No More Than 6 Canon RF Lenses Coming In 2019

Canon RF 85mm
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Latest has it that Canon might announce two more RF lenses beyond the six lenses we already know they will announce. The rumor isn’t entirely clear about when Canon might announce these two lenses, citing some plans Canon might have had in the recent past and then abandoned, and considering 2020 too as the year for a possible announcement.

The focal lengths Canon might have up their sleeve are the RF 100-400mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM and RF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS. Both are supported by patent applications filed by Canon.

It’s pretty clear that Canon takes their EOR R system very seriously, and that the company will invest a lot in the development of the eco system (i.e. lenses). A lot of new RF lenses are set to hit the market in the next years, that’s for sure. For the same reason a lot of RF lenses related rumors will hit the Web in the next months.

Latest on the EOS RP is listed here. Hands-on and first impression reviews are here. A rather interesting interviews with Canon execs is featured here. The EOS RP user manual can be downloaded.

Pre-order the Canon EOS RP in USA:

  • Canon EOS RP Body with EG-E1 Extension Grip and Canon Mount Adapter on sale at $1299 Amazon | Adorama | B&H Photo
  • Canon EOS RP with EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, EG-E1 Extension Grip and Canon Mount Adapter on sale at $1699 Amazon | Adorama | B&H Photo
  • Canon EOS RP with RF 24-105mm f/4L IS, EG-E1 Extension Grip and Canon Mount Adapter on sale at $2199 Amazon | Adorama | B&H Photo

Pre-order the Canon EOS RP in UK: Park Cameras

Pre-order the Canon EOS RP in Germany: Amazon DE | Canon Germany

World-wide pre-order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon Announces Development Of 6 New RF Lenses

Rf Lenses
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Press release

Canon Ensures The Successful Future Of Its RF Mount With The Development Of Six New Lenses

New Lenses Under Development Cover a Range of Core Focal Lengths

MELVILLE, NY, February 13, 2019 – Continuing with the message of “optics at its core,” Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc, is developing six new RF-series lenses, further displaying the company’s commitment to the EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera system. Canon’s new RF mount allows for fast, light, and high-performing optics with a large opening diameter and short back focus distance. Each new lens in development will help fulfill the needs of amateur and advanced amateurs to professional photographers and videographers, covering critical focal lengths. In 2019, Canon’s already well-established optical lens heritage will celebrate a production milestone of 140 million EF and RF lenses and the celebration starts with the development announcement of these six lensesi.

The six new RF lenses under development include: 

  • RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
  • RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS
  • RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM
  • RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
  • RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
  • RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM
Click here to open the rest of the article

The Upcoming Canon RF 85mm F/1.2L DS Lens Has “Defocus Smoothing” (trademarked by Canon)

RF 85mm F/1.2L USM
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UPDATE: we have reason to believe Canon will announce two RF 85mm f/1.2L lenses, one with and one without “Defocus Smoothing”.

In a few days Canon will announce the EOS RP and five new lenses for the RF mount.

Among the five lenses there is the Canon RF 85mm F/1.2L DS lens. Nokishita found that Canon registered “Defocus Smoothing” as a trademark, and it’s very likely the “DS” in the lens’ moniker stands for “Defocus Smoothing”.

If we have to make an educated guess, “Defocus Smoothing” might be an optical technology to enhance the lens’ bokeh. Since the RF 85mm has f/1.2, and hence already provides a lot of bokeh, it would make sense to enhance it further.

We will soon know more. Stay tuned for the announcement on February 14, 2019. Any suggestion about “Defocus Smoothing” is welcome.

Review: Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L (superlative image quality, Photography Blog)

Canon RF 28-70mm F/2L Review Rf Mount Canon Eos R
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Photography Blog reviewed the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L lens for the EOS R system. A lens that’s universally considered being of outstanding optical quality.

From their conclusion:

There’s no getting away from the fact that the new Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM lens is very big, heavy and expensive, but there’s also no getting away from the fact that it’s extremely well-built, fast in terms of the maximum aperture, and capable of delivering superlative image quality.

We’ve seen the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM described as offering four prime lenses in one, and after using it for an extended period of time, we’d certainly agree with that assessment. Whether using it as 28mm, 35mm, 50mm or 70mm, it delivers tack-sharp images both in the centre and at the edges of the frame, with no need to stop down to get acceptable results. That means that you can shoot at f/2 at any focal length and get buttery-smooth bokeh as a result of the 9-blade aperture and that maximum aperture that is one-stop faster than most zooms of this type. Slight vignetting at wide-open apertures and a little barrel distortion at 28mm are the only real optical issues of note from what is optically an incredible lenses. Read the review…

Canon EOS R world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon RF mount lenses world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

These Are The Five New Lenses For The Canon EOS R System

RF 85mm F/1.2L USM
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Nokishita leaked images of five upcoming lenses for the Canon EOS R system.

As you can see, there are some hot pieces of glass among them. Anyone still doubting Canon is taking their EOS R system seriously?

The lenses are going to be announced on February 14, 2019.

RF 15-35mm F/2.8L IS USM
RF 24-70mm F/2.8L IS USM
RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM
RF 24-240mm F/4-6.3 IS USM

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 STM Macro Review (IS better than Sony’s IBIS)

Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM
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Alik Griffin reviewed the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro lens for the EOS R system.

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro is (so far) the less expensive lens for the EOS R, it’s not “L” grade and it doesn’t sport all of Canon’s optical magic. Never the less it’s an interesting lens, especially at $500.

One interesting point of Alik’s review is the comparison with Sony’s IBIS. Alik did some extensive testing and comparison, and he found that…

[…] small shakes, from shaky hands or large vibrations are noticeably better with the IS lens compared to the Sony IBIS. Also, if you’re shooting video, IS + Digital IS is noticeably better than IBIS and the digital IS does correct the tilt take.

There are so many mostly wishful rumors about Canon delivering IBIS in a future EOS R models and Alik’s findings confirm that Canon is right when stating that their in lens image stabilisation is better than other’s IBIS. That’s not to say Canon will never sport IBIS on a camera, but for the time being it’s just a clickbait thing.

From his conclusion:

The Canon RF 35mm f1.8 is all around solid lens in terms of build and performance. There are a few flaws that are easy to work around like the vignetting at f1.8 and f2 and some noticeable barrel distortion. You can correct for all of this in-camera if you’re shooting video or JPG, but RAW shooters will have to use post corrections.
I like to shoot a lot at f2.8, which gives me great looking bokeh without the vignetting and astigmatism. I stop down to f5.6 and f8 when I want the most sharpness, and I shoot f1.8, when I need a fast shutter speed in low light or when I want very shallow depth.
Performance at f2.8 is just incredible. You don’t see any geometry yet in the bokeh at f2.8 and it cleans up all the issues in the corners and edges.

Alik tested anything you may want to measure on a lens, distortion, vignetting, flare, chromatic aberrations, you name it. A refreshing and independent review with test charts, sample images and all sort of insights.

You can follow Alik on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on his site.

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE