After plenty of leaks, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lenses have been officially announced. As expected, the 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens comes in at a significantly higher price point ($1199) than the non-stabilized EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens.
However, a nice surprise for Canon APS-C shooters is that the EF-S 10-18mm lens comes in at a very affordable $299. The 10-18mm zoom range (16-28.8mm full frame equivalent) mates nicely with Canon’s current affordable EF-S 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses, both of which also feature the new STM focus motor.
More details below.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
From Canon: The EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM ultra wide-angle zoom lens features newly developed, high quality Canon optics that incorporate three GMo (Glass-Molded) aspheric lens elements, including a large-diameter aspheric lens, which help improve image quality by correcting aberrations. Two additional UD lens elements help reduce chromatic aberration from edge to edge throughout the entire zoom range for excellent image quality with high resolution and contrast. The lens also features enhanced fluorine lens coatings on the front and rear lens surfaces to repel dust particles and help ensure superb color balance while minimizing ghosting. The inner focusing and ring USM offer silent, fast and accurate autofocusing. Full-time manual focus adjustment is available in autofocus (AF) mode. A nine-blade circular aperture creates beautiful, soft backgrounds. A new compact four-group zoom system provides a minimum focusing distance of 0.28m/11 inches throughout the zoom range and a maximum magnification of 0.23x at the telephoto end for outstanding performance.
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
From Canon: The EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ultra wide-angle zoom lens features a compact and lightweight design with an Optical Image Stabilizer for shake correction up to four shutter speed stepsiii, enabling handheld shooting in low light. The lens’ stepping motor and newly designed focus mechanism are ideal for Canon EOS Movie Servo AF (available on EOS 70D, EOS Rebel T5i and EOS Rebel SL1 cameras) to provide smooth, quiet and continuous autofocusing during video shooting, as well as when taking photos.
The EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ultra-wide zoom lens features one UD lens element to help reduce chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range for excellent image quality with high resolution and contrast. It also features enhanced multi-layer lens coatings to help ensure superb color balance while minimizing ghosting and flare, while a seven-blade circular aperture creates beautiful, soft backgrounds.
Compared to the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM wide-angle lens, the EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ultra wide-angle zoom lens is nearly 20% smaller and 38% lighter.
You can find the new lenses at B&H Photo at the following links:
George W. says
I can see a flock of 17-35mm f/4L selling their lens on eBay, craigslist, Kijiji & Amazon now!
Being a photographer I always believing in capturing the truth in my frame so based on this principle, I must admit and apologize that I am wrong about some commands I made yesterday regarding the 17-35mm f/4L lens after thinking through it overnight:
First, although the price is $350.00 more than the current model, it is normal for any new lens to be more expansive and it will usually drop after first or second quarter and for sure during Christmas, New Year and Black Friday.
Second, my oversight on this lens would be a great (and expansive) kit lens option for APS-C and new Canon camera users to build a good quality lens collection.
Third, based on the MTF charts, this lens has much improved edge to edge image quality than the 17-40mm f/4L, 16-35mm f/2.8 L II & 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS which is one of the most important element when it comes to buying a lens, IMO.
Fourth, the IS would be useful when doing a nature walk without using a tripod but also useful on a windy day with a tripod (like Wi-Fi shooting with 6D where you are away and can not hold-on to the tripod or time-lapse photography) . Although I have not needed the IS in low light bride & groom dancing wedding shots, I can see it could be very useful for some.
Fifth (because odd number rules in photography world!), the 9 rounded aperture blades in this lens should create beautiful 18-point starts in highlights and that is nice to have ?
All in all based, on the price vs. feature of the new lens, I may pick one up (new or used)… after most people have rushed to pay the full price of the initial development cost of the lens and the price is dropped at least the same level as the current model… maybe next Black Friday sale between $699.00 ~ $799.00!??
znajit says
I believe the 17-40 F4 had the quality though I off loaded mine years back for the 16-35 F2.8. As a fast lens, it’s more versatile & I would still own one Vs the newer F4
Many times, the depth makes the picture look sharer to the eye and for weddings and other art work, the depth rules. But I am sure Canon has tuned for the newer F4 for new high res sensors Vs my Fab F2.8 in lens for the the next gen 45Mpix+ camera that will come off the production lines soon
For me, The F4 will not have that edge as my 17-40 didn’t either. Yes I know the Chromatic Abrasion on the new set will be superior but as for IS, all my landscape photographer revert to tri-pod plus lock-mirror for that extra sharpness that IS seems to do without
Radek says
I would be much happier to see Canon working on telephoto zoom, something reaching 500 or 600 mm rather than making another variation of already existing wide to standard length zooms.