Canon officially announces the development of the RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, 1.4x and 2.0x extenders

[padam]

It probably has the same 77mm filter size as the RF 70-200/2.8 IS
But I'm also expecting more or less the same 2700$ price tag as well.

Since the EF 70-200/2.8 IS III and EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 IS II were priced similarly as well.

 

[Random Orbits]

Do we know that the RF 100-500 has the same filter size as the EF 100-400? I was suggesting it looked narrower to me, so not only could it not be f/6.3 at 500mm, but I was speculating that it's a narrower aperture than f/5.6 at 400mm also.

I do not know, but my post said "If this 100-500 is the RF version of the EF 100-400L II..." It might be longer/narrower but still maintain the same distance from the sensor to end of the lens if the RF100-500 is as long as the RF/EF adapter + 100-400L II.

You wrote:
I'm betting that it isn't f/5.6 at 400mm; if it were, I would have thought it would be f/6.3 at 500mm, not f/7.1.

And what I argued is that the max aperture of f/5.6 at 400mm is consistent with f/7.1 at 500mm. A max aperture of f/6.3 at 500mm would correspond to f/5 at 400mm, which is larger than 100-400L II.

 

[navastronia]

Any bets on the weather sealing for this lens?

 

[padam]

Any bets on the weather sealing for this lens?

No complaints about the EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 IS II weather resistance, which improved on its pumped zooming predecessor, so the similarly designed RF lenses should do just fine as well.

 

[Danglin52]

Although a Canon user and fan I have to say that these f/6.3 3rd party lens users enjoy 600mm instead of 500mm and this is a significant difference.

The more I read, I really believe the 100-500 is the RF equivalent of the EF 100-400 II. The IQ of 400-500 should be better than a 100-400 II + 1.4x TC II since the lens is engineered to reach that length without the additional elements in a teleconverter. I actually thought we would see an RF 70-400 (pickup on the short end), but hey surprised me going the other direction. The RF 100-500 fills that general purpose long telephoto range. I do not think we will see a RF 70-400 or RF 100-400. This leaves an opening for Canon to deliver a higher end 200-600 f5.6 or f6.3 focused on sport and wildlife photographers - somewhere between the 100-500 and big whites. I don't know if this is sound logic or wistful thinking.

 

[Danglin52]

Any bets on the weather sealing for this lens?

If it is an L, it should be sealed.

 

[dwarven]

I'd rather have had one of these: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1175034-REG/nikon_af_s_nikkor_200_500mm_f_5_6e.html

 

[AlanF]

Agreed. Not necessarily 5.6 at 400, but I'll wager that when you have an established and successful multi-generation 100-400mm design that gives 5.6 at 400, all the designer basically (simplistically) needs to do it to make a telescoping tube a little longer and pull the objective lens a little father forward to get to 500mm. Honestly, if we took apart a 100-400 and just held the front element a little father forward, it would presumably image as a 500.

Granted, lens design has subtleties, and there would presumably be issues introduced (possible mechanical getting that telescope distance - I'd cringe at a three-part telescope). But it's hard to imagine that the change would require reducing the aperture at 400mm. That's the last solution the designer would be allowed by the boss to revert to.

As an aside, one hopes that the RF mount enables other benefits in image quality and product configuration. I now assume that the magnificent RF 70-200 that won me over to Canon late last year was essentially the 100-400 adapted to those specs.

Do you actually know much about lens design? If you do, I'll be happy to learn from you. Please show us a ray diagram of how pulling the objective lens forward makes a 400mm into a 500mm.

 

[Bert63]

As always, the proof is in the pricing. $2,700? $3,000? Add in another $3,000 or so for an R5 and pretty soon we're talking serious money.

 

[Laslen]

As always, the proof is in the pricing. $2,700? $3,000? Add in another $3,000 or so for an R5 and pretty soon we're talking serious money.

If this thing is over $2000 they're out of their minds.

 

[AlanF]

If this thing is over $2000 they're out of their minds.

They will be.

 

[Bert63]

If this thing is over $2000 they're out of their minds.

Just looking at what they ask for the RF 70-200 and comparing the EF line.

 

[goldenhusky]

definitely a nice lens but a 200-600 f/5.6 - f/6.3 would have been a better choice IMO

 

[dwarven]

If this thing is over $2000 they're out of their minds.

Unfortunately it probably will be. In their minds, a control ring and 3% better IQ is worth an extra $1k. I'm not sure how many pros are going to bite with a 7.1 maximum aperture though.

 

[joestopper]

Any bets on the weather sealing for this lens?

"typical L lens". No reason why it should be any different to EF 100-400 L MK II.

 

[joestopper]

Canon RF 14-21mm f/1.4L

RF 24 f/1.2

 

[joestopper]

Unfortunately it probably will be. In their minds, a control ring and 3% better IQ is worth an extra $1k. I'm not sure how many pros are going to bite with a 7.1 maximum aperture though.

For sure it will. Only slightly less than RF 70-200.

 

[blackcoffee17]

The more I read, I really believe the 100-500 is the RF equivalent of the EF 100-400 II. The IQ of 400-500 should be better than a 100-400 II + 1.4x TC II since the lens is engineered to reach that length without the additional elements in a teleconverter. I actually thought we would see an RF 70-400 (pickup on the short end), but hey surprised me going the other direction. The RF 100-500 fills that general purpose long telephoto range. I do not think we will see a RF 70-400 or RF 100-400. This leaves an opening for Canon to deliver a higher end 200-600 f5.6 or f6.3 focused on sport and wildlife photographers - somewhere between the 100-500 and big whites. I don't know if this is sound logic or wistful thinking.

The problem i see is that both Nikon and Sony will have a relatively affordable 200-600 and both those lenses are/will be high quality. Now if Canon makes a 200-600 between the 100-500 and big whites then that lens cant really compete with the others in price.

 

[Sharlin]

If this thing is over $2000 they're out of their minds.

The MSRP of the EF 100–400mm II is $2299. Why do you think this one should be any cheaper at launch?

 

[SecureGSM]

Seriously? Somehow everybody is fine with the 100–400mm with 1.4x at f/8 but the same lens with a "1.25x" builtin extender that you don't even have to toggle on and off is somehow "not L"? Sheesh…

The only reason f/5.6 was the limit for so long was that DSLRs could not focus reliably much beyond that. But DPAF can focus down to f/11, and at the same time sensors and IS systems are better than ever. There's absolutely no reason to artificially limit engineers by imposing an arbitrary f/5.6 max aperture limit.

Yeah, with 45Mp sensor you shoot at F5.6 with 100-400 lens and then crop to 500mm for framing. A stop of light can be a big deal if you are ISO limited already at F5.6
Or.. use that x1.4 extender if you really had to... options.