Next month sees the release of Canon’s EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens, which is ideal for sports and wildlife photographers.
The new EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. (Source: Canon.)
Replacing the popular EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens, the new model features a range of upgrades to improve image quality and enhance usability. According to Canon, it will set a new benchmark for performance from a compact super telephoto zoom lens. The optical design has been revised to include a four-stop optical image stabiliser and provide three IS modes tailored to most typical shooting conditions. The lens’s 21-element structure uses a combination of Fluorite and Super Ultra-low Dispersion (Super UD) lens elements. Canon’s new Air Sphere Coating (ASC), used for the first time for the EF lens range, provides advanced suppression of visible ghosting and flare. This anti-reflection coating is constructed of tiny nano particles of trapped air, which create an ultra-low refractive index layer. Fluorine coatings on the front and rear lens elements reduce the chance of dirt sticking to the lens surface.
Canon’s pioneering ring-type Ultrasonic Motor provides fast, silent autofocusing. The new lens also features a new twist action zoom mechanism that enables users to adjust zoom torque via a dedicated Zoom Touch Adjustment ring. As well as providing smooth action for fast zooming, it allows users to lock the zoom at a desired focal length. The lens’s tripod collar is now built-in to provide smoother, seamless rotation. When needed, the tripod foot can be removed, reducing the overall lens body size.
The EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens will be available in retail stores across Australia from December 2014. Prices will be set at dealers’ discretion. Full details can be found at http://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/Personal/Products/Cameras-and-Accessories/Camera-Lenses/EF100-400mm-f45-56L-IS-II-USM-Lens.
