While the rumors certainly left the air out of this announcement of six new RF lenses for Canon's full-frame mirrorless cameras, we at least now have a more clear picture of what is coming to the lineup.
Of the six new RF lenses, five are L-series glass while the one other appears to be an all-around budget-friendly travel lens. The lenses announced to be under development are the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS, RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM, RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, and RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM.
RF 85mm f/1.2L USM
RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS
RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM
In the most matter-of-fact way to describe a new lens announcement, Canon U.S.A. President and Chief Operating Officer Kazuto Ogawa said in the press release, "With this collection of new lenses, customers will have more of the tools they need, for the images they desire to create." At least it's spot on. Canon building up their native RF-series lens war chest quickly has obvious benefits in giving security to their customers that they are serious contenders in this space.
One obvious omission from the announcement is any further explanation as to what Defocus Smoothing (DS) means for the 85mm f/1.2L USM DS. While it can be presumed to mean an even more creamy smooth out of focus effect, there is question to how that would be achieved and if there are any negative side effects in doing it, such as a reduction in sharpness.
No prices have been given by Canon as of yet, but they did mention that all six lenses would be "available later in 2019."
Including the RF lenses already on the market, this is what the Canon lineup will consist of by the end of the year:
- RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM
- RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
- RF 85mm f/1.2L USM
- RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS
- RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
- RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
- RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
- RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM
- RF 28-70mm f/2L USM
- RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
What do you think of the progress Canon is making? Are there any specific native lenses that you are holding out for until making the switch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
That 70-200 is going to be crazy expensive
Is pretty impressive, the resources Canon is showing that they're capable of putting into this. I didn't think that they'd pump out so many lenses so quickly. Obviously I know that these have been in development for some time, but still..
That 70-200 is just astoundingly small. Even if the barrel extends, which surely it has to, having an L-series 70-200 2.8 fit vertically in one lens spot in my outdoor backpack will likely mean it’ll be worth the money. I’d love to see Canon take this same approach with the 100-400 and even a Sigma-like 60-600.
Canon really excel with their lenses, big shame about their camera bodies being ourclassed by smartphone camera technology.
Not sure your last statement is entirely accurate.
Hey g coll when you consider that smart phone manufacturers are approaching dslr image quality out of a much smaller sensor size, I think its fair to say the smartphone manufacturers are outclassing Canon with their technological progress and innovation.
Perhaps but it's also about the ergonomics and real world professional situations.
Technology? Yes. Results, no.
So far this seems like a well orchestrated plan. Hope the Pro version mirror-less will blow us all away. Go Canon!
If you invest in these 6 lenses they should be the last you ever buy.
I might do it.
Not everyone shoot full aperture open, large aperture mean heavy and expensive, and large aperture lens tend to have slow auto focus, i have owned canon 50mm f1.0 and 85mm f1.2 they have super slow af and super heavy, and large aperture is soft so i need to stop down to f2.8 to increase sharpness
Big massive honkin lenses. Bleh.
Wow, all the talk of canon lacking in innovation. That 70-200 looks incredible. Soon canon will have a pro Mirrorless body on par with A9.
Because most men suck and feel better about themselves when they troll on Canon.
Bailed on Canon. They are just too conservative when it comes to their cameras. And the way they constrain features to create a vertical totem pole of cameras is frustrating. Espcially the whole silly thing about crippling video on their mid tier bodies out of misguided worry that the 5D will eat into the cinema series sales figures.
Fuji, Sony and M4/3 companies are making much more exciting cameras.
Like how about making a mirrorless camera that is not just as bulky as a DSLR!
I'd put Fuji's glass up against L series Canon any day, and cheaper. I'm thoroughly enjoying the price difference.
That’s great for you. I think canon and Nikon and Sony (and now Pano) are more focused on their 36x24mm sized sensor bodies. So essentially a different market entirely. I’m not sure there is really a generalized catch all to compare with the Fuji Crop sensor . I have perspective control lenses for Canon and they are incredible, a smaller sensor wouldn’t meet my needs unless a specific set of lenses was designed for that system. I don’t know thah fuji has a line of P-C lenses for their system but I do know you can adapt Canons to Fuji’s larger medium format system which has shown extremely good results. That said I’m not so sure that the increase in image quality is worth the hassle of adapting lenses across a platform.
I like Canon's approach. But it will be all for naught if their Pro R body doesn't deliver. I don't shoot video, so whatever Canon does there is for others to discuss. But, if Canon wishes to exploit their terrific new lens lineup, the Pro body will have to impress to justify the prices paid for the new lens line.