Phase One introduces 3.5/45 mm Tilt / Shift lens
Phase One today have launched the 3.5/45 mm Tilt/Shift lens. Specially designed for the professional
photographer, this small, lightweight lens is ideal for location or
studio applications. It offers up to 12 mm shift and 8 degrees tilt for
maximum flexibility. When used with the Phase One 645 camera…
Tamron announces new Di lenses for Canon and Nikon
Tamron today have announced two new Di lenses designed for exclusive use on Canon and Nikon (with Built-in AF Motor) small sensor DSLR cameras The SP AF10-24mm Di II, the first-ever ultra wide-angle lens for digital SLRs, features a focal length range with the 16mm ultra wide-angle to 37mm…
Canon announces EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
Canon today has also introduced
the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Zoom lens. With an equivalent focal
length of 29-320mm, the lens offers 11x zoom range. It also features a
16 element, 12 group construction including UD and aspherical lens
elements and a 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer. This lens has answered…
Tamron announces three Di Full-Size Format lenses
Tamron today have announced the availability dates of three new Di lens series in
Full-Size Format. The Tamron SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO for Nikon is a
high-performance macro lens but also as a medium telephoto lens
suitable for all photographic applications including landscape and
portraiture. (The lens is already available…
Nikon Wins European Professional Lens with 2 lenses
Both the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm and Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED lenses have won the EISA Professional lens for 2008-2009.
Description
This
pair of Nikkor zooms represents the ideal optical partnership to equip
Nikon’s professional full frame cameras. Covering a broad focal range
at f/2.8, and delivering very high optical…
Nikon release the AF-S DX 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR
The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR is a new lens designed to partner Nikons
D90 DSLR. The Nikkor 18-105mm lens offers a focal length equivalent to
27 to 157.5mm in 35mm format, built-in Vibration Reduction and Silent
Wave Motor, and…
This ultra-fast telephoto, a new member of Canon legendary L-series lenses, has totally new optics to provide better image quality. It uses Fluorite and UD lens elements for excellent Chromatic aberration correction and consists of 17 elements in 12 groups. The built-in Optical Image Stabilizer gives it up to 4 stops of stabilization correction. The inner USM and optimized AF algorithms result in fast and quiet autofocusing, and the Circular aperture can even produce beautiful out-of-focus images. This ultra-high-performance lens also improves its durability - better dust- and water-proofing. The EF 200mm f/2L IS USM is outstanding for many available-light applications, including indoor sports, theater work, fashion, and candids at events.
The Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is an exceptionally sharp lens that is significantly lighter (2520g/5.5 lbs. vs. 3000g/6.6 lbs.) than its predecessor, the renowned EF200mm f/1.8L USM lens, while adding OIS and a weather-resistant design. Ideal for all kinds of low-light photography including portraiture as well as indoor sports, the EF200mm f/2L IS USM has a close-focus setting of 1.9 m/6.2 feet and a circular aperture system that enhances its background Blur rendition at wide apertures.
The new Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is scheduled to be available in April at an estimated retail price of $5,999.00 and the new Canon EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is scheduled to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $11,999.00.
Lens Type: Prime IS / VR / OS: IS Canon L Class: Yes Min Focal length (mm): 200 Max Focal Length (mm): 200 Number of Elements: 17 Element Groups: 12 Max Aperture: 2 Closest Focus Distance (m): 1.9 Filter Type: Drop In Filter Diameter (mm): 52 Diameter at widest (mm): 128 Lens Length (mm): 208 Weight (g): 2520 Release Date: March 2008
Development objectives
The EF 200mm f/2L IS USM (Photo 1) is a new L-series telephoto lens
with image stabilization. It replaces the discontinued EF 200mm f/1.8L
USM lens. The lens's large f/2 aperture and lightweight design make it
ideal for portraits or for indoor sports photography.
The primary development objectives of this lens are described below.
Feature 1: Top picture quality suitable for an L lens
The optical system - which was redesigned from the ground up with one
fluorite and two UD elements - delivers the high-fidelity,
high-Contrast images one expects from an L lens while minimizing
chromatic Aberration and eliminating color fringing (figures 1 and 2).
