Archive for: lenses

A Lens Roadmap? [CR1]

Lots of lenses mentioned
I received what appears to be some kind of lens roadmap. I only ever remember seeing a communication like this one once in the past.  There are definitely some interesting concepts listed. Take all of this with the grain of salt.

• EF 50 1.8 IS, status “prototype”, has tag “spring 2013″
• EF 50 2.5 macro was tagged with “to be replaced”
• EF 200 2.8 L IS macro is tagged with “testing”, “patents pending”, and “autumn 2013″
• EF 24-70 2.8 L II tagged “final”, “winter 2011″
• EF 100-400 4-5.6 L IS tagged “final”, “autumn 2012″
• EF 35 1.4 L II tagged “prototype”, “winter 2012″
• EF 60 L IS lens tagged “prototype”

Some odd duck EF-S zooms

• EF-S 20-65 IS
• EF-S 45-105 IS status “development”
• EF-S 55-70 IS “testing”
• EF-S 70-400 IS “prototype”

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Canon EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS in 2012 [CR2]

Canon 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS
Received word that we can expect to see a direct replacement of the aging EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS sometime in 2012. It has been rumored quite often that a replacement was coming. Some of those rumors may have been talking about the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x.

We have the patent from a few months ago to get an idea of the optical formula.

I was told it would be in the $3000 price range, have a rotating zoom, weigh less, be slightly faster on the wide end at f/4 and carry the latest and greatest coatings and IS.

As with most lenses, an exact announcement date is unknown at this time.

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What’s Next? Lenses & Cameras

Lenses
I’ve heard that Canon will be introducing a lot of new lenses this year. Quite possibly a record amount of new lenses announced in a single calendar year. For the moment, it’s unknown whether the lens count will include any mirrorless camera lenses, or if we’re talking EF lenses.

I will say, Canon may be updating lenses to help resolve a coming huge megapixel camera. We’ve heard previously a lot of short focal length lenses are on the update schedule, and we just saw 2 primes and a zoom announced.

Keep watching patents for clues. The EF 24 f/2.8 seemed like an odd duck, yet here it is. I almost expect  an  EF 50 f/1.2L II, no IS on that one though.

Camera Bodies
Lots of speculation about the end of the month for a new camera body. However, there is nothing concrete and I’ve been told that things are going “back and forth” in regards to an announcement.

I will say I have heard there will be a very high megapixel camera some time in 2012, possibly in the 40mp range and it won’t be the “5D Mark III”.

The next announcement should be for an EOS body or two.

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Canon DSLR & Lens Rebate Extended Until February 4, 2012

Rebate extensions are good
Canon has extended the DSLR & lens combination rebate program until February 24, 2012. The 7D and 5D Mark II are the main DSLR bodies for the rebate program.

There are also combo rebates for the Pixma 9000 Mark II printer.

Canon DSLR & Lens Rebates at B&H 

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EF 24-70 f/2.8L II [CR2]

Here we go again
More information has trickled in about the “thorn in my side”, aka the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS II. A new version of the updated lens started to make its way to the folks lucky enough to test the lens out. There have been upwards of 5 different variations of the new lens. It’s still reported that there is no IS in any of the prototypes. One design change that has apparently been seen is a fully internal zoom function, we’re not sure if that is with all the prototypes.

I won’t even hazard a guess as to when it will be announced, though it was suggested it has been pushed back on various occasions.

I can see the collective eye rolls about this post already. I post about 2% of the stuff that comes in about this lens, I understand you’re all sick of reading about it.

The Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L at B&H for $1249

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Canon EF 28 f/2.8 Disappears From Price List

From Germany
According to [NL], The Canon EF 28 f/2.8 no longer appears on German price lists. This lens is one of only three lenses left from the original EOS line-up. The other 2 being the 50 f/2.5 compact macro and the 135 f/2.8 soft focus.

Canon 28 f/2.8 at B&H for $259

Another lens that has been out of stock for some time at B&H is the Canon EF 35 f/2.0. We have heard previously that a 35 f/1.8 does indeed exist.

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CES 2012 Cool Stuff – BETA Shell Cases

BETA Shell Cases
The first product I hadn’t seen before are the BETA Shell Cases for lenses. They have no distribution in Canada, so I’ve never had the opportunity to run into them in stores.

