Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM review | Canon | Lenses

Overview

Ultra-wide angle lenses have always been in demand by architectural, corporate, and other top pro photographers. This new lens features completely redesigned optics including 2 high-precision Aspherical elements and two totally new UD-glass elements. The result is superior image quality: better Contrast and sharpness at the outer edges, and a reduction in chromatic aberrations that can sometimes be seen with high-Resolution digital SLRs. Its diagonal Angle of view is an impressive 114°-anything larger would be a Fisheye lens. It has a built-in lens hood, and has been dust- and moisture- proofed. The lens uses a Rear focusing system, high-speed CPU, and a powerful ring-type USM with revised electronics for faster, more responsive AF. This lens continues the proud tradition of superior clarity optics found in L-series Canon lenses.

Press Release

Canon announces ultra-wide angle EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM United Kingdom / Republic of Ireland 20 August, 2007: Canon today releases its ultra-wide EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens. With the shortest Focal length in Canon’s renowned professional L-series range, the lens boasts a 114 degree angle of view; exceeded only by Canon’s EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye. The newly designed lens incorporates aspherical and UD elements to achieve the very highest standards of image fidelity. With the latest Ultrasonic Motor for fast and accurate auto focus and the addition of dust and moisture sealing, it replaces the enormously popular EF14mm f/2.8L USM. Availability and pricing The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens will be available from October 2007, priced at £1799.99 / €2599.99 RRP inc VAT. The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens features: Extreme resolving power, superb contrast and sharpness across the frame through the use of aspheric and UD lens elements Large f/2.8 aperture for low-light shooting Latest Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for fast and near silent auto focus with excellent holding torque Full-time manual focus override via a large rubber ring that does not rotate during auto focus Super Spectra coatings and optimised lens element shaping to suppress flare and ghosting Large Circular aperture diaphragm for good background bokeh and ‘removal’ of distracting backgrounds at wide apertures Lens hood and pouch included in the box L-series construction The L-series is Canon’s flagship professional lens range, designed and built to meet the needs of the most demanding professional photographers. The optics of the EF 14mm and other L-series lenses represent the pinnacle of optical performance, enabling focal length/speed/quality combinations not readily attainable using traditional optical technologies. New perspectives The lens’ ultra-wide 114 degree angle of view can be used by photographers to dramatic effect. Effective for photographing buildings and other large subjects where the photographer cannot get enough distance to include everything in the frame, the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM is also ideal for small interiors. The lens’ closest focusing distance of just 20cm allows photographers to get remarkably close to subjects for creative wide-angle shots. Aspherical and UD elements The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM incorporates two Aspherical lens elements to ensure high corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the focus range and at wide apertures. Pristine image quality is further assured through the incorporation of an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) element, used to suppress Chromatic aberration and associated colour fringing. Super Spectra coatings In addition to optimised lens shaping to reduce reflections and the use of anti-reflective material inside the lens barrel, the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM employs Canon’s patented Super Spectra lens element coatings. These suppress flare and ghosting – more prone to occur with digital cameras due to Reflection off the image sensor. By increasing light absorption, coatings reduce reflections off lens element surfaces to deliver crisp, undistorted images with natural colour balance. The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM includes an integrated petal hood and redesigned lens cap. In keeping with Canon’s Kyosei philosophy of living in harmony with the environment, the lens features only lead-free glass.

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Lens Specifications

Generic Lens Specifications

Lens Type: Prime
IS / VR / OS: None
Canon L Class: Yes
Min Focal Length (mm): 14
Max Focal Length (mm): 14
Number of Elements: 14
Element Groups: 11
Max Aperture: 2.8
Closest Focus Distance (m): 0.2
Diameter at widest (mm): 80
Lens Length (mm): 94
Weight (g): 645

Details

EF14mm f/2.8L II USM

Photo 2: EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM

Development objectives
The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens (Photo 2) is a newly designed L-series ultra-wide-angle lens intended as the successor to the EF 14mm f/2.8L USM. The EF 14mm f/2.8L USM, which has been sold since 1991, has been well regarded by professional and advanced amateur photographers for many years. The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM has been redesigned from the ground up to offer even greater performance and image quality.
The following sections provide some of the main development aims for this lens.

Feature 1: Ultra-wide 114º diagonal angle of view
This lens features a completely redesigned 14-element, 11-group lens configuration. It covers a diagonal angle of view of 114º, the largest of all our non-fisheye EF lenses. This construction also gives the lens its edge in image quality over the previous lens. The design also employs a rear-focusing system, in which the rear lens groups function as the focusing lens group (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Optical assembly of the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM

Feature 2: Pursuit of image quality improvements over previous models
The lens provides excellent correction of field curvature, distortion, and other aberrations that wide angle lenses are prone to by using two precision GMo aspherical elements. Minimizing these aberrations results in better image quality than previous models over the entire image field, particularly around the edges. The lens also makes use of two UD elements to keep lateral chromatic Aberration to a minimum.
This vast reduction in lateral chromatic aberration achieves superb image quality with excellent resolution and contrast with virtually no color fringing at subject boundaries (Figure 5).

Figure 5: MTF characteristics of the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM

Feature 3: Superior waterproof and dustproof construction
Waterproof and dustproof construction (Figure 6) at the mount, switch and switch panel, and focusing ring prevents dust and moisture from getting into the lens, making it suitable for use in harsh conditions.
*Be sure to use the lens with a weatherproof/dustproof body.

Figure 6: Waterproof and dustproof construction on the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM

Feature 4: Optimal optics for digital SLRs
The lens configuration and Coating have been designed to minimize the flare and ghosting found in digital SLRs due to surface reflections from the imaging sensor. The configuration and coating also ensure excellent Color balance.

Other features
• Fast, silent autofocusing

• Manual focusing in AF mode

• Minimum focusing range of 0.2m

• Rear-mounted gelatin filter holder

• Redesigned switch shape prevents accidental mode changes

• Circular aperture produces beautiful bokeh (blurring effects)

• Newly designed lens cap

• Environmentally friendly design
The lens optics use only lead-free glass in consideration of our natural environment. Furthermore, the lens design meets the environmental requirements of the RoHS Directive.

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User Lens Reviews

Average user rating from: 2 user(s)


Overall rating (weighted)		4.4
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		4.5
Value for Money		4.0

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Wider than the edges of the universe!, Tuesday, 23 December 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		5.0

This lens is the top of the line wide angle. A significant improvement over the last 14mm and a must have for anyone who loves the distorted look wide angle gives. When I was a kid my dad gave me a very wide lens for an old minolta. Since then i have always loved the look this brings to certain photos. I have tested this lens and the results are spectacular. It is very fast and works well in low light. I highly recommend this lens, despite its price.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

significant improvement over the previous lens, Sunday, 02 December 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.0
Sharpness		3.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		3.0

as soon as i received it, i set my camera up on a tripod and shot the same picture, first with the old canon 14mm, and then with the new. the improvement in the new lens in terms of corner to corner sharpness was really significant. the only thing that was somewhat disappointing, was that the new lens had considerably more fringing around high-contrast edges. i shot an image of an interior with a view out the window and there was a very wide, highly saturated blue fringe even in the center of the image. the old 14mm experienced fringing too, but rarely in the center of the image, and even at the edges, was not as extreme as it is in the center of the new lens. granted the difference in luminance was quite extreme between the interior and exterior (at least 5 stops) so this is not a problem that would effect every image, but it is something to be aware of. even with this problem, i would still recommend the new lens again as the increase in sharpness far outweighs the inconvenience of having to retouch the occasional fringing.