Zeiss 135mm f/2.0 Apo-Sonnar ZE (Canon) Available For Pre-Order

 

Both B&H And Adorama have the Zeiss 135mm f/2.0 Apo-Sonnar ZE for Canon mount available for pre-order, price is $2,122 (click on shop name): B&H | Adorama.

Expected to ship February 2013. From Adorama’s product description:

  • Because this lens is an apochromat, chromatic aberrations (axial chromatic aberrations) are corrected with elements of special glass with anomalous partial dispersion. The chromatic aberrations are therefore significantly below the defined limits
  • Great low-light shots start with a great lens for your DSLR camera. A high-speed lens captures as much light as possible. A lens with a wide maximum aperture offers the best results in difficult lighting conditions
  • The lens design ensures consistent imaging performance throughout the entire focusing range as well as sharpness to the periphery of the image. The asphere’s more complex surface profile can reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and also reduce other optical aberrations compared to a simple lens
  • Rich, vibrant colors are vital to creating a lasting impression. Stray light in the lens, however, would lead to a brightening of the image, which is particularly visible in shadow areas. Image contrast is lowered; the image appears dull and bleached
  • Photographers want to guide the observer through the image. Minimal depth of focus is often used as a design element. This keeps the background intentionally blurred to keep the attention of the observer on the main subject
  • The nine diaphragm blades and the resulting, virtually circular aperture on Carl Zeiss SLR lenses are crucial to favorable rendition of highlights in the fore and background

[via The Digital Picture]

Canon Is The Patent Catcher – Unbeaten Among Japanese Companies For 8 Years

For the eight year Canon ranks first among Japanese companies in terms of patents filed in the USA. In 2005 Canon filed 1825 patents (2nd in the world). Ad the rate was growing until 2012, when Canon issued 3174 patents. The chart below (source: ) gives an idea about the figures.

Canon U.S. patent ranking among Japanese companies 2005 – 2012

Year Ranking* No. of patents
2012 1st (3rd) 3,174
2011 1st (3rd) 2,813
2010 1st (4th) 2,551
2009 1st (4th) 2,200
2008 1st (3rd) 2,107
2007 1st (3rd) 1,983
2006 1st (3rd) 2,367
2005 1st (2nd) 1,828

Today’s Canon press release says:

Canon prizes its corporate DNA of placing a high priority on technology. And with regard to research and development results, the company actively promotes the acquisition of patent rights in accordance with the management direction of the Canon Group and technology trends while conducting thorough pre-application searches to raise the quality of applications. Through close cooperation between Canon’s technology and intellectual property divisions, the company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights.

[via PetaPixel]

Canon Set To Follow Apple In Making Experience Stores

Canon Rumors has word that Canon will open “Experience Stores” around the Globe. They are said to start with a first store in Calgary, Canada, and to buy heritage site around Australia. Quoting CR:

– They will be similar to apple stores, all white, simplistic and will allow hands-on use of canon equipment.
– These stores will feature camera and lens trial areas, 8 to 10 iMac computers for education courses and a learning area.
– The audiovisual systems in the store will feature multiple large-format LED and LCD displays.
– The customers will walk through a “LED Tunnel” when entering the store to immerse the customer in sights and sounds.

[via CR]

Canon Announces New Wide-Angle And Telephoto EF Cinema Lenses

Canon today expands the Cinema EOS System with the addition of two new prime lenses to its EF Cinema Lens line-up – the new CN-E 14mm T3.1 L F and the CN-E 135mm T2.2 L F. Designed to offer outstanding performance for a wide range of professional users, both lenses offer 4K resolutions, leading optical technologies and high-grade professionally-optimised designs, making them ideal for use in virtually any kind of production – from low to high-end.

Press release after the pics…

 

CN-E 14mm T3.1 L F images click here

CN-E 135mm T2.2 L F images click here

Press release by Canon Europe.

 

Click here to open the rest of the article

A little bit of everything

In Stock Status: Canon EOS-1D C, Sigma 17-70mm And 120-300mm

Sigma’s lenses announced at CES 2013 and the Canon EOS-1D C are in stock at B&H

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM $499 (click here)

  • Aperture Range: f/2.8-22Hyper Sonic AF Motor

    Optical Stabilizer

    Macro Capabilities

    Compact and Lightweight TSC Construction

    FLD, SLD, and Aspherical Lens Elements

    Super Multi-Layer Coating

    Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM $3599 (click here)

  • Aperture Range: f/2.8-22
  • Fast Constant Maximum Aperture
  • Optical Stabilizer
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor
  • Dust- and Splash-Proof Construction
  • FLD and SLD Lens Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Canon EOS-1D C $11999 (click here)