New EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens features optical and functional innovations for super-high image quality and performance. L-series lens for professionals and enthusiasts delivers razor sharpness, super-high resolution and contrast ‘edge-to-edge’, throughout the zoom range

 

Canon Australia has announced today a highly anticipated addition to its renowned L-series of interchangeable EF lenses for professionals and advanced amateur photographers: the EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Building on the strengths of its predecessor, the new lens features optical enhancements to deliver super-high image quality throughout the zoom range and edge-to-edge sharpness; as well as durability and functional advances to meet the specific demands of today’s professional digital SLR photographers.

 

“This bright standard zoom lens builds on the strengths of its popular predecessor, which has become the standard lens of choice for Canon professionals and enthusiasts alike,” says Cathy Hattersley, Brand Manager – EOS Professional, Canon Australia. “Designed in response to feedback from working professionals, the new EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM offers super-high image quality through a new optical design and optimised lens coatings. Outstanding image quality is matched with enhancements to its construction and usability for uncompromised performance under the demanding shooting conditions experienced by the pros.”

 

 

The EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM features a new optical design that includes three aspherical lens elements, one Super UD lens element and two UD lens elements to minimise the incidence of various forms of aberration that can occur when zooming and at the image periphery at the wide end. UD lenses also contribute to the elimination of colour blurring around the subject for high image resolution and contrast. Lens coatings have been optimised to ensure outstanding colour balance while also minimising the incidence of ghosting commonly associated with digital photography.

 

The result is a large-aperture, standard zoom lens that achieves unprecedented quality throughout the entire zoom range and across the image area. Featuring a circular aperture, this lens produces beautiful soft-focus images only possible with a large aperture lens, and the ability to achieve nearly circular out-of-focus effects on background light sources.

 

 

The new lens’s superior image quality is matched by enhanced durability to respond to both the demands of often harsh professional shooting environments as well as the high volume of images taken with a standard zoom lens in digital SLR photography.

 

To protect the interior of the lens from dust or water intrusion when shooting in harsh environments, the EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM has dust and drip proofing on the mount, switch panel, focusing ring and Zoom Ring Lock Lever. The lens body construction is also made for durability and reliability given the frequent use associated with this zoom lens. Reliability is further enhanced by the addition of fluorine coating to external lens surfaces to repel oil, water and other contaminants and enable easy cleaning with a dry cloth without the need for solvents.

 

 

The news lens design features a range of interior and exterior enhancements for more comfortable and effective operation. A smaller and lighter (804g) body has been achieved, saving 10.5mm in length and 145g in weight compared with its predecessor. While offering a large diameter, the lens length is just 113m in the wide-end position.

 

Again in response to feedback from professionals, the lens features a Zoom Ring Lock Lever which keeps the lens locked in the wide-end position to prevent it from extending inadvertently when moving around between shots. Advanced autofocus (AF) features include a ring USM drive, a high-speed CPU and an optimised AF algorithm for fast, silent autofocusing. Moreover, a full-time mechanical manual focus, even in AF mode, enables more detailed focussing by allowing users to manually adjust focus by rotating the focussing ring immediately after autofocusing.

 

Offering a minimum focusing distance of 0.38m across the entire zoom range, the EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is perfect for achieving beautiful close-range shots.

 

 

The EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM will be available in Australia from March 2012 for $2,899.

For more information visit www.canon.com.au