It looks like Canon are jumping right back at Nikon, after Nikon launched it’s cheapest VR lens to date the 55-200mm to AF-S DX VR 55-200MM F/4-5.6G IF-ED.

Canon has pushed it a bit further with 55-250mm! Combined with the 18-55mm that gives a great kit package from 18-250mm Image Stabilised!

Canon seem to have designed a new, cheaper and much simpler IS system to allow budget users the luxury of IS lenses.

The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a lightweight general-purpose zoom lens that is ideal for handheld photography in a wide range of lighting conditions. Offering high optical quality, the lens has an 11 element, 9 group construction, including one aspherical element for crisp corner-to-corner detail. The lens maintains a closest focusing distance of just 25cm throughout the zoom range, giving photographs the flexibility to frame up close when needed.

Compact and lightweight, the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS offers the longest zoom range in the EF-S series to date. The 88-400mm equivalent focal length opens up new framing possibilities for owners of EF-S mount cameras shooting wildlife, sports and travel photography. Optical quality is assured through a UD element, which minimises chromatic aberrations that could otherwise cause reduced contrast and colour fringing.

Good moves by Canon!

Canon has launched a new section of their site showing how the high grade lenses are manufactured in Japan (In this case it’s the EF 500mm F4L IS USM lens)

It’s a lengthy process.

You can see how the Raw materials are processed, the lenses machined and the final lens assembly process.

You can see the whole show here:

Canon Camera Museum - Virtual Lens Plant.