Everything has already been told and written (you’ll find below a list of announcement papers in other blogs), except the price: A whooping 11769 US Dollar! Even a little higher than what was expected.

The first lenses will be available at the end of May, but Canon sources confirm that the quantity will be very limited at first.

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And the case is 649 US dollars more…

Since then, the rumors extended beyond reason. The lens was seen several times in the hands of various photographers (in particular, during some sports events around the world). But it seems that Canon evidenced a serious issue last Summer, significantly delaying the launch. It’s impossible to know what it was, but the reality is that the lens exists and that it’s not available yet.

Despite a formidable price (forecast to be further than 11000 US dollars, or more than 10000 euros), it attracted the interest of many people because it exhibits an extraordinary set of features (extraordinary, even in the world of mega-zooms):

1. A 200-400mm zoom lens with a f/4 aperture, or a diaphragm very wide open without reaching the ridiculous price and weight of a f/2.8 aperture.
2. This combination has already been visible in the Nikon lens line for several year in the guise of the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR which is already in its second generation (mainly for an upgrade of the optical image stabilization).
3. Its wide aperture allows to use a focal multiplier; but this kind of tool is often unpleasant to handle. The new Canon integrates a 1.4x multiplier in an internal mechanism that appears like a sort of side bulbous bump. The multiplier, thus, becomes always available at the minuscule cost of pushing a lever with a finger to bring it into the optical path. Nothing could be simpler!

This last item is clearly the innovation that shocked people into attention and could have a nice future if Canon learns how to handle the small associated mechanism (they do have the needed knowledge, of course).

According to Canon Rumors (which previously distinguished itself with a number of unfounded rumors about this lens and about other Canon products), the official announcement will happen in a few days (15th of May?) with full availability around Fall 2013. Nothing is certain, but if you want some more to feed your impatience, there is an Australian photographer, Joshua Holko, who has been authorized to publish a video review of a few minutes.

Thanks to Luminous Landscape.

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM

• Dust-proof and splash-proof construction
• High image quality close to fixed focal length lens
• Focus limiter button (to speed AF up)

Sigma also disclosed that they want this lens to be the first in a long (and new) line of “sports-oriented” lenses (read: lens line of big focal lengths, and possibly relatively inexpensive… for long lenses).

So, we will have to wait until we can see if these features are accompanied with excellent optical quality (or not) for this Sigma new 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM lens.

Canon patent: 100-400mm f/4-5.6

Current Canon 100-400mm f/5.6

So, patience is still very necessary here (Canon is finishing the actual launch of its pro primes lenses) but early 2012…

Source: Egami, an excellent technology patent blog.

• EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM at $6,599, late August 2011
• EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM at $10,499, late August 2011
• EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM at $1,399, late July 2011
• EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM at $9,499, later in 2011
• EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM at $11,999, later in 2011

No information about the 200-400mm with 1.4x extender.

In parallel, Nikon is murmuring that they do not intend to launch any new pro tele-lens in 2011.

All this is obviously linked to the issues coming from the Japan earthquake (even if Canon is pushing forward with something that is really late already).

Canon 500 mm f4 L IS II EF USM

Up to now, Canon and Nikon have been using mobile optical elements in the lens in order to compensate for the hand-shake of the photographer. This way, even if you’re not very steady, your lens will compensate your moves.

Canon 300mm f/4 patent

But the problem with mechanical image stabilization is that it’s limited by mechanical inertia. You cannot shake a lens block as fast as you’d want. This is perfectly OK for photographer shake (usually under 10 Hz) and it is adequate for vibrations on a tripod (under 40-50 Hz) if you use a really light mobile element. But it becomes tough when you want to correct easily tripod vibrations or even in-vehicle vibrations (usually 10 Hz to 500 Hz).

This is where electro-optical elements come in (and it’s not to be understood as Electro-Optical System or EOS). This is an optical element whose optical index can change under electrical voltage. In the patent drawing, you’ll notice that eo1/eo2/3d is a flat element (pressed between two electrodes). The major advantage of electro-optical elements is that the maximum frequency may be very high (probably up into the 1000′s of Hz).

With this kind of technology (already seen in other less precise patents), Canon could be preparing a third-generation IS able to adapt easily to tripods (not only accepting to leave IS on when using the lens on a tripod, but correcting in-car or in-plane shakes).

Canon 500 mm f4 L IS II EF USM

Canon 600 mm f4 L IS II EF USM

Availability is still unclear seeing that the 300mm f/2.8 and the 400mm f/2.8 are late on the market and there is no promised availability date for these two new big white glass chunks.

Personal note: I start to wonder whether upgrading to a better Image Stabilization (IS) is worth it on lenses that cannot reasonably be handled without a tripod or some kind of fixed support… Image quality may be a better criteria to judge them.

Maybe Canon was inspired by the success (and the quality) of the Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED AF-S VR II Nikkor. But obviously, Canon wanted to bring some more. We can expect exceptional glass quality, but they added an internal 1.4x extender, for free (Well! For the price, we’ll see what it will be). At the tip of your finger, you can increase the focal range up to 280-560mm (with some slightly reduced aperture as can be expected from all optical focal extenders).

The lens will also be built with weather-sealing to the highest Canon standards.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4 L IS USM ext 1.4x

Obviously, this completely new addition to the L line of lenses at Canon will be simultaneously

1. an answer to the success of the equivalent tele-zoom from Nikon,
2. a good replacement to the 100-400mm f/5.6 who was becoming old (and not so wise),
3. a major technological improvement to kick the competition in the back.

I expect that many a user of the 100-400mm f/5.6 will be looking at it and all will depend on the price of this big lens.

Official launch will be made in 2011 (probably relatively late) and it will be possible to see a prototype on display at CP+, in Yokohama, Japan (from Feb 9 to Feb 12).