Field-test of the Canon EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM zoom lens. The Canon EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM was the world's first 10x zoom lens for use with 35mm SLR cameras (AF or manual focus) when it was launched at Photokina 1992 in Cologne, Germany. Prior to its launch in Photokina, it saw action for the first time during the Summer Olympics in Barcelona the same year where Canon was the official 35mm camera sponsor. Making a 10x zoom lens such as this one was difficult but not impossible. Also, no company had any thoughts about having one in its line-up or the feasibility of marketing one until Canon took the first step in making it a reality. Since the EF 35-350mm L lens made its debut, there have been several other 10x zoom lenses from other manufacturers that have entered the market, offering consumers various choices. A revolutionary, ultra-high magnification zoom lens offering one of the highest power-to-zoom ratios available, the use of this one lens alone enables hand-held shooting from wide-angle 35mm to super telephoto 350mm. The optical system features a six-group construction with five-movable lens groups, achieving a high zoom magnification in a lens nearly as compact as the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM. With a dry weight of only 1.385 kg, this 10x zoom lens is indeed lightweight and compact for hand-held shooting. When it first became available commercially, its only rival then was the EF 80-200mm f/2.8L AFD zoom lens. For many professionals, especially those who specialized in outdoor sports, the loss of an f/2.8 maximum aperture was negligible, and they opted for the 10x zoom lens instead of the 80-200mm version. Canon EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM At its 350mm setting     Zooming control tension can be adjusted The zoom lens' 10x settings Furthermore, the EF 35-350mm can do the job of two lenses, that of the EF 28-80mm f/28-4L USM and the EF 80-200mm f/2.8L AFD, and it quickly became the standard use for many sports photographers and photojournalists. This 10x zoom lens also happens to be the first Canon EF-L series zoom lens to incorporate a push-pull ring for its zooming method, which includes a tension control with loose or tightening facilities. This method is also being made available in the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM zoom lens. However, for those who are more familiar with the twin-ring zooming method available in most of Canon's EF zoom lenses, whether normal or L-series types, getting used to the push-pull zooming concept can take some time to being second nature with it. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 .