New Lenses Imminent? [CR1]

[Canon Rumors]

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New Prosumer Primes? I was told a moment ago to expect refreshes of the EF 35 f/2, 85 f/1.8 and 50 f/1.8 “soon”.

No specific date was given.

CRs Take? I could definitely see the 35 and 50 getting updates. Maybe not the 50 most of you were hoping for. The 85 f/1.8, I’m a little less sure about. It’d be nice to see a new 85 f/1.4 non-L.

I don’t recognize the source, but I have heard previously of existing lenses getting updated in droves for 2012.

cr

[ericski]

Are there (valid) complaints about the 85 f/1.8? Mine is one of my best lenses I own. I can't imagine improvements and it staying in the same price range/class.

[kode]

I don't really think there's much to complain about the 85/1.8, except for the time lapsed between introduction and present day. An 85/1.4 from Canon would be sweet, though...

[JR]

I was really hoping for a new 35mm 1.4L II!

 

[KyleSTL]

I would preorder the updated 35mm f2 if it's in the same price range as the lens it replaces.  Same build quality and features as 28mm f1.8 USM, but simpler optical design, should make it more affordable (than 28mm, not cheaper than current 35mm). 

[lol]

Optically I don't think the 35/2 could be improved without bumping up the cost significantly, other than perhaps putting in some more aperture blades. However replacing the noisy AF motor would be nice. A minor weakness in Canon's lens lineup is the lack of a modern 35/1.8 (crop sensor), so could there be something there?

50/1.8... I think popular due to its price so that will be a challenging point for any update. I suspect they might be able to do a further cost save on it. Somehow. If they can do it to the kit lenses they can try here too.

The 85/1.8... here I think they can do more with the optical side since physically it is already pretty good. Personally I think the LoCA is rather strong and also susceptible to purple fringing. If they can tame that a bit without affecting its sharpness and price too much, that would be nice.

[AJ]

I can't remember the last time an affordable non-L prime came out?  I think it was the 60/2.8

[dilbert]

3 new lenses at 3 new prices...

If they were going to replace all of their micro-motor focus lenses with something better, I could definitely see the 35/2 and 50/1.8 being replaced. The other one of those that would be up for an update would be the 24/2.8. But maybe if they update those three then they don't believe that they're covering as wide of a range in focal lengths?

In APS-C terms, that's 56mm(35), 80mm(50) and either 153mm(85) or 38mm (28)

That might position the 50/1.8 as a "portrait lens" for APS-C and the 35/2 as the "50mm lens" for crop cameras?

From that perspective, I can easily see both the 35/2 and 50/1.8 being updated.

The 85/1.8 doesn't quite fit into any specific bracket for APS-C in terms of effective focal length.

[arn]

I have been so waiting for an updated 35/2, I wish this rumor turns out to be true. It's sharp, small and light, much more convenient for everyday use than the large f/1.4 lens. All the 35/2 needs is a better, more reliable AF and it's a dream come true.

[KyleSTL]

In APS-C terms, that's 56mm(35), 80mm(50) and either 153mm(85) or 38mm (28)

You mean 136mm (85) and 45mm (28)

I can't remember the last time an affordable non-L prime came out?  I think it was the 60/2.8

Non-L Primes (excluding 400mm DO):

60mm f/2.8 Macro USM (2005)
100mm f/2.8 Macro USM (2000)
MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro (1999)
28mm f/1.8 USM (1995)
50mm f/1.4 USM (1993)
20mm f/2.8 USM (1992)
85mm f/1.8 USM (1992)
100mm f/2 USM (1991)
TS-E 45mm f/2.8 (1991)
TS-E 90mm f/2.8 (1991)
35mm f/2 (1990)
50mm f/1.8 II (1990)
100mm f/2.8 Macro (1990)
24mm f/2.8 (1988)
15mm f/2.8 Fisheye (1987)
28mm f/2.8 (1987)
50mm f/1.8 I (1987)
50mm f/2.5 Macro (1987)
135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus (1987)

[Tarrum]

35mm - please bring an affordable 35mm f/1.8 with better performance. The f/2.0 is alright but if they bring it out I'm gonna be first in the line

50mm - f/1.8 III? Maybe they'd do the same as with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses, but the only one I think is due for an upgrade is 50mm f/1.4. Better AF and better f/1.4 performance.

