An anonymous source claims that Canon is planning a new macro lens, longer than 100mm, and with variable magnification ratios. No focal length. No aperture. No timeline. Just a dangling carrot for the macro crowd, and honestly? That’s enough to get people excited.
Canon’s Macro Legacy (The Good Old Days)
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane, because Canon has made some genuinely wild macro lenses in the past.
The EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro, a telephoto macro that gave you true 1:1 reproduction and a generous working distance, meaning you didn’t have to shove the lens two inches from a bug’s face to get a sharp shot. Beloved by macro shooters. Discontinued. No RF replacement has appeared. Macro fans are still waiting.
The MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, now this was something special. A manual-focus-only lens capable of magnification from 1:1 all the way up to 5:1. Five times life size. At 5x you’re essentially photographing the cellular structure of a gnat’s wing. A deeply weird lens that attracted a deeply passionate following. Also discontinued. Also without an RF successor.
Both lenses are gone from Canon’s active lineup, but you can still find them new-in-box if you look hard enough.
The New Rumor: Combining the Best of Both
Here’s where it gets interesting. The source suggests a lens that would combine:
Focal length longer than 100mm (the 180mm territory)
Variable magnification ratios (the MP-E 65mm territory)
Potentially with autofocus — which the MP-E 65mm notably lacked
The rumor source floats the idea of something like an RF 200mm f/4L with variable magnification as one possibility. That’s entirely speculative, no specs were provided, but it’s a plausible direction given Canon’s recent RF lens design philosophy.
What About the RF 100mm f/2.8L?
Canon does have a current macro for the RF mount: the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM, which features 1.4x maximum magnification (slightly beyond 1:1) and excellent hybrid IS. It’s a good lens. But some shooters have noted a focus shift issue when stopping down, and it doesn’t scratch the itch of the longer working distance crowd or extreme magnification enthusiasts.
A 100mm macro is great. A 180mm+ variable-magnification macro with autofocus would be on a different level entirely.
Fact Check
Claim
Status
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM existed
✅ Confirmed — real lens, now discontinued
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x existed
✅ Confirmed — real lens, MF only, now discontinued
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM exists
✅ Confirmed — current RF macro, 1.4x magnification
RF 100mm focus shift issue
✅ Reported by multiple shooters
New macro longer than 100mm planned
❓ Single anonymous source, unverified
Variable magnification on new lens
❓ Same anonymous source, unverified
RF 200mm f/4L specifically
❓ Canon Rumors speculation, not from source
Timeline
❌ None given
The Verdict
Low confidence on specifics, but Canon absolutely should make this lens. The EF 180mm and MP-E 65mm communities were passionate and underserved. A modern RF macro that merges long working distance with variable magnification, and adds autofocus, would be a statement lens.
Whether it actually happens is another question. As Canon Rumors admits, the source is anonymous and confidence is low. But hey, a macro shooter can dream.
In news that will shock absolutely no one who has seen camera lens prices lately, Canon is reportedly planning to announce a zoom lens faster than f/2.0 by late 2026. Yes, you read that correctly. Faster than f/2.0. We’re as surprised as you are that it’s taken this long.
The Holy Grail of Zoom Lenses
Canon already gave us the RF 28-70mm f/2L USM back in 2018 when the EOS R system launched, a lens so big it doubles as a recreational fitness device. But since then? Crickets. The rumor mill has been churning for years about what Canon might do next, and apparently the answer is: go even wider.
According to the rumor source there’s “pretty good proof” that an f/1.4L zoom lens is on the horizon. Late 2026 is the target. So if you’ve been holding your breath, please exhale.
Sony’s Doing It, So Obviously Canon Has To
Let’s be real: Sony kicked off the f/2 zoom party with the FE 50-150mm f/2 GM and the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM. Both are magnificent. Both are absurdly expensive. And both have Canon shooters collectively weeping into their reflection elements.
Canon, being Canon, can’t let Sony have all the fun. So expect Canon’s offering to be… let’s say “ambitious.” Possibly in the same way the 28-70mm f/2L was ambitious, i.e., heavy enough to require a insurance waiver.
Wait, APS-C Too?
The rumors also hint at an APS-C (RF-S) f/1.4 zoom, potentially alongside a new EOS 7D Mark II expected sometime in mid-2026. This would be Canon’s way of saying, “We know you exist, crop-sensor users. We haven’t forgotten about you. Mostly.”
