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 (opens in new tab) (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 (opens in new tab), 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 (opens in new tab).
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 (opens in new tab), 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 (opens in new tab), 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 (opens in new tab)). 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 (opens in new tab) and Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS (opens in new tab) lenses.
Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (opens in new tab) 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 (opens in new tab) (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?
Read more:
Best Canon RF lenses (opens in new tab): top optics for the Canon EOS R, RP and Ra
Canon EOS R review (opens in new tab)
Canon EOS R5: everything we know about the revolutionary 8K camera (opens in new tab)
