The EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM features ‘advanced’ weather resistance according to Canon
A month ago Canon quashed rumours of a new professional L-series wide-angle lens arriving this year by unveiling the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM. Successor to the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM – a lens that dates back to 1998 – the all-new EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM is said to improve on its predecessor by being the first lens to incorporate Blue Spectrum Refractive optics, which Canon claims significantly reduces chromatic aberrations and delivers sharper images by the refraction of blue light.
Listening to feedback from enthusiast and professional photographers who’d used the older EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM, Canon has ensured its latest version of the lens is better designed to withstand much more challenging shooting situation and environments. The ‘advanced’ weather sealing should see it more resistant to damage and water ingress when the going gets tough. In terms of its size and weight, this new optic is approximately 20mm longer and 180g heavier than the older EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM.
The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM features a construction of 14 elements in 11 groups with 9 diaphragm blades
The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM features a minimum focusing distance of 28cm and accepts filters via its 72mm filter thread. An ideal lens for capturing images with a documentary feel, the EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM will receive a lot of interest from photojournalists, sports and wedding photographers alike. Over the next few weeks we plan to put the lens through its paces in the type of environments that it’ll see frequent use. In the meantime we’ve added our selection of early sample images for you to look at. All images taken were captured on a Canon EOS 5D Mark III with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens.
The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM coupled to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III offering an impression of its size
Head here to read our news story covering the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II sample images
The selection of images in our sample gallery were taken around Penshurst and Chiddingstone in Kent. Below you’ll find further examples illustrating the extremely shallow depth of field that can be created by opening the lens to its maximum aperture (f/1.4).
