Canon has wet the appetite of serious photographers with the release of a second generation compact super-telephoto zoom lens but be prepared to fork out big money to use it.
The EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens has enhanced optical quality, and image stabilization performance.
With a $2,400 suggested retail price tag, the new lens is fully compatible with all Canon EOS cameras, and features a completely redesigned optical formula containing one Fluorite and one Super UD lens element.
Canon called this a unique combination at the focal range and said it will produce sharp images with high resolution and contrast. The combination also helps suppress chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range.
 Click to enlarge |
The lens also has a rotating-zoom-ring design instead of the push-pull adjustment on the predecessor to deliver more precise adjustments, easier handling, and consistently excellent weight balance during handheld shooting.
The image stabilization (IS) system offers up to three modes, including standard, panning and during exposure only. The optical IS provides up to four shutter speed steps of correction, increased from 1.5 steps in the previous model. It also has a weather-resistant and rugged magnesium housing design. Yuichi Ishizuka, Canon president and COO, said, “The 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.”
The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 3.2 feet (0.98m), resulting in maximum magnification of 0.31x. An inner focusing system in the lens includes a powerful yet quiet Ring USM, a high-speed CPU and optimized autofocus algorithms for fast and accurate autofocusing in various shooting situations, Canon said.
