An image and some specifications for the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM have leaked out ahead of next week's official announcement. I will note that the lens is a bit slower at the long end than my original report of f/7.1.
This lens looks to be extremely compact for what it is.
The Canon RF 100-400 f/5.6-8 IS USM has a minimum focusing distance of 88cm at 200mm, a maximum magnification of 0.41x at 400mm, and up to 6 stops of IS when paired with the EOS R5 or EOS R6. When using this lens with the EOS R or EOS RP, image stabilization is about 5.5 stops of correction.
Another interesting design choice is that this lens is compatible with both the RF 1.4x and RF 2.0x teleconverters. Canon has also added a dedicated control ring to the front of the lens.
The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM will be priced at $649 USD.
600 f/11...yeah that may be more competitive. 560/11 out of this lens but again needing a TC to get there. That remains to be seen how close they'd be for IQ.
Edit: Based on some quick and dirty math, the 100-400 is about 5.5 inches long, which makes it even shorter than the 70-300 II. Impressive. Rough mockup
size comparison:
There should be something between a $650 100-400 and $3000 100-500. Same for the $200 RF 50 1.8 and $3000 50 1.2
I’m not seeing your middle of the road pricing outside of Sigma and Tamron though. I had a Sigma and it’s the only lens I’ve had that started to fall apart. The zoom grip quite literally fell off. It would telescope on its own unless locked. That was “cheap” to me.
That Sony lens is $2,000.
Because the market says so. I see many people who would buy a bit higher end lenses without spending thousands on top L glass.
For example a weather sealed 85mm 1.4 which has a focus motor at least as good as the original EF 85mm 1.8 from 30 years ago.
Not the slow and noisy RF 85 F2 with external focusing. Or should we be happy the filter thread is not rotating?
-Brian