Metabones announced their new Canon EF Lens to Sony NEX Speed Booster ULTRA adapter. The Speed Booster ULTRA sells for $649 and van be purchased at Metabones, where you’ll also find more information and details about the adapter.

Press release:

Sharper corners, less distortion, reduced vignetting 

New optical design:  advanced 5-element/4-group optical design incorporating ultra-high index tanatalum-based optical glass to achieve extraordinary optical performance with improved corner sharpness, distortion and reduced vignetting.

Like the revolutionary original Metabones Speed Booster announced in January 2013, the Speed Booster ULTRA has a magnification of 0.71x, and so it effectively reduces the crop factor of mirrorless cameras with DX-sized sensors, such as Sony E-mount and Fuji X-mount cameras, from 1.5x to 1.07x.  However, the new ULTRA design makes very effective use of exotic materials at the furthest limit of glassmaking technology, and as a result is well corrected for use with virtually all fullframe SLR lenses regardless of exit pupil distance. Thus, the Speed Booster ULTRA performs extremely well with professional-grade f/2.8 zoom lenses such as the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms by Canon and Nikon to produce 17-50mm f/2.0 and 50-142mm f/2.0 high-speed zooms, respectively.  Similarly, high-speed fixed focal length lenses such as a 50mm f/1.2 will be transformed into a 35.5mm f/0.9 lens with excellent contrast and resolution from the center all the way to the edges of the image. (More information can be found in the press release here)

Key Features

• Increase maximum aperture by 1 stop.
• Increase MTF.
• Makes lens 0.71x wider.
•  Advanced 5-element/4-group optical design incorporating ultra-high index tanatalum-based optical glass by Caldwell Photographic in the USA (patent pending).
• Electronic integration of aperture diaphragm, controlled by or from the camera body.
• Partial autofocus support for late-model (post-2006) Canon-brand lenses.
• Powered by camera body. No external power source required.
• High performance 32-bit processor and efficient switched-mode power supply.
• The tripod foot is detachable and compatible with Arca Swiss, Markins, Photo Clam ball heads.

 

No rumor, just a press release. A virtual tour of the Canon experience and other Canon Photokina 2014 content will be available on Canon’s dedicated photokina website (language can be switched).

Experience and share photokina 2014 with Canon

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 28th August 2014 – Canon today announces details of its presence at photokina 2014, unveiling its most interactive environment ever at the world’s largest photography and imaging show. Designed around helping photographers immerse themselves in the latest technologies, Canon’s programme at the show will offer visitors a digital imaging experience that highlights its industry leading range of products and services.

Canon’s stand at photokina 2014 will be dedicated to the journey of capturing a moment or memory. Within an open, free-roam environment, visitors will be invited to undertake shooting challenges, with experts on-hand to guide them along the way. The experiential event will go far beyond simple touch and try demonstrations, and instead provide the opportunity to truly experience the Canon range.The stand will also feature live presentation sessions with Canon’s world famous photography ambassadors. Presenters will include landscape and travel photographer David Noton, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker Ulla Lohmann, and action shooter Richard Walch, with each providing first-hand accounts of how Canon products help them to realise their individual visions. Furthermore, Canon Explorer Jörg Kyas will be taking on interactive challenges set by visitors – providing a unique way for enthusiasts to learn about new styles or techniques.In addition, Canon’s custom-designed platform for managing and sharing a world of images, irista, will be demonstrated, highlighting Canon’s dedication to furthering the capabilities of digital services. Visitors will also be able to browse Canon equipment and piece together their own ‘virtual kitbag’ using touchscreen tables placed around the stand.“photokina 2014 for us is about immersing customers in a world of exciting imaging possibilities,” said Alessandro Stanzani, Head of Consumer Imaging, Canon Europe. “We’re creating an experiential environment that will challenge visitors to think much more deeply about their photography. Our photokina presence will demonstrate the very best in product and service innovation as we encourage photography explorers to truly engage with the Canon brand.”To allow attendees the opportunity to retain their experience, Canon Live Pass RFID cards will be supplied to allow visitors to scan in at key points around the stand in order to create a souvenir site which is tailored to their interest areas, and to which they can refer after the show. Those not attending can keep up to speed via the official Canon Europe YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/CanonEurope, where videos will provide a summary of each day’s events. Alternatively, the action can be followed live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/canonatphotokina or on Twitter at @CanonPhotokina / #CanonPhotokina. A virtual tour of the Canon experience and other Canon photokina content will be available on the dedicated photokina website www.canon.de/photokina. Canon’s stand will be located in Hall 3.2.

 

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Canon Camera Museum technical article about the new EF-M 55-200mm IS STM lens for the Canon EOS M system – Canon Camera Museum

 

See what you can do with Canon STM kit lenses and an EOS Rebel T5i DSLR – CanonUSA on YouTube

Canon STM lenses capture great photos and even better videos. They’re named after a new kind of technology called a Stepping Motor, which lets the lenses focus smoothly and quietly.

Learn more about STM lenses here.

Canon press release

Canon supports relief efforts following damage caused by heavy rains in western Japan

TOKYO, August 27, 2014 — Torrential rains since early August in and around the city of Hiroshima in western Japan have caused extensive damage and loss of life across the region.

We at Canon extend our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this catastrophe and our thoughts go out to the victims and their families. Although the road to recovery will be challenging and take time, we hope that the region will soon be able to begin the rebuilding and healing process.

To aid in the relief efforts for the victims of this disaster, the Canon Group is making a donation of 5 million yen (approximately US$48,000) through the Central Community Chest of Japan.

Metabones® announced a new Canon EF to MFT Speed Booster adapter with the following features:

• Increase maximum aperture by 1 stop.
• Increase MTF.
• Makes lens 0.71x wider.
• Build-in electronics to control lens aperture.
• The lens aperture is set by the controls on the camera body.
• Powered by camera body. no external power source required. (also accept 3rd party external power supply via MicroUSB socket)
• High performance 32-bit processor and efficient switched-mode power supply.
• The tripod foot is detachable and compatible with Arca Swiss, Markins and Photo Clam ball heads.

Optics designed by Caldwell Photographic in the USA (patent pending)

A first hands-on review can be seen at EosHD. More details on Metabones‘ site.

Supported

Not supported

EF lensesImage stabilization (IS) lensesElectronic manual focusing (e.g. EF 85/1.2L II and discontinued EF 50/1.0L)EXIF (focal length, aperture, zoom range)Distance and zoom display on camcorders (see note 1)Contax N mount lenses modified to Canon EF by Conurus (see note 2)Contax 645 NAM-1 adapter modified to Canon EF by Conurus (see note 2) Sigma, Tamron and Tokina lenses in Canon EF mount (see note 2) External 5 Volt power supply (see note 6)

Autofocus EF-S lenses (some EF-S lenses may need modification)Lens correction such as peripheral shading, CA and distortionFocus confirmation “chip” (e.g. Dandelion)M42 screw mount adapters (see note 4)Stacking non-Metabones/non-Conurus mount adapters on top (see note 5 and list of lenses which require modification below.)

[via 43rumors]