85mm f/1.8 - I don't think we'll be seeing an upgrade for a long time. Perhaps f/1.4?

[pj1974]

I hope this becomes a CR4 and then reality!! 

The prime lenses listed in the CR1 for update are some of the lenses that I am looking forward to... particularly the 50mm f1.8

I have the 50mm f1.8 II, and love it's optical qualities (apart from the somewhat nervous bokeh at some settings) - howver I HATE it's AF: inaccurate, jumpy, and noisy. On my 350D the 50mm just 'didn't work' for focus critical applications and even on my 7D it is not consistent enough to be enjoyable.

So a 50mm f1.8 II upgrade (to a 50mm f1.8 III with USM would be a very desireable lens, if it is sharp & contrasty wide open, good bokeh and accurate AF.  Build quality similar to some other prosumer lenses I own (eg Canon's 15-85mm, Canon 100mm f2.8 macro non L) or even my Canon 28-135mm would be great.

Hope I can say this on this forum without receiving virtual stares / glares    but I'm actually jealous of one of my friend's Nikon 35mm f1.8   It's a very versatile lens & he's used it to take lots of good low light shots... So an upgrade to Canon's 35mm f2 (either at f2 or f1. would please a lot of Canon shooters like me too.

The current 85mm f1.8 has received a lot of praise due to it's USM, decent build quality & high optical performance (though it has noticeable LoCA...) However this isn't always field critical for every application. Personally, this lens isn't on my wish list.  But I can understand others for whom an update & improvement to that lens would be a real winner.

Now... just putting it out there.... I wonder if any of these prosumer primes (35mm, 50mm or 85mm) would get IS?  Now that would be impressive.  Without IS I'd be prepared to pay around $500 - $600 for say the 50mm f1.8 if it was a good performer optically / decent build quality (though prices would probably come down in time).  With IS, I'd be prepared to pay a few hundred dollars more.   

Others' thoughts?

Paul

[pj1974]

KyleSTL... thanks for your very useful post with the list of non L primes and releases!  Much appreciated!

Paul

[traveller]

Canon badly need a decent 'normal' prime for APS-C users because the current offering all have significant weaknesses, as does the main third party alternative.  Beyond that, there is a need for some affordable wide angle primes.  To be honest, if it saves money they might as well make them EF-S, as anyone that can afford a full frame camera should really be able to afford 'L' glass (and if not, they've probably got their buying priorities wrong!).  I don't buy the argument that some people make that it's only full frame users who care about prime lenses.  A decent full frame setup will cost you many thousands of your local currency; it's a little insulting to suggest that only the rich can afford to be 'serious photographers'. 

[neuroanatomist]

The 85/1.8 doesn't quite fit into any specific bracket for APS-C in terms of effective focal length.

85mm f/1.8 on APS-C is equivalent to 136mm f/2.9 on FF.  That puts it in line with the 135/2.8 SF (and the 135/2L), both of which are 'classic' portrait lenses, particularly for tight/head shots.  In fact, I liked and used my 85/1.8 so much on my 7D that I changed to the 85/1.2L II, and after subsequently getting a 5DII, I got the 135L to replicate the framing of 85mm on APS-C.

I agree with lol - the 85/1.8, while IMO one of the best values in the Canon lineup, could stand a little less LoCA (although that's a known 'feature' of fast primes).  New coatings and an optical redesign might help reduce that problem. But then Canon would probably add $200 to the price, making it less of a value lens.

Overall, though, I'm skeptical. I can't see then releasing a 35/2 II, but I can see an EF-S f/1.8 version. I can see an update to the 50/1.8 II equivalent to the recent changes to the EF-S kit lenses (18-55, 55-250), cosmetic changes to reduce production costs (even a few yen per lens would mean big profit on a popular lens like that), and 'new AF algorithms' because those are essentially free.