justaCanonuser said:

How much do you pay?

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Not enough.

mb66energy said:

Maybe Canon wants to skip minor changes and is thinking about a real leap forward IMO this might be a global shutter or at least a really fast readout of the sensor for video and electronic shutter as a real difference between other offerings.
To make such a sensor in a e.g. 2000 €-body is a large step.

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Well, the rumored upgrades were hardly minor. Regardless, it doesn't explain a year plus of rumored specs from "accurate" sources. Canon didn't leak the false specs. That said, I have my doubts Canon will ever make a mirrorless APS body suitable for birding. Too much cost, too few buyers. We wanted to believe the fantasy.

Steve Balcombe said:

I see people carrying broadcast-quality video gear including a massive tripod, and honestly wonder how they do it. They must be much fitter than me.

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JRetz said:

Looks like Canon just opened the door for the Nikon Z90.

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Except the Z90 is every much Rumorware as the R7 II. Nikon Rumors explicitly said no such animal was expected in 2026 and it hasn't mentioned anything about potential specs or news this year.

However, the Fuji X-T6 is real and coming later this year, so there is that. The R7 II news is disappointing but always seemed too good to be true. I'll keep rolling with my R5 II but a solid performing APS body is still on my want list.

Michael Clark said:

As for why your EF 300mm f/4 L IS with a 1991 design isn't as good with newer MILCs, please see Roger Cicala's old blog entry Autofocus Reality: Part 3B from back in 2012. He explains that Canon upped the game around 2010 as to how accurately the lens reports the focus position to the camera.

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I know, I loved to follow his blog for many years. But in real life, the old EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM worked quite well even with my 5D4. Interestingly, my old EF 500mm f/4.5 L USM from 1995 worked still surprisingly well with my R7, in contrast to my 300mm, a lens that was introduced in 1997.

AlanF said:

I 'd need you to be my Sherpa!

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How much do you pay?

Michael Clark said:

The baseline for an APS-C DSLR camera is narrower due to the narrower semi-silvered portion of the narrower reflex mirror.

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Yes but this doesn't explain the light dependent behavior, noise (and contrast on the AF sensor) does.

I already gave up my hope that I could upgrade my R7 before I leave for a birding trip in June. Well I'll survive with the R7 and R5II. My R7 is really a strange package: shooting birds in flight against blue and or overcast skies is quite a challenge - the camera's object recognition quite frequently fails in a mind-boggling way. On the other hand, with a vivid background when the old 7D II would have struggled, the R7 can really shine. Here are two fighting skylarks, they were quite far away, this image is heavily cropped. So they were mere quite small spots on the sensor. I just lifted my lens and took a series of shots w/o hope to get any in-focus hit. But then I found a whole series in focus, this is one of the best. Shot with the EF 600mm f/4.0 III, f = 6.3 and 1/1250 s shutter speed. So, the original R7 is always good for a surprise, either a bad or a really great one.

It is understood that rumors are rumors. However the way this site keep writing about a camera like the R7 ii, and keep coming up with posts to collect clicks, you are setting expectations. In the end it sure looks like it is just a lot of BS being posted to get the clicks and sell ads.

Exploreshootshare said:

I´m struggling with that assumption. As posted in a different thread:
Canon could easily reuse the 24mp sensor for the r8ii and use it for further market segmentation with a 24 - 33 - 45 mp line up. I´d actually expect them to do just that.

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Yes, I agree. I actually prefer the file I get out of my R6ii to those I get from my R5. The resolution choice of 24mp was to buff 4K video (yawn) and the bump to 33mp in the mkiii was to assist 8K video (double yawn). So none of these choices were made for photographers needs in mind. It was all about the hybrid / video sales. If the R8II is truly an enthusiasts photographer’s camera, then let’s hope Canon truly hit that specific target.
That said the R8 is still a remarkably capable camera.

Maybe Canon wants to skip minor changes and is thinking about a real leap forward IMO this might be a global shutter or at least a really fast readout of the sensor for video and electronic shutter as a real difference between other offerings.
To make such a sensor in a e.g. 2000 €-body is a large step.

