I was reading about Canon's upcoming 400mm f4 DO lense at http://www.canon.com/do-info/index.html and they compare it with a their traditional 400mm f4 with refractive lenses (with pictures). Does anyone know anything about this lense, especially price? I can only find info on the 400mm 5.6 and 2.8. Or is this a lense that never saw production? Thanks

-- Andrew Ryan (aryan@wcoil.com), December 25, 2000

Answers

This lens is *rumored* to be scheduled for release in the late spring of 2001 (this according to others who've spoken with Canon reps at recent George Lepp seminars); I've also heard *speculation* of a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of about $3500.00. I'm *guessing* it may have a street price of around $2500.00-$3000.00.

I'm aware of the link you referenced (http://www.canon.com/do-info/index.html), and I would imagine that the 400/4 [non-"DO" (non-IS?)] refractive lens pictured below the 400/4L IS DO lens, is perhaps an experimental prototype that Canon built in the course of their research-and-development efforts in this area. It seems unlikely to me that Canon would offer a 400/4L IS lens in both DO and non-DO versions, but of course this is purely speculation. We shall see.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), December 25, 2000.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Does anyone know anything about the 'traditional' refractive lens that they're comparing the new DO lens to? I haven't seen anything on it. Thanks

-- Andrew Ryan (aryan@wcoil.com), December 25, 2000.

Andrew: To the best of my knowledge, that EOS 400/4L "refractive" lens is a *prototype*, and to the best of my knowledge, Canon has never marketed or mass-produced such a lens. Canon is a huge, powerful, and resourceful company, and it is well within their capability to make, "in-house", one or more experimental, prototype EOS 400/4 refractive lenses. Just because Canon published a photo of such a lens does not necessarily imply that Canon has, or will ever, mass produce and market a refractive 400/4 lens.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), December 25, 2000.

The refractive 400/4 is a "paper design" as far as I know. I don't think they ever built one. It's just used to show how the DO lens would be smaller than a conventional lens. Expect the DO lens sometime late next year in limited quantities at a premium price. I doubt it will be freely available at discount prices before 2002.

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), December 27, 2000.

Bob: take a look here: http://www.canon.com/do-info/images/doe06.jpg

The lower lens in the picture is the 400/4 refractive lens. It looks real to me. Comments?

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), December 28, 2000.

Kurt, the link in the original post suggests that marketing for this lens is scheduled to be sometime before end Q2 2001. Sounds like a clear implication that Canon "will ever, mass produce and market a refractive 400/4 lens"...

-- Scott (bliorg@yahoo.com), December 31, 2000.

Scott,

I believe they are referring to market the 400mm DO lens and not a standard refractive version.

-- Marc Bergman (mbergma2@ix.netcom.com), January 02, 2001.

My take on this is that Canon prototyped the refractive 400mm f/4 at the same time they did the prototypes on the 300mm f/2.8 L IS, 400mm f/2.8 L IS, 500mm f/4 L IS and 600mm f/4 L IS. The design of all these lenses are similar.

I would think the 400mm refractive would cost about $3500. This is probably too much to be attractive to the prospective market.

If the DO lens can come to market at about $2500 I think it will be a big seller.

I figure at next month's PMA show we will see Canon's marketing plan.

Another lens of interest would be a 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS DO.

-- Marc Bergman (mbergma2@ix.netcom.com), January 02, 2001.