Canon Announces EF-S 35mm f2.8 Macro IS STM lens with Macro lites

Canon Announces EF-S 35mm f2.8 Macro IS STM lens with Macro lites

Canon has announced a EF-S 35mm lens with f2.8 Macro IS STM lens. This EF-S lens will fit in to all the DSLRs with 1.6 crop factor sensors like the 1100D/750D/80D/7D series.

Since it is a 35mm lens, for macro photography, one needs to move in very close to the subject with this lens. The minimum focusing distance of this lens is 30cm. For shooting at such short distances, any living subject has to be incredibly cooperative to allow such violation of personal space. So this lens appears to be primarily designed for food photography, plants etc that will not move away from you.

High end users would primarily use a longer macro lens. However, Canon has brought in an interesting innovation. When shooting at such close distances many times the shadow of the camera/lens falls on the subject. Canon has fit in macro lights to front of this lens, so that at such close shooting distances one can have some light.

The lens has got hybrid image stabilization with 4 stops claimed effectiveness. There is full time manual focus override. This lens is also an STM lens so it would do silent and smooth autofocusing in video mode.

The EF-S 35mm f2.8 IS Macro STM lens will be priced at $349.99 US dollars. India pricing is yet to be announced.

PRESS RELEASE
Up Close and Personal: Canon Announces New EF-S 35MM F/2.8 Macro IS STM Lens to Help Explore the Beauty of Macro Photography

New Compact and Lightweight EF-S Macro Lens Opens Up a World of Photographic Possibilities and Helps Capture Close Subjects with Incredible Detail

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 6, 2017 – Compact and lightweight, the new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, announced today by Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is the widest-angle Macro offering in Canon’s popular EF-S lens series. The new lens is designed to help both entry-level and advanced amateur DSLR photographers discover the incredible possibilities of macro photography. Capable of capturing close-up subjects with incredible detail, Canon’s new EF-S macro lens is also the first in the series to feature built-in Macro Lites that allow users to control lighting with ease.

“Macro lenses are an amazing way to explore the worlds that exist all around us, and the new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens is the ideal starting point for amateur photographers eager to capture incredible, up-close details on the go,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Whether capturing a delectable dessert or the subtleties of a backyard flower, users will be challenged to find new colors and shapes that turn everyday moments into art.”

The new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM captures stunning images and is a terrific companion lens for entry-level users eager to expand beyond their existing Canon EOS DSLR kit lens. Capable of shooting as close as 30mm from the end of the lens to the subject, aspiring photographers can get up close to a fruit or flower for an entirely new perspective, while capturing high-quality images with beautiful background blur. Additional technologies built into the new Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens include:

• Popular 35mm focal length (56mm equivalent) and wide f/2.8 aperture
• Hybrid IS system offers up to four stops* of shake correction
• Smooth Movie Servo AF with Lead Screw-type STM ensures quiet AF operation
• Full-time Manual Focus

In a first for the EF-S lens series, the new Canon EF-S 35mm lens sports built-in Macro Lites that allow photographers to carefully arrange macro lighting without using special equipment. With built-in LED lights on each side of the lens, users can create compelling shadows on either side of a subject or adjust intensity to give images a sense of dimension. Once the scene is set, the lens uses superb rendering performance to capture high contrast, sharp images.

While specialized for high magnification photography, the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is still a versatile option for day-to-day use, easily capable of capturing portraits, landscapes or snapshots. As the latest addition to the lineup of EF-S lenses, Canon continues its commitment to providing a wide-range of affordable lens options for photographers of all levels.
The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens is scheduled to be available in June 2017 for an estimated retail price of $349.99**.

A common misconception about the lights needs to be cleared -- those are LEDs and not ring flashes. They would surely be useful for some fill light, and could improve macro shooting in daylight. But they won't substitute actual flashes.

That said, I really like the little extra that these built-in lights offer, and I'm also interested in the shorter focal length of this macro lens. I would be keen to try this out.