Canon launched 3 new lenses today – a new standard zoom and two stabilized primes. These are all EF lenses with full-frame coverage.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – Priced at $2299. Available in April.
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM – Priced at $849. Available in June.
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM – Priced at $799. Available in June.
More details in the press release below.
Canon U.S.A. Continues The Tradition Of Incredible Optical Quality With The Introduction Of Three New Lenses
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 7, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced two new versions of its coveted Wide Angle Lenses and a new version of its popular 24-70mm Standard Zoom Lens for professionals and photo enthusiasts. The new EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM lenses use a rear focusing system, high-speed CPU, and a powerful ring-type Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) with optimized AF algorithms for faster auto focusing and sharp images. With large apertures these new lenses deliver beautiful, soft backgrounds for superior image quality.
“Our heritage is our optics with over 70 years of expertise, we look to continually further our promise to our users and deliver the ultimate image quality,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “These new lenses are powerful tools for photographic and video enthusiasts to pair with Canon cameras to help enable and enhance their creative vision.”
Canon continues the tradition of ensuring the Company’s highest quality optical performance in its L-series lenses with the launch of the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM zoom lens. This new version of one of Canon’s most popular lenses utilizes one Super UD lens element and two UD lens elements to help achieve outstanding image quality throughout the full zoom range. The result is significantly reduced chromatic aberration in the outer area at wide-angle, high resolution and contrast in images and crisp clear edges around the subject. The lens coatings have been optimized to ensure exceptional color balance while minimizing ghosting, and reduced spherical aberration. With a circular nine-blade diaphragm, the lens delivers soft backgrounds and incredible bokeh.
In demand by architectural, corporate, adventure and professional photographers of nearly every discipline, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens combines amazing image quality with enhanced durability. Highly resistant to dust and water, the new lens has enhanced durability and weather sealing. The lens also features a zoom lock lever to secure the zoom position for safe transport, and fluorine coatings on the front and rear glass surfaces to reduce smears and fingerprints, making it an ideal lens regardless of the conditions.
The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens is expected to be available in April for an approximate retail price of $2,299.00.
Canon Standard Prime Lenses with Optical Image Stabilizer:
Empowering landscape and wide-angle photographers with improved optical performance, Canon has upgraded both its EF 24mm and EF 28mm lenses with Image Stabilization technology and Ultrasonic Motor-powered auto focus. Both lenses feature Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer technology providing up to four shutter speed stops of correction. With the Optical Image Stabilizer turned on, photographers can capture sharp wide-angle images in low-light settings reducing the need for a flash or a tripod. New aspherical lens elements improve the peripheral image quality and a seven-blade circular diaphragm delivers beautiful, soft backgrounds. The silent and smooth operation of each lens makes them ideal choices for shooting video as well. The EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM lenses each have a minimum focusing distances of 0.20m and 0.23m, respectively.
The EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is expected to be available in June for an approximate retail price of $849.99, while the EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is expected to be available in June for an approximate retail price of $799.99.
thanks
I allways wandered what the “II” ment in the lens name. But I have figured that out, it means twice the price of the previous model.
After looking at the substantial price increase for the new EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM prime, I have no buyer’s remorse getting the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM instead (just shortly before these new lenses were officially announced).
I suppose the new IS-equipped wide angle primes are aimed at the dSLR video market segment but for still photography and with proper camera holding technique, one can get away with the regular Canon 28mm primes (either the EF 28mm f/2.8 or the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM). Image stabilization would be very much welcome in a mid-telephoto lens like the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM or the EF 135mm f/2L USM though.
At nearly USD800 a piece for the EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, I’ll pass. Still it would be interesting to see if Canon can incorporate IS into a lens with a max aperture larger than f/2 (as in their heavy-and-super-expensive, EF 200mm f/2L IS USM telephoto). The very popular EF 50mm f/1.4 USM dating back to 1993 is really begging for a makeover.
These prices are insane. I can’t see anyone justifying a 200% price increase from the original 24 and 28. Canon is out of their minds. And 2300 for a 24-70 when you can buy the current one for half the price? Idiots.
I suppose there is a niche market for IS equipped wide angle primes but f/2.8 is a wee bit too slow an aperture given Canon’s asking price for a non-L series prime, in my opinion. You will lose shallow DoF and sacrifice some light but in return you’ll get slower hand-held shutter speeds.
On a full frame body, the slowest hand-held shutter speed for the new EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM with the IS turned off would be 1/30th of a second. With IS enabled, theoretically you can shoot hand-held as slow as 1/2 sec, which is quite impressive if Canon’s claims of its 4-stop effectiveness proves to be true.
The EF 28mm f/1.8 USM has a one and 1/3rd stop advantage over the EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, which means the slowest hand-held shutter speed would be 1/13th of a second. Now, if Canon made an IS version of the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM and sells it for USD799, I would buy one.
No idea about the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM though; if it costs twice that of the Mk I model its optical performance improvement should be like the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM, which is significantly sharper than the original version @ f/2.8.
I usually abide by my personal 80:20 rule. If I have to pay 80% more for a lens to get just an 20% improvement in optical superiority, it’s not worth buying.