|
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works. |
The RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM has been rumored for quite some time, and with each passing month we get very little new information on the lens. The last time we reported on the lens, we mentioned that it could finally be announced in November, and with multiple people actively testing the lens, that timeline didn't seem outside of the realm of possibilities.
We now have a source with a checkered history of accuracy “confirming” that the RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM will come with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter. I will note that the accuracy of this source has been improving.
The built-in teleconverter discussion has been back and forth numerous times in our inbox and we still don't have a clear picture if that will actually be the case. We have not been privy to detailed information about this lens, only that it exists.
Let's be honest, it's a 50/50 proposition.
A curveball we have recently been thrown, again by a source with a solid, but imperfect history of information, claims that the RF 200-500mm will have that built-in teleconverter, but it will be f/5.6 instead of f/4. This is the first time that we have ever heard this, and it doesn't make a ton of sense to us. We think something may have been lost in translation, as engaging the 1.4x teleconverter brings an f/4 lens down to f/5.6.
We think the target market for a lens such as this will want the f/4, as the the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM already exists if you want terrific performance in a small and “affordable” package.
Canon is gearing up for some lens announcements in and around November with the release of the EOS R1, and we still have the RF 200-500 as a high possibility of being announced at that time.
