Canon outs new white bazooka lens

It’s been a long time coming, but Canon has finally announced the latest addition to their L-lens lineup. Folks, meet the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens that comes in with a built-in 1.4x Extender that expands its reach by another 160mm at the telephoto end.

Obviously, the recently unveiled lens is geared towards serious sports and wildlife photographers looking for a premium lens with a longer reach and fixed aperture. As mentioned earlier, the 1.4x Extender gives the lens an added reach, bringing the total focal length to a total of 560mm at the longest end and 280mm at the widest.

However, there’s a slight drawback of using the Extender is that the lens’ aperture drops by a full stop making it f/5.6. It’s not much by any means, but it’s something worth noting nevertheless.

The lens is also equipped with a USM (UltraSonic Motor) which makes autofocusing swift and whisper-like. Should you wish to fine tune the focus during AF, we’re glad to report that the lens allows a manual override using the focus ring. It’s also equipped with four-stop Optical Image Stabilizer that aids photographers in capturing split-second opportunities.

As expected, Canon’s new high-end telephoto zoom lens sports the same premium build as its kin. Inside, the lens is outfitted with several lens coating including those that helps in eliminating ghosting, flare and aberrations. On the outside, the magnesium body of this lens has an added protection from dust and moisture and fluoride coating on both the front and rear elements that helps in warding off dusts.

Given the amount of handiwork involved in building the lens and the versatility it brings to the table, you’ll bet that this bad boy isn’t gonna be cheap. When the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens hits the store by June, it’ll retail for a bank-breaking USD11,799 or roughly 480,000 in our local currency. As mentioned earlier, this is not for everyone. It’s meant for deep-pocketed hobbyist/birdwatchers and professional sports photographers who are paid for taking stunning pictures.

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