Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM officially announced ($349)

 

Canon EF-S 35mm

 

At a glance:

  • EF-S Mount Lens/APS-C Format
  • 56mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
  • One Glass-Molded Aspherical Element
  • STM Stepping AF Motor
  • Hybrid IS Image Stabilization
  • Built-In Macro Lite LED
  • Maximum Magnification: 1:1
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 5.1″
  • Rounded Seven-Blade Diaphragm

Canon announced the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM Lens. Pre-order are available: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon. Shipping starts in June 2017.

International pre-order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Press release:

Up Close and Personal: Canon Announces New EF-S 35MM F/2.8 Macro IS STM Lens to Help Explore the Beauty of Macro Photography

New Compact and Lightweight EF-S Macro Lens Opens Up a World of Photographic Possibilities and Helps Capture Close Subjects with Incredible Detail

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 6, 2017 – Compact and lightweight, the new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, announced today by Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is the widest-angle Macro offering in Canon’s popular EF-S lens series. The new lens is designed to help both entry-level and advanced amateur DSLR photographers discover the incredible possibilities of macro photography. Capable of capturing close-up subjects with incredible detail, Canon’s new EF-S macro lens is also the first in the series to feature built-in Macro Lites that allow users to control lighting with ease.

“Macro lenses are an amazing way to explore the worlds that exist all around us, and the new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens is the ideal starting point for amateur photographers eager to capture incredible, up-close details on the go,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Whether capturing a delectable dessert or the subtleties of a backyard flower, users will be challenged to find new colors and shapes that turn everyday moments into art.”

The new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM captures stunning images and is a terrific companion lens for entry-level users eager to expand beyond their existing Canon EOS DSLR kit lens. Capable of shooting as close as 30mm from the end of the lens to the subject, aspiring photographers can get up close to a fruit or flower for an entirely new perspective, while capturing high-quality images with beautiful background blur. Additional technologies built into the new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens include:

  • Popular 35mm focal length (56mm equivalent) and wide f/2.8 aperture
  • Hybrid IS system offers up to four stops* of shake correction
  • Smooth Movie Servo AF with Lead Screw-type STM ensures quiet AF operation
  • Full-time Manual Focus

In a first for the EF-S lens series, the new Canon EF-S 35mm lens sports built-in Macro Lites that allow photographers to carefully arrange macro lighting without using special equipment. With built-in LED lights on each side of the lens, users can create compelling shadows on either side of a subject or adjust intensity to give images a sense of dimension. Once the scene is set, the lens uses superb rendering performance to capture high contrast, sharp images.

While specialized for high magnification photography, the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is still a versatile option for day-to-day use, easily capable of capturing portraits, landscapes or snapshots. As the latest addition to the lineup of EF-S lenses, Canon continues its commitment to providing a wide-range of affordable lens options for photographers of all levels.

The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens is scheduled to be available in June 2017 for an estimated retail price of $349.99**. For more information please visit, usa.canon.com.

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The Canon drone is here, it’s named PD6E2000–AW–CJ1, and sells for $20k

Canon drone
Well, this comes as a surprise. Canon Japan posted about a Canon drone the company is going to build. The drone has the moniker PD6E2000–AW–CJ1, and is clearly made for industrial applications.

The Canon drone PD6E2000–AW–CJ1 (cool name, isn’t it?) seems to be thought to mount Canon’s terrific low light camera, the ME20F-SH, capable of ISO 4M (click here to see what it can do). The drone is a hexacopter with 6 rotors.

Canon will disclose more about the PD6E2000–AW–CJ1 at Video Transmission Expo in Tokyo. The price for the drone alone should be around $20,000. definitely not aimed at the consumer market.

Are you going to buy the Canon drone PeeDoh6eh2woo-ooh-ceeYaOne?

[via WeTalkUAV]

Canon cultivates critical new ventures, report suggests

canon

Canon is broadening their investments. Nikkei Asian Review reports:

Canon takes synergy with its new businesses seriously. It has to. Old core businesses such as camera and office equipment have matured, and the company has leaned into mergers and acquisitions in new fields. Canon’s future growth depends largely on how well the company can raise the seeds it has planted, and they have been slow to bear fruit.

[…]

Canon elevated medical operations to core status this month and installed Toshiba Medical President Toshio Takiguchi at the helm. Takiguchi also received swift appointment as a senior managing executive officer at Canon — unusual treatment for the head of an acquired company.

The electronics giant aims to couple its technology in fields such as genetic testing with Toshiba Medical’s product-making experience and sales channels. The parent also seeks to expand into new territory in which Toshiba Medical has worked, including in-vitro diagnostics. Mitarai has gone so far as to say control of Canon’s medical wing could pass to Toshiba Medical if necessary.

Read the report at Nikkei Asian.

Canon U.S.A. Commemorates 20 Years of Partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Yellowstone Forever

canon rumors

Canon press release:

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 4, 2017 – Signifying a continued commitment to corporate social responsibility, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to commemorate 20 years of long-standing collaborations with two of its flagship corporate social responsibility partners – the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) and Yellowstone Forever — formerly the Yellowstone Park Foundation. Over the last two decades, Canon U.S.A. has worked together with NCMEC to help find missing children and drive awareness about child safety, and with Yellowstone Forever to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and conservation.

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Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT price drop (savings up to $245)

Canon Speedlite
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Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT at a glance:

  • 2.4 GHz Wireless Radio Transmission
  • Compatible with Canon E-TTL / E-TTL II
  • Guide Number: 197′ at ISO 100 and 200mm
  • Zoom Range: 20-200mm (14mm with Panel)
  • Tilts from -7 to +90°
  • Rotates Left & Right 180°
  • 1.1-1.5x Improved Continuous Shooting
  • High-Speed, 1st & 2nd Curtain Sync
  • Bounce Adapter & Hard Color Filters
  • Runs on 4 AA Batteries

The Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT got a price drop (savings up to $245, depending by the kit): B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT after the break.

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Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 VC G2 Review (D. Abbott)

Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8
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Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 VC G2 :B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • One XLD Element, Five LD Elements
  • eBAND, BBAR, and Fluorine Coatings
  • Ultrasonic Silent Drive Autofocus Motor
  • VC Image Stabilization
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Removable Arca-Compatible Tripod Mount
  • Rounded Nine-Blade Diaphragm

Another interesting lens has gone through the reviewing efforts of photographer Dustin Abbott. He reviewed the new Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 VC G2 (model A025). It appears Tamron hit the mark with this lens.

D. Abbott writes in the conclusion:

There’s a good reason why Tamron has far more buzz over this G2 lens than they did over the previous generation lens. It was a very good lens, but the A025 is basically better in every way than the A009, which, shockingly, includes price (in most markets). In the US, for example, the A009 retailed for $1499 a few months ago, but the A025 (with all of these improvements) actually comes to market at $1299. While that isn’t “cheap” in an absolute sense, when you compare it to the essentially $2000 price tag for the Canon 70-200L II and the nearly $2800 for the Nikon 70-200 FL ED it becomes one of the great bargains of the year. Autofocus accuracy is exceptional, though the slight edge on focus lock speed goes to the Canon. The image quality is improved across the board from the original and is clearly competitive with the first party offerings.

Below you have D. Abbott’s videos with the review. However, a lot of people prefers to go for a written review (I do), so you may want to head over to Dustin Abbott’s review. The videos below are about Image Quality Breakdown, then Focus Breathing, and  finally the full review, which lasts 19 minutes and gives you very good overview but you’ll miss the sample pictures in the written review.