With this news about the r7ii’s delay…are we ready to spot ourselves on the Kubler-Ross curve?

JRetz said:

I have been waiting for the R7MKii to replace my 90D. I could not see going to the R7 as it was not much of an upgrade for me and I do have a R5 as well as a Nikon Z6. For my wildlife photography (the majority of my photography) I use my R5 with a RF100-500 and RF200-800 along with my 90D with my EF 800 f/5.6. I was hoping for the R7 MKII to upgrade this. Since the delays in the R7 MKII I have been looking at the OM System OM-1 MKII for more range and better performance than my 90D. Looks like I will be adding the OM-1MKII to my camera systems and keeping the 90D for a while. I could even go to the OM-5 MKII and have an upgrade over my 90D and better performance over the R7. Canons marketing strategies has lost them another customer and longtime Canon user. Also, since I use the Nikon for street and travel photography, I can get rid of that and just use the OM System to cover all my photo needs.

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You could also replace the Nikon Z6 with the Nikon Z6iii which is a fairly good wildlife option in and of itself. Yes the R6ii and R6iii even without a partially stacked sensor are marginally better, but its minuscule differences at best.

AlanF said:

However, Art Morris's website, birdsasart, was very influential and he was a staunch proponent of the 400 prime, and he initially ran down the zoom. But, eventually he changed his mind and went over to the original zoom.

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I think a lot of people do jump to zooms when the differences in cost and comforts converge appropriately. I think even the modern 100-300 2.8 pretty much well splashes writing on the wall for any similar prime, right? Like for the same cash, more or less, why buy a 100, 200, 300 2.8 prime when all can be had for prime like quality and zoom convenience? This ever has been Canon's long term direction, I think. For good reason.

But I also have you, in my mind, as a Formula 1 for BiF kinda guy with the cash and experience. Of course you're right on how much better some options are, but does that apply to the people driving Hondas? Only while they're in the stands cheering, not once they leave the parking lot.

AlanF said:

Mind you, he was one of the first to go to Nikon and then Sony. So, you are not right!

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Haha! For the love of life, Art — WHY?

But ya got me: Art jumped so all of those lens sales of the 400mm f/5.6 where bogus and I'm wrong. I mean, Canon just kept pumping them out from 1992 through 2022 because they were bored and stuff.

AlanF said:

The first version bettered it

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But so marginally in terms of the mark I, and who shoots animals or people in the lens corner? Kind of like maybe this truck tows more than that truck in the same class, but then one might also consider sway control. Even with the zooms available and evolving rapidly. And even when the II came out big names still talked-up the prime for beginners. Some examples:

The Digital Picture maintains this statement:

The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens is popular for bird photography and especially birds in flight as it offers lots of reach for a reasonable cost in a relatively light package. Good vignetting performance helps keep even blue skies as they should be - evenly blue. Other uses include general wildlife photography and well-lit field sports.

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Honestly, if you're just dipping your toe into animals (maybe birds, could also be deer or mountain climbers) then these lingering endorsements of yesteryear are more than enough to justify a minimal investment at the time (new) or now (used). If people like what they see, then they know spending the cash on the DO, or zoom, or a new RF lens would probably give them smiles.

AlanF said:

the magnificent EF 100-400mm II rendered it totally obsolete.

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Well, yes — but that didn't stop people from promoting the prime for beginners. Let's consider:

The 400 f/5.6L has been in the Canon lineup for 5 years longer than the original 100-400 L IS, yet it is a good performing lens with image quality essentially equivalent to the 100-400 L II and less distortion (compared at 400mm). The 400 f/5.6L is lighter, longer and considerably less expensive [...] I find the zoom to be a far more useful lens.

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Bold emphasis is mine.

This lens fits in even my smallest and lightest travel kit, and I have confidence when using it wide open that it’s going to give me excellent performance. Sure, I’d like it to be an f/4, but the extra weight and bulk wouldn’t be welcome. [...] I definitely miss Image Stabilization, and wish that Canon would re-issue this lens with IS, but since I will be using it tripod mounted 90% of the time it’s no real hardship.

