’ve been in no rush to have it replaced.

Below are lenses that are apparently in prototype form and are on tap to be announced in 2013.

• EF 400 f/5.6L IS (Highly desired)
• EF 400 f/4L IS (Not DO)
• EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS (Not push-pull & patents exists)
• EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x (Long known about)

There seems to be a theme developing with Canon offering more options in the same focal length range. Best guess pricing will also have a pretty wide range, from a $2000 400 f/5.6L IS up to the $11,000 EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x.

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Canon EF 35 f/2 IS Resolution Test

From LensRentals.com
Roger and Aaron at LensRentals.com have tested the resolution on a small batch of the new Canon EF 35 f/2 IS lens.

The lens performed better than the EF 35 f/2 that it was replacing, especially noticeable in the corners. While center resolution remains about the same. They compared the lens against the original EF 35 f/2, the EF 35 f/1.4L,  and Sigma 35 f/1.4.

Battle of 35mm Lenses – Higher Numbers are Better

The real winner here appears to be the Sigma 35 f/1.4. Canon is going to have to make their sharpest wide angle prime ever to outdo the Sigma. It just happens that Norman Camera has the Sigma 35 f/1.4 in stock for $899.

LensRentals.com’s conclusion
I’m afraid this is a rather dull and boring post that doesn’t tell you anything you probably hadn’t already assumed. If you like to shoot 35mm and need Image Stabilization for the type of shooting you do, this will be a very nice lens and worth the money. Otherwise, you’re probably better off with something else.

Read the entire article

Canon EF 35 f/2 IS $849 at B&H Photo | Adorama | Sigma 35 f/1.4 for $899 at Norman Camera

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Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L in Late 2013 [CR2]

A New Canon Ultrawide Zoom
This lens comes up every now and then as something that will be added to the Canon lineup. A couple of patents that have referenced this optical formula are out there, which tells us it’s something that is on the minds of the R&D team at Canon.

I was told today that the lens is in the pipeline and will be coming in 2013 if there are no more delays with lens production. I was told to expect availability to be in late 2013, but the announcement date was unknown at this time. It makes perfect sense that this sort of lens would be announced with the imminent large megapixel camera that Canon will unveil in 2013.

There were a few lenses that were to be announced in 2012 that will be pushed into 2013. A lot had to do with production delays with the new supertelephotos as well as the EF 24-70 f/2.8L II.

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Canon EF 50 f/1.4 IS in 2013 [CR2]

More non-L primes coming
Expect to see a new EF 50 f/1.4 IS sometime in 2013. There have been variations of a replacement for the very old (1993) EF 50 f/1.4 and it sounds like a 1.4 IS variant is going to be the winner. We have also heard of an f/1.8 IS version existing. Don’t expect such a lens to be much less than the $800 that the EF 24 f/2.8 IS, EF 28 f/2.8 IS and EF 35 f/2 IS all approximately cost.

The EF 85 f/1.8 is also in the works with an IS version we’re told. I haven’t heard anything about the very good EF 100 f/2 getting a replacement.

Source: [NL]

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History Lesson: Canon FDn 1200 f/5.6L 1.4x Lens Images

Canon FDn 1200 f/5.6L 1.4x
We posted about the FDn 1200 f/5.6L 1.4x lens, which was the first Canon lens to have a built in teleconverter. I was having a hard time find a photograph of one, and apparently only 5 of these lenses were ever made and never went to production.

Thankfully, Phil from Australia scanned and sent us some images of said lens in action. These images are from the Easter Bike Races in Bathurst, Australia. Canon Australia had one ”on loan for a few years”, until EOS was launched in 1987 and these lenses became EF mount without the 1.4 teleconverter.

Thanks Phil

FDn 1200mm f/5.6L 1.4x | Click for Larger

FDn 1200mm f/5.6L 1.4x | Click for Larger

FDn 1200mm f/5.6L 1.4x | Click for Larger

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Correction and History Lesson About Built-in Teleconverters in Canon Lenses

Canon FDn 1200mm f/5.6L
I made a post a few days ago about built-in teleconverters and said that the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x was the first Canon lens with the built-in 1.4x teleconverter technology. While it will be the first production lens to have the feature, Canon did in fact make 5 lenses back in 1984 for the Los Angeles Summer Games in the form of an FDn 1200mm f/5.6L that also had a 1.4x teleconverter built in. All 5 of these lenses were shipped back to Canon in Japan and converterted to EF mount. These lenses then became the legendary made to order EF 1200 f/5.6L without the built-in teleconverter.

If you’ve never heard about the super rare Canon EF 1200 f/5.6L, Bryan at TDP has a great article about his time with the lens. Read it here..

Thanks for the heads up Phil

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