Canon USA have issued a Service Notice for the new Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, about the lens flare problem that we reported last week.

Canon USA Service Advisory

We have recently discovered a problem with early production samples of the EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in which flare occurs at an unacceptable level under certain conditions. The flare is most obvious in the wide zoom and wide aperture settings. (See attached picture.)

The problem affects all EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lenses with a control number less than UT1000. With apologies for the inconvenience involved, we ask customers to check the control number on the back of the lens.

The-Digital-Picture have reviewed the new Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, which features a fixed aperture of f/4 throughout the zoom range and an Image Stabiliser that allows shutter speeds of 3 stops slower than normal.

” The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens is very sharp wide open at most focal lengths and shows only very slight improvement when stopped down. The one exception is toward the longer focal length range (near and including 105mm) where slight softness (sharp vs. very sharp) is noticeable wide open. Stopped down 1/3 stop to f/4.5 brings the very sharp description back at 105mm. I find that 24-105 L images take sharpening very well. In real life, with regular sharpening, f/4 shots at 105mm are very sharp and show little improvement stopped down - even to f/8. Corner sharpness is very good. Full frame user will see slight softness in the extreme corners.”

Website: The-Digital-Picture - Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens Review

Bob Atkins has reviewed the new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens, which features Canon’s latest 3-stop Image Stabilisation system and replaces the existing EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens.

“In a brief series of tests consisting of multiple shots taken with the old lens and the new lens at a shutter speed of 1/60s and a focal length of 300mm, the new lens delivered sharper images in almost every case. Not every shot was equally sharp and not every shot was as sharp as it would have been using a tripod, but the new lens definitely gave a higher percentage of higher sharpness images.”

Website: Bob Atkins - Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens Review

It seems that the new professional level Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS lens has run into problems, resulting in it being withdrawn from sale in Japan. DIWA member Digit.no has more details and a sample shot showing the unwanted flare effects that occur in certain situations. Meanwhile, a thread over on Fred Miranda’s forums contains more examples/discussion of the problem.

Website: Digit.no

Website: Fred Miranda

Lensbabies Press Release

Lensbabies Launches Macro Lens Set for Selective Focus Macro Photography

October 20, New York, NY.  Today at the PhotoPlus Expo trade show, Lensbabies launched a set of macro lenses for use with its selective focus SLR camera lenses, Lensbaby 2.0 and the Original Lensbaby.  The macro set consists of one +4 and one +10 macro lens that can be mounted to the front of the Lensbaby lens, allowing photographers to focusing in on minute details with eye popping Lensbaby effects.

“Shooting macro photos with a Lensbaby is completely absorbing and fun.  With small movements of the focusing collar, you can move the sweet spot of focus around your subject, whether it’s a grass hopper or a diamond ring.” said Lisa Smith, a professional photographer from San Diego.

The Sigma 28-200mm F3.5-5.6 DG Macro lens is announced today. The new Sigma 28-200mm macro lens uses a multi-layer coating technology that reduces flare and ghosting. At the 200mm telephoto setting, the Sigma 28-200mm lens is capable of macro photography with a 1:3.8 maximum magnification. Price and availability of the Sigma 28-200mm F3.5-5.6 DG Macro lens to be announced.

Sigma Press Release

A compact, high-zoom ratio lens, ideal for full-frame digital SLR cameras.

This lens covers all the focal lengths from 28mm wide angle to 200mm telephoto, the most frequently used focal length range. With a maximum diameter of 70mm (2.75 in.) and length of 77.7mm (3 in.), it has a compact size.It packs a lot of performance in a compact package. Portable and mobile, the lens can be carried anywhere, so it is ideal for travel and other types of photography.

Reduction of flare and ghosting
This digitally optimized ultra telephoto lens is equipped with a new multi-layer coating technology that reduces both flare and ghosting. This also ensures an accurate color balance and high definition results.

ePhotoZine have reviewed the new Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens, suitable for the Canon EOS 300D and 20D cameras.

“The lens is a well-built example that feels sensibly weighted, not being too plasticy but not too heavy either. The mount is slightly different to the standard Canon mount and is denoted by the absence of the usual red dot for location. This is replaced by a raised white spot that locates with a similar spot on the appropriate cameras, just to the left of the standard location dot. The S in EF-S stands for ‘short back focus’ and means the lens cannot be used on any of the older cropped sensor cameras such as the D30/60 or the 10D, as the rear element protrudes into the camera body and would hit the mirrors on these models. Do not try to fit it to the 1D/5D series either, as the same problem occurs!”

Website: ePhotoZine - Canon EF-S 10-22mm Lens Review

The Sigma 8mm F4 EX DG Circular fisheye lens is unveiled today. A new coating technology on the Sigma 8mm fisheye lens reduces flare and ghosting. The Sigma 8mm F4 EX DG lens offers a 180 degree angle of view and can be used to create circular images. Price is £579.88 - availability to be announced.

