Will canon make an 85f2 IS?

[wickidwombat]

I pretty much shoot my sigma 85 at f2 most of the time because I find dof too shallow on 1.4 and really only go to 1.4 due to extreme low light so an 85 f2 with IS that sharp wide open might tempt me. Especially if is smaller and more compact. Since it seems canon are putting IS on all the non L primes I think this is a possibility just when is the big question?

[dolina]

I would not be surprised if Canon were to make an EF 85mm f/1.8 USM with IS. A f/2 is unlikely.

I would also expect them to make an IS version for the following

EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
EF 28 f/1.8 USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
EF 100mm f/2 USM
EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro

That is the trend for non-L EF lenses. Just add IS at the same f-number and focal length.

[jhanken]

That is the trend for non-L EF lenses. Just add IS at the same f-number and focal length.

I noticed that the non-"L" category seems to be getting all the love.  I think the 135MM f/2 L would be a cool lens to get the IS treatment, although the price would likely get a little crazy.

[symmar22]

I would not be surprised if Canon were to make an EF 85mm f/1.8 USM with IS. A f/2 is unlikely.

I would also expect them to make an IS version for the following

EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
EF 28 f/1.8 USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
EF 100mm f/2 USM
EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro

That is the trend for non-L EF lenses. Just add IS at the same f-number and focal length.

add a 180mm Macro please...

[elflord]

I pretty much shoot my sigma 85 at f2 most of the time because I find dof too shallow on 1.4 and really only go to 1.4 due to extreme low light so an 85 f2 with IS that sharp wide open might tempt me. Especially if is smaller and more compact. Since it seems canon are putting IS on all the non L primes I think this is a possibility just when is the big question?

f/2.8 and it will cost about as much as the Sigma 85 (and almost as much as the 135L)

[dolina]

That is the trend for non-L EF lenses. Just add IS at the same f-number and focal length.

I noticed that the non-"L" category seems to be getting all the love.  I think the 135MM f/2 L would be a cool lens to get the IS treatment, although the price would likely get a little crazy.

The non-L EF primes with IS are not cheap either. Canon will either continue selling the ancient lens or discontinue them all together.

symmar22 180mm Macro is an L prime. I am not that interested as I do not shoot macros all that often.

[symmar22]

My bad, I thought I read 135mm f2L in the list. Not sure they would bother updating the 135mm Soft Focus though.

[Ew]

Interesting... for some reason, I was convinced that the 28 2.8 IS is a replacement for the 1.8 ...

[Zv]

They'll probably announce the 85 and 100 primes with IS at the same time just like the 24, 28 combo. I reckon they'll be both f/2. The existing 85 @ f/1.8 is not that great, I find f/2.8 and above is where it shines. Hopefully the replacement is better wide open.

Based on Canon's recent trend it may be a while before we see these lenses though, they seem to be starting at the wide end (24, 28, 35 . . . ) so hopefully next up is the long awaited 50 update! People need a decent 50 1.4 IS. Leave the nifty fifty alone, it serves a purpose to those who want cheapness! 

Now, I've heard of the 135 soft focus but never knew what it was for. Does anyone own one? Why would you want your focus to be soft? Surely you can just use post processing techniques now to get the same effect. Don't see this lens getting IS anytime soon.

I also don't know if Canon will upgrade the small 50 macro to an IS version, it prob cost too much for a lens that isn't even true 1:1 macro. They're new 24-70 f4 IS will take care of that need.

[symmar22]

Don't forget the 135mm Soft Focus was released in 1987. It was not designed for digital since... digital was barely experimental in 1987. The main purpose was to have a portrait lens with an integrated adjustable soft filter. I guess at that time, David Hamilton was still trendy.
But it is not a single concept, Rodenstock had designed the Imagon lenses (200, 250 and 300mm) for use on technical view cameras.
Soft focus was only possible with these lenses, or soft filters, or some tricks in the lab. For people who did a lot of soft portraits (very fancy back in the 80's), a lens with integrated soft must have been a blessing.
Nowadays with post production software, it doesn't really make sense any more to design specific lenses for soft focus. Aside from that, people claim it is a very sharp lens when the soft ring is set to 0. Maybe Canon could design a new 135mm f2.8 with IS (lightweight, small filter size, CHEAP).

