Lenses: 35L II & 85L III Next Up? [CR1]

[dolina]

These are the L primes that are much older than the 85L II.

1993 EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1996 EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
1996 EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
1996 EF 135mm f/2L USM
1997 EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
1998 EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

My preference is that Canon updates the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM, EF 135mm f/2L USM, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM and then the EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM before doing anything with the 85L II.

 

[swrightgfx]

Why? Does canon really need to replace these lenses? they are not that old.

The 35mmL was introduced in 1998. Its not exactly a new lens,

I guess it is more an issue of priority. I think the 35L is a pretty reliable piece of kit and has plenty of potential left in it to satisfy most photographers needs.

1996 EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM.

Yes! This would be nice. Canon is short on long macro lenses (short on long!?). It would be nice if they could pull the minimum focus to around the level of the 100L, while also improving the bokeh above 5.6, perhaps with 9 blades instead of the current 8.

 

[dolina]

Nikon updated their 35/1.4.

Time for Canon to do the same, me thinks.

Why? Does canon really need to replace these lenses? they are not that old.

The 35mmL was introduced in 1998. Its not exactly a new lens,

I guess it is more an issue of priority. I think the 35L is a pretty reliable piece of kit and has plenty of potential left in it to satisfy most photographers needs.

1996 EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM.

Yes! This would be nice. Canon is short on long macro lenses (short on long!?). It would be nice if they could pull the minimum focus to around the level of the 100L, while also improving the bokeh above 5.6, perhaps with 9 blades instead of the current 8.

 

[stilscream]

I found my 35mm L 1.4 at the pawn shop I work at. It had been priced at only $300, because they don't know lenses well enough. I already had the same lens, but how fast did I buy this lens?? So fast it makes your head spin. Sold my old copy for $1100, and made $800 quick-like!

Whoa that is the one of the most insane deals I've ever heard, maybe the most insane!

Yeah, most of the time its opposite, they loaned too much, making the price we sell it more than it should be. I did a dbl take and looked hard for abuse. Either the person who pawned it, stole it and got away with it, was in drugs and couldn't afford to come back...I don't understand how they only loaned $150 unless they missed the difference in f-stop. I've bought overpriced stuff too, but that was an exciting day! Glad I bought it before any customers who knew phtography did. Can't know everything about everything, even in the Google/Wikipedia/EBay era.

 

[Gcon]

Canon are pushing to get all their L lenses, with the exception of the L-series TS-E lenses, updated to fully weather sealed specification.

The Tilt shifts will never be weather sealed due to their design. All the others will be though.

Thus, the current L 35mm and 85mm will be updated again, and include weather sealing. The 35mm will also get rounded aperture blades, which is another L-series feature that Canon are pushing, and for good reason - it creates smoother bokeh.

 

[Marsu42]

The 35mm will also get rounded aperture blades, which is another L-series feature that Canon are pushing, and for good reason - it creates smoother bokeh.

Smoother bokeh? On the 35L? Looking at the samples, I think there's hardly and room for that?

We all want stuff to be better, but don't want it to cost more. Well, that's unrealistic. If Canon is going to improve their cameras and lenses, they're going to expect to charge more too. That's the way the world works.

I don't think so - it's just how Canon marketing works, getting as much revenue as possible. *Usually* when technology develops, older products get replaced with newer ones at about the same price because the manufacturing processes evolve and competition wouldn't allow for anything else (see Intel processors). The other alternative: a products gets bumped up feature-wise, but replaced with a "real" successor later on (like 5d2->5d3 and upcoming 5d2 replacement).

If what you're saying would be true, the prices of all products that are available for a longer time like cars, hifi sets, mobile phones.. would go up and up, but they don't. It's just that Canon can (still) get away with it. I hope Nikon, Sony and Pentax kicks their a** to get a grip.

 

[swrightgfx]

The 35mm will also get rounded aperture blades, which is another L-series feature that Canon are pushing, and for good reason - it creates smoother bokeh.

Smoother bokeh? On the 35L? Looking at the samples, I think there's hardly and room for that?

We all want stuff to be better, but don't want it to cost more. Well, that's unrealistic. If Canon is going to improve their cameras and lenses, they're going to expect to charge more too. That's the way the world works.

I don't think so - it's just how Canon marketing works, getting as much revenue as possible. *Usually* when technology develops, older products get replaced with newer ones at about the same price because the manufacturing processes evolve and competition wouldn't allow for anything else (see Intel processors). The other alternative: a products gets bumped up feature-wise, but replaced with a "real" successor later on (like 5d2->5d3 and upcoming 5d2 replacement).

If what you're saying would be true, the prices of all products that are available for a longer time like cars, hifi sets, mobile phones.. would go up and up, but they don't. It's just that Canon can (still) get away with it. I hope Nikon, Sony and Pentax kicks their a** to get a grip.

I agree, the bokeh on the 35L is buttery smooth and some of the best from Canon, but there is always room for improvement, which rounded blades or more blades will always give.

Current Canon pricing dictates that they are more than likely to go up as new releases come out. Unless there is significant improvement to the lenses, then the additional expense can feel quite considerable for the consumer. Having said that, Japan has had its fair share of bad luck of late, as has the US Dollar, Euro and Pound. Thank fully, the Australian Dollar has come through quite well, but with the greater import costs, we only just now almost balance with US prices.

 

[Ricku]

We all want stuff to be better, but don't want it to cost more. Well, that's unrealistic. If Canon is going to improve their cameras and lenses, they're going to expect to charge more too. That's the way the world works.

Perhaps the dumbest statement of the year.

if there were any truth in what you are saying, then TV's, camcorders, computers, cellphones, tablets, (and other gear) would also get more and more expensive each year. But in reality they DON'T! In fact, technology becomes better and cheaper each year.