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And just because I wanted to know, we tested the old, but excellent Canon 400mm f/5.6 L prime lens, for comparison. Few people shoot it anymore, but there’s a reason it’s remained in production for decades. It’s not quite as good as the 100-400 IS L, but still, an excellent performer considering how old the design is.

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AlanF said:

The 500/4.6 was OK for BIF when you are at 1/3200s and don't need IS. But for hand held shooting in other than good light, a tripod or support was essential, and if you have ever tried to focus a hand held 400mm lens without IS, it is very difficult as the image darts all over the view finder.

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I 100% agree with you about the hassle and comforts. And cash being no issue your argument wins every time.

But if you put the two lenses on the table in front of my kid, or someone still in university, or someone buget limited and they read all of those reviews I bet they'll buy the cheaper lens each time. Or, at least 95% of the time. Sure, eventually they'll buy a 600mm f/4 if they get the bug for shooting tiny skittish things, but probably not up-front.

And I think this gets back to the point of what a 500mm 5.6 represents: an affordable way to get quality images of "distant" things that need to be magnified to fill enough of the frame in a daylight situation. Most people will be happy with that. Some will realize f/4 or f/2.8 matters and spend the extra cash — but only after being really sure about that. Sigma showed this option is not just viable, but pragmatic. A silver ring edition from Canon will probably make a relative killing over decades.

And let's not forget: yes, the lack of IS (or useful IS) and need for daylight can be a hassle, but that never stops a determined person.

Maximilian said:

TBH, I don't see any "fault" here at all.
@Canon Rumors, @Craig:
You get bits of information, you interpret this, and then you share your conclusion with us.
Rumors are rumours , it would be quite boring if they all became fact the moment you spread them.

OTOH...

Those two are quite boring to me. And I already shared my thought, that I don't like the R8(m2) being hijacked for a retro style cam.
Make this retro cam a solitaire, make it unique, especially in its name (RE-1 was a no-brainer to me, just great!) , then even I would like it - but still won't buy it.
But please don't take away the product line of a small modern (!) FF entry camera, with modern egos and so on.


This was the one cam I was interested in.

Looking around, seems that 2026 is becoming more and more disappointing, in any facet I can think of... meh.

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There are still 8 more months to come, and, why not, a 14 TSE, a 20-70 L, new big whites...

Damn … this hit hard!
I was about to sell my r7 … but I have shot with it yesterday.. AF was better then remembered … soo expected the damn slow and loud shutter, annoying handling (1 wheel is missing)… it’s a really ok camera…

I would love to have a nice low light apsc with 24-26MP and stacked sensor…

MkSprintz said:

The R7ii has far better odds even if it's likely late 2027.

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The R7 was released years ago already and still no direct competitor from Nikon.

Michael Clark said:

In other words, it's a focus-by-wire lens.

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Mmmmkay. Every RF lens is focus-by-wire, so I'm not sure there's a point being made. But...thanks??

Maximilian said:

Looking around, seems that 2026 is becoming more and more disappointing, in any facet I can think of... meh.

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I found the RF 14/1.4L VCM to be exciting, and I'm hoping for more good lens announcements this year.

Michael Clark said:

There are more than a few Canon users who have been around long enough to remember what happened to their focus-by-wire EF 200mm f/1.8 L USM lenses when Canon started running out of repair parts for the USM motor shortly after discontinuing the lens. They became impossible to focus and nothing more than paperweights if the AF motor ever broke. The EF 300mm f/2.8 L, EF 50mm f/1.0, and EF 85mm f/1.2 also used focus-by-wire manual focus, but there wasn't the same kind of parts shortage until years after they were discontinued.

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Sure, I'm one of those people. The 50/1L, 85/1.2L (and the second version of that lens), 200/1.8L, 300/2.8L, 400/2.8L, 500/4.5L, and 600/4L all used focus by wire. And they all had the same problems when they went out of service and eventually the AF motor supply dried up some years later. There were a few third party services that converted them to MF or rebuilt the AF motors, I'm not sure if anyone is still doing it now.

