Have you ever thought how much actually goes into producing an EF lens? Is it all robots and machines or do people still do it? Why are some of them so expensive?
If you have, here's a 3-part series of videos that will give you some insight into what goes on to bring you your lenses....
A little over two years ago, Canon celebrated the production of their 40 millionth EF lens since 
1987. Well, in those two years, they've managed to add another 10 million lens. Yep, that's right, they've just reached the 50 millionth lens mark.
They reached the milestone during a production run for the EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens (one of which I've just taken delivery of - although I'm guessing it's not the 50 millionth lens!).
The press release points to 5 milestones in the production of the EF lens range, starting at the beginning with the release of the first lens to feature an Ultrasonic motor (EF300mm f/2.8L USM - 1987), progressing through the first IS lens (EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM - 1995), the first DO lens (EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM - 2001), the first SubWavelength coating lens (EF24mm f/1.4L II USM - 2008), and finally the first lens with hybrid IS (EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM - 2009).
I wonder, between all the readers of the blog, how many of the 50 million we can account for. Hit-up the comments and let us know how many EF lenses you've had, or currently have.
Canon has today announced an new lens - an update to the much admired EF70-200mm
f/2.8L IS USM. The new lens, identical in name save for the addition of a "II" at the end, is more than just a simple update. It aims to improve on the previous lens in every area, including image quality, build quality and Image Stabiliser functions.
Using Fluorite and UD lens elements keeps the image quality high and the Image Stabiliser is now a four stop version to help hand holding a low shutter speeds.
The closest focusing distance has been reduced as well - now down to 1.2m compared to the 1.4m of the previous version, while the weight has gone up, but only by an almost unnoticeable 20g.
We'll bring you more news as we get, most notably the price, but for now, here's the specs and a link to the Canon Europe site to read a bit more about it. Availability is stated as being Feb 2010.
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