Canon Reveals Two New L Lenses and an Interesting SD Card WiFi Adapter

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The 5D Mark IV might be the big release of the day, but it’s certainly not the only news from Canon this Thursday. In addition to the fancy new camera, Canon also revealed two new L lenses—the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM and the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM—and an interesting SD card-shaped W-E1 WiFi adapter.

Let’s start with the glass. The 16-35mm f/2.8L III and 24-105 f/4L IS II are both, as you can tell by the Roman numerals, updates to current lenses. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t bake in some worthwhile improvements.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM

The 16-35mm f/2.8L Mark III boasts even better durability than its dust and water-resistant predecessor, and now features a large diameter GMO dual-surface aspherical lens and a ground aspherical lens in its optical formula which, apparently, fixes issues the Mark II had with edge-to-edge performance.

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The ultra-wide zoom will be shipping in late-October, but you can already pre-order it for the suggested retail price of $2,200 on B&H.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM

Canon claims the Mark II of the 24-105mm f/4L now features 4-stops of optical image stabilization (compared to 3 for its predecessor). Additionally, it also boasts improved optical performance; specifically: “ghosting and flare reduction with air sphere coating.”

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The standard zoom lens will also be available late-October, and just like the 16-35, you can already pre-order it on B&H for a suggested retail price of $1,100.

W-E1 SD Card-Shaped WiFi Adapter

Finally, the last announcement is perhaps the most intriguing: Canon’s new SD card-shaped WiFi adapter, the W-E1.

W-E1

If you believe the marketing materials, the W-E1 was created specifically to bring WiFi capability to the Canon 7D Mark II. It’s also compatible with the Canon 5DS and 5DS R, but it is primarily being sold bundled with the 7D Mark II, giving it the same transfer and camera control capabilities as the newly-released 5D Mark IV.

Don’t let the form-factor fool you: this isn’t an SD card. It does work through the SD card slot, allowing you to add WiFi without bulking up the DSLR, but it has no storage and must therefore be used with a CF card in the other card slot. Used with the 7D Mark II, you can transfer both images and video. In the 5DS/R, it can only transfer stills.

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The W-E1 will be available for purchase both individually and in a kit with the 7D Mark II starting in September. The card by itself goes for $50 (B&H currently lists it for $40), a kit bundling the 7D Mark II body with the W-E1 will cost $1,850, and a kit bundling the 7D Mark II with an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and the W-E1 adapter will cost you $2,450.

Click any of the prices above to pre-order.

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