About 5 years ago I spent $2500 on a new flat screen TV, and also bought a new high end computer. Today I can get a way better TV for much less, and a better computer for almost half the price.

There is no excuse for Canon' ridiculous pricing! ..But hey, I guess they can get away with it. Photographers seem to pay whatever it takes to get the latest gear, and I am sure that Canon is well aware of this.

 

[Marsu42]

Perhaps the dumbest statement of the year.

*smite* ... do you consider this good style?

There is no excuse for Canon' ridiculous pricing! ..But hey, I guess they can get away with it. Photographers seem to pay whatever it takes to get the latest gear, and I am sure that Canon is well aware of this.

It's because of dlsrs as a luxury commodity, too - they are much less expensive than other recreations: sports car, sports like golf, ...

I agree, the bokeh on the 35L is buttery smooth and some of the best from Canon, but there is always room for improvement, which rounded blades or more blades will always give.

I just remembered some lens reviews: They say the most obvious effect of rounded blades are seen at sunstars which aren't as large and distinct as with sharp ones, and it's often rated as a disadvantage. I don't know if they necessarily have a very large effect on the bokeh in general.

 

[Ricku]

*smite* ... do you consider this good style?

I know. I'm just having a bad day.

It's because of dlsrs as a luxury commodity, too - they are much less expensive than other recreations: sports car, sports like golf, ...

Explain to me why dslrs can be seen as a luxury comodity, more than a high end PC, flat screen 3D-TV or an Ipad 3?

It is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[seymour110]

Why? Does canon really need to replace these lenses? they are not that old.

The 35mmL was introduced in 1998. Its not exactly a new lens,

Yeah, i was mainly referring to the 85L. Still 1998 is newer than 1990 when they introduced the normal 35mm. I'm really starting to think Nikon is looking after its lower level customers far better than canon is. Even the new 24mm and 28mm are around £700. They need to produce a similar priced 35mm as nikon's DX one thats around £185.

 

[squarebox]

35L II = 2499 USD or 2299 Euro

This is probably a good guess as it seem that the new lens are based off of a new higher exchange rate. Just for reference, the current 35L I sells for $1850 USD new and $1500 used in Japan right now at local retailers. So I think your guess is right that the 35L II would be in the $2250-2500 range.

Just remember Canon prices aren't evil, but that the USD is worth 60% of what it was against the JPY 6 years ago.

B&H prices: Canon 35mm 1.4L $1,479.00 USA $1,379.00 Imported. (OK street prices)
Nowhere near $1850 USD.

My understanding is "imported" could be from any country. Like HK which the lens are probably closer to the U.S. prices. The $1850 I quoted is what Amazon.co.jp and local chains (which are pretty damn cheap) are selling for, here, in Japan. Which is why I saved myself $500 usd and bought my 35L in the U.S. in Feb. 2012.

 

[HarryWintergreen]

There are products that really need an update like the 100-400. Here, the additional charge to me made sense. In the case of the 85/1,2 one has to be very critical about what you really gain and have to pay for.

 

[AdamJ]

I feel sure that the whole existing lens range, except for those announced or released in the last year or so, will look like bargains compared with their future replacements. I only hope they don't replace the 135mm L,100mm L Macro and 24mm L II before I have a chance to buy them new. After that, I'm not sure I'll ever buy a new Canon lens again.

 

[imboyster]

No no no no. My 35L is 2 weeks old and my 85L is 1 year old. NO. Seriously though, i love my lenses.

 

[Marsu42]

My 35L is 2 weeks old

When the 35L2 is announced at $2500 you can sell your 35L at more than you paid yourself... and keep calm, it's [CR1] which means its a wild guess just as good as yours or mine.

 

[cayenne]

85mm is personally my favorite focal length (I shoot full frame). I have yet to go L lenses in this length, I still love my 85/1.8 Non-L. I'll wait on Fred Miranda's site for a great deal on an 85LII if I get that L lens itch. For now, I'm still in that honeymoon phase with my 85/1.8 - something about it just makes me feel more creative when I shoot whatever, and just don't see an 85LII in the near future, and don't see an 85LIII being released any time soon.

I have been pining over the 24L TS-E II for landscaping pictures I only dream of taking, but that is for another thread. Damn you Fred Miranda and your gorgeous pictures with that lens ;D ;D

I just went to the fred miranda site....and wondering where you're seeing any deals?

It appears his whole site is run by Amazon.com....and looking at his prices, they're just the same as all others on amazon.com.....

Is there a 'special' link I need to go to for deals?
:

 

[sharkcalgary]

Judging from the quality of the lens released in the past few years, I have no doubt in my mind that Canon will create something spectacular, even the predecessors are the legendary 35L and 85LII. Also judging from the prices of the new lens in the past few years, the new lens will be expensive, even the predecessors are 35L and 85L

The 85LII lost a bit of appeal to me after the release of the 70-200L IS II, to the point that I want to sell my 85LII. Maybe Canon needs to rejuvenate the 85L to restore its magic to trump the 70-200L IS II, Sigma 85/1.4. That may explain the relative short refresh cycle for this lens.

 

[ecka]

My 35L is 2 weeks old

When the 35L2 is announced at $2500 you can sell your 35L at more than you paid yourself... and keep calm, it's [CR1] which means its a wild guess just as good as yours or mine.

It better be 35/1.2L ... for that price ;D

 

[Marsu42]

It better be 35/1.2L ... for that price ;D

Imho the most important thing would be that it is sharp wide open, too - better a sharp f1.4 than a softer f1.2 that starts getting better at f1.8... and looking at my budget, better a sharp f1.4 at $1500 than a sharp f1.2 at $2500 :-o