These Canon cameras and lenses reached end of life cycle

canonCanon Professional Network lets members know that a list of Canon gear is no longer serviced (at least in Europe). The listed products have reached the end of their service period. As Canon Europe puts it:

As a product reaches the end of its serviceable lifetime, Canon Europe can no longer guarantee that repairs will be possible due to the supply of spare parts.

These Canon products are no longer serviced:
  • Canon EOS 50D
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon Extender EF1.4x II
  • Canon Extender EF2x II
  • Canon Battery Grip BG-E2

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II lenses used to discover a new “Dark Galaxy” with Dragonfly Telephoto Array

Dragonfly Telephoto Array

Do you remember the Dragonfly Telephoto Array developed by the University of Toronto’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics? Well, there are some news.

First things first. What is the Dragonfly Telephoto Array?

Dragonfly is an innovative, multi-lens array designed for ultra-low surface brightness astronomy at visible wavelengths. Commissioned in 2013 with only three lenses, the array is growing in size and proving capable of detecting extremely faint, complex structure around galaxies. The most recent upgrade—completed in 2016—saw Dragonfly grow to 48 lenses in two clusters.

Last time I reported about Dragonfly it had 10 lenses mounted, now the lenses are 48. To build the Dragonfly, scientists used Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II lenses, because of “unprecedented nano-fabricated coatings with sub-wavelength structure on optical glasses“. I guess the lenses were modified according to the scientists’ needs.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II, yours for $10,000.

Next, what is the Dragonfly Telephoto Array good for?

Dragonfly is designed to reveal the faint structure [of the universe] by greatly reducing scattered light and internal reflections within its optics. It achieves this using commercially available Canon 400mm lenses with unprecedented nano-fabricated coatings with sub-wavelength structure on optical glasses.

Also, Dragonfly images a galaxy through multiple lenses simultaneously—akin to a dragonfly’s compound eye—enabling further removal of unwanted light. The result is an image in which extremely faint galaxy structure is visible.

Well, scientists discovered a previously unknown Dark Galaxy by using the Dragonfly Telephoto Array. The galaxy was named after the array. As The Atlantic reports:

Dragonfly 44 is a dim galaxy, with one star for every hundred in our Milky Way. But it spans roughly as much space as the Milky Way. In addition, it’s heavy enough to rival our own galaxy in mass, according to results published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters at the end of August. That odd combination is crucial: Dragonfly 44 is so dark, so fluffy, and so heavy that some astronomers believe it will either force a revision of our theories of galaxy formation or help us understand the properties of dark matter, the mysterious stuff that interacts with normal matter via gravity and not much else.

The discovery was made by astronomers Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University and Roberto Abraham of the University of Toronto. They did not use Canon sensors, tough. The lenses are mounted on SBIG STF-8300M CCD cameras. The array began imaging targets in 2013 from its home at the New Mexico Skies hosting facility.

If you are interested and want to know more, go for the videos below.

About the Dragonfly Telephoto Array

Below: about the newly discovered galaxy

[via The Atlantic]

Canon patent for 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender

canon patent

Canon’s labs are working without interruption. Here we have a Canon patent for a 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender.

  • Patent publication number 2016-191761
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Main lens
    • Focal distance 392.57
    • F number 2.90
    • Field of View 3.15
    • Image height 21.64
    • Lens total length 371.15
    • BF 44.00
  • Example 1
    • First state magnification 1.40
    • Second state magnification 1.70