Sigma Press Release

Digitally optimized circular fisheye auto-focus lens - 8mm F4 EX DG CIRCULAR FISHEYE

2005.10.07 - The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 8mm F4 EX DG CIRCULAR FISHEYE lens.

This circular fisheye lens is used to produce circular images, creating vast distortion with an angle of view of 180° when attached to a full-frame digital or 35mm film SLR camera. This auto focus lens is equipped with a new multi-layer coating technology that reduces both flare and ghosting and ensures accurate color balance and high image quality for both film and digital SLR cameras. This lens can be used for the scientific applications such as the solid angle measurements of cloud distribution over the sky, the vegetation distribution of the forest, etc., due to the quantifiable angle/area relationship it produces. Also supplied with the lens is a fitted padded case and a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.

The Sigma 15mm F2.8 EX DG Diagonal fisheye lens is announced today. This new Sigma 15mm fisheye lens has been digitally optimised to reduce flare and ghosting. The angle of view offered by the Sigma 15mm F2.8 EX DG Diagonal is 180 degrees, minimum aperture is f/22 and weight is 370 grams. Price is £449.99 - availability to be announced.

Sigma Press Release

Digitally optimized circular fisheye auto-focus lens - 15mm F2.8 EX DG DIAGONAL FISHEYE

2005.10.07 - The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 15mm F2.8 EX DG DIAGONAL FISHEYE lens.

This digitally optimized diagonal fisheye lens is equipped with a new multi-layer coating technology that reduces both flare and ghosting. This also ensures an accurate color balance and high definition results.

With a minimum shooting distance of only 15cm (5.9 inch), this lens has a maximum magnification of 1:3.8. The close focusing capability together with a large depth of field allow close up photography that covers objects surrounding the photographic subject.

Luminous Landscape have published a brief comparative test of the new professional level Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS lens (pictured) and the older consumer Canon EF 28-135mm IS lens.

“For the past year I have been using the 28~135 IS USM because it is relatively inexpensive, portable, has good zoom range and is an eminently decent quality lens. I knew it wasn’t top-of-the-line Canon, but it worked well for me. Along came the 24~105 offering portability (only a wee bit heavier than the 28~135), good zoom range and top quality at three times the price. Quandary: is it worth sinking about USD $1250 on top of the $400 I spent last year on the 28~135? The solution: test and see.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - How I Decided to Up-Grade From a Canon 28-135 IS to a Canon 24-105 F/4L IS

Luminous Landscape have reviewed the new Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, which features a fixed aperture of f/4 throughout the zoom range and an Image Stabiliser that allows shutter speeds of 3 stops slower than normal.

“Of course the reduction in maximum aperture from f/2.8 to f/4 is a loss, but not as big as it once would have been. The current generation of Canon digital cameras produce remarkably clean and noise free images right through ISO 400, and so unlike in the days of film there is not much lost when using a slower lens by jacking up the ISO. On the other hand the reduction in size and weight is undeniable. In the 10 days that I’ve owned the lens I’ve been out shooting for several 4-6 hour sessions, and each time have appreciated the reduced bulk and weight over the 24-70mm.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens Review

The Sigma APO TELE CONVERTER 1.4x EX DG and Sigma APO TELE CONVERTER 2x EX DG are announced today. The new Sigma tele-converters have been digitally optimised to reduce both flare and ghosting.

Sigma UK Press Release

Digitally optimised tele-converters, exclusive to Sigma’s telephoto and telephoto zoom lenses.   

- New multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghosting.
- The high image quality of the master lens will not be compromised thanks to this new design concept.
- High-speed Auto Focus is retained even when these teleconverters are utilised.

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO TELE CONVERTER 1.4x EX DG and APO TELE CONVERTER 2x EX DG

These dedicated APO teleconverters are mounted between specific lenses and the camera body to increase the focal length by the power of 1.4 or 2.

Olympus UK Press Release

ZUIKO DIGITAL and Top Pro lenses - Olympus extends E-System lens range to coincide with E-500 launch

London, 26 September 2005 – Olympus is extending its interchangeable lens range to provide photographers with a greater choice and increased creative possibilities. Based on the FourThirds Standard and compatible with all Olympus E-System cameras, the 2.6x and 10x zoom and macro lenses are targeted at users who want high performance and exceptional value for money. In addition, two Top Pro range telephoto lenses are also being introduced. Both offer extraordinary brightness across their entire focal range and guarantee outstanding image quality.

ePhotoZine have just reviewed the Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC lens.

