Canon has expanded its digital SLR lens offerings with new EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lenses. The EF-S offers quality on par with Canon's L-series lenses. It has a large maximum aperture that, combined with higher shutter speeds, can minimize subject motion blur.
Shallow depth-of-field separation of a subject from its background is easier to achieve, and the f/2.8 maximum aperture allows more precise focusing with f/2.8-compatible AF sensors. The internal stabilization has a sharpness benefit equivalent to a three-stop faster shutter speed, for better performance in low-light situations.
The EF-S has a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 27-88mm and is compatible only with the EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel XT and EOS Digital Rebel SLRs.
The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is a revision of Canon's EF 85mm f/1.2L USM lens, first introduced in 1989. Improvements in AF speed, as well as coatings that minimize ghost and flare, have been incorporated to make the lens more attractive to professional photographers. In addition to its 1.8x faster auto focus, the EF 85mm offers high-speed manual focus, distance encoding for E-TTL II flash and a circular aperture diaphragm that improves the appearance of background areas.
The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM carries an estimated price tag of $2,099, while the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM has an estimated selling price of $1,149.