[Sonsey]

Canon celebrates a new milestone in the history of D-SLR photography, as production of the company’s EF lenses – which began in 1987 with the birth of Canon’s EOS system – reaches 40 million. Incredibly, a quarter of these were produced within the last two-and-a-half years. With 67 models, the EF series is the world’s most extensive range of D-SLR lenses.

“The production of the 40 millionth EF lens is testament to the soaring popularity of D-SLR photography,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “With the increasing number of consumer-orientated D-SLR models on the market – including Canon’s market-leading EOS 400D and the new EOS 450D – D-SLR has moved from the professional domain to become a truly mass interest”. “We are delighted that photographers of all levels continue to rely upon Canon EF lenses, and we remain committed to producing the industry’s most extensive, cutting-edge line-up,” he added.

Canon’s comprehensive range of EF lenses benefits from a long lineage of forward-thinking design. In 1987, the first EF lenses rewrote the SLR rulebook with their large-diameter, fully electronic lens mount, and the incorporation of a drive motor within the lens. Since then, innovations have included the first lens with an Ultrasonic Motor, the EF 300mm f/2.8L USM (1987), the world’s fastest aperture interchangeable lens, the EF 50mm f/1.0L USM (1989), and the world’s first lens with Image Stabilizer to compensate camera shake, the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (1995).

2008 will see the addition of two new models to the EF range: the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, the world’s longest image- stabilised telephoto lens, and the EF 200mm f/2L IS USM, another large-diameter telephoto lens. They join a total of 67 different lenses – ranging from super wide-angle to super telephoto models - which includes standard zoom and telephoto zoom lenses, fast aperture lenses, macro lenses, and "the TS-E lens", equipped with tilt and shift function.ring has arrived early for EOS photographers. Canon usually announces new products in the middle of February, just in time for the PMA show in the USA. But this year, the show has been brought forward to the end of January, and many manufacturers have been working hard to have new products available in time.

Available in April will be the two lenses pre-announced at the end of last year. The EF 200mm f2.8L IS USM and EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM are not likely to match the sales of the EOS 450D, but they fill gaps in the EF lens range. The wide-aperture 200mm lens is ideal for indoor sports photography, while the 800mm will appeal to wildlife and news photographers.