Canon expands its EOS system

Canon’s new EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens. (Source: Canon.)

The new EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lenses are currently world’s lightest professional super telephoto lenses in their class. Ideal for sports and wildlife photography, these lenses feature built-in five-stop Image Stabilizer (IS) technology that enables photographers to shoot hand-held, knowing that camera shake, and subsequent blurring, are significantly reduced. Both lenses include the familiar white finish that acts as a thermal insulation coating to ensure the lenses operate consistently in all temperatures. The protective weather sealing guards against dust and moisture, while fluorine coating enables easy cleaning of the lens.

The EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens. (Source: Canon.)

Both lenses include fluorite lens elements that suppress chromatic aberration, boosting resolution and contrast. The Air Sphere Coating (ASC) dramatically reduces flare and ghosting, ensuring a high-quality shot every time. The nine-bladed iris diaphragm in both lenses enables the creation of eye-pleasing bokeh. Ring-type USM autofocus motors and high-speed CPUs in each lens enable fast and quiet focusing and both lenses provide power focus controls and focus presets for easy pull-focus effects when shooting video. Instant adjustments can be applied via the full-time manual focus control and focusing speed can be customised with electronically-controlled manual focus for extreme precision.

Both lenses have fingertip controls on their barrels allowing focusing to be started, stopped or locked in an instant. Two pre-programmed focusing positions can be recalled instantly with the twist of the pre-set ring. Controls for focusing mode, focusing range, focus pre-set recall and IS are all conveniently located for seamless control. Each lens is supplied with a new soft case to ensure straightforward transportation for the lenses. Hard cases and a new short hood are also available as optional extras.

The EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM is due for release in December 2018, while the EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens will become available in 2019.

The new EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM lens, shown without and with its lens hood. (Source: Canon.)

Designed for Canon’s EOS M cropped-sensor mirrorless cameras, the EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM is a premium lens that is fast, discreet and capable of delivering outstanding detail and clarity. Its 32mm focal length is equivalent to  51mm on a 35mm camera, providing a natural perspective and a ‘normal’ field of view, close to the perspective of the eye. This makes it ideal for portraits and candid photography (including street photography). The fast  f/1.4 aperture provides depth-of-field control plus the ability to shoot in challenging low-light conditions, while the 7-blade circular aperture creates an attractive bokeh effect.

The optical design of this lens includes 14 elements in 8 groups, among them a glass-moulded, aspheric lens which provides a high level of image detail and edge-to-edge quality. A wide, tactile, focus ring enables precision focusing, while the EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM’s Super Spectra Coating minimises ghosting and flare. Weighing only 235grams, it is easy to carry and the 0.25x magnification and highly-versatile 23cm-close focusing  make it versatile when shooting stills or video.  This lens is due for release in October 2018.

Details of all three lenses are available at www.canon.com.au.

The new Speedlite EL-100 compact, lightweight flash for Canon EOS  cameras. (Source: Canon.)

Also announced with the new lenses is the Speedlite EL-100, an entry-level high-power flash gun with bounce and tilt functions and an auto mode that enables communication with compatible cameras to take the complication out of flash photography.  Weighing only 190 grams, this flash has an adjustable head that can turn freely up to 90° up, 150° to the left, and 180° to the right for control over lighting. It can work as both a sender to trigger other flashes and a receiver which can fire off camera when triggered by another transmitter. It is available for pre-release ordering at the Canon online store https://store.canon.com.au/speedlite-el-100.html#

Canon has also launched  a new raw image processing, viewing and editing software  application, Digital Photo Professional Express (DPP Express), for use with both EOS and EOS R cameras. Designed for use on iPad tablets, the new software allows images to be imported via Camera Connect and can be edited directly through the iPad app. Adjustments range from white balance adjustment and fine-tuning of tone curve characteristics to dynamic-range adjustment. DPP Express software can display still images using PQ (Perceptual Quantization), an HDR format targeting movie production and distribution. The software makes possible the editing and display of high-quality images with a wide dynamic range. It will be available for download from December 2018.

Another new release is a new print software solution, Professional Print & Layout, enables images edited using Digital Photo Professional to be printed while preserving important qualities like tonality, sharpness and accurate colour reproduction. Included within the software is the new DPRAW print function, which has the ability to process depth map information from DPRAW files, allowing reproduction of sharp details and textures as the photographer intended. This gives a sense of three dimensionality to prints. Also included is the new HDR print function, which allows highlight areas of an image to be reproduced strongly in print. The Exhibition Lighting Optimisation function enables prints to be output with an expanded dynamic range that suits the bright lighting conditions in galleries and exhibitions. The release date for this software is still to be determined.