“With a zoom ratio of just under 7:1 this lens covers a good range without going to the extremes of the 10+ times zooms. As with most wide ranging zoom lenses, the performance is better at the shorter end with some fall-off in performance as focal length is extended. However, the fall-off in this lens is kept to a minimum with a good starting point at the short end. Distortion is well controlled for the class of lens, with minimum barrel at the short end moving to negligible pincushion at the longer length. Sigma have learnt well how to control chromatic aberrations and none of their new designs have suffered from the anomaly. That includes this design, which showed no significant signs throughout the range.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC Review

ePhotoZine have reviewed the new Tamron SP AF11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF), a new high performance ultra wideangle zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras using APS-C size image sensors.

“This lens goes a long way in overcoming the biggest drawback of the cropped digital sensor, that of wide-angle coverage. The light weight, which possibly compromises build quality slightly, reduces the penalty incurred by carrying extra lenses. The only disappointment was the quality drop-off towards the edges of the image, but many compositions can cope with the anomaly. The front element does not rotate during use, making the use of filters, which are the common 77mm size, easy to use. Filter systems need to be 100mm or more though in order to cope with the wide angle of view.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Tamron SP AF11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Review.

Tokina Press Release

The Tokina AT-X 100 PRO D is a new macro lens capable of life-sized (1:1) reproduction at 11.8 in. (30 cm). The lens’ multi-coating have been re-engineered to match the highly reflective silicon based CCD and CMOS sensors in today’s digital SLR cameras. This lens gives the best of both worlds because optics still give full coverage and excellent sharpness on 35mm film. A macro lens that can handle both the digital and film worlds with ease.

The AT-X 100 PRO D also has a very convenient focus limiter switch that can lock the focus out of the closes focus making it focus faster when used as a moderate telephoto lens that is excellent portraits as well.

ePhotoZine have just reviewed the Canon 17-40mm f/4L lens.

“As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the lens is almost legendary and does produce fine results. But with the ever-increasing resolution of high-end sensors and Canon’s recently stated intention to produce more full frame sensors, can this lens keep up with the game. It is widely recognised as a lens with good contrast and control of distortions and the handling of chromatic aberrations is pretty good also, so more interest during the test procedure was placed on the pure resolving power of the lens. The answer is that, as things stand at present, it is fine. But, and we are talking the top end of the existing cameras here (1Ds MkII at 16.7mp), any more resolution and the lens will start to struggle.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Canon 17-40mm f/4L Lens Review

The Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4 DG lens is unveiled. The Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4 DG lens can be used with both digital and film SLR cameras and offers a new multi layer lens coating and lens design to reduce flare and ghosting.

Sigma Japan Press Release

A large aperture standard zoom lens that covers from wide-angle to telephoto and ideal for full-frame digital SLR cameras.

Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 28-105 F2.8-4 DG lens. This large aperture standard zoom lens provides superior performance both for Digital SLR Cameras and 35mm Film SLR Cameras. This standard zoom lens covers frequently used focal lengths from 28mm to 105mm and allows a large aperture of F2.8 at the 28mm focal length. It is very convenient for a wide range of applications including snap shots, indoor photography. The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras, and also creates an optimum color balance throughout the entire zoom range. The use of aspherical lens reduces various aberrations throughout the entire zoom range and improves optical performance. This lens has minimum focusing distance of 50cm (19.7 inches) throughout the entire zoom range and it has also maximum magnification of 1:5.5. Because the front of the lens does not rotate, circular polarizing filters and a petal-type hood can easily be used.

The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8-4 DG lens is announced. The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8-4 DG lens can be used with both digital and film SLR cameras and offers a new multi layer lens coating and lens design to reduce flare and ghosting.

Sigma Japan Press Release

Compact, large aperture zoom lens is ideal for digital and 35mm SLR cameras

Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 28-70 F2.8-4 DG lens. This compact, large aperture zoom lens is ideal for digital and 35mm SLR cameras. The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range. An aspherical lens element is used for excellent correction of distortion throughout the entire zoom range. This lens’ excellent performance makes it an ideal lens for Digital SLR Cameras as well as film SLR cameras. This standard zoom lens has a large aperture of F2.8 at 28mm focal length and yet it is compact and lightweight, with an overall length of 62.5mm (2.5”) and weight of 255g. (9oz.). Ideally suited for traveling, landscape photography and general photography. The supplied zoom hood can be used to obtain a superior light-blocking effect.

The Sigma APO 100-300mm F4 EX DG HSM lens is introduced. The Sigma APO 100-300mm F4 EX DG HSM lens provides a large F4 aperture at all focal lengths and fits both digital and film SLR cameras. Available for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Konica Minolta cameras.

Sigma Japan Press Release

Fast aperture telephoto zoom lens that provides excellent optical performance for Digital SLR cameras and film SLR cameras

This telephoto zoom lens provides a large F4 aperture at all focal lengths. The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, and also maintains minimal light-fall-off, superior peripheral brightness is ensured.