Deal: Peak Design Canon EF CaptureLENS – $45 (reg. $89.95, today only)

Peak Design
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At a glance:

  • Holds Canon EF-Mount Lens
  • Attach to Backpack, Strap, Bag, or Belt
  • One-Handed Lens Changing
  • Space-Saving
  • Includes One Clip & 1 Lens Kit Adapter

B&H Photo has the Peak Design Canon EF CaptureLENS on sale at $45. Compare at $89.95. This offer is valid today only.

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Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II review (a steal for the money, Optical Limits)

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II
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Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II at a glance:

  • EF-Mount/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to f/45
  • One Ultra Low Dispersion Element
  • NANO USM Autofocus System
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Lens Information Display
  • Full-Time Manual Focus
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is a good example of how skilled Canon’s engineers are when it comes to manufacturing lenses, even those usually categorised as consumer lenses.

Optical Limits (formerly known as photo zone.de) reviewed the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II, and it seems once more Canon was able to deliver in this price class (it’s $449). Please note that there is a typo in the conclusion: the lens is not a “L” grade lens.

Usually you can bank on Canon for delivering some of the best tele lenses across all classes and that also applies to the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS II. Canon managed to improve the lens in many aspects compared to its predecessor. As far as the optical characstistic is concerned, Canon shifted the priority more to the long end of the zoom range – which is generally a good thing. The image quality doesn’t reach professional levels but for a consumer lens, it’s certainly impressive with a generally very good quality at 200mm and 300mm. At 70mm the image corners aren’t that hot (combined with a bit of field curvature) but from a real-life perspective that’s usually a lesser issue. Lateral CAs are very low. Image distortions and vignetting are about typical for such a lens.

[…] Given the sum of its qualities, the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS II is a very obvious choice in this lens class. For the money, it’s a steal really and that’s quite a seldom occurrence these days.

Optical Limit’s review also comes with a set of sample images (full size files can be downloaded).

While the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II can not compete with the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS in terms of optical performance, it still delivers a lot of bang for the bucks.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II:

[shoplist 43039]

Save Big: 40% discount on Capture One Pro bundled with a lot of styles

Capture One Pro
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Capture One 11 at a glance:

  • Image Processing and Raw File Conversion
  • Instant Tethered Capture and Live View
  • Layered Workflow and Annotations
  • Feather Mask and Refine Edge Tools
  • Catalogs and Sessions, EIP Export
  • Duplicate Checker, Grey Scale Mask Mode
  • Three-Phase Sharpening Tools
  • Updated Color Handling Tools
  • Over 400 Cameras & Raw Files Supported
  • For Mac OS X 10.11.6+ and Windows 10/8/7

You can save up to 40% on Capture One Pro & Styles Bundle. The discount is made if 30% instant discount and an additional 10% discount you get by using the code AMBCW at checkout.

Canon Patent Application for a 11-440mm f/2.1-4.1 Cinema Zoom lens

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Canon patent application (US 20180143412) for what looks like a 11-440mm f/2.1-4.1 Cinema Zoom lens.

From the patent literature:

Conventionally, four-unit zoom lenses are often used as zoom lenses for television cameras because it is relatively easy to achieve a wide angle of view, a high zoom ratio, and size and weight reduction. Such a four-unit zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming, a third lens unit for correcting variation in the image plane caused by zooming, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power for imaging.

In recent years, there have been proposed zoom lenses for television cameras including three, four, or more movable units as zooming units with functions as a variator and a compensator.

[…]

Thus, the present invention has an objective to provide a zoom lens including three or more movable units as its zooming units and simultaneously achieving a wide angle of view, a high zooming ratio, size and weight reduction, and particularly high performance in the focal length range from the wide-angle end to the zoom middle position. The present invention also aims to provide an image pickup apparatus having such a zoom lens.

To attain the above objective, a zoom lens according to the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming, and a relay lens unit having a positive refractive power and being located closest to the image side that does not move for zooming. The second lens unit moves to the image side from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. When a focal length fx determined based on a focal length fw of the zoom lens at the wide-angle end and a zoom ratio Z is fx=fw×Z0.38, the zoom lens satisfies 0.05<L2min/L2w<0.98, where L2min is a minimum distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit in a zoom range from the wide-angle end to the focal length fx, and L2w is a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the wide-angle end.

