Photographium

Lake Success, N.Y., January 5, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, introduces the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens. Arguably the most popular focal range in Canon’s telephoto arsenal and a staple lens for any professional photographer, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens provides the focal length, maximum aperture and zoom power for capturing everything from fast-action sports to studio portraits. Built for the professional, the body structure of the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens has been enhanced to provide better durability and strength without a significant increase in weight. Canon has improved optical performance on the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens by redesigning the internal elements, incorporating a fluorite element and a fifth UD element. The use of the fluorite element and five UD elements helps to minimize secondary chromatic aberrations and produce better image quality with improved contrast and resolution through the entire zoom range; the end result is an optically precise lens worthy of becoming the leader of Canon’s L-series lenses.

Along with its redesigned optical elements, the new lens design features improved AF speed due to a new focusing algorithm and has reduced the minimum focusing distance to 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) through the entire zoom range, allowing photographers to capture tighter portraiture shots in a small studio space. The previous lens model’s minimum focusing distance was 4.6 feet (1.4 meters), whereas now photographers can stand nearly 8 inches closer to their subject and achieve sharp focus and tight crops. Canon has also enhanced the Image Stabilization allowing it to compensate for shutter speeds up to four steps slower than 1/focal length, a one step improvement over the previous lens model.

“Canon’s core has always been our optics, and we are constantly challenging ourselves to produce better and more advanced optical systems for our customers. The new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens incorporates the best advancements in Canon lens technology from the past few years and packages it into what we believe will be the most popular lens for professionals and advanced photographers,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The enhanced magnesium alloy barrel design of the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens features added strength with a minimal 20-gram increase in weight compared with the previous model (1490g vs. 1470g) and retains Canon’s protective seals and fittings providing dust and water resistance for those photographers working in adverse conditions. A new bayonet mount on the front of the lens includes a locking mechanism to ensure the supplied lens hood remains securely in place. Other noticeable improvements include a wider focusing ring, and sleeker design by reducing the thickness of any protruding elements such as the switch panel. The new lens is also

Carl Zeiss presents the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 and 2/100 for EF bayonet

Carl Zeiss has again applied its expertise in lens manufacturing to enable photographers to create wonderfully expressive images. With two new macro lenses, the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 and the Makro-Planar T* 2/100, both now also available with EF bayonet, Carl Zeiss expands its existing ZE line of lenses. Owners of EOS camera models can now create detail-rich macro images that allow sharpness and unsharpness to be deployed as creative elements as they choose. These highly light-sensitive, versatile lenses are also perfect as standard focal lengths for portraits or still life photography.

Even in tricky situations such as dusk, the Makro-Planer T* 2/50 and T* 2/100 ZE create distortion-free images thanks to their extraordinary light intensity of 1:2. Whether capturing an insect resting on a flower or the dampness on a piece of fruit, these lenses allow a degree of sharpness that was hitherto impossible. Even with a maximum aperture opening and a low focal depth, the desired image can be easily isolated from its disruptive surroundings.

Both macro lenses render objects in close-up on a scale of 1:2. To enable such detail, these lenses include Carl Zeiss’s acclaimed “floating elements” design. This special lens alignment enables high optical performance across the entire focusing range, from 0.24 m to infinity. The Makro-Planar T* 2/50 and Makro-Planar T* 2/100 are already available with F bayonet (ZF) and K bayonet (ZK). The Makro-Planar T* 2/50 is also available as a ZF.2 version. Both lens systems are optimized for analog and full-format digital SLR cameras.

A New Lens Takes Center Stage
OBERKOCHEN/Germany – November 2, 2009.

A squirrel nimbly scampers along a moss-covered tree trunk. It has made a promising discovery amongst the fallen leaves of an oak tree. A deer emerges from the half darkness of the woods. A photographer documents the winter preparations of various woodland creatures. This requires a versatile, high-speed, easy to configure lens that produces razor-sharp images of the details and the entire scenery.

Optical expert Carl Zeiss has now added an EF bayonet to its proven lens for photographic reporting: the Distagon T* 2/35 ZE. The high-speed, moderate wide-angle Distagon T* 2/35 ZE fits all analog and digital EOS cameras. Its classic 35 mm focal length is particularly well-suited for advertising, travel and nature photography as it captures dynamic perspectives with high depth of focus and few distortions. With a moderate wide angle of 53 degrees (horizontal), the Distagon T* 2/35 ZE can easily capture wide scenery without forcing photographers to consider perspective effects as design elements as they would have to with shorter focal lengths. The relatively short angle of rotation of the precision focusing mechanism enables fast but precise focusing when required.