[Haydn1971]

The trend is clearly to introduce a larger gap in light gathering ability between the non L and L primes...

We currently have the 24/28 f2.8 with IS, the 35 f2 IS is also out soon, with the older lenses being phased out - The new IS lens are expensive now at about £600-670 but I'm confident that this will ease back to the £400 mark in 12 months, once the initial demand has been serviced.

As for what's coming, a 50, 85 & 100 are pretty obvious contenders, the current trend though will likely serve up a 50 f1.8 IS and f2 versions of the 85/100 - why ?  Because DSLR's have much better low light ISO performance than ever before and whilst the really picky people on here will insist that lower f numbers are essential, the majority of us couldn't really be able to tell the difference in 0.2-0.4 of an f-stop and would actually benefit from a new lens with sharper optics, image stabilisation and better handling than an unnoticeable outside of the lab improvement of bokah !

I'd like to think we will also see a 20 & 14mm IS non L option soon too...  but again based on recent trends expect these to be f3.5 - not that different to the Zeiss prime lenses that get so much praise. 

What about a non L - 200-400 IS ?  For about £800 and compatable with extenders !   Come on Canon ;-)

[Zv]

Symmar22 - thanks for the extra info on the soft focus thing. 

[symmar22]

Symmar22 - thanks for the extra info on the soft focus thing. 

No problem, it's always a pleasure.

My opinion about the next updates, is that we should see a 50mm f1.4 IS, I wonder if they would do the same with the 50mm 1.8, since they always kept a very clear separation within their ranges : 1.2 L, 1.4 USM, 1.8 cheap everything. I would more see a 50mm 1.8 USM without IS as an ugrade too keep an entry level offering.

After should come the 85mm and 100mm, Not sure though they would make them both f2, since it would make them a bit too similar. The deal is not so bad as it is, a bit brighter but shorter (85mm), or a bit longer for 1/3 stop loss (100mm). IMO it shows a more clear separation between the two lenses, if both would be f2, I wonder if the obvious choice wouldn't be to take the 100m for most people (the longer, the better), and might kill the sales of the 85mm f2. I agree that the actual difference between 1.8 and 2 is almost none, but marketing people may see it otherwise.

Then we need a modern standard macro lens, with USM, IS, and of course 1:1 reproduction ratio. I think the 50mm focal is a bit outdated here, since most close up pictures can benefit from a slightly longer lens. Nikon got that principle early, with the 55mm  macro, that was later extended to 60mm. It is somehow equivalent to the 210mm lens used on a 4x5 view camera, for the same reason, more natural perspective in object photography.

Finally, the 135mm f2.8 IS USM would close the chapter of the very old, non USM lenses dating back from the late 80's.

It seems Canon has decided to start with the wide angle end, replacing the 15mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm. One should note they did not upgrade non-L USM lenses in between though. The 20mm f2.8 USM and the 28mm f1.8 USM are still here.

So it would be interesting to see if they are only getting rid of the non-USM lenses (then the next ones should be 50mm f2.5 macro, and the 135mm f2.8 ) , or if they are renewing the whole non-L prime range....

[gjones5252]

So I just ordered the 85mm 1.8. Should I return it? I want the 1.8 for low light video and depth of field in pictures. Given the current trend I wonder if it would be best to return it and just wait. Seems like it won't be but another two months or so? Is would be helpful and the current trend is also for better picture quality.

[dolina]

Remember, updated lenses will ALWAYS cost more. Do not expect a price cut on currently sold old lenses.

Interesting... for some reason, I was convinced that the 28 2.8 IS is a replacement for the 1.8 ...

When the 28 2.8 IS was announced the 28 2.8 from the 80s was removed from the lineup.

A lot of the lenses from the 80s were derived from FD lenses and are starting to show their age with high MP bodies. Sticking to them will make your photos have a "period" look most notably the 70s and 80s minus the aesthetics of film.

Annually Canon has a habit of announcing 4-5 new EF & EF-S lenses. They have accomplished that this year.

For 2013 I expect the same. Two L primes, two non-L EF primes an EFS lens and the rest EF-M lenses.