Here are the RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm f/4L IS USM

[Canon Rumors]

Here are images of the upcoming Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM super-telephoto lenses.
The 400mm lens will launch at $11,999USD and the 600mm will launch at $12,999. These prices were somewhat expected.
The official announcement is soon.

Continue reading...

 

[Viggo]

No control ring and exactly the same as the EF just with an adapter? I expected a redesign tbh...

 

[Deleted member 381342]

I was expecting a wee bit more than just a bit of silver. But these two where recently redesigned.

 

[Christoph Müller]

It looks like fake to me.
The old and new one look too much identical. And no control ring.
And this silver mount looks like it was pieced on afterwards.

 

[H. Jones]

The reality of what Canon is doing is, for EF mount holdouts, the EF versions of these lenses will get supported for repairs for well into the next decade thanks to the RF lenses using the same design.

It's actually so similar that I'm fully expecting Canon will offer a conversion service with these. It can't cost more than maybe $1000 to turn the EF versions into the RF mount.

Again, all of this makes sense when you consider that there will likely always be EF mount holdouts, and Canon will now be able to service those $12000 lenses for far longer than it the first RF mount versions replaced anything.

 

[risto0]

No control ring and exactly the same as the EF just with an adapter? I expected a redesign tbh...

the white ring at the end closer to the mount might be control ring.

 

[john1970]

Very similar to their EF III counterparts. The only exterior changes are the sliver RF adapter and the removal of the focus scale window. I am still very interested to learn more if there were any changes to the electronics to provide faster focusing, etc. with the RF 12 pin interface relative to the older EF 8 pin interface. I expect an announcement soon given the amount of information that is being leaked.

 

[Deleted member 381342]

So with a TC it goes black -> silver -> white -> silver -> white. I know aesthetics of the lens is lesser importance, but I can't see Canon buggering it up like that when they know the aesthetics to matter...they paint their lenses white so they stick out and shove a red ring on the end of them.

 

[jolyonralph]

It's actually so similar that I'm fully expecting Canon will offer a conversion service with these. It can't cost more than maybe $1000 to turn the EF versions into the RF mount.

It would cost $101 to superglue an RF-EF adaptor on to the end of one

[SARCASM ALERT - please don't use superglue anywhere near your expensive lens]

 

[H. Jones]

It would cost $101 to superglue an RF-EF adaptor on to the end of one

[SARCASM ALERT - please don't use superglue anywhere near your expensive lens]

The barrel of the lens has changed, as well. With Canon having to tear down a 600mm, you can expect a good $200-300 for man hours, then $100-300 for the new parts, $100-200 just for the privilege of upgrading, and then whatever additional steps Canon might have to take, I'd expect upwards of $600 at least. Let's not forget Canon charged $100 just to update the software on the 5D IV

In all reality, Canon could still get away with a $1000 dollar upgrade when the alternative is a $12,000 lens. They're going to want to sell new lenses alongside the old lenses, and the old lenses will make more sense if they can have their lifespan extended by a mount/barrel conversion

 

[SV]

Why oh why are these not DO lenses!!

 

[Antono Refa]

My blush response to the silver extension was this looks like a fake, but...

IIRC, its been noted in this site's forums that design of super teles doesn't benefit from shorter flange distance. Also, Canon has released new versions of the 400mm f/2.8 & 600mm f/4 in late '18, barely 2.5 years ago. That's a big R&D and manufacturing facilities investment Canon needs to recoup.

So I wouldn't be the least surprised if the RF versions upgrade would be limited to the mount electronics, control ring, AF motor, and 24mm extension.

 

[Fischer]

Not that it matters. But they are certainly not pretty. Weird design decision. Not sure they are exact copies of the older design apart from the layout and the mount but will need to study the pictures closer. (update: 400mm is exactly the same outer shell - so likely both are)

 

[ToddK]

I'm thinking its just a quick version update for the RF mount to protect the buyers of the iii lenses. Next year they start radically redesigning them starting with the 500mm

 

[jolyonralph]

I'm thinking its just a quick version update for the RF mount to protect the buyers of the iii lenses. Next year they start radically redesigning them starting with the 500mm

What's this "protecting the buyers" thing you talk about? Canon are in this to make money. I doubt there is significant EF lens stock still on the market, and even if there was, they would sell to DSLR users.

The only reason they haven't radically redesigned it is because there's absolutely no need to. Don't expect a redesign for a decade.

 

[ToddK]

What's this "protecting the buyers" thing you talk about? Canon are in this to make money. I doubt there is significant EF lens stock still on the market, and even if there was, they would sell to DSLR users.

The only reason they haven't radically redesigned it is because there's absolutely no need to. Don't expect a redesign for a decade.

Maybe in a year actually.

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

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works. 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...

www.canonrumors.com

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

 

[blackcoffee17]

The reality of what Canon is doing is, for EF mount holdouts, the EF versions of these lenses will get supported for repairs for well into the next decade thanks to the RF lenses using the same design.

It's actually so similar that I'm fully expecting Canon will offer a conversion service with these. It can't cost more than maybe $1000 to turn the EF versions into the RF mount.

Again, all of this makes sense when you consider that there will likely always be EF mount holdouts, and Canon will now be able to service those $12000 lenses for far longer than it the first RF mount versions replaced anything.

Exactly, very good idea. This way photographers who are still using 7D, 1D, 5D bodies, can still buy the new versions and later convert it to RF mount.
Much more important than a complete redesign to save an extra 50g.

 

[blackcoffee17]

I'm thinking its just a quick version update for the RF mount to protect the buyers of the iii lenses. Next year they start radically redesigning them starting with the 500mm

More likely that the 300 and 500mm lenses will get a complete redesign but the 400 and 600 will stay as it is, because those lenses are barely 2 years old. What could a complete redesign achieve?

 

[Canfan]

Still, like many were hoping for the superteles to take advantage of the RF mount, maybe bit lighter, shorter and a control ring.
But I guess that's asking for too much. And no cripple hammer. Too much?

 

[Ekpil]

Please more Canon and less rumors