Announced concurrently with the EOS 650D and also scheduled for release in late June are two new lenses.
Both lenses feature the new stepping motor (STM) drive, which is designed to ensure smooth and silent autofocusing for Movie Servo AF and Continuous AF (excluding quick AF) during Live View shooting. Front and end caps are supplied with both lenses, along with a lens hood and soft carrying pouch. Filters and extension tubes are available as optional accessories .
The new EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM lens. (Source: Canon.)
The EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM lens has been developed to match the new camera and feature provide the versatility many potential buyers need. Weighing only 480 grams and with a total length of 96 mm, its optical design comprises 16 elements in 12 groups with one UD element plus one high-precision aspherical lens element (see diagram below). All elements are made from eco-friendly lead-free glass.
This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 39 cm, which is closer than the 45 cm limit of the previous 18-135mm. It provides a maximum magnification of 0.06x at 18mm and 0.28x at 135mm. An EMD (Electro Magnetic Diaphragm) provides a circular aperture for attractive bokeh. The filter diameter is 67 mm. A zoom lock prevents the lens from extending when it faces downwards.
Fast autofocusing is another feature of this lens, which also supports full-time manual focusing in One Shot AF mode. Built-in stabilisation provides up to four steps of shutter speed compensation.
In addition, the lens will automatically determine whether the lens is being used for normal shooting or panning and automatically select the most appropriate IS mode. A new Dynamic IS function is available for movie shooting to compensate for movements when the photographer shoots while walking.
SPECS:
Minimum aperture: f/22-f/36
Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
Lens mount: EF-S
Focus drive: STM (stepping motor)
Stabilisation: Yes
Minimum focus: 39 cm
Filter size: 67 mm
Dimensions (Diameter x L): 76.6 x 96 mm
Weight: 480 grams
Approx. street price: US$550
Canon has also unveiled the new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, its first ‘pancake’ lens. Designed to be small and light enough to be carried in a purse or pocket, it is ideal for street and event photography where photographers need to remain inconspicuous.
The new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM ‘pancake’ lens. (Source: Canon.)
Its optical design consists of six elements in four groups with a GMo aspherical lens element that corrects a number of common aberrations (see diagram below). Flare and ghosting are kept in check by the lens design plus anti-reflection coatings. Eco-friendly lead-free glass is used in this lens.
The STM drive installed in this lens provides smooth and silent AF control, while the seven-bladed EMD closes to a circular aperture that reproduces out-of-focus points of light and light sources in the background as soft, attractive circles. The optical electronic focusing ring in the lens detects when it is turned by the user and drives a fly-by-wire system that focuses by detecting how much the ring is turned.
The EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens has a compact, lightweight body that is only 22.8 mm wide and weighs only 130 grams. It will focus to 30 cm with a maximum magnification of 0.18x and accepts 52mm filters. Canon expects this lens to be competitively priced for its performance.
SPECS:
Minimum aperture: f/22
Lens construction: 6 elements in 4 groups
Lens mount: EF and EF-S
Focus drive: STM (stepping motor)
Stabilisation: No
Minimum focus: 30 cm
Filter size: 52 mm
Dimensions (Diameter x L): 68.2 x 22.8 mm
Weight: 130 grams
Approx. street price: US$200
