1. EF200mm f/2L IS USM
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.
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).
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| Photo 2: Image stabilization on | Photo 3: Image stabilization off |
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.
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).
• 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.
• 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).
2. EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM
Development objectives
The EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (Photo 2) is a L-seriesL-series super-telephoto lens with a newly developed image stabilization unit intended to enhance our line of super-telephoto lenses. This lens's specifications allow it to be used for hand-held photography - thanks to its lightweight design and image stabilization function - despite its 800mm super-telephoto focal length.
The primary development objectives of this lens are given below.
Feature 1: Top picture quality suitable for an L lens
Using fluorite, super UD, and UD lens elements in this lens allowed us to make it compact: its overall length, even with a 800mm focal length, is about the same as the EF 600mm f/4L IS USM. This optical design also delivers the high-fidelity, high-contrast images one expects from an L-series lens while minimizing chromatic aberration and eliminating color fringing (figures 4 and 5).
Feature 2: Four 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 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 four f-stops* of shutter speed. 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/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.
***Not possible with all camera models. See Table 2.
Feature 3: Lightweight design
We kept the weight of this lens to 4,500 grams by designing the major components from lightweight magnesium alloy, in addition to using a compact optical system. This makes hand-held shooting with this lens possible even though it is an 800mm super telephoto.
Feature 4: Superior waterproof and dustproof construction
Waterproof and dustproof construction (Figure 6) around the mount, the switch panel and switches, the AF stop buttons, the focus-recall and focusing rings, and the drop-in filter prevents 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.
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 AF stop function allows the user to stop the autofocus at any time.
• Focus preset function
The lens comes with a focus preset function that instantly moves the lens to a previously stored focus position.
• Circular aperture produces beautiful bokeh blurring effects
The lens features an electro-magnetic diaphragm with a circular aperture that provides attractive bokeh blurring effects.
• Switch shapes designed to prevent accidental settings
The switches on the switch panel have been shaped to prevent the switches from being moved accidentally while shooting or during transport.
• Large hood provides more effective light blocking
The inner wall of the large circular ET-155 hood has been flocked for superior anti-reflective performance, vastly reducing harmful reflections.
• 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).
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).
Tables 1, Tables 2, Tables 3 list the main specifications and the extender/extension tube data for the two lenses.