Patent Pending
Canon being Canon, they’ve filed approximately seventeen bazillion patents covering f/1.4 zoom optical designs for full-frame, Super35, and APS-C sensors. One particularly wild patent describes a 4.2-6.5mm f/1.2 for Super35 sensors. Is this for a PowerShot? Are we getting an f/1.2 compact camera? Maybe! Probably not! Who knows!
✅ Sony has f/2 zooms (50-150mm f/2 GM, 28-70mm f/2 GM)
✅ Canon has filed f/1.4 zoom patents
❓ Late 2026 announcement — unconfirmed
❓ f/1.4L zoom specs — speculative
❓ EOS 7D Mark II — pure rumor
❓ APS-C f/1.4 zoom — also pure rumor
The Verdict
Will this lens exist? Almost certainly. Will it be absurdly expensive? Absolutely. Will it weigh more than your first car? Probably. We’re here for it.
Stay tuned for more updates, or don’t. Canon will announce it when they announce it, and we’ll be here to write about it either way.
It’s been a week since the last rumor roundup, and Canon decided that wasn’t enough chaos. Between CP+ 2026 revelations and fresh leaks about their 2026 roadmap, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s dive in.
1. The CP+ 2026 Concept Camera: Canon Built a Hipster’s Dream
Canon showed up to CP+ 2026 with something nobody expected: a working concept camera that looks like it time-traveled from 1965.
What It Is
The “Analog Concept Camera” is a waist-level viewing camera that borrows its soul from the Hasselblad 500 and Seagull 4. Metal body. Box shape. No giant EVF hump. No flip-out touch screen. No mode dial screaming P/A/S/M.
What it has instead:
Waist-level optical viewfinder — not digital, actual mirrors
Manual focus only — because apparently autofocus is for the weak
1-inch 6MP sensor — yes, six megapixels, this is not a typo
Fixed f/1.8 prime lens — non-interchangeable
USB-C port — the only concession to living in 2026
The Optical Trick
Here’s where it gets weird. Canon didn’t just slap a film simulation filter on a digital sensor. They built a dual-mirror optical system:
Light enters through the lens
First mirror reflects it upward
Second mirror projects it onto the waist-level viewfinder’s ground glass
You see actual optical depth of field. Actual bokeh. Not a digital preview.
When you press the shutter (well, flip the side lever), the mirrors switch positions and the sensor captures the image projected on the glass, not direct light from the subject. Canon claims this produces a more “film-like” rendering.
Two Designs Shown
Retro version: Angular, boxy, metal texture like a 1960s medium format SLR
Modern version: Rounded, slightly more contemporary
My Take
This is Canon throwing elbows at Fujifilm. The X100 series and Instax Evo proved that young buyers don’t care about dynamic range charts — they care about whether the camera looks cool on Instagram. Canon’s response: “You do rangefinder styling? Watch us do waist-level viewing.”
It’s a concept, so it may never ship. But the fact that Canon built a working prototype suggests they’re seriously exploring the “analog experience” market. Reddit is already divided between “this is pretentious garbage” and “shut up and take my money.”
2. EOS RE-1: The AE-1 Tribute We’ve Been Waiting For
The rumor mill has been whispering about Canon’s retro full-frame camera for months. Now we have actual specs.
What We Know
Spec
RE-1 (Rumored)
Sensor
32.5MP Full-Frame CMOS (same as R6 Mark III)
Processor
DIGIC X (entry-level variant)
Video
Severely cut down — this is a photo camera
Price
~$1,999 (significantly below R6 III’s $2,799)
Release
Q4 2026 / Q1 2027
Design
AE-1 inspired, metal body, leather texture
The Strategy
This isn’t a technical showcase. It’s a market play. Nikon proved with the Zf that there’s serious demand for “modern sensor, retro body” cameras. Canon’s response is to give you R6 III image quality in a package that looks like your dad’s 1976 AE-1.
The timing is deliberate: 2026 marks the AE-1’s 50th anniversary.
What Gets Cut
To hit that $1,999 price point while using a premium sensor, something had to give:
Video features will be minimal (no 7K, no open gate)
Processor is entry-level DIGIC X, not the accelerated version
Burst rates likely capped below R6 III
The pitch: “A camera for people who just want to take photos.” Which, honestly, sounds kind of refreshing.
Matching Lenses
Canon is rumored to launch two retro-styled lenses alongside the RE-1. Likely existing optics with vintage exterior designs. Probably a zoom and a prime. L-series red rings? Probably not.
3. EOS R3 Mark II: Global Shutter Confirmed
Remember when the internet said the R3 Mark II “probably won’t ever exist”? Good times.
What’s Confirmed
Multiple sources now agree: Canon is testing a global shutter sensor for the R3 Mark II. This is the same technology Sony used in the A9 III — zero rolling shutter, zero jello effect, perfect for sports.
Spec
R3 Mark II (Rumored)
Sensor
Global Shutter CMOS (Sony A9 III inspired)
Processor
DIGIC X Mark II (new generation)
AF System
Eye-Control AF 2.0 with AI enhancement
EVF
5.76M-dot OLED (same as R1)
Video
6K/120p RAW internal recording
Release
February 2026 (Milan Olympics timing)
Price
$6,500 – $7,000
Eye-Control AF 2.0
The original R3 introduced eye-controlled autofocus. Version 2.0 adds deeper AI to handle complex scenes — sports, birds in flight, chaos at the finish line. The idea: look at your subject, and the camera locks on.
The Olympics Play
Canon always drops flagship updates around major sporting events. The R3 Mark II is being tested by photographers at the Milan Winter Olympics right now. If it ships in February, it’ll be in pros’ hands before the games end.
4. Lens Roadmap: VCM Everywhere
Canon’s 2026 lens strategy is clear: VCM motors for everyone.
Confirmed / Coming Soon
Lens
Status
RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM
Released Feb 4 — 578g, HYBRID prime series
RF 7-14mm f/2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM
Released Feb 4 — 190° coverage
RF 300-600mm f/5.6L IS VCM
Coming 2026 — fills the $3K-$10K gap
RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS VCM II
Updated with VCM motor
RF 28mm f/1.4L VCM
Planned for HYBRID series
RF 70-180mm f/2.8 STM
“Budget trinity” alternative
RF 400mm f/2.8L II
World Cup / Olympics timing
RF 600mm f/4L II
World Cup / Olympics timing
The RF 300-600mm f/5.6L VCM Story
This lens has been rumored in various forms for years — 200-500mm f/4, 150-600mm f/5.6, back to 300-600mm f/5.6. The current consensus:
Constant f/5.6 aperture
L-series optics with fluorite elements
VCM motor for fast, silent AF
Price target: under $10,000
Weight: significantly lighter than the 400mm and 600mm primes
Why it matters: Canon currently has nothing between the $3,000 RF 100-500mm and the $13,000+ supertele primes. Nikon and Sony have been eating Canon’s lunch in this segment.
5. Compact Camera Revivals
Because apparently 2026 is the year of “everything old is new again”:
Camera
Notes
PowerShot G7 X Mark IV
1-inch sensor, 4K 60p, aimed at vloggers
PowerShot SX750 HS
Travel zoom revival
PowerShot V3
G3 X-style compact with EVF
PowerShot V10 Mark II
Update to 2023’s V10
The G7 X series in particular has surprisingly stable demand despite smartphones eating everyone’s lunch. Canon apparently sees enough market to justify an update.
The Big Picture
Canon’s 2026 strategy is becoming clear:
Flagships get serious — R3 Mark II with global shutter, no compromises
APS-C gets love — R7 Mark II and R10 Mark II finally shipping
Retro is money — RE-1 for the AE-1 nostalgists, concept camera for the experimental crowd
Lenses for everyone — VCM motors across the line, budget STM options, super-tele gap filled
Compacts aren’t dead — G7 X and SX series get updates
The question isn’t whether Canon has products. It’s whether they can ship them on time.
Sources: PhotoRumors (CP+ concept), CanonRumors (RE-1, lenses), The New Camera (R3 II, PowerShot), via ITHome, Sina, Sohu
Yesterday a patent was spotted that seems to confirm our rumor about the resolution of the upcoming Canon EOS R camera.
Today, perfectly on schedule, a set of suggested specifications for the the high resolution EOS R surfaced. We were expecting it. Here are the specifications (of a prototype, according to the source):
All in all everything in the list above is plausible. A high resolution EOS R that’s going to replace the Canon EOS 5Ds/5Ds R would have everything listed above.
The high resolution EOS R was scheduled to be announced in 2019 but it starts to appear it will come in 2020. We are still not sure about this.
All high resolution EOS R rumors are listed here. More Canon rumors are listed here. Stay tuned.
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