Canon announced three new hybrid lenses last week. This trio of 70-200mm f/2.8, 24mm f/1.4, and 50mm f/1.4 joins the existing 24-105mm f/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4, in the company’s dedicated hybrid lens lineup, equally aimed at both professional stills and video. Canon may be late to this party, as some other manufacturers already offer hybrid lens sets, but it won’t be the first time Canon is fashionably late yet enters the party with a blast. With their latest announcement, Canon returns to one of their pivotal moments as the herald of the hybrid revolution. In September 2008, Canon announced their 5D Mark II camera. With a 21-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, a rugged yet relatively compact build, and impressive ISO performance, this camera was tailored for professional stills photography. But deep in its menus, the nucleus of a revolution lay dormant. Canon 5D Mark II. First of its name, the mother of hybrids. Image credit: Canon Patient zero Canon’s 5D Mark II wasn’t the first DSLR to offer video functionality (it came in second after Nikon’s 90D). Still, it was the first camera to see professional use as a video, cine, and filmmaking tool. The combination of an enormous sensor, interchangeable lenses, and a dirt-cheap price tag (compared with S35 cameras of that time) made the 5D Mk II a fan favorite. Many filmmakers took advantage of the incredibly thin depth of field it provided (including yours truly) and enjoyed new and exciting visual expression options now open to all. Blunted...
Published By: CineD - Tuesday, 5 November