Lens elements G7 and G8 form the inner-focusing system.
Figure 1: Optical assembly of the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
Figure 2: MTF characteristics of the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
Feature 2: Five f-stop stabilization gain
Image stabilization on this lens is achieved with a mechanism that
shifts the compensation optics (G11, G12, and G13). The
high-performance IS unit - which is highly responsive to even subtle
blurring - and the gyro-sensors - which precisely detect blurring -
together with an optimized image-stabilization algorithm, give the lens
a stabilization gain equivalent to roughly five f-stops* of shutter speed (photos 2 and 3).
Photo 2: Image stabilization on
Photo 3: Image stabilization off
(Photos 2 and 3 were taken with an EOS-1Ds Mark III at 1/100 sec.)
This lens's image stabilization function has the following outstanding features:
·
Two selectable image stabilization modes - Mode 1, for still shooting, and Mode 2, for pan shooting
·
Image stabilization when using a monopod is equivalent to hand-held image stabilization
·
Image stabilization available when using a tripod**
·
Image stabilization can be used with the EF 1.4x II or EF 2x II extender attached
*The minimum unaided hand-held shutter speed is roughly [1/focal length] seconds. **In certain shooting conditions and with certain tripod types, it is better to work with image stabilization off.
Feature 3: Lightweight design
For
easier hand-held shooting, we designed the major components of the lens
from lightweight magnesium alloy. This allowed us to pare the lens down
to 2,520 grams (from the 3,000 grams of the EF 200mm f/1.8L USM)
despite the large aperture and image stabilization unit.
Feature 4: Superior waterproof and dustproof construction
Waterproof and dustproof construction (Figure 3) around the mount, the
switch panel and switches, the AF stop buttons, the focus-recall and
focusing rings, and the drop-in filter prevent dust and moisture from
getting into the lens, making it suitable for taking pictures in harsh
conditions. *Be sure to use the lens with a weatherproof/dustproof camera body.
Figure 3: Waterproof and dustproof construction on the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
Feature 5: Optimal optics for digital SLRs
The lens configuration and coatings have been optimized to ensure
excellent Color balance as well as to minimize the flaring and ghosting
found with digital SLRs due to surface reflections from the imaging
sensor.
Other features • Manual focusing in AF mode
After the one-shot AF operation, the full-time mechanical manual focus
construction allows the user to continue to focus manually without
leaving the AF mode.
• Fast, silent autofocusing
The lens's inner-focusing system, ring-USM drive, high-speed CPU, and
optimized AF algorithms enable fast, silent autofocusing performance on
par with the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM.
• AF stop function
The photographer can pause the autofocus drive while the lens is
autofocusing by pressing one of the four AF stop buttons located near
the front of the lens. This allows the photographer to stop the lens
from accidentally focusing on obstructions appearing between the
photographer and the subject.
• Focus Preset function
The lens comes with a focus preset that instantly moves the lens to a
previously stored focus position. This is useful for pre-focus shooting
• Circular aperture produces beautiful bokeh blurring effects
The lens features an electro-magnetic diaphragm with a circular
aperture that provides attractive bokeh blurring effects (Photo 4).
Photo 4: Bokeh effect of the circular aperture at f/3.5
• Switch shapes designed to prevent accidental settings
The switch panel switches have been shaped to prevent them from being moved accidentally while shooting or during transport.
• Large hood provides more effective light blocking
The inner wall of the large circular ET-120B hood (Photo 5) has been
flocked for superior anti-reflective performance, vastly reducing
harmful reflections.
Photo 5: Dedicated ET-120B hood for the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
• Environmentally friendly design
The lens optics use only lead-free glass in consideration of the environment.
Furthermore,
the lens design meets the environmental requirements of the European
Union's RoHS Directive (Directive on the Restriction of the Use of
Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
Photo 7: The telephoto/super-telephoto large aperture L-lens series
This concludes this month's look at our two new high-performance
L-series lenses. With the addition of these two new lenses, our EF lens
line now features six large-aperture L-series lenses that cover
telephoto and super-telephoto ranges (Photo 7).
