An evolving prime lineup.
Received a very cryptic email this AM about some upcoming lens upgrades. The following 3 lenses were mentioned.
50 f/1.2L II
Improved AF performance and new coatings. Optical elements to remain the same.
85 f/1.2L III
Improved AF speed and new coatings. Optical elements to remain the same.
135 f/2L IS
Image stabilization added, as well as the new coatings. Optical elements to remain the same.
Probability?
I'm not sure, I've received snippets of info about the 85 and 135 getting upgraded.
If all they're doing with the 50 and 85 is adding new electronics and coatings to the lenses, it's quite possible they'll get an upgrade. Adding IS to the 135L makes some sense.
I'm still surprised I haven't heard anything about a 35L upgrade.
CR1 this one with a smaller grain of salt than you'd think.
cr
69 Comments
This sums up my thoughts pretty well.
And I’m no optical engineer, but my understanding is that IS is effectively an additional lens element, so I agree with Grummbearbauer and Kaz that other optical elements in the 135mm could not just remain the same. IS would be attractive on that lens, though. I’d like to buy the current model, but continue to rent it periodically just because I think it’s so due for an update.
Except for the IS on the 135 (with optical changes), I’d have given this rumor CR0.
Upgrading the 1.2 lenses is if zero interest to me. I don’t own them now and won’t own them in the future, though I *might* consider 85mm 1.2 *if* it could be made smaller and lighter, and actually focus faster than molasses in January.
It would also be nice to make it a little less expensive, though I won’t hold my breath for that one.
I’d prefer they just drop the 85mm down to 1.4, as Nikon and Sigma seem to be able to make a MUCH smaller and lighter lens just by doing that. Presumably Canon could do the same. To me, f/1.2 is much more of an “impressive number” than a usable aperture, so I’m very disinclined to pay the extra money for it, L glass notwithstanding.
I’d probably never actually take a photo at f/1.4. To me the utility of 1.4 is more in the realm of easier/faster manual focusing than in actually using it to take pictures.
> Maybe I’m missing something here, but the 85mm f/1.2L is a
> portrait lens, I don’t see why improving the AF speed being
> a high priority.
No lens is *just* a portrait lens or *just* and landscape lens.
For photographers like me who work many more events than portraits, a no-brainer application for 85mm 1.2 would be basketball, gymnastics or diving, but the AF on this lens simply cannot reliably keep up. Even the manual focus is unbearably slow.
now this is simply insane
focus shift, mocus shift the 50 is perfect, so is the 85
now the 135 is aging a bit, a IS would be very good addition including weather sealing and some new coatings
how about the second two for 35 1.2 ?
It does say CR1, and the definition of CR1 is new source or far fetched rumor. This is far fetched. Therefore, CR1 seems appropriate.
Utter nonsense! Canon’s L series lenses are competing very well indeed.
Sadly, I think they will add IS to the 135mm, but I will stay with my current model. It is a superb design, and has served me well.
The 85mm f/1.2 works well – it focuses faster on a 1 series body…
I agree with the suggestions that this is someone’s wish list, unconnected to reality.