Canon Pro Network Articles About new Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

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Canon Professional Network posted 2 articles about Canon’s new EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens ($2,199, pre-order: Adorama and B&H Photo.).

The first article is titled Getting closer to nature with the new EF100-400mm superzoom. Wildlife photographer and Canon Explorer Danny Green shares his thoughts and experience with the new EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II.

The 100-400mm lens is probably the most important piece of glass anyone interested in wildlife photography needs to have if they are to take their photography seriously, and Canon has taken the original and much loved 100-400mm and brought it bang up to date with some fantastic new features

The other article is a technical introduction to the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens.

The new Air Sphere Coating has been developed by Canon to minimise reflections and flare. It consists of tiny nano particles of air trapped in a film above the conventional multi-layer coatings. These Air Sphere particles form a super low reflective coating on the surface of the lens element to reduce reflection and act as a ‘crash mat’ to reduce the speed that light travels through the layer so there is not such a large change in speed when the light enters through the glass of the lens element. The major cause of reflections is the sudden change in the speed of light as it passes from air to glass, and this new technology prevents the cause of visible ghosting and flare.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Lens Officially Announced

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It’s here! After almost 10 years of rumouring the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens has been officially announced. Availability in December, price $2,199. Pre-order at Adorama and B&H Photo.

Canon press release:

Canon U.S.A. Introduces New Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens, The Compact And Highly Mobile Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

New Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens Delivers an Enhanced IS System Providing Four Shutter Speed Steps of Correction, a Rotation-Type Zoom Ring, and New Optical Element Formula to Help Maximize Image Quality 

MELVILLE, N.Y., November 10, 2014 – Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the highly anticipated Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM lens, a second generation compact super-telephoto zoom lens featuring significant advancements in optical quality, image stabilization performance up-to-four steps, and rotating-zoom-ring design. This new L-series super- telephoto zoom lens features Canon L-series weather resistance and rugged magnesium housing to meet the needs of wildlife and sports photographers or photojournalists working out in the elements. Fully compatible with all EOS cameras, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM features a completely redesigned optical formula containing one Fluorite and one Super UD lens element – a combination unique to lenses in this focal range – to help deliver sharp images with high resolution and contrast. This combination of elements helps thoroughly suppress chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range.

“The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM is the logical evolution of the very popular EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM introduced 16 years ago,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, President and COO of Canon U.S.A., Inc., “This long awaited, next generation lens was developed to be a highly portable and adaptable telephoto zoom lens for today’s modern professional and advanced amateur photographers.”

For photographers who want to work as closely as possible to their subjects, the minimum focusing distance of the lens has been reduced to just 3.2 ft. (0.98m), resulting in maximum magnification of 0.31x. The original EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM was well known for its push-pull zoom adjustment, but the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM uses a rotation-type zoom ring similar to the one found on the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens that allows for more precise adjustments, easier handling, and consistently excellent weight balance during handheld photography. In addition, the lens features an improved zoom torque adjustment ring that allows for the easy setting of zoom tension based on personal shooting preferences. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM also features an inner focusing system, a powerful yet quiet Ring USM, a high-speed CPU and optimized auto focus (AF) algorithms for fast and accurate autofocusing in various shooting situations.

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM features three Image Stabilization (IS) modes – standard, panning, and during exposure only. Each IS mode is individually engineered to help provide outstanding results in a wide variety of shooting situations, and all serve to satisfy the personal preferences of photographers based on the type of IS they desire. The optical IS provides up to four shutter speed steps of correction, increased from 1.5 steps in the previous model*. In addition, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM features Canon’s newly developed Air Sphere Coating (ASC) which helps to reduce backlit flaring and ghosting significantly, as well as a 9-bladed circular aperture Electro-Magnetic Diaphragm that helps to enhance beautiful, softly blurred backgrounds.

As with all L-series lenses, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM is highly resistant to dust and water, with excellent durability in even harsh conditions, ideal for wildlife photographers even in rainforest environments, or sports photographers on the sideline grabbing action shots of the big game. Fluorine coating on the front and rear surfaces of the lens can repel dust particles and water droplets. It also makes smears and fingerprints easy to remove without the use of lens cleaning fluid. Included with the lens is the new ET-83D lens hood, that features a cleverly placed and convenient side window allowing the user to easily adjust specialty filters while the lens hood remains in place. In addition, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II USM is equipped with a newly designed detachable tripod mount which can be removed to reduce weight during handheld operation.

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More Images And Specs of Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II Lens Leaked

EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II
Image courtesy of Canon Rumors

New images, specs, and a product description of Canon’s upcoming EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens leaked at Canon Rumors. And they look very official.

The price of the EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II is $2,199, shipping in November (announcement most probably on next Monday). Core specs:

  • Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6
  • Lens Construction: 21 elements in 16 groups
  • Diagonal Angle of View: 24º-6’10’
  • Focus Adjustment: Inner focus system / USM
  • Closest Focusing Distance: 3.2 ft. / 0.98m
  • Filter Size: 77mm
  • Max Diameter x Length, Weight: 3.7 in. x 7.6 in. / 94mm x 193mm; 3.46 lbs. / 1,570g

The EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II features Canon’s new Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to reduce backlit flaring and ghosting. A new inner focusing AF system is on board.

[via CR]

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Specs Leaked

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

The first specs of Canon’s upcoming EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens leaked at Digicame-info (translated).

This is a substantial evolution of the previous model. The EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II adopts a brand new lens coating (ASC), which is machine-translated to Air Sphere coating, and should reduce lighting artefacts. The minimum focusing distance is 0.98m vs 1.8m of the predecessor.

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II specs (machine translated):

  • One fluorite lens, the one Super UD glass to use
  • For the first time adopted a new development of the Air Sphere coating (ASC)
  • IS unit effect of a shutter speed four stages
  • Equipped with the IS mode 3 for sport shooting
  • A minimum focusing distance of 0.98m
  • Maximum magnification of 0.31 times
  • The diaphragm blades nine circular aperture
  • AF motor the ring-type USM
  • Rotate zoom
  • Zoom touch adjustment ring
  • Detachable tripod mount
  • Dust and water structure
  • Fluorine coating
[via Digicame-info]