Wide angle zoom L lenses from Canon in the future. Thoughts??

[AdamJ]

Even with the bulb like front elements at these focal lenghts though the hood still protrudes further forward plus theres nothing to attach any adaptor to. That means that a system like either the Lee one that allows for moveble filters or one like Fotodiox that allows for screw ins are excessively large and expensive both in terms of the holders and the filter sizes needed. If you allow for the hood to be removed and a filter thread to be present then the size and cost of both the holder and the filters themselves can come down since they'll be closer to the front element.

The other option I mentioned would be some kind of drop in filter system ala the Pentax 25mm 645 lens or Canon's own super teles, wouldnt be quite as effective since only fixed grads could be used but would still give it a clear advanatge over the Nikon.

I can understand not taking this route on cheaper lenses where most users will probabley not want filters but if there competing with the Nikon 14-24mm then alot of the market will be serious landscape users and a pretty high percentage of them do want filters.

I've just looked at my 12-24 and actually you're right: the narrowest part of the petal hood is pretty much exactly level with the middle of the front element.

Edit: I need to correct myself. The front element is at its most retracted position at 20mm, where it is level with the narrowest part of the petal hood. It extends from 20mm to 24mm by about half a centimetre, and it extends from 20mm to 12mm by about a centimetre. So at any focal length other than around 20mm, the front element protrudes beyond the narrowest part of the hood.

 

[moreorless]

Even with the bulb like front elements at these focal lenghts though the hood still protrudes further forward plus theres nothing to attach any adaptor to. That means that a system like either the Lee one that allows for moveble filters or one like Fotodiox that allows for screw ins are excessively large and expensive both in terms of the holders and the filter sizes needed. If you allow for the hood to be removed and a filter thread to be present then the size and cost of both the holder and the filters themselves can come down since they'll be closer to the front element.

The other option I mentioned would be some kind of drop in filter system ala the Pentax 25mm 645 lens or Canon's own super teles, wouldnt be quite as effective since only fixed grads could be used but would still give it a clear advanatge over the Nikon.

I can understand not taking this route on cheaper lenses where most users will probabley not want filters but if there competing with the Nikon 14-24mm then alot of the market will be serious landscape users and a pretty high percentage of them do want filters.

I've just looked at my 12-24 and actually you're right: the narrowest part of the petal hood is pretty much exactly level with the middle of the front element.

Edit: I need to correct myself. The front element is at its most retracted position at 20mm, where it is level with the narrowest part of the petal hood. It extends from 20mm to 24mm by about half a centimetre, and it extends from 20mm to 12mm by about a centimetre. So at any focal length other than around 20mm, the front element protrudes beyond the narrowest part of the hood.

I wasnt saying that normal screw ins would be used simpley without the hood, just that with the ability to detach the hood it would be much easier to use an adaptor for one. Canon could perhaps bundle in a basic screw in adaptor with the lens itself, the filters would need to be larger than normal but not 145-150mm as with the Nikon.