Hard to say with Canon lenses.
Remember the 14 MkII, 16-35 MkII, 85L MkII ? Most of us did not see those lenses coming.
Be that as it may, judging by my own 35L copy, its wide open IQ could be improved.
Weather sealing gaskets ? Hardly worth updating a lens for that alone.
Better build ? Not likely.....the barrel of the current version is made of some sorta polycarbonate plastic material similar to all black L lenses (except 180L which is metal).
Like mentioned before, there has been quite a few complaints about 1 series owners, noticeably 1DS MIII.
Weather sealing would be nice. A lot of people don't see an mutch of an advantage in this feature, but for others, who shoot in different conditions, is a valuable asset. Not only against rain/moisture, but against the often overlooked dust as well.
Peter Kotsa wrote:
The only thing that would make me even look at a new version of this lens would be either f 1.2 or IS
No need for IS in a lens that wide. Adding IS would definitely slow it down to f2.0 or worse, which would ruin the applications of that lens.
Now the 24~70 could do for a facelift. It physically zooms out way to long, a better range such as 24~85 would be ideal, and IS would be a real helper for that one at the longer focal lengths. (The 24~105 IS wound up being too much of a poor performar IQ-wise)
35mm 1.4 Mk II I was contimplating purchasing a 35mm, but with a posibility a MkII coming out, I think I will wait a few months to see what happens. It's definitely due for an update (age wise)...It's a great lens, that I'm confident can be even better.
jjlphoto wrote:
No need for IS in a lens that wide. Adding IS would definitely slow it down to f2.0 or worse, which would ruin the applications of that lens.
How do you figure? IS would make the lens larger and heavier but wouldn't affect the f/stop.
I think we should make a distinction between a technical reason or a marketing reason to upgrade a lens like the 35L.
Extreme fast prime lenses (24L, 35L, 50L, 85L, 135L) is something other camera brands don't offer in the scale Canon does. IMHO updating something the competition hasn't got is always a good idea, because the product and your USP get in the spotlights again. It's like re-using R&D investment you did in the past by making a little update version that doesn't cost much to produce.
Peter Kotsa wrote:
The only thing that would make me even look at a new version of this lens would be either f 1.2 or IS
I think if we're really going to consider this post some kind of genuine leak or that this site has posted this product early, we need to assume that their product title is correct.
The product title there clearly states Canon EF 35mm F 1.4 L USM MK II . It doesn't say 35 f/1.2L or 35 f/1.4L IS... and from what I can see from their other lens listings, they do include IS in the product title if the lens has IS.
So it would seem safe to assume that if there really will be a MKII 35L, it will remain a f/1.4, it will remain non-IS, and according to the upsells on the site, it will remain with a 72mm filter thread.
If the updated 35L was provisioned with IS, then Canon's lens nomenclature would not have called for a MKII designation. The IS lens would become a distinct product designated "EF 35mm f/1.4 IS USM".
timnosenzo wrote:
I think if we're really going to consider this post some kind of genuine leak or that this site has posted this product early, we need to assume that their product title is correct.
The product title there clearly states Canon EF 35mm F 1.4 L USM MK II . It doesn't say 35 f/1.2L or 35 f/1.4L IS... and from what I can see from their other lens listings, they do include IS in the product title if the lens has IS.
So it would seem safe to assume that if there really will be a MKII 35L, it will remain a f/1.4, it will remain non-IS, and according to the upsells on the site, it will remain with a 72mm filter thread....Show more →
, I also find it funny that people believe the listing is trustworthy and then predict that the update will add IS when the title clearly does not say IS.
If the 35L is truly coming out in a mk II, there is one thing that I am absolutely certain of: It won't be released until just after I purchase the 35L! So, as I am still looking for a good price on a pre-owned copy, you needn't worry about getting out your check books for the Mk II just yet.