CANON EF-S 18-135MM F/3.5-5.6 IS USM Power Zoom

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Planetwide

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I am posting this as it is a lens that quite a few will be interested in.


Detailed specs of the upcoming Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens leaked over the web. Some interesting points: it appears the new 18-135mm has an AF motor that for still images is 4.3 times faster than on the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM. The new USM motor is named “nano USM”. Moreover, the new EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM can be used with the also upcoming “Canon Power Zoom” adapter (in the pictures).

http://www.canonwatch.com/37411-2/
 
jowei said:
I hate, loathe, despise, etc. variable aperture lenses. It's a deal-breaker for video.
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Really? Most video cameras have in fact always had apertures that would lose a stop or more through the zoom range. In fact in the video world a constant aperture zoom was pretty rare except in cases of really expensive broadcast lenses. My first professional camera was a Canon XL1 with a 16x zoom lens and it wasn't constant aperture either.
 
Thomas Smet said:
Really? Most video cameras have in fact always had apertures that would lose a stop or more through the zoom range. In fact in the video world a constant aperture zoom was pretty rare except in cases of really expensive broadcast lenses. My first professional camera was a Canon XL1 with a 16x zoom lens and it wasn't constant aperture either.
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I was an XL2 user! Well, I'm talking specifically about Hybrids. I think it's vital to have a constant aperture when you have to zoom in IMO (Can't stress enough the IMO part). I know there are workarounds, but when you're shooting Manual it's the worst thing in the world to me.
 
I think the bigger question is whether the lens is parfocal. The STM version maintains focus electronically while zooming. Also, you can see the aperture fluctuating while it is trying to maintain the f/stop. If the lens is truly parfocal and the aperture is continuously variable while zooming to maintain light transmission, then this may be the most useful event and b-roll lens for Canon APS-C. I'm hoping.
 
jowei said:
I hate, loathe, despise, etc. variable aperture lenses. It's a deal-breaker for video.
Click to expand...

Even my $25K+ broadcast HD lenses ramp on the top end. Not saying I, or anyone else, like it, but at a certain point when making a long zoom ratio lens, it becomes impossible to avoid and still keep the lens practical(both financially and physically).
 
The zoom rocker is on the "wrong" side of the control box relative to a traditional ENG or cinema servo lens. That's going to make it difficult to operate handheld or on a shoulder rig. I hope there's a remote port of some kind for rigging up a second rocker in a better location. Also, the "fast" and "slow" switch leaves me worried that it may only have two fixed zoom speeds rather than continuously variable ramping. We'll need to get more information about that.

- Greg
 
I'd like to see a Canon 18-200mm with the power zoom, even if it was f/6.3 at 200mm. Sony has one which I loved using on the FS100 so I see no reason why Canon insists 135mm is the longest one would want in a all in one power zoom.
 
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Based on this video, it appears that the power zoom could be used for outdoor events. I see some stepping in the aperture and/or transmission correction, but it isn't terrible. Also, it does seem to track focus, either through the DPAF or through some sort of AF motor control while zooming. I doubt the lens is parfocal. The 18-135 STM has become my most used lens on the C100 and I'm thinking this might be a great replacement.

I have to admit that I find the idea of remote zooming over wifi to be nearly useless. I guess on the end of a crane to save some time, but I don't know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfR3-I1Dnpk
 
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