Canon® EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop

6.3. L SERIES LENSES

The L in Canon's high-end lenses stands for "luxury." L series lenses are easily identified by the telltale red ring around the end of the lens barrel (shown in 6-4). These flagship optical marvels are expensive, but provide unrivaled quality, speed, and precision. Canon has designated L series lenses for professional use, although many consumers, enthusiasts, and semipros also use them. The L is included in the product name just after the lens speed (aperture) rating, as shown:

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

Canon achieves the quality — and demands the corresponding price — for L series lenses by integrating superior technology in them. Here are some of the advantages:

• Low-dispersion Ultra Low Dispersion (UD) glass

• USM operation

• Aspherical glass

• Weather resistance

• Nonrotating front elements (which helps when using rotating filters, such as polarizers)

• In some models, a fast (large, nonvariable aperture) lens speed

• Full-time manual focusing (meaning it can operate interactively while using autofocusing)

About 25 of Canon's lenses are rated as L series lenses, although Canon is frequently discontinuing as well as adding models. Many of the lenses are distinctive in their white coloring, which always stands out when you see a group of photographers at an event. Canon uses the white color on longer lenses that are often used outdoors because it resists heat from the sun, which could affect lens performance. ...