Canon's next Z lens will be the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, and we've provided image evidence of its existence. We expect it to be announced in early Q4 of this year just in time for the EOS R1 release.
There will be a third Z lens announced in early Q1 of 2025. We have been told that it will be a different wide angle focal range than anything in the current lineup.
The source wasn't 100% sure about the focal length, but suggested it will be an RF 12-24mm f/2.8L IS USM Z. I'm not sure about the focal length here, I think it would need to be a bit longer. They probably have to keep it f/2.8 to be consistent across the series.
The size will be interesting, as it looks like the RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z and RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z are very similar, but it's hard to tell from the picture.
That's a lot of wide angle zoom lenses in the lineup, we already have the RF 10-20mm f/4L STM, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM and the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM. I'm sure Canon sells a lot of these types of lenses and adding another one will do just fine. We'll have 3 70-200L lenses very soon and the EF lineup had four of them available at one point.
We're going to have have a new “holy trinity” with this Z series of L zoom lenses.
Canon does charge too much for the PZ-E2 and PZ-E2B PowerZoom adapters and they aren't being well received by the people that have purchased them. So it'll be interesting how well received this whole “Z” thing is going to be. I'm sure a lot of third parties could make a better zoom adapter for a lot less money.
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The GM is superb and nice to see we might finally get a RF clean distortion free wide 2.8 for low light.
I see a lot of confusion in the comments from photographers about these lenses, but for videographers they are truly astonishing. Sure, some people might complain about the weight, but actual cinema lenses are much heavier and with far fewer features. Nothing compares to these Z lenses at this price point for R series cameras.
Regarding the servo zoom, this is the exact same piece of kit that came with the 18-80mm CN-E lens except that it is now easily detachable. If people are trying to use it without a 20 pin zoom rocker then they are using it wrong. The base model is pointless unless there is some sort of remote control kit that allows it to be controlled in the future without a 20 pin port. The zoom does appear to be slower that would be desired for crash zooms, but that might either be a power issue or due to the fact that these z lenses have a problem with distortion correction with crash zooms.
Anyway, Canon really needs to release these Z lenses sooner rather than later.
12-24 f/2.8, if the sharpness and vignetting is decently managed, would be in my bag before I even saw the price. We're approaching solar maximum for Aurora shooting, and I'd like no lens more than an ultra wide/fast zoom that could slot into a trinity, and ASAP.
A 12-24 would be nice, I had a lot of fun recently with a rented 10-20... but I just have a pretentious love for 2.8 zooms.
Regardless, as a Z series lens the UWA zoom would apparently be part of an f/2.8 trinity aimed at hybrid shooters. If the 24-105/2.8 is the benchmark, both the 70-200/2.8 Z and this rumored UWA Z will be excellent.