Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens and EOS M3 honored with Design for Asia Awards

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Canon press release:

Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens and EOS M3 honored with Design for Asia Awards

TOKYO, November 2, 2015—Canon Inc. announced today that the Company’s EF 11-24mm f/4L USM ultra-wide-angle interchangeable zoom lens and EOS M3 digital compact-system camera were recognized for design excellence by the Hong Kong Design Centre,1 winning the Design for Asia Bronze Award and Merit Recognition Award, respectively.

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Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM deal – $290 (reg. $349)

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Seller DealsAllYear on eBay (99.8% positive ratings) has the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens on sale at $289.99. Compare at $349.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM key features:

  • 50mm focal length, Lens not zoomable
  • 80mm equivalent focal length on Canon APS-C cameras
  • F1.4 maximum aperture; F22 minimum
  • Ultrasonic-type AF motor with full-time manual focusing
  • 58mm filters
  • 0.45m/17.72″ minimum focus
  • This large aperture standard prime lens has superior peripheral brightness even at the maximum aperture
  • Lens construction: 8 elements in 6 groups, Filter size: 77mm and has a minimum focusing distance of 17.7” and a maximum magnification of 1:7.4
  • Optimized for Digital – super multi-layer coating minimizes flare and ghosting – a common problem of digital cameras
  • The optimum optical design and molded glass aspherical lens elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations, including coma aberration, resulting in superior optical performance
  • The Hypersonic Motor (HSM) ensures silent, high speed auto-focusing as well as full time manual focusing capability

More Canon deals on eBay.

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II DxOMarked, scores better than Zeiss Distagon T 35mm f/1.4 but not better than Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

EF 35mm F/1.4L II
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DxOMark posted laboratory results for the new Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II lens. The EF 35mm f/1.4 II scores better (score 33) than the Zeiss Distagon T 35mm f/1.4 (score 31), and one point less than the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens (score 34). Now take in account that the Canon costs $1,799, the Zeiss is over $1,500, and the Sigma comes at $899. While a lab measure never tells the entire story, I have to say: Kudos Sigma!

From the conclusion:

With the introduction of high-resolution bodies such as the Canon EOS 5Ds and 5DsR, with their ability to highlight lens flaws, it comes as little surprise to see Canon roll out new versions of some of the older models in their line-up. The original 35mm f/1.4 wasn’t a bad performer, but it was beginning to show its age. The new model greatly surpasses the original in several key areas. It is generally sharper, but it’s the improvement in geometry and uniformity that really impresses. Not only does it have low field curvature and astigmatism, but Canon has also dramatically lowered lateral chromatic aberration, with the overall effect of greatly improving imaging performance in the outer field Read the review at DxOMark.


The EF 35mm f/1.4 II features Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics, an optical technology that allows for very high levels of chromatic aberration correction, and it is in stock at all major resellers at $1,799: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon.

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II key features:

  • EF Mount L-Series Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4-22
  • Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics
  • Two Aspherical Elements, One UD Element
  • Subwavelength and Fluorine Coatings
  • Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor
  • Full-Time Manual Focus Override
  • Weather-Sealed Design
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Canon EF 35mm f/1,4 II overview after the break.

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Sony increases earnings? Demand for Sony cameras fell by 27%!

A7rii Issues
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Canon may have some hard times with their small camera business (report here and here) but Sony is doing worse.

According to financial figures released yesterday, demand for Sony cameras, including interchangeable lens models, dropped by 27%, from 2.2M units to 1.6M units. Sony’s unit sales of digital cameras fell by 27% in the three months before September 2015 (compared to same quarter last year).

Sony is not making profit from the imaging business with their gadgets. Smartphone volumes also fell, from 9.9M in 2014 to 6.7M for June-September 2015.

At the end of the day, Sony is doing worse than Canon.

[via Amateur Photographer]

Canon EF-M 35mm f/1.8 STM for EOS M coming in 2016? [CW3]

Canon EF-M 32mm F/1.4 STM EF-M 22mm Canon Lenses
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I have been told (thanks) that Canon may announce a prime lens for the EOS M system somewhen in the first half of 2016, maybe in Q1. The suggested lens is an EF-M 35mm f/1.8 STM.

Though this rumor comes from a new source, I rate it CW3 for the following reasons. 1) I am convinced that Canon is now taking their EOS M systen seriously. The lack of native lenses has always been a shortcoming of the system. 2) There have been rumors in the past suggesting EF-M prime lenses may be announced by Canon. 3) Finally, Canon’s Masaya Maeda said there will be more EF-M lenses soon.

A 35mm lens for the EOS M system would make a lot of sense. On an APS-C sensor a 35mm lens is equivalent to a 56mm lens on full-frame (Canon’s APS-C sensors have a crop factor of 1.6). 50-55mm is a very classic focal lenght that should be available in every camera system. Actually there is only one prime lens for the EOS M system, the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM (equiv. 35mm), and a 35mm lens would be a very welcome addition. 35mm appears to be the focal length of choice in this case. If Canon has to make one and only one additional prime lens for the EOS M system, then it will be a 35mm lens.

So, beside the rumor coming from a new source and the fact that you should always take rumors with a grain of salt, I think this rumor is pretty solid and quite plausible. Just one thing: no image-stabilisation? Well, I guess on a 35mm f/1.8 lens IS might be an option, not a necessity. What do you think?