Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM lens
Canon have recently announced their first interchangeable lens with 4 stop Image Stabilizer. Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM lens will allow photographers to hand held photography with no perceptible image blur at shutter speeds up to 4 steps slower than otherwise possible.
>> PRESS RELEASE
Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG
Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG is a macro lens (released on 10.07.06) ideal for both Digital SLR cameras and 35mm film SLR cameras. The lens is featuring A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and two high refractive index SLD lenses provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations and produce an exceptional level of optical performance, Super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting, and floating focus system provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 Macro.
The Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG lens will be available in Sigma Autofocus, Canon EF, and Nikon AF mounts from August, and Sony and Pentax mounts from September for around £339.99.
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Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS - Review @ CameraLabs
CameraLabs have recently posted their review of the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS where they write;
“In our tests, the 24-70mm was quite soft in the extreme corners compared to the 24-105mm at wide-angle, although their positions swapped when zoomed-in, with the 24-70mm delivering a better result. Interestingly, the 24-70mm at 24mm also exhibited impressively low geometric distortion.In terms of build quality, the 24-70mm featured more metal body parts, giving the impression of a tougher, albeit heavier overall product. And while the 24-105mm was no slouch when it came to focusing, the 24-70mm was noticeably quicker - and its brighter aperture would certainly help when conditions became dim.”
>> Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Review Roundup & Samples
>> Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Latest Price
Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm F/3.5-5.6G - Review @ CameraLabs
CameraLabs have recently posted sample photos and a review of the Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm F/3.5-5.6G, a compact, lightweight and packed with an array of advanced features, the AF-S DZ VR Zoom-Nikkor lens offers 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED focal range length and 11.1x zoom coupled with Nikon ED glass, Silent Wave Motor and enhanced Vibration Reduction (VR II). In conclusion they write:
The big question then is whether Nikon’s 18-200mm is worth twice the price of its rivals from Sigma and Tamron. In terms of optical quality, the Nikkor certainly edged ahead of its competition, particularly in our outdoor real-life and corner sharpness tests. The build quality is also of a much higher standard and the focusing quicker and noticeably quieter. The focal ratio at the telephoto end is also slightly faster.”
>> RELATED POST
- Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR IF-ED Review Roundup & Sample Photos
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di Lens
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di Lens in a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed for Digital SLR camera with 1.6 crop. (APS-C Size)
REVIEWS (last update: 29.05.06)
Service Notice for Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon Service Notice
Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens May Result in Insufficient Resolution
To Customers Who Use the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens:
Thank you very much for your patronage of our products. We have recently become aware of a phenomenon in which some images captured by the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM lens appear in insufficient resolution. This phenomenon may be seen at the edge of the frame at the 300mm setting when the camera is held vertically. We have been studying the symptoms of this phenomenon in order to determine its precise cause and to develop an appropriate remedy. We will inform you on this Web site as soon as this remedy has been decided, which, at this point should be by the end of June 2006.
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM was first announced at PMA 2004 as a replacement for the Canon EF 35-350mm /3.5-5.6L IS USM lens. The lens has very similar size and shape with its predecessor, with dimensions of 92mm dia. x 184mm (max. length 257.2mm) and weighing around 1670g, sure you’ll need more energy to carry this lens around. The 28-300mm is equipped with third generation Image Stabilizer which reduces vibration as much as 3 stops, allowing hand holding of long lenses at much lower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible.
>> REVIEWS (last update: 30.04.06)
Focal Length Comparison
An interesting webpage by Canon USA which gives you a good visual simulation of what affect various focal lengths have on your image.
Click here if you don’t have any flash player installed on your computer. Otherwise, just click on the image above.
Canon USA Mail-in Rebate Promotions
PRESS RELEASE
Great Savings on Select Products Including $300 on EOS 5D Digital SLR and $100 on EOS Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 3, 2006 — This spring, while outdoor activities, sporting events and family gatherings are in full swing, Canon U.S.A., Inc. helps make it easy and affordable to capture and share memories on the field, on the boat, or at the family BBQ. The “Cash In With Canon” Mail-In-Rebate Program will return from April 1 — July 15, 2006 and gives consumers the opportunity to take advantage of big savings on an assortment of select Canon products.
Canon is offering mail-in rebates from $10 to $300 on select products, including $300 on the 12.8 megapixel EOS 5D digital SLR with a full frame CMOS sensor. Canon is also offering a $100 rebate on the #1 best selling DSLR camera*, the EOS Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR and a variety of Canon’s world-renowned EF lenses. Additionally, Canon is offering mail-in rebates on select EX-series flashes such as the powerful Speedlite 580EX flash. Users can also get up to $100 back on select IS (Image Stabilizer) Binoculars such as the rugged 10×42 L IS waterproof binoculars.
Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm F/3.5-5.6G - Review @ Photozone
Photozone have recently posted sample photos and a review of the Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm F/3.5-5.6G, a compact, lightweight and packed with an array of advanced features, the AF-S DZ VR Zoom-Nikkor lens offers 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED focal range length and 11.1x zoom coupled with Nikon ED glass, Silent Wave Motor and enhanced Vibration Reduction (VR II). In conclusion they write:
“Regarding some glowing reviews available on the web the expectation were rather high. Unfortunately the (tested sample of the) Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR II DX wasn’t able to convince completely. Weak points are rather hefty distortions and high vignetting (@ f/3.5) at 18mm. Apart from a few weak spots the resolution figures are quite good though and it is possible to get very decent images from this lens under field conditions. The VR can surely help to safe the day in situations where similar zooms must fail utterly. The build quality is a little soso for a lens in this price class and probably the biggest disappointment. All in all the Nikkor is a highly interesting lens but not without flaws (hardly surprising for a 11x zoom).”
>> RELATED POST
- Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR IF-ED Review Roundup & Sample Photos
