As reported earlier today, new Canon lenses have now become official.
Pre-Orders
Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS & EF 35 f/2 IS
London, UK, 6 November 2012 – Canon today adds to its world-famous EF lens series with the launch of two models designed for enthusiasts and professionals – the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM and EF 35mm f/2 IS USM. Offering first-class optical technologies alongside highly compact designs, the new lenses are perfect for a range of creative purposes, including reportage, landscape, portrait, and travel photography.
Ideal for use alongside DSLRs like the new EOS 6D, both new lenses utilise the latest Canon technologies to consistently deliver superb results. Both include aspherical lenses and Super Spectra Coatings optimised for each individual element, Canon’s industry-leading Image Stabilizer (IS) technology and Ultrasonic Motors for superfast
Auto Focus (AF) – providing outstanding optical performance. The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is also the latest lens to feature Hybrid IS, delivering shakefree shots at any distance, including at macro focal lengths.
EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM – high performance, high flexibility, Hybrid IS
The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is the latest addition to Canon’s elite L-series, and expands the range of standard zoom EF lenses available for both professional and amateur photographers. Ideal for reportage and wedding photography, it combines an essential everyday focal range with a premium quality L-series construction, delivering consistently sharp, professional-quality stills in a range of different situations. A new macro function also optimises the placement of lens groups during macro photography, allowing shooting at a maximum magnification of 0.7x – reducing the need for photographers to carry a dedicated macro lens.
Its first-class optical system includes two aspherical elements alongside two Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lenses, each with optimised Super Spectra Coatings to minimise chromatic aberration, colour blurring and flare. A constant f/4 aperture throughout the zoom range provides photographers with exceptional creative control, allowing blurring of the background of a scene at all focal lengths. A nine-blade circular iris also assists photographers in making their subjects stand out, delivering beautiful out of focus highlights (bokeh) in the background blur to add atmosphere to a shot.
The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM also features a newly designed IS system, delivering blur-free images throughout the zoom range. Canon’s advanced optical IS offers a 4-stop light advantage, while Hybrid IS effectively compensates for angular and shift shake during macro shooting for stable close ups.
Superfast AF performance is provided by a small, ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM). Working in combination with a high-performance CPU and advanced AF algorithms, USM technology enables accurate, silent and ultra-responsive autofocusing. Full-time manual focusing also ensures adjustments can be made even when AF is engaged.
The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM features a high grade, usability-focused design – both inside and out. The exterior features a high quality leather-texture coating, a revised shape ensures ease-of-use, and the focusing and zoom rings have been designed for optimal operation. Additionally, a dust and drip-proof construction is resistant to dust and moisture, a lock function protects lenses from knocks when travelling, while fluorine coating minimises the amount of dust, dirt and fingerprints that adhere to the front and rear lenses – helping to maintain superior image quality and reduce the need for cleaning.
EF 35mm f/2 IS USM – take a wider look at the world
The new EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is designed to offer outstanding flexibility – allowing photographers to capture an even broader range of scenes and subjects in wide-angle. The lens is Canon’s first-ever 35mm prime to feature optical Image Stabilizer technology, which combines with high quality optics to offer outstanding performance from a lightweight, compact body. The 35mm focal length also provides the ability to capture everything from close-up portraits to wide-angle landscapes, making it an ideal companion for travel or general reportage photography.
Its advanced specification offers photographers great flexibility to shoot a wider-range of scenes and subjects. A bright, fixed f/2 aperture also allows photographers to employ a shallow depth of field, and optical IS offers users a 4-stop light advantage, allowing the capture of blur-free images in low light conditions when shooting handheld. Intelligent detection of panning motion is also supported, with Panning IS mode automatically engaged to enable photographers to capture movement with greater accuracy.
Designed to deliver exceptional image quality, the EF 35mm f/2 IS USM features an aspherical glass-moulded (GMo) element positioned at the rear of the optical path to correct aberration for the entire optical system. Additionally, each individual element features optimised Super Spectra coatings to reduce ghosting and flare – ensuring excellent colour balance with minimal need for post processing. A combination of a ring-type USM and high performance CPU also provides rapid AF performance, with full-time manual focus also available for users who want to retain maximum control.
Hello Mr. Carr, I would like to thank you for all your fine work and assistance to us, THANKS. Now my impressions of this lens. Yes it’s overpriced as every Canon lens, especially “L” lenses when introduced. But despite only being f4 and loosing range to the outgoing 24-105, there are some real atributes for some, but definitely not all. Mostly the older backs will not beneifit as much as the new bodies like mine, the 5Dmk3 & 1Dx, 6D, 1D series and 5Dmk2. Or the higher pixel count above 10-12 megapixels. These new lenses will show a major improvement over the older outgoing lenses, like 24-70L and 24-105L 35 f1.4L and so on. By newer I would say 40mm Pancake, 24-70L ii, 70-200L ii, 70-300L,100L, and certain Super Telephoto lenses and now this new addition, the Canon 24-70 f/4 IS L. My point here is Canon has been pushing there sensor technology, but there lens lineup is only recently catching up!
If we start to realize this point, we may see why the new 24-70 f4 starts to fit in this new lens line up. I love the lightness, hy-brid stabilization contruction, compact size and weight savings. Now some things that are really interesting to me also but I will not be truely be able to comment till I test my new lens comming. I beleive in the new Canon lenses sharpness and MTF charts are very acurate. Even more so edge to edge. With the 24-70 f2.8 ii being best of all, and this lens a close second especially in this range and price point. Second is the better contrast rarely mentioned in most reviews except some about the f2.8 ii. Another factor others never mention or rarely see is the importance of AF speed acuratecy and speed. Which is one of the main reasons for purcasing my 5Dmk3 to begin with over the mk2. Canon lenses just perform that much faster then any third party lens period. Another rather interesting feature I can’t wait to experience is the macro feature, since I love my 100L.
Either way I don’t have a wide angle at this point, only 40mm, 100L and 70-300L so i’m in need of a wide angle and I get a zoom with IS plus all the features mentioned above. With a major price savings over the f2.8 ii. which is what most others where complaining about to begin with. Thanks again mr. Carr and may we all have enough insight to chose the best lenses for our own style of Photography since this isn’t always easy and expensive for us all.
Thanks for contributing to the discussion. Good, valid points.