Lake Success, N.Y., July 22, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, announced today the development of Hybrid Image Stabilizer (IS), the world’s first* optical image stabilization technology that compensates for both angle camera shake and shift camera shake. The technology will be featured in interchangeable single lens reflex (SLR) camera lens planned for commercial release before the end of 2009.

Several different preventative methods and corrective procedures have been introduced to compensate for errors caused by camera shake, which occurs when a camera moves while its shutter is open and its image sensor is exposed to light.

Canon began researching methods to compensate for camera shake in the 1980s, and in 1995 launched the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, the world’s first interchangeable SLR camera lens to feature a mechanism that compensates for optical camera shake. Since then, the company has continued to produce a variety of interchangeable lenses with image stabilization capabilities, and boasts a total of 21 such lenses in its current product lineup.

Canon’s newly developed Hybrid IS technology optimally compensates for angle and shift camera shake. Sudden changes in camera angle can significantly affect images taken during standard shooting, whereas shift-based shaking, which occurs when a camera moves parallel to the imaging scene, is more pronounced in macro photography and other close-range shooting.

The new Hybrid IS technology incorporates an angular velocity sensor that detects the extent of angle-based shaking and is found in all previous Canon optical image stabilizer mechanisms, as well as a new acceleration sensor that determines the amount of shift-based camera shake. Hybrid IS also employs a newly developed algorithm that synthesizes information from the two sensors to make optimal adjustments, thereby dramatically enhancing the effects of image stabilization during shooting, including macro shooting, which had proven difficult for conventional image stabilization technologies.

Canon is actively engaged in ongoing research and development of interchangeable SLR camera lenses incorporating Hybrid IS technology, and is aiming for the early commercialization and inclusion of the lenses in a wide range of products.

Canon 50mm Prime Lenses

Lenses with F number smaller than 2.0 are usually expensive but the 50mm models are the exception.  Due to the ease of construction, the 50mm lens with wide apertures are very affordable – especially the F/1.8 and F/1.4 models.

Just to put things in perspective, most kit zoom lens at 55mm focal length have aperture of F/5.6.  A lens with aperture F/1.4 can actually capture 16 times more light.

Canon has no fewer than three lenses with F/1.8, F/1.4, and F/1.2 apertures. On the highest end we have Canon EF 50mm F/1.2 L lens – the luxury model for professionals, and at the other end, we have very economical Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 lens. Currently the Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II lens is the best value lens available for Canon SLR cameras. It should be noted that the F/1.8 model uses MM (Canon Micro Motor) while the F/1.4 and F/1.2 L models use Ring USM (Canon Ultrasonic Motor).