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There has been rumors for as long as my old brain can remember about a “big white” super telephoto zoom lens. There has been talk about an RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM, an optical design that we have seen patents for in the past. The thing with optical designs and Canon L lenses, is that you rarely see the optical design before an announcement. This isnt true for non-L lenses a lot of the time.
Canon RF 300-600mm f/5.6L IS USM
We have mentioned this lens prior, as a solid source was “certain” this is what we would see coming. It's an RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM with a 2x teleconverter at the long end, and that is a popular combination. It's not as sharp as an RF 600mm f/4L IS USM prime, but that is to be expected.
An anonymous email sent in the last couple of days shines light on this long running topic.
An RF 300-600mm f/5.6L IS USM will be what we get. It will be priced “well below the $10,000” mark and be lighter than the “big white” 400mm and 600mm prime lenses.
With the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM in and around the $2800 USD mark, there's a lot of space for a product between it and the current $10K entry point for a “big white”.
Why Not f/4?
SIGMA launched their well-regarded 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports Lens at $5999, though it has since increased in price to $6599. I think this is a price point that we could expect from Canon, even with it being a stop slower.
There is a massive market of baby boomers and older Gen X people that want high-end lenses that they can hand hold. The Sigma is not that lens, weighing in at 8.75 lb / 3.97 kg. It's possible that Canon could bring the weight in line with the RF 100-300 f/2.8, which is a very manageable 5.7 lb / 2.59 kg.
Even for shooters with a good amount of disposable income, a $10K+ lens is still a big buying decision. $6000 is easier to stomach than $12,000+ that an f/4 version would cost from Canon.
Sony does have the well regarded FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. The Canon lens we're talking about here would be higher-end from top to bottom.
It's not often manufactures overlap in focal range and speed outside of what we'd consider the “core” products.
Built-In Teleconverter?
Lots of shooters like the idea of a built-in teleconverter, Canon's last one was the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x. Again, that was a 8lbs lens and rather large physically.
A built-in TC adds size, weight, complexity and cost. If the goal is to have something accessible to as many people as possible, then this isn't the type of lens to equip with one.
An RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x would be an expensive lens, well north $10K.
In Closing
The internet likes its numbers, and such a lens not being f/4 will be a sticking point for some. I have always wondered how many of the people that focus on these things would go and spend $12K+ on a lens? Each of us doesn't necessarily represent the market.
This could potentially be a good volume “big white” lens for Canon. The RF 100-500mm was initially panned for being f/7.1 at the long end, but it quickly became one of Canon's most popular lenses, and for good reason.
It's not always about what you want, and more about the business case for a new product. Canon does check in with their CPS and professional photographers to get direct input on new products.
In the end, it's time for a big zoom lens like this. It's ok if it's not for you.
Header image is the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x
I'd much rather have a version ii of the 100-300mm f2.8 with builtin 1.4x and 2x extenders and I would expect to pay accordingly
Yet, knowing Canon, below $10000 could stand for $9999...😏
I also have had a good experience with the RF 100-300mm F2.8 and the 1.4x and 2x TCs. With the 2xTC I've been happy with the results on the R6II/R5(II)/R3/R1. Not so much with the R7. The 1.4xTC will do ok with the R7, but never liked the result with the 2xTC. But then again, I've always had a bit more trouble with the R7 in that it is really hard to take advantage of the extra pixel density (shooting conditions have to be great).
Owning the RF 100-300mm F2.8, I can't see myself buying an RF 300-600mm F5.6. I would buy the Sigma 300-600mm F4 in a heartbeat if it were available for Canon mount, despite the weight. I will admit my EF 600mm F4 II, which weighs as much as the Sigma, is getting a bit heavy. But the extra flexibility of 300-600mm F4 at $6K would get me to jump on it.
Though, if this is small enough, and the price isn’t astronomical… We shall see.
I still use my EF 400mm f/5.6 USM L a lot with my R1 and 1DX MK III. Probably that and my EF 180mm f/3.5 Macro, RF 100mm Macro, and the EF 600mm F/4 L IS USM III are my main 4 lenses I cycle through (leaving so many others sadly left on my desk).
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens Image Quality