New Canon lens EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM – high quality with higher zoom range

Cologne, Germany 2002 – Canon launches a new high performance zoom lens - the EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM. The successor to the EF28-70mm f/2.8L USM, popular among advanced amateurs and professional photographers, this lens offers higher zoom range with a wider angle.

The new EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM offers the users an expanded zoom range with a wide-angle focal length of just 24mm. This lens incorporates new design features that allow the broader focal length range while maintaining the superb image quality. At the same time, the minimum focusing distance has been reduced from 0.5 meters to 0.38 meters.

The increase and popularity of professional digital cameras has necessitated the development of a new lens, says Hiroshi Komatsuzaki, Head of Consumer Imaging Europe, Canon introduces the EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens which retains the quality of previous lenses while significantly increasing the zoom range.

Zoom lens optical features

The EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM uses two types of aspherical lenses to give a wider 24-70mm zoom range. These two elements provide good compensation for aberrations while zooming as well as maintaining the superb quality images achieved by its predecessor the EF28-70mm F.2.8L USM lens.

The optical construction of the EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM uses a UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) lens that provides excellent compensation of the chromatic aberrations that tend to occur in wide-angle shooting. The power of the focusing lens group has been increased to allow a minimum focusing distance of 38 cm throughout the entire zoom range; this is the shortest distance in its class *

A new type of electromagnetic diaphragm (EMD) has a near-circular aperture at the widest settings. This provides an improved out-of-focus background.

All the elements are made from environmentally friendly lead-free glass.

Mechanical features

The lens mount, switch panel, zoom ring and focusing ring in the EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM have been outfitted for water and dust resistance making the lens ideally suited for harsh environments. Additionally, optimised lens coatings in the lens minimises ghosting.

The EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM has a silent and high-speed AF operation with rear focusing and ring USM. Manual focusing remains enabled even in the AF mode.

The length of this lens does not change during zooming and the front of the lens does not rotate during focusing and zooming. Therefore various accessories can be attached to the front lens without being hindered by lens rotation or movement.

Accessories

The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM comes standard with a lens hood (EW-83F) and a soft case.


* as of September 2002