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The Canon RF 300-600mm super telephoto zoom lens has been talked about for what seems like forever. It's been more than a year of chatter, and we're still waiting.
I have been told that in a recent retailer meeting that the lens was once again mentioned in a presentation, but that there is still no announcement date, other than “coming in 2026”, but we heard the same “coming in 2025” last year.
My confidence level about this lens hasn't wavered, but it's time to write about the lens existing and not that it's coming.
While this information isn't new, where it came from is. My confidence level has gone up by the quality of the source.
Specifications
The speed of the lens is still up in the air and was not disclosed. We have heard that a variable aperture design of RF 300-600mm f/4-5.6L IS USM as well as a constant aperture RF 300-600mm f/5.6L IS VCM.
Yes, VCM.
I do think VCM is a high probability. A constant aperture of f/5.6 does seem to make some people on the internet upset for whatever reason. I think that's the most likely design though. I can't see a variable aperture lens of this kind coming with the RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1L IS USM already out there.
One thing mentioned is that the 300-600 will be lighter than most people would expect it to be. Canon is always trimming weight from lenses, so this is highly probable. We also have the new world of computational correction for Canon lenses to consider.
What could make this lens special?
We've had DO, or diffractive optics lenses for the EF mount. There was a 70-300 DO as well as the EF 400 F4 DO IS USM and EF 400 F4 DO IS USM II. The 400 F4 lenses were really good, especially the version 2.
Currently, the only two RF lenses are using diffractive optics elements; the RF 600 F11 IS STM and RF 800 F11 IS STM.
Nikon has made a few Phase Fresnel (PF) lenses for the F and Z mounts. PF is pretty much the same technology as Canon's Diffractive Optics (DO). The Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S and Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S are brilliant lenses.
Going with a DO design would definitely trim some weight and size and give further segmentation in the lineup of supertelephoto lenses. There does need to be an option between $2500 and $15,000 if you're looking for a great 400-600mm option.
What's different this time?
I think we're getting close to the new super telephoto zoom lens from Canon. I expect to see RF super telephoto lenses addressed ahead of the World Cup in June. That is the biggest sporting event on earth and Canon always has a big presence.
While new lenses may not be officially announced, development announcements are very likely.
Also hoping they can find some cost savings so that it's more affordable than the 100-300mm f/2.8
Personally would much prefer a variable aperture of say f/4-5.6 and I'm hoping it's 200-600 rather than 300-600 as I'd much rather have that range and if it has a shorter minimum focal distance that would be a bonus.
Builtin 1.4x and maybe 2x extenders would be great too: 840mm f/8 and 1200mm f/11
Those are my wishlist specs 😜
"A constant aperture of f/5.6 does seem to make some people on the internet upset for whatever reason."
Otherwise a lightweight 300-600 4.0… 😏
I don’t believe in a good price…
To me, that suggests a 300-600/5.6L will be around the same price as the 100-300/2.8, whether the new lens has DO or not. It's longer so that would be likely to increase the price a bit, but it's a 2x zoom not 3x which would be likely to decrease the price a bit.
Honestly not really sure I get the purpose of this lens, unless Canon does something differentiate it from the 100-300/2.8 + 2x. Ok, the 300-600 could take TCs to be a 420-840mm f/8 or 600-1200mm f/11 and probably that's enough of a selling point if the optics of the bare lens are similar in quality to the 100-300/2.8. Or they could make the lens such that it could be priced in the$7-8K range but I don't see how without sacrificing optical and build quality.
Not as long as the 35 1.2 😢
Ultimately it's Canon, it's going to be expensive. And they'll never let glass like the Sigma 300-600/4 onto RF.
Edit: Like here from September last year: https://www.canonrumors.com/forum/t...5-6l-is-usm-on-the-horizon.44719/post-1030856
Just like some CanonRumors posters...
I don't think it's going to be a "normal" design. Who knows what's taking so long, but this isn't the first time for a lens. The 100-400 II, 200-400 took forever. Even the RF 70-200 internal zoom took a year to show up from first mention.
Maybe they found a weak point in testing and have to fix it, maybe manufacturing has an issue, maybe a supply chain thing, maybe the accountants just don't want it out yet. Bleh.