Canon Introduces New EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM Zoom Lens

The new EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM wide-angle zoom lens incorporates many advanced and exclusive Canon lens technologies to provide performance at a level that's simply unavailable to users of other 35mm and digital SLR systems. A highly desirable focal length range among photojournalists, the new EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM is an ideal standard lens for the newly introduced Canon EOS-1D digital SLR camera.

This new lens is the first EF-series lens to incorporate three types of aspherical elements, providing even higher image quality than the EF 17-35mm model. In addition, the lens also uses two UD elements to further reduce the chromatic aberrations most likely to occur in wide-angle lenses. As a result, there is no color bleeding along the edges of the subject and the image resolution and contrast are high.

Additionally, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM features weather-resistant construction in the mount area, switch panel, zoom ring and focusing ring to prevent water and dust from reaching the inside of the lens. This design philosophy matches the performance of the EOS-1v 35mm and EOS-1D digital professional cameras and makes the new lens usable in a wider range of adverse shooting conditions.

Similar to the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM uses a new electromagnetically controlled automatic diaphragm designed to maintain nearly circular apertures between f/2.8 and f/5.6. A circular aperture makes blurred points of light appear round and makes the background blur more prominent for greater effect.

Autofocusing is fast and accurate, covering the full range from 11 inches to infinity. This was achieved through internal focusing which also enhances focusing speed, durability and handling. Additionally, the lens provides fast and smooth manual focusing in the AF mode through its built-in, full-time mechanical manual focus override. A drop-in gelatin filter holder is also provided at the rear of the lens. Physical dimensions are 4.1 x 3.3 inches with a weight of 21.2 ounces.

It's always been difficult to achieve really wide angle shots with professional SLRs due to the 1.5x or greater focal length multiplier and the limits of the available lenses. The EOS-1D's focal length multiplier is just 1.25x, that means the Canon EF 16-35mm zoom will have an effective focal length of 20mm to 43.75mm. Available at authorized Canon dealers in November it will have a suggested retail price of ,400.00.