For those that don’t know, they’re basically indestructible cases for individual lenses. They’re priced extremely well and are easy to use. They’d be fantastic for people that take their lenses into areas you don’t want to drop a lenses. They’d probably also make the shipping of lenses safer for rental businesses and the like. I also think this would be a better solution for me over a Pelican style case with a foam insert, as I don’t carry the same lenses with me on each trip. You can also fit these into your camera bag and have exceptional protection. Each case can also fit multiple lenses in your collection.

Each and every case is made in the United States, as they’re based in Portland, Oregon. The price value of these things are almost shocking. They don’t have a single lens case over $90. They’re also looking into products for the supertelephotos in the future.

The BETA Shell Booth @ CES 2012

From betashell.com

Rigid, water-proof, and shock resistant – our patent pending BETA Shell™ protective cases are constructed unlike any other case.Our cases are designed to provide a lifetime of unsurpassed protection to your expensive photo & video gear. Now you can travel in the harshest conditions and the most extreme environments with complete confidence! Travel with us, travel protected!

They have cases that will fit lenses up to the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II and 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS without the tripod ring attached.

See the full line of Beta Shell cases at B&H

Visit BETA Shell at www.betashell.com

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Sigma 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Announced

Off to Sigma
The first place I wanted to head to was Sigma and checkout the new Sigma 180 f/2.8 OS Macro lens. It’s the first 180mm f/2.8 macro lens ever produced. Sigma hasn’t yet issued an official press release on the lens. The other lenses announced by Sigma were for the mirrorless market.

The new macro lens intro | Sigma 200-500 f/2.8 & my wife.

First Impressions
It’s an impressive size for a macro lens. It’s larger than the Canon 180 f/3.5L by a fair margin. Especially in width. The front element is quite impressive and it weighs accordingly. The tripod collar seems extremely solid and the switches on the side are of decent quality. The fit and finish on the lens is about what you’d expect from Sigma. This is another lens that no longer has the spray on hair coating of Sigma lenses in the past.

The lens didn’t have a lens hood on, so I have no idea how much that would extend the size of this large macro lens. I’ve yet to use a macro lens that isn’t sharp, and by appearance alone, this will probably continue the trend. I only hope Sigma has used quality parts inside the lens and quality control is up to par at launch.

The Sigma 180mm f/2.8 OS Macro & 5D Classic

Availability & Pricing?
The official word I received from the representatives at the Sigma booth was the price was unknown and it would begin shipping in March.

I asked about more Sigma lenses in the pipeline and received the usual “no comment” and a smile.

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Lens Announcement at CES? [CR1]

“Heard from a…..”
A person in Europe has said a retailer in their home country has said Canon will announce new lenses next week at CES. The retailer wouldn’t say what.

It’s possible at this time that reps have started to hint to stores on how to order product that is about to be discontinued.

The 24-70 f/2.8L II is again the most talked about lens in emails I am receiving.

We have yet to see an official PowerShot G1X announcement, so that will probably come Monday or Tuesday of next week. I stress again that CES is looked at like a “consumer” show by Canon, and “L” lenses generally aren’t considered as such. However, Nikon is carrying a lot of hype into the CES show.

Canon 24-70 f/2.8L @ B&H $1249

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EOS Announcements in January?

Lenses
We were told that we’d see a 24-70 f/2.8L II and 35 f/1.4L II announced on January 3, 2012. That date has come and gone with no announcement of such products.

The same source says they are still coming, and was surprised that they weren’t announced. Sometime after CES is the latest information I have.

Don’t forget we were also told about a 70-200 f/4L IS II being announced in the mid January.

EOS DSLRs
There have been a few things coming in about a possible DSLR announcement in January 2012. Canon has no real interest in CES/PMA as far as EOS goes, since in their own words; it’s a “consumer” show. “L” lenses and high end DSLRs don’t fit that category.

What DSLR? I can’t say at the moment, all I can gather is it won’t be a large megapixel camera, i.e. 30+ mp.

I guess Nikon will have the DSLR spotlight during CES.

B&H Lens Sale Continues
B&H’s Canon lens sale continues. Free shipping in the USA is still going strong.

Visit The B&H Canon Lens Sale

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