Excerpt from the patent literature:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a rear converter lens expandable to a long focal length by equipping the image surface side of a main lens,
Magnification can be changed by switching some or all of the rear converter lens,
Magnification of the n-th state of a rear converter lens from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of beta_n, a rear converter lens, and a main lens, When average value of Sk_n and Sk_n of each state is made into Sk_ave for distance to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens
| (Sk_n-Sk_ave) x beta_n | < 0.10
A satisfied rear converter lens.
[Claim 2] When a focal distance of a rear converter lens of f_max and a minimum magnification state is made into f_min for a focal distance of a rear converter lens of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.5 < |f_min/f_max| < 10.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 3] When a forward side principal point position of ho_max and a minimum magnification state is made into ho_min for a forward side principal point position of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
0.05 (ho_max -ho_min) < /root(f_max^2+f_min^2) < 0.28
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 4] The rear converter lens according to claim 1 in which the aforementioned rear converter lens is characterized by some or all of a rear converter lens changing to optical axis direction and vertical direction at the time of magnification change.
[Claim 5] The rear converter lens according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has the 1st lens group Lfix of fixing at the time of magnification change in order, and the 2nd switchable lens group Lex from the object side.
[Claim 6] When a focal distance of a change group of fex_max and a minimum magnification state is made into fex_min for a focal distance of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.1 < |fex_min/fex_max| < 5.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 7] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, a refractive index of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of nd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, a refractive index of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, nd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(nd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(nd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < *(beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 8] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of vd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, vd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(vd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(vd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < * (beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 9] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most average value of Dex_n of each state when distance to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side is made into Dex_n of the n-th status-switching group of the aforementioned rear converter lens Dex_ave, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
0.08 < Dex_ave/Sk_ave < 0.40
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 10] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most distance of a fixing group of the aforementioned rear converter lens which it is to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side Dfix, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
-0.20 < Dfix/Sk_ave < 0.00
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 11] The rear converter lens according to claim 5, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has an aspheric surface in the 1st lens group of fixing to the time of magnification change.

canon patent

[via Egami]

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Sigma patent for 400mm f/2.8 OS Sport Lens

400

Egami (translated) spotted an interesting patent filed by Sigma. It refers to a 400mm f/2.8, image-stabilized lens. This lens will be part of Sigma’s “Sport” line-up.

  • Patent Publication No. 2015-64436
    • Published 2015.4.9
    • Filing date 2013.9.4
  • Example 1
    • Focal length 390.00mm
    • Fno. 2.91
    • Total angle of view 2ω 6.29 °
    • Image height Y 21.63mm
    • Overall length of the lens 353.00mm
    • Positive, positive positive and negative negative 5-group configuration
    • Inner Focus (fourth group)
    • Anti-vibration (part of the fifth group)

Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS II Review (Imaging Resource)

Canon EF 400mm f/4L IS DO II

SLRGear posted their review of Canon’s new 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens, announced last September for Photokina.

Some excerpts from the review:

  • On a full-frame body, the Canon 400mm DO II is sharp, though not as tack sharp as the 400mm ƒ/2.8 II
  • As one would hope from a nearly-$7000 lens, chromatic aberration is very minimal. On both full- and sub-frame cameras, CA was very low
  • […] vignetting on this telephoto lens is very, very low.
  • […] geometric distortion on the Canon 400mm DO II is practically nonexistent
  • […] this large lens is, as they say, “built like a tank”. The build quality is simply impressive […]

From the conclusion:

The Canon EF 400mm ƒ/4 DO IS II USM is a fantastic, professional-level supertelephoto lens. As a significant upgrade optically compared to the original version, the 400mm DO II is an even more attractive option over the heavy, expensive 400mm ƒ/2.8L IS II. For professional and serious wildlife, sports and action photographers who don’t want or need a fast, low-light-friendly ƒ/2.8 supertelephoto prime, the 400mm DO II version offers healthy savings in both cost and weight. Image quality is very good, and the built-in I.S is extremely impressive

The review comes with charts and sample pics.

The Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens is not a budget lens. It sells for around $7000 (B&H Photo | Adorama).

Specs:

  • EF Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Gapless Dual-Layer Diffractive Optics
  • Large Diameter Aspherical Element
  • Ultra Low Dispersion Element
  • Protective Fluorine Coatings
  • Ultrasonic AF Motor and Internal Focus
  • Optical Image Stabilizer with 3 Modes
  • Power Focus Mode; Full-Time MF Override
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
[via SLRGear ]

Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS II B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

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