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August 22, 2005 – Canon's barrage of new product announcements today included two new image-stabilizing zoom lenses which together cover focal lengths from 24mm to 300mm.
The EF 24-105mm f/4.0 IS USM retails for $1,249. Canon intends for this to appeal to professional wedding photographers as a do-it-all lens, for everything from large groups and overall shots of the church, to fairly tight portraits. Two earlier lenses, the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 24-85 f/3.5-4.5, offer less range and lack image stabilization. The new lens is two-thirds the size of the f/2.8 lens, which should appeal to all those wedding shooters with back trouble. Canon is counting on the fact that most wedding shooters rely on flash, and won't mind losing a full stop of aperture.
The new 24-105mm lens is an EF series lens, so it is compatible with the Canon 1D Mark II n, 1Ds Mark II, and the new EOS 5D digital models.
The second newly announced lens, the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, replaces Canon's 75-300 IS lens. At $649, the new lens is expected to provide better glass, faster autofocus, and enhanced image stabilization over the old one. According to the company, the new lens's image stabilization works even while the user is panning to follow a moving subject. While the lens is compatible with all Canon autofocus SLRs, for the price, the company is promoting it as an ideal second lens for Rebel and Rebel XT owners.