More Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II Information

[Canon Rumors]

<p>More information about the upcoming Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II has appeared over at DCI.</p>
<ul>
<li>Pricing is rumored to be about 275,000 yen, which translated to nearly $2300 USD, though these conversions are rarely accurate for a North American price.</li>
<li>The lens should start shipping in the middle of October 2015.</li>
<li>New techniques used for the aspherical lenses.</li>
<li>The BR Lens is Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics. Which will refract the light in the blue spectrum. This should help control chromatic aberrations.</li>
<li>There looks to be new techniques used for weather and dust sealing, as well as increased resistance to impacts. This may be the most durable lens Canon has made yet.</li>
</ul>
<p>You can read more over at DCI, as the above is Google translated.</p>

 

[PureClassA]

$2300 USD?? Nah. Not gonna happen for this lens. $1700 max but hopefully more like $1500. Exchange rates still favor a much lower price than direct Yen to USD translation. Few to nobody is going to pay $2300 for this sucker.

 

[da_guy2]

If it's anywhere over $2000 it better be flipping amazing otherwise the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art will (continue to) eat it for lunch.

 

[Ruined]

This lens is going to need to be pure magic to convince me to buy it since I have the 35mm f/2 IS and that lens has so much going for it.

 

[bereninga]

Over $2k? Good luck on that one. Not happening.

 

[romanr74]

$2300 USD?? Nah. Not gonna happen for this lens. $1700 max but hopefully more like $1500. Exchange rates still favor a much lower price than direct Yen to USD translation. Few to nobody is going to pay $2300 for this sucker.

mindblowing insight

 

[CanonGuy]

Anything more than 1500, this leans has to amazing. considering the awesome 35 art at $800, I do not see it fetching more than double. Get the act right Canon! It's not like you are the only choice anymore for 35mm 1.4!

 

[Steve Balcombe]

Exchange rates still favor a much lower price than direct Yen to USD translation.

The exchange rate *is* a direct yen to USD translation. That's what "exchange rate" means!

I wonder whether a high price has been leaked so the real price looks good when we finally get it?

 

[ahsanford]

A clone of the Sigma 35 Art + the reliability/consistency of Canon first-party AF + weather sealing = a $1500 lens for me. No more.

Can't wait to see what this thing is capable of, but if the the asking price is north of $2k, it had better do my taxes for me.

- A

 

[Memdroid]

A $2K prime lens is not very uncommon.
But it is an unrealistic approach now seeing the competition has a killer alternative for less than $1K. Apart from the build, It better blow the Sigma to the sun in sheer performance for that price.

 

[ahsanford]

A $2K prime lens is not very uncommon.
But it is an unrealistic approach now seeing the competition has a killer alternative for less than $1K. Apart from the build, It better blow the Sigma to the sun in sheer performance for that price.

Canon would get that money if they showed terrifically consistent autofocus performance at f/1.4. I've shot the Sigma 35 Art and even with very careful technique my hit rate wide open with that lens was not good. (The Sigma lens is a fine tool but you can't adjust for consistency with that dock.)

- A

 

[roberthajdu]

This explains why Canon did not include the current 35mm L 1.4 on their lineup of recommended lenses for the Canon 5DsR. However, I believe if you have the current 35mm L, there will be little reason to upgrade to the new one.

 

[Viggo]

This explains why Canon did not include the current 35mm L 1.4 on their lineup of recommended lenses for the Canon 5DsR. However, I believe if you have the current 35mm L, there will be little reason to upgrade to the new one.

I disagree a lot with that. Everything can be a lot better with the 35 L, but it's a great lens which was my favorite for many years and I've had 8 copies of it.

The new one will be MUCH better built, AF/MF-button falling off and squeaky exterior with the old one, plus weather sealing. Contrast and color are quite poor and pale compared to Canon's newer lenses like the 24-70 II and 16-35 for example. Way too much purple fringing. A lot could be done with distortion and vignetting also. The sharpness on a good copy is really good, and okey in the cornes, this can also be a lot better. AF is the best of any 1.4 lens and the new one will be unbeatable.

 

[CanonGuy]

Canon would get that money if they showed terrifically consistent autofocus performance at f/1.4. I've shot the Sigma 35 Art and even with very careful technique my hit rate wide open with that lens was not good. (The Sigma lens is a fine tool but you can't adjust for consistency with that dock.)

- A

I'm ready to pay double of 35 art for AF consistency, but that's it. I do not see it becoming big hit with rice tag more than 1500. Sure some people will still buy it, majority will go towards sigma.

btw, i have the 35 art. My keeper rate with the 35 art is around 90%

 

[dolina]

Really interested in how much more it can improve over the perfect Series I lens.

Looking forward to price drops happening by say April/May/June.

Those who have the 35 will have little reason to upgrade without application reasons.

While those without it are open to get one just like that. Should be good for at least the next 17 years or so.

 

[ahsanford]

This explains why Canon did not include the current 35mm L 1.4 on their lineup of recommended lenses for the Canon 5DsR. However, I believe if you have the current 35mm L, there will be little reason to upgrade to the new one.

Disagree. The 35L is 17 years old and is currently trounced IQ-wise by the non-L 35 f/2 IS, which -- though it's a stop slower -- costs about 1/3 the price.

No sir. I expect a new 35L II to mop the floor with the original.

- A

 

[Etienne]

It's good to know that Canon is putting out awesome lenses, and I assume that this will be an awesome lens. But I have the 35 f/2 IS which is great, if not awesome, and small and light, with IS, so it's not for me right now.

However I am interested in what price it comes in at, because that will bode ill or well for a future 24 f/1.4 mark III, which I would probably really want if it, too, is awesome. The $1500 range would probably be a good sign.

 

[deleteme]

A lot of people pooh-poohed the idea of $3K for the 11-24 yet lined up when it became available.

I think Canon is aware of its clients and is leaking a high-ish MSRP to see what chatter they get.
The comment earlier about leaking high price so the actual looks good is correct IMO. If Canon leaks $2300 and comes in at $1900 a lot of people will squeak with delight as they place their orders.

One interesting aspect that so far has gone unmentioned is that Canon seems to be building to a new standard of robustness and sharpness that implies excellent performance over a long life. Thus giving substance to the phrase of "dating the body but marry the glass."

At $2300 that amortizes quite well over 30 years.

 

[Eldar]

If this is the price level, we should expect Zeiss quality with superb built and AF quality. I have my doubts though. I´d be surprised if it is above $1500-1600.

 

[ahsanford]

A lot of people pooh-poohed the idea of $3K for the 11-24 yet lined up when it became available.

Apples and oranges. There is no Sigma 11-24 f/4 Art for sale for $899, and we all knew that people with ultra-ultra-ultra-wide sickness were going to sell their children for that 11-24.

But with the 35mm FL, there are two very, very good AF 35mm lenses in the Sigma 35 Art and Canon 35 f/2 IS, and as such, a new 35L is far less exotic and unique in comparison. I see a far weaker position for Canon to demand top dollar in this market segment.

- A