Canon will release RF versions of the 300mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 in early 2022 [CR2]

[Canon Rumors]

As you may already know, Canon plans to officially announce the RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm f/4L IS USM likely later this month. These are the first of many professional super-telephoto prime lenses for the RF mount.
The EF versions of the 400mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4 were updated in September of 2018 to bring them to version 3.  Both the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM and EF 500mm f/4L IS were last updated in 2011.
I have been told that the RF versions of the latter lenses will come in early 2022 and that the new RF 500mm f/4L IS USM will be extremely light and much shorter than the current version. The 300mm is a bit more interesting, according to my source, Canon may actually release the RF mount version of the 300 f/2.8 as a zoom. Though there is reportedly a prime version also in development. I apologize for the confusion about the...

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[sfericean]

I've never been more excited for lenses I could never afford at their retail price!

 

[DaveGrice]

Interesting thought on that 300 2.8 zoom. I've eyed that Sigma 120-300 2.8 zoom jealously a few times. If I could get Canon's big white version of that, I'd probably pre-order... right after I talked to my banker.

 

[juststeve]

When talk about one of the great whites turns to it getting much shorter and lighter, one starts to think diffractive optics.

 

[fox40phil]

A 120-300 2.8 at around 2,5kg! Would be awesome!
Sigmas is around 3,4kg.

I hope they give us more tele options... like two new L-Zooms (120-300 & ~300-800 or 400-800).

 

[bbasiaga]

When talk about one of the great whites turns to it getting much shorter and lighter, one starts to think diffractive optics.

There was an interview a while back where someone from Canon basically said that DO was a major part of the future of lens design, and that it would be included in many RF lenses. They will not be green banding them anymore - DO is just a normal part of many designs now.

 

[Starting out EOS R]

I wonder if they are looking at the RF equivalent of the old EF 28-300 F3.5-5.6L? I always liked the range of it but the weight put me off. Maybe an RF version could be lighter? I could trade both my 24-105 F4L & RF 70-200MM F2.8L as long as it was light enough lol

 

[xps]

The 300mm 2.8 would be interesting. But can they improve the image quality of my EF version? This is just one of my best lenses.

 

[Ozarker]

Why are people talking about zooms in a thread about primes to be released next spring? Jeez... start another thread.

 

[Exploreshootshare]

With that many professional primes to come, the R1 might just be around the corner
exciting times

 

[Deleted member 381342]

There was an interview a while back where someone from Canon basically said that DO was a major part of the future of lens design, and that it would be included in many RF lenses. They will not be green banding them anymore - DO is just a normal part of many designs now.

Aye DO is just a standard part of the lens now. And that green band somehow made the product feel 'lesser' than if it had a red ring. Canon's DO and Nikon's PF is how these companies are going to really push super-tele lenses for mirrorless. But it looks like we are going for tried and proven first for the staple lenses.

 

[docsmith]

I actually do not mind the weight of the EF 500 f/4 II that I own. Even saving 1-2 pounds would not be enough for me to upgrade as it is already such an amazing lens.

But shorter? ...and lighter? I'll wait for the IQ comparisons as I am not willing to compromise, but yeah, packing the 500 f/4 II can be a challenge. Heck, I own the Mindshift 40L just for that purpose.

A 100-300 f/2.8 L might be a pre-order for me.

Still haven't bought an RF lens. The EF lenses work fantastic on the R5, but those are two that could tempt me.

 

[eosbob]

Why are people talking about zooms in a thread about primes to be released next spring? Jeez... start another thread.

Did you not read the full article? This is why people are talking about zooms: "The 300mm is a bit more interesting, according to my source, Canon may actually release the RF mount version of the 300 f/2.8 as a zoom."

 

[privatebydesign]

And that green band somehow made the product feel 'lesser' than if it had a red ring.

Only for people that don’t know history....

 

[Billybob]

I've been going back and forth about the 600mm. Although I'd really love a brighter lens, I'm not carrying a tripod, and I doubt that I'd enjoy shooting that beast handheld.

Now, if a smaller, lighter 500mm f/4 is in the works, I might go for that one instead despite giving up 100mm. I have and love the 500mm f/5.6 pf, but an extra stop of brightness might be enough to induce be to let go of the Nikon.

 

[Ozarker]

Did you not read the full article? This is why people are talking about zooms: "The 300mm is a bit more interesting, according to my source, Canon may actually release the RF mount version of the 300 f/2.8 as a zoom."

Yeah, well, it won’t be a Sigma and won’t be a 28-300mm super zoom. Not gonna happen. Especially not as an “L”. Let’s keep it real.

 

[StoicalEtcher]

When talk about one of the great whites turns to it getting much shorter and lighter, one starts to think diffractive optics.

Yes, I don't know how else you get a fixed length prime to be "much shorter" than the existing item (and I hope/assume a mirror is definitely out of the question).

 

[john1970]

Exciting times in which we live. I always enjoyed the 500 mm f4 as a lightweight alternative to the 600 mm f4 (based on equivalent design). The 500 mm f4 v2 is ~1.5 lbs lighter than 600 mm f4 v2. The 600 mm f4 III weighs in at 6.72 lbs so I am hopeful that the RF 500 mm f4 will weigh 5-5.25 lbs.

 

[Del Paso]

Aye DO is just a standard part of the lens now. And that green band somehow made the product feel 'lesser' than if it had a red ring. Canon's DO and Nikon's PF is how these companies are going to really push super-tele lenses for mirrorless. But it looks like we are going for tried and proven first for the staple lenses.

Get used to it, green is the new red!

 

[StoicalEtcher]

Yeah, well, it won’t be a Sigma and won’t be a 28-300mm super zoom. Not gonna happen. Especially not as an “L”. Let’s keep it real.

So, what range of 300 f/2.8 incorporated into a zoom do you see it being then (assuming that part of the rumour might be real)?

Personally, the 35-350L was the first white Canon lens I bought (a long time ago), and while its quality is passed by any white prime and almost any shorter range zoom too, it wasn't useless, and is a great safari lens when you don't know what range you need and can't change lenses easily due to dust and bouncing in the back of a landrover Given the direction of some recent lenses, I wouldn't rule a super zoom out (though not at a fixed 2.8 aperture, mind you).