LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2009

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and optics, today introduced two new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L. These two new L series lenses expand the Company's extensive lens line-up of TS-E lenses giving photographers creative control over perspective and depth of field in their images. Both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L are specialty lenses ideal for landscape and architectural photography and are compatible with all Canon EOS system single lens reflex cameras1. The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, a replacement for Canon's TS-E 24mm f/3.5L introduced in 1991, has significantly improved operability with low distortion when photographing buildings, consistent image quality throughout the image and reduced chromatic aberration when shooting at ultra-wide angles. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is the world's shortest focal length Tilt-Shift lens with full-frame 35mm coverage.

"These two new lenses are Canon's answer to photographers who have requested wider angle Tilt-Shift lenses, with the new TS-E 24mm for wide angles and the all new TS-E 17mm for ultra-wide angles. We continually seek to expand our optics portfolio to meet the demands of our photographers to ensure that they have the best tools available to capture some of the most stunning images on the planet," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

An innovative feature on both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L lenses is Canon's new TS Revolving System. This feature allows tilting and shifting lens movements to be adjusted in parallel or at right angles to each other, with detents at 45˚ intervals. Additionally, once the TS Revolving System has been set, the orientation of the entire lens can be rotated freely through a range of ±90˚, with detents at 30˚ intervals. The amount of tilt is ±8.5˚ for the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and ±6.5˚ for the TS-E 17mm f/4L. The amount of shift is ±12mm for both lenses. The image circle diameter for both lenses is an impressive 67.2mm. (The diagonal measurement of the full-frame 35mm format is only 43.2mm.)

The high-precision glass molded aspherical and UD glass lens elements and accurate aspherical GMo along with a large diameter in new TS-E lenses deliver outstanding image quality, high resolution and super-low distortion to all edges of the image. Each lens incorporates a new type of anti-reflection coating, Canon's SubWavelength structure Coating (SWC) that continuously changes the refractive index on the lens surface via wedge-shaped structures more minute than wavelength of visible light. Canon's SWC helps minimize flare and ghosting caused by bright light from large angles of incidence. The new TS-E lenses are the 2nd and 3rd Canon EF series lenses with SWC, following the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that was introduced in 2008.

Pricing and Availability

The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,199.00. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,499.00.

PocketWizard Goes Beyond TTL

So. Burlington, VT – February 16, 2009 – Professional photographers have depended on PocketWizard radio slaves for reliable triggering of their manual flashes and cameras for years.  With the advent of digital technology, photographers have been seeking a simple solution for off-camera TTL flash without limitations or complexity.  PocketWizard has made it possible with the “Slide-n-Shoot” simplicity of the new ControlTL™ system, featuring the MiniTT1™ Transmitter and FlexTT5™ Transceiver for Canon and Nikon.  These new E-TTL II and i-TTL capable radio slaves make taking off-camera flash as effortless as slide-in, turn-on and shoot. 

Now you can get perfect off-camera flash photos in any environment -- around corners, out-of-sight and in bright sun. Canon and Nikon users can use the new MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver to control single or multiple off-camera Canon E-TTLII or Nikon i-TTL flashes at speeds up to 8/fps.

The MiniTT1 Transmitter is a tiny, low-profile unit (2.8 x 1.9 x 1.3 inches) that slides into the camera’s hot shoe. The FlexTT5 Transceiver is also low-profile but slightly larger (3.6 x 2.9 x 1.4 in.) transceiver. Both take the complex TTL data being sent through the camera’s hot shoe and digitally transmit it in a reliable radio signal. Photographers can now place TTL (or manual) flash units anywhere to illuminate the scene: behind walls, under tables, on stands – anywhere out of sight.  Each flash unit is connected to a dedicated FlexTT5 Transceiver for TTL operation; there are no wires or connecting cables required.   Any change in ISO, aperture and shutter speed is automatically adjusted for. Changes in flash exposure compensation on your camera are passed along giving you convenient remote power control of your TTL flash. The new units are compatible with any PocketWizard for triggering manual flash or remote cameras or you can mix your TTL flash with any manual flash if desired.

These products are the beginning of a new era in PocketWizard technology featuring the ControlTL firmware.  Designed for the latest in digital cameras, ControlTL enables some previously impossible camera capabilities including HyperSync™.  HyperSync enables photographers to achieve standard sync speeds up to 1/500 second and not just with TTL flash, but with any flash.

Need more speed?  Push beyond 1/500th and go into FP/High-Speed sync mode automatically.  No buttons to press or settings to change other then your shutter speed will give you flash sync all the way to 1/8000th.  Photographers can now use flash with wide-open apertures, outdoors in bright sunlight resulting in some amazing new images.

Both units have a two-position channel switch with “Learn” mode that can be programmed either by computer or with another PocketWizard radio.  The system works on 20 ControlTL channels or any of PocketWizard’s 32 existing channels for traditional triggering and it works with Canon and Nikon’s A-B-C zone capabilities including ratios. Plug a Mini or Flex unit into a computer with the PocketWizard utility software loaded and you can configure channel and zone settings, HyperSync timing, sleep timers and more or just update the unit’s firmware with the push of a button. 

The new MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios can do all this and more and as digital technology advances, more capabilities will be added to the system, essentially offering “future proof” technology.

Versions for Canon are available March 1st, Nikon in 2Q, 2009.  US & Canadian markets.  Other markets expected to be delivered April 1. Please contact your local distributor for availability. 

PocketWizard products, including the PlusII, MultiMax, MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 are made by LPA Design, based in South Burlington, Vermont and sold by distributors around the world including the MAC Group in the USA.