PMA 2009: Canon Slips Out a Pair of New Tilt Shift Lenses
Feb 18, 2009
Editor's note: Here's one that took us by complete surprise.
Usually we get some forewarning on Canon's professional products
ahead of the big PMA show -- coming up this year in Las Vegas in
early March -- but not so with its two new new Tilt-Shift lenses,
the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II ($2,199) and the TS-E 17mm f/4L ($2,499),
which were introduced in the United States just after midnight this
morning, and in Europe several minutes before that.
 Canon's already canceled a planned NDA meeting with us at
PMA this year which would suggest they will only be introducing
consumer-oriented products at the show. Could the surprise
announcement of these two pro tilt-shift lenses mean that some pro
digital SLRs -- maybe a replacement for the much maligned Canon 1D
Mark III -- be next? As always, stay tuned to PDN for all
the info about PMA 2009.
And in the meantime, check out Tony Eckersley's musings on the new
Canon tilt shift glass on his blog.
More info in the Canon USA press release below.
CANON U.S.A.
EXPANDS ITS LENS PORTFOLIO WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW
WIDE-ANGLE TILT-SHIFT LENSES
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Canon Introduces
the New TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift
Lenses
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LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2009 – Canon U.S.A.,
Inc., a leader in digital imaging and optics, today introduced two
new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm
f/4L. These two new L series lenses expand the Company's extensive
lens line-up of TS-E lenses giving photographers creative control
over perspective and depth of field in their images. Both the TS-E
24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L are specialty lenses ideal
for landscape and architectural photography and are compatible with
all Canon EOS system single lens reflex cameras1. The
TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, a replacement for Canon's TS-E 24mm f/3.5L
introduced in 1991, has significantly improved operability with low
distortion when photographing buildings, consistent image quality
throughout the image and reduced chromatic aberration when shooting
at ultra-wide angles. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is the world's shortest
focal length Tilt-Shift lens with full-frame 35mm coverage.
"These two new lenses are Canon's answer to photographers who
have requested wider angle Tilt-Shift lenses, with the new TS-E
24mm for wide angles and the all new TS-E 17mm for ultra-wide
angles. We continually seek to expand our optics portfolio to meet
the demands of our photographers to ensure that they have the best
tools available to capture some of the most stunning images on the
planet," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general
manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.
An innovative feature on both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E
17mm f/4L lenses is Canon's new TS Revolving System. This feature
allows tilting and shifting lens movements to be adjusted in
parallel or at right angles to each other, with detents at 45ıı
intervals. Additionally, once the TS Revolving System has been set,
the orientation of the entire lens can be rotated freely through a
range of ±90ıı, with detents at 30ıı intervals. The amount of tilt is
±8.5ıı for the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and ±6.5ıı for the TS-E 17mm f/4L.
The amount of shift is ±12mm for both lenses. The image circle
diameter for both lenses is an impressive 67.2mm. (The diagonal
measurement of the full-frame 35mm format is only 43.2mm.)
The high-precision glass molded aspherical and UD glass lens
elements and accurate aspherical GMo along with a large diameter in
new TS-E lenses deliver outstanding image quality, high resolution
and super-low distortion to all edges of the image. Each lens
incorporates a new type of anti-reflection coating, Canon's
SubWavelength structure Coating (SWC) that continuously changes the
refractive index on the lens surface via wedge-shaped structures
more minute than wavelength of visible light. Canon's SWC helps
minimize flare and ghosting caused by bright light from large
angles of incidence. The new TS-E lenses are the 2nd and 3rd Canon
EF series lenses with SWC, following the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that
was introduced in 2008.
Pricing and Availability
The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is expected to ship in May for an
estimated retail price of $2,199.00*. The TS-E 17mm f/4L
is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of
$2,499.00*.
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July 01, 2010 - Profoto's come up with a pretty nifty fix to meet your on-the-go energy needs: the "power-in-a-bag" BatPac which you can sling over your shoulder—or, more accurately, over your assistant's shoulder—and bring to your next outdoor shoot. |
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