But, fun fact: Every native mirrorless AF lens has become focus by wire, including all Canon RF lenses. Yes even the RF 100-300/2.8L. It is likely that all the upcoming big white RF super teles will be too, just like the Sony 400/2.8 & 600/4 and all the Nikon super teles. And the Sigma 300-600/4, 500/5.6, and all their other mirrorless native lenses. Tamron too, and Viltrox. Everyone.

So yes, some years from now we are going to face the same problem as what came up with the original Canon focus-by-wire lenses. Modern magnetic drive systems should be more resilient than Canon's first-gen USM motors were, but they will eventually fail. Personally I am more concerned about lenses with STM AF as that is a much more mechanical system driven by gears, and IMO more likely to fail than a system driven by magnets.

Rumors are rumors

mimbu said:

I think that depends a lot on how the PZ functionality is implemented. I'm not familiar with Canon's RF PZ systems to date, but I would hope a Canon L lens with PZ would work similarly to Sony's 16-35/4G PZ.

Sony put six of their fastest XD Linear motors into the 16-35G. Four for focusing (2 motors x 2 groups), and 2 for zooming. The result is that the zoom ring has the same feeling and performance as the focus-by-wire system. You can twist the zoom ring really quickly and get really fast zooming, or you can twist it slowly and get slow zooming. The ring is also not a rocker, you turn it the same as you would a mechanically coupled zoom ring, though there are no hard stops AFAIK. Basically, the zoom ring works like the focus by wire MF ring does.

You can also use the zoom rocker on the lens or camera to get smooth constant zooming for video. You can actually set up the lens' zoom responsiveness from within your camera's menu, too. Zooming and AF are both silent, as usual from an XD Linear system.

Another benefit is that the zoom and AF work in concert to maintain perfect focus when zooming, with no delay. It makes the lens appear to be completely parfocal.

As far as zoom lag goes, it's also about the same as what you would experience with a very high end focus by wire system. I suppose if you want to rack the zoom SUPER fast it woujld probably be faster to crank a a mechanically coupled zoom really hard, but the PZ is not slow or laggy.

If Canon implements something similar to this, I think most photographers who are likely to buy an f4L lens would find it very useable. Certainly anyone who wants it for hybrid use will appreciate it.

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There are more than a few Canon users who have been around long enough to remember what happened to their focus-by-wire EF 200mm f/1.8 L USM lenses when Canon started running out of repair parts for the USM motor shortly after discontinuing the lens. They became impossible to focus and nothing more than paperweights if the AF motor ever broke. The EF 300mm f/2.8 L, EF 50mm f/1.0, and EF 85mm f/1.2 also used focus-by-wire manual focus, but there wasn't the same kind of parts shortage until years after they were discontinued.

Michael Clark said:

I hate to break the news to you, but none of the boomers are middle aged any longer. Those born in 1964 are turning 62 years old this year. All of the boomers will officially be "seniors" by the end of this year. In most places, they've been considered "seniors" since they turned 60 in 2024.

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I nearly said something similar but they may well mean it colloquially (as in "old and out of touch").

neuroanatomist said:

Have a look at the only other PZ lens, the RF-S 14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ. PZ means the zoom motor is inside the lens, not in a separate accessory. The zoom ring has no manual function. Turning it one way or the other just activates the built-in zoom motor (in a force-sensitive way so the zoom can be driven at different speeds). Personally, I would not want a zoom lens with only a motorized zoom function for photography. YMMV.

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In other words, it's a focus-by-wire lens.

riker said:

The third time I'm happy for basically the same post.
Having IBIS might be a sign of Canon making this one more photo-focused and less vlogger crap. This will make many middle aged oldschool boomers like me happy.
And it will make it a reasonable secondary/backup camera for those who haven't seriously considered purchasing one. Until now.

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I hate to break the news to you, but none of the boomers are middle aged any longer. Those born in 1964 are turning 62 years old this year. All of the boomers will officially be "seniors" by the end of this year. In most places, they've been considered "seniors" since they turned 60 in 2024.