Canon responds to reports of 24 discontinued EF lenses

(Image credit: Canon)

15/04 UPDATE: Canon has responded to our request for comment, stating, "Canon is committed to new, existing, and future users of the EOS System and will continue to provide a full range of options to users whatever their creative ambitions. We have a diverse collection of EF lenses available and will continue to manufacture and market them where there is customer demand."

ORIGINAL: Could Canon be set to discontinue up to 24 of its EF lenses for Canon DSLRs? There have been rumblings of discontinued Canon lenses for months, with popular classics such as the Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM and the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM supposedly on the chopping block. However, a report suggests that we could be seeing a whole lot more Canon full frame DSLR lenses set to go as well.

Canon Rumors recently reported that 13 pieces of glass have either already been discontinued, or are set to be discontinued at some point in 2021. These include the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Macro and the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II.

• Read more: Best Canon lenses

This means that, combined with the previously rumored lenses that are due to stop production, we could potentially be seeing the loss of 24 Canon EF lenses. See a full list of the lenses below:

Canon EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L USM II
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS U
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 IS STM Macro
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
Canon EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS STM
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM II
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM
Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM II
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM II
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II
Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

However, there has been some skepticism towards these discontinuation claims. Rumor website Canon Watch says, "with a few exceptions most of the lenses listed above appear in stock and ready to ship at major retailers. Canon USA also lists most lenses as still available, and hasn't released any communication regarding the discontinuation of EF lenses… It's rather difficult… to verify the claim of Canon discontinuing all those EF lenses."

While we wouldn't be surprised to see Canon slowly start to phase out some of its less popular EF lenses, the reality is that there is still a pretty sizable market for Canon full frame DSLR lenses. With many of the above lenses still in stock at major retailers (or due to come back into stock) we would potentially take this claim with a pinch of salt.

However, with that being said, it's clear that Canon's priority is definitely firmly focused on its RF mount. We wouldn't be surprised if more Canon EF lenses were quietly discontinued in the future – especially since this is a rumor that won't go away.

We have reached out to Canon and will update this story as and when Canon responds.

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With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.