Patent literature is a hard reading. If I got it wrong or if you have additional intel, please feel free to sound off in the comment section.

canon patent application

Canon EF 70-200MM F/4L II USM and EF 70-200MM F/2.8L IS III announced, pre-orders open

Canon officially announced the new EF 70-200MM F/4L II USM and EF 70-200MM F/2.8L IS III lenses.

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L II pre-order at $1,299: B&H Photo | Adorama

Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS III pre-order at $2,099: B&H Photo | Adorama

Canon press release:

Canon Updates Lineup of EF L-Series Telephoto Zoom Lenses With the Introduction of EF 70-200MM F/4L II USM and EF 70-200MM F/2.8L IS III USM

Next Generation of EF 70-200mm Lenses Features a Variety of Updates Including Enhanced Optical Image Stabilization in the f/4 and the Inclusion of Air Sphere Coating in the f/2.8

MELVILLE, N.Y., June 7, 2018 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today introduced two new telephoto zoom lenses, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM. The new lenses serve advanced amateur and professional photographers in a variety of applications and solutions including wildlife, landscapes, portrait and sports photography. Canon EF 70-200mm focal-length lenses are a popular option for photographers in need of a long zoom range that maintains a relatively compact design. In addition, these updated lenses inherit the same overall build-quality and ruggedness photographers have come to expect from the Canon EF L-series line of lenses.

“At the core of image capturing, Canon believes the lens is just as important as the camera. A seamless relationship between the two allows photographers to produce emotion-evoking and timeless images,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon is excited to offer photographers two distinct options in the 70-200mm focal-length, continuing to further expand our optics heritage.”

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

The new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM features numerous updates over its predecessor, making it an ideal lens for advanced amateur photographers using Canon DSLR cameras such as the EOS 6D Mark II or EOS 80D. Most notably, Optical Image Stabilization is upgraded from three stops to five shutter speed stops1 of correction over the original f/4 lens. The improved IS allows photographers to more easily capture crisp, in-focus images without the use of a tripod. The new lens also features three IS modes, each uniquely designed and suitable for a variety of shooting situations, such as the capture of still subjects, panning or fast moving objects2. Furthermore, the IS operational noise has been reduced, which proves ideal for photographers shooting in a concert hall or on-stage shooting at the theatre.

Additional noteworthy features of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM include:

  • One fluorite lens and two UD lenses helps to provide high-image quality
  • Minimum focusing distance shortened from 1.2m to 1m (3.9ft to 3.3ft)
  • Super Spectra Coating technology and optimized lens element placement helps minimize ghosting and flaring
  • Circular nine blade aperture producing a beautiful bokeh quality, ideal for portrait shooting
  • Lens features 20 lens elements in 15 groups
  • Fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
  • Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM

The new Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM is an ideal lens for professional photographers who shoot with the Canon 1D and 5D series of DSLR cameras. The inclusion of Air Sphere Coating (ASC) technology helps to reduce flaring and ghosting, and suppresses the reflection of light.

Additional noteworthy features of the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM include:

  • Optical Image Stabilizer up to 3.5 shutter speed stops1 of correction
  • Fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
  • Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor
  • One fluorite lens and five UD lenses helps to provide high-image quality
  • Minimum focusing distance of 1.2m (3.9ft)
  • Lens features 23 elements in 19 groups
  • Circular eight blade aperture

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is scheduled to begin shipping in late June 2018 with an estimated retail price of $1,299.00. The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III is scheduled to begin shipping in August 2018 for an estimated retail price of $2,099.00^. For additional information regarding the lenses improved performance over predecessors please visit, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFTBw7-8gdk&feature=youtu.be.

Still Live: Canon PIXMA PRO-100 Wireless Professional Photo Printer – $59.99 (reg. $359.99)

Canon PIXMA PRO-100
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Canon PIXMA PRO-100 at a glance:

  • 4800 x 2400 dpi
  • Print 8 x 10″ in 51 Seconds
  • Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPrint, PictBridge
  • Print Sizes up to 13 x 19″
  • 8 Ink Cartridges Including 3 Monochrome
  • CD, DVD, Blu-ray Printing
  • Print Studio Pro for Photoshop, DPP

This very good deal, by B&H Photo, is still alive.

You can get the Canon PIXMA PRO-100 Wireless Professional Photo Printer at just $59.99, after $50 instant discount and $250 mail-in rebate (instructions). There is little you can do wrong with this printer, especially not at such a bargain price. Available as long as supply lasts.

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