The Distagon T* 2/35 ZE features high image quality for the entire aperture and focusing range. Thanks to its sophisticated optical design, in which nine lens elements are perfectly aligned, it permits particularly high imaging performance across the entire image field.

A tripod is not always available, when traveling for example. With an initial aperture of 1:2, the Distagon T* 2/35 easily handles low light , making perfect pictures possible even under difficult lighting conditions. When quick action is required, or when there is not enough room for a tripod, this ZEISS lens delivers crisp handheld images even in the twilight or inside. And thanks to its special optical design and the Zeiss T* anti-reflection coating, this lens captures bright light sources without artifacts. The Distagon T* 2/35 is also perfect on-the-go thanks to its all-metal and extremely durable precision mechanics for which Carl Zeiss lenses are well-known.

This is ZEISS’ fourth wide-angle lens with an EF bayonet (ZE mount). It follows the recent introduction of the two ultra-wide-angle Distagon T* 3,5/18 ZE and Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE lenses, as well as the moderate wide-angle Distagon T* 2/28 ZE.

The Distagon T* 2/35 ZE will be available from October 2009 at a recommended retail price of € 755,50 (excluding VAT)*.

http://www.zeiss.com/

Technical specifications

Focal length:	35 mm
Aperture range:	f/2 – f/22
Number of elements/groups:	9/7
Focusing range:	0.3 m – infinity
Angular field** (diag./horiz./vert.):	62/53/37 °
Object field:	19 x 13 cm (close-up)
Image ratio:	1:5.3 (close-up)
Filter thread:	M 58 x 0.75
Dimensions (with caps):	ø 72 mm, length 99 mm
Weight:	570 g
Mounts:	ZE (EF bayonet) ZF (F bayonet) ZK (K bayonet) ZS (M42 screw thread)
Delivery package:	Lens hood included

Carl Zeiss today introduces the wide-angle lens Distagon T* 2/28 ZE with EF bayonet, suitable for all analog and digital EOS camera models.This manual focus lens is made up of 10 elements in 8 groups and uses a floating focus mechanism for high image quality across the full range of focus distances.

With an initial aperture opening of 1:2, it is among the most light-intense of its kind in its focal length. From landscape photography at dawn to interior shots with weak lighting and close-up portraits, the Distagon T* 2/28 ZE offers photographers plenty of room for creativity when a tripod is not used. Following the recent introduction of its two ultra-wide-angle lenses, the Distagon T* 3,5/18 ZE and the T* 2,8/21, the new Distagon T* 2/28 ZE is Carl Zeiss’ first moderate wide-angle lens with EF bayonet.

Despite its high light intensity and complex retro-focus construction, the Distagon T* 2/28 ZE has a compact build. These characteristics make the lens a highly versatile and performance-driven tool for all types of photographers. Even with its wide angle, the lens enables photographers to play fully with an image’s depth of focus. With a wide aperture opening, for example, one can effectively separate the motif from its background. With a small aperture opening, photographers can use the sharpness of the lens system for the entire image range. The floating elements design guarantees high imaging performance each time, from close-ups to infinity, enabling the photo- grapher to make razor-sharp close-up images of even the tiniest objects. Thanks to the Carl ZeissT* anti-reflective coating and meticulously crafted lenses, the new Distagon T* 2/28 ZE deals effortlessly with reflections and stray light. Brilliant pictures work every time, even under tough lighting conditions such as a breaking dawn.

The Distagon T* 2/28 ZE will be available starting autumn for a suggested retail price of EUR 965.55 (excluding VAT)*.

http://www.zeiss.com/

Technical specifications:

Focal length:	28 mm
Aperture range:	f/2 – f/22
No. of elements/groups:	10/8
Focusing range:	0.24 m – infinity
Angular field** (diag./horiz./vert.):	74/64/45°
Coverage at close range:	18 x 12 cm (close-up)
Image ratio at close range:	1:4.7 (close-up)
Filter thread:	M 58 x 0.75
Dimensions (with caps):	ø 72.4 mm, length 96 mm
Weight:	580 g
Mounts:	ZF (F bayonet) ZK (K bayonet) ZE (EF bayonet)
Accessories:	Lens hood included