Particularly among advanced amateur and professional photographers, there has been a growing need for affordable zoom lenses that support true wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle photography. Canon initially responded to this market demand in August of 2003, when it announced the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens. This lens was launched in conjunction with the EOSâ Digital Rebel®. Now, to provide EOS Digital Rebel camera and EOS 20D camera users with a truly comprehensive lens system, Canon has expanded its EF-S lens offerings with three new models.

By reducing the distance from the rear of the lens to the focal plane and reducing the size of the image circle to match the size of the APS-C imaging sensor used in digital SLRs such as the EOS 20D camera and Digital Rebel camera, Canon’s EF-S lenses reduce the size, weight and cost of wide-angle lenses for these cameras while at the same time producing high image quality with superb resolution and contrast at all focal lengths.

"With the expansion of our EF-S lens offerings, we continue Canon’s tradition of providing professional photographers and amateur enthusiasts with the most innovative, peak performance lenses available," said Ian Macfarlane, Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A. Inc. "These new wide angle zoom lenses provide phenomenal flexibility, remarkable results and are invaluable additions to the camera bags of travel, nature and other ‘on the go’ photographers."

EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Zoom Lens

This exciting new zoom lens provides ultra wide-angle coverage to the EOS 20D camera and Digital Rebel camera shooter. Equivalent to a 16–35mm zoom for a 35mm film camera, it offers excellent performance and optics designed from the ground-up for digital SLR use. Excluding fisheye lenses, the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens has the shortest minimum focal length ever offered for interchangeable lens digital SLRs with APS-C image sensors.

Photographers will achieve consistently excellent image quality throughout the zoom range of this lens because of its 3 Aspherical elements and 1 Super-UD element in a 13-element optical formula. A ring-type ultrasonic focusing motor (USM) provides fast and silent AF along with full-time manual focus. Minimum focusing distance is 24 cm for breathtaking close-ups. The EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens is relatively light and compact at 8.9 cm in length and a weight of 0.4 kg. The new lens accepts 77mm filters and can be fitted with an optional bayonet-mount lens hood. Availability is expected mid November.

Major features

• Compact and lightweight ultra-wide zoom lens specifically for digital SLR's that accept EF-S lenses
  
  
• Uses optics designed to take full advantage of the small image circle and short back focus in EF-S lenses
  
  
• 10-22mm ultra-wide-angle zoom range (equivalent to 16-35mm in 135mm format)
  
  
• Inner focusing, ring USM and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing
  
  
• Features three aspherical lens elements (two types) as well as a super-UD glass element for high image quality at all focal lengths
  
  
• Optimized lens coating minimising flare and ghosting prone occurring with digital cameras
  
  
• Minimum focusing distance of 0.24m at all focal lengths
  
  
• Circular aperture for beautiful out-of-focus images
  
  
• Only environmentally friendly lead free glass used in optics

EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Zoom Lens

This new EF-S lens brings true wide-angle to telephoto coverage to EOS 20D camera and Digital Rebel camera photographers. It features Canon’s Image Stabilization system, allowing safe hand-held photography at shutter speeds up to three steps slower than otherwise possible. And of course, it’s optically optimized for digital SLRs. A ring-type USM delivers fast and silent auto focus, as well as full-time manual focus when in the AF mode.

The EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens provides a 5x zoom ratio and an angle of view equivalent to a 27-136mm lens on a 35mm camera. The new lens also uses a glass-molded aspherical lens element with aspherical surfaces on both sides for superb image quality throughout the entire zoom range and it features a closest focusing distance of 30 cm at all focal lengths. The EF-S 17-85mm IS lens is 5% shorter and 12% lighter than the EF 28-135mm IS lens and accepts 67mm filters. Availability is expected mid October.

Major features

• Compact and lightweight standard zoom lens specifically for digital SLR's that accept EF-S lenses
  
  
• Uses optics designed to take advantage of the small image circle to give a 17-85mm (equivalent to a focal length of 27-136mm in 135mm format), 5x zoom ratio
  
  
• Image Stabilizer gives the equivalent effect of a shutter speed three stops faster
  
  
• Inner focusing, ring USM and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing
  
  
• Double-sided, aspherical lens element (GMo) for high image quality at all focal lengths
  
  
• Optimized lens coating minimising flare and ghosting prone occurring with digital cameras
  
  
• Minimum focusing distance of 0.35m at all focal lengths
  
  
• Circular aperture for beautiful out-of-focus images
  
  
• Only environmentally friendly lead free glass used in optics
  
  
  

EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM Zoom Lens

This is the USM version of the popular EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens that is available in kit form with the EOS 20D camera and Digital Rebel camera. Both lenses have an angle of view equivalent to a 29-88mm lens on a 35mm camera. Weighing in at just 6 oz. and measuring 6.35 cm in length, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM produces exceptional image quality in an ultra-compact package. The new lens accepts 58mm filters and features Canon’s exclusive Micro USM II focusing motor technology for swift and silent AF. Availability is expected early November.

Major features

• Compact and lightweight standard zoom lens dedicated to EOS Digital Rebel and EOS 20D
  
  
• Imaging area optimally matched to the CMOS sensors used in the EOS Digital Rebel and EOS 20D
  
  
• Short back focus design achieving greatly reduced overall length and smaller width while offering a focal length equivalent to approximately 28-90mm in 35mm format on EOS Digital Rebel and EOS 20D
  
  
• High precision aspherical lens element (PMo) for high image quality at all focal lengths
  
  
• Micro USM II for silence and high-speed AF
  
  
• Optimized lens coating minimising flare and ghosting prone occurring with digital cameras
  
  
• Minimum focusing distance of 0.28m at all focal lengths
  
  
• Circular aperture for beautiful out-of-focus images
  
  
• Only environmentally friendly lead free glass used in optics