Canon RF 800mm f/11 among 6 new lenses from Canon this year

(Image credit: Canon)

Think the RF mount needs more lenses? How about a Canon RF 800mm f/11? Or an 85mm Macro? Or even an f/1.8 nifty fifty? Well, Canon agrees – and the six new lenses it promised for 2020 have been revealed.

Back in February, the manufacturer told us about the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM (along with the 1.4x and 2x RF mount teleconverters) and teased that five additional lenses would be released this year. And now, thanks to the ever-reliable Nokishita, we now know with a high degree of probability what they will be:

"The lenses that Canon will announce during 2020 are the RF50mm F1.8 STM, RF85mm F2 Macro IS STM, RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM, RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, and RF600mm F11 IS. It seems to be STM, RF800mm F11 IS STM, RF1.4x, and RF2x."

This would give the Canon EOS R – and the upcoming Canon EOS R5 – an incredibly mature ecosystem, with virtually the entire focal range accounted for on the Canon RF lens roadmap.

Let's look at these in a little more detail…

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

The EOS R system has been screaming out for more affordable primes. While we've already got the mighty Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM, that lens retails for the thick end of $2,000 / £2,000. A cheap nifty fifty, like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM , is what the system has been crying out for.

Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM

Speaking of macro lenses, this is one that we've heard about for a while (with recent reports that it would be a 100mm in the same vein as the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM). The existing 35mm Macro only has a reproduction ratio of 1:2, so a true 1:1 macro lens is definitely needed. And again, we need a cheaper alternative to the incredible but incredibly expensive Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM and Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS lenses.

Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is an extraordinary lens, but again – it's an RF lens that's over two grand. A cheaper f/4 version will provide a more affordable option – and could be remarkably light and compact, too.

Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS

Here's where things start to get interesting! The EOS R system currently has the midrange covered, but lacks anything in super telephoto territory. This 600mm f/4 will be the first step in giving the RF mount a viable optic for long-distance coverage of sports and wildlife.

Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM

This is the one that has us really excited – though as with the 600mm above, the aperture has us a little baffled. We would have expected an RF version of the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (which costs $12,999 / £12,199), so this f/11 is a bit of a curveball. Will this be an 'enthusiast' version of the pro lens, with a more conventional f/4 or f/5.6 version to follow?