A lenss optical characteristics cant be determined at face value thats why its important for a manufacturer to note these distinctions with as much clarity and pomp as possible. But why should anyone care that Canons new technology reduces color fringing in their EF 35mm f/1.4 L II USM lens? Because chromatic aberration is a type of undesirable distortion causing a lens to fail at focusing all colors at the same convergence point; the result being to manifest itself as fringes of color along those boundaries separating dark and bright parts of an image.
Canons proprietary technology involves the use of a new organic material designed to reduce color fringing through unusual refractive properties. It is called Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (happily referred to in shorthand as BR Optics). The reduction of chromatic aberration is done through the refraction of blue light so as to enable an easier path for converging it along with other wavelengths of light at a specific focal point.
Incorporated between two conventional glass lens elements, BR Optics sharpens images through the reduction of axial chromatic aberration. The EF 35mm lens has a nine-blade aperture and is composed of a 14 element, 11 group configuration, of which there are two aspherical elements and a single ultra-low (UD) glass element. It also features Canon’s proprietary Sub-Wavelength Structure Coating for combatting flare and ghosting. The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.28m (approx. 11-inches), with a maximum magnification of 0.21X and a 72mm filter thread. It weighs in at around 1.7 lbs. (760g).
We continually strive to achieve the ideal lens performance, which has driven the development of Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics, found in the new EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens, says Canon U.S.A. President and COO Yuichi Ishizuka. This technology is yet another ‘first’ in optical design introduced by Canon to enhance the performance of our lenses for our customers.”
The shipping date for the EF 35mm f/1.4 L II USM lens is to be sometime in October, with the estimated retail price at $1,799.00 (a premium over the existing EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